The Outdoor Life Podcast

OL hunting and conservation editor Andrew McKean heads to D.C. to interview Brian Nesvik, the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under his direction the USFWS is deferring to states, assessing its refuges, leveraging technology, and enabling the energy-first agenda of the Trump administration. Reporting by hunting and conservation editor Andrew McKean. Hosted and produced by executive...

Contributor and Wyoming resident Christine Peterson returned to the Elk Mountain ranch that started the legal battle over corner crossing all those years ago. Here's what she learned about how to corner-cross without getting sued — and ongoing barriers to public access. Hosted by editor-in-chief Alex Robinson. Produced by executive editor / Natalie Krebs. Reporting by contributor Christine Peterso...

As many Outdoor Life listeners and followers might have heard, our senior staff writer Tyler Freel was severely injured during a backcountry hunt in Idaho earlier this fall.  Tyler was thrown from a horse during the ride back to the trailhead. He knew that he was hurt the instant he hit the ground, but nobody quite knew the extent of his injuries at the time, which turned out to be extremely sever...

Spearfishing for walleyes and other game fish has slowly been gaining traction in the Great Lakes, and starting April 2026, the sport will enter a new phase there. In November, after years of input from local spearfishermen, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission unanimously approved new and expanded spearfishing regulations for Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, and Superior. Although there are some...

There are lots of things to consider when it comes to cartridge selection for killing deer. But when it comes to recovering those deer, especially when hunting with a 6.5 Creedmoor, there’s still plenty of confusion. So what’s the deal? Is there an issue with the cartridge? Or are there other factors at play? Shooting editor John B. Snow explains. Read more: https://www.outdoorlife.com/badbloodtra...

Our gear editor got a chance to hang stands and trail cameras with Levi Morgan this summer. Now he's back hunting with the championship archer in Illinois. Here's how Morgan thinks about everything from trail cameras to shot placement. Guest host is gear editor Scott Einsmann. Produced by executive editor Natalie Krebs. Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio. Guest is Levi Morgan. Learn more...

Every year, trawlers operating off Alaska’s coast legally catch, kill, and toss overboard tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of salmon, along with millions of pounds of halibut, herring, crab, and, occasionally, some killer whales. It's leading to fewer opportunities for sport and subsistence fishermen. STOP Alaskan Trawler Bycatch — https://www.facebook.com/groups/181111123119023/ Alaska Senate...

Antler collector Josh Duncan paid a premium to own the world-record whitetail shed antlers. But after he bought them, a troubling revelation came to light on social media. Hosted by editor-in-chief Alex Robinson. Produced by executive editor Natalie Krebs. Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The MeatEater personality and longtime conservationist has been tapped to run Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. Here's how Ryan 'Cal' Callaghan thinks about public lands, safeguarding them, and why he's still an optimist about it all. Guest hosted by hunting and conservation editor Andrew McKean. Produced by executive editor Natalie Krebs. Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio. Learn more abo...

Gear editor and absolute archery geek Scott Einsmann explains all the testing he's done lately on arrow speed and broadhead performance. Hosted by Editor-in-Chief Alex Robinson. Produced by Executive Editor Natalie Krebs. Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio. Guest is Gear Editor Scott Einsmann. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's probably nobody out there who has covered precision rifles, ammo, and optics more intensely than OL shooting editor John B. Snow. But John is not saying to go out there and shoot elk at a thousand yards. In fact, just the opposite. Video — I Built the Ultimate Deer Rifle: https://youtu.be/1U96Mr3nXaE Hosted by editor-in-chief Alex Robinson. Guest is shooting editor John B. Snow. Produced b...

There are a lot of things people get wrong about picking a bear rifle or defensive gun. According to our resident Alaskan and bonafide griz skinner Tyler Freel, here's what actually makes a great bear gun. Hosted by editor-in-chief Alex Robinson. Guest is senior staff writer Tyler Freel. Produced by executive editor Natalie Krebs. Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio. Learn more about your...

In an unprecedented move, President Trump announced he was invoking an obscure federal provision to disregard public feedback and move forward with the 211-mile private industrial corridor in the Alaskan wilderness. Details on this week's announcement: https://www.outdoorlife.com/ambler Additional reporting on how the Ambler Road could affect caribou hunting: https://www.outdoorlife.com/hunting/am...

The biggest story in the outdoors recently was a tragic one. Two elk hunting buddies, Andrew Porter and Ian Stasco, were found dead in southern Colorado. The week-long search for the missing men captured the hunting community's attention on social media, and generated plenty of sympathy, interest, and misinformation. Here's what actually happened. Hosted by editor-in-chief Alex Robinson. Guest is...

OL's former shooting editor is arguably the greatest outdoor writer of all time. And even though Jack O'Connor was writing decades ago, much of his wisdom still rings true. In today's episode, current shooting editor John B. Snow explains how, in a lot of ways, O 'Connor still looms large over the hunting and shooting world. Hosted by editor-in-chief Alex Robinson. Guest is shooting editor John B....

A teenager is facing a felony charge in Georgia for killing a turkey that was strutting on his family’s property this spring — a bird that his former high-school history teacher claims was her pet. Here's how a small-town dispute has upended the life of a high-school student, and sparked debate among the hunting community. Read the full story: https://www.outdoorlife.com/turkeyfelony Hosted by edi...

In this episode, Alaska hunter Paul Forward explains what it's like bowhunting for doll sheep solo, why the Brooks Range is so special, and why he thinks the proposed Ambler Road is a problem that's worth our attention. This episode is brought to you by Let's Get Real About Skin Cancer, an educational program about advanced non-melanoma skin cancers. Hosted by editor-in-chief Alex Robinson. Produc...

After collecting hundreds of hours of drone footage of wild deer on his family's Missouri property, Derrick Dixson of the Whitetail Research YouTube channel doesn't think about deer hunting the same way. Here are just a few of his observations. This episode is brought to you by Let's Get Real About Skin Cancer, an educational program about advanced non-melanoma skin cancers. Edited by Mike Pederse...

If you're hunting public land, you're probably not going to be able to pattern a mature buck before opening day. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Here's how Shane Simpson thinks about preseason on public ground. 10:44 - Blood Tracking Secrets with Shane Simpson: Apple — bit.ly/45TKtss Spotify — bit.ly/41pHrLi This episode is brought to you by Let's Get Real About Skin Cancer, an educational...

Thinking about a new pair of binos or a riflescope? Here's what optics editor Andrew McKean recommends before you spend your hard-earned cash. This episode is brought to you by Let's Get Real About Skin Cancer, an educational program about advanced non-melanoma skin cancers. Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio. Hosted by executive gear editor Scott Einsmann. Guest is hunting and optics edi...

Many outdoorsmen, conservationists, do not want to see a massive copper-nickle mine carved into the headwaters of the Boundary Waters.  To better explain why, in this episode of the Outdoor Life podcast we interview two folks who have dedicated their careers to the Boundary Waters. The first is Dave Seaton, the owner of Hungry Jack outfitters. Seaton has been making trips into the boundary waters...

In this episode of the Outdoor Life podcast, gear editor Scott Einsmann sat down with Levi Morgan, a pro-archer, 16-time 3D archery world champion, and a diehard bowhunter who has hunted just about everything in North America. Morgan gave candid advice on bow and arrow setups and how to properly prepare for hunting season. This podcast cuts through a lot of the noise and is direct advice from one...

On a hot summer evening, two Alaskans were scouting for the upcoming moose season when they accidentally walked right into a grizzly bear’s kill. The bear charged at them from just 10 yards and a barrage of gunfire ensued. Here's how one of those men, Brett TerBeek, describes the encounter. Hosted by senior staff writer Tyler Freel. Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio. Produced by executiv...

Contractor and lifelong wrangler Jackie Hughes knows how to scout and bait-trap wary feral horses. She also knows how to deal with irate activists who sabotage her operations, call her a horse killer, and tie up her outfit with lawsuits. Here's how she's trying to manage wild horses in the West, and why the West needs her help. Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio. Reported and hosted by ne...

After DOGE canceled funding for the Take Me Fishing campaign and the organization that administers it, the fishing industry was upset. Many online commenters weren't. Conservation editor Andrew McKean and executive editor Natalie Krebs explain what's going on with NGO funding, why critter group CEOs make the salaries they do, and more. Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio. Hosted by editor-...