The Hunting Stories Podcast
The Hunting Stories Podcast
Elk. Bear. Hog. Turkey. Deer and More. Hunting Stories that will make you laugh or maybe cry; real life chronicles from the field.
All episodes
Best episodes
Top 10 The Hunting Stories Podcast Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Hunting Stories Podcast episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Hunting Stories Podcast for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Hunting Stories Podcast episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Ep 145 The Hunting Stories Podcast: Derrick Murray
The Hunting Stories Podcast
04/21/25 • 58 min
Derrick Murray's journey as a hunter began at just five years old, wielding nothing but sticks and his grandfather's questionable advice about knocking squirrels from trees. Remarkably, that bizarre technique worked—creating one of many unforgettable hunting memories that would shape his life.
Through turkey hunts interrupted by oblivious mountain bikers and a troublesome rifle that morphed into a reluctant single-shot, Derrick shares authentic moments from a lifetime in the woods. His most memorable hunt features pants around his knees, deer running through his sights, and five shots in the fading minutes of deer season—a story that perfectly captures the unexpected nature of hunting success.
What makes Derrick's narrative especially powerful is how hunting became his anchor during recovery from addiction. After achieving sobriety nine years ago, his first turkey hunt represented more than just a successful harvest—it marked a reclamation of identity. Watching his young son's eyes light up at the sight of that turkey created a moment of pure connection that reinforced why hunting matters.
Now planning to introduce his five-year-old to the woods, Derrick exemplifies how hunting traditions pass through generations, creating bonds that transcend the simple act of harvest. His stories highlight the healing power of time spent outdoors and remind us that sometimes our most meaningful hunting moments happen when everything seems to be going wrong.
Whether you're a lifelong hunter or simply appreciate authentic outdoor stories, Derrick's experiences offer both humor and heart. Share your own hunting stories with us—we'd love to feature you on a future episode!
🔭 Upgrade Your View with Vortex Optics! Experience unparalleled clarity and precision with our top-of-the-line binoculars, scopes, and more. Check out our full range at VortexOptics.com
Christensen Arms
Christensen Arms makes the best hunting and long-range rifles in the world. Made in the USA.
Ep 097 The Hunting Stories Podcast: Jules McQueen
The Hunting Stories Podcast
04/22/24 • 56 min
From the curious beginnings of a 17-year-old discovering the thrill of the hunt to leading Carbon TV's innovative digital presence, Jules McQueen joins us to weave a tale that traverses the raw beauty of the outdoors and the screens that bring it to life. Our conversation peels back the curtain on how Jules turned her vision into a hub for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts alike, where the authenticity of fishing lines and hunting trails reigns supreme. She shares her insights into cultivating a community where youthful initiation into hunting is not just encouraged but celebrated, drawing on her own untraditional entry into the sport.
There's an emotional pulse that beats through every hunter's story, and in this episode, you'll journey with me as I recount the first arrow I released into a mule deer, a moment wrapped in exhilaration and solemnity. We swap tales of camaraderie under the Texan sky, laughter echoing through the woods, and misadventures that turn into treasured memories. Jules and I reflect on the power of capturing these moments, preserving the essence of friendship and thrill of the hunt through the lens of a camera, a sentiment that resonates deeply within the heart of every outdoorsman.
Wrapping up our chat, we explore the surprisingly common values between hunters and non-hunters, advocating for a dialogue that bridges understanding across the divide. I open up about my year-long journey without meat, an experience that shifted my approach to food and the hunt. With the spirit of unity threading our conversation, we extend an invitation to listeners to discover the plethora of stories and adventures waiting on Carbon TV, where the outdoors is not just watched, but felt.
Instagram
Jules
CarbonTV
Hunting Stories
www.carbontv.com
https://linktr.ee/carbontv
🔭 Upgrade Your View with Vortex Optics! Experience unparalleled clarity and precision with our top-of-the-line binoculars, scopes, and more. Check out our full range at VortexOptics.com
Christensen Arms
Christensen Arms makes the best hunting and long-range rifles in the world. Made in the USA.
Ep 144 The Hunting Stories Podcast: Dan Adler
The Hunting Stories Podcast
04/14/25 • 66 min
Twenty years ago, when Dan Adler told friends and family he was leaving the Air Force to become a hunting guide, they asked what he'd do for "real money." Today, as founder of North America's largest outfitting operation with 61 guides across 42 million acres, Dan has the last laugh—and the best stories.
Dan takes us from his earliest days as a fishing-obsessed kid working on boats at age 13 to becoming a first-generation hunter who built an empire from scratch. With entertaining candor, he shares two unforgettable "bathroom disaster" stories that had me laughing out loud: one involving a negative camper who received some karmic justice via a collapsed toilet seat, and another featuring a confused 10-year-old who misunderstood instructions about his canteen during a youth hunt.
The highlight comes when Dan reveals a technique called "shock bugling" that he reluctantly used with a Navy SEAL client who initially forbade bugling as a calling strategy. When the SEAL finally got his opportunity at a massive bull elk, he experienced what Dan calls "cheese melting"—a phenomenon where even the most disciplined individuals freeze up from pure excitement and physically cannot draw their bow.
Throughout our conversation, Dan offers invaluable perspective for hunters of all experience levels, particularly about trophy expectations. He notes that only 4% of harvested elk exceed 350 inches and less than 1% surpass 360 inches, reminding us that a 300-inch bull is still a remarkable achievement. His advice to hunters feeling the pressure of score expectations is refreshingly simple: enjoy the freedom, the outdoors, and the experience rather than fixating on antler measurements.
Ready to learn more from this hunting entrepreneur? Check out Dan's upcoming book "Suck Less at Hunting" or explore his innovative Zero Outfitter Fees program designed to make guided hunts more accessible. This episode is packed with laughs, wisdom, and the kind of authentic hunting stories that remind us why we love the outdoors.
Websites:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/DiamondOutfittersZeroOutfitterFees
https://www.facebook.com/zerooutfitterfees
Insta:
@zerooutfitterfees
@diamondoutfitters_zof
@diamonddanadler
🔭 Upgrade Your View with Vortex Optics! Experience unparalleled clarity and precision with our top-of-the-line binoculars, scopes, and more. Check out our full range at VortexOptics.com
Christensen Arms
Christensen Arms makes the best hunting and long-range rifles in the world. Made in the USA.
Ep 142 The Hunting Stories Podcast: Caleb Stillians
The Hunting Stories Podcast
03/31/25 • 61 min
Guide Caleb Stillians takes us deep into the Alaskan wilderness where survival demands quick thinking, steely nerves, and sometimes a bit of luck. Having spent five to seven months each year guiding in Alaska's remote backcountry, Caleb has accumulated more hunting experience than most will gather in a lifetime.
Through vivid storytelling, Caleb recounts several heart-stopping encounters with brown bears – the coastal giants that can reach 10 feet in length and outweigh their inland grizzly cousins by hundreds of pounds. We're transported to Kodiak Island, where Caleb and his team battled both COVID and a mother bear with cubs in subzero temperatures, forcing them to make life-or-death decisions while physically miserable.
What makes these stories particularly compelling is Caleb's matter-of-fact delivery about situations most would find utterly terrifying. From a bear charging at full speed just yards away to waking up to find a bear three feet from his face while making morning coffee, his experiences reveal both the majestic beauty and unforgiving reality of Alaska's wilderness.
Beyond the bear encounters, Caleb shares equally terrifying moments at sea during violent storms and navigating through fog-bound mountain passes in small aircraft – situations where he admits feeling truly helpless. His surprising revelation that these scenarios frighten him more than bear encounters offers a fascinating glimpse into the mindset of someone who has repeatedly faced nature's most formidable challenges.
Whether you're a hunter seeking adventure or simply appreciate raw wilderness stories, Caleb's experiences showcase what happens when modern humans venture into truly wild places where nature still reigns supreme. Leave a review if you enjoyed these stories and share this episode with someone who appreciates tales of survival against extraordinary odds.
🔭 Upgrade Your View with Vortex Optics! Experience unparalleled clarity and precision with our top-of-the-line binoculars, scopes, and more. Check out our full range at VortexOptics.com
Christensen Arms
Christensen Arms makes the best hunting and long-range rifles in the world. Made in the USA.
Ep 113 The Hunting Stories Podcast: Cole Wilks
The Hunting Stories Podcast
08/26/24 • 76 min
Ready for an adventure-packed episode? Thrill-seeker and survival expert Cole Wilkes joins us on the Hunting Stories Podcast, bringing his Texas roots and wild experiences from Naked and Afraid Season 17 right to your ears. From intense elk hunts to a bare-all showdown with an alligator, Cole's fearless exploits are nothing short of extraordinary. And yes, if you caught the Super Bowl commercial, you already know the guy we're talking about!
Cole dives into his life in Bertram, Texas, shares some behind-the-scenes moments from his famous TV stint, and gives a sneak peek into his YouTube channel "Flatlander" and new podcast "In the Bush." Whether you're into hunting, survival tactics, or just love a good tale of guts and glory, this episode has something for you. Strap in for some heart-stopping stories and a whole lot of Texas charm as Cole Wilkes takes us on a wild ride through his most memorable adventures.
Cole's links
Instagram
Podcast
Youtube
🔭 Upgrade Your View with Vortex Optics! Experience unparalleled clarity and precision with our top-of-the-line binoculars, scopes, and more. Check out our full range at VortexOptics.com
Christensen Arms
Christensen Arms makes the best hunting and long-range rifles in the world. Made in the USA.
The Hunting Stories Podcast: Hunter’s Brief – May 16, 2025
The Hunting Stories Podcast
05/16/25 • 5 min
Welcome to Hunter’s Brief, your weekly roundup of hunting and fishing news from across the globe. I'm your host, bringing you the latest updates to keep your boots on the ground and your lines in the water.
• US expands hunting on 87,000+ acres of National Wildlife Refuge and Fish Hatchery land
• Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act under congressional review
• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) faces potential elimination, concerning conservationists
• AI technology revolutionizing biodiversity conservation through data analysis
• Lesser prairie chicken protections threatened despite significant population decline
• Department of Interior renews Colorado River conservation agreements targeting 321,000 acre-feet water storage
• Amendment proposed to expedite federal public land sales in Utah and Nevada
• Bipartisan Explore Act enhances access to federal public lands
• North Dakota enacts 14 new outdoor-related laws effective August 1st
Don't forget to tune in on Monday for our storytelling episode, where we share tales from the field. Subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast with your fellow outdoor enthusiasts. If there's a story we missed or something you think we should cover, let us know.
Ep 086 The Hunting Stories Podcast: Brandon McDonald
The Hunting Stories Podcast
02/05/24 • 78 min
Embark on a wilderness journey with seasoned archer and hunter, Brandon McDonald, as he weaves the tale of his archery and black bear hunting exploits. Drawing you into his world, Brandon's story begins with the birth of his YouTube channel—an endeavor meant to capture hunting memories—that flourished into a go-to resource for bow aficionados. As we traverse the Canadian wilderness, our exchange delves into the ethical complexities of bear baiting, the peace of lakeside fishing mornings, and the pulse-quickening afternoons of bear hunts.
🔭 Upgrade Your View with Vortex Optics! Experience unparalleled clarity and precision with our top-of-the-line binoculars, scopes, and more. Check out our full range at VortexOptics.com
Christensen Arms
Christensen Arms makes the best hunting and long-range rifles in the world. Made in the USA.
Ep 085 The Hunting Stories Podcast: Finn & Jon Weddell
The Hunting Stories Podcast
01/29/24 • 92 min
As I welcomed the extraordinary father-son duo, Finn and John Waddell, to the mic, we unearthed the layered narrative of hunting traditions that have shaped their bond. Our journey with the Waddell's takes us through laughter-filled tales of moose mishaps and deer that turn up their noses at garden pumpkins, to the poignant stories of camaraderie and resilience that can only be found in the quiet of the woods. Together, we celebrate the victories, both big and small, that come with a family's legacy in the heart of the great outdoors.
🔭 Upgrade Your View with Vortex Optics! Experience unparalleled clarity and precision with our top-of-the-line binoculars, scopes, and more. Check out our full range at VortexOptics.com
Christensen Arms
Christensen Arms makes the best hunting and long-range rifles in the world. Made in the USA.
Ep 084 The Hunting Stories Podcast: Leigh "McNasty" McClendon
The Hunting Stories Podcast
01/15/24 • 64 min
When Leigh McClendon isn't captivating the internet with his viral cat antics, he's living a less-known, but equally engaging life as an ethical hunter. This episode takes you through the unexpected journey of a social media star who's just as comfortable with a rifle in hand as he is behind the camera. Leigh's candid discussion on the whirlwind of reactions from his audience, his heartfelt take on family hunting traditions, and the strategy behind a successful whitetail hunt make for a narrative that's both personal and profound.
Leigh's Links
Youtube
Facebook
Instagram
TikTok
🔭 Upgrade Your View with Vortex Optics! Experience unparalleled clarity and precision with our top-of-the-line binoculars, scopes, and more. Check out our full range at VortexOptics.com
Christensen Arms
Christensen Arms makes the best hunting and long-range rifles in the world. Made in the USA.
Ep 148 The Hunting Stories Podcast: Brian Dowling
The Hunting Stories Podcast
05/12/25 • 60 min
Ever walked into a hardware store covered in blood, desperately trying to convince the cashier you're not a murderer? That's just one of the hilarious mishaps shared by this week's guest, Brian Dowling.
Brian brings a unique perspective as both a firearms expert with an actual master's degree in guns and a veteran who found healing through hunting. Working at XCAL Shooting in Virginia—a massive 97,000-square-foot facility combining shooting ranges, a gym, and a gun store—he's turned his passion into a career that spans gunsmithing, instruction, and product development.
What makes this episode special is the heartwarming thread running through Brian's hunting stories: his incredibly supportive wife. From helping him drag a freshly harvested doe up a hill in a wheelbarrow while wearing pajamas, to stealing "his" perfect pheasant after missing shots all day (much to his good-natured chagrin), their relationship shines through the narrative. When Brian describes seeing his blood-spattered wife hosing down a deer carcass in their yard without complaint, you can hear the genuine admiration in his voice.
The conversation takes us through the challenges of Eastern whitetail hunting, North Carolina hog hunts in eerie swamps, and the comedy of errors that ensues when a hunter isn't properly prepared to transport his harvest. Brian's self-deprecating humor about showing up at a rural hardware store covered in blood to buy rope and a hatchet—prompting the cashier's skeptical "that's what they all say" response to his innocent explanation—will have you laughing out loud.
Beyond the entertainment, Brian offers valuable insights into how hunting serves as effective PTSD therapy for veterans like himself, creating a deeper understanding of why many former service members find such profound peace in the woods. His technical expertise also shines through when discussing rifle zeroing and equipment selection for different hunting scenarios.
https://xcal.com/
Instagram,
🔭 Upgrade Your View with Vortex Optics! Experience unparalleled clarity and precision with our top-of-the-line binoculars, scopes, and more. Check out our full range at VortexOptics.com
Christensen Arms
Christensen Arms makes the best hunting and long-range rifles in the world. Made in the USA.
Show more best episodes
Show more best episodes
FAQ
How many episodes does The Hunting Stories Podcast have?
The Hunting Stories Podcast currently has 151 episodes available.
What topics does The Hunting Stories Podcast cover?
The podcast is about Stories, Health & Fitness, Funny, Hunting, Outdoors, Podcasts, Campfire, Sports, Archery, Wilderness and Gun.
What is the most popular episode on The Hunting Stories Podcast?
The episode title 'Ep 087 The Hunting Stories Podcast: Derek Wolfe' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Hunting Stories Podcast?
The average episode length on The Hunting Stories Podcast is 67 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Hunting Stories Podcast released?
Episodes of The Hunting Stories Podcast are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of The Hunting Stories Podcast?
The first episode of The Hunting Stories Podcast was released on Jun 20, 2022.
Show more FAQ
Show more FAQ