Ep. 112 - Common Ground: Ryan Callaghan on Building Conservation Coalitions

Ryan Callaghan—known to millions through MeatEater and now President & CEO of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers—joins Daniel Gates for one of the most important conservation conversations of the year.

From his beginnings as a Montana hunting guide and First Lite employee to helping build MeatEater and now leading one of North America's largest conservation organizations, Ryan explains why protecting hunting, fishing, public lands, and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation requires more than buying a hunting license—it requires action.

Together, Ryan and Dan discuss:

• Ryan's journey from guide to conservation leader
• Behind-the-scenes stories from the early days of MeatEater
• Why coalition building is the future of conservation
• Public lands, access, and the biggest threats facing hunters today
• Oregon's IP 28 and what it could mean nationwide
• Colorado's Constitutional Right to Hunt & Fish initiative
• How hunters, anglers, ranchers, agriculture, recreation groups, and public land users can work together instead of being divided
• Why advocacy matters just as much as time spent in the field

If you care about hunting, fishing, conservation, wildlife management, public lands, or the future of the outdoors, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO HUNT AND FISH IN COLORADO

Sign the Initiative 302 petition: savecoheritage.org

Donate to CRWM: savethehuntcolorado.com/support-us

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00:00 Introduction & Mission to Save the Hunt
00:43 Meet Ryan Callaghan
01:32 Ryan's Background & Growing Up in Montana
04:00 Building First Lite & Early Conservation Work
07:00 Joining MeatEater & Leading Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
09:20 New Fatherhood & Life Updates
10:35 How Ryan Ended Up at MeatEater
18:30 From Outdoor Jobs to Conservation Leadership
23:45 Why Hunting Advocacy Matters
25:45 Coalition Building Over Division
28:10 Lessons from Ranching Communities
32:40 Why Hunters Must Stop Fighting Each Other
33:20 Public Lands & Responsible Recreation
37:15 Politics vs. Policy
40:05 Supporting Businesses that Support Hunting
41:40 Conservation, Agriculture & Finding Common Ground
45:30 Responsible Resource Development
50:45 Oregon IP 28 Explained
57:30 Colorado's Right to Hunt & Fish Movement
1:03:30 Why Join Backcountry Hunters & Anglers?
1:06:20 Building Stronger Conservation Coalitions
1:12:20 Volunteerism & Stewardship
1:15:40 Reaching Non-Hunters Through Conservation
1:17:45 Why Wildlife Management Shouldn't Be Decided by Emotion
1:20:00 Final Thoughts & Call to Action

Ryan Callaghan, Dan Gates, MeatEater Podcast, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Daniel Gates, Through the Gates Podcast, public lands, hunting rights, right to hunt and fish, North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, conservation, wildlife management, Colorado hunting, Oregon IP 28, hunting advocacy, fishing rights, public land access, hunters united, wildlife conservation, hunting podcast, outdoor podcast, science-based wildlife management.