Two-Part Series Explores the Future of Hunting and Shooting Sports

Council Executive Director Chuck Sykes Featured on Fist Full of Dirt Podcast with Host Cuz Strickland

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 19, 2025

Contact:
The Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports
Lance Cherry, Communications and Marketing Manager
[email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A  compelling two-part conversation on the future of America’s hunting tradition is now live on the Fist Full of Dirt podcast. Hosted by Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland, the series features Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports (Council) Executive Director Chuck Sykes in an in-depth discussion titled From Bent Creek to the Big Picture ~ Chuck Sykes on the Future of Hunting.

In the first installment, Sykes traces his journey from a guide at Bent Creek Lodge to leading Alabama’s Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, and now overseeing national R3 strategy as head of the Council. This career path gives him a rare vantage point, one shaped by firsthand field experience, agency leadership, and access to hard data that reveals what is truly changing across the hunting landscape.

Sykes and Strickland dig into the trends driving both concern and optimism, including shifting participation levels, evolving cultural perceptions, and what today’s numbers mean for tomorrow’s hunters. The discussion blends expertise with an honest “country boy’s take” on the issues. At times fascinating and at times sobering, Part I lays out the cold, hard facts behind a heritage facing real challenges, and the actions individuals can take to keep it moving in the right direction.

“Right out of the gate, we get right to the heart of what many folks feel but rarely talk about,” Sykes said. “When you look at the long-term trends, the data doesn’t lie. We’re at a point where acknowledging what’s changing is just as important as celebrating what’s working. That honesty is the first step toward securing the future of hunting for the next generation.”

Part II pushes even deeper, confronting the realities that hunters, state agencies and conservation organizations must address. Sykes breaks down the factors shaping the future of hunting: from agency funding models and access limitations to declining outdoor participation and the widening gap between public perception and biological science.

Listeners will hear frank insight on recruitment and retention efforts, policy pressures, and the disruptions caused by social media’s influence on public opinion. The episode offers a clear-eyed view of what’s at stake, what misconceptions continue to spread, and what everyday hunters can do right now to safeguard both opportunity and tradition.

“Our lifestyle depends on more than passion. It depends on facts, understanding, and responsibility,” said Sykes. “These conversations aren’t just talk. They’re about making sure hunters have the information and the support needed to sustain the future of what we all care about.”

About the Fist Full of Dirt Podcast

Fist Full of Dirt is the official podcast of Mossy Oak Properties, hosted by outdoor icon Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland. Whether managing a small farm, leasing hunting land, or simply enjoying time outside, the podcast celebrates the outdoor lifestyle and offers real-world conversations about getting the most from God’s great outdoors.

Both episodes featuring Chuck Sykes are available now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. For more information about the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports, visit www.cahss.org.

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