Myths, Directives, and Dead Lodgepole: A Frank Conversation with Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz

In the debut episode of The Outfitter Brief, hosts Erik Weiseth (Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association) and Aaron Lieberman (America Outdoors Association) sit down with Chief Tom Schultz, Chief of the United States Forest Service. It's a wide-ranging, candid conversation covering the Forest Service reorganization, forest health, wildland fire consolidation, and what it all means for outfitters, guides, and the outdoor recreation industry. Schultz brings a unique perspective to the role — a background spanning military service, state lands management in both Montana and Idaho, and private sector timber experience — and he doesn't shy away from the hard questions. From debunking myths about land sell-offs to making the case for active forest management, this first episode sets the tone for what The Outfitter Brief is all about: cutting through the noise to get to what actually matters for the people running small businesses on America's public lands.