In Episode 88 of Through the Gates, we join forces with  @salidagunshop   to break down the growing conflict surrounding wolf reintroduction, ballot initiatives, wildlife commission politics, and the widening urban-rural divide shaping Colorado’s future. From policy decisions affecting sportsmen to the long-term consequences for ranchers, outfitters, and conservation funding, this episode dives deep into what’s really happening behind the scenes.

We explore how political pressure, advocacy campaigns, and public perception are influencing wildlife management decisions — and what it means for hunters, anglers, landowners, and everyday Coloradans. If you care about conservation, predator management, public lands access, or the future of hunting in the West, this episode is a must-watch.

This isn’t just about wolves. It’s about who controls wildlife policy, how ballot box biology impacts science-based management, and whether traditional North American conservation principles are being reshaped in real time.

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In this special collaboration between Through the Gates and The Mountainside Podcast, Bobby Marshall sits down with Dan Gates, founder of Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management, to break down the escalating fight over wildlife conservation in Colorado.

At the center of the battle is the defense of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation — the gold standard framework that has guided science-based wildlife management for over a century.

Dan explains:
- How ballot-box biology is reshaping Colorado wildlife policy
- The political influence of Governor Jared Polis and appointed commissioners
- The impact of wolf reintroduction and anti-hunting initiatives
- How activist-driven legislation threatens science-based wildlife management
- The past victories that protected hunting and conservation funding
- The upcoming battles at the ballot, legislature, and commission levels
- Why sportsmen, ranchers, and rural communities are mobilizing

This episode is a deep dive into the intersection of conservation, politics, and the future of wildlife management in Colorado.

Whether you’re a hunter, conservationist, rancher, landowner, or concerned citizen — this conversation lays out what’s at stake and how you can get involved.

🎯 If you care about the future of wildlife, habitat funding, predator management, and the integrity of conservation policy — this episode is essential viewing.

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Is Colorado government broken?

In Episode 86 of Through the Gates, we sit down with gubernatorial candidate Greg Lopez to discuss the growing concerns over ballot initiatives, special interest influence, wildlife policy, and the future of Colorado’s constitutional republic.

From Proposition 114 and wolf reintroduction to the increasing power of direct democracy, this conversation dives deep into how ballot measures are shaping policy — sometimes without accountability — and what that means for hunters, ranchers, landowners, and everyday Colorado citizens.

Greg Lopez shares his perspective on:

The role of government vs. the will of the people

Special interests and outside money in Colorado politics

Wildlife management and the unintended consequences of ballot box biology

The future of Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Restoring accountability and constitutional governance

If you care about Colorado politics, wildlife management, constitutional government, or the impact of ballot initiatives on rural communities, this episode is a must-watch.

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Live from Sheep Show, Dan sits down with the Alaska Wild Project.

Abundant wildlife in North America didn’t happen by accident — it happened because of science-based wildlife management, the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, and the men and women willing to defend it.

In this episode Dan and AWP break down why the North American Model is the greatest conservation success story in the world — and why it’s currently under coordinated attack through politics, ballot initiatives, and misinformation. From the role of hunting and license funding to the growing disconnect between urban voters and on-the-ground wildlife realities, this episode pulls back the curtain on what’s really at stake.

Dan explains how conservation funding actually works, why professional wildlife managers must remain in charge of wildlife decisions, and what happens when emotional activism replaces biology. This is a timely, candid discussion about defending a system that works — and what sportsmen, conservationists, and everyday citizens can do to protect wildlife for future generations.

If you care about conservation, wildlife science, hunting traditions, or the future of wildlife management in Colorado and beyond, this episode is essential listening.

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In this episode of Through the Gates, we break down the growing legislative threats facing sportsmen, conservationists, landowners, and everyday Coloradans — and why these battles go far beyond hunting and fishing.

From Senate Bill 26-043, which seeks to regulate firearm barrels, to Senate Bill 26-062, targeting rodent control products and pest management, this episode exposes how policy decisions driven by ideology — not science — can directly impact public safety, food security, wildlife management, and personal freedoms.

The conversation then shifts to something every person can understand: food. We dive deep into the Wild Harvest Initiative, led by Shane Mahoney and Conservation Visions, and explain why wild food is a critical, renewable resource — not just for hunters and anglers, but for society as a whole.

You’ll hear how the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation remains the most successful conservation framework in the world, how hunting and fishing fund billions in conservation, and why disconnecting people from wild food and natural resources threatens both ecosystems and human well-being.

This episode connects the dots between:
• Wildlife conservation
• Sustainable food systems
• Public health
• Science-based management
• And the increasing influence of politics over expertise

Whether you hunt, fish, farm, or simply eat — this episode affects you.

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Jana Waller Bair, founder of Skull Bound Chronicles, joins the show to talk about hunting, storytelling, conservation, and what it means to live an unapologetic outdoor life in a world increasingly hostile to hunting traditions.

Jana shares her journey into hunting, how Skull Bound Chronicles was built to give hunters a voice, and why authentic storytelling matters more than ever. The conversation explores the challenges women face in the hunting space, the growing cultural divide around hunting, the importance of being educated and engaged, and why science-based conservation must remain the foundation of North American wildlife success.

Dan and Jana dive into the pressures coming from anti-hunting activists, the role of social media and censorship, and why hunters must stand firm, educate the public, and engage in policy conversations. From personal experiences in the field to the future of hunting media, this is an honest, thoughtful discussion about protecting wildlife, heritage, and conservation through responsible use.

Whether you’re a seasoned hunter, new to the outdoors, or simply interested in conservation and public lands, this episode offers insight into why hunting is not just relevant — it’s essential.

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The fight over furbearer hunting and trapping is escalating — and most people have no idea what’s actually happening.

In this episode of Through the Gates, we expose the growing political push to ban or restrict furbearer hunting, trapping, and wildlife utilization under the guise of “science” and “compassion.”

From bobcats and beavers to coyotes and ringtails, activist organizations are using misleading narratives, public pressure, and regulatory creep to undermine science-based wildlife management in Colorado and beyond.

We break down:
Why predators do not self-regulate near human populations
How fur bans quickly turn into total harvest bans
What the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission is facing right now
Why regulated trapping and hunting actually reduce conflict
How conservation funding depends on hunters and trappers

If hunting, trapping, conservation funding, or the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation matters to you, this episode explains what’s really at stake — and why staying silent is not an option.

👇 Join the movement defending science-based wildlife management
SaveTheHuntColorado.com

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In this urgent episode, Dan Gates lays out the reality of the fight facing hunters, trappers, and science-based wildlife management in Colorado. From the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to the state legislature and looming ballot initiatives, coordinated anti-hunting extremist efforts are working to dismantle the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

Dan breaks down how emotional activism, political pressure, and misinformation are being used to bypass professional biologists, undermine regulated hunting and trapping, and reshape wildlife policy through commission votes, legislation, and ballot-box biology. This episode connects the dots between activist messaging, policy outcomes, and what’s truly at stake for wildlife, rural communities, and conservation funding.

If you care about ethical hunting, sustainable wildlife management, and defending conservation decisions rooted in science — not emotion — this episode is a must-listen.

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Dan Gates breaks down and responds directly to public comments from the loudest anti-hunting activists influencing Colorado wildlife policy, including First Gentleman Marlon Reis, Project Coyote representative Mark Surls, and Samantha Miller (Ctr. for Biological Diversity), examining how their rhetoric collides with science-based wildlife management and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

Using their own words, Dan examines how emotional activism, misinformation, and ideological pressure are increasingly shaping wildlife decisions — often at the expense of science-based management. The episode highlights how these narratives impact Colorado Parks and Wildlife, public trust, and the future of regulated hunting, trapping, and conservation funding.

This is a critical conversation for anyone who cares about wildlife science, transparency, accountability, and keeping conservation decisions in the hands of professionals — not extremists.

Listen, share, subscribe and stay informed — the future of wildlife management depends on it.

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In our final episode of the year, Dan Gates takes a serious look at what’s coming next for Colorado’s furbearer management as the CPW Commission prepares to debate sweeping changes that could permanently reshape wildlife conservation in our state. We dig into what’s really at stake — from the future of regulated trapping and ethical fur use, to the role furbearers play in healthy ecosystems, to the danger of emotional politics replacing science-based wildlife management.

We talk about what these proposals could mean for Colorado’s wildlife, ranching communities, working landscapes, and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. If you care about science, sustainability, ethical use, and real conservation, this is a conversation you need to hear.

Listen, share, subscribe and stay informed — the future of wildlife management depends on it.

👉 Support the mission: SaveTheHuntColorado.com
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