The History of Sporting Journalism, current issues & the "Conservation Obligation" featuring Andrew McKean of Outdoor Life magazine.

National Wildlife Federation Outdoors

After a break to refresh, Aaron sits down with Andrew McKean, one of the most respected outdoors journalists and the current hunting and conservation editor of Outdoor Life magazine. We talk the history of Outdoor Life and sporting journalism, the latest sporting issues and how they can either connect or divide our community, and the “conservation obligation”. We also discuss the public lands owner movement and how it could be more inclusive for all conservationists and overall trends in the sporting conservation arena.

Check out Outdoor Life here:

https://www.outdoorlife.com/

Check out Andrew’s podcast, “On Gravel”:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-gravel/id1429069645

Show notes:

1:35 - Heat wave across the west.

2:36 - Meet Andrew McKean, learn about his background in hunter and angler information and education.

3:30 - What has Andrew been doing outside recently... conservation and his recent involvement with nocturnal posse of Texas hog hunters.

7:08 - How Andrew got to Montana as a journalist, the public value of conservation and growing up on a farm as a squirrel hunter with "The Missouri Promise".

10:07 - The infrastructure built around conservation is intact and thorough in Missouri but the care and maintenance required.

11:23 - The current infrastructure projects and policy that NWF Outdoors is working on.

12:43 - Message from our partner podcast, Artemis! Listen to the Artemis podcast wherever you gather podcasts.

14:07 - The history and structure of outdoor journalism with a deeper look at Outdoor Life magazine. Why Andrew thinks it is a happy time for outdoor journalism.

22:20 - Exploring multiple avenues as a journalist and covering important issues such as guns and wildlife conservation. The second amendment.

25:35 - Wildlife is a public resource. "Just like our air and our water, it requires constant attention."

28:48 - Hunting and fishing access. Working with private land owners with a closer look at what has been unfolding in Montana. "We can't be single issue voters, no matter what the issue is."

35:30 - Public land owners & public land hunters. Andrew presents a different way of looking at this broad issue.

40:08 - States that may not have public land or accessible private land or waterways but have a strong cultural connection with conservation and their public trust doctrine. The flame of the blue collar conservationist is still being carried in upper midwest - otherwise known as the "Rust Belt".

42:24 - Looking forward instead of looking back when it comes to the outcome or consequences of some of the conservation issues we are dealing with at this time.

What is habitat for the hunting community and where is the funding coming from.

47:46 - Speaking in an authentic and respectful way and our obligation as hunters in general.

55:20 - Andrew encourages every listener to become a hunter education instructor.

59:48 - "The Conservation Obligation" and getting people more engaged in conservation.

1:03:00 - Going back in time to go forward in time. Looking back at the history of the National Wildlife Federation and a big shout out to Aaron Kindle for his work and engagement on this podcast.

1:04:00 - A note on the creation of the NWF in 1936.

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