The Hunter Conservationist Podcast

In this episode Mark covers migratory game bird hunting regulation changes, a sandhill crane hunt in Ontario, hunters who don’t like a proposed migratory game bird hunting regulation change in PEI, highlights of a new seal report, the end of self-replicating crayfish, how much forest is left for boreal caribou in Quebec, and a grizzly bear-rancher-farmer mitigation program in Alberta. Learn more a...

Are celebrity hunters, outfitters and companies that profit from hunting actually perpetuating market hunting that the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation condemns? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Berukoff is the president of Canadian Wildlife Capture, helicopter pilot, conservationist, and a hunter. Ben joins Mark to chat about aerial wildlife capture for scientific research and how being a hunter helps him find and safely capture animals. Ben describes a typical capture day, the nuances between capturing different species and how deep snow helps him do his job. As well Ben discusses h...

Dr. Peter Cott, a fisheries biologist and scientist from the North West Territories joins Mark and Curtis to chat about one of Canada’s strangest fish – the burbot. Pete chronicles how he got into burbot research and he discusses where burbot came from, their closet relatives, what makes them unique, where they are found in Canada, their conservation status and threats. The guys also learn about s...

Does general wolf hunt hunting make a difference to ungulate populations? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca Peters is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, a hunter, and a passionate conservation leader. Rebecca is a member of the Wild Sheep Society of BC’s Women Shaping Conservation initiative, and she was a participant in the 2023 national event - Women in Conservation. She explains what she does in her practice and how hunting and conservation fit into a holistic lifestyle. Rebecca also talks a...

Why is an anti-hunting organization buying guide-outfitter licenses in BC? Can they really do that? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Siobhan is a wildlife scientist working on her PhD degree on mountain lions. Siobhan joins Mark and Curtis to provide insights into what her research. She discusses her research objectives, the highlights gleaned from tracking adult cats via GPS, where lions like to raise their litters, the fate of tagged kittens, what cougars are killing and eating, movement patterns, how cats respond to clearcut...

In this episode Mark wraps up the year by putting the top 5 stories from 2023 on a naughty and nice list with a bit of Caddyshack humour thrown in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tammy joins Mark to share her story with listeners in hopes that someone out there might know something. Tammy explains the events of when Tom failed to return from his sheep hunt, the ongoing search effort and her emotional roller coaster as reports have come in over the years of items that hunters have found including a tent camp that might be Tom’s. Tammy shares her heart and lets us know how s...

Lori McCarthy is a teacher, mentor, book author, forager, curator of fine foods, speaker and a hunter who is on a mission. She is committed to preserving the connection between Newfoundland culture and its food. Lori has a been on journey to understand how Newfoundlanders hunted, foraged, preserved food, cured meats, and prepared meals so that the traditions that define Newfoundland culture are no...

In this episode Mark covers the passing of gun control bill C-21, the up-listing of the Eastern Grey Wolf, BC’s wolf control program, elver poaching, phasing out Eurasian boars in Ontario, Quebec’s urban deer court case, the killing of the mayor of Klukshu, a prison term for a BC bear poacher, parasites in Nunavut caribou, an Ontario trapping license suspension, conservation in action on an Albert...

Rod Giltaca, the CEO and Executive Director of the Canadian Collation for Firearm Rights (CCFR), joins Mark and Curtis in this episode. Rod provides a summary of the recent gun control bill including the handgun ban and the amendments that went after common hunting firearms. Rod also discusses the verdict of the CCFR’s court case against the Government of Canada and he discusses property rights in...

Chelsea Hansler is amazing person in every aspect of her life. She is an artist, mother, role model and a self-taught hunter who is raising her family in an off-the-grid wilderness home. Chelsea talks about her journey to becoming a professional artist and her passion for painting hunting hounds. She talks about how she learned to stay true to herself in her art and as a hunter. Chelsea explains h...

Rachel Ahtila is a hunting guide and she talks about her journey into the hunting industry including burning pancakes and the changes for women in the guiding business. Rachel talks about how she gets to know each of her clients, how every hunter has reason for being on the mountain and why, when she could be hunting for herself, she’s chosen a path to put others ahead of herself. Rachel touches o...

Chris Bradford & Dan Otway from Pittwaterfowlers join Mark and Curtis to talk about their waterfowl hunting and conservation projects. Chris and Dan explain the areas where they hunt waterfowl, how they are helping farmers protect their crops and they also discuss their wood duck and other conservation programs. The guys share their story about what happened when Duck Dynasty became popular and wh...

Maya Basdeo grew up in a non-hunting family and actually considered herself an anti-hunter. Maya found a unique path into hunting through birds of prey. Maya shares her amazing story of hunting with falcons, what’s that taught her about hunting, how the birds have inspired her to become a hunter and how supportive and welcoming the hunting community has been to her. Maya is also a scientist pursin...

In this episode Mark covers the impact of the fall time change on wildlife, a wildlife feeding ban in Alberta, Alberta Sunday hunting rules, wild pigs in Jasper National Park, a First Nation not included in the hunting agreement for Jasper National Park, e-licensing in Manitoba, gun and ammo exports from the USA, 1 billion dollars for conservation in BC, phragmites control in Ontario, a massive hu...

Dana Dykema is a busy business owner and entrepreneur in British Columbia. She runs Valley to Shore which is an organic harvest box delivery service. Dana talks about why she got into this business and how she loves to help customers reconnect with food ingredients and recipes for healthy eating. Dana is working towards becoming a hunter and she discusses her reasons for wanting to hunt and harves...

Dylan Eyers is a legend in the Canadian hunting community. Dylan is the face of the EatWild brand and in this episode he explains what EatWild’s mission is all about and why he mentors new hunters. As a skilled hunter, teacher and mentor Dylan is all heart and passion when it comes to hunting as a way of life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ross Hinter is with the Alberta Trappers Association and he is also a member of the Fur Institute of Canada’s Trap Research and Testing Committee. Ross joins Mark and Curtis to talk about the recent technology improvements, testing and certification of kill snare systems for trapping in Canada. The guys address some of the misinformation about killing snares and anti-trapping campaigns before disc...

Mark Ryckman, Manager of Policy for the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and Matt Besko, Executive Director of Alberta’s Hunting & Fishing Branch join Mark to catch up some recent news in Ontario and Alberta. Mark discusses a win for hunters with gains in Sunday hunting and he fills us in on a loss for hunters from the hunting ban in the Grimsby municipality. Matt discusses Alberta’s new...

Dr. Bruce McLellan, author of the newly released book Grizzly Bear Science joins Mark and Curtis to discuss his life researching grizzly bears. Bruce discusses why he moved to a cabin in the remote Flathead Valley with his life partner Celine, what his grizzly bear research was about, raising his kids Michelle and Charlie in the wilderness, why there aren’t more grizzlies, the future for grizzlies...

In this story Mark covers the fatal grizzly attack in Banff National Park, night versus day time grizzly attacks, the vacant human-wildlife conflict specialist in Alberta, hunting in Jasper National Park, the two headless rams found in Jasper National Park, the caribou recovery program in Jasper, Alberta’s wild feral horses, the black bear cub rehab policy in Alberta being challenged, self-cloning...

In this episode Dr. Lee Foote joins Mark to discuss the 2023 waterfowl breeding survey. Lee discusses what the population trend numbers mean for overall duck population health and for hunters this fall. Topics discussed include the top duck species harvested by hunters, population trend numbers for each duck species, ecological and environmental factors affecting numbers of breeding ducks, why mal...