The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly of the Hunting Industry w/ Michael Waddell | HUNTR Podcast
In this episode of HUNTR Podcast, we bring on special guest Michael Waddell to talk a little bit about the evolution of the hunting industry. Michael's journey began with Realtree years ago where he'd travel and film hunts. It wasn't long until the passion took him to creating Bone Collector and becoming one of the biggest hunting personalities we all know. After being involved in the hunting space for so many years, a lot has changed. From adapting to the new ways of outdoor content or the evolution of hunting whitetails, we thought what better person to talk to than Michael Waddell. We hope you enjoy this episode. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!
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You must not have listened to Aaron because the hunting public doesn’t mean public hunting. This was a great podcast! Michael is one of the most genuine people in the industry. I hope we don’t lose sight of what it’s really about and I’m glad we have guys like Waddell that remind us!
By far my favorite episode yet. Thanks for continuing to work on getting quality guests!
We appreciate it! Couple a good ones coming up!
Best hunting podcast episode I ever watched. Sat in my truck last night during a rainstorm for an hour to listen to this. My fiancé asked me why I got home late and I blamed it on the storm lol but it’s because I was so engaged watching this, laughing my ass off.
You finally got The Man on there, Waddy is the genuine, best!!
He absolutely is, dude is just a great person
Great job Michael. Thanks for sharing the real deal!!
Always appreciated Waddy's take on things, good episode
Things like this should be discussed in hunter education courses to better educate and prepare new hunters to appreciate more of the full process of the hunt.
Waddell is like the Energizer Bunny....wind that dude up and watch him go!
The man straight dropped a much needed sermon!
Almost halfway through now. I agree about public vs private. You don't understand how many messages I get of people who wish they could hunt my private land yet are not willing or don't realize the work put in to create and maintain a good hunting property. Good conversation so far guys!
Ugh I know man! Then it’s looked at as being greedy. The reality is we have to figure out the root of the issue to why people fell like they have to have “a lot” of private. In other words, securing the land to monitor (when they may not hunt it). That’s been the biggest change in the last 20 years
every time I listen to waddy. I like and respect him more.
It is about time. Waddy is hands down the most humble down to earth person in this screwed up industry. He such a passionate hunter. We need more waddys in this world 100 percent. Thanks for bring in the legend himself.
Well said! It’s really a rare breed. I was fortunate to come into this industry as a 25 year old in the prime of outdoor TV. I met some of the “icons” and immediately was crushed by how they reacted to a fan. Not Michael…this guy could be your brother in camp any day of the week.
Glad u are now joining us on the content creation brother... BOUT TIME!! Can't wait to see more of your great collection!! Ty for the shout out too. Great first video brother!! 👍👊👏🏻
The thing i loved about this guy was his enthusiasm . He was the first person that got as pumped as i do when i killed something. He has always seemed genuine to me
So true the guy just loves it!
This is the podcast I didn’t know I needed in my life!! I’ve struggled with a lot of topics yall talked about and brought it in a different light for me to digest!
We are here for you man!
Absolutely fantastic guys! What a show. Met him 20 years ago & was so impressed by how humble he was & is.
He’s the man
Awesome podcast with Michael!!! I use a lot of your tricks for Turkey Hunting that are phenomenal. Keep up the good work and the southern slang. Absolutely love it. Love to see you to come to Wisconsin. You’d be the bomb to hunt with..
All around the best podcast I’ve listened to in a long time. All of you were open and clear in concise conversation from lots of angles. Love or hate Micheal at least he tells you where he stands and now that he is 50 he can say it with more clarity then ever before. I read enjoyed this one! Thank you Jeremy and Jared!
What a GREAT pod cast! Waddy has such a great perspective on the real world hunters.👍👍
Waddell I have been watching since teenager and he seems like a stand up guy to me. He is right about it’s not easy as it appears on a TV show.
He is exactly what you see in person
What Michael said about how some people just hope to get the chance to get out for the year is really most hunters. So many people have to work hard and get very little time out in the woods.
No doubt. That said the older I get the more I realize life is too short and we all need a little more time in the woods
Here's 2 Pa guys living the dream. Love the pods. Keep up the good work Pa brothers
Always nice to hear a fellow southern accent on the podcast, great guest!
We need to pull more southern boys in for sure!
Very refreshing and interesting podcast. Very very true on so many levels
lol I got the Bone Collector tat 14 years ago, my Son and I stood in line and met Michael, Nick, Tbone Awesome guys!!
Hell yea dude!
The common thread of all hunters is the passion for it and this was a great example!
💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
A lot of hard earned wisdom in that podcast
great listen- agree 100% with this entire conversation. nice work HUNTR
Waddy telling Jared to chill and be humble and grateful and just have fun!
Absolutely spot on with what Uncle Waddy is preaching. One of the best, if not the best conversation to date!!
Thanks man we appreciate it
Very humble guy, thanks for taking us into Michael's past and where he came from. His personality as a hunting host was awesome throughout the late 90's and 2000's. Great podcast!
Appreciate it!
The bone collector always seems like he’s only always happy but this was a great interview to see the other side that it’s not all glitz and glamour. Especially from an icon like him. Another great one guys.
Michael is such an amazing guy, lucky to call him a friend
Dam good podcast guys. This episode was an eye opener. No more negative comments. We all fighting the same fight. Keep up the good work. Thanks
One step at a time man, we are getting there. We all may have separate paths but truly think we all want to end with the same thing
From buying condoms to make turkey calls to becoming the most recognized name in televised hunting, I loved every minute of this podcast. Great job guys!
Hahaha I always knew the Glow in the Dark were the way to go!
Great podcasts guys! Always challenging ways of thinking and that's healthy. You're doing really good things for the community.
Got to say this was your best
If Waddell dropped a book of one liners I’d buy it. Dude is entertaining and captivating to listen too. Keep it up @huntr
Haha yea no doubt we would too!
You guys are on a roll - Waddell is a great guest. Enjoyed it and his perspective on hunting was spot on.. Waddell claims to be a simple redneck but he is a wise man indeed.
He absolutely is
I could not pull myself away from this one. Thank you guys!!
Appreciate it Brad
Y’all are such a personal Blessing to me, thank you for your hard work! 🦌 🦃
Thanks for the support
Michael Waddell is the man! I’ve truly looked up to him for a long time. Great Podcast!
Michael is as true as it gets
Annn we boot Chris, since he’s trash lol
He is not the man....he was one of the original "personalities" that exploited the sport and reaped all the benefits of trophy hunting while robbing opportunities from every day hunters. So if you consider that being the "man" then okay.....lol
Ridgerunner17, fantastic guest!! TY
WADDELL FOR PRESIDENT 2024,. Great episode guys one of your best for me . Great job. Nothing but truth on all sides. Looking forward to another year watching your content. Hope yall come up to the iowa deer classic in March.
We are for sure trying to make it!
Best hunting podcast out there. Keep it up guys!
Thanks man
Great discussion, very impressed with Waddell’s respect for blue collar hunters and focus on enjoying the hunt.
He’s one of the guys you can talk to forever
Great interview! I wish they had talked more about the aging hunting population. Getting older comes with challenging things that make going hunting harder .
You are absolutely correct
Is funny that waddle talks about the liver I always eat it but didn’t know they were talking about it is crazy 😂😂😂 awsome that was in the podcast he was one of the first person I saw and got me into hunting since I was like 5 years old
I can’t even get a comment in without you guys having hundreds of comments before I listen to that weeks episode lol. I’m younger than Jared but Michael Waddell takes me back to when I was a kid watching his show usually on Sunday’s if I remember… great podcast as always guys, these things makes me reflect and think about strategy and perspective on hunting
Appreciate it Matt. It’s great to go back to some of those more simpler days
Love Michael. Got in to hunting by watching his earliest stuff on Realtree. True blue, no doubt. Still, he's out of the loop on how bad access is. As a KS resident, you can't believe the total change that has happened, just like the guys are saying. Good discussion.
As a non resident kansas worries the hell out of me for you residents. When I drove around after a decade of hunting there and see public lands packed with resident trucks, I know there is a major issue. Not too mention the impact on the deer herd quality
Seems like a nice guy. Didnt like how he didnt really take any responsibilty for where the hunting industry has led hunting in America as a whole. The hunting industry is about money at the end of the day. And hunting in America is now being driven by money, creating a situation of the haves and the have nots. He may have started out as blue collar but his lack of answers and saying people need to stay in their lane and adjust their expections shows which side of the have and have not line he sits on. At least it'll make better sense one day why they are called european mounts.
What is your solution? What I heard him saying is - that is the price of being in a capitalistic society. You do what you can afford. I hunt public, leased, my own land, and this year for the first time paid an outfitter in Kansas to hunt. My father worked in a factory for thirty five years and gradually bought 500 acres of hunting land. I'm sure somebody is pissed because they used to hunt that land but what is the solution?
I'd like to see states purchasing more land for public use and conservation. Or even leasing land. I'd ban cell cameras on public land. I'd ban crossbows as well. Tax the hell out of people profiting from hunting. Limiting the tools used in hunting limits the marketing and capitalistic opportunities to exploit hunting. I'd pass laws disincentivizing hunting out of state. I'm not convinced youth hunts are helping anything either but I'll stop short of saying to get rid of them as well. I'd like to see more data correlating youth hunts and hunter retention. I'd consider banning shed hunting in western states outright, and ban shed hunting on public land everywhere. I'd hope these types of changes could lead to a more sharing type of environment in hunting, instead of a hoarding environment. I know these seem drastic and most may disagree, but wildlife is a public resource and laws aimed at hamstringing the influence and shortcuts money provides people are severely needed. Banning private ownership is a horrible idea so you can only do so much. You asked for some ideas and that's what I came up with in the course of writing this reply. Finally the hunting industry and media could look in the mirror, think about the future of hunting, and decide to promote a positive message. Have a good day.
Honestly the best time to take out does is the first 2 to 3 weeks of bow season/early season .Not after or late season .You save far more nutrients by taking all those doe goals before for survivors and weight build up period for bucks .Seems the industry and some biologist push late season when it easy picking but the goal is to save green forage and food plots for later .
Man this hit hard. I got a big doe this year which would have made me extic 20 years ago. This year I was bummed I didn't kill a buck. I gotta change something to get the excitement back.
Right there with you brother. It’s a reset we can do, it won’t be easy.
One of the better podcasts you've had. Enjoyed it.
Thanks!
I find it hard as well with trying to get my boys to understand hunting is not always easy. My 9 year old got humbled this year. He had to put in a ton of work to get his buck (including me) lol but he made it count when he finally got a chance. It took him until nov 3. My 12yr old sat all day on opening day of gun season and he made it count when the time arrived. I love the podcasts. Keep em coming.
Awesome to hear about the kids. It’s the one thing I’m least confident about during the season. How hard it easy do I make it? I want them to understand why and how to actually hunt but I’d be an idiot to think the success isn’t a giant impact.
I was born in 93 Bone collector is all I can remember growing up 😅
Hahaha no doubt
Waddell gets it because he came from what a lot did, nothing. Most certainly it’s hard on someone who grew up hunting that cannot economically do it much if at all any longer.
Excellent podcast. Enjoyed listening to Michael Waddell. Also enjoyed Gary Alt and Chris Brackett as well. I’m a guy that lost access to properties and had to adapt-I have two leases now w friends and family, but killed my best buck w a bow on a State Game Land. Hunting is the experience that we individually make it. Adapting to the changing tides is part of that. I’m a hunter and will adapt as needed to have the opportunity to go hunting. Keep it simple, enjoy the outdoors, knowing that the way I do it differs from the way others do it-I support every ethical hunter, regardless of their philosophy.
Great input! As much as I wish we could go back, the past is gone. Ultimately we have to adapt but we also hope some of these discussions get people thinking as we truly believe there is an issue we can’t let go unchecked
Solid podcast, a lot of great talking points. Waddell is an OG Stone cold killer and down to earth as they come. But at the end of the day if you ain't having fun anymore it's your own fault! Don't use the technology If you don't want to. Play by the legal rules, be your own man, & tell everybody to kiss your ass who doesn't like it.
Well said
What a great episode! It really sheds light on what really is important in our hunting community. Something that has bothered me for several years is the people that hate on people like Waddell, Jared, Jeremy and many other stand outs in the hunting industry blows my mind. These people put in the work like anyone else did growing up. The difference is they decided to make this a career and you can’t hate on them for that. Remember, you will never meet a hater doing better than you 😉 Keep up the hard work boys!
Haha we get it, everyone has there reasons and we don’t hold it against them. But hopefully they get to meet us someday and realize we are just one of the guys
Great podcast guys and Waddell brings up some great points. I couldn't stop eyeing that 1792 though lol. You guys into scotch at all?
Haha. I dabble in the scotch but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m a major bourbon guy! - Jeremy
The best thing about michael is that he has roots.he was tought the old ways from his family.and michael dont forget his roots. I can imagine how tough it is trying to balance the pressure and and pleasing certain people and meanwhile staying who you realy are and true to your roots. Fame will turn the best person in the world into a lost bad person quik.i think Michael is a strong minded fella.he has never forgot who he is or where he comes from. That's what having a good father does to men. I see so many young men that simply don't stand a chance simply because they don't have a father or family's with strong backgrounds or roots. Michaels father should be a proud father. I would be. I have a 11 yr old son. It's tough raising a son in his world today. I to keep him in the woods. It's all i know. Hope it pays off. Great show men. Never lose your roots or forget where you came from. Keep it real.
Preach man. Everything you said resonates strong. - Jeremy
As much as I enjoyed this podcast … these two guys are two of the most hypocritical guys I’ve ever seen! They always go with guest. Which ever the wind blows week to week. They need to watch or listen to their own podcast! They started off talking about being critical of not shooting button bucks then a hr later jump on Waddells kill anything program! WTF?? Grow some balls boys and be real! Stop telling your guests what they wanna hear!! I’ve seen you guys do this with bait cell cams& crossbows. Gets exhausting!!
Great podcast. Waddell out here telling the truth!
Always does
Excellent podcast 👏
I think it would be a good conversation to get Nick Mundt on the show; based on on what I heard on this one. Keep it up guys, you guys are doing it right!
Yep he and T Bone are on the list
Exactly why I personally quite running cameras for myself. I still run 30+ cams for clients but personally I don't... I know my genetics of where I hunt and grew tired of getting fully focused on specific animals and passing on otherwise awesome experiences. I am on year three of this n it has been freeing :)
You’re talking me into it more and more!
Best Podcast ever
Thankyou Mr waddell.time 2hr 3 min to ?it's all me
Been watching since the late 90s, always a fan of Waddy. Last 2 years i have met him at the ATA show, you couldn't meet a nicer guy, Nick Mundt too. Great podcast and guest, enjoyed all of it, you guys do a great interviews keep it up.
Thanks man! It’s so cool to meet him and realize he’s exactly what you hoped
Yes Sir!
Always appreciate your guys's videos. And have been able to harvest nice deer off your guys's advice over the last 2 years. One might be putting me in the Washington state record books. And I really do owe that to you guys and your advice. Thanks
Whoa not sure we deserve the praise sounds like that’s all you man!
@@HUNTRPOD between you guys and Jeff stages you have taught me a boatload about deer and deer behavior.
Guys I wish you were a little more diverse in topic but I am watching so that says something. I am a ommunications man by history and experience and I just want to say that the two of you are exceptionally talented broadcasters. Get a little more hill billy (plaid and wool) in your topics- a little less mega deer and you will pick up even more of us as viewers. BTW Mike is a good Christian man and I think you guys are headed there too. Huner is what a lot of us ARE- it makes us smile to go in the woods and read sign- represent that for us!
Id love to see a podcast with Philip Culpeper 👍👍
Sounds good!
Thank you boys for the great content. Keep up the amazing work. Appreciate you both being an older hunter. I make my 14 year old son listen to you guys. Keep up those traditions and values. Mike Waddell amazing man. Thank you to him for his time and knowledge
Appreciate the support man!
We only hunt bucks in our group but... weather it's a one spike or record book buck...I look at each set of those antlers and can tell you a story... that's a good one
You guys are great! Straight up.
Appreciate it!
Just cause Sevr is supporting you guys, im gonna go get some
They are awesome man, Jeremy is shooting 125s and Jared 150s
only podcast I watch/listen to. good stuff
Appreciate it dude. You coming to SHOT?
@HUNTRPOD yes. Anything exciting you know of I should check out?
Jeremy will be at the Silencer Central booth some if you cross paths
@@HUNTRPOD I've got plans to run by there and film their new can
Great Cast
Love to be on this one day. Not as cool as him but definitely have stories to tell
Haha man we are always open to new guests
2:25:00 " no one cares about big bucks anymore" I have to dissagree with that in part. What people don't care about are people killing big bucks on big ranch/ big private, no hunting pressure, non relatable land and places by people who hunt for a living when they have all the time and money in the world to do it all the time. . People want to see big bucks on private/public land on video as long as it's relatable. I saw a 150 on my land and everyone thinks it's monster. Why? Bigger bucks are killed all the time on TV and sponsored KZhead channels. It's because I'm an average hunter. Have only ever seen one buck prior to this one past 150. Even on a property I manage yet there's tons of hunting pressure and I don't hunt for a living or have sponsors to push. That's what people want to see. But the fact is, guys like me rarely kill bucks. It's been 8 years since my last one.
Great interview!!! Congrats on all your success Michael, well deserved.
On the private vs public land discussion....around me - all the old timers say it was commonplace for all of the farmers to allow hunting. Everyone deer hunted any farm they wanted to, everyone ran their coondogs across any farm without even getting permission - that is just the way it was. Now you might have to ask 100 farmers to get one yes in order to hunt. Also people have found out that people are willing to pay good money to hunt private farms. ALSO - people are more weary these days for someone falling and breaking their leg while hunting then suing the farmer for breaking their leg. Atleast around me - there has been a giant shift of landowners allowing hunting on private land.
It’s sad man, I used to have so much freedom. In a weird way I loved running into other hunters back then, often times even if we didn’t know each other we would work together the rest of the day to get on deer. Now I catch myself rolling my eyes when I see someone. Frankly I need to be better myself, but we have to drill down to the root of this mass lock down of private land, if we don’t we are in trouble. - Jeremy
I love this hunting podcast I have a KZhead hunting channel of my own Aswell I am trying to get my own podcast as well, but it will be impossible to make on better than yours. let your podcast keep it up,
Lol not sure if it’s impossible, we are just here talking
Hell yeah boys you guys did it
Thanks man
If we could cut down on the number of outfitters, especially outfitters that live in other states a lease land in Ohio and run a guide service, acess and experience would improve meaningfully. This may be something everyone can get on board with
Im envious and jealous of yall. Sometimes i leave negative comments. My advice on dealing with negative comments, (coming from someone thay doesnt know) ask a question so they respond again. Dont worry bout what is being said just ask a question and let them keep commenting negatively. Still will help drove traffic.
Lol it will. But don’t be envious. We ultimately are just average guys. Just so happens the only hobby we have is deer hunting so we pour a lot into it. That said, this platform (and some of our careers in this industry) comes with pressures I never wanted to see. The pressure to shoot bucks that others will not talk behind your back on. Ultimately though, the blessing of this podcast has been our own personal journey to be able to say screw it, we don’t care what those people may think. We need to make deer hunting great again, not by killing giant bucks but by creating a better experience for everyone
good one.
I turned a drag racing/car hobby into an automotive machine shop business that affords me quality midwest hunting land and the ability to hunt just about whenever I want to. However.....I have lost all interest in what used to be my hobby. Be careful turning hobbies into careers. The woods is my escape.
Keep up the good content and hope you guys nothimg but sucess. PA mam here
You don’t see waddy on many podcasts this is cool.
Close friend of ours for a while now. Check out his Bone To Pick podcast some cool guests
Interesting in the rx5 with the 80 pound limbs if you still have it how do I go about getting with you?
with love Oliver
Love this podcast. Love your channel. Not that I have a dog in the fight, but THP has hunted private since the beginning, but of course they mainly hunt public land.
Yep very true
Great conversation guys, kick back sometimes and just watch the leaves zigzag from the trees as they fall and listen to the squirrels chatter and the hawk scream. If you get a chance at a deer, even a good size doe, take it and fire up the grill with friends and family. People including myself had gotten so into the latest gadgets that by the time you take that deer and add up your cost from technology tools, your meat is $60.00 a pound when you dress it out. Just enjoy the peace and quiet of what the Lord created while you escape the phone, news, politics and fussing.
Preach man…so true. Part of it is the maturity as a hunter. I went from traditional hunting and brown down to using every advantage to kill a booner. Ultimately, it’s siphoned out a lot of the pure happiness. Do I want to still kill a big buck? Absolutely, that’s my goal, but not at the sacrifice of by I fell in love with hunting.
We hunted northern KY in the late 90s. Everyone we met told us to come hunt their farm. Now you cant hardly find a place to lease.
Alot of hunters have an issue with harvesting late season does, I did for a long time but whether you harvest that doe before the rut or after, it doesn't matter. That's one less fawn either way. And like you guys said ,if you have too many now is the time to take that pressure off the limited food that's left.
Off your "food plot" .. wonder how they survived this long.
Wth, why didn't KZhead notify me of this one?!
Gosh this made me really think bout comments ive made in the past and ive been a rude pissy bastard alot of the time. Never even saw that im so unhappy w my own situation im jealous and being mean to others that have what i want. Idk how i didnt realize it untill it was actually said outloud by wadel. I got sum change to make ✌️
We all do brother
@HUNTRPOD I guess but I'm just blown away I didn't see it b4 now. I'm 39 years old .......like wtf
You guys need to get T-bone on. I did a podcast with him. He's awsome