Gamekeeper Podcast

This week, we have a truly special guest, Mr. Marlin Watkins from the hills of eastern Ohio, to explain the history and traditions of fall turkey hunting in the Northeast. The man is a legendary call maker and a gifted turkey hunter who is passionate about his dogs busting fall flocks, allowing him to call the birds back together. It was interesting to hear him explain the strategy and how the different age birds behave. We were shocked to hear him say he had fall long beards sometimes gobble...

This week we have another conversation with Flip Pallot and we’re also joined by two of our favorite Gamekeepers Jeff Foxworthy and Glenn Garner. Flip tells the fresh story of the largest whitetail he has killed, which happened that morning! We all discuss the allure of hunting big whitetail bucks and how it has strained many marriages, careers, friendships and much more. But why? We ask just what is it about white-tailed deer that makes us all so crazy for them? We also hear a hilarious snor...

This week we are joined by Gene and Barry Wensel to discuss their amazing deer hunting career. The Wensel brothers are legendary for getting bucks up close for bow shots and their ability to read sign associated with mature bucks. There are a lot of stories told and along the way we ask questions to help us all understand how they pick the right tree. It’s a fun one! Listen, Learn and Enjoy. Show Notes:Brothers of the Bow: https://www.facebook.com/p/Brothers-of-the-Bow-100064535420591/ &...

This week we're joined by a truly special guest: the legendary Flip Pallot. Renowned for his exceptional fishing skills and deep passion for bowhunting whitetails, Flip is someone we’ve admired for years. We always felt we were kindred spirits, and finally, we got the chance to share a camp and dive into meaningful conversation. During our time together, he shared the unforgettable story of his first buck and opened up about what bowhunting means to him. At 82 years old, Flip brings a wealth ...

This week, we are captivated by Dr. Robbie Godwin’s harrowing account of his recent elk hunting accident where a broadhead pierced his chest. Alone on a remote New Mexico mountain without cell service and a malfunctioning handheld radio, Robbie was forced to be both the patient and the doctor. Faced with life-altering decisions—should he risk pulling out the broadhead and severe bleeding, wait four hours for his outfitter to reach him at dark or try to walk out for help?—this story is a gripp...

This week, we’re joined by bow hunter Tommy Allen of Ohio, who recently harvested a once-in-several-lifetimes buck—a 216-inch typical giant he named Zeus. Tommy shares the incredible story and history behind this legendary deer, from passing on him a year earlier to give him time to grow, to dealing with neighbors hunting him, and Zeus becoming camera-shy and shifting his home range. We were captivated by Tommy’s determination, patience, and ability to stay calm when it mattered most. It’s an...

This week we dive into the process of acquiring a suppressor/silencer. Brandon Maddox, the Founder of Silencer Central, joins us to explain trusts vs individual purchases, the new improved process and much more. We love the idea of reducing noise pollution on our farms and the silencer seems like a perfect tool to help a Gamekeeper when harvesting does. Squirrel hunters swear by them. Adults and especially kids can benefit from the reduced decibel exposure and recoil. They just make sen...

This week we are joined by a very special guest, 84-year-old Dr. Joe Bumgardner to discuss the intricate details of what actually causes the demise of a bow-shot deer. The many skinning shed autopsies he has performed has helped him diagnosis cause and correlate it with blood sign and the length of the blood trail. He has analyzed and explains all this to help bow hunters and gun hunters evaluate their hits and make smart decisions. Dr. Bumgardner also tells the story of his latest Mississipp...

This week we have a very sobering podcast that everyone who hunts from an elevated stand could benefit from a listen. Did you know that one in three hunters will fall from a tree during their hunting career? Many of these accidents are life changing. We’re joined by two hunters who were in different seasons of their lives when they fell from tree stands. A seasoned older hunter, Tony Rossetti, fell before daylight when a wooden step gave away and he lay all day and wasn’t found until la...

This week we are joined in studio by Malcom Reed and Mikey Dyer of How to BBQ Right fame. We discuss deer camp life and how cooking can be a center piece for bringing everyone together. Malcom manages a property in North Mississippi and we learn what he is doing to improve the hunting and we also ask him lots of questions about camp cooking. From squirrels to bone in ribeye’s we get educated by a master griller and learn how to BBQ Right. Deer Camp is a special place, made even more spe...

This week we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the publishing of Aldo Leopold’s timeless classic book, A Sand County Almanac. We are joined by Dr. Curt Meine and Buddy Huffaker of the Aldo Leopold Foundation and our own Daniel Haas who has a fascination with the topic. We learn about Aldo’s early years, his interest in hunting and the journey of how he came to be known as the father of modern wildlife management while helping create awareness of environmental ethics. It’s an inspiring d...

This week we have David Smith, the president of the Mississippi Dog Hunters Association, to discuss deer hunting with dogs. Chasing deer with dogs is a long lived tradition in the Deep South. Clubs exists that lease/hunt thousands of acres and turn out hundreds of dogs. We ask the obvious questions about traditions, how it started, how they operate, their strategy, do they try to manage their herds and of course, how they get along with neighbors that don’t dog hunt. There is a lot more...

On this bonus Dr. Steve Ditchkoff of Auburn University joins us to explain the phenomenon piebald deer. We’ve all either experienced one in the wild or seen a picture on social media. They can be odd looking deer with short legs, humped noses, noticeable overbite and they can also be beautiful animals with white colorations that range from just a few spots to almost total coverage. Are the genetically inferior? Should we shoot them? Are they protected? What other animals can be piebald? It’s ...

This week we are joined in studio by whitetail specialist, Alan Summerford, who takes obsessing about hunting strategy to another level. It doesn’t take long listening to Alan talk to know this guy pays more attention and understands whitetails better than the vast majority of hunters. If you’re interested in growing bigger deer, harvesting mature bucks and creating whitetail heaven on the place you hunt, this podcast is for you. Listen, Learn and Enjoy.  ...

This week we’re joined by retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife wolf expert Ed Bangs who was appointed as the Wolf Recovery Coordinator in the mid ‘90’s. We were surprised to learn that wolves had the greatest natural range of any land mammal in the northern hemisphere with distribution seemingly everywhere at one point. They are an incredibly adaptable animal and hearing Ed explain the dynamics of the wolf pack is truly fascinating. He explains how wolves were feared, hated and eventually ext...