Wild turkeys didn’t arrive in Alberta by chance. They arrived because people kept showing up.

In this Harvest Your Own episode, Brad sits down with Jim Clarke, one of the key figures behind Alberta’s turkey management plan, to tell the full story of how trap-and-transfer became reality.

Jim walks through the early history of turkeys in the province, including the 1962 Cypress Hills release, and explains why those birds didn’t establish as hoped. He then takes listeners inside the years of meetings, resolutions, and conversations that eventually shaped today’s program with Alberta Conservation Association, where turkeys are trapped in B.C., tested, and moved into Alberta.

Along the way, you’ll hear about:
•A memorable South Dakota hunt where Jim held out for a white-tipped Merriam
•How local Fish & Game clubs are helping fund turkey releases
•Why winter-hardy eastern turkeys from Quebec could matter for central Alberta
•Jim’s long-term hope for a general turkey tag in the province

If you’d like more information or want to get involved with turkey work in Alberta, you can reach Jim directly at [email protected]

Part hunting story, part policy history, and part grassroots effort, this episode shows what persistence looks like on the ground.

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When the season closes, a lot of hunters hang up their boots and wait for fall. Brad Fenson does the opposite.

In this BrAdvice episode, Brad makes the case that winter is when better hunts are built. He walks through his off-season routine, emptying the gun cabinet, taking firearms completely apart, and doing the deep cleaning most people never get around to during the season.

But this isn’t just about guns.

Brad talks about caring for leather boots so they don’t crack, repairing torn clothing before it fails in the field, and cleaning optics the right way so you don’t damage coatings. He also gets into bow maintenance — checking cams, strings, and servings, and why small problems ignored in January become big problems in September.

A big theme of the episode is familiarity. Brad argues that the more time you spend with your gear in winter, the more confident, capable, and calm you’ll be when things go sideways in the field.

It’s part maintenance guide, part mindset shift, and a reminder that preparation is often what makes a good season great.

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Pronghorn are often described as fast — but speed is only part of the story.

In this episode, Brad sits down with Paul Jones, biologist with Alberta Conservation Association, to explore what GPS collar data is teaching us about how pronghorn move across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Montana. From choosing to crawl under fences instead of jumping them, to pacing highways before crossing, to launching into unexpected mid-winter migrations, pronghorn movement is shaped by far more than distance alone.

Paul walks through:
 • How GPS collars collect fine-scale movement data
 • Why female pronghorn are the focus of collaring studies
 • How snow depth, fencing, and roads influence movement decisions
 • What “facultative migration” looks like on the prairies
 • How citizen observations help identify important crossing areas

This conversation connects data to behaviour — and behaviour to the landscape pronghorn move through every day.

Pronghorn Xing team: Miistakis Institute and Canadian Wildlife Federation 

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Safari Club International is often misunderstood — and this episode is about clearing that up.

Brad sits down with Tim McKinnon, President of the Safari Club International Northern Alberta Chapter, to talk about what SCI actually does in Alberta and why the organization plays a meaningful role in conservation, education, and hunting opportunities.

Tim shares his own hunting background, shaped by family mentorship and generations in the field. He explains how SCI supports resident hunters through youth camps, education funding, Hunting Heritage Grants, wildlife research, accessibility programs, and community outreach. They also discuss the importance of showing up at advisory tables, in classrooms, and in communities to ensure hunting and conservation remain part of Alberta's future.

This episode covers:
• Where the misconceptions about SCI come from
• How SCI supports youth, women, and new hunters
• Why conservation requires education and funding
• How Hunting Heritage Grants are allocated in Alberta
• The social side of hunting and why community matters

🎧 Listen to find out how SCI works at the local level — and why it matters.

Find SCI – Northern Alberta at:

Facebook 

Instagram

X (Twitter)

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When hunting season wraps up, a lot of hunters feel like the door suddenly slams shut. In this BrAdvice episode, Brad explains why that moment is actually the start of your next season.

From submitting mandatory harvest reports to using tools like ABHuntLog, Brad walks through how reflecting on your year in the field can make you a more prepared, confident hunter next fall. He shares why reporting matters, how your data contributes to better wildlife management, and how winter observations — from shed hunting to small game — can shape smarter decisions when draw season rolls around.

If you want to avoid penalties, stay engaged through the off-season, and turn your time outdoors into something that actually works for you next year, this episode is for you.

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Few people understand Alberta’s landscapes the way Bill Abercrombie does.

A lifelong trapper, educator, and President of the Alberta Trappers Association, Bill joins Brad to talk about modern trapping, ethical practices, wildlife conflict work, and the deep connection to the land that trapping builds.

Bill shares stories from:
• Homesteading in Alaska with his wife and a pack of sled dogs
• Running traplines across northern Alberta
• Reading tracks, signs, and “spurring” to understand animal behaviour
• Using trapper skill sets to help solve urban wildlife conflicts
• The evolution of humane trapping standards and science-based fur management
• The ATA’s education programs, youth camps, and bushcraft training
• Why mentoring new trappers matters more than ever

Whether you trap, hunt, or simply love the outdoors, Bill’s knowledge and decades of perspective offer a rare look into a lifestyle that has shaped Alberta’s conservation culture.

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How do you start hunting when no one taught you? When you have a busy family, no mentors, and don’t even know the right questions to ask?

In this episode, Brad sits down with adult-onset hunter Mike Gorski, who went from curious newcomer to harvesting his first deer and joining Brad for a waterfowl hunt with a seasoned crew. Mike opens up about the real beginner journey — learning to shoot under pressure, figuring out what gear matters, choosing mentors, handling a deer for the first time, and the moment hunting finally clicked.

They discuss:

• What new hunters struggle with most
 • Why mentorship changes everything
 • How waterfowl boosted Mike’s confidence
 • Bringing wild food home to a young family
 • Preparing for future big-game hunts

This episode is full of honest insight, relatable stories, and encouragement for anyone new to hunting — or thinking about starting.

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Where can new or aspiring hunters actually find mentors?

This BrAdvice episode tackles a listener's question about navigating Alberta’s hunting community and finding people willing to help you learn.

Brad walks through why mentorship matters — from learning how to sight-in a firearm to field dressing and packing out an animal — and shares a powerful story about a new hunter that took two years to complete their hunter education and get their PAL before finally getting out waterfowling…and later harvesting their first deer.

You’ll hear about Alberta’s incredibly rich mentoring landscape, including:
• AHEIA — camps, shooting leagues, and a formal mentorship program
• Alberta Wildlife Federation — 100 clubs with meetings, horn scoring nights & mentorship
• Outdoor Women’s Programs — supportive spaces for women learning to hunt
• Wild Sheep Foundation of Alberta — youth backcountry camps & advanced skills
• The Wildlife Society (AB Chapter) — university-level intro to hunting

Alberta is considered a “crown jewel” of global hunting destinations — diverse, accessible, and full of people willing to share their knowledge. 

If you want to hunt, the best thing you can do is ask.

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Family, tradition, and a shared love for the outdoors.

In this episode of Harvest Your Own, host Brad Fenson sits down with his son, Cameron, his daughter-in-law, Jen, and their three boys, Memphis, Eli, and Jameson, for a heartfelt conversation about what hunting means across generations.

From Brad’s grandfather in the 1950s to the next generation of young hunters today, the Fensons share stories of first hunts, family milestones, and lessons learned in the field. Hear about Memphis’s first crossbow bear, Eli’s grouse hunt, Jen’s unexpected first bear on her honeymoon, and Cameron’s once-in-a-lifetime youth hunt that set the tone for decades of family adventure.

It’s more than hunting — it’s how a family stays connected, builds memories, and keeps Alberta’s outdoor heritage alive.

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In this episode of Harvest Your Own, Brad Fenson sits down with Dayce Rhodes, an Alberta Conservation Association biologist whose life and work are rooted in the outdoors.

From pheasant releases and wild-turkey projects to long days on the ranch west of Claresholm, Dayce has spent nearly every season outside — building a career around conservation and a lifestyle around hunting.

He shares how his ranch upbringing shaped his work ethic, the lessons learned from mentors and family hunts, and what it’s like to finally draw a coveted Shiras moose tag after more than a decade of waiting.

The story takes a powerful turn when Dayce and his friends respond to an emergency in the field — proving that good hunters don’t just chase opportunity, they help where they’re needed most.

This episode blends science, fieldwork, and emotion — from trapping wild turkeys to hauling out moose quarters by headlamp — showing that hunting is about far more than pulling the trigger.

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