Gamekeeper Podcast

On this episode, we are joined by two serious rattlesnake hunters from Texas, Dennis Cumbie and Mark Meneses. These men participate in the annual Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup, helping capture between 5,000 and 20,000 pounds of western diamondback rattlesnakes each spring. It's a fascinating process in which the snakes are milked for their venom, which is used by pharmaceutical companies to...

On this episode we’re joined by rabid duck hunter James Callicut to discuss waterfowl and managing for them. James is a certified wildlife biologist and is the Mississippi State Waterfowl and Upland Bird specialist and has some very interesting insight. Not seeing as many mallards as you have in years past? James speaks to the problem as well as some insight into how to manage hunting pressure to...

On this episode we’re joined by Brynn Parr, a research biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game and she tells the conservation story of the Muskox. Admittedly, Muskox probably aren’t high on most people’s list of animals to learn about or even hunt, but their story is downright amazing. Most people don’t know that they were extirpated in Alaska by the 1920’s. In the 1930’s some forwa...

This week we’re joined by avid California hunter Parrey Cremeans as he tells a wild story about a turkey hunt in Mexico that will frazzle your nerves. It’s a story that doesn’t reflect the vast majority of hunting trips south of the border, but certainly happened to him on this fateful day. We also learned a lot about hunting turkeys and elk in the Golden State.  Listen, Learn Enjoy. If you enjoye...

On this episode we’re joined by Macy Ledbetter, a well-informed top flight biologist in Texas who’s monitoring the New World Screw Worm situation in Texas with maximum urgency. It’s a red hot topic in South Texas and many southern gamekeepers are paying attention to the outbreak. The screw worm and it’s near eradication is a captivating story and tribute to science. The fact that it has fought its...

This week, we are joined by John Byrd of Mississippi State University to discuss the highly invasive cogongrass and other troublesome weeds that create challenges for farmers, landowners, and gamekeepers alike. John is a true weed scientist who dedicates his time to helping farmers and gamekeepers combat these issues to protect crops, wildlife habitat, and the land they manage. We all learned a lo...

In this special Father’s Day episode, we share some heartfelt stories about the fathers who shaped our lives. We asked members of the Mossy Oak team to reflect on their dads and the memories that still mean the most to them, and the responses were incredible. From life lessons learned in the woods to moments that still bring a smile years later, these stories remind us of the lasting impact father...

This week we are joined by native plant specialist Kyle Lybarger and Cahaba Riverkeeper David Butler and we learn about a really unique and special plant. The Cahaba River Lilies bloom each spring and attract world wide attention. Once upon a time, many southern rivers had these lilies blooming on their shoals in the spring. Today only a few places still have them.  These delicate white blooms cre...

On this episode, we are joined by David Faubion, editor of Guns & Ammo Special Interest Publications , to discuss calibers, trending rifles, and bullet preferences. Dave has lots of real-world experience and shares with us what he has learned over the years. He kicks off the podcast with a great story about calling in a big alpha male wolf in the Idaho wilderness this spring. It's a fun a...

On this episode we are joined by Dr. Ashley Dumas again and she explains the fascinating story of when Hernando de Soto's expedition met the Mobilian people in October 1540 at the Battle of Mabila in present-day Alabama. This violent clash—triggered by a hostage standoff with Chief Tuskaloosa—led to the destruction of the palisaded town and remains one of the largest, bloodiest battles fought...

On this episode with talk with New York Times best selling author, Monte Burke, who is very interested in studying and sharing the persona of fishermen who will do just about anything to be at the top of their game. His books Lords of the Flies and Sowbelly dive into the interesting cast of characters of chasing world record tarpon and the extreme efforts on going to catch the world record largemo...

On this episode we’re joined by Dr. Ashley Dumas, the Professor of Anthropology at the University of West Alabama. We are all fascinated by the Native American artifacts we often find on our hunting properties and hearing how they thrived in the wilderness. How did they hunt, forage, fish, make tools, set up villages and camps? Dr. Dumas explains fascinating aspects of the culture of the Native Am...

On this episode we catch up with Kevin VanDam, one of our favorite Gamekeepers, to learn about his turkey season and what work he is doing for the upcoming deer season. Kevin is a fervent outdoorsman and loves improving his farm for wildlife. Apparently, what he is doing is working and we all can learn from his success as well as his trial and errors. It’s all about deer and turkeys. Listen, Learn...

On this episode we’re joined by Johnny Wilson, PhD, of Central Life Sciences to explain the invasive red and black imported fire ants (Genus Solenopsis ). In the South these tiny ants are everywhere, and we wondered if and how they impact the wildlife we so dearly love.  The short answer is YES, they do! We wanted to learn about how they got here, how they operate, how to deal with them and can we...

On this episode we’re joined by two scientists from the US Geological Survey and we discuss the precipitous decline of many wild birds across America. Dr. Jeff Hostetler and David Ziolkowski explain the USGS breeding bird survey process and the data that’s been collected for almost 60 years on the many wild birds species we all seem to take for granted. It’s shocking to learn of the big decline in...

This week we play part two of our conversation with the legendary women's basketball Coach Vic  Schaefer.  It’s the powerful story of his sons accident and his road to recovery. He talks and we listen. In fact, the story is so powerful we decided to not insert commercials to prevent interrupting this meaningful and often tearful telling of a very trying time in his family. You’ll be moved.  L...

On this episode we talk about hunting bullfrogs with Danny Moreland. Danny is an avid hunter and owns TigerBack Lodge in Arkansas and chases bullfrogs with a passion. Frog gigging has long been a part of rural lifestyle and each state has its own rules. It’s interesting to hear how it’s done and oh by the way,  the legs are delicious. Danny is also an excellent cook and prepares 100 legs for us to...

This week we are joined by legendary Coach Vic Schaefer. Considered to be one of the best collegiate women’s basketball coaches of all time, Coach is also a rabid turkey hunter and fisherman. He has produced national title contending basketball teams at Mississippi State and now Texas. He joins us in person to tell sports stories, hunting and fishing stories and explains how the outdoors helps him...

On this episode we are joined by Jordy Veillon of Louisiana to explain crawfish farming. Crawfish boils are a spring/summer tradition across the South that is gaining popularity elsewhere. But do you know the whole process of raising them from seed to the boiling pot? Jordy is pure Cajun and entertains the group with his wit while explaining the whole process of raising crawfish to sell.  We ask q...

  On this episode we’re joined by Dr. Ned Miller in studio to explain snake bites and provide a road map of what to do plus what to expect.  Ned is a serious hunter himself and understands the scenarios a hunter/fisherman could find themselves facing.  Gamekeepers working on a property face many chances to encounter venomous snakes and stinging insects, and everyone needs to have a plan. Dr. Ned e...

On this episode we’re joined by Dr. Guy Harvey. Most folks will recognize the name from his amazingly detailed artwork that beautifies everything from tee shirts to murals all over the world. But his story is one of a love for fishing, the salt water fisheries and dedicating his life to understanding and conserving the oceans and its resources. Much of his understanding of fish and fishing was lea...

On this episode we are joined by frequent guest and wild turkey researcher Dr. Marcus Lashley. Fresh from a Mississippi turkey hunt, he sits down and we discuss the latest research findings from his captive poult research project at the University of Florida. The birds are 11 months old now and he and his team have learned so much. Its an interesting discussion.  Listen, Learn, Enjoy.  If you enjo...

This week we’re joined by Mr. Allen Jenkins who spent his decades owning Lynch calls and turkey hunting. Mr. Jenkins is tells the story of how he first met M.L. Lynch and how their lives intertwined around a love of turkeys. He is a great story teller and we enjoyed each one he told. It’s a walk back in time and a chance to meet a very private person that’s had a big impact on the sport of turkey...

On this episode we are joined by Dr. Bronson Strickland and Mitt Wardlaw of Wildlife Investments to discuss the highly intriguing and somewhat mysterious warm season annual American Joint Vetch. It’s commonly referred to as Deer Vetch, or its proper name is Aeschynomene . Whatever you call it, it’s a fantastic deer forage that tolerates heavy browsing like a champ.   We learn that it fills a late...

On this episode we’re joined by Mark McPhail of Collinsville, Mississippi, to talk turkey and turkey calls. Mr. McPhail is a long time turkey hunter, call maker and call collector who loves turkeys. It’s evident when he mentions dressing for work in a coat and tie in the field after a hunt, which demonstrates his love for going every morning he can. We also learned these short morning hunts he doe...