Your Mountain

Dave and Nephi cover a series of current events in this episode. Topics include: (1) the recent decision to convene the "God Squad"; (2) what the "God Squad" is under the Endangered Species Act, and its history; (3) the Greyhound Protection Act, and what it meant for bird hunters; (4) the recent decision to overturn a mineral withdrawal near the Boundary Waters; (5) a soapbox/diatribe/frustration about our win-at-all-costs political environment; and more.

Dave and Nephi discuss: Idaho's technology in hunting regulations and the current legislative action on them; ethics around different types of technology in hunting; a lawsuit challenging the Ambler Road project in Alaska; whether certain conservation topics are big issues or not; the retirement of Sen. Daines and Rep. Zinke in MT; and more. Don't forget, you can watch us on YouTube now!

In their first ever video podcast (visit the Your Mountain YouTube channel), Dave and Nephi dive into state actions around conservation. Topics include: Oregon's new 1.25% lodging tax for wildlife; How other states fund wildlife management; why we should stop saying "consumptive user" and "non-consumptive user"; Colorado moving forward with banning the sale of fur; Idaho debating prohibiting certain technology in hunting (we got the status of this one wrong, so feel free to fast forward and listen to a deeper, and more accurate dive in our next episode); and more.

The guys discuss legislative efforts to decriminalize corner-crossing in Wyoming and Oregon. (Note: Wyoming's effort failed after this episode was recorded, but could come back in future years, and there's still a 10th Circuit of Appeals case saying it is and always has been legal). They also put their tin hats on to discuss the recent action by the FWS to remove lesser prairie chickens from Endangered Species Act protections and initiate an new review of whether or not they warrant listing.

The US Senate is considering a resolution under the Congressional Review Act that would cancel a 20 year mineral withdrawal in the Boundary Waters region of Northern Minnesota. Passing the resolution would remove one of the barriers to the development of a massive copper sulfide mine in the region. Dave and Nephi discuss. Also, the guys discuss a ballot initiative in Oregon that would criminalize hunting, fishing, ranching, and more.