Ben Masters - Conservation Through Innovative Filmmaking

Ben Masters is a filmmaker and conservationist whose work explores some of the most important conservation challenges facing the American West today. He was the mastermind behind the award-winning documentary "Unbranded," which tells the story of Ben and his three buddies who ride wild mustangs from Mexico to Canada as part of an epic five month-adventure. The film also examines the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse Program, a well-intentioned, but now controversial, government program created to protect the wild horses that roam the western U.S. For those who love the American West, "Unbranded" is one of the best documentaries in recent memory—it combines hardcore adventure with important conservation issues, all while accurately capturing the true beauty of the American West. • Conservation is the common theme running through all of Ben’s work, and his passion is fortified with a deep knowledge of natural history, public lands, and policy issues related to the American West. His expertise recently earned him a spot on the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board, the group tasked with solving the challenging issues surrounding the program he profiled in "Unbranded." His most recent film, "Pronghorn Revival," is the story of Texas wildlife biologists capturing and relocating a struggling herd of pronghorns (i.e. antelopes). Not one to rest on his laurels, Ben is working hard on more conservation projects to be revealed in the coming months. • When we recorded this episode, Ben was less than a day away from leaving on a multi-week guiding trip to the area around Yellowstone National Park, so I really appreciated him making the time to chat. In just under an hour, we managed to cover a wide range of conservation-related topics: the BLM’s Wild Horse Program, invasive species in the American West, thoughts on hunting, as well as Ben’s personal background, favorite books, favorite documentaries, and a crazy horse stampede story... with plenty of other intesting subjects thrown in. • If you haven’t already, be sure to check out "Unbranded." You’ll love it. In the meantime, enjoy my conversation with Ben Masters. ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/ben-masters/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:05 - How Ben describes his work 3:35 - Ben’s upcoming adventures 5:40 - Overview of Unbranded documentary 7:45 - Genesis for the idea for Unbranded 9:45 - Overview of the BLM Wild Horse Program 10:15 - Natural history of horses in North America 14:20 - Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act 17:16 - Ben’s thoughts solving the wild horse challenge 21:10 - Political challenges surrounding wild horses 23:45 - More North American natural history 24:55 - What “conservation” means to Ben 26:00 - Ben’s personal connection to conservation 27:40 - Resources for understanding the history of conservation 29:00 - Conservation challenges facing the West in the next 20 years 32:10 - Ben’s thoughts on hunting and conservation 33:45 - Cautionary tale of Texas Screwworms 36:30 - Overview of Pronghorn Revival 38:35 - Favorite books 40:20 - Favorite documentary 41:30 - Ben’s work with veterans 42:23 - Hobbies that Ben enjoys 43:48 - How Ben learned the art of filmmaking 45:00 - Craziest outdoor experience 47:50 - Ben’s favorite place in the West 48:40 - Ben’s request of the listeners 51:30 - Connect with Ben online