Thursday, May 23, 2019

Eduardo Garcia....































My good buddy Gerald met him and said plainly....

"Dude, there are angels amongst us, and that guy is one"

That dude is Eduardo Garcia...

Mr. Garcia has an amazing life story, centering around his life transforming accident of being electrocuted whilst out elk hunting in Montana



His movie Charged is a required watch.  Amazing story of the fight we all have within us when faced with a ridiculous and unasked for challenge

Recently Hal Herring, host of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Podcast and Blast had Eduardo on his show to tell his story.

What I am struck by is the gratitude, humility and curiosity that seems to exude from this man who almost had his life taken away by a freak accident, only to rise to the challenge and treat life like the opportunity it is

Have a listen, you're going to be nothing but impacted for the better....

Friday, May 17, 2019

Dammed To Extinction...


Dammed to Extinction Trailer from Dammed to Extinction on Vimeo.

What a film....

For year's I have focused on the fish aspect of the lower 4 Snake River Dams, without a ton of thought of the impact that they have aside of salmon and steelhead.    Last night I had the opportunity to take in what these deadbeat dams are doing to another form of charismatic megafauna, the Southern Resident Killer Whales

The whales are starving because of the lack of Chinook salmon, of which much of them come from the Snake River Basin.  Skinny and emaciated Orcas are visible in the Southern Pod and many are not reproducing because of their lack of calories I am not a whale enthusiast, but you'd have to be one cold S.O.B. to not feel this tragedy happening before our very eyes

Not down on the fish reason to take the dams out?

Dont care that billions on billions are being wasted on salmon and steelhead mitigation efforts that aren't working?

Very "meh" about economic development of the Lewiston Clarkston valley? Could give a rip about how 75-90% of the shipping has left the river, and what is left has $21,000 in taxpayer subsidy dollars attached to every barge that leaves Lewiston?

Ambivalent about treaty rights of Native American tribes?

Then take a peak at what these dams are doing to these whales Get involved at the Dammed to Extinction Web Site

Thursday, May 9, 2019

Finding Community...


Washington, Minnesota and Texas.

Oregon, Nebraska and Colorado.

Michigan, Indiana, Kansas and Wyoming.  Maybe a little bit of Alaska, but she's always moving and we're not sure where to put her.

12 people came together under the tent of community and conservation.  This wild gathering of folks had never met in this form and instantly, we all knew we were in the midst of our tribe. 

The Hunt To Eat brand had brought us together as ambassadors to the brand at the 2019 Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Rendezvous in Boise, ID and the funny thing was how fast we bonded.   

A deep and immediate bond over the shared connection of the deep love of the collective rivers and woods in our country and abroad.  The hunt and sharing our bounty with all around us.   

We had lifelong hunters and fishermen, we have adult onset hunters and everything in between.  Women on the same level ground as men and in fact are probably 10 times the big game hunter as me....

I recently harvested a wild turkey in Washington state and brought the smoked breasts to the gathering and shared them in a late night session of brews and conversation.  

As the tasty treat was served, the whole crew and everyone in our Air B&B came to enjoy it and to me served as a microcosm of what hunting and fishing can do with building community.  People come together over shared experience and a meal and forge bonds that last in perpetuity.  

I may be waxing poetic, but this Wild Gathering fostered by Hunt To Eat brought some amazing people together and I believe that the same can be done anywhere.  Engage in what Rinella calls "Venison Diplomacy" and share your love for the outdoors and conservation.  Everyone's welcome at the table no matter experience, age, gender or past experience in the sports we love so much. 

There's a collective binding power of the outdoors, and guess what....there's always a seat at the table.