Harvest Your Own Podcast

Are you going hunting this fall and need a new spot? Check out the Alberta Discover Guide ! We talk with Todd Zimmerling and Roy Schmelzeisen from Alberta Conservation Association to learn about access to conservation sites. They discuss the important roles hunters, anglers, and donors play to help secure valuable, habitat-rich land in Alberta.  The Alberta Discover Guide is a free go-to resource...

Rudy and Bernie Krause grew up cutting meat at K & K Foodliner in Edmonton, learning and honing their craft from their dad, a master butcher from Germany. The super-experienced meat cutter pair now operate Krause’s Custom Processing in Edmonton, and join us to share their thoughts, ideas, tips, and tricks for hunters to get the best quality meat possible from harvested animals. Truly, they hav...

Did you know Alberta is the only jurisdiction in North America where hunter numbers are increasing on an annual basis?! Allan Orr, with the Alberta Hunter Education Instructors Association, credits some of that to the rock-solid hunter education program we're lucky to have. And a big part of our numbers are our youth! In this episode, we dig into how to get them started, the resources availab...

Leanne and Aaron are the meat experts! Listen is as the duo from High Caliber Products share their know-how on transforming your wild game into your best-ever sausage and jerky. From basics and beyond, field to closing the freezer door, we cover it all. Whether you already make sausage and are looking for ways to improve your final product or haven't even harvested an animal yet, all of us ca...

We've got a trio of special guests - Linda and Todd Zimmerling and Lee Foote - who are some of the most patient and positive mentors we've ever come across. All three recognize how far a connection or relationship can go when it comes to carrying on and evolving the hunting tradition.  From comfort with firearms to cooking that protein right, they weigh in on all the ways we can help cre...

Hunters taking pilates?! Absolutely! It's just one of the many ways to strengthen the core, focus the mind, and improve fitness and mechanics for our hunting pursuits. Perhaps our own Brad Fenson says it best: "Whether you are thinking about hunting, dabbling in it, or an avid hunter, fitness is critical to your success and enjoyment of your long-term activities outdoors." It's...

When it comes down to it, most people like archery. From heroes we see on TV (Katniss Everdeen, Robin Hood, Legolas) to the fact that firearms don't enter the picture, bowhunting can feel like a welcoming way to hunt. In fact, someone with the right archery equipment and enough hours practicing  can feel just as confident as someone with a firearm. Learn from bowhunters Lisa Roper and Joe Win...

Decoy master. Field expert. This guest KNOWS waterfowl...it's what he lives for! Brad and Mario talk early season tactics for ducks and geese. From wetland location to planning your hunts to creating more opportunities for ultimate success, Mario shares his wealth of knowledge and experience to help you take your early waterfowl hunts to the next level. Like the episode or let us know another...

Hunter, family man, and Alberta's luckiest hunter...according to Brad! Matt Leriger was one of the last people in the province to draw a mountain goat tag (only three available the year he drew!). Hear all about his quest and experience to get the goat. Matt also shares the best tips for those looking to get into hunting or  thinking about taking on the challenge of going after a completely n...

Do you hang your animal? From animal selection to the moment you pull the trigger to every  action  after  - our trio of experienced hunters discuss all the details when it comes to ensuring your harvest presents itself as the best-tasting meal it can be! Brad Fenson, Matt Besko, and Lee Foote share their hardworking knowledge and real-life stories, with a good dose of humour. Laugh with us, learn...

Matt Besko,  Wildlife Disease and Licensing Specialist with Alberta Environment and Parks, has been involved in fish and wildlife management for over 30 years. An avid hunter and outdoorsman, Matt not only shares his passion (obsession!) for it all, but also lays down CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) history, facts, and science. As concern grows about this endemic for hunters in Alberta, Matt is here...

What exactly does it mean to be an ambassador of the outdoors? Why does it matter? Join host Brad Fenson and his good friend, avid hunter,  and Mayor of Westlock—Ralph Leriger! From passing down skills to eating better than you ever imagined, Ralph talks about the proud hunting  experiences that can shape our futures.  In Ralph's words: "Always think positive...it doesn't cost any e...

Not everyone grows up with the chance to connect with the outdoors—which is why guests Ingrid and Dona  work hard to create new opportunities for women of all ages! From social connection to mentorship to asking ALL the questions (there are no "wrong" questions!), the Onoway Women’s League is a welcoming group. They encourage the sharing of knowledge across their shooting, hunting and fi...

iHunter is a must-have tool for any type of hunter in Alberta. The app has continued to develop more resources (maps, weather, waypoints and more) and technological advances for hunters and even outdoor lovers too, with its growing downloads speaking to its success over the last decade.  And now, it has evolved to offer users a chance to do even more:  helping biologists collect essential populati...

Alberta is a hunter's paradise—especially for waterfowler hunters! Benoit  knows. From being a newbie looking for birds with a million questions to now being an experienced hunter whose had the opportunity of time, patience and experimenting, he's been in almost every position of the journey (plus owns every single waterfowl book from Amazon).  All of it is what led him to do what he doe...

  Curing and smoking: an art and a science! Welcome to the world of charcuterie. Timothy Fowler is an experienced wild game chef, with years of harvesting, preparing and tasting behind him. One of his specialities is bear, but he shares his knowledge about a variety of methods and flavours of wild game charcuterie.  “The game we harvest pays the ultimate price, and as hunters, we owe it to the gam...

No bang. No recoil. No complex licensing. Archery and bowhunting can be very attractive to people who maybe got a taste of it school, or even who are thinking about getting their own wild protein on the table. Expert Mike Uchikura (he literally practices every day!) takes us through the equipment - from compound to recurve to longbow. Whether you're brand new to archery and just want to try o...

Since the program began, Bob has been there! Alberta's Hunter Education Program started in 1964 - and since then it's majorly expanded, improved safety across the province, and seen over 2.5 million students graduate with essential knowledge. In North America, Alberta sets the standard when it comes to educating hunters.  As Bob says when talking about the reason behind its success:&quot...

Most of us know wild game is nutritionally solid— regular consumption means you can count on essential fats, specifically omega-6 and omega-3, which is critical to a healthy diet. Calorie for calorie, it wins as a protein source and has high amounts of iron and zinc. But there’s more to it than that! Guest and nutritional expert Wendy Wismer (PhD, University of Alberta· Department of Agricultural,...

Intimidating? Worried about eating the meat? Whatever his holding you back from trying  your first black bear hunt in Alberta, this is the episode for you! Brad Fenson gives us a triple header: he picks the brains of provincial wildlife disease specialist Dr. Margo Pybus, black bear seeker Emily Lamb, and kitchen pro Josh Glover. Learn about the risks, the reward, and how to up the dinner table fa...

Join Brad Fenson and geese fanatics Mario Friendy and Josh Luedtke, who cover everything hunters might ask about hunting and finding success with snow geese. Running March 15 - June 15 every year,  Alberta's spring snow geese season is the ideal time to get yourself some healthy, tasty protein for the table - and have a fun, memorable and challenging experience doing it! If you miss the sprin...

Food geeks unite! Director of “Canada in the Rough" Michael Higgins loves what he does—especially the part where he takes people along on adventures to dream places and helps inspire seeking wild food into reality (fun fact: he’s eaten wild game in every province and territory!). Brad and Michael talk the things we don’t often eat—if ever—like heart, liver, tripe, and bone marrow. We also vee...

So many tips, so much knowledge - all in one listen. For the past 40 years, our special guest Mark DesRoches has been chasing waterfowl all over the continent . A lot of it—especially duck hunting in the prairies—is not as gear intensive as you might think. Mark shares breaks it all down and spends a great deal of the episode sharing his insights on sandhill crane, as the recent introduction of th...

Rabbit hunting in Alberta. Bottom line? It's an overlooked opportunity! Brad Fenson teams up with hardcore bunny-thumpers (his words!) Evan Linehan and Josh Glover to delve into all things rabbit and hares - myths dispelled included. Learn about their experience and most of all, gain from it for your own winter hunting adventures. Do it with your friends, do it through our long, cold season,...

Sure, getting into hunting requires a set of actions, but it's also not as difficult to get into as one might think. In fact, in the case of our guest Hillary Keyes (biologist and outdoor enthusiast) she ended up preparing to be a hunter without planning to be one! Intentional or not, finding the pathway to hunting proves to be one of life's most rewarding experiences. Listen in as Hilla...