EP 597: Learn, Laugh and Pay It Forward with Kyle Stelter of the Wild Sheep Society of BC

In the early months of 2026, the Wild Sheep Society of BC will yet again be hosting two of the best events in the mountain and backcountry hunting and conservation space: their Northern Fundraiser and Mountain Hunting Expo & Salute to Conservation.  Kyle Stelter, CEO of the WSSBC, hopped on the mics to chat about these incredible events and all the reasons to attend. Whether you're new to the mountain hunting space or a seasoned backpack hunter, there is simply no question that these shows are more than worth the price of admission. If you live in an adjacent province or state and love mountain and backcountry hunting, these events are not to be missed.  NOTABLE QUOTES:  "There are ton of great shows out there, but we really wanted to focus on that mountain hunting community, and we've been true to that."  @wildsheepsocietybc  REGISTER FOR THE 2026 MOUNTAIN HUNTING EXPO  REGISTER FOR THE 2026 NORTHERN FUNDRAISER   ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has set the standard for premium optics. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and the new CRF MAX rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Don't miss out on Canada's best mountain hunting and conservation expo! The 2026 Wild Sheep Society of BC's Salute to Conservation Mountain Hunting Expo will sell out fast. Get your tickets now!  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  Go to Wild Sheep Society of BC to become a member, enter raffles, buy merch and support BC's wild sheep populations.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.   

After ruffling more than a few feathers a couple episodes back, Nolan Osborne returns to expand on the pointed opinions voiced as it relates to rifles, shooting, ethics, tech, and gear.   NOTABLE QUOTES:  "At what point do we actually just advance so far with technology that regulations are going to be altered to decrease our opportunities?"  @nmo   Terminus Mountain Outfitters  Alpine Riflecraft  ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has set the standard for premium optics. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and the new CRF MAX rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Don't miss out on Canada's best mountain hunting and conservation expo! The 2026 Wild Sheep Society of BC's Salute to Conservation Mountain Hunting Expo will sell out fast. Get your tickets now!  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  Go to Wild Sheep Society of BC to become a member, enter raffles, buy merch and support BC's wild sheep populations.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.   

On this episode, Sam Hodson, President of BC's LandQuest® Realty Corporation, unpacks how to achieve the dream of owning a rural or recreational property and why, in most cases, land is an investment you won't ever regret.  Sam is also an avid hunter and outdoorsman and shares a great Roosevelt elk hunting story to kick off the episode. From recreational hunting and fishing properties to leaving the city to live on that rural property you've always dreamed of, Sam covers the ins and outs of how to make owning a piece of land in BC, regardless of where you live, a reality.  NOTABLE QUOTES:  "The best time to buy something is right now."   @landquestrealty  LANDQUEST.COM   ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has set the standard for premium optics. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and the new CRF MAX rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Don't miss out on Canada's best mountain hunting and conservation expo! The 2026 Wild Sheep Society of BC's Salute to Conservation Mountain Hunting Expo will sell out fast. Get your tickets now!  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  Go to Wild Sheep Society of BC to become a member, enter raffles, buy merch and support BC's wild sheep populations.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.   

On this episode, the enigmatic Nolan Osborne is back. Fresh off his guiding season in Northern BC, we get some stories but, more than anything else, a salty guide rant about what makes a truly versatile hunting rifle and why he thinks the community may be losing the plot when it comes to choosing what to take afield.  NOTABLE QUOTES:  "Whatever happened to being comfortable shooting a rifle that didn't have a 17-ounce trigger, that didn't weigh f&#king ten pounds, didn't have a muzzle brake on it, and actually having some fundamentals with something that's not basically a cheat code."  @nmo  Terminus Mountain Outfitters  Alpine Riflecraft   ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has set the standard for premium optics. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and the new CRF MAX rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Don't miss out on Canada's best mountain hunting and conservation expo! The 2026 Wild Sheep Society of BC's Salute to Conservation Mountain Hunting Expo will sell out fast. Get your tickets now!  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  Go to Wild Sheep Society of BC to become a member, enter raffles, buy merch and support BC's wild sheep populations.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.   

On this episode, Dagan Van Oosten, one of the co-founders of Nomadic Research shares the story behind the brand and their incredibly well-priced and well-built products.  There is no shortage of options in today's outdoor gear market. But, how do you really know whether you're buying something that will live up to the marketing hype and promises? Are you really getting what you paid for or being duped by buzzwords and slick content?   If you've never heard of Nomadic Research, it's a brand that's worth a hard look, especially if your lifestyle spans a variety of outdoor pursuits and adventures. Dagan and his co-founder are proof that when you put the end-user first, good things happen.  NOTABLE QUOTES:  "What Matt and I are trying to do is build a brand but moreover trust, and gain trust in our followers, in our customers and build that community through that trust."  @nomadic_research  @realhubb_mccann  ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has set the standard for premium optics. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and the new CRF MAX rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Don't miss out on Canada's best mountain hunting and conservation expo! The 2026 Wild Sheep Society of BC's Salute to Conservation Mountain Hunting Expo will sell out fast. Get your tickets now!  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  Go to Wild Sheep Society of BC to become a member, enter raffles, buy merch and support BC's wild sheep populations.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.   

On this episode, Alaska resident and avid backcountry hunter, Paul Forward, shares some of the concerning conservation issues occurring in his home state, in particular in and around the world-famous Brooks Range.  The tension between economic development and opportunity and protecting the wild places and species that inhabit those wild places isn't new. The North American Model of Conservation proves we can find a compromise. But, as populations grow and resource independence becomes more and more important for both the US and Canada, what legacy will our generation of hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts leave for our children and grandchildren?  LEARN MORE & TAKE ACTION  NOTABLE QUOTES:  "There needs to be some limitation and pushback and protection in place, and that was the message that hunters brought to the world from North America. It started here and spread out to the rest of the planet."  @paulforward  ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has set the standard for premium optics. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and the new CRF MAX rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Don't miss out on Canada's best mountain hunting and conservation expo! The 2026 Wild Sheep Society of BC's Salute to Conservation Mountain Hunting Expo will sell out fast. Get your tickets now!  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  Go to Wild Sheep Society of BC to become a member, enter raffles, buy merch and support BC's wild sheep populations.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.   

On this episode, founder and owner of Frontiersmen Gear, Tanner Dannish is back to talk about some of his Northern BC adventures from the 2025 hunting season, including a boat-based moose and goat hunt story that is especially entertaining.  Big T also covers some of the gear that impressed him over this season's hunts, how he approaches gear decisions, and more importantly how he chooses what companies to support when it's time to upgrade or replace something in your kit.   NOTABLE QUOTES:  "I'm not a boat guy, but I've come to know that there are certain lakes in the north that just get windy, especially late in the season, and they blow up."  @frontiersmengear  ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has set the standard for premium optics. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and the new CRF MAX rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Don't miss out on Canada's best mountain hunting and conservation expo! The 2026 Wild Sheep Society of BC's Salute to Conservation Mountain Hunting Expo will sell out fast. Get your tickets now!  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  Go to Wild Sheep Society of BC to become a member, enter raffles, buy merch and support BC's wild sheep populations.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.   

On this episode, James Nash returns to do what he does better than just about anyone in this community, and that's bring his immense curiosity to bear on a variety of topics.  You'll hear a harrowing hunting story from his first trip to Africa, his lessons learned over his elk guiding career, that to date, has resulted in roughly 150 bull elk tags cut, his perspectives on the gear that really matters, and why when push comes to shove, the best thing you can do is just get started, whether that's in hunting or some other goal you've set your sights on.    NOTABLE QUOTES:  "My best guess is that 50% - 60% of elk that are hit with arrows are not recovered and it could be higher than that. When I talk to outfitters, their experience is about 50% and that's with professional guides who are going to be looking extremely hard for those animals."  @6ranchoutfitters   ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has set the standard for premium optics. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and the new CRF MAX rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Don't miss out on Canada's best mountain hunting and conservation expo! The 2026 Wild Sheep Society of BC's Salute to Conservation Mountain Hunting Expo will sell out fast. Get your tickets now!  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  Go to Wild Sheep Society of BC to become a member, enter raffles, buy merch and support BC's wild sheep populations.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.   

On this episode, repeat guest Colton Bagnoli is back to share his absolute obsession with hunting Africa after yet another trip to South Africa and to give his honest and raw opinion on whether the new cartridges that have hit the market lately are actually worth considering.  "Pap" as he's better known doesn't mince words when it comes to why Africa is worth considering, regardless of your budget, and the many reasons for making it a priority in your future hunting plans. And, as someone deeply involved in the shooting and firearms space, his takes on many of the newer cartridges that have been released is not to be missed.  NOTABLE QUOTES:  "If you just plink around, you have no business shooting an animal at 1,000 yards."  @papwinkle  CRUSADER SAFARIS  ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has set the standard for premium optics. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and the new CRF MAX rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Don't miss out on Canada's best mountain hunting and conservation expo! The 2026 Wild Sheep Society of BC's Salute to Conservation Mountain Hunting Expo will sell out fast. Get your tickets now!  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  Go to Wild Sheep Society of BC to become a member, enter raffles, buy merch and support BC's wild sheep populations.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.   

On this episode, Zack Boughton of Montana Wild returns to talk about the unique challenges of hunting antelope on the wide-open prairie, some of his recent elk hunting adventures, the current state of the influencer/ambassador/sponsored ecosystem, and why he thinks Leica has made the biggest leap in the premium glass market.  DUSTY TRAILS – MT ANTELOPE HUNT  @zackboughton  @montanawild   ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has set the standard for premium optics. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and the new CRF MAX rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Get FREE SHIPPING from Spartan Precision Equipment with code BTK25 and be sure to check out their new Springbok line of products.  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.