The Hunter Conservationist Podcast

In this episode Mark covers the H5N1 avian bird flu outbreak in wild birds, new findings for COVID in deer, possible new gun registry system, trapping, beaver castors in the NWT, mackerel fishing, herring closures, the failure of Canada’s Species at Risk Act, goose poop and coexisting with wildlife bison moving to Alaska, hunting bison in Banff National Park, the rat poison debate in BC, Newfoundland’s online big game hunting license system, forgetting your password and endorsing squirrels in rehab or not. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brought to you by Community-Minded Alpine Toyota In this episode, Curtis and Mark are joined by Romy Vaugeois. Romy is the Program Manager at the Seals and Sealing Network. Romy explains a bit about Canada’s seal species and the state of their populations. Romy describes how Canada’s seal harvesting industry works and its impact on East Coast and Indigenous culture and livelihoods. Romy describes the various products made from seals and the qualities and benefits of seals. Other topics covered include whether seal meat can be called venison, how to cook seal, why seal meat is black, pinnipeds, sea bears, sea weasels, whether a person can hunt seals, the difference in seal harvest policies between the East and West Coasts, why seals are classified as fish in Canada and the Montreal Phoque Fest. Show Notes https://www.canadiansealproducts.com/ https://proudlyindigenouscrafts.com/ https://phoquefest.ca/en/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brought to you by Community-minded Alpine Toyota In this episode, Curtis and Mark are joined by Dr. Clayton Lamb. Clayton talks about his involvement and research in the Indigenous-led caribou recovery program for the Klinse-Za herd in Northeastern British Columbia. Clayton describes how the Indigenous-led program started, the details of citing, constructing, operating, and monitoring a caribou maternal pen as well as how the caribou are fed and guarded 24/7. Clayton describes his experience learning and integrating western science with traditional knowledge on this project. Clayton also provides an overview of his research findings on how the Klinse-Za caribou herd is doing since the Indigenous-leg recovery program started, caribou survival in and outside the maternal pen, and the effect of wolf management. Other topics discussed include spring turkey hunting, one vs two decoys, calling, the ethics of shooting roosted turkeys, rural living, and coexisting with grizzlies and chicken tractors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark covers a couple of coyote stories as bookends to the podcast including a lawsuit filed over a coyote killing contests and a coyote introduction Darwin Award. Other stories Mark covers include an amendment to BC’s Wildlife Act, BC’s controversial moose hunting proposal, a coastal mountain goat study, grizzlies in Manitoba, new research on caribou recovery, a lawsuit over night hunting restrictions in Manitoba, territorial turkeys in Ontario, new fall turkey hunting season in Ontario, herring, mackerel, cod, seals, broken DFO boats, COVID in deer and feeding deer in Ontario. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brought to you by Community-Minded Alpine Toyota In this episode Curtis and Mark are joined by John Schneider, host of The Food Afield Podcast and member of the From the Wild film series in northern Alberta. The gang compares hunting spring black bears in BC’s Rocky Mountings versus the Alberta’s Northern Boreal Forest. John talks about the atmosphere and tempo of hunting spring bears versus fall deer and his general strategies to find bears in Alberta. Other topics the group muses over include how and where to find spring bear, early spring success versus late spring success, bear meat, cooking, bear organ meat, using the brains, baiting hunting bears form a tree stand, what to do with the hide, hunting outcomes, what size of bear should you take, rifle calibers, game rating systems for black bears, shot placement, getting messed up, Star Wars tribute and assless bear fur riding chaps. Show Notes: The Food Afield Podcast https://www.foodafieldpodcast.com/ From the Wild https://www.fromthewild.ca/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brought to you by Community-minded Alpine Toyota In this episode, Curtis and Mark are joined by Jesse Zeman, Executive Director of the BC Wildlife Federation. Jesse explains the situation with the current proposal to reduce hunting opportunities for moose and caribou in the Peace Region of northeastern British Columbia. As a backgrounder for listeners not from Canada, Mark provides a synopsis of First Nations rights in Canada with respect to hunting, the amount of unceded land in the province, the BC treaty process, game harvest priorities, and obligations of government to consult with First Nations. Jesse explains the Yahey v BC court decision and why First Nations' rights under Treaty 8 were deemed to have been violated by extensive resource development in the Peace Region. The guys discuss why hunting regulations are being used as the solution for habitat impacts caused by industrial projects, the danger of divisive issues, and what the next steps should be regardless of whether the government's moose hunting proposal is approved or not. Show Notes 7B Moose/Caribou Public Engagement Website: https://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/ahte/content/close-peace-caribou-hunts-and-reduce-peace-moose-hunts-region-wide Backgrounder: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/sports-recreation-arts-and-culture/outdoor-recreation/fishing-and-hunting/hunting/ahte-attachments/backgrounder_hunting_regulation_changes_region_7b.pdf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brought to you by Community-minded Alpine Toyota In this episode, Curtis and Mark are joined by Hayley Gavin. Hayley lives in Alberta and she was the Lead Administrator for the Alberta Northwest Species at Risk Committee. Hayley describes how and why the NWSAR committee was formed and how the communities that were involved stepped up to help with scientific studies on endangered species. She describes the disconnect between government, science, industry, and the public when it comes to environmental and wildlife management. Hayley talks about the value of boots-on-the-ground community-based science, the challenges, and successes in bringing people together as well as working with the Alberta Trappers Association, Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, and forest companies. Other topics covered include hunting grouse in the Rocky Mountains and the mystery of the High Level Handy Tree. Show Notes: Public access to project data on Wildtrax: https://www.wildtrax.ca/home Alberta NWSAR website: https://albertanwsar.ca/ ABMI’s Human Footprint Inventory: https://abmi.ca/home/data-analytics/da-top/da-product-overview/Human-Footprint-Products/HF-inventory. Landscape Monitoring Results: https://albertanwsar.ca/landscape-monitoring-results/ Mammal Monitoring Year 1 Results: https://albertanwsar.ca/caribou-ranges-research-year-1-results/ State of the Region Report: https://albertanwsar.ca/state-of-the-region-report-release/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sponsored by Community-Minded Alpine Toyota In this episode Curtis and Mark are joined by Dr. Matt Scrafford, a Conservation Scientist with the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada. Matt has studied wolverines all over Canada and talks about their biology, ecology and distribution in Canada, their home range sizes, general behavior, threats, sources of mortality and the wolverine’s conservation status in Canada. Matt describes the results of some his research and how wolverines are doing in human-disturbed ecosystems what the key attributes are for wolverine habitat conservation and the difference in wolverine habitat in the boreal regions versus the western mountains. Find out about whether other meso-carnivores compete with wolverines, wolverine head injuries, how to survive a wolverine attack, colloquial names and most importantly, find out the winner of the wolverine game show, who won a bottle of Canadian wolverine whiskey and the significance of Valentine’s Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark looks at what’s being going on with the coyotes in Stanley Park, new science looking at competition between coyotes and wolverines, reducing wolf density through restoration, wolf control program extension in BC, the Yahey decision, venison for Nova Scotia families, keeping ducks warm in Newfoundland, penning caribou in Quebec, the last chance for Fraser River steelhead, life time fishing ban, hunting for TV in a National Park, harrowing experience of an Inuk hunter, hopes for Canada’s fur auction, a long haul Canada Goose and unlimited hunting refills. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brought to you by Community-Minded Alpine Toyota In this episode, Curtis and Mark are joined by Mateen Hessami, Dr. Adam Ford, Matt Besko, and Dr. Lee Foote. Mateen and Adam are co-authors of a new paper titled Indigenizing the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Matten and Adam walk through each of the seven tenets of the North American Model and explain how and why they modified the tenants to be more inclusive and better reflect Indigenous values in contemporary wildlife management. Matt and Lee wield their years of experience to further break down the North American Model and the challenges it has created due to the nature of the model’s colonial history. Other incidental topics covered include a vote on whether a 270 or 30-06 is more popular, a goose on one’s head, and talking so slow that others can’t understand. Show Notes Indigenizing the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation - https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2020-0088 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brought to you by Community-Minded Alpine Toyota In this episode, Curtis and Mark are joined by Jeff Senger star of the From the Wild series. The crew talks about the ethics and philosophy of killing. Jeff covers running a small family business slaughterhouse in Alberta and the care that goes into treating animals humanely. The varied topics that the guys talk cover include the dichotomy between nature's way of killing and human-caused death, killing in an abattoir versus hunting, centre of mass versus brain shots, whose perspective is humane death seen from, killing fish versus killing animals, whether nature needs the gruesome deaths as a precursor to evolution, rifle calibers, shooting, bullets, nature is metal, coyote Afghan blanket as a work in progress, why vegans should be vegans, what deer think when they see a hunter, active shooter POV in beaver hunting, and if you were a bear, whether you want Jeff to shoot you with a bow or a rifle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brought to you by Community-Minded Alpine Toyota In this episode, Curtis and Mark are joined by Bill Abercrombie – president of the Alberta Trappers Association. Bill provides a snapshot of the Alberta Trappers Association and everything that they are involved including owning and operating their own trapping and bushcraft centre. Bill describes several of the major conservation and research projects that Alberta trappers play a key role in. The guys then break down the different types of traps and discuss how each one work, why a trapper might use them, and what some of the misperceptions are around trap types in Canada. Bill also provides a history on snares in trapping, the advancement in snare lethality, and new scientific research being conducted on the snares as a humane trapping tool. Other topics include snowmobile mishaps, being dialed in, science-based trap research, certified traps, and rural versus city drivers. Show Notes Alberta Trappers Association https://www.albertatrappers.com/ Alberta Centre for Trapping & Bushcraft https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFehtd7dVN9gIrZSLDurV2Q The Hunters’ Underground Podcast https://www.patreon.com/thehunterconservationistpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Curtis and Mark are joined again by Dr. Marco Festa-Bianchet – professor wildlife researcher at the Unversité de Sherbrooke in Quebec, and Jesse Zeman – Executive Director of the BC Wildlife Federation. Topics discussed include Mountain Goat ecology and biology and what makes goats unique, what some of the newest science is telling us about goats, age of primiparity, whether selective hunting pressure is an issue in goats, Mountain Goat management and harvest, the state of Mountain Goats in BC and Alberta, whether we are doing a good job counting goats, the conservation priorities for goats and other white animals including the wild turkey. Show Notes Details on the Bring Tom Home – Leonard Family Fundraiser – Giveaway https://youtu.be/T-FkjMxhIbc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark and Curtis talk to Gerry Paille of the BC Wildlife Federation. Gerry is the BCWF Chair of the Wildlife and Allocation Committee and the provincial rep that helps assess proposed regulation changes. Learn about BC’s system of making changes to hunting and trapping regulations. in this episode the guys do a deep dive into a bunch of proposed changes to BC’s hunting and trapping regulations that are now open for public comment. Some of the new proposed regulation include deer scents and lures, air rifles, wounded dangerous game, tampering with horns and antlers, compulsory inspections, turkey bears, private land hunting, wireless trail cams, closures of mountain sheep, mountain goat, caribou, and black bear hunting in parts of the province, baiting for trappers and shifting moose seasons in the north. As well, the guys discuss why some people object to cow moose hunting but not cow elk hunting and whether all these regulation changes will make a difference to declining wildlife populations. Show Notes Link to the hunting and trapping regulation public comment page and instructions on how to log in using a BCeID number https://bcwf.bc.ca/engage-now-in-hunting-regulation-proposals-for-2022-2024/?bblinkid=256332481&bbemailid=35790049&bbejrid=-2106053830 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brought to you by Community-Minded Alpine Toyota Curtis and Mark are joined by John Schneider and Kevin Kossowan. John is the host of the Foodafield Podcast and celebrity, on the From the Wild. Kevin is the creator of the From the Wild, and hunter-chef extraordinaire. In this episode the guys discuss white-tailed deer hunting, rattling, whether rattling antler size matters, how far away do bucks respond to rattling, how many bucks don’t you see, does rattling from a tree stand matter, harvesting bucks and does, and thinking about your food outcome as a function of why you hunt. Plus, John and Kevin discuss their why – why do they hunt, fish, and cook then share their experiences on social media. Also hear the guys talk about staying warm and of course, it’s never too early to talk about spring turkey hunting. Show Notes Details on the Bring Tom Home – Leonard Family Fundraiser – Giveaway https://youtu.be/T-FkjMxhIbc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark covers trending stories from across Canada including CWD in Manitoba, COVID in deer, Ducks Unlimited Canada’s global presentation on peatlands, more fish farms in BC, buying guide-outfitter licenses for conservation, a deer cull in Quebec moves forward, Ontario’s cormorant cull, moose hunting moratorium in Quebec, a moose attack in Alberta, the impact of the fall time change on wildlife-vehicle collisions, fencing in endangered caribou, Alberta’s Trails Act, wild pigs on the loose in Ontario, coyotes in Edmonton and a brilliant strategy of Canada’s newest Governor General to show heads of state in the European Union the importance of fur harvesting to Inuit culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brought to you by Community-Minded Alpine Toyota Curtis and Mark are joined by Dr. Keith Munro, wildlife biologist for the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters to talk all things moose. Dr. Munro describes the moose sub-species in Canada, and the guys debate whether the Canada moose is real or not. As well, Keith talks about some of the key aspects of moose ecology, biology, habitat requirements, and population dynamics considered when managing moose. Other topics covered include the big health threats facing moose, moose management and the number of moose and moose hunters in Ontario, harvest management, moose predation, the unique candid predators in Ontario, the new permit system for hunter tags, simple versus complex moose antler regulations, group tag hunting, OFAH’s priority moose management issues, moose research, counting moose, how the deer season is going thus far and the correct or incorrect way to pronounce Shiras moose. Show Notes Book Ecology and Management of the North American Moose, Second Edition Edited by Charles C. Schwartz, Albert W. Franzmann, and Richard E. McCabe https://www.ubcpress.ca/ecology-and-management-of-the-north-american-moose-second-edition Ontario’s moose populations and population objective ranges can be found here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/moose-population-management Show Sponsor Alpine Toyota https://www.alpinetoyota.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brought to you by Community-Minded Alpine Toyota Curtis and Mark are joined by Matt DeMille, Policy and Program Director for the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. Matt authored a comprehensive report describing what a reasonable hunting firearm is in Canada. Matt’s report will become a resource to inform the court about hunting firearms. Matt talks about his journey trying to define a hunting firearm using an evidence-based methodology. Topics discussed include, traditional versus modern firearms, hunting cultures, hunting situations, factors that influence what a reasonable hunting firearm is, factors that hunters consider when choosing a firearm, what a military grade firearm is versus military style, the historical influence of military technologies on hunting firearms, public perceptions of firearms, firearm function versus form, considering hunting in new firearm laws, divisive conversations, wishing the problem would go away, keeping an open mind, hockey sticks and the deer season opener in Ontario Show Notes Alpine Toyota https://www.alpinetoyota.com/ What Firearms Are Reasonable and Proportionate for Hunting in Canada – Full Report https://www.ofah.org/insider/2021/10/ofah-releases-public-version-of-the-firearms-report-filed-with-the-federal-court/ What is a Hunting Firearm by Matt DeMille - Article https://www.ofah.org/insider/2021/10/what-is-a-hunting-firearm/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brought to you by Community-Minded Alpine Toyota Episode supporter – The Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance Curtis and Mark get together with Dr. Lee Foote for a cuss-filled, mantra bashing, nuanced, philosophical bumper sticker brainstorming conversation about the mantra - use science not emotion, which is so often used to defend hunting. The guys breakdown science and emotions into their basic elements to see if the two concepts make sense when used together to defend hunting. The guys discuss whether having emotions in hunting or wildlife management is wrong and whether science is the be-all-end-all in wildlife management. Other topics covered include a conversation about what part of the brain dominates human behavior, whether one feels sad for or has empathy for wildlife, whether emotions or personal values actually under pin a person’s position on hunting, whether the, use science not emotion mantra is making things worse or better between hunters and non hunters, hook and bullet versus oppressed social views, ducking hunting on frozen ponds, whether mountain goats all live on public land, shooting your mechanical goose decoy and the great bumper sticker meme challenge. Show Notes Alpine Toyota https://www.alpinetoyota.com/ The Rock Mountain Goat Alliance https://goatalliance.org/ The Hunter’s Underground Podcast https://www.patreon.com/thehunterconservationistpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark covers the story of what’s going on with invasive wild pigs in Canada, Ontario’s new legislation regarding invasive wild pigs, grizzly bear attacks in the Yukon and Alberta, more grizzly bears shot and left, Douglas Lake Ranch access court appeal update, urban deer turned into food in New Brunswick and a hefty penalty paid for feeding bears in Whistler BC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brought to you by Community-Minded Alpine Toyota Episode supporter – The Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance Curtis and Mark are joined by Neil Keown, Chair of the Alberta Chapter of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. Neil dives into some of the contentious public land issues in Alberta including Chronic Wasting Disease, the Bighorn Wilderness Area proposal, and the opening of the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains to coal mine development. Then Neil talks about the highly controversial proposal currently being pushed in Alberta to allow for high fenced elk farm hunt operations. Neil explains who’s behind the proposal, why its being pushed forward at this time and why BHA, and even non-hunters in Alberta are voicing their opposition to high fence hunts farms. Topics discussed include the ethics of high fence hunts, Alberta versus Africa high fence hunting, whether hunters can marginalize high fence hunting from backcountry hunting or not, freak antlers, escaped wildlife, elk-ostrich combo hunts, whether waterfowl hunting is easy or hard and how to hunt sandhill cranes. Show Notes Alpine Toyota https://www.alpinetoyota.com/ The Rock Mountain Goat Alliance https://goatalliance.org/ Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Alberta Chapter https://www.backcountryhunters.org/alberta Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brought to you by Community-Minded Alpine Toyota Episode supporter – The Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance In this episode, Curtis and Mark unpack the entire topic of hunter mistakes. The guys discuss the 3 types of hunter mistakes, cancel culture, the idea of a path to redemption, some hunting fines, and prohibitions from around Canada, the conundrum for wildlife management if fines are too high, the certainty of punishment versus the certainty of detection, what peoples’ thoughts whether social media fuels hunters to take uncertain shots or not, whether kick em in the nuts type attitudes are helpful, extreme ownership, all the things hunters can to do help their fellow hunter not make honest mistakes, whether hunting regulations are too complicated and the underlying reason why there are strict antler and horn regulations in place. Plus, the guys recount a close encounter of the elk kind and how to reconcile when your hunting partner must work the next day. Show Notes Check out the Rock Mountain Goat Alliance at https://goatalliance.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark covers a story about wildlife getting their own money, wolf control public input survey, Stanley Park coyote update, reversal of a commercial fishing closure decision, getting gored in the pit, Canadians who think hunting firearms should be banned, Ontario sandhill crane and mute swan hunting season proposals and ice-hurling polar bears. Show Notes Predator (wolf) management public input link: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/caribou/predator-reduction/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brought to you by Community-Minded Alpine Toyota In this episode Mark and Curtis are joined by Dr. Nikolaj Bichel. Nikolaj completed a PhD thesis on trophy hunting, hunting, hunters, and anti hunters. Nikolaj explains his definitions of trophy hunting and trophy and where those concepts originated. As well, he explains the difference between utilizing animal parts and displaying animal parts, collectors versus non-collectors. Nikolaj talks about the history of hunting as training for war and as a war tactic, and he covers trophy scoring, the benefits, and consequences of trophy records, how anthropomorphism facilitates anti-hunting, the moral issues of trophy hunting including deontology, consequentialism, virtue ethics and the worst-motive fallacy. Other topics covered include trophies as a type of currency, trophies as proof of rightful land ownership, hunting and revolutions, and what anti-trophy hunters really hate more than the death of a wild animal. Nikolaj explains how far hunting trophies go back in human history and how old oldest known Euro mount is. Show Notes Follow Nikolaj on Twitter @Nikolaj_Bi The Hunters’ Underground Podcast https://www.patreon.com/thehunterconservationistpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brought to you by Community Minded Alpine Toyota in Cranbrook, BC Sheep hunter Tom Leonard signed in at the Eaglenest Trail Head on September 11, 2005 before hiking into Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park in Northern British Columbia for a hunt of a lifetime. Tom never returned from this hunt. 16 years later no trace of Tom has been confirmed despite the searches. In this episode Mark and Curtis are joined by Tom’s wife Tammy. Tammy talks about Tom and his love of hunting and fishing, his love of his family and his excitement at being awarded a special hunting permit for Stone’s Sheep in Spatsizi. Tom trained and prepared for months leading up to his hunt as any backcountry wilderness hunter will appreciate. Tammy takes you through the chronology of events of all the searches for her husband. She discusses her gratitude for everyone, including strangers that have helped her family. Tammy also discusses what frustrated her with the authority-led searches and how it feels to be alone to carry on organizing searches herself. Tammy imparts some amazing thoughts on how you can prevent this happening to your family. The crew passes on some ideas and tips on how to conduct yourself so if you go missing you can be located quickly. This is a must listen episode as you will likely change how you hunt after listening to Tammy’s story. Please help the Leonard family by going to the links in the show notes. Show Notes Family video https://youtu.be/vOXqx51w9N0 Tammy’s Go Fund Me account to help pay for future family-organized searches https://www.gofundme.com/f/Help-Search-Rescue-end-16-year-search-for-Tom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark and Curtis are joined by their friend Ross Blake. Ross has lived in different countries and experienced very different cultures. Ross has a diverse perspective on hunting and conservation and is on route to becoming a hunter. Everything seems fckd up right now with the environment, conservation, and hunting including forest fires, climate change, anti-hunting petitions, environmental pollution and so on and so on. The guys dig into this topic and discuss what is stressing them out and how they cope with the avalanche of doomsday stories that hit their news feed every day. The guys discuss how they approach news stories, that on the surface might elicit a negative emotional reaction and where to focus your effort as a hunter. Concepts discussed include defining a personal sphere of concern, person sphere of impact, how far away from where you live should you be concerned about issues, what to give a fck about in life, what you can control, what you can’t change, the big picture outlook in conservation and whether you must believe every headline as being true. Sponsor: Heid Out Restaurant and Brewery Kootenay Fresh Local Legendary https://www.theheidout.ca/ Supporter: iHunter App iHunter lets you see which game seasons are open where you are or where you plan to go. Right on your mobile device. https://www.ihunterapp.com/ Get a 20% discount on iHunter using the PROMO CODE: THCPODCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark is joined by Dr. Lee Foote and Matt Besko, a couple of wise guys. The gang talks in depth about COVID-19 in deer, CWD getting into cows and monkeys, coyotes biting people, crime sketches for coyotes, coyotes with personalities, massive poaching penalties, illicit sea cucumber trade, the illicit ivory trade, Canada considers trophy import ban, how big Africa really is, deer birth control rears its ugly head, bear attacks and tolerance to bears. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by The Heid Out Restaurant and Brewery and supported by iHunter app. In this episode, Mark and Curtis are joined by Matt Besko and Dr. Lee Foote. Matt is the Director of Wildlife and Licensing for Alberta Environment and Parks and Lee is a retired professor from the University of Alberta. Matt and Lee delve into the deep nuances of hunting and cover everything under the sun including, being honest with why you hunt, mastering the skills, death, blood rituals, time-compression, flow experiences, out-of-body experiences, hunting as a means to make us better human beings, conservation vs preservation, human-wildlife conflict, primacy, carrying capacity, managing wildlife by the happiness quotient, social media, bringing in new hunters and the currency of hunting. Throw in some food, why having fun while you hunt is okay, mismatched bullets, Cabela’s vs the thrift store, and of course, why the food angle of hunting, while inspiring is wearing thin. Show Notes: Sponsor: HeidOut Restaurant and Brewery Kootenay Fresh Local Legendary https://www.theheidout.ca/ Supporter: iHunter App iHunter lets you see which game seasons are open where you are or where you plan to go. Right on your mobile device. https://www.ihunterapp.com/ Get a 20% discount on iHunter using the PROMO CODE: THCPODCAST The Veteran Hunters Program https://theveteranhunters.com An Alberta based non-profit chartable organization helping veterans and first responders with PTSD and injuries by providing hunt opportunities. Support, donate, and if you are a veteran or first responder – go to the website an apply for a hunt today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by Fisher Peak Brewing Company and supported by iHunter app. In this episode, Mark and Curtis are joined by Chad Stewart, a biologist in the deer program for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division. The crew discusses the evolution and spread of white-tailed deer in North America, why these deer are so successful, and whether their expansion is due to humans or not. Chad talks about white-tailed deer biology, ecology, population monitoring, and different approaches for managing white-tail populations and hunting seasons. Other topics the group digs into include, white-tailed deer reproduction, chronic wasting disease, antler restrictions, antlerless deer hunting, myths, hunting traditions, the future of white-tailed deer, half marathons, managing deer wearing bulletproof vests, 66% support and mind-blowing deer facts. Show Notes: Sponsor: Fisher Peak Brewing Company Kootenay Fresh Local Legendary https://www.theheidout.ca/ Supporter: iHunter App iHunter lets you see which game seasons are open where you are or where you plan to go. Right on your mobile device. https://www.ihunterapp.com/ Get a 20% discount on iHunter using the PROMO CODE: THCPODCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark updates you on a major salmon fishing closure, the Big Bar landslide on the Fraser River, Canada Goose Fur without fur, Banff elk, the cost of the federal gun buy back program, seal culls, the science of bear relocation, grizzly bears without toes, grizzly bear habitat carrying capacity, a poacher loosing truck and boat, Canada’s protected areas report card, narwhal hunters versus mining company, new parasite in coyotes and people and yoga biting coyotes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by The Heid Out Restaurant and Brewery and supported by iHunter app. In this episode Mark and Curtis are joined by Dr. Marco Musiani from the University of Calgary. The hosts dig more into the topics of predators, predator science and predator management with Marco. Marco provides his thoughts on whether the polarization over predator management is getting worse or better, what is behind the polarized debates and what the broad state of science is with respect to researching predators. Dr. Musiani also discusses patters of predation on livestock, whether there is such a thing as a problem predator, what factors contribute to livestock depredation and what the future holds for predator research. The crew also discusses whether Calgary is really in the Rocky Mountains, Italy versus Alberta, flamboyant ranchers, and the hottest podcast on record. Show Notes: Sponsor: Heid Out Restaurant and Brewery Kootenay Fresh Local Legendary https://www.theheidout.ca/ Supporter: iHunter App iHunter lets you see which game seasons are open where you are or where you plan to go. Right on your mobile device. https://www.ihunterapp.com/ Get a 20% discount on iHunter using the PROMO CODE: THCPODCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark updates you on the alteration of a scientific report by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans that might cause steelhead to go extinct, a new wildlife coalition in BC, the danger of bird feeders, contaminated wild foods by forestry chemical spraying, the loss of being able to ship firearms and ammunition in Canada, body cams for Conservation Officers and a bear watchdog oversight body, DFO’s rejection of a salmon smolt transfer to ocean farms, a new hybrid deer study in Alberta and Saskatchewan, whether polar bears want to become vegetarians, wildlife permit violations at a bear rehabilitation center in Alberta, bear attacks, dumped bear paws, the rejection of a coal mine in Alberta, the Nova Scotia First Nation’s moderate livelihood lobster fishery, more funding for CWD in Alberta, a river in Quebec that is now legal person (maybe), new hunting laws in Saskatchewan and a wildlife traffic bust that included a human skull. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by Fisher Peak Brewing Company and supported by iHunter app. In this episode, Mark and Curtis are joined by Dr. Sophia Gilbert from the University of Idaho to talk about predators. Everyone weighs in on why there is so much controversy around predators, why predator management is dividing people, the use of human dimensions and social sciences in predator management, socioeconomic benefits of large carnivores, whether predators can reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, the segment of society that hunters should be most concerned about, whether science will help reconcile the gap between protectionism versus management, how anglers used to view the predatory Bull Trout and hunting Sitka Blacktails in Alaska. Show Notes: Rain deer – A Sitka Blacktail Story with Sophie Gilbert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE53BE4sEjg Sponsor: Fisher Peak Brewing Company Kootenay Fresh Local Legendary https://www.theheidout.ca/ Supporter: iHunter App iHunter lets you see which game seasons are open where you are or where you plan to go. Right on your mobile device. https://www.ihunterapp.com/ Get a 20% discount on iHunter using the PROMO CODE: THCPODCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by Heid Out Restaurant and Brewery and supported by iHunter App. In this episode, Mark and Curtis are joined by Dr. Adam Ford from the University of British Columbia -Okanagan. Dr. Ford is the Canada Research Chair in Wildlife Restoration Ecology, a member of the British Columbia Minister’s Wildlife Advisory Council. Adam leads the Wildlife Restoration Ecology Lab at UBC in Kelowna, oversees several significant wildlife research projects and he is the faculty adviser for the UBC-O Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society and Student Chapter of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. In this episode, Dr. Ford gives Mark and Curtis a crash course on how wildlife science works, how the industry of science operates, what a paper is, how scientific papers get reviewed and published, the good, the bad, and the ugly of the peer review process, how to read a scientific paper, the roles of scientists in government, academia, and the private sector and how science can change conservation. Dr. Ford also touches on the Together for Wildlife Strategy in BC with his (optimistic) outlook on how the process is going to date. The gang talks about science-based wildlife management, science versus emotion, the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, fishing, what value God hunter conservationists should pray to, and the plan to get Indiana Jones on the podcast. Sponsor: Heid Out Restaurant and Brewery Kootenay Fresh Local Legendary - Cranbrook, BC https://www.theheidout.ca/ Supporter: iHunter App iHunter lets you see which game seasons are open where you are or where you plan to go. Right on your mobile device. https://www.ihunterapp.com/ Get a 20% discount on the Public Lands subscription at http://web.ihunterapp.com using the PROMO CODE: THCPODCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark covers some controversial fake new stories from across the country including sponsored hunting regulations, wild turkey culls, dreaming about salmon fishing, new measures to address hunting social media, new research on hunting-related social media content, a proposed bait and switch caribou recovery plan, a whale of post pandemic economic recovery plan and how it’s all just fake news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by Fisher Peak Brewery and supported by iHunter App. In this episode Mark and Curtis talk with Alexia Constantinou from the University of British Columbia. Alexia recently completed her Master of Science degree and defended her thesis. Alexia’s research looked at the response of small and large mammals to clearcut logging and selection harvesting across three study sites in British Columbia. If you have ever flown across BC, you know that clearcut logging is the dominant method of logging and the most noticeable human impact on the land. But is it all bad? Which wildlife are the winners, and which are the losers when it comes to clearcutting and selection harvesting? Alexia breaks down her study by explaining which mammals, all the way from mice to moose, do well in clear-cuts, which ones preferred partially logged forests, and which ones liked unlogged forests. Find out how species behavior in clear-cuts and why hunters say there are no white-tailed deer left. Alexia provides her thoughts on the general scale of logging in BC and the crew discusses forest fires versus logging, whether wildlife habitat is properly cared for during logging and what you can do to help support wildlife management. Show Notes: WildCam project https://wildcams.ca/ Dr. Suzanne Simard’s Mother Tree Project https://mothertreeproject.org/ Ted Talk Dr. Suzanne Simard https://youtu.be/Un2yBgIAxYs Sponsor: Fisher Peak Brewery Kootenay Fresh Local Legendary - Cranbrook, BC https://www.theheidout.ca/ Supporter: iHunter App iHunter lets you see which game seasons are open where you are or where you plan to go. Right on your mobile device. https://www.ihunterapp.com/ Get a 20% discount on the Public Lands subscription at http://web.ihunterapp.com using the PROMO CODE: THCPODCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark covers new caribou research and what’s happening to endangered caribou habitat, grizzly bear recovery in Alberta and fight over hunting, West Coast Councils’ call for a wolf hunting ban, moose populations in Northern BC, US-based Sinixt People’s right to hunt in Canada, Seaspiracy and the Canadian seal hunt, tree planting, court ruling on Aboriginal fishing vessels, BC Parks budget uplift, hunting Alberta’s endangered Wabasca bison herd, headless seals in Cape Breton, the controversy over the elver fishery in Nova Scotia, poaching fines, lead bioavailability in marinated game meat, more fishing restrictions on Pacific salmon, a new weasel on Haida Gwaii, a new court ruling on restocking fish farms, conibear traps in Manitoba and the ultimate sacrifice for conservation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Mark and Curtis are joined by fellow turkey hunter, and wild turkey aficionado Brad Siemens. Brad hails from the Grand Forks region of Southern BC and literally lives with wild turkey year-round. The crew discusses how their turkey season is going so far and the pain of missing a wild turkey. The guys talk about wild turkey hunting strategies for BC such as locating tom birds, calling, using decoys, why it is easy to miss with a shotgun, and the sneaky ways in which toms approach you. Find out why wild turkeys are so hard to hunt and what makes them so addictive to hunt. The guys also dig into why wild turkeys have such a bad rap in BC when it is one of the most admired game animals in North America. Brad, Curtis, and Mark also discuss some management and conservation issues including the issue of why BC does not have a game tag for the Merriam’s wild turkey. Show Notes: Call to Action British Columbia is the only jurisdiction in North America that does not require a species tag for wild turkey. The idea of a tag has been pooh-poohed by BC wildlife staff for many years even though most turkey hunters support the idea. A tag makes enforcing regional bag limits easier and a turkey tag, along with the conservation surcharge fee, will help contribute more money to wildlife conservation. Conservation Officers support a species tags as do most all the hunter conservationist organizations in the province. If you also support the idea of a species tag for Merriam’s wild turkey in BC please email [email protected] in the BC Wildlife Branch and kindly ask that the proposal for a wild turkey species tag be included in the new hunting regulations proposals for 2021/2022 that will be posted for public comment later this year. Sponsor: Heidout Restaurant and Brewhouse Kootenay Fresh Local Legendary https://www.theheidout.ca/ Supporter: iHunter App iHunter lets you see which game seasons are open where you are or where you plan to go. Right on your mobile device. https://www.ihunterapp.com/ Get a 20% discount on the Public Lands subscription at http://web.ihunterapp.com using the PROMO CODE: THCPODCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by Fisher Peak Brewing Company and supported by iHunter app. In this episode, Mark and Curtis are joined by Kevin Kossowan and Jeff Senger. Kevin and Jeff are from northern Alberta and produce the inspiring internationally recognized From The Wild show. Kevin and Jeff talk about why they created From The Wild and provide their thoughts on why they are different from the mainstream hunting shows. As well, the crew dives into the relationships between wild protein, wild plants, and eating with a sense of place. Kevin and Jeff offer a unique perspective on what a hunting trip is to them and how there is always something to be harvested from the wild. Learn about how to get started in collecting wild edibles, how to get bear meat without firing a shot, how the hunting industry wants you to behave, whether the guys differentiate wild from agricultural land, wild food systems, what weird food really is, and drinking the forest. Show Notes: Sponsor: Fisher Peak Brewing Company Kootenay Fresh Local Legendary https://www.theheidout.ca/ Supporter: iHunter App iHunter lets you see which game seasons are open where you are or where you plan to go. Right on your mobile device. https://www.ihunterapp.com/ Get a 20% discount on iHunter using the PROMO CODE: THCPODCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mark digs into the new call for a wolf hunting and trapping moratorium in BC, whether wolf trapping and hunting affects populations, the high rate of female salmon mortality in the Fraser River system, salmon-eating herons, a new salmon aquaculture industry in Newfoundland, the annual Cree southern goose hunt in Quebec, night hunting in Manitoba, too many mule deer in Saskatchewan, the response of two grizzly bear populations to the 2000 BC hunt ban, high wolf mortality in Banff National Park, urban coyotes, Indigenous wool dogs and the New Brunswick first spring wild turkey hunt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by the Heid Out Restaurant and Brewhouse and supported by iHunter app. In this episode, Mark and Curtis are joined by Paul Irngaut, Director of Wildlife and Environment for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Paul talks about growing up in Igloolik and his memories of being on the land with his family. Paul describes his experience when his family was moved off the land to a matchbox house by the government and the challenges that relocation created for Inuit. Paul explains the Nunavut Act and Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and how important wildlife is to Inuit. Paul also describes the Nunavut Harvester Support Program and National Inuit Strategy. Paul goes into detail about hunting and living off the land as well as how the polar bear harvesting program in Nunavut is structured, polar bear populations, impacts of climate change, the impact that the global bans on polar bear and seal fur trade had on Inuit, his concerns about polar bear research and his perspective on eco-tourism wildlife viewing. Find out the difference between an igloo and a quaggiq, why getting married depends on knowing how to build an igloo and learn some Inuktitut words. Show Notes: Sponsor: Heid Out Restaurant & Brewhouse Kootenay Fresh. Local Legendary https://www.theheidout.ca/ Supporter: iHunter App iHunter lets you see which game seasons are open where you are or where you plan to go. Right on your mobile device. https://www.ihunterapp.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by Deluxe Wall Tents and supported by iHunter App In this episode, Mark and Curtis are joined by Dr. Keith Munro, wildlife biologist with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. In 1999, the Ontario government banned the spring black bear hunt. The guys discuss why the ban occurred, the misinformation campaign around orphaned cubs, the controversy around how the cub numbers were presented, and how this had an impact on the politics of the hunt. Dr. Munro talks about the social and economic impacts caused by the loss of the spring hunt particularly in Northern Ontario, how hunting was the entity that gave black bears social value, and how the loss of the spring hunt precipitated less tolerance for black bears. Dr. Munro then walks through the long history of how the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters worked to get a pilot hunt and eventually the full reinstatement of the spring bear hunt. Learn what and who was doing black bear research to support the return of the hunt and the types of messages the Federation was presented to elected officials. Finally, learn what key steps hunters should be taking to prevent another province or territory from losing black bear hunting. Within this episode lies the road map to bringing back the grizzly hunt in British Columbia. As well, catch up on some Eastern wild turkey talk and wobbly deer antlers. Sponsor: Deluxe Wall Tents Built in Canada for Canadian Conditions – Family-owned. Canadian made. https://www.deluxewalltents.com/ Supporter: iHunter App iHunter lets you see which game seasons are open where you are or where you plan to go. Right on your mobile device. https://www.ihunterapp.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by Fisher Peak Brewing Company and supported by iHunter In this episode, Mark and Curtis are joined by hunter and Ph.D. candidate Britt Longoria. Britt was the centre of a global hate campaign against hunting when her photograph was pirated from a private website. Britt explains how this anti-hunting campaign came about, how she learned about it, what happened to her, how it made her feel and how she rose above it to become a better hunter conservationist. Britt tells Mark and Curtis how she took time to objectively assess the fundamental questions that underlie the comments that were being posted about her. She explains how she used her understanding of people’s comments to regroup, reclaim the hunting narrative and tell her story the way she wants it told. Every hunter who posts anything on the internet even on secure private accounts can have pictures pirated and accounts hacked and end up the target of one of these international anti-hunting campaigns. Britt provides her thoughts on how hunters can prevent this from happening, how hunters can tell their own story and how to dig deep into yourself to understand why you do what you do. Britt challenges hunters to think about who their audience is. As well, Britt talks about her Ph.D. work in communication and how it ties into the future of hunting. It appears this episode will foster a new relationship aimed at helping hunters reclaim the art of storytelling which can be used to define modern hunting cultures in the same way it was used to define ancient hunting cultures. Episode Sponsor: Fisher Peak Brewing Company https://www.theheidout.ca/ Award-winning craft beer from Cranbrook, British Columbia. Episode Supporter: https://www.ihunterapp.com/ iHunter lets you see which game seasons are open where you are or where you plan to go. Right on your mobile device. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sponsored by the BC Firearms Academy In this episode, Mark and Curtis are joined by Robbie Kroger of Blood Origins – the Truth About Hunting. Robbie brings his perspective to the hunting and trophy hunting debates that are taking place across the world. In Canada, the narrative about trophy hunting is filling the news lately and is influenced by perceptions of trophy hunting in Africa. Robbie demystifies African trophy hunting and explains how much wildlife is protected by hunting lands versus parks. Robbie covers the economics of hunting in Africa, ecotourism versus trophy hunting, what can happen to wildlife under a trophy ban, the Community Based Natural Resource Management model, and whether the average citizen in Africa can go hunt on the land. Digging deeper, the guys talk about the current narrative of hunting in North America, where the moniker of trophy hunter came from, pulling back the curtain on hunting, hunters’ tendency to hide in the closet, who’s behind the image that the non-hunting public has of hunters, grip and grins on social media, how to get outside the box, what hunters will say in ten years and the two questions every hunter needs to ask if they want to preserve hunting now and in the future. Show Notes Find the BC Firearms Academy at https://bcfirearmsacademy.ca Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by the Heid Out Restaurant and Brewhouse. In this episode, Mark and Curtis are joined by Dr. Yasmine Majchrzak and Dr. Michael Peers to talk all things snowshoe hare. Topics discussed include whether or not hares are rabbits and jackrabbits are hares, all the hare subspecies, distribution of the hare in Canada, habitat preference, food, behavior, breeding, dominant bucks, hare runs, litter size, what predators eat hares, killer Whiskey Jacks, mortality rates of hares, the 10-year population cycle phenomenon, Hudson Bay fur records, predicting the hare cycle, peak population densities, what causes a hare’s fur to change colour, the effect of snow hardness and climate change on snowshoe hares, whether hares are food limited or predator limited, why the hare crossed the road, big antlered bucks, why snowshoe hare ecology is important in conservation, GPS collaring hares, once bitten twice shy, the stealthy Lynx, post-doc the cartoon character, a new hare app and Ki YOH tee versus Ki yote. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Mark and Curtis are joined by Leland Brown and Chris Parish, founders of the North American Non-Lead Partnership. In this episode, the guys learn about the history behind why the Partnership was created, what its goals are, and where it's headed. Topics covered include, the impact lead bullet fragments have on wildlife especially birds, why birds guts are different than mammals when it comes to ingesting lead, how much lead comes off a bullet, the snowstorm effect, why you will never see a lead-poisoned bird in the wild, why gopher shooting helps raptors, non-lead 22 ammunition for small game hunting, population-level impacts of lead poisoning, lead in venison, lead in Indigenous Peoples, women and kids, how a bullet works, how non-lead bullets perform, copper bullet myths, rifle barrel damage, how to choose a copper bullet, voluntary versus mandatory use of non-lead ammunition, hunters controlling the narrative, smear by fear campaigns, a new way of thinking about a hunter’s ethical responsibility for the bullet when it leaves the gun, grizzly bears, an awesome elk hunt and first-time javelina with a bow. These guys are so passionate and knowledgeable about non-lead ammunition and the future of hunting. You will be inspired! Show Notes North American Non-Lead Partnership http://nonleadpartnership.org/ Boone & Crocket – A Wicked Issue https://www.boone-crockett.org/wicked-issue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first episode of 2021, Mark and Curtis are joined by Dr. Marco Festa-Bianchet from the Unversité de Sherbrooke in Quebec. In addition to studying roos down under Marco has been researching bighorn sheep in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta for many decades. Marco covers when and how wild sheep got to North America as well as the species and subspecies that now inhabit the continent. Marco explains the role of small horns and the role of big horns when it comes to mating success in bighorn sheep. The guys learn about the current harvest strategy for bighorn sheep in Alberta and its role in the evolutionary change in the size of ram horns. Marco also talks about what shrinking horn size means at a population level. Other topics covered include genetic recovery, minimum population size that triggers inbreeding, pedigree-based research, lumping versus splitting in wild sheep taxonomy, intensive selective hunting pressure versus trophy hunting, full curl hunting restrictions on mountain sheep, the evolutionary effect of hunting horned animals versus antlered animals, peak ram harvest periods in Alberta, the difference in the age of rams harvested near versus further away from the National Parks, the declining ram harvest in Alberta versus the rest of North America, the reactions of the hunting and anti-hunting communities to Marco’s research and ice fishing on thin ice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Curtis and Mark are joined again by Dr. Marco Festa-Bianchet – professor wildlife researcher at the Unversité de Sherbrooke in Quebec and Jesse Zeman – Executive Director of the BC Wildlife Federation. Topics discussed include Mountain Goat ecology and biology and what makes goats unique, what some of the newest science is telling us about goats, shifting age of primiparity, whether selective hunting pressure is an issue in goats, Mountain Goat management and harvest, the state of Mountain Goats in BC and Alberta, whether we are doing a good job counting goats, the conservation priorities for goats and other white animals including the wild turkey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Mark and Curtis are joined by Tim Killey, President of the BC Trappers Association. Hang on as the guys take a deep dive into furbearer conservation and the business of trapping. Topics covered include learning whether trapping is a business or a hobby, the fur market ups and downs, the economic value of trapping in Canada, who's who in the furbearer world, what is happening with furbearer populations, the greatest threat to furbearers, the controversy over fisher trapping, how trappers manage their trap lines, public acceptance of trapping, trapping on social media, how people get into trapping or at least how they can buy organic natural furs and whether your conservation committee should have a trapper on it or not. Find out what the most valuable fur on the market is today and why beavers build dams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Mark and Curtis have a conservation about natural forces and intangible entities in hunting. This is a conversation that is rarely openly spoken about or even acknowledged. It may even be a conversation that gets scoffed at. Mark talks about his Remembrance Day 2020 hunt and the relationship between a soldier who died in World War I and two recently harvested whitetail bucks. The guys share their experiences about the feeling of a force guiding them while they are hunting, what that feeling has taught them and how acknowledging and embracing natural forces and intangible entities may help others become better hunters. Other topics covered include, the value of rituals before, during, and after the hunt, the feeling you know you will be successful, stepping into the other world, speaking to the animals, first bite – last bite, returning the animal to the land, hunting amulets the message an owl brings, ice fishing, small gaming hunting and hugging your pee bottle for warmth. Show Notes Book: Relational Archaeologies. Humans, Animals, Things. Edited by Christopher Watts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices