Roundup 166 || We’re back with your weekly Roundup!

Summary

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The Origins Foundation Podcast: Roundup 166

Date: February 18, 2026
Hosts: The Origins Foundation team (Speakers A & B)

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Episode Overview

In this lively weekly roundup, the hosts dive into the latest conservation and hunting legislative updates across the United States, share behind-the-scenes anecdotes from recent industry events, and set the stage for the upcoming Safari Club International (SCI) convention in Nashville. The episode embodies the Foundation’s mission to champion hunting’s role in conservation, encourage principled advocacy, and provide in-depth analysis of policy developments affecting hunters and wildlife. Expect candid banter, informed commentary, and a few moments of comic relief as the hosts reflect on both personal and national happenings in the hunting community.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of Defending Hunting Narratives

• The episode opens with a reaffirmation of why the movement began:

  “Five years ago, there was a reason why I started this movement. ... We need to champion the truth around what we do and who we are.”
  (A, 00:02)

• Emphasis is placed on the need to proactively tell hunting’s story and support policy and community action.

2. Personal Updates & Travel Antics

• The hosts share some lighthearted personal updates:
  • Family life disrupted by school closures, flu outbreaks, and “Icemageddon” in Memphis.
    (01:15 – 03:00)
  • Fun aside on pets:

    “Let me close this door because I have a little wiener dog.”
    (A, 00:51)

• Both hosts have been traveling frequently for hunting-related business and are excited for in-person meetings at SCI.

3. Legislation Season: The Busy Time for Policy and Advocacy

• Discussion on how legislatures across the country are active, with many bills affecting hunting and conservation in play.
  • Speaker B notes a more positive attitude this year:

    “I have been really pleasantly surprised so far this year with our legislators—give credit where credit is due.”
    (B, 02:19)

• There is criticism of “pay to play” politics and concern about lobbying’s undue influence on legislation.

  “It’s amazing how many bills across the country are passed as a thank you for a really nice steak dinner and a bottle of wine.”
  (B, 03:46)

4. Event Preview: Safari Club International (SCI) Convention

• Both hosts preview the upcoming SCI Convention in Nashville (Feb 21), expressing excitement about networking, a new film premiere, and the unique atmosphere.
  • Advice for newcomers on what to expect at major industry gatherings.
  • Descriptions of the influencer scene at events like NWTF vs. SCI.

    “No costumes necessarily, but like really flashy put together. Yeah, outfits.”
    (B, 11:46)

5. Alphabetical Legislative Roundup

A. Arizona

• Headline: Arizona’s political balance and “right to hunt and fish” bill:
  • The state is described as “moments away from flipping” in terms of contentious hunting ballot initiatives, but has a strong and thoughtful commission.
  • Republicans currently control both legislative chambers, but the governor is a Democrat (Katie Hobbs).
  • Passage of an important “right to hunt and fish” bill out of committee; broad, bipartisan coalition support.

    “That’s a really good bill and we are looking forward to hopefully seeing that pass.”
    (B, 17:30)

• Wolf Legislation:
  • Multiple controversial bills focused on Mexican gray wolf management:
    • Bills to delist wolves from the Endangered Species Act, allow landowners to kill wolves, and cut conservation funding are highlighted.

    “2159 is blatantly at odds with the Endangered Species Act ... the sponsors have said, yeah, we know that, but then that sets us up to be able to institute a lawsuit.”
    (B, 21:14)

  • Hosts note the irony of parallel issues (wild horses vs. wolves) and share behind-the-scenes animal management challenges, such as wolves being fed horse meat.

    “The public is unaware of this ... the wolves are being fed horse meat.”
    (B, 23:30)

B. Colorado

• Key Update: March 5th will see a wave of citizen petitions at the commission level, including an attempted ban on the sale of fur.
  • Previous ballot initiatives on similar issues failed; hosts expect this one to fail as well, but are monitoring closely.

    “Fur in Colorado ... beaver, felt hats, cowboy hats ... fly ties, elk caddis ... all going through the commission.”
    (A & B, 27:05–27:26)

C. Georgia

• Noteworthy Developments:
  • Passage of Senate Bill 148 (Hunter Education in Schools Bill): Will allow (but not require) schools to offer hunter safety education as part of curriculum.

    “It will be taught by a DNR-certified hunter education instructor ... schools have apparently been very receptive.”
    (B, 28:15–29:09)

  • House Bill 946 will expand feral hog hunting rules, including drone usage for locating (not shooting) hogs.

D. Mississippi

• Big News: Senate passes a bear harvest bill (SB 2436) for the 2027–28 season, authorizing a limited, science-based harvest managed by lottery tags.
  • Non-residents can participate beginning several years down the line, with a strict tag percentage cap for outsiders.

    “I don’t hate this bill ... as long as they let the agency and the commission determine in accordance with the number of bears that they have.”
    (B, 36:24)

• Another Landmark: Possible passage (for the 12th attempt) of mandatory harvest check for white-tailed deer.
  • Mississippi is the only state without it; “lack of education, belief, non-belief in science” cited as reasons for historic opposition.

    “Please call your senators ... this is good for wildlife. We need this bill in Mississippi.”
    (B, 41:11)

E. Indiana

• Controversy: House Bill 1003 seeks to dissolve the Natural Resources Commission (NRC), shifting powers to the Department of Natural Resources or executive branch.
  • Conservation groups oppose this as it would reduce public voice and transparency in hunting and fishing rulemaking.

    “Congressional Sportsman foundation says: ‘Shortsighted Bill to Eliminate Indiana Natural Resources Commission’ ... commissions provide dedicated forum for hunters, anglers, and trappers to voice their opinions to an appointed body.”
    (A quoting CSF, 44:40)

F. Oregon

• Imminent Threat: State is close to qualifying a radical animal-rights ballot initiative (formerly IP13/IP3), which would ban hunting, fishing, and even artificial insemination of livestock.

  “They’re like 25,000 signatures away from it becoming a public ballot initiative ... it makes hunting, fishing, artificial insemination ... everything banned, including agriculture.”
  (A, 46:20)

G. Washington State

• All activity is tied to the commission, with little movement in the legislature.
• Episode closes with a bit of exasperation over persistent, commission-level management and policy issues.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Political Frustration:

  “It’s really hard not to take legislation personally ... I just get so frustrated with these people passing laws ... just as favors for lobbyists.”
  (B, 02:41)

• Comic Relief:

  “I have a little wiener dog. What are you laughing? Because I said wiener.”
  (A, 00:51)

• Technology in Conservation:

  “You can buy cheap, cheap, cheap drones ... $109 drone ... it just needs to find a turkey for me.”
  (A & B, 30:44–31:35)

• On Consistency in Policy:

  “If we do not have self-sustaining populations, what are we doing here?”
  (B, 23:25)

• Legislative Call to Action:

  “Please send them emails. Please call them and say, like, this is good for wildlife. We need this bill in Mississippi, because we really do.”
  (B, 41:11)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:02–03:58: Opening reflections on the movement, hunting’s narrative, personal banter about family, travel, and illness
• 04:00–05:56: Legislative “busy season,” lobbying, how hunting community feels about statehouses
• 09:56–13:33: SCI/NWTF conventions, influencer culture, networking opportunities in Nashville
• 13:45–20:57: Arizona legislative roundup: right to hunt and wolf management bills
• 26:18–28:08: Colorado update: upcoming commission meeting, fur and wolf citizen petitions
• 28:15–31:49: Georgia update: hunter education, feral hog hunting expansion, drone technologies
• 32:01–37:13: Mississippi: bear harvest bill, legislative process, agency science considerations
• 38:16–41:55: Mississippi: white-tailed deer harvest check bill, arguments and history of opposition, urgent advocacy call
• 42:04–44:40: Indiana: proposal to eliminate the Natural Resources Commission, implications for public oversight
• 45:41–46:28: Oregon: radical anti-hunting ballot initiative, agriculture and wildlife management
• 46:53–47:37: Washington State: commission drama, ongoing management conflicts
• 47:46–48:32: Wrap-up, info for listeners attending SCI this week, closing remarks

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Tone & Style

The conversation is candid and passionate, laced with humor, playful jabs, and moments of sincerity. The hosts convey deep knowledge of policy and advocacy, mix in self-deprecating jokes, and periodically break to encourage listener involvement or poke fun at themselves (“Ashley’s lonely, somebody text it, please,” (A, 25:32)). The language is direct, supportive of science-based management, and unapologetically pro-hunting conservation.

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For Listeners

This episode is a dynamic update useful for anyone wanting the latest on hunting-related politics, conservation news, and the intersection of advocacy and everyday life in the outdoors community. For those attending SCI, don’t miss the hosts’ invitation to connect at the event in Nashville—“Come have a drink on us!” (A, 08:58).

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Contact the Podcast:
Text: 601-790-0607
Show up at SCI in Nashville (Feb 21-23), Friday 4pm, Omni Ballroom AE for the film premiere and meet-up.

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Transcript

[A]

So five years ago, there was a reason why I started this movement. And the truth then is the truth now that we need to champion our narrative. We need to champion the truth around what we do and who we are. There's a sweet spot with a gun, you know, too heavy and it's a.

[B]

Burden to walk with.

[A]

Too light and you whipping it. Why is the project so important to the hunting community? It's. It's a. I think it's not only important. I think it's. I think it's vital. I think it's. It's just in time. It's like snakes and ladders. You guys are climbing the ladder and then somebody does something stupid and you just slide that. That is such an amazing analogy. Snakes and ladders. Yeah. You know, ivory, in my opinion, was the plastic of its age. Okay.

[B]

The expenses are going up. It goes a long way with families. We have families that do need it.

[A]

Let me close this door because I have a little wiener dog. What are you laughing? Because I said wiener.

[B]

I'm really glad you finished the sentence out. I'm sorry the first happened. What are we doing here today?

[A]

You're telling the whole world.

[B]

Said gooey banana.

[A]

Oh, man. We have had like last week the boys were in school and then the two weeks before that, the boys were not in school for two weeks. And now the school again's there. Yeah. Not snow. There was no snow in Memphis. It was ice.

[B]

Ice.

[A]

Icemageddon.

[B]

And we had MLK day. Mine got up for two days then. So now mine were out for two days for that. We didn't have snow or ice. And ours still got out of school. Just. I don't know why.

[A]

Consolation prize.

[B]

Yes. Yes. Yes. And now we're out again today. I've never known so many holidays right after Christmas.

[A]

Well, and it's your busy time of the year. Legislations. Legislatures are in all over the country. Right.

[B]

All over the country wreaking havoc.

[A]

But this is your busy season. This is what you. You. This is where you earn your money.

[B]

Trying to wreak havoc next three months. You know, I have been really pleasantly surprised so far this year with our legislators give credit where credit is due. I feel like a few years ago I had to take to the woods for real. Sometimes I take these things too personally the older I get.

[A]

Huh.

[B]

I have imagine that. Really hard not to take legislation personally. But I just get so frustrated with these people passing laws and making bad laws and. And, And I don't. Honestly, I don't get frustrated with members from. For Writing bills that they have convictions about. I get frustrated with legislators who write bills and enact bills and introduce bills just as favors for lobbyists. That is what frustrates me because you hear the term pay to play, you gotta pay to play. Yeah, well, I hate that term. But, but unfortunately in a lot of cases it turns out to be true.

[A]

And the lobbyist is working for somebody else and somebody else wants to see something being tried and something being pushed forward. And that's what happens, even though it's going to fail.

[B]

And it's amazing how many bills across the country are passed as a thank you for a really nice steak dinner and a bottle of wine.

[A]

Well, it's almost, it's funny that you're saying all these things. You know, you don't think, you don't take things personally. You know, you used to get frustrated. It's almost the pot calling the kettle black before we started this conversation.

[B]

Why, why are you saying that?

[A]

What did we say before we hit record?

[B]

Oh, oh, that. I put, that you put too much pressure on yourself.

[A]

Yeah, well, I guess I don't mature as you is based on what is what I'm trying to say here. You've matured in your growth on.

[B]

I, I, I mean, I still get hugely frustrated, but I mean, I don't get that frustrated with myself. You get frustrated with yourself.

[A]

Well, I have high standards and you.

[B]

Do have, you do have high standards.

[A]

The only reason we are here today is because of those high standards.

[B]

That's true. 100% true. And we are here to talk about the roundup of all the news. We haven't had one in a few weeks. We've been traveling. You've been traveling? I've been traveling and then I got the flu.

[A]

Flights already this year. You've had the flu twice this year.

[B]

I am maybe the only person. I'm the only person, at least that I know. I'm sure there are other people across America who have had the flu twice this season. I did not know that you could get the flu twice in one season. Apparently I, that you, you can. Guys, you can get the flu twice in one season. And the second time I had it this past week, my 10 year old and I had it. And it was so much worse than the first time I had it, which was Christmas week. Christmas week I had it. And I thought I was gonna die this past week. It was horrible. Horrible. I thought this is why people go to the hospital. I mean, and you really can die from the flu. And it crossed my mind that I might. I took Zofluza and I mean, I'm still like stuffy. You can hear my nose is still stuffy.

[A]

Let's see what you pick up at SCI this week.

[B]

I do not want to pick up anything except for maybe some sort of margarita silent auction win. That's what I would like to pick up. Maybe a nice fishing trip or a.

[A]

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[B]

We are so rarely in one place together.

[A]

Exactly. It's going to be. It's going to snow in actual night once.

[B]

Are you just.

[A]

No, I'm just saying because we're in the same place at the same time.

[B]

Oh, okay. Don't scare me. I was just trying to figure out. I have to go to. I am going to Washington D.C. tomorrow and then straight to Nashville from there. And I was just trying to figure out if I really needed to bring a big coat or not.

[A]

Oh, you'll be inside most of the time until you have to leave for dinner and whatnot and go into a place.

[B]

So it'll be cold in dc. It's always cold up there. So yeah, I'm excited. This is my first sci.

[A]

You've never been to SEI before?

[B]

No.

[A]

Oh, it is maelstrom. It is a maelstrom. And what I love about the Nashville Convention center specifically is it's all glass on the outsides. When you're walking, it feels like it's way more open than it is.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And then when you walk Onto the convention floor. Right at the top of the roof, they've got windows.

[B]

Oh, really small.

[A]

Like probably. I would say that, you know, based on you being at the bottom, they're probably 4 foot or 6 foot high windows, but all across the top so it looks like you can see outside as well instead of being completely closed in. Like I was at NWTF where it was just pandemonium.

[B]

NWTF is pandemonium. But it was fun, right?

[A]

Yeah, it was fun. Made a lot of, you know, rekindled a bunch of relationships. We had met some new people. Yeah, it was good. That's really good. You know, it's such a unique little market, especially like the influencer crowd.

[B]

Oh, there's a lot. There are a lot.

[A]

Just people know, you know, that. That they now costumes.

[B]

No costumes necessarily, but like really flashy put together. Yeah, outfits.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, of course, of course. This is the South, Right?

[B]

So now let me ask you this. How were the influencer outfits at NWTF versus what I will see at sci?

[A]

Well, there's no influences at sci, except like, except celebrities. That's all that, like Kit Rock shows up right at sci. John Mayer will show up at sci. Those kinds of things. There's no real.

[B]

I need to be dressed out.

[A]

To meet John Mayer. I think he's on tour right now, so you won't meet John Mayo.

[B]

But I mean, Kid Rock.

[A]

Kid Rock was so drunk the last time he was at sea.

[B]

I would. I would like a picture with Kid Rock. I haven't been to some Kid Rock concerts in the past. Apparently Kid Kid Rock supposedly has gotten a recent glow up.

[A]

Well, you can fangirl when you see him. I will. And faint and scream and stuff like that.

[B]

Yeah, I don't do that.

[A]

But no, there's no real influences. But at nwtf, they are like these guys that literally have created this online community. They do their little hunting show and now they've got T shirts. They've got their own brand, they've got their own stand. They're at the stand at this time and there's this long line of people wanting to get autographs and photographs. These guys, big time girls. Big time girls. I'm limbo.

[B]

I know. I was kind of surprised last year when I saw that too. I hate. I hate I missed it this week.

[A]

Big shout out to Drew Keith and Honeybreak for helping us with tickets and getting us in and introducing us to people. We're big fans. Thank you.

[B]

He literally just called me just now. This, like this second I took a picture of us Podcasting.

[A]

Well, tell him we just.

[B]

With the object or not.

[A]

We love Drew Keith. All right, Roundup, Roundup. In the news this week, we have lots of things going on because the legislator, as we have said, is in.

[B]

I don't even know where to start. So how about we just go alphabetically, do it? Arizona. Let's talk about Arizona.

[A]

Be the next Washington state.

[B]

You've said that. You've said that a few times. Why do you say that?

[A]

I think that there is. Well, they've got a strong commission. I'm a big fan of their commission. We know Jessica has just been added to the commission.

[B]

She hasn't been confirmed yet, but she will be seen.

[A]

It's just a state that feels that, like it's moments away from flipping in terms of, I don't know, like a ballot box initiative kind of state. But the commission's strong. The commission doesn't move, doesn't do anything silly. They do very, very thoughtful rulings. We haven't seen anything actually come out of the legislature in Arizona that has been quite controversial, actually. So I don't know why I say that. You just talk yourself off the list.

[B]

Yeah, well. And the Republicans control both the House and the Senate in Arizona. So that's why I'm like, I don't know if they're going to be Washington very soon. As long as they maintain those majorities. They have. They took over as majority in both chambers in 2024. Now, of course, they have a Democrat governor.

[A]

So that's so weird. How does that work?

[B]

Interesting. Don't you remember all of the big. It was a huge gubernatorial election when the.

[A]

The.

[B]

The Trump endorsed candidate. Who.

[A]

Oh, yeah. Yes, yes, yes. He was. She was neve.

[B]

She. She was a. Oh, you know, news. News reporter. News.

[A]

Oh, really?

[B]

Anchor, anchor.

[A]

Did something controversial come out about her? Is that what she was?

[B]

Yeah, it was just. Oh, gosh. And then. And remember the lieutenant governor was running against her, the Democratic one, and she kind of talks in the squeak. Talks like this. This is good. We do. I know their names and I can't believe I just. Okay, so hold on. You're going to remember this. And it was huge. Okay. Katie Hobbs. And she defeated Carrie Lake. Remember this? Now, Carrie Lake, the news anchor, very well spoken and, you know, but like super, super. She was super maga. And then Democrat Katie Hobbs, who, like, wouldn't even answer questions. They didn't have a debate. I mean, it was like she was kind of hiding the whole time. It was kind of crazy. Like it was this big. But Arizona is very, very split down the middle. And those elections always go either way, both in the congressional races and then all the statewide elections are very much split down the middle and swing back and forth between Republicans, Democrats and independents. But now you go county by county, and then that's when you get into very partisan politics. So right now we have Republican House and Senate. So we have had this slew of bills that have come through, one of which we are very excited about, which is the Arizona right to hunt and fish, which they have not had, and it passed out of committee and is now heading to the House floor and I think has a very good chance of passing.

[A]

And you said congressional sportsman's foundations behind that bill. Right.

[B]

They work very hard on all of these in most of the country. Yeah. I mean, there's a whole coalition of people that are supporting that bill. So that's a, that's a really good bill and we are looking forward to hopefully seeing that pass. And in addition to that one, we'll monitor and watch that one as it moves forward. Of course, there's a loss of coalition against it, but I don't think that they're going to be able to block it. Now what the governor ends up doing will be interesting to see who she's listening to. But, you know, so far she has, I think, been pretty good on conservation type of things. I mean, her appointments, she appointed Jessica and she's made some really good appointments to different commissions and she talks to friends of ours regularly to get input on decisions that she makes. And so she really listens to the conservation and hunting and fishing community making decisions. So hopefully she will as well on this one. But there were a slew of wolf bills that just.

[A]

What is a slew? How many is in a slough?

[B]

4. There have been more than that introduced, but four of them passed out of committee.

[A]

Holy.

[B]

This past week. And they are highly controversial bills, as is the entire wolf program in Arizona. So Arizona reintroduced the Mexican gray wolf, and the Mexican gray wolf is still listed as endangered under the Endangered Species act, although many, many, many proponents say that it has is not no longer endangered, that it is recovered. Estimates of the Mexican gray wolf population put it at around 286 right now in the state. And so one of the bills that was introduced is frankly probably unconstitutional. And they know this. And this is, this is actually one of their it's a House concurrent memorial 2006. And this is Arizona Congressman Paul Gosser introduced. So he introduced this to delist the wolf from the act. He introduced this last year. And then this concurrent memorial urges the President, Congress and the Secretary of Agriculture to do what he proposed in his bill last year to delist the wolf from the esa.

[A]

And so it didn't do anything last year, right?

[B]

Last year it didn't do anything. And then this year it. So there's, there's. Okay, so there's a bunch of. Let me, let me kind of. Well, it doesn't really matter. Honestly, it doesn't really matter. We're gonna. Yeah, there's. We've got, we've got HCM 2006, we've got House Bill 2159 that would require Arizona Game and Fish to issue permits to landowners to allow them to kill Mexican gray wolves on their property. And then the department has. It would allow the department to give compensation for the humane and non lethal trapping of wolves and then also to allow them to issue sport hunting opportunities consistent with rules adopted by the department. And then.

[A]

Obviously that one, 27 is another one, right? Yeah.

[B]

20. What'd you say?

[A]

2787.

[B]

Yeah, 2787 is disallowed state dollars to be used for conservation efforts of wolves. Of wolves, right.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

And then you've got 2159. That's the one that they can issue permits, landowners and allow 2158, 2006. Yeah. And 2158 expands the definition of predatory animals to bears, mountain lions, cougars and wolves, which would then allow like depredation permits for ranchers. So especially the 2159 is blatantly at odds with the Endangered Species Act. And so opponents have said, well, that's completely unconstitutional. And, and look, the bill sponsors have said, yeah, you know, we know that, but then that sets us up to be able to institute a lawsuit. And that's what they want to do. And then other lawmakers have said, well, then we're on the hook. The state's on the hook for this lawsuit and we're going to lose. And is that fiscally responsible? And so it's just stirred up this firestorm out there over Mexican wolves.

[A]

Wow. Because I know that a bunch of effort has gone into the Mexican gray wolf. We've spoken with Jim Heffelfinger in the past about the efforts from the service. It's been a monumentous effort and the amount of money that has gone into it has been incredible. But I think what's the population 56 now? I don't know, it's. And supposedly I think it's at the, really the northern fringe of their range too.

[B]

I mean, what's funny to me is we've been working on this wild horse documentary and you know, the management issue out there and the lack of management and horses decimating the landscape and all that, all that stuff. And wolves come up and some of the advocates to remove horses from the landscape and have more management, all of that stuff are proponents of the gray wolves out there. And you would think that they would be at odds because you know, they're arguing that oh, these horses are not self sustainable, they don't have enough food, humans are having to feed them. Well, neither are the gray wolves. The state is having to feed the Mexican.

[A]

That's right, that's right. I remember the controversy of potentially using horses. Yeah, horse meat.

[B]

Nobody, the public is unaware of this. You know what? The wolves are being fed horse meat. Horse meat. And that is not widely known public information. So I mean on one hand we have horses everywhere that you know, are not sustainable and everybody's arguing that that's not a good thing. And yet over here, on this other hand we have these Mexican gray wolves that not. They can't support themselves either. And these people are saying, well that's okay. So why, why is that okay? If we do not have self sustaining populations, what, what are we doing here? Now there is, there are some, there's some antics going on. I mean look, one of the arguments from this House Bill 2158 on expanding the definition of a predatory animal is that, well, children are having to hiding, they're having to hiding cages while they wait for their school buses because of reports of animals being a threat to people. Well, apparently, I guess maybe that's from coyote attacks in the past or something like that. And so you see pictures of these cages and they look like chicken coops.

[A]

No way kill going into these. These are they, are they next to bus shelters?

[B]

Yeah. Yes and, or yeah, or near their houses. And so apparently this is a publicity sign. There has never been a report, no confirmed report of a Mexican gray wolf attacking a person.

[A]

Yeah, for sure, for sure.

[B]

That's not, that's not.

[A]

Somebody's listening to this in Arizona. Send us a picture of this.

[B]

I'm sure you can google it.

[A]

Chicken coop. I don't want to Google it. I want someone to send me a picture. Send us a picture. What's our Google number? 601. I don't even have my phone with me today. 601.

[B]

I will tell you it is.

[A]

8700607. Something like that.

[B]

We haven't been saying it enough because nobody, nobody's Texted you.

[A]

Oh, gosh, Ashley's lonely. Somebody text it, please.

[B]

I can't find it. Where'd it go? I got to put my sticky note back up.

[A]

Just type it in. You don't have it in your phone as the Google number.

[B]

The other I have it in, not the one that it's actually okay. It is 601. 601. 797 0607.

[A]

I got pretty close. I messed up one number. 790-060-7601, 790-0607.

[B]

Going back on a post it note. Okay, that time. 601. That's probably the biggest. I mean, that's enough. But that's the biggest stuff coming out of Arizona right now. Let's see. Alabama, Arizona, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut.

[A]

All those are good.

[B]

Florida, Georgia. Let's.

[A]

You went through Colorado, number one. Colorado has got.

[B]

You talk about Colorado because I have not gotten the newest info from neither.

[A]

So I've shouted to Dan Gates and Dan Gates is like, hey, heads up. We have got a battle brewing on our hands. March 5th. There's a bunch of citizen petitions going forward through the commission. It's not a legislative piece of business. And one of the things that they are pushing through the commission is it's like you're an old lady searching through her handbag. All I can hear is, well, if.

[B]

You saw my desk drawer, it looks worse than I.

[A]

This petition, one of the citizen petitions going to the commission is to ban the sale of fur. Now, if you remember, in Colorado, they already tried that.

[B]

Right?

[A]

They tried it through the ballot box initiative and it failed at the, at the ballot box, it failed. Right now they're trying through the commission. It should fail again.

[B]

Fur in Colorado, you just cannot.

[A]

Beaver, felt hats, cowboy hats that have beaver on it.

[B]

Fly ties, elk caddis.

[A]

The most famous tie fi in Colorado, the elk hair cattus. Yeah, it's now going through the commission. But there's also a wolf petition in the commission. There's also Dan Gates citizen petition about science. I believe there's all sorts of things happening at commission March 5th. So we're keeping our eyes on that and we're going to say a couple of things in the, in the next week or so, 10 days or so about things. So. Yeah.

[B]

And people chat, I'm sure.

[A]

Yeah, we keeping an eye on Colorado. Hey, easy. You're just smacking the microphone. It's the pressure on the of the flu.

[B]

They're squashing my ears.

[A]

All right, so Colorado, Georgia, let's go.

[B]

Georgia Georgia, and it's been a couple weeks, but we haven't done this in a couple weeks. So it's nice to announce this. And the governor still hasn't signed it, so it'd be nice for him to go and sign it. Georgia passed the hunter education in schools bill, which is good. It was Senate Bill 148, the Outdoor and hunter safety education bill. We supported this last year and it missed it a little, but it got through this year. Senate Bill 148. So allow public school systems to offer hunter safety education as part of the curriculum for students in grades six through 12. So Georgia DNR will come up with the curriculum. It will be taught by a DNR certified hunter education instructor. Importantly, the bill authorizes but does not require local boards of education to offer the classes. So schools will now have the option to offer that and hopefully they will. I think schools have apparently been very receptive. To me, this is an option. So I think that is an exciting, exciting development in Georgia. House Bill 946, Frill Hog Hunting expansion, has passed in the House and is now heading to the Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee. This broadens hunting and trapping the frail hogs and removes certain permit requirements, which is great, as everyone who has frail hogs on their property knows or who has tried to hunt public property and run into them. And it allows the use of drones to locate dragons, the hogs. You cannot kill them with the drones, but you can locate them with the drones. So that's been kind of a. A lot of states have prohibitions on locating any type of wildlife with drones, and we do know it's a slippery slope. But for these nuisance type of species, and especially these hogs, which are so invasive, this I think will be an effective tool in the toolbox of.

[A]

Well, let's just hope people do not abuse that. Right, Right. Especially turkey season or deer season. Oh, I was flying my drone to find hogs, but actually you were flying to see if there was a strut in turkey in the food plot that you can't see from the.

[B]

Right. And there's, you know, enforcement of that is going to probably be pretty difficult. But drones are also very expensive. So.

[A]

No, you can buy cheap, cheap, cheap drones to go.

[B]

You can?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like how cheap?

[A]

A couple hundred bucks. If that's cheap cheap.

[B]

That is not cheap cheap.

[A]

Yeah, it's not $2,000 anymore. It's a normal drone. Look, let me read.

[B]

Are they good, though?

[A]

It doesn't have to be good. You just need to know if there's a turkey in the food plot or not? I'm going to have to search for buying a drone right now. Buying a drone.

[B]

I mean, I wonder how good a turkey drone is it.

[A]

Located 14.99.

[B]

What?

[A]

There's a drone for 400 bucks. Here's a drone for 130 bucks. 109 bucks right here.

[B]

I wonder how good $109 drone is.

[A]

As I said, it just needs to find a turkey for me.

[B]

I mean, from a hobby buck.

[A]

I'm just saying that the price point isn't prohibitive.

[B]

Not prohibited. No, not 109. But you know, for hogs, it probably. You probably really need to have a thermal drone.

[A]

That's true. That would help for sure. That would help for sure. Right.

[B]

Okay. Pretty big news out of Mississippi. I don't know that we're still in alphabetical order. I think so. Yeah.

[A]

Unless you better slide on that in between.

[B]

Unless you had a state to insert in between G and M. But the Senate has passed a bear harvest bill, which is pretty huge, and it is.

[A]

For a bear harvest bill in Mississippi.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

From a science perspective.

[B]

Well, not exactly. Not exactly. But it's also not of this year.

[A]

Bill does the bill allow for.

[B]

So let me tell you what it is. So you Understand it is 2436. And what it does is it directs the agency for the 2027, 28 season to establish a harvest program and for the commission to set a number of harvest tags and in accordance with science, based on the number of bears that we have in the state at that time, it says that it if in order to obtain a bear tag, you have to have a Mississippi hunting license, you have to have a bear tag, that they will establish a lottery system, that there will be a draw and that you are eligible if you are a resident of Mississippi and that there will be one tag that will be a governor's tag that will be auctioned off. That will money will go back into the bear program. And then starting in, I believe it is year 30 that non residents will be eligible. But no more than 10% of the.

[A]

2030 or year 30 of the bear harvest program, because that's a 2030 difference.

[B]

Okay, 2030. It might be 2032. I'd have to go back and look at that. It's a few years down the road. No more than 10% of the bear tags will be available to non residents.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And it's this. The, the agency will set the dollar amount for those tags and the number each season. So in talking to these legislators because as you and I know right now, Mississippi has an idea of how many bears that they have in the state, but they don't know exactly how many they have. And they're working on that right now strenuously. And so I said, look, what if, what if they don't think they have enough? Or what if it's not as many as they, you know, thought they had or what, what happens if, you know, in a couple years? And they said, well, look, they think they have around this X number. And so we know it's going to grow in a couple years and we think we can at least support, you know, few. But I mean, maybe what if they say, well, look, we can support one? Well, then they issue one tag. But they said, we want them to be thinking along the lines of let's move in that direction and let's make sure that we are trying to gather the data, trying to determine how many bears we have because, you know, we know there's a lot of bears up and down the river and we know that we're close to being able to support a harvest season. So let's just make sure we're working in that direction. So I don't hate this bill. And when I first read it, I was a little bit alarmed just because, you know, we know what's going on at the agency and how hard they are trying to determine and they're switching over, they think they're going to stretch over depending on what the science shows between the hair snare method and the drone method. And so I was like, oh, I don't know if I like this. But then the more I've looked at the bill, looked a bill, because there was a bill, the bear bill, that I didn't like at all that told him how many tags and started it immediately and all that stuff. And I was like, well, that's not even remotely science based. And that one, that one died in committee. But this one, I, I, you know, think as long as they let the agency and the commission determine in accordance with the number of bears that they have, you know, at the time of the 27, 28 season, that I think that the agency, I'm confident in the, you know, director of the program, Anthony Ballard and his superiors, that they will, they will do the, you know, right side.

[A]

That's my only concern. And you know, this from the beginning. If we don't have the science and they pass this out, it just opens us up for legal scrutiny from the people who do not think that Bears should be hunted or end of story.

[B]

Right, right, right. And I mean and these legislators have said, look, we can also kick the can down the road if we get to that time, you know, we can amend the bill to change the year.

[A]

Okay, well let's see what happens. What's the timeline?

[B]

I don't know. I don't know. So it's got to go to the House now. So it will have to go to the House and it will have to pass out of the House Wildlife Committee and then it'll have to pass the full House. So it'll have to get out of the House Wildlife Committee within the next few weeks and then go to the full House. And so we will see what happens.

[A]

I honestly don't passed out the Senate Wildlife Committee and the Senate D. Okay, yeah.

[B]

What they're what happens over in the House. You know, there hasn't been a lot of talk or education on this really the state. So I'll be interested to see what happens. And now another bill that is moving or has moved is the mandatory harvest check for deer for white tailed deer within the state. Mississippi is the only state that does not have a harvest reporting system for white tail deer. And they have tried, I think this is the 12th year in a row that they have tried to pass this bill.

[A]

Why anybody against this? Why is, why is it not passed for 12 years?

[B]

Lack of education, belief, non belief in science.

[A]

They just don't want people to know how many deer they're taking.

[B]

Yeah. You know they view it as over, over regulation. And, and so it's passed out of the Wildlife Committee several times. It passed out of the Wildlife Committee last year, passed the House last year. So it just passed this past week. And Chairman Kincaid, it's his bill, Bill Kincaid, he's a great legislator, a great sportsman, passed it out. It was a 66 to 44 vote in the House. So it has now passed and it's headed over to the Senate. Senate Wildlife Committee. Chairman Suber, Ben Suber is a great guy. We have heard through multiple sources that the lieutenant governor has said that he is okay with the spill. And so it's in the hands of the Senate Wildlife Committee. We have also heard that there are multiple members of the Senate Wildlife Committee who are opposed to this right now. Now the bills originally written had some pretty stiff penalties. It made it a Class 2 penalty. It's put in the, there's one, two and three penalties under the wildlife laws and this had it as a Class 2 penalty. But that has been weakened. Weakened. It to a Class 3 penalty, which is lower. And the enforcement of it, I think, has pretty much gone away. I mean, at this point, they just want to get it started in Mississippi and so. And make it palatable for the public, like, to just get used to turning it in. It can be done via your phone, via the computer, via paper, so all different ways. And so I think that the state agency data. Yeah. Public to know. This isn't. This isn't the state agency trying to keep their thumb down on you. I mean, they don't. This is not like, oh, we don't want you to. We want you to hunt less or not. I mean, this is. They still want you to hunt, hunt, hunt, hunt, hunt, hunt, hunt. As much as you can hunt more. They've been begging people to shoot more does for years. This is a way for the agency, who is entrusted with the sustainability of these species and doing everything they can to help you grow your deer population, to know what is out there and what are people harvesting and what's working, what's not working, and where are these deer being harvested and, you know, what size are they and what. What methods are working. And they cannot make educated decisions on managing this species if they don't know what's being harvested, where. And so this is just the best way for them to collect that data. And the agency needs that. And that's why every other state in the union does it, and nobody cares. And it's not a big deal. And I don't know why Mississippi legislators have made it a big deal here, because it's not. It's just like a normal part of wildlife management. So call your. Please call. Call your senators, like, get. There's a Mississippi legislature website, and you can go to the Senate Wildlife Committee, you can look up those members and literally link directly to their email address. Please, please send them emails. Please call them and say, like, this is good for wildlife. We need this bill in Mississippi, because we really do.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And we would appreciate your help with it.

[A]

Yeah. I did remember something that came before M. Did you see in Indiana.

[B]

You stopped listening to me about two minutes ago, didn't you?

[A]

Did you see that? Indiana?

[B]

No. What happened in Indiana?

[A]

The House Bill 1003 seeks to end the Natural Resources Commission.

[B]

Just end it.

[A]

Yeah. So it's interesting. It's not the DNR that's being removed.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

So in Indiana, there is a Natural Resources Commission, the nrc. The NRC is responsible for acting as a liaison between the general public and dnr. I don't know what that if there's an equivalent here in the south, it sounds like it's almost like the Council for Wildlife in Colorado that this house builds a 456 page bill and it reforms hundreds of boards and commissions in Indiana. And one of this, one of them that they want to dis, sort of get rid of, put into dissolution is the nrc which.

[B]

Well, they set deer seasons fishing limits.

[A]

The NRC does?

[B]

Yes. They set rules like deer seasons, fishing limits, habitat management fees, nature preserves.

[A]

Why doesn't the TNR do that?

[B]

I don't know, but apparently all the conservation groups and outdoor stakeholders oppose it because it's going to shift rulemaking authority to the executive branch. The dnr?

[A]

Yep.

[B]

Or another entity.

[A]

So. Huh.

[B]

They say it reduces public transparency and participation.

[A]

Y'. All. Maybe they.

[B]

So, so it kind of sounds like they have a system like Georgia where there's a super DNR and then like Georgia has, you know, big DNR and then there's the wildlife agency under it. Parks over here. You know, they have a gotcha, Jimmy Carter did it. I mean, I don't know that for sure, but that's just kind of what it sounds like to me, that they have the big DNR in Indiana and then underneath it is the NRC which operates kind of like the wildlife agency.

[A]

Gotcha Commission. So. Yeah, but I saw that come across my email I think a couple of days ago.

[B]

I was like, it's a broad boards and commissions overhaul. They're eliminating several other state advisory boards as well.

[A]

Maybe it's a efficiencies thing.

[B]

What, what does DNR say about it?

[A]

I don't know. I can't find anything. All I can read about is the Indiana Wildlife Federation commenting on it and.

[B]

They say they don't like it. Right.

[A]

Here's Congressional Sportsman foundation says Shortsighted Bill to Eliminate Indiana Natural Resources Commission Passes the House NRC commissions throughout the country provide dedicated forum for hunters, anglers and trappers to voice their opinions to an appointed body that is specifically comprised of individuals that are knowledgeable about sporting conservation issues. In many cases, such as Indiana, the commission also serves as the regulatory entity charged with working with the department to adopt science based regulations on hunting, fishing and trapping, among other fish and wildlife management decisions. There we go.

[B]

Interesting.

[A]

See what happens there. What else do we have?

[B]

Nothing very crazy. I mean, honestly, like things are going pretty okay. We're on most of the states right now.

[A]

I mean, just wait.

[B]

No, I'm like something's going to happen, something bad is going to happen, but.

[A]

Maybe not Oregon is so close to getting that bloody ballot initiative. Did you see that? Which one used to be called IP13, like, four years ago, then it got switched to IP3. Now it's. I don't know, but they're like 25,000 signatures away from it becoming a public ballot initiative, which is their whole animal abuse ballot initiative, which makes hunting, fishing, artificial incentment, like, everything to be banned, including agriculture. The Farm Bureau should be just, like, knocking this on its head because artificial.

[B]

Insemination on the ballot, right?

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But artificial insemination is called sex abuse.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I would do this.

[B]

Are there animals or people, too?

[A]

Animals.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Cows or sheep or horses?

[B]

Well, you already. Well, we shouldn't even go there.

[A]

It's just not.

[B]

No, so say you already cannot abort puppies and kitties. Right?

[A]

I don't know. I don't know.

[B]

We're already 42 minutes in. We are not going to wade into.

[A]

That today, but we're watching that as well, because that's a disaster. And then Washington state has a bunch of stuff happening at the commission level, too. Like, there's more and more, like, issues and things coming out in the open about Washington state and its politics. It's. It's.

[B]

How are any of the Washington commissioners still on the commission? I don't. Because there's not really that much going through their legislature right now.

[A]

It's all tied to the commission. Yeah, it's all commission. Yeah.

[B]

He'll never come on. But at some point, we should. We. If we could get our friend to come on here, it would be just a.

[A]

We may have to censor that podcast.

[B]

Be really good.

[A]

All right, cool. If anybody wants to text us. 601-790-0607. Did I get that right off your sticker?

[B]

Yeah. Please just say hi. They're gonna. They're gonna, like, kick us off the Google voice of Noni Texas.

[A]

Hi. Hi, Ashley. Just send a text if you have any information, ideas.

[B]

We love horses. Whatever.

[A]

Don't agree with your black, you know, black bear stance. You know, that was a popular one.

[B]

Bait the bears. Bait the bears. Give them donuts. Yeah, we didn't even have to talk about bears more, so I get more feedback. All right.

[A]

If you're an STI this week. All right, give us a dm. Reach us, let us know if you're there. Come by the premiere, 4 o', clock.

[B]

Friday, February 20th, at the Omni in the ballroom. Right.

[A]

Ballroom AE. All right, we'll see you guys there.

[B]

See you there. Bye.

[A]

Well, that's it for today. Appreciate you listening as always. Leave a review, share it with your friends and most importantly, do what's right to convey the truth around hunting.