Hosts :Steve Hamilton, Don Willimont –

A brief history of Wild Sheep Society in British Columbia and their evolution as an organization. An overview of the core initiatives in their conservation platforms, the general state of sheep populations in BC and the impact of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (Movi) on BC’s sheep. The connections to the Wild Sheep Foundation and a look at the growth of the WSSBC in membership.

The appeal of sheep hunting and the strength of the community of sheep hunters and WSSBC members. What does it take to become a sheep hunter, what are some of the fundamental considerations when planning a sheep hunt. Aging rams, mental toughness and being prepared for the physical challenges of hunting at altitude and in tough terrain.

1 Campfire and engaging the non-hunting community in an effort to bridge the gaps in understanding and improve social license for the hunting community at large. Wild Sheep Annual Banquet and the role it plays in helping build networks and provide an opportunity to learn more about Sheep, Sheep Hunting and connect to the “family feeling” embodied in the Wild Sheep Society of BC. A Big Shoutout to Omer from Precision Optics for his continued support.

Campfire Confessions – Why we hunt, our best and worst days in the field, the ones that got away and a few other tales.

Our first experiences with hunting. The reasons we go into the field, for food, for a love of the outdoors or to spend time with friends and family. How we develop our skills for hunting and what are our knowledge and skill gaps.

Evolutions of hunters and the changes in the lense we apply to the outdoor world and the changes in our motivations for hunting as a pursuit.

The things that we struggle with in hunting, the moment of the kill, the lack of unity in the hunting community, wounding animals we can’t recover.

The change in hunting as it faces the world in the age of social media. Facebook groups, expanding our community, the role of self-editing and the challenges faced with public infighting within the hunting world.

Worst and best days hunting some personal moments and what does the road ahead look like for hunting.

Episode 3- “A Province, An Economy and A Wildlife Crisis walk into a bar…stop me if you’ve heard this one before…”

Don Willimont, Steve Hamilton, MLA Mike Morris and Michael Schneider discuss the impacts of Resource Development and Forestry on the land base in BC. A brief look at the COVID protocol on LEH draws in 2020, Bring on the Whoosh, Fiddleheads, morels and spring bear. A new initiative for Driftwood Valley Outfitters with Takla First Nation and a guide internship. The 7 Sisters of the North American Conservation Model, the constructs and influence of Theodore Roosevelt. The challenge for Wildlife Mangers in working between the competing interests of economic output versus land and wildlife populations. Are we managing to specific objectives? Are funding models adequate to the need? The impact of trains on wildlife. Moose don’t eat money, moose need action. What levers are available to wildlife managers? Do they have a full tool kit or is opportunity there one mitigation strategy?

Don Willimont, Dustin Snyder and Steve Hamilton take a look at a declining Salmon population in what has been dubbed the BC Salmon Crisis. How did we get here and where do we go? We dicuss exactly that as we talk about the role Government, Hatcheries and everyday people have to play in the situation facing our Province. We cover the Big Bar Landslide and the state of BC Salmon in this full length episode

MLA Mike Morris, Michael Schneider, Dustin Snyder, Steve Hamilton and Don Willimont featured in this episode.

Topics discussed include introductions to the Podcast members, a brief look at COVID in our lives and it’s potential impacts on hunting. A quick overview of the history of wolf hunting in North America. Our individual interactions with wolves in each of our lives. We dive into the controversy around wolf culls as a mitigation tool in Caribou and Moose recovery.

 The struggles of wildlife and land managers in managing without clear objectives. We address the impacts of land disturbance from industry and resource development on both wolves and prey populations. Social and political fall out around predator management in BC, the recent death of Takaya the sea wolf and the success or failure of Primary-Prey reduction in parts of Region 7.