Pay Attention if Sage-grouse Disappear | Week of April 13

To buy the beaver pelt from Randy’s Garage Sale, click here - shopfreshtracks.com This week on Fresh Tracks Weekly, we are joined by Skyler, the Sage Grouse Conservation Coordinator for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. We take a deep dive into the critical role sage grouse play in the western ecosystem and explain why big game hunters should be invested in the health of these birds and their habitat. We also catch up with Michael in his latest installment of the fishing corner. We also jump into a few news stories: Over half of the reintroduced wolves in Colorado have died or been killed, leading to a pause in further translocations due to budget constraints and sourcing difficulties. Oklahoma has begun releasing pen-raised deer into the wild to test for genetic immunity to Chronic Wasting Disease, a move that has drawn significant criticism from the scientific and hunting communities. The Congressional Sportsmen Foundation is raising alarms over new bills in Massachusetts that could shift wildlife management areas toward preservationist models, potentially limiting active habitat management and hunting access. Online retailer Etsy has announced a ban on the sale of most fur items starting in August 2026, a decision that trappers and small business owners argue ignores the role of trapping as a vital wildlife management tool. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices