As many Outdoor Life listeners and followers might have heard, our senior staff writer Tyler Freel was severely injured during a backcountry hunt in Idaho earlier this fall. 

Tyler was thrown from a horse during the ride back to the trailhead. He knew that he was hurt the instant he hit the ground, but nobody quite knew the extent of his injuries at the time, which turned out to be extremely severe. 

So today on the podcast Tyler is going to explain what exactly happened on that hunt. And our shooting editor, John B. Snow, who was there on the hunt with Tyler is going to outline what we’ve learned from the experience. 

Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio.

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Spearfishing for walleyes and other game fish has slowly been gaining traction in the Great Lakes, and starting April 2026, the sport will enter a new phase there.

In November, after years of input from local spearfishermen, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission unanimously approved new and expanded spearfishing regulations for Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, and Superior. Although there are some exceptions for certain areas, the new regs that go into effect next spring will allow free-diving spearfishermen to target walleyes, northern pike, and lake trout in the Michigan portions of these lakes.

“It’s been one of largest expansions for freshwater game fish in the history of North America,“ says Jon Durtka, a lifelong Michigan sportsman and the guest on this week’s Outdoor Life Podcast. 

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There are lots of things to consider when it comes to cartridge selection for killing deer. But when it comes to recovering those deer, especially when hunting with a 6.5 Creedmoor, there’s still plenty of confusion. So what’s the deal? Is there an issue with the cartridge? Or are there other factors at play? Shooting editor John B. Snow explains.

Read more: https://www.outdoorlife.com/badbloodtrails

This episode is hosted and produced by executive editor Natalie Krebs.

Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio.

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Our gear editor got a chance to hang stands and trail cameras with Levi Morgan this summer. Now he's back hunting with the championship archer in Illinois. Here's how Morgan thinks about everything from trail cameras to shot placement.

Guest host is gear editor Scott Einsmann.

Produced by executive editor Natalie Krebs.

Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio.

Guest is Levi Morgan.

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Every year, trawlers operating off Alaska’s coast legally catch, kill, and toss overboard tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of salmon, along with millions of pounds of halibut, herring, crab, and, occasionally, some killer whales. It's leading to fewer opportunities for sport and subsistence fishermen.

STOP Alaskan Trawler Bycatch — https://www.facebook.com/groups/181111123119023/

Alaska Senate Bill — https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/34/Bills/SB0161A.PDF

Ocean documentary, narrated by Attenborough _ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzG9AwlypaY

Guest hosted by news editor Dac Collins.

Guest is David Bayes.

Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio.

Produced by executive editor Natalie Krebs.

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Antler collector Josh Duncan paid a premium to own the world-record whitetail shed antlers. But after he bought them, a troubling revelation came to light on social media.

Hosted by editor-in-chief Alex Robinson.

Produced by executive editor Natalie Krebs.

Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio.

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The MeatEater personality and longtime conservationist has been tapped to run Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. Here's how Ryan 'Cal' Callaghan thinks about public lands, safeguarding them, and why he's still an optimist about it all.

Guest hosted by hunting and conservation editor Andrew McKean.

Produced by executive editor Natalie Krebs.

Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio.

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Gear editor and absolute archery geek Scott Einsmann explains all the testing he's done lately on arrow speed and broadhead performance.

Hosted by Editor-in-Chief Alex Robinson.

Produced by Executive Editor Natalie Krebs.

Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio.

Guest is Gear Editor Scott Einsmann.

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There's probably nobody out there who has covered precision rifles, ammo, and optics more intensely than OL shooting editor John B. Snow. But John is not saying to go out there and shoot elk at a thousand yards. In fact, just the opposite.

Video — I Built the Ultimate Deer Rifle: https://youtu.be/1U96Mr3nXaE

Hosted by editor-in-chief Alex Robinson.

Guest is shooting editor John B. Snow.

Produced by executive editor Natalie Krebs.

Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio.

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There are a lot of things people get wrong about picking a bear rifle or defensive gun. According to our resident Alaskan and bonafide griz skinner Tyler Freel, here's what actually makes a great bear gun.

Hosted by editor-in-chief Alex Robinson.

Guest is senior staff writer Tyler Freel.

Produced by executive editor Natalie Krebs.

Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio.

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