The Hunter Conservationist Podcast

Jen Shears joins the show to talk about Canada's management of seals and seal hunting, with a focus on the inspiration and motivation behind it. The conversation highlights the impacts of import bans on seal products and the challenges faced by hunters in Canada. It also discusses the population dynamics of seals, their changing diet, and the consequences of not managing their population. The conversation delves into the hunting process, including the three-step process for dispatching seals and the regulations and training required for seal harvesters. In this conversation, Jen discusses the challenges and misconceptions surrounding the seal hunt in Newfoundland and Labrador. She emphasizes the importance of sustainable resource management and the need for public engagement and advocacy. Jen also highlights the economic and ecological opportunities that the seal hunt provides for coastal communities. She encourages listeners to take action by contacting their elected officials and participating in public consultations. The conversation concludes with a call to support and protect traditional ways of life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode covers various topics including the Conservative Hunting and Angling Caucus outdoor symposium, National Seal Products Day, the ban on snaring for licensed trappers in PEI, the ban on mink farming in BC, and the presence of chronic wasting disease in British Columbia. The conversation also touches on the importance of the fur industry in agriculture, the role of trappers in wildlife disease management, and a study on wolverine density. This part of the conversation discusses the conservation concerns surrounding wolverines and the need for reducing incidental trapping deaths to maintain stable populations. It also highlights the importance of trappers in wildlife management and the potential risks they face from anti-fur protesters. The conversation concludes with a reminder to support the fur industry and upcoming events like the BC Trappers Association rendezvous and the June fur sale. Fashion designer Marc Jacobs. Instagram @marcjacobs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode covers various stories related to bears, deer, moose, and gun ranges in Canada. The first story discusses the impact of tourism on grizzly bears in British Columbia, highlighting how tourists can disrupt their feeding patterns. The second story focuses on the tragic death of a famous white grizzly bear in Yoho National Park due to a collision with a vehicle. The episode also touches on the controversy surrounding the display of a mounted polar bear in Yellowknife and the decline of moose populations in Nova Scotia and Manitoba. Additionally, it mentions the decrease in the number of shooting ranges in Canada since the gun confiscation program was announced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Perry McCormick, president of Pheasants Forever Canada discusses the importance of habitat diversity for pheasants and other bird species. He highlights the need for shorter cover and the benefits of vegetation diversity. The conversation also touches on the impact of landscape changes, such as the transition from smaller farms to commercial farms, the use of pesticides, and the development of green infrastructure like wind turbines and solar farms. Perry emphasizes the importance of conserving ditches and right-of-ways as valuable habitat and the need for awareness and education on their natural benefits. The conversation concludes with a discussion on favorite pheasant recipes and the role of hunters in conservation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Michelle McLellan delves into the reintroduction of grizzly bears into the North Cascade ecosystem in Washington state, exploring the challenges, implications, and potential impact on the ecosystem and neighboring regions. The discussion covers the history of grizzly bear reintroduction, genetic diversity, habitat quality, and the potential for bear migration across borders. The conversation delves into the challenges and considerations surrounding the reintroduction of grizzly bears in British Columbia and Washington State. It explores the social, political, and ecological dimensions of this issue, highlighting the need for funding, public support, and wildlife management strategies. The conversation also touches on the impact of human-wildlife conflict and the importance of coexistence with apex predators in the ecosystem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chef Michael Hunter muses about his background as a chef and book author, his personal philosophies as a chef and hunter, and the changing perception of hunting in the culinary world. He believes that showcasing the food aspect of hunting is educational and inspiring, and it has encouraged more people to take up hunting. He also discusses the blending of cooking and hunting in the hunting community and its impact on the perception of hunting. Chef Hunter expresses his desire to be able to share wild game with customers in his restaurant, but there are strict regulations and processes that make it difficult. He also talks about the importance of simplicity in cooking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark explores some of the central questions around bear baiting including, Is the use of artificial bait bad for a bear's health? Does baiting cause bears to become more aggressive towards humans and does baiting cause bears to stop foraging naturally? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Episode 1. In this episode, Doug and Mark introduce the show, the premise behind it and then provide updates on recent fur prices and the drivers behind the changes as well as providing a recap of the spring 2024 seal hunt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark covers changes to fall migratory birds' flights, caribou and the pinnacle of perfection for the white-tailed deer, the mystery of coho deaths solved, Montreal deer control, ducking hunting in the NWT, who's fault is the bass, the transfer of Haida Gwaii, conservation success and the Coombs wolf-dog. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Besko and Dr. Lee Foote are back on the show to discuss wounding loss in hunting. Topics covered include definitions of wounding loss, wounding loss studies, the Finish study, wild predator kill success rates, whether wounding loss avoidable, whether wounding necessary in hunting and the ongoing Dr. Pepper/peanut debate. Matt and Lee always make for an intellectual and a banter fun-filled discussion no matter what the topic is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blaine Calkins, Member of Parliament joins Mark in this episode. Blaine is the SCI Legislator of the Year, and he talks about why hunting is important to him and why he defends the hunting way of life. Blaine talks about his career that led him into federal politics, what he enjoys most when he gets outdoors, what some of his current issues are he's working on and his future plans as an MP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Dr. Marco Festa-Bianchet joins us as we explore the commonly held belief that taking the oldest aged males from a population has the least impact. Some of the questions covered in this episode include - Do old animals stop breeding? Are old females dry and have old males passed on their genes, and are not needed anymore? How old do some game animals live to and what's the difference in old age between hunted and un-hunted populations? How does survival and fitness affect breeding and is hunting the oldest individuals sustainable or not? Thank you to Darryn Epp for the cover art photo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark explores bear baiting by first looking at the way all hunting is conducted and then secondly, by assessing baiting by the 2 principles of Fair Chase hunting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Luehmann helps us dispel the notion that urban people don't hunt. Chris lives in Vancouver, and he is a hunter and a sport shooter. Chris tells the hilarious story of how he became a hunter and why he persevered for many years without harvesting a big game animal. Chris shares his hunting memories, what motivates him to hunt and his first big game animal. Chris is a fantastic role model for new hunters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BC recently tabled a series of controversial hunting regulations changes that have compounded the hunting opportunity taken away from licensed hunters over the last several years. In this episode, Dr. Adam Ford, who is a scientific advisor on BC's hunting regulations committee, Scott Ellis, Executive Director of the BC Guide-Outfitters Association, and Jesse Zeman, Executive Director of the BC Wildlife Federation are on the show to debrief the regulation changes and provide their thoughts on the trajectory of wildlife management in the province. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark tries to make sense of the Wyoming wolf incident by filling you in on what he has uncovered about hunting laws that contributed to the incident. Mark discusses the heart of this issue - why are snowmobiles allowed as a legal form of hunting in some jurisdictions? The use of snowmobiles to run coyotes and wolves over is evaluated against the two principles of Fair Chase and the three tests of ethical hunting. The episode boils down to a single broad message that is relevant for every hunter in North America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark provides a way to define ethical hunting using 3 key questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr Erick Lundgren from Aarhus University in Denmark joins Mark and Curtis to talk about a new research study he was part of. The study addresses the question of whether there’s a need to eradicate non-native large herbivores to protect ecosystems. Topics discussed include small picky eaters vs generalist bulk feeders, the role of individual body mass vs total mass of all animals, the millions of dollars spent on eradications, eradicating native species as well as eradicating endangered species and whether the functional niche a species occupies within an ecosystem is more or less important that the concept of "nativeness". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Levi is a relatively new Dad, a Registered Nurse, and a hunter. He lives in British Columbia and shares how hunting is sometimes a means to unpack the events of work but how it mostly about getting into the backcountry to hunt for food. Levi talks about how he shares the world of hunting with others and how he is adjusting his longer hunting trips to balance hunting and family life. Levi discusses his passion for being involved with the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, sharing the experience of hunting with others and the challenges of trying to stay informed with what is happing wildlife management. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark covers the smoothing over an incident where endangered Peary caribou were killed in the high arctic, federal sabre rattling over Quebec caribou, whirling disease action and inaction, hunting bison in Banff, a very expensive way to deal with geese in BC, a not so peaceful bunny sanctuary, the predator attack that wasn't, protesting seafood price fixing in Newfoundland, the cost of the gun buyback program, and expenditures for the Sydney Island deer cull. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special podcast, Mark explores the movement to abolish the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and what that really means for the citizens of the United States and Canada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can high-tech tools be assessed against the principles of Fair Chase? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you say KI-yote or Ki-Yo-Tee? Courtney Anderson and Abby Thiemkey from the Ohio Coyote Research Project are on the show to talk all things coyote ecology and research. The scientists explain what the coyote project is about and share some of the highlights that the data are starting to highlight including coyote diet composition, population dynamics, behavior and movements. Abbey and Courtney share how they work with livestock producers, hunters, and trappers, what the general social attitudes are towards coyotes and whether intense hunting is changing the population or demographics of coyotes in Ohio. An engaging conversation and a great opportunity to learn more about one of the most hated and loved wildlife species in North America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark covers a wasted meat crime in the NWT, the status of Alberta's caribou recovery program, the closure of the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick elver fishery, avian flu in Ontario, Saskatchewan hunter fines, the dilemma of elk in the Yukon, trapping coyotes in Vancouver and new agreement in BC for a First Nation and the implication for issuing tags for hunting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are larger wolf packs more effective at finding a killing prey than smaller packs? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chad Day, President of the Tahltan Central Government returns to the podcast to provide updates on wildlife management and hunting in Tahltan Territory. Chad talks about his journey in becoming a hunter and teaching his kids to hunt. Chad provides updates on grizzly bear management and the challenges facing predator control in a vast remote area of BC. Chad also discusses the challenges facing the relationships between resident hunters, guide-outfitters and Indigenous People and offers some ideas for a path forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Each year Steve Hossack volunteers in the winter bison hunt school program that takes place in the Yukon wilderness. Steve explains what this hunting program is about, the logistics that go into planning it, the immense life changing lessons the kids gain and the changes he sees the kids as they become leaders in their communities. Steve talks about why helping with the school bison hunt program is special to him and why he will keep volunteering as long as he can. This is an inspirational story and a must listen for teachers and school administrators across Canada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is bear spray or a firearm better at stopping an aggressive charging brown bear? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Marco Festa-Bianchet from Sherbrooke University is back on the show with Mark and Curtis. Marco is an evolutionary scientist and population ecologist whose research includes mountain sheep and goats. Marco discusses his research on bighorn sheep in Alberta and BC which if often criticized by the hunting community. Marco explains how the mating biology of mountain sheep including the age when rams start mating and the intense removal of young rams is linked to the changes in horn size and ram abundance. Marco discusses the differences between the full curl, 4/5 curl and over the nose horn regulations for bighorn and Stone's Sheep and he offers some solutions to the problems in Alberta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Andrew Derocher is a polar bear researcher from the University of Alberta, and he is a hunter. He muses about the stress of researching bears and how research is his work, but hunting is his escape. Andy reflects on his hunting skills and whether they help him as polar bear researcher and explains what his favorite way to hunt is. He discusses the differences between how he hunted 20 years ago versus how he hunts today. Andy laughs at how dumb luck factors into hunting and whether being a hunter makes a person a better wildlife scientist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark does a deep dive into a controversial subject unfolding in British Columbia. The BC Lands Act is being amended to add decision making powers for First Nations People. Topics covered include the history of Canadian law that has led up to this, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the right to prior and informed consent, shared and consent-based decision making, what this amendment means for public land access, political framing, the fears about hunting in BC and the need for truth going into the fall election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The truth about spring black bear hunting with respect to the claims that hunters orphan thousands of cubs each year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Mark Boyce from the University of Alberta joins Mark and Curtis in this episode. Dr. Boyce is an ecologist working on research areas that include wildlife habitat selection, cougar predation and effects of hunter harvest on wildlife including interactions between wildlife density and hunter harvests. Mark provides his perspectives on intensive selective hunting pressure as one of the causes of reported decreases in bighorn sheep horn sized and he outlines his ideas on how bighorn sheep hunting should be managed in Alberta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Jessica Haines is a wildlife scientist, professor at MacEwan University in Northern Alberta and a hunter. Jessica shares talks about how being a scientist helps her as a hunter and vice versa as well as how her students and co-workers react to her being a hunter. Jess talks about the peacefulness of hunting, reading the subtle clues of nature, hunting with dogs and mentoring students who are interested in hunting. Jess is truly an inspirational leader-hunter in Canada's post-secondary education system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark covers migratory game bird hunting regulation changes, a sandhill crane hunt in Ontario, hunters who don’t like a proposed migratory game bird hunting regulation change in PEI, highlights of a new seal report, the end of self-replicating crayfish, how much forest is left for boreal caribou in Quebec, and a grizzly bear-rancher-farmer mitigation program in Alberta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are celebrity hunters, outfitters and companies that profit from hunting actually perpetuating market hunting that the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation condemns? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Berukoff is the president of Canadian Wildlife Capture, helicopter pilot, conservationist, and a hunter. Ben joins Mark to chat about aerial wildlife capture for scientific research and how being a hunter helps him find and safely capture animals. Ben describes a typical capture day, the nuances between capturing different species and how deep snow helps him do his job. As well Ben discusses how he helps explain the importance of wildlife research to others, why he might question the need to capture animals sometimes and who has to pick up lost capture nets on the mountain side. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Peter Cott, a fisheries biologist and scientist from the North West Territories joins Mark and Curtis to chat about one of Canada’s strangest fish – the burbot. Pete chronicles how he got into burbot research and he discusses where burbot came from, their closet relatives, what makes them unique, where they are found in Canada, their conservation status and threats. The guys also learn about singing burbot, the gargantuan nature of burbot gonads, underwater soundscapes and hunting in North West Territories. You might glean a few burbot ice fishing tips in this episode as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does general wolf hunt hunting make a difference to ungulate populations? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca Peters is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, a hunter, and a passionate conservation leader. Rebecca is a member of the Wild Sheep Society of BC’s Women Shaping Conservation initiative, and she was a participant in the 2023 national event - Women in Conservation. She explains what she does in her practice and how hunting and conservation fit into a holistic lifestyle. Rebecca also talks about having to learn how to hunt as an adult and find her own path as a hunter. Rebecca and Mark talk about being present, being mindful, and how yoga provides many benefits to mind and body, including hunting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is an anti-hunting organization buying guide-outfitter licenses in BC? Can they really do that? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Siobhan is a wildlife scientist working on her PhD degree on mountain lions. Siobhan joins Mark and Curtis to provide insights into what her research. She discusses her research objectives, the highlights gleaned from tracking adult cats via GPS, where lions like to raise their litters, the fate of tagged kittens, what cougars are killing and eating, movement patterns, how cats respond to clearcutting and lion on lion violence. She discusses her teams journey in learning to track mountain lions, working with hunters, the skills of houndsmen and some things about mountain lions that have surprised her. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark wraps up the year by putting the top 5 stories from 2023 on a naughty and nice list with a bit of Caddyshack humour thrown in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tammy joins Mark to share her story with listeners in hopes that someone out there might know something. Tammy explains the events of when Tom failed to return from his sheep hunt, the ongoing search effort and her emotional roller coaster as reports have come in over the years of items that hunters have found including a tent camp that might be Tom’s. Tammy shares her heart and lets us know how she is really doing and what keeps her going every year. Tammy talks about what it’s like each fall when she sees hunters in her community gearing up for the fall and how the hunting community has helped her and her family. It’s an emotional and inspiration episode! The Leonard family GoFundMe account: Fundraiser by Tammy Leonard : Help Search & Rescue end 16 year search for Tom! (gofundme.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lori McCarthy is a teacher, mentor, book author, forager, curator of fine foods, speaker and a hunter who is on a mission. She is committed to preserving the connection between Newfoundland culture and its food. Lori has a been on journey to understand how Newfoundlanders hunted, foraged, preserved food, cured meats, and prepared meals so that the traditions that define Newfoundland culture are not lost to the tides of time. A part of Lori’s journey has included her interest in butchering, preserving, and curing meat and hunting. Lori become a self-taught hunter as an adult and she describes the importance of hunting in Newfoundland as well as how the older generations view hunting versus buying Alberta beef. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark covers the passing of gun control bill C-21, the up-listing of the Eastern Grey Wolf, BC’s wolf control program, elver poaching, phasing out Eurasian boars in Ontario, Quebec’s urban deer court case, the killing of the mayor of Klukshu, a prison term for a BC bear poacher, parasites in Nunavut caribou, an Ontario trapping license suspension, conservation in action on an Alberta working ranch and the BC SPCA’s way of ending the killing cycle which is code for regulated hunting seasons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rod Giltaca, the CEO and Executive Director of the Canadian Collation for Firearm Rights (CCFR), joins Mark and Curtis in this episode. Rod provides a summary of the recent gun control bill including the handgun ban and the amendments that went after common hunting firearms. Rod also discusses the verdict of the CCFR’s court case against the Government of Canada and he discusses property rights in Canada, the gun buyback program, what might be on the horizon and how hunters can help the fight against gun control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chelsea Hansler is amazing person in every aspect of her life. She is an artist, mother, role model and a self-taught hunter who is raising her family in an off-the-grid wilderness home. Chelsea talks about her journey to becoming a professional artist and her passion for painting hunting hounds. She talks about how she learned to stay true to herself in her art and as a hunter. Chelsea explains how being an artist helps her as a hunter and how being a hunter helps her to be an artist. Chelsea is a role-model for her followers on social media and she talks about a brand-new venture she launched to help women get together in wilderness settings where then will be able to connect with each other and find their own path in the outdoor space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rachel Ahtila is a hunting guide and she talks about her journey into the hunting industry including burning pancakes and the changes for women in the guiding business. Rachel talks about how she gets to know each of her clients, how every hunter has reason for being on the mountain and why, when she could be hunting for herself, she’s chosen a path to put others ahead of herself. Rachel touches on her personal story hunting with her father and her journey back to social media. Rachel closes out by explaining the challenges and frustrations of her endeavour to demystify the process for obtaining an authorization to carry a handgun for wilderness protection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Bradford & Dan Otway from Pittwaterfowlers join Mark and Curtis to talk about their waterfowl hunting and conservation projects. Chris and Dan explain the areas where they hunt waterfowl, how they are helping farmers protect their crops and they also discuss their wood duck and other conservation programs. The guys share their story about what happened when Duck Dynasty became popular and why that motivated them to create a waterfowl hunting course. Dan and Chris share their most memorable experiences in the blind as well as what motivates them to take other hunters out including the inspiring story of young Clayton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices