Sheep Fever: Recent Episodes
The Wild Sheep Foundation
Sheep Fever is the official podcast of the Wild Sheep Foundation, delivering a diversity of topics, talent, and insights from within the wild sheep hunting and conservation community, as well as broader issues of importance to the outdoor lifestyles and hunting heritage cherished by millions of sportsmen and women around the globe.
Sold to unsuspecting voters as an animal-cruelty initiative, this measure garnered enough signatures to make it onto the November ballot in Oregon but failed in the signature validation process. Regardless, this attempt will not be the last in Oregon or other states. What Oregonians would have actually been voting on is to eliminate the state's food production - ranching, farming, and animal husbandry- while also making hunting, fishing, wildlife conservation, and pest control illegal. In this episode of Sheep Fever, we sit down with Amy Patrick, a policy and legislative lobbyist who has spent the past five years on the frontlines of this latest attempt to rewrite how animals and wildlife are valued and utilized by people. There is a lot to unpack: how an initiative like this could get this far, what's the endgame, why Oregon has become a testing ground for such radical ideas, and what it could mean, if passed, for sportsmen, ranchers, conservationists, and rural communities, not to mention food at the grocery store, and mice in your house. Even if you do not live in Oregon, pay attention—your state could be next.
Matt Besko is the Executive Director of the Hunting and Fishing Branch within the Lands Operations Division in Alberta Forestry and Parks. He is tasked with the management, regulations, and policies affecting Hunting and Fishing allocation and use, trapping, managing carnivores and human-wildlife co-existence.
In Part II of Sheep Fever's conversation with Matt, he and co-host Gray Thornton discuss the hunting cultures of Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and North America with a deep dive into Europe & North America.
While Europe's hunting culture and traditions remain at the forefront of their hunting experience, North American traditions, while still robust in the First Nation/Tribal community, appear less prominent. Is this a problem? Does it contribute to a lack of understanding of hunting and hunters by the non-hunting majority? Has North American hunting culture and traditions been replaced by technology? By something else? Is hunting culture and art relevant?
Besko is uniquely qualified to answer these questions and more.
What can we say about J. Alain Smith?
Hunter, conservationist, adventurer, acclaimed author of articles, hunting books, and novels, musician, comedian, farmer, Rugged Expeditions show host, podcaster, emcee extraordinaire, Conklin Award winner, Weatherby Award winner, WSF's Chris Klineburger Mountain Hunter Hall of Fame inductee, and a successful businessman in commercial painting, real estate, and shipping. J. Alain is a modern day Renaissance Man.
J. Alain and Sheep Fever Co-Host cover the gamut, from his early hunting beginnings in the Pacific Northwest, his hunts around the globe, his passion for sheep hunting, and why he hunts. Hunting Awards, trophy hunting, how to protect our hunting heritage from the threats of today and how we ensure its future are all covered in J. Alain's characteristic style and flair. You'll enjoy this episode!
Colorado has become a proving ground for ballot-box wildlife management, from wolf reintroduction and efforts to ban mountain lion hunting to recent pushes targeting trapping and predator management.
In this episode of Sheep Fever, we welcome back Dan Gates of Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management to break down what's happening in Colorado, who's behind these initiatives, and why the latest effort to establish a Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish matters. If successful, Colorado would join 24 other states that have already secured this protection.
The stakes reach far beyond Colorado. Across the country, hunting, science-based wildlife management, and predator control are increasingly being challenged by activist-driven campaigns. This conversation explains why sportsmen and conservationists everywhere should be paying attention.
Even more can be found at https://savethehuntcolorado.com/
We often hear the phrase "for future generations" as one of the purposes for wildlife conservation and the long-term stewardship of game populations. But what about hunting itself?
In this episode, Shane Mahoney joins us for a thought-provoking conversation about the future of hunting in North America and beyond. What will public hunting look like 10, 20, or even 50 years from now? As science-based wildlife management increasingly faces challenges in the court of public opinion, hunters and conservationists must confront a growing reality: the future of hunting can no longer be taken for granted.
Shane explores the cultural, social, and political forces shaping public perceptions of hunting, the critical role sportsmen and women play in conservation funding and wildlife management, and why proactive engagement is essential if we hope to preserve hunting opportunities for future generations.
This is a timely discussion about the challenges ahead—and what it will take to ensure hunting remains a valued and relevant part of conservation's future.
The reestablishment of bighorn sheep in North Dakota was nearly shelved after numerous translocations of bighorn not suited to the terrain and harsh winters which hampered lamb recruitment. A phone call from WSF's Kevin Hurley, then with Wyoming Game & Fish Department to Brett Wiedmann, North Dakota Game and Fish Department's Bighorn Program Lead and Biologist, turned the tide when Hurley advised Wiedmann of an opportunity for some Missouri River Breaks bighorns from Montana. Similar in bloody size to the extirpated Audubon sheep that called the Mandan country home, and with financial support from the Minnesota-Wisconsin chapter of FNAWS, now Midwest WSF Chapter that initial translocation from Montana to North Dakota was what was needed.
Brett Wiedmann and Kevin Hurley join Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton for a conversation of the initial challenges, at times failures, and then success of the North Dakota bighorn comeback. Brett gives a history of bighorns in the state, he and Kevin discuss that fateful phone call, and they both share where bighorn sheep restoration and bighorn sheep hunting in North Dakota are today.
The 91st North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference recently concluded in Columbus, OH, hosted by The Wildlife Management Institute (WMI). Why a podcast about a conference? Because this is where the rubber meets the road as far as wildlife and natural resource conservation is concerned, for everything from whales to hummingbirds.
Sheep Fever sits down with WMI President & CEO, Tony Walsey, and WSF's own Corey Mason to share a glimpse of the incredible width and depth of conservation efforts taking place every day across North America and internationally.
Take what you see in the "media" with a grain of doubt. Not everything is in crisis. There is and has been a colossal effort taking place by people, businesses, departments, universities, agencies, institutions, and organizations working under the banner of wise use without waste – the true definition of conservation.
For decades, the hunting and conservation community has advocated—through organizations, programs, and initiatives—for educating the non-hunting majority on the value of hunting to wildlife and habitat conservation. This need is even enshrined in the Wild Sheep Foundation mission: to educate the public and youth on sustainable use. But have we succeeded? Is this focus still critical? And how do we move the needle on public perception?
In this episode, Mark Hall of the Wild Origins Canada Foundation joins Gray N. Thornton to explore how storytelling can reach the "moderate middle"—impacting, educating, informing, and challenging thought around hunting and conservation. They discuss what messages resonate, which fall flat, and how to shape hearts and minds in a changing landscape.
Mark also shares the vision behind Project Grizzly Balance—an effort to restore the sustainable use of grizzly bears across British Columbia and beyond for the benefit of both wildlife and people.
Matt Besko—Executive Director of the Hunting and Fishing Branch with Alberta Forestry and Parks—joins Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton for a conversation on modern wildlife management. Besko oversees hunting and fishing regulations, allocation, trapping, carnivore management, and human-wildlife coexistence across Alberta.
With more than 30 years working as a wildlife, fisheries, and habitat biologist, he brings a practical perspective on balancing opportunity with long-term conservation. The discussion covers Alberta's management approach, bighorn sheep stewardship, and the realities of managing wildlife across a range of landscapes and competing interests.
They also get into hunting traditions in North America and Europe, and why those roots still matter. It's an honest conversation about the challenges, the tradeoffs, and why this work continues to matter.
In this episode of Sheep Fever, Gray Thornton sits down with Ricardo Olivieri of Beretta to explore what it means to represent a brand with over 500 years of history. Olivieri shares insight into Beretta's enduring philosophy, from its deep-rooted commitment to craftsmanship to the generational knowledge passed down through its workforce. The conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how a firearm moves from concept to completion, highlighting the precision, artistry, and innovation that define the brand.
The episode also touches on Beretta's role in conservation, including a standout moment from the 2026 Sheep Show where a one-of-a-kind SO6 EELL Sparviere Marco Polo shotgun raised more than $500,000. Those funds are now supporting wild sheep conservation efforts through the ION Partnership across Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada—putting a 500-year legacy to work on the ground for wild sheep.
Bighorns in Nebraska? When one thinks of bighorns, you'd likely get a pass if you do not first point to green and yellow fields of corn as far as the eye can see. But there are mountains and excellent bighorn sheep habitat in the cornhusker state. In fact, before their extirpation in the early 1990s, about 1,000 bighorns and particular Audubon bighorns thrived in the Pine Ridge and Wildcat Hills regions of the Nebraska Panhandle. Over harvest by unregulated hunting, habitat loss, and disease were the primary factors of their disappearance. But due to the conservation efforts of Nebraska Game & Parks, and years of funding by partners such as the Wild Sheep Foundation, Iowa FNAWS, Nebraska Big Game Society, Midwest WSF, and others, bighorns have made a comeback. Translocated in multiple actions, from Montana and Alberta bighorn sheep are back and Nebraska Bighorn Program Lead Todd Nordeen and his exceptional team at Nebraska Game & Parks work tirelessly to keep them there.
Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton sits down with Todd to discuss the history of bighorns in the state, their comeback, the set-backs that continue, as well as the path forward to return the their high of 1,000. The two go beyond Nebraska as well, diving into building source stock, the success of captive breeding at a facility in the historic Ft. Robinson State Park, future work at a new disease clearing facility, and the prospects of growing bighorns and thinhorn sheep throughout their range.
Todd is a best in class wild sheep champion, humble, and effective. We're fortunate to call him one of ours in the WSF family.
Whether on a multi-day campaign or day hike hunt, if we're not fueling the machine properly, are we still hunting at a high level, or just out on the mountain, or worse?
A fascinating discussion with Kyle Kamp and Valley to Peak Nutrition and Julie Tripp, WSF's Director of Awards & Publications, on the realities and nuances of how nutrition and hydration play key roles in an often overlooked or misunderstood part of a hunting and fitness lifestyle, which is applicable every day.
Learn more at v2pnutrition.com
More maulings, deaths, and livestock losses. More lawsuits, political posturing, and ballot initiatives. More misinformation and fundraising over what should be a conservation story, turned into a tragedy. Are we asking the US Fish & Wildlife Service to make decisions based on science or values?
We visit with WSF's Legislative Affairs expert and consultant, Greg Schildwachter, who has had these issues and the Endangered Species Act in his portfolio for the past 25 years, to find out how we got here, what's really happening behind the provocative headlines, and if there is a common-sense way forward that will work for people and
When Chelsea drew a coveted Alaska sheep tag, she knew it would require everything—physically, mentally, and emotionally. In this episode, she walks listeners through the full journey: months of preparation, the doubt and determination that shaped her mindset, and the pivotal moments on the mountain that tested her limits. Hunting alongside another woman added a unique layer of support and camaraderie, reminding her that shared grit can carry you further than sheer strength.
Chelsea about the highs and lows of the hunt, from chasing rams across steep country to the quiet moments of reflection when no one else was around. Her story reveals the dedication behind a dream hunt and the sense of fulfillment that comes from earning every step. This isn't just a hunt—it's a testament to what happens when passion, preparation, and opportunity collide.
Whether you're a seasoned mountain hunter or simply someone who loves stories of perseverance, this episode will leave you inspired to chase your own "once-in-a-lifetime" goals.
In this episode of Sheep Fever, we sit down with Gunwerks founder Aaron Davidson—an innovator and engineer who's helped redefine precision shooting and modern rifle systems. Davidson shares the philosophy behind Gunwerks' "Unrivaled Shooting Experience," a concept built around integrating advanced technology, smart design, and real-world performance to create better shooters and more ethical hunters.
But this conversation goes deeper than gear. Davidson challenges us to think about the experience of shooting—the connection between preparation, confidence, and respect for the game we pursue. Whether you're a long-range enthusiast or simply want to make your first shot count when it matters most, you'll take something valuable from this discussion.
Tune in to Sheep Fever as we explore how precision, purpose, and innovation intersect in the field with Aaron Davidson of Gunwerks.
In this special episode of Sheep Fever, we sit down with the candidates for the 2026 Wild Sheep Foundation Board of Directors—four passionate individuals with deep roots in conservation and a shared commitment to wild sheep and the hunting heritage that sustains them.
At 02:49, Jann Demaske shares how her connection to wild sheep has shaped her life and leadership. She focused on the importance of strong advocacy, community involvement, and protecting both the animals and the traditions that make conservation possible.
At 17:27, Charlie Kelly reflects on his long history with WSF and the conservation world. With years of experience leading collaborative projects, he talks about the power of partnerships, the challenges wild sheep still face, and how strategic fundraising keeps critical work moving forward.
At 35:20, Ken Locke brings a hands-on perspective, emphasizing his desire to be a working board member who helps create real, measurable change. He speaks about making sheep hunting and conservation accessible to more people and keeping the focus on results that matter for wildlife.
Finally, at 48:54, Logan Young shares his excitement for what's ahead—discussing youth engagement, long-term planning, and ways to build on WSF's momentum to strengthen future conservation efforts.
Together, these conversations capture the dedication, experience, and heart behind each candidate—and the shared goal that unites them all: to put and keep wild sheep on the mountain for generations to come.
In this Sheep Fever – Kicked Out episode, host Maddie Richards catches up with John Hubbard to hear the story of his recent sheep hunt in the Yukon. For John, the trip represented more than just a hunt—it was the culmination of years of dreaming, planning, and preparing for one of the toughest adventures in North America.
He walks listeners through the entire journey, from gearing up and training to the demanding days in steep, unforgiving terrain. John talks about the grind of the mountains, the emotional ups and downs, and the moments of awe that remind hunters why they chase wild sheep in the first place. From the early morning glassing sessions to the final approach on his ram, every step tested his determination and deepened his appreciation for the experience.
Along the way, Maddie and John reflect on how the pursuit of a sheep isn’t just about the harvest—it’s about the personal growth, the connection to wild places, and the respect for the animals that call them home.
Whether you’ve hunted sheep yourself or dream of making that journey someday, John’s story captures the essence of what it means to be part of the mountain hunting tradition.
In this episode of Kicked Out stories, Maddie Richards sits down with Mike Aiazzi to talk about his journey to drawing a coveted sheep tag in Nevada. Together, they explore the emotional weight of the hunt, the preparation it required, and the meaningful role of family and memories in the experience.
Mike shares insights on the challenges he faced in the field, the beauty of Nevada’s landscapes, and how this hunt has shaped his work with the Wild Sheep Foundation. This episode highlights the deeper connections hunting can foster and underscores the vital importance of conservation.
Celebrating its 80th year of manufacturing some of the finest, fastest, accurate, hardest-hitting, and most innovative firearms and rifle cartridges in the industry, Weatherby, Inc. is not letting the recent downturn in the firearms and ammunition community slow them down. The post-pandemic surge in sales of both firearms and ammunition, as well as recent tariffs and the uncertainty they have spawned, has caused a short-term malaise in firearms and ammunition purchases. But rather than pause, the Skunkworks in Weatherby’s Sheridan, Wyoming-based factory and HQ, is in hyperdrive. Mindful of 80 glorious years, retro clothing, ammunition packaging, and new rifles and shotgun offerings are keeping Weatherby in the game…and at its top.
Sheep Fever co-host Gray N. Thornton is joined by Weatherby CEO Adam Weatherby and COO Luke Thorkildsen for a deep dive into the industry, it’s future, and why this fine brand keeps designing, producing, and offering rifles that epitomize Roy’s mantra from decades before – Tomorrow’s Rifles Today. From the bold, yet universal 307 platform, fine yet affordable shotguns, to the just-launched 80th Anniversary Mark V, masterfully combining yesterday’s classic design with today’s materials and innovation, to top secret hints of what’s to come, this episode it spot-on for the Weatherby enthusiast, collector, mountain hunter, wing shooter, and firearms aficionado.
Recent data from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) estimates that there are ~100,000 free-roaming aoudad west of the Pecos River. To put that in perspective, that is more than the entire bighorn (Rocky Mountain, California, & desert) population in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Texas was home to more than 1,800 desert bighorn sheep just a decade ago – a historical high and a success story population re-established through efforts by TPWD, WSF Affiliate Texas Bighorn Society (TBS), the Wild Sheep Foundation, and other Texas-based hunter/conservationist organizations. Today, that number has dwindled to about 400. Desert bighorns in Texas are in jeopardy of being extirpated for a second time. The cause? Competition for forage and water, and disease from the invasive aoudad, first introduced as a hunting species by TPWD in 1957 in Palo Duro Canyon.
To some, aoudad are a trophy species and an alternative to high-cost indigenous wild sheep hunts. But at what cost? Are we willing to lose native desert bighorns in Texas and replace them with a non-native invasive goat-like alternative? This is what is at stake.
Aoudad females can breed twice a year and usually give birth to twins. Compared to the desert bighorn ewe’s once-a-year and normal single lamb, desert bighorns are at the wrong end of the reproductive dynamic. And, like feral hogs, aoudad outcompete native bighorns, mule deer, and even domestic stock in the arid and fragile habitat they inhabit. As some Texas biologists have stated, “aoudad can eat rocks and thrive on them.”
So, what can be done? WSF recently adopted a policy to prohibit the promotion of (exotic) aoudad hunting in our Award programs, publications, messaging, raffles, and conventions. Is this enough?
In this episode, Sheep Fever co-host and WSF President & CEO Gray N. Thornton discusses this issue and WSF’s new policy with Texans WSF Director, and TBS immediate past president Sam Cunningham, TBS president and former WSF staffer Clay Brewer, and COO and EVP of Conservation Corey Mason.
Fresh on the heels of a record July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 fiscal year for the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF), record convention proceeds to WSF ($4+ Million), record contributions to the Wild Sheep Legacy Foundation Endowment Fund ($2.2 Million), and a record directed to wild sheep conservation and other WSF Mission Programs (a staggering $11.53 Million), Sheep Fever co-host and WSF President & CEO, Gray N. Thornton sits down with WSF Board of Directors Chair, Charlie Kelly and Vice Chair Kyle Stelter to look to the future.
Chair Kelly’s mantra for the year is “Moving the Needle for Wild Sheep.” In this episode, he and Stelter give meaning to that objective. Charlie and Kyle share their vision for how WSF will continue our legacy of wild sheep conservation leadership, and specifically, what goals they have for this next fiscal year and beyond, and the desired impact on the resource…how these will move the needle for wild sheep.
Celebrating 20 years of suppressor/silencer sales and manufacturing, and most notably making the once onerous BATF application process simple, painless, and seamless, Silencer Central is an award-winning partner of the Wild Sheep Foundation.
Sheep Fever co-hosts Gray Thornton and Keith Balfourd visit with Founder and CEO Brandon Maddox to celebrate Silencer Central’s successes and discuss changes to National Firearm Act (NFA) laws signed into effect by President Trump and the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill.
If you have been waiting to buy a suppressor for your next hunt or trip to the range, Maddox will tell you there has never been a better time than now!
EP77 Save The Hunt – A conversation with Dan Gates of Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management
Of the Rocky Mountain states, Colorado has been ground zero for animal rights and anti-hunting, trapping, and science-based wildlife management extremists bent on challenging more than 100 years of successful and sportsmen funded wildlife restoration and management. After a stingingly narrow victory of a ballot box biology initiative to introduce grey wolves into the state, conservation minded Coloradans formed Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management (CRWM) led by Dan Gates to become the tip of the spear for anticipated future battles. Using a collaborative approach, identifying key constituencies, and key, and factual messaging, Dan and CRWM found the secret sauce to defeat Proposition 127 this past November that would have ended mountain lion management, as well as two other anti-led with Governor’s office support ballot initiatives. These were not only defeated, they were crushed by CRWM with financial support from across the country including WSF’s contribution of $100,000 to educate the public on the consequences of Prop 127.
Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton, and guest host Corey Mason sit down in studio with Dan to discuss the 2024 wins, and plans for the next, seemingly never-ended battle to preserve science-informed, sustainable use wildlife conservation. Sit back with a Scotch and cigar, and enjoy!
This week on Sheep Fever we visit with Eric Dippold, Secretary for the newly formed North American Pronghorn Foundation.
A uniquely North American goat species often referred to as being in the antelope family, the pronghorn is a cherished big game species by sportsmen from around the world and an out-the-window wildlife viewing favorite of travelers indicating they are now “out west.”
As celebrated as they are, there has never been an organization dedicated to their future, until now, and their timing couldn’t be better. Every year in one area or another where pronghorn range, we hear of one population challenge or another. Mostly its losses over an extreme winter. As tough as these deaths are to witness, weather events are often viewed as out of our hands, or are they? Are antelope loosing critical habitat? Yes. Could their historical migration corridors be less obstructed? Yes. Are too many predators an issue? Yes.
This sums up the mission of this new organization of which WSF is in full partnership-mode support.
Join the NAPF today at this link: https://www.pronghorns.org/
Sheep Fever co-hosts Keith and Gray visit with WSF Chairman, Charlie Kelly (AZ) and COO Corey Mason (TX) about the Foundation’s raffling of the 2025-26 Arizona Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Raffle tag, auctions tags, conservation funding, and where the money goes.
Sometimes celebrated, sometimes hated on, auction tags do get a lot of attention. Some cry for more raffle opportunities to be “fair”, while others want to see max dollars raised for wild sheep, which translates to more wild sheep on the mountain and more opportunity for all forms of tags. Regardless, WSF has a mission committed to doing everything in its power for the wild sheep resource. This time, it’s marketing and selling a raffle tag where every dollar raised from the tag goes back to the state.
The raffle ends June 30th. The winner will have from August 15 2025 to August 14, 2026, to find their ram.
Tickets are $50 each at this link:
https://wildsheep.fanthem.io/give/sheep/online-raffles/bhs?referralCode=sheepfever
Launched in 2015 with financial support from WSF and others, the Wild Harvest Initiative sought to calculate, for the first time, the total amount in pounds or tons of healthy, wild protein humanely harvested by sportsmen every year in the US and Canada. Keith caught up with Conservation Visions President and CEO Shane Mahoney to go over the numbers documented thus far and most importantly, how this data is being used to generate a broader public understanding and appreciation for sustainable use hunting. The sheer tonnage of wild protein consumed as meals and shared by hunters every year is staggering. It really puts into perspective the value of conservation and healthy ecosystems as nature’s pantry, as it has been for a millennium. People may not hunt or agree on hunting’s modern relevance, but no one can dismiss food as nonessential.
Artist, film producer, television host, outdoor communicator, ambassador, hunter, conservationist, father are just a few descriptives of Montana native Jason Matzinger. In this episode Jason and Gray cover a broad range of topics from Jason’s roots, what makes him tick, outdoor media, where it came from, where it is going, and its benefits and burdens. Jason is the real deal and this episode covers topics coast to coast including the status of the outdoor industry. We also learn there is one descriptive that Jason does not consider himself to be…an “influencer.” Find out why. We’re already looking forward to Part II.
Tough to choose, but here is a Best of Sheep Fever 2024 special episode. Actually, our listeners choose for us by most popular downloads.
A lot of ground covered by some pretty seasoned folks in sheep hunting, conservation’s history and future, wild sheep biology, predator management, shooting technology and marksmanship, to name a few.
· Episode 40: Wild Sheep & Predators - Kevin Hurley, Kurt Alt, Tom Lohuis, and Eric Rominger (02:00)
· Episode 46: Shooting Tech and the Era of Marksmanship - John Snow (28:19)
· Episode 50: WSF Ambassador Talk Sheep Show - Jana Waller (52:08)
· Episode 63: What Next for Conservation - Shane Mahoney (1:08:03)
You’ll like this one.
Often consumed to celebrate victory, sometimes even survival, but just as often to mourn defeat, whiskey and wild sheep do go together. Such was the vision of founder Robert Gertsner when he conceived of wild sheep inspired distilled adult beverages now known as Full Curl Brand’s. Rob is a successful entrepreneur and a passionate and equally successful sheep hunter. A bowhunter, his coveted offerings of bourbon, rye, gin, and vodka match his pension for doing it the right way even if that is not the easy one.
Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton and Rob discuss how the brand started, sheep and mountain hunting, the liquor business, the Sheep Show, partnerships and how Rob pays it forward by donating a portion of every bottle sold to fund wild sheep conservation.
Pour yourself a glass, grab a fine cigar, relax, make no apologies, and sit back and enjoy this episode.
Admittedly, hunters are gear junkies. When it comes to our knives, as we learned from MKC founder and CEO Josh Smith, it runs deeper than that. Grandpa’s knife can be Dad’s knife; can then be our knife as a rite of passage.
Sheep Fever sat down with Josh and a true American brand success story to discuss his humble beginning as a Montana boy knifemaker at age 15 to becoming the youngest Master Knifemaker in the country as certified by the Knifemaker’s Guild, onto becoming one of the most successful startup knife companies in a very crowded field.
His story and his philosophy about cutting tools, his team, and what goes into each MKC blade is an interesting journey into tradecraft for the hunter, and now the ranch, the kitchen, and who knows what next.
The timing couldn’t be better. WSF has secured a limited number of their famous Blackfoot 2.0 knives for our current Life Member promotion giveaway. Like all MKC knives, if you blink, they’re gone.
Full details at this link https://www.wildsheepfoundation.org/life-summitlife
Post Sheep Show, Sheep Fever co-host Keith Balfourd and WSF’s Director of Publications and Awards, Julie Tripp reconnect with Dustin Diefenderfer of Mtn. Tough Fitness Labs to walk, or limp back through the first TOUGH SHEEP workout that took place at the Show.
The TOUGH SHEEP workout was conceived by Dustin and his team to engage mountain fitness enthusiasts. The event aimed to not only welcome participants to the Sheep Show but also to provide a calendar event for their workout goals, create opportunities for in-person connections beyond their private workout spaces, contribute directly to wild sheep conservation efforts, and offer a chance to win a Dall's sheep hunt. The event raised $50,000 for wild sheep.
It was a lot to unpack, but with the maximum of 500 registrants on the books, 428 making it to Reno and starting and all completing the workout, TOUGH SHEEP was a huge success and all the buzz of the 2025 Sheep Show. Plans are in play for an even bigger and better event for 2026.
In Part II of our Spotlight on BC, Kyle, Scott, and Gray weigh into the status of wild sheep and wildlife in the province, and the status of wildlife conservation and management given Ministry, staff, and other recent political changes. The trio of CEOs discuss the prospects for restoring the grizzly bear hunt, other wildlife challenges, dollars to the resource vs. impact to the resource and social license issues effecting conservationists ability to fund our efforts.
British Columbia holds a special focus for the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF), with three of North America’s four wild sheep calling it home.
During the past three years, WSF directed $1.9 Million in Grant in Aid to the province to conserve and enhance thinhorn and bighorn sheep, improve their habitat, mitigate the impact of predation, support the hunting and conservation industry, and fund outreach programs to educate the public on the conservation benefits of hunting. In addition, WSF directed $828,000 to British Columbia’s Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation through the sale of the BC Minister’s Special Sheep License to fund wild sheep projects during the same three-year period for a total of nearly $2.8 Million. This equates to almost $1 million per year.
In this Spotlight on British Columbia episode, Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton visits with two of WSF’s affiliates, Kyle Stelter, CEO Wild Sheep Society of BC & Scott Ellis, CEO Guide Outfitter Association of BC to talk all things wild sheep in the province.
With the Sheep Show just over the next ridge, Sheep Fever hosts Gray Thornton and Keith Balfourd sat down with Mike Schoby of Field Ethos to discuss what’s new and what to expect at the Show, what our new partner, donor, and exhibitor Field Ethos has in store, and announce a special featured auction item.
Field Ethos is a relatively new outdoor adventure media company founded by Donald Trump Jr. and Jason Vincent. Their goal was to unapologetically revive the action-adventure into hunting, fishing, and exploration of the outdoors around the world. With print, digital, and social, they have amassed quite a following of raw adventure seekers searching for a rush wherever they can find it.
Along those lines, Field Ethos has fully donated a VIP Mongolian ibex hunt with Donald Trump Jr. and Shikar Safaris to the Sheep Show auction for Saturday night’s Grand Finale banquet.
Watch live-stream and bid on the Sheep Show nightly live and silent online auctions at this link.
With the 2025 Sheep Show just around the corner, Sheep Fever co-hosts Gray and Keith visit with newly welcomed WSF Ambassadors Jana Waller Bair and Rachel Ahtila to discuss their journeys as hunter-conservationists, and to get their thoughts on why the Show is such a highlight on their travel schedules. Is it the positive vibe for wild sheep conservation or hunting in general, seeing old friends, making new ones, sharing stories where everyone is family, or simply a week of feel-good packed into three days?
Along the way, the group covers many of the fan-favorite events that happen in Reno every year, plus what’s new for the 2025 Show. If you’re planning on attending, we’ll see you there. If not, there is still time. Full event details are available at this link.
In our previous episode, we discussed that conservation is at a crossroads. More people are turning to nature and the outdoors for health and fulfillment, yet far too many are demonstrating a lack of knowledge of the differences between conservation and preservation and the benefits of both. As a result, emotion is trumping science, sound conservation actions are being pulled in all directions or tied up in court, and harmful measures are showing up on ballot initiatives.
In this episode, we drill deeper into this topic with Shane Mahoney, president and CEO of Conservation Visions. We begin by reflecting on a quote from Aldo Leopold’s book, A Sand County Almanac, published in 1949.
“There must be some force behind conservation— more universal than profit, less awkward than government, less ephemeral than sport; something that reaches into all times and places, where men live on the land, something that brackets everything from rivers to raindrops, from whales to hummingbirds, from land estates to window-boxes. I can see only one such force: a respect for land as an organism; a voluntary decency in land-use exercised by every citizen and every landowner out of a sense of a love for and obligation to that great biota we call America. This is the meaning of conservation, and this is the task of conservation education.”
We end up with the need to create an overarching conservation policy, a conservation template that puts wildlife, the environment, and more people all on the same page. How we get there is the challenge.
Is conservation at a crossroads? If challenges to wildlife and the environment are evolving and, in many cases, mounting. If we believe that conservation is everyone's responsibility and that it is a progressive journey rather than a final destination, then we are at a crossroads.
The conservation movement in the early 1900s was born out of crisis. We were taking too much off the land and taking too much for granted. The Environmental Revolution of the 1906s and 70s was another gut check. Both resulted in the establishment of new laws, organizations, and institutions to address the challenges of those days. We knew what was bad and wasn’t working, and we set out to fix things with nothing more than the motivation that using natural resources wisely and not wasting them was the right thing to do. In those days, there wasn’t a roadmap to follow, nor was there a conservation policy or constitution to hold up as a litmus test for decision-making. Would something like an overarching conservation policy, something a board cross-section of stakeholders could agree upon, take conservation into the next century?
In this episode of Sheep Fever, we talk with Conservation Visions president and CEO Shane Mahoney about where conservation is today, what it is facing, how it is being pulled in all directions, and the need, for the lack of a better term, a conservation template that puts wildlife, the environment, and people all in the same house. After all, we are living in the same house.
Bill Pastorek, author of Dream Rams of British Columbia will soon release his recent and highly anticipate work, Dream Rams of the North. Bill caught the sheep bug early in his life and his chosen career path of self-employment and building a successful gardening business allowed him plenty of time in the mountains to pursue his passion for wild sheep.
An avid conservationist, and one who walks the talk of giving his time, talent, and treasure to the resource he loves and the organizations focused on their conservation, Bill has dedicated Dream Rams of the North to those volunteers, staff, and organizations focused on putting and keeping wild sheep on the mountain.
Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton sits down with Bill to talk about his new release, its inspiration, how he curates the stories in it, and his plans for at least two more books in his Dream Rams series.
Dream Rams of the North in the regular, limited, and conservation editions are available to pre-order at www.dreamrams.com. Bill will also be doing book signings and sales alongside his friend and fellow author Jim Manley at the January 16-18, 2025 Sheep Show® in Reno Thursday, Friday, and Saturday near the WSF Membership Booth.
Spike Camp is an online community of hunter conservationists. On Wednesday, September 16th Spike Camp founders Chuck and Blake Peeling conducted a live stream podcast featuring WSF Ambassadors Jana Waller Bair and Rachel Ahtila as well as WSF Women Hunt® Committee members Julie Chapman, Brandi Love, and Women Hunt® founder & chair, Renée Thornton. The seven of them talk hunting, conservation, the Wild Sheep family, the Sheep Show®, and the impact hunting has had on their lives. They also covered the three current programs under the WSF Women Hunt® umbrella: 1) Women Hunt® sponsored FTW/SAAM Field to Fork class in Texas, 2) the Women in Hunting® community, and 3) the Ruby Mayflower Blake Legacy Fund.
Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton visits with Chuck and Blake on their vision for Spike Camp and they tee up their guest podcast featuring these exceptional women hunters and leaders.
For more information and to join Spike Camp visit https://spikecamp.com.
For more information on WSF’s Women Hunt® programs visit https://www.wildsheepfoundation.org/womenhunt
In this episode of Sheep Fever, co-host Keith Balfourd visits with Mountain Tough Fitness Lab founder Dustin Diefenderfer to learn more about their specific fitness programs for mountain athletes and the new TOUGH SHEEP workout scheduled for the 2025 Sheep Show® in Reno on January 17th.
Inspired by modern-day military readiness and NFL training programs, MTNTOUGH designed physical and mental fitness programs geared for the mountain athlete/hunter that better prepared them for the strenuous weighted pack movements encountered and the duration on the mountain these hunts represent.
When we are tired and worn down mentally and physically after just a few days on a long hunt, even though we’re still in the field, we can quit hunting or are, at a minimum, not as sharp, alert, and willing as we were on Day 1. With so much invested in these hunts, investing in yourself and your preparation can make all the difference.
Taking this readiness and the success of their fitness programs to the next level, MTNTOUGH has engineered a multi-stage TOUGH SHEEP workout for the 2025 Sheep Show® where anyone who registers and completes the workout will be in a drawing for a 2025 Dall’s sheep hunt in NWT with Stan Steven and Mackenzie Mountain Outfitters.
TOUGH SHEEP is limited to 500 participants, so the odds of winning are tough to beat. 100% of the registration fee ($100) will be donated to WSF to help “put and keep more wild sheep on the mountain”.
Visit this link to learn more and register before TOUGH SHEEP is sold out.
https://mtntough.com/pages/tough-sheep
New Chief Operating Officer and Executive VP of Conservation, Corey Mason joined the WSF Team in August, bringing decades of conservation and industry experience.
Spending time on his grandfather’s farm and hunting with his father, Corey quickly grew into a passionate hunter. Continuing to avidly hunt, but now largely enjoying time afield with his wife and daughter and making family memories.
At an early age, Corey desired a career in wildlife conservation. Beginning with undergraduate and graduate studies in wildlife conservation followed by years at Texas Parks and Wildlife and Dallas Safari Club, he has worked on private and public lands and across the globe on international conservation issues and opportunities.
In this episode, Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton visits with Corey on his background and family, professional career, and plans and goals at WSF. Corey also shares some of his past experiences and perspectives on conservation, policy, work in international arenas and many of the relationships built and maintained along the way.
Wild sheep matter, and so does selecting the future leadership of the Wild Sheep Foundation in our upcoming fall 2024 WSF Board of Director elections.
Last year, we started something new by introducing the candidates, not only in print with their biographies on our website and mailed ballots, but with brief interviews on this podcast.
We have four (4) current director terms expiring April 30, 2025. The Nominating Committee approved five (5) candidates for the fall ballot for these four open director positions.
The fall elections open October 1, 2024, and close on December 15, 2024.
New this year is a hybrid-style election process to make voting even easier. All WSF members in good standing will receive a paper ballot with a postage-paid envelope. Plus, members for which we have a valid email address will also receive their ballot and bios via email. You can vote by email or mailed ballot…but of course, only one ballot will be allowed per member.
In alpha order, by last name, the 2024 candidates with recording time codes are:
- Bralli Clifford from Wyoming 4:09
- Larry Johns from Nevada 15:54
- Kevin Kehoe from Alaska 25:40
- Kyle Stelter from British Columbia 35:57
- Dr. Peregrine Wolff from Florida 46:50
Lastly, as a special thank you to all WSF members who vote in this fall 2024 election, our independent election vendor, YesElections, will randomly draw one name to win a WSF/Weatherby Bighorn Edition rifle package valued at $5,400.
Read candidate bios and learn more about the Election and the Weatherby Bighorn Edition drawing on our Elections page.
https://www.wildsheepfoundation.org/about/board-elections?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=podcast
Acclaimed and award-winning journalist and author, hunter, and sheep hunter Craig Boddington had this to say about WSF Summit Life Member Jim Manley’s first book:
“Tracks On A Mountain is one man’s mountain hunting odyssey. Jim Manley and I have climbed some of the same mountains, enjoyed some of the same triumphs, suffered the same disappointments, and so often wondered why we are doing this to ourselves. Jim far exceeded my efforts in North America’s mountains…Wish we’d shared some campfires on chilly mountain nights out, but through his book, we all can.”
In this episode, Sheep Fever hosts Gray N. Thornton and Keith Balfourd sit down with Jim to talk about his inspiration for the book and the 12 hunts over six decades contained in it. Jim shares the how of his uncanny ability as a first-time author to bring the reader with him on the mountain, experience the climbs, taste the food, smell the smells, feel the burning legs and lungs, rejoice in the victories, as well as the anguish of the defeats. In his book Jim captures the essence of sheep hunting and the sheep fever infliction in spades - you’ll see why when you listen to this episode.
To order Tracks On A Mountain go to www.tracksonamountain.com. Jim will be conducting book signing sessions at the 2025 WSF Sheep Show® convention January 16-18, 2025 in Reno.
Azyre Gear founder and accomplished sheep hunter Cari Goss’ goal is to inspire and empower women to pursue their hunting and outdoors passions with confidence. A great deal of that confidence comes from functional clothing that fits, keeps one warm, and dry.
For years Cari felt that the hunting apparel industry had overlooked women and that she and others had been left to wear apparel designed for men only later to be modified for women. She also feels that women have been often offered designs that don’t reflect their true femininity.
Rather than complaining about the status quo, she wanted to do something about it. It became clear to her that she needed to create apparel as capable as the women who would wear it. In 2016 Azyre Gear was born.
Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton visits with Cari on the inspiration for her brand, what makes Cari tick, and how her passion for sheep hunting helped launch her clothing line. Cari and Gray talk sheep and sheep hunting and what’s next for Cari and her brand.
For more information on Azyre Gear and to order visit www.azyregear.com.
Andy Moeckel is well known in the hunting and conservation community as The Flip Flop Guy and his unique cooking style called the Flip Flop. He has turned a culinary technique, that has been passed down for three generations, into a thriving business that sells a full line of sauces, spices, flip flop mops, and even whole bone in Maui Nui Venison legs perfect for Flip Flop.
It all started with his grandfather, Al Giddings shortly after WW II when he got off the ship in San Francisco and decided to join the California Department of Fish and Game in 1948. He became the main warden for the North Bay area, Marin, and Sonoma counties. He knew all the ins and outs of Marin county’s big game hunting, from mountain lions that he issued bounties on, to blacktail deer.
In his time spent in west Marin, Al helped oversee fish ladders coming into the streams for the spawn as well as became familiar with all of the local hunting clubs and ranches. It was at a small sheep ranch in Nicasio, CA where it is believed that he picked up this amazing style of cooking from a Portuguese rancher. This family would do entire sheep legs on a spit and feed their families and local community. Al being the outdoorsman instantly had the idea that, “if sheep is this good…venison will be better.” And it is…
Andy is a third generation Flip Flopper learning the technique from his grandfather and father. Andy performs Flip Flop BBQs around the country for special events as well as industry and political celebrities.
In this episode of Sheep Fever, Co-Host Gray N. Thornton talks with Andy about his past, an amazing turn of events and life challenges, Flip Flop cooking, sheep hunting, gear, calibers, long range shooting, and Andy’s recent role as Marketing Director for Best of the West Arms out of Cody, WY.
This episode has plenty of short dirt roads, unanticipated nuggets, and antics you will be sure to enjoy! For more information on Best of the West visit www.bestofthewestarms.com. For more information on Flip Flop visit www.flipflopguy.com.
Sadly, wild sheep numbers are down in many of their ranges. For our thinhorns up North, environmental factors, some of which are beyond short-term human control, have taken a toll in recent years. In other wild sheep ranges, fragmentation, contraction, and loss of habitat, both from a changing climate and land use policies (fire suppression, conifer/shrub encroachment, human footprint, public land grazing allotments, feral horses and burros), as well as disease from exotic and domestic ungulates in bighorn range, are all contributing factors.
What can we do? Ensuring wild sheep have quality habitat is #1, but can we improve the resiliency of wild sheep to environmental factors? Can we “grow” wild sheep? These are contemporary and often controversial topics that wild sheep advocates and some agency/ministry wild sheep managers are trying to define and address.
In this episode of Sheep Fever, co-host Gray N. Thornton speaks with WSF’s “Tres Amigos of Conservation” - VP of Conservation Kevin Hurley, Conservation Director Kurt Alt, and retired Conservation Director Clay Brewer, on these topics.
With nearly 150 years of combined wild sheep management and experience, the three speak of “growing” desert bighorn in the US southwest and Mexico and the successes, challenges, and failures experienced. They also speak of attempts to do the same with Rocky Mountain bighorns, and whether intensive management practices for desert sheep (water developments, captive propagation facilities, supplemental nutrition and minerals, etc.) are feasible, practical, sustainable, or even possible for thinhorn sheep.
There is no question that forces are being placed on our systems, institutions, philosophies, and the science that manages wildlife. Situations and conditions change over time, and adjustments are necessary improvements. Balancing change and maintaining stability is crucial to ensuring the best outcomes for wildlife and people. But this doesn’t appear to be where we’re heading.
Sheep Fever co-host Keith Balfourd visits with two guests who keenly understand historical precedents and the current pressures calling to rewrite wildlife management policy. Is all coming from anti-hunting efforts? What about wildlife commissions being stripped of diversified stakeholders to change the game against sustainable use? Is the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation a complete handbook, or is it vulnerable to criticism, misuse, and a tool for misdirection?
If you're pushing for change in the court of public opinion and using ballot initiatives, does acknowledging ecological and social realities, past achievements, and who was responsible for these successes undermine your narrative? Is what's being left out of the conversation by design? Are there things that we, as hunter-conservationists, can do better? Are there things we should be distancing ourselves from? As a significant minority of the population, do we have allies? If doing right by wildlife is our mantra, does digging our heels in on everything sustainable?
Change is inevitable. Sportsmen and women have had the lead in wildlife conservation. How do we maintain this lead? These are all good questions. Some, but not all, were answered in this episode. Like conservation itself, this topic is on a continuum.
The Wild Sheep Foundation is growing and is pleased to announce the formation and official charter of the Southeast Chapter of WSF!
The mission of the Southeast Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation is to build a community of conservationists to raise resources in support of scientific wild sheep management practices and habitat improvement. This is to ensure that future generations will enjoy the healthy populations of North America's sheep herds. We are a volunteer organization dedicated to sharing our passion for mountain hunting, educating the public and youth about the sustainable use of mountain resources, and highlighting the important role hunters play in wildlife conservation, regardless of where we live.
Sheep Fever co-host Gray N. Thornton visits with SE Chapter Steering Committee member Patrick Morse of Ponte Verde, Florida, on why the chapter was started, its goals, plans, and events for the coming year, as well as the inaugural chapter banquet in May/June of 2025 in Islamorada, FL which will coincide with the Chapter & Affiliate Summit XVII. While the chapter will serve members from Louisiana to Virginia and down to Florida, membership is open to everyone. Join us today! For membership options: https://www.wildsheepfoundation.org/memberships/chapters-and-affiliates/southeast-wsf
We’re going to Texas in this episode to talk about restoring desert bighorn sheep to a mountain range that hasn’t seen sheep since the early 1900s. Sheep Fever co-host Keith Balfourd visits with Texas Bighorn Sheep Society president Sam Cunningham, WSF’s VP of Conservation Kevin Hurley, and Texas outdoor writer and WSF contributor Chester Moore to discuss the Franklin Mountains State Park desert sheep restoration project. From water guzzler installations awaiting the translocation of 80 sheep to herd surveillance and predator management, there is a lot of ground to cover in what will be a historic move for the Lone Star State’s desert sheep population. The goal is a new nursery herd in a disease-free range for future translocations across the state.
Jana Waller Bair is the Host and Executive Producer of Skull Bound TV and Skull Bound Chronicles, a hunting and conservation series on Carbon TV that is currently in its 15th season. Jana has been a lifelong hunter and was appointed as a Wildlife Commissioner in Montana in 2021. After serving her term, she moved to Utah, where she resides with her husband and WSF auctioneer, John Bair.
Jana is a proud member of the Wild Sheep Foundation as well as many other conservation and hunting organizations. Jana is an active supporter of WSF’s Women Hunt® program and serves on the recently launched Rubye Mayflower Blake Legacy Fund committee, a program of Women Hunt®, which provides healing hunts, and other outdoor experiences, to women who have experienced abuse or other life trauma.
In this episode Jana and Sheep Fever co-host Gray N. Thornton talk bear hunting, conservation, her start, leadership, and award-winning work in outdoor media, as well as the pivotal role women play in, and the powerful narrative they give, to the traditional outdoor and shooting sports.
Jana also talks on a current Epic Hunt Series collaboration with WSF where a lucky raffle winner will join her in the Northwest Territories in the fall of 2025 for a bucket list all expense paid mountain caribou hunt with Mackenzie Mountain Outfitters. Both the winner and Jana will hunt caribou. Tickets are only $60 and non WSF members receive an annual membership with their first ticket purchased. The raffles concludes June 30, 2024 so don’t delay! Get your tickets HERE.
In this episode of Sheep Fever, we visit with Mark Truax, President and CEO of Pac/West Strategies, to discuss the attempted ban on mountain lion, bobcat, and lynx hunting in Colorado. This ban, proposed through a voter’s ballot initiative and backed by out-of-state animal rights groups, raises important questions. Why mountain lions? Why Colorado? Why a voter’s ballot process? The answers; because it’s winnable. Mark and his company are on the ground in Colorado, trying to prevent this measure from becoming the law of the land and opening the door for other attempts in other states.
As sportsmen, we understand the role of predator/prey relationships, ecological realities, and the necessity of science-informed wildlife management to prevent situations where too many are just as bad as too few, regardless of the species. But do Coloradoans have all the facts, especially those who have recently moved to this western state? Or does saving these beautiful cats from “trophy hunters,” as this initiative is being sold, look like the right thing to do?
Conservation has increasingly become a global topic and a global effort. In this episode, Sheep Fever co-host Keith Balford visits with Shane Mahoney, CEO of Conservation Visions, to discuss various topics, including the growing connectivity between conservation efforts here in North America and those happening beyond our borders. You'll learn how influential our North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is in other countries struggling to do what is best for wildlife and people, especially in the context of how important internal hunting is to these countries when most of their revenue comes from US sportsmen. The conversation shifts to an informative discussion on how hunting and sustainable use are being challenged like never before, who and what's behind these increased efforts, and what can be done.
The question is raised: is our current suite of hunter-conservationist organizations built to take on such challenges when the focus for many is species conservation, not bumper sticker campaigns and ballot initiatives being proposed by anti-hunter groups? Shane believes it's time for an overarching wildlife conservation policy to codify successes to date that can't be denied, one that accounts for the challenges wildlife faces today and into the future and guards against those pushing for change for the sake of change yet are offering no durable solutions other than they don't like hunters hunting.
Preparation, readiness, and confidence are everything, especially on backcountry hunts. WSF recently became the title sponsor for the next three years of Western Hunt Fest (WHF) events, and WSF’s Women Hunt® program became the title sponsor of the women’s division for the same period. WSF’s Sheep Fever host Gray N. Thornton, and Women Hunt founder and chair Renée Thornton, visit with WHF co-owners Jeffrey DeVaul, Guy Duplantier, and Efren Gonzalez to discuss their motivations behind establishing this next-level archery shooting, fitness, and backpack challenge across Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada this summer, as well as what shooters can expect. Archery hunting readiness has rightfully become a year-round pursuit. Giving bowhunters specialized events tailored for the type of shots and conditions they will encounter in the field elevates this preparation beyond just shooting foam in the backyard. Plus, friendly competition with like-minded hunters adds an element of community while helping duplicate the stress of making the shot count.
2024 Events:
- April 13-14 Raton, NM
- May 4-5 Palisade, CO
- May 25-26 Reno, NV
- June 1-2 Colorado Springs, CO
- June 27 Championship Baily, CO
www.westernhuntfest.com
Rifles, cartridges, loads, and bullets–the tools of trade for hunters, competition, and recreational shooters–have advanced rapidly in the past ten years. Sheep Fever host Keith Balfourd sat down with Bozeman local John Snow, Shooting Editor for Outdoor Life, to talk shooting tech and the “Era of Marksmanship” we’re experiencing today. Is Grandpa’s -06 still a player? Are longer projectiles better at longer range, and what about external performance? What’s with the 6.5 craze? Are military snipers or competition shooters behind what is arguably some of the best shooting tools we’ve ever had? They cover it all but should have booked two hours.
Since the inaugural WSF Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience (YWCE) in 2012, and with the addition of the Shooting, Hunting & Ethics Education Program (S.H.E.E.P.) in 2013, WSF has impacted the lives of more than 114,000 young men and women introducing them to the wonders of the outdoors. The life skills they have been taught and learned include archery, shooting, game calling, fly tying and casting, tracking, game identification, and conservation principles. The numerous WSF-hosted events led by WSF Youth Programs Director Dr. Ryan Brock now also include rock climbing, kayaking, and field hunting trips.
In this episode, Sheep Fever co-host Gray N. Thornton visits with Dr. Brock on the genesis of the YWCE, its phenomenal growth under his leadership, the launch of S.H.E.E.P. and its reach and focus, Ryan’s work launching a WSF-sponsored youth archery team, and new hunting programs currently in development.
You will be inspired by Dr. Brock’s enthusiasm, drive, and relentless pursuit of youth outdoors education.
Unlike a traditional story where fathers, grandfathers, mothers, and grandmothers handed down generations of stories, hunting locations and secret spots, techniques, ethics, ethos, and even weapons, Blood Origins Founder Robbie Kröger’s story is a little different. He had everything of the hunting life given to him, all but the personal experience of it. He was surrounded by the tools, the trophies, the stories, and even a letter from his grandfather telling him that the hunt was “In My Blood.”
Born and raised in South Africa, conservation and hunting was in his blood, but access to it was a dream. Now a proud American and avid hunter and conservationist, and with a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Ole Miss, Robbie created Blood Origins, a global non-profit whose mission is to convey the truth about hunting and conservation to the non-hunting majority.
Sheep Fever Co-Host Gray N. Thornton visits with Robbie on his vision for Blood Origins, its messaging, its impact, and most important, how Blood Origins and Robbie’s voice can move the needle to ensure our hunting heritage remains not only in our blood, but as a pursuit, passion, and privilege all can enjoy if we choose.
Conflicts over land use, conservation vs. preservation, sustainable use vs. protectionism, rural vs. urban values and politics, historical vs. contemporary knowledge, my science vs. your science, and even what constitutes an indigenous person are topics covered in this fast-paced conversation between award-winning filmmaker Tom Opre and Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton. Opre’s latest film, The Last Keeper, dives into the history and lives of Game Keepers in the Scottish Highlands and the challenges they and other rural peoples face while attempting to live, work, and stay on a landscape their forefathers have lived for generations. While centered in Scotland, the conflict over lifestyle, values, and land use is being repeated across the globe as the human population exceeds 8 billion, and competition for land, water, wildlife, resources, and their use is debated and fought over. Whether on the Isle of Skye, the Rocky Mountain Front in Montana, the forests and mountains of British Columbia, or the wilds of the Yukon, the issues are the same. This podcast pulls no punches. Enjoy!
To view the trailer for The Last Keeper, click HERE.
Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton joins WSF Director Emilio Rangel, founder and co-owner of Rancho La Palmosa in Coahuila, Mexico, Dr. Sam Cunningham, Texas Bighorn Society President, Froylan Hernandez, Desert Bighorn Sheep Program Director with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, and Jim Breck Bean of High West Outfitters to discuss aoudad as a big game animal, their value to Texas landowners, and their impact on the health and viability of desert bighorn sheep.
Aoudad were introduced into Texas from northwest Africa (Barbary sheep) in the late 1940s and have taken hold, increasing more than 1800% to more than 30,000 in Texas today. By contrast, desert bighorn sheep were extirpated from Texas in the 1960s, but through the cooperative efforts of private landowners, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and organizations such as Texas Bighorn Society and WSF, were restored, reaching a population high of 2,000 in the mid-2010s. Tragically, those 2,000 have been reduced to about 500-600 desert sheep in the Lone Star State today. A significant factor contributing to this decline has been competition for habitat with aoudad and pathogens such as M.ovi transmitted from them, causing all age die-offs.
This is a very complex issue with no simple answer. This esteemed panel discusses these challenges, opportunities, as well as possible solutions.
The ban on the use of lead shot for hunting waterfowl was phased-in starting with the 1987-1988 hunting season. The ban became nationwide in 1991. Over the concerns of lead fragments in gut piles and the non-recovered game being ingested by other wildlife, namely scavenging birds, some states now require non-lead ammunition for big game hunting, and pressure is being placed on the USFWS to make non-lead the norm on all National Wildlife Refuges. Chris Parish, President & CEO of The Peregrine Fund, Leland Brown, Non-Lead Hunting Education Coordinator with the Oregon Zoo, Paul Juergens, The Peregrine Fund VP of Conservation all with the Non-Lead Partnership, and WSF Lobbyist Charlie Booher join Sheep Fever co-hosts Gray Thornton and Keith Balfourd to speak on the issue of lead vs. non-lead big game hunting ammunition, proposed legislation regarding its use, what the science says, and the role sportsmen could play as this issue is brought to the fore.
Join Sheep Fever co-host Gray N. Thornton for a fascinating and educational conversation on wild sheep predation with four career wildlife biologists with a combined ~180 years of agency and NGO experience. Kevin Hurley, WSF Vice President of Conservation, Kurt Alt, WSF Conservation Director – International Programs, Tom Lohuis, Dall’s Sheep Research Biologist, for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, and Eric Rominger, (Retired) Bighorn Sheep Biologist, with New Mexico Department of Game & Fish have managed and studied a wide spectrum of ungulate species across multiple western states and Central Asia. These four biologists have focused on wild sheep for many decades, and share their perspectives on predator-prey dynamics, biological and social factors influencing wild sheep management, stakeholder expectations, and the multiple, complex, and often controversial factors involved in managing wild sheep in ecosystems with a full suite of mid- to large-sized carnivores, plus efficient aerial predators of wild sheep, particularly lambs.
From “top down” predation-driven systems to “bottom-up” vegetative communities, these seasoned wild sheep biologists offer at times diverse but fully interesting thoughts on the challenges of wild sheep/predator interactions.
Founded by Roy Weatherby in 1945, to say the company that bears his name is an iconic brand in the firearms industry would be a gross understatement. The Mark V Deluxe with super high gloss blued barrel, mated to the “strongest in the industry” 9-lug action, bedded into diamond patterned inlaid fine walnut Monte Carlo styled stock and pistol grip , has been for decades the epidemy of the gunmaker’s art. Times have changed and so has Weatherby. Third generation leader of this fine brand, Adam Weatherby joins Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton to share the company’s beginnings in South Gate, California to its current state-of-the-art factory and headquarters in Sheridan, Wyoming.
Adam shares his vision for the transformation of the brand and products which still include the Mark V Deluxe, to ultra-lightweight sheep rifles borne from titanium and carbon fiber, new Weatherby magnum and non-magnum calibers, the new Model 307 700 action-based platform named for Wyoming statewide area code, and an expanded line of sporting and field shotguns. Adam uses what he makes and sells testing new products and calibers from the first game animal with the then new 6.5 x 300 Weatherby, his Dall’s sheep in NWT, to his Oregon bighorn also with the 6.5x300, to his third wild sheep, a Fannin taken with the Weatherby WSF Thinhorn Edition in 6.5 RPM.
Adam is donating the Thinhorn Edition he used in the Yukon and Brenda Weatherby’s WSF Bighorn edition used in a Montana’s Unlimited unit for auction at the upcoming Sheep Show® to complement their Presenting Sponsorship of WSF and our convention.
The Sheep Show® is without a doubt the Ferrari of mountain game hunting and conservation expos. Sheep Fever co-hosts Gray Thornton and Keith Balfourd sit down with Team WSF – the staff of the foundation to share what’s lined up and what is new for the January 18-20, 2024 convention in Reno. A dozen sheep hunts to be given away, many, many more on auction as well as $3 million in hunts, trips, gear, art, and other offerings of all genre. $95,000 in auction and/or floor credits to win! The best-in-class banquets, live entertainment, raffles, seminars, the Full Curl Cinema, Camp Chef Culinary Corner, a Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience and the finest guides, outfitters, and equipment purveyors from around the world. There is something for everyone at the Sheep Show®! Come for the Sheep, Stay for the Party™!
December 6th is the last day for Early Bird Registration discount. Don’t delay, register for the Sheep Show® today!
Within the hunter-conservationist and outdoor writing, film, and television communities, Jim Shockey needs no introduction. Now an internationally best-selling novelist, Jim visits with Sheep Fever host Keith Balfourd and WSF’s Development Manager, Paige Culver, to discuss his new book, Call Me Hunter.
His debut novel has only been out a month to rave reviews. As a member of the Wild Sheep Family and an advocate for conservation and hunting, we wanted to learn more about his motivations for this novel, which we learned he had been planning for most of his life. Published by Simon & Schuster, Call Me Hunter is fast-tracking up the bestseller list. In this episode, Jim graciously shares far more about his book and life’s travels than we bargained for, which is very much like the book itself: a surprise and great read.
There was a time when hunting was only found within a circle of those who participated in this traditional outdoor pastime and lifestyle. No longer. Hunting is now available to anyone with a television, computer, or cell phone through videos, films, and social reels.
While some have celebrated hunting’s “coming out party,” others had concerns. Would these public mediums represent hunting and the killing of wildlife in the proper light and context? Would the non-hunting public, now with total access, understand what they were seeing and remain supportive? Ultimately, this would be up to the television networks, individual producers of these shows, videos, and films, who was showing them and where, and what was been shown and not shown.
On the heels of a new Films & Video Standards Policy passed by WSF’s Board of Directors, this episode of Sheep Fever peels back the curtain on the topic of what has been gained by hunting going mainstream media, what are the ramifications, what’s appropriate where, and who should decide.
The Wild Sheep Foundation fall 2023 Director Elections begin October 15th and conclude December 15th. Per WSF Bylaws every WSF member in good standing as of September 15, 2023 has been sent a ballot and biographies for the seven director candidates running for four WSF Board of Director positions for the May 1, 2024 through April 31, 2027 three-year term.
The seven candidates running include (in alpha order by last name with start times) are: 1. Clint Bentley 00.01.58 Nevada, USA 2. Sam Cunningham 00.09.55 Texas, USA 3. Larry Jacobs 00.22.16 Oregon, USA 4. Rob Kopecky 00.32.29 Alberta, Canada 5. Emilio Rangel 00.42.07 Nuevo Leon, Mexico 6. Kyle Stelter 00.52.49 British Columbia, Canada 7. Frank Turner 01.01.51 Alberta, Canada
We hope this bonus podcast helps WSF members make informed decisions and help encourages members to exercise your right to vote in the election to determine WSF’s leadership.
Man’s (and woman’s) best friend has been an important part of the human experience for ~40,000 years. Faithful companion, worker, beast of burden, hunter, protector, rescuer, and best friend. Dogs have been and continue to be all of these and more. Most recently working dogs have also been an important tool and arrow in the quiver of wild sheep managers and advocates as well as domestic sheep producers to detect the presence of pathogens such as Mycoplasma Ovipneumoniae (M.ovi) in both wild and domestic sheep scat and nasal samples.
Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton visit with Working Dogs for Conservation (WD4C) Executive Director Dr. Pete Coppolillo and WSF Vice President of Conservation Kevin Hurley to discuss how these four-legged friends are making an impact on wild sheep conservation, trap & translocations, and test and remove programs throughout the west.
Alaskan Master Guide Dick Gunlogson is an icon of the north and our wild sheep family. WSF Director Larry McGovern has hunted with Dick numerous times over several decades including a harrowing adventure during the terrorist attack on the USA on September 11, 2001. Sheep Fever Co-host Gray Thornton joins Dick and Larry for a fabulous campfire discussion on hunts, Dick’s storied career, life in Alaska, the early days of Super Cub polar bear hunting, and of course, Dall’s sheep and other hunts in the Last Frontier. Grab your favorite beverage, sit back, relax, and enjoy this conversation with an Alaskan legend!
Adventure Wild is a collection of five rare hunting and fishing films produced over 40 years ago by FNAWS Charter Member Don Prince and his hunting and angling partner Eugene Vugteveen. Don Prince was a pioneer in the outdoor film industry, traveling to Africa, British Columbia, the Yukon Territory, Saskatchewan and many other remote locations in pursuit of filming big game and unchartered waters. These films take you back to a bygone era of hunting and fishing with names and hunting area WSF members know and love.
Sheep Fever co-host Gray Thornton visits with Don and his grandson David to talk about the early days of outdoor films, the areas and game, the early days of FNAWS and why wild sheep are so special. David Prince has recaptured the original 16mm films on DVD and digital download so we can travel back to the late 1960s and early 1970s on epic 21-day Yukon and BC sheep hunts, one of the last safaris in Kenya, and angling adventures. Listeners can download the series or individual films or buy the DVD set at www.adventurewildfilms.com. Be sure to use the Discount Code SHEEPFEVER10 for $10 off!
In this episode, Gray and Keith sit down with a seasoned veteran in guiding and outfitting western big game hunts, and it wasn’t what we expected.
Dan Adler owns and operates Diamond Outfitters, offering a complete species list of adventures across Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and Sonora, Mexico. Dan is a retired Air Force Captain that brought a fresh approach and perspective to the business of outfitting, from proven service industry business practices down to the staff he recruits and trains, 61 in total, mostly retired military, law enforcement officers or other first responders, border patrol agents, local cowboys, and career guides/outfitters.
Dan started Diamond Outfitters in 2006 with an “I can do better, the business can be better, the industry can be better, the reputation of guides should be better, and most importantly, the clients deserve better” mindset. You’ll enjoy this one, and yes, we do get to talk a little about hunting.
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.
You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.
One of the most cherished aspects of any hunt is the stories shared around a campfire. Whether enjoying Stone’s sheep ribs slow grilled on willow sticks, Dall’s tenderloins sauteed on a hot rock, or bighorn backstraps sizzling in a well-worn cast iron pan, the stories told while enjoying the fruits of the hunt in many ways epitomize the allure of sheep camp and the essence of the hunting experience. Guides, outfitters, and professional hunters around the world are renowned as some of the finest storytellers. Weaving a yarn, telling the truth, or a mixture of the two, hunting and outdoor stories shared by hunting icons, are often our most cherished memories of time spent in the mountains and afield.
Gray sits down at the recent Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia convention in Kelowna, BC, with two such icons, both WSF Frank Golata Outstanding Outfitter winners, Ron Fleming of Love Brothers & Lee, LTD and Darwin Cary of Scoop Lake Outfitters. Ron and Darwin share their journeys getting into the Guide/Outfitting business, hilarious stories, and exciting and harrowing adventures experienced over six decades in the mountains as well as their views on the past, present, and future of guide outfitting in BC.
These two can tell a tale and feed off each other like a few others. Enjoy nearly ninety minutes of two icons of British Columbia. We’re confident you’ll want even more!
To learn more about the Wild Sheep Foundation, and to become a member, visit our website wildsheepfoundation.org.
You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.
For years, good hard working people have been told their hamstrings are tight and are given stretches. Rarely do we see that make a lasting difference…why is that?
The problem often stems from issues in the low-back, not the hamstrings themselves. Wardo dives into some exercises that should finally fix those pesky hamstrings once and for all.
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Wanna be ready for any hunt this season? Join the BTK Mountain Hunter training program so you can build the strength, durability, grit, and endurance, to handle multi-day expeditionary hunts. Train smart. Be Ready.
Auction Tags, Governor’s Tags, Minister’s Permits – celebrated conservation funding, special privilege, love them or hate them, amazing record amounts of money are being spent each year for the chance to skip to the head of the line and hunt one special animal. The question is, what do these funds mean to big game species, the agencies that receive these funds, the organizations that sell them, and is this system of conservation funding durable?
On the heels of the 2023 AZ Mule Deer Tag selling for $750,000, Gray and Keith sit down with Hunting and Conservation Editor for Outdoor Life and Mule Deer Foundation board member Andrew McKean to do a deep dive into the crazy amounts of money being generated from these tags, why, who and what benefits and while some people cheer, others complain.
To learn more about the Wild Sheep Foundation, and to become a member, visit our website wildsheepfoundation.org.
You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.
One Health is not a new concept, but it has gained momentum with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and others following the COVID pandemic. One Health promotes the fact that human health is directly tied to the health of the environment, including wildlife, plants, clean air, and clean water. While at the 2023 Sheep Show, Keith visited with wildlife veterinary expert and past Chair of the Wild Sheep Foundation Peregrine Wolff, and Shane Mahoney, president and CEO of Conservation Visions. Their conversation explores how One Health could engage more people in the conservation and management of natural resources, which should lead to a better understanding of the historical role hunters and anglers have played and continue to play in healthy ecosystems.
The 100,000 acre Rancho La Palmosa is the result of a vision to restore native wildlife to the Chihuahuan desert of northern Coahuila including desert bighorn sheep, pronghorn, mule deer, whitetail deer (miquihuanenses subspecies), quail (scaled and Montezuma) and non-game species and to enhance and protect the biodiversity of native flora and fauna. The Rangel family has owned portions of the ranch for more than 50 years. La Palmosa encompasses 156 square miles of spectacular desert, mesa and mountain topography ranging from 4,200’ to 8,600’ in elevation in the San Marcos y Los Pinõs Mountains.
Gray sits down with La Palmosa owners Emilio Rangel and his son Emilio Espino to discuss the history of the ranch and their repatriation efforts for desert bighorn sheep which from a source population of 133 released in 2005/2006 now numbers more than 700 free ranging bighorns.
Outdoor programming on television has come a long way since its inception, with more and more shows covering the conservation benefits of hunting and fishing. However, the majority of shows air on outdoor networks favored by sportsmen. The broader public that would benefit from this knowing these benefits have been harder to reach. While at the 2023 Sheep Show, Keith sat down with Dan Cabela and Conservation Visions president and CEO Shane Mahoney to talk about Dan’s new television series, Hard Truths, airing on a much more diverse platform, the History Channel.
SITKA Gear has led the technical hunting clothing community with their launch in 2005 with purposeful-designed apparel for the sheep and mountain game hunter and their digitally inspired Open Country pattern. Today, their lines include camouflage patterns, apparel, and gear for all species, from elk, mule deer, and whitetail to waterfowl and turkey. A leader in conservation, SITKA has been funding wild sheep and wildlife conservation in a major way since its start and has been the Official Sponsor of the Sheep Show for nine years and the initial sponsor for WSF’s
Stone Glacier is recognized as one of the fastest-growing, innovative, and edgy brands in the outdoor space. Gray sits down with SG President and CEO Jeff Sposito to discuss SG’s austere beginnings to trim gear weight to enable acclaimed Dall’s and Montana Unlimited hunter, SG Founder and Lead Designer Kurt Racicot to hunt solo for weeks in some of the most challenging environments to SG’s future as a gem of Vista Outdoors. Jeff talks about the brand, the products, the culture, and the future of Stone Glacier.
For this episode, Keith visits with Snowy Mountain Rifle of Montana president, Paul Donaldson to talk about custom rifle making and Paul’s good fortune in pulling the 2021 Idaho Raffle Bighorn Sheep Tag, good for Unit 11 Hells Canyon – a raffle ticket he purchased at the 2021 Sheep Show.
The business of conservation is complex, with many moving parts. In this episode, Keith visits with Congressional Sportsmen Foundation President Jeff Crane to discuss one aspect critical to successful wildlife and habitat conservation and protecting and advancing our outdoor traditions – legislation and policy at the federal and state levels. If there is one takeaway, sportsmen and the issues we care about are better represented now than at any point in history.
With more than 35 years of experience, Jim Winjum is a leading authority on footwear design for mountain hunting. In 2005 Jim's passion for backcountry hunting and the equipment required to participate in these adventures led Jim (and his partners) to found Kenetrek Boots in Bozeman, Montana where he serves as President. Gray sits down with this accomplished sheep and mountain hunter with both rifle and bow to talk boots, hunting, the wild sheep economy, and the future of wild sheep conservation
One of the seven principles of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is; wildlife is to be managed by the best science available, not opinion, conjecture, or how some would like it to be.
Keith sits down with Steve Williams, past Chief of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and current president of the Wildlife Management Institute to discuss how this cornerstone of wildlife management came about, its contributions over the past century, and what challenges we face in keeping science at the forefront of wildlife policy and management.
One bright spot in keeping wild sheep on the Mountain is a new program called, Test & Remove. In this episode, Gray sits down with the leading experts in the field, Helen Schwantje, DVM formerly (retired) the Wildlife Veterinarian for the Province of British Columbia, and Peregrine Wolff, DVM immediate past WSF Chair, Executive Manager of the Wildlife Disease Association and member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Caprinae Specialist Group.
The loss of any wild sheep to predation or disease is heartfelt. It's even harder when an animal tests positive for the pathogen M.ovi and has to be euthanized. But the results of more lambs surviving to adulthood and progressively fewer sheep testing positive has proven its worth. Today, it is our best tool in the toolbox.
Like a tough piece of meat that gets bigger the more you chew it, there’s more to this discussion on trophies and trophy hunting. Gray, Keith and Shane pick up where they left off and frame a path forward that just might make the most sense for steering this issue in a more positive direction.
If there's a hot topic aimed at the future of hunting today, it's trophy hunting.
Gray and Keith sit down with our community's sage advisor, Shane Mahoney, CEO of Conservation Visions.
Like the word conservation, trophy hunting has been highjacked by those trying to advance an anti-hunting agenda. This time as a bumper sticker campaign to launch into a more personal effort, anti-hunter.
Is the negative stereotype surrounding the notion of trophy hunting something we should be concerned about? Should we have adjectives that describe different types of hunting, or is hunting just hunting? Better yet, is trophy hunting conservation?
When it comes to Asian sheep hunting and especially hunting wild sheep in China, few have “been there – done that” than Albertan Robert Logan. Gray got with Bob in his stunning trophy room in Calgary to visit about his hunts, his trophies, his hunting friends, impromptu horse races, civil wars and strife including a few close calls Bob would rather not repeat!
For this episode of Sheep Fever, WSF President and CEO Gray Thornton and Vice President of Conservation Kevin Hurley visit with Kate Huyvaert DVM, the new Rocky Crate chair at Washington State University's School of Veterinary Medicine.
We've learned most of what we know about diseases and die-offs in wild sheep and what can be done from this think tank and research facility, which WSF and others have been supporting for years. While we've gotten pretty good at putting wild sheep on the Mountain, keeping them there has been a struggle in some areas.
Dr. Huyvaert gives us insights on new research and emerging technologies she and her team are working on, including a more reliable animal-side test for diseases.
So, you want to go sheep hunting? If there is one man who has seen it all in North America and internationally, its Jack Atcheson, Jr. Gray and Jack have a candid conversation about wild sheep hunting through the ages and where we are headed today.
Jack Jr. has followed in his father's footsteps as a booking agent out of Butte, Montana. Between them, they have put more people on their first and last sheep hunts than anyone. This is insider information we're all lucky to have.
If you want to know where you're going, check where you've been.
In this episode of Sheep Fever, you'll hear from the past two Chairs of the Wild Sheep Foundation, Brett Jefferson and Dr. Peregrine Wolff. They both share a look behind the scenes of WSF over the past four years.
In their tenure at the helm, both have seen tremendous growth in the organization but more importantly significant progress in Putting and Keeping Wild Sheep on the Mountain. Still, challenges and threats remain to be overcome, reminding us that wild sheep conservation is a continuum.
How much wild game meat is humanely and ethically harvested by sportsmen and women in the US and Canada each year? How many meals does this represent, and how many people does this wild protein feed? The answer to these questions is in the millions of pounds and millions of meals. In this episode, you’ll learn the far-reaching effects of this research initiative that drives to the heart of why conservation matters; to everyone.
Bob and Gray got on a roll and there was just too much good dialog to decide what to edit, so we split their conversation into two episodes.
Like a living encyclopedia on big rams, sheep hunts, and sheep hunters, author of the Great Rams books I, II, III & IV, Bob Anderson forgets more in a night’s sleep than we’ll ever know. WSF president & CEO Gray Thornton sits down with this legendary wild sheep scribe to extract a fraction of what he knows.
Like a living encyclopedia on big rams, sheep hunts, and sheep hunters, author of the Great Rams books I, II, III & IV, Bob Anderson forgets more in a night’s sleep than we’ll ever know. WSF president & CEO Gray Thornton sits down with this legendary wild sheep scribe to extract a fraction of what he knows.
Sheep Feveris the official podcast of the Wild Sheep Foundation, delivering a diversity of topics, talent, and insights from within the wild sheep hunting and conservation community, as well as broader issues of importance to the outdoor lifestyles and hunting heritage cherished by millions of sportsmen and women around the globe.