Nordic Tales & American Trails

This week on Nordic Tales & American Trails , we sit down with 📸 Scott Allan of SA Fieldsports Photography — a UK-based hunter and photographer whose lens has followed working dogs from the sand dunes of Africa 🌍 to the woods of America 🌲 and the coursing fields of Europe 🐾 . Scott’s story starts at home 🏡, where changes in UK hunting laws pushed him from running his own dogs into capturi...

In this episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails, we sit down with Joe Saylor, a Kentucky-based hunter who grew up running Walkers and English hounds — but has now fully shifted over to West Siberian Laikas. We follow Joe’s journey from picking up her first Laika pup to building a capable hunting dog, covering the challenges, breakthroughs, and unforgettable moments along the way. From the firs...

🎧 This week, we're re-releasing our full conversation with Torkel Norling , one of Sweden’s most experienced and respected tracking and predator hunters. Originally split into two parts, this complete episode brings together over 30 years of field experience in one uninterrupted conversation — packed with insight for anyone passionate about Laikas, wounded game tracking, and predator hunting. Wit...

In Part Two of our deep-dive with Darren Petty , we continue exploring what it really takes to build, train, and understand a serious hunting dog. This time, the spotlight is on Kylo – one of Darren’s standout dogs – and the lessons learned from raising, hunting, and handling a dog built for real work. We dig into: 🔹 The role of genetics, socialization, and selecting the right breed for the job...

It’s been one full year since Nordic Tales and American Trails launched — and what a journey it’s been! 🥂🎧 To celebrate, we’re reuploading Episode 1 , where it all began. In this episode, we introduced the idea behind the podcast — bridging the gap between hunting cultures in the U.S. and Northern Europe, and telling real stories from the dog men and women in the field. So… have we stayed true t...

This week, we sit down with Darren Petty – a seasoned dogman, hunter, and returning guest who’s spent decades working with hounds, Laikas, and terriers across the U.S. In Part One of this two-part conversation, we dive into a wide range of dog talk — from hands-on training advice to bigger-picture questions about behavior, temperament, and what makes a breed tick. We dig into: 🔹 Are Laikas aggres...

We’re back with Heath Hyatt for Part Two of our deep-dive into the world of working dogs — from the mountains to the street. With decades of experience in hunting and law enforcement, Heath unpacks what it really means to read, train, and build a dependable dog. This episode is full of straight talk and sharp insights for anyone serious about the craft. We dig into: 🔹 The journey from hunting to...

This week, we sit down with Heath Hyatt – professional dog trainer, law enforcement K9 handler, and lifelong hunter – for the first of a two-part deep dive into dog work, training philosophy, and bear hunting in the U.S. Heath brings a rare perspective from both sides of the leash. With decades of experience working police dogs and hounds, he shares how the same core principles – patience, timing,...

In Part Two of our conversation with George Lambert from Mountain Music and Mules , we go deeper into his life of hunting with dogs, mules, and grit. George brings decades of hard-earned experience to the mic, sharing stories that span generations, bloodlines, and state lines. 🐾🐻 This episode covers: 🐶 How George sees the differences between American and European hunting dogs 🌍 Comparing breed...

Episode 42: George Lambert – Mules, Hounds & Mountain Lessons (Part 1) In Part One of our conversation with George Lambert of Mountain Music and Mules, we dig deeper into the rugged bond between man, mule, and hound. George reflects on what mules have taught him about dog training—and how those lessons shaped his approach in the woods. This episode covers: Positive vs. negative training – and...

This week, we’re doing something a little different. We’re bringing back one of our earlier conversations — both parts of our interview with Jeremiah Gracie of Gracie Tracking Service , now reuploaded as one full episode. Jeremiah is a passionate outdoorsman from the U.S. with a strong interest in wounded game recovery , trapping , and working dogs . He runs a Norwegian Elkhound named Trapper , an...

This week, we sit down with none other than Rasmus Boström – one of Sweden’s most experienced and recognized brown bear hunters. We cover everything from checking wounded bears by helicopter in Norway (on behalf of the government!) to the dogs he uses for bear hunting and other predator hunting in Sweden. Rasmus also shares his unique experiences hunting mink in the Swedish archipelago and dives d...

This week, we head underground—literally. Erik and Adam sit down with Jan Gustavsson , better known as Trapperlodge , one of Sweden’s most experienced den hunters and a finalist at this year’s Jaktgalan (Hunting Gala). Jan takes us deep into the world of fox and badger hunting with terriers , where precision, grit, and trust in your dog are everything. We talk about: – How Jan got started with Pat...

Episode 38 – Ask Hyldgaard This week, we sit down with Ask Hyldgaard – a Swedish wounded game tracker, former professional cowboy (yep, really), and one of the very few people in Sweden running a Catahoula Leopard Dog. Ask’s journey is unique. He started with German Shepherds and a background in cowboy life, but now he’s all-in on tracking wounded wild boar, moose and deer with his Catahoula – a b...

In this laid-back episode, Erik and Adam sit down to recap the last four episodes and dive into some deeper dog talk. We explore the age-old debate: breeding vs. training – what really makes a good hunting dog? We also talk: What breeds Adam is eyeing for his next dog Heat stroke and staying safe in the field Wild boars, Laikas, hounds – and everything in between Grab a cup, kick back, and join us...

This week, we sit down with Chris Powell – founder, host, and driving force behind the Houndsman XP podcast. With a lifetime of experience as a hunter, houndsman, and conservation officer, Chris brings deep insight into the American hunting tradition and the importance of preserving wildlife and wild places. We talk about: – The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation – Chris’ decades as a g...

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Per Kristensen, also known as PK Hunting. Per is a Swedish hunter and content creator, part of the Wild Jaeger crew, who discovered bowhunting a few years ago—and it’s taken him far beyond Sweden. We talk about: – Growing up in Sweden’s traditional almogejakt culture with hunting dogs – Hunting without dogs and finding your own way in the woods – The spot-a...

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Dominic Brown, co-owner of Bayou Outlaws alongside our host Adam Vu. Dominic is a passionate and experienced hunter who runs a mixed pack of dogs including Black Mouth Curs, Catahoula Curs, and West Siberian Laikas, with a strong focus on wild boar hunting. We dive into: – Hunting wild boars in the American South – The strengths and roles of different breed...

🎙 Episode 33 – Mikael Kronstrand (Part 2) 🐾 In part two of our conversation with Mikael Kronstrand, we dive deep into the world of Swedish hunting trials. Mikael shares how he became a hunting trial judge and what it takes to evaluate dogs in a system built to test real hunting skills. We also circle back to Laikas and other spitz breeds—comparing their traits and discussing how different breeds...

We kick off this episode by diving into the training of wounded game tracking dogs—how to build them up, challenge them, and keep their drive sharp. Mikael Kronstrand shares how his tracking journey started, eventually leading him to lay blood trails in some unexpected places... like an IKEA parking lot From there, we get into Mikael’s work with East Siberian Laikas—his experiences breeding and hu...

In this episode, Erik and Adam open up about some difficult but necessary decisions regarding their dogs. Adam has made the tough call to rehome Kylo with Darren Petty after struggling with Kylo’s temperament issues toward his family. Meanwhile, Erik faced his own challenges with his Russo-European Laika, Daisy, ultimately deciding to cull her at the end of this hunting season. We dive deep into d...

This week, we sit down with Kevin Yates, a lifelong dogman and competition hunter. Kevin made history in 1996 as the first handler to qualify for the Joy Super Pup Shoot-Out Hunt, and he’s been deep in the hunting world ever since. We talk about his journey with Laikas and Feists, competition hunting on coons and squirrels, and his work in predator calling and control. Plus, we dive into the diffe...

In this episode, Erik and Adam share stories of tough days in the woods—long hours, hard work, and moments they’ll never forget. Adam talks about a special hunt with his first Laika, Snow, and how that dog shaped his wild boar hunting journey. They also dive into wild boar hunting, comparing the differences between Sweden and Louisiana. From the challenges of terrain and climate to the ways hunter...

Dog Shows, Health Checks & Breeding Differences In this solo episode, Erik shares his thoughts on dog shows and how Sara performed in her first two competitions. He also covers health checks and dives into the key differences between the Nordic and American approaches to breeding hunting dogs. From hunting diplomas to health testing and the role of dog shows in Sweden, Erik compares it to the...

In this episode, Erik sits down with Tony Lee Collins to talk about his journey into hunting with Laikas and Dachshunds. From his first Laika, a special connection made through A Soldier’s Child Foundation, to his experiences breeding and importing hunting dogs, Tony shares his insights on what he’s learned along the way. A big part of the discussion? Squirrel hunting! Lots of squirrel hunting—how...