Episode 83 - The Real Yellowstone: Ranching, Wildlife, Hunting, and Conservation

What happens when ranchers, hunters, other conservationists, and rewilders fight over the future of the West? Tom Opre returns to discuss The Real Yellowstone, a documentary examining the complicated relationship between ranching, wildlife, conservation, and the changing landscape of the American West. The film asks difficult questions about who manages wildlife, who benefits from it, and what happens when longtime rural communities collide with new ideas about rewilding and public lands. The conversation digs into regenerative ranching and how carefully managed grazing can improve soil health, water retention, biodiversity, and even wildfire resilience. Opre also explains how elk herds can create significant economic pressure on ranchers while highlighting models that allow wildlife to provide value back to the people stewarding the land. For hunters and anglers, the discussion goes beyond the usual arguments about hunting and conservation. Opre makes the case that hunting, fishing, agriculture, and rural communities are all connected to the broader conservation system, from habitat and clean drinking water to funding for wildlife management. The conversation also explores the growing disconnect between urban populations and rural America, the politics surrounding hunting and trapping, the future of public access, and why sportsmen may need to get better at telling conservation's story. Follow The Sportsmen's Voice for more weekly conversations on hunting, fishing, conservation, and outdoor policy. Get the FREE Sportsmen’s Voice e-publication in your inbox every Monday: ⁠www.congressionalsportsmen.org/newsletter⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices