What happens when wildlife policy is driven by politics instead of science?

In this episode of Through the Gates, Dan Gates joins the Wild Sheep Foundation's Sheep Fever Podcast for one of the most important conversations happening in conservation today.

From Colorado's proposed Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish amendment to Oregon's sweeping IP28 initiative, this episode exposes how organized animal-rights campaigns are reshaping wildlife policy across North America—and why sportsmen, conservationists, ranchers, anglers, and anyone who values science-based wildlife management should be paying attention.

Dan explains how Colorado has become ground zero for ballot-box biology, politically appointed wildlife commissions, predator management controversies, trapping restrictions, wolf reintroduction, and coordinated efforts to replace decades of professional wildlife science with ideology.

More importantly, he explains what can be done to protect the future of hunting, fishing, conservation funding, and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation before similar efforts spread to additional states.

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SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO HUNT AND FISH IN COLORADO

Sign the Initiative 302 petition: savecoheritage.org

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00:00 Introduction: Why Colorado Is Ground Zero for Wildlife Politics

02:42 Meet Dan Gates & The Conservation Fight

06:15 The Growing Animal Rights Movement Across America

10:48 Oregon's IP28 Explained

15:30 How Activists Test Messaging Before Ballot Measures

19:40 Why Colorado Became the Blueprint

24:15 The Constitutional Right to Hunt & Fish

30:18 Why This Amendment Matters

35:55 Science vs Politics in Wildlife Management

41:20 Ballot Box Biology Explained

46:50 The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation

51:35 Why Hunting & Fishing Fund Conservation

57:42 What the Amendment Actually Does

1:03:12 Does It Change Hunting Regulations?

1:08:15 Colorado's History of Ballot Initiatives

1:14:02 Why Wildlife Commissions Matter

1:19:40 Political Appointments vs Wildlife Science

1:25:12 The Fur Ban Controversy

1:30:45 Colorado Parks & Wildlife Commission

1:37:10 The Cost of Political Wildlife Management

1:42:55 Wolves, Predators & Wildlife Policy

1:49:20 Why Science Must Lead Wildlife Decisions

1:54:48 Conservation Funding Challenges

2:00:15 Who Should Pay for Wildlife?

2:05:50 Public Education Is the Missing Piece

2:11:30 Why Hunters Must Tell Their Story Better

2:17:42 Conservation Beyond Hunters

2:23:08 Creating a National Conservation Message

2:29:10 Building the Future of Hunting Advocacy

2:34:15 Protecting Wildlife for Future Generations

2:38:40 Final Thoughts & Call to Action