Talk Is Sheep

As British Columbians head to the polls, Talk Is Sheep is giving listeners an opportunity to hear directly from the people seeking to lead our province.

For this special election series, the Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia invited the leaders of all major political parties to join us for conversations about wildlife, habitat, conservation, rural communities and the future of British Columbia.

In this episode, Kyle sits down with Dallas Brodie, interim leader of OneBC, for a wide-ranging conversation about her party’s priorities and vision for the province.

The discussion covers taxation and government spending, healthcare, rural British Columbia, resource development, environmental regulation, firearms policy, wildlife and habitat management, and the role hunters, anglers and conservation organizations should play in provincial decision-making.

On wildlife funding, Brodie says she supports directing revenues generated by users back toward the resources and programs they are intended to support. She also says hunters, anglers and conservation organizations should have a seat at the table when government develops conservation policy.

Brodie also discusses OneBC’s approach to lawful firearms ownership and outlines policies her party is proposing regarding provincial participation in federal firearms programs.

The Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia is a non-partisan conservation organization. We do not endorse any political party or candidate.

The views, policies and positions expressed by Dallas Brodie in this episode are her own and those of OneBC. They should not be interpreted as the views, policies, positions or endorsements of the Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia.

Our purpose with this series is not to tell anyone how to vote. It is to give our members and listeners an opportunity to hear directly from political leaders and better understand where wildlife, habitat, natural resources and conservation fit within their priorities.

We encourage every eligible British Columbian to learn about the issues, listen to the different perspectives, and exercise your democratic right to vote.

And when the election is over, stay engaged. Get to know your MLA, build a relationship and continue making sure wildlife and habitat conservation remain part of the conversation.

????️ Listen now: Talk Is Sheep with Dallas Brodie, Interim Leader of OneBC

Talk Is Sheep is the official podcast of the Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia, presented by SITKA Gear.

This episode is supported by our conservation partner Wild TV. Thank you to SITKA Gear and Wild TV for investing in healthy wildlife and sustainable ecosystems.

As British Columbians head to the polls, Talk Is Sheep is giving listeners an opportunity to hear directly from the people seeking to lead our province.

For this special election series, the Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia invited the leaders of all major political parties to join us for a conversation about wildlife, habitat, conservation, rural British Columbia, and the future of our province.

In this episode, Kyle sits down with Elenore Sturko, leader of the CentreBC Party, for a wide-ranging discussion about her vision for British Columbia and where wildlife and the land fit within it.

The conversation covers the economy and affordability, natural-resource development, the rural-urban divide, access to the land, wildlife and habitat funding, science-based wildlife management, sustainable hunting and angling, the role hunters and conservation organizations can play in conservation, and lawful firearms ownership.

Sturko says CentreBC supports greater investment in wildlife management where science demonstrates the need and speaks about the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems while allowing British Columbians to sustainably hunt, fish and enjoy the outdoors.

The Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia is a non-partisan conservation organization. We do not endorse any political party or candidate. The views, policies and positions expressed by guests on this series are their own and those of their respective parties and should not be interpreted as the views, positions or endorsements of WSSBC.

Our purpose with this series is not to tell anyone how to vote. It is to give our members and listeners an opportunity to hear directly from political leaders and better understand where wildlife, habitat and conservation fit within their priorities.

We encourage every eligible British Columbian to learn about the issues, listen to the different perspectives, and exercise your democratic right to vote.

And engagement shouldn’t end at the ballot box. Following the election, get to know your MLA, build a relationship and continue making sure that wildlife and habitat have a voice in British Columbia.

????️ Listen now: Talk Is Sheep with Elenore Sturko, Leader of the CentreBC Party

Talk Is Sheep is the official podcast of the Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia, presented by SITKA Gear.

This episode is supported by our conservation partner Precision Optics. Thank you SITKA Gear and Precision Optics for investing in healthy wildlife and sustainable ecosystems.

In this episode of Talk Is Sheep, Kyle sits down with Brian Gustafson, Executive Director of the Golden District Rod & Gun Club, and filmmaker Jesse Bone of Filter Studios to talk about the powerful new conservation film, On The Landscape: Bighorn Sheep of the East Kootenays.

The film tells the story of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep living alongside highways, railways, communities and an increasingly changing landscape in British Columbia’s East Kootenays. It also tells the story of the people working to make a difference—scientists, First Nations guardians, wildlife managers, filmmakers and grassroots conservationists coming together to find solutions.

Brian shares the remarkable story of the Golden bighorn herd, which at one point had fallen to just 11 animals, and the work that has helped the herd begin to recover. The conversation explores highway mortality, wildlife fencing and crossings, habitat enhancement, prescribed fire, collaboration with government, and the importance of persistent grassroots conservation.

Jesse takes us behind the camera and explains how the film evolved from what began as a call to action into something much bigger—a celebration of communities across the East Kootenays working together for wildlife. He also shares some incredible stories from filming bighorn sheep along the Trans-Canada Highway and what it was like capturing the very challenges the film was created to highlight.

Now the film is hitting the road.

ON THE LANDSCAPE FILM TOUR

October 20 — Castlegar, Selkirk College

October 21 — Cranbrook, Cranbrook Public Library

October 22 — Fernie, Vogue Theatre

October 23 — Radium Hot Springs, Bighorn Meadows Resort

October 24 — Golden, Kicking Horse Movies

Each screening includes the film, a Q&A with the filmmakers and conservation partners, and draw prizes throughout the evening. Seating is limited at several locations, so we encourage you to register early.

WATCH THE TRAILER, LEARN MORE & REGISTER:

https://otlfilm.ca/

RAFFLE TICKETS SUPPORTING THE CAUSE:

https://rafflebox.ca/raffle/wss-bc-otl/

This is a story about wild sheep, but it is also a story about what can happen when passionate people refuse to accept the status quo.

As Brian says near the end of the episode: come watch the film, talk about the problems—and more importantly, let’s talk about the solutions.



Talk Is Sheep is the official podcast of the Wild Sheep Society of BC, presented by SITKA Gear. This episode is supported by conservation partner Precision Optics.

What happens when two cousins take very different paths into the outdoors—and decide to tell the story together?

Kyle sits down with Joel and Ryan Primus, the creators of Finding Nowhere. Ryan grew up hunting, fishing and exploring remote places in British Columbia. Joel built a business career far from that world before Ryan invited him into the backcountry and helped him learn to hunt.

They share how a goat hunt became the start of a television series, what it takes to film their adventures, and why they want their stories to reach people who have never hunted. The conversation also explores family, food, conservation and the challenge of keeping the show true to who they are as it grows.

Watch Finding Nowhere and learn more at FindingNowhereShow.com, or follow @FindingNowhereShow on Instagram.

Talk Is Sheep is brought to you by SITKA Gear. Thanks to this episode’s conservation partner, YETI, for supporting healthy wildlife and sustainable ecosystems.

On this episode of Talk Is Sheep, Kyle sits down with good friend Ben Berukoff and his daughter Harper for a conversation about a summer adventure neither of them will soon forget.

At 15 years old, Harper is already chasing big goals. A competitive hockey player preparing to move away from home for another season, she understands commitment, hard work, and pushing through discomfort. This summer, those lessons followed her from the rink into the mountains when she joined her dad for her first true backpack sheep hunt.

Ben and Harper take us inside their father-daughter adventure — flying into the backcountry, carrying everything they needed on their backs, climbing into remote sheep country, enduring heavy rain, cold temperatures, sore feet, steep terrain, and discovering just how far the body and mind can go when you keep putting one foot in front of the other.

They also recount an unforgettable encounter with a mature ram. After working their way into just 110 yards, Harper was set up and ready. But when Ben couldn't confidently age the ram beyond seven years, they made the decision to let him walk. It was a powerful lesson that success in the mountains isn't always measured by pulling the trigger.

For Harper, the experience became about much more than hunting. It was about disconnecting from the noise of everyday life, learning what she was capable of, spending uninterrupted time with her dad, and discovering lessons in the mountains that she can carry back onto the ice and into life.

The conversation also turns to conservation and the Berukoff family's long-standing connection to the Wild Sheep Society of BC. Fresh off winning the 10th Anniversary Jurassic Classic, Ben reflects on years of involvement with the event and his hands-on commitment to the Fraser River California bighorn sheep recovery effort.

This episode is about wild sheep, but even more importantly, it's about family, mentorship, conservation, resilience, and creating opportunities for the next generation to fall in love with wild places.

And when Kyle asks Harper whether she caught the sheep hunting bug, her answer says it all:

She'd do it again. One hundred percent.

Presented by @sitkagear

This episode is supported by our conservation partner @precision.optics.

Thank you to Sitka Gear and Precision Optics for investing in healthy wildlife and sustainable ecosystems.

On this episode of Talk Is Sheep, Kyle sits down with Kelli Poole of Global Rescue for a wide-ranging conversation about hunting, wildlife conservation, international adventure—and what happens when the trip you spent months preparing for suddenly goes sideways.

Kelli’s path into the hunting industry is anything but ordinary. With a background in wildlife biology and management, she has worked with wild sheep, contributed to wildlife management projects in Montana and Colorado, and spent time in Central Asia working around Marco Polo sheep, ibex and community-based conservation. Today, she leads the hunting vertical for Global Rescue.

Fresh off a safari in Zambia, Kelli shares stories from Africa, her passion for predator hunting, the incredible biodiversity found on the continent and how different wildlife management models around the world can contribute to healthy wildlife populations.

Then the conversation turns to something every mountain hunter and international traveller should be thinking about: what is your plan when something goes wrong?

A broken leg deep in the backcountry. A serious medical emergency overseas. An accident hundreds of kilometres from appropriate medical care. We spend countless hours preparing our equipment, rifles, bows, fitness and logistics—but emergency planning can easily become an afterthought.

That is why the Wild Sheep Society of BC is proud to be a Global Rescue Safe Travel Partner.

Global Rescue provides medical, security, travel risk and crisis response services around the world, including 24/7/365 medical advisory, field rescue from the point of illness or injury, and medical evacuation to a member’s hospital of choice when required. Their medical memberships do not place limitations on activities—an important consideration for hunters and adventurers heading into remote country.

Without the right protection, an emergency evacuation can cost well over $100,000. More than one million members trust Global Rescue when the unexpected happens.

Global Rescue also offers access to IMG Signature Travel Insurance℠ as an add-on to a Global Rescue membership, helping protect the financial investment you have made in your trip against a variety of unforeseen circumstances.

If you hunt, travel internationally or spend time in remote country, this is a conversation worth hearing before your next adventure.

Learn more about the WSSBC / Global Rescue partnership and explore membership options here:

https://partner.globalrescue.com/wildsheepsociety/index.html

Travel prepared. Hunt hard. And make sure you have a plan for getting home.

Presented by: @sitkagear

This episode is sponsored by our Conservation Partner: @stoneglacier

On this episode of Talk is Sheep, Hana Erikson sits down with Trent Woloschuk, CEO and co-founder of Atlas Edge Mapping, for a conversation that starts with an idea between two hunting partners and ends deep in some of the nastiest sheep country British Columbia has to offer.

Atlas Edge was born after Trent and his business partner, Cole, found themselves searching for a backcountry mapping platform that gave them everything they wanted in one place. Neither came from the tech world—Trent is a pipefitter and Cole a welder—but their passion for mountain hunting, mapping and building something genuinely useful for hunters pushed them to create their own solution.

Trent shares the story behind Atlas Edge, the importance of listening to users, offline mapping, the features still to come, and why keeping the platform accessible to everyday hunters matters to their team.

Then the conversation heads into the mountains.

Trent tells the incredible story of returning for a massive, unmistakable Stone’s ram they had nicknamed Paddles. The hunt became a full-on sheep hunting sufferfest involving brutal elevation, knife-edge ridges, thick alders, dwindling water, heavy packs and a night spent on the mountain without sleeping bags or pads.

It resulted in a truly remarkable old ram—and the culmination of a hunt that had started a year earlier.

Trent also shares an unbelievable story from his childhood when, just before his seventh birthday, he survived a black bear attack near Powell River, BC—an experience that shaped his relationship with wildlife and the outdoors for years afterward.

Most importantly, Atlas Edge has stepped forward as a supporter of wild sheep conservation.

Use promo code SHEEP when signing up for Atlas Edge Premium and receive one free month of Premium.

Atlas Edge will also donate 20% of the value of qualifying annual subscriptions using code SHEEP directly back to the Wild Sheep Society of BC.

And during WSSBC's Mountain Hunting Expo and RAMFEST, Atlas Edge plans to donate 100% of qualifying subscriptions using the SHEEP code back to WSSBC.

That is hunters supporting hunters—and helping put more resources back onto the landscape for wild sheep.

Presented by: @sitkagear

Conservation Partner: @frontiersmengear

Thank you to Sitka Gear and Frontiersmen Gear for investing in healthy wildlife and sustainable ecosystems.

Sheep season is here. You’ve trained, dialed in your gear, studied maps and prepared for the mountains—but have you put the same effort into how you’re going to fuel your hunt?

Kyle Kamp of Valley to Peak Nutrition returns to Talk Is Sheep for another installment in our backcountry nutrition series, and this time we take the conversation directly onto the mountain.

We dig into what a real food plan looks like for a multi-day sheep hunt: how much food to carry, balancing carbohydrates, protein and fat, why “calories per ounce” doesn’t tell the whole story, and how to keep your body fueled when the intensity ramps up.

Kyle shares practical strategies for building your daily food bags, making your own high-performance breakfasts and bars, staying ahead of hydration and electrolyte needs, and eating consistently throughout the day rather than waiting until you’re already running on empty.

We also get into bonking—what’s actually happening when your body runs out of readily available fuel, why trying to simply push through it is a mistake, and how fast-acting carbohydrates can help get you back in the game.

Whether you’re heading into the mountains for 3 days or 14, this episode is packed with information you can put to work immediately.

Backcountry Nutrition Course

Use discount code SHEEPBC for 50% OFF:

Backcountry Nutrition Course

DIY Backcountry Snack, Bar & Breakfast Recipes:

Backcountry Recipes

Backcountry Nutrition Calculator / Pack Planner:

Backcountry Pack Planner

If you’re preparing for a mountain hunt this fall, this is one you’ll want to listen to before you pack your food bag.

Talk Is Sheep is the official podcast of the Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia, brought to you by SITKA Gear. This episode is sponsored by our Conservation Partner YETI.

On this episode of Talk Is Sheep, Kyle Stelter is joined by guest co-host Jann Demaske for a timely and important conversation with Charles Whitwam, Founder and Executive Director of HOWL for Wildlife.

Charles has emerged as one of the leading voices in North America when it comes to mobilizing hunters, anglers, conservationists, and sustainable-use advocates around the issues shaping the future of wildlife management.

What began as an effort to make it easier and more effective for everyday people to communicate with decision-makers has grown into a powerful grassroots movement focused on advocacy, education, collaboration, and making sure the hunting community has a meaningful voice when wildlife policy is being decided.

Kyle, Jann, and Charles dive into Oregon’s Initiative Petition 28, an extraordinary proposal with implications extending far beyond hunting and fishing into agriculture, livestock production, commercial fishing, and the broader relationship between people and animals. Charles also shares his experience sitting down with one of IP28’s chief proponents and discusses the documentary HOWL is producing to bring this conversation to a much wider audience.

The discussion also turns to Colorado, ballot-box wildlife management, Proposition 127, the movement to constitutionally protect the right to hunt and fish, and what can happen when the hunting community stops playing defence and begins thinking proactively.

But this conversation is bigger than any single ballot initiative.

It is about telling our story.

It is about reaching people outside the hunting community, helping the public understand science-based wildlife management and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, and recognizing that if hunters do not tell their own story, someone else will tell it for them.

Charles challenges the hunting industry to think differently, invest in communicating with the non-hunting public, work together across organizations and interests, and recognize the opportunity in front of us.

Engage. Connect. Educate. Show up.

The future of hunting, fishing, sustainable use, and wildlife conservation may depend on it.

Presented by SITKA Gear.

This episode is supported by WSSBC Conservation Partner Precision Optics.

On this episode of Talk is Sheep, we continue our series introducing the people behind the Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia with WSSBC Director Justin Kallusky.

Justin is a lifelong hunter, mountain wanderer, writer, deep thinker—and the hunter behind a world-record Rocky Mountain goat. But this conversation quickly becomes about something much bigger than records, inches or animals on the wall.

Justin shares how hunting has been woven into his life since childhood, how harvesting his incredible mountain goat ultimately changed the direction of his life, and how finding the conservation community gave him a renewed sense of purpose and belonging.

We dive into the evolution of a mountain hunter: ego, intuition, risk, maturity and learning that success in the mountains doesn't always mean pulling the trigger. Justin recounts a solo Stone's sheep hunt where worsening weather, a massive grizzly and a series of warning signs forced him to make one of the hardest decisions a hunter can make—turning around.

The conversation also explores Justin's upcoming Rocky Mountain bighorn hunt, the extraordinary privilege of hunting wild sheep in British Columbia, and why he believes hunters have a responsibility to give something back to the wildlife and wild places that give us so much.

At the heart of the episode is community.

Justin talks about finding his people through the Wild Sheep Society of BC, the friendships and mentorship that exist within the sheep hunting community, and why conservation needs more than followers—it needs members, volunteers, advocates and leaders willing to have conversations and bring others into the fold.

It's an honest, thoughtful and occasionally hilarious conversation about mountain hunting, conservation, responsibility, belonging and what happens when the hunt becomes about far more than the animal.

Presented by: @sitkagear

Supported by: @gunwerks

Join the Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia and become part of the community working to put conservation on the ground and protect wild sheep, wild places and our hunting heritage.