This week, Erik and Jack cover the news you need before the season winds down: the IOGA Annual Meeting is set for November 30–December 4 at Tamarack Resort (early bird pricing through August 31), and they're looking for member presentation ideas. They break down a new $1.3 million feasibility study on consolidating federal wildland fire management under the Department of Interior, dig into 30 years of Idaho wildfire ignition data from Headwaters Economics, and share an update on the Asotin scat machine closure (plus a reminder on what does — and doesn't — belong in a Groover). Also covered: a lawsuit challenging the new ESA critical habitat rule, IOGA's $200K+ marketing award from the Idaho Travel Council, a reminder on Explore Act fee planning for the season, and the August 17 comment deadline on the grizzly bear 4(d) rule. Then, Jack sits down with Tyler Green of Woodsman Outfitter Solutions (a division of Evolve) for a deep dive into payment processing for outfitters — card-present vs. card-not-present transactions, fraud prevention, PCI compliance, cash flow and funding timelines, and why a one-size-fits-all payment solution doesn't work for an industry as varied as outfitting.

Erik and Jack record together in person for the first time, from the McCall Library studio. This week's rundown:

Access alert: Recent rainstorms have caused blowouts across the Frank Church, including damage to the Flying B airstrip runway (closed to the public, though commercial air operators are still getting in with a shortened strip) and a major landslide on Highway 21 west of Banner Summit that ITD says could take a week or more to clear — recommend alternate routes for McCall/Cascade-to-Stanley or Boise-to-Stanley travel, and Montana routes for Main Salmon shuttles (with a reminder to review IOGA's DOT compliance guide before crossing state lines).

FWS critical habitat exclusion rule: A new final rule (effective August 20) changes how Fish and Wildlife weighs economic/other costs against conservation benefits when excluding land from critical habitat designations under ESA Section 4(b)(2). Permittees are now explicitly named parties who can submit "credible information" on economic impact, agencies must give more weight to on-the-ground data, and exclusion becomes closer to mandatory once the cost-benefit analysis favors it. Applies only prospectively, only to FWS (not NOAA Fisheries/anadromous species), and could cut both ways for outfitters — helpful for pushing back on overly broad designations, but also opens the door for mining/logging interests to make similar arguments.

Grizzly bear rule follow-up: More detail on the tiered state-management-authority proposal (comment period open through August 17). Doesn't delist the bear, doesn't authorize hunting, and doesn't touch experimental populations (Bitterroot, Cascades). Biggest potential outfitter impact: provisions on incidental take related to predator trapping, which could eventually ease restrictions on wolf/predator trapping in grizzly habitat — though any real change is likely a long way off.

IDL fire budget: Idaho Department of Lands has already spent $20M of its fire budget, with about $17M left for the rest of the summer. If funds run dry, IDL will lean on a "deficiency warrant" (essentially a government credit card) rather than stop fighting fires. A forest fire protection tax increase was discussed but not enacted — yet.

Hatchery study: A major IDFG/Oregon/Washington fish biologist study finds the anadromous hatchery system fundamentally can't deliver the adult fish returns needed to support a sport fishery — smolt production would need to increase 300–1200%, and even then, most programs likely couldn't support a minimal recreational fishery. Erik shares a striking figure from a Fish & Wildlife contact: proposed capital investment to boost production pencils out to roughly $5,000 per additional adult fish returned. The takeaway: the bottleneck is the hydrosystem, not the hatcheries.

Community note: Jack will be in Lewiston (Lewis-Clark State College, 8/3) and Clarkston (Red Line Golf Club, 8/5) with Idaho Rivers United discussing their new lower Snake dam economic impact report.

Interview: Jack sits down with Justin Meuse of The Wilderness Society to unpack the Congressional Review Act (CRA) and its unprecedented use against BLM/Forest Service land use plans — including how the CRA works, why resource management plans were never historically submitted to Congress as "rules," what "substantially the same" means for replacement plans, the pending Cascadia Wildlands v. Burgum lawsuit in Oregon challenging RMP validity, and what a legislative fix might look like. Directly relevant to any outfitter operating under a BLM or Forest Service permit tied to an RMP or forest plan.

Erik Weiseth and Jack Hurty run through a packed news roundup before sitting down with Eric Barker, the longtime outdoors and environmental reporter for the Lewiston Tribune.

News roundup highlights:

• ESA "harm" definition change: US Fish & Wildlife and NOAA Fisheries finalized removing habitat modification from the definition of "harm" under Section 9. Erik and Jack agree the day-to-day impact on outfitter permitting is likely limited, since Section 7 consultation remains unchanged — this mostly affects incidental take liability, and may matter more for logging/ranching than guiding.
• Grizzly management shift: Interior Secretary Burgum, USFWS, and the governors of MT, WY, and ID announced a proposal to hand more day-to-day grizzly management authority to states via a 4(d) rule change (bears stay listed as threatened). Public comment opens soon; IOGA plans to submit comments and wants field input from outfitters working in bear country. No hunting season is on the table.
• Rep. Fulcher's public lands survey: Fulcher, who previously voted for a public land sell-off amendment, has softened his stance and is now soliciting Idahoan input via a detailed survey. Erik and Jack strongly encourage members to take it, drawing a parallel to the massive public response that helped kill the Mike Lee sell-off provision last year.
• Forest Service directive/handbook overhaul: A proposed rule would make the Forest Service Handbook essentially voluntary while keeping the Manual in place. This could increase flexibility with good administrators but removes accountability — including for things like non-competitive permit renewals, which may only be codified at the Handbook level. IOGA and America Outdoors are auditing what's at risk.
• New IOGLB appointee: Derek Atterbury nominated to replace Brad Compton on the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board, bringing 8 years of Fish & Game Commission experience.
• New DOT compliance guide: IOGA published a plain-language guide to DOT regulations for outfitting vehicles/trailers.
• Upper Lochsa land consolidation ("Project Gen 3"): A creative non-exchange deal would move ~27,000 acres from Western Pacific Timber into Forest Service ownership via The Conservation Fund, with an endowment offsetting county tax losses. Broad local support; needs Senate funding support ($54M in the 2027 LWCF budget).
• Salmon-Challis RAC recruitment: Applications due Aug 16 for the Central Idaho Resource Advisory Committee, which allocates ~$740K in Secure Rural Schools funding.
• Fun one: Idaho Fish & Game wants artist submissions for next year's hard license artwork — Erik's rooting for a "Geronimo the parachuting beaver" design.
• Membership renewals are open for the new cycle, with shoutouts to Dollars for Outdoors and Dollars for Salmon donors.

Interview — Eric Barker (Lewiston Tribune): Barker reflects on nearly 30 years covering Idaho's outdoors and environment beat. Topics include how the Snake River dams/salmon debate has evolved (from agency recommendation to Congress to the courts), the massive public backlash that helped stop the Mike Lee land sell-off, shrinking federal agency staffing capacity post-DOGE cuts and its effect on trail maintenance and wildfire response, the ongoing Forest Service reorganization, the tension between fire suppression and prescribed burning, growing outdoor recreation pressure and funding gaps (hunters/anglers pay via tags/licenses, but hikers and bikers largely don't), and the growing difficulty of reporting on federal agencies that have become more guarded since DOGE. He closes with a tour through his favorite Idaho waters and asks listeners to subscribe to local news and send him tips.

This week we are sharing the most recent episode of, The Outfitter Brief, the AO/IOGA shared podcast. If you follow it you should follow that podcast. On this one, Erik Weiseth (IOGA) and Aaron Lieberman (America Outdoors Association) cover the major policy issues facing outfitters and guides, then sit down with Jessica Turner, President of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, for a wide-ranging conversation on federal recreation policy, coalition strategy, and an emerging push to connect outdoor recreation with the American healthcare system.

Aaron opens with an update on AO's new endorsed insurance program through CBiz Adventure Sports, offering AO members up to 10% off core coverage premiums — a direct response to survey data showing over 90% of outfitters saw premiums rise or coverage drop in the past year. From there, the conversation moves to the Outfitter and Guide Relief (ORG) Act, AO's effort to carve outfitters and guides out of FLSA overtime requirements that have forced operators to cut guide hours and jack up prices. A Senate companion bill from Sen. Steve Daines is imminent, and guide testimonials from affected workers are urgently needed.

The two then break down the roadless rule situation — three parallel tracks (House legislation, Senate amendment to the Wildfire Prevention Act via Sen. Mike Lee, and USDA administrative repeal) — and what outfitters should actually be doing right now. They close the policy roundup with an Arizona liability waiver win: legislation signed by Governor Hobbs that clarifies the enforceability of waivers and inherent risk doctrine, similar to what Idaho passed previously.

The interview with Jess Turner is the centerpiece. She walks through the just-completed Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee markup of the America the Beautiful Act — a $10 billion Legacy Restoration Fund reauthorization that passed without a single nay vote in one of the most divided committees in Congress. She explains what that money actually does (deferred maintenance on trails, boat launches, campgrounds, visitor infrastructure), how the House version includes a 15% recreation/sportsman carve-out that may not survive the conference, and what the foreign visitor fee issue means for outfitters taking international clients. Timeline: potentially signed before July 4th.

The back half of the interview pivots to ORR's America's Outdoor Era health initiative — the argument that outdoor recreation is an upstream, preventative healthcare solution, and the emerging policy and private-sector pathways (HSA/FSA reform, employer benefits programs, hospital partnerships, medical provider training) to formalize that connection. Jess also walks through how ORR maintains its massive, diverse coalition by staying out of place-based conflicts and focusing on process, business stability, and the issues where everyone agrees.

The episode closes with news that Iowa became the 25th state to establish an Office of Outdoor Recreation, and a reminder to mark calendars for the IOGA Annual Meeting (December 1–3, Tamarack Resort) and the America Outdoors Conference and Expo (December 8–11, Oklahoma City).

In this episode, Erik and Jack cover a packed week of news before sitting down with Kristin Sleeper, Governor Little's new Policy Director. On the news front: Erik recaps a productive National Trails Day outing, Jack reports on Big Water Blowout in Riggins; the guys dig into a new legislative working group on state lands management led by Representative Raybold; and they break down the implications of President Trump's executive order rescinding the Nixon- and Carter-era travel management executive orders — a move they describe as flying under the radar but potentially significant over the long term. They also cover Senator Mike Lee's last-minute amendment to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule (noting Idaho's own roadless rule insulates the state directly), the new Headwaters Economics report on Snake River dam removal economics from Idaho Rivers United, and the Public Lands Integrity Act — legislation that would close the budget reconciliation loophole that could be used to sell public lands without 60 Senate votes.

The main interview with Kristin Sleeper covers her winding path from Detroit to DC to Montana to the Trump administration and finally to Governor Little's office, her vision for a coordinated statewide recreation strategy, Idaho's opportunity to expand Good Neighbor Authority and Shared Stewardship into recreation trail maintenance, the Make Forests Healthy Again executive order, wildfire preparedness for what could be a difficult fire season, and the thorny challenge of creating a sustainable funding mechanism for non-motorized trail maintenance.

Erik and Jack cover a busy week — Erik returns from the IPW convention in Florida where he spent three days pitching Idaho's outdoor recreation opportunities (jet boat rides, rafting, backcountry horse trips, hunting) to international tour operators and travel agents. They hit the week's policy news: Steve Pierce's official BLM confirmation, $12M in USDA CWD funding, and a sobering stat that the Forest Service maintained 22% fewer trail miles in 2025 than the year prior. Jack does a deep dive on the FY27 Interior/Environment appropriations bill out of Congressman Simpson's subcommittee — covering Forest Service budget levels, PILT funding, hunting/fishing access protections, and provisions on grizzly bears, wolves, and wolverines. Then Jay Hesse, Director of Biological Services for the Nez Perce Tribe, joins for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of Snake River salmon and steelhead — explaining quasi-extinction thresholds, the alarming status of Middle Fork Chinook populations, and the tribe's aggressive conservation measures including cryopreservation, off-site living gene banks, overwinter survival pilots, and marine-derived nutrient enhancement using shad. Jay closes with a public health warning: methylmercury levels in lower Salmon River smallmouth bass are among the highest in the state.

Erik and Jack kick off with river season updates before diving into policy news: the Public Lands Integrity Act, Jim Risch's support for the America the Beautiful Act's Legacy Restoration Fund reauthorization, the BLM's rescission of the Public Lands Rule, and Steve Pierce's impending BLM director confirmation. The main event is a deep-dive interview on a landmark development: the Salmon-Challis National Forest's authorization — signed the morning of recording — allowing limited gas chainsaw use by permitted outfitters and contractors to clear catastrophically downed timber on specific Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness trails. Erik walks through the legal foundation (the 1964 Wilderness Act's MRA process, the 1978 Endangered American Wilderness Act's House Report, and the trail-clearing mandate in the 1980 Central Idaho Wilderness Act), the scale of the problem (500+ trail miles, up to 700 downed trees per mile), and addresses critics who question the commercial motivation or fear broader precedent. He closes with a passionate case that access is the wilderness's greatest long-term protection.

In this week's episode, Erik Weiseth sits down with Shannon Walton, Executive Director of the Redside Foundation — the organization born from tragedy in 2010 that has grown into a trusted lifeline for guides across the American West. Shannon shares the origin story of Redside, her own winding path from professional guide to corporate executive to nonprofit leader, and the remarkable scope of what the organization has built: over 23,000 counseling sessions paid for since 2014, financial coaching, professional development scholarships, healthcare access, and more. The conversation also digs into the real and complex relationship between guiding culture, substance use, mental health, and the myth of the rugged Western individual. Erik also shares IOGA updates from the spring board meeting in Salmon, including a new Hunt Vice President, committee opportunities, and highlights from the strategic planning session.

In the debut episode of The Outfitter Brief, hosts Erik Weiseth (Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association) and Aaron Lieberman (America Outdoors Association) sit down with Chief Tom Schultz, Chief of the United States Forest Service. It's a wide-ranging, candid conversation covering the Forest Service reorganization, forest health, wildland fire consolidation, and what it all means for outfitters, guides, and the outdoor recreation industry. Schultz brings a unique perspective to the role — a background spanning military service, state lands management in both Montana and Idaho, and private sector timber experience — and he doesn't shy away from the hard questions. From debunking myths about land sell-offs to making the case for active forest management, this first episode sets the tone for what The Outfitter Brief is all about: cutting through the noise to get to what actually matters for the people running small businesses on America's public lands.

Erik and Jack recap a memorable Salmon Chapter banquet, run through the final stretch of Idaho's legislative session — including a last-minute bill kill, a wild ride on hunting tech rules, and a public lands win — then sit down with researcher and guide Carly Knudsen to talk burnout, resilience, and health access in the guiding profession.

Show Notes:

Show Notes

Salmon Chapter Meeting & Banquet Erik attended the Salmon Chapter's spring meeting, which covered river and hunt topics including allocation. Idaho Fish and Game presented on local wildlife biology, and America Outdoors gave an update on the EXPLORE Act and associated fees. The evening banquet was a highlight — scholarships were awarded, Brad Compton was recognized for his service on the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board, and Jeff and Deb Bitten received a lifetime recognition award for their extraordinary contributions to the industry.

Legislative Update

• SB 1326 – Open Fields Doctrine:
• HB 861 – Tourism Funding:
• HB 939 – Hunting Technology:
• SJM 111 – Public Lands Resolution:

Forest Service Filming Permits New rules simplify the permit process for filming on Forest Service lands: fewer than 5 people filming requires no permit; 6–8 people can self-issue a de minimis authorization online; 9+ requires a formal permit and fee. BLM is expected to not require any paperwork for groups under 8. Wilderness areas may still require additional authorization — check with your local office.

Idaho Fish and Game Commission At the quarterly commission meeting, Rick Ward and Brad Compton presented a robust history and context of allocation in Idaho. Several IOGA members spoke to the commission as well.

Economic Report on Public Lands IOGA, BHA, Idaho Wildlife Federation, and Idaho Business for the Outdoors released a new economic report by economist Steve Peterson on the value of public lands to Idaho's economy. A link will be included in the IOGA newsletter — at minimum, check out the executive summary.

Licensing Board Update Brad Compton's tenure as board chairman came to a close, with Tammy Overacker stepping into the chair role. Brad will be greatly missed for his long service and deep understanding of the outfitting industry.

Upcoming Events

• April 6 – North Idaho Chapter allocation meeting (afternoon) + social dinner
• April 7 – Nez Perce-Clearwater Outfitters Meeting in Orofino
• April 9 – Salmon Select Sale & international wolf howling championship (Salmon Chapter fundraiser)
• April 9–10 – IOGA Spring Board Meeting at Wilderness River Outfitters in Salmon (open to members; Zoom available)
• April 16 – Lower Salmon Outfitters Meeting (moved from April 13)
• May 15–17 – Red Side River Rendezvous, Salmon (IOGA is a sponsor)

Guest Interview: Carly Knudsen Carly grew up in Salmon, has been guiding for over a decade (mostly on the Main and Middle Fork of the Salmon), and is now a PhD candidate in Parks, Recreation & Tourism at the University of Utah. She discusses her research on guide health and resilience — conducted in partnership with the Redside Foundation — including findings on well-being, burnout signals, the importance of organizational culture, and the significant gap in health insurance access among Idaho guides. She also talks about what outfitters and guide companies can do at the organizational level to better support their crews.

Learn more about the Redside Foundation at redsideoutdoors.org