Outdoor Ruhls

Episode Summary:
Mike sits down with his brothers Mark and Matt for a spring catch-up covering all things Outdoor Ruhls. They swap stories about this year’s turkey season—Mike’s morning in the woods with Caitlin, close calls with Poppy, and the joys and struggles of chasing thunder chickens. Mark breaks down his spring bass trips to North Carolina and northern PA, shares thoughts on lure selection and spawning cycles, and explains how tubes made a comeback. The guys also talk about Caitlin’s lucky elk tag draw, summer fishing trips (Norway and Cape Charles), and tease some exciting episodes ahead.

Topics Covered:

Turkey hunting stories from New Mexico and Pennsylvania

Introducing kids to turkey hunting (CJ and Robert updates)

Caitlin’s perfect hunt and turkey enchilada recipes

Mark’s bass trips: Lake Gaston & Northern PA lakes

Spring lure tactics: finesse vs. power fishing

Boat issues, dreams of LiveScope, and catching citation sheep’s head

Summer plans: Deer Camp, Cape Charles, and Norway

Caitlin draws her premium elk tag again

Future episodes teased:

Conservation writer Ben Goldfarb

“Hell on Wheels” bike crash episode

Bassin' with Bob

Norway travel recordings

Recipes Mentioned:

Turkey Green Chile Enchiladas (similar to Mike’s pheasant version)

Turkey Green Chile Corn Chowder

Connect with Us:
🌐 OutdoorRuhls.com
📸 Instagram: @OutdoorRuhls
📧 Email: [email protected]
🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts & Spotify

The host becomes the guest as Mark interviews Mike on the event of his 45th birthday. In this episode we learn all about Mike’s journey from childhood in Pennsylvania to making a life in the west and what he’s learned along the way.

In this kid filled episode we hear from CJ, Robert, Kaley, and Emmit on topics from gardening, frogging, and FFA. Join us for an episode all about the next generation of Outdoor Ruhls!

This is an episode we’ve been so excited to make! Poppy and Mark sit down at Deer Camp with “The Uncles.” Simon and Richard (Dick) are the last two siblings from a generation of Ruhls that left an indelible imprint on the family. Together again, in their favorite place, they tell family stories, remember their siblings, and provide perspective on life as only they can. Oh yeah, and they laugh… a lot!

An episode all about Hunter! Mike and Matt’s younger son sit down to talk about college, careers, and turkey hunting. Definitely some ups and downs in this one!

Robert, Poppy, GT, and Mike dive into the origin of a planned Norwegian fishing adventure. Robert gets credit for starting the ball rolling and we cover everything from the travel, lodge, fishing, and getting fish back to the States. This episode will be the first in a serries on the trip.

🔥 Episode Summary:

In this heartfelt episode, Mike, Mark, and Matt are joined by their "other brother" — lifelong friend and extended family member Davey Schultz. Growing up side-by-side, Davey was practically a Ruhl brother, and today we finally bring him onto the show to talk about childhood adventures, outdoor traditions, and a lifetime of brotherhood.

We dig into early memories of fishing trips, hunting camps, and mischievous road trips with Pop Grant. Davey shares the story of his first deer, taken with a flintlock rifle, and the incredible hunt for a record-setting Pennsylvania buck with a rare drop tine. Plus, we swap some hilarious Pop Grant stories, reveal how Davey survived a moped crash, and talk about how family, friendship, and the outdoors have always been at the heart of it all.

🧭 What We Talk About:

How Davey fits into the Ruhl family and the “other brother” origin story

Childhood memories of family reunions, trout fishing, and Christmas tree cutting

Growing up outdoors — from flipping creek rocks to late-season deer drives

Davey’s first deer — and the perfect (and lucky!) flintlock shot

The incredible story of the big drop-tine buck and recovering the broken antler

Road trip memories with Pop Grant — including running over reflector signs (on purpose)

The “ghost buck” story: tracking down a deer that survived a spine shot

Why we believe in the power of storytelling to honor family and tradition

🦌 Highlight Stories:

The Flintlock Miracle: Davey's first deer, first shot, and a blood trail you couldn't miss.

Big Buck at Camp: The biggest whitetail ever taken at deer camp — complete with a dramatic recovery of a broken drop tine.

Pop Grant's Driving School: Trust us, reflector poles are bouncier than they look.

Brennessel Lessons: Matt’s memorable (and itchy) lesson about stinging nettle and jewelweed.

The Ghost Buck: A buck that survived a spinal broadhead injury — and the wild morning Davey finally crossed paths with it.

💬 Favorite Quotes:

“One boy is a boy, two boys is half a boy, and three boys is no boy at all.” – Pop Grant
“We weren’t just cousins. We were family, and we did everything together.” – Mike
“If I had a bayonet on that flintlock, I would’ve been in business.” – Davey
“Podcasting like this — it’s about collecting the stories before they disappear.” – Mike

🌲 Stay Connected:

🌐 Website: OutdoorRuhls.com

📧 Email: [email protected]

📸 Instagram: @OutdoorRuhls

👍 Facebook: Outdoor Ruhls Podcast

🙏 Thanks for Listening!

Big thanks to Davey for joining us and to all our listeners — family, friends, and the Outdoor Ruhls community. If you’re enjoying these episodes, we'd love if you shared the podcast with someone who loves family, hunting, fishing, and storytelling.

🎧 Stay tuned — more stories are coming, including “Unscheduled Landings II” and “Hell on Wheels!”

🔥 Episode Summary:

We made it to Episode 26, and that means six months of weekly storytelling from the Ruhl crew! In this milestone episode, all four Ruhl siblings — Matt, Mike, Mark, and Kate — sit down together for the first time to reflect on what this podcast has become, why it matters, and where it's going.

This episode is part celebration, part behind-the-scenes, and a whole lot of heartfelt laughs and family honesty. From chasing each other with sticks (or not), to lost cassette tapes, old vans, broken feet, family reunions, and how the power of storytelling keeps memories alive—this one hits all the notes that make Outdoor Ruhls special.

🧭 What We Talk About:

The significance of 26 episodes and half a year of podcasting

What it means to grow up in a tight-knit outdoor family

Kate’s perspective on being the only sister (and the “indoor cat” with a sharp wit)

Favorite episodes and why they matter

The priceless value of family stories and the tapes we hope to find again

Unsung parenting strategies and van seating rotations

Upcoming episode ideas: “Unscheduled Landings II,” “Hell on Wheels,” “Hell on Ice,” and more

Teasers for future episodes with Davey (“our other brother”), Jim Jones, and wildlife tales

Why we’re doing this: not for the listeners (though we love you!) but for our kids, our memories, and the bonds that last

🎁 Episode 26 Giveaway!

To celebrate 6 months of episodes, we're giving away some Outdoor Ruhls swag!
👉 Check out the Instagram post for this episode to enter to win:

Outdoor Ruhls T-shirts

Stickers

Custom 3D-printed bait pucks with our logo & QR code
(What’s a bait puck? Tune in and find out!)

📸 Instagram: @OutdoorRuhls

💬 Quotes Worth Repeating:

“Podcasting’s not something you do for financial gain. This is a passion project, and we’re just grateful we get to do it together.” – Mike
“I hope someday my grandkids are sitting around a table telling stories about us like we are about our grandparents.” – Mark
“If you don’t save the stories or recipes, they don’t just keep existing. You have to save them.” – Kate
“They chose laughter and forgiveness over grudges. That’s why they stayed close.” – Mike

Episode 25: Voices from the Past
Host: Mike Ruhl
Guests: Jane Shultz, Lana, and Randy

This heartfelt and laughter-filled episode of Outdoor Ruhls is a family treasure trove, capturing memories, stories, and recipes passed down through generations. Mike is joined by cousins Jane and Lana—daughters of Sarah and Bobby—and Randy, who shares travel stories and fond memories of their time with Sarah and Bobby.

🧬 Highlights from the Episode:

The Ruhl Family Legacy
Jane and Lana reflect on their parents, Sarah and Bobby, their lifelong home in Quentin, PA, and their deep family roots. They recall growing up in a duplex shared with extended family and how connected the Ruhl clan was to Quentin and the local church.

Life During WWII
Lana shares how her father was drafted before her birth and spent four years away in the Pacific with the Signal Corps. The emotional impact of those years on their family is palpable.

The House, the Garden, and the Canning Tradition
Vivid recollections of the enormous backyard garden, canning corn and peaches, and pickling everything from red beets to chow chow. We hear how Sarah and Bobby gave produce to neighbors and kept an entire town fed.

Special Recipes & Family Dishes

Chow Chow – the Pennsylvania Dutch way

Opera Fudge & Caramels – staples of church bake sales

Lime Pickles and Stuffed Peppers – long-sought family recipes

Cherry Crumb Pies and 25+ pies at a time for picnics

Jane’s Famous Rice Krispie Treats – the gold standard

Stories from the Past
Mike and the guests discuss a rediscovered audio tape from a 1989 family reunion where the nine Ruhl siblings—except Wilmer—recorded themselves telling stories. Jane digitized it, and the family has been deeply moved hearing their voices again. Excerpts from this tape are played throughout the episode.

Travel Adventures with Sarah and Bobby
Randy recounts two family trips: a hilarious journey through Florida—complete with an accidental visit to a nude beach—and a New England fall foliage trip where they ended up scraping ice off windows in Vermont.

Woodworking, Sewing & Industrious Spirits
Bobby’s intricate wooden creations and Sarah’s knitting, sewing, and baking show the pride and talent woven through Ruhl family life.

Faith, Forgiveness, and Fun
The episode highlights not just hard work and tradition, but the deep love and humor that bound the family together—exemplified in the storytelling, teasing, and quick forgiveness among the siblings.

💬 Memorable Quotes:

“It’s amazing how easy it is to lose that stuff and how special it is to have it.”

“They were serious people and hard workers, but they had a sense of humor about life.”

📍 Mentioned Locations:

Quentin, Pennsylvania

Bismarck & Quentin Cemeteries

Cape Canaveral, Key West, Lake Placid, Bar Harbor, Mystic Seaport

🎧 Listen Now:
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

🌐 Visit: outdoorruhls.com
📸 Instagram: @outdoorruhls
📬 Email: [email protected]

🍳 Recipes from this episode will be posted at outdoorruhls.com/cooking

We’re back in Quentin to talk about Quentin, among our many other connections to conservation legend Teddy Roosevelt. Poppy, Meemaw, Mark, and Mike talk about history, hunting, and conservation as we explore all of our ties to the 26th president.