The Holt Outdoors Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the Holt Outdoors Podcast! Host Brennan Holt sits down with Tyler Jackson of Berda, Arkansas — a full-time working dad who proves you don't have to hunt every night to have a champion-caliber coon dog.  Tyler and his platinum champion "Xena" recently came just one cast away from the finals of the $200,000 Jarvis Sanford Memorial Hunt, and he walks us...

Send us Fan Mail Shy did it. After more losses than wins, he won a UKC Regional Qualifying Event in Chadwick, Missouri — and punched his ticket to the World Hunt. It came down to the last 15 seconds, with a 150-minus mistake of my own making nearly costing us the whole thing. That's the real side of it, good and bad, like always. I walk through the whole cast — a rough draw against titled dog...

Send us Fan Mail We're back! After a little time off — a move, welcoming our second daughter, and some extra days in the NICU — the Holt Outdoors Podcast is officially back, and we're picking the pace back up with a podcast every week. In this episode, Brennan gives an honest update on his two dogs: Nova, a young, naturally independent pup, and Shy, a streaky but talented competition dog...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the Holt Outdoors Podcast, we are joined by Jason Pratt, shipping lead at Southern Missouri Container and a deacon at Passion Assembly of God. Jason shares his incredible journey from a "stubborn Bootheel boy" struggling with a 20-year addiction to methamphetamine and a 15-year prison sentence to finding complete redemption...

Send us Fan Mail In this major update of the Holt Outdoors Podcast, host Brennan Holt drops two pieces of massive news: the addition of a new high-caliber female pup and a move to a new 65-acre training ground. Meet HBK’s Midnight Nova, an 8-month-old female out of two powerhouse competition coon hunting dogs: Chris Collins’ Stix ($100k winner) and Tyler Jackson’s Zena (PKC Nationals Top 7). Brenn...

Send us Fan Mail In this unique episode of the Holt Outdoors Podcast, we step away from the night timber to explore the high-performance world of upland bird dogs with Tim Baker, president of the Missouri Hunting Spaniel Club. If you are a coon hunter accustomed to the "mystery" of a night trail, this conversation offers a fascinating look at the technical differences in how various bree...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Holt Outdoors Podcast, we address a listener-submitted question from Jordan Thompson about how to transition from pleasure hunting to competition coon hunting. Whether you are starting with a registered Blue Tick pup or a seasoned Walker hound, entering your first PKC or UKC-sanctioned hunt can be daunting. Brennan Holt breaks down the essentials into three...

Send us Fan Mail In this solo edition of the Holt Outdoors Podcast, I dive deep into a recent PKC $35 open event to break down exactly how the cast went with my dog, Shy. Competition coon hunting is a rollercoaster of ups and downs, and this episode offers a raw, honest look at the technical mistakes and strategy shifts that happen in the woods. From miscalculating scores in my head to being &quot...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Holt Outdoors Podcast, we sit down with Jeff Long, a Missouri coon hunting veteran with over 50 years of experience in the timber. Jeff shares a lifetime of wisdom on dog training, starting with his first Walker hound bought from the legendary Russell Beck. If you are a hound hunter looking to refine your competition coon hunting strategy or just starting a...

Send us Fan Mail In this high-value episode of the Holt Outdoors Podcast, we are joined by Brody Julien, a Missouri native and U.S. Army veteran, to break down the critical role of terrain navigation in hound training. From the "sand hills" of North Carolina to the deep creek ditches of Northern Missouri, Brody explains how different environments shape a coon dog's ability to strike...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Holt Outdoors Podcast, we are joined by Missouri native and lifelong coon hunter, Kim Barker of Osage Fork Kennels. With nearly 65 years of experience in the woods, Kim shares incredible stories from his childhood spent in the back of his grandfather's truck to his time serving in the U.S. Army and returning home to the hound hunting community. This epi...

Send us Fan Mail 🚨To Apply, Head To Youtube & follow the steps! 🚨 In this special edition of the Holt Outdoors Podcast, we discuss the future of the Coonhound Championship Series (CCS) and provide vital instructions for CCS Season 2. As competition coon hunting continues to grow, we are looking back at the success of our first season and detailing how you, the audience, can get involved. We’...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Holt Outdoors Podcast, we dive deep into coon dog independence and hound training strategies for competition coon hunting. Brennan Holt shares a detailed breakdown of a recent pleasure hunt and mock cast with his dog, Shai, alongside Max and Heist. If you are looking to improve your dog's performance in the woods, understanding the difference between a...

Send us Fan Mail Looking back at 2025: Gear, Growth, and the Future of Holt Outdoors! 🌲🐾 In this special end-of-year episode of the Holt Outdoors Podcast, host Brennan Holt reflects on a milestone year and dives deep into a comprehensive gear review. Whether you are a seasoned competition hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with honest, unsponsored insights on the equipment an...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Holt Outdoors Podcast, host Brennan Holt dives deep into a busy week of competition hunting with his dog, Shy. From a small PKC hunt to the high-stakes Western English Association double-header in Seneca, MO, Brennan shares the highs, the lows, and a critical "tough love" lesson learned from a World Champion handler about the importance of being de...

Send us Fan Mail The Worst Night of Coon Hunting I've Had In Years! Join Brennan Holt as he recounts a disastrous night of coon hunting that tested his limits, his gear, and his trust in his instincts. With temperatures in the low 20s and snow on the ground, the night started with a bad feeling—and quickly got worse. In this episode, you'll hear the full story of: Our dogs, Shy and Heist...

Send us Fan Mail Join host Brennan Holt for an incredible conversation with co-owners Zac Boring and Eddie Green, the men behind the legendary Bluetick Coonhound, Zeke! Zeke recently made PKC history, surpassing Big Country to become the all-time winningest Bluetick in PKC history. Zac and Eddie walk us through Zeke's journey, from being a young dog with deer and possum issues to conquering m...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, host Brennan Holt welcomes Josh Muncy of  @boneyardoutdoors6304 to discuss the unvarnished reality of coon hunting and content creation. Josh details his journey from deer hunter to successful digital houndsman, sharing the obstacles faced while running Boneyard Outdoors and balancing a full-time job and family. The core of the conversation centers on dog training...

Send us Fan Mail In this 20th edition of the Holt Outdoors Podcast, we welcome special guest Bailey Bernal, daughter of Gary Magnus. Bailey gives us the modern perspective of a hound woman, sharing her journey from training duck dogs to establishing a life dedicated to coon hounds. She provides fantastic insights on the emotional bond with hunting dogs, the process of starting young pups like her...

Send us Fan Mail Host Brennan Holt celebrates his first strategic victory in the Coonhound Championship Series (CCS) against Josh Cowden!  Brennan reveals he bought his new male dog, Mox, because he was "fed up with Shy" and his lack of progress following treatment for Ehrlichia. This raw episode addresses the harsh reality many handlers face: When do you quit on a dog you believe in? CC...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Holt Outdoors Podcast, host Brennan Holt discusses his new dog following the sale of Ruby and provides an update on Shy's health as the cooler weather arrives. Brennan then welcomes fellow hunter Dustin Burdine to tackle a question every coon hunter faces: How do you know when you've got a dog worth investing time in? Dustin shares his story as a h...

Send us Fan Mail In this special edition of the Holt Outdoors Podcast, host Brennan Holt sits down with producer Trey to recap a major personal milestone: Trey's first buck ever with a bow, taken on his first arrow shot at a deer. The conversation delves into Trey's 17-year "misfortune" arc, including past hunting mishaps and the low expectations leading into this successful hu...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Holt Outdoors Podcast, host Brennan Holt catches up on his own struggles with Shy and Ruby before sitting down with one of the sport's rising stars: 15-year-old Bo Kelley. Bo shares his journey from a pleasure hunter to a dedicated competitor with several big wins under his belt.  He discusses his winning philosophy for coonhounds and provides a detaile...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to the Holt Outdoors Podcast! 🎙️ In this episode, Brennan and Trey make a HUGE announcement — the launch of the Coonhound Championship Series (CCS) 🐾. This brand-new league will feature six handlers, a unique competition format, and top-tier filmed hunts that are both entertaining and educational. 🔥 What you’ll learn in this episode: How the CCS league will work (re...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Holt Outdoors Podcast, host Brennan Holt sits down with David Lewis, a seasoned coonhound hunter and trainer. David, known on social media as "Virginia Dave," shares his personal journey from hunting with blue ticks as a young boy to his return to the sport and the world of competition hunting as an adult.  The two discuss the nuances of coonhound...