Catch My Drift

In Episode 81 we are joined by Norm Yackle for the ninth episode of Rattling On. Topics discussed include Norm's first bass tourney of the season, a review of the Kentucky River Musky Classic, the 71st annual Troutmaster Classic, Norm's first musky of the year, and spring turkey season.

In Episode 80 we are joined by Jake Wolfe. Jake is an Upland Game and Furbearer Biologist with South Dakota Game Fish and Parks. He is a Driftless Area transplant who now resides in the prairies of South Dakota and is a die hard bird hunter. Die hard would be and understatement as in his '24-'25 pheasant hunting season he bagged 159 roosters! Jake shares tips on hunting throughout the season, what he has learned in his position with South Dakota GFP, and why his position is so important to the health of the pheasant population

In Episode 79 we are joined by Matt Hogan for the eight episode of Rattling On. Topics discussed include listener Q&A , spring walleye fishing, spring trout fishing, the start to the Cubs and Twins season, waterfowl photography, raccoon trapping, and gearing up for turkey season.

In Episode 78 we are joined by Dylan Lenz. Dylan has spent countless hours walking properties throughout the country scouting, planning, and helping land owners improve their land to meet their habitat goals. On this episode all whitetail hunters are guaranteed to learn some lessons on the do's and don'ts of whitetail habitat improvements.

In Episode 77 we are joined by Nathan Chick for the seventh episode of Rattling On. Topics discussed include listener Q&A, rebuilding an antler on a shoulder mount, the recent ice fishing bite, bobcat trapping, and finding the first three sheds on Stone Point Ranch. Keep your eyes peeled for a CMD giveaway!

In Episode 76 we are joined by Kyle Lakey. Kyle is the owner of Twisted Tines Taxidermy and a die hard bow hunter. He shares some interesting stories about owning a taxidermy studio and some shocking animals he has been asked to mount. Kyle also shares some tips for hunters to best preserve your trophy. Check out Twisted Tines for some awesome work Check out Driftless Quality Wear and use code "CMD10" for 10% off any order

In Episode 75 we are joined by Matt Hogan for the sixth episode of Rattling On. Topics discussed include a recap of Matt's duck and deer season, the downfall of the Chicago Bear's season, and filling the freezer with 3 does at Stone Point Ranch

In Episode 74 we are joined by Norm Yackle for the fifth episode of Rattling On. Topics discussed include a recap on Norm's Musky season and quest for a 40 musky season, early season ice fishing, trapping coyotes, and acquiring a new property in SE Minnesota.

In Episode 73 we are joined by Zac Cassill for the seventh episode of "An Outdoorsman's 7 Wonders of MN" Series. Zac was born and raised in the heart of the Driftless Area, is a dedicated fly fisherman, and geologist who has extensively studied the area he learned to fish. This corner of Minnesota is my favorite the the 7 Wonders and is unique not only to this state but to the world. Thank you to all who have followed along with this series. Be sure to check out Driftless Quality Wear and use code "CMD10" for 10% off any order

In Episode 72 we are joined again by Nathan Chick for the fourth episode of Rattling On. Topics discussed include a successful shotgun season, beaver trapping, and a 9 fish musky outing!

In Episode 71 we are joined again by Matt Hogan for the third episode of Rattling On. Topics discussed include Matt's successful start to his waterfowl season and what if takes to shoot a limit of birds, fall fishing, and the anticipation of the pre rut

In Episode 70 we are joined by Ken Howard for the sixth episode of "An Outdoorsman's 7 Wonders of MN" Series. Ken is the Director of the Minnesota Trappers Association District 6 and is a dedicated and experienced trapper who has trapped multiple species along the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River is one of MN's greatest resources with year round opportunities to trap, hunt, and fish.

In Episode 69 we are joined by Norm Yackle for the second episode of Rattling On. Topics discussed include the end of baseball season, the start of football season, Norm's recent bass and musky tournaments, and the first several sits archery deer season.

In Episode 68 we are joined again by Nathan Chick for the first episode of Rattling On. Rattling On is an un-cut and un-filtered brief conversation with regular guest where we discuss topics like recent adventures, rut reports, and fishing bites.

In Episode 67 we are joined by Melissa Boman for the fifth episode of "An Outdoorsman's 7 Wonders of Minnesota" Series. Melissa is a wildlife biologist for the state of MN and a bat survey specialist. In this episode she speaks to the importance of caves to MN's smallest mammals. With over 13 miles of cave to explore Mystery Cave is truly a site to behold

In Episode 66 we are joined by Jordy Casperson for the fourth episode of "An Outdoorsman's 7 Wonders of Minnesota" Series. Jordy is the man who had the biggest impact on my obsession for chasing musky. He lives in one of the premier musky destinations of MN and on the lake dubbed "The Walleye Capital of the World". Lake of the Woods is the forth Wonder of Minnesota because of its endless possibilities for chasing multiple trophy sized fish species but also its duck hunting opportunities.

In Episode 65 we are joined by Scott Rall for the third episode of the "Outdoorsman's 7 Wonders of Minnesota" Series. Scott is the President of the Nobles County Chapter of Pheasants Forever, the 2024 Pheasants Forever National Volunteer of the Year, and avid pheasant hunter. A true Hall of Famer for pheasant habitat and conservation. Scott shares why Western Minnesota is such a special place to Minnesota and why all outdoorsmen should burn some boot leather chasing Western MN roosters.

In Episode 64 we are joined again by Cousin Noah Kearns. On this episode we discuss our Turkey Tour to Kentucky, as well as our successful seasons in our home states. If you would like one of the new CMD Turkey Stickers hit me up. I would be glad to send some your way!

In Episode 63 we are joined by David Holmes and Joel Toso for the second episode of the "Outdoorsman's 7 Wonders of Minnesota" Series. Both Dave and Joel have spent plenty of time in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area camping and fishing and share their experiences doing both. The Boundary Waters is one of Minnesota's most beautiful, expansive, and pristine areas of the state. I hope this episode inspires you to visit this unique area of the Gopher state

In Episode 62 we are joined by Louie Varland. This is the first episode of "An Outdoorsman's 7 Wonders of Minnesota" Series. Louie is a Minnesota native and grew up fishing the Metro lakes near his hometown. Like Louie, the lakes near the Twin Cities were a staple in the foundation for my passion for the outdoors. Louie also grew up rooting for the Twins and now is a starting pitcher for them. The first wonder of MN, Metro fishing and outdoor baseball!

In Episode 61 we are joined by the four different young men and women. Max May, Brett Korpal, Ellie Casperson, and Jack Jerowski each sit down and share a few of their favorite outdoor experiences. These young guns have some helpful tips for engaging youth listeners and each of them can teach their elders a thing or two. The future of hunting and fishing lies in their hands and they are all off to one heck of a start!

In Episode 60 we are joined by Sam Schank and Justin Wise of Upper Mississippi Game Calls. Sam and Justin are the owners and call makers of Upper Mississippi Game Calls, a duck call company located in Onalaska, WI. I had the privilege of visiting their shop and spinning my own "Pool 7" duck call. Both Sam and Justin had a tremendous waterfowl hunting season and have some incredible stories to share. We'll take you through the steps of turning an acrylic duck call and what makes these "Pool 7" Game calls so unique. Check out Upper Mississippi Game Calls and the Pool 7 Duck Call

In Episode 59 we are joined by Ross Adney. Ross is an outfitter and owner of Beaver Trap Outfitters and guides most all Western big game. I spent the week chasing mountain lions through the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming with Ross and his hounds. Hunting lions has been a bucket list hunt for me as long as I can remember and on day three of the hunt my dream became a reality. I have always enjoyed hunting with dogs and working with them to achieve a hunting goal. Watching them run the track and tree the Tom was a significant part of the experience. If you are interested in a true Western hunting experience check out Beaver Trap Outfitters

In Episode 58 we are joined by retired Game Warden Tom Hemker. Tom worked as a Game Warden for over 30 years and has some incredible stories. He is a passionate upland bird hunter and has logged countless miles chasing elk out West. Tom is a well rounded outdoorsman and has learned tons about hunting and fishing just from spending time performing his duties at work.

In Episode 57 we are joined again by Scott Bestul. Scott is on to talk about early season bow hunting tactics that will help you smoke your target buck. This information packed episode discusses the first few phases of the rut and scenarios that will take you right up to the start of peak rut. The best of luck to all listeners of the Catch My Drift Podcast this archery season!

In Episode 56 we are joined by Phil Rutt. Phil is the owner of Triple Three Outfitters in Buffalo, Wyoming. Phil specializes in outfitting and guiding Western elk, deer, and pronghorn hunts. This episode was recorded while on an archery pronghorn in Wyoming with Triple Three. He is a wealth of knowledge and shares some great insight about pronghorn and what makes them tick. My buddy, Aaron, and I had an incredible time hunting with Triple Three and appreciated everything they did for us while there, especially the top tier cooking! Check out Phil's Triple Three Outfitters

In Episode 55 we are joined by Reuben Frey and Ryan Wierzba. Reuben and Ryan met at college as track teammates and now both work for their resident states to better its trout fishery. They both are passionate about their jobs and both spend nearly all of their free time outside. From Minnesota to Montana this episode is a great back stage look at what makes a states trout fishery go round.

In Episode 54 we are joined by Bobbie Stephens. Bobbie is the owner of Stork Lake Lodge in Ontario, Canada and a musky fanatic. He has the knowledge and resume to prove that he truly has these finicky fish patterned. Bobbie explains the best way to put "the fish of 10,000 casts" into the net. The fishing up in Canada was great this week and the musky fishing was phenomenal!

In Episode 53 we are joined again by Matt Hogan and Zack Ansell. This episode completes the three part Turkey Talk Series as spring comes to an end. Matt, Zack, and myself are hopeful as our favorite baseball teams are just over a third into the regular season and we shed some light on what is going right with the Cubs and Twins. We also discuss our other favorite part of spring, Americas original past time, turkey hunting. Both these fellas had turkey seasons for the books and discuss what we learned and why these birds keep us coming back for more.

In Episode 52 we are joined by brothers Andrew and Aaron Auger. These fellas love hunting turkeys with their bows and share some insight on what works best for them. We talk about gear, archery set ups, decoys, scouting, and different calling tactics. We are all tagged out in Minnesota and share what helped us reach this early success. Good luck if you're still after it!

In Episode 51 we are joined by Marcus Lashley. Marcus is a Wildlife Ecology Professor at the University or Florida and cohost of the Wild Turkey Science Podcast. Marcus lives for turkey hunting and has learned plenty about turkeys to help him and fellow turkey hunters in the woods. He is serious about favorable habitat and the conservation of the turkeys he loves to chase. This episode is a must listen if you love turkey hunting and hope to do so with your grandchildren. Check out the Wild Turkey Science Podcast and Turkeys For Tomorrow for more info on turkey conservation

In Episode 50 we are joined by Thurman Tucker. Thurman is the Minnesota State Coordinator for Quail Forever. He is an avid upland game bird hunter who's passion lead him to conserving quail and pheasant alike and assuring they have a place in our neck of the woods for years to come. Thurman is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to quality habitat and how to improve land to benefit the quail. If you would like to learn more about how you can support quail check out MN Quail Forever or reach out to Thurman wtcn.nature@gmail.com

In Episode 49 we are joined by Devin Smeltzer. Devin is a left handed pitcher for the Florida Marlins and former Minnesota Twins pitcher. He was born and raised out East where he caught the fishing bug. Devin travels the country with the different organizations he plays for and takes along a fishing rod on every road trip. His outdoor interests don't stop there, he is a die hard outdoorsman who is up to chase any game he can.

In Episode 48 we are joined by Mark Huelsing. Mark is a member of the Exo Mtn Gear team and the host of the Hunt Back Country Podcast. He has hunted in a handful of Western states for bear, deer, elk and even mountain goat. Mark takes his hunting gear seriously and is part of the brains behind the all new K4 pack system launching this spring by Exo. Check out Exo Mtn Gear's awesome packs and Mark's podcast The Hunt Backcountry Podcast

In Episode 47 we are joined again by Norm Yackle. This episode was recorded while ice fishing for sturgeon on the Mississippi River! Topics discussed include Norm's 2022 musky season and what flies and tactics helped him put two dozen musky in the net, our ice fishing success thus far, and late ice preparation as well as Norm's favorite ice-out fishing.

In Episode 46 we are joined by Joey Hartley. Joey is an avid coyote hunter and host of Mangy Dog TV. He hunts coyotes year round and in a very unique way - with his dogs! He has captured some incredible footage of his coyote hunting techniques that are definitely worth checking out. If you are interested in chasing predators throughout the country you won't want to miss this episode! Check out Mangy Dog TV's incredible videos

In Episode 45 we are joined again by regular guest Nathan Chick. On this episode topics discussed include our Christmas wish list, each of our fantasy football teams, the fantastic season the Minnesota Vikings are having (for once), and the success that each of us have had in the woods chasing deer.

In Episode 44 we are joined by Jake Polk. Jake is a hard core whitetail hunter and owner of Polk Whitetail Management. He orchestrates management plans specific to meet clients needs and help them reach their goals. He's got a comprehensive understanding of how deer use landscapes and where to ambush your target buck. We had a great time recording and I'm sure you will learn a thing or two about the land whitetail roam. Check out Jake's work and some awesome pictures of big bruiser bucks.

In Episode 43 we are joined by Jake Keeler. Jake is an artist and avid fly fisherman. He is passionate about hunting down fish with attitude and portraying that visceral feeling in his artwork. Jake's artwork is truly on-of-a-kind and fisherman nationwide dig it. Give this episode a listen for fall fishing tips and tactics. Be sure to check out Jake's work on his website and watch Water Sabbath

In Episode 42 we are joined by Cody Lubeley. Cody is a tournament walleye angler and well rounded outdoorsman. He has traveled the Midwest fishing tourneys as a co-angler and pro angler himself. He has a rock solid understanding of where the walleye are during certain times of the year and the techniques needed to put them in the box. We recorded this podcast at the boat landing after a great day of fishing!

In Episode 41 we are joined again by Charlie Casperson. Charlie and I are heading to Montana this November on a rifle elk and mule deer hunting trip. In this episode we cover most of the items we will be taking with us. Gear items include boots, sleeping pads, knives, rifles, optics, ammunition, toiletries, food, and water filters to name a few. If you're heading out west this fall you won't want to miss this episode!

In Episode 40 we are joined by Ray Howell. Ray is the founder of Kicking Bear and has bow hunted around the world. Kicking Bear is a youth ministry organization that gives kids, that may not have access to such means, a look into the outdoors. They hosts free summer campouts, bow shooting, giant slip-n-slides, bow fishing, mud fights, and hunting events. Ray is just a few species shy of his Super Slam and has bow hunted animal species around the world that many don't know exist. If you're interested in Kicking Bear Check out their site

In Episode 39 we are joined by Andrew Auger and guest co-host Nathan Chick. Andrew is a South East MN native and a whitetail chasing fanatic. For extra cash he spends time working on bows and getting them shoot better than out of the box. Andrew's attention to detail extends beyond the bows he tunes and is unmistakable in his trail cam placement, time in the stand, and inches of antlers on his wall.

In Episode 38 we are joined by Kevin Stark. Kevin is the Assistant Director at GeoSpatial Services, a project center in Winona, MN that "integrates professional services and academic apprenticeships in the areas of natural resource assessment, geographic analysis, and contemporary mapping". Kevin has travelled all around the continent for work and has some incredible stories to share. His work has taken him to wetlands in states including Alaska, South Dakota, and even New Mexico. Kevin calls the hills of the Driftless home and is passionate about improving the land everywhere he travels, even if right out his front door. Check out GeoSpatial Service and all of the impactful projects they are working on.

In Episode 37 we are joined by Becky Kulkas-Brewer. Becky is the Director of Marketing, Sales, and Service at Prairie Moon Nursery. Prairie Moon is a nursery that sells over 700 different types of seeds and plants that are native to America. They have a knowledgeable staff that are great in accommodating everyone from the novice landscaper to someone working on a complete prairie restoration. Visit Prairie Moon Nursery's informative webpage to check out their stunning offerings

In Episode 36 we are joined by Tiffany Kersten. Tiffany is the winner of the 2021 Big Year. She is the first woman to accomplish this outstanding feat and the first person to record 726 different bird sightings in one calendar year. Tiffany is also a professional birding guide in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. She is passionate about birding and passionate about keeping fellow birders safe while out and about. Check out Tiffany's work or book a trip with Nature Ninja Birding Tours

In Episode 35 we are joined by Matt Hogan and Zack Ansell. Matt and Zack are local outdoorsman who are passionate about walleye fishing and turkey hunting. In this episode we discuss topics including early season walleye tactics and review their 2022 turkey hunting seasons. Matt and Zack also work at Geospatial Services and share some stories from interesting projects they have worked on.

In Episode 34 we are joined again by Cousin Noah Kearns. Topics discussed in this episode include chasing wild turkeys in our home states as well as our DIY hunting road trip to hunt the Merriam's subspecies on the sandhills of Nebraska. We also touch on the "reaping" technique.

In Episode 33 we are joined by David Nash. David is the author of the novel "The Man in the Pines", singer and song writer, and fly fisherman. This fictional, yet realistic, story is an alternative to the childhood tales we all heard growing up of Paul Bunyan. It is a detailed story of love, loss, and conservation. David is also a Driftless area resident and loves to chase trout on the fly in nearby streams. Check out his book The Man in the Pines

In Episode 32 we are joined by Bob Borowiak. Bob is a long time archery hunter who is lives for chasing mature whitetails and Toms. He just turned 75 and has lived in Houston, MN for most of his life. Bob is a decorated archery shooter and has taken dozens of mature bucks and will go to any cost to arrow his target buck. He is also one bird shy of meeting his goal of 50 wild turkeys with a vertical bow! A true Driftless and bow hunting legend.

In Episode 31 we are joined again by David Holmes and Norm Yackle for the second half of our trip to the Bahamas. We struggled finding bonefish with unideal tides, limited range with a motor that guzzled gas, and no poling capability. But in true DIY fashion we found a silver lining and set our sites on different salt water species. I got the total Bahamian outdoor experience when I was invited to tag along for a wild hog hunt with our host, Don. This was truly a trip to remember!