Talk Is Sheep

We welcome guide and modern day mountain woman Rachel Ahtila to the cast to learn what it takes to make it in what once was exclusively a man's domain. A few generations ago you just would not find a young woman leading you on a sheep hunting adventure of a lifetime. Times have changed and Rachel is at the pointy end of that change. As a young girl in her teens she was jumping on a bush plane and...

A podcasting first (and Eva confirms it) - we welcome the entire Shockey clan to the show and what a show it is. We told you 100 would be special and thanks to the support of the Shockey family we managed to get all four of them on the podcast at once. We even welcome Nana Weezy (Louise) to the podcast. Not one of these guests needs an introduction as the Shockey name is one that permeates our com...

We sit down with retired US Marine David Martinez and talk wild sheep. You will find no one more passion about wild sheep than David and when he gets rolling about Montana's Bighorns and the landscapes they inhabit you can not help but get excited yourself. He talks about how he got into photography and his why when it comes to wild sheep. David also talks about his bucket list for wild sheep and...

We welcome Utah native and professional wildlife artist Joel Pilcher to the podcast. Born and raised in the Rocky Mountains and has always had a passion for the outdoors and the wildlife that resides there. As a kid, when someone asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, his answer was always a wildlife artist. Joel's journey includes the construction industry, business world, entrepreneur,...

We welcome Ben O'Brien to the podcast to talk about all things hunting. We talk about Ben's early days and the importance of connecting with his father at a young age. Ben dives into his early fascination with hunting and also his interest in writing about those experiences which first led him to the NRA and subsequent opportunities in the media world. This was an opportunity for us to get a sneak...

We sit down with Ol Cal - Ryan Callaghan to talk hunting, conservation and more. Ryan is Director of Conservation  @meateater  and host of Cal’s Week In Review podcast. We learn about Cal's upbringing and why being outdoors, wildlife and conservation mean so much to him. He talks about how he got into the guiding scene and his mentors. We learn a thing or two about how to handle bears in the field...

You have been asking us for more hunting content, and that's exactly what this episode is. Greg and Steve again take the lead on this conversation that is a no-BS session where a few guys sit around a virtual campfire and talk hunting. Elk, deer, and of course sheep come through strong in this episode that we are sure you will enjoy as they welcome WSSBC Life Member Joe Karpinski for a chat about...

Very rare on a podcast do the hosts sit back and just listen. This is one such instance where the story was so fascinating, that's all they could do.   There are tears, there are laughs, and there are shivers down your spine as Steve and Greg take the reins on this episode, simply titled Mauled. "I picked up my goatee, and put my jaw back in", how 'Baby Shark' kept him going, to his final goodbye...

We welcome WSSBC Projects Chair, Chris Barker to the podcast. Chris has served in almost every role on the Society's Board including President for a number of years. He has been serving as a volunteer for wild sheep conservation for decades which included serving on the executive and board of the Wild Sheep Foundation. Chris is a highly committed individual and incredibly passionate about wild she...

We sit down with Gunwerks Digital Marketing Director, Landon Michaels. Landon knows his way around the Gunwerks brand and we hit hard on what makes Gunwerks an innovative leader in the long-range precision rifle market. We talk about the anatomy of the ideal long-range sheep hunting rifle including calibre and optics. This is not simply a session promoting the Gunwerks brand. We have meaningful di...

Steve and Kyle welcome Jason Matzinger to Episode 91 of Talk is Sheep. This conversation has been in the works for almost a year now, and it has finally come together. Jason was one of the most requested guests we have had to the show, and this episode does not disappoint. Jason is an award-winning film & television producer and host of tv show, Into High Country on the Sportsman Channel. They...

Steve and Kyle welcome former Wild Sheep Foundation Chair, Brett Jefferson to the show. Brett had decades of wild sheep conservation experience under his belt and he has been a force in putting and keeping wild sheep on the mountain. We cover Brett's formative years and how he developed such a passion for mountain sheep. He is a dedicated conservationist and his volunteer resume while most notable...

Steve Hamilton and Greg Rensmaag (WSSBC Secretary and TiS Instagram Page manager) welcome WSSBC CEO Kyle Stelter to the show. This is a unique podcast where the host becomes the guest and Greg and Steve knock it out of the park. Kyle talks about his formative years growing up on a cattle ranch and farm in Southern Alberta and how this became his basis for conservation. We dive into how he became i...

We welcome to the show Kevin Dana, Owner of Barney's Sports Chalet and Frontier Gear of Alaska. We invite Kevin onto the show to talk packs, and that we certainly do. However, it does not take long and we are deep into wild sheep management, why age matters, harvest strategies the recent sheep hunting season cancellation in the Brooks Range and more. We also dive deep into packs and what you shoul...

Keith Beasley is no stranger to the camera and joining us on Talk is Sheep we discuss what makes the Beasley brothers tick. We talk about their show Canada in the Rough and the reasons that this show has been around as long as it has been. Keith talks about the importance of family and how his kids are now starting to form part of their platform. He talks about how he was raised and why he decided...

We welcome WSSBC Secretary Greg Rensmaag to the show for a deep dive into all things Rensmaag. We find out what makes Greg tick, why he got involved in conservation, we chat about his recent trip to Africa, discuss some of his recent hunts and of course, we talk sheep. Greg is a quiet, humble guy that just gets stuff done. He is the lead of WSSBC's Government Engagement Committee, manages Talk is...

We welcome Branlin Shockey to the show to talk about all things behind the lens. Growing up in the shadows of the world's most famous hunting icon has provided opportunity however Branlin has forged his own path in life. He talks about the current project he is currently engaged in and a number of the interesting things he has created in the past. Branlin talks about learning the basics of content...

Steve and Kyle welcome Brent Acorn to the show. Professionally Brent is a firefighter and retired substitute school teacher. He is also a dedicated Life Member of the Wild Sheep Society of BC and a number of other important conservation-based organizations. Brent uses the words budget and blue-collar in his discussions and how he has been fortunate to do some very cool guided hunts abroad includin...

Steve and Kyle sit down with Madie Demaske. While Madie is an attorney by profession we don't spend much time speaking about the law. Madie is the youngest person ever to achieve the Ovis World Slam Super 20 and at the time of recording, she was prepping for a trip to BC to hunt Stone's Sheep in an effort to seal her fourth FNAWS at the age of 27. Did we just talk about record books and achievemen...

We welcome Paul Chambers and Mike Smith to the show to talk about all the going ons over at Wild Sheep Foundation Alberta Chapter. We jump into the many successes they have enjoyed over the past year and some of the current challenges that are being faced in Alberta right now. We discuss a recent collaring project that WSFAB has embarked on and the important range usage data that is being collecte...

Steve and Kyle welcome Kristy to the show. We hit on a variety of subjects including some cool hunting experiences and stories. But, we dive into some controversial issues including changing gun laws in Canada and yes we maybe touched on some politics while we were at it. Kristy grew up packing and riding mules into the backcountry of Oregon experiencing the beauty and thrill of hunting our public...

Kyle and Steve sit down with J. Alain Smith and talk music, books and oh yea we even got around to catching up on some hunting and conservation talk too. Alain has hunted all over the world so there was no shortage of exciting hunts to catch up on - including some of his scariest moments. For those of you thinking to book a hunt overseas whether it is Africa, Asia or Europe we touch base on how to...

Grab a whiskey and pull up a seat. The expletive factor is a bit high on this one but there is lots of entertainment. Nolan Wannop received the 2023 Wild Sheep Society of BC's President Award. Nolan is a great guy and an even better storyteller. Back from his family trip to South Africa you will spend some time on the edge of your seat listening to Nolan weave tales of the dark continent. Enjoy th...

Steve and Kyle catch up with T.J., touching base on a variety of topics including his recent hunts, how he achieved his F.N.A.W.S., issues relating to wild sheep including illegal harvest of young rams and the need for more people to get involved in the conservation movement. This podcast is a little emotive at times and we catch T.J. saying that he is going to get some hate mail for some of his s...

We sit down with Wild Sheep Society of BC Director Josh Hamilton and talk about all things wild sheep. Josh is a Director living in Charlie Lake, BC and has been the lead on Northern Burns for the past four years for the Society. Josh is also the Indigenous Relations Chair for WSSBC. He is a husband, father, trapper, conservationist and a passionate hunter. On this episode we talk to Josh about re...