Turkey Season

Paul sits down with Chad Anchors to talk turkey hunting, filming the chaos of the woods, and how their approach to the sport has changed over time. From early mistakes and old-school camera gear to raising kids and navigating today’s hunting pressure, this episode blends storytelling, humor, and hard-earned perspective. It’s a conversation about the process, the pursuit, and the responsibility we carry as turkey hunters.

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Buy the book

The Origin & Evolution of Turkey Calls

In this episode, Paul Campbell is joined by Brent Rogers, Chris McDonald, Danny Ellis, and Rick Powell, the four men behind one of the most detailed works ever produced on the history of turkey calls.

They break down how the book came to life, the years of research behind it, and the mission to preserve a disappearing body of knowledge before it’s lost for good. From iconic call makers to unknown folk artisans, the conversation highlights the stories, craftsmanship, and historical moments that shaped turkey hunting in America.

More than just a book, this project is a preservation effort, capturing the people, the tools, and the culture that built the Turkey call tradition we know today.

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Isaac Pentecost joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation on turkey hunting, faith, friendship, competition calling, and the kind of upbringing that shapes a life in the outdoors. Paul and Isaac swap stories from the road, talk about hunting Osceolas, Gould’s, and new states on the map for 2026, and reflect on the old-school turkey hunters who taught them patience, gratitude, and how to enjoy the woods for more than just the kill.

They dig into the culture of turkey hunting, the value of good friends, the mental side of the sport, and why the best parts of this life still come down to simple things: hearing a bird gobble, cutting up at camp, and sharing time with people who love it the same way you do. Isaac also opens up about his faith, the verses that ground him, and the peace he’s found by keeping the Lord at the center of everything.

It’s funny, honest, and full of the kind of conversation that makes turkey camp feel like home.

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Episode Description

In this episode, Paul sits down with Dr. Michael Chamberlain for a wide-ranging conversation on one of the most important (and fast-evolving) frontiers in wild turkey science: genetics.

Dr. Chamberlain breaks down the Wild Turkey DNA Project—how it started with “odd plumage” birds showing up on social media, and how it quickly exploded into a massive, nationwide effort to map genetic diversity across the species’ range. Along the way, he explains what genetic diversity actually means for wild turkeys on the ground, why some populations may be less resilient than we assume, and how inbreeding signals can quietly build for generations before showing up as real-world declines in reproduction and survival.

The conversation also dives into the restoration era and the trap-and-transfer days—what records exist, what the genetics are already revealing decades later, and how today’s tools could allow wildlife agencies to be far more surgical if translocation ever becomes necessary again. Dr. Chamberlain also shares fascinating insight into turkey behavior—winter flock fidelity, limited dispersal, and why “they could walk there… but they don’t”—and how that creates genetic pockets across the landscape.

To wrap it up, Dr. Chamberlain offers a grounded outlook for the 2026 spring season in the South, explaining why the woods may “sound different” this year, what that means for harvest pressure, and why hunters play a direct role in the turkey’s future.

Topics include:

The Wild Turkey DNA Project and why it’s grown so fast

Odd plumage birds, domestic crosses, and what the genes are showing

Genetic diversity, inbreeding risk, and population resiliency

What restoration-era translocations may have shaped (and what they didn’t)

Why turkeys form “genetic pockets” even without obvious barriers

The promise of using genetics to guide smarter, more targeted management

A realistic 2026 season outlook—and a call for hunter responsibility

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In this episode, Paul is joined by Missouri turkey hunter and state trooper Sam Hallam for a conversation that wanders through the Ozarks, the Deep South, and the heart of what keeps turkey hunters coming back every spring.

Sam shares how he grew up learning the craft from a quiet, deadly turkey hunter—his dad—and how that foundation eventually turned into a full-blown obsession that now includes traveling across the country to hunt public land. The two talk honestly about getting humbled in Alabama, the allure of big timber, and how some of the most meaningful hunts don’t always end with a punched tag.

The conversation dives into hunting pressured public ground, the realities of killing jakes, and why judgment has no place in the spring woods. Paul and Sam reflect on why turkey hunters can be so fiercely protective of the tradition, how social media has changed the culture for better and worse, and why slams and checklists should never overshadow the reason we hunt in the first place.

Along the way, they swap stories of turkey camps, managed hunts in historic strongholds like Caney Mountain, unexpected friendships formed over shared ground, and those quiet moments in the woods that remind you this isn’t just about killing a bird—it’s about being there when the woods come back to life.

If you care about heritage, public land, spring mornings, and hunting turkeys for the right reasons, this episode will feel like a long sit around a campfire with someone who gets it.

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In this episode of The Turkey Season, Paul sits down with Iowa photographer and farmer Clayton Worrell, better known online as Grizhawk—one of the most recognizable turkey photographers in the space today.

Clayton’s images aren’t about grip-and-grins or highlight reels. They’re about quiet moments, hard-earned light, and turkeys simply being turkeys. From frost on a gobbler’s back at fly-down, to breath hanging in the cold air, to subtle steps and head tilts that most people miss, Clayton breaks down the patience, planning, and obsession behind capturing a single frame.

The conversation wanders—in the best way—through farming, family, photography, hunting evolution, creative standards, social media fatigue, and why sometimes a photograph is just as satisfying as pulling the trigger. Clayton shares how he scouts locations like a hunter, stages photo setups days in advance, and often spends weeks chasing one image that may never happen.

They also dig into:

Why Clayton hunts less and photographs more as he gets older

The frustration (and beauty) of spending days for one usable image

Editing photos to feel like art, not just documentation

The importance of high standards and refusing to put your name on work you don’t believe in

How the turkey community differs from whitetails—and why that matters

His upcoming gallery-style booth at the NWTF Convention in Nashville

This is a laid-back, honest conversation about creativity, patience, and what it really means to appreciate wild turkeys beyond the moment of the shot.

If you’ve ever watched a bird through binoculars instead of shouldering a gun—or felt more pride in earning a moment than owning it—this one’s for you.

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Paul Campbell sits down with Alex DeBord of Talk About It Outdoors for a deep dive into the world of turkey calling, competition culture, and the brotherhood that keeps the whole thing alive.

Alex breaks down the unwritten rules of the calling world—why you don’t touch another man’s call bag, how “turkey-killing calls” differ from “race car” competition setups, and why presentation (cadence, pauses, and painting the picture) often matters more than raw sound. They talk about the mental game too: nerves on stage, learning to run the call instead of letting the call run you, and what it really takes to find “your yelp.”

The conversation turns personal in the best way—Alex shares the story of what truly hooked him on turkey hunting, watching his son step into the calling world, and how mentors and friendships inside the turkey community can become family. From Grand Nationals qualifying to preseason practice routines, to honoring the legends that built the foundation of modern calling, this one is a masterclass in why turkey hunting and turkey calling mean so much to the people in it.

Alex also shares what’s ahead for Talk About It Outdoors, the “The Caller” series covering the NWTF calling circuit, and the spirit behind their newly announced call team.

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Ralph Permar is a legendary Turkey call maker from SouthEastern Pennsylvania. Ralph started hunting Turkeys in 1976, and eventually started tinkering in the call shop. Fast forward to 2026 and Ralph's trumpets are some of the most sought after Turkey calls of modern times. In this episode Ralph opens up about his philosophy of hunting and experiences over decades of chasing wild game in PA. His passion for call making is on full display in this episode. A true gentleman of the sport and a giant among men in call making world. Enjoy

https://permarturkeycalls.com/

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Turkey season is close enough you can feel it — and for Dave Owens, that means one thing: Nashville is coming.

In this episode, I’m joined (again) by Dave Owens of The Pinhoti Project as we get honest about the chaos that hits when the NWTF Convention countdown starts. From camera gremlins and editing panic mode to the real mental pressure of stepping onto the biggest stage in turkey calling, Dave breaks down what most people never see: the work, the nerves, and the tiny details that can make—or break—a run.

We also dive deep into the art and science of competition calling, including:

Why Dave doesn’t “over-practice” (and how bad habits sneak in)

Sorting through piles of calls to find “the one” (and why even champions do it)

Scenario format in Nashville: what it is, why it matters, and what judges are really listening for

The hardest calls to nail under pressure — and why the clock can wreck your head

Who’s knocking on the door in 2026 (and why the talent pool is deeper than ever)

Then the conversation turns to what this whole thing is really about: people. We talk about the KT Team, purpose in the outdoors, and how turkey hunting can be genuinely life-giving. We also pause to acknowledge losses in the turkey world — including Billy Buice — and why it adds urgency to capturing the stories and preserving the culture.

A fun, honest, and meaningful pre-season check-in with one of the best to ever do it.

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Paul sits down with University of Florida professor and wild turkey researcher Dr. Marcus “Dr. Disturbance” Lashley for a deep dive into the science, challenges, and hope for America’s favorite game bird. From childhood turkey hunts in Alabama to leading groundbreaking research on hen survival, poult behavior, and habitat management, Dr. Lashley shares what the data says, what it doesn’t say, and why “it depends” might be the most honest answer in wildlife biology. The two cover the Florida Wildlife Corridor, the state’s unique cost-share habitat program, the role of private landowners, and the Game Lab’s innovative captive poult project that’s revealing surprising truths about turkey behavior. Passion, purpose, and a few laughs along the way—this is a must-listen for anyone invested in the future of the wild turkey.

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