Wingmen by Eastmans'

Ryan Reynolds is a man with vision, a man who has turned that vision into a world class waterfowling operation in Saskatchewan and Ontario. He has built a team of top tier guides and staff to make sure his clients take home more than just birds, they take home memories and stories because at the end of the day that’s what wingshooting is truly about, the people and places that shape the adventure and make it an eternal event in the lives of those who lived it. Ryan and host Todd Helms talk about the gear, dogs, birds and of course, people who help Ryan control the controllables on his hunts to make a trip with Apex Waterfowling the best waterfowl hunt of a lifetime.

In episode 32 Todd Helms and Luke Washington sit down to recap the epic road trip to pick up Hondo! They laugh about the perils of driving through rural America in a bus sized RV, the flexibility required of traveling with a puppy and of course veer off onto plenty of rabbit trails about dogs, hunting and everything that goes with them. This is a killer little episode that the guys had a ton of fun recording.

If you’ve not heard of Ramsey Russell and you’re a duck hunter you’re missing out. Ramsey owns and operates https://www.getducks.com/ a premier source for “The Best Duck Hunting Adventures On Earth”. Having the opportunity to sit down and record a podcast with Ramsey was an absolute pleasure. His down to earth personality coupled with his masterful storytelling and deep knowledge of all things ducks make this a can’t miss episode. Ramsey has a passion for the history and traditions of duck hunting and his experiences, that span the globe, give him a unique perspective on what duck hunting is truly about. At the end of the day duck hunting is about the people and places that make up the sport and Todd and Ramsey dive down that rabbit hole to uncover often overlooked truths about our shared passion as duck hunters.

If there’s a man with more personality than “Rooster” we’ve never met him. Dan “Rooster” Leavens is a walking story and this is a must listen podcast. Rooster and host Todd Helms dive down the upland bird rabbit hole and talk dogs, techniques and getting kids involved. Rooster even shares the harrowing story of having a heart attack and not knowing it until he was on the verge of having a second one. In his words he made the ambulance stop at his fly shop (Stonefly Outfitters) so he could say goodbye to his oldest daughter and remind her to “feed the dogs.” Well, needless to say not even heart attacks could slow Rooster down for long and within a few days he was walking the uplands with his buddies, daughter and dogs reveling in the time he’d been given. It’s an understatement to say that this episode is loaded with laughter, wisdom and good old fashioned fun, do not miss this one!

Wingshooters, waterfowlers in particular can be terrible when it comes to preparing for disaster. However, Upland guys, goose hunters and turkey hunters all have a tendency to grab some ammo, whistle up the dog, load up the truck or boat and go hunting, often never thinking of what could happen. In this episode, Kevin Estela of Fieldcraft Survival sits down and walks us through some things we all should be thinking about before we head afield. From first aid and trauma kits to extra base layers stashed in a ziplock bag, Kevin breaks down why we should all be thinking about preparedness a little more carefully and weighing what is probably against what is possible before every hunt. This is a killer podcast that definitely has us thinking about our ability to survive an accident or disaster on a hunt.

J.J. Gustafson came very highly recommended as a podcast guest from several previous guests, including Cory Loeffler and I must say, he didn’t disappoint! A former offensive tackle for Texas A&M, J.J. 's personality is as large as his stature and he can tell a story with the best of 'em. Covering everything from Lifetime’s line of decoys and rigging, including the brand’s business philosophy, product lines and details, even a couple hints as to what they’ve got coming down the pipe. Lifetime’s innovation decoys have taken the market by storm and if you’re a public land, DIY duck junkie you should be looking hard at this ultralight, super durable option. J.J. also recaps his version of the “backcountry duck hunt” he did with Cory Loffller last fall. This is another excellent episode and well worth the listen, don’t miss out.

GunDog Outdoors is a company that all wingshooters should be paying attention to and using their products. Why? Because if you’ve never needed a first aid kit for your dog, it’s only a matter of time until you do! Alex Langbell is a riot to talk to and this conversation runs the gamut from the 2020 hunting season and hunter ethics to his hard charging daughter Sierra and how he introduced her to hunting. The guys honestly laugh about as much as they talk in the episode, in spite of some “technical difficulties” that ended the Zoom meeting twice! Alex is the kind of dude who makes a room light up and electrifies the folks around him with his good humor and hearty laugh. One thing is for sure, this episode goes fast! Don’t miss it.

Jake Latendresse is a man on the go with a thirst for adventure and a passion for working with like minded outdoors folks in every venue possible. His media company, Latendresse Media and his outfitting service, Prairie Rock Outfitters keep him more than busy but he still finds time to be a great dad and even finds time to save old taverns like the famous Town Pump in Fort Collins, CO. From ducks and turkeys to big game and bass this episode is one of kind and is a must listen. Host Todd Helms and Jake talk about passion, creativity and relationships to strange duck behaviors and even take a trip down memory lane to a chance encounter with the Bassmaster himself, KVD! The Wingmen Podcast Episode 26 is a cannot miss!

Jason and Nathan are semi-local fellas, anything under four hours is local in the West, who have a passion for hunting retrievers and have started a new HRC club in Casper, Wyoming. Host Todd Helms had the pleasure of sitting down with the guys and picking their brains about HRC and why they dove in head first. They may even have convinced Todd to bring down Mackinaw and his new pup to run a test this summer. One thing is for sure and certain, these are great dudes whose passion for dogs and competition rings true. If you’re interested in hunting retrievers and the world of “field trials” this is a must listen episode.

Dr. Mike Chamberlain is a Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management at the University of Georgia. Mike, as he asked to be called, has forgotten more about wild turkeys than most of us will ever learn. The best part is that he’s as tore up with hunting these amazing birds as he is studying them and yes, he still gets his butt handed to him once in a while by a big old wise gobbler. He sat down with host Todd Helms and the pair talked turkey about everything from habitat and behavior to how to use knowledge of turkey biology and behavior to your advantage.

Dr. Mike Chamberlain is a Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management at the University of Georgia. Mike, as he asked to be called, has forgotten more about wild turkeys than most of us will ever learn. The best part is that he’s as tore up with hunting these amazing birds as he is studying them and yes, he still gets his butt handed to him once in a while by a big old wise gobbler. He sat down with host Todd Helms and the pair talked turkey about everything from habitat and behavior to how to use knowledge of turkey biology and behavior to your advantage as a hunter. If you’re a turkey hunter this is a cannot miss episode and it’s full of “AHA” moments. One thing is certain, after talking with Mike, we will be approaching this spring’s turkey season a bit differently.