Fist Full of Dirt

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This week we pause our Secret Sauce series to remember a man who meant a great deal to us.. Mr. Fox Haas.

In the days since his passing, I’ve heard from people across the country who felt connected to him through stories, photos and the adventures his family so generously shared. That connection speaks to the kind of man he was. 

At the recent NWTF Convention, the long lines of people wanting something connected to Mr. Fox...

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The Secret Sauce series keeps rolling and in this one I’m visiting with Dean “Redbeard” Mundhenke of Mad Hatter Calls. Dean is a call maker, turkey hunter and one of the most thoughtful minds I’ve ever been around in the turkey woods.  You may recognize him from The Disease, a documentary that perfectly captures the obsession, sacrifice and pull that turkey hunting has on those of us who live for spring mornings.

As part ...

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This week we’re bringing back one of my favorite things we do on Fist Full of Dirt .. The Secret Sauce. I ask the same 20 questions to four of the best turkey hunters on the planet. Different regions. Different styles. Different backgrounds. Same questions. 

We’re kicking this series off with a legend. Ernie Calandrelli has spent more than 40 years in the turkey woods. He’s a Hall of Fame turkey caller, a master of the wi...

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Every year before a single gobbler sounds off, I like to visit with someone who truly understands turkeys and the people who chase them. For me, that’s Dave Owens of The Pinhoti Project. Dave is a champion turkey caller, a teacher at heart and one of the most respected voices in turkey hunting today. Through his videos, storytelling and honesty.. he’s helped countless hunters become better in the woods. This episode has ...

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Hard to believe it’s been 50 years, because I remember when this all started.

This week I’m visiting with Chris Kirby of Quaker Boy, a turkey calling champion, Hall of Famer and the man now carrying the torch for a company built by his father Dick Kirby. We talk about honoring his dad and what it means to follow something you were truly *called* to do. From competition stages to call-making benches to spring mornings in t...

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This week on Fist Full of Dirt, I sit down with Jared Lewis, one of the cofounders of Apex Ammunition, and Boomer Brown, to talk about turkey loads, tungsten shot and why Apex has earned the trust of so many serious turkey hunters.

We get into how Apex got started, what separates tungsten from traditional shot and how current tariffs are affecting the cost and availability of ammo. I learned a lot from this discussion, an...

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Colonel Tom Kelly never set out to write a classic. He set out to tell honest stories about the turkey woods, the people in them and the moments that stay with you long after the season ends. This week we’re joined by Kelly’s daughter, Laura Bates, for a conversation about the man behind the words and the unlikely path of Tenth Legion… a book that began as a self-published, (and later bootlegged) favorite passed hand to ...

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This week’s episode wasn’t planned. It happened the way the best things always do… at hunting camp, surrounded by old friends and stories that get better with time. I sat down with two of my best buddies.. Charlie O’Brien, former Major League Baseball catcher with 20 years in the big leagues and a World Series ring, and also a Mossy Oak Deer Thug; and Bubba Bruce (known to most folks as “Just Bubba”) a Mossy Oak Turkey T...

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This week I sit down with Keith Mark of Hunter Nation to talk about something every hunter should care about… protecting our way of life. We cover why hunting is facing more pressure than ever, how decisions made outside the woods affect what happens in them and why staying informed and engaged matters. Keith explains what Hunter Nation is doing to defend access, support science-based wildlife management and keep hunters...

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I threw a simple question out there, “what’s the best, funniest or most meaningful name you’ve ever given a deer stand or hunting spot?” and y’all absolutely showed up. For our final episode of the year, we’re reading some of your stories and getting reminded why these places mean so much to us. Behind every name is a memory, a person, a season or a lesson that sticks out. 

As we close out the year, I just want to say tha...

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There’s only one deer in my office. It’s a small four point… my bride’s first deer. And it took her several seasons to get there. She passed deer. She waited. She had to walk her own path.

When I shared that story online, the comments poured in. Stories. Memories. Gratitude. People defining what a “trophy” really means to them … first deer, hunts with parents who are gone now, kids in the stand.

This episode is built entir...

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“Laureen” recently sat down with Walker, Matt and Cranky in the Camo Cave and put them all on the mic.  They swapped stories from all the years we’ve spent together outside, talked about what they’ve learned and opened up in a way they never would’ve with me in the room. I’m hearing this one fresh with all of you, and from what I’m told, there’s plenty of laughter mixed in with the nostalgia. This one’s full of memories,...

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This week I’m visiting with Jason Thornton, better known as The Edible Outdoors Cook. Jason grew up hunting and fishing in the heart of south Louisiana and he lives the kind of lifestyle most folks dream about. Waterfowl, whitetails, crappie, redfish, shrimping… if it comes from the land or the water, his family is putting it on the table.

We dig into how he handles wild game in the kitchen, the traditions he grew up with...

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Every Thanksgiving I fire up the microphones for our annual tradition with the girls… and this year we talk family traditions, what we’re thankful for and the stories that only come out once everybody’s full of turkey (or ham if you’re Avery). It’s exactly what Thanksgiving with this crew always feels like. Thanks for listening! 

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This week we’re sitting in the camo cave feeling mighty thankful. We just hit 300 episodes, so I asked listeners to tell me which moments meant the most to them… and the responses stopped me in my tracks. Your stories, your encouragement and your memories from three hundred shows reminded me exactly why we started this journey. We wrap things up with a rare visit from Yaya, who shares some of her Thanksgiving kitchen rul...

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We’re back with Chuck Sykes, and this time the conversation goes even deeper. In Part II, we break down the realities, misconceptions and tough decisions facing today’s hunters, agencies and conservation organizations. Chuck shares what most people never hear … how data, funding, access, participation and public perception are shaping the future of hunting and shooting sports.

You’ll hear insight on recruitment and r...

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From a guide at Bent Creek Lodge to head of Alabama Game and Fish … and today CEO of the Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports, Chuck Sykes has a very unique perspective on what’s actually going on in the hunting world. He has the education and experience, access to tons of good data, along with a country boy’s take on changes and opinions in today’s environment. This one is fascinating and maybe a bit alarming....

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I’ve known Gerald Swindle a long time, and I’ll tell you right now … this ain’t your average fishing interview. We didn’t talk techniques or tackle, we talked life. From grit and hard knocks to faith and second chances.. this one’s about how a poor country boy fought his way to the top and never lost his humor along the way. Oh, we talk a little hunting too because that’s where his heart really is.

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We’re semi-live from the creepy camo cave for our annual Halloween special and this one will make the hair stand up on your neck…  in a family friendly way of course. 

Every hunter’s felt it, that moment when the woods just… go silent. No wind, no birds, no reason. In this year’s spooky special I’m sharing my own story of that eerie quiet, plus some listener tales of strange things that go bump in the backwoods. 

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