Wild Spirits Outdoors

Wild Spirits Outdoors

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

    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

  2. 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.

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. Aug 4

    Culture Shock: Why Deer Hunting Needs More Than Just Regulations Ep 46 w/ Skip Sligh & Jordan Hoover

    🏹 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. Can better deer hunting really be achieved through regulation alone... or does the future of hunting require something much bigger? What began as a conversation contrasting Michigan and Iowa regulations quickly evolved into one of the most thought-provoking discussions we've ever had on the Wild Spirits Outdoors Podcast. Joining me are Skip Sligh of Iowa Whitetail and Jordan Hoover of the UPDAT, two respected voices with decades of experience in deer hunting, conservation, and wildlife management. Together, we explore why healthier deer herds, better hunting, and a stronger future may depend just as much on hunter culture and leadership as they do on laws and regulations. This isn't an argument about who's right. It's a conversation about where we go from here. In this episode we discuss: Why Iowa consistently produces mature whitetails- and what can realistically be learned from its success. The unique challenges facing Michigan. The strengths and shortcomings of today's deer management strategies. Why regulations alone cannot solve every problem. The role hunter culture plays in shaping the future of our sport. Stewardship, responsibility, and passing hunting on to the next generation. The importance of the 20 to 55-year-old demographic in leading meaningful change. Common misconceptions surrounding deer management and hunting policy. What every hunter- regardless of where they live- can do to make a positive impact. Whether you hunt public land or private, chase giant Midwestern whitetails, or simply care about the future of hunting, this conversation is one you won't want to miss. This isn't just an episode about deer management. It's about the future of deer hunting itself. 👇 After listening, let us know in the comments: What will have the biggest impact on the future of deer hunting where you live- better regulations, a stronger hunting culture, or both?If you enjoy conversations that challenge conventional thinking while bringing hunters together, please: 👍 Like the video 💬 Join the discussion 📲 Share this episode with a fellow hunter 🔔 Subscribe to Wild Spirits Outdoors for new episodes every Tuesday.Chase the Wild. Feel the Spirit.#Whitetail #DeerHunting #Michigan #Iowa #Whitetails #Conservation #HuntingCulture #DeerManagement #PublicLand #Bowhunting #WildSpiritsOutdoors #HuntingPodcast #Stewardship #OutdoorPodcast #WhitetailHabitat #ConservationLeadership #Archery #BigBucks #WildlifeManagement #Hunters

  6. Jul 28

    Colorado Elk Hunting 101: DIY Tips, Gear, & Elk Calling Strategy with Ben Adair | Ep. 45

    🏹 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. Have you ever dreamed of hearing a bull elk bugle echo through the Colorado mountains? Then this episode is for you. On Episode 45 of the Wild Spirits Outdoors Podcast, I sit down with Ben Adair for an in-depth Colorado Elk Hunting 101 masterclass designed specifically for hunters who want to make their first western elk hunt a reality—or become more successful if they've already been there. From planning your hunt and choosing a Colorado unit to understanding elk behavior, thermals, calling strategies, gear, shot placement, and packing a bull off the mountain, Ben shares practical, experience-driven advice that can save you time, money, and frustration. We also dive into Ben's championship elk-calling background, discuss what separates good callers from great ones, and explore how changing wildlife management—including Colorado's wolf reintroduction—is influencing elk behavior and the hunting experience. Whether you're a seasoned western hunter or a Midwest whitetail hunter dreaming of hearing your first September bugle, this episode is packed with actionable information you can apply to your next adventure. Topics Covered: Colorado Elk Hunting 101 Planning your first DIY elk hunt Public land strategy Elk behavior and thermals Championship elk calling Gear that matters Shot placement and recovery Packing out an elk Colorado wolf impacts on elk hunting If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the Wild Spirits Outdoors Podcast and leave a rating—it helps more hunters discover the show. Chase the Wild. Feel the Spirit.

  7. Jul 21

    Episode 44: Gear, Stories & Good Times | R100 Recap, Archery Talk, Product Reviews & Listener Q&A

    🏹 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.comBow season is closing in, the arrows are flying, and it's time for another solo campfire conversation. In Episode 44 of the Wild Spirits Outdoors Podcast, we're keeping things lighthearted and diving into a little bit of everything that makes this lifestyle great. From an unforgettable weekend at the R100 Archery Shoot at Saginaw Valley Field & Stream Club, to gear reviews, product showcases, archery season preparation, and listener Q&A, this episode feels more like hanging out with hunting buddies than sitting through another lecture. We'll recap the R100, talk about meeting some incredible people like Ben Adair of Rocky Mountain Outfitters, discuss the upcoming Colorado elk hunting episode, highlight some awesome partners, and answer your hunting questions as we gear up for whitetail season. also talk bows, trail cameras, hunting gear, preseason preparation, and why now is the time to get your equipment tuned and ready before opening day. Whether you're a hardcore bowhunter, a gear junkie, or someone who simply loves the hunting lifestyle, this episode is packed with laughs, stories, and practical advice to get you fired up for fall. In This Episode: ✔️ R100 Archery Shoot recap✔️ Great people and hunting stories✔️ Product reviews & gear showcase✔️ Bow season preparation tips✔️ Partner shoutouts✔️ Listener Q&A✔️ Colorado elk hunting teaser✔️ Archery talk and preseason strategy Follow the show, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with a hunting buddy. Chase the Wild. Feel the Spirit. #WhitetailHunting #Bowhunting #Archery #WhitetailDeer #DeerHunting #HuntingPodcast #ArcherySeason #BowSeason #HuntingStories #OutdoorPodcast #WhitetailPodcast #WildSpiritsOutdoors

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

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