First post ever, but this topic has to be as good as any to start. 30+ years hunting Colo and Wyo and not a social media guy, but here goes. Just finished all four episodes.
All the talk on every forum is all good, but we need a plan and a focus. And, the focus needs to be on the Lion initiatives. I'm sure all this has been said already in part and likely already in motion, but wanted to get this out of my head:
1. CRWM and Dan Gates - Everyone of us should contribute whatever we can. If you are in Colo and going to the ISC next week, go to his talks and others and support him. I think he got Randy's 50 year old white guy memo and has some great content now. And if anything else, his almost 40 years of volunteerism needs our backing.
2. All the others - Make noise to all the other .orgs and be heard. I've sent emails to Hornady, Johnny Morris, the new CPW director, Rep Boebert who will likely be my rep next cycle in SE Denver, and others and try to be "respectfully loud" about how important this issue is to us. One example that came about recently is WSF, Howl, and the Hill Ranch just set up an auctioned hunt in Reno that will fund Dan's work I believe. I bet this elk hunt goes for sheep hunt prices. Support all these guys.
3. CPW meetings - Go to the meetings. All of them. However, we have to find a way with this new commission to communicate our message properly. No idea how we do this, but we need a message that doesn't piss off the middle. If we show up in mass all over the state this year, they have to hear us.
4. Believe that this Lion initiative really has nothing to do with Lions. Believe that this is an issue for all states and all outdoors persons. As all have said, we need to stop squabbling about lighted nocks, scoped mzldrs, fly fishermen against bait anglers etc. NO MORE hate threads by and between other hunters on these threads and Instagram. Here is where we do need the right leaders involved (Randy, Rinella, some campaign with a soccer mom). And, this message should be the first 3 minute blurb on every outdoors podcast, every convention this winter and high-budget youtube video promo.
5. Social media - God love D. Wolfe the man and the athlete, but this is a full-time connected world. In the past, an anti had to dig to find a bad kill shot or a kid admiring his/her first meat doe or a bleeding pet-eating African-looking lion heaved up by a 290 lb former NFL Dlineman. Now its one click on an average 3 hours a day 22 yr old's phone. Again, our leaders need to ask us to change or reduce our social media impact. For example, my wife will help pack meat but won't show up to the kill site until all meat is bagged. And, one of my three kids won't hunt but will eat all the fish and game we harvest. However, both will never look at kill shots on the most well-made artsy Sitka sponsored videos. Don't piss off the middle with social media. Reduce or at least severly limit your social impact.
6. Need one new Campaign - While Dan does the legwork inside CWP and the legislature, can we or do we get a "softer" campaign from BHA or similar .org with a Rinella or even a Colo resident similar to a Rachel Ahtila or a Brenda Weatherby spokesperson? Dan's group is a lobbyist essentially (501c4 and not tax deductible) FYI.
7. Unite on our message - Make this about the hunting tradition itself and not the lion. Say its a hunting yes or no referendum vote disguised as a lion vote. We can't even bring up the word wolf. And, anything resembling wolf management is done and over until Polis terms out in 2027 plus 2 more years on a commission change and that's if you think Colorado somehow turns red then. And, if we lose, it will be no one's fault but our own. Not a defeatist, but that's the facts.
I apologize for my length, and l expect I'll get my own hate mail. However, I'm just so impressed by Randy's message over the years and not only yearn for his honest entertainment every week but also his guidance and work on issues that allow us to continue carrying on one of life's greatest family and friends traditions.
