Outdoor Ruhls

Episode 65 — Winter Ruhls In this mid-January “slow season” check-in, Mike, Mark, and Poppy look ahead to a quick Pennsylvania trip for the last week of flintlock/muzzleloader season—and hope for ice fishing that’s been spotty in PA and nearly nonexistent in New Mexico. To lean into the winter vibe, they call up Uncle Sim (born 1932, turning 94) to hear what winter meant on the Rexmont farm before...

Episode 64 Show Notes Title: To Be Precise… Hosts/Guests: Mark Ruhl with guest Dan (Rachel’s brother) Main Topics: Precision/custom rifles, modern cartridges, optics, reloading, ethical range, and why Western hunts shouldn’t be put off. Overview Mark sits down with his brother-in-law Dan—an unapologetic precision-rifle nerd—to talk about how “custom rifles” have evolved from the old days of bluepr...

Episode 63 — “Pulpo Bob Goes Spearfishing” Setting: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico — last full day of the trip, sunrise coffee over the Sea of Cortez , private beach cove + pool life with the kids. Summary The crew recaps a week in Cabo built around family and fishing: striped marlin “combat” fishing close to shore, a slow tuna day, and then a smaller-boat trip that produced tuna, wahoo , and the main eve...

Episode 63 – “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Flintlocks Revisited)” – Show Notes (Medium) It’s Christmas week , and the Outdoor Ruhls crew is down in Cabo San Lucas with family—so instead of a brand-new episode, Mike replays a fan-favorite from last year: “Beautifully Imperfect,” the episode that captures why Pennsylvania flintlock muzzleloader season is the real “most wonderful time of the...

Episode 62 – “Safety Third” – Show Notes Mike, GT, Mark, and Matt gather for a laughter-filled tour through decades of mishaps, close calls, and self-inflicted injuries that earned the family motto: Safety Third . After a quick recap of New Mexico whitetail hunting—highlighted by Robert’s impressive 8-mile day and his deep dive into the Hunter Ed manual—the crew turns to stories from Pennsylvania’...

Outdoor Ruhls Podcast – Episode 61 “Hell on Ice” A spray-painted “PET” deer, a viral MeatEater post, custom Outdoor Ruhls Stormy Kromers, and a 60-year-old wooden toboggan that refuses to retire—Episode 61 is full-tilt winter chaos. Mike and Mark open with the story behind the now-famous “PET” deer that wandered past their Pennsylvania blind, how the video ended up with Steve Rinella, and why it’s...

Episode 60: Seven for Seven Show Notes – Outdoor Ruhls Podcast Seven years old. Seven-point buck. First day of rifle season in Pennsylvania. In this episode, Mike sits down with brothers Mark, Matt, and Davey—and the kids—to relive a wild opening day that ends with Robert tagging his very first deer. It’s a full-family, full-circle kind of story: archery season recaps, arguments about Saturday vs....

Episode 59: German Roots, American Soil (Part 2) Hunting stories, canning venison, bone broth, and the legacy of an old-world Oma This is the second half of our two-part conversation with Erika — Rachel’s mom and CJ’s Oma. 👉 If you haven’t listened to Episode 58: German Roots, American Soil yet, go back and start there first. Mike opens the show from New Mexico , talking about their upcoming trip...

Episode 58: German Roots, American Soil (Part 1) Erika’s Old-World Childhood, Multi-Gen Living, Gardening, Canning, and the Roots She’s Passing Down This week, Mark and Rachel sit down with a very special guest: Erika — Rachel’s mom and CJ’s grandma (Oma). Erika grew up in a small village in southwest Germany where almost everything was homegrown, home-baked, home-butchered, and home-preserved. In...

Show Notes — Episode 57: Long Exposure Episode summary Mark takes the host chair for a heartfelt conversation with his wife, Rachel , tracing her path from Pennsylvania whitetails and waterfowl blinds to a thriving wedding & elopement photography career. They revisit her famed Illinois buck, the Potter County cabin coincidence, blue-hour imagery, documenting real moments (not just grip-and-gri...

Episode 56 — Happy Birthday to Us! Guests/Voices: Mike, Mark, Matt, and Poppy (recorded in Quentin, Pennsylvania) Summary The Ruhl boys celebrate one full year of Outdoor Ruhls with a roundtable: remembering dear family friend Catherine Schott , swapping mid-season whitetail updates, plotting a mentored-youth hunt for Robert, and looking back on favorite episodes and lessons from year one—plus a b...

Episode 55 — In Memoriam of Catherine Schott Dedication: This episode is lovingly dedicated to Catherine Schott—a surrogate grandmother, steadfast friend, and bright thread in the Outdoor Ruhls family fabric. “Hey, lady—this one’s for you.” Episode Summary: On the one-year anniversary of the show, Mike and Mark press pause on the planned celebration to honor the life of Catherine Schott. As a trib...

Episode 54: Friendship in Paradise Where: Immigrant, Montana, in the shadow of Emigrant Peak Guests: Mike & Alison Himmelspach (dear friends, horsemen, hunters, and excellent storytellers) Theme: How a tight-knit Yellowstone community became lifelong hunting partners—plus deep cuts on horse packing, Montana wind, Fort Peck boat hunts, New Mexico Oryx, and the grind of unlimited bighorn sheep....

Episode 53: Talkin’ Tangents — A Conversation with Pat Durkin Show Notes In this episode of the Outdoor Ruhls Podcast , host Mike Ruhl sits down with legendary outdoor writer Pat Durkin for a lively, free-wheeling conversation that covers just about everything from whitetails to wordsmithing. Over the past four decades, Pat has written and edited for some of the biggest names in outdoor media — in...

Outdoor Ruhls Podcast — Episode 52 Title: The Dale Earnhardt of Trout Fishing? Guests: The Brothers Ruhl — Mike, Matt (“G4”), and Mark Release: October 2025 Length: ~1:29 Episode summary A year in, the brothers finally give the mic to the oldest Ruhl: Matt (aka Grant Matthew, G4). From being “mildly radiated” near Three Mile Island to becoming the family’s Dale-Earnhardt-of-reading-water, Matt tal...

Family Thread: A Stormy Tale Episode Summary Mike opens with the long-running campfire bit he’s done for years—reading the story stitched inside his favorite wool cap—and reveals how that hat (a Stormy Kromer) unexpectedly braided into his family’s own story. Joining Mike and Caitlin are Tim “GT” Dodge (co-founder of Hansen Dodge, the agency that helped relaunch the brand) and special guest Bob Ja...

Outdoor Ruhls Podcast — Episode 50 “From Sea to Shining Sea” Host: Mike Ruhl Guests/Co-Hosts: Matt Ruhl, Mark Ruhl, and Tim “GT” Dodge Episode Summary From the Chesapeake to Alaska to Ontario, the Ruhls recap a whirlwind late-season run of fishing adventures (and misadventures). Mark and Matt debrief a steamy, low-wind week in Cape Charles, VA —including a shredded trailer tire, a bunk falling off...

Episode 49 — It’s Only Gotta Work Once, Part 2 Show Summary Storms, charcuterie, morale swings, and the relentless patience of a backcountry elk hunt. In Part 2, the crew recounts the second half of Caitlin’s season—highlighted by multiple bulls charging the wallow, tense full-draw standoffs, and finally, the encounter that brought it all together. From ethics and shot discipline to a gritty pack-...

Episode 48 — It’s Only Gotta Work Once, Part 1 Show Summary Draw lightning striking twice, rain jackets left on couches, vacuum-sealed underwear, and wallows hidden deep in the timber—this is the setup for Caitlin’s second consecutive New Mexico elk tag. In Part 1, Mike, Caitlin, Hunter, and Jeremy take listeners through the opening days: the long overnight drive, grumpy mornings, blown stalks, sw...

Episode 47: Hell on Wheels From scraped knees to full-send disasters, the Ruhls (and friends) swap their best and worst bicycle wreck stories. This one’s all about gravel rash, handlebars to the ribs, stitches, e-bikes gone wrong, and even a runaway motorcycle. Highlights Mike’s solo crash – A pool bag in the spokes = upside-down in a gravel alley. Robert’s rite of passage – A sharp turn, a topple...

Episode 46: The Hunt Begins! Mike kicks off hunting season with Caitlin and Matt: GT is flying home from Alaska, Matt’s packing for Canadian bass, and Caitlin is (somehow!) holding another unbelievable New Mexico elk tag—archery opens tomorrow. The crew previews plans, tactics, gear, kids-in-the-woods logistics, and a little fishing season wrap-up to boot. Highlights Matt’s Canada run: Driving 8–9...

Episode 45: The Googans’ Return The Norway Tetralogy comes to a close! Mike, GT, Poppy, and Caitlin reunite stateside to reflect on the trip of a lifetime, from puffins in Iceland to halibut in Sorøya. This episode ties it all together—what worked, what didn’t, what they’d do differently, and whether hauling fish halfway across the world was really worth it. Highlights: Iceland revisited – Puffins...

Episode 44: So Long Sørøya Mike Ruhl, Jacob (Camp Halibut Guide), Nate Weise, Neil McCullum, GT Join Mike on the final days of his Northern Norway adventure at Camp Halibut! This episode kicks off with an in-depth interview with Jacob, one of the guides who helped make the week unforgettable. Later, Mike sits down with Nate, Neil, and GT to share stories, reflections, and hard-earned lessons from...

Episode 43: Fiske, Endelig (Fishing, Finally)! Mike Ruhl, Zach Klein, Poppy, Robert In this episode, we kick off the Norway fishing adventures at Camp Halibut on Sørøya Island, deep in the Arctic Circle. Mike is joined by first-time guest Zach Klein, along with Poppy and Robert, as they recount their experiences fishing for a variety of species in this unique and remote location. Topics Discussed:...

🎙️ Episode 42 – Chasing the Midnight Sun Guests: Poppy, GT, and Robert Host: Mike Ruhl Length: ~90 minutes Recorded in: Reykjavik, Iceland & Tromsø, Norway In this jam-packed kickoff to the "Norway Adventure" trilogy, Mike, his son Robert, Poppy, and GT set off on a multi-generational journey across Iceland and Norway in pursuit of puffins, pastries, and (eventually) halibut. 🛫 TRIP ORIGINS:...