I've always known that cougars tend to avoid humans, with only a few close calls while sneaking around in the woods. However, this summer has seen several unusual encounters with cougars in Whistler and Squamish, including instances of cougars stalking hikers and chasing mountain bikers in popular recreation areas. I was curious about the reasons behind this behaviour, so I reached out to wildlife biologist Julie Thomas. In our conversation, Julie discusses her research on cougars in central Bri...
Aug 16, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 104
In recent years, I have grown increasingly interested in kelp. It's delicious and nutritious, and at many places I roam, it's abundant for harvesting. I wanted to know more, so I asked Eric Warner, a seaweed and kelp enthusiast, to join me on the podcast. In this conversation, Eric Warner discusses his passion for seaweed and the project Self Kelp, which aims to educate the public about the importance of seaweed and its culinary uses. The discussion covers the decline of kelp forests, the benefi...
Jul 09, 2025•49 min•Ep. 103
Is hunting good for wildlife and conservation? As hunters, we attempt to convey the story of how hunters contribute to conservation. We identify as conservationists and espound on our contributions to wildlife management efforts. These actions and connections are often unseen or not understood. It's a complex story to tell, and so I invited Robbie Kroger of Blood Origins to help better understand how to convey the role of hunting in wildlife management and conservation to those outside our commu...
Jun 07, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 102
Miki and I take you on a hunting adventure to South Africa in this episode. Just over a year ago, we bid on a trip to Africa at the Wild Sheep Society of BC's conservation fundraiser auction. A year later, we were welcomed by the Bosveld Jacobs Safari team on the other side of the world. Travelling away from home to hunt has been a foreign concept for me. Hunting in a place without connection to the place, the people, and the animals raises many questions about how this can fit together and alig...
Apr 06, 2025•2 hr 27 min•Ep. 101
Join us for a coastal goat hunt with Spencer Greening La'goot and Adam Foss as they recap their coastal goat mountain hunt in Gitga'at Territory. This was a wet and challenging hunt and offered an opportunity for reflection and learning from Indigenous knowledge and practice from time immemorial. In this episode, Dylan, Adam, and Spencer dive into the deep connections between hunting, personal growth, and cultural traditions. They explore the balance between family responsibilities and outdoor a...
Feb 14, 2025•2 hr 6 min•Ep. 100
After a successful whitetail hunt, we are recording this podcast from the wall tent. I am joined by Miki, Jenny P, Rob and his daughter Bella. This is our first whitetail camp without the old boys.... our mentors, and elders. The barriers that come with aging prevented Geoff, Pete and Larri from being able to join. It's been 35 years of whitetail camps for me and over 50 years for the old boys. So what's next for whitetail camp? Podcast summary: We reflect on the importance of mentorship, commun...
Jan 13, 2025•59 min•Ep. 99
In this episode of the EatWild Podcast, I’m joined by Jody Peck on my first-ever private land hunting trip in the Peace Country. Jody, a wild chef and a key part of our team, invited me to hunt on her family’s private land. Join us on the hunt as we look over the expanse of the wildlife-rich country and puzzle out how we will make for a successful hunt. While sitting in the truck blind, we explore what it’s like to hunt large, open fields—where spotting animals is easy, but closing the distance ...
Dec 05, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 98
In this episode of the EarWild Podcast, we are handing out Mike Morash. Mike is a hunter and food enthusiast. Mike shares his relationship to food and hunting in the documentary series The Land Provides, which explores themes of hunting, food security, and people's deep connections with the land. We discuss the spirituality of hunting, the ethics involved, memorable experiences in the field, and practical tips for gear. The conversation highlights the importance of community and conservation in ...
Nov 08, 2024•58 min•Ep. 97
Frankie Foss of Foss Media joins me on the podcast to discuss backcountry food and meal planning for outdoor adventures. Frankie spends most of the year either in the mountains producing amazing adventure stories or planning and packing for the next adventure. So, I am asking Frankie about the importance of enjoying and nourishing meals in the mountains and sharing their favourite meals and brands. Frankie emphasizes the value of high-quality ingredients and the satisfaction of knowing where you...
Sep 21, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 96
I am trying something new here. I am recording this podcast solo and sharing my hunt packing plan and the gear I bring for my upcoming elk hunt. I am very curious how this lands with the EatWild audience. If this podcast translates for you, then let me know and I'll share more like this. Here is my Adventure Hunt Planning List . Feel free to follow along on this podcast as I share how I organize, plan, and pack for my hunt. This is a general list. There is no guarantee this is has everything you...
Aug 25, 2024•59 min•Ep. 95
Ashley and Jason gifted us a fly-in hunting adventure as a wedding present. Wow! What a generous gift, and clearly, these amazing friends know us well. In August 2023, after a year of excitement and planning, Miki, Ashley, Jason, and I were loaded up in a float plane and flying deep into the Cassiar wilderness in Northern BC. Join us on our 2023 Cassiar Mountain hunting adventure. Miki, Ashley, and Jay will guide us through this epic hunting adventure while on the hunt taking refuge from the sto...
Jul 13, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 94
In this conversation, Rydell and Dylan discuss the art of spotting game in the wilderness. They share tips and strategies for effective glassing, including the importance of patience, calibrating your eyes to size at a distance, and looking for outlines, curves, and unnatural shapes. They also discuss the benefits of using binocular mounts and tripods for stability and comfort. Rydell shares his experience of developing the Bino Clamp, a lightweight and low-profile binocular mount. They talk abo...
Jun 27, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 93
I am joined by Tanis Barkman, a mountain hunting guide and enthusiast for all things adventures. In addition to sharing the most epic story of a shattered foot on a hunt, Tanis shares her passion for guiding in the mountains and the expectations and challenges of achieving success as a guide. Tanis shares their personal journey of becoming a hunter. Tanis discusses the pressure of once-in-a-lifetime hunts and the types of hunting clients. The conversation touches on the drive for bigger and bett...
May 06, 2024•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 92
In this episode of the EatWild Podcast, we are joined David Moskowitz , author of "Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, Tracking and Identifying Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Invertebrates." David, a biologist, photographer, and outdoor educator, shares his expertise on wildlife tracking and the importance of understanding animal behavior to connect better with nature. He discusses his tracking workshops, including upcoming ones in BC and the Pacific Northwest, offering insights into hi...
Mar 25, 2024•54 min•Ep. 91
In this episode, I am joined by hunting guide and conservationist Nolan Osborne. Nolan and I were due for a catch-up as we look ahead to the bear hunting season and the upcoming Wild Sheep Foundation Solute to Conservation and Mountain Huntain Expo. Over the years, Nolan and I have had deep conversations on the ethics associated with hunting. Last week, a notable Canadian hunting content creator was found guilty of several poaching charges in B.C. and Alberta. This disappointing news made some b...
Feb 21, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 90
I am joined by sheep hunter Mya Blackburn. Mya shares her passion for hunting and the experience of growing up in a hunting family. Mya takes us on a hunting adventure that is a wild tale in the mountains with an incredible outcome. It was a ton of fun to connect with Mya, so enjoy! If you want to learn more about how to hunt me and the EatWild team, join us for a workshop or course . We have recently released a series of online hunting courses for you to deepen your knowledge and hone your stra...
Jan 20, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 89
Mike Bridger shares his process for finding and hunting big whitetail bucks. Mike breaks down his process of e-scouting, placing trail cameras, stand placement and putting as shares the story of hunting Chuck, a once-in-a-lifetime buck. In the conversation, we compare the experiences of still hunting and sitting. We discuss the scouting process and key features to look for, as well as the importance of access and wind direction in setting up hunting sites. We talk about the challenges of calling...
Dec 22, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 88
Trying to be invisible. Quietly sneaking through the woods, waiting, listening, and observing. Meticulously searching the forest with your eyes for a flicker of movement or a fraction of a silhouette. This is the essence of still hunting. In this episode, I am joined by my hunting mentor, Geoff Horsfield. Geoff taught me how to hunt. Geoff is a master still hunter, and I can still remember our first hunt together 35 years ago where he showed me how to sneak up on a whitetail. Geoff and I are war...
Nov 22, 2023•54 min•Ep. 87
This is a fun episode. I am stoked to share Jenny's first elk story with you. Throughout this episode, we discuss our thought process for deciding where to go elk hunting. We evaluate the four critical parts of choosing a spot to hunt. Quality habitat, presence of elk, huntability and potential hunting pressure. All these factor into our decision-making process for planning our 2023 pack rafting adventure. We discuss the pros and cons of hunting the three-point season versus the six-point season...
Oct 25, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 86
We are talking about how to hunt mature Mule Deer timber bucks! Jordan Kowalchuk of @bcbackcountry joins me, and he shares his passion and process for hunting mature bucks. For Jordan, preparing for a successful hunt is a year-round process and can take years to come to fruition. We talk about habitat, hunt timing, strategies, processes for finding mature deer and strategies for hunting. I learned a ton in my conversation with Jordan, and I can't wait to get out on the hunt. If you like this typ...
Sep 25, 2023•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 85
In this episode, we're talking elk. More specifically, we're talking elk calling. I've asked Bill Ayer of Slayer Calls to come join me and talk about innovations in elk calls to help make elk calling a little bit more accessible. I found Slayer calls because I was looking for an alternative to help me improve my elk callling technique. I have always opted to go with external tube and handheld calls that produce consistent elk sounds, and I rely more on my setup for my success than my calling pro...
Aug 26, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 84
Bill Jex is a wildlife biologist for the Province of BC, and he is the wild sheep and mountain goat specialist who leads the management of these tremendous mountain species. I have asked Bill to join me on the podcast to share his knowledge on mountain goats and how they are managed in BC. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to talk goats with Bill. Bill is a great storyteller, and he is generous in sharing his knowledge about goats. In the conversation, he helps us better understand t...
Jul 31, 2023•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 83
Chef Dan Hayes joins me on this episode. He's known as the London Chef. You may have seen him on the Moose Meat and Marmalade Show , where he teams up with Art Napoleon, an indigenous hunter and a cook. Dan is from England and is a classically trained chef, and the show follows them on adventures visiting indigenous communities across Canada. They hunt, cook a little bit, and tell stories along the way, and it's fascinating. I wanted to talk to Dan about connecting people to hunting through food...
Jun 29, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 82
How long does it take to ride a horse across 15,000,000 acres of Northern Rocky Mountain wilderness? In this episode, I’m joined by Wayne Sawchuk. Wayne is a conservationist, author, adventurer, cowboy, and wilderness enthusiast. Wayne led the initiative to protect a vast wilderness area in the Northern Rockies, now protected under the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area. I’m excited to talk to him about what wilderness means and what it takes to have an authentic wilderness experience. The Muskwa-Ke...
May 31, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 81
Some stories can only be told properly around a campfire in an elk camp. This is one of them. My good friend Stephanie embarked on a two-day horse trip in the mountains in August, and everything went wrong. Stephanie tells the story of coping with tragedy and takes us on a journey to survive. I am very fortunate to have heard the story and to share it with the EatWild community. Thank you, Stephanie. You are an inspiration, and I am happy you sorted things out with Mother Nature. As always, this...
May 03, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 80
Is bow hunting for you? I have pondered this question over the years of hunting. If you are new to hunting or well on your hunting journey, you have likely asked this question too. In this episode, I am joined by Adam Foss. Adam is a professional photographer and is known throughout the community as an exceptional bow hunter. As I have got to know Adam over the past couple of years, I've been inspired to pick up my bow and start my journey as a bow hunter. I've invited Adam on the podcast to dis...
Mar 31, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 79
I rely on my phone more every year to be precise and advance my hunting process. The smartphone has become an essential tool for navigation, communication, research, documentation, and much more. In this episode, I am on a late-season Mule Deer hunting with my friend Adam Pospischil. Adam is one of those hunters that is consistently successful in his hunts. He is a self-thought hunter and his success is built on his pre-hunt research, reliance on data interpretation, use of technology, and lots ...
Mar 03, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 78
This episode is all about blacktail deer and blacktail hunting. Since moving back to the sunshine coast, I’ve had time to focus on the elusive Blacktail deer. After 10 seasons of poking around these woods, I finally learned enough blacktail hunting lessons that a hunt came together for me. In this episode, I got a chance to catch up with my friend Travis Kayes. Travis is a relatively new hunter that came through the EatWild program. He is dedicated and passionate about chasing Blacktail deer nea...
Jan 29, 2023•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 77
If you’re a hunter, you probably dream of a horse-hunting adventure. I know I do! Horse hunting brings the promise of accessing remote wilderness areas with the comfort of horses doing the work to pack the harvest back to the trailhead. Before you saddle up on adventures like this, there’s lots to learn. Horses are a lot of work and it’s a huge commitment. But what a special way to travel and hunt! So it’s worth a listen to find out what horse hunting is all about. I’ve been invited by my friend...
Dec 16, 2022•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 76
I love elk hunting. I also love exploring. I managed to talk my friends Spencer Greening and Adam Foss into joining me on the quest to find Elk Heaven. I had an idea about a river that might be bountiful with elk without any hunting pressure. The packrafts were the ideal mode of transportation to set out on an expedition to find Elk Heaven. Spencer Greening is an academic studying indigenous approaches to wildlife management, and Adam Foss is a professional photographer that works in the hunting...
Nov 10, 2022•2 hr 23 min•Ep. 75
