Season 2: Episode 30: Fair Chase & Fighting Poaching: Inside Boone & Crockett with Tony Schoonen.

In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Cucaruto sit down with Tony Schoonen, CEO of the Boone and Crockett Club, America’s oldest wildlife conservation organization founded by Theodore Roosevelt. Tony takes us on a journey through the club’s storied history — from pioneering the National Forest Service and National Wildlife Refuge System to their renowned records program that showcases the success of North American conservation. We dive into critical topics like fair chase hunting ethics, the growing challenges of modern technology in the field, and Boone & Crockett’s groundbreaking “Poach & Pay” initiative aimed at tackling wildlife crime and protecting public trust resources. The discussion also shines a light on the club’s efforts to safeguard public lands from unnecessary sales and to ensure that conservation stays front and center in wildlife policy. Whether you’re a hunter, angler, wildlife enthusiast, or simply love the outdoors, this episode underscores the vital role ethical sportsmen and women play in sustaining healthy wildlife populations and habitats for generations to come.