Last month the U.S. Department of the Interior said it will revoke the grazing permits that have allowed American Prairie to run bison on roughly 63,000 acres of federal public land in Montana. In this episode of the Outdoor Life podcast news editor Dac Collins interviews our conservation editor Andrew McKean about the issue. McKean lives in eastern Montana, which is ground zero for the bison restoration effort. He'll explain why the effort to restore wild bison on the landscape is important, and also why it's become so controversial.

You can read our full story on BLM's decision here: https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/blm-revokes-american-prairie-bison-permits/

Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio.

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All duck hunters want to talk about right now is the growing debate over the culprit of shortened mallard migrations in the Mississippi Flyway. Here's what the data says — and doesn't — about what's actually affecting greenheads.

Hosted by editor-in-chief Alex Robinson.

Reported and produced by executive editor Natalie Krebs.

Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio.

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This year's SHOT Show features new guns, of course, but we're also seeing introductions of electro-optics, the suppressor boom, and more.

Hosted by editor-in-chief Alex Robinson.

Produced by executive editor Natalie Krebs.

Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio.

Guests are shooting editor John B. Snow and hunting & optics editor Andrew McKean.

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OL hunting and conservation editor Andrew McKean heads to D.C. to interview Brian Nesvik, the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under his direction the USFWS is deferring to states, assessing its refuges, leveraging technology, and enabling the energy-first agenda of the Trump administration.

Reporting by hunting and conservation editor Andrew McKean.

Hosted and produced by executive editor Natalie Krebs.

Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio.

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Contributor and Wyoming resident Christine Peterson returned to the Elk Mountain ranch that started the legal battle over corner crossing all those years ago. Here's what she learned about how to corner-cross without getting sued — and ongoing barriers to public access.

Hosted by editor-in-chief Alex Robinson.

Produced by executive editor / Natalie Krebs.

Reporting by contributor Christine Peterson.

Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio.

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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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