Through the Gates

In this episode of Through the Gates, Dan Gates sits down with  @Laramysasquatchmiller   at the Mile High Hunting Expo in Denver, Colorado to break down the growing battle over wildlife management, hunting rights, and political influence in the West.

From wolf reintroduction to trapping bans, ballot initiatives, and the increasing role of emotion-driven policy, this conversation dives deep into the real threats facing the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

Laramy shares firsthand experience as an outfitter, hunter, and conservationist—highlighting how rapidly Colorado has changed, why science-based wildlife management is being challenged, and what sportsmen must do to protect the future of hunting.

This is a must-listen for hunters, outdoorsmen, conservation advocates, and anyone concerned about the future of wildlife policy in America.

👉 Topics include:

Colorado wolf reintroduction & its consequences
The decline of science-based wildlife management
Trapping bans and anti-hunting legislation
The role of politics in wildlife decisions
Why hunters must engage in the fight
The future of conservation in the West

🎯 If you care about hunting, conservation, and the outdoors—this episode matters.

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In this episode of Through the Gates, we expose what many hunters, ranchers, and the people of Colorado need to understand about the powerful and national network of animal rights extremists that are manipulating  science-based wildlife management for agenda driven politics.

Following the controversial Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting on March 4–5, this episode dives deep into the growing concerns about how political pressure, activist organizations, and government appointments may be influencing wildlife management decisions that were once driven by science.

Host Dan Gates breaks down the network of activists, nonprofits, political figures, and commission appointments that are working together to reshape wildlife policy across the American West. The major players include Governor Polis, First Gentleman Marol Reis, Samantha Miller, Wayne Pacelle, Mark Surls and organizations such as the Center for Biological Diversity, Project Coyote, Humane World for Animals and Prairie Protection Colorado just to name a few. From petitions targeting trapping and fur sales to legislation affecting wolves and beavers, this episode connects the dots between policy proposals, activist campaigns, and political relationships.

The conversation also examines:

• The rise of professional wildlife activism across western states
• How ballot box losses are shifting strategies toward commissions and rulemaking
• The role of political appointments in wildlife policy decisions
• The tension between science-based wildlife management and ideology-driven policy

With nearly 500 Coloradans attending the March CPW Commission meeting, this episode explores the growing public attention on the future of wildlife management and the North American Model of Conservation.

If you care about hunting, trapping, ranching, conservation, or public policy affecting wildlife in the West, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

Follow Through the Gates for weekly discussions about wildlife policy, conservation, hunting advocacy, and the fight to keep wildlife management science-based.

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

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This is what ignoring wildlife science looks like.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommended denial.
Sportsmen came out 500 strong against about 40 antis.
The biologists are telling us that harvest is not impacting populations.
The commissioners didn't know what they were voting on yet.

Despite all of this, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted to ban fur. The future of conservation, hunting, and trapping in Colorado is being decided right now.

In this episode of Through the Gates, we break down what happened at the recent Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting as debate heats up over the fur ban in Colorado and what it could mean for hunters, trappers, rural communities, and the future of wildlife management.

Host Dan Gates sits down with Doug Chaisson from the Fur Institute of Canada to discuss the real impacts of fur bans, the role of trappers in wildlife science, and why sportsmen and women from across Colorado showed up in force to defend the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. 

From the economic realities of the fur trade to the political landscape shaping wildlife policy, this conversation explores what’s happening behind the scenes and why sportsmen must stay engaged in the fight for science-based wildlife management.

More than 500 sportsmen, trappers, outfitters, and conservation advocates attended the commission meeting to make their voices heard as the state considers moving forward with rulemaking that could affect fur sales and trapping regulations. 

Whether you hunt, trap, fish, or simply care about wildlife conservation, this episode explains why decisions being made today could shape the future of conservation for generations.

If you care about wildlife, conservation policy, hunting rights, and the future of trapping in North America — this conversation matters.

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

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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.

👇 Like, subscribe, and share to support science-based wildlife management.

👉 Support the mission: SaveTheHuntColorado.com
👉 Join CRWM: Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management
👉 Follow the fight for science-based wildlife management

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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.

👉 Subscribe for more in-depth conversations on wildlife policy, conservation, public lands, and the future of the West.

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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.

👉 Learn more and get involved at SaveTheHuntColorado.com

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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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