Hunt. Fish. Freedom. - Presented By The International Order of T Roosevelt

Off The Trail Ep 3: Why Hunters Need to Care About Politics (even if they hate politics)

Hunting freedom isn’t guaranteed. Protecting seasons, access, and wildlife starts with political engagement. For many hunters and anglers, the outdoors is where we go to escape the noise of politics and the daily news cycle. But the reality is simple. Even if hunters step away from politics, politics will never step away from hunting. This conversation breaks down why policy decisions shape the future of hunting, fishing, and wildlife conservation across the United States. From state legislatures and ballot initiatives to wildlife regulations and public land policy, the rules that govern hunting seasons, weapon methods, and access are constantly being debated and rewritten. You will hear how the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation came to exist in the first place and why leaders like Theodore Roosevelt fought to establish a system that protects wildlife while supporting hunting traditions. The discussion also explores how modern anti hunting campaigns often operate through gradual regulatory pressure rather than sweeping bans. Shortened seasons, method restrictions, and species specific regulations can reshape the future of hunting one decision at a time. Hunters remain the backbone of conservation funding through license sales, excise taxes like Pittman Robertson, and volunteer habitat work. But funding alone is not enough. Staying informed, supporting hunting advocacy organizations, and defending the right to hunt and fish at the state level all play a role in ensuring these traditions continue. Hunting is more than recreation. It is food, conservation, heritage, and a connection to the land that depends on active participation. Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app! Check out a photo from the hunt: https://www.instagram.com/p/DE2UXH3OGx5/?igsh=b3BiNTliczY1aGVv Don’t forget to leave a 5 star review and SUBSCRIBE on Apple or Spotify Check out the IOTR website: International Order of T. Roosevelt | Protect At-Risk Wildlife Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19zGf29wGZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr Follow us on X: https://x.com/iotrofficial?s=21&t=SzcoQxiDPMWvFcFPurrzNw Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iotr_official?igsh=dXp5b284dXJpOXlq&utm_source=qr Follow Kenia on X: https://x.com/kenialink_?s=21&t=SzcoQxiDPMWvFcFPurrzNw Follow Kenia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenialink_?igsh=MXBpa2xpYnp4ZHE2cw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Follow Kenia on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1RbJCd3uxh/?mibextid=wwXIfr Follow Kenia on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kenialink_?_r=1&_t=ZT-92Kw0J0yATW

Episode 36 - Right to Hunt and Fish: Statehouse Battles That Matter Most

When anti-hunting activists mobilize, will sportsmen show up to defend their ground? Fred Bird of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation joins Hunt Fish Freedom for a hard look at the policy fights shaping our outdoor future. As host of The Sportsmen’s Voice podcast and a longtime advocate in state legislatures across the East Coast, Fred brings boots-on-the-ground insight from inside committee rooms and caucus meetings where hunting and fishing rights are decided. From Right to Hunt and Fish constitutional amendments to Sunday hunting access and no net loss public land policies, this conversation breaks down how wildlife management, conservation funding, and sportsmen’s advocacy intersect at the state level. Fred explains why semi-automatic firearm restrictions, commission restructuring efforts, and anti-hunting ballot initiatives like those emerging in Oregon represent more than political noise. They directly impact waterfowl hunting, turkey hunting, deer seasons, trapping rights, and the North American model of wildlife conservation. Listeners will walk away understanding how license sales fund conservation, why showing up at state hearings matters, and how a handful of phone calls can sway a vote. This is an insider conversation about hunting advocacy, grassroots action, and protecting the outdoor heritage we pass to the next generation. Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app! Don’t forget to leave a 5 star review and SUBSCRIBE on Apple or Spotify Check out Fred’s work at Congressional Sportsmen Foundation:  Check out The Sportsmen’s Voice Podcast:  Check out the IOTR website: International Order of T. Roosevelt | Protect At-Risk Wildlife Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19zGf29wGZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr Follow us on X: https://x.com/iotrofficial?s=21&t=SzcoQxiDPMWvFcFPurrzNw

Episode 35 - Abundant Wildlife Depends on Hunters: The North American Model

If hunting disappears, so does America’s most successful conservation story. At Dallas Safari Club Convention, we sat down with Shane Mahoney to talk about what most Americans overlook: the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is one of the greatest achievements in this country’s history. Wildlife once stood on the brink. Market hunting, habitat loss, and unregulated harvest decimated populations of whitetails, wild turkeys, elk, and waterfowl. Leaders like Theodore Roosevelt reversed that course, building a system where regulated hunting and fishing fund conservation through license dollars, excise taxes, and volunteerism. Today, that system generates over $100 billion in economic impact annually, supports roughly 650,000 rural jobs, and provides 1.5 billion wild game meals every year. From elk hunting in the Rockies to whitetail hunting in the Midwest and waterfowl hunting along major flyways, hunters remain the primary financial engine behind wildlife management, habitat restoration, and scientific research. Through the Wild Harvest Initiative, Mahoney’s research shows that 14 to 16 million hunters share wild protein with up to 100 million Americans. Remove hunting, and that food must be replaced with domestic livestock production, requiring more land conversion and billions in additional costs. This is not just about tradition. It is about food security, sustainable protein, and the future of conservation itself. Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app! Don’t forget to leave a 5 star review and SUBSCRIBE on Apple or Spotify Check out Fred’s work at Congressional Sportsmen Foundation:  Check out The Sportsmen’s Voice Podcast:  Check out the IOTR website: International Order of T. Roosevelt | Protect At-Risk Wildlife Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19zGf29wGZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr Follow us on X: https://x.com/iotrofficial?s=21&t=SzcoQxiDPMWvFcFPurrzNw Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iotr_official?igsh=dXp5b284dXJpOXlq&utm_source=qr

Episode 34 - Conservation, Global Hunting Access, and Show Season with Lucas Hoge

Global hunting adventures are closer and more attainable than most outdoorsmen realize. Broadcasting from the floor of the Dallas Safari Club convention in Atlanta, this conversation dives deep into what it means to protect hunting rights while expanding opportunity for everyday sportsmen. Country artist and host of Hoge Wild, Lucas Hoge shares hard-earned perspective from hunting across New Zealand, South Africa, Alaska, and beyond. From possum population mismanagement overseas to the domino effects of government overreach, the discussion highlights why regulated hunting and fishing remain essential tools for wildlife conservation and rural livelihoods. Listeners will gain insight into how international hunts can be more affordable than expected, how relationships built at conventions like DSC turn into elk hunts, African safaris, and backcountry adventures, and why mentorship and advocacy matter now more than ever. The conversation also explores the responsibility of outdoor media, the importance of supporting outfitters with integrity, and how hunting shows can shine a light on accessible global hunting opportunities without compromising conservation values. If you care about protecting outdoor traditions, expanding access to big game hunting, and keeping the next generation engaged in fishing and the outdoors, this one hits home. Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app! Don’t forget to leave a 5 star review and SUBSCRIBE on Apple or Spotify Check out the IOTR website: International Order of T. Roosevelt | Protect At-Risk Wildlife Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19zGf29wGZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr Follow us on X: https://x.com/iotrofficial?s=21&t=SzcoQxiDPMWvFcFPurrzNw Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iotr_official?igsh=dXp5b284dXJpOXlq&utm_source=qr

Episode 33 - Protecting Hunting and Fishing Rights: Inside IOTR 2026 Conservation Event

A behind-the-scenes look at the movement fighting to secure hunting and fishing traditions nationwide. The future of hunting, fishing, and outdoor traditions depends on more than time in the field. It depends on the people willing to defend those opportunities for the next generation. This conversation explores the mission behind the International Order of T. Roosevelt and why its annual IOTR 2026 convention has become one of the most influential gatherings in modern conservation. Executive Director Luke Hilgemann breaks down the growing challenges facing hunters and anglers, from declining participation to coordinated anti-hunting opposition. The discussion dives into how constitutional protections for hunting and fishing rights are reshaping the conservation landscape, including recent legislative wins and legal precedent that directly impact wildlife management and outdoor access. Listeners gain insight into how hunter-driven conservation funding supports habitat protection, wildlife populations, and public land opportunities. The conversation also reveals how strategic conservation leadership, policy advocacy, and community engagement help secure the future of waterfowl hunting, big game hunting, and American sporting traditions. Beyond policy and conservation strategy, the episode highlights the culture and camaraderie that fuel the outdoor community. From elite conservation networking and wildlife policy discussions to conservation fundraising and leadership development, this gathering unites hunters, anglers, and outdoor advocates committed to protecting wild places and hunting heritage. For anyone passionate about conservation advocacy, wildlife stewardship, and defending the traditions that define the outdoor lifestyle, this conversation delivers a clear blueprint for protecting hunting and fishing opportunities across America. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app! Don’t forget to leave a 5 star review and SUBSCRIBE on Apple or Spotify Check out the IOTR website: International Order of T. Roosevelt | Protect At-Risk Wildlife Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19zGf29wGZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr Follow us on X: https://x.com/iotrofficial?s=21&t=SzcoQxiDPMWvFcFPurrzNw Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iotr_official?igsh=dXp5b284dXJpOXlq&utm_source=qr