Episode #20

MARK KENYON

About this Episode

My guest today is Mark Kenyon. Mark is a hunter, author, fellow-podcaster and dedicated conservationist. He is the first guest of the show that is not a climber! That is exactly why I wanted to have him on. Through rich outdoor experiences growing up, Mark took a dive deep into the world of conservation and public lands history. Now his entrepreneurial experience in conservation is nothing short of exceptional. The combination of hard work between his podcast, Wired to Hunt, his private land conservation efforts on the Back 40 project and through his book, That Wild Country, his passion and knowledge on our nation’s wild lands runs deep.

The main theme of the episode revolves around the notion of “public lands unite us”. We talk extensively about how the conservation and outdoor community including hunters and climbers, have rallied together at imperative moments to create positive change when threats to our public lands were imminent. These victories that we have seen in recent years is due to the effort and passion among all outdoor users joining forces. Mark provides a fresh perspective on the current state of our public lands through the eyes of a hunter and does a fine job walking us through where we started, where we have been and where are going.

0:31- Intro 1:31- Mark Kenyon: Hunter and angler, not a climber 4:02- Conservation awareness 6:00- More than just a public lands user 6:55- Challenging assumptions about public lands and conservation 10:43- Mark’s podcast, Wired to Hunt, and his experience at Google 17:42- The hunter’s paradox 19:50- Lessons and takeaways from Wired to Hunt 22:50- The Back 40 26:43- Transactional vs. participatory relationship with the outdoors 28:32- “Giving away” the Back 40 29:22- Mark’s book, That Wild Country 33:20- Starting his book with the Bundy’s and the standoff at the Malheur Nat’l. Wildlife Refuge 36:07- Not here just on behalf of the hunting and fishing communities 38:24- Are hunters the original conservationists? 44:15- Declining numbers of hunters and anglers 49:22- Top threats to climbers and hunters 53:10- Joining forces and the resiliency of the conservation community 1:03:07- Tools and resources

Mark’s Instagram: @wiredtohunt

Wired to Hunt: wiredtohunt.com

The Back 40 Project: https://www.themeateater.com/shows/back-40

Back 40 Mini Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOHFTvDmsbE

That Wild Country: https://www.amazon.com/That-Wild-Country-Journey-Americas/dp/1542043042/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

High Country News: https://www.hcn.org/

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: https://www.trcp.org/

Center for Western Priorities: https://westernpriorities.org/

“Public Lands Unite Us”: https://www.accessfund.org/open-gate-blog/our-public-lands-can-unite-us