In this episode, Erik sits down with Swedish hunter and longtime hunting advocate Torbjörn Larsson for a wide-ranging conversation about hunting, game management, conservation, and hunting culture across Europe.

Torbjörn shares his journey from growing up as a hunter in Sweden to becoming chairman of the Swedish Hunters Association and later president of FACE – the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation, representing around seven million hunters across Europe.

The conversation looks at how Swedish hunting and wildlife populations have changed over the past 50 years, from moose management and the rapid expansion of wild boar to African swine fever and the long-running debate around wolves and predator management. Torbjörn also shares his experience working at the European level and why cooperation between hunters, landowners, farmers, and hunting organizations is so important.

Along the way, we explore hunting culture across Scandinavia, Europe, North America, and beyond, including hunting with dogs, different approaches to game management, and why understanding and respecting different hunting traditions matters for the future of hunting.

🦌 Changes in Swedish hunting and game populations

🐗 Wild boar management and African swine fever

🐺 Wolves and predator management in Sweden

🇪🇺 FACE and representing Europe's hunters

🏛️ EU policy, hunting, and conservation

🤝 Cooperation in modern game management

🐕 Hunting with dogs across Europe

🌍 Comparing hunting cultures around the world

🔮 The future of hunting and conservation

A wide-ranging conversation about hunting, wildlife management, and the traditions that continue to connect hunters across borders.

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In this episode, Erik catches up with Wayne Dixon for another chapter of Bjorn to Be Wild, following the development of his young West Siberian Laika, Bjorn.

At just under six months old, Bjorn's hunting drive and personality are starting to show more and more. Wayne shares updates from recent bear encounters, time in the woods, and how Bjorn is learning from the older dogs around him while beginning to figure out when to push forward and when to use some self-preservation.

The conversation also covers pack dynamics, obedience, livestock encounters, and the challenges that come with developing a young hunting dog. Erik and Wayne also dive into West Siberian Laikas on both sides of the Atlantic, breed preservation, crossbreeding, and why understanding the history and purpose of a breed matters when planning for its future.

As always, the conversation reaches beyond the dogs into hunting culture and conservation, including the importance of supporting organizations working to protect wildlife, habitat, and the future of hunting.

🐕 Bjorn's development at nearly six months old

🐻 Early bear encounters and learning around experienced dogs

🌲 Hunt drive, self-preservation, and developing a young hunting dog

🐄 Correcting unwanted behavior around livestock

🐾 Pack dynamics and learning from older dogs

🧬 West Siberian Laika breeding and preserving breed integrity

🌍 European and American approaches to hunting dogs and breeding

🌲 Hunting, conservation, and supporting wildlife organizations

Another chapter in Bjorn to Be Wild, following a young West Siberian Laika from puppyhood toward becoming a hunting dog.

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In this episode, Erik sits down with Ben Brochu of Hinterland Outdoors for a wide-ranging conversation about hunting, trapping, wildlife management, and adventure in the Canadian wilderness.

Ben shares his journey from growing up around trapping and the outdoors in Alberta to building Hinterland Outdoors and guiding hunters across remote country. The conversation covers everything from moose, bears, wolves, whitetail, and mule deer to the realities of trapping species like marten, fisher, wolverine, coyotes, and foxes.

Ben also tells the story of taking his family on a five-month sailing adventure in Mexico, embracing a simple philosophy of asking, "Why not?" instead of waiting for the perfect moment.

We dive into wildlife management, predator control, conservation, public land, and the challenges of balancing healthy wildlife populations with the needs of the people who live and work on the land. Erik and Ben also compare hunting cultures in Canada and Sweden, discussing everything from regulations and predator management to the different ways hunters experience the outdoors on each side of the Atlantic.

🪤 Trapping marten, fisher, wolverine, coyotes, and foxes

🫎 Moose, bear, whitetail, and mule deer hunting in Alberta

🐺 Predator management and wildlife populations

🌲 Conservation and responsible land use

🏕️ Building Hinterland Outdoors and guiding hunters

⛵ Sailing from Canada to Mexico with family

🌍 Comparing Canadian and Scandinavian hunting culture

⚖️ Hunting regulations and wildlife management

🎯 What makes a true wilderness hunt different

🔥 Problem wildlife control and working with landowners

A great conversation about hunting, trapping, adventure, conservation, and the people who choose to live close to the land.

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In this episode, Erik and Adam continue their conversation with John White from Louisiana, diving deeper into the world of hunting with hounds and spending more time on one of John’s other passions: deer hunting with dogs.

John shares his experience with deer hounds, including what he looks for in a good deer dog, how dogs are trained and conditioned, and the differences between running deer and hunting other game with hounds. The conversation explores the challenges of running deer in Louisiana, how large blocks of land change the way hunts are organized, and what makes a good deer hound capable of handling long, hard chases.

The discussion also gives Erik and Adam another opportunity to compare hunting traditions between Louisiana and Scandinavia. They talk about hunting access, private land, dog hunting culture, different regulations, and how the landscape and game species influence the way hunters use their dogs.

From deer hounds and big running dogs to hunting ethics, land access, and the importance of having the right dog for the right job, this episode continues the conversation about why hunting with dogs remains such an important part of hunting culture on both sides of the Atlantic.

Highlights include:

🐕 Deer hunting with hounds in Louisiana

🦌 What makes a good deer hound

🏃 Long chases and running deer across large blocks of land

🌲 Hunting access and private land in Louisiana vs. Scandinavia

🧬 Breeding and selecting dogs for specific jobs

💪 Conditioning dogs for demanding hunts

🇺🇸🇸🇪 Differences in hunting and dog culture between North America and Scandinavia

🐾 Why different game requires different types of hunting dogs

A continuation of our conversation with John White covering deer hounds, hunting dogs, land access, and the very different but surprisingly connected hunting traditions of Louisiana and Scandinavia.

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In this milestone 100th episode, Erik and Adam sit down with John White from Louisiana for a wide-ranging conversation about hunting dogs, field trials, breeding, and the traditions that shape dog hunting in North America.

John is a competitive beagler and multiple field trial champion who shares his passion for hunting dogs, breeding, and developing dogs for both competition and real hunting. We discuss the influence of legendary hounds like Copper on his breeding philosophy and explore what separates a good hunting dog from a great one. The conversation dives into the world of large pack field trials, covering genetics, conditioning, mental toughness, and the balance between producing dogs for competition and for the field.

The conversation also takes us into the unique hunting environment of the American South, covering rabbit hunting, habitat management, and the challenges hunters face from wildlife such as snakes, alligators, and birds of prey. Along the way, we compare hunting traditions, regulations, and dog culture between the United States and Scandinavia, highlighting how different landscapes and game species shape the way hunters develop and work their dogs

.

Whether you're passionate about hunting dogs, field trials, breeding, or simply enjoy learning how hunters approach the outdoors in different parts of the world, this episode offers practical insights from one of Louisiana's successful competition hunters.

Highlights include:

🐕 Developing hunting dogs for the field and competition

🏆 Large pack field trials and championship competition

🧬 Genetics, breeding, and building consistent bloodlines

🐇 Rabbit hunting and habitat management in Louisiana

💪 Conditioning dogs for stamina and performance

🐍 Hunting around snakes, alligators, and other wildlife

🌍 Comparing hunting traditions in North America and Scandinavia

🌲 Wildlife management and conservation through hunting

A fascinating conversation about hunting dogs, competition, breeding, field trials, and the traditions that continue to connect hunters across North America and Scandinavia.

🎙️ Support the Podcast

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In this episode, Erik sits down with James Edwards for a wide-ranging conversation covering Scandinavian hunting, hunting with dogs, and the lessons learned from adventures on both sides of the Atlantic.

The conversation explores the differences between hunting cultures in Europe and North America, how wildlife adapts to hunting pressure, and how regulations, terrain, and tradition shape the way we hunt. Erik also shares stories from his recent bear hunting trips in the United States, comparing hunting styles, dog breeds, and the people who make every trip memorable.

Beyond hunting, James and Erik discuss mental health, physical health, the importance of community, and how spending time outdoors can help provide perspective during life's challenges. They reflect on the value of slowing down, surrounding yourself with good people, and finding time to step away from the noise of everyday life.

At its core, this is a conversation about hunting, friendship, adventure, and the traditions that connect hunters across borders—but also about the things that matter beyond the hunt. The struggles we don't always talk about, the people who help us through them, and the places and experiences that remind us to appreciate the life we're living.

Highlights include:

🇸🇪 Scandinavian hunting traditions and regulations

🇺🇸 Hunting culture in Europe vs. North America

🐻 Stories from bear hunting adventures in the United States

🐕 Hunting dogs, breeding, and adapting to different environments

🦌 How wildlife responds to hunting pressure and human activity

🌲 Mental and physical health, community, and the value of time outdoors

🤝 Building friendships and sharing hunting traditions across borders

A relaxed conversation about hunting, dogs, adventure, health, and life—with some deeper conversations along the way about what keeps us moving forward, the importance of having good people around us, and why sometimes the most valuable part of the journey has nothing to do with the hunt itself.

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In this episode, Erik, Adam, and Jeffrey Vang dive into the world of dog hunting for wild boar, breaking down different styles, strategies, and how hunters adapt their dogs to the field.

Jeffrey shares his experience from nearly a decade in hunting dogs, explaining why he focuses more on traits, drive, and adaptability than pure bloodlines when building and developing dogs for real hunting situations.

The conversation covers solo hunting vs pack hunting, crossbreeding ideas, training approaches, and how regulations and terrain shape hunting styles across different regions. Jeffrey also talks about the learning curve of working dogs, and how experience plays a major role in both handler and dog development.

We also touch on hunting culture, online discussions around hunting methods, the work behind hunting YouTube content, and the importance of understanding different approaches within the community.

You can find Jeffrey and his outdoor content on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/@Outdoorswithjeff90

🐗 Solo vs pack hunting

🐕 Traits vs bloodlines

🧬 Crossbreeding and dog development

🎯 Training and conditioning

🌍 Regional hunting differences

⚖️ Ethics and hunting culture

📱 Online community discussions

🎥 Behind the work of hunting YouTube content

🔥 Real wild boar hunting experiences

A straightforward conversation about hunting dogs, wild boar hunting, and the people behind the work.

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In this episode, Erik sits down with Matt Miller to explore his journey from growing up hunting in New Zealand to building a life in Sweden, and how those experiences have shaped his approach to hunting, wildlife management, and conservation.

Matt shares his perspective on the differences between hunting cultures, regulations, and game management in New Zealand, Sweden, and Africa. We discuss ethical hunting, public land access, bow hunting, and how different countries balance conservation with sustainable wildlife populations.

The conversation also dives into Matt's work as a wildlife filmmaker, covering the challenges of self-filming hunts, creating authentic hunting content, and the responsibility that comes with sharing hunting through modern media.

Whether you're interested in hunting abroad, wildlife management, or producing hunting films, this episode offers practical insights from someone who has experienced it across multiple continents.

You can find Matt and his hunting content on YouTube here:

Mat Miller - YouTube

🌏 Hunting in New Zealand, Sweden, and Africa

🏹 Bow hunting techniques and preparation

🦌 Wildlife management and conservation

⚖️ Ethics and responsible hunting

📋 Hunting regulations and public land access

🎥 Behind the work of filming hunting content

📷 Self-filming techniques and wildlife media

🌿 Managing game populations across different ecosystems

A thoughtful conversation about hunting, conservation, wildlife filmmaking, and learning from different hunting cultures around the world.

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In this episode, Erik and Adam sit down with Kylin White to explore what it was like growing up hunting rabbits and deer with dogs in rural Louisiana.

Kylin shares how hunting has been a part of his family for generations, from following his father and grandfather through the woods to developing a lifelong passion for working dogs. The conversation covers the traditions of rabbit hunting with Beagles, deer hunting with hounds, and how hunting camps and family shaped his life outdoors.

We also compare hunting cultures between the southern United States and Scandinavia, discussing how terrain, climate, and local game influence both the dogs and the hunters. Kylin shares his thoughts on breeding versus upbringing, memorable dogs from his childhood, and his plans to build the next generation of rabbit dogs.

At its core, this is a conversation about family, tradition, and the dogs that keep hunting memories alive across generations.

🐇 Growing up hunting rabbits with Beagles in Louisiana

🦌 Deer hunting with hounds and southern hunting traditions

👨‍👩‍👦 Family, hunting camps, and lifelong memories

🧬 Breeding, genetics, and raising successful hunting dogs

🌎 Comparing hunting culture in Louisiana and Scandinavia

🐾 Building the next generation of rabbit dogs

A relaxed conversation about family traditions, hunting dogs, and the stories that connect generations of hunters.

🎙️ Support the Podcast

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In this episode, Erik and Adam catch up as a new hunting season begins in Sweden. They discuss what they're looking forward to in the months ahead, upcoming hunts, podcast plans, and the projects they've been working on behind the scenes.

The conversation also marks the launch of the Nordic Tales & American Trails Merch Store. After months of planning, designing, and testing, we finally share the story behind the collection, why we decided to create it, and how every purchase helps support the podcast and future episodes.

Along the way, we talk about preparing for a new hunting season, gear, permits, and the excitement that always comes with turning the calendar to another year in the woods.

Whether you've been listening since Episode 1 or just found the podcast, this is a chance to catch up with us before another season of hunting adventures begins.

🦌 Preparing for the new hunting season

🎙️ Upcoming podcast plans and future guests

🧢 The launch of the Nordic Tales & American Trails merch store

🌲 Behind the scenes of creating our first collection

🦮 Hunting plans and projects for the months ahead

🤝 Supporting the podcast and helping us grow

🎙️ Support the Podcast

🛒 Official Merch Store:

https://nordic-tales-american-trails.myshopify.com/

❤️ Become a Patreon Member:

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🎙️ Support the Podcast

🛒 Official Merch Store:

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❤️ Become a Patreon Member:

https://www.patreon.com/cw/NordicTalesAmericanTrails

Following the Trails. Telling the Tales. 🐾🎙️🌲

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