Episode 112: From South Dakota Camps to Alberta’s Turkey Plan with Jim Clarke

Wild turkeys didn’t arrive in Alberta by chance. They arrived because people kept showing up.In this Harvest Your Own episode, Brad sits down with Jim Clarke, one of the key figures behind Alberta’s turkey management plan, to tell the full story of how trap-and-transfer became reality.Jim walks through the early history of turkeys in the province, including the 1962 Cypress Hills release, and explains why those birds didn’t establish as hoped. He then takes listeners inside the years of meetings, resolutions, and conversations that eventually shaped today’s program with Alberta Conservation Association, where turkeys are trapped in B.C., tested, and moved into Alberta.Along the way, you’ll hear about:•A memorable South Dakota hunt where Jim held out for a white-tipped Merriam•How local Fish & Game clubs are helping fund turkey releases•Why winter-hardy eastern turkeys from Quebec could matter for central Alberta•Jim’s long-term hope for a general turkey tag in the provinceIf you’d like more information or want to get involved with turkey work in Alberta, you can reach Jim directly at [email protected] hunting story, part policy history, and part grassroots effort, this episode shows what persistence looks like on the ground.Like the episode or let us know another topic to cover.Find Brad at:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradfenson/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brad.fensonFind Harvest Your Own at:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarvestYourOwnInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/harvestyourownaca/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@harvestyourownacaX/Twitter: https://x.com/harvestyourownWebsite: https://www.harvestyourown.ca/