WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:03.560 Since nineteen eighty four, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has had 2 00:00:03.640 --> 00:00:08.240 thirteen thousand projects and affected over eight point nine million 3 00:00:09.320 --> 00:00:14.560 acres in conservation, habitat for the elk and others. All 4 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:20.199 that with Mark Holyoake of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation right now. Hey, 5 00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:22.640 I'm kJ, dedicated lifelong hunter. 6 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:25.280 Here. If you've got an interest in all things hunting, 7 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:28.000 you're in the right spot. Whether chasing quail across the 8 00:00:28.039 --> 00:00:30.359 plains of Oklahoma or in pursuit of belk in the 9 00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:34.159 back country of British Columbia, you'll always find me on 10 00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:34.679 the hunt. 11 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:39.840 All right, Welcome in all you gun talk hunters. I'm 12 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:42.439 your host, kJ, and we are back for a great 13 00:00:42.600 --> 00:00:44.079 gun talk hunt podcast. 14 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:45.200 Man. 15 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:48.520 With Honestly, right now, what we're looking at, guys, is 16 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:50.960 it's the heat of the summer. I'm not going to 17 00:00:51.240 --> 00:00:53.359 not going to sugarcoat in any It's not gonna get 18 00:00:53.399 --> 00:00:57.079 any better. So while you're sitting here, while you're heating 19 00:00:57.159 --> 00:01:00.960 up and you're dreaming about those fall seasons, man, I thought, 20 00:01:01.479 --> 00:01:03.960 you know, it would be a great idea to talk 21 00:01:04.040 --> 00:01:07.239 about the ability to hunt and where a lot of 22 00:01:07.239 --> 00:01:10.799 that comes from, and the story of how we hunt 23 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:13.480 and why we hunt can't be told without mentioning the 24 00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:17.400 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. And I've got Mark Holyoake from 25 00:01:17.719 --> 00:01:21.120 Rocky Mountain Elk with me today. Mark, welcome in, Hey, 26 00:01:21.159 --> 00:01:24.920 Thanks great to be with you man, Mark. You know, 27 00:01:25.640 --> 00:01:29.719 with with hunting seasons like they're going to approach very quickly, 28 00:01:31.319 --> 00:01:34.000 we talk about, you know, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, what 29 00:01:34.280 --> 00:01:36.920 is you know? For those who don't know, because we 30 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:40.040 get a lot of new hunters in here too, Conservation 31 00:01:40.920 --> 00:01:45.239 groups like Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation are vital, vital to 32 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:48.799 our hunting success and being able to see more critters. 33 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:53.840 Absolutely, you know. We we are a conservation organization hunter 34 00:01:53.959 --> 00:01:57.879 based probably ninety seven ninety eight percent of our members 35 00:01:57.879 --> 00:02:02.959 are hunters, not everyone, but practically everyone. And our mission 36 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:06.239 is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat, 37 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:08.479 and our hunting heritage. And when a lot of people 38 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:11.360 hear about that mission, they think we're all about elk, 39 00:02:11.400 --> 00:02:14.240 which we all are, but it's important to talk about 40 00:02:14.280 --> 00:02:17.199 that other wildlife term as well. I mean what we 41 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:21.159 do when we conserve landscapes, when we open public access, 42 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:26.039 when we enhance habitat, it helps meal deer, it helps whitetails, 43 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:29.000 it helps mountain lions and black bears and antelope and 44 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:33.280 on and on and on. So we're an organization that, yes, 45 00:02:33.360 --> 00:02:37.159 we're known as being elk centric, but the work we 46 00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:40.039 do benefits and help so many other species, which makes 47 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:41.800 it so much more fun for all of us who 48 00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:43.360 like to get out there on those landscapes and hunt 49 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:45.039 and hike and fish and do the things we do. 50 00:02:45.560 --> 00:02:48.919 Yep, absolutely, and this episode is brought to you by Eotech, 51 00:02:49.080 --> 00:02:53.039 rossy Ruger, Timney, Trigger's Range Ready Studios, Silence, are Central, 52 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:58.199 and Vortex all those like they believe heavily in comfort conservation, 53 00:02:58.879 --> 00:03:04.080 especially Rocking Mountain Elk Foundation. So let's kind of jump 54 00:03:04.120 --> 00:03:06.280 into some projects that are kind of near and dear 55 00:03:06.280 --> 00:03:11.759 to your heart mark and talk about those and what 56 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:17.000 it does for the herd size and limits. 57 00:03:18.199 --> 00:03:20.520 So I guess maybe we could look backwards. Just a 58 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:24.400 few months late last year, we had just two giant projects, 59 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:27.719 one on each coast. One was in northeast Oregon along 60 00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:30.560 the Minum River corridor, and basically it was a two 61 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:33.280 phase project that over a couple of years we were 62 00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:36.719 able to conserve, in other words, protect or permanently protect 63 00:03:36.719 --> 00:03:40.000 the wildlife values and the habitat of fifteen thousand acres. 64 00:03:40.840 --> 00:03:44.719 We worked with our partners at Manualife Investment and Oregon 65 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:47.599 Department of Fish and Wildlife to make it happen, and 66 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:52.599 so before it was private land, now it's open. Practically, 67 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:54.879 the whole stretch of the Minum River is now conserved. 68 00:03:54.879 --> 00:03:57.000 People can go and they can fish it. They're doing 69 00:03:57.080 --> 00:03:59.159 it right now. You can go out on it right 70 00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:01.960 now and you can scout for elk and muldeer and 71 00:04:01.639 --> 00:04:06.759 other critters. That's happening right now. So it's a benefit 72 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:10.719 for wildlife and it helps us as well. On the 73 00:04:10.759 --> 00:04:14.520 other coast, we had a project completely different, completely different 74 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:19.000 approach and landscape. This is in the heart of Kentucky's 75 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:23.519 Elk Range, where it's just it's thick, you know, very thick, 76 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:28.079 or completely different kind of vegetation and everything. And it's 77 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:31.279 also a different project in that the Oregon project is 78 00:04:31.319 --> 00:04:34.160 now in public hands because it's Oregon Department of Fish 79 00:04:34.199 --> 00:04:38.319 and Wildlife, it's a wildlife management area. But back in 80 00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:41.319 Kentucky that one is still known by the Nature Conservancy. 81 00:04:41.399 --> 00:04:45.240 So we work with them and signed an agreement a 82 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:48.920 conservation and access agreement. It's fifty five thousand acres, so 83 00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:52.600 it's huge. Even though it remains in the private hands. 84 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:55.920 Right now, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is actually managing it 85 00:04:56.240 --> 00:05:00.240 so they can take part in whatever needs to be 86 00:05:00.279 --> 00:05:02.879 done as far as habitat work goes finning or burns 87 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:06.519 or noxious weed treatments. And yet there's the public access component, 88 00:05:06.600 --> 00:05:08.680 so it's open to the public forever. 89 00:05:09.160 --> 00:05:09.399 Wow. 90 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:13.639 So two very different types of projects that help animals 91 00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:16.680 on both coasts and are hugely beneficial for those of 92 00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:17.560 us who like to hunt. 93 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:22.720 Well, it's opening up land that is, I mean to 94 00:05:22.759 --> 00:05:25.839 be honest with you right now, it's land access is 95 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:28.920 hard to come by, and especially like more and more 96 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:31.920 public areas, like we have an influx of hunters coming 97 00:05:31.959 --> 00:05:35.360 into this space that we have all cried out for. 98 00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:38.879 We asked for this, We asked for more hunters. We 99 00:05:38.920 --> 00:05:41.839 wanted to maintain them, We wanted to keep them and 100 00:05:42.040 --> 00:05:44.959 let them go out and hunt. I don't think a 101 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:49.040 lot of people really thought that the access issue would 102 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:51.600 have been a problem, but it started to become an issue. 103 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:55.600 And I mean, what was it, like, I think eight 104 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:58.759 point nine million acres or something like that. Since nineteen 105 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:02.920 eighty four at Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has had a 106 00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:09.800 hand in, you know, increasing the value or the conservation 107 00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:11.160 of those properties. 108 00:06:11.240 --> 00:06:13.839 Is that sound about right? Am I in the right ballpark? 109 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:16.839 Yeah? Yeah, we're In fact, this is our fortieth anniversary 110 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:19.399 this year. We were founded in nineteen eighty four, so 111 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:21.720 it's been forty years. But before the forty years is out, 112 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:25.439 we'll roll over that roll'll roll over that nine million 113 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:29.920 acre threshold of acreage that we've either conserved or protected, 114 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:33.839 going to stay the way it is and open access 115 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:36.160 to about one point six million acres of that for 116 00:06:36.199 --> 00:06:39.920 people to hunt, hike, and fish and float, pick cockle 117 00:06:39.959 --> 00:06:41.839 berries and do whatever the things they like to do 118 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:42.800 on those landscapes. 119 00:06:42.920 --> 00:06:45.680 That's a good point because in my mindset, and I'm 120 00:06:45.720 --> 00:06:47.399 sure a lot of guys out there and gals out 121 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:50.360 there listening, they think when I hear Rocky Mountain Elk, 122 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:52.519 I'm like, all right, they're growing those deer herds. They're 123 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:56.240 making the land great for me the hunter. But it's 124 00:06:57.240 --> 00:07:01.399 it's not that it's birders. It's hikers, it's it's fishermen, 125 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:06.240 it's voters. It's like you know, it's campers, it's the overlanders, 126 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:08.879 it's you guys kind of do it for everybody, not 127 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:10.120 just hunters. 128 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:12.639 Now we do it. I mean, that's that's the bottom 129 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:15.360 line of it all. Yeah, our focus is hunting. Will 130 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:17.560 admit that we hunt, Well, yeah, that's what we do. 131 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:20.800 But hey, if you can do work to benefit species 132 00:07:20.839 --> 00:07:23.800 and hunters and yet so many other segments of society, 133 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:27.160 why not. And we're open to having anyone and everyone 134 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:29.439 support us as we try to carry out our mission 135 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:33.839 and just advance it to the best point that we can. 136 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:34.800 Yeah. 137 00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:37.800 Well, it's it is amazing how much you guys have done. 138 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:40.160 And I think I've read on your website, which, by 139 00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:43.319 the way, I don't know who's doing your website work, 140 00:07:43.399 --> 00:07:47.199 but RMEF dot org. Go there, check it out, because 141 00:07:47.240 --> 00:07:50.000 it's probably one of the best laid out websites I've 142 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:51.000 been on in a long time. 143 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:55.120 It's easy to navigate. Let's talk about. 144 00:07:55.600 --> 00:08:00.279 This the work you're doing with kind of other organizations, 145 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:03.720 because that's one thing that caught my eye. Actually, and 146 00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:06.720 this wasn't This is kind of a prop too. I've 147 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:09.519 got to apologize to Mark before it, but I saw 148 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:12.600 it and I was like, that's interesting, Like because they're 149 00:08:12.600 --> 00:08:20.000 doing advocacy work for other issues in the wildlife conservation realm, 150 00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:23.519 And I think the one that actually caught my eye 151 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:29.800 was one with the Cats Organization that the Colorado Initiative 152 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:34.480 that they're trying to outlaw basically outlaw hunting. Believe it 153 00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:37.519 or not, they are coming after our hunting, like I mean, 154 00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:41.440 big shocker there. But talk a little bit about that 155 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:48.200 and the advocacy and assisting other organizations, because I'm sure 156 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:51.159 like they're all helping you too. 157 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:54.879 That's one thing we do really in all of our work, 158 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:58.679 our conservation work, our habitat enhancement work, we work with 159 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:01.879 a lot of researchers, a lot of universities if we're 160 00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:05.039 furthering research, So basically everything we do we don't do 161 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:07.919 it by ourselves. We look to link arms with other 162 00:09:07.960 --> 00:09:10.759 folks because there's more power in that, there's more progress 163 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:14.399 in that, and there's more bottom line results in that. 164 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:17.159 And the same goes for advocacy. So if you look 165 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:19.639 at this, if you're not familiar with what's going on 166 00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:23.120 right now, there is a potential ballot initiative. They turned 167 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:28.600 in one hundred and eighty some thousand signatures last week environmentalists, 168 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:33.639 animal rights folks. They want to outlaw mountain lion hunting 169 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:40.399 and bobcat hunting in Colorado. So before you go too 170 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:42.039 much in depth on that, you kind of need to 171 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:44.759 realize the history in this state. So it was only 172 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:48.120 four years ago that they had another ballot initiative and 173 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:51.120 that was to forcibly put wolves on the ground in Colorado. 174 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:56.360 And once in Colorado, according to statute, once a ballot 175 00:09:56.360 --> 00:10:00.159 initiative goes to the people, state employees can say nothing. 176 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:04.360 So Colorado parks on my life. You're biologists, your game managers, 177 00:10:04.919 --> 00:10:08.279 your leadership, and every level. They couldn't say anything. So 178 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:10.759 we were pushing out we found out about this about 179 00:10:10.759 --> 00:10:12.840 three years before, and so we're pushing out the word, hey, 180 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:16.200 this could come, this could happen. And so we were 181 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:17.960 pushing out the word that there's a possibility this is 182 00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:21.840 going to happen. And then once it happened, their lips 183 00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:24.080 are sealed. There's nothing they could do. But they had 184 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:28.240 four previous times they had conducted studies and said this 185 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:31.480 is a bad idea. If they come here naturally, they 186 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:34.639 come here naturally, that's fine, and that's what we agree to. 187 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:38.000 But to forcibly put them on the landscape is a 188 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:41.679 bad idea, and it happened. They devote passed by less 189 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:45.480 than two percent. It's a bit messy right now. And 190 00:10:45.559 --> 00:10:49.840 the bottom line there is you have uneducated folks who 191 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:54.000 go to the polls and they check a box not 192 00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:59.360 really understanding an issue, or they've only heard emotional please 193 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:05.480 and some taglines and some propaganda, and they're avoiding wildlife management, 194 00:11:05.559 --> 00:11:09.120 the North American wildlife conservation model, the importance of managing 195 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:12.440 all species for their overall good predators and prey. So 196 00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:15.600 that happened four years ago, and so it's not surprising 197 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:18.039 that this has happened this time because the door has 198 00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:20.679 been opened in Colorado. So now the door is open. 199 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:23.919 It's up to the Secretary of State to determine if 200 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:26.360 they have enough ballot signatures to put it on the 201 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:29.720 ballot later this year. If it does, it will go 202 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:32.240 on the ballot. You know, we've put well over six 203 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:37.120 figures on the ground and money donations. We're linked up 204 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:40.480 with lots of other like minded groups as well as 205 00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:42.960 cattleman groups and just other folks who are concerned in 206 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:47.080 Colorado to try and stop this from happening. So we 207 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:49.759 wait right now and see what the Secretary of State says. 208 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:52.679 If it doesn't pass, we're good for now, but they'll 209 00:11:52.679 --> 00:11:55.600 regroup and try again. If it does pass, we will 210 00:11:55.639 --> 00:11:59.320 dive in like we did four years ago. We'll use resources, 211 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:02.679 outreach everything we can and say hey, can we have 212 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:05.919 some common sense here. Let's not turn our back on 213 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:11.759 wildlife management regulations and using hunting as part of that. 214 00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:15.279 And hunting is key and this people may say, oh, 215 00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:17.360 it's this is just a mountain lion hunt. This is 216 00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:21.120 it's not like they're talking elk or deer. Well, that 217 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:23.200 will be next. I mean the writing's on the wall. 218 00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:25.639 We've seen it from four years ago. This is another 219 00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:28.200 step in that direction. So are we involved? Yes? Do 220 00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:30.320 we put resoarch on the ground, yes? Do E our 221 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:33.639 members involved? Yes? Do we want everyone involved? Yes? 222 00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:36.639 And that's what I love about the website and making 223 00:12:36.679 --> 00:12:39.639 it easy because you can go in and it's under 224 00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:43.960 key issues and advocacy. It's a drop down menu. You 225 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:46.519 go down, you go to that, and you can go 226 00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:48.320 in and you can look at all the state issues 227 00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:53.080 that Rocky Mountain Milk is trying to get involved and 228 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:54.200 bring to light. 229 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:55.679 And you they allow. 230 00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:57.399 You to go in, you can go down, you can 231 00:12:57.440 --> 00:13:00.759 take action, and it'll take you to a screenshot. I've 232 00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:05.080 already done it and you basically, I mean, it is 233 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:09.679 pretty simple to send your state legislators or those state 234 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:14.320 legislatures a message from like that's well typed out, it's 235 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:17.600 well documented that you reached out, and that's one way 236 00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:20.440 you can actually take action. And I love that you 237 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:23.000 guys are doing. That's that's amazing work mark. 238 00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:27.159 Yeah, you know, it doesn't matter if you're a recurved 239 00:13:27.159 --> 00:13:32.039 bow hunter, a compound bow hunter, late season rifle guy 240 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:36.519 or girl, doesn't matter. We need to recognize these efforts 241 00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:40.039 for what they are, and they threaten, you know, our 242 00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:42.840 way of life. And not only that, they threatened funding 243 00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:47.720 for conservation. I mean those of us who hunt understand, 244 00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:49.960 and if we don't understand, we should figure it out. 245 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:54.200 But we supply so much funding that makes conservation work happen. 246 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:58.679 I mean, when you look at the taxes that are 247 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:04.440 on our ammunition and our rifles, archery equipment, all those 248 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:08.080 recreational shooters as well, they have exercise taxes on that 249 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:11.879 that funding goes toward conservation. It's earmark that way, it's 250 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:15.080 set up. Federally that way, and they've raised over seventeen 251 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:18.559 billion dollars in almost the last century, in the last 252 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:21.679 ninety years. That go specifically for that. You do away 253 00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:24.879 with hunting, you take away your ment, your chief management 254 00:14:24.919 --> 00:14:28.879 of species, and a huge funding for the wildlife that's 255 00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:31.759 out there, and then that would be a terrific, terrifically 256 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:35.519 bad impact on our wildlife publications. 257 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:40.240 It'd be devastating, absolutely devastating. We're going to jump back 258 00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:41.799 in here from here in a second. We're going to 259 00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:44.679 take a quick break here from a word from our sponsors, 260 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:49.279 but I want to talk about wolves next and how 261 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:53.039 it plays an impact on what Rocky Mountainelk Foundation is doing. 262 00:14:56.639 --> 00:15:01.080 Ultimate versatility with the American Gen two Predator Model. When 263 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:04.279 you're on the hunt, versatility is key. Meet the Ruger 264 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:08.000 American Gen two Predator Model, the ultimate hunting rifle for 265 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:12.279 all your pursuits. With its specialized barrel for supreme accuracy, 266 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:17.039 adjustable trigger, and rugged construction, the Ruger American Gen two 267 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:20.679 Predator Model is engineered to excel in any environment, from 268 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:24.559 varmints to big game. This rifle adapts to your needs. 269 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:28.240 Elevate your hunting experience with the Ruger American Gen two 270 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:31.639 Predator model. Visit Ruger dot com to discover how it 271 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:33.519 can transform your next hunt. 272 00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:35.120 What a hit. 273 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:38.960 When it comes to hunting, your trigger is everything. Timney 274 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:42.840 Triggers introduces the Remingtons seven hundred hit trigger, designed for 275 00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:46.960 those serious shooters. The Remingtons seven hundred hit trigger offers 276 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:51.000 adjustable pull weight, ensuring you get the perfect customized feel 277 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:54.679 you deserve. It's built for precision and reliability so you 278 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:59.360 can trust your every shot. Timny Triggers has many triggers 279 00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:02.879 for hunting for a bunch of different rifles out there. 280 00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:07.679 Discover the Remington seven hundred hit and transform your hunting experience. 281 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:12.240 Visit Timny Triggers dot com to explore all they got. 282 00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:15.240 It's time to prepare for the shot of a lifetime. 283 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:18.480 Whether you're a season hunter or new the sport preparation 284 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:21.399 is key. I preach it all the time. At Range 285 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:24.679 Ready Studios, we offer the training you need to make 286 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:28.480 that shot of a lifetime. Chris Serino is on staff 287 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:31.440 and he has a host of instructors on hand to 288 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:35.480 provide personalized trainings in state of the art facilities and 289 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:40.320 practical exercises that build your confidence and skills from precision 290 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:44.799 marksmanship to quick target acquisition. We've got you covered. Don't 291 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:48.799 leave your success to chance. Visit Rangereadystudios dot com to 292 00:16:48.919 --> 00:16:52.720 learn more. All right, let's talk about spotting scopes real quick. 293 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:55.240 You know, when you're out the field and you're scanning, 294 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:59.120 clarity is absolutely one hundred percent key when you're scanning 295 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:03.120 the rise and clarity is the difference because you've got 296 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:05.920 to distinguish whether you need to make that move or 297 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:09.559 you don't. With Razor HD spotting scopes, enjoy exceptional edge 298 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:14.880 to edge clarity, brilliant color fidelity, and rugged construction designed 299 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:18.599 for the toughness of environment. And of course, Vortex Optics 300 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:23.519 has that impeccable lifetime guarantee knowing that you are covered 301 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:27.839 no matter what, and they mean it. See further and 302 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:32.680 clearer with Vortex Razor HD spotting scopes. Visit Vortexoptics dot 303 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:38.599 com today and learn more. All Right, we're back with 304 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:43.240 Mark Holyoake of Rocky Mountain ELK Foundation, and okay, let's 305 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:45.519 we've kind of got a little bit of the background 306 00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:48.599 and some projects that you guys are working on, and 307 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:51.720 we jumped a little bit into the advocacy part but 308 00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:54.799 let's talk a little bit about the wolves impact on 309 00:17:55.000 --> 00:18:00.839 how Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation operates, because man, they just 310 00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:05.759 they're hunters. They're hunters and they're killers. I mean they 311 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:09.400 will drive an elk hurt out and decimate it. So 312 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:14.599 what's what's Rocky Mountains Elk kind of stance on that 313 00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:17.640 and what do you guys do along those lines? 314 00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:20.920 You know, we have just like we're in favor of 315 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:25.759 management for prey species, I mean, we're in favor of 316 00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:28.599 management of elk. There are places where elk are well 317 00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:31.519 over objective and that's not a good thing. That's not 318 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:33.759 a good thing for the available habitat that's out there. 319 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:35.799 And so some people will label us as you know, 320 00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:40.279 you're anti wolf. Well, we're not anti elk, but we 321 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:43.839 very much agree with managing elk and getting them up 322 00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:45.880 where they need to be and getting them down to 323 00:18:45.880 --> 00:18:49.160 where they need to be depending on where those locations are. 324 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:53.440 Same thing those for wolves and other predators. We're pro 325 00:18:53.559 --> 00:18:59.200 management of wolves and mountain lions, black bears as well 326 00:19:00.119 --> 00:19:02.240 those of us who live in our neck of the woods. 327 00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:06.480 I mean I live west of missoulm about fifteen miles Okay, 328 00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:09.200 I was out picking Huckleberry's last year up in the 329 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:12.119 mountains in a favorite spot. Got home the next day 330 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:15.319 and saw a word from Montana Fish Wilife Parks that grizzlies. 331 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:19.880 Grizzly was spotted right there. Grizzlies are pushing down, they're 332 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:23.240 getting really close to us. That's an exploding not exploding. 333 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:27.240 But it's definitely a growing population and there's need of 334 00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:30.359 management there as well. So are we in favor of 335 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:33.880 managing all species? Yes? Does that include predators yes? Do 336 00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:36.799 they have an impact on elk another wildlife? Yes? 337 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:37.880 All right? 338 00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:42.119 I just I just I hear so many stories of 339 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:45.640 you know, we'll like, you know, hunters going out to 340 00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:48.279 their favorite spots and they won't hear a bugle at all, 341 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:50.319 they won't see an elk, they won't see a track, 342 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:53.359 and they know wolves or that have been through that area, 343 00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:56.759 and they just they keep pushing them and it's just 344 00:19:56.920 --> 00:19:58.359 it's just it's unfortunate. 345 00:19:58.559 --> 00:20:00.000 They some states. 346 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:03.519 I naturally absolutely like there's gonna be there's got to 347 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:07.799 be a balance. But come on, come on, And I 348 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:11.960 was wondering, is that a wolf that you took out 349 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:14.839 in Montana the hide? 350 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:17.279 Yeah? 351 00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:21.119 Now that was actually sent in from a member who 352 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:24.079 took it legally and it ended up in my office 353 00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:25.160 because I think it's cool looking. 354 00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:27.200 It is cool, it's absolutely cool. 355 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:31.039 There's nothing like a good wolf hide, but yeah, it's 356 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:36.240 it's absolutely amazing. Talk a little bit more about, you know, 357 00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:40.880 future projects and where where Rocky Mountain Elk is really 358 00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:43.200 focused on, and and key areas. 359 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:45.279 I know, I know you guys are out west. 360 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:47.559 You guys do a lot of work out west, But 361 00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:52.039 I mean you've done work in both my states. You've 362 00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:55.880 done work in Oklahoma, You've done work in Louisiana. In fact, 363 00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:57.839 I don't know if there's a state that you guys 364 00:20:57.920 --> 00:20:58.880 haven't touched. 365 00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:02.519 You know, I should point out that you and I 366 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:05.039 have a lot in common because I work at the 367 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:07.839 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and you're from Elk City, Oklahoma, 368 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:11.720 So right there we have that going. But yeah, wherever 369 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:14.039 elk are, and I think there are twenty eight states 370 00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:16.400 where there are wild, free ranging elk. Wherever elk are, 371 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:20.640 we're involved. Having said that, though, we have just under 372 00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:24.000 five hundred chapters nationwide, and a lot of those chapters 373 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:26.720 are in states that don't have elk populations. You know, 374 00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:30.839 Iowa Ohio, you know, whatever, Florida. You go on and on. 375 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:34.799 But the members that we have in those states recognize 376 00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:38.119 the importance of elk. A lot of them go to 377 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:40.440 other states to hunt them. But at the same time, 378 00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:42.079 a lot of that funding that they raise is put 379 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:44.960 on the ground in their home states to promote you know, 380 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:49.480 youth outdoor camps and conservation education, national archeries and the 381 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:52.319 schools program for a shooting, all those things, on and 382 00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:55.799 on and on. So it's a grand it's a larger 383 00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:59.480 approach to Yes, we're elk centric, but there's so much 384 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:02.000 more that we can. We have members that support that 385 00:22:02.119 --> 00:22:05.880 all around the country and especially in states where elk 386 00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:09.920 are and that ranges from the southeast of Pennsylvania to 387 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:12.720 Arizona to Washington and up into Alaska. 388 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:17.200 Yeah, it's like literally everywhere. So do you have any 389 00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:21.599 kind of cool stories about volunteers that have any good 390 00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:23.680 personal stories or anything like that. I know I didn't 391 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:26.519 ask you that, but I'm thinking, like, with all the volunteers, 392 00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:30.640 you've got to have some great stories of just the 393 00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:32.839 passion that runs through RMEF. 394 00:22:34.119 --> 00:22:36.279 Well, that's the thing is we have. We have thousands 395 00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:40.960 and thousands of volunteers, and yes, their main focus is 396 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:44.799 really fundraising banquets, but we also do all sorts of 397 00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:48.240 boots on the ground projects. We had one a couple 398 00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:51.759 of weeks ago that is west of here, about an hour. 399 00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:54.079 It's up in the mountains. It's right on the Montana 400 00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:58.400 Idaho border, and it's a place called Hiawatha Trail. Now 401 00:22:58.599 --> 00:23:02.599