Turkey Season

Chad Anchors

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Origin & Evolution Of Turkey Calls

Buy the book The Origin & Evolution of Turkey Calls [The%20Origin%20&%20Evolution%20of%20Turkey%20Calls] 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Isaac Pentecost

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Dr. Mike Chamberlain vol. II

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Sam Hallam

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]