This week's episode is a fireside chat with John Smith and Shane Shepherd of Predator Pursuit of Michigan LLC.

Josh and Kevin welcome them to the show and get their stories, how they came up in the outdoors, hunting fishing and trapping.

We discuss what they hunted, and fished, and how their families did and do as well.

We discuss their history of trapping, and THE history of trapping, why their families used to do it, for financial reasons, and why now it no longer is a very viable form of income. But was a great introduction to the outdoors.

We talk about their start and continued pursuit of predators, starting with lights, then night vision and now thermal and we discuss the gear used then vs now, gun set ups, optics and more.

We touch briefly on their hog hunting experiences and eating of wild hog vs domestic.

The guys tell us a bit about the differences in gaining access to property in their area for predators vs getting access for deer and waterfowl.

We also talk a bit about recent hunts including a couple successful daytime hunts.

we finish talking about the upcoming deer season including the youth/liberty hunt this weekend.

Couple of great guys from Michigan, give it a listen.

As always, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

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This week Josh and Kevin sit down for a B.S. session/fireside chat.

We discuss recent hunting adventures, including Kevin getting Ninja'd, and Josh's great night getting 4 with his Uncle who has never hunted before.

We talk about a recent happening where a guy had his Savage 17wsm blow up on him at the range, we discuss what COULD have been some of the reasons, and discuss other firearms related failures that have happened over the years.

We both share how happy we are that fall is starting, the cooler weather, leaves changing colors and the incoming fall hunting seasons.

Josh lays down a challenge to Kevin to get a deer with his bow before taking one with the rifle

As always, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

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This week, Kevin and Josh welcome Kyle Dupuis to the show.

Kyle, a fellow Michigan hunter, actually asked about doing a podcast with a 1st generation predator hunter, it sounded like a good conversation so we made it happen.

Kyle talks to us about his upbringing in hunting and the outdoors, including telling us about his grandma who was the known deer hunter in the family.

We talk a bit about predator hunting around the country, how Michigan differs from out west or down south, mainly population and terrain.

We discuss who we learned from, the shows we watched, and articles we read to get the info that is now very prevalent. And talk about why you don't see many if any predator hunting shows filmed here.

We touch on quite a few facets including how he got into predator hunting, his progression in the sport, knowledge, tactics and equipment. Starting with a .22wmr rifle, hunting during the daylight only, to today's set up of thermal optics and everything in between like lights and night vision.

We discuss how family and friends react to finding out about predator hunting, each of us talk about that, and specifically some of the stuff we have heard, like "I can't believe there are that many around" to "what do you DO with them"

We talk about the community, and how we have all made some really good friends in our quest for knowledge, entering competitions, and sharing stories with other like minded hunters.

And we finish with a little technical talk about Kyle's' experiences with the new .22 ARC both factory and reloading

Follow along with Kyle at the Death After Darc facebook page!

As always, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

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This week on the Overdrive Outdoors Podcast Kevin welcomes Lincoln Rohn to the show.

Lincoln is another local west MI resident that has been very active in the outdoors.

We talk about the business that Lincoln now runs, Packer Maxx, a cultipacker that is ideal for sportsmen and small farmers, he tells us about acquiring the business and the advantages of using a cultipacker for your food plots.

We then discuss Lincolns upbringing in the outdoors. Then we get into his most recent hunt...Africa.

Lincoln recently returned from an African plains game hunt, we ask him to break it down starting with the planning stages, finding a guide, physical prep, equipment prep, the importance of listening to your PH (professional hunter/Guide), what type of stuff was recommended and how it performed, the process of traveling out of the country, and the travel itself.

Then we proceed to his experiences with the accommodations over there, the people he dealt with, the lodging and temperatures encountered (which really surprised me). We discuss the hunts themselves, the animals both hunted and seen, the dangers present, the beauty of the area, poaching and its effects on the hunting (unfortunately tragic in his experience).

Lincoln talks about each species, shot placement, his choice of gun, ammo and optics and how they performed, and how his predator hunting back here helped him in Africa.

We talk about the importance of these hunts to both the communities, the PH and the animals themselves, it is often misunderstood how much these hunts help all of them, by helping with anti-poaching efforts to ensuring the overall better health of a species and the land they need to thrive, to providing a form of income to the residents that are involved with the operation from cooks/chefs to guides, to the folks in the area.

Lincoln does a really good job of relaying to us how special this hunt was, the impact it had on him, and how much he wants to go back again.

If you have any interest in a similar trip, Lincoln provided some really good info and personal experiences from the hunters side on what you can expect from such a trip and how to properly prepare for it.

Thank you Lincoln for sharing your experiences with us

As always, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

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This week Josh and Kevin welcome Nick Otto, AKA "Huntavore", to the show.

Nick has a really good thing going with the Huntavore podcast (https://sportsmensempire.com/network/the-huntavore) and The sportsman's empire (https://sportsmensempire.com/network/the-huntavore).

We start by talking a bit about guns...Kevin tells Josh about a few of the guns he has in the shop, a lot of them dating back to the civil war and spanish american war, and the unique characteristics of some of them, mechanically very unique, including one that was made in Big Rapids Michigan in the 1800's.

We also talk a little bit about legacy...how Kevin is a strong believer that some of the work he does, and items he sells will be part of his legacy, and how much he enjoys seeing his customers having success with the products they have gotten from him.

We then get into it with Nick.

Nick tells us about his upbringing, getting into hunting, coming up with the Huntavore podcast and working with the Sportsmens Empire.

Nick gives up some great info on wild game preparation, along with a very cool view on field to plate.

We discuss everything from squirrels, wild pigs, bear, venison, wild turkey, rabbit and more, best ways to prepare them, including Sous Vide for often dry wild game meats.

We discuss meat preparation of animals that can carry parasites, field care, and processing for the best cuts.

Nick details for us how he processes deer starting with " in the field care" all the way to aging the meat for best results.

We talk about the importance of getting the kids involved and HOW to get not only your kids, but other kids involved and make it fun and educational for them.

If you are looking to expand you hunting culinary horizons this conversation is a great start to get the creative juices flowing.

As always, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

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This week's episode is all about successful hunting.

Josh and Kevin are joined by a gentleman that has been on with us earlier this year talking about his struggles to get his 1st coyote, Josh Smith.

Josh was able to get his first coyote under his belt over the weekend with Clinton Taylor.

Josh tells us the whole story of his 1st successful coyote hunt, from beginning to end. With details on how it went down, what he wants to do with his 1st coyote, how the gear performed and more.

We then also discuss both Josh Mapes and Kevin's successful hunts from this past weekend as well. Josh Mapes got 2 and Kevin ended the night with 5 friday.

And then we talk about gear a bit, including the new Nightsnipe elite hunter pro tripods that Josh and Kevin used for the 1st time this weekend. What we liked and an overview of the tripods themselves.

As always, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

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This week Josh and Kevin welcome back Jordan Hoover and welcome Dan Featherstone to the podcast.

If you've followed the podcast you've probably heard of Jordan, Dan is another U.P. resident that was also part of the recent Michigan Deer Management Initiative (DMI).

Jordan and Dan recount more specific things that transpired during the DMI and the most recent meeting of the Natural Resources Commission.

Jordan and Dan both discuss the issues, the info they learned, the people they learned it from and the importance of using that data to help manage our deer as a natural resource, to increase the number of healthy deer where needed and manage overpopulation in other areas as well as managing sex ratios.

They then both discuss how, from what was seen, the information gathered from quality sources was disregarded by the NRC.

They discuss their personal experiences (that are shared by a lot of other people that have been following this) on how the meeting was poorly run, the NRC didn't seem to have an acceptable level of knowledge about what the issues were and did not want to listen to the information that was presented.

Some other things that happened during the meeting and before the meeting are also discussed, including personal interactions between NRC members, and special interest group representatives.

We discuss how many deer groups in the state don't seem to be getting involved at the level we would like to see them, as well as individual hunters as a whole that aren't collectively making their voices heard.

Folks, if we don't get involved NOW you may not like the future of hunting and fishing in this state. We need to work together to effect change.

Get involved, get educated and be a voice that cannot be ignored.

At the end of the podcast, Jordan outlines several things that YOU can do to join this effort, and the importance of doing so. Specific things that don't even take much time or effort, but can, if we come together, make a difference, but if we fail to do so, we will have a struggle to help the hunters in this state have a voice and improve the quality of our natural resource management based on science.

As always, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

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This week on the OOD podcast, Josh and Kevin are joined by Angellia Perry, also known as "Airgun Angie".

In this episode, Angie tells us about her growing up, not necessarily in a "hunting' family, but did not get into it until she met her husband. Angie then was approached by Rick Eutsler about making her outdoor activities into a job, doing product reviews.

Since then Angie has delved heavily into not just hunting and shooting with PCP Air rifles (Precharged compressed pneumatic) but hunting and shooting in general.

Angie tells us about hunting down in her now home state of South Carolina. Including the various animals she hunts from hogs and deer, to varmints and predators, with everything from Bows and Airguns to modern firearms.

Angie also tells us about something Josh and I have not heard of before up here in Michigan, hunting deer with dogs. She then tells us about the booming armadillo population, the damage they do (and dangers they present (disease) and hunting them.

We talk about hog hunting with dogs as well, and her experiences with it, and again, talk about the dangers of hunting hogs with dogs to both the hunters and the dogs.

We then get into Air gun discussions, Angie relates her experiences with different calibers, power sources, pellet (bullet) choices, shot placement and different types of airguns (breakaction/spring/air/pneumatic) as well as her experiences with different brands, and practical hunting ranges with them.

Angie also relates her experiences with optics, which ones are good for airguns and why, using ATN optics, how she likes to use the products and thermal vs nightvsision, and working the booth for them at SHOT Show.

We finish with Angie telling us about options for people looking to get into big bore airguns, price points for them and prices for needed accessories.

As always, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

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This week Josh and Kevin welcome Corey Corr to the show.

Corey had responded to a post on MI coyote hunting outdoors page about being a guest, and suggested a topic of discussion.

We start by talking a little bit about recent Woodchuck hunting, then get right into talking with Corey.

Corey had a question about landowners NOT wanting coyote hunters due to increased deer populations, so we discussed the experiences we have had with that issue, which hasn't been a lot, but we have encountered it.

We delve into why landowners would not want coyotes taken off their property and what we can do to help with other species, developing good relationships with landowners, and the importance of HELPING them with their issues, leading to continued hunting opportunities of not only predators but also other species, from varmints to deer or turkeys, which can lead to year round opportunities.

We also get on the subject briefly on cooking upland birds and other wild game, turns out Corey has experience in the culinary world and we appreciate his take on that.

Then we get a little off topic, but in a good way, as Corey talks to us about upland bird hunting and dogs for upland birds. We really appreciate hearing about that kind of stuff and Corey did a good job telling us about the ins and outs of bird dogs from his perspective.

As always, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

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This week Josh and Kevin welcome Rashel Hubbard and Jordan Hoover to the show.

Jordan is a returning guest while this is Rashels 1st time on our show.

Both Rashel and Jordan were involved in the Michigan DMI. (Deer management initiative.)

The objective of this initiative was advertised as putting together a group of folks from Michigan to gather data, then make recommendations to the Michigan NRC for the management of our deer herd in both the U.P and Lower parts of the state.

But...as you will hear, it was a farce. The data collected and recommendations made by the folks of the DMI were, for the most part, ignored.

Rashel and Jordan go into detail as to what the DMI was, what they did in terms of gathering data, organizing the data and brainstorming recommendations with each of their respective groups (Jordan was with the U.P group while Rashel was from the lower).

Per Jordan and Rashel, the groups both came to consensus on their recommendations, in a fair and organized fashion, and while not everything was agreed upon in the groups they did agree on the final recommendations that they presented to the NRC just last week.

And then came the slap in the face, the reaction by the NRC, from the attitude of members (some in particular) and the lack of organization by the NRC as well as a lack of being prepared for what the DMI presented (even why it was being presented).

We discuss these events as witnessed by Rashel and Jordan as well as being able to see it ourselves in the live feed of the NRC meeting as streamed by MUCC (Michigan United Conservation Clubs).

We then move on to discuss why this is ANOTHER example of why there is an increased distrust in the NRC due to them not following science in making decisions about our natural resources, and instead following their own agenda.

The four of us also discuss WHY this is such a big issue as it relates to the future of our outdoors community, and maintaining our heritage as sportspersons, not just here but all over the U.S as we have heard from others (Coloradans for responsible wildlife management episode #154).

NOW is the time to get involved, keep the pressure on and come together to protect what we all love so dearly, before we lose any more of it.

Please take the time to listen and hear firsthand the type of tactics we are up against, then join us in this battle.

As always, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

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