Ep. 837: This Episode is Called "It's the Third-to-Last Episode" | MeatEater Radio Live!

February 20, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

This episode of MeatEater Radio Live gathers the hosts and guests for a relaxed final stretch of live broadcasts, blending updates on land management disputes, personal hunting stories, and new content projects. The conversation moves through practical details of wildlife programs, recent field experiences, and plans for future releases, all while reflecting the group's ongoing focus on hunting access, conservation tradeoffs, and community engagement.

Bison Grazing Leases and BLM Policy

Scott Heidelbrink, Director of Landscape Stewardship at American Prairie, described the organization's effort to restore a functioning prairie ecosystem in Montana through land acquisition, wildlife management, and public access. The group currently runs roughly 940 bison alongside 8,200 cattle across more than 500,000 acres, with bison occupying about 10 percent of the land base and leases. Two-thirds of the bison acres sit on Bureau of Land Management allotments that have been held for up to 20 years.

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What you'll learn

1 (03:15) **Show Opening and Introductions** - Randall kicks off MeatEater Radio Live with Seth and Giannis, noting the late start and cold Bozeman weather
2 (05:09) **Weekend Recaps Begin** - Seth shares hiking stories and bass fishing updates including actor Lucas Black's tournament appearance
3 (09:27) **Giannis's Cody Trip** - Visit to Cody Firearms Museum with Steve Rinella, handling historic mountain man firearms and meeting Jim Zumbo
4 (14:31) **Interview: Scott Heidelbrink** - Director of Landscape Stewardship at American Prairie discusses the BLM's proposed cancellation of bison grazing leases
5 (17:17) **Bison vs. Cattle Grazing Stats** - Scott details that only ~10% of American Prairie land and animals are bison while 8,200 cattle graze the rest
6 (22:27) **Community Relations and Next Steps** - Scott responds to ranching community concerns and outlines court/administrative paths forward
7 (31:51) **Show and Tell Segment** - Seth presents a 2021 public-land whitetail buck taken at 425 yards with a 6.5 Creedmoor

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Show Notes

Hosts Randall Williams, Janis Putelis, and Seth Morris, talk about their recent travels to conventions and hunts, interview Scott Heidebrink of American Prairie about the BLM's recent decision to revoke the organization's bison grazing permits, impress the class with their super cool stuff in Show & Tell, and catch up with the Newcomb family to learn about the new Bear Grease YouTube channel.

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