The Outdoor Gibbon

Vegan. Hunter. Mostly vegetarian. If you think those words can’t sit in the same room without a fight, this conversation will surprise you. We’re joined by Mark, an author and stand-up comedian who once went fully vegan, then slid back toward an 80% vegetarian life, and he’s candid about why: ethics, habit, comfort, lockdown, travel, and the simple fact that food is never just food. We talk about...

Two months of silence can look like a content gap from the outside, but sometimes it’s just life hitting hard. I open with a personal update on why the Outdoor Giving Podcast went quiet, then pivot back to what we do best: honest conversations from the field that show the reality of hunting, deer management, and countryside work without the polished fantasy. From a kitchen table in Aberdeenshire,...

The weather was brutal this year—snowed in for days, then floods that turned fields into lakes—but the hardest storm we unpack is personal. We sit down with Emma, a countryside stalwart and lifelong field sports devotee, to trace how a charming “pest controller” built an entire false identity, from forged stalking certificates to a decorated military persona that never existed. What starts as an e...

A whiteout January in Aberdeenshire set the stakes: eight days of deep snow, hungry birds and deer, and a stark reminder that when weather hits hard, the countryside relies on people who live with the land. From there we shift gears into a wild origin story: how a beef farmer and his podcast partner turned a cheeky sweatshirt run into Dead Badger Clothing, a rural brand that refuses to take itself...

A fire, a spaniel, and a late‑December reset set the tone for a day that turned into a lesson in patience, ethics, and focus. We brought Jacob from Lockwood Smocks out for his first civilian deer stalk and used the whole journey—range to hillside—to unpack how a clean, humane shot is built long before a trigger breaks. On the range, we compare military ball ammo with hunting rounds, why polymer ti...

A crackling fire, three spaniels at our feet, and a conversation that takes us from frosty Scottish mornings to the heat and dust of the South African veld. We sit down with professional hunter and outfitter Sarah Ripley Forsyth to talk about what conservation really looks like when you’re paying the bills, protecting herds, and living with predators. Sarah runs a historic lodge and game farm on l...

The frost finally arrived, and with it a frank look at what winter really means for working countryside life. We open with frozen offices, hungry pheasants, and a social media landscape that keeps shifting under the boots of anyone who mentions fieldsports. Then we settle in at a Perthshire kitchen table with farmer and comedian Jim Smith to talk roots, resilience, and why a good laugh sometimes s...

A sweltering rut, empty glens, and stalks that end at dusk set the scene for a conversation that goes far beyond weather woes. After a season where deer hid high and hill walkers crowded car parks at first light, we pivot to what really drives outcomes: honest numbers, smart tools, and hunters willing to share what they see. That’s where Nick comes in—a German hunter from a family nearly a century...

Every ethical hunter's worst nightmare is taking a shot that doesn't result in a clean kill. What happens next can make all the difference between a successful recovery and a deer lost forever. In this candid conversation with Al Haynes of the UK Deer Tracking Recovery (UKDTR), we dive deep into the realities of what to do when things don't go according to plan. Al shares invaluable...

Frustrated by the constant shadow bans and content restrictions on mainstream social media? You're not alone. In this eye-opening conversation, Rachel Draper reveals the journey behind creating Stile Country, a revolutionary social media platform built specifically for those who love field sports and countryside pursuits. Growing up on a Warwickshire smallholding and later working in the shoo...

How do you capture the perfect image of a white bird against a snowy landscape when you can barely see them with your own eyes? For Magnus, a wildlife photographer living at the edge of the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden, the answer lies in embracing both cutting-edge technology and ancient survival techniques. Magnus's story begins with burnout. After devoting over a decade to his mining i...

A refreshing conversation from the tailgate of a pickup truck at the Scottish Game Fair reveals both the challenges and triumphs shaping rural Scotland today. Fresh off remastering the entire podcast back catalog for better listening quality, Peter shares concerning news about devastating wildfires that recently swept across moorlands, burning over 10,000 acres of land. Most striking is the story...

Why does venison remain a niche product despite its impeccable ethical and environmental credentials? The Stalking Show 2025 brought together a diverse panel of experts to tackle this persistent market paradox and explore solutions to bring wild venison into mainstream consumption. From the opening moments, it becomes clear that the venison market faces multifaceted challenges. Game dealers like T...

The question of effective deer management has never been more pressing across the UK landscape. In this special panel discussion recorded at the Stalking Show 2025 for the British Deer Society, we bring together an extraordinary group of experts to tackle the contentious question: are our current deer management strategies fit for purpose, and do our training standards meet modern demands? Our div...

A humble fleece from a sheep's back holds the key to a more sustainable clothing industry—if only we'd reconnect with this remarkable fiber. In this episode, we journey deep into the world of wool processing with Fiona, founder of The Shire Mill, a small independent operation breathing new life into British wool. The disconnect between sheep farmers and the true value of their wool tells...

Darren from Kirkbourne Spaniels, a two-time UK Gun Dog Trainer of the Year winner, shares his journey from farming background to professional dog trainer, revealing practical techniques and philosophy for effective dog handling and training. • Building a career from a lifelong passion for working dogs and field sports • Matching dog breeds to specific purposes and activities • Understanding "...

In this episode I talk to Dean who is a sporting agent and hunter in Croatia we look at the types of hunting he offer and the things you will need to get yourself out there to hunt. His website can be found here https://www.dean-outdoors.hr/ It's certainly worth a look if you are looking for a diffrent kind of hunting experiance  _______________________________________________________________...

In this episode I engages in a comprehensive discussion with Ben from Deer Central. We delve into Ben's latest product launch, exploring its features, development process, and anticipated impact on the deerstalking community. Additionally, Ben shares his experiences and key takeaways for the Stalking Show, offering listeners valuable insights into current trends and advancements in the field....

Who are Fortis ? I chat with Oliver Massey Birch the owner of the company and we look back at how it started and where it is today. Requirements for shooting clothing have become more demanding and people want for more for the money these days. Oliver tells us what sort of service you will expect if you step on to a stand at a show. Is Fortis the new front runner in outdoor and shooting clothing?...

A quick chat with David about the Upcoming 2025 stalking show the count down is on 12/13th April @ The Staffordshire County Showground  Lets find out what's new for this year show  Remember to come along and say hello  _____________________________________________________________________________________  Thinking about doing the PDS1 or PDS2 use the link below. https://www.shootingandhuntinga...

I talk to Tilly, but who is Tilly she is part of a new generation trying to make a go of living in highland glens of Scotland.  Join myself and Tilly looking at all the things a young mother get done from dog training to sheep and chicken herding. Tilly has stated a new podcast called Tilly Talks worth a listen. Just an insight to the adventure of this young couple and the struggles of living in t...

Join me on this chat with Kate about her journey with Lyme Disease  It's spread by a small blood sucking insect called a tick and can have life changing effects on the body. Kate has worked through many different ways to prove she had Lyme as the NHS said she didn't. Here are a few interesting links Kate asked me to add https://www.facebook.com/share/18KCygAhjb/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://t...

Join Myself and Katherine between Christmas and New year on a number of  stalks around aberdeenshire. The journey starts at the target settling Katherine into the rifle. I think the nerves of the microphone didn't help. We stalk 4 different areas in each case they present different challenges.  The weather on this weekend was incredible difficult, no wind and incredibly mild for the time of y...

In this episode we meet Claus and Freya a Danish couple who hunt together but have moved to the warmer climate of Italy where they enjoy their new passion of long-range target shooting  We explore the different laws in owning firearms in both countries as well as the hunting laws Claus and Freya are one of the first couples to be Pulsar Prostaff.  __________________________________________________...

In this episode we meet Dana and talk to her about the journey to become a hunter in Canada. It covers the law around firearms and hunting licence We also talk about her first solo hunt __________________________________________________________________________________ Thinking about doing the PDS1 or PDS2 use the link below. https://www.shootingandhuntingacademy.co.uk/link/6f1QuV   Support the sho...