This is a special release of the Talk is Sheep podcast and a bit of a change from our regular content. We sit down with WSSBC Director, Justin Kallusky to talk about mental health and how outdoor places, wildlife and conservation can play a role in a healthy state of mind.

Justin is most easily recognized as the World Record Mountain Goat holder, however at the Society we certainly know Justin for his deep thinking, respect for wildlife, ability to communicate and his passion for all these things. He shares his personal journey to inner happiness and how the outdoors helped him in difficult times. We commend Justin for having the courage to have these tough conversations.

Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of British Columbia at 1-800-SUICIDE provides a confidential, 24-hour toll-free crisis line for people who are feeling suicidal, are concerned for someone who might be suicidal, or for emotional support. Crisis line workers are able to provide intervention through emergency mental health teams or other emergency services, and may also refer callers to their local crisis centre for additional support and information. Call 1-800-784-2433 or dial 9-8-8 if you are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including thoughts of suicide.

Talk is Sheep is the Official Podcast of the Wild Sheep Society of BC. The official sponsor of the Wild Sheep Society of BC is SITKA Gear and our Conservation Partners - Frontiersmen Gear, Gunwerks, OnX Maps, Precision Optics, Schnee's, Stone Glacier, Wild TV, YETI and Zeiss.

We welcome Thomas Lees to the podcast to talk about hunting in Alaska - in particular, Dall's Sheep hunting. Thomas has grown up hunting with his Dad, Jerry an Alaska legend that has a passion for sheep hunting having taken 40 rams to date.

We talk about how Thomas's upbringing, his most memorable hunts, and what it is like to hunt with a guy like Jerry that is obsessed with sheep hunting and harvesting old, mature rams. We talk about the current state of wild sheep in Alaska and discuss conservation. Thomas is a young guy and he documents his experiences through Instagram @backcountry.alaska and his Youtube channel instagram.com/backcountry.alaska

Talk is Sheep is the Official Podcast of the Wild Sheep Society of BC. The official sponsor of the Wild Sheep Society of BC is SITKA Gear and our Conservation Partners - Frontiersmen Gear, Gunwerks, OnX Maps, Precision Optics, Schnee's, Stone Glacier, Wild TV, YETI and Zeiss.

What no Way! FS!

We welcome the What No Way Guy to the podcast to talk about hunting, conservation, cars and more. Shaun is a true to life influencer and after seeing him take his first elk we had to have him on the podcast. He is a hunter and sustains his family on wild meat.

Shaun is not your every day guy and that is what makes this podcast so special. With 8.5 million followers on social media, to say that his reach is powerful is an understatement. The important part to note is that Shaun is not immediately recognized as a hunter. We talk about the reaction he receives when he posts his hunting content. There are some very interesting take aways in this podcast with Shaun and it was an incredibly engaging and enlightening conversation.

@1Campfire, an initiative of the Wild Sheep Society of BC, works to dispel some of the stereotypes of hunters. Shaun has done a great job in breaking down these stereotypes and reaching the non-hunting public with the importance of harvesting your own sustainable, free range organic wild meat.

Check Shaun out at @whatnooowaaay.

Talk is Sheep is the Official Podcast of the Wild Sheep Society of BC. The official sponsor of the Wild Sheep Society of BC is SITKA Gear and our Conservation Partners - Frontiersmen Gear, Gunwerks, OnX Maps, Precision Optics, Schnee's, Stone Glacier, Wild TV, YETI and Zeiss.

We welcome Matt Ward to the podcast. Matt is an ardent WSSBC volunteer, lead of our Ruck in the Park and Ruck in the Shulaps programs and a die hard sheep hunter that just got kicked out of the less than one club.

We sit down and speak to Matt about his fall and his incredible Stone's Sheep. Matt and his hunting partners had an epic trip deep into sheep terrain and came out with a story and a ram. He also talks about a new program the Society is leading called Fitness, Conservation, Community. Have a listen as Matt discusses what is in store for 2025.

Talk is Sheep is the Official Podcast of the Wild Sheep Society of BC. The official sponsor of the Wild Sheep Society of BC is SITKA Gear and our Conservation Partners - Frontiersmen Gear, Gunwerks, OnX Maps, Precision Optics, Schnee's, Stone Glacier, Wild TV, YETI and Zeiss.

We welcome PNW Huntress Sara Gamache to the podcast to talk hunting, women in the outdoors, conservation and more. Sara, through a lifetime of hunting had gained the reputation of being a true huntress and is lethal with a stick and string. She has grown an affinity for more challenging hunts as her success has escalated and her latest pursuit is dangerous games with archery equipment.

Sara is a fierce advocate for getting women and kids involved in the outdoors and hunting. She talks about the many retreats she has supported and regales us with some of her most memorable experiences in the great outdoors.

Check out Sara at @pnw_huntress

Introduction starts at 0:42

Interview starts at 14:00

Talk is Sheep is brought to you by our Title Sponsor, MTNTOUGH Fitness Labs.

We partnered with MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab to help get you in shape and mentally stronger. Whether you are a veteran hunter or just starting, the MTNTOUGH app will take you to the next level. We've personally trained using the MTNTOUGH programs and we believe in it so much that we want to give you 6 weeks for free using code: SHEEPBC. Visit: http://lab.mtntough.com/checkout/subscribe/purchase?code=sheepbc&plan=monthly

Talk is Sheep is the Official Podcast of the Wild Sheep Society of BC. The official sponsor of the Wild Sheep Society of BC is SITKA Gear and our Conservation Partners - Frontiersmen Gear, Gunwerks, OnX Maps, Precision Optics, Schnee's, Stone Glacier, Wild TV, YETI and Zeiss.

We welcome Coloradan John Legnard to the podcast to discuss wolves and their repatriation in Colorado. John is a dedicated conservationist and a concerned citizen of Colarado.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission approved the final Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan in May 2023, clearing the way for CPW biologists to reintroduce gray wolves west of the Continental Divide and meet the voter-approved deadline of reintroduction by December 31, 2023.

John shares with us how many rural ranchers feel about the plan and some of their concerns. It is clear that acquiring wolf source stock has been challenging for the State and John and many others are asking for a pause while the State gets their cards in order. They have asked BC to pause from the approval and allow for another year of getting systems in place to allow for broader success of the reintroduction.

Talk is Sheep is brought to you by our Title Sponsor, MTNTOUGH Fitness Labs.

We partnered with MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab to help get you in shape and mentally stronger. Whether you are a veteran hunter or just starting, the MTNTOUGH app will take you to the next level. We've personally trained using the MTNTOUGH programs and we believe in it so much that we want to give you 6 weeks for free using code: SHEEPBC. Visit: http://lab.mtntough.com/checkout/subscribe/purchase?code=sheepbc&plan=monthly

Talk is Sheep is the Official Podcast of the Wild Sheep Society of BC. The official sponsor of the Wild Sheep Society of BC is SITKA Gear and our Conservation Partners - Frontiersmen Gear, Gunwerks, OnX Maps, Precision Optics, Schnee's, Stone Glacier, Wild TV, YETI and Zeiss.

We sit down to talk politics on this addition of Talk is Sheep with the BC provincial elections around the corner. British Columbians will be going to the polls onOctober 19, 2024.

Please note that the Wild Sheep Society of BC is not advocating for any particular party as we are a non-partisan not-for-profit organization. Any issues raised or reference to any specific parties is the opinion of the participant and not that of the Wild Sheep Society of BC.

We do highly encourage everyone to vote in the upcoming election if you are able. Be sure to learn about the candidate in your riding and vote.

Talk is Sheep is brought to you by our Title Sponsor, MTNTOUGH Fitness Labs.

We partnered with MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab to help get you in shape and mentally stronger. Whether you are a veteran hunter or just starting, the MTNTOUGH app will take you to the next level. We've personally trained using the MTNTOUGH programs and we believe in it so much that we want to give you 6 weeks for free using code: SHEEPBC. Visit: http://lab.mtntough.com/checkout/subscribe/purchase?code=sheepbc&plan=monthly

Talk is Sheep is the Official Podcast of the Wild Sheep Society of BC. The official sponsor of the Wild Sheep Society of BC is SITKA Gear and our Conservation Partners - Frontiersmen Gear, Gunwerks, OnX Maps, Precision Optics, Schnee's, Stone Glacier, Wild TV, YETI and Zeiss.

We welcome Kris Wrathall to the podcast to talk about mountain hunting, getting kids into the backcountry and we touch on WSSBC's 2025 Mountain Hunting Expo.

Kris is an accomplished mountain hunter and was involved in the early days with the Wild Sheep Society of BC. We talk about the early days, Kris's journey back to the Society and we discuss the expo part of our Penticton Salute to Conservation and Mountain Hunting event.

This fall Kris brought along his sixteen year old son Parker on a goat hunt. We discuss strategies to get your kids involved in the outdoors, how to make the experience positive and Kris tells us what a 20 yard grizz encounter was like with Parker stepping up to ensure a safe outcome.

Kris joined our team just over a year ago and has been an incredible asset both in the board room and beyond. You are going to enjoy this visit with BC mountain hunter and WSSBC Monarch Member Kris Wrathall.

Talk is Sheep is brought to you by our Title Sponsor, MTNTOUGH Fitness Labs.

We partnered with MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab to help get you in shape and mentally stronger. Whether you are a veteran hunter or just starting, the MTNTOUGH app will take you to the next level. We've personally trained using the MTNTOUGH programs and we believe in it so much that we want to give you 6 weeks for free using code: SHEEPBC. Visit: http://lab.mtntough.com/checkout/subscribe/purchase?code=sheepbc&plan=monthly

Talk is Sheep is the Official Podcast of the Wild Sheep Society of BC. The official sponsor of the Wild Sheep Society of BC is SITKA Gear and our Conservation Partners - Frontiersmen Gear, Gunwerks, OnX Maps, Precision Optics, Schnee's, Stone Glacier, Wild TV, YETI and Zeiss.