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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Success in the field doesn’t come from luck — it’s built piece by piece.

In this episode of Harvest Your Own, host Brad Fenson breaks down what it really means to build a hunting toolkit. Not just gear — but knowledge, awareness, and habits formed over time.

Brad explains how the little things add up:
• Knowing your hunting area like a map inside your mind
• Understanding bedding, feeding, and travel patterns
• Using iHunter and ABHuntLog to track signs, sightings, and movement
• Watching the wind and planning entry routes
• Glassing effectively — seeing game before it sees you
• Communicating with deer using rattling, grunts, and bleats
• Managing scent so you’re invisible before you ever take a step

This episode is full of practical, confidence-building advice that helps new and experienced hunters get more out of every day afield.

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What if the moon could tell you when deer, predators, and even birds will move?
In this episode of the Harvest Your Own Podcast, host Brad Fenson reconnects with longtime friend and wildlife biologist Larry “Mr. Whitetail” Weishuhn — a man whose decades of fieldwork helped shape modern whitetail management across North America.

Larry dives deep into the science behind the moon and movement, sharing how gravitational pull, light phases, and timing patterns can predict wildlife activity. From hunting whitetails to studying predators and turkeys, his insights reveal how observation, patience, and data can transform how hunters understand the wild.

🎧 Listen to learn why Larry says success isn’t superstition — it’s science.

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For 15 years, the Taber Pheasant Festival has brought together hunters, landowners, businesses, and volunteers to celebrate Alberta's upland traditions. 

With over 10,000 hunters attending since its start, 5,100 birds released annually, and community-driven events like Game to Gourmet and the Celebration Banquet, this festival is more than a hunt—it's a cultural event.

In this episode, host Brad Fenson sits down with Ken Kranrod, Julie Landry-Deboer, and Jalen Hulit to talk about the festival's growth, its economic impact, and the dedicated people who make it happen.

🎯 Want to be part of the next 15 years? Learn how you can get involved as a sponsor to keep this Alberta tradition thriving.

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Venison should taste clean, rich, and delicious — not gamey. In this Bradvice episode, host Brad Fenson shares decades of hands-on experience in the field and kitchen to help you make the most of your wild harvest.

From field dressing to the freezer, Brad breaks down his proven process for improving flavour and quality:
•How to cut with the grain of the hair for cleaner field dressing.
•Cooling your harvest fast to stop bacterial growth.
•Hide on vs. hide off — what really matters for taste.
•Why removing tallow, bone marrow, and heavy silver skin makes a huge difference.
•His surprising tip for thawing meat to reduce that "gamey" smell.

Whether you butcher your own or use a processor, this episode is packed with practical, science-based advice that will help your family love venison as much as you do.

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What happens when outdoor education is more than a class—it’s a way of life?

For over 25 years, Hal Ziprick has taught outdoor education at H.A. Kostash School in Smoky Lake, Alberta. His program blends AHEIA-certified modules, such as hunter education, fishing education, boating safety, bowhunting, and stewardship, into the school curriculum—earning students high school credits while sparking lifelong passions.

From junior high skills days to a Grade 12 fly-in fishing trip, Hal has introduced thousands of youth (many from non-hunting families) to the outdoors. His leadership has also been instrumental in the growth of Alberta’s National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), with 38,000 students across the province now participating.

This episode dives into Hal’s journey, the challenges of sustaining such programs, and the incredible rewards of watching students develop skills, confidence, and conservation values that last a lifetime.

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What does it take to conserve habitat, mentor new hunters, and keep upland traditions alive in Alberta?

Host Brad Fenson sits down with Pheasants Forever Canada President Perry McCormick to discuss the organization’s impact, including raising record-breaking funds, protecting prairie habitats, and running first-class programs such as mentored pheasant hunts for university students.

From the legacy of pheasant releases in Alberta to modern challenges like disappearing grasslands and irrigation changes, Perry shares the realities and opportunities for upland conservation. You’ll also hear about Pheasants Forever’s unique “money stays local” model and how hunters can get involved today.

If you’ve ever wondered how conservation, access, and mentorship come together to shape the future of hunting in Alberta, this episode has the answers.

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Too hot. Too buggy. Meat will spoil.

Hunters are full of excuses for why they skip early season—but according to Brad Fenson, they're missing out on some of the best opportunities of the year.

In this BrAdvice episode, Brad breaks down the truth behind common early-season concerns and shows how hunters can not only manage them, but thrive in September conditions. From hunting elk in the early rut to finding whitetails on predictable crop patterns to pulling specklebellies and snows from the first flights of fall geese, early hunts are brimming with chances for success.

Brad also shares his experience with fat fall bears (and why they're an underrated food source), how to handle meat in warm weather, and why early-season hunts double as crucial scouting trips that set you up for success later in the year. Plus, he throws in a few favourite recipes—like pulled goose tacos and Korean BBQ legs—that prove early season harvests are worth every minute.

If you've ever told yourself it's not worth going out until October, this episode will change your perspective.

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