Dark Outdoors

Are primitive, tribal people still living in the United States in modernity? Are feral people or “wild men” living in the shadows of Texas?  Chester Moore and Lyle Blackburn investigate chilling reports from Trinity Bay to the Big Thicket.

What’s really lurking in the wild woods of Texas?

From the windswept marshes of Trinity Bay near Galveston to the shadowy trails of the Big Thicket National Preserve, Chester and Lyle uncover forgotten tales, firsthand accounts, and investigative research that point to off-grid people living outside the norms of society—some possibly for generations.

🔍 Inside the episode:

A deep dive into a forgotten book documenting 1960s–80s reports of primitive people and strange encounters in the Trinity Bay region

Accounts of a “wild man” said to haunt the Old and Lost River areas in recent years

Shocking similarities to Big Thicket encounters covered by a longtime Texas newspaper columnist

A discussion on the blurred lines between cryptid legends, folklore, and real human survival stories

The reality—and implications—of feral humans or clandestine off-grid groups in the backwoods

🧠 Chester and Lyle also examine how this topic ties into growing national interest in feral people lore, asking hard questions about what might still be hidden in the remote corners of the American wilderness.

💀 Perfect for fans of:

Dark Outdoors pulls back the curtain on the hidden realities of America’s wild spaces—and this episode may be the most thought-provoking yet.

It’s our annual Halloween Monster Special! Lyle Blackburn returns to Dark Outdoors to dive into the legends of Momo, the Lizard Man, and the Lake Worth Monster in this chilling cryptid deep dive.

In this special Halloween edition of the Dark Outdoors podcast, we welcome back Lyle Blackburn—renowned cryptozoologist, author, and monster hunter—for our Annual Monster Episode. This time, we're plunging deep into the chilling backwoods lore of Momo the Missouri Monster, the swamp-dwelling Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp, and Texas’s own Lake Worth Monster.

These aren’t your average urban legends. These regional cryptids have sparked mass hysteria, eyewitness encounters, and intense investigations. Lyle unpacks the folklore, historical sightings, and what makes each of these monsters so unique in the world of American cryptozoology.

Whether you're a lifelong believer or a curious skeptic, this episode will make you think twice before heading out into the woods after dark...

🔍 Topics Covered:

Origins and sightings of Momo in 1970s Missouri

The strange case of the Lizard Man of South Carolina

How the Lake Worth Monster terrorized North Texas

Cultural impact and media coverage of these cryptids

What these legends say about human fear, folklore, and the wilderness

💀 Perfect for fans of:

📌 Don’t miss this spine-tingling journey into the darker corners of the outdoors… because in the wild, you’re never really alone.

Mysterious lights flicker through the woods of Bragg Road and the Louisiana fields — are they swamp gas, headlights, or something not of this world? The 13 Days of Dark Outdoors begins where science and the supernatural collide.

They’ve appeared for generations — glowing orbs floating above the dirt roads and swamps of East Texas and Louisiana. Some say they’re lanterns carried by the dead. Others swear it’s nothing more than chemistry in the dark: methane gas, refracted headlights, or static electricity.

In this kickoff to 13 Days of Dark Outdoors, we travel from Bragg Road in the Big Thicket to Fields, La. chasing the mysterious “ghost lights” that have haunted both states for decades. Along the way, we talk to locals, dig into folklore, and explore the science that tries to explain the unexplainable.

Is it superstition, optical illusion… or proof that some mysteries still live out there in the dark?

What if America’s wilderness hides a predator science won’t acknowledge? In this episode of Dark Outdoors®, author Michael Mayes—known for his work Shadow Cats—joins us to dig into the controversial and chilling reports of black panthers roaming across the U.S.

For decades, eyewitnesses from Texas to the Appalachians have sworn they’ve seen something impossible: massive black panthers prowling the woods, stalking farmlands, and vanishing into the shadows. Yet, mainstream science insists such creatures don’t exist in North America.

In this thought-provoking episode of Dark Outdoors, we sit down with author and researcher Michael Mayes to explore the mystery at the heart of his book Shadow Cats. Together, we examine chilling accounts, folklore, and the deep cultural roots of black panther sightings. Are these elusive predators a product of myth, mass misidentification, or could there be something truly hidden in America’s wild places?

Expect a conversation that pushes beyond campfire tales—diving into history, biology, and the unsettling implications of predators that may walk unseen. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, this is one episode that will make you think twice the next time you walk into the woods after dark.

Are they black mountain lions - black cougars?

Are they black jaguars?

Are they jaguarundi?

Are they escaped exotics?

What about the mysterious black longtail?

Take a deep dive on black panthers with us.

A family hike turned into a fight for survival when a father, his wife, their toddler, and infant daughter came face-to-face with a mountain lion. Dark Outdoors dives deep into the wilderness dangers that most people never see coming.

On this gripping episode of Dark Outdoors, we recount the terrifying true story of a family’s dangerous encounter with a mountain lion. What began as an ordinary hike quickly spiraled into a life-or-death struggle when a father, hiking with his wife, three-year-old son, and infant daughter strapped to his chest, came face-to-face with one of nature’s most feared predators.

Listeners will hear how this quiet day on the trail turned into a desperate fight for survival. With his young children and wife at risk, every decision mattered. The father’s quick thinking, protective instincts, and raw courage kept his family alive against all odds.

This episode goes beyond the story itself, exploring the realities of mountain lion behavior, how families can prepare for dangerous wildlife encounters, and what survival experts recommend if you ever come face-to-face with a predator in the wild.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

A firsthand account of a family’s mountain lion encounter on the trail.

How a father protected his wife, toddler, and infant from a deadly threat.

Survival insights and safety tips for hikers and families in mountain lion country.

The hidden dangers of hiking with young children — and how to prepare.

If you’re fascinated by true survival stories, wildlife encounters, and the resilience of the human spirit, this episode will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Were U.S. soldiers in Vietnam battling only human enemies—or were they also encountering undiscovered apes in the jungle? Author RC Bramhall joins Dark Outdoors to reveal the terrifying legend of the Rock Apes.

Were U.S. soldiers in the Vietnam War facing more than just human enemies? Many veterans swore they encountered Bigfoot-like creatures, known as the “Rock Apes,” while fighting in the dense jungles of Southeast Asia. On this episode of Dark Outdoors, RC Bramhall, author of Haunted War Tales, joins Chester Moore to share chilling stories of these bipedal, ape-like beings and the battles that ensued.

Blending military history, cryptid lore, and firsthand soldier accounts, Bramhall explores whether these encounters were stress-induced hallucinations or genuine brushes with an undiscovered primate. If you’re drawn to the eerie crossroads of war stories, wilderness mysteries, and the legend of Bigfoot, this episode is one you can’t miss.

Join us on Dark Outdoors® for an unforgettable conversation with Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Mike R. Vining—explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) pioneer and Delta Force operative—and his wife, acclaimed wildlife photographer and author Donna Ikenberry. Married atop Mauna Kea in 1999 after Mike’s decorated 30‑year military career (including Vietnam, Eagle Claw, Desert Storm, and more)

Donna has since published over a thousand images, guidebooks, and magazine articles from nearly every continent Donna Ikenberry Photography.

 In this episode we explore:

Top strategies for staying safe in remote terrains—from avalanche zones to wildlife territory.

How Donna approaches storytelling through photography in unpredictable environments.

Lessons Mike has learned from decades of military and outdoor leadership: situational awareness, risk assessment, and self-reliance.

Tips for adventure couples: teamwork, planning, resilience—and capturing moments worth preserving.

Tune in for a uniquely dynamic pairing: military precision meets nature’s art—illuminated by humor, hard-earned wisdom, and couple‑led courage in the wild.

In this gripping episode of Dark Outdoors, we investigate the heartbreaking double homicide that has shaken Arkansas and the hiking community nationwide. On July 26, 2025, Clinton and Cristen Brink were brutally murdered while hiking with their two young daughters at Devil’s Den State Park—a place known for peace and natural beauty, now marked by violence and fear.

We dive deep into:

The latest updates from Arkansas State Police and the FBI-led manhunt for a still-unidentified suspect.

The composite sketch and vehicle description released to the public.

How the Brinks died protecting their daughters, who miraculously survived the attack.

The timeline of events, the 6-hour delay in public alerting, and the investigative challenges posed by rural terrain and limited cell service.

A chilling pattern of trail and park-related murders across North America, from the Appalachian Trail to remote campsites in Oregon and Canada.

How we can balance our love for the outdoors with realistic safety strategies.

This episode is a powerful reminder that wilderness crimes are not just urban legends—they’re happening now, in places we trust. With true crime insight, emotional storytelling, and expert analysis, we bring you the full scope of this ongoing tragedy and the broader implications for hikers, families, and nature lovers.

From Texas pastures to Nevada ranches, horses are turning up shot, mutilated, and poisoned—and the killers are still at large. Chester Moore investigates this chilling, underreported crime wave and what it means for ranchers and outdoor enthusiasts.

In this gripping episode of Dark Outdoors, host Chester Moore uncovers a chilling and ongoing mystery across Texas and beyond: horses being found shot, mutilated, or poisoned in a string of brutal, unexplained attacks.

From Kendall, Waller, Bexar, and Smith Counties in Texas to ranches near Las Vegas, Nevada, horses are being executed in pastures, dumped in brush, or tied up and shot at point-blank range. Authorities have few leads—and the killers remain free.

This episode examines:

Whether these killings are tied to the illegal horse meat trade, ritualistic activity, or thrill killers

Exclusive insights from Higher Calling Wildlife’s investigative reports

Why the pattern may represent one of the most underreported animal cruelty crime waves in the U.S.

If you’re a rancher, horse owner, or outdoor enthusiast, you won’t want to miss this deep dive into a crime wave spreading fear and silence across rural communities.

Jaws terrified moviegoers and changed how we see the ocean—but the fear didn’t end on screen. Chester Moore explores the real shark attacks, behind-the-scenes chaos, and decades of shark persecution sparked by Spielberg’s masterpiece.

Beneath the surface of Hollywood’s most iconic ocean thriller lies a deeper, darker truth. In this chilling episode of Dark Outdoors, we journey into the murky waters behind the making of Jaws—a film that forever altered public perception of the sea and its apex predator.

But the terror didn’t stay confined to the screen. We dive into:

Real-life great white shark attacks that fueled lasting fear

How Steven Spielberg’s cinematic masterpiece triggered decades of shark persecution, misinformation, and ecological imbalance

Behind-the-scenes stories of chaos, mechanical monsters, and production nightmares

The cultural fallout that left both sharks and oceans misunderstood

From blood-soaked beaches to the legacy of misunderstood killers, this is the untold story of fear, fiction, and fallout.