on this week's episode Josh and Kevin sit down with Ben VanWeiren.
Ben started the michigan predator hunters forum in  2002  that was THE spot for information and camraderie for a lot of michigan hunters pursuing predators.
Ben tells us how and why it got started and about some of the early members. 
We share a few hunting stories from back then,  and then talk about carp fishing and bowfishing. Ben has really been doing more carp fishing,  and gives some insight on fishing specially for them. 
We then talk about traditional archery, another one of Bens current pursuits

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ORC Archery 
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Catchin' up with Ben Van Wieren

A podcast centered around the great outdoors. We will cover topics from hunting and fishing to trapping, reloading, cooking/grilling, and more.

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"In this week's episode we welcome Rich Fowllab to the show.
Rich is a fellow Michigan hunter.
We start off with a quick discussion about the weekends fishing trip for Crappie and whatever else would bite down by Josh.
We then get to hear about Rich, how he got his start in hunting and the types of hunting he does, discussing some caliber choices, and experiences for deer using the .350 legend, which both Josh and Rich use for deer here in Michigan. 
We then talk a little bit about barrel life and differences in barrel construction.
We go into some detail about the equipment he uses for predators. Rich uses night vision, and he tells us why and we talk a bit about the calls, firearms and such that he uses as well. including likes and dislikes of his current set ups.
We get into some more detail in our continued academic research based off cell camera data and what we have gleaned from it, Rich also uses Reveal cameras and has compiled data from them in regards to predators.
We finish up with an update from Josh in regards to recent contact with his local DNR officers that clarified some issues for him and were helpful in making things more clear for him in regards to nuisance predator removal.
As always, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

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 HuntWise
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ORC Archery 
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Fireside chat- Rich Fowllab

On this week's podcast it's a fire side "tossed salad"
Josh starts off asking Kevin about how this last season archery league went and how he felt about the new arrows from ORC archery and his hopes to finally get a deer with it this upcoming season.
We talk about some recent depredation hunting, and how bad the ticks are this year already.
We talk a bit about snake experiences, then switch into some of Josh recent cooking experiences, including his preparing "jerk" chicken, and what is "hot" in terms of seasoning.
Kevin then asks Josh to elaborate a bit on his strategies for deer season preseason scouting, what he looks for, how he uses what he finds and how it has worked for him, we talk data that we have accumulated from the Reveal cameras and compare Josh's data on deer with Kevin's data of predators , finding some similarities that weren't really a surprise to us based off what we have seen for years now, and some info that either was different or the same for both types of animals based off data from the cameras, we then finish that subject with some of the strategies Josh has used for deer on public land.
We then move onto some more political and legal discussion in regards to a bill submitted to allow year round coyote hunting in MI ONLY if a hunter has purchased a fur harvesters license, and why that is a bad idea. The stats and data of fur harvesting and coyote hunting in terms of licenses and hunters numbers. We talk about how the rules are currently, how vague or confusing it is, and how some of the things that were stated were not truly applicable under the rules set by the DNR (specifically about still being able to hunt private land), we talk about the interpretation of  "reasonable distance" and the possible mindsets behind the DNR leaving it vague.
We then take a break from that and talk about some fishing, different species, and types of fishing that we enjoy.
To finish, Kevin and Josh both discuss their "bucket list" hunts. 
Thank you all for listening.

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www.predatorhunteroutdoors.com code: tripod for 10% off tripods and mounts code: light for 20% off lighting products
 Predator Hunter Outdoors
 www.huntwise.com code: OVERDRIVE20 for 20% off an annual membership
 HuntWise
Maniac Outdoors- Code OD15 for 15% off scent fuel products
ORC Archery 
ATN 
Prym1 
HuxWrx

Diarrhea of the mouth- Kevin and Josh

We each have that specific pursuit, a target species, whether it be fish, fowl, deer, predators or big game that gets our heart beating faster,  and in the end, what keeps us doing it year after year. 
This week Josh and Kevin talk about their recent turkey hunting experiences. 
We delve a little deeper into "the passion" that outdoorsmen and women feel,  and how it's different for each of us,  and why. 
Sometimes it is based on the experience,  and while you may not have deep seated emotions about the target animal,  the experience as a whole, the camaraderie, the trip, whatever, it can still lead to a memorable time in the outdoors. 
Josh explains more about why turkey hunting doesn't hold the same special place that deer or predators do, and Kevin explains why it does for him.

As always, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

Predator Thermal Optics code "ptothermal" for 10% off all Predator Thermal Optics brand Scopes and Monoculars
www.predatorhunteroutdoors.com code: tripod for 10% off tripods and mounts code: light for 20% off lighting products
 Predator Hunter Outdoors
 www.huntwise.com code: OVERDRIVE20 for 20% off an annual membership
 HuntWise
Maniac Outdoors- Code OD15 for 15% off scent fuel products
ORC Archery 
ATN 
Prym1 
HuxWrx

Turkey Recap- Josh and Kevin

For this week's fireside chat, Josh and Kevin are joined by Elliot Hubbard.
The subject matter of this chat is out of state hunting, but we got a little side tracked with a couple other subjects to start, like hair styles, and martial arts training.
We then got talking about Elliot's recent out of state Turkey hunt, we talk about turkey camp, and the story of his successful hunt as well as his wifes successful hunt here in MI.
Kevin discusses his recent out of state hunt to Nebraska for coyotes and prairie dogs. How the terrain differences effected how he called, and what he learned from that, seeing a mountain lion, and how he could improve next time out there.
And in between those stories we talk about hunting here in MI, laws, politics, costs, and what an out of state hunt means to us, despite the cost.
We discuss turkey hunting quite a bit, differences between Indiana and MI, what you are allowed to do there and not allowed to do here,  strategies and more.

As always, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

Predator Thermal Optics code "ptothermal" for 10% off all Predator Thermal Optics brand Scopes and Monoculars
www.predatorhunteroutdoors.com code: tripod for 10% off tripods and mounts code: light for 20% off lighting products
 Predator Hunter Outdoors
 www.huntwise.com code: OVERDRIVE20 for 20% off an annual membership
 HuntWise
Maniac Outdoors- Code OD15 for 15% off scent fuel products
ORC Archery 
ATN 
Prym1 
HuxWrx

REAPED in Indiana- Elliot Hubbard

On this episode Kevin welcomes Ralph Christensen.
Ralph worked as a animal damage control hunter in Arizona for about 5 years. Ralph tells us all about how he got into it, details of the job and some of the pluses and minuses of the job.
He covers training, tactics and equipment used, we talk about traps, hunting, and other early methods and the pluses and minuses of each. 
Ralph also gets into some detail about the specifics in terms of the hunting side of it, which was most commonly used, including equipment, camouflage, set ups and more.
We talk a bit about aerial hunting, caliber and ammunition choices, different species they targeted, why they targeted them, hand calls used vs ecalls, patterning coyotes, coyotes vs cats, hunting solo vs with others, hunting out west vs here in MI, seasonal demand for his services, and his thoughts on them closing our season here in MI, deer management hunting and more.

THANK YOU for listening!

Predator Thermal Optics code "ptothermal" for 10% off all Predator Thermal Optics brand Scopes and Monoculars
www.predatorhunteroutdoors.com code: tripod for 10% off tripods and mounts code: light for 20% off lighting products
 Predator Hunter Outdoors
 www.huntwise.com code: OVERDRIVE20 for 20% off an annual membership
 HuntWise
Maniac Outdoors- Code OD15 for 15% off scent fuel products
ORC Archery 
ATN 
Prym1 
HuxWrx

Catchin' up with Ben Van Wieren

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