Field Ethos was the brainchild of Donald Trump Jr. and Jason Vincent, a multi-media platform to tell the stories of time in the field, but with an unapologetic, cut-to-the-chase brand of adventure, exploration, and the things that matter most, the life-long bonds we create with those we share campfires with.

In this episode, co-host Keith Balfourd visits with Bozeman local Mike Schoby, Field Ethos's COO. Mike's resume includes past Editor-in-Chief of Petersen's Hunting and Guns & Ammo magazines. He's hunted everything from everywhere and is a key piece of the Field Ethos platform, including a website, newsletter, printed Field Journal, newsletter, and podcast. Their approach to sharing information and story-telling is unique, edgy, and entertaining, as if you were telling tales with friends over a campfire with a bottle of brown. The unapologetic part is we hunt because we hunt; it's in our blood.

Wild Sheep Foundation's Mission is "We enhance wild sheep populations, promote scientific wildlife management, and educate the public and youth on sustainable use and the conservation benefits of hunting while promoting the interests of the hunter."

Education of youth and the public is critical to our mission accomplishment. We address the youth component primarily through events and efforts led by W.S.F. Youth Education Coordinator Dr. Ryan Brock, including the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience at our annual Sheep Show® convention and his Shooting & Hunting Ethics Education Program (S.H.E.E.P.) conducted at public events as well as our chapter and affiliate banquets and conventions.

The National Bighorn Sheep Center (N.B.S.C.) in Dubois, Wyoming, is a world-class education and interpretative Center focusing on the needs of wild sheep and those who have and currently live amongst them. Thousands of visitors learn about wild sheep and their habitat each year by visiting the Center. A recent outreach tool used by the N.B.S.C. are webinars based from the Center, such as the recent disease webinar including expert panelists from throughout Canada and the U.S.A. conceived and led by N.B.S.C. Executive Director Sara Bridge.

In this episode, Ryan and Sara visit with Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton to speak on their programs and their impact on youth and adults. The three discuss ways to expand and better collaborate WSF and N.B.S.C. programs to reach even more people to educate them on wild sheep, wildlife, wild lands, and the conservation benefits of sustainable use in which hunting plays such an integral part.

Suppressors (silencers) are legal to own in 42 US states and legal to hunt with in 41 of those. Brandon Maddox, CEO and owner of Silencer Central, is recognized as a national thought leader on Class 3 firearms. What began as Maddox's home-based Federal Firearms License (FFL) evolved into a Class 3 Dealership and has grown into the nationwide brand it is today. Maddox's NFA expertise makes him a popular voice for the industry, and he speaks regularly at National Compliance Conferences.

Before his work with Silencer Central, Maddox practiced pharmacy and served as a marketing executive in the pharmaceutical industry. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and holds a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from Duke University. Maddox is passionate about varmint hunting and has spent more than a decade honing his expertise in the Western Dakota prairies.

Sheep Fever Co-Host Gray Thornton, a suppressor enthusiast and user, visits with Brandon about the growth of suppressor use in big game and mountain hunting, the benefits of them, and demystifies the purchase process which WSF Sponsor and Conservation Partner, Silencer Central, has simplified and perfected. If you've ever thought about buying or using a silencer, listen to this informative and entertaining podcast.

High School educator and past President of Washington WSF, Glen Landrus of Anatone, WA is serving his second term as Chair of the Board of Directors of Wild Sheep Foundation. Former 747 pilot and CEO of Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia, Kyle Stelter of Victoria, BC is serving his second term as Vice Chair.

Glen and Kyle join Sheep Fever Co-Host Gray Thornton to reflect on the most successful year in FNAWS/WSF's 46-year history and the most impactful for wild sheep. This past year saw record amounts raised and Grant-In-Aid dollars directed to wild sheep conservation, education, and advocacy programs, as well as funds directed to state, provincial, and tribal agencies for their wild sheep and wildlife programs. With the bar set this high, our guests dive into plans and their vision for the new 2023-2024 fiscal year and beyond. As the old saying goes, plan your work and work your plan.

Chef Josh Schwencke owns and operates Gastronomy Outdoors in south Texas, a company designed in the building and facilitating of culinary courses centered around wild game preparation. Over the past 18 years Gastronomy has worked to connect its clients to the foundation of their food system by teaching cooking courses, game dinners and fireside meals all in the name of great food, fellowship, and conservation. As a hunter and outdoorsmen, Chef Josh brings his years of culinary service into the frontier by combining cooking methods, techniques and international influence to all his game cooking and instructing. Though based in San Antonio, Josh holds the position as the Executive Chef in Residence of Wild Sheep Foundation and Women Hunt®, headlining the Camp Chef Culinary Corner the WSF's annual Sheep Show as well as writing to Wild Sheep® magazine.

In this episode Gray discusses with Chef Josh the future plans for the culinary arm of Wild Sheep Foundation, the bedrock of his culinary story and the joy of cooking wild game.

For this episode, Keith and Gray are joined by Glenda Grout, owner of Canol Outfitters in the NWT, and filmmaker Jason Matzinger to talk all things NWT Dall's Sheep.

After Covid delays, Jason was able to fulfill his dream of hunting a Dall's ram with Glenda this past July. This sheep hunt was an opportunity for him to gather what he needed to complete a new film project that will also explore the history and significance to conservation and game management, as well as the personal rewards of a selective harvest of a special animal, what we all refer to as a "trophy." As we know, the notion of trophy hunting is being weaponized to pray away public support for all hunting. This film aims to take this narrative back.

The group also discusses the opportunity for someone to win a Dall's sheep hunt in NWT, which WSF, the Association of Mackenzie Mountain Outfitters, and NWT Tourism are offering. The deadline to get in on this drawing is coming up fast, June 30th.

Blayne St. James owns and operates St. James Sporting Properties, a group of elite real estate professionals and outdoorsmen specializing in selling trophy hunting and fishing properties throughout the West. His company has exclusive marketing partnerships with some of the premier names in the outdoor industry and some of the most well-respected names in the non-profit space. In addition to working in the outdoor world, he is also an avid big game hunter who enjoys both archery and rifle hunting. He was awarded the Super Slam® of North American Big Games, holds Grand Slam® #1831, and has multiple archery awards. Conservation is a major priority to Blayne and his family. He holds lifetime memberships in the following conservation organizations: Wild Sheep Foundation, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Society, Mule Deer Foundation, Grand Slam Club Ovis, Safari Club International, Dallas Safari Club, as well as the Pope and Young Club.

Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton sits down with Blayne to talk hunting sheep, the NA 29, polar bear, and much more, including the essence of hunting and passing it on to future generations of hunters and conservationists. This conservation flows through a multitude of topics, from bow hunting to buying your dream recreational property.

On this episode of Sheep Fever, co-host Gray Thornton visits with Schnee's president & owner, Jon Edwards, and Marketing Director, Matt Miller, to talk sheep hunting, their Montana roots, footwear, firearms, gear, our freedoms, outdoor heritage, and why this iconic downtown Bozeman brand has been a stalwart supporter of Wild Sheep Foundation for more than 30 years.

We discuss Schnee's rich history, its future, and why showcasing a "gun shop" on Main Street in downtown Bozeman is important to our Western heritage and ethos. We also visit on our upcoming partnership -Schnee's & WSF's Ram Rendezvous II July 6-7, 2023 where we again turn downtown Bozeman into a street fair with BBQ, beer, live music, Schnee's & WSF partner vendors, and a celebration of wild sheep, hunting & conservation.

Congress passed the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses & Burros Act in 1971 when populations of these animals were declining. Back then, no one could have foreseen the problems we currently face 55 years later, as unchecked populations overrun the carrying capacity of the land and out-compete native wildlife (including wild bighorns) for forage and water. The law requires the BLM to protect and manage populations of horses and burros for the health of the landscape and these animals themselves, but it forbids multiple-use agencies from destroying healthy animals. That leaves us – the taxpayers and owners of the public land where most of these critters live – with conflicting rules and a whole lot of mouths to feed.

The President's FY24 budget requested nearly $155 million of taxpayer dollars to employ and resource 239 full-time employees for horse and burro management. Most of that taxpayer money will be spent feeding the more than 60,000 animals still in long-term holding facilities.

Current horse and burro policies are failing our public lands, our public wildlife, and the equids themselves. The time for change has come and passed.

Sheep Fever asked those close to the situation to help explain why the law is being carried out as written, how bad things have gotten, and what can and should be done.

For a variety of reasons women are one of the fasting growing segments of the hunting and shooting communities. WSF's Women Hunt® program was conceived to help more women cross barriers into the hunting and conservation space. Women Shaping Conservation is a new program within Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia with a shared vision and mission of WSF's Women Hunt® program.

Gray sits down with Women Hunt® founder and Chair Renée Thornton, Women Shaping Conservation Chair Rebecca Peters, (a 2021 Women Hunt® sponsored New Hunter Course alumni), and Amy Patrick, Policy Director of Oregon Hunters Association (a 2022 Women Hunt® sponsored New Hunter Course alumni) to discuss their journeys as new hunters, challenges they faced, opportunities they enjoyed and the future of Women In Hunting™.

To learn more about the Wild Sheep Foundation, and to become a member, visit our website wildsheepfoundation.org.

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