EatWild Podcast (EatWild Media)

Join us in the wall tent for at whitetail camp.  I am sitting around the wood stove with my hunting mentors Geoff, Pete, and Larri, and joined by Brother Ben and Shelley and we are talking about how to hunt whitetails, navigating in the woods and our first buck stories.  I really want to thank the old boys for putting up with me putting a mic in the tent, but I think they have so much good stuff to share.  Enjoy!

We are in Whitetail camp and sitting around a warm fire in the wall tent. In this episode, my brother and I hang out with hunting mentors Pete, Larri, and Geoff after a successful day of whitetail hunting. With over 150 years of collective hunting experience in British Columbia, the guys have seen it all. So stick around to get perspective on the changes in habitat, wildlife populations, and hunter success over the past 60 years.      

What does guided hunting look like when the border is closed to 98% of commercial hunting clients? I am catching up on the 2020 hunting season with Nolan Osborne.  Nolan is a hunting guide and the managing editor of the Journal of Mountain Hunting.  We’re talking about the impacts of COVID-19 on the guide outfitting community.  

As we get caught up on our respective hunting seasons, we get into sheep hunting and the challenges of ageing legal rams, and we talk about the pressure on a guide to ensure success on a once-in-a-lifetime hunt. It’s always a good time when I get to hang out with Nolan. He’s a super modest and knowledgeable mountain hunter. I hope you enjoy this one.

You can find Nolan at the Journal of Mountain Hunting or on Instagram @nmo.  

Please share and review! 

Thanks for listening, 

  Dylan Eyers www.eatwild.ca      Instagram  I  Podcast  I  YouTube

Part 2 of the 3 part Bison adventures podcast series. Our rookie Bison hunting crew are carrying on with our adventure and taking steps towards success.  This episode recounts days 3 and 4 of the hunt.  Some near misses, lessons learned and some foreshadowing of events to come.  Enjoy! 

In this episode, I’m hanging out with Jeff Senger, co-host of the web series From The Wild. He’s a lifelong hunter, and self-proclaimed "slaughterer" - he owns and operates an abattoir in Alberta. This guy knows a lot about harvesting and processing animals!

We talk about perspectives on taking the life of an animal and focusing on doing it humanely and ethically. Our thoughts meander to the topic of wild cocktails and our passion for all things wild. 

This is a great chat with a really engaging conversationalist. Hope you enjoy it! 

Be sure to catch Jeff and his partner-in-wilderness Kevin Kossovan in Season 8 of From the Wild here.

The iHunter App is an essential tool for the new Hunter. Apps like the iHunter tool have changed how I approach hunting entirely. E-scouting, orienteering, checking regulations, and recording where and how I hunted an area have all been improved with the innovations of the app world. The Hunter App brings together multiple essential app tools to make hunters more effective, safe and help hunters stay on the right side of private property boundaries and regulations.   In this episode, I'm joined by Mark Stenroos, iHunter App developer, and my hunting partner Jenny P.  Mark breaks down the functionality of the app and the benefits of the tool.  Jenny and I share how we have adopted the app into how we hunt. Along the way, we chat about getting lost and found and our favourite hunts.   Join us for our next EatWild E-Scouting Webinar.   ihunterapp.com   instagram@ihunterapp   instagram@jennyp403    

If you’re a Vancouver Canucks fan, hunting enthusiast, or a passionate fisherperson you’ll enjoy this episode. I’m joined by Brendan Morrison, 15-year veteran and star of the National Hockey League. Brendan is a local legend from his years centring the West Coast Express line flanked by Todd Bertuzzi and Markus  Näslund that generated some of the most exciting moments in Canuck history. 

  Brendan Morrison has always been a passionate fisherman which has led him to produce and host the Reel West Coast fishing show in his retirement.  Fishing led Brendan to discover hunting after his hockey career.   I invited Brendan on the podcast to talk about the journey to become an adult-onset hunter.  We get into a few great hunting stories and valuable lessons learned.  We chat about the barriers and opportunities for how to get into fishing and hunting.    Brendan shares his passion for scoring goals, catching fish and hunting critters on this episode. This one was lots of fun.    instagram/reelwestcoast

If you’re a hunter, you probably dream of a horse-hunting adventure. I know I do!  Horse hunting brings the promise of accessing remote wilderness areas with the comfort of horses doing the work to pack the harvest back to the trailhead. 

Before you saddle up on adventures like this, there’s lots to learn. Horses are a lot of work and it’s a huge commitment. But what a special way to travel and hunt! So it’s worth a listen to find out what horse hunting is all about. 

I’ve been invited by my friend and colleague, Steve Hodgson, on a horse-hunting adventure into a remote wilderness area in British Columbia. Steve is a keen hunter and an experienced horseman with a ton of knowledge. I’m stoked to get the invite and have the opportunity to learn about what it takes to hang out with these amazing animals on the trail and in the mountains. 

Horses are a commitment! In this podcast, we talk about what it takes to own and care for horses throughout the year, logistics of planning and executing a hunt with horses in the field.

All along, we’re looking for mule deer and enjoying some spectacular October weather in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever had the chance to hang out in. Also, with some great company from the horses and my old pal Steve.

As always this podcast is brought to you by our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. They offer a 10% discount code on all of their nourishing backcountry food. Use the discount code EATWILD.   And our friends at Seek Outside sponsor this podcast. We’ve been using their tents all season to stay warm and dry on our adventures. Use EATWILD on your order for a deal. 

In this episode, I am hanging out my good pals Tome and Will.  They have just returned from their first successful elk hunt.  They both started hunting about five years ago. In this episode, we chat about the journey to becoming successful hunters.  We also cover some lessons learned and strategies for hunting elk in Britsh Columbia.  I hope you enjoy! 

I am connecting with La’goot Spencer Greening over Zoom for part 2 of our discussion on Indigenous rights and title and wildlife management. In our first conversation, we talked about Indigenous approaches to harvesting fish and wildlife throughout the seasons.  In this episode, we get into the sticky bits of a much more complex discussion about the legal framework that reaffirms Indigenous rights and title to manage the land and what that means for current and future wildlife/fisheries management in British Columbia.  Will resident hunters lose access to hunting and fishing opportunities?  What would it look like if First Nations took over land management in their territories in BC?  Will fish, wildlife, fishers, and hunters benefit from over 10,000 years of Traditional Ecological Knowledge incorporated into modern wildlife management?       La’goot is a Tsimshian leader, storyteller and academic. In addition to being a passionate hunter and forager, La’goot is generous about sharing his knowledge around the importance of indigenous knowledge and stewardship of the land.    If you want to dig a little deeper please read La'Goot:s article on Indigenous Harvesting Rights And Practices on  @aprilvockey 's  anchoredoutdoors.com.    You can find La'goot here    Please share this podcast!    Thanks for listening,  Dylan Eyers, Owner/Operator www.eatwild.ca      Instagram: Eatwild  I   Facebook: EatWild   I   YouTube: EatWildDylan

Chef Dan Hayes joins me on this episode. He's known as the London Chef. You may have seen him on the Moose Meat and Marmalade Show, where he teams up with Art Napoleon, an indigenous hunter and a cook. Dan is from England and is a classically trained chef, and the show follows them on adventures visiting indigenous communities across Canada. They hunt, cook a little bit, and tell stories along the way, and it's fascinating. 

I wanted to talk to Dan about connecting people to hunting through food. How do we tell better hunting stories through food? How do we connect more folks to hunting?  

As a relative newcomer to Canada, Dan offers a unique perspective on hunting opportunities, cooking wild food, and connecting with indigenous communities. 

This episode is supported by BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BCBHA). The BCBHA is a young conservation organization dedicated to protecting wild places like the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area and the critters that live in these wild places. Come out to a local event and get to know the BCBHA community. 

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. The app is an essential tool to make you more comfortable in the woods. The mapping layers, navigation tools and hunting regulations are all packed into the app to give you the info you need on your next adventure. 

As always, this podcast is brought to you by Seek Outside. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase.   We also get support from our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. So stock up for the adventure season and use the discount code EATWILD.   You can stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on the purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase.  Beere makes a great section of bright, crisp beers that are perfect for the patio or around the campfire. 

In this episode of the EarWild Podcast, we are handing out Mike Morash.  Mike is a hunter and food enthusiast.  Mike shares his relationship to food and hunting in the documentary series The Land Provides, which explores themes of hunting, food security, and people's deep connections with the land. We discuss the spirituality of hunting, the ethics involved, memorable experiences in the field, and practical tips for gear. The conversation highlights the importance of community and conservation in the hunting culture, culminating in a discussion about dream hunts in British Columbia.

https://www.youtube.com/@MikeMorash

instagram.com/mike.morash

 

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. It is an essential tool for making you more comfortable in the woods. The app's mapping layers, navigation tools, and hunting regulations are packed into it to give you the information you need on your next adventure. 

As always, Seek Outside brought this podcast to you. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase. Please use this Affiliate link to let them know you heard about Seek Outside from our podcast. https://seekoutside.com?aff=15

Stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on your purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase. Beere makes a great selection of bright, crisp beers perfect for the patio or around the campfire.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background 03:46 Creating Knowledge Mobilization Resources 06:25 Traveling for Work and Hunting 08:25 Building Rapport through Hunting 10:45 Navigating Hunting in Traditional Territories 12:26 Balancing Access to Hunting Areas 14:57 The Land Provides Project 18:17 Food Security and the Importance of Food 20:10 Understanding the True Cost of Food 22:30 The Value of Cooking and Sharing Food 26:14 The Benefits of Hunting for Food 28:52 Emotional Reactions to Harvesting Animals 33:16 The Influence of Hunting Media and the Journey of Becoming a Hunter 41:56 The Importance of Mental Health and Deep Connections in the Hunting Community 47:10 Essential Gear for Hunting in Challenging Environments 49:50 Memorable Backcountry Meals and the Emotional Connection to Food 53:54 The Physical Exertion and Reward of Challenging Packouts 56:18 Dream Hunts and the Desire for New Experiences

 

 

Are we losing our social license to hunt? 

  Social license refers to the perceptions of the public that deem an activity as socially acceptable. The concept of an activity requiring a "social license" emerged in the 1990's as the natural resource industry realized they needed to build public and stakeholder support for resource extraction projects to be successful.    A recent article published by Chris Darimont in the Society of Conservation Biology Journal applied the concept of social license to hunting. The study suggests that the public perception of hunting carnivores can pose threats to the social license for carnivore hunters and potentially other hunters.    The article kicked off a storm of discussion and reaction within the hunting community.  There has been a call to action across social media platforms encouraging hunters to take action to "defend" hunting rights.  What are we defending, what's the battle, who are we fighting, who started it, what's at risk.... are we just fighting ourselves?     I have a lot of questions and I am confused, so let's have a discussion.    I have invited Jenny Ly with Chasing Food Club and volunteer with BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and Jesse Zeman, BCWF director for Fish and Wildlife Restoration on to the podcast to try to understand what's happening in our community.  We talk about our interpretation of social licence and how, as a hunting community we can build our social licence   We are living in an era where images and storytelling inform public perception.     What is the impact of the images we share?  Can we do a better job of telling our stories?     Please share this podcast.     Note: In our discussion, I overestimated the number of new hunters. Based on the stats that I have, there has been an increase of 11,000 more hunters purchasing licenses in 2021 than in 2011.    Total BC Hunting Licenses Issued: 2010/11 - 95,000 2020/21 - 106,000

In this episode, I’m joined by my friend Chris Pryn and we are talking about Blacktail hunting. Chris is part of the Fargone Media production team, telling hunting adventure stories in BC. He is also the host of the Behind the Glass Hunting Podcast. Chris has been instrumental in driving membership and engagement with our local chapter of the BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. And occasionally I can talk him into helping me out as an EatWild mentor to share his knowledge and passion with new hunters.   Chris is a relatively new hunter but has dedicated more time and effort than most to figure out how to hunt here in BC. He has lots of hard-learned lessons and great hunting stories to share. Chris is a dedicated Blacktail hunter so I am working him for a few secrets to add to my newfound passion for chasing these coastal ghosts.    I hope you enjoy!    This podcast is supported by West Coast Kitchen Canada. Use the EATWILD discount code to get 10% off your next order. 

This is a fun episode. I am stoked to share Jenny's first elk story with you. Throughout this episode, we discuss our thought process for deciding where to go elk hunting. We evaluate the four critical parts of choosing a spot to hunt. Quality habitat, presence of elk, huntability and potential hunting pressure. All these factor into our decision-making process for planning our 2023 pack rafting adventure.

We discuss the pros and cons of hunting the three-point season versus the six-point season here in British Columbia.

Our evaluation and decision-making paid off, and we share a fantastic story of elk hunting on our pack raft adventure this year.

Please support this podcast by using our partner discount codes. 

If you're interested in learning the foundations of how to hunt elk, you should check out the EatWild Learn to Hunt Elk program - you can find that on our website or on our EatWild Thinkific platform. It's pretty cool and you will learn a ton.

This episode is supported by BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BCBHA). The BCBHA is a young conservation organization dedicated to protecting wild places and critters that live in these wild places. Come out to a local event and get to know the BCBHA community. 

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. The app is an essential tool to make you more comfortable in the woods. The mapping layers, navigation tools and hunting regulations are all packed into the app to give you the info you need on your next adventure. 

As always, this podcast is brought to you by Seek Outside. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase.   We also get support from our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. So stock up for the adventure season and use the discount code EATWILD.   You can stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on the purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase.  Beere makes a great section of bright, crisp beers that are perfect for the patio or around the campfire. 

In this episode, I am joined by Mike Defeo of Huto Lifestyle. He started making game bags a few years ago with the goal of creating a lightweight quality product for backcountry hunters like me. I found Mike because I was on a quest to find an alternative to packing around bulky heavy cotton game bags. So I have a bunch of questions for Mike about moving to synthetic game bags.    We get into a great discussion on meat care techniques while on the hunt and in the backcountry. We provide some suggestions on the realistic number of pack loads for each of the big game species and reasonable pack weights over distances.    We talk about making ethical decisions about when hot temperatures can limit when and where you can harvest an animal.     This is a great episode to be listening to as we get into the peak of the deer season.   In the introduction, I included some info about chronic wasting disease (CWD). The BC Chronic Wasting Disease Program is asking hunters to submit samples of harvested deer to reduce the potential spread of the disease here in BC. To find out more about CWD go here.   Also, Mike has generously offered a 10% discount on Huto Lifestyle Game Bags. I have a couple of sets and I sure appreciate how compact and light they are. Use the discount code EATWILD10 at the Huto Store. Valid until the end of October.    As always this podcast is brought to you by our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. They offer a 10% discount code on all of their nourishing backcountry food. Use the discount code EATWILD.   And our friends at Seek Outside sponsor this podcast. We’ve been using their tents all season to stay warm and dry on our adventures. Use EATWILD on your order for a deal. 

I'm getting excited! Safe and successful hunts start with research, planning, practice and gearing up with the right equipment for the trip. It takes time and commitment to pull it all together, but for me, it might be the best part of the trip.  

Jenny P, Celina and I are in the process of putting together what will be an adventure of a lifetime. We are planning to fly packrafts into the Northern Rockies and drift down 100 kms of river through spectacular sheep, elk and moose country.

Join us for the next series of podcasts as we put together our plan for a safe and successful hunt. We will be inviting experts on packrafting, wildlife biologists, and safety and gear experts as we research and get equipped for this adventure. 

And we will have a bit of fun too.

https://www.alpackaraft.com/rafting/

Thank you Jenny P and Celina for doing this! 

Please share and enjoy the podcast.

Dylan 

In this episode, we're talking elk. More specifically, we're talking elk calling. I've asked Bill Ayer of Slayer Calls to come join me and talk about innovations in elk calls to help make elk calling a little bit more accessible.

I found Slayer calls because I was looking for an alternative to help me improve my elk callling technique. I have always opted to go with external tube and handheld calls that produce consistent elk sounds, and I rely more on my setup for my success than my calling prowess. I have always struggled to get consistant result from a reed call.

Bill shares the benifits and challenges of using a mouth reed call to get the full range of elk sounds. We discuss the tools that are available for folks like me who are looking for alternatives to a mouth reed, but want the vocabulary you can get from a mouth reed call.

So you'll enjoy this episode if you want to learn about elk hunting and elk calling.

If you're interested in learning the foundations of how to hunt elk, you should check out the EatWild Learn to Hunt Elk program - you can find that on our website or on our EatWild Thinkific platform. It's pretty cool and you will learn a ton.

This episode is supported by BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BCBHA). The BCBHA is a young conservation organization dedicated to protecting wild places and critters that live in these wild places. Come out to a local event and get to know the BCBHA community. 

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. The app is an essential tool to make you more comfortable in the woods. The mapping layers, navigation tools and hunting regulations are all packed into the app to give you the info you need on your next adventure. 

As always, this podcast is brought to you by Seek Outside. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase.   We also get support from our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. So stock up for the adventure season and use the discount code EATWILD.   You can stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on the purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase.  Beere makes a great section of bright, crisp beers that are perfect for the patio or around the campfire. 

 

We survived 3 days of the storm and then another 5 days of being stuck in the tent waiting for the skies to clear.  So that's about 192 hours with 4 guys sharing 36 square feet of real estate.  We pulled it off and we are all still friends. Catch up with our crew as we debrief the Pole Bender Adventure. We reflect back on the decisions and the gear that kept us safe. Also, we share another near-disaster story as we make the flight out of the mountains.  Lots of good info in this podcast if you are planning an adventure hunt this year. 

Thanks for listening!

The adventure hunting season is around the corner! I am getting excited, and that means the podcast is shifting focus to conversations on preparing and planning for the season.  In this episode, I am having a beer with Kevin Timm, co-founder of Seek Outside, and we are talking ultra-lite tents and the ideal backpack for packraft hunting.    Seek Outside (SO) is known for the single-pole tent with an ultra-lite packable wood stove system. The huge advantage of this system is that you can backpack a roomy tent with a stove into the backcountry. This can make late hunting in the mountains way more comfortable and safe. I've had several adventures in my Seek Outside 8-person tent and I am considering investing in a 2-person super lite tent for the sheep hunting season.  I am also looking to replace my backpack with a waterproof system. But before I can give up my MSR Hubba and my pack, I have a bunch of questions for Kevin?    How safe is it to have a wood stove in a tent made of technical fabric?   What's the best way to manage bugs in the early season?   Can I use my down sleep bag inside of a single-wall tent?    What's the best option in the SO pack designs for my next packrafting sheep hunting adventure?    What are the pros and cons of an integrated pack frame vs the breakaway carry system?    Along the way, we get insight into how a cybersecurity researcher finds his way into the high-performance gear manufacturing industry, and what motivates him to develop the best products on the market?  Kevin breaks down his philosophy and process of making his tents and backpacks and ensuring they stand the test of the elements.   This conversion was lots of fun.  I hope you enjoy it and start to get excited about the adventure season ahead.    If you have any questions about my experience with SO tents you can reach out to me on Instagram @eatwild. Drop your question in the comments of this post or you can email me direct dylan@eatwild.ca   You can see all the SO gear at seekoutside.com and be sure to follow Kevin and his team @seekoutside.     Thanks for the time Kevin!     

Joined by great friends Jenny P, La'goot, and Scott, we set out on a fly-in, hike-up, paddle-out sheep hunt. In part 2 of the Ramtastic Adventure, we share our opening day sheep hunting adventures. We split up into two hunting parties for opening day with a plan to take a closer look at what we hoped were legal rams.  Join us as we recap our respective hunts and what will no doubt be the hunt of a lifetime for all of us. 

This adventure was fuelled by West Coast Kitchen gourmet freeze-dried meals, and heavy loads were supported by the Seek Outside ultralight rugged packs. 

We are hunting Bison! Follow along with our rookie Bison hunting crew as we figure out how to hunt this majestic animal.  Our hunting group drew a "once-in-a-lifetime" tag to hunt Bison in Northern B.C. 

At one time there were over 60 million Bison roaming the plains of North America.  Market hunting and habitat destruction reduced the herd to less than a thousand animals by 1900.  Since then, numerous conservation efforts have helped Bison recover to over 500,000 animals.  It's estimated that there is a population of over 2000 Bison living in B.C.  The Bison herd is expanding and they are competing with threatened wild sheep for limited winter range habitat. Wildlife managers have encouraged a limited hunt to manage the Bison population growth and herd expansion. 

Our group was lucky enough to get drawn for two tags for Bison on this hunt.  The tags allow us to shoot a bull, cow, or calf bison. This hunt took place in late January in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was - 38 degrees Celcius when we arrived at our cabin and all of our beer was frozen.  We had a lot to learn about this animal, its habitat, and how to hunt them.  Come join us on the hunt!  

In this episode of the EatWild Podcast, we are joined David Moskowitz, author of "Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, Tracking and Identifying Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Invertebrates." David, a biologist, photographer, and outdoor educator, shares his expertise on wildlife tracking and the importance of understanding animal behavior to connect better with nature. He discusses his tracking workshops, including upcoming ones in BC and the Pacific Northwest, offering insights into his process and storytelling through photography.

Podcast photo by Anna Machowicz. 

Takeaways

• Becoming a good wildlife tracker requires knowledge, experience, and a deep understanding of animal behavior.
• Tracking involves observing and interpreting tracks, signs, and patterns in the landscape to understand the story of animals.
• Characteristics such as track size, shape, and depth can provide valuable information about the animal being tracked.
• Having a process for tracking and recovering shot animals is crucial for ethical hunting and efficient recovery.
• Camera traps are a valuable tool for capturing wildlife behavior and telling powerful stories through photos.
• Citizen science programs play a vital role in wildlife management and conservation.
• Quality gear, including footwear, can greatly enhance the tracking experience and ensure safety in the outdoors.
• Memorable meals in the wilderness can enhance the overall adventure and provide nourishment during outdoor pursuits.
• Building community around conservation and hunting is essential for fostering a deeper connection with nature and promoting sustainable practices.
• British Columbia offers a wide range of dream adventures for wildlife tracking and hunting enthusiasts.

Chapters   00:28 Becoming a Professional Wildlife Tracker 03:59 Understanding the Story of Animals through Tracking 05:18 The Tenets of Tracking 10:41 Characteristics of Big Buck Tracks 14:19 Understanding Animal Movement in the Snow 20:28 Tracking and Recovering Shot Animals 26:07 The Importance of Having a Process for Tracking 28:04 Capturing and Sorting Patterns in the Landscape 30:31 Using Camera Traps as a Tracking Tool 33:50 The Power of Storytelling through Camera Trap Photos 36:10 The Value of Citizen Science in Wildlife Management 40:17 The Role of Gear in Wildlife Tracking 42:43 Memorable Meals in the Wilderness 45:15 The Importance of Quality Footwear in the Outdoors 47:11 Building Community around Conservation and Hunting 48:26 Dream Adventure in British Columbia 49:55 Where to Find David Moskowitz  

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. The app is an essential tool to make you more comfortable in the woods. The mapping layers, navigation tools and hunting regulations are all packed into the app to give you the info you need on your next adventure. 

This episode is supported by BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BCBHA). The BCBHA is a young conservation organization dedicated to protecting wild places and critters that live in these wild places. Come out to a local event and get to know the BCBHA community. 

As always, Seek Outside brought this podcast to you. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase.

We also get support from our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. So stock up for the adventure season and use the discount code EATWILD.

You can stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on the purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase.  Beere makes a great selection of bright, crisp beers perfect for the patio or around the campfire.

Sheep hunting season is a few weeks away. I’ll be hauling heavy packs into the mountains and relying on my body to hold up to the rigours of the terrain and to have an injury-free adventure.

With over a year of Covid living, my body is feeling the effects. I need to get in shape... FAST. Fortunately, my hunting partner Jenny P has been working with Emilie Whittemore to get her body ready for the sheep mountains. Emilie is a physiotherapist and strength and conditioning specialist, who believes in an integrated practice that is focused on injury prevention by building strength and conditioning the body to ready for the adventures ahead. 

I am a little late to the party, but it’s time to get on it. We’ve invited Emilie on the podcast to talk about what it is going to take for us to get our bodies ready for the long hard days and strain of the sheep hunting season.

If you’re coming off some idle time and want to get back in shape and doing the things you love to do in the mountains, then you’ll love this podcast.

Thanks for doing this Emilie! 

Emilie on LinkedIn

Emilie @ Evolve Physiotherapy - emilie@evolvept.ca

This episode is supported by West Coast Kitchen backpack food.  Fuel your passion on your next adventure with West Coast Kitchen food.  Enter EATWILD into the promo code for a 10% discount! 

 

Is bow hunting for you? I have pondered this question over the years of hunting. If you are new to hunting or well on your hunting journey, you have likely asked this question too.    In this episode, I am joined by Adam Foss. Adam is a professional photographer and is known throughout the community as an exceptional bow hunter. As I have got to know Adam over the past couple of years, I've been inspired to pick up my bow and start my journey as a bow hunter.   I've invited Adam on the podcast to discuss the opportunities and benefits of bow hunting. But we also recognize the challenges and commitment to be a successful bow hunter. So we discuss the necessary steps to take to become a bow hunter.    I'm teaming up with Adam to build a bow-hunting workshop. Over the years, many folks have asked when we will create an EatWild Bow Hunting Workshop. Well, here it is, and we've got one of the best bow hunters, storytellers, and good humans to lead it.    In his podcast, we touch on the motivations for the bow hunter, the benefits, the challenges, expectations for practice and reasonable outcomes.   You can join us for the inaugural EatWild Bow Hunting Workshop. We're hosting it on May 12 and 13th at the Arosa ranch in the Okanogan. You can find out more on our website.   As always, this podcast is brought to you by Seek Outside. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase.   We also get support from our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. So stock up for the adventure season and use the discount code EATWILD.

Today I am sitting with Spencer Greening La’goot, Indigenous scholar and Jesse Zeman, executive director of the BCWF to discuss a tough topic.

The news of restrictions for resident hunters as a result of the BC Government losing the Yahey vs. British Columbia court case has the potential to cause polarizing views. Pitting resident hunters against Indigenous Nations in a perceived competition for “the right to hunt and conducting one’s way of life” is not only dangerous in its potential for hindering reconciliation efforts, but it effectively takes the focus off the main issue: habitat loss.

My guests provide the context of this court decision, share important insight into how it was interpreted by the BC Government when implementing the measures that were just announced, and together we explore alternative strategies to support reconciliation.

The proposal from the BC Government is open for feedback until March 23 at midnight.

Find out more:

BC Government’s plan to address the Yahey vs. British Columbia court ruling

BC Government proposal

The Inconvenient Indian – if you needed ONE book to help you understand the context and the need for reconciliation

For more context on Indigenous wildlife stewardship with La'goot, check out Episodes 27 and 28 of the EatWild Podcast.

This podcast was brought to you with the support of Seek Outside. @Seekoutside specializes in building ultralight reliable gear for adventures. Use the discount code to EATWILD at seekoutside.com  

Jenny, Celina and I are waiting out a rainstorm in sheep country.  We are 5 days into our adventure hunt.  We have left the rafts on the river and fought our way up the mountains into sheep habitat.  In this podcast, we talk about the challenges and some tricks for getting from the river or the road up into the alpine country. Good terrain and forest cover assessment can make or break a successful ascent up the mountain.  Hope you enjoy it!

 

 

Some stories can only be told properly around a campfire in an elk camp. This is one of them. My good friend Stephanie embarked on a two-day horse trip in the mountains in August, and everything went wrong. Stephanie tells the story of coping with tragedy and takes us on a journey to survive. 

I am very fortunate to have heard the story and to share it with the EatWild community.

Thank you, Stephanie. You are an inspiration, and I am happy you sorted things out with Mother Nature. 

As always, this podcast is brought to you by Seek Outside. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase.

Cliffed out, rained out, blown out and snowed out: the pole bender adventure. 

In August 2019, I set out with my hunting crew on a caribou hunting adventure in the mountains of the Tahltan Traditional Territory in Northern British Columbia. Idyllic summer days strolling across the mountain tundra spotting caribou and goats, everything was going according to plan.  But our plan took an unfortunate turn, and an unseasonably harsh arctic storm front blasted our camp with hurricane-force winds and 3 feet of snow. We went from hunting to surviving. Taking shelter in the tipi tent, we took turns keeping the center pole from snapping as we held down the tent praying for the storm to let up. Join us for this three-part series on the Pole Bender Adventure. These are great episodes if you're planning an adventure trip in the wilderness. We talk about the logistics of planning a fly-in trip, trip safety plans, emergency communications, and a little bit about sneaking up on goats. I hope you enjoy this.  

You can find the article by Cleston Lee in the 02/2021 BC Outdoors Magazine. 

 

We are talking about how to hunt mature Mule Deer timber bucks! Jordan Kowalchuk of @bcbackcountry joins me, and he shares his passion and process for hunting mature bucks.  For Jordan, preparing for a successful hunt is a year-round process and can take years to come to fruition. 

We talk about habitat, hunt timing, strategies, processes for finding mature deer and strategies for hunting.  I learned a ton in my conversation with Jordan, and I can't wait to get out on the hunt. 

If you like this type of podcast, let me know, and I will do more "how-to-hunt" topics.  Good luck in the Mule Deer woods this season! 

Please support this podcast by using our partner discount codes. 

If you're interested in learning the foundations of how to hunt elk, you should check out the EatWild Learn to Hunt Elk program - you can find that on our website or on our EatWild Thinkific platform. It's pretty cool and you will learn a ton.

This episode is supported by BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BCBHA). The BCBHA is a young conservation organization dedicated to protecting wild places and critters that live in these wild places. Come out to a local event and get to know the BCBHA community. 

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. The app is an essential tool to make you more comfortable in the woods. The mapping layers, navigation tools and hunting regulations are all packed into the app to give you the info you need on your next adventure. 

As always, this podcast is brought to you by Seek Outside. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase.   We also get support from our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. So stock up for the adventure season and use the discount code EATWILD.   You can stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on the purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase.  Beere makes a great section of bright, crisp beers that are perfect for the patio or around the campfire. 

 

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 legal rams. 

So why are we making mistakes? I’m joined by Adam Janke of the Journal of Mountain Hunting and Kyle Stelter of the Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia to look at the reasons that could be fueling this problem.

We talk about the growing interest in sheep hunting, and how tools and technology are making sheep hunting more accessible. Being exposed to an abundance of information gives a false impression of knowledge accumulation, however, this does not and cannot replace experience and true skill building in the field – sheep hunters will relate to our discussion about the challenges of ageing sheep in the field.

Is sheep hunting attracting more inexperienced hunters? Are the motivations changing for this type of hunt? Why are we making the wrong call on these sheep? And most importantly, what are the implications to sheep conservation and our privilege to continue hunting sheep in BC?

Lots to be discussed here. This is a challenging conversation, but one we need to have in the hunting community. I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks to Adam Janke and Kyle Stelter for making the time for this important discussion. 

Photo credit: Fort Nelson Conservation Officer Service

Thanks to West Coast Kitchen for their support! 

The discount code is EATWILD

 

Save your deer legs! In this episode we're joined by Andy Moeckel - he’s The Flip Flop Guy. He’s pioneered the flip flop cooking method for deer legs over coal.   I am co-hosting this conversation with my good friend and wild chef Jody Peck. Jody is the head chef for our all-wild food wedding and we have 6 deer legs on the menu.  Andy shares his technique for cooking whole deer legs over the charcoal barbecue, and Jody is taking notes!    The flip flop method is truly magic for serving deer legs and hosting an interactive food-focused party.   In addition to being a wild chef, Andy is a passionate hunter and conservationist.  We get to know Andy throughout this episode and hear about some of his adventures, his podcast and film projects.   Andy has built a truly unique business by bringing communities together around the fire and cooking deer legs.    You can find Andy @TheFlipFlopGuy   You need to try this so be sure to keep one of your deer legs whole this fall and order some of The Flip Flop Sauce for your party! www.flipflopguy.co  

This podcast was brought to you with the support of Seek Outside. @Seekoutside specializes in building ultralight reliable gear for adventures. Use the discount code to EATWILD at seekoutside.com

 

For nourishing food on your next adventure be sure to check out West Coast Kitchen. Use the EATWILD discount code on your next order. 

Miki and I take you on a hunting adventure to South Africa in this episode. Just over a year ago, we bid on a trip to Africa at the Wild Sheep Society of BC's conservation fundraiser auction. A year later, we were welcomed by the Bosveld Jacobs Safari team on the other side of the world.

Travelling away from home to hunt has been a foreign concept for me. Hunting in a place without connection to the place, the people, and the animals raises many questions about how this can fit together and align with our hunting ethic. Miki and I spent the months leading up and the days on the hunt processing these questions.  And now we have answers! We are excited to share what we learned from the mind-blowing experiences of this Adventure. 

While on the hunt, I interviewed Drian Laas, the professional hunter who guides and facilitates the hunting experience. I caught up with Riaan Jacobs, owner of the Boshveld Jocobs Safaris, who donated the hunt to the fundraiser at this year's Wild Sheep Society of BC fundraiser in Penticton.

I hope you enjoy this podcast as we dive into the complexities of hunting in a foreign country, touching on the ethics of sport versus sustenance, strategies used in guided hunts, and the emotional highs and lows that come with the experience.

I am excited about returning to Africa and will plan a trip in the next few years. I will be organizing a trip for folks who are part of the EatWild community.  If you are curious about Africa or may want to join our Adventure, please reach out! 

If you listen to this podcast ahead of April 7th, there is still time for you to join Spike Camp and enter for a chance to win a trip to Africa. 

I want to thank Bosveld Jacobs Safaris for the generous donations to help fund wild sheep conservation in BC, and for taking such good care of Miki and me and truly facilitating a trip of a lifetime.

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. It is an essential tool for making you more comfortable in the woods. The app's mapping layers, navigation tools, and hunting regulations are packed into it to give you the information you need on your next adventure. 

As always, Seek Outside brought this podcast to you. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase. Please use this Affiliate link to let them know you heard about Seek Outside from our podcast. https://seekoutside.com?aff=15

Stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on your purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase. Beere makes a great selection of bright, crisp beers perfect for the patio or around the campfire.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections 03:23 The Adventure Begins: Hunting in South Africa 11:17 Exploring the Landscape and Wildlife 19:16 The Guided Hunting Experience 29:48 Reflections on Ethics and Experience 38:52 Setting the Scene: A Day in the Wild 40:15 Meet the Professional Hunter: Insights from Triane 41:39 The Role of a Professional Hunter: More Than Just a Job 43:07 Exploring the Landscape: The Beauty of Limpopo 45:57 Diverse Wildlife: The Spectrum of Animals in South Africa 49:32 Hunting Strategies: The Approach to a Successful Hunt 53:19 The Art of the Stalk: Techniques for Success 56:44 Ethics in Hunting: Choosing the Right Animal 01:00:01 Passion for the Job: What Drives a Professional Hunter 01:02:51 Dream Hunts: Aspirations Beyond Borders 01:04:08 The Afternoon Hunt: Bush Buck Adventures 01:07:02 Understanding the Hunting Industry: Insights from Rhian 01:14:25 Utilizing the Harvest: Meat Distribution and Community Impact 01:16:46 Conservation and Community Impact 01:20:12 Tourism and Wildlife Management 01:22:04 Entry-Level Hunting Opportunities 01:24:37 The Experience of African Hunting 01:30:15 Reflections on the African Adventure 01:51:13 Diversity of Wildlife and Hunting Techniques 01:54:50 The Kudu Hunt Experience 02:01:26 Lessons from a Challenging Hunt 02:06:28 Value of Hunting in Conservation 02:14:10 Experiencing Kruger National Park 02:24:43 Reflections and Future Adventures

 

 

Frankie Foss of Foss Media joins me on the podcast to discuss backcountry food and meal planning for outdoor adventures. Frankie spends most of the year either in the mountains producing amazing adventure stories or planning and packing for the next adventure. So, I am asking Frankie about the importance of enjoying and nourishing meals in the mountains and sharing their favourite meals and brands.

Frankie emphasizes the value of high-quality ingredients and the satisfaction of knowing where your food comes from. We also discuss the challenges of overpacking and the balance between simplicity and variety in meal planning. In this conversation, we discuss our experiences with backcountry meals and the importance of maintaining a healthy gut while on outdoor adventures. We share their go-to meals and snacks, including nuts, dried fruit, and soups.  The conversation concludes with a discussion on meal planning, organization for extended trips, and our upcoming hunting adventures.

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. It is an essential tool for making you more comfortable in the woods. The app's mapping layers, navigation tools, and hunting regulations are packed into it to give you the information you need on your next adventure. 

As always, Seek Outside brought this podcast to you. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase. Please use this Affiliate link to let them know you heard about Seek Outside from our podcast. https://seekoutside.com?aff=15

Stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on your purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase. Beere makes a great selection of bright, crisp beers perfect for the patio or around the campfire.

00:00 - Introduction and Motivation for Podcasting 03:13 - Frankie's Role in the Foss Media Machine 04:58 - Food Planning and Staying Nourished on Backcountry Adventures 11:07 - Challenges of Eating in Bug-Infested Areas 13:15 - Approach to Backcountry Food and Philosophy of Enjoying Meals 18:30 - Favorite Meals and Brands 23:55 - The Importance of Enjoying and Nourishing Meals in the Backcountry 26:02 - Choosing High-Quality Ingredients and Supporting Local Brands 29:06 - Finding the Balance Between Simplicity and Variety in Meal Planning 35:52 - Considering Sodium Content in Pre-Packaged Meals 38:27 - Maintaining a Healthy Gut 41:11 - Challenges of Finding Delicious Bars 44:53 - Sausage as a Tasty Treat 46:59 - Importance of Rain Gear 52:46 - Game-Changing Gear: Synthetic Sleeping Bags 01:01:26 - Persistence in Bison Hunting 01:03:18 - Finding Bison on the Side of a Mountain 01:06:05 - Choosing the Right Hunt 01:10:40 - Setting Up a Blind Close to Home

 

Are you going deer hunting? Yes? Then this is essential listening! We are hanging out in the wall tent talking mule deer hunting around the fire. I’m joined by my hunting mentor Geoffrey Horsfield, and my pals Jenny P and Scott Donker after a successful hunt in the grassland country in British Columbia. We are quizzing Geoff on his mule deer hunting techniques. We talk about spot and stock, still hunting timber and other tips for successful mule deer hunting. This is one of the more fun episodes that we’ve recorded.  I’ve been holding onto it and since last year to share with you during hunting season. Hopefully, you’ll learn something and have a bit of fun too.    Geoff has over 50 years of experience hunting, adventuring in B.C., has a wealth of knowledge and is a great storyteller.    Dylan Eyers, Owner/Operator www.eatwild.ca      Instagram  I  Podcast  I  YouTube

I am pleased to welcome Mike Bridger back on the podcast as part of our wildlife biologist series where we are talking about wildlife management of the big game species in BC. In this episode, we are talking elk just in time for elk hunting season.  Whether you are a seasoned elk hunter or planning your first elk hunt, this episode is for you! 

  In our conversation, we get to learn about the rewarding work that Mike Bridger does as a wildlife biologist in the North East of BC.  Mike describes elk habitat, population distribution, and population dynamics. We discussed the habitat change drivers that affect the population such as wildfire, and the wildlife management tools that are used to manage the population.    We break down elk hunting regulations and the wildlife management strategies behind them. Mike provides insight into why we have a six-point regulation and a cow season. We chat tips for counting points.    Lastly, Mike shares his sheep hunting premonitions for my upcoming sheep hunting adventure...    You can find Mike Bridger here @bc_bridger   Please help us find more listeners by sharing this podcast and leaving a review.     Find West Coast Kitchen Here - Discount code is EATWILD  

After a successful whitetail hunt, we are recording this podcast from the wall tent. I am joined by Miki, Jenny P, Rob and his daughter Bella. This is our first whitetail camp without the old boys.... our mentors, and elders. The barriers that come with aging prevented Geoff, Pete and Larri from being able to join. It's been 35 years of whitetail camps for me and over 50 years for the old boys. So what's next for whitetail camp? 

Podcast summary: 

We reflect on the importance of mentorship, community, and the generational knowledge passed down through hunting traditions. The conversation highlights the evolving dynamics of the hunting community, including the breaking of gender barriers and the significance of storytelling. The gang share their personal journeys and the skills learned through their experiences, emphasizing the value of ethical hunting practices and the bonds formed in the outdoors. In this engaging conversation, the participants share their experiences and insights from a recent hunting trip, emphasizing the importance of hands-on learning, adapting strategies, and unexpected encounters with wildlife. We reflect on the lessons learned from various incidents, the significance of community support, and the growth that comes from mentorship and shared experiences in the outdoors.

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. It is an essential tool for making you more comfortable in the woods. The app's mapping layers, navigation tools, and hunting regulations are packed into it to give you the information you need on your next adventure. 

As always, Seek Outside brought this podcast to you. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase. Please use this Affiliate link to let them know you heard about Seek Outside from our podcast. https://seekoutside.com?aff=15

Stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on your purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase. Beere makes a great selection of bright, crisp beers perfect for the patio or around the campfire.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Whitetail Camp 03:01 The Importance of Mentorship in Hunting 06:05 Breaking Barriers: Gender in Hunting 08:56 Generational Knowledge and Storytelling 12:10 Learning Ethical Hunting Practices 15:05 The New Generation of Hunters 18:06 Reflections on the Past and Future of Camp 21:02 Experiences and Lessons from the Hunt 31:31 Hands-On Learning in Hunting 34:57 Adapting Hunting Strategies 37:48 Unexpected Encounters with Wildlife 44:48 Lessons from Hunting Incidents 46:47 The Importance of Community and Support 52:07 Reflections on Growth and Mentorship

 

EatWild 30 - Dylan's first bear hunt - Tips and tricks of the road hunter 

In this episode, I'm hanging out with my hunting partner Jenny P. She's taking me along on a bear hunt. As I learned, bear hunting includes a lot of Truck Huntin'.  Jenny is a bit of a pro-truck-hunter, so we thought it might be fun to break down the tips and tricks of the road hunter.  Along the way,  we recap our hunting adventure and my first ever bear hunting experience.    I have struggled with the idea of hunting bear.  I've had long relationships with black bears. As a park ranger, I've befriended many black bears over the years. I grew up eating moose and deer, so bear meat was unfamiliar.  In recent years, I have been exposed to the culinary opportunities of black bear meat. Jenny P and Chef Mark Perrier have prepared numerous exquisite meals with bear meat. Bear meat has a greater fat content than ungulate meat that allows for some new recipe ideas and cooking techniques that the lean ungulate meat will not allow for.    From a wildlife management perspective, hunting black bears is a sensible way to put meat in your freezer.  Black bear populations are thriving in BC, which affords hunters the opportunity for a hunt with a high probability of success while ensuring the long term sustainability of the black bear population.     Even knowing that black bear makes for a sustainable and ethical source of meat for the freezer, I am still challenged by the idea of bear hunting.  We tell the whole story in the podcast.  I hope you enjoy it!     For more information on black bears and black bear hunting, I recommend that you check out Hunter Conservations Podcast on the future of black bear hunting in BC.     Please comment and share this podcast!   Thanks!    Dylan Eyers, Owner/Operator www.eatwild.ca      Instagram: Eatwild  I   Facebook: EatWild   I   YouTube: EatWildDylan

We are joined by Christy Long to debrief our packrafting adventures on the river.  Christy is a whitewater paddling guide. She supported Jenny, Celina, and me with paddling training ahead of our trip.  On our trip, as we looked over some tricky water ahead, we would ask our selves: "What would Christy say?" Now we get to ask.  So enjoy! 

We used Alpacka Forager rafts on this trip. 

In this episode, I’m catching up with Kelly Molnar from the Rookie Hunter Podcast. The Rookie Hunter Podcast has grown to be one of the most popular hunting podcasts, not just in BC, but across Canada and North America. Mike and Kelly have built a following of loyal listeners by openly sharing their rookie hunter experiences and being relatable to new hunters. The podcast has evolved to bring on some of the most notable hunters and conservationists in the broader hunting community.

  In this conversation, I get to ask Kelly how they got started and learn about what it takes to build a successful podcast. We chat about the challenges and opportunities of building community around hunting by connecting people and we dig into the importance of mentorship. Hope you enjoy it.    You can find Kelly on Instagram @ rookie_hunter_podcast    therookiehunter.com

Cliffed out, rained out, blown out and snowed out: the pole bender adventure. 

In August 2019, I set out with my hunting crew on a caribou hunting adventure in the mountains of the Tahltan Traditional Territory in Northern British Columbia. Idyllic summer days strolling across the mountain tundra spotting caribou and goats, everything was going according to plan.  But our plan took an unfortunate turn, and an unseasonably harsh arctic storm front blasted our camp with hurricane-force winds and 3 feet of snow. We went from hunting to surviving. Taking shelter in the tipi tent, we took turns keeping the center pole from snapping as we held down the tent praying for the storm to let up. Join us for this three-part series on the Pole Bender Adventure. These are great episodes if you're planning an adventure trip in the wilderness. We talk about the logistics of planning a fly-in trip, trip safety plans, emergency communications, and a little bit about sneaking up on goats. I hope you enjoy this.  

You can find the article by Cleston Lee in the 02/2021 BC Outdoors Magazine. 

 

What species should a new hunter target for success? In this episode, I am joined by Mark Hall of the Hunter Conservationist Podcast. We are talking about a graduated approach to hunting species that builds confidence and skills for success. What are the most accessible hunts which offer the experience that help you progress to more challenging hunts? What can we learn from grouse and bunny hunts and how those lessons apply to your first buck or a 55" bull moose? Are new hunters taking on challenging mountain hunts without a reasonable foundation of experience to stay safe?  This was really fun for us and we hope you enjoy it too! You can hear more of Mark on the Hunter Conservation Podcast and the Round Canada Podcast. I am a big fan of both and I hope you check them out. Mark is on Instagram here.  

Why is hunting so hard? In this episode, I am joining Mike and Kelly of the Rookie Hunter Podcast, Mark and Curtis of the Hunter Conservationist Podcast, and Jenny Ly of the Chasing Food Club blog for a live recording of a podcast/swapcast. We talk about the barriers and challenges for hunting success. We get into the different measures of what success means on a hunt. Is it just about filling the freezer or getting eyes on a mature animal?  A big thanks to the crew at Filson Vancouver for hosting us at there shop.  This event was hosted by @backcountryhuntersbc 

Please share and review this podcast!

Thanks for making this happen @rookie_hunter_podcast, @chasingfoodclub, and @the_hunter_conservationist

Thanks for listening! 

Dylan www.eatwild.ca

https://www.therookiehunter.com/

https://thehunterconservationist.com/podcast/

https://www.chasingfood.club/

In this conversation, Rydell and Dylan discuss the art of spotting game in the wilderness. They share tips and strategies for effective glassing, including the importance of patience, calibrating your eyes to size at a distance, and looking for outlines, curves, and unnatural shapes. They also discuss the benefits of using binocular mounts and tripods for stability and comfort. Rydell shares his experience of developing the Bino Clamp, a lightweight and low-profile binocular mount.

 They talk about the benefits of stability and how it can enhance the hunting experience. They also discuss the different factors to consider when choosing binoculars, such as magnification, field of view, and light-gathering capabilities. They also provide tips for spotting game, including finding a good vantage point, moving around to different positions, and having a positive mindset. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the importance of preparation, patience, and observation in successful hunting.

Check out Aziak Equipement here: https://www.aziakequipment.com/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background 02:37 Enhancing the Hunting Experience with Binoculars on a Tripod 07:14 Choosing the Right Binoculars for Hunting 14:10 The Adventure and Process of Mountain Hunting 25:23 The Importance of Patience, Preparation, and Observation in Hunting 33:35 Mastering the Art of Spotting Game 50:10 The Invention of the Bino Clamp 56:05 Memorable Meals in the Wilderness 01:02:07 Dream Hunts in British Columbia  

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. The app is an essential tool to make you more comfortable in the woods. The mapping layers, navigation tools and hunting regulations are all packed into the app to give you the info you need on your next adventure. 

This episode is supported by BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BCBHA). The BCBHA is a young conservation organization dedicated to protecting wild places and critters that live in these wild places. Come out to a local event and get to know the BCBHA community. 

As always, Seek Outside brought this podcast to you. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase.

We also get support from our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. So stock up for the adventure season and use the discount code EATWILD.

You can stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on the purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase.  Beere makes a great selection of bright, crisp beers perfect for the patio or around the campfire.

   

This is the wrap-up episode of our adventure hunt podcast planning series.  Celina, Jenny and I are on the road on our way back from our packrafting hunting adventure.  Sadly we are not coming home with an animal from the trip.  We worked hard, we learned a ton, built new skills, and had so much fun.  So does all that make up for not coming home with an animal? We discuss our evolving expectations and reflect on our experience from the trip. We recorded this in the truck while on the road so the audio quality kinda sucks, but the conversation is great. Thanks for listening.  

I am trying something new here. I am recording this podcast solo and sharing my hunt packing plan and the gear I bring for my upcoming elk hunt. I am very curious how this lands with the EatWild audience.  If this podcast translates for you,  then let me know and I'll share more like this. 

Here is my Adventure Hunt Planning List.  Feel free to follow along on this podcast as I share how I organize, plan, and pack for my hunt.  This is a general list. There is no guarantee this is has everything you need for a hunt, but it's a good starting point. Download and save a copy and add it to it for you. Please let me know if I missed anything too! 

This podcast is about planning a hunting trip, explicitly focusing on the initial concept or plan, choosing hunting partners, coordinating logistics, and organizing gear and food. I share my comprehensive gear list and considerations for food planning, including the trade-offs between freeze-dried meals and cooking real food. I share my theory for a detailed packing list, including food, a day hunting kit, a spike camp kit, a base camp kit, a clothing kit, a meat care kit, a personal kit, a tech kit, and elk hunting gear. 

Dylan’s gear list. 

Join me at the Spike Camp community at 7 pm, on August 27th, 2024. I’ll be conducting an online presentation on early-season elk hunting. 

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. It is an essential tool for making you more comfortable in the woods. The app's mapping layers, navigation tools, and hunting regulations are packed into it to give you the information you need on your next adventure. 

As always, Seek Outside brought this podcast to you. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase. Please use this Affiliate link, as it will let them know you heard about Seek Outside from our podcast. https://seekoutside.com?aff=15

You can stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on the purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase.  Beere makes a great selection of bright, crisp beers perfect for the patio or around the campfire.

 

Takeaways

1. Start the hunt planning process with a concept or plan that excites you.
2. Choose hunting partners who are committed, compatible, and have hunting confidence.
3. Coordinate logistics through group chats and online meetings.
4. Use technology like radios and inReach devices for communication and navigation.
5. Create a comprehensive gear list and consider the trade-offs between freeze-dried meals and cooking real food.
6. Prioritize vehicle maintenance and leave a trip plan with someone. Having a well-equipped truck kit is essential for roadside emergencies, including spare tire, tire repair kit, compressor, axe, saw, shovel, and tow strap.
7. Regularly review and organize all gear before the trip to ensure everything is functional and clean.
8. Take care of your boots by greasing them with beeswax or boot grease, and avoid overheating them.
9. Consider using paper maps in addition to digital maps for a better overview of the hunting area.
10. Create a detailed packing list that includes food, day hunting kit, spike camp kit, base camp kit, clothing kit, meat care kit, personal kit, tech kit, and elk hunting gear.
11. Leave a trip plan with a responsible person who can take action if you don't check in.
12. Use the Splitwise app to track expenses and split costs among the hunting group.

•  

Chapters

 

Introduction and Starting Point

02:26

Choosing Hunting Partners

06:13

Coordinating Logistics

08:06

Utilizing Technology

09:29

Organizing Gear and Food

26:25

Vehicle Maintenance and Trip Planning

26:54

Essential Gear for Roadside Emergencies

31:08

Tips for Gear Organization and Maintenance

33:29

The Importance of Boot Care

36:24

The Benefits of Using Paper Maps

39:28

A Comprehensive Packing List for Hunting Trips

51:13

Leaving a Trip Plan and Tracking Expenses

In this episode, I am joined by hunting guide and conservationist Nolan Osborne. Nolan and I were due for a catch-up as we look ahead to the bear hunting season and the upcoming Wild Sheep Foundation Solute to Conservation and Mountain Huntain Expo.  Over the years, Nolan and I have had deep conversations on the ethics associated with hunting. Last week, a notable Canadian hunting content creator was found guilty of several poaching charges in B.C. and Alberta.  This disappointing news made some big waves in our hunting community and raised questions about the ethics of content creation in the hunting space.  In the episode, we discuss the responsibility and accountability of being legal and ethical hunters and the complexities and pressures of creating content that relies on successful hunts. 

I'll be presenting at the Mountain Hunting Expo at 2 pm on Friday, so stop by and learn about meat care in the mountains. Find out more about the Wild Sheep Society Event. 

Here is a link to our Bear Hunting course.  If you want to learn more about how to hunt me and the EatWild team, join us for a workshop or course. We have recently released a series of online hunting courses for you to deepen your knowledge and hone your strategies for the hunt. 

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. The app is an essential tool to make you more comfortable in the woods. The mapping layers, navigation tools and hunting regulations are all packed into the app to give you the info you need on your next adventure. 

This episode is supported by BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BCBHA). The BCBHA is a young conservation organization dedicated to protecting wild places and critters that live in these wild places. Come out to a local event and get to know the BCBHA community. 

As always, this podcast is brought to you by Seek Outside. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase.

 

We also get support from our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. So stock up for the adventure season and use the discount code EATWILD.

You can stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on the purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase.  Beere makes a great selection of bright, crisp beers perfect for the patio or around the campfire.

 

This episode is all about blacktail deer and blacktail hunting. Since moving back to the sunshine coast, I’ve had time to focus on the elusive Blacktail deer. After 10 seasons of poking around these woods, I finally learned enough blacktail hunting lessons that a hunt came together for me. 

In this episode, I got a chance to catch up with my friend Travis Kayes. Travis is a relatively new hunter that came through the EatWild program.  He is dedicated and passionate about chasing Blacktail deer near his home. He has been the most consistently successful blacktail hunter in my community.

  I know how hard blacktail hunting is, so I was curious to talk with Travis about his journey to becoming a successful Blacktail hunter. This is podcast is a ton of fun as Travis and I trade notes on what we learned about Blacktail hunting.

I would argue that the Blacktail deer is the most challenging of the deer species to harvest here in BC. They typically maintain low-density populations throughout their habitat, they don't leave a lot of sign, so they are hard to find.  They live in thick, noisy habitats so it's almost impossible to keep from bumping them.  

I hope you enjoy this podcast. And good luck finding your Blacktail secret spot!

As always this podcast is brought to you by our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. They offer a 10% discount code on all of their nourishing backcountry food. Use the discount code EATWILD.   And our friends at Seek Outside sponsor this podcast. We’ve been using their tents all season to stay warm and dry on our adventures. Use EATWILD on your order for a deal. 

 

Join us for a coastal goat hunt with Spencer Greening La'goot and Adam Foss as they recap their coastal goat mountain hunt in Gitga'at Territory. This was a wet and challenging hunt and offered an opportunity for reflection and learning from Indigenous knowledge and practice from time immemorial.  

In this episode, Dylan, Adam, and Spencer dive into the deep connections between hunting, personal growth, and cultural traditions. They explore the balance between family responsibilities and outdoor adventures, the spiritual and ethical dimensions of hunting, and the significance of mountain goats in Indigenous traditions.

Through their experiences in bow hunting and navigating rugged mountain terrain, they highlight the importance of patience, mental resilience, and traditional knowledge. The conversation also touches on the role of storytelling in preserving Indigenous hunting perspectives and ecological wisdom.

Find La'goot here!

Find Adam here!

Key Takeaways:

• Hunting is as much about the experience as the harvest.
• Mountain goats hold deep cultural and spiritual significance.
• Success in hunting is shaped by knowledge, preparation, and respect for nature.
• Ethical considerations and conservation must include Indigenous perspectives.
• Storytelling plays a crucial role in passing down hunting traditions and wisdom.

Tune in for an insightful discussion on the challenges, lessons, and connections that make hunting more than just a pursuit—it's a journey of growth, respect, and heritage.

 

Chapters

00:00 New Year Reflections and Personal Growth 03:05 Balancing Parenthood and Outdoor Adventures 06:00 Cultural Significance of Mountain Goats 08:52 The Journey of Goat Hunting: A Shared Experience 11:57 Understanding the Mountain Goat: A Hunter's Perspective 15:10 The Challenges of Bow Hunting Mountain Goats 18:11 Research and Conservation: The Importance of Traditional Knowledge 21:11 The Nuances of Goat Herd Management 23:54 The Spiritual Connection in Hunting 26:57 The Art of the Hunt: A Personal Story 29:46 The Ethics of Hunting and Wildlife Management 43:35 Reflecting on Past Experiences 43:58 Choosing the Right Location for Hunting 45:00 Facing Adverse Weather Conditions 46:12 The Role of Relationships in Hunting Projects 46:48 The Challenges of Mountain Hunting 50:01 Describing the Hunting Environment 51:03 The Toughness of Traditional Hunters 53:54 Navigating Difficult Terrain 01:00:02 The First Night's Struggles 01:06:00 Enduring Continuous Rain 01:09:00 Strategies for Managing Moisture 01:15:02 Lessons from Ancestors and Traditional Knowledge 01:17:19 The Privilege of Indigenous Hunting Practices 01:19:50 The Challenges of the Hunt 01:21:58 The Search for the Mountain Goat 01:25:42 The Moment of Truth 01:32:02 The Ethics of Hunting 01:35:10 Reflections on the Hunting Experience 01:40:19 Cultural Significance of Hunting 01:43:20 The Journey Home 01:51:12 Future Projects and Storytelling

Wildlife biologist Mike Bridger joins us in this episode to talk about planning for a sheep hunt in Northern BC. As a Provincial biologist for the Northern BC, Mike gets the privilege of overseeing the management of wildlife in the remnant wilderness of North America. All nine big game species thrive in this area and Mike's job is to keep an eye on things. He pretty much has the coolest job in North America.  Mike is passionate about his work managing Stone's Sheep, and he is a self-described elk hunting fanatic. 

  Celina, Jenny and I are continuing our podcast series planning for our sheep and elk hunting expedition into Northern BC. One of the most important parts of a successful hunt is doing the research on the species that you plan to hunt. We have the opportunity to ask Mike about planning our adventure and how to go about hunting Sheep in Northern BC.    This is a fun episode, I hope you enjoy it.     Thank you Mike for hanging out with us. @bc_bridger   Ageing sheep link: https://wildsheepsociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Understanding-Sheep-Aging-Andrew-Walker.pdf       Dylan Eyers, Owner/Operator www.eatwild.ca       

Setting your sights on your first rifle - tips for buying the right firearm

In this episode, I’m hanging out with Travis Bader from Silvercore. We’re breaking down the things to consider when buying your first firearm for big game. We get into some common misconceptions about firearms. We talk recoil and how to reduce the shock to the body. We discuss pros and cons of calibers for the new hunter who wants a rifle that can do it all.

Travis is an expert in all things firearms. He is a gunsmith and a leader in the firearms training industry. Silvercore provides a range of training opportunities from firearms safety to bear safety and much more. Check them out.

You can find the Silvercore podcast here.

Find Travis and Silvercore on Instagram here.

This adventure was, without a doubt, the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever done. 

 

Joined by great friends Jenny P, La'goot, and Scott, we set out on a fly-in, hike-up, paddle-out sheep hunt. In part 1 of the Ramtastic Adventure you get to meet the team, hear about our hunt plan, and then join us on the hunt as we navigate our way into sheep country, try to survive the elements, and experience the hunt of a lifetime. 

 

This adventure was fuelled by West Coast Kitchen gourmet freeze-dried meals, and heavy loads were supported by the Seek Outside ultralight rugged packs. 

In this episode, I’m chatting with Joe Eppele. Joe is a passionate hunter, star of The EDGE hunting show, and Grey Cup champion.

This is the perfect episode if you're starting to think about brighter days ahead and what your hunting season is going to look like. Joe recaps his past year of hunting adventures - and what a year he had! As he tells stories about his last hunting season, Joe reveals what were his most challenging, and memorable hunts.

In this conversation, I learned that Joe is an excellent hunter, and got to find out about his techniques and decision-making processes that have to lead to success.

After this uplifting conversation, I am now super pumped about bow hunting and planning to practice this skill in 2022. 

You find Joe here @joe_eppele  or on the EDGE TV show @theedgetvshow

Hope you enjoy this one! 

 

Find our EatWild webinars and classes here www.eatwild.ca

 

This podcast is brought to you by West Coast Kitchen. Use the EATWILD discount code on your next order. 

I am joined by sheep hunter Mya Blackburn. Mya shares her passion for hunting and the experience of growing up in a hunting family. Mya takes us on a hunting adventure that is a wild tale in the mountains with an incredible outcome. It was a ton of fun to connect with Mya, so enjoy!

If you want to learn more about how to hunt me and the EatWild team, join us for a workshop or course. We have recently released a series of online hunting courses for you to deepen your knowledge and hone your strategies for the hunt. For example, you can learn to still hunt, with over three hours of videos, strategies, and storytelling that will help you build your skills to be a better hunter. EatWild Still Hunting Techniques.

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. The app is an essential tool to make you more comfortable in the woods. The mapping layers, navigation tools and hunting regulations are all packed into the app to give you the info you need on your next adventure. 

This episode is supported by BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BCBHA). The BCBHA is a young conservation organization dedicated to protecting wild places and critters that live in these wild places. Come out to a local event and get to know the BCBHA community. 

As always, this podcast is brought to you by Seek Outside. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase.

 

We also get support from our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. So stock up for the adventure season and use the discount code EATWILD.

You can stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on the purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase.  Beere makes a great selection of bright, crisp beers perfect for the patio or around the campfire.

 

Podcast Summary: Maya Blackburn, an experienced hunter since childhood, shares her passion for hunting and working with kids. She discusses the challenges of being a female hunter and the importance of sharing hunting knowledge. Maya also talks about growing up with a sheep hunting father and the life lessons she has learned from hunting. She reveals her favorite species to hunt and the lessons she has taken away from duck hunting. Maya recounts her first sheep hunting experience and the excitement and challenges she faced. 03:01 Passion for Hunting and Working with Kids 05:08 Identity as a Hunter 06:01 Reactions to Being a Hunter 07:16 Hunting Community and Friends 08:51 Sharing Hunting Knowledge 10:20 Growing Up with a Sheep Hunting Father 11:10 Lessons Learned from Hunting 15:08 Life Lessons from Hunting 19:08 Favorite Species to Hunt 20:00 Lessons from Duck Hunting 24:25 Father's Sheep Hunting Background 26:59 Preparing for First Sheep Hunt 33:31 First Sheep Hunt Experience 36:28 Missed Shot and Second Chance

 

 

This is the third and final episode of the​ Ram​tastic adventure​ Sheep Hunting podcast series. In this podcast, I’m catching up with our crew after having re-entered our post-adventure lives​ and we debrief about the challenges that we​ faced as the trip progressed. 

  After a hugely successful opening day, we had two rams on top of the mountain and we faced the perils of getting ourselves,​ and the meat off the mountain ​and down the river ​safely. We were confronted with lots of barriers in getting the meat to butcher without spoiling in the hot temperatures. ​​The hot weather persisted, the bugs were brutal, the river was scary, and our resiliency was waning.​ We break down our systems for what worked well and what we would do differently next time. We also share our experience with getting both rams through the compulsory inspection process. This turned out to be such an awesome opportunity to learn from sheep experts about ageing wild sheep. And lastly, we get to start planning the next adventure. I hope you enjoyed this episode. ​Please leave a review and share this podcast.     ​This adventure was made possible by our good friends at West Coast Kitchen for nourishing us all on the way, ​our Friends at ​S​eek ​Outside for gearing us up with ultra-lightweight backpacks, and our friends at ​Alpac​k​a ​Rafts for the bomber lightweight rafts for the voyage.   ​Try out West Coast Kitchen on your next adventure and use the EATWILD discount code for 10% discount. ​

I set out on an elk hunting trip with good pals Will, Ben, Tome and Tom.  Our plan was to float down the river, camp on the riverbank, and hunt elk for the week. Elk hunting was pretty slow and I was getting discouraged when things took a big turn.  I was set up calling for Elk, I heard a crunch, and an unexpected critter showed up. 

In some parts of BC, we have an open moose season, but you can only harvest immature bulls that have 2 points or less, or mature bulls that have 3 points on their brow palm or a total of 10 points on one antler. Confusing? Absolutely! Then try and count those points while a moose popping in and out of view in the willows and thick timber.  In this episode, I talk about counting points in the field and building the confidence to pull the trigger. 

Join us at the dinner table to hear first harvest success stories from the EatWild hunter community.  The First Buck Banquet is an annual event where new hunters are invited to come for dinner and share their first harvest stories. All of the hunters bring something special for the dinner table from the harvest.  This is a fun event and I hope you enjoy the stories.  

We are kicking off a series of podcasts with a focus on learning more about big game species in BC and how they are managed to ensure sustainable wildlife populations and hunting opportunities.

In the first episode, I am pleased to welcome wildlife biologist Conrad Thiessen.  Conrad has a very cool job in the Northwest corner of BC (Region 6). This is an area of relatively low road density and high wilderness and wildlife values, so he spends his workdays flying around in a helicopter, in spectacular wilderness areas, counting wildlife. 

Conrad's work is focused on caribou management, so we dive into the topic of caribou, discuss ecotypes, their range, habitat, migration patterns, population status in BC, and methods to assess herd health and numbers. Conrad describes survey and calculation methods, as well as the opportunity to work with First Nations on research projects.

 

He introduces and explains concepts like “calf recruitment”, the ideal calf/cow ratio, and shares details about the delicate and exciting process of “netting caribou” for the purpose of fitting them with research collars.

 

Of course, we get to talk about caribou behaviour, hunting experiences and the ideal time to hunt caribou for optimal taste. 

 

We reflect on the impacts of human activity, climate change and predation on caribou population dynamics and Conrad reveals an unlikely, yet successful caribou predator, besides wolves and bears.

 

Give this episode a listen if you are interested in caribou biology, conservation or hunting and you will find a few other exciting details about the life of caribou and wildlife biologists in Region 6.

 

To keep an eye on Conrad and his adventures in an “unbelievably, indescribably” beautiful place, follow him on Instagram @conrad_thiessen.

Poster photo credit: Clint Walker 

 

This episode is dedicated to Dr. Valerius Geist, wildlife biologist, conservationist, great storyteller, and kind human. You will be missed by the conservation community.  

 

This episode is brought to you by West Coast Kitchen. Check out their stuff and use the EATWILD discount code for 10% off 

 

Show note: 

At some point in the podcast I mention that Jody, the hunting camp cook, will not use cook with caribou meat that is harvested in late September.  The intention was to suggest that the meat may have a gamey taste, and may not be as pleasant as the other meat options.  In Jody's case, she may choose to use the moose or sheep meat that would also be available in a hunting camp to make dinner. The caribou hunters are required to take all edible portions of the meat home and it will be consumed, just with a bit more spice if it happens to be gamey. 

I rely on my phone more every year to be precise and advance my hunting process. The smartphone has become an essential tool for navigation, communication, research, documentation, and much more. 

In this episode, I am on a late-season Mule Deer hunting with my friend Adam Pospischil. Adam is one of those hunters that is consistently successful in his hunts. He is a self-thought hunter and his success is built on his pre-hunt research, reliance on data interpretation, use of technology, and lots of committed hard work. Adam shares what tools he uses to make him a better hunter, and some of the lessons learned on his hunting journey. 

We are hunting the grasslands and looking for a mature Mule Deer buck and using the apps and tips discussed on on this episode on the hunt. 

Stick around to the end to find out how the hunt worked out. 

Link to BC 1:20,000 maps link.

IHunter App link 

Gaia Map Link

As always this podcast is brought to you by our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. They offer a 10% discount code on all of their nourishing backcountry food. Use the discount code EATWILD.

And our friends at Seek Outside sponsor this podcast. We’ve been using their tents all season to stay warm and dry on our adventures. Use EATWILD on your order for a deal. 

In this episode, we're joined by Thor Tingey of Alpacka Raft. Jennie P, Celina and I are doing our research on how to best prepare for a 12-day packrafting wilderness adventure.  So we thought we would invite the expert on all things packrafting.  We had a ton of fun hanging out with Thor as he shares the origin story of the packraft, a few adventures, and everything we need to know to prepare and plan for our adventure.  

  Specifically, we discuss how durable these boats are, and what types of repairs we can plan for?  How much weight can we load into these boats, and how best to load the weight? What should we bring in a repair kit?    Thank you Thor!   www.alpackaraft.com   Dylan Eyers, Owner/Operator www.eatwild.ca      Instagram  I  Podcast  I  YouTube

"Wow...how do I take care of this amazing hide?" That's what I needed to know when I walked up on the dead Bison in the snow.  Fortunately, my friend Mara was expecting this call from me.    In this episode, I’m joined by Mara Cur of Crow's Nest Wildcraft, a hide tanner, land tender, and community herbalist and teacher. Mara and I connected a while back to offer a hide tanning workshop with the EatWild community.  On that call standing over the massive Bison, Mara walked me through the important steps of taking care of the hide. I have since dropped off the Bison hide with Mara, and we talked about the steps in the hide's journey from the Peace, to it eventually laying around my home in Vancouver.  Join us as we chat about how to take care of a hide in the field, natural smoked tanning methods, and staying connected with the wildcraft and harvesting community during these strange days.  Mara offers hide tanning workshops, herbal medicine workshops and recently introduced the Limina wild skills webinar series, centred on healing through backcountry and ancestral skills.   https://www.crowsnestwildcraft.com/workshops/   Find Mara here: https://www.instagram.com/woodland.cur/   Please share, review, and thanks for listening!    Dylan Eyers, Owner/Operator www.eatwild.ca   

Join for episode 4 of our expedition hunting planning series. In this episode, we are talking backpacking food for a 12-day backpack-packrafting hunting expedition. We have invited Penny from West Coast Kitchen to hang out with us and talk about how to keep food light and gourmet. 

  Celina, Jenny and I are on our way into the mountain and we are counting ounces to keep our weight down, but we still need to max out calories to keep up climbing mountains.     Specifically, we talk about: How do we keep it light and taste?  How many calories do I need to bring? How much should my food weigh per day?  Breakfast packing tips? Lunch favourites? Dinner plans? Favourite lightweight snacks?   Thanks for joining us Penny! https://westcoastkitchen.ca/   Dylan Eyers, Owner/Operator www.eatwild.ca      Instagram  I  Podcast  I  YouTube

Join us on our annual elk hunting adventure! Tom, Tome and I have invited young Jay to join us for his first Northern BC elk hunting expedition.  We are packing rafts into a remote wilderness area with a plan to find a few unhunted bull elk. We have packed our Seek Outside camp and two Alpacka Forager rafts a day's walk up the valley. If all goes well we will get into some elk and use the rafts to float back to the trucks. 

This was an extra special hunt and fun adventure. I hope you enjoy the episode. Be sure to share this podcast and leave a review. 

Find our EatWild webinars and classes here www.eatwild.ca

This podcast is brought to you by West Coast Kitchen. Use the EATWILD discount code on your next order. 

 

Some fun storytelling in this episode.  Both Miki and Ashley have set out to become hunters over the past few years. They share their respective journey's to their first buck harvest. I hope you enjoy it!

 

This podcast was brought to you with the support of Seek Outside. @Seekoutside specializes in building ultralight reliable gear for adventures. Use the discount code to EATWILD at seekoutside.com

 

For nourishing food on your next adventure be sure to check out West Coast Kitchen.

Use the EATWILD discount code on your next order. 

Bill Jex is a wildlife biologist for the Province of BC, and he is the wild sheep and mountain goat specialist who leads the management of these tremendous mountain species. I have asked Bill to join me on the podcast to share his knowledge on mountain goats and how they are managed in BC. 

I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to talk goats with Bill. Bill is a great storyteller, and he is generous in sharing his knowledge about goats.  In the conversation, he helps us better understand this tough, magnificent animal that lives in some of the most unforgiving wilderness areas. Bill talked about studying goats,  mountain goat behaviour, habitat requirement, hunting regulations, and so much more. 

Miki and I are heading goat hunting in August so we will listen to this on our drive up North. Don't miss this one! 

This episode is supported by BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BCBHA). The BCBHA is a young conservation organization dedicated to protecting wild places and critters that live in these wild places. Come out to a local event and get to know the BCBHA community. 

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. The app is an essential tool to make you more comfortable in the woods. The mapping layers, navigation tools and hunting regulations are all packed into the app to give you the info you need on your next adventure. 

As always, this podcast is brought to you by Seek Outside. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase.   We also get support from our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. So stock up for the adventure season and use the discount code EATWILD.   You can stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on the purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase.  Beere makes a great section of bright, crisp beers that are perfect for the patio or around the campfire. 

You will need to take notes for this one! Tons of good info, just in time for the hunting season. 

Hunting is a high-risk activity that takes place in remote wilderness settings.  How can we reduce the risk and be prepared to respond in a first aid emergency? 

In this episode, I am talking to Cam Fenton about the most common injuries and life-threatening medical emergencies that hunters can encounter. He provides detailed information on how to treat them, what you should add to your kit to ensure you’re prepared, and what you may already carry in your pack that could be used in these situations.

We talk about diagnosing and treating hypothermia, breaks and sprains, and cuts and bleeds. 

We discuss the importance of having a satellite emergency communication device  (like an inReach device) and being prepared to activate it and seek help if the situation requires it. We break down the question of "when should I call for help?"

Based in Squamish, BC, Cam Fenton is a guide, BC paramedic, first aid instructor and educator. Whether by ski, foot, bike or boat, he loves to explore deep into wild places all across BC and beyond. What he likes most is connecting with his guests and students while sharing his passion for safety and emergency preparedness.

This podcast was brought to you with the support of Seek Outside. @Seekoutside specializes in building ultralight reliable gear for adventures. Use the discount code to EATWILD at seekoutside.com

For nourishing food on your next adventure be sure to check out West Coast Kitchen.

Use the EATWILD discount code on your next order. 

In this episode, I am joined by Adam Foss. Adam is a filmmaker, photographer, conservationist and adventure hunter. Adam has dedicated time in the mountains filming wildlife and mountain adventures in addition to his remarkable personal hunting adventures. His passion is sheep hunting and he has a ton of knowledge and experience to share with us.    We talk about how to plan for big adventures, critical gear that he relies on, where we can save weight and where we can add a few ounces to build a bigger safety net. Adam tells us who he likes to hunt with and the importance of supporting new hunters on their journey to success.    As I listened to the podcast I really enjoyed hearing Adam's philosophy of hunting, about really seeing the stars and calming the mind.  This is one of the best conversations I’ve had since doing this podcast. I hope you enjoy it!   Adam's recent project, Community for the Wild, is available for Telus subscribers on Optik TV and will be available more broadly as it makes the rounds on the film festival circuit over the next year.    Be sure to follow Adam @fossman8 and check out the Foss Media teamwork at foss.media   Find Adam's article on tents here!   This podcast was brought to you with the support of Seek Outside. @Seekoutside specializes in building ultralight reliable gear for adventures. Use the discount code to EATWILD at seekoutside.com   Poster photo by Francesca Pirolo   

Listen to your elders;  it’s storytime with Larri Woodrow. Success in hunting and fishing, and in life for that matter, is achieved much more easily with the benefit of knowledge. I attribute my competence as a hunter and fisher, and my confidence in life, to the knowledge that has been shared with me by the elders along the way. In this episode, I’m hanging out with Larri Woodrow. Larri is a grandfather, teacher, conservationist, hunter, fisher, adventurer and storyteller. I’m fortunate to call Larri my good friend. His passion for wilderness has driven him to explore every river and trail in British Columbia. He’s an encyclopedia of the kind of knowledge that I cherish.   Larri's been around a while and he has seen the changes to our forests, oceans, and wildlife populations.  Larri takes us back 75 years to growing up fishing on Vancouver Island.   We talk about our perceived baseline of abundance for fish and wildlife in the oceans and forests of British Columbia. The sad truth is that if we don't know what we had, we are unlikely to know what we are loosing.      I hope this to be the first of a few episodes where elders can share their stories and passion for their way of life.   Please give me some direct feedback or provide a review. If you like it, please share it too!  Thanks for listning.    Dylan Eyers www.eatwild.ca      Instagram: Eatwild  I   Facebook: EatWild   I   YouTube: EatWildDylan

How long does it take to ride a horse across  15,000,000 acres of Northern Rocky Mountain wilderness? In this episode, I’m joined by Wayne Sawchuk. Wayne is a conservationist, author, adventurer, cowboy, and wilderness enthusiast. 

Wayne led the initiative to protect a vast wilderness area in the Northern Rockies, now protected under the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area. I’m excited to talk to him about what wilderness means and what it takes to have an authentic wilderness experience. 

The Muskwa-Kechika Management Area is managed and protected under a unique resource management structure. Wayne tells us how the model was developed and how the model can be applied for future landscape protection efforts. 

The Muskwa-Kechika Management Area (M-KMA) is located in northeastern BC and encompasses 6.4 million hectares (16 million acres) of land with varying conservation, preservation and land use practices. Encompassing large areas of the Northern Rockies and Cassiar mountains, it is named after two great rivers that flow through it: the Muskwa and the Kechika. It has more species in greater abundance than anywhere else on the continent, making it of global importance.  

Find In The Land Of Dreamers here: https://gem.cbc.ca/documentaries

Find Wayne’s new book, Crossing the Divide, here:

This episode is supported by BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BCBHA). The BCBHA is a young conservation organization dedicated to protecting wild places like the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area and the critters that live in these wild places. Come out to a local event and get to know the BCBHA community. 

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. The app is an essential tool to make you more comfortable in the woods. The mapping layers, navigation tools and hunting regulations are all packed into the app to give you the info you need on your next adventure. 

As always, this podcast is brought to you by Seek Outside. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase.   We also get support from our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. So stock up for the adventure season and use the discount code EATWILD.

 

Sandra Riches is the Executive Director of the BC AdventureSmart program and she joins me on the podcast to talk about how search and rescue works in BC, using the AdventureSmart App to leave a trip plan, and the essential gear to make hunting and foraging adventures safer. There's lots of good info in this podcast to stay safe on your next adventure. Everything is "unprecedented" this past year, including the number of search and rescue calls for people on outdoor adventurers. More people than ever are getting out into our wilderness to take refuge from the challenges that have come with the pandemic. AdventureSmart and Sandra Riches are working to reach folks to help them get prepared for their outdoor adventures so their trip doesn’t result in another call to 911. Find out more about AdventureSmart and download the trip planning app here: adventuresmart.ca

The Bison has tipped! Join us for the conclusion of our Bison hunting adventure.  All of the mistakes, hard work, and lessons learned result in some exciting hunts for our rookie bison hunting crew.  Catch the end of the story here and a bit of the celebration. 

Thanks to the crew for putting up with the podcast machine! The crew: @seanbadart @devontaylorstewart @taylor.j.e.woodcock @jennyp403

If you like this podcast and the raw format, please let me know, and share your review! 

Background: 

Follow along with our rookie Bison hunting crew as we figure out how to hunt this majestic animal. Our hunting group drew a "once-in-a-lifetime" tag to hunt Bison in Northern B.C. At one time there were over 60 million Bison roaming the plains of North America. Market hunting and habitat destruction reduced the herd to less than a thousand animals by 1900. Since then, numerous conservation efforts have helped Bison recover to over 500,000 animals. It's estimated that there is a population of over 2000 Bison living in B.C. The Bison herd is expanding and they are competing with threatened wild sheep for limited winter range habitat. Wildlife managers have encouraged a limited hunt to manage the Bison population growth and herd expansion.

Our group was lucky enough to get drawn for two tags for Bison on this hunt. The tags allow us to shoot a bull, cow, or calf bison. This hunt took place in late January in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was - 38 degrees Celcius when we arrived at our cabin and all of our beer was frozen. We had a lot to learn about this animal, its habitat, and how to hunt them. Come join us on the hunt! --

In this episode of the EatWild Podcast, I’m joined by Jody Peck on my first-ever private land hunting trip in the Peace Country. Jody, a wild chef and a key part of our team, invited me to hunt on her family’s private land.  Join us on the hunt as we look over the expanse of the wildlife-rich country and puzzle out how we will make for a successful hunt. 

While sitting in the truck blind, we explore what it’s like to hunt large, open fields—where spotting animals is easy, but closing the distance can be tough due to the lack of cover. Jody shares insights on building relationships with landowners to gain and maintain access to private land. We also discuss shooting at longer distances, meat care, and butchering, with Jody sharing her favourite cuts and techniques.

I also highlight the iHunter app, which helped us navigate property boundaries and track the wind—key tools for a successful hunt.

Lastly, I want to dedicate this episode to my friend Lew Bates, a legendary mountain hunter, skilled gunsmith, and absolute rock of a human to his family, friends, and community. He passed away this summer. He will be missed.

 

Here are the key topics covered in the episode:

1. Hunting on Private Land: The episode covers practical advice on how to gain and maintain access to private land and how to nurture relationships with landowners to ensure continued access.

2. Hunting Strategies: The episode delves into the logistics of hunting on large, open fields where wildlife is visible from a distance, but closing that distance can be difficult due to the lack of cover.

3. Shooting and Meat Care: The podcast touches on techniques for shooting at longer distances and the importance of proper meat care and butchering. 

4. Tools and Technology: Dylan highlights the use of the iHunter app for navigation and planning, especially its features like identifying private property boundaries and wind direction—critical tools for a successful hunt in such vast areas.

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. It is an essential tool for making you more comfortable in the woods. The app's mapping layers, navigation tools, and hunting regulations are packed into it to give you the information you need on your next adventure. 

As always, Seek Outside brought this podcast to you. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase. Please use this Affiliate link to let them know you heard about Seek Outside from our podcast. https://seekoutside.com?aff=15

Stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on your purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase. Beere makes a great selection of bright, crisp beers perfect for the patio or around the campfire.

The face of hunting in North America is prominently white. Is there a place for people of colour in the hunting community?  Can we make the hunting space more inclusive? I think so, but we have some work ahead to make the hunting community more welcoming and inclusive.    In this episode, I am joined by Jimmy Flatt the co-founder of Hunters of Color. Hunters of Color was founded by Jimmy Flatt, Lydia Parker, and Thomas Tyner in August of 2020 with a mission to share a love for the outdoors with everyone.  94% of the hunting community is white. HOC believes that the "Outdoors are for Everyone," and is forging a road ahead to welcome a diverse community of new hunters.   Jimmy shares his personal journey of being a passionate hunter in a community dominated by people who don't look like him. We chat about implicit racial bias and how we can build awareness through education, with the goal of breaking stigmas and stereotypes concerning hunting.   Here is the link to the MeatEater Rebuttal by HOC.    Find HOC here!   Thanks for listening. 

In this episode, I am catching up with my friend La’goot Spencer Greening. La’goot is a Tsimshian leader, storyteller and academic. In addition to being a passionate hunter and forager, La’goot generously shares his perspective around the importance of Indigenous knowledge and stewardship of the land.   I wanted to ask La'goot about his perspective on ceremony around the hunt. This past hunting season I witnessed a range of ceremonies that hunters practiced after taking the life of an animal. At one end of the spectrum, I overheard what sounded like a new years eve celebration as a couple of nearby hunters got lucky on the road, to being part of Miki's first hunt where her ceremony involved calm moments of contemplation as she processed the experience of taking her first animal. We start with a question about holding a ceremony after taking an animal’s life and dive deep into a conversation around rituals, that, in some traditions, start a long time before the hunt takes place. La'goot shares his experience of the role that his community, elders and mentors play in learning rituals and developing the practice of ceremony. We reflect on how having those connections can help new hunters be more present in their actions and have a mindful experience when faced with taking an animal's life. This podcast goes in a few more interesting directions. I am grateful for these insightful conversations with La'goot, and I feel fortunate to be able to share them with our listeners.

Reading recommendations:

1. Tsawalk: A Nuu-chah-nulth Worldview - by Eugene Richard Atleo
2. Spirits of our Whaling Ancestors - Revitalizing Makah and Nuu-chah-nulth Traditions - by Charlotte Coté
3. Ecologies of the Heart: Emotion, Belief, and the Environment Hardcover – by E. N. Anderson (Author)

For more time with La'goot listen to episodes 27 and 28 of the EatWild Podcast. More about La'goot Spencer Greening: Spencer’s Ph.D. research emphasizes the importance of Indigenous knowledge and stewardship of land in the context of colonial management practices and law. Specifically, it explores how the connections among Indigenous pedagogy, language, and the sharing of place-based knowledge are linked to heritage preservation, identity, and more sustainable environmental management. Spencer is analyzing one of the  Cultural Keystone Places  in his home territory, in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest, where his Elders were born and raised in a life of fluent Gitga’at culture, language, and ecological relationships. By working with their ancestral knowledge systems, he is able to highlight local Indigenous knowledge and its vital role in academic scholarship, Canadian law and policy, and the promotion of environmental awareness. His research is also unique as it is led by his community and rooted in Indigenous research methodologies and frameworks. This ensures its contributions to cultural continuity, self-determination, Indigenous research, and decolonization.   You can find La'goot here.   Please review and share this podcast!    Thanks, Dylan 

I love elk hunting. I also love exploring.  I managed to talk my friends Spencer Greening and Adam Foss into joining me on the quest to find Elk Heaven. I had an idea about a river that might be bountiful with elk without any hunting pressure. The packrafts were the ideal mode of transportation to set out on an expedition to find Elk Heaven.    Spencer Greening is an academic studying indigenous approaches to wildlife management, and Adam Foss is a professional photographer that works in the hunting and conservation world. This was Spencer's first Elk hunt and Adams's first packraft expedition so we share their learnings throughout the podcast.    Throughout our days on the river, we have some insightful conversations and reflect on our motivations and passion for hunting.   We struggled to put a successful hunt together as we explored this new area. Hot weather and a full moon made it difficult to find Elk out and about during the day. By far the best way to be a successful hunter is to go back to an area where you’ve had success before. However, if you have a passion for exploring new places, then it’s hard to go back to the same place to hunt. We struggle with this question and talk about it in depth in this podcast. Exploration versus going with what you know.   I opted to roll this podcast out in one longer story, so I hope you enjoy it.    As always this podcast is brought to you by our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. They offer a 10% discount code on all of their nourishing backcountry food. Use the discount code EATWILD.   And our friends at Seek Outside sponsor this podcast. We’ve been using their tents all season to stay warm and dry on our adventures. Use EATWILD on your order for a deal. 

In this episode, I am sitting with my good friend Jody Peck of Wild Northern Way, happy that the spring foraging season is finally here. 

  We are talking about harvesting wild plants from urban settings and the forest in a sustainable and ethical way, the seemingly daunting duty to process them the importance of finding fun ways to prepare them. We touch upon the ephemeral nature of the foraging seasons with the added engagement that brings and, at the same time, the stable nature of discovering your foraging spots and maintaining them through respectful harvesting practices.   There are many edibles out right now and many more about to start coming out soon through this foraging season. We are getting excited about hosting a foraging workshop series this spring.  We are conspiring to teach our guests to ethically forage wild edibles and how to make delicious and beautiful food and cocktails with the harvest.   Book your spots for the foraging workshops here.   You can find Jody Peck on Instagram @wildnorthernway and through her website wildnorthernway.com. 

Have you ever missed a shot at an animal?  Nerves, distance, brush or just plain poor judgement can lead to a miss on an animal. In this episode, we are talking about the factors that lead up to a missed shot and reflect on how we can improve our decision making and skill set to minimize the potential of this happening. I am joined by hunting partner Chef Mark Perrier and hunting guide and friend Nolan Osborne of the Journal of Mountain Hunting. This is swapcast with the Journal Of Mountain Hunting "Beyond the Kill Podcast" so you can find our conversation there too. 

Nolan Osborne is hunting guide, outdoor writer, and the editor of the Journal of Mountian Hunting - @nmo

Mark Perrier is a Chef and restauranteur based in Vancouver - @thechefwhohunts

Join us for one of our workshops www.eatwild.ca 

Download the EatWild Hunter App 

 

Ashley and Jason gifted us a fly-in hunting adventure as a wedding present. Wow! What a generous gift, and clearly, these amazing friends know us well. In August 2023, after a year of excitement and planning, Miki, Ashley, Jason, and I were loaded up in a float plane and flying deep into the Cassiar wilderness in Northern BC.

Join us on our 2023 Cassiar Mountain hunting adventure. Miki, Ashley, and Jay will guide us through this epic hunting adventure while on the hunt taking refuge from the storm in the tipi tent.  Stick around to the end, and you'll know why we are celebrating Ashley and Jason today. Also, you can bet that there will be another adventure with this crew next year! 

Please note that this hunt happened in 2023 when the Caribou hunt was still managed as a general open season. In 2024, Caribou will be managed under the Limited Entry Hunting Program. 

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. The app is an essential tool to make you more comfortable in the woods. The mapping layers, navigation tools and hunting regulations are all packed into the app to give you the info you need on your next adventure. 

This episode is supported by BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BCBHA). The BCBHA is a young conservation organization dedicated to protecting wild places and critters that live in these wild places. Come out to a local event and get to know the BCBHA community. 

As always, Seek Outside brought this podcast to you. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase.

We also get support from our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. So stock up for the adventure season and use the discount code EATWILD.

You can stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on the purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase.  Beere makes a great selection of bright, crisp beers perfect for the patio or around the campfire.

In this episode, I am joined by La’goot Spencer Greening. La’goot is a Tsimshian leader, storyteller and academic. In addition to being a passionate hunter and forager, La’goot is generous about sharing his knowledge around the importance of indigenous knowledge and stewardship of the land. We got together to talk about Indigenous and resident hunter perspectives on wildlife management and hunting. Over a cup of tea, we ended up talking about the commonalities of our way of life as it revolves around the seasons of eating wild. We are planning a follow-up episode shortly to dig into the politics. But for now, I hope you enjoy a chat about harvesting wild food on the North Coast.   If you want to dig a little deeper please read La'Goot:s article on Indigenous Harvesting Rights And Practices on  @aprilvockey 's  anchoredoutdoors.com.    We recorded this podcast during the Covid-19 pandemic.  We met in the cemetery across the street from my house. This peaceful quiet outdoor space allowed us to maintain our social distancing while we recorded the podcast.    Please share this podcast!    Thanks for listening,    Dylan 

Rick and I are driving up the Alaska Highway.  Join us for hour eight of our drive while we kill some time and make a podcast.  In this episode we chat about the logistics of trip planning, picking your hunting partners, and the technical information that is available these days for hunt planning.

Rick and I have flown into to the Norther Rockies and made our way from the remote airstrip and climbed up the mountain.  We chat about the experience of landing on a gravel bar with steep mountains all around.  We were up against some wet weather so we talk about strategies and tips on staying dry in the mountains. 

There are no sheep here!  After three days of hunting, we are coming to the realization that we are not in sheep habitat.  All hunters will experience this at some point where they are hunting an area that is devoid of the target species.  In this episode, we reflect on why there may not be sheep in the area, what are the contributing factors to the lack of sheep in the area, and why there is an abundance of other fritters around.  We also talk about hunting pressure and the effect on wildlife populations and the hunting experience.

Rick and I are well into our sheep hunt now and we've covered over 50 km of wilderness terrain. We have traveled through some of the most beautiful country I've ever seen and watched a broad range of wild animals in pristine habitat.  In this episode, we talk about how to orienteer and navigate through the mountains, staying dry in the wilderness and a few other fun things.  So stick around and check it out.

On this episode I am driving back from a river drift elk hunting adventure with hunting partners Geoff Horsfield, Dave Bornhold, and Matt Fuller.  This is the first time that our crew has done a drift hunt.  A lot of planning went into this trip.  We reflect on the highlights, planning, and the pros and cons of hunting from a raft.  Check it out, and let us know what you think!

Conservationist Jesse Zeman of the BC Wildlife Federation joins me for dinner and we are talking about sheep hunting and what you can do to advocate for wild animals and the places they live. 

First moose, deer and bear hunting stories. Join us at the dinner table for the annual EatWild First Buck Banquet. New hunters are invited to join the EatWild team for dinner and then everyone takes a turn telling their first successful hunt story.  So stick around and share in the hard work, success, trials and tribulations of these new hunters. Hope you enjoy the episode!

This podcast I’m joined by my friend Jody Peck for a chat about the hunting guide outfitting industry.  Jody grew up in commercial hunting camps cooking, guiding and hanging out in the wilderness.  She still cooks for the industry during the hunting season, but spends her offseason as a successful artist working on cool projects.  Jody brings a unique perspective on the guide outfitting industry, new hunters, and life as an artist in the city of Vancouver.

To find out more about Jody Peck and what she’s up to, check out her out here: www.wildnorthernway.com

Hunting partner Will Varda won the draw for a Roosevelt Elk hunt on the west coast of BC.  In this episode, we talk about the planning, challenges and unexpected success on this once in a lifetime hunt.  Check it out! 

Rob and I are waiting out a storm and hoping for the skies to clear so we get out on our sheep hunt.  Rob Wilson is a Park Ranger and a 20-year veteran with Seach and Rescue teams and has spent many days and nights looking for lost hikers and skiers in the mountains. In this podcast, we are talking about planning for safety on an adventure trip. We review the essential gear you need to pack with you and tips for staying safe on adventures in the mountains.  

In this podcast, we are talking about how hunters can help work towards reconciliation with Indigenous communities.  This is a very difficult conversation, but it one that we need to have as Canadians, British Colombians and Hunters.

Here in British Columbia, Indigenous communities have lived, hunted, and manage resources on these lands for time immemorial (a really long time!).  For many of us whose families have settled on these lands, we are now unravelling an uncomfortable history of colonization.  We are just starting to understand the implications of this history and the responsibility that we share to work towards reconciliation with the peoples who lived here before settlers showed up a couple of hundred years ago (not very long ago).  In BC, 95% of lands are described as crown lands. The courts in Canada have acknowledged that these lands were managed by indigenous communities for thousands of years before settlers showed up, and the courts have ruled that the Indigenous communities have never legally given those land rights away to the crown.  As a hunting community, we need to start a respectful conversation with Indigenous communities about how this will impact our ability to hunt and gather food on unceded First Nations traditional territories.    

In this episode, I am hanging out with Travis Bader of Silvercore Inc.  Silvercore is a leader in firearms training in Canada.  We are chatting about firearms care, maintenance, and storage while on the hunt and in the field. We also get into some fundamentals of firearms safety when hunting, around camp, and in the vehicle.  You can find out more about Silvercore @ www.silvercore.ca

Please tell us what you think and share this podcast! 

 

In this episode, I am joined by Jesse Zeman of the British Columbia Wildlife Federation. This past whitetail hunting season was the most challenging year on record for our hunting camp. Simply put we saw very few deer over our 10-day hunt. This led me to want to know what was going with the deer population. Too much logging? Too many hunters? Too many predators?  What gives?

Jesse and I sat down to chat about deer population dynamics to better understand how that impacts hunting success and opportunities in BC.  Jesse is the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program with BCWF and provides an excellent overview of deer population dynamics, and management efforts in BC.  We touch on the importance of citizen science wildlife monitoring and get into a few tips on deer hunting.  I hope you enjoy it, and please share and review this episode! 

Follow Jesse Zeman @JZ.thinair 

Find me in Instagram @Eatwild 

Thanks for listening, 

Dylan 

In this episode, I am hanging out with Chef Mark Perrier of Savio Volpe and Jody Peck of Wild Northern way.  We are having an in-depth discussion on cooking wild game meat.  We cover off fundamentals of how to get the most out of your harvest.  Don't miss this episode if you like to eat wild, or just like talking about food! 

Jody, Mark, and Dylan are launching EatWild Cooks in January 2020.  We will be hosting a series of wild game cooking classes over the next few months.  Join us to learn the fundamental of cooking wild game and a truly unique dining experience. www.eatwild.ca. 

Mark Perrier is one of Vancouver’s best chefs, and he is the proprietor and chef of the acclaimed Osteria Savio Volpe. A passionate hunter, he has been perfecting his hunting skills over the past three years while developing and adapting his favourite recipes to be used with game meat. @thechefwhohunts

Jody Peck grew up in the Peace River Valley in Northeastern BC and, from a young age, learned how to butcher and cook game meat as a bush cook (camp cook at hunting outfits). Jody has serious wild chef cred, as she has only ever cooked wild meat for her community, family, and clients.  Her passion lies in ethically harvesting, butchering, imagining and creating delicious meals that nourish anyone lucky enough to be at her dinner table.  Jody creates wild food experiences for crews, workshops and backcountry events @wildnorthernway. http://www.wildnorthernway.com/

 

Hope to see you at EatWild Cooks! 

Enjoy the podcast. 

Dylan 

Trying to be invisible. Quietly sneaking through the woods, waiting, listening, and observing. Meticulously searching the forest with your eyes for a flicker of movement or a fraction of a silhouette. This is the essence of still hunting. 

In this episode, I am joined by my hunting mentor, Geoff Horsfield. Geoff taught me how to hunt. Geoff is a master still hunter, and I can still remember our first hunt together 35 years ago where he showed me how to sneak up on a whitetail.    Geoff and I are warming up by the wood heater in the wall tent after successful day of Whitetail hunting.  Geoff share his thoughts and processes for how he still hunts.    There’s lots of generous tips from a great hunter in this episode. Enjoy.    If you want to learn more about how to still hunt, I released a still hunting online course which you can access on our website. It’s over three hours of videos, strategies, and storytelling to help you  build your skills to be a better hunter. EatWild Still Hunitng Techniques.  

This episode is supported by BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BCBHA). The BCBHA is a young conservation organization dedicated to protecting wild places and critters that live in these wild places. Come out to a local event and get to know the BCBHA community. 

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. The app is an essential tool to make you more comfortable in the woods. The mapping layers, navigation tools and hunting regulations are all packed into the app to give you the info you need on your next adventure. 

As always, this podcast is brought to you by Seek Outside. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase.   We also get support from our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. So stock up for the adventure season and use the discount code EATWILD.   You can stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on the purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase.  Beere makes a great section of bright, crisp beers that are perfect for the patio or around the campfire. 

I am joined by Tanis Barkman, a mountain hunting guide and enthusiast for all things adventures. In addition to sharing the most epic story of a shattered foot on a hunt, Tanis shares her passion for guiding in the mountains and the expectations and challenges of achieving success as a guide. Tanis shares their personal journey of becoming a hunter. Tanis discusses the pressure of once-in-a-lifetime hunts and the types of hunting clients. The conversation touches on the drive for bigger and better animals, filling the freezer, and transitioning from hunting to guiding.  The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. The app is an essential tool to make you more comfortable in the woods. The mapping layers, navigation tools and hunting regulations are all packed into the app to give you the info you need on your next adventure.  This episode is supported by BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BCBHA). The BCBHA is a young conservation organization dedicated to protecting wild places and critters that live in these wild places. Come out to a local event and get to know the BCBHA community.  As always, Seek Outside brought this podcast to you. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase. We also get support from our friends at West Coast Kitchen Canada. So stock up for the adventure season and use the discount code EATWILD. You can stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on the purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase.  Beere makes a great selection of bright, crisp beers perfect for the patio or around the campfire. Podcast Takeaways: • Guides have off-season activities and participate in other hunts during the year. • Desert sheep hunts in Baja offer a unique and exciting experience. • Tanis desires to guide in new locations and is open to any kind of adventure. • The accident during the hunt for the mega ram was a traumatic experience for Tanis. • Seek Outside's Courthouse tent is a game-changing gear for backcountry hunting. • Sheep ribs are Tanis' most memorable backcountry meal. The rib roll is a unique method of preparing rib meat that involves cutting the rib roll into small squares and boiling them in soup broth for several hours. • Celebratory beers are a common tradition among hunters to mark accomplishments and enjoy the moment. • Coastal goat hunting in the BC West Coast offers a dream hunt experience with untouched wilderness and challenging terrain. • The drive to hunt and pursue animals is a powerful force that motivates hunters to endure challenging conditions and push their limits. Podcast Chapters: 00:00 The Bro Mentality and Hunting in Small Towns
03:23 The Vulnerability of Humans in the Wilderness
06:10 Discovering a Passion for Hunting
09:59 The Emotions of Hunting and Guiding
14:23 Different Types of Hunting Clients
17:34 Guiding Clients with Different Goals
19:17 The Pressure of Once-in-a-Lifetime Hunts
22:08 The Drive for Bigger and Better Animals
25:00 Hunting for Experience and Selectivity
28:20 The Importance of Filling the Freezer
33:31 Transitioning from Hunting to Guiding
34:00 The Year of a Hunting Guide
34:57 Off-season activities and other hunts
37:16 Desert sheep hunts in Baja
38:29 Desire to guide in new locations
38:45 The accident and the hunt for the mega ram
46:45 The accident and its aftermath
54:25 The game-changing gear: Seek Outside's Courthouse tent
01:05:46 Most memorable backcountry meal: Sheep ribs
01:06:44 Rib Roll and Asados
01:08:05 Celebratory Beers
01:09:17 Dream Hunt: Coastal Goats
01:12:04 Challenging Hunts and the Hunter's Drive    

Mike Bridger shares his process for finding and hunting big whitetail bucks.  Mike breaks down his process of e-scouting, placing trail cameras, stand placement and putting as shares the story of hunting Chuck, a once-in-a-lifetime buck.    In the conversation, we compare the experiences of still hunting and sitting. We discuss the scouting process and key features to look for, as well as the importance of access and wind direction in setting up hunting sites. We talk about the challenges of calling deer, the benefits of using tree stands, and the differences between still hunting and sitting in blinds. Additionally, we touch on the use of bait to attract deer, the significance of security and cover in hunting spots, and the joy of enjoying a cold beer after a hunt.  

This episode is supported by BC Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BCBHA). The BCBHA is a young conservation organization dedicated to protecting wild places and critters that live in these wild places. Come out to a local event and get to know the BCBHA community. 

The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. The app is an essential tool to make you more comfortable in the woods. The mapping layers, navigation tools and hunting regulations are all packed into the app to give you the info you need on your next adventure. 

As always, this podcast is brought to you by Seek Outside. They make unique ultralight tents and packs for your next adventure. Use the discount code EATWILD on your next purchase.   Chapters   00:00 Introduction and Passion for Hunting 01:19 The Excitement of Camera Checks 02:25 The Heartbreak of Camera Failures 03:57 Determining the Success of a Camera Spot 05:37 Comparing Still Hunting and Sitting 07:15 Introducing Chuck and Hunting System 09:31 Preparing Hunting Sites 11:13 Checking Cameras and Hunting Sites 13:13 Ground Blind Setup 14:54 Managing Multiple Hunting Sites 18:11 Transitioning from Hunting to Scouting 20:32 Scouting Process and Key Features 22:31 Understanding Deer Scrapes 25:22 Creating Mock Scrapes 33:28 Considering Access and Wind Direction 37:06 Heartbreaking White Tail Hunts 40:06 Dealing with White Tails and Movement 41:38 The Failed Grunt Call 42:52 Utilizing Tree Stands 43:26 Rattling from a Tree Stand 45:00 The Effectiveness of Calling Deer 46:13 The Difference Between Still Hunting and Sitting in Blinds 47:07 Adapting Hunting Methods to Age and Ability 48:41 The Evolution of Hunting Methods 51:27 Introducing New Hunters to Hunting 53:10 The Challenges of Still Hunting 54:18 Choosing the Right Bullet for Hunting 55:38 Using Bait to Attract Deer 57:56 The Importance of Security and Cover in Hunting Spots 59:51 The Benefits of Using Trail Cameras 01:00:39 The Joy of a Cold Beer After a Hunt 01:03:51 The Game-Changing Gear: Ultra-Light Backpack Chairs 01:05:59 Dream Hunt in British Columbia  

Can we go hunting in British Columbia during the COVID 19 pandemic?  Answer: Maybe, if we all follow the Provincial Heath Orders, guidelines, and recommendations. I am sitting down with Jesse Zieman of BCWF and Mark Hall of the Hunter Conservationist podcast to discuss the recent announcement by the Province of BC that hunting is an essential service and what that means for hunting during the COVID 19 pandemic.  This announcement is good news for hunters, but this announcement could lead to a misunderstanding in the hunting community and unintended consequences.  Hunting as an “Essential Service” means that the Province will ensure that the regulatory infrastructure and services are in place so residents can continue to hunt (buy tags and run the LEH program).  It does not mean that you can ignore PHO recommendations to avoid non-essential travel, stay local and maintain social distancing.   

To many of us, hunting is essential to our way of life, but this announcement does not mean that we can travel to go hunting.  The small communities throughout BC are extremely vulnerable to the COVID 19 virus.  All it would take is for one hunter who is unknowingly carrying the virus to pass it on at a gas station, a Tim Hortons, or picking up a 6 pack at the cold beer store. These communities do not have the health infrastructure deal with an outbreak.  The BC hunting community must not put rural communities at risk.  In the podcast, we discuss our interpretations of the recent essential service announcement, the PHO travel restrictions and COVID hunting guidelines.  

Be patient with everyone. 

Provincial Hunting and Fishing COVID 19 Updates

BC LEH COVID Recommendations

Kai Negata on Potential Impacts of Hunting on Rural Communities 

 

Mark Hall - Hunter Conservationist Podcast 

Jesse Zieman - The BC Wildlife Federation 

 

Thanks for listening.

Dylan Eyers

www.eatwild.ca

 

In this episode of the EatWild Podcast, we will teach you how to hunt moose! 

It took me over 20 years of hunting moose before I learned how to do it effectively. I met Lance Grubisich, who changed my approach to moose hunting with just a five-minute calling lesson. After that lesson, our family's success rate in moose hunting improved dramatically. 

Lance and his family have been targeting moose in Northern British Columbia for nearly 40 years, and he generously shares some of his tips and techniques on how to communicate with moose and convince them to respond to your calls. I feel very fortunate to have had Lance as a guest on my inaugural EatWild podcast. Thank you, Lance!

EatWild supports folks who want to learn to hunt, forage and cook wild food. Join us for one of our workshops or courses. www.eatwild.ca.

Learning to hunt is a long process, and it's hard!  Greg and Mike Taylor, the EatWild technical team, share a few stories about their first three years learning to hunt.  Both Greg and Mike come from an urban background and want to reconnect with where their food comes from.  They have started the journey to harvest wild food and share a few stories from along the way.