Harvest Your Own Podcast

For 15 years, the Taber Pheasant Festival has brought together hunters, landowners, businesses, and volunteers to celebrate Alberta's upland traditions.  With over 10,000 hunters attending since its start, 5,100 birds released annually, and community-driven events like Game to Gourmet and the Celebration Banquet, this festival is more than a hunt—it's a cultural event. In this episode, h...

Venison should taste clean, rich, and delicious — not gamey. In this Bradvice episode, host Brad Fenson shares decades of hands-on experience in the field and kitchen to help you make the most of your wild harvest. From field dressing to the freezer, Brad breaks down his proven process for improving flavour and quality: •How to cut with the grain of the hair for cleaner field dressing. •Cooling yo...

What happens when outdoor education is more than a class—it’s a way of life? For over 25 years, Hal Ziprick has taught outdoor education at H.A. Kostash School in Smoky Lake, Alberta. His program blends AHEIA -certified modules, such as hunter education, fishing education, boating safety, bowhunting, and stewardship, into the school curriculum—earning students high school credits while sparking li...

What does it take to conserve habitat, mentor new hunters, and keep upland traditions alive in Alberta? Host Brad Fenson sits down with Pheasants Forever Canada President Perry McCormick to discuss the organization’s impact, including raising record-breaking funds, protecting prairie habitats, and running first-class programs such as mentored pheasant hunts for university students. From the legacy...

Too hot. Too buggy. Meat will spoil. Hunters are full of excuses for why they skip early season—but according to Brad Fenson, they're missing out on some of the best opportunities of the year. In this BrAdvice episode, Brad breaks down the truth behind common early-season concerns and shows how hunters can not only manage them, but thrive in September conditions. From hunting elk in the early...

You brought home the harvest—now what? In this episode, Brad Fenson is joined by Camp Chef ’s Brooks Hansen to break down the most common wild game cooking mistakes—and how to avoid them. From thawing your meat too quickly to skipping the resting phase, these small missteps can lead to tough, dry, flavourless meals that do your harvest a disservice. Brooks, a lifelong outdoorsman and meat-smoking...

We’ve hit a milestone! For our 100th episode, Brad Fenson is joined by two of Alberta’s most insightful and entertaining hunting voices — Lee Foote and Matt Besko. From wildlife management debates to the lighter side of hunting culture, this conversation blends humour, experience, and a deep passion for the outdoors.  The trio tackles: •Alberta’s hunting heritage and how to keep it fun. •The hang...

Do you need a range day to improve your skills with your shotgun or rifle? Think again. Brad Fenson shares the simple at-home drills that will make you more accurate and confident in the field, without firing a single shot. From the flashlight-in-the-barrel trick for perfecting your swing to snap-cap drills for mastering trigger control, Brad walks you through practical exercises you can do in you...

Thinking about waterfowl hunting but don’t know where to start? This episode is for you—or the new hunter in your life. Brad Fenson is joined by Josh Glover and Daryl Oliver from the Parkland Pintails Chapter of Delta Waterfowl to talk about their Waterfowl 101 program: a free, hands-on experience designed specifically for first-time hunters. From safe shooting instruction and dog/decoy demos to b...

In this episode, host Brad Fenson sits down with Brian Joubert, the manager of game use and allocation with the Hunting and Fishing Branch in Alberta Forestry and Parks, to break down what the latest updates to Alberta's Wildlife Act and Wildlife Regulation mean for hunters this season. From expanded youth opportunities to changes in night hunting rules, the conversation explores the rational...

With Alberta lowering the minimum age for big game hunters, there's never been a better time to introduce kids to the field—but how do you do it safely and meaningfully? In this heartwarming episode of BrAdvice, Brad Fenson is joined by his daughter, Adeline, to discuss what it's really like to start young in the world of hunting. From drawing rough grouse targets together to learning th...

In this episode of the Harvest Your Own Podcast , host Brad Fenson is joined by Ken Kranrod to talk about two things close to every Alberta hunter’s heart—conservation and community. They dive into the story behind Waterfowl Warmup . This fun and competitive clay shoot raises money for Report A Poacher , Alberta’s vital hotline for stopping illegal hunting and fishing activity. From the evolution...

How did a made-in-Alberta model for conservation funding grow into one of Canada’s most respected conservation organizations? In this episode of the Harvest Your Own Podcast, Brad Fenson is joined by Todd Zimmerling, President and CEO of Alberta Conservation Association , and Dr. Lee Foote, ecologist, author, and former ACA board member. Together, they reflect on ACA’s formation, growth, and conti...

In this BrAdvice episode, Brad Fenson breaks down everything you need to know about Alberta’s hunting draw season. From understanding priority points and undersubscribed tags to insider strategies on once-in-a-lifetime opportunities like the Minister’s Special Licences, Brad shares advice to help you maximize your chances of landing the tags you want. Learn why antelope draws are getting tougher,...

In this episode of the Harvest Your Own Podcast, host Brad Fenson is joined by Amber Anderson, an Alberta-born outdoors enthusiast now living off-grid in the Yukon. Amber shares how she went from urban life to a remote, self-sustaining lifestyle that revolves around hunting, fishing, foraging, gardening, and wild game butchery. After winning the Fill the Freezer contest, Amber participated in a wi...

In this episode of the Harvest Your Own Podcast , Brad Fenson sits down with Leanne Mein , a key figure at High Caliber Products , a Canadian company providing top-notch products for hunters, home processors, and outdoor enthusiasts. Leanne shares how High Caliber is supporting the growing demand for wild game processing with a range of products from meat grinders and mixers , to unique spice blen...

In this episode of BrAdvice, Brad Fenson shares his expert tips for black bear hunting during the spring season in Alberta. From spot-and-stalk techniques to understanding black bear behaviour and the best times to hunt, Brad gives you everything you need to make the most of the spring black bear season. Brad discusses: The spot-and-stalk method for black bear hunting and why it’s the most effecti...

In this episode of the Harvest Your Own Podcast, Brad Fenson sits down with Jenny Hashimoto-Wiebe, a passionate hunter and mother who embraced hunting later in life. Jenny shares her journey from growing up surrounded by nature to becoming a dedicated outdoorswoman, and how hunting has not only become a personal passion but a family tradition. Jenny talks about: How she got started hunting later i...

In this episode of the Harvest Your Own Podcast , host Brad Fenson sits down with Lasha and Chris Barbosa , a dynamic couple whose journey into hunting has brought them closer to nature, each other, and their family. Lasha, who grew up in the Yukon, shares her experiences of learning the skills of fishing, hunting, and trapping, and how these traditions shaped her connection to the outdoors. Toget...

BrAdvice Episode 2 – BrAdvice: Shooting for Success – Tips on Gun Fit and Practice in All Conditions In this episode of BrAdvice, host Brad Fenson shares expert tips on improving your shooting skills and ensuring success in the field. Whether you're preparing for hunting season or just looking to refine your technique, Brad offers valuable insights into gun fit, the importance of practicing i...

In this thought-provoking episode of the Harvest Your Own Podcast , Brad Fenson sits down with Nathan Kowalsky, Associate Professor of Philosophy at St. Joseph’s College, University of Alberta, to explore the philosophy of hunting and its ethical considerations. Nathan, a passionate hunter, discusses how philosophy can shape our understanding of hunting, how it connects us to nature, and important...

In this episode of the Harvest Your Own Podcast , Brad Fenson sits down with Pak Wong , a passionate hunter who didn’t pick up a rifle until later in life. Pak shares his inspiring journey of becoming a hunter later in life, how the sport brought his family closer together, and how it shaped his community involvement and business in Provost, Alberta. Pak talks about: How hunting turned into a fami...

Welcome to BrAdvice, a new shorter segment of the Harvest Your Own Podcast hosted by Brad Fenson! In this episode, Brad provides insight into the world of rifle scopes, offering his expertise on how to choose the right optic for your hunting needs. Brad takes us through: The evolution of rifle scopes, from classic designs to today's high-tech options Why magnification matters and how to choos...

In this episode of Harvest Your Own, host Brad Fenson sits down with Dr. Bryce Warner, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan, to discuss avian influenza (AI) and its impact on waterfowl hunters. Dr. Warner, an expert in emerging infectious diseases, shares invaluable insights on how AI spreads, the risks to hunters and their dogs, and practical safety tips to protect yourself during hunti...

On the latest episode of the Harvest Your Own Podcast , Brad and the Fenson family share their inspiring and fun-filled journey of getting kids involved in outdoor adventures. From fishing and hunting to wildlife exploration and shed hunting, the Fensons have made outdoor activities a family affair from day one.  Join Brad, his wife Stefanie, and their twin daughters Maya and Addy, as they discuss...