You just published your 16th book, “How Sportsmen Saved the World.” Give us a little insight into how you became interested in the topic of sportsmen and the contributions they provide for the conservation community?

I grew up in an outdoor family, and since then I’ve been a hunter, angler, writer, photographer, hunting guide, dog trainer, bush pilot and naturalist. I have been heavily involved in the outdoors all my life and have long felt dismayed about the rift between the hunting and non-hunting segments of the wildlife advocacy community. Hunters distrust “environmentalists” because of the fear, real or perceived, that these groups seek to abolish or restrict outdoor sporting activities. Conservation groups not composed of hunters frequently disparage hunting on grounds that have no basis in scientific or historical fact. All groups concerned with the preservation of wildlife and wild places should be able to work together to combat the real enemy — the threat to wild habitat by irresponsible development. I hope that by objectively documenting the incredible contributions hunters and anglers have made to the preservation of wildlife and wild places I would help unite the conservation community.

In your book you write about significant advancements in American history for which sportsmen are responsible; can you give us an example of one such achievement?

Biologists estimate that at the time of first European contact, America’s bison population included nearly 50 million animals. By the late 1800s, commercial market hunting and habitat loss had reduced that number to some two-dozen animals hanging on in the northeastern corner of Yellowstone National Park. As editor of Forest and Stream, one of the country’s first “hook-and-bullet” magazines, George Bird Grinnell became a remarkably effective champion of the bison. Grinnell editorialized relentlessly, lobbied Congress to protect the animals and the park and formed alliances with influential politicians — including a young Theodore Roosevelt. Without Grinnell’s effort, the American bison would have disappeared.

How did you get involved with the TRCP?

Several years ago, I received an invitation from the late Jim Range to attend the annual TRCP media summit at his Montana ranch. I made an amazing number of new friends at that event and went away highly impressed with the caliber of the TRCP leadership. I recognized our shared philosophical framework and saw that the TRCP has the cachet to function effectively in the political environment just as Grinnell and Roosevelt did during the early days of conservation.

What led you to your career in conservation?

It became obvious to me that our society’s default position is not set to benefit wildlife and wilderness. If we are to offer our children and grandchildren the opportunity to enjoy the hunting and fishing traditions we’ve had, we need to be proactive, in the tradition of Grinnell, Roosevelt and all the other heroes of conservation profiled in my latest book.

What do you think are the most important conservation issues facing sportsmen today?

While huge global threats such as climate change and an exploding human population may make all other concerns irrelevant, I prefer to stay focused on issues closer to hand. Unless our country makes radical changes soon, our lack of a cogent energy policy is going to lead to a desperate push to exploit our last remaining reserves of domestic fossil fuels without regard to wildlife, wilderness or environmental constraint. If you care about preserving our hunting and fishing traditions, take action now.

Pick up E. Donnall Thomas Jr.’s latest book, “How Sportsmen Saved the World.

Union Boilermaker Todd Crawford fulfills his dream of harvesting a black bear on Escape to the Wild. Send your photos to cduxbury@trcp.org.

A few years back, the late Jim Range and I were trout fishing with Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt IV in Montana. After a morning of fishing in the sun, we found ourselves some shade and began to shoot the breeze. With our backs against a big hay bale, we fell into a conversation about Ted’s illustrious great-grandfather.

“Aren’t we all so fortunate that T.R. set aside 230 million acres of public land for the American people?” I said after a bit.

Before I could continue Ted added, “Yes, and he should have set aside even more!” I was taken aback by his comment and couldn’t help but think that T.R. was speaking through his great-grandson. I don’t believe in challenging spirits from the great beyond, and clearly, conservation is part of the Roosevelt DNA, so I remained silent and thought to myself, ‘the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, now does it?’

I was reminded of that conversation the other day while reading Douglas Brinkley’s book, The Wilderness Warrior, a biography of our 26th president. In the book, Brinkley outlines why Roosevelt often is called the “father of conservation.” During his tenure in office, T.R. set aside or enlarged 150 national forests. He established 51 federal bird preserves, 18 national monuments, five national parks and four national game preserves. As is always the case when I revisit his record, I was in awe and doubly grateful for the legacy T.R. left us all.

Before closing the book, my thoughts drifted back to that warm afternoon in Montana. Ted had made another statement that has stuck with me since that day.

“I believe, as do some historians,” he said, “that if my great grandfather was elected president again in 1912 there would not have been a World War I.

We will never know exactly how many acres of land T.R. may have given us or how many soldiers may have been spared had the old Bull Moose prevailed in the 1912 election. What we can see, however, is the power that one man can have to affect the entire course of history. And in T.R.’s case, we are thankful and proud of this legacy.

Ron Regan Executive Director Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Q: How did you get into hunting and fishing?

I grewup in a small town in Vermont near Lake Champlain, and outdoor opportunities beckoned constantly. I had an uncle who was an avid sportsman, and he was my gateway to hunting and fishing. My uncle helped me buy my first firearm, a .410-caliber shotgun, and took me bird, squirrel, rabbit and deer hunting whenever possible. He loved ice fishing, and we did that together as well.

Q: What led you to your career in conservation?

That’s easy to answer – my time outdoors led to a passion for nature, wildlife and conservation. When I learned it was possible to go to college to study such things, my career path was clear. After I graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in wildlife biology, I began what would become a 26-year career with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. I have never regretted this career choice.

Q: How did you get involved with the TRCP?

I moved to Washington, D.C., three years ago to begin work with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. A large portion of my job duties focused on fisheries management. At some point, [TRCP Director of Policy and Government Relations] Tom Franklin asked me if I would chair TRCP’s Marine Fisheries Working Group, and I said yes.

Q: What do you think the most important conservation issues facing sportsmen are today?

Three issues immediately come to mind. The first one is habitat loss – development, energy transmission and climate change impacts are stressors of great magnitude on habitat quality. This in turn impacts the health, abundance and distribution of fish and wildlife resources. The second issue is access to hunting and fishing; habitat fragmentation, posted land and even competition for access on public land are making it difficult for hunters and anglers to get afield. Finally, state fish and wildlife agencies are the stewards of all fish and wildlife resources. The challenges facing these agencies are huge, and funding is stable at best. Sportsmen need to support new and broader funding for state agencies so our treasured resources remain sustainable and accessible in the future.

Q: What are your hopes for the future of the TRCP?

This is an important time for TRCP’s future, with the search for a new president and CEO. I look forward to serving on the TRCP board of directors to help shape that future and to define a conservation policy niche on behalf of hunters and anglers.