The Great Lakes Outdoors Podcast

Ben from Hodag returns to the Great Lakes Outdoors podcast to break down a tough but valuable first Colorado elk hunt, plus the hunting lessons he’s carried back into his whitetail and public-land strategy. The conversation also digs into how Hodag’s ropes, tassels, and licking branches are used by deer year-round, and why intrusion, wind, and setup location matter.The group discusses Ben’s elk hunt with his buddy, how public-land pressure and mountain thermals shaped the trip, and what the experience taught him about bow range, mobility, and packing out. They also compare notes on trail cameras, mock scrapes, field-edge setups, and how to avoid overcomplicating a hunt.

This episode is a mixed outdoors conversation centered on Kyle's first compound bow buck, what deer movement looks like in mid-October, and how trail cameras can help—or mislead—hunters. The second half shifts to opening-day waterfowl hunting, including decoy setups, layout blind challenges, and a few regulation reminders.

Kyle and Travis cover a wide-ranging hunting conversation, starting with a recent sit in the stand and rolling into deer behavior, scent control, and why simple setups can still work. They also dig into bird migration, goose and duck hunting updates, pheasant restoration, and the bigger picture of losing hunting ground to solar, data centers, and development.This episode  blends on-the-ground deer observations with practical hunting strategy and a broader look at how habitat and access are changing across Michigan.

Kyle and Travis cover a packed stretch of early season hunting, from middle zone duck hunts and 2yr olds first hunt to gear talk, dog safety, and how weather and corn are shaping the season. They also get into broader Michigan hunting issues, including deer movement, trail camera strategy, EHD concerns, and the ongoing debate around buck tags and hunting culture.

Travis sits down with Reed Housley, customer experience rep for Jahpoo Outdoors, to talk waterfowl hunting across Michigan and Texas, the rise of motion decoys, and why scouting still beats luck every time. It is part product conversation, part hunting stories, and part reminder that the best days in the field are about more than the bag limit.

A rainy festival weekend turned into a wide-ranging recap of Point Moulay, the GDHA youth hunt, and preparations for the upcoming hunting season. Travis and Kyle talk about the challenges of showing up as vendors in bad weather, the upside of meeting new people, and why the event still felt like a success.

This episode digs into how Open Water Industries started, what an ice eater actually does, and why moving water can be a difference maker for late-season duck and goose hunting. Kyle and Travis talk with guest Collin Merryman, a mechanical engineer who turned a do-it-yourself solution into a growing product line for waterfowlers and pond owners.

Collin explains the design choices behind the unit, the real-world tradeoffs between generators and batteries, and why small changes like cord length, angle adjustment, and anti-rust coating matter more than most people think.

Michigan deer hunting rules are changing, and if you bowhunt or manage property, this conversation hits exactly where it matters. Kyle and Travis break down the new one buck, earn-a-buck conversation, how it could change what hunters pass on, and why the smartest move might not be the one everyone expects.They also get into the real-world side of archery season prep, from pin setups and peep sights to anchor points, missed-shot flashbacks, and the mental game of getting back behind a bow after time off. If you've ever stared at your sight picture and wondered whether your setup is helping or hurting you, this one is packed with relatable, practical talk.You'll hear their take on:

• Whether Michigan firearm deer season is still the state’s biggest hunting tradition
• How to decide between fixed pins, one-pin sights, and simplified yardage setups
• What it actually means to pass a young buck when your neighbors might not
• Why some properties produce giant deer, and others keep spitting out weird six-points
• How genetics, pressure, food, and cover shape what shows up on camera

Kyle also shares updates on trail camera setups, blind prep, and early waterfowl season timing, while Travis weighs in on the realities of hunting pressured ground, managing expectations, and why some of the best deer properties look like nothing more than a ditch line in the middle of a field.If you hunt Michigan, care about deer management, or just want a brutally honest conversation between two guys living the hunting season from both the waterfowl and whitetail side, this episode is for you.

Kyle and Travis sit down with Hunter from Tri State Retrievers to catch up on his move from Ohio to Arkansas, his work as a guide, and how he keeps dog training small, personal, and effective. They also dig into the realities of Arkansas duck hunting, from flooded rice fields and hospitality-driven guide services to why the hunting culture down south is so different from the Great Lakes.In this episode, Hunter shares what changed after leaving Ohio, how guiding and dog training fit together, and why transparency matters when you’re trusting someone with your dog for months at a time. The conversation also covers waterfowl heritage, pressure on bird habitat, safety in the blind, and what owners should look for in a trainer.

• Hunter explains how Tri State Retrievers started in Ohio with Dustin, then shifted to Arkansas after he moved south and began building a kennel there.
• He breaks down why he keeps dog training small, usually around six client dogs, because guiding takes up much of the fall and winter.
• The crew talks about how competitive dog training is in Arkansas, where word of mouth and Facebook still do a lot of the heavy lifting.
• Hunter compares Great Lakes waterfowl hunting with Arkansas hunting, pointing out that the Great Lakes region is often underestimated.
• They get into the difference between hunting heritage in Arkansas versus Ohio, especially around flooded timber, rice fields, and big-water or field hunting.
• Hunter explains why Arkansas hunting feels different now than in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, saying the region has changed rather than simply “died off.”
• He discusses private clubs, unharvested crops, and how large tracts of held birds can affect where ducks and geese land and feed.
• The group covers the all-inclusive side of guiding at Bust a Duck Guide Service, including lodging, meals, safety briefings, and making the day comfortable even if the birds don’t cooperate.
• Hunter walks through his dog training timeline, from puppy programs at 8 weeks old to started gun dogs and longer programs for hunt tests and finished retrievers.
• He explains what owners should look for in a trainer: transparency, kennel size, daily attention, facility quality, and regular communication.
• The conversation closes on why hunting dogs are more successful when they get real hunting experience, not just yard drills or test-only work.

Michigan hunters are arguing about the wrong things. From baiting and Sunday hunting to cell cameras, crossbows, and social media drama, Travis lays out the opinions that will get people fired up and talking.This solo episode of the Great Lakes Outdoors Podcast is part hot take, part reality check, and part old-school hunting philosophy. Travis uses a structured, no-nonsense format to tackle some of the most debated questions in Michigan hunting right now - and he does not hold back on where he stands.You’ll hear Travis break down:

• Why Michigan firearm season still feels like a holiday
• Whether Sunday hunting should be allowed everywhere
• Why baiting is fair chase in his eyes
• The pressure to pass bucks when your neighbors won’t
• Habitat vs. genetics on growing mature deer
• Why 10 acres can attract deer, but not truly hold them
• The role of OnX, cell cameras, and other technology in modern hunting
• The most overrated gear, the one item he never hunts without, and why rangefinders changed everything
• How social media can both grow hunting and poison it
• Why antler size should never decide whether a hunt matters

Travis also gets personal, sharing stories from his own hunting life - missed opportunities, buck fever, public land struggles, youth hunts, deer camp memories, and the moment he realized a “successful” hunt does not always mean killing an animal. Those stories give the episode real weight behind the opinions.If you care about Michigan hunting, deer management, hunting ethics, or the way social media is shaping the next generation of hunters, this episode hits all of it. It is especially relevant if you have ever felt judged for the size of the deer you shot, wondered whether modern tech is changing the sport too much, or just want a straight answer from someone who has lived these debates.Equal parts controversial and relatable, this episode is built to make you think, nod along, or completely disagree - and that is exactly the point. Perfect for hunters who want an honest conversation, a few laughs, and a fresh take on the issues everyone in the woods is already talking about.