Hunt Talk Radio

In this episode of Hunt Talk Radio, Randy Newberg explains why he has completely rejected the two-party duopoly that results in candidates who only give lip service to hunting, shooting, conservation, access, and public lands.

He has invited Independent US Senate Candidate, Seth Bodnar, to return for a discussion of how disgruntled the electorate is with the status quo, not just in Montana. Lots of relevant topics discussed, with a commitment to return for a post-election episode.

Will November 3rd be Independents’ Day where we declare our independence from the parties and mega donors who view hunting, shooting, conservation and public lands as chips for repaying political debts?

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In this episode of Leupold’s Hunt Talk Radio, Randy is joined by chef and author Hank Shaw to discuss the updated 10-year anniversary edition of his wild game cookbook, Buck, Buck, Moose. The conversation explores essential field care practices, the science and benefits of dry-aging big game on the bone, and how fat composition varies by species, season, and latitude. Shaw shares some expert tips on modern cooking gadgets, creative uses for ground meat, and the rewarding experience of sourcing and preparing wild game.

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In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy and his guests, guide Riley Janz, friend Mike Ellig, and field producer Marcus Hockett, recount an unforgettable bow and rifle caribou hunting trip in the Mackenzie Mountains of the Northwest Territories. They recount stories of challenging stalks, unpredictable animal behavior, vast wilderness landscapes, and the unique logistics of setting up camp in extremely remote areas.

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Randy is joined by John Nosler of Nosler, Inc., talking about the company's 80 year history. A frustrating 1940s moose hunt sparked the creation of the iconic Nosler Partition bullet, one of Randy's favorites. John shares the story of how his grandfather (also John Nosler) learned to manufacture bullets and how the company grew to what it is today.

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In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy interviews Joe Rahn, the Director of Operations and Chief Pilot for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. They talk through the complexities of managing the state's aerial wildlife survey fleet. These flights are vital for conservation efforts, enabling biologists to track herd populations and determine sustainable hunting tag quotas. This episode gives a look into the behind the scenes work that fish and wildlife agencies perform to balance hunting seasons and game populations.

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In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy sits down with wildlife scientist Jim Heffelfinger to discuss the complex factors impacting mule deer populations across North America. They cover significant conservation challenges, such as landscape-scale habitat changes, the impacts of human population growth, and the difficulties of managing herds amid changing environmental conditions. They look at how difficult it can be to balance scientific management with social and political pressures that often influence wildlife policy.

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In this episode of Leupold‘s Hunt Talk radio, Randy interviews Seth Bodnar, an independent candidate for US Senate. Like many of you, Randy is disappointed and frustrated with the two-party system. Is it feasible, when Senate elections cost hundreds of millions of dollars, to think an independent candidate can win? Seth believes that is possible, and he makes a very compelling case. Could this be the start of a modern day Bull Moose movement?

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In this episode of Leupold’s Hunt Talk Radio, host Randy interviews his longtime podcast editor, Joe Johnson. Joe talks about his background as a professional musician and circus performer, and how he eventually found his way into hunting. They discuss the "dark art" of audio editing, their shared commitment to public land advocacy, and the importance of fostering an "abundance mindset" to build coalitions across different communities.

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In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy is joined by Hal Herring. Hal was the host of BHA's podcast for several years and now he's setting out on a new project - Carrying the Fire. Carrying the Fire podcast features the voices of writers and thinkers, homesteaders and conservationists, explorers, historians and futurists-it is about reconnecting us to nature, and to each other. Randy and Hal talk about the new podcast as well as share their own stories of conservation.

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On this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy joins MTNTOUGH coaches Sarah and Nick to discuss their new "Always Ready 50+" fitness program, a course designed to help older adults improve their mobility, strength, and overall quality of life. Randy talks about his own experience navigating injuries, and the value of having structured accountability to keep him hunting for years to come.

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In this episode of Leupold’s Hunt Talk Radio, Randy Newberg meets with Dan Gates of Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management to discuss an effort to protect hunting and fishing in Colorado through a constitutional amendment. Dan explains how years of defending against ballot initiatives, legislative challenges, and wildlife policy battles have led Colorado’s conservation community to take a proactive approach by pursuing a constitutional right to hunt and fish. They talk through the importance of science-based wildlife management, the growing role of advocacy in conservation, and why hunters and anglers across the country should pay attention to what happens in Colorado.

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In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy hosts longtime public land advocates Bob Dennee and Kurt Alt, reflecting on decades of work to improve access to public lands in Montana. They share behind-the-scenes stories of major land conservation efforts and cover how collaboration between agencies, nonprofits, landowners, and engaged hunters helped secure millions of acres for public use.

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In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy interviews Ted Koch, Executive Director of the North American Grouse Partnership, about the rapid decline of prairie grouse, particularly the Lesser Prairie Chicken, due to large-scale grassland loss. They discuss how most remaining habitat is on private land, where economic pressures often discourage conservation even among landowners who value it. Rather than relying only on regulation through the Endangered Species Act, they advocate for market-based incentive alignment that pay ranchers for ecosystem services like habitat, water, and soil health. Long-term conservation success depends on keeping ranching viable while working collaboratively with private landowners.

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In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy and Ian Wargo (Montana FWP Fish and Wildlife Commissioner) talk about the challenges of wildlife management, particularly declining elk populations in northwest Montana. A major topic is how habitat quality, largely influenced by federal land policies, is one of the most critical factors in population dynamics. The conversation highlights how complex and interconnected conservation issues are, including the importance of understanding decision-making roles. They also talk about the ability of hunters to engage more effectively in official processes, and how this can result in meaningful differences in management policy.

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In this episode of Hunt Talk Radio, Randy welcomes back independent journalist Todd Wilkinson, co-founder of Yellowstonian, for a deep dive into the complex intersection of conservation, policy, and the future of the American West. Todd has a unique perspective on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, a 24-million-acre landscape that remains the only region in the lower 48 states to retain all the original species present before European arrival. They discuss the critical role of both public and private lands: while 75% of the region is public, the remaining 25% of private land is vital for winter habitat and migration corridors.

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In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy hosts Alison Fox, CEO of American Prairie, and Mike Kautz, AP's VP of Access and Infrastructure. They talk through some of the misconceptions and realities of AP's role in conservation, the impact of the BLM's proposed rule changes, how ranching and wildlife conservation can coexist, and how AP facilitates public access.

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On this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy is joined by Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life's Hunting and Conservation editor. They discuss the history, purpose, and future of outdoor media, talking through how media has been beneficial to conservation, as well as some of the struggles and dangers of modern platforms.

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Randy sits down with ODFW's Wildlife Division Deputy Administrator Brian Wolfer at the PNW Sportsman's Show in Portland, OR to answer your questions. Topics cover the full range of wildlife population strategies, habitat, predators, and even why state agencies are often limited in what they are legally allowed to advocate for.

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In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy is joined by two of the lead minds behind Leupold's legendary gold ring: Tim Lesser and Dustin Miller. In a rare, deep-dive technical conversation, the trio explores what it really takes to build world-class optics in Beaverton, Oregon, and why American manufacturing remains the backbone of the brand.

From the high-stakes "Moment of Truth" at SHOT Show to the meticulous engineering of the new BX-6 Range HD binocular, this episode pulls back the curtain on the culture of innovation, family ownership, and the "Secret Sauce" that keeps Leupold at the top of the podium.

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In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy has returning guest Dr. Kevin Monteith from the University of Wyoming. In this episode, we dig into Kevin's knowledge and research to connect healthy mule deer herds to how fat the mothers are. Fat does have big fawns that grow to be bigger bucks. All of that depends on premium habitat availability, which Kevin explains in great detail. A great explanation of why habitat is the key to herd health, buck numbers, and hunting opportunity.

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