In this episode of Kicked Out, John Legnard proves that you don’t have to grow up in a hunting family to become a passionate hunter and dedicated advocate for wild sheep conservation. Growing up on the East Coast, John spent his childhood teaching himself how to fish and trap, developing an early appreciation for the outdoors. Hunting, however, didn’t enter the picture until his early 20s, after moving to Colorado for college.

What began with pheasants, deer, and elk eventually opened the door to something much bigger. At a sports show, John had a chance encounter with the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society, an introduction that would change the course of his life and lead him down a path of lifelong involvement in sheep conservation.

Just four years after applying, John drew his first bighorn sheep tag. That experience sparked a passion for wild sheep that has continued for decades. John has been a member of the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society since the mid-1990s and has served on its board of directors across three different decades, including time as president. Today, he continues that work as the organization’s interim executive director.

Throughout the episode, John shares what initially drew him to sheep and why the species became so much more than another hunting pursuit. He talks about the importance of conservation, the people who have influenced him along the way, and the experiences that have kept him involved for so many years. His story offers a unique look at how a hunter can evolve into a lifelong conservation advocate and how involvement at the local level can create an impact that reaches far beyond a single organization.

John also has a special connection to the <1 Club. If you’ve ever attended one of the club’s events, you may have him to thank. In 2013, John offered to donate a couple of kegs of Blue Moon to the very first <1 Club gathering. That simple gesture helped establish a relationship that has continued for more than a decade.

John’s journey is full of unexpected turns—from teaching himself to fish and trap as a kid, to discovering hunting as a young adult, drawing a bighorn sheep tag, and eventually dedicating decades to sheep conservation.

His story is a reminder that there is no single path into hunting or conservation. Sometimes, a chance encounter—or even a couple of kegs of beer—can shape an entire lifetime.

Click here to learn more about the Wild Sheep Foundation's <1 Club.

Tags: Bighorn Sheep, Kicked Out <1 Club, Hunting