Gamekeeper Podcast

This week we welcome Anthony Ballard the MDWFP Bear Coordinator and Dr. Dana Morin a carnivore expert from Mississippi State University to talk about the black bears of Mississippi. The Magnolia State has a long, historic tradition with black bears, dating back to when the Delta region was still massive old growth timber and full of bears! Then of course there is the infamous Theodore Roosevelt hu...

Catfish week continues as we discuss catching cats with more traditional methods than the previous podcast. We ask our catfish experts Geoffrey King, Corey Stout and Ted Swords questions about tight lining, limb lines, jugs and trotlines.  There is a lot of good information here for all budgets and skill levels, and their explanations are a lot of fun. You’ll be craving some fried catfish when thi...

This week we’re talking about grabbling catfish! It’s a crazy sport that has people catching giant catfish with their hands. Would you reach into a hole in the bank and let a big blue cat bite your hand so you can catch it? We are joined by catfish grabbling experts Geoffrey King, Corey Stouts and Ted Swords of North Mississippi who know how to grabble. We ask a lot of questions and they explain h...

On this timely classic episode we do a deep dive on planting sunflowers. Whether it’s a legal dove field or an area for your family to enjoy we learn the latest techniques. We’re joined by Twinkie Estes of Nutrien and he explains the details of the modern herbicide resistant sunflowers that enable a Gamekeeper to grow a clean and attractive field.  Doves love sunflowers and so do we. Listen, Learn...

This week we have a very interesting discussion with author Erika Howsare, whose recent book, The Age of Deer, The Trouble and Kinship with Our Wild Neighbors recently caught our attention. It’s a fascinating look at the white-tailed deer and its relationship with man over time. She explains, “deer have been an essential part of human life for millennia and today our relationship is still intimate...

On the latest BONUS podcast, we address the often overlooked step of cleaning your firearms after the season. Longtime gunsmith Ed Sanders teaches us all a thing or two. Do you purposely dry fire your rifle to release the spring pressure? Do you apply a coating of oil in your barrel after the season to prevent pitting? What about the newer guns with applied camo finishes? How do you maintain them?...

This week we have Dr. Steve Ditchkoff from Auburn University on to discuss the latest on the exploding feral pig population. He’s studied wild pigs extensively during his career and thinks they are the smartest critters on the landscape. How come we rarely see many wild pig road kills? Did you know De Soto brought over the first pigs in the 1500’s, yet they never exploded until the last 40 years....

On this bonus podcast we have Dean “Redbeard” Mundhenke on to talk turkeys. Dean was the focus of the film “The Disease,” and is a legendary call maker. We start out asking about his copper calls and the conversation develops from there. We are also joined by Daniel Haas who gives an update on “The Colonel and the Fox” film. It’s an interesting conversation where we learn much about Dean and his l...

This week we continue with part 2 of our interesting discussion with wildlife and habitat aficionado Mark Thomas. He starts off teaching us where to shoot a charging grizzly bear and from there we learn about neonicotinoids and turkeys, how to build a spray rig boom, a liquid liming rig, understanding surfactants, the importance of eventually cutting timber, understanding human psychology, plants...

On this week’s BONUS episode we discuss mastering locator calls. Everybody has a “go to” call and we learn from Rip Dickerson and Shon Wright of Woodhaven Calls what all is available, plus how to run them. What’s the craziest sound you’ve heard that makes a turkey gobble? We’ll ask the group. It’s a fun one! Listen, Learn and Enjoy. Show Notes: Woodhaven Calls: https://woodhavencustomcalls.com/  ...

This week we’re thrilled to be joined with one of the most interesting and well versed wildlife and forestry professionals we’ve ever met, Mark Thomas. Marks insane resume proves he’s been exposed to more than can be explained in one podcast. We have a fun discussion and look back at what he has learned over his lifetime of managing properties for enhanced wildlife experiences to help the average...

This week we are joined by entomologist Dr. Blake Layton from the Mississippi State Entomology Department to explain the Cicada phenomenon that’s is occurring. For the first time in 221 years, both 13 year and 17 year periodical cicadas will emerge from their underground lairs at the same time. In certain areas of the country the sounds of courtship will be deafening with millions of bugs per acre...

This week with a joined by lifelong whitetail fanatic Doug Roberts, to discuss what he has learned through trials and errors to help Gamekeepers can grow healthier whitetails. Doug has some incredible insight into what it takes to grow a big whitetail and he surprised us with some of his answers. He also explained to us what he knew about the Mitch Rompola buck that was killed in Michigan back in...

On this week’s BONUS episode we have Bill Sugg, Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland and David Loftis join us. We learn quickly from Mr. Loftis that the push button is WAY more than a beginners call. In fact, his calling inspires a normally mild mannered Bill Sugg into joining him with even more push button chaos. Later, Cuz gives us a deep dive on his famous tube call and he teaches us how he uses one to loca...

This week we are joined in studio by one of our favorite guests, Dr. Bronson Strickland, for a lively discussion on whitetails. Bronson also brought Moriah Boggess, a brilliant young Deer Biologist who works with him at Wildlife Investments where they work with landowners to implement habitat management plans. We ask them both to help explain what Gamekeepers can be doing right now to influence he...

On this BONUS episode we interview Ernie Calandrelli of Quaker Boy about wing bone turkey calls. Ernie is a master wing bone caller, a larger than life character and a legend in the wild turkey world. He explains the history of the call, how to make one and how to call on one.  This one is special. Listen, Learn and Enjoy.   Show Notes: Quaker Boy Calls: https://www.quakerboy.com/   If you enjoyed...

This week we have Barry Smith, a highly respected fisheries scientist with a lifetime of innovation and experience around managing sportfish. It’s a conversation that includes crappie, catfish, flathead catfish, shell crackers, river fish, bass, crawfish, fathead minnows, the bream spawn, aerators, stratification, fertility, liming water, all female bass ponds and the biggest bass he has grown. Ba...

On this episode we have an old school call designer, Mike Battey explains turkey vocalizations and why you should have a trumpet call in your vest. Mike was the first to use high tech recording equipment to study wild turkey sounds and his recordings are amazing acoustic experiences. He is also an expert on the mysterious turkey call called the trumpet and the wing bone call. Mike explains it all...

This week we are joined by Dan Moultrie and Derrick Duke of Moultrie Feeders to discuss managing for deer and turkeys plus learn about the latest in technology. Dan has been a part of managing several high profile hunting properties and through his obsession with growing big deer has seen some of the best ideas others have put in place. We did our best to glean some of these concepts and learn how...

BONUS Podcast. Box Calls.  Join us and experience a Turkey Calling “Master Class” on running a box call. Guest Lyle Gilbert of Houndstooth Calls answers all our questions and teaches us about the versatility of an old school box call. Most hunters learn to call with a box, BUT everybody should have one in their vest. Listen, Learn and Enjoy.  Show Notes: Houndstooth Game Calls: https://houndstooth...

This week we are joined by two interesting guests, Dr. Will Gulsby of Auburn and Dr. Marcus Lashley of Florida – and we have a lively discussion. We learn about a pneumatic dart gun for capturing deer and then get into discussing the latest topics in turkey research. Suffice it to say, if you like turkeys, you’ll enjoy this one. Listen, Learn and Enjoy. Show Notes: Follow Dr. Gulsby on Instagram @...

BONUS Podcast.  Mouth Calls. Join us and experience a Turkey Calling “Master Class” on running a mouth yelper. Guest Josh Grossenbacher of Rolling Thunder Game Calls answers all our questions and explain to us just how to get the sounds we want. He talks and demonstrates bubble clucks, yelps, purrs, cutts and cackles and gives a great explanation of how air moves the reeds to create sound. Listen,...

This week’s podcast can only be described as a deep discussion with Dr. Mike Chamberlain aka @wildturkeydoc on some thought provoking issues. We discuss social dominance issues, the latest research that is trying to understand a gobbler's personalities  (whether they are home boys or risk takers), and how that affects their mortality.  It gets deep when we talk conceptually about killing the...

 BONUS: Mastering The Pot Call. Join us and experience a Turkey Calling “Master Class” on a running a pot style call. Guest Terrence Williamson answers all our questions and teaches us how a little friction can sound like a sweet hen with some practice. Listen, Learn and Enjoy.  If you enjoyed this Gamekeeper episode, send the guys a message and don’t forget to include your contact info so we can...

This week we have a truly special guest in Mr. Benny Herring. Anybody that turkey hunts in Mississippi owes him a debt of gratitude, you see Mr. Herring was one of the first team of biologists that trapped and relocated wild turkeys across the state. During the late 1960’s through the early 80’s he was involved in over 90 cannon net captures and releases. His stories are fantastic and transport th...