Episode 19 - Frog Gigging Secrets and Shotgun Practice Before Hunting Season

Episode 19 - Frog Gigging Secrets and Shotgun Practice Before Hunting Season

Summer nights hold unforgettable hunts and shotgun lessons every wingshooter should experience at least once. Field & Stream’s Will Brantley and Phil Bourjaily share two timeless outdoor traditions that deserve a place on every hunter’s summer calendar. From slipping quietly along pond banks in search of trophy bullfrogs to sharpening wing-shooting skills before dove season, this conversation is packed with practical advice and memorable stories. Brantley breaks down the art of frog gigging, including how to locate productive ponds, choose the right gear, stalk wary bullfrogs, and decide when a frog is worth taking. Along the way, he shares why fried frog legs rank among his favorite wild game meals and reflects on passing the tradition to the next generation of hunters. Then shotgun expert Phil Bourjaily explains how trap, skeet, and sporting clays each prepare hunters for the field. Learn which target game best simulates upland bird hunting, waterfowl hunting, and dove hunting, plus common shooting mistakes, choosing your first target shotgun, and why summer range sessions pay dividends when opening day arrives. The show wraps with one of Field & Stream's funniest campfire stories as Brantley reads the unforgettable tale of frog gigging in his Aunt Tanya's infamous "shit pond," proving that some hunting memories only get better with time. Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations. Get more from Field & Stream: https://www.fieldandstream.com/ Get to know your host, Colin Kearns: https://www.fieldandstream.com/authors/colin-kearns [https://www.fieldandstream.com/authors/colin-kearns]              Join the F&S 1871 Club and experience a membership dedicated to the outdoor culture of sporting traditions, storytelling, and the conservation of our lands: https://www.fieldandstream.com/1871-club/ [https://www.fieldandstream.com/1871-club/]  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Episode 18 - Duck Camp Dinners, Summer Grilling, and the Art of Camp Cooking

Great camp meals create lasting hunting memories long after the last shot is fired. Wild game, camp traditions, and great food have always gone hand in hand. This conversation explores why the meals shared around the table often become just as memorable as the hunt itself. Chef, outdoorsman, and Duck Camp Dinners host Jean-Paul Bourgeois joins the show to talk about the storytelling behind his James Beard Award-winning series, how authentic duck camp culture connects hunters from every background, and why food remains one of the strongest traditions in waterfowl hunting. From Louisiana duck camps to the Texas coast, he shares lessons on building meaningful outdoor stories while celebrating wild game cooking, conservation, and regional food traditions. With the Fourth of July around the corner, the conversation shifts to practical summer grilling tips, favorite barbecue recipes, camp cooking strategies, duck recipes, wild game meals, and the ideal cookout menu featuring burgers, ribs, baked beans, vegetable kebabs, peach cobbler, and more. Whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue or feeding a crowded hunting camp, there are plenty of ideas to elevate your next outdoor gathering. The episode closes around the campfire as hunting columnist Will Brantley revisits his unforgettable story, "Beaver-Q," proving that trapping, wild game cooking, and family traditions can produce some of the best hunting stories ever told. Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations. Check out Duck Camp Dinners: https://www.instagram.com/duckcampdinners/ [https://www.instagram.com/duckcampdinners/?hl=en] Get more from Field & Stream: https://www.fieldandstream.com/ [https://www.fieldandstream.com/] Get to know your host, Colin Kearns: https://www.fieldandstream.com/authors/colin-kearns [https://www.fieldandstream.com/authors/colin-kearns]              Join the F&S 1871 Club and experience a membership dedicated to the outdoor culture of sporting traditions, storytelling, and the conservation of our lands: https://www.fieldandstream.com/1871-club/ [https://www.fieldandstream.com/1871-club/]  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Episode 17 - Lessons From Dad: Hunting, Fishing, and Outdoor Legacies

The best hunting lessons aren't learned from books, they're passed down afield. Father's Day is about more than celebrating dads. It's about honoring the traditions, lessons, and memories that shape who we become in the outdoors. In this special Field & Stream podcast, listeners and contributors share unforgettable hunting and fishing stories about the fathers and father figures who taught them everything from gun safety and patience to fly fishing, deer hunting, and finding joy in wild places. Veteran outdoor writer Keith McCafferty reflects on helping his father fulfill a lifelong dream of catching a bonefish in the Florida Keys, a trip that became one of their most meaningful adventures together. Alice Jones Webb shares a heartfelt story about learning to hunt without her father after his passing, and the challenge of carrying family traditions forward. Ryan Cornelius looks back on fishing trips with his dad and the moment their roles quietly reversed during a Colorado trout fishing adventure. Executive Editor Dave Hurteau rounds out the collection with a classic story about pheasant hunting, family, and the small moments that often matter most. Along the way, Field & Stream listeners call in from across the country to share the best hunting and fishing advice they've received from their dads, grandfathers, and mentors. From deer hunting wisdom and waterfowl hunting lessons to fly fishing tips and life advice learned in the woods, this episode is a reminder that the greatest outdoor legacy isn't measured by trophies or limits, but by time spent together. Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations. Get more from Field & Stream: https://www.fieldandstream.com/ Get to know your host, Colin Kearns: https://www.fieldandstream.com/authors/colin-kearns [https://www.fieldandstream.com/authors/colin-kearns]              Join the F&S 1871 Club and experience a membership dedicated to the outdoor culture of sporting traditions, storytelling, and the conservation of our lands: https://www.fieldandstream.com/1871-club/ [https://www.fieldandstream.com/1871-club/]  Sound effects and sound design for Campfire provided by: * cell phone ring by jordanielmills -- https://freesound.org/s/654935/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 * phone hotel pickup, put down various.flac by kyles -- https://freesound.org/s/454105/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 * answer machine beep - generated.wav by vestibule-door -- https://freesound.org/s/668976/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 * answer machine beep - generated.wav by vestibule-door -- https://freesound.org/s/668976/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 * answering_machine_beep.wav by pillonoise -- https://freesound.org/s/160775/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Episode 16 - Catfish Noodling, Conservation Battles, and the Dog of a Lifetime

A broken finger, a conservation fight, and a hunting dog you'll never forget. Field & Stream's Will Brantley kicks things off with one of the most unique fishing traditions in America: catfish noodling. From wrestling giant flathead catfish by hand to the injuries, close calls, and camaraderie that keep him coming back every summer, Brantley shares what makes this high-risk fishing adventure so addictive. Then conservation columnist Hal Herring and associate editor Travis Hall sit down for an honest conversation about the state of conservation in America. They break down the biggest public lands, clean water, and wildlife management issues facing hunters and anglers today, discuss why grassroots engagement matters more than ever, and explain what gives them hope for the future of hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation. The episode closes with a powerful Campfire reading of Hal Herring’s beloved story, Seasons with Bear. More than a gun dog story, it’s a reflection on loyalty, loss, bird hunting, and the unforgettable bond between hunters and their dogs. Whether you spend your fall chasing ducks, upland birds, whitetails, or trout, this story will stay with you long after the final words. Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations. Get more from Field & Stream: https://www.fieldandstream.com/ Get to know your host, Colin Kearns: https://www.fieldandstream.com/authors/colin-kearns [https://www.fieldandstream.com/authors/colin-kearns]              Join the F&S 1871 Club and experience a membership dedicated to the outdoor culture of sporting traditions, storytelling, and the conservation of our lands: https://www.fieldandstream.com/1871-club/ [https://www.fieldandstream.com/1871-club/]  Sound effects and sound design for Campfire provided by: * FIREBurn_Campfire.Close.Long.Crackling.Flame roar.Squeack.Hiss.Artificial 1_EM by newlocknew -- https://freesound.org/s/730704/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 * Peaceful Autumn field OCTOBER 6 2022.WAV by kvgarlic -- https://freesound.org/s/652652/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 * shotgun shoot by MrGungus -- https://freesound.org/s/773873/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 * Shotguns_racking_and_handling_sounds_part2 by Artninja -- https://freesound.org/s/741111/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 * Sound effects and sound design for Campfire provided by: * Editing and sound design by Trout Stream Studios * Marc Anderson of Wild Ambience * Paul Driver of Pennsylvania * Dog_panting_20090425T1417.wav by gurkboll -- https://freesound.org/s/95934/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 * Dog Panting in Woods.WAV by hargissssound -- https://freesound.org/s/321127/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Episode 15 - The Musky Episode: Spring Muskie Tactics and Essential Lures with Steven Paul

Unlock shallow-water muskie patterns and figure-eight secrets from a seasoned guide chasing giant predators. Muskie fishing has a way of turning casual anglers into full-blown obsessives, and this conversation with muskie guide and Field & Stream contributor Steven Paul explains exactly why. From shallow spring patterns to the psychology of apex predators, Stephen breaks down what makes muskellunge one of freshwater fishing’s most addictive pursuits. You’ll learn how warming water temperatures trigger spring muskie movement, why post-spawn fish stack in shallow bays, and how changing weather conditions impact feeding windows. Steven also dives deep into figure-eight techniques, boat-side strikes, trolling adjustments during cold fronts, and the subtle details that separate follows from eats. If you’ve ever wondered why muskies seem lazy one moment and violent the next, this episode gets into the biological and behavioral reasons behind it. The second half of the show focuses on practical muskie fishing tactics and the five essential lures Stephen keeps tied on during the spring season. From giant killers and spinnerbaits to glide baits, crankbaits, and fly fishing streamers, the conversation covers versatile presentations for shallow weeds, timber, river systems, and cold-front conditions. Whether you’re a hardcore muskie angler or a bass fisherman looking to level up into predator fishing, there’s a pile of useful insight packed into this one. Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations. Get more from Field & Stream: https://www.fieldandstream.com/ Get to know your host, Colin Kearns: https://www.fieldandstream.com/authors/colin-kearns [https://www.fieldandstream.com/authors/colin-kearns]              Join the F&S 1871 Club and experience a membership dedicated to the outdoor culture of sporting traditions, storytelling, and the conservation of our lands: https://www.fieldandstream.com/1871-club/ [https://www.fieldandstream.com/1871-club/]  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]