Wingmen by Eastmans'

If there’s one thing we’ve learned when chatting with Black Rifle Coffee’s Baker Leavitt it’s that you’re going to get unvarnished opinions and some excellent stories. Baker is one of the most interesting people we’ve had the pleasure of hosting on the podcast, his extensive experience and travel schedule means that he’s incredibly knowledgeable about a wide range of topics and this episode goes from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to turkey hunting in Texas. The guys chat about bowhunting vs. shotgunning for turkeys and even take a look at ocellated turkeys.

Host Todd Helms sits down with guides Gage Biggers and Dillon Potson of The Outfit Oklahoma on his recent hunt for cranes and little geese in Okie-land. Gage and Dillon are salt of the earth fellas and share their “why” for guiding waterfowl hunters. The talk explores the guy’s stories, birds, hunting, habitat, dogs, conservation and what it takes to be a hunting guide. This is an excellent episode and if you’re thinking about becoming a waterfowl guide this is a must listen!

Wingmen Podcast host Todd Helms sits down with Shane Lewellen, owner and operator of The Outfit Oklahoma and partner in The Outfit 306. Shane runs two first class wingshooting operations; one in Oklahoma featuring cranes, ducks and little geese and one in Saskatchewan offering all the province has to offer. Shane is a wealth of knowledge, especially about Sandhill Cranes and their unique habitat needs. The guys have a great time recording this episode and it shows. This is a great listen, don’t miss it.

Sara Heady came highly recommended as a guest by Hugh Clark of Alaska Waterfowl Association after her successful hunt for the prized Emperor Goose in Alaska. Sara walks host Todd Helms through the entire story from start to finish; the ups and downs, the changes of plans and ultimately the unexpected camaraderie and support she experienced from fellow hunters the day it all came together and she took her bird. Sara and Todd talk about the bond of waterfowling and hunting that pulls folks together in spite of gender, ideologies and worldviews. Sara may be the first female guest on the Wingmen podcast but she won’t be the last. This episode is solid gold from start to finish.

Bill Embacher is the man who carved the black duck decoy that Ramsey Russell is traveling with this year. Bill is a hunter who loves waterfowling for all the same reasons we do. The history, the culture, the stories and the birds. All of this is stitched into the fabric of his soul and it was an honor to sit down and visit for a while with him. Host Todd Helms will be having Bill carve a decoy for him so the two remain connected by more than just a podcast and some text messages. It is this connection that makes wingshooting special. No matter whether we live in Connecticut or California, the pursuit of birds and the culture of our sport binds us together as brothers and sisters. This episode is all about that bond and one you don’t want to miss.

We had the pleasure of meeting Corey this summer when we picked up Hondo from Southern Oak Kennels. Corey whelped Hondo and we almost had to wrestle him away to be able to take Hondo home with us. Corey is a first rate dog trainer and our conversation revolved around dogs, dogs and more dogs with a bit of hunting thrown in. If you like Labradors, dog training, waterfowl hunting and the art of balancing all of those with a busy family then this episode is right up your alley!

Host Todd Helms takes the time to break down his top picks from both Leupold Optics and Sitka Gear for the wingshooter. He explains why his particular picks are perfect for the hunter on your list this Christmas. Todd also gives a brief hunting season update and update on what’s coming down the pipe here at Wingmen.

We were first introduced to Hugh Clark on the TV series Alaska Outdoors Television as they showcased his unique hunts in the Last Frontier. Hugh is a wealth of knowledge and lives to pass on the waterfowling heritage. If you’ve ever wanted to hunt waterfowl in Alaska you need to contact Hugh and he’ll help you figure out logistics and find the right experience for you. This episode runs almost two hours but felt like 30 minutes to record. Another can’t miss episode of the Wingmen Podcast.

On this episode Todd Helms sits down with fellow Wingman Scott Reekers to talk about expectations for the upcoming waterfowl season. They guys venture down several rabbit holes and this makes for a podcast about everything from dogs and training to breeding, potential, and ultimately consistent success due to lessons learned afield. Anyway you slice it this is a fun episode and one you don’t want to miss.