Fresh Tracks Weekly

This week, we’re discussing how wildlife and habitat are often used as currency to pay for our high standards of living and lower energy costs. We also discuss how issues are very often only evaluated economically and not biologically.

In Montana, a judge just ruled in favor of Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks in a case in which a private landowner group sued the state for failing to kill enough elk.

In Massachusetts, an Act Modernizing Firearm Laws was recently signed into law, which will significantly impact hunters.

We have an update in Colorado: The proposal to ban mountain lion, lynx, and bobcat hunting within the state will be on the ballot in November.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a voluntary pilot program to incentivize the use of non-lead ammo in National Wildlife Refuges.

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This week, we’re discussing Wyoming’s recent ban on conservation groups bidding on oil and gas leases on state land and how, by doing so, they might actually be hurting the school system that they’re obligated to fund.

A recently published study shows how human recreation and noise can negatively impact wildlife by displacing them and keeping them out of the area for extended periods.

In Wyoming, billionaire Joe Ricketts has halted construction on a massive resort near a small town along a mule deer migration corridor.

A story in the Wyoming Games and Fish Wildlife Magazine highlighted the struggles wildlife face when it comes to fences on the landscape.

Anti-hunting groups in Colorado have been collecting signatures for a ballot measure to ban mountain lion hunting within the state.

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This week, for our deeper dive, we’re talking about a new research project on Chronic Wasting Disease in Wyoming and how the best available science to slow the spread of the disease is likely not what hunters want to hear.

In Wyoming, a ranch and family are attempting to close down a road that accesses a significant amount of public land. The road is also a primary access point for other landowners and the county.

Andrew McKean with Outdoor Life recently published an article that dissects a new report that shows declining support for hunting and recreational shooting.

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This week, we’re discussing how you might be a jerk on public lands and not even realize it.

A few news stories from this week include the following:

A quick update on Colorado’s proposal to do away with non-resident over-the-counter archery elk tags.

In Montana, American Prairie just acquired 12,500 more acres of land, bringing its total between deeded and leased property to 475,000 acres.

In Wyoming, Joe Ricketts, the founder of TD Ameritrade, has been attempting to build a luxury resort in the heart of prime elk and moose wintering ground and on the Sublette mule deer migration corridor.

A new update to wildfire risk.org has shown that significantly more people and homes are at risk of wildfire than previously thought.

In New Mexico, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Bureau of Land Management, and several other partners supplied funding for new water sources for wildlife in the Sierra Padrones, Polvadera, and Chupadera mountains.

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This week, we discuss how Colorado might shift away from over-the-counter opportunities for non-resident archery elk hunting.

In Texas, the Parks and Wildlife Department killed off an entire herd of high-fence white-tailed deer after a severe Chronic wasting Disease outbreak and years of legal battles.

In Montana, Governor Greg Gianforte is again in the spotlight after the New York Times published a story highlighting some new information on his questionable wolf-trapping incident from a few years back.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation recently announced the completion of a land and conservation access project in Southeast Wyoming, which resulted in 6660 acres of permanent public access.

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This week, we discussed some potential conflicts of interest within Fish and Wildlife commissions and how certain individuals could directly benefit from their votes as commissioners.

In Montana, the statewide mule deer permit was recently raffled off by Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, raising a record amount of money for mule deer conservation.

Last December, the Duck Stamp Modernization Act was signed into law. This act will allow federal duck stamps to be purchased online, and an E-Stamp will be valid throughout the season.

In Tennessee, the Wildlife Resources Agency recently lost its appeal over a previous decision that had ended the use of the open field doctrine within the state.

A New study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that Chronic Wasting Disease is unlikely to transfer from other species to humans.

In Washington, the Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to change mountain lion hunting regulations and seasons, reducing hunting opportunities. The department is accepting public comment on the matter until June 21.

Comment on Washington’s Cougar Season

https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations/development/cougar-hunting-seasons

Howl For Wildlife Call to Action on WA Cougars

https://www.howlforwildlife.org/wacougarjune24

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This week, we are talking about Wild Horses in the West. They’ve been overpopulated on public lands for years… but have finally seen the biggest single-year population reduction since 1985.

Randy failed to mention last week that he received the Wallace Pate award at the RMEF celebration. This is the highest conservation honor that RMEF gives out!

Link to video on the award: https://youtu.be/0MJ8wd0Z1o0?si=yzhEIYAuB_pEB9Bs

We have a quick update on the Corner crossing case in Wyoming. Oral arguments for the legal case were recently held at the 10 Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.

We cover the highly anticipated news that Debbie Colbert is the new Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Director.

We have an update on the bill in Vermont that would have changed who has authority over fish and wildlife management. It has failed to move forward and is dead for all intents and purposes.

In Wyoming, the Bureau of Land Management has proposed ending coal leasing in the Powder River Basin, which includes Northeast Wyoming and southern Montana.

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Randy Newberg TAKEOVER! 

Marcus and Michael are busy catching Walleye and Smallmouth so Randy stepped in to deliver this week’s news.

On this week’s episode, we are celebrating Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s 40th Anniversary. In the last 40 years, RMEF has amassed 12,000 members, conserved 8.9 million acres as well as improved or secured access for 1.5 million acres. The mission continues! 

To signup for RMEF visit this link - https://www.rmef.org/join/

40th Anniversary Articles

https://www.rmef.org/elk-network/celebrating-40-years-of-volunteers/

https://www.rmef.org/40th-anniversary/page/2/

Also on this week’s episode, Randy digs into the “politicizing of wildlife management”. Nevada, Vermont and Kansas are in the news for bills that could shake up their Wildlife Commissions appointment process. 

Nevada - https://knpr.org/show/knprs-state-of-

nevada/2024-04-26/why-nevadas-wildlife-commission-is-under-scrutiny

Vermont- https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/S.258

https://www.howlforwildlife.org/vts258

Kansas - https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2530/

https://congressionalsportsmen.org/news/commission-restructuring-bill-gains-

momentum-during-kansas-veto-session/

To get involved and stay in the know, consider signing up for HOWL’s email list - www.howlforwildlife.org

Upcoming news! The Wyoming corner crossing case appears at the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. To catch up on the case, check out the below links. 

https://wyofile.com/corner-crossing-hunters-cattle-king-era-is-over/

https://publicland.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/opinion-in-wyoming-corner-crossing-

lawsuit.pdf

Lastly, a severe case of Mange will be impacting the Eastern Black Bear populations of Virginia and many neighboring states. 

The WyldLife Fund - Pronghorn Fund - https://thewyldlifefund.org/preserving-wyomings-crown-jewel-the-pronghorn-fund/

For this week’s deeper dive, Randy plays referee in the latest game of Political Football. The House of Representatives just passed the WEST Act, an Act that would eliminate the BLMs current

proposal to put conservation and landscape productivity on the same footing as other uses under the “Multiple Use” mandates Federal land agencies are required to operate

under.

To read the entire 176 page proposal, the WEST Act, and editorials from Outdoor Life, check out the below links.

https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/blm-rule-controversy/

https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/blm-public-lands-rule-proposal/

https://www.blm.gov/public-lands-rule

https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-04/BLM-Conservation-Landscape-

Health-Final-Rule.pdf

https://www.blm.gov/press-release/interior-department-releases-proposed-plan-guide-

balanced-management-public-lands

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This week, we are talking about the overall decline of wildlife, shifting baselines, and the biggest factors that affect long-term population levels.

Randy Newberg, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, and Congressman Bruce Westerman received Theodore Roosevelt’s Conservation Awards for 2024!

We have a quick recap from last week’s episode. Michael, Jace, Kara, and I went to shoot in the NRL hunter competition in Idaho, where we learned a lot about precision shooting.

In Pennsylvania, two bills have been introduced that could remove the longstanding prohibition of Sunday hunting.

President Biden just expanded the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument by nearly 14 thousand acres to protect an 11-mile-long ridgeline named Molok Luyuk, which means Condor Ridge in the Native Patwin people’s language.

Wildlife biologists are beginning to test the feasibility and accuracy of using drones to conduct population surveys, in particular, drones with thermal cameras that can detect animal heat signatures through various covers.

An article by Doc Collins, recently published in Outdoor Life, summarized recent legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that could significantly impact hunters and anglers.

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This week we’re discussing a news series we're creating to become a better shot with a rifle but also how recreational shooters might contribute more money to conservation than hunters.

A few news stories from this week include the following.

In Alaska the Bureau of Land management has released their final supplemental environmental impact statement in regards to the construction of the Ambler Road where they have recommended "No Action".

News of chronic wasting disease potentially infecting humans has been spreading like wild fire in national news, but our friend Jim Heffelfinger has pointed out that the article that is often being cited, is NOT a scientific study, it is simply a short report of events.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife just released their draft black bear conservation plan that shows that bear populations are thriving in the state and there is more than enough room for hunter harvest.

Link to California Draft Black Bear Conservation Plan

https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Black-Bear

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