The Hunter Conservationist Podcast

In this episode Mark and Doug cover: Switzerland's proposed fur import rules, which Doug says almost no fur in the world could meet, Bearskin caps and the myths about bear culls, the IFF conference in Greece, a strong market and Denmark's mink reversal, new 50% US tariffs on Canadian fur and proposed BC trapping rules after a pet dog was caught in a trap. Follow the FIC on Facebook and Instagram, sign up for the newsletter at truthaboutfur.com, and become a monthly supporter of the show at: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/truth-about-fur-podcast-supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s official: Mariam Fares is still a Horrible Person! Back from Season 1, Miriam joins Jenn to catch up on fall hunting plans, wild mushroom finds, and how her love of hunting inspired her Yoga for Hunters program. We chat about mobility, strength, breathwork, and preparing your body and mind for those long sits in the stand. We also get into Jenn’s first bear hunt, Mariam’s journey from being afraid of firearms to becoming a hunter, favorite wild game meals, and why turkey hunting keeps us coming back for more. Expect plenty of laughs, hunting stories, and a turkey decoy named Jolene. Meet Mariam: https://www.instagram.com/beyouyogawellness/ Meet Jenn (the host): https://linktr.ee/whyjennhunts Learn More About the Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/horriblepeoplepodcast_/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s official: Jeremy Koerber is a Horrible Person. Trainer, lifelong hunter, and outdoor dad, Jeremy joins Jenn for a conversation about staying healthy enough to keep doing what you love. With a fitness career stretching back to 1997 and a passion for hunting that started with his grandpa, Jeremy believes hunting can be a lifetime activity if you make taking care of your body a priority. From wishing he could tag along on childhood hunting trips to introducing his own kids to the outdoors, his story brings together fitness, family, and a love of the hunt. Meet Jeremy: https://stayfittohunt.com/ Meet Jenn (the host): https://linktr.ee/whyjennhunts Learn More About the Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/horriblepeoplepodcast_/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wayne Sawchuk joins Mark and Curtis to discuss what Canada’s 30 by 30 conservation goal could mean for working landscapes. Drawing on his foundational work to help establish the multi-use Muskwa-Kechika Management Area (M-KMA) in the Northern Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Wayne explains why conservation works best when it’s built locally, balances protection with active land management, and includes the people who know the land. A conversation about wildlife, First Nations stewardship, and why lasting conservation takes time. Brought to you by J Martin Taxidermy Become a supporter of the HC Podcast at: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/the-hunter-conservationist-podcast-supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Jesse Zeman, Executive Director of the BC Wildlife Federation is back on the show discussing priorities for British Columbia’s snap provincial election: protecting public access, securing dedicated funding for fish and wildlife, and addressing firearms policy. The conversation explores how outdoor users can raise these issues with candidates and why science-based decisions matter for conservation and access. Key topics covered in this episode: Protecting public access to Crown land through legislation Dedicated funding for fish, wildlife, habitat, and watersheds How outdoor users can make their voices heard in a close election Firearms policy and its impact on lawful owners, ranges, and clubs This podcast is brought to you by J Martin Taxidermy Support the Martin Family and their fight to restore their son’s health at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-martin-family-p82uf?lid=cau1c80eosdq&utm_medium=email&utm_source=product&utm_campaign=t_email-campaign-update&cp_src=d Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s official: Kayla is a Horrible Person. Kayla from Into the Wild with Josh and Kayla joins Jenn to chat about growing up hunting and fishing in Northern Ontario, meeting her fiancé on a camping trip, and turning their shared love of the outdoors into adventures they share online. We talk about fishing Northern Ontario’s smaller lakes versus the Great Lakes, getting outside with your partner, and why an adventure doesn’t need to be complicated to be worthwhile. Kayla shares how Josh introduced her to bear hunting, their connection with Elite Bear Outfitters, and why a simple family partridge hunt is still one of her favorites. Meet Kayla and Josh: https://www.facebook.com/p/Intothewildwith-JoshandKla-61572565007258/ And on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intothewildwithjk/ Meet Jenn: instamgra.com/@whyjennhunts Learn More About the Podcast: @horriblepeoplepodcast_ Horrible People Podcast chats with people who live life off the beaten path. From hunters and homesteaders to outdoor adventurers and self-reliant thinkers, guests share their stories, experiences, and unique lifestyles during relaxed, open-minded conversations. The podcast challenges stereotypes, uncovers the truth about unconventional ways of living, and explores who the people labelled as “horrible” truly are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The wolf control debate in British Columbia is far more complex than “stop the wolf cull.” In this episode, BC caribou biologist Mike Bridger explains what’s driving caribou declines, why habitat change has intensified predator pressure, and how wolf reduction fits into the broader recovery program. Mike also discusses maternal penning, First Nations partnerships, habitat protection, humane wolf removal, and what could happen if predator reduction stops too soon. A candid, evidence-based conversation about the difficult choices behind caribou recovery. Brought to you by J Martin Taxidermy Become a monthly supporter of the podcast: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/the-hunter-conservationist-podcast-supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this special LIVE episode, we sit down with Erica Marchand, also known as Critter Marchand, for a conversation about the reality of trying to balance a busy life with the things you’re passionate about. We talk about being self-taught, learning as you go, figuring things out along the way, and having the entrepreneurial mindset to keep learning and building even when you don’t have all the answers. We also get into balancing work, hunting, business, and being a mom, and the reality of trying to make time for the things you love while keeping up with everything else life throws at you. A real conversation about passion, entrepreneurship, motherhood, hunting, and figuring it out as you go. Follow Erica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crittermarchand/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Mark and Doug talk with Jason Lupardus, CEO of Turkeys for Tomorrow about the connection between trapping, predator management, and wild turkey conservation. Jason shares why turkey populations are declining in parts of North America, how predators like bobcats and raccoons affect nest success, and why habitat work alone may not be enough. The conversation also explores the role of trappers in helping restore balance on the landscape and why hunters and trappers need to work together to support sustainable wildlife management. Become a supporter of The Truth About Fur Podcast https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/truth-about-fur-podcast-supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

North America's thinhorn sheep are in the middle of a quiet but crucial conservation story and the stakes reach far beyond the mountains. Bill Jex, Thinhorn Sheep Program Lead for the Wild Sheep Foundation, breaks down what is really happening across Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, and the tiny places where these animals exist nowhere else on earth. From climate-driven population swings and rain-on-snow icing events to disease surveillance, predator pressure, and the future of sustainable harvest, this conversation gets into the details that matter if you care about sheep, wild country, or the future of North American wild sheep conservation. Brought to you by J Martin Taxidermy Want to become a supporter of this podcast? We'd love to have you on board. Join up here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/the-hunter-conservationist-podcast-supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Greg McClinchey, Director of legislative affairs and policies for the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission, joins Mark and Curtis to explore the history, challenges, and triumphs of managing the Great Lakes ecosystem. Discover how international cooperation, scientific innovation, and proactive management have helped restore species like lake trout and control invasive species such as sea lamprey and invasive carp. Learn why prevention is better than cure and what individuals can do to support conservation efforts. If you enjoy the HC Podcast we would be honored if you considered supporting us: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/the-hunter-conservationist-podcast-supporter Brought to you by J Martin Taxidermy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Southern Alberta rancher went from the occasional grizzly loss over a decade to eight cattle killed in a month, a charged encounter on his own land, and neighbors seeing the same devastation. Mark talks with rancher Isaak Bustard for a raw, firsthand look at what conflict really feels like when it hits a working operation. Isaak explains how the attacks unfolded, why carcasses were so hard to find, and what happens when a bear keeps returning to the same fields. He breaks down the impact on his third generation ranch, what the kill sites revealed, and why this year feels completely out of character. Isaak also gets candid about range riding, electric fencing, shifting bear behavior, and trying to protect livestock while still respecting the landscape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Project Grizzly Balance Podcast, Mark sits down with a hunter from Alberta to share his firsthand experience participating in Alberta’s Grizzly Bear Responder Program. The hunter walks through how he got drawn, what the process looked like, and why he sees the hunt as both a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a practical response to ongoing livestock conflict. It’s an honest conversation about grizzly bear management, hunting ethics, and the value of using every part of the animal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Matt Besko, Executive Director of Alberta's hunting branch, explains the intricacies of the province’s grizzly bear response guide. He explains that the guide is a nuanced decision-making matrix that balances wildlife conservation with human safety. Mark and Matt explore how Alberta manages human-bear interactions, the importance of context in wildlife decisions, and the deep philosophical considerations around coexistence and ethical wildlife management. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Matt Besko, Executive Director of Alberta's hunting branch, explains the intricacies of the province’s grizzly bear response guide. He explains that the guide is a nuanced decision-making matrix that balances wildlife conservation with human safety. Mark and Matt explore how Alberta manages human-bear interactions, the importance of context in wildlife decisions, and the deep philosophical considerations around coexistence and ethical wildlife management. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Mark and Doug discuss political engagement in the outdoor community, the expanding role of the Canadian Wildlife Conservation Partners, encouraging signs from recent fur auctions, and the potential impact of Etsy’s proposed fur ban on small makers and Indigenous artisans. They also share a broader message about why hunters, trappers, anglers, and wildlife advocates need to stay active in public policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Kevin Estrada, guide and owner of Sturgeon Slayers shares how fishing and white sturgeon conservation are deeply connected in British Columbia. Kevin reveal the the science, the stories, and the real-world work behind protecting one of North America’s most iconic fish. This episode covers: • Why white sturgeon is such an important species • How catch-and-release fishing supports conservation • What tagging and monitoring reveal about the fish • Why juvenile sturgeon research matters • The role anglers play in funding conservation • The bigger conversation around habitat, harvest, and sustainability This episode shows that conservation is not just about protecting fish it’s about protecting the future of the river, the people who depend on it, and the stories that keep both alive. Brought to you by J Martin Taxidermy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s official … Matthew and Amanda Lynn are horrible people. Join us for this Campfire Special as we dive into all things hunting, bears, and ethics in an episode you won’t want to miss. Matt shares what inspired him to get into hunting and build Elite Bear Outfitters, while Amanda Lynn opens up about her experiences in the hunting world and life as That Hunting Girl. Learn More About Elite Bear Outfitters: https://nffa.ca/elite-bear-outfitters Follow Elite Bear Outfitters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DVmYHHEqa/?mibextid=wwXIfr Find Amanda: https://justhunt.ca Follow Amanda on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Gn9jjdHHM/?mibextid=wwXIfr Learn More About The Host: https://whywehunt.ca And Follow Jenn on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Diy2NptGJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr Or Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Diy2NptGJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr Horrible People Podcast chats with people who live life “off the beaten path”. From hunters and homesteaders to outdoor adventurers and self-reliant thinkers, guests share their stories, experiences, and unique lifestyles during relaxed, open-minded conversations. The podcast challenges stereotypes, uncovers the truth about unconventional ways of living, and explores who the people labeled as "horrible" truly are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Brittany Semenoff shares a hard look at life on the ranch after a grizzly bear killed one of their first-calf heifers’ calves just a mile from home. Mark and Brittany discuss how predator pressure affects cattle, herd behavior, family life, and the emotional and financial toll of losing livestock, while also exploring the role of the BC livestock protection program and the need for practical predator management. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we explore the complexities and challenges of conservation efforts in Manitoba, focusing on the Seal River Watershed Park proposal and Canada's 30 x 30 biodiversity initiative. Dennis Schindler from the Manitoba Wildlife Federation provides insight into stakeholder concerns, government actions, and the future of public land access across Canada. You Fuel the Mission. We Deliver the Impact https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/become-a-monthly-supporter-2 Brought to you by J Martin Taxidermy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices