Nordic Tales & American Trails

In this special bonus episode, Erik sits down solo to reflect on his January hunting adventures with Sara and Lily. He shares insights into their progress, the ups and downs of the season, and how Lily is recovering from her recent setback. Erik also talks about the challenges of hunting wild boar with Laikas—what makes it difficult, how the dogs handle the pressure, and what he has learned along...

In this episode, we’re diving even deeper into the world of hunting dogs with Torkel Norling. We talk about his views on breeding East Siberian Laikas, what he looks for in a dog, and how selection impacts performance in the field. We also get into: 🐻 Hunting brown bears with Laikas 🐱 The challenges of hunting lynx with dogs 🐕 A deep dive into different hunting styles and what makes a great dog...

In this episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails, we sit down with one of Sweden’s most experienced tracking hunters, Torkel Norling, who has spent over 30 years in the field and takes on more than 250 tracking assignments every year. From wounded game recovery to wildlife collision response, Torkel has seen it all and has played a key role in developing modern tracking methods, including a doc...

In this week’s episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails, we’re sitting down once again with Robin Tangen to catch up on his latest adventures and plans. Robin shares stories from his recent hunting trip to Poland and gives us a glimpse into his exciting preparations for the next brown bear season. We also dive into Robin’s unique approach to training dogs for bear hunting—using a “radio-control...

In this week’s episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails, we sit down with Eddy Hjelm, a passionate and experienced wild boar hunter. Eddy has hunted with a variety of breeds, including East and West Siberian Laikas, Norwegian Elkhounds, and mixed breeds. Excitingly, he’s set to import a new West Siberian Laika this February, and we dive into his plans for this addition. Eddy shares his journey...

In this week’s episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails, Erik and Adam take a break from discussing Laikas to dive into the other types of hunting they enjoy. From spring beaver hunting in Sweden to running rabbits in the Louisiana swamps with beagles, they share stories and insights from their diverse hunting experiences. They also tackle an interesting debate: hunting with single dogs versus...

In this week’s episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails, we sit down with Jonas Bergstrand, a Swedish hunter who played a pivotal role in inspiring Adam to pursue wild boar hunting with Laikas. Jonas shares his journey of growing up in a hunting family, starting with driven hunting dogs, and eventually transitioning to Laikas for hunting wild boars and brown bears. We also hear about Jonas’s in...

In this episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails, Adam and Erik sit down for a conversation about how their current hunting season is shaping up and how their dogs are developing in the field. They dive into the ongoing debate between silent and open dogs on track—what works best, and why? They also discuss the role of dogs engaging the game and whether it helps with baying, sharing their thoug...

In this episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails, we’re joined by Robin Tangen, a hunter and outfitter from Norway who shares his adventures with his Karelian Bear Dog. Robin’s hunting pursuits span a variety of game, including brown bear, wolverine, moose, and wild boar. Robin also runs RT-Hunting, an outfitter company in Norway that offers unforgettable hunting experiences in the rugged Nordi...

In this episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails , we continue our conversation with Jeremiah Gracie in part two of our discussion. This time, we focus on his journey into wounded game tracking. Jeremiah shares how he got his first Norwegian Elkhound, Trapper, and how their partnership became the cornerstone of Gracie Tracking Service . From tracking deer and moose across Vermont’s rugged lands...

Episode 16: Jeremiah Gracie Trapping In this episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails, we sit down with Jeremiah Gracie from Vermont to explore his life as an avid trapper. From navigating the art of beaver and otter trapping to the challenges of pursuing elusive game, Jeremiah shares his passion for the craft and the stories that have shaped his journey. We also learn how Jeremiah first got in...

In this episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails , we sit down with Beau, an avid hunter from Australia, to explore the thrilling world of hunting in the Australian wilderness. From the unmatched intensity of chasing wild boars with his loyal dogs to navigating the rugged terrain, Beau takes us deep into the heart of dog-driven hunting Down Under. Beau shares a gripping story of a wild boar hun...

  In this week's episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails , we sit down with Mikael Andersson, a skilled dog trainer based in the Gothenburg region of Sweden. Mikael brings a wealth of experience from training dogs in a wild boar pen and shares stories from his many hunts for wild boar with his trusted dogs. Listeners will hear an insightful discussion about how to start training dogs on w...

In this week's episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails , we’re excited to bring you an engaging conversation as Adam sits down with special guest Darren Petty. Darren shares captivating stories from his recent hunting trip to Sweden, where he experienced the rugged beauty of Nordic hunting firsthand. Listeners can expect an in-depth discussion that dives deep into Laikas, including their pedig...

In this week's episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails , Erik sits down with Wayne Dixon from the American Bear Foundation. We dive into the foundation’s mission, dedicated to the protection and development of bears, their habitat, and the tradition of bear hunting across the United States. The ABF stands strong as an all-volunteer non-profit, focusing on black bear conservation and the unique...

In this episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails , we’re diving into moose hunting season with stories straight from the Swedish wilderness. Erik and his hunting team just wrapped up the opening week in central Sweden, successfully bringing down several moose while making real progress with their young dogs. We’ll break down the hunt, talk about how his Laikas and his friend's elkhound performe...

In this week's episode, Erik dives into the numbers behind wild boar hunting trials and discusses how different spitz dog breeds perform in these challenging tests. We received a listener question about which dog breed Erik recommends for wild boar hunting, and we provide an in-depth look at breed performance and success rates in these trials. This episode was originally planned as a bonus, but du...

In this episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails , we dive deep into the fascinating world of Spitz hunting breeds. We'll explore all nine unique Spitz breeds recognized by the Swedish Moose Club, with insights into their remarkable tracking and hunting skills. We’ll also shine a spotlight on the Finnish Spitz and the Norbottenspitz, uncovering what makes them such valuable companions in the fi...

In this episode of Nordic Tales and American Trials, we dive into Darren Petty’s incredible trip to Sweden, organized by our host Erik Rohdin. Darren shares stories of hunting moose with different Laikas and bird hunting with the versatile Norrbotten Spitz. From the traditions of Northern Europe to the exciting encounters with local hunters from Sweden, Finland, and Norway, this episode covers it...

Episode 7: From Sweden to Appalachia In this exciting episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails, Erik takes us on a journey from Sweden to the rugged Appalachian Mountains in the USA. Join us as he teams up with Alex Kurashev and his West Siberian Laikas to hunt black bears across public lands in Tennessee and Virginia. From landing in the U.S. to crawling through dense thickets to bag a bear ju...

Episode 6: Ready for boar  In this episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails , we're gearing up for the hunt by focusing on preparing our dogs for the challenges ahead. From the importance of proper nutrition and hydration to the rigorous treadmill training sessions that keep our dogs in peak condition, we delve into what it takes to ensure they’re ready for the wild boar hunts. We'll explo...

In this episode of Nordic Tales and American Trails , we dive into the world of hunting with Laikas as the season approaches. We’ll share some thoughts on what makes these dogs special and how we prepare them for wild boar hunts. From discussing the challenges of starting young dogs to the excitement of hunting with friends Nordic-style, this episode is all about the dogs and the traditions we car...

In this episode, we're focusing on the preparations that go into a successful hunting season. Join us as Erik teams up with his younger brother, Oskar, to discuss the important task of fixing up shooting stands. It's a job that might not get much attention, but it's essential for ensuring everything is ready when the season begins. We'll also talk about hunting and calling for foxes—a pursuit that...

In this episode, we’re getting up close and personal with Erik Rhodin’s story.  From tagging along on moose hunts with neighbors as a kid to obsessing over nature shows his grandmother would send him, Erik’s love for the wild runs deep. We’ll chat about his current hunting dogs, the thrill of chasing wild boars through thick brush, and why moose hunting in Sweden is almost a religion. Come al...

In this episode, we delve deeper into Adam Vu's story. From his early days hunting with beagles alongside his grandfather, to moving on to squirrels and coons, and now taking on wild boars with his West Siberian Laikas, Adam’s journey reflects his enduring love for the wilderness and the traditions of hunting. Join us as we explore the memories, lessons, and adventures that have shaped Adam into t...