Bear Grease

This episode is a field report. Where we go and interview outdoorsmen, hunters, and anglers from all walks of life to get their opinions on different wildlife related issues. Today, we will be discussing the current hot topic of mallard declines in the lower Mississippi alluvial valley. We will be asking these different hunters about what they have seen through their own experiences duck hunting t...

Brent's talking about music this week and the role it plays in his life. We can all relate to the moment when a song from your past takes you to a remembered place or triggers a memory of people or events. Hearing new songs that describe what you thought was indescribable is another joy altogether. Having the opportunity to spend time with the artists that can do that makes for a great story we th...

In this episode of the Bear Grease podcast, Clay Newcomb interviews Ty Evans, one of the country’s top mule trainers and clinicians. After a broken femur in the arena benched Ty’s rodeo career, he began studying a different approach to training horses and mules than the "Cowboy Way". One based not on brute force, but on trust and understanding how animals actually think. What he discov...

Everyone needs help from time to time, and it's human nature to offer to do so. There are many ways to do it and this week, Brent's talking about how a conversation he had years ago with an unknown mentor continues to help him today. He's also issuing a challenge to help an organization that's helping people with disabilities enjoy the outdoors. Hands of a Sportsman non-profit: http://www.handsofa...

In this episode of the Bear Grease Render, host Clay Newcomb and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker are joined by their primary care physician, Dr. Adam McCall, for a wide-ranging conversation on men’s health—physical, mental, and spiritual. With so much conflicting advice circulating online and across social media, it can be difficult to know what actually matters. Together, the...

There's no better time than now to set some new year's resolutions. In this episode, we are going to learn about how you,me, and really anyone can get involved in conservation. We'll learn about the Farm Bill and how it effects wildlife, wild habitat, and even hunting quality. We'll learn about conservation incentive programs like CRP and EQIP. Most importantly, we will learn how all of us can get...

Brent's out with the boys this week and they're all chasing rabbits. Well, more like following the dogs that are chasing the rabbits. He's giving insight into how a rabbit hunt with dogs is done, why it's so special to him, and where it ranks on his list of favorite things to do. The results may surprise you. Bubba, it's time to cut the pups loose on MeatEater's "This Country Life" podcast. Shop T...

On this episode of the Bear Grease Podcast, we’re diving deep into the heart of southern cultural identity and the mind of Jerry Clower. Does that name ring a bell? Jerry was thrust into national fame in the 1970s when a story he told about coon hunting topped the country charts. I’m interested in those odd places where rural culture -- and specifically hunting -- crosses tracks with t...

Projects come in many shapes and sizes. Sometimes they work out, other times, they don't. Brent's sharing a project that didn't work out like he'd hoped, and a new project he's hoping will. Get your clipboards ready, it's time for This Country Life on MeatEater's podcast network! Shop  This Country Life Merch Connect with Brent and  MeatEater MeatEater on Instagram , Facebook , Twitter ,...

In this episode of the Bear Grease Render, Clay Newcomb is joined by MeatEater crew members Steven Rinella, Dr. Randall Williams, Janis Putelis, and Brent Reaves, plus special guest Evan Felker of the Turnpike Troubadours. The crew breaks down the Bucky Garrison episode of the  Bear Grease Podcast , swaps stories from the first half of the MeatEater Christmas Live Tour, laughs through Cl...

In this special Christmas-themed episode, we will be focusing in on the animal that seems to get all press and attention during the holiday season- reindeer. In the high arctic of Norway, reindeer have been around for long, long time, and we're going to learn all about them. The stories and lore, their actual biology and ecology, the indigenous tribes that heard them, and even some Santa Clause ta...

Bringing a tree in your house is only acceptable once a year. Do it any time outside of Christmas and people will think you're weird. Brent's got a few examples of Christmas trees this week and even goes into his struggle in keeping his favorite decoration. Stars, fishing, and flames abound on this week's "This Country Life" podcast. Shop This Country Life Merch Connect with Brent and  MeatEa...

In this episode of the Bear Grease podcast, Oklahoma game warden Jared Cramer recounts the harrowing events surrounding a lethal use-of-force incident that erupted from what began as a routine fishing-license check. In his conversation with host Clay Newcomb, Cramer walks through the extraordinary circumstances in which a simple body of water became the unlikely “means” for attempted m...

Not being on time is a pet peeve for many, and not the first thing other folks chose to worry about. To them, close is good enough. Brent's gonna tell a story from a time years ago when he and a couple others set out to prove a point about timeliness. He's also sharing a recent instance where a similar event took place. If you're tuning in right now, then you're right on time for MeatEater's "This...

On this episode Clay is joined by the host of MeatEater’s new Blood Trails podcast, Jordan Sillars to go behind the scenes and learn how he finds his stories and creates the true-crime show. The team then discusses the most recent Bear Grease episode about the unusual death of Oklahoma wildlife officer, Bucky Garrison. If you have comments on the show, send us a note to beargrease@themeateat...

Over the last 20 years waterfowl hunters in the lower portion of the Mississippi flyway have been asking the same question. Where have the mallards gone? It's a question worth asking, and getting to the bottom of. In this episode we talk with long-time waterfowl biologist, James Callicutt, a man who has been on the front lines of waterfowl research for years and can shed some much needed light on...

On this week's episode, Brent's sharing a fishing story from a listener where no records were broken, nothing amazing happened, and no one got hurt or even came close. A simple story that brought joy to the ones fishing and the ones who hear it. Then, he's giving us the details on the things that make him happy. It's a short list that represents a lot of the people and pleasures of his life. It ju...

In December 1971, Oklahoma Game Warden Melvin “Bucky” Garrison was found drowned in just two and a half feet of water in the Tiger Mountain area of Lake Eufaula. The circumstances surrounding his death remain a mystery. Was it a bizarre accident—or something more? Join host Clay Newcomb as he sits down with retired Oklahoma Game Warden Ed Rotabush and Hank Jenks, 1st District Chi...

Brent's making good his promise to take us on a tour of his new Stor-Mor studio. While the building itself is enough to talk about, in this episode he shifts the focus to the contents. The items inside are more than mere decorations, they're mementos representing people and places that he holds dear. After he tells the story of his first attempt at having a place of his own, he enlightens us with...

In this episode of the Bear Grease Render, host Clay Newcomb is joined by Bear Newcomb and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker along with special guests, Backwoods University’s Lake Pickle, wife Lacy Pickle, and US Navy pilot Forrest Teeter. The room is filled with antlers as trophy bucks are compared. Clay reveals the furs from his Alaskan wolf trapping expedition. Lake and Lacy talk a...

This has a real shot at being the most unique wildlife conservation stories that we have in North American history. The ring-necked pheasant, a commonly hunted and celebrated bird, a bird that has it's own conservation organization, and a bird that is not native to the Americas. In most instance, when we hear or see the term "nonnative wildlife" it's tied to a negative outcome. However, pheasants...

The lengths parents will go for their children is immeasurable. It's even more impactful when it puts them completely out of their element. Oh this episode, Brent's sharing a listener story about a deer hunter's mother that's sure to put a smile on your face. Then, he's finally talking about his new office and promising a tour of its contents in future episodes. It's not hard to believe there's so...

For the last Deer Stories episode of 2025, host Clay Newcomb dishes out a mix of stories that’ll keep you leaning in. Expect tree stand chaos, brothers throwing down over a fresh deer, personal-best bucks, and details of a fresh hunt from Bear Grease Hall of Famer James Lawrence. If you have comments on the show, send us a note to  beargrease@themeateater.com Connect with  Clay &nb...

Never give up. Brent's got two good examples on this episode where that old saying was put to the test. It's great advice, but there comes a time when other responsibilities may take precedence. Knowing the difference between the two is just as important. Harness up! It's time for MeatEater's "This Country Life" podcast. Shop This Country Life Merch Connect with Brent and  MeatEater MeatEater...

In this episode of the Bear Grease Render, host Clay Newcomb is joined by Moe Shepherd, Bear Newcomb, Isaac Neale, and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker. In the thick of deer season, the crew shares their favorite Bear Grease deer stories and swaps updates on their own recent and upcoming hunts—including Bear’s annual friends-and-family deer camp. If you have comm...