EatWild Podcast

EatWild 56 - Illegal Sheep Harvest -Why are we making mistakes?

Some troubling news in the sheep hunting community. At least 12 illegal rams have been seized by the Conservation Officer Service this year. These rams did not meet the legal requirements and yet hunters still pulled the trigger. Thinhorn rams must reach either eight years of age or full curl in order to be legal for harvesting in BC. In an average year, 3 to 5 rams typically fail inspection as legal rams. 

So why are we making mistakes? I’m joined by Adam Janke of the Journal of Mountain Hunting and Kyle Stelter of the Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia to look at the reasons that could be fueling this problem.

We talk about the growing interest in sheep hunting, and how tools and technology are making sheep hunting more accessible. Being exposed to an abundance of information gives a false impression of knowledge accumulation, however, this does not and cannot replace experience and true skill building in the field – sheep hunters will relate to our discussion about the challenges of ageing sheep in the field.

Is sheep hunting attracting more inexperienced hunters? Are the motivations changing for this type of hunt? Why are we making the wrong call on these sheep? And most importantly, what are the implications to sheep conservation and our privilege to continue hunting sheep in BC?

Lots to be discussed here. This is a challenging conversation, but one we need to have in the hunting community. I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks to Adam Janke and Kyle Stelter for making the time for this important discussion. 

Photo credit: Fort Nelson Conservation Officer Service

Thanks to West Coast Kitchen for their support! 

The discount code is EATWILD

 

EatWild 55 - Elk Management with Mike Bridger - Wildlife biologist series

I am pleased to welcome Mike Bridger back on the podcast as part of our wildlife biologist series where we are talking about wildlife management of the big game species in BC. In this episode, we are talking elk just in time for elk hunting season.  Whether you are a seasoned elk hunter or planning your first elk hunt, this episode is for you! 

 

In our conversation, we get to learn about the rewarding work that Mike Bridger does as a wildlife biologist in the North East of BC.  Mike describes elk habitat, population distribution, and population dynamics. We discussed the habitat change drivers that affect the population such as wildfire, and the wildlife management tools that are used to manage the population. 

 

We break down elk hunting regulations and the wildlife management strategies behind them. Mike provides insight into why we have a six-point regulation and a cow season. We chat tips for counting points. 

 

Lastly, Mike shares his sheep hunting premonitions for my upcoming sheep hunting adventure... 

 

You can find Mike Bridger here @bc_bridger

 

Please help us find more listeners by sharing this podcast and leaving a review.  

 

Find West Coast Kitchen Here - Discount code is EATWILD

 

EatWild 54 - Caribou Management with Biologist Conrad Thiessen

We are kicking off a series of podcasts with a focus on learning more about big game species in BC and how they are managed to ensure sustainable wildlife populations and hunting opportunities.

In the first episode, I am pleased to welcome wildlife biologist Conrad Thiessen.  Conrad has a very cool job in the Northwest corner of BC (Region 6). This is an area of relatively low road density and high wilderness and wildlife values, so he spends his workdays flying around in a helicopter, in spectacular wilderness areas, counting wildlife. 

Conrad's work is focused on caribou management, so we dive into the topic of caribou, discuss ecotypes, their range, habitat, migration patterns, population status in BC, and methods to assess herd health and numbers. Conrad describes survey and calculation methods, as well as the opportunity to work with First Nations on research projects.

 

He introduces and explains concepts like “calf recruitment”, the ideal calf/cow ratio, and shares details about the delicate and exciting process of “netting caribou” for the purpose of fitting them with research collars.

 

Of course, we get to talk about caribou behaviour, hunting experiences and the ideal time to hunt caribou for optimal taste. 

 

We reflect on the impacts of human activity, climate change and predation on caribou population dynamics and Conrad reveals an unlikely, yet successful caribou predator, besides wolves and bears.

 

Give this episode a listen if you are interested in caribou biology, conservation or hunting and you will find a few other exciting details about the life of caribou and wildlife biologists in Region 6.

 

To keep an eye on Conrad and his adventures in an “unbelievably, indescribably” beautiful place, follow him on Instagram @conrad_thiessen.

Poster photo credit: Clint Walker 

 

This episode is dedicated to Dr. Valerius Geist, wildlife biologist, conservationist, great storyteller, and kind human. You will be missed by the conservation community.  

 

This episode is brought to you by West Coast Kitchen. Check out their stuff and use the EATWILD discount code for 10% off 

 

Show note: 

At some point in the podcast I mention that Jody, the hunting camp cook, will not use cook with caribou meat that is harvested in late September.  The intention was to suggest that the meat may have a gamey taste, and may not be as pleasant as the other meat options.  In Jody's case, she may choose to use the moose or sheep meat that would also be available in a hunting camp to make dinner. The caribou hunters are required to take all edible portions of the meat home and it will be consumed, just with a bit more spice if it happens to be gamey. 

EatWild 53 - Getting into Sheep Shape

Sheep hunting season is a few weeks away. I’ll be hauling heavy packs into the mountains and relying on my body to hold up to the rigours of the terrain and to have an injury-free adventure.

With over a year of Covid living, my body is feeling the effects. I need to get in shape... FAST. Fortunately, my hunting partner Jenny P has been working with Emilie Whittemore to get her body ready for the sheep mountains. Emilie is a physiotherapist and strength and conditioning specialist, who believes in an integrated practice that is focused on injury prevention by building strength and conditioning the body to ready for the adventures ahead. 

I am a little late to the party, but it’s time to get on it. We’ve invited Emilie on the podcast to talk about what it is going to take for us to get our bodies ready for the long hard days and strain of the sheep hunting season.

If you’re coming off some idle time and want to get back in shape and doing the things you love to do in the mountains, then you’ll love this podcast.

Thanks for doing this Emilie! 

Emilie on LinkedIn

Emilie @ Evolve Physiotherapy - emilie@evolvept.ca

This episode is supported by West Coast Kitchen backpack food.  Fuel your passion on your next adventure with West Coast Kitchen food.  Enter EATWILD into the promo code for a 10% discount! 

 

EatWild 52 - Ultra-lite tents and packs with Kevin Timm of Seek Outside

The adventure hunting season is around the corner! I am getting excited, and that means the podcast is shifting focus to conversations on preparing and planning for the season.  In this episode, I am having a beer with Kevin Timm, co-founder of Seek Outside, and we are talking ultra-lite tents and the ideal backpack for packraft hunting. 

 

Seek Outside (SO) is known for the single-pole tent with an ultra-lite packable wood stove system. The huge advantage of this system is that you can backpack a roomy tent with a stove into the backcountry. This can make late hunting in the mountains way more comfortable and safe. I've had several adventures in my Seek Outside 8-person tent and I am considering investing in a 2-person super lite tent for the sheep hunting season.  I am also looking to replace my backpack with a waterproof system. But before I can give up my MSR Hubba and my pack, I have a bunch of questions for Kevin? 

 

How safe is it to have a wood stove in a tent made of technical fabric?

 

What's the best way to manage bugs in the early season?

 

Can I use my down sleep bag inside of a single-wall tent? 

 

What's the best option in the SO pack designs for my next packrafting sheep hunting adventure? 

 

What are the pros and cons of an integrated pack frame vs the breakaway carry system? 

 

Along the way, we get insight into how a cybersecurity researcher finds his way into the high-performance gear manufacturing industry, and what motivates him to develop the best products on the market?  Kevin breaks down his philosophy and process of making his tents and backpacks and ensuring they stand the test of the elements.

 

This conversion was lots of fun.  I hope you enjoy it and start to get excited about the adventure season ahead. 

 

If you have any questions about my experience with SO tents you can reach out to me on Instagram @eatwild. Drop your question in the comments of this post or you can email me direct dylan@eatwild.ca

 

You can see all the SO gear at seekoutside.com and be sure to follow Kevin and his team @seekoutside.  

 

Thanks for the time Kevin! 

 

 

EatWild 51 - Hunters of Color - Inclusivity in Hunting with Jimmy Flatt

The face of hunting in North America is prominently white. Is there a place for people of colour in the hunting community?  Can we make the hunting space more inclusive? I think so, but we have some work ahead to make the hunting community more welcoming and inclusive. 

 

In this episode, I am joined by Jimmy Flatt the co-founder of Hunters of Color. Hunters of Color was founded by Jimmy Flatt, Lydia Parker, and Thomas Tyner in August of 2020 with a mission to share a love for the outdoors with everyone.  94% of the hunting community is white. HOC believes that the "Outdoors are for Everyone," and is forging a road ahead to welcome a diverse community of new hunters.  

Jimmy shares his personal journey of being a passionate hunter in a community dominated by people who don't look like him. We chat about implicit racial bias and how we can build awareness through education, with the goal of breaking stigmas and stereotypes concerning hunting.

 

Here is the link to the MeatEater Rebuttal by HOC. 

 

Find HOC here!

 

Thanks for listening. 

EatWild 50 - Spring Foraging for Wild Edibles with Jody Peck

In this episode, I am sitting with my good friend Jody Peck of Wild Northern Way, happy that the spring foraging season is finally here. 

 

We are talking about harvesting wild plants from urban settings and the forest in a sustainable and ethical way, the seemingly daunting duty to process them the importance of finding fun ways to prepare them. We touch upon the ephemeral nature of the foraging seasons with the added engagement that brings and, at the same time, the stable nature of discovering your foraging spots and maintaining them through respectful harvesting practices.

 

There are many edibles out right now and many more about to start coming out soon through this foraging season. We are getting excited about hosting a foraging workshop series this spring. 

We are conspiring to teach our guests to ethically forage wild edibles and how to make delicious and beautiful food and cocktails with the harvest.

 

Book your spots for the foraging workshops here.

 

You can find Jody Peck on Instagram @wildnorthernway and through her website wildnorthernway.com. 

49 - Huntin' Fishin' and Scoring Goals - Brendan Morrison

If you’re a Vancouver Canucks fan, hunting enthusiast, or a passionate fisherperson you’ll enjoy this episode. I’m joined by Brendan Morrison, 15-year veteran and star of the National Hockey League. Brendan is a local legend from his years centring the West Coast Express line flanked by Todd Bertuzzi and Markus  Näslund that generated some of the most exciting moments in Canuck history. 

 

Brendan Morrison has always been a passionate fisherman which has led him to produce and host the Reel West Coast fishing show in his retirement.  Fishing led Brendan to discover hunting after his hockey career.

 

I invited Brendan on the podcast to talk about the journey to become an adult-onset hunter.  We get into a few great hunting stories and valuable lessons learned.  We chat about the barriers and opportunities for how to get into fishing and hunting. 

 

Brendan shares his passion for scoring goals, catching fish and hunting critters on this episode. This one was lots of fun. 

 

instagram/reelwestcoast

EatWild 48 - Smartphone Navigation & the iHunter App with Mark Stenroos

The iHunter App is an essential tool for the new Hunter. Apps like the iHunter tool have changed how I approach hunting entirely. E-scouting, orienteering, checking regulations, and recording where and how I hunted an area have all been improved with the innovations of the app world. The Hunter App brings together multiple essential app tools to make hunters more effective, safe and help hunters stay on the right side of private property boundaries and regulations.

 

In this episode, I'm joined by Mark Stenroos, iHunter App developer, and my hunting partner Jenny P.  Mark breaks down the functionality of the app and the benefits of the tool.  Jenny and I share how we have adopted the app into how we hunt. Along the way, we chat about getting lost and found and our favourite hunts.

 

Join us for our next EatWild E-Scouting Webinar.

 

ihunterapp.com

 

instagram@ihunterapp

 

instagram@jennyp403

 

 

EatWild 47 - Are we losing our social license to hunt?

Are we losing our social license to hunt? 

 

Social license refers to the perceptions of the public that deem an activity as socially acceptable. The concept of an activity requiring a "social license" emerged in the 1990's as the natural resource industry realized they needed to build public and stakeholder support for resource extraction projects to be successful. 

 

A recent article published by Chris Darimont in the Society of Conservation Biology Journal applied the concept of social license to hunting. The study suggests that the public perception of hunting carnivores can pose threats to the social license for carnivore hunters and potentially other hunters. 

 

The article kicked off a storm of discussion and reaction within the hunting community.  There has been a call to action across social media platforms encouraging hunters to take action to "defend" hunting rights.  What are we defending, what's the battle, who are we fighting, who started it, what's at risk.... are we just fighting ourselves?  

 

I have a lot of questions and I am confused, so let's have a discussion. 

 

I have invited Jenny Ly with Chasing Food Club and volunteer with BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and Jesse Zeman, BCWF director for Fish and Wildlife Restoration on to the podcast to try to understand what's happening in our community.  We talk about our interpretation of social licence and how, as a hunting community we can build our social licence

 

We are living in an era where images and storytelling inform public perception.  

 

What is the impact of the images we share?  Can we do a better job of telling our stories?  

 

Please share this podcast. 

  

Note: In our discussion, I overestimated the number of new hunters. Based on the stats that I have, there has been an increase of 11,000 more hunters purchasing licenses in 2021 than in 2011. 

 

Total BC Hunting Licenses Issued:

2010/11 - 95,000

2020/21 - 106,000