Wild Spirits Outdoors

Wild Spirits Outdoors
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Wilderness
  • Updated Weekly

Wild Spirits Outdoors is where hunting tradition meets raw stories from the field. Host Brad and guests share real experiences, gear talk, evolution of the hunting sport, and the culture that helped shape a generation of hunters. This podcast is for those that Chase the Wild- and Feel the Spirit. 🎯New episodes weekly. 📲Follow Wild Spirits Outdoors on social media. 🌐 More at www.wildspiritsoutdoors.com

  1. 6d ago

    Wake Me Up When September Ends | Ep. 54 | Michigan Archery Opener

    🏹 SKRE Gear Use the link below for 20% OFF plus FREE shipping: https://skregear.com/wildspiritsoutdoors🏹 SLATRA Archery Use promo code WSO10 for 10% OFF your order at ⁠https://www.slatraarchery.com/📸 Yellowstone.ai Smarter trail cameras. Less guessing. More hunting. Use promo code WSO15 for 15% OFF your order at: https://yellowstone.ai/ 🏹 Leveled Outdoors Visit them on social media or stop into their new shop in Holton, MI and come shoot the Big Shot Hunting Simulator.September is almost over- and for whitetail hunters, that means one thing: it’s finally time.Episode 54 of the Wild Spirits Outdoors Podcast is a solo run as I get ready for the October 1 Michigan archery opener. But before we climb into the tree, there’s plenty happening in the hunting world worth talking about.We break down the recent federal actions aimed at expanding and protecting hunting, fishing and access on America’s public lands, including what they could actually mean for sportsmen going forward.Then we head home to Michigan and dig into the 2026 Liberty/Youth Hunt harvest numbers. Nearly 80% of the reported deer harvest was antlered. What does that tell us about Michigan’s long-standing buck-centric hunting culture—and, more importantly, what mindset are we passing along to the next generation of hunters?We’ll also recap the September Michigan Natural Resources Commission meeting, including discussions surrounding scientific deer management, CWD, bovine TB, surveillance and the continuing debate surrounding deer management in Michigan.Then we put the regulations aside because...OCTOBER IS HERE!!We’re talking opening-weekend conditions in West Michigan, changing temperatures, early-season food sources, acorns, agricultural transitions, locating fresh deer sign and how I plan to approach the month of October.In this episode:US Federal public-land hunting and fishing developments🦌 Michigan's 2026 youth harvest numbers🎯 Are we passing a buck-centric mindset to the next generation?📋 September Michigan NRC recap🌰 Early-October whitetail food sources🌦️ West Michigan opening-weekend conditions🏹 My October bowhunting strategy🔥 And finally... Michigan archery season is here.Whether you're sitting over an oak ridge, slipping into a bedding transition, watching a freshly cut cornfield or just counting down the hours until legal shooting light, good luck this opening week.Hunt smart. Hunt safe. Enjoy every damn minute of it.Chase the Wild. Feel the Spirit.#WildSpiritsOutdoors #MichiganHunting #MichiganArchery #WhitetailHunting #Bowhunting #DeerHunting #PublicLandHunting #MichiganDNR #WhitetailDeer #ArcherySeason

  2. Sep 22

    Public Land Challenge | Ep.53 | Curt Hanko

    🏹 SKRE Gear Use the link below for 20% OFF plus FREE shipping:https://skregear.com/wildspiritsoutdoors🏹 SLATRA Archery Use promo code WSO10 for 10% OFF your order at ⁠https://www.slatraarchery.com/📸 Yellowstone.ai Smarter trail cameras. Less guessing. More hunting. Use promo code WSO15 for 15% OFF your order at: https://yellowstone.ai/ 🏹 Leveled Outdoors Visit them on social media and stay tuned for the grand opening of their new shop in Holton, MI and come shoot the Big Shot Hunting Simulator.In Episode 53 of the podcast, fellow tribe member and die-hard public land bowhunter Curt Hanko and I sit down and run through a 5,700-acre chunk of public land to discuss how we selected our 4 favorite spots- then we compare notes. If you love chasing new ground and new adventures, this episode will get you fired up! Season is here for many and right around the corner for the rest of us! Enjoy this episode and straight arrows!

  3. Sep 15

    Ep. 52 | Talking Ohio Whitetails | Mike Rex

    🏹 SKRE Gear Use the link below for 20% OFF plus FREE shipping:https://skregear.com/wildspiritsoutdoors🏹 SLATRA Archery Use promo code WSO10 for 10% OFF your order at ⁠https://www.slatraarchery.com/📸 Yellowstone.ai Smarter trail cameras. Less guessing. More hunting. Use promo code WSO15 for 15% OFF your order at: https://yellowstone.ai/ 🏹 Leveled Outdoors Visit them on social media and stay tuned for the grand opening of their new shop in Holton, MI and come shoot the Big Shot Hunting Simulator.How should states actually make decisions about deer hunting?On Episode 52 of the Wild Spirits Outdoors Podcast, I'm joined by Mike Rex, Chairman of the Ohio Wildlife Council, for a deep conversation about whitetail management, hunting regulations, disease, hunter input, and the future of deer hunting.Ohio and Michigan share a border, similar whitetail habitat, passionate hunting cultures, and many of the same challenges—but the two states don't always approach deer management the same way.Mike brings a unique perspective to the conversation. He's not only involved in Ohio's wildlife regulatory process; he's also a lifelong deer hunter who understands these issues from the hunter's side of the fence.We get into Ohio's approach to one-buck management, county-level bag limits, antlerless harvest, hunter access, declining hunter participation, EHD, CWD, and the difficult balance between biological recommendations and what hunters are seeing on the landscape.We also dig into a bigger question:What should actually drive a hunting regulation?Wildlife science?Hunter input?Economics?Social pressure?Or some combination of all four?And, of course, we compare Ohio's approach with what we're currently seeing here in Michigan.This isn't about declaring one state right and the other wrong. It's about asking whether we can learn from each other and build a better decision-making process that protects the resource while keeping hunters engaged in its management.Topics include:Ohio's one-buck regulationOhio vs. Michigan deer managementCounty-level vs. broad regional regulationsAntlerless harvest and population managementEHD and Ohio's 2025 outbreakCWD managementWildlife science vs. hunter observationsThe role of the Ohio Wildlife CouncilPublic input in regulatory decisionsTrophy hunting and age structureHunter recruitment, retention and accessThe future of Midwestern deer huntingTwo states. One shared passion.Chase the Wild. Feel the Spirit.#WildSpiritsOutdoors #DeerHunting #WhitetailHunting #OhioHunting #MichiganHunting #DeerManagement #Whitetails #WildlifeManagement #Bowhunting #Conservation

  4. Sep 8

    Ep. 51 | w/ Josh Arbogast of The Michigan Whitetail Project

    🏹 SKRE Gear Use the link below for 20% OFF plus FREE shipping: https://skregear.com/wildspiritsoutdoors 🏹 SLATRA Archery Use promo code WSO10 for 10% OFF your order at ⁠https://www.slatraarchery.com/ 📸 Yellowstone.ai Smarter trail cameras. Less guessing. More hunting. Use promo code WSO15 for 15% OFF your order at: https://yellowstone.ai/ 🏹 Leveled Outdoors Visit them on social media and stay tuned for the grand opening of their new shop in Holton, MI and come shoot the Big Shot Hunting Simulator. On Episode 51 of the Wild Spirits Outdoors Podcast, I’m joined by Josh Arbogast of the Michigan Whitetail Project for a conversation about Michigan’s whitetail herd, and the regulations being used to manage it. We dig into some of the new regs facing Michigan deer hunters, and the role hunters should play in the regulatory process. Josh has taken his concerns beyond The Michigan Whitetail Project social media pages and into the actual regulatory process. We talk about what he has learned from that experience, why hunter participation matters, and what the Michigan Whitetail Project hopes to accomplish moving forward. Whether you agree with every idea or disagree with some of them, these are conversations Michigan sportsmen need to be having. Chase the Wild. Feel the Spirit. #WildSpiritsOutdoors #MichiganWhitetailProject #MichiganHunting #MichiganDeerHunting #WhitetailHunting #DeerManagement #HuntingPodcast #WhitetailDeer #Conservation

  5. Sep 1

    Next Mission Outdoors: Heal. Belong. Reignite. | Ep. 50 w/ Special Guest Todd Taylor

    🏹 SKRE Gear Use the link below for 20% OFF plus FREE shipping:https://skregear.com/wildspiritsoutdoors🏹 SLATRA Archery Use promo code WSO10 for 10% OFF your order at ⁠https://www.slatraarchery.com/📸 Yellowstone.ai Smarter trail cameras. Less guessing. More hunting. Use promo code WSO15 for 15% OFF your order at: https://yellowstone.ai/ 🏹 Leveled Outdoors Visit them on social media and stay tuned for the grand opening of their new shop in Holton, MI and come shoot the Big Shot Hunting Simulator.For Episode 50 of the Wild Spirits Outdoors Podcast, I’m joined by Todd Taylor, Vice President of Next Mission Outdoors, for a conversation about something bigger than hunting or fishing—it’s about purpose, connection, and taking care of the people who have spent their lives taking care of others. Next Mission Outdoors is a veteran-led nonprofit built to serve veterans, active-duty service members, first responders, and Gold Star families by connecting them through meaningful outdoor experiences. Their mission centers on using hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and other outdoor adventures to create opportunities for camaraderie, healing, resilience, and renewed purpose. Their message is simple: HEAL. BELONG. REIGNITE. In this episode, Todd and I dig into the heart behind that mission. We talk about why the outdoors can provide something difficult to recreate anywhere else—the opportunity to get away from the noise, sit beside people who understand where you've been, build relationships, and rediscover a sense of belonging. Next Mission Outdoors isn't simply about putting someone in a deer blind or taking them fishing. It's about using those experiences as the vehicle for fellowship, honest conversation, friendship, and community. The organization has already begun facilitating outdoor experiences in Michigan and has ambitions to continue expanding its reach. For Wild Spirits Outdoors, this one hits directly at what the outdoors should represent. The hunt matters. The fish matters. But sometimes, the person standing beside you matters a hell of a lot more. If you're a hunter, angler, veteran, first responder, Gold Star family member—or simply someone who believes the outdoor community has an obligation to take care of its own—Episode 50 is one worth listening to and sharing. 🎙️ Episode 50 | Todd Taylor — Next Mission Outdoors🇺🇸 Veterans • First Responders • Gold Star Families🏹 Hunting • Fishing • Fellowship • Purpose Heal. Belong. Reignite. Chase the Wild. Feel the Spirit. #WildSpiritsOutdoors #NextMissionOutdoors #Veterans #FirstResponders #GoldStarFamilies #VeteransOutdoors #Hunting #Fishing #OutdoorTherapy #Conservation #Podcast #HuntingPodcast #MichiganOutdoors #HealBelongReignite

  6. Aug 25

    Closing In: The FINAL Push to the Archery Opener | Ep. 49

    🏹 SKRE Gear Use the link below for 20% OFF plus FREE shipping: https://skregear.com/wildspiritsoutdoors 🏹 SLATRA Archery Use promo code WSO10 for 10% OFF your order at ⁠https://www.slatraarchery.com/ 📸 Yellowstone.ai Smarter trail cameras. Less guessing. More hunting. Use promo code WSO15 for 15% OFF your order at: https://yellowstone.ai/ 🏹 Leveled Outdoors Visit them on social media and stay tuned for the grand opening of their new shop in Holton, MI and come shoot the Big Shot Hunting Simulator.37 days. That’s all that stands between us and Michigan’s October 1st archery opener.The food plots are going in. Trail cameras are running. Bows are dialed. Gear is getting inspected. And after 16 weeks of training, it’s time to put the finishing touches on everything we’ve been working toward all summer.Episode 49 of the Wild Spirits Outdoors Podcast is a solo episode all about honing the edge before deer season.We should already be sharp. Now we refine.This week we're talking:Wrapping up the 16-week training program we started back in Episode 33Inspecting climbers, cables, saddles, ropes, bridges, prusiks, carabiners and climbing sticksScent management and my thoughts on No Trace Soap and where it fits into scent controlWhy I'm the number of arrows I am shooting everydayPracticing from elevated positions and awkward hunting anglesFinishing fall food plots through drought conditions and hungry turkeysPlanting cereal grains during the final week of AugustFinal scouting and preparation as October approachesMy upcoming five-day Nebraska hunt beginning October 18thPlans for a couple long weekends chasing Ohio hill-country whitetailsI'll also give you the details on the 4BZ “Dust Off Your Bow” Archery Shoot happening August 29th in Hesperia, Michigan.Plus, don't forget to check out the Yellowstone.ai Velvet Shed Buck Contest on the Wild Spirits Outdoors Facebook and Instagram pages.And next week, Todd Taylor of Next Mission Outdoor joins the podcast—and we'll officially announce the winner of the bow and arrow package giveaway.We've also got some great guests coming down the pipe, including Don Goode of Backcountry Bistro and Joey Thiel of the JAWGA Trapline, where we're going to talk hunting, trapping, and Jesus.The months of preparation are almost behind us.Don't reinvent the wheel now. Don't panic. Don't start changing everything.Inspect it. Refine it. Practice it.Hone the edge.October is coming.Chase the Wild. Feel the Spirit.

  7. Aug 18

    Pass It On: The next Generation of Hunters | Ep. 48 w/ Special Guest Travis McCormick of Great Lakes Outdoors

    🏹 SKRE Gear Use the link below for 20% OFF plus FREE shipping: Ultralight and Durable Hunting Gear & Apparel | Skre Gear🏹 SLATRA Archery Use promo code WSO10 for 10% OFF your order at Slatra Archery📸 Yellowstone.ai Smarter trail cameras. Less guessing. More hunting. Use promo code WSO15 for 15% OFF your order at Yellowstone.ai — Cellular Trail Cameras🏹 Leveled Outdoors Visit them on social media and stay tuned for the grand opening of their new shop in Holton, MI and come shoot the Big Shot Hunting Simulator.Who is going to carry hunting, fishing, and our outdoor traditions forward when we're gone? That’s a question every sportsman should be thinking about. On Episode 48 of the Wild Spirits Outdoors Podcast, I am joined by fellow Michigan native Travis McCormick from Great Lakes Outdoors for a wide-ranging conversation about deer hunting, fishing, waterfowl hunting, and something even bigger—the importance of recruiting new hunters and welcoming people into the outdoor community. We spend plenty of time talking hunting and fishing, but the heart of this conversation is about passing it on. If we want hunting to have a strong future, we can't simply assume the next generation will find its way into the woods on its own. Experienced hunters have an opportunity—and I believe a responsibility—to mentor, teach, answer questions, share access when possible, and give someone that first experience. Great Lakes Outdoors is working to do exactly that by helping bring more people into the hunting fraternity and creating opportunities for people who may not otherwise have someone to introduce them to it. In this episode we get into: 🦌 Deer hunting and the culture surrounding it 🦆 Waterfowl hunting 🎣 Fishing and the broader outdoor lifestyle 🌲 Conservation and protecting our outdoor heritage 🤝 Hunter recruitment and mentorship 🏹 Breaking down barriers for new hunters  Why passing these traditions forward matters- The responsibility experienced sportsmen have to the next generation. QUESTION FOR YOU: Who introduced YOU to hunting or fishing? Drop their name or your story in the comments. Better yet, tell us about someone you've introduced to the outdoors. If you enjoy conversations about hunting, conservation, wildlife management, outdoor culture, and protecting the future of our traditions, subscribe to Wild Spirits Outdoors and join the conversation. Chase the Wild. Feel the Spirit. #WildSpiritsOutdoors #GreatLakesOutdoors #Hunting #DeerHunting #WaterfowlHunting #Fishing #HunterRecruitment #Conservation #Mentorship #OutdoorPodcast #HuntingPodcast #MichiganHunting

  8. Aug 11

    Arrow Builds, Better Bow Setup, Supporting Local Pro Shops | Ep. 47 Tom Caltagirone Leveled Outdoors

    🏹 SKRE Gear Use the link below for 20% OFF plus FREE shipping: https://www.skregear.com/wildspiritsoutdoors 🏹 SLATRA Archery Use promo code WSO10 for 10% OFF your order at https://www.slatraarchery.com 📸 Yellowstone.ai Smarter trail cameras. Less guessing. More hunting. 🏹 APA Archery 🏹 Leveled Outdoors Stay tuned for the grand opening and the upcoming BigShot Hunting Simulator. There’s a lot more to a good arrow build than cutting a shaft, gluing in an insert, and throwing on some broadheads. On Episode 47 of the Wild Spirits Outdoors Podcast, I’m joined by my good friend Tom Caltagirone, owner of Leveled Outdoors, for a conversation that feels a lot like hanging around the bow shop after hours. We get into arrow builds, bow setups, tuning, and the little details that can make a big difference when it matters most. But like most good conversations between hunters, we wander off the trail a few times, talk a little BS, tell some stories, and get into something I think matters just as much as the technical side of archery: Supporting the local small businesses that support hunters. Your local bow shop isn't just a place to buy arrows or have a bow worked on. The good ones provide knowledge, experience, service, and relationships that you simply can't put in an Amazon box. Tom has built Leveled Outdoors around that mentality, and this episode gives you a look at the knowledge and passion behind the business. We cover: 🏹 Arrow building and component selection 🎯 Bow setup and tuning 🔧 Why the little details matter 🦌 Hunting, archery, and plenty of BS along the way🇺🇸 The importance of supporting locally owned outdoor businesses🤝 Why relationships with knowledgeable local shops still matter Whether you're building your own arrows, trying to tighten up your bow setup, or just enjoy sitting around talking archery and hunting, this one's for you. Support the people who support our hunting community. Support local. Support small business. 🎙️ Wild Spirits Outdoors Podcast – Episode 47Guest: Tom Caltagirone | Owner, Leveled Outdoors Chase the Wild. Feel the Spirit. #WildSpiritsOutdoors #LeveledOutdoors #Bowhunting #Archery #ArrowBuilding #BowTuning #WhitetailHunting #SupportSmallBusiness #HuntingPodcast #Bowhunter

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About

Wild Spirits Outdoors is where hunting tradition meets raw stories from the field. Host Brad and guests share real experiences, gear talk, evolution of the hunting sport, and the culture that helped shape a generation of hunters. This podcast is for those that Chase the Wild- and Feel the Spirit. 🎯New episodes weekly. 📲Follow Wild Spirits Outdoors on social media. 🌐 More at www.wildspiritsoutdoors.com

Information

  • Creator
    Wild Spirits Outdoors
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Wild Spirits Outdoors
  • Show Website
    Wild Spirits Outdoors

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