The Stand Outdoors

In this episode of The Stand Outdoors Podcast, Dave Baker and Mike Hayes sit down with legendary whitetail hunter Don Higgins of Higgins Outdoors and the Chasing Giants podcast. Don shares how he grew up hunting on his grandparents’ Illinois farm, the mentors who shaped his approach, and the strategies that helped him take multiple 200-inch bucks. He also explains how his passion for deer hunting...

Duck hunter and gunsmith Jacob Bonner joins Dave Baker and Mike Hayes to share how a childhood love for archery and an old turkey box call pulled him into the hunting world. He talks through memorable duck hunts from Tennessee to Reelfoot and explains how that lifelong passion for firearms eventually became Armify Defense, his custom shop focused on one-of-a-kind heirloom builds. We want to hear f...

Dave Baker and Mike Hayes talk with duck hunter and gunsmith Jacob Bonner about how he got hooked on hunting through archery and a beat-up turkey box call. Jake shares stories of duck hunts from Tennessee to Reelfoot and how his passion for firearms turned into Armify Defense, a custom gunsmithing shop building heirloom pieces. We want to hear from you! Send us notes, questions, prayers by going t...

Kenny Zuspan of First Class Whitetails of Ohio joins Mike Hayes and Dave Baker to share how he went from running a trash business to building a premier fair-chase whitetail outfitting operation in Meigs County, Ohio. He explains how he manages a mix of owned and leased farms, focuses on soil health and strategic food plots, and battles challenges like EHD to grow healthier, bigger deer. We want to...

Kenny Zuspan of First Class Whitetails of Ohio shares how he turned his hunting passion in Meigs County into a fair-chase outfitting business grounded in faith. He manages a mix of owned and leased farms, focusing on soil health, food plots, and smart herd management while dealing with challenges like EHD. His wife Stephanie and their kids are deeply involved in both hunting and hosting guests. Ke...

In this episode of The Stand Outdoors, Mike Hayes and Dave Baker sit down with Ed Romanouski from Men of Courage Outdoors and Restart Ministries as he shares how faith-centered hunting and fishing trips across the Mid-Atlantic help men battling addiction encounter Christ and real life change, recounts his own journey from Catholic roots to a personal relationship with Jesus, highlights powerful fa...

On this episode of The Stand Outdoors, Dave Baker and Mike Hayes unpack what should be in your turkey vest from tick spray, calls, and decoys to safety and comfort essentials. They then talk about spiritual readiness and the four core elements of the gospel: sin, death, Jesus’ sacrifice, and faith. We want to hear from you! Send us notes, questions, prayers by going to TheStandOutdoors.com and sen...

In this episode, Mike and Dave welcome Tom Nelson, veteran bow hunter and longtime host of American Archer. Tom traces his story from a bow-obsessed kid strolling the aisles of Anderson Archery to managing the store and eventually stepping into outdoor television when the Outdoor Channel was just getting started. He shares how that leap opened the door to buying his dream farm and a life spent cha...

Master bow hunter and American Archer host Tom Nelson joins Mike Hayes and Dave Baker to share how a childhood passion for archery led from sweeping floors at Anderson Archery to leading TV bow hunting and serving as president of the Pope and Young Club. Tom unpacks his go-to strategies for turkey hunting and explains how his Christian faith, daily prayer, and gratitude to God have shaped both his...

On this episode, Mike Hayes and Dave Baker dive deep into the history of the Baker Boys, his hunting family shaped by a sharpshooting Methodist preacher, rugged West Virginia mountains, and deep-rooted tradition. From Dave’s first buck at 11 to his dad’s final hunt at 78, this episode ties together family, faith, and a legacy that spans generations. We want to hear from you! Send us notes, questio...

Today with Mike Hayes, Dave Baker tells the story of the Baker Boys, his family of hunters shaped by a dead-eye Methodist preacher, wild West Virginia hunts, and deep-rooted tradition. From Dave’s first deer at 11 to his father’s final hunt at 78, this episode weaves together family, faith, and the legacy they’ve passed down. We want to hear from you! Send us notes, questions, prayers by going to...

Mike Hayes and Dave Baker sit down with Damon Albert, founder of Camp Ezri, a free, volunteer-run camp in Berkeley County, West Virginia that serves at-risk kids ages 8–18. Drawing on 30 years of work with vulnerable youth, Damon explains how Camp Ezri uses outdoor adventure, high staff-to-child ratios, and intentional biblical teaching to help children heal from trauma and encounter God. He highl...

Damon Albert, founder of Camp Ezri in Hedgesville, WV, joins Dave Baker and Mike Hayes to share his radical testimony of addiction, desperation, encountering Jesus, and how that led to 30 years of ministering to at-risk kids through a free, volunteer-run outdoor camp. Damon explains how Camp Ezri uses hunting, fishing, shooting sports, adventure activities, and time in God’s creation to help boys...

Len Puccio, a Pennsylvania turkey hunter, joins Mike Hayes and Dave Baker on this episode of The Stand Outdoors. He shares his journey from starting hunting at 12 with his grandfather to becoming an avid turkey hunter, the importance of patience, understanding turkey behavior, and proper calling techniques. He shares his story of converting at 22. We want to hear from you! Send us notes, questions...

Pennsylvania turkey hunter Len Puccio joins hosts Dave Baker and Mike Hayes to share how he went from hunting with his grandfather at 12 to becoming an avid turkey hunter. Len talks about patience, reading turkey behavior, and effective calling, telling the story of his son’s first longbeard, and sharing how coming to Christ at 22 reshaped his life. We want to hear from you! Send us notes, questio...

Nate Hosie, a Pennsylvania-based singer-songwriter and dedicated hunter, sits down with Dave and Mike to reflect on how childhood hunts with his dad and grandfather sparked a lifelong love for the outdoors. He opens up about juggling touring, filming, and chasing gobblers with being a husband and dad, and why his relationship with Jesus matters far more than any big buck or big stage. Nate shares...

Nate Hosie, Pennsylvania singer-songwriter and avid hunter, joins Dave and Mike to share how early mornings in the woods with his dad and grandfather shaped his passion for the outdoors. He talks about balancing a busy music and hunting schedule with family life, why his faith matters more than trophies or stages, and how time in God’s creation brings real peace. Nate also previews his upcoming so...

In this episode, Dave Baker and Mike Hayes share practical bass fishing tips focused on light spinning outfits (6–10 lb line), Gary Yamamoto 5" Senko worms (pumpkin green), and the Rapala 7g minnow-style lure. Mike also covers when to use frog lures and Jitterbug topwater baits, emphasizing natural presentations and timing the hook set. They then connect these fishing strategies to the Christian l...

Mike Hayes and Dave Baker share proven turkey hunting tactics, from scouting and terrain to decoy setups and working with henned-up or hung-up gobblers. They wrap up with a faith-centered look at managing anger, drawing on Scripture and real-life stories to connect spiritual growth with time in the woods. We want to hear from you! Send us notes, questions, prayers by going to TheStandOutdoors.com...

Dave Baker and Mike Hayes explore how trail cameras help hunters gather reliable intel on animal movement, stressing smart placement (trail intersections, sun angle), use of cellular/solar setups, and awareness of local regulations. They offer practical tips like wearing gloves to avoid scent contamination and setting cameras at proper heights and distances, while drawing a spiritual parallel: hun...

Dave Baker and Mike Hayes unpack real-world spring turkey strategies, from scouting and decoys to 410s and TSS rounds, share vital safety tips, and connect it all to the bigger question of how we seek and share the truth of the gospel. We want to hear from you! Send us notes, questions, prayers by going to TheStandOutdoors.com and send a message through our contact page. Check out the Targeting th...

Dave Baker and Mike Hayes dig into the challenge of turkey hunting, especially in West Virginia. They cover scouting, turkey behavior, and the practical use of box, slate, glass, and mouth calls (including a wild “fighting purrs” story). They then connect calling gobblers to sharing the gospel, emphasizing preparation, gentleness, and respect. We want to hear from you! Send us notes, questions, pr...

Dave Baker and Mike Hayes unpack real-world spring turkey strategies, from scouting and decoys to 410s and TSS rounds, share vital safety tips, and connect it all to the bigger question of how we seek and share the truth of the gospel. We want to hear from you! Send us notes, questions, prayers by going to TheStandOutdoors.com and send a message through our contact page. Check out the Targeting th...

Bowhunter and “scent nut” Joey Bobak joins Mike and Dave to break down what really works for beating a whitetail’s nose. From old-school baking soda tricks to modern ScentLok, ozone, smart stand placement, and playing the wind and thermals, this episode is packed with practical, field-tested tips you can use on your next hunt. We want to hear from you! Send us notes, questions, prayers by going to...

Former TV network president–turned–outdoor evangelist Jim Liberatore sits down with Dave and Mike to share how God led him from overseeing major sports and outdoor channels to launching The Harvest, a faith-filled feature film for hunters. In this episode, Jim unpacks his unlikely journey into hunting, the spiritual warfare surrounding the movie, and why he believes hunters are a sleeping giant wh...