Driftwood Outdoors Podcast

Brandon Butler and Nathan "Shags" McLeod interview Eric Call, owner of Superior Insulation. Superior Insulation has decades of combined experience in the spray foam and coatings business, built on quality work, customer experience and crazy good insulation. Topics discussed: Share the Harvest, moose hunting, Alaska hunting, Eric's bald-faced hornet sting, college football, program updates and comm...

Brandon Butler and Nathan "Shags" McLeod sit down with Nick Green, Director of Marketing and Communications at The Nimrod Society. The Nimrod Society was created in order to facilitate programs to educate the general public on the positive role anglers and hunters play in society through accurate and factual education and media programs. Topics discussed: fly fishing weekend at Big Rock Candy Moun...

Brandon Butler and Nathan “Shags” McLeod finally catch Uncle Steve on his first time out from under the bus in a while. Topics discussed: Steve's new iPhone and where on Earth he has been, the unpredictable weather in Missouri, Steve's fancy new smoker, deer and elk seasons in the Pacific Northwest, ground rules for his upcoming hunt with the boys, other plans for his trip to Missouri, football, r...

Brandon Butler and Nathan “Shags” McLeod call Roger at Big Rock Candy Mountain for an update on the upcoming fly fishing weekend, which you're all invited to!  They also discuss current and future happenings in their separate worlds, while Uncle Steve ignores their text messages. Topics discussed: Fly fishing weekend at Big Rock Candy Mountain, expecting the unexpected, fishing in November, fall d...

Brandon Butler and Nathan "Shags" McLeod sit down to talk about an exciting opportunity for you to join them at Big Rock Candy Mountain, and recap recent happenings. Topics discussed: Fly Fishing Weekend at Big Rock Candy Mountain, wedding planning, Brandon's trip to the Northeast, former presidents, Johnny Morris, ethical hunting and meaningful wins, drones in hunting, MONASP, Retrieving Freedom...

Brandon Butler sits down with George Sabattus, Jr. of Sabattus Hunting Adventures, hunter Jim York, and Lauren Plunkett after bear hunting in Jackman, Maine. Topics discussed: Terrain, beauty, and bear population in Maine, baiting considerations, spring tribal hunts, Passamaquoddy Tribe and reservation, trapping methods, moose hunting and guiding, and more. For more info: Sabattus Hunting Adventur...

With Brandon Butler in Maine hunting bears, Nathan "Shags" McLeod interviews Drew Minnick, Clay Henderson, and Darrell Cureton, founders of Hooked on Vets, at Montauk State Park. Hooked on Vets mission is to facilitate family oriented fishing and outdoor experiences for all veterans and their families.  We will share our love of the outdoors and show them how to better experience it.  When their m...

Brandon Butler and Nathan "Shags" McLeod revisit their last podcast, and finish catching up after a long stint of separation. Topics discussed: Custom golf clubs and Poe Golf, processed foods, Falling Down with Michael Douglas, doing good work with great friends and debunking friends as coworkers taboo, True North Radiothon, Brian Wear's awesomeness, Wings for Wags and Retrieving Freedom, mystery...

Nathan "Shags" McLeod and Brandon Butler finally reunite after several weeks of separation to share their tales of adventure. Topics discussed: Surviving COVID, self medicating with mac and cheese, recapping Ballard's Resort experience, the woes of building a house, winters in Minnesota, customized golf clubs, Retrieving Freedom and the impact of service dogs, mystery bait bucket and more. For mor...

Nathan "Shags" McLeod interviews Ballard's Resort Fishing Guide, Hunter Hamann on his charter boat while fishing in the Disney World of Walleye, Lake of the Woods.  Joining them on the boat are semi paid pro-staffer Tim Flanner, Brian Wear, Uncle Keith Meuhler, and Randy and Rick of Fulton. Ballard’s Resort has been providing memorable fishing vacations since 1961 and is a family owned full servic...

Nathan "Shags" McLeod interviews Anna Hague, Office Manager of Ballard's Resort in Baudette, Minnesota. Ballard's Resort has been providing memorable fishing vacations since 1961 and is a family owned full service fishing resort offering modern-housekeeping cabins with dock rental to all-inclusive fishing packages featuring lodging, guided fishing, and meal plans. Topics discussed: Ballard's uniqu...

Brandon Butler interviews Army Veteran Justin Neal and Navy Veteran Taylor Cassat, founders of SABO Outdoors. SABO Outdoors is committed to preserving and celebrating the natural world by uniting outdoor enthusiasts and landowners in a shared commitment to conservation through expanding access to private lands for outdoor activities. Topics discussed: origin of SABO Outdoors, how it works, and its...

Brandon Butler interviews Coast Guard Veteran and Retrieving Freedom, Inc. client Aaron Bean in Baton Rouge, LA at the Delta Waterfowl Expo. Topics discussed: Growing up in Colorado, duck hunting, EMT school, Rescue Swimmer School, Coast Guard enrollment, being stationed in Kodiak, memorable moments in service, The Guardian, getting his service dog through Retrieving Freedom, and more. For more in...

Brandon Butler interviews Jesse Deubel while Nathan "Shags" McLeod is out with Covid. Jesse Deubel is the Executive Director of New Mexico Wildlife Federation, an advocate for preserving public access for fishing and hunting, and a good friend of Driftwood Outdoors. Topics discussed: Ducks and geese, New Mexico waterfowl, Festival of the Cranes, drone fishing, public access dwindling, conservation...

Brandon Butler and Nathan "Shags" McLeod interview Jake Buxton, Legislative Liaison of Missouri Department of Conservation. Jake Buxton is a former Chairman of the Missouri Federation of College Republicans with a degree in Political Science from Truman State University.  He has worked in the Office of the Governor and has served as the Legislative Liaison to the Missouri Department of Labor and I...

Nathan "Shags" McLeod joins MDC’s current black bear/furbearer biologist, Nate Bowersock on a black bear trapping expedition for science. MDC recently updated the Black Bear Management Plan. The updated plan illustrates the multifaceted approach to black bear management within Missouri. This includes using research to inform management decisions, increasing statewide awareness of Missouri’s bear p...

Happy 4th of July! Brandon Butler and Nathan “Shags” McLeod sit down with the guys at Doolittle Trailer Mfg., Inc including Ryan Werdehausen (Owner/CEO), Mike McPeak (Sales Manager), James Dial (Sales rep), Crappie Craig Hansen(Sales rep) and Garrett Bradley (Marketing specialist).  Doolittle Trailer Manufacturing came together in 1978 as a small, family owned business building utility trailers in...

Brandon Butler and Nathan "Shags" McLeod interview Brett Dufur, author of Endless River and The Complete Katy Trail Guidebook. Brett Dufur, a Kansas City-born writer, is renowned for his guidebooks to Missouri's Katy Trail and Rock Island Trail, the state's two longest rails-to-trails projects.  His guidebooks have been popular for more than 30 years, providing valuable insights into Missouri's ri...

Brandon Butler interviews "The Forever Fiance" Savannah Light and Lauren "Big Fish" Plunkett while Shags is back home in Oregon. Topics Discussed:   High School and College fishing, Bull Trout, Northern Pike, Retrieving Freedom, favorite fishing spots and outdoor activities, fishing tournaments, mental health, Taneycomo, Driftwood Acres, hunting, saving turtles, sobriety, and more. For More Inform...

With Shags on vacation back in Oregon, Brandon Butler catches up with the original Driftwood Outdoors Unpaid Prostaffer - Paddle Don.  The two cover fishing for Father's Day, traveling to fish small waters, and discuss the release of Brandon's moose hunting film:  SHIRAS. Special thanks to: Living The Dream Outdoor Properties Superior Foam Insulation LLC Doolittle Trailers Scenic Rivers Taxidermy...

Brandon Butler and Nathan “Shags” McLeod interview Brad Kovach, founder of Terrain Magazine and Shawn Donnelly, "the new guy" at Terrain Magazine at MOC in Cape Girardeau. Launched in 2014, Terrain is a nonprofit publication devoted to growing outdoor recreation in St. Louis and the Great Middle West.  They deliver a free print publication, online content, community events, and partnerships with l...

Brandon Butler and Nathan “Shags” McLeod interview Tom Westhoff of the Missouri Trapping Association and Tyler Schwartz, Executive Director of Conservation Federation of Missouri at MOC in Cape Girardeau. Since its creation in 1958, the Missouri Trappers Association has been dedicated to the preservation of the heritage and skills of trapping as well as the conservation and utilization of all natu...

Brandon Butler and Nathan "Shags" McLeod celebrate 30 years of the Missouri Outdoor Communicators with some of the original members:  Bobby "Bobfather" Whitehead , John Neporadny , Darrell Taylor , Kenny Kieser , Bill Cooper , and Larry Whiteley . MOC Mission:   The Missouri Outdoor Communicators' mission is to advance knowledge of natural resources and related recreational pursuits, to improve MO...

Brandon Butler and Nathan “Shags” McLeod interview Brian Flowers, Regional Education Supervisor with MDC and Joe Brown, Nature School Lead Teacher with Columbia Public Schools. The Boone County Nature School will help children connect with nature in new and exciting ways, engage in unique and meaningful cross-curricular learning opportunities, develop proficiency in various outdoor skills, and be...

Brandon Butler and Nathan "Shags" McLeod interview newly appointed Jason Sumners, the new Director of MDC, for a casual, informational discussion about the future of Missouri conservation. “I am excited and humbled by this opportunity the Commission has entrusted me with and the conservation team I get to work with across the state and country.  The Missouri outdoors have defined my personal and p...