Fist Full of Dirt

Send us Fan Mail This week’s episode wasn’t planned. It happened the way the best things always do… at hunting camp, surrounded by old friends and stories that get better with time. I sat down with two of my best buddies.. Charlie O’Brien, former Major League Baseball catcher with 20 years in the big leagues and a World Series ring, and also a Mossy Oak Deer Thug; and Bubba Bruce (known to most fo...

Send us Fan Mail This week I sit down with Keith Mark of Hunter Nation to talk about something every hunter should care about… protecting our way of life. We cover why hunting is facing more pressure than ever, how decisions made outside the woods affect what happens in them and why staying informed and engaged matters. Keith explains what Hunter Nation is doing to defend access, support science-b...

Send us Fan Mail I threw a simple question out there, “what’s the best, funniest or most meaningful name you’ve ever given a deer stand or hunting spot?” and y’all absolutely showed up. For our final episode of the year, we’re reading some of your stories and getting reminded why these places mean so much to us. Behind every name is a memory, a person, a season or a lesson that sticks out.  As we...

Send us Fan Mail There’s only one deer in my office. It’s a small four point… my bride’s first deer. And it took her several seasons to get there. She passed deer. She waited. She had to walk her own path. When I shared that story online, the comments poured in. Stories. Memories. Gratitude. People defining what a “trophy” really means to them … first deer, hunts with parents who are gone now, kid...

Send us Fan Mail “Laureen” recently sat down with Walker, Matt and Cranky in the Camo Cave and put them all on the mic.  They swapped stories from all the years we’ve spent together outside, talked about what they’ve learned and opened up in a way they never would’ve with me in the room. I’m hearing this one fresh with all of you, and from what I’m told, there’s plenty of laughter mixed in with th...

Send us Fan Mail This week I’m visiting with Jason Thornton, better known as The Edible Outdoors Cook. Jason grew up hunting and fishing in the heart of south Louisiana and he lives the kind of lifestyle most folks dream about. Waterfowl, whitetails, crappie, redfish, shrimping… if it comes from the land or the water, his family is putting it on the table. We dig into how he handles wild game in t...

Send us Fan Mail Every Thanksgiving I fire up the microphones for our annual tradition with the girls… and this year we talk family traditions, what we’re thankful for and the stories that only come out once everybody’s full of turkey (or ham if you’re Avery). It’s exactly what Thanksgiving with this crew always feels like. Thanks for listening!  Stay connected with Fist Full of Dirt:  Instagram:...

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re sitting in the camo cave feeling mighty thankful. We just hit 300 episodes, so I asked listeners to tell me which moments meant the most to them… and the responses stopped me in my tracks. Your stories, your encouragement and your memories from three hundred shows reminded me exactly why we started this journey. We wrap things up with a rare visit from Yaya, who sh...

Send us Fan Mail We’re back with Chuck Sykes, and this time the conversation goes even deeper. In Part II, we break down the realities, misconceptions and tough decisions facing today’s hunters, agencies and conservation organizations. Chuck shares what most people never hear … how data, funding, access, participation and public perception are shaping the future of hunting and shooting sports. You...

Send us Fan Mail From a guide at Bent Creek Lodge to head of Alabama Game and Fish … and today CEO of the Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports, Chuck Sykes has a very unique perspective on what’s actually going on in the hunting world. He has the education and experience, access to tons of good data, along with a country boy’s take on changes and opinions in today’s environment. This one...

Send us Fan Mail I’ve known Gerald Swindle a long time, and I’ll tell you right now … this ain’t your average fishing interview. We didn’t talk techniques or tackle, we talked life. From grit and hard knocks to faith and second chances.. this one’s about how a poor country boy fought his way to the top and never lost his humor along the way. Oh, we talk a little hunting too because that’s where hi...

Send us Fan Mail We’re semi-live from the creepy camo cave for our annual Halloween special and this one will make the hair stand up on your neck…  in a family friendly way of course.  Every hunter’s felt it, that moment when the woods just… go silent. No wind, no birds, no reason. In this year’s spooky special I’m sharing my own story of that eerie quiet, plus some listener tales of strange thing...

Send us Fan Mail I’ve known Ted Nugent a long time and every time we talk.. I walk away inspired all over again. Nobody loves bowhunting (or lives it out loud) like Ted does. We got into everything from his early hunting days to the passion and discipline that still drive him after all these years. It’s vintage Uncle Ted.. fired up, full of wisdom and *always* rooted in respect for the hunt. Stay...

Send us Fan Mail I asked y’all to send me the best hunting advice you’ve ever been given … and boy, did you deliver. In this episode, I’m reading through some of your stories and sharing a few lessons that have stuck with me through the years. Some are funny, some are sentimental and some might just change the way you hunt. Thank you for listening!    Stay connected with Fist Full of Dirt:  Instag...

Send us Fan Mail This week I made the trip up to 2nd Amendment Outdoors in Corinth, Mississippi to hang out with Kevin Cribley, better known around here as The Saddle Guy. We got into all things archery and saddle hunting: gear setups, comfort and safety. Kevin’s one of those fellas who’s tried it all and he’ll tell you straight what works and what doesn’t. If you’ve been curious about saddle hunt...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Fist Full of Dirt , I’m visiting with Jim Kuhn of The Roost Lodge and the brand new owners to talk about what’s next for one of the most beloved camps in turkey hunting. From decades of memories to fresh plans for the future, you’ll hear the full story… straight from the people keeping the spirit of The Roost alive. Change is in the air   but some things stay exactly...

Send us Fan Mail Everybody’s got an opinion on what bucks do when the velvet comes off… coats start changing and food sources shift. But I wanted more than opinions, I wanted facts. That’s why I sat down with Dr. Bronson Strickland who’s got decades of real-time location data on whitetails.   Join us as we cut through the guesswork and talk about what the deer are actually doing during that transi...

Send us Fan Mail This week I sat down with Madison Dixon from Mississippi State’s Agricultural Autonomy Institute. Now if that sounds fancy, it is .. but trust me, this is one of the most down to earth conversations you’ll hear about where drones and farming are headed. Madison’s not only an expert with over 1,800 hours in the air, he’s also a 5th generation Mississippi farmer.   We covered everyt...

Send us Fan Mail This week I visited with Scot Evans, archery expert, bow shop owner and the man behind the wildly popular TikTok channel  BowTok. If it’s got a string, a cam, or a release aid .. we covered it. From budget setups to high end gear, tuning tricks to common mistakes, Scot breaks down bows in a way that makes sense whether you’re brand new to the game or been slinging arrows for decad...

Send us Fan Mail Back in the mid 90s we launched an outdoor TV show called Hunting the Country on TNN. Nobody knew it at the time, but it went on to run for two decades and became one of the longest standing hunting shows on national television. What made it different? We kept it about regular folks, relatable hunts and real stories. Judging by the response when I asked if you wanted to hear the f...

Send us Fan Mail This week I sat down with the great Malcolm Reed from How to BBQ Right and let me tell you, not only did I get to pick his brain, I got to taste some of that award winning BBQ too. Man..   We talked about how to handle wild game the right way and Malcolm dropped some absolute gems for anybody who loves good food and the outdoors. If you like hunting, grilling or just eating, this...

Send us Fan Mail Jim Peeler didn’t grow up in the woods.. that came later in life. And when it did, God used it to put him on a path he never saw coming. Today, he runs the Jungle Mobile Petting Zoo, a nonprofit that brings critters to special needs folks, law enforcement, first responders, veterans and more as a form of therapy and connection. Talk about a fist full of dirt! Jim’s story is about...

Send us Fan Mail First time I ever went out west after elk, I was with a crew of southern rookies big on dreams and short on experience. (And funds) We hiked, we laughed, we got altitude sickness… and we didn’t kill a thing. But looking back, it turned into one of my favorite hunts ever. Sometimes the best trips aren’t about what’s in the freezer, they’re about the stories you bring home.   Stay c...

Send us Fan Mail We’re back with Part 2 of our bowhunting bull session with Dustin Apple, a.k.a. White River Rambo.. and we’re dialin’ it in even tighter. This round, we’re diving deeper into tuning your setup and fixing those little mistakes that can blow a perfect hunt. From old school bow tricks to confidence at full draw.. Dustin’s dishing out what every hunter needs to hear before hittin’ the...

Send us Fan Mail Strap in, bowhunters… Fist Full of Dirt is kickin’ off a special two part series with none other than Dustin Apple, a.k.a. White River Rambo. Whether you’re fixin’ to pull back a bow for the first time or you’ve been flingin’ arrows your whole life, this episode’s got somethin’ for you.   We’re talkin’ gear setups on a budget, breaking down target panic, and how to find the right...