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February 4, 2025

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In the Arena: “Rivah Sistah” Patricia Clement

TRCP’s “In the Arena” series highlights the individual voices of hunters and anglers who, as Theodore Roosevelt so famously said, strive valiantly in the worthy cause of conservation.

Patricia Clement

Hometown: Northumberland, Virginia 
Occupation: Outdoor enthusiast and influencer; retired police officer
Conservation credentials: Clement, who goes by the online handle “The Rivah Sistah,” says her mission is a commitment to helping her followers and their families improve their overall health and well-being by engaging in an array of outdoor activities.

Patricia Clement, aka “The Rivah Sistah,” hosts fishing trips and other outdoor events intended to draw more women and anyone who has not previously had the opportunity to experience the outdoors into a “catch and cook” lifestyle. She has a strong Instagram presence and Facebook following where you can find vivid video examples of her outdoor pursuits presented in a fun and educational fashion. Clement partners with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, TakeMeFishing, and Freedom Boat Club and she’s been featured in Chesapeake Bay Magazine, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and local Fox affiliate WFXR.

With passions that include fishing, crabbing, camping, boating, and oystering, she owns her own boat and is becoming increasingly immersed in her river lifestyle. Besides her ample time harvesting on the water, she’s a retired police officer and expert shooter, and a former Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and National Rifle Association firearms instructor.

Here is her story.

Originally being from Brooklyn, N.Y., camping was my gateway to the outdoors. My husband suggested a weekend camping trip in 2017. I loved staying in that cabin and wanted to camp every weekend after that so we purchased a travel trailer.

The first time we went camping with our travel trailer, we went to Cherrystone on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. I saw people catching blue crabs so I purchased a trap, caught maybe two crabs, and the rest is history.

If I could hunt or fish anywhere, I’d head to Panama. My father is Panamanian. He wasn’t in my life, and during my childhood I spoke to him only a few times. I met him in person for the first time when I was a teenager. I haven’t spoken to him in over 30 years, but my roots are in Panama and I’d love to fish there. I also hear every angler should fish the Florida Keys.

When I first started fishing, I caught a lot of catfish. I was catching all I could catch and frying it up. I had no idea I was helping the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem because blue catfish were eating everything up and are an aquatic invasive species here. As far as I know, blue catfish are the number one conservation challenge where I live because they’re eating up blue crabs and everything else. I’m glad that my efforts are playing a part in Bay conservation efforts.

One of my goals with regards to conservation is to become a waterwoman, so I can help educate others about sustainable harvest. Also, since I’m recruiting others to explore the outdoors, I need to know what’s going on myself. Conservation matters for me and my children so our waterways can be healthy for their generation and the future.

All images courtesy Patricia Clement

(Note: TRCP worked with Yamaha Rightwaters, YETI, the American Sportfishing Association, Bass Pro Shops, and other partners on an AIS commission to address the need for better prevention and mitigation of aquatic invasive species like blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay. See the full Aquatic Invasive Species Commission report here.)

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January 28, 2025

In The Arena: Will Retzer

TRCP’s “In the Arena” series highlights the individual voices of hunters and anglers who, as Theodore Roosevelt so famously said, strive valiantly in the worthy cause of conservation.

Will Retzer

Hometown: Sparks, Nevada
Occupation: Electric Troubleman, NV Energy

Growing up in southern California, Retzer’s family took advantage of the local hunting and fishing opportunities in the mountains near Los Angeles. But once the family moved to Nevada, Retzer’s love for the outdoors exploded. Since then, he’s been able to experience the incredible hunting and fishing of the Silver State and appreciate the conservation efforts that make it possible.

Here is his story.

Retzer on one of his favorite Nevada glassing knobs.

TRCP: How were you introduced to hunting, fishing, and the outdoors? Who introduced you? 

Retzer: When I was growing up in California, my grandfather and dad had me out fishing the Eastern Sierra and Colorado River systems as soon as I could walk. As a young boy, my dad took me along as he hunted coastal blacktail deer in the mountains of southern California outside of Los Angeles. Then we moved to Nevada in 1978, and my love for the outdoors grew exponentially. This included fishing the desert creeks and hunting upland game birds and big game.

TRCP: Tell us about one of your most memorable outdoor adventures. 

Retzer: I have so many, but if I had to narrow it down, my most memorable outdoor adventure would be my wife Elaine’s Nevada Desert Bighorn in 2022. It was on the sixth day of the hunt, all our help had left, and it was just me and her when we finally spotted the ram she wanted to take. After an hour of glassing and planning, we needed to close about 1000 yards. That included crawling 300 yards on our hands and knees up a mountain across from the bedded ram. She made an awesome shot, and he never moved from his bed. 

Tied for my most memorable adventure would be my son Beau’s 2024 elk hunt. I had the same tag 12 years prior and was so excited to experience this premiere muzzleloader tag in Nevada with my son. By no means are we the perfect hunters but this was the perfect Nevada rut hunt. On the second day, we spotted a good bull and made a plan. Beau was able to get into position below the bull and I came in several hundred yards behind and made a few cow calls. The bull bugled and headed straight toward Beau but hung up about 60 yards out. I gave three more cow calls, and the bull bugled again, thrashed a tree, and came within 40 yards to where Beau was able to make a clean shot. Watching this from 400 yards out was an experience as a dad I will never forget. 

Don’t get me wrong, I always look forward to the day that tags are released, and I always want to see my name on one of them.  However, when my wife, daughter, son, or friends get the tag, I’m just as excited (maybe more). I find it more rewarding helping and supporting than I do when I get my own tag. The chance to be out and experiencing Nevada and what it has to offer just blows me away every time!

Will and his wife, Elaine, celebrate her ram.

TRCP: If you could hunt or fish anywhere, where would it be and why?

Retzer: The state of Nevada because we offer world-class hunting opportunities with many species of western big game. The opportunities here are due to the incredible efforts of the Nevada Department of Wildlife and wildlife support groups such as the Nevada Chukar Foundation and Nevada Bighorns Unlimited and their Midas and Elko chapters that fundraise for wildlife conservation.

TRCP: Why is it important to you to be involved in conservation? What are the major conservation challenges where you live?

Retzer: I want to make sure that this generation, and future generations, have the same opportunities to enjoy hunting, fishing, and an outdoor lifestyle like I have for the past 56 years. Drout, wildfires, new growth encroaching on wildlife habitat, wild horses, as well as predator management make up the biggest conservation challenges in Nevada.

TRCP: Why should conservation matter to the next generation of hunters and anglers?

Retzer: Through conservation efforts, Nevada is home to the largest population of wild sheep in the Lower 48. We also recently reissued moose and bear tags. These are just a few examples of the importance of how conservation today can make a huge difference in the future. I was taught by my dad and grandpa to leave our camp better than we found it and have passed that on to my children as well.

Photo credits: Will Retzer


The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.

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January 24, 2025

TRCP Applauds Reintroduction of Bipartisan Public Land, Migration Bills

Bills would strengthen public lands and help conserve big game migration corridors   

The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership cheers the reintroduction of two priority bills aimed at maintaining access to public lands and conserving big game migrations. 

The Public Lands in Public Hands Act, first introduced in the 118th Congress by Representatives Zinke (R-Mont.) and Vasquez (D-N.M.), would require congressional approval for the sale and transfer of public lands to non-federal entities in most instances. The biggest impact of the bill would be to prevent the Bureau of Land Management from selling important access parcels as part of its land disposal process, which would effectively maintain valuable hunting and fishing access for sportsmen and sportswomen. 

“Millions of American sportsmen and sportswomen depend on public lands for their hunting and fishing access,” said Joel Webster, chief conservation officer with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “TRCP appreciates the leadership of Representatives Zinke and Vasquez to prevent the sale or transfer of our valued public lands by reintroducing the Public Lands in Public Hands Act.” 

The Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act, first introduced in the 118th Congress by Representatives Zinke (R-Mont.) and Beyer (D-Va.) and Senators Padilla (D-Calif.) and Hoeven (R-N.D.), would formally authorize existing federal programs initiated by the Department of the Interior during the Trump Administration through Secretarial Order 18-3362, signed by then Secretary Zinke, to conserve big game migration corridors. These programs were supported by the Biden Administration but remain discretionary. Congressional action to formalize these discretionary programs guarantees that the work will persist regardless of future administration changes. This is important because state and Tribal wildlife agency annual budgets are unable to meet the full demand for wildlife management. The financial and technical assistance from these federal programs would help to bridge that gap and also provide resources to private landowners for voluntary conservation actions. 

“The Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act had broad bipartisan support in both chambers during the 118th Congress, and we look forward to working with the original bill sponsors to see it passed into law in the 119th,” said Madeleine West, VP of western conservation with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “America’s hunters and anglers will benefit from this common-sense, bipartisan bill that promotes collaborative conservation to ensure big game abundance.” 

Learn more about TRCP’s commitment to public hunting and fishing access HERE, and TRCP’s commitment to migration HERE

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January 23, 2025

Wyoming Sportspeople Celebrate Conservation of Iconic Big Game Migration Corridors with Kelly Parcel Sale to Grand Teton National Park 

Hunting and grazing will be retained in perpetuity on the parcel 

In the waning hours of 2024, the State of Wyoming and Department of the Interior finalized the $100 million sale of the 640-acre Kelly State Trust Parcel to Grand Teton National Park, marking the terminus of the years-long effort to conserve its outstanding wildlife values.  

Alarmed by a proposal to sell the parcel at public auction in 2023, a broad coalition of Wyomingites, including numerous sportspeople’s groups, worked with the Wyoming legislature, Governor Mark Gordon, auditor Kristi Racines, and treasurer Curt Meier to authorize its direct sale to the park, generating a windfall for public education. Hunting and grazing will remain on the parcel per the sales agreement.  

The Kelly Parcel remains one of the few accessible public tracts of land available for bison hunting in Wyoming. As seen in the feature image, after 16 days of hunting, including an opportunity on the Kelly Parcel the day before, Cody, Wyoming, resident Austin Reed was successful on the National Elk Refuge in early 2025.

“Wyoming sportspeople quickly recognized the threat to pronghorn and elk migration paths, wildlife habitat, and public access should the Kelly Parcel be developed,” said Josh Metten, Wyoming field manager for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “The sale to Grand Teton National Park is a win-win for wildlife, sportspeople, and Wyoming school children. We thank the legislature, Governor Gordon, auditor Racines, treasurer Meier, and the broad coalition of Wyomingites who worked tirelessly to achieve this historic win.” 

The sale was furnished by monies from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which receives royalties from offshore oil and gas development, and private donors to Grand Teton National Park Foundation. Revenues will directly benefit Wyoming school children as required by the Wyoming constitution. 

“The broad support from Wyomingites to convey the Kelly Parcel to Grand Teton National Park is a clear indication of our desire to find common-ground solutions that avoid political gridlock and partisan politics,” added Metten. “We thank Grand Teton National Park for retaining hunting and grazing in perpetuity for this parcel, which is now forever conserved for future generations to enjoy.” 

For several decades, conservationists and Wyoming’s elected representatives have recognized that state trust parcels found within Grand Teton National Park’s boundaries could be added to the park while also meeting those parcels’ constitutional mandate to generate revenue for public education. In 2003, the late senator Craig Thomas led the passage of legislation authorizing exchanges, sales, or trades of state trust inholdings. The Kelly parcel acquisition is the culmination of this effort and is a historic win for Wyoming and all Americans.  


The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

TRCP has partnered with Afuera Coffee Co. to further our commitment to conservation. $4 from each bag is donated to the TRCP, to help continue our efforts of safeguarding critical habitats, productive hunting grounds, and favorite fishing holes for future generations.

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