As the Provincial Wildlife Disease Specialist, Dr. Margo Pybus has led Alberta’s wildlife health efforts for four decades. Responsible for managing provincial and national policy on wildlife parasites, Margo’s work bridges the gap between scientific research and real-world conservation. In this episode, she joins the podcast to discuss how hunters, farmers, and locals serve as the front line for disease surveillance and what we can learn from the "stories" told by the animals around us.

In this episode:

• A deep dive into the meningeal worm: its complex lifecycle, how it 
  spreads, and the significance of the first confirmed cases appearing in 
  Alberta in the summer of 2025.
• Roadside mortalities and harvested animals as critical data points to confirm the presence of infectious diseases and track their movement across the landscape.
• The shifting scale of susceptibility regarding avian flu, from its impact on snow geese to the surprising cases involving skunks and fox pups.
• What outdoor enthusiasts and landowners can do to help manage parasites and maintain the health of Alberta’s wild populations.

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Predator management is a highly debated topic that often elicits strong emotions. But as human development alters the natural landscape, creating straight pathways—such as roads, agriculture, and oil and gas corridors—that make traversing easier for all species, it throws off predator-prey dynamics as these areas become major hunting sites.

In this episode:

• Why wildlife management is essential to maintaining biodiversity and sustainable populations for at-risk species such as elk.
• Finding a healthy balance to mitigate the human footprint we leave on the land and helping protect conservation efforts.
• The significant financial impact of predation, including an estimated $20 million in cattle losses in Alberta alone.

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A trailblazer in the Canadian outdoor industry, Lisa Roper is a television producer, hunter, and angler who holds the distinction of being the first woman in Canada to host and produce her own national fishing series. From her hometown of Lac La Biche to the national stage, she has dedicated her career to breaking barriers and building confidence in the next generation of outdoorsmen and women.

Six years after appearing on the second-ever episode of the HYO podcast, Lisa returns to share how her mission has evolved and is excited to help introduce fishing into Harvest Your Own.

In this episode:

• Lisa breaks down her guiding mantra, "Show Up and Good Things Happen," and explains how a simple shift in mindset led her to producing top-ranked series for the Sportsman Channel and World Fishing Network.
• A deep dive into the philosophy of experiencing a region beyond the shoreline—focusing on local culture, community connection, and creating new memories.
• Creating initiatives like Ladies on Ice and Fishing Lines & Good Times that equip people with the tools to explore and get hooked on a new passion.
• Lisa and Brad discuss why it is vital to let youth own their own process in the field, from the initial struggle to the final harvest, and how taking a backseat as a mentor builds lasting memories.

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A two-time Olympian and multiple World Cup competitor, Ntala Quintilio brings a lifetime of experience in the world of biathlon, where endurance meets precision. From skiing at full intensity to settling into a steady shot, she breaks down what it takes to perform under pressure. 

In this episode:

•  The challenge of accuracy at a high heart rate—hitting 45 mm (prone) and 115 mm (standing) targets from 50 m 
•  The gear behind the sport, from rifle specs to finely tuned skis 
•  How biathlon training builds fitness and mental focus for big-game hunting 
•  Introducing youth to marksmanship through structured, skill-based programs

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This year, Harvest Your Own is expanding—introducing fishing!

Originally designed to grow awareness and participation in hunting across Alberta, the program has reached nearly 90,000 website visits since launching its first podcast episode in July 2020. Now, we’re casting a wider net.

With close to a million anglers in Alberta, this episode dives into the province’s abundant fishing opportunities—from lake aeration and fish stocking to the importance of sustainable fisheries. Our goal remains the same: to educate, inform, empower, and inspire Albertans to get outdoors.

In this episode:

• Nearly 500,000 fishing licences are sold annually (not including youth and seniors) 
• Growing interest in Alberta’s outdoor opportunities—and why we can’t take them for granted 
• Family Fishing Weekends and how they’re getting more people on the water 
• The importance of building public understanding and acceptance of angling 

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A retired race car engineer turned powersports leader, Vince spent nearly two decades building and testing engines for stock, drag, and road racing before opening Cycle Works Motorsports Calgary—now representing 15 major brands. Today, he also serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for Alberta Conservation Association, where he helps bridge the gap between the off-road community and conservation.

In this episode, Vince shares why responsible land use is the “new kind of woodcraft,” how education is key to keeping access open, and what riders can do to protect the landscapes they depend on. Alongside his wife, he’s helped teach Introduction to ATVing courses through AHEIA—combining technical skill with stewardship.

This conversation is about more than machines—it’s about respect, responsibility, and ensuring Alberta’s wild spaces remain open and healthy for generations to come.

Brad and Vince discuss:

• ATVs and recreational vehicles
• Using recreational vehicles in the backcountry, on trails, and around wildlife
• Know where and when you are riding
• Legal requirements
• Support your local fish and game clubs
• Tips and tricks

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Mule deer are one of Alberta’s most recognizable big game animals, but they are also one of the least studied.

In this episode of the Harvest Your Own Podcast, Brad Fenson sits down with wildlife biologist Paul Jones to discuss the Alberta Mule Deer Collaring Project, a new research effort tracking mule deer movement, survival, and habitat use across southern Alberta.

Researchers are using GPS collars deployed by helicopter capture teams to better understand how mule deer move across the landscape, how winter conditions affect survival, and how populations respond to predators, disease, and habitat changes.

The project brings together several conservation partners, including Alberta Conservation Association, Alberta Professional Outfitters Society, Grand Slam Club/Ovis Canada, and the Government of Alberta, with research partners Wilderness Solutions Inc. and EcoBorealis Consulting Inc.

The data collected will help biologists improve how mule deer populations are monitored and managed across Alberta.

Brad and Paul discuss:

• How mule deer are captured and collared
• What researchers are learning about migration and movement
• How winter severity affects mule deer survival
• New technologies being explored for wildlife monitoring
• How landowners and conservation partners are helping support the research

Learn more about the project:
https://albertacollaringproject.com/

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If you’ve ever stood over a chest freezer digging for that one moose roast buried somewhere at the bottom, this episode is for you.

In this BrAdvice episode, Brad Fenson breaks down practical freezer management for wild game hunters. From proper wrapping techniques to colour-coding by species, labelling by year and cut, and building a freezer legend, Brad shares the system he uses to manage deer, elk, moose, bear, birds, and more.

You’ll learn:
• How to wrap wild game for long-term quality
• Why butcher paper and colored burger bags matter
• How to use cloth grocery bags to organize by species and cut
• Why layering meat properly prevents spoilage
• How to track older meat so nothing goes to waste
• When to repurpose cuts into jerky, sausage, or pressure-canned meals

Brad reminds us that hunting is about more than harvesting. It’s about respecting the meat, using it well, and planning ahead.

If you care about wild game storage, freezer organization, and getting the most out of your harvest, this episode will change the way you use your freezer.

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Women in hunting are often talked about. This episode shows what it looks like in real life.

In this Harvest Your Own Podcast, Brad speaks with Leanne Morrison and her daughters about raising girls outdoors, harvesting wild food, and standing behind their values when challenged.

You’ll hear the story of a 12-year-old bow harvest that made headlines, and how that moment led to conservation conversations in a Grade 4 classroom. Brad reflects on what hunting really teaches:

“You can learn something every time you go in the bush… It’s way more than harvesting something.”

This episode explores women in hunting, family hunting traditions, conservation education, and raising confident female hunters who believe they belong in the field.

If you care about girls outdoors, mentorship, and the deeper rewards of hunting, this conversation is worth your time.

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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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