Eastmans' Wingmen Podcast

Ed was on the podcast last year prior to our Sage Grouse hunt together in late September and has become a good friend. In this episode Ed and Todd talk Sage Grouse hunting, cooking, habitat and of course the tenuous status of the big birds themselves. Eventually the chit chat turns to dogs and dog training as Ed is a former trial circuit judge and trainer. One thing is for certain, when Ed and Tod...

Every now and then we have the pleasure of having a guest on the podcast whom we feel like we’ve known for a long time and we instantly connect with as the conversation flows naturally as the time slips away. Marty is one of those guests. Host Todd Helms and Marty talk Labradors, dog training and of course duck hunting in this longer than normal episode and the hits just keep on coming. If you lik...

Throwing it back to host Todd Helms’ roots with episode 61… Ruffed grouse in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Kyle Warren of Paint River Llewellins in Ironwood, Michigan. Kyle breeds and trains Llewellin setters and is a wealth of information on dogs in general. We’ve never heard scenting and scent cones described in as much detail or understood them better than after our chat with Kyle. We also 100% a...

We decided to ask Chad to come back on the podcast to give us a life update since he and his wife are new parents. We wound up making endless connections between dog training and parenting. Chad and host Todd Helms also discuss the difference between a “meat dog” and “field trial dog” and how the best retrievers can do both. This episode is full of laughs and insights and the 90 minutes goes super...

The number one threat to all hunting in North America is the rabid 5% of the anti-hunting fringe. Host Todd Helms and guest Jim Huntsman sit down to talk about the lunacy of that fringe group and how the messaging that hunters portray via social media can provide ammunition for groups like the Humane Society of the United States. This is not a tutorial on what to post and what to not post but a pa...

Do you like tongue in cheek hunting apparel? The lighter side of waterfowl hunting? Then you need to check out Combat Waterfowl… they have staked a claim to the fun side of hunting with shirts like “Cooticus Maximus”. Owner and operator Robert Brewer is a U.S. Army veteran, avid waterfowler and all around good old American dude! Host Todd Helms and Robert talk about Combat Waterfowl, dog training,...

If you’ve been around hunting social media very long you’ve probably stumbled onto Ryan Off The Grid. He’s equal parts combat marine, avid hunter and unique character wrapped up in a tatted, viking looking, duck slaying package. Make no mistake though, Ryan is polished in his approach to hunting advocacy and he and host Todd Helms dive deep into what it means to be an actively engaged hunter in to...

Duck Gun Chronicles is a popular and growing YouTube channel started by waterfowl junkie Jordan Fromer from northern Indiana. Jordan learned the game of waterfowling from scratch and shares some awesome stories on this episode. Including one about asking some other duck hunters at the boat launch how far away he could kill a passing duck… zero ego! Todd and Jordan also dive into Jordan’s Duck Bus...

In this episode of Wingmen, Todd sits down for a solo podcast to give an update on Hondo's training. He discusses the triumphs and tribulations experienced in training a successful bird hunting dog as well as the expectations as a dog owner and how knowing your dogs' potential, as well as limitations, are key elements. He hits on the importance of patience and hard work, and the rewarding results...

Chuck Belmore is a man of many talents but talking and DIY-ing turkey hunts may just be his best ones. This conversation covers lots of topics from how he got his start filming Bowfishing TV shows to generational turkey hunting. The guys get into the decline of the wild turkey and other bird species too. However, the conversation revolves around turkey hunting and the relationships each man has bu...

Host Todd Helms shares the skills, triumphs, and tactics surrounding turkey hunting without the use of Decoys. He shares his opinions on how a decoy can be a hindrance on a hunt, and breaks down the different strategies required for a successful harvest using this hunting style. The information is insightful and full of first hand experience. If you’ve ever been curious about how your Turkey hunti...

Beau Brooks is a walking wildlife jukebox! We’ve never heard so many animal and bird sounds produced by the human voice and when he throws in a mouth reed the results are astounding. Beau and host Todd Helms talk turkey hunting, calling, decoying and setup strategies that will work from Florida to Beau’s home in Washington state. The guys also cover what it takes to be successful in the hunting in...

If you don’t know about Hi Mountain Seasonings and their incredible line of DIY jerky and sausage kits and rubs, marinades and spices then you’re missing out! Brian Tucker and host Todd Helms talk about all things Hi Mountain Seasonings, turkey hunting, family, the ethos of the hunt itself and where the field to fork movement falls short in the big picture of hunting. This episode is simply a grea...

Ryan Bassham is who we want to be when we grow up, if we grow up. Ryan has chased birds across the globe and has taken not one, but two ocellated turkeys, and recounts the details of those hunts… we now want to go! Ryan and Todd’s conversation spans everything from turkey hunting and turkey plans for 2022 to rice breast prevalence in ducks. This is another great episode of the Wingmen podcast, and...

If there’s one thing we’ve learned when chatting with Black Rifle Coffee’s Baker Leavitt it’s that you’re going to get unvarnished opinions and some excellent stories. Baker is one of the most interesting people we’ve had the pleasure of hosting on the podcast, his extensive experience and travel schedule means that he’s incredibly knowledgeable about a wide range of topics and this episode goes f...

Host Todd Helms sits down with guides Gage Biggers and Dillon Potson of The Outfit Oklahoma on his recent hunt for cranes and little geese in Okie-land. Gage and Dillon are salt of the earth fellas and share their “why” for guiding waterfowl hunters. The talk explores the guy’s stories, birds, hunting, habitat, dogs, conservation and what it takes to be a hunting guide. This is an excellent episod...

Wingmen Podcast host Todd Helms sits down with Shane Lewellen, owner and operator of The Outfit Oklahoma and partner in The Outfit 306. Shane runs two first class wingshooting operations; one in Oklahoma featuring cranes, ducks and little geese and one in Saskatchewan offering all the province has to offer. Shane is a wealth of knowledge, especially about Sandhill Cranes and their unique habitat n...

Sara Heady came highly recommended as a guest by Hugh Clark of Alaska Waterfowl Association after her successful hunt for the prized Emperor Goose in Alaska. Sara walks host Todd Helms through the entire story from start to finish; the ups and downs, the changes of plans and ultimately the unexpected camaraderie and support she experienced from fellow hunters the day it all came together and she t...

Bill Embacher is the man who carved the black duck decoy that Ramsey Russell is traveling with this year. Bill is a hunter who loves waterfowling for all the same reasons we do. The history, the culture, the stories and the birds. All of this is stitched into the fabric of his soul and it was an honor to sit down and visit for a while with him. Host Todd Helms will be having Bill carve a decoy for...

We had the pleasure of meeting Corey this summer when we picked up Hondo from Southern Oak Kennels. Corey whelped Hondo and we almost had to wrestle him away to be able to take Hondo home with us. Corey is a first rate dog trainer and our conversation revolved around dogs, dogs and more dogs with a bit of hunting thrown in. If you like Labradors, dog training, waterfowl hunting and the art of bala...

Host Todd Helms takes the time to break down his top picks from both Leupold Optics and Sitka Gear for the wingshooter. He explains why his particular picks are perfect for the hunter on your list this Christmas. Todd also gives a brief hunting season update and update on what’s coming down the pipe here at Wingmen.

We were first introduced to Hugh Clark on the TV series Alaska Outdoors Television as they showcased his unique hunts in the Last Frontier. Hugh is a wealth of knowledge and lives to pass on the waterfowling heritage. If you’ve ever wanted to hunt waterfowl in Alaska you need to contact Hugh and he’ll help you figure out logistics and find the right experience for you. This episode runs almost two...

On this episode Todd Helms sits down with fellow Wingman Scott Reekers to talk about expectations for the upcoming waterfowl season. They guys venture down several rabbit holes and this makes for a podcast about everything from dogs and training to breeding, potential, and ultimately consistent success due to lessons learned afield. Anyway you slice it this is a fun episode and one you don’t want...

Host Todd Helms sits down and clears the air about why you’re not killing ducks in the same places you used to. Todd feels strongly that how often you hunt a particular spot drastically affects the quality of the hunting. In this episode he goes into detail about how to manage the pressure on limited access or private hunting spots.

This past weekend, host Todd Helms took his 6 month old Labrador, Hondo, on his first waterfowl hunt. In this episode Todd breaks down what went well, what didn’t and expectations for a young dog in the field. Todd is battling a bad cold in this episode so you’ll have to bear with him but the information he provides and the insight into working with young dogs is priceless.