One Hell Of A Life Outdoor Podcast

We sit down with Jared from North Carolina’s coast to talk duck impoundments, big-water divers, commercial crabbing and catfish, deer farming economics, and the realities of bear and dog hunting culture. The throughline is habitat, hustle, and tailoring hunts to each client’s goals while staying honest about conditions, regulations, and ethics. • layout boats, flooded timber, marshes, and managed...

We go from a Florida marsh four-man limit with no calling to hard-won lessons from a grindy public land deer season. Safety takes center stage on boats and timber, and we share plans for Delta Thunder, a Veterans Hunt, and Ike’s training journey. • Landing ducks in the spread without spinners or calls • Why water swatting can be ethical when the hide wins • Weather swings and mallard GPS data debu...

We chase Illinois honkers through Arctic lows, dial spreads for fickle field mallards, and stack firsts: a first honker, a first band, and a hard-won lesson in reading flight lines. Cold gear, decoy choices, and local history shape a week that ends with plans for Florida marsh heat. • new setup and travel-light game plan • first honker story, misses, and recovery • calling cadence, scout behavior,...

We recap a whirlwind month: a Missouri venison run with a wild shot story, a first crossbow buck, a tough Arkansas opener shaped by water, and a hard call to move our Georgia public-land deer setup. Wind, thermals, and pressure become the blueprint for better late-season odds. • new hats and leather patches launch timeline • thank-yous to supporters, guides, and partners • full video now streaming...

We sit down with Tre Reed AKA the Dreaded Archer to talk about his journey to getting into archery. Tre was a college football player who found himself looking for somewhere to place his energy and focus after football and fell in love with Archery while working in South Dakota. Tre also runs an awesome podcast called the "Dreaded Archer Podcast" and was awarded best podcast by Carbon TV...

We sit down with Joe Strong of Pineside Outdoors to unpack how a few garage-made hats became a growing outdoor brand and why quality control, painful sampling, and honest field testing matter more than hype. Along the way we talk dogs, duck seasons, sonar debates, and building gear that actually survives ice, mud, and long mornings. • origin of Pineside from homemade hats to brand • moving from bl...

We sit down with Mike from Pittsburgh to share a late-start duck hunting story full of humor, humble tactics, and the kind of friendships that outlast limits. From marketplace waders to road-trip hunts and faith in the marsh, it’s a grounded look at why we keep going. • starting waterfowl at 26 with budget gear • learning zones, habitat, and concealment in Pennsylvania • small wins matter when fli...

I saw Parker and Brody posting about their new app Wildlife Retreats recently and wanted to get these guys on the podcast to learn about it! It is brand new so keep in mind they are working on getting services on the app but they are on to something for sure! Description of the podcast below: We talk with Parker and Brody about Wildlife Retreats, a BRAND NEW app built by two Georgia waterfowlers t...

We dive with Brock Miller into how he built Topwater Co. and Zook Fishing Co. by learning ads, prioritizing creative, and owning customer relationships. The talk moves from Meta’s AI shift and TikTok’s downturn to Amazon growth, brand partnerships, and offshore obsession. • leaving corporate advertising for entrepreneurship • learning Facebook ads and testing creatives • Meta AI optimization and s...

We sit down with our friend, Cal Mccarty to recap his recent Canada duck / goose hunting trip, talk about the ins and outs of hunting honkers in Illinois, and much more: • teal migration highs and lows across states • why northern Illinois stacks Canada geese • freelancing vs booking outfitters in Saskatchewan • border tips, currency, licenses, and zones • daily setup flow, permissions, scouting c...

We sit down with our friend Colton Bailey—teacher, coach, and Arkansas waterfowl guide—to trace the path from the classroom to the pit blind and the values that tie them together. Mentors, faith, patience, and craft rise above limits and gear hype as we revisit hunts that changed us. • Colton’s background as a teacher, coach, and guide in Northeast Arkansas • Early mentors, first hunts, and the he...

Zach Maddox shares his journey from firefighter to Ironman competitor and how outdoor pursuits saved his mental health while inspiring his mission to help fellow first responders and veterans heal through nature and community support. • Former firefighter/paramedic who found healing through hunting and fishing after mental health struggles • Currently training for Ironman triathlon to raise $500,0...

We sit down with Ryan Burnett, founder of Pattern Pros, who's revolutionizing waterfowl hunting with innovative shotgun shell variety packs that help hunters find their perfect ammunition match for improved accuracy and fewer wounded birds. • Pattern Pros creates variety packs containing multiple shotgun shell brands in one box • Their waterfowl box includes 8 different shells with 3 of each...

Travis Thompson shares his journey as a fifth-generation Floridian dedicated to conservation through All Florida, his duck guiding business, and his work with the International Order of Theodore Roosevelt. His passion for protecting wild spaces while respecting private property rights shapes his approach to Florida's conservation challenges. • Working in conservation through three roles: All...

Dawson Yates shares his journey from basketball player to waterfowl guide, showcasing how hunting became his passion and led to his viral TikTok videos including the famous duck coaching pool clip. • Started duck hunting as a young boy but became serious about it in high school • Transitioned from basketball to hunting as his main passion and focus • Built an impressive man cave in his garage that...

Dawson Peak shares his journey from growing up on a family-owned sporting clay range and quail hunting preserve to becoming a college shooting champion and avid waterfowl hunter. • Growing up in a family business managing sporting clay courses, rifle/pistol ranges, and quail hunting in Quitman, Georgia • Managing 26 hunting dogs of various breeds and the challenges of keeping them healthy in Georg...

Dennis Loosier and Billy Campbell from Dr. Duck join us to discuss the challenges facing public land hunters and the importance of mutual respect in preserving hunting opportunities for future generations. • The increasing regulations on public land hunting are making it harder for hunters to enjoy the sport • Dennis and Billy emphasize that success in duck hunting isn't measured by numbers b...

We sit down with duck hunting guide Kade Weatherford at the Ducks Expo 2025 to discuss the realities of waterfowl hunting and what to expect for the upcoming season. Cade shares his firsthand experience of managing expectations and creating memorable experiences for hunters regardless of conditions. • The importance of not judging an outfitter based on a single hunt experience • Why worked-up dirt...

Lucas Haygood shares his journey to become a passionate duck hunter and social media presence, highlighting the importance of mentorship in the outdoors. He explains how his uncle Kyle gave him purpose through hunting after losing his father at age three and dealing with his mother's addiction. • Growing up hunting private land before venturing into Arkansas public land • Finding his voice on...

Follow us on instagram! https://www.instagram.com/onehellofalifepodcast/?hl=en

When Carson Tharp got his first Labrador retriever in college, he had no idea it would lead to creating one of waterfowl hunting's most innovative decoy systems. But that's exactly what happened when his frustration with existing motion decoys sparked an entrepreneurial journey that's now revolutionizing how hunters approach bringing birds to the spread. Carson joins us to share the...

Logan Archibald joins us to share his journey from Michigan to Texas and back again, discussing wildlife management, deer guiding, and how hunting communities can better support conservation through understanding and cooperation. • Born and raised in Michigan, Logan studied wildlife management before spending seven years guiding in South Texas • High fence ranches in Texas often span thousands of...

Preparing for hunting season requires more than just buying tags and cleaning your gear – it demands understanding the landscapes, animal behaviors, and biological rhythms that dictate success.  Summer offers deer hunters a critical window for effective scouting, and we're diving deep into strategies that separate casual hunters from those who consistently tag mature bucks on public land. We...

Tristan and Tony celebrate Father's Day with some throwback stories about some of their favorite outdoor memories together. Stay tuned to the end to hear about the big announcement! Companies we LOVE | Ways to Support the Podcast ↓ froggtoggs - USE CODE ZD315 FOR 15 PERCENT OFF @ www.froggtoggs.com *Cannot be used in combination with any other promo code. Offer only available at www.froggtogg...

If you're obsessed with duck hunting and love to hear tips and tricks, this is a great podcast for you. We had a great time getting to talk with Surviving Duck Season Creator, Joel Strickland. Joel has leaned on his experience as a duck guide of 30 years to create a YouTube channel that is absolutely STACKED with fantastic educational content.  Companies we LOVE | Ways to Support the Podcast...