Conservation Matters Podcast

Decisions by United States Fish and Wildlife Service to all importation of hunting trophies are not frivolous. Scientific evidence shows that hunting can help conserve wildlife. Has "trophy" become a lethal adjective for hunting, despite conservation science?

Please join Shane as he addresses the crowd gathered to celebrate the historical grand opening of Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium.   

Join Shane as he speaks to the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation's Youth Group and conservation leaders of tomorrow about the incredible and historical achievement that is the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. This is a call to action, relevant not just for our youth, but for all citizens.

Listen to Shane Mahoney, CEO of Conservation Visions, speak of how the events of the past (Cecil, the Lion and others) have been the spark - not the fuel - of making change - and how the time is NOW to act in the field of conservation. Shane is speaking at the 2017 Dallas Safari Club annual convention,  and asks attendees to walk in the footsteps of Theodore Roosevelt. Be bold. Be decisive. Be generous.  Learn more about Conservation Visions at . Follow us at  and  and watch more keynote speeches at  

Do you ever think about where your food comes from? How it was procured? Hunters and anglers know EXACTLY where their food comes from - while not everyone personally chooses to hunt or fish, we can agree that these activities do procure a significant amount of healthy, organic rich food by humans. And not just the people who got the food to begin with - neighbors, friends and even shelters benefit from this protein source. What would it cost to replace that protein source? What it is worth economically, nutritionally, socially? The Wild Harvest Initiative® will provide empirical answers to these questions. This is also a YouTube video found here:  Learn more about Conservation Visions at  Follow us on Facebook at  and on instagram at        

Public ownership of firearms was instrumental to the birth of the conservation movement in North America and still contributes to its continued success. This audio was made into a short video found on Boone & Crockett Club's YouTube channel here:  Learn more about Conservation Visions and Shane Mahoney at  Follow us at  and  and        

Pollinator habitat is in peril and should be of utmost important to us. Pollinators are an integral part of our environment and they are sending a clear signal that all is not right in the world. As an example, populations of Monarch butterflies have decreased by 90%. We rely on pollination to help produce one in every three bites of food we consume. Organizations such as Pheasants Forever are helping to restore pollinator habitat. Pollinator habitat is created in the same wild areas our wildlife need to flourish. Watch this on YouTube at   Learn more about Shane Mahoney and Conservation Visions at  and join us at  and  

Listen to Shane's speech at Vancouver Island University this past spring, 2017, as he discusses the complicated business of conservation. Shane shares the constant effort to do the right things for humanity and to do the right things for our wild creatures. Sometimes it gets better - sometimes its gets worse. Even though Shane tells students they will never solve this problem - it is still very much worthwhile to pursue.  Learn more Conservation Visions at  and connect with us socially at   

We sometimes believe we will never be surprised anymore. But then, in one of the great cities of the world, in one of the great zoos of the world...people jump over a barrier, shoot a rhino for his horn and then make their getaway. Sounds like fiction? But it is fact. And it is taking place in the same world where there is a rising empathy for animals as well as rising tension for hunting and the sustainable use of wildlife.  Listen to Shane's passionate speech from the GOABC Convention, spring 2017. In it, Shane explains living in the past is not going to help us move forward; he believes in building coalitions of strengths instead of silos of weakness and how conservation is the most complicated business in the world.  Shane ends the speech discussing the Wild Harvest Initiative, which is well underway. For example, we've discovered, conservatively speaking, the average hunter shares their harvest with four other people. They don't knock on their neighbor's door and and hold up a plate of meat and say, "I'm sharing with you this prime rib from the grocery store."  Learn more at  Follow Shane on Facebook at  and  

Shane Mahoney, CEO of Conservation Visions, speaks at the 2017 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation National Convention. Learn more about Shane at   Follow Shane on Facebook at  and on Instagram   "There can be no doubt, that we live in a constantly changing world now. A world that seems to bring unending challenge to things that we hold dear and to the values that we cherish. The world is becoming an incredibly different place. We are seeing massive changes in the way the land is used. Massive movements of people away from the rural lifestyles that were part and parcel of nourishing the hunting tradition in our countries. We are 4.5% of the people in this nation who hunt. In some states it is 1.5%. We know, that if we become too few, we will become irrelevant. Yet despite these problems, I am now incredibly optimistic. It is because those social trends that were moving people away from hunting, away from the lifestyle we believe in, away from the values that we cherish, they like all social trends eventually bend back on themselves. And now what we have, in our cities, in our suburbs, in the very places we thought where it was lost, we have people that want to be locavores. They want organic food. They want a lifestyle that will have them live forever. One of the things they are realizing, is that our tradition, our lifestyle, our venturing out onto those lands, and pushing ourselves in these hunting experiences. In harvesting those animals that have lived wild and free their entire existence. In harvesting them for food and sharing them with friends and family, they are coming to understand, that this is something valuable. This is something precious." - Shane Mahoney 

Shane Mahoney, CEO of Conservation Visions, speaks in front of a group in Missouri about the critical conservation challenges we face. He discusses the rising empathy for wildlife, how conservation groups need to respond, and how we all need to realize this is more complex than simply trying to label it coming from one particular outlier group. Conservation is a global effort and Shane stresses we all need to find ways to speak about conservation issues on levels everyone can understand.  Thank you for listening. Learn more about Conservation Visions at  

Shane Mahoney, CEO of Conservation Visions, argues that allowing legal trade of rhino horn could, possibly, save the species. What do you think? Listen to this brief explanation and find us at  or    

Did you know many of our current, well-known big game species were almost decimated many years ago? Shane Mahoney, CEO of Conservation Visions discusses how taking as many wildlife as possible to benefit life and profit held no moral obligation. For example, the bison, at 30-40 million, were almost brought to their extinction. Although we were able to save some species during this period, many were not that lucky. Today, the same is happening to our Rhino population due to poaching, even with decades of conservation work to bring them back. What will you do to help? Learn more at

Poaching is often defined as unlawful hunting, almost as a subset of hunting, which it is not. Poaching is the illegal taking of wildlife. Poachers are not hunters - they are thieves. But often today, poaching and hunting are being confused in the public mind. Poachers act in complete disregard for conservation practices - and thusly, erroad the public trust in hunting altogether. Shane Mahoney, CEO of Conservation Visions, explains more in this brief podcast.  Learn more about Shane, his works and Conservation Visions at  Follow Shane at  and  

The model of conservation has been around for 120 years – but yet as hunters and anglers we have never explained our activities in the form of harvested food. There are approximately 35-40 million people in U.S. and Canada who fish or hunt, and records are kept of the many state natural resource associations of harvest. We know those 35-40 million people are harvesting a remarkable amount of food - in the billions of pounds. In addition to all the economic impacts hunting has, how are we as a society going to replace those billions of pounds of harvested protein each year?  The Wild Harvest Initiative is going to reframe the debate of the modern relevance of hunting   This speech is also in video form found on Conservation Visions' YouTube page - link is here ---> 

The High Lonesome Institute (HLI) is a non-profit entity, established by The High Lonesome Ranch, to lead and coordinate applied scientific research, ecological monitoring, and conservation at the Ranch. It functions within HLR’s landscape-scale laboratory as an applied and practical research center and conservation forum. The Institute is led by Executive Director, Shane Mahoney, and staffed by graduate students from leading affiliated universities who conduct world-class research on wildlife and conservation. Research has focused on restoration of streams, riparian habitat, aspen groves, and rangelands, as well as land improvement and resource management decisions. Key restoration and conservation initiatives include the Kimball Creek Aquatic and Riparian Food Web Complexity Project, the Biodiversity Project, the Trophic Cascades in Aspen Project, the Aspen Restoration Project, the Grand Mesa Lion Project, and the Wildlife Disease Project. HLI has also become a venue for dialogue on conservation and sustainable development, and for exchanging ideas with others about practicing stewardship on working landscapes. This audio is from a video, watch the video here --->  Learn more at

Shane Mahoney speaks to a group of outdoor writers at the annual Professional Outdoor Media Association in Kalispell, MT in June, 2016. Forgive the first few minutes of audio, it improves greatly around minute 5. Mahoney is passionate in his presentation of why the world needs outdoor writers in this day - because we need to remember things as they were, we need to be inspired, and we need your messages of stewardship. He also discusses the need of presenting a modern world view to the modern public. We articulate stories of an older reality, but Mahoney says we need to change those stories to a modern reality.  Learn more about POMA at   Learn more about Shane Mahoney and Conservation Visions at  

Shane Mahoney was interviewed by a Canadian radio show on the future of seal hunting in Canada - and how that affects the world. Shane discusses the IUCN and his role in that worldwide organization and then moves into the impact of seal hunting on economy and conservation. Learn more about Shane and Conservation Visions at  Follow Shane on Facebook at  and on Instagram at  

Where in the modern world does hunting fit? The answers ask us to dive into social and economic realities. Shane Mahoney discusses today's modern hunting - from the effects of trophy hunting and poaching to simply hunting for food. Learn more at http://conservationvisions.com 

Do the rights of one cat trump the fate of an entire bird population? There is no clever riddle to work out - although each of you listening to this podcast will have strong convictions one way or the other. Listen to Shane Mahoney as he discusses this very real problem in less than five minutes. Learn more at  

Another spectacular keynote speech by Shane Mahoney on how every day fighting for something you believe in is taking a leap of faith. Learn more about Shane at  

Shane Mahoney gave the keynote speech at the 2016 The Wildlife Society Annual Conference. There is not a species that lives upon this planet today whose future is not determined by the decisions we make, the decisions we defer, or the decisions we avoid. Successful conservation requires cooperation between diverse groups of people. Many animals roam between states, countries, and even continents. Learn more at ConservationVisions.Com 

We need to ask this question: are we afraid of a broad coalition? No matter if you are a hunter, or not, can you work 'across the aisle?' There is a great divide amongst our conservation groups today. How do we shrink that break? How do we come together? By Shane Mahoney. If you enjoyed this talk, please share it and give us a review! 

Choosing either to support animal welfare, or to support conservation - exclusive of the other - will leave neither well nor healthy. Article penned for Sports Afield Magazine by Shane Mahoney. 

Shane Mahoney, CEO of Conservation Visions, speaks at the "Rally for Iowa's Outdoors" in 2012 on if we truly are concerned about the wild others on this planet - how do we stand for them? Shane takes listeners around the world discussing cave paintings, why do our homes have fireplaces and our master bedroom located on the top floor? Why are we afraid of snakes, but not of more modern dangers like cars? Truly an inspiring speech. 

How did Shane get so involved in the outdoors? Is hunting conservation and what does that mean? Shane Mahoney talked with Billy Kinder of Billy Kinder Outdoors Radio at the Professional Outdoor Media Association Conference this past summer. Special thanks to Billy for allowing Conservation Visions to re-air this interview. 

While hunting in general is a controversial issue, there can be little doubt that much of the harsher criticism is directed toward trophy hunting. Even among hunters who readily pursue animals and harvest them, trophy hunting is sometimes criticized. To the general public, it is often portrayed as a distortion of the original activity, and one that has entered a self-indulgent and frivolous domain. Listen for these and more thoughts by Shane Mahoney. Original article posted in "Sports Afield" July 2012. 

Originally filmed in August 2015 - Shane Mahoney reviews the "Cecil the Lion" issue, presents the facts as they are known at that time in August, 2015, and provides excellent commentary on the realities of ecosystem and wildlife management, as well as evidence in support of legal and regulated trophy hunting as a tool for conservation. This film identifies the Cecil phenomenon as an opportunity for all people to realize the challenges facing wildlife conservation, and the role that hunting can and does play in supporting those. The story will fade, but will not be forgotten soon. No matter if you are a hunter or wildlife activist, allow the story of Cecil the Lion to unite - rather than divide. 

Shane Mahoney is the keynote speaker at the 2016 Premier's Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, BC. A sold-out crowd of industry leaders and First Nation leaders are enraptured by Shane's speech on finding a balance between conservation and resource extraction.  From the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia, "Many wildlife populations in British Columbia are out of balance. Stakeholders are very concerned because they are witnessing high predator populations and low ungulate populations. It is important to take proactive action to mend these imbalances rather than allow them to continue and trigger the Species at Risk Act or other extreme regulatory or legislative measures."

Early conservation pioneers succeeded because they understood how to convey the importance of their ideals to the public. However, the conservation movement has to a large extent moved away from an agenda of trying to convince society of its social, cultural, and economic value. We no longer strive for the hearts of our nations’ publics. The conservation community has replaced this with an emphasis on membership rosters and obtaining political influence, both often emphasizing specific issues that can hardly be viewed as being of the greatest public value or concern. The result has been an indifferent public, by and large, and one totally uninformed about conservation issues and the relevance of hunting in modern times.

udsjgdrh Shane Mahoney is addressing an audience at Pheasants Forever's "Rally for Conservation" in 2014. In this half hour speech, he discusses how conservation is truly the most important purpose in today's society; what will you pass on to your children/grandchildren? and what he sees as the top three challenges facing conservation. 

Shane Mahoney is joined by public land advocate & TV host, Randy Newberg; outdoor writer Ron Spomer; Kimber VP of Sales, Ryan Busse and moderated by outdoor photographer, Tony Bynum to discuss the current state of public land sale and/or transfer happening between state and federal governments and what that means for conservation and wildlife. The panel took place at the Professional Outdoor Media Association Annual Business Meeting in Kalispell, Montana June 18, 2016. 

This short piece was previously written for Sports Afield, "Conservation Corner" sponsored by Dallas Safari Club. Shane asks how can we convey a clearer message about hunting’s benefits to the nonhunting community.

Shane Mahoney speaks at the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association annual meeting in Boise, Idaho, summer, 2013. Topics covered include: love for wildlife as a hunter, being a wildlife biologist or conservationist is not something to take lightly and is not 'easy' as some critics would suggest, what if the Endangered Species Act was enacted sooner - would that save some of the wildlife lost? And finally, why poachers kill Rhinos for their horns for the black market - it, too, is not a simple answer. 

The American bison may have been, at one time, the most abundant large wild mammal on earth. The historical references to their immense herds are difficult to comprehend; such is the scale of their numbers and the sheer improbable spectacle the authors of these reports try to convey. Perhaps these images are also difficult for us to understand because they inevitably inspire in the sensitive reader a feeling of great sadness that such a wondrous prospect must now be denied us all, forever. This article originally appeared in Sports Afield magazine. 

Shane took live calls from listeners on CBC's "Cross Talk" with Ramona Dearing in response to the question - do you eat wild meat? Plus, the discussion of Shane's Wild Harvest Initiative and the research revealed in Michigan; is eating wild game sustainable; if everyone were a vegan, would that harm the world more in terms of land use and production; and callers - both for and against eating wild game - test Shane. 

Shane spoke to hundreds at the 75th Annual Idaho Fish and Game Wildlife Summit in 2015. During his presentation at the Summit, Shane remarked, “We need all citizens to care, we need all citizens to believe, we need all citizens to engage, and we need to again make it understood that to be concerned about conservation is an act of citizenship.” Go ahead, commit an act of citizenship. Do your part for wildlife.