Ep 48 - Matt Wickens, Montana Rancher and Outfitter
In this episode of Shepherds of the Wild, filmmaker Tom Opre sits down with Montana rancher and outfitter Matt Wickens to talk about the hard truths facing rural America. From razor-thin ranching margins to the rise of the American Prairie Reserve and the loss of working lands, Wickens lays bare the challenges of keeping family operations alive in a changing landscape. The two discuss the economics of local beef, the value of outfitting to small towns like Winifred, and what "rewilding" really means for those who live on the land.
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21:27
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21:27
Ep 46 - Trina Jo Bradley, Mt Cattle Rancher
In this raw, unfiltered conversation, filmmaker Tom Opre sits down with Montana cattle rancher Trina Jo Bradley, who runs a multigenerational ranch on the edge of the Rocky Mountain Front, bordering the Blackfeet Reservation. Bradley offers an unvarnished look into the beauty and brutality of ranch life — raising cattle amid drought, brutal winters, fluctuating markets, and the constant threat of predators.
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41:25
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41:25
Ep 45 - Eric Wickens, Co-Owner, Wickens Cattle Company
Filmmaker Tom Opre sits down with rancher and co-owner Eric Wickens to talk straight about running cattle in today's West—land stewardship, herd health, tight markets, and the constant push-pull between policy and common sense. Eric lays out what it takes to keep a family operation alive while improving grass, water, and wildlife habitat for the long haul.
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26:56
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26:56
Ep 42 - Ted Nugent, Musician, Conservationist
The Real Yellowstone, the latest documentary from award-winning filmmaker Tom Opre, is now streaming at www.shepherdsofwildlifestore.com. Rock Star and outspoken conservationist Ted Nugent has just screened the film, and the Motor City Madman has thoughts! In this episode, Tom and Ted discuss The Real Yellowstone, conservation, and the role we play in protecting healthy wildlife populations for future generations.
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1:05:21
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1:05:21
Ep 39 - Donna McDonald, 1st Woman Montana Outfitter
In this episode, filmmaker Tom Opre talks with Donna McDonald, a rancher and outfitter who holds the distinction of being the first licensed female outfitter in the state of Montana. Â They discuss the brutal weather at 6000 feet of elevation, and what it takes to survive and thrive in the modern world of the outfitter and rancher.
Host and filmmaker Tom Opre discusses dynamic topics with some of the most well-known and recognized experts on wildlife and habitat conservation. It's a no holds barred, reality-based conversation about all the things Wild under man's ever increasing shadow.
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