Who is Tom Opre?
Tom Opre is an award-winning filmmaker, conservation advocate, and the founder of the Shepherds of Wildlife Society. For over 25 years, he has wielded a camera not just to capture the beauty of the outdoors, but to document the real, complex, and often overlooked realities of the people who live closest to the land. Through his internationally acclaimed documentaries, such as Killing the Shepherd, The Last Keeper, and The Real Yellowstone, Opre challenges the urbanized views of nature. On Y’all Street, we recognize Tom as a storyteller with a mission: bridging the gap between modern city dwellers and the rural communities whose livelihoods depend on sustainable land and wildlife management.
From the Great Lakes to Global Filmmaking
Opre’s deep connection to the outdoors was cultivated early. Raised in Michigan, his father was an outdoor writer for the Detroit Free Press, exposing Tom to a sportsman’s paradise of hunting, fishing, and camping. This upbringing instilled a profound respect for the “wise use” of natural resources—the core definition of conservation.
His professional journey began at age 19 when he first picked up a camera, learning the trade by cutting film negatives on flatbed editors. Opre built a successful commercial production career, creating high-end content for Fortune 500 companies and Hollywood studios. He eventually spent seven years hosting and producing Eye of the Hunter on NBC Sports, a show that highlighted the adventure of the hunt and the vital role of modern conservation.
However, following the global outrage over the killing of “Cecil the Lion” in 2015, NBC Sports abruptly dropped all field sports programming. Rather than accepting defeat, this pivot point catalyzed Opre’s current mission. Recognizing a distinct cultural disconnect regarding hunting and wildlife management, he founded the Shepherds of Wildlife Society to educate the public and give a voice to rural communities worldwide.
Films That Inspire Conversation
Today, Opre operates at the intersection of investigative journalism, filmmaking, and social advocacy. He doesn’t just make movies; he builds comprehensive educational campaigns to drive policy and cultural understanding.
Current Ventures & Philosophy:
- The Documentary Trilogy: Opre’s recent films tackle conservation from multiple angles. Killing the Shepherd explores a female chief in Zambia waging war against poaching to break the bonds of poverty. The Last Keeper highlights the struggles of Scottish gamekeepers. His latest, The Real Yellowstone, focuses on multi-generational ranchers in Montana battling shifting demographics, apex predators, and out-of-state land acquisitions.
- The “Value” of Wildlife: A central theme in Opre’s work is that humans only protect what they value. He advocates for the North American Conservation Model, arguing that sustainable hunting provides critical funding for habitat preservation and essential income for rural communities globally.
- The Content Ecosystem: Beyond films, Opre produces books, hosts a podcast, and coordinates panel discussions and political screenings to ensure his stories reach lawmakers and the general public.
- Funding the Mission: Operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Opre funds his sub-$500,000 documentaries through donations, digital cinema events, and unique merchandise—such as repurposing deadly wire snares from Africa into bracelets, where each purchase funds conservation efforts.
