Coonhound Reality Check: Shy, Nova & the PKC Leash Lock Rule Explained!

One Cast Away From $100,000 — Tyler Jackson & "Xena"

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2514840/fan_mail/new] Welcome back to the Holt Outdoors Podcast! Host Brennan Holt sits down with Tyler Jackson of Berda, Arkansas — a full-time working dad who proves you don't have to hunt every night to have a champion-caliber coon dog.  Tyler and his platinum champion "Xena" recently came just one cast away from the finals of the $200,000 Jarvis Sanford Memorial Hunt, and he walks us through the whole run. We get into balancing a 40-hour week and family life with chasing dogs across the country, Tyler's turkey-hunting obsession and his push toward the 49-state slam, why "Xena" is such a special natural tree dog, and his best advice for anyone wanting to get into competition hunting or just get more out of their pleasure dog. This one's for the average guy who works hard and hunts harder. If you enjoy the show, become a member for early access to CCS Season 2 (out July 14) and a bunch of exclusive content. Check out the newly revamped website for merch, hats, and everything Holt Outdoors. 🎧 New episodes every week. 📌 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Rocky Ridge Ammo Company (hand-rolled TSS turkey & waterfowl loads) Johnson's Telemetry (tracking systems) PKC / UKC competition coon hunting Jarvis Sanford Memorial Hunt 👉 Become a member & shop merch: holtoutdoors.com #CoonHunting #HoltOutdoors #HoundHunting ___ Holt Outdoors — working hounds, told straight.                     Coon hunting, hound training, and honest stories out of the Southwest Missouri woods. We run dogs, we film it straight, and we put it all here — competition nights, young-dog struggles, and the wins that make it worth it.   What you'll find:   • The Coonhound Championship Series (CCS) — our head-to-head competition   series   • The Holt Outdoors Podcast — houndsmen, breeders, and the people who live it   • Hunts, training, and the dogs themselves                           Gear for the people who follow the dogs out: https://holtoutdoors.com      New episodes regularly. Subscribe and run with us.   ———                                                                  Shop: https://holtoutdoors.com   Instagram: https://instagram.com/holt_outdoors    TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@holt_outdoors    Facebook: https://facebook.com/HoltOutdoors               Podcast: wherever you get podcasts     Business: Holtoutdoors@gmail.com Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2514840/support]

Shy Won The RQE — We're Headed to the World Hunt!

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2514840/fan_mail/new] Shy did it. After more losses than wins, he won a UKC Regional Qualifying Event in Chadwick, Missouri — and punched his ticket to the World Hunt. It came down to the last 15 seconds, with a 150-minus mistake of my own making nearly costing us the whole thing. That's the real side of it, good and bad, like always. I walk through the whole cast — a rough draw against titled dogs, climbing the side of a mountain to get to a tree, a kitten coon hanging in a snag, and the call I botched that you can learn from. Then I break down the UKC closed-tree rule in plain talk so you don't repeat my mistake, and answer a couple of your questions on starting young dogs. Thanks to Debbie Johnson at Johnson Telemetry for keeping my tracking gear right — good people, good products. CCS Season 2 drops Tuesday, July 14 — channel members get early access. Become a member on YouTube for the early look, and find merch + everything CCS at holtoutdoors.com. Got insight on that UKC rule — or know someone who really knows breeding (line breeding, outcrosses, the genetics)? Drop a comment or message the Holt Outdoors page on Facebook. I want to talk to the right person. Run with the dogs. Learn the work. #coonhunting #coonhound #UKC #treeingwalker #houndsmen #worldhunt #RQE #HoltOutdoors #huntingdogs #dogtraining ___ Holt Outdoors — working hounds, told straight.                     Coon hunting, hound training, and honest stories out of the Southwest Missouri woods. We run dogs, we film it straight, and we put it all here — competition nights, young-dog struggles, and the wins that make it worth it.   What you'll find:   • The Coonhound Championship Series (CCS) — our head-to-head competition   series   • The Holt Outdoors Podcast — houndsmen, breeders, and the people who live it   • Hunts, training, and the dogs themselves                           Gear for the people who follow the dogs out: https://holtoutdoors.com      New episodes regularly. Subscribe and run with us.   ———                                                                  Shop: https://holtoutdoors.com   Instagram: https://instagram.com/holt_outdoors     TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@holt_outdoors   Facebook: https://facebook.com/HoltOutdoors  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2514840/support]

Coonhound Reality Check: Shy, Nova & the PKC Leash Lock Rule Explained!

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2514840/fan_mail/new] We're back! After a little time off — a move, welcoming our second daughter, and some extra days in the NICU — the Holt Outdoors Podcast is officially back, and we're picking the pace back up with a podcast every week. In this episode, Brennan gives an honest update on his two dogs: Nova, a young, naturally independent pup, and Shy, a streaky but talented competition dog with 3 UKC cast wins and a PKC cast win under his belt. We talk through the real highs and lows of raising and competing coonhounds — and why being honest about your dog matters more than excuses. Plus: a full breakdown of the PKC leash lock rule being removed from all events, what it actually meant, and how it could change the way competition coon dogs are bred going forward. Big thanks to our sponsor, Johnson's Telemetry, for handling all my Garmin needs. 🐾 CCS Season 2 drops soon — members get early access. Keep an eye out! 🛒 Merch, info, and everything Holt Outdoors: https://holtoutdoors.com ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 Welcome back — where we've been 1:03 Sponsor: Johnson's Telemetry (Garmin) 1:18 CCS Season 2 + early access for members 1:57 New website & merch at holtoutdoors.com 3:17 Life update: moving + welcoming our second daughter 6:18 Tonight's topic: my two dogs 7:23 Nova's story — breeding, independence & first trees 14:42 Shai's story — cast wins and the ups and downs 19:33 Riding the highs and lows + being honest about your dog 23:30 PKC leash lock rule removed — what it was, explained 27:53 Could this change how coon dogs are bred? 30:41 What's coming: weekly podcasts, Coonhound Chronicles & GoPro hunts 💬 Sound off in the comments: How do you think dropping the leash lock will change the way dogs are bred? 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don't miss CCS Season 2. #coonhunting #coonhound #HoltOutdoors #PKC #UKC #competitionhunting #houndsman #treeingwalker #dogtraining #hunting ___ Holt Outdoors — working hounds, told straight.                     Coon hunting, hound training, and honest stories out of the Southwest Missouri woods. We run dogs, we film it straight, and we put it all here — competition nights, young-dog struggles, and the wins that make it worth it.   What you'll find:   • The Coonhound Championship Series (CCS) — our head-to-head competition   series   • The Holt Outdoors Podcast — houndsmen, breeders, and the people who live it   • Hunts, training, and the dogs themselves                           Gear for the people who follow the dogs out: https://holtoutdoors.com      New episodes regularly. Subscribe and run with us.   ———                                                                  Shop: https://holtoutdoors.com   Instagram: https://instagram.com/holt_outdoors  [confirm handle]   TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@holt_outdoors  [confirm handle]   Facebook: https://facebook.com/HoltOutdoors  [confirm]               Podcast: wherever you get podcasts  [add Spotify/Apple links if live]   Business: Holtoutdoors@gmail.com Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2514840/support]

Saved By Faith & Coonhounds: The Jason Pratt Story

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2514840/fan_mail/new] In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the Holt Outdoors Podcast, we are joined by Jason Pratt, shipping lead at Southern Missouri Container and a deacon at Passion Assembly of God. Jason shares his incredible journey from a "stubborn Bootheel boy" struggling with a 20-year addiction to methamphetamine and a 15-year prison sentence to finding complete redemption through the Adult & Teen Challenge program. If you have ever felt like you were at "rock bottom" or are interested in the intersection of faith and the outdoors, Jason’s story is a testament to the fact that it is never too late to turn your life around. Brennan also provides an update on the kennel, including a bittersweet move from his 40-acre farm to a new 65-acre training ground in Missouri. We discuss the transition from working with Shy to starting HBK’s Midnight Nova, an 8-month-old female out of powerhouse lineages (Stix x Zena). Whether you’re interested in hound performance, technical dog training tips, or the healing power of chasing Walker hounds in the middle of the night, this episode offers a unique look at how the woods can serve as a place for both hound training and spiritual therapy. Inside this episode: A Life Redeemed: Jason’s raw account of surviving prison, overcoming addiction, and serving in Springfield ministries. The "Bootheel" Style: A look at the diverse hunting grounds of Southern Missouri, from the Ozarks to the Cypress swamps. Starting Nova: Brennan’s plan for his new pup and why he values a "natural start" without over-exposure to cage coons. Ministry in the Woods: Why Jason considers running his dog Boon to be his primary "therapy" and time with God. Support Systems: Advice for families of those struggling with addiction on how to set boundaries and find recovery resources. #CoonHunting #HoltOutdoors #RedemptionStory #FaithAndHunting #DogTraining #MissouriHunting #HoundHunting #ShaiTheDog #AdultTeenChallenge #GarminAlpha ___ Holt Outdoors is an online video and podcast series focused on making memories, having fun, and sharing tips and tactics to help you be more successful in the outdoors. We bring you authentic, genuine outdoor content — just as nature intended. 🔗 Stay Connected & Gear Up New Website & Merch: www.holtoutdoors.com Become a Member Today! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF1f2TpJvF__PNYtWrlpx6w/join 🎧 Listen to the Holt Outdoors Podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-holt-outdoors-podcast/id1823288020 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2vxPYgdS2XT9MA9YDdYS3Q?si=e8513b0767f14a94 📲 Follow us on social media for even more outdoor adventures! ⬇️ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@holt_outdoors Facebook: @Holt Outdoors Instagram: @Holt_Outdoors Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2514840/support]

The "Natural Start" Strategy: Why I Chose an 8-Month-Old Pup Over a Weaned Puppy

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2514840/fan_mail/new] In this major update of the Holt Outdoors Podcast, host Brennan Holt drops two pieces of massive news: the addition of a new high-caliber female pup and a move to a new 65-acre training ground. Meet HBK’s Midnight Nova, an 8-month-old female out of two powerhouse competition coon hunting dogs: Chris Collins’ Stix ($100k winner) and Tyler Jackson’s Zena (PKC Nationals Top 7). Brennan discusses why he specifically looked for a pup with a "natural start"—one that hadn't been over-exposed to drags or caged coons—and how her track-minded instinct is exactly what he wants for long-term hound performance. Beyond the new addition to the kennel, Brennan shares the bittersweet details of leaving his current 40-acre farm for a larger 65-acre property deeper in the country. This new location will serve as the primary dog training grounds for both Nova and Shai, who is still a "project with unfinished business." Brennan also gives a raw look at Nova’s first solo drops, her reaction to her first cage coon, and his plan to build her confidence without developing bad habits like running deer. With a second child on the way and a big move in progress, this episode covers the reality of balancing life, family, and the pursuit of elite hound hunting. Inside this episode: The Breeding Breakdown: Why Stix and Zena represent the "stacking of odds" for future winners. The 10-Minute Timer: Brennan’s simple test to see if a young pup has the drive to leave the truck and hunt solo. Track vs. Tree: Why Brennan prefers a pup where treeing comes last in the developmental cycle. Moving Logistics: A quick update on a potential lapse in the podcast schedule during the real estate transition. HBK Brand: A shoutout to the "special ladies" who support the all-night grind of coon hunting. Support the Show: Enjoying the journey? Hit the JOIN button on our YouTube channel for exclusive access to the CCS Season 2 developments and behind-the-scenes content! #CoonHunting #HoltOutdoors #NovaTheDog #DogTraining #HoundHunting #GarminAlpha #PKCNationals #WalkerHounds #MissouriOutdoors #CCSSeason2 ___ Holt Outdoors is an online video and podcast series focused on making memories, having fun, and sharing tips and tactics to help you be more successful in the outdoors. We bring you authentic, genuine outdoor content — just as nature intended. 🔗 Stay Connected & Gear Up New Website & Merch: www.holtoutdoors.com Become a Member Today! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF1f2TpJvF__PNYtWrlpx6w/join 🎧 Listen to the Holt Outdoors Podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-holt-outdoors-podcast/id1823288020 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2vxPYgdS2XT9MA9YDdYS3Q?si=e8513b0767f14a94 📲 Follow us on social media for even more outdoor adventures! ⬇️ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@holt_outdoors Facebook: @Holt Outdoors Instagram: @Holt_Outdoors Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2514840/support]