Pale morning light filtered across a broad meadow. Our party formed a skirmish line between rocky hills and willow stands. We forged through tall grass, marching toward a stately cottonwood in the meadow’s center. As we approached the gnarled sentinel, Paikea froze. Josh Oakleaf’s wirehair was soon joined by two setters, Neko and Sage. Feathered tails snapped up in the grass as their handlers, Jared and Bob Oakleaf, walked into the point.
That frosty morning fifteen Novembers ago was my first opportunity to watch pointing dogs work. A friendly invite from Josh Oakleaf brought me to a pivotal moment in my life. In those eternal seconds of anticipation, following dogs into the field became a passion, not a novelty. A rooster eventually flushed, but I had almost passed out from the endorphin rush by the time it did.
There is nothing inherently remarkable about this experience. I was just a novice hunter tagging along with a few seasoned veterans. What is remarkable—and something I little understood at the time—is that my introduction to bird dogs was also a glimpse into a family of conservationists.
The Oakleaf family and their dogs. (Photo courtesy of Josh Tatman) A Childhood in Central Wyoming Bob and Barb Oakleaf moved to central Wyoming in 1977. Back then, Bob worked as a biologist studying sensitive and non-game species. The recovery of animals like bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and black-footed ferrets are now wildlife management lore. Bob was there in the thick of it, helping to pull these species and others back from the brink of extinction.
In a then-sleepy Wyoming town, the Oakleafs raised four sons. Barb jokes that it was an accomplishment to graduate her rowdy boys from high school without any of them crossing paths with the local sheriff. Bob was often on the road doing fieldwork, but when he was home, he would take the boys on long hikes.
Josh says that while these were often billed as fishing and hunting outings, “The real goal was to wear out four boys.” The brothers often wondered what life was like on the road for their dad, but they could connect with his work by peppering him with endless questions. “We were rarely successful hunting as kids, but I’d always ask Dad about the habitat and what we could do to make it better. Now, I wonder why he didn’t just take us to better hunting spots.”
For the Oakleafs, family time means outdoor time, with bird hunting being a staple for the family and their gun dogs. (Photo courtesy of Josh Tatman) All the brothers laugh gleefully at this crack. It is January and we are standing together on windblown hills. The Oakleaf family invited me to tag along for a reunion hunt. They are now spread out over a thousand miles of the West, but Josh says when the family gets together, “We’re going hunting or fishing.”
“Otherwise, we just sit around and grunt at each other,” grins John.
Conservation: A Connection to the Land Hunting with the Oakleafs is paradoxical. They love spending time together, but they also love their solitude. Today is no exception. We drive out to the field together but then split off into twos and threes as the dogs stretch out over the snow and cheatgrass in search of partridge. When the group convenes for a tailgate lunch, we tell stories of good dog work and exciting flushes.
Josh and his wirehair Sedna are the last to return. “Anyone wound a bird over there? I shot one but then got another late single.” He has set himself up for a ribbing, and Jared does the honors. “Brother, that’s the lamest way of saying you shot a double.”
I first met the Oakleaf family through Josh’s wife, Gina. We were archaeology students decades ago, pursuing our fascination in how humans interact with the natural world. My ethos was shaped by writers like Doug Peacock and Ed Abbey, but when I met Josh Oakleaf, I sensed a deeper conservation ethic.
Hungarian Partridge are a common pursuit when the Oakleafs hunt together. (Photo courtesy of Josh Tatman) At that time, the Oakleaf brothers were also spreading their wings. Josh became a landscape architect, and Jim got a degree in finance. One way or another, all of them found their way to work rooted in a love for the land.
A Family Rooted in Conservation John Oakleaf followed in Bob’s footsteps, studying wildlife species that are struggling to persist. John has a Ph.D. in wildlife management. “My main focus has been mitigating the impacts of wolves while helping to promote their recovery. I work with local landowners, ranchers, hunters, and non-government organizations."
If that sounds like challenging work, it is. Many people in the West, many hunters included, simply want wolves eradicated from the landscape. John sees things differently. He wants to find ways for both humans and large carnivores to succeed. “Many of the non-game animals that we work to conserve make an area more complete and wild. There is value in their existence, even if it is not a direct material benefit to humans.”
John has experienced amazing interactions with wild carnivores that are seared into his memory, just like the formative experiences of hunting with his family. “Hunting and fishing are my favorite ways to be outdoors. Wild things teach us lessons every day in the field.”
John enjoys hunting behind his wirehair, Lincoln, but he sees wingshooting as so much more than just taking from the land. “Hunting, fishing, and trapping give you a reverence for game and a passion for learning all you can about their habits.”
A Broad Perspective “I never found a career in finance,” says Jim Oakleaf. “It sucked.” Instead, Jim became an expert in GIS systems, using mapping technology to better understand conservation needs. He now helps communities steward wild landscapes all over the world. Jim says his career is thanks to his upbringing. “We were fortunate to have access to public lands which gave us vast opportunities to explore the outdoors.”
Like so many bird hunters, Jim's passion for the uplands started with a dog. “My mom bred our family’s English setter and gave me the pick of the litter. The little female setter, Abbey, really picked me.” Now Jim hunts with Bailey, a 12-year-old pointer/Aussie mix.
Jim has a broader view of conservation issues than most hunters. “In my job, I often look from a global perspective, which honestly can be troubling and discouraging at times. I am always most impacted when I see changes in those places and landscapes I am closest to. So, for me, it is about doing your part locally, recognizing that this also contributes globally.”
Jim thinks that engaging with nature and protecting natural resources keeps the Oakleaf family together. “We have always been a family that does a whole lot better ‘doing’ than just ‘talking’.” Their willingness to make a difference keeps relationships strong, even when things get tough.
The Family Through Hardship A few years ago, Josh Oakleaf told me, “It’s time to get busy living or get busy dying.” He had just been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer, and the prognosis was not good. Josh followed through on his word, enduring years of excruciating treatment, including a stem cell transplant from his brother John. He still suffers every day, but through the whole process, Josh has focused on what’s next.
Josh switched careers, and now works as a reclamation and vegetation specialist. Mining and resource extractions scar the land, and Josh works to heal wild places. A primary focus of his current work is to restore habitat for sage grouse . His wife, Gina, also works in reclamation. This conservation power couple is pioneering new methods for restoring plant communities that attract and support wildlife.
Their passion for the uploads has lead the whole family to jobs in the conservation and the outdoor industries. (Photo courtesy of Josh Tatman) Josh’s passion for the outdoors also extends to his personal life. Whenever his body allows, he faithfully works his wirehair Sedna. He volunteers as a mentor for new hunters and leads local conservation groups. He also serves on Wyoming's walk-in access board, securing new and better opportunities for hunters.
Through his battle with cancer, Josh says he really needed his family. “Outdoor pursuits like bird hunting and fly fishing have always been the thread that ties our family together. Through the ups and downs of treatment, one thing remained constant: bird hunting season. Despite everything, I didn’t miss a single one. My dad and brothers made sure my dog and I got out into the field, no matter what it took.”
Conservation Starts Within Jared Oakleaf might be the youngest brother, but it is easy to see that the entire family respects him. Sure, he can stalk into a trophy mule deer and shoot doubles on challenging covey rises, but his work for the land is the real reason.
Jared is a natural resource manager, balancing conservation with human use of the landscape. In his spare time, Jared volunteers his time and money to conservation organizations that promote public land access and habitat stewardship.
Jared and his wife, Liz, hunt behind Rhiza, an English setter, and Indiana, a French Brittany. Jared loves how bird hunting allows him to unplug from the distractions of modern life. In fact, he thinks time in the wild is paramount to social health. “When we pause together, we strengthen our bonds, we build our ability to work together, and we learn to empathize.”
Liz and her Brittany, Indiana. (Photo courtesy of Josh Tatman) “This country's public land, water, and wildlife resources are uniquely American and a heavy cord in our fabric of liberty and equality,” Jared points out. If you cut our connections with the natural world, you will sever our connections with each other. While connecting to the land has a social ripple effect, it starts within. Jared says, “The awakening to this connection is the root of all motivations for conservation.”
Changes Ahead Central Wyoming looks different than when Bob and Barb came fifty years ago. Their quiet town is now bustling with young adventurers and aging retirees, all who want a piece of the western experience. Every year, more wildlife habitat is transformed into subdivisions and energy projects. Sage grouse flirt with an endangered species listing, and mule deer are declining. No doubt, the next fifty years will be even more transformative than the last, but you won’t find this family throwing up their hands.
I’m not going to tell you that the Oakleafs are perfect, either as individuals or as a whole. They have had quarrels and heartaches over the years. They don’t even agree whether setters or wirehairs are better bird dogs, or if a 20-gauge or 28-gauge is better for chukar.
For some families, discord creates divides that never heal. For this family, there is always the love for the land that brings them back together. That is why they go hunting and fishing together every chance they get. Transformative experiences in nature bind them together.
A Path Forward for Conservation There has never been a more divisive time in America. Political winds swirl, bringing wild oscillations to wildlife management and public land policy. The extreme perspectives seem the loudest, undermining our societal bonds. Despite these forces, most of us share core values. We want our children and theirs to have happy, prosperous lives. For hunters, we want wildlife to persist in healthy habitat so that future generations can share our powerful experiences afield.
There are those that are intent on robbing future generations of the opportunity to hunt and fish. There are some that want to seize public land and squeeze every dime they can out of our shared resources. Liz thinks that the real threat to bird hunters isn’t a particular political party, but apathy. “People get trapped in the idea that someone should do something, but there’s no knight in camouflage armor swooping in to make conservation happen. You have to do it.”
Josh Oakleaf sees a future where hunters—and all Americans—unite around our shared values. “I firmly believe it is our duty to ensure that future generations inherit a world that is as good, if not better, than the one we enjoy today. Managing complex ecosystems is an immense challenge. Despite humanity’s insatiable appetite for the ‘good life’, I believe it is realistic to retain relatively intact biotic communities.”
Josh thinks this future will take more than a few dedicated people. “It demands diverse partnerships that balance the ever-changing needs of humans and wildlife. By working together, we can find solutions that allow for both ecological integrity and human progress, ensuring that the natural world continues to thrive.”
Whatever happens, you can be sure that the Oakleaf family will continue to fight for wild places and wildlife. They will do the hard work of on-the-ground habitat improvement, scientific research, and legislative engagement. Most importantly, they will continue to teach others to love the land. Just like the pheasant hunt that changed my life all those years ago, they will continue to share their passion with one person at a time.
We can all choose to ignite a spark in others—not through our words, but through our actions. Show someone a special place that you hold dear. Teach someone to love a gun dog at work and a covey on the wing. Share a hard-earned wild game meal. Give your own time and money to assure the upland birds we love always persist on the landscape.
This is how we rise above political discord. Through relationships, we truly make a difference. Standing with this family of conservationists on the cold Wyoming prairie, I feel fortunate to be a part of the day’s hunt. Even more, I feel fortunate to be a part of a community that cares enough to fight for a better future. After all, it is the birds that bind us.
