Talk Is Sheep

We welcome Keith Balfourd, Manager of Marketing and Communications with the Wild Sheep Foundation back to the show. We wanted to hear it from the source what was happening with Sheep Show this year. We discuss the new hybrid show which is a mixture of the in-person event and the virtual or online platform. Keith talks about the multitude of hunts up for grabs throughout the week long event includi...

On this episode we welcome Nature Trust of BC’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Jasper Lament to the show. We learn about the great work that BC’s largest provincial land trust is conducting and how they are preserving wild places for all wildlife. Dr. Lament talks about his personal journey to lead this great organization, how the Nature Trust of BC began and the many exciting acquisitions that they...

Are you ready for an epic sheep tale? WSSBC Treasurer Joe Humphries delivers in spades on this two hour episode of highs and lows – everything you would expect on a sheep hunt. Joe talks about his successes and failures, the highs and low and lastly about being kicked out of the <1 Club. This story talks about one mans solo journey and how he was successful in anchoring his first sheep. Not onl...

We sit down with Secretary Nick Negrini and Vice-President Tyler Donahue from the Midwest Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation. We talk about the origins of their organization, the great work they are doing for wild sheep despite there being none in the great state of Minnesota as well as the fall plans Tyler and Nick had. Midwest has been an important supporter of the Wild Sheep Society of BC’s F...

Steve and Kyle welcome Dr. Ian Baird to the show. Ian has a resume a mile long when it comes to wild sheep conservation. He is the Treasurer of the Abbotsford Fish and Game Club and was instrumental in forging a partnership with the Wild Sheep Society of BC. Through WSSBC's Community Conservation Partnership, Abbotsford Fish and Game commitment will result in our two organization putting $40,000 b...

Kyle and Steve have a spirited chat with repeat guest Joe Eppele. They dive right into the current and ongoing issues surrounding predator management in BC, what you can do about it, and why we keep facing this conversation. https://engage.gov.bc.ca/caribou/feedback-form/

For many reasons, the fastest-growing segment in the hunter/conservationist community today is women. Understanding why and what it will take to help even more women enjoy the rich benefits of hunting are two great questions worth exploring. The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) Women Hunt™ Program engages and helps more women cross any barriers on their journey into fields and the mountains. The WSF Wo...

Steve and Kyle sit down with the Rackmaster to talk taxidermy. For our regular listeners you may recognize Trevor from episode 33. We had some serious audio issues on that recording so we brought Trevor back for Episode 47 (33 REDUX). We cover taxidermy from soup to nuts and also talk about Trevor's successful Northern BC Stone's Sheep hunt this fall. Trevor is an accomplished sheep hunter, diehar...

We sit down with Dr. Zijian Sim (known as Sim) and Bill Jex. Sim talks about his study from the University of Alberta - "Management implications of highly resolved hierarchical population genetic structure in thinhorn sheep," Sim is an interesting character and although his study is steeped in science he is able to share his findings in a clear and concise manner that all can understand. Sim's fin...

Steve and Kyle welcome Tammy Leonard, the spouse of missing hunter Tom Leonard and Joey Prevost from Terrace Search and Rescue to the show. 16 years ago, in 2005, Tom Leonard failed to return home from a solo sheep hunt in Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park. An initial 4 day search was conducted but was not successful and was called off due to bad weather. The following year in 2006 famil...

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 le...

In episode 43 Mike and Kyle continue their story in the high country on their 2021 BC fly in Stone Sheep hunt. They talk about the new gear they tried out this fall and some of the items that worked well. They talk about some of the lessons learned on their trip and throw out some tips for anyone looking to take to the mountains. This episode involves some story telling, some gear reviews and some...

Mike Kirk and Kyle Stelter fresh back from their 2021 Stone's sheep hunt sit down to chat about the trip - the highs and lows and everything in between. After a fly in trip in Northern BC they sit down to talk about the trip itself and what success truly means on these adventures. They also share what gear worked, what didn't and what they will be looking to replace in the off season. They also sh...

We have Wild Sheep Society of BC Director Peter Gutsche on the show to talk about the Bluetongue Virus and what he is seeing on the ground in Grand Forks. This is an incredibly challenging situation for the Granby Herd and Peter shares his experience seeing these deceased Bighorns.

Kyle and Steve visit with Justin Spring, Director of Big Game Records for Boone and Crockett. Justin is one hell of a hunter and even a better conservationist. On this cast he dives into the great work Boone and Crockett does, the importance that big game records serve in wildlife management and things on the docket for his organization. Justin touches on the North American Model of Wildlife Manag...

Kyle and Steve sit down with Anthony Caligiuri - Wild Sheep Foundation Director, Boone and Crockett Executive Vice President of Conservation and President of Boyt Harnesses. Tony is a conservation super hero and a guiding force in the conservation world. He is also a die hard hunter and has all the points needed to be part of the 700 Club. What is the 700 Club you ask? Have a listen to Tony and th...

Kyle and Steve sit down with WSSBC Director Josh Hamilton for this episode of Talk is Sheep. The ‘Mountain Neanderthal’ owns his own tannery and is well versed in field-care and the steps you need to take to ensure you do your best to honour your trophy in the time between the cutting of your tag, and your arrival at your taxidermist. From the equipment you need to bring, to the cuts you need to m...

On this episode we sit down with Wild Sheep Foundation's Women Hunt (TM) Chair Renée Thornton. She is an adult onset hunter that is passionate about hunting, conservation and wildlife. When Renée began her journey for a sustainable, pure and ethical protein source she quickly arrived at hunting. Being a woman and wanting to venture into the field, she also recognized that there were barriers to en...

John Davies has spent three decades working with wild fire. He is a dedicated Platinum Monarch member of the Wild Sheep Society of BC and understands the need for fire on the landscape for wildlife. John also understands what we need to do to manage fire holistically to ensure better outcomes for society, communities threaten by wild fire, and the benefits wild sheep will reap. On the heels of a s...

Moving to Africa at the age of 15 to pursue a dream of owning a safari company, Episode 35’s guest is an incredible ambassador for hunting and the outdoors. Britt Longoria is a hunter, an advocate and a passionate philanthropist who gives back to the resource we all know and love. This episode Kyle and Steve dive into her upbringing and start in hunting, her love for Africa and Papa Joe, and they...

This episode Kyle and Steve sit down with Jimmy Flatt of Hunters of Color. Hunters of Color is a non-profit organization taking the conservation and outdoor world by storm as they break down barriers that you might not even know were there, while encouraging diversity in the outdoors. This was an eye-opening episode that will force you to look inside yourself to evaluate your own bias and to truly...

Steve and Kyle sit down with the Rackmaster to talk taxidermy. Trevor is an accomplished sheep hunter, diehard conservationist and one hell of a taxidermist. This is a fantastic episode with Trev deep diving into what sheep hunters really need in the field to have a successful hunt and get your cape and head home. He discusses how much salt to bring, knives, caping tools, techniques, and particula...

A hunter, former president of the BC trappers Association, dedicated conservationist, 32 year career in the RCMP – and now a member of the legislative assembly for Prince George/Mackenzie- our guest Mike Morris has a bit to say about wildlife, forestry and how it is managed. Years of experience in the back country gives Mike a deeper insight to what is really happening on the landscape and with hi...

Episode 31 of the Talk is Sheep series we feature a Professional Chef, two-time published author, Hunter, Television Host and Adventurer all in one. Our guest Bri Van Scotter has done it all. Steve and Kyle enjoy a chat with Steve’s friend Bri, where Steve takes the reigns of host for this fun episode. From her beginnings as a chef, to setting the record straight on how she got into hunting, this...

Bill Jex, British Columbia's Provincial Wild Sheep & Mountain Goat Specialist knows a thing or two about wild sheep. We sit down with Bill for a deep dive on the state of wild sheep and an update on mountain goats in the province. Bill gives us some great insight into the challenges that wild sheep face in BC and the importance of the work that is currently being done here. He discusses that s...