Chase The Unknown Podcast

Backwoods & Bay Birds: Hunter Carr’s Grit in Delaware’s Wild Side

Boondocks Hunting Season 1 Episode 5

Hunter Carr from Blue Hen Outdoors joins us to share his passion for the outdoors and mission to showcase authentic hunts with purpose. We explore hunting in Delaware, the evolution of his outdoor media brand, and the connections he's made across the hunting community.

• Born and raised in Delaware, Hunter grew up deer hunting with his father before expanding into waterfowl and turkey hunting
• Delaware offers exceptional but underrated hunting opportunities, especially for waterfowl due to its proximity to Chesapeake Bay
• Blue Hen Outdoors started as a bowhunting focus before expanding to showcase all of Hunter's outdoor pursuits
• The challenges of transitioning from waterfowl hunting to bowhunting included learning yardage estimation and shot placement
• Hunter shares a heartbreaking story about losing a potential state record buck to poaching
• His podcast features diverse guests including international hunters, spearfishers, and others from across the outdoor world
• Despite enjoying multiple hunting pursuits, Hunter identifies turkey hunting as his absolute favorite
• With a child on the way, Hunter hopes his outdoor content will inspire his son's future connection to hunting traditions
• You can find Blue Hen Outdoors on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Instagram, and TikTok


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Speaker 1:

Every hunter has a moment when the woods go quiet, the air shifts and time slows down and in that stillness you realize you're not chasing the game, you're chasing something bigger. Welcome to the Chase, the Unknown podcast, where we go beyond the saddle, past the trail cameras and deep into the stories that fuel the fire. This show is for the ones who lose sleep over the rut, who hike miles into the public land for just a chance and who live for that silence before the shot. From the backcountry to the backroads. We sit down with hunters and trappers with the relentless stories, who live for the thrill, embrace the unknown and return with the stories worth telling.

Speaker 1:

This is more than a podcast. This into the heart of the mid-atlantic, with none other than hunter car of blue hen outdoors, from flooded timber to the turkey woods and everything in between. Hunter's passion for the outdoors runs deep and so does his mission to showcase raw, authentic hunts with purpose. We dive into how blue hen outdoors got started and the grit it takes to film hunts, to produce real content, and what keeps them chasing those wild moments. Hunter, welcome to the show. Thank you for having me on. I appreciate it, of course. No, no problem. Um, you know what, since you're, since you're new to you, know the Boondocks Hunting Podcast family from the Garden State to now the Chase the Unknown. Why don't you give yourself a quick introduction?

Speaker 2:

So my name is Hunter Carr. I'm currently living in Delaware, which is in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. For those that don't know, I get that a lot People say Delaware, I'm like exactly. I get that. A lot People say Delaware, I'm like exactly, but no, it's. It's. I mean pretty much just I do blue head outdoors and just try to keep it growing as much as I can with what I can. I mean I try to expand everything with my Rolodex as we'll get into in the outdoors with my Rolodex as we'll get into in the outdoors.

Speaker 1:

I will say Delaware. I only knew Delaware of you know, I've been down there for hockey tournaments and really honestly, most the part just passing through yeah, I think it's a pass through state for the most part and then the craziest thing last year we were we're talking about, like you know, I want to go chase velvets in kentucky.

Speaker 1:

I want to go chase velvet in kentucky and I believe real tree dropped like the top, like 10 or 5th, whatever it was most underrated states. And one of my buddies was like hey, like why the hell do we want to go to kentucky and drive hours on, hours, on hours where we can go to delaware right, like I was like all right, like I was like I don't really know much about delaware. You know I I didn't know, you know I I was, I guess, I was, I guess, blown absolutely away from the first trip I took down there to go scout and just how absolutely unbelievable, unbelievable Delaware is. So like I am really excited because this was my first year in Delaware, hunting and everything like that, hunting and everything like that. And I will tell you my expectations were just far like hunting in delaware just went way and above and I had no idea it was. It's like new jersey, it's honestly just like jersey, except for I just love.

Speaker 2:

You know, it's a small state but there's so much for us hunting on state land and everything like that, like everything is so close and you can hit all these different wmas and everything like that you could literally, depending on which way you go if you go 13 or route one, you could really just pull up your on x, say, okay, hit this wma, this wma, this wma, this wma just go down to the beach and back, basically and that's, that's exactly what I did.

Speaker 1:

So you know, there there's so much to do. And another reason why you know, we, we have the Garden State Outdoors and podcast and we talk so much about what it's like hunting in New Jersey and we, you know, we really hype up New Jersey because there's so much to do and Delaware is just there with us.

Speaker 2:

I mean, the only thing I think you guys can't do, I don't think you guys have bear season, I don't think there's no bears down there, everyone haven't okay yet I mean we have exactly wander, wander down from jersey and from like pa and across from maryland up in northern delaware, but like that's not really like as of the current thing yet yeah, so were you born.

Speaker 2:

You're born and raised in in Delaware born and raised in Delaware, went down to college for a little bit in North Carolina, right outside of Charlotte, and played some football before COVID hit and then moved back home and been here ever since so tell us what it's like one growing up, just just in general.

Speaker 1:

What it's like growing up in delaware I don't really get to talk to too many people from delaware and everything like I said it's. It is a pass-through state, like even when we're growing up and I was a big hockey player like traveling all down up and coast to east coast, like we didn't run into too many delaware uh kids and stuff like that. So what was it like growing up in Delaware? And then how was it like being a hunt like when did you start hunting? And everything like that.

Speaker 2:

So growing up I always was in the outdoors hunting and fishing. My dad he's originally from Erie, pennsylvania, up on the Great Lakes, so when he moved down Delaware from being in the navy he just kind of ended up bouncing around from publics before he hopped on a lease and he had the lease from when I was growing up, from when I was basically born to when I was in high school, before the farmer sold the property. Unfortunately it happens, but yeah is what it is, so yeah, so essentially I grew up deer hunting with my dad, because he's from, like I said, erie and that's really big up there. And grant, I did do some waterfowl, waterfowl honey here and there when I was younger, but when I got into high school and my old years now is when I fell in love with waterfowl and fell in love with turkey hunting and fell in love with everything like I do now yeah, no, I've, man, I I'm really excited to talk because, like waterfowl is now kicked off for me and a whole another adventure and just my obsession, everything like that.

Speaker 1:

um, you know, so, you, you had the, the hunting background from from your father and everything like that. But what's it like with Delaware? Like it's kind of like, I imagine, like Jersey it's not really Do people frown upon like hunters and everything like that. Like, did you know a bunch of people growing up that also hunted as well? Or was it just kind of you and your family?

Speaker 2:

So growing up from like my, like my, a couple buddies in the hunting club had kids around my age growing up so like I had those kind of friends and we hunted together so it was like we went to school together so I had those kind of friends that hunted. Honestly, I'd say it's like a mixed bag here in delaware, because the more because I don't know how familiar we are with Delaware but the C&D canal kind of like splits the state's path essentially, and like that more northern part like oh, you hunt, and the kind of like not frowns upon it but like has a kind of like stick your nose up to it attitude for some people.

Speaker 1:

But the more south you go, oh, it's everybody hunts, especially the closer you get towards the beach yeah, yeah, um, I I kind of got, I mean, it's a, it's just where we were, it's a beautiful, we're beautiful area delaware. Like I said I, I absolutely love it.

Speaker 2:

What um what town did you guys go to? If you don't mind me asking I want to say.

Speaker 1:

I mean I think I stayed, for the hotel was in middle middleton. Okay, yes, I'm from middletown. Okay, cool, cool, okay. So we were, yeah. So I believe I stayed at the hotel multiple times there in middle middletown and then like just traveled all up and down that coast and everything like that. We're just just deer hunting and everything like that, all up and down the coast. Um, you know, we, we tried to. I think two of my guys got on some turkeys, uh, or one of my guys, uh, p, and he got onto some turkeys and everything like that.

Speaker 2:

I didn't know that, because we saw so much turkeys on public land that I didn't know you had to apply for public see, the thing with delaware is you'll see them on public land where you don't want to see them yeah everywhere, like delaware has a lot of turkeys on public land, but the draw is kind of a pain in the ass, yeah. But it's also nice when you have friends that have private, because you're allowed to hunt private for turkeys with just your license at least as far as I know it's been told yeah, that that's what we kind of came to the realization this year.

Speaker 1:

Uh, because we were so excited, I mean, from the minute we started scouting dealt, we're like, oh my, there's just birds and birds and birds. And then, you know, we went to go and it's like, yeah, you didn't get the the lottery. We're like, wait, what the hell, you gotta have a lottery to be on. But like it's so cool. And then you guys have a lot of a lot of waterfowl down there, like, oh yeah, we're seeing birds just everywhere, delaware's a very rich waterfowl state along the mid-atlantic, because it's right there with yeah, we're in chesapeake bay, used in maryland and delaware yeah, I mean it's, it's, it's incredible.

Speaker 1:

So, like you know, for for me here I think it's to get to you, I think it just takes me like two hours, like legit, like two hours, and it's just a straight drive.

Speaker 2:

So were you in jersey north?

Speaker 1:

I'm in, yeah, like that, north northern jersey, like I'm in um, I'm in summit, so that's probably like I could see the city. If I go to the roof, I could see the city. If I go to the roof, I could see the city. New York City, yeah, but I'm still like 30 or 40, 30, 45 minute drive to New York and everything like that. So I'm right off of 78. So it's a quick drive, honestly, to Delaware and everything like that. I spent a good amount, especially in the early season, spent a good amount of time in Delaware, but you guys also have the and also what I like it's a two deer state, correct, two buck state.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, two bucks. Four does. You can pay extra. You get an extra buck tag if you want, but most people just do the two bucks that it comes with.

Speaker 1:

See, I love that, I absolutely love that. And another thing at least in the zone that I was hunting, there was a um, I think it's the spread right. There has to be a minimum spread and everything like that.

Speaker 2:

um, for the deer you can harvest unless they changed it.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I mean, we're gonna have to double check that because I have a. I had a stud that I was after and yeah, I, I will I'll double check that, um, but I'm I'm pretty sure that's, that's the assumption that that we were under and everything like that now coming from you know, we're really gonna have to check that out well, I know my, my wife. She's originally from new jersey okay, okay up around trenton area okay, all right, yeah, yeah, and then um her well, her uncle.

Speaker 2:

He has land out in pittsburgh and I've hunted out there and pennsylvania has that it's got to be four on one side rule and I know that as far as like rules for when I think, and I've also deer and waterfowl hunting up in jersey, but certain zones.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, certain zones here have the antler restriction, but you know, from my understanding, they're going away from that. Yeah, they're going to be going away from that. Um, I think within the next year or something like that. Um, not all zones have it, so but I do think there are certain certain zones and everything like that that do have an antler restriction but, um, you know whether we'll 100 I'll get. I gotta text my buddy after this and be like hey, listen, is there really an antler? Because there's a stud that I was on constantly and he you could tell he is the more mature buck, but he had that narrow, just narrow antlers that they're basically, I think, touching each other. If they weren't touching this year and he survives, they'll 100% be touching next year Do you hunt around Samarna?

Speaker 1:

No, I don't. No, I don't think so, I can't. I can't really remember where the hell I was hunting. I know, once I'm hunting I will reckon, remember, I'll shoot you a text and everything like that. But right now I can't. Just because I haven't focused on Delaware at all since, um, probably since I left there in November yeah, because I called my buck and I went right down to Jersey or right down to Delaware. After I got my buck up here, um, but um, so for for you guys, like what, what was some of your earliest memories now when you were hunting down in Delaware?

Speaker 2:

Oh man, First and foremost, the one thing I do got to say and I'm blessed that I got the opportunity to hunt with this gentleman, one of the members of the lease club that my dad was on.

Speaker 2:

He was a decoy painter for all the old school Susquehanna Flats decoy makers that used to carve them out of cork and wood and all that. The names escape me right now, but I will say that hearing him talk and spending time with him Mr Paul Schertz is the gentleman's name that I hunted with is you can't compare anything like that to hear the hey glory days of the susquehanna flats duck hunting and being able to hunt with, quote-unquote, a local legend like that. It being a kid, it was just amazing. And then there's times where I've had to go. Another uh, memorable time, uh, waterfowl hunting is when me and a buddy of mine and a couple of his buddies canoed out off of some creek in the middle of the road somewhere and oh, that was just a fun time just sitting in the just the wetlands opened up by the refineries and it was just, it was really cool.

Speaker 1:

Man that's. I think it's it's the ultimate goal for me into spots that are so hard to access and the only ways through. Water is. It's one of my favorite ones and I'm definitely looking forward to the time when I can, but until then, you know it's, I only get to listen and watch the memories of everyone else until I, until I get the opportunity to as well. You know so, also like so when you're're when you're in delaware, you know it's, you're heavy on the waterfowl hunting and everything like that.

Speaker 1:

Um, you know when you're when you're getting into it and when you're when you got back into it, especially after you know the college and everything like that yeah, you didn't get to hunt when you obviously went to school and everything like that, because I was playing football so yeah, busy, busy schedule, second job in itself along with me the college students.

Speaker 1:

So yeah, yeah, busy schedule. So what was the process when you finally came back and everything like that, when you, when you came back up to delaware and things like that, you know what was the process of getting back into. What did you have stuff like, were you, were you the hunter before that? You already had a lot of the equipment and everything like that and you know the decoys and stuff. Or did you have to be like, oh, like I gotta get all new decoys and everything fresh out of college? And you know it is not the cheapest thing getting into one hunting and then getting into waterfowl hunting either? So, so kind of what. What was that like when you're getting back into the waterfowl game?

Speaker 2:

So I've had everything from growing up. I mean, my dad's had decoys and stuff, so I just banged the dust off of some of the stuff that we had. The only crazy thing I probably really had to get gear wise was like new waders. And as far as getting into stuff uh, turkey gear, because I didn't really turkey hunt until I came back from college. Okay, but outside of that, I mean I pretty much had everything. Oh, and I got a bow.

Speaker 2:

I got a second hand bow from the bow shop so I can get into bow hunting because, that was one thing I wanted to get into when I was in high school, before college, and then I never got the chance because I was away. But then I came back and I was like, oh, let me get a bow off of marketplace and get it tuned up at the shop and we'll get it going.

Speaker 1:

I love it. No, I, I it's. And that's a cool thing like getting, especially when you get the opportunity to just start growing as an outdoors, when you start to branch off into into everything like that. What was the transition, like you know, from from this waterfowl hunter because I always tell people like I'm a diehard deer hunter, um, I go crazy for deer, like that's the only thing I can think about during the deer season, and then now, like I'm absolutely in love with the fact that waterfowl, to me, is very relaxing, it's fun. Oh, not saying deer hunting is not fun, you know everybody's not relaxing, but yes, it's, yeah.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's its own different principles, because deer hunting you're by yourself most of the time. You gotta be quiet, just enjoy the peace and quiet. A lot like turkey hunting too, yeah. But waterfowl, you have your bandit, like you have your group guys, you have your decoys. You can talk a little bit more, yeah you're having.

Speaker 1:

You're having a way different fun. You're having a more social, a social fun exactly. It's more social waterfowl hunting so when, when you went from that social to now becoming a deer hunter and like that, and also it's just a completely different avenue where you have to worry about, you know the, the wind direction as for for scent and everything like that. So what were some of the challenges going from this waterfowl hunter to now going in to be a bow hunter?

Speaker 2:

so there there was a little bit of challenges from being a gun hunter to go to being a bow hunter. Like you have to know range a little bit closer more. You know wind, all that flung jazz. You can't really be shooting a bow when it's 10 to 20 mile an hour wind gusts outside. But it was all a challenge in itself and I adapted as so. I mean those that go through it. You'll find your own trials and tribulations. I mean, like I said, biggest thing for me was yardage and trying to gauge yardage from where I'm at. Yeah, go ahead, because you know having a rifled shotgun, you just put it up.

Speaker 1:

Alright, you know you're good out to 200 yards oh yeah, you don't really have to worry like you do with the bow hunting and that's why I like I range finder is one of the most important things to bow hunter, but sometimes you just don't get the opportunity also to range it. And deer I mean the buck I killed this year didn't range and had no time at all to to range him in. So I kind of took like a I just guesstimate and it worked out perfect, thank God. It took like a just guesstimate and it worked out perfect thank god it worked out perfect and everything like that.

Speaker 2:

But that and being excited in shot placement is kind of like my other biggest thing because it's like okay, you can take your breath, you know you're far away, you're not if you mess up. They're not like you can have regroup but with a bow. That's because there's a couple times I mean my first shot with a bow I will say probably shouldn't have taken it, but I did gut, shot the deer and lose it. We all been there learning experience.

Speaker 1:

You know, like I said, shot placement and I was like holy shit, first buck with the bow, like nerves and all that, but learning experience yeah, I, I think the also the, the learning experience, like at least when, when you're, when you're waterfall hunting too and this is something I'm talking about all the time and I preach about it because now it's knowing as as the rookie waterfowl hunter, um, you know, is if you mess up, like you're gonna get a whole nother flock coming in, like there's just flocks on flocks, so like it is a lot easier to also fail, kind of when you're waterfowl hunting and continuously get the practice versus deer hunting. You may, you may mess up, or you could even mess up in deer hunting and not even know that ever again, until like probably three years later, maybe.

Speaker 1:

Exactly so. I think you know the trial and error, like you. It's two different types of growth of of hunting. I think to to get. I'd much rather get a new hunter into waterfowl hunting first, then transition them into a deer hunting so they can really fall in love with hunting and the chase and everything like that. And then now, hey you, you had a great time. You know waterfowl hunting. It was all fun and games. Well, now it's time to like. You're going to be staying up at night dreaming about that deer and stressing and everything like that. But I'm the total opposite. Really, you stress about the waterfowl.

Speaker 2:

No, no, no, I don't as far as like taking people out. I'm the total opposite. Okay, I, because I've taken a few friends out that I want to get into and stuff. I'm like, okay, you won't go out, we'll go out, but I'm going to see how much you want it. So, because I'm like that aspect of things, it's like, okay, you're public land hunting, not everything's going to go right all the time. Situations are going to arise. What are you going to do to mentally, and it's a lot of mental too.

Speaker 2:

So it's funny because my one buddy he still talks about to this day the first time I ever took him deer hunting, me and him, went out to the bar till probably like 2 am and then got before to go deer hunting and he still talks about to this day he wants me to take him out and everything and still go, and he he's all gone home for it.

Speaker 2:

He's like dude, I didn't think you were like that, but he's like, you got a point. There's gonna be those days where it's like that yeah, no, it it is.

Speaker 1:

And you know, let's see like so I'm I'm saying like a lot that's I'm trying to work. You know doing the whole podcasting there's, that's I'm trying to work. You know doing the whole podcasting. There's words that I'm trying to work on where I don't say, because I catch myself saying all the time oh no, you're fine man, what I get it from the fiance, my mother, and like now our, our producer, who should, who's not here today but you will be producing, uh, episodes from us from moving on forward and everything like that. He's like you gotta stop saying this. And but whatever, I think the mental grind of deer hunting is like no other. It reminds me also turkey, turkey hunting too, mentally, like I'm a new turkey hunter oh dude learning turkeys and it's just the direct opposite of deer hunting.

Speaker 1:

so it's very frustrating. So those two things right there. But deer hunting is just a absolute clusterfuck and mindfuck completely for for other reasons and and things like that. But, um, you know, I I like it, like I got a guy who we're our producer, we're I'm taking out his first year and he is going to I'm putting him through the work, we're working for everything, and I truly don't believe in people when you first get into hunting and I say this I think almost every episode now but, like kids, I don't need you shooting a 160-inch deer, it's going to ruin you.

Speaker 2:

I love the story.

Speaker 1:

you're gonna want nothing but that and bigger exactly, and it's hard to go from 160 and up like I'm sorry it is, unless you're moving to the midwest or you have the time and money to spend costs. Most people don't. But I love the stories of people you know their first time out, or especially bow hunting, taking a full quiver in and leaving with an empty quiver because I shot all their their arrows and they missed. Or like I remember my getting into bow hunting, I struggled like I yeah, it was an absolute struggle, but it mentally made me stronger, because there's going to be years where you're, yes, everything's going to come together and deer hunting you have to do 10 out of 10 things right and if you do 9 things right you may not get that deer. So oh yeah.

Speaker 2:

You're not preaching to the choir here. I know it because I had. So I should have had the Delaware State record this past year. I should have broke it Really, For for typical Got to hear this story. All right, let's hear it, so not to get too into getting in trouble with my friend because it's my friend's property.

Speaker 1:

Okay, gotcha, gotcha, yep.

Speaker 2:

And there was a situation that happened with said deer got poached, yeah so. But yeah, I mean I put my time in for the deer and there's been a couple times where I should have been in the woods but wasn't.

Speaker 1:

but it happens? Yep, of course, but it that kind of.

Speaker 2:

After I found that out, I just kind of like, all right, it's waterfowl season, now no more deer, yeah, that broke my heart, which is you know, I it's.

Speaker 1:

It's crazy because, like you, don't hear those type of stories where you hear of other failures, like, oh, like you know, I shot, I missed deer or I did this or did that. Where it's something, it's also you're like, yeah, you could have gone out a few other times and everything like that, but the way, like I much rather found out, somebody killed the deer and it was done correctly and ethically. You know what I mean versus oh well, it was poached. And then it's like, damn, like you, there's no honor and like it's not. Like, oh, like yes, the the storybook closing. Like that's not a story, right at all.

Speaker 2:

That's that's the most heartbreaking ending to the story yeah, it's like.

Speaker 1:

Oh man, like it's there is. There is no fair chase involved, like the other person who killed it. Like there there wasn't a fair chase involved. Like that deer deserved a fair chase. Like that deer deserved to be and then also to be honored. Because obviously we all know when, when animals are poached and everything like that, when they or the one you know they find out animals are, they take and repossess that deer take them like.

Speaker 2:

The only thing my friend has is just the one half of the antler. Really, yeah, and he's lucky he has that geez, that's, that's absolutely crazy.

Speaker 1:

But I mean, listen, things happen there. There's it's. It's just one of those unfortunate things I found it bear um turkey hunting. I want to say, last year that was definitely, definitely poached um, you know it just of how fresh, not even fresh.

Speaker 1:

But like, yeah, it was decayed, but not not enough to when, like, oh, like this happened during during the bear season and everything like that, you know. And then there's things happen and I I wonder too, like I never really think of, like some of the bucks that I've watched and like targeted, like everything, like, oh, like that deer was poached you know what I mean. I'm always thinking like it was hit by a car, it was, you know gosh, it died for some natural causes or another hunter took it, but you always want to think, but to find out and to know that it got poached, that's, yeah the dagger in the heart there, man, I wonder what the reality of the number like we'll never find out, but like I wonder what the reality of deer that have actually been poached, that like people are just like damn, like never even know you know too many.

Speaker 1:

Like especially privates and private land and even public, like it's people do crazy thing for well, even I don't know if you listen to uhan or not.

Speaker 2:

But, when Luke Bryan was on Rogan he was like dude. Somebody shot my Stag from the fucking side of the road.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

On his high fenced property down in Tennessee. He's like what the hell?

Speaker 1:

Like People do crazy things to Kill animals and I. That's why I don't agree with some of the laws that we have here in New Jersey and everything it puts questionable people in questionable situations situations.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, you have a lot of. I've noticed because I've hunted up in Jersey from Dayton when I was dating my wife. Yeah, and it.

Speaker 1:

Jersey has a lot of gray areas. Yeah, a ton a ton of gray areas. Yeah, a ton a a ton of gray areas. So you know it's and I think you yes, there's poaching with deer, but like, especially somebody like you who you're on the, you know the coast and everything like that. Like fishing, everyone knows, like fishing is probably the biggest and you know you have all these regulations and how much you can catch and size and everything like. There's a lot and I I'm not trying to be saying anything like my experience like you get a lot, a lot of the um, a lot of asian cultures and everything like that. Like I've seen it where they're just plop and just catching fish and they don't care about the size and everything like and crabbing and everything like that, because listen, listen, at the end of the day, that's their culture, that's what they're used to and everything like that. Food is food, which I 100% agree.

Speaker 2:

And there's a lot of I know in like Delaware there's a lot of like Hispanic cultures that are like, yeah, like that, but not to like put shade or put down or like that, but that's what they're used to, you know, just go find food and get food, bring it back to family. Yeah, and they're not used to all the regulations that we have here, or they're kind of like they see them.

Speaker 1:

they're like, oh well, whatever, we don't have that or we're trying to get food for our family yeah, and which everything is, and I will say at least everything is is probably eaten like I like they.

Speaker 1:

They eat like everything which, which I love like, yes, I do love that part. Does it, does it suck? Is it that gray area where man like I respect that you're so good at catching all this fish and everything like that? But listen at the thing, rules are rules. So that's why I've always grown up like listen, if you're breaking a rule, you're breaking a rule, I I'm not going to say anything. But if you get caught, take the responsibility of hey, listen, I got caught and I fucked up and everything like that, and take your punishment. You know what I mean? It's I don't, it's a, it's a interesting situation, mm-hmm, oh yeah. So now I definitely want to talk about the company Blue Hen Outdoors. First of all, the logo. I absolutely love the logo. How did you come up with that logo? It's, it's.

Speaker 2:

AI generated. I literally was there for like An hour and a half On like three different AI platforms Just trying to find one that I like. I was like oh, that one's cool.

Speaker 1:

I like it. I actually like it a lot. It's definitely different. So where did the name come from? Bluehead, like, where did that first? What was the trial era? My hardest thing has always been coming up with names and everything like that. I remember that's always the biggest pain in the butt.

Speaker 2:

Then you also don't want to be like other people and everything like that. So blue hen, I saw, is like, okay, that's different and it's kind of like a nod to delaware, because that's the state bird for delaware, the blue hen, university of delaware, that's their mascot, the blue hens, yeah. So I was like that's kind of like my nod to where I'm from, without saying where I'm from and being like first state hunting or Delaware hunting or whatever. So I'd be cool and different. And at first we were blue hen bow hunting and that's just kind of like I started doing everything when bow shooting kicked around. So I was like, oh, that just kind of has a nice started doing everything. When bow season kicked around, so I was like, oh, that's kind of like has a nice little ring to it. Blue hand bell hunting. And then, as I got into waterfowl season, I'm like, oh, I just I don't just bell hunt, I do a little bit of everything.

Speaker 2:

So then I kind of rebranded it to blue hat outdoors.

Speaker 1:

And especially as being a big waterfowl guy and everything like that, right and especially as being a big waterfowl guy and everything like that right.

Speaker 2:

How how my seasons go is from whenever bow season opens for deer to thanksgiving that's deer season. From thanksgiving to the end of waterfowl season, that's waterfowl season. Yeah, and then I just got my trapper license this year, so I'm going to trap after water, all right. All right, and get into that and just give me something to keep me busy before turkey, and then we're all into turkey season and after I go fishing till it's time to go deer hunting again I respect that.

Speaker 1:

It's basically you got the same kind of schedule that that I got like deer season, deer season, boat like, and then bear season for us, like when we live and die by bear season over over here and everything like that. But then I start especially if I've killed my buck and everything like that once Thanksgiving hits, that ruts winding down everything like that. Then I start transitioning into, like all right, it's waterfowl hunting time. Know I, I may, I'll go out here in new jersey for six day and everything like that. It's kind of I really don't care about killing anything during six day. I it's more of just like hey, going out with the boys just having fun, like last camp and everything like that. Like not really I'm not really been big of a gun hunter, like I love bow hunting and everything like that, but um, but then once that switch and once that switch, I don't, I didn't do a. I don't think I did a bow hunt after, yeah, once waterfowl started, like the only thing that we did was just waterfowl exactly.

Speaker 2:

That's all. It's just the gear switch.

Speaker 1:

So what? So you got your trapping license. What where you got that in in delaware and everything like that. Yes, sir, got it in Delaware.

Speaker 2:

Delaware lets you sit, so Delaware you can do Illinois or Kansas' online course and they accept it, or you go do the sit-in and do everything like a regular hunter safety course. But I just was sitting at work to one day board. I was like, let me just do this real quick and got it done man, I, that's something that I would love to do like that's.

Speaker 1:

That's the goal list. Everyone knows who looks like. That's the goal for myself and a lot of the guys in boondocks hunting and everything like that. We had a our game dinner, a second annual game dinner. You know we had a, um, our our game dinner, our second annual game dinner. You know we had, uh, austin, uh, autumn mcchugh, autumn mckay come down, pa trapper girl, everything like that, and she was talking about trapping and that's something I really want to get into. I think it's. We have to take a two-day class here. We can't do it online, we have to do a two-day in-person class. I, I, so that's, that's coming eventually. But you know what, what, what is it like going to be trapping down there? Like is how's? Because I don't know what the predator population really looks like down there. Um, just because of the few experience of, like I said, it was my first year down there and I only spent from august to probably september ish, once the deer season really kicked off here. So what's your what's the predator population kind of look like over there?

Speaker 2:

so as far as predators go, we don't really have any big predators outside of like foxes and coyotes. I mean, you guys have bears and some bobcats and stuff like that yeah, we're not allowed, so we're not allowed to capture or hunt bobcats.

Speaker 1:

Um, it's, and their number is definitely growing. Like it, it's definitely growing. You're seeing them probably every year at least on trail camera and stuff like which I love, I absolutely love it. Um, but, yeah, we have some big coyote, we have a lot of coyotes, so, like our coyote numbers is booming yeah, so I don't really know anybody down here that traps coyotes.

Speaker 2:

If I burn into or meet somebody, oh really yeah.

Speaker 2:

so my trapping catalyst is actually the marsh boys from up in jersey. Yeah, yeah, they do a lot of um raccoons and stuff like that and I went, went on a trap line with him for coons and he was showing me like a couple of stuff for otters and stuff like that. I love it, yeah. But yeah, so I was like, oh, that's cool, and then they kind of like were my catalyst to get my license. But I'm probably going to end up. I mean, if I figure out how to trap coyotes around me, I probably will, but for the most part I'm probably gonna do like raccoons and like beavers and minks and stuff like that. Try to do like the nice fur stuff listen, raccoons, good eating I will say so.

Speaker 2:

I've heard, I want. I do want to try one. That's my goal. If I trap one I want to try one raccoons good, even eating.

Speaker 1:

And I've heard a lot about beaver. I heard beaver is really good. Um, having gotten the opportunity, like I said, I'm not, I'm just gonna hopefully be getting into trapping within the next year or or so and everything like that um, but I mean, beaver Would be absolutely amazing. And you know, like you said, shout out to Marsh Boys like they're. Those guys are great, absolutely Absolutely love those guys and they yeah, they've Were trapping hard this year For sure. Now, blue Hen, you guys got a podcast Now yeah, what is that?

Speaker 1:

What is the transition now Into the podcast? How's that going For you guys? What's the what's kind of the that's going?

Speaker 2:

pretty great Actually way better than I thought it was going to be so Kind of backtrack on how Blue Hen Outdoors started. My one friend that I hunt With down here in Delaware a lot and my wife when we would hang out we'd watch a lot of hunting videos or like fishing videos or whatever. But I still do it to this day at home and she's like oh, that's, all you really watch is hunting and fishing videos. Why don't you start doing them? I'm like, why not? And there, and you can kind of it's for those that want to see blue hen outdoors on instagram and tiktok.

Speaker 2:

You can look at my page and see I do have a little bit of a personality when it comes to things, so I try to keep it fun and loose and have fun with it. And then, just from doing the videos and all that, I was like well, what's the next logical thing? Well, everybody's doing a podcast, so let's do a podcast, right? So I'm trying to keep it not different, but I want to kind of like how meat eater does theirs, like, have a little bit of everything on the podcast, if that makes sense, but just have it all back to the outdoors world somehow, some way I, I, I absolutely love that.

Speaker 1:

Like that's kind of what I mean. Like you said, one first of all, everyone is doing podcasts. I mean, right, it's, it's the thing to do which you know. I, I do love seeing people do it like it's it's great.

Speaker 2:

I mean it's great for for clubs and getting other people on and oh yeah, and I like I love talking to people, like how we're talking, and getting different information, stories and different. I mean. Granted, we're kind of like the same area of the country, but some guys that I've talked to on my show from like georgia, brad, nebraska, mississippi just hearing how they hunt in those kinds of areas of the country is interesting.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, no, I, I agree. Um, you know I've, I've made a lot of great relationships all over the country. Now, like I said, we, we do events and you know stuff like that. But podcasting has become the it's the new wave, it's, it's. It's been going on. You know, we've been five years strong. Everyone, you know, all the people who who know us, they, they know that now with with two shows and everything like that. But we've kind of gone through that like meat eater. I think has been a lot of people's like goal, starting place and goal, and you know, that's where I got into like the idea, and mine was during during COVID. I was like well, why don't we do this before?

Speaker 2:

like everyone else starts jumping on doing this and not to cut you off, but COVID is kind of when everything kind of had that resurgence, back in the hunting and fishing. Everybody's like, oh, let me go get my own food, because then what's going to happen to the world?

Speaker 1:

A hundred percent and you know a big part of that is media. Like I, I got doctors at at work and everything like yeah, like you know that show meat eater and I'm like of, yeah, of course I know that show meat eater. Like they watch the netflix series. They watch, they listen to youtube, everything like that and he does a very obviously phenomenal job.

Speaker 2:

Oh, yeah, steve's a very knowledgeable guy.

Speaker 1:

So he yeah, every I think everyone you know gives homage to, to him and everything that when it comes to podcasting like, and then, of course, and you know all the other shows, like the hunting public, they came out with their podcasts, like I think it's just kind of the thing to do when now, when you're when you have the brand and when you're you're creating something you're doing right.

Speaker 2:

It just keeps it all just rolls into one again.

Speaker 1:

It's like yeah, you have the podcast, you have merch, you have this, you have that yeah, yeah, which it's a lot, and it's a grind and it's a whole different type of now you're, it's a never-ending grind, so hunting is just like a never-ending thing for for us and everyone who's doing it serious. But you guys from the Marsh Boys to, you know, alex From Buckdown and like a lot of our guys that we're really close with and everything like that. But, yeah, it's great to see and we're really looking forward to seeing More from you guys and everything Like that. You know what has been. You know, obviously, besides connecting, like what's been one of your other, like something that you didn't expect to happen. When you created the, the podcast, like what was something like? Oh, like you know, you had no expectation to and then it it just popped up like, oh my god, like this is so cool so, honestly, some of the guests that I'm gonna have on here the next couple months as we roll through summer.

Speaker 2:

So I have um a couple I want to name drop and like spoil it, but do you have somebody from meat eater coming on?

Speaker 1:

I think I know who. I think I know who it is do you have um here?

Speaker 2:

take a guess, I'll say yes or no do you have um here?

Speaker 1:

take a guess, I'll say yes or no. Uh, what's face. Uh, the guy that was either just on marsh boys, um, I forgot his name.

Speaker 2:

Um damn, what the hell is it?

Speaker 1:

um, yeah, nope, stanfield, huh, but it is a waterfowl guy from oh okay, all right, so then maybe I don't don't know who who it is but I'm having him on um, having a cup.

Speaker 2:

Um, this summer I want to get into spearfishing. So I'm having a couple spearfishing guys, like big time spearfishing guys almost I'm excited about and gonna pick their brain about sick um, yeah, just. And then I got a couple, uh, international people that want to come on like talk about, uh, some honey in africa. Uh, I'm sure the guy I'm trying to have on talk about, uh, marco polo sheep in kazakhstan, oh wow, uh, yeah I that's pretty.

Speaker 1:

That's really unique. I love that. What um?

Speaker 2:

I have a friend of mine that we're going to talk, uh, athletes and wild game and that kind of thing as a coach at down at vanderbilt. Okay, that's pretty cool. Yeah, for that one that's great.

Speaker 1:

I, I, yeah, I absolutely love that and I also that's another thing like People do one get the Like especially us, like the smaller brands and everything. Like obviously we're no meat eater and stuff, so they get the, but it's like one. It's so cool. Like a lot of the Podcasts, like we get the same people on but then we get so many different people because there's so many people to get to and everyone, like you get this one person from Africa, why I've had people on from Africa but they're not going to be the same. Like then you maybe you know from all different backgrounds. Like, yeah, you, people do get the same, but I love when also shows get completely different people. It's like, oh, completely different people. It's like, oh, like cool. Like this is another aspect of right africa. Or you know, spearfisher, like that, that's so, that's so cool. Like I I kind of try to do that and look into that, but the more I've talked about africa, I had no interest in african hunting.

Speaker 1:

I will, let's say that as soon as I started this and got a few guys from africa to hit me, hit me up and like want to do some stuff, I've just had a burning desire to get there the the interest to africa, and then talking to these people and like, like I knew it was never about trophy hunting, like I I've always known that, but but all here, the confirmation and and things like that is completely like. It's like all right, like this is amazing, like this is this is something that I would be so proud of doing. And yeah, there's a lot of people who disagree, but you know what, at the end of the day, the meat goes to the villages. Like this is what pays.

Speaker 2:

And that's. That's kind of what was a big selling point for me. When I was talking to people they were like oh yeah, like the only thing you really take back is the, the trophy aspect. I'm like, and I was kind of like huh. But then as they got into it, they're like yeah, you know, like we'll cook for you in camp so you can say you've tried it. But we give the meat to the villages as kind of like a thank you for letting them have outsiders come in and yeah, that symbiotic relationship. I was like oh, wow, that's awesome, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1:

And it makes sense because you can also hunt a lot of animals while you're there. I think, like my buddies, they went over there. They were like almost every day they're killing like a different animal and they get to try it every night and they said the food was phenomenal and then boom it's, it's given to the villages, and which makes sense too, to bring all that meat home like it's a lot.

Speaker 2:

It's a lot of money.

Speaker 1:

So like, yes, and there's also the chance of spoilage, yes, that that too. And I know there's a lot of laws and regulations and everything like that. So, instead of wasting all that meat, like give it to the people who really need it. And you know, I I always say like people always like, oh well, are you trophy hunting? I go, no, I don't call it trophy, but like they're like, oh, so, like what do you do with the antlers? I was like, don't, don't get me wrong, am I mounting something? Yes, but that's not. Like, that's not the whole aspect of it. No, that that's not. Like yes, it's, it's the second part. Like, oh, it's great to get all that meat or or do whatever conservation, whatever the case is, get the hide, anything done. That's the second prize that you get. Like it's a, it's a bonus. I'm like shooting a big buck. Like at the end of the day, I still get all that meat and I'm gonna keep all that meat and I'm Gonna eat that deer and everything like that. You know Having, having a big, you know big buck and everything like that's, that's the bonus. Like that's the part that's like all right, cool, hey, this deer that we're eating, this is this is him right here, or you know, whatever the case where it's Like I don't trophy hunting.

Speaker 1:

To me, the only time it would be trophy hunting, as if literally like it's just and you know, people may not agree but like some rich prick who doesn't really enjoy hunting at all, just wants to go get off by just killing something and that's really, but has no idea what to do with hunting and everything like that, just has the money to go do it. Like to me, that's no, that's not hunting, that's not at all like what we do. We take it, it's. It's just a whole different level, you know, and it's not a, you know, a pissing competition to see that I'm an alpha because I killed a lion. Yes, I would love to go kill a lion, don't get me wrong. I I used to never want that. But then, yet again, doing all the research and everything like that has gotten me to the point where it's like all right, like I think I'm comfortable enough with going to do this.

Speaker 2:

Um, you know, especially in a place where, if it's going to help the, the villages and everything like that, like I, yeah, I have no issues with doing that at all oh yeah, I mean like my whole biggest thing is like why a lot of people ask and it's kind of like because from dating my wife and interacting with some of her friends, not to throw shade on jersey, but a lot of people in jersey, you're you could throw shade on jersey, don't worry, I do it.

Speaker 1:

We do it all the time, or?

Speaker 2:

or or cityized, so to say, or more not as rural as we are, so to speak. I'm trying to say it's not necessarily possible by offending anybody, but, um, they were like well, why do you? It's a conservation aspect. I don't just kill them and leave them out there. I bring them home, I process, I make the meat out of them. And on top of all that, my biggest point to people and if anybody has an argument against me or with me for hunting, I'm like okay, name something that you can go in god's grocery store. Get the most organic, all-natural food you can get. You go, and you not just the sun rises and sunsets, but also in the moments where it's just sitting. Still, you're in god's canvas as he's making the artwork for you. Yeah, like, how can you argue against that?

Speaker 1:

yeah, no, I, I 100 agree. And it mentally it's, it's great for you physically it's great for you the benefits. Just there's just so many benefits like to, to what we do and everything like that. Um but um. A few more questions that you know I got for you and everything like that is you know in the next five years, like, what is, what is one of your goals in the next five years for for blue hen outdoors?

Speaker 2:

just keep growing. I mean, um, right now, I have a son getting ready to come any day now.

Speaker 2:

Oh congratulations, thank you. So I know that's going to be kind of like putting a little bit of brakes on things, but I want to try to get it and grow it as much as I can and I also want to have this even if it dies off, I want to have it for my son to be like hey look, I made these connections, I made these friends, I've done this and that and I love it, kind of like. Have it be a help him, have a catalyst to get into it. Not saying that I'm gonna be big and famous for like meat eater at at any point. Is that the goal? Is it gonna happen?

Speaker 1:

who knows, but that's the dream. That's why I tell people that's the dream right.

Speaker 2:

But to put that, but to have maybe my son see me in that way and I'd be like, oh, my dad did this and him watch those videos, like the thp guys or meat eater or whoever else you want to say, and then him be like, oh well, my dad's like them guys, he does videos and podcasts and this and that, so why can't I go do it? You know, like that's kind of like what made me want to do it I love it, I love that and it's, yeah, the it's family first.

Speaker 1:

I mean this, and that's another thing. Hunting and fishing the outdoors, it's all. It's all family oriented, like, yes, you do, you do stuff by yourself, but like the memories that you make and it's just, it's absolutely unbelievable. Um, what is what is your dream hunt? If you can go on any hunt, what would it be? You're killing me money's not an option. Two weeks. It's our biggest question on the show money's not an option.

Speaker 2:

two weeks, I'd have to say. Can I give a couple of answers, cause I got a couple? There's probably like a top three. I'd have to say Africa. Africa is definitely on the list and I'm doing the day, the dangerous seven or whatever it is.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, um, I I've, I've been given this opportunity and these are all opportunities I've been given, and I would love to take too. Waterfowl hunting in South America, that's on the list, that's a cool one and I recently got invited to go do that. So I'll have to see logistics on that. That'd be awesome to go do. And then, uh, hawaii, just hawaii, because, oh, wow, because, because, because turkey hunting, fishing, spear fishing and just bow hunting in general, you're bow hunting. The grocery store, I mean everything out there is feral pigs, feral cows, feral chickens, feral sheep. That is so cool to do that.

Speaker 1:

I love that. Yeah, then hawaii is the one that you don't hear too many people talk about at all no, but hawaii is definitely on the list um, and then you know one, one thing I definitely want to you know with this show and everything like chase the unknown, like what is? When you hear chase the unknown, what, what does that mean to you? To you for in a hunting aspect?

Speaker 2:

I mean that's pretty. I mean that kind of. When I hear that that just sums up what I do as a hunter, you know what I mean. I mean that's, that's, that's all we do. That's what drives us to keep doing it. It's like, okay, you go see a buck, but it's like you keep going after him. You never know when he's going to come back.

Speaker 1:

You know, it's always that unknown.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, no, definitely. But like, like that way to come back, you know, so is that? Yeah, yeah, no, definitely, but like, like, just that, that statement itself chasing the unknown for a hunter is what keeps them going, in my opinion, like, that's just. That is a summary of a hunter's drive, essentially great.

Speaker 1:

Now one, one big question I have for you. You know, you're, you're a waterf hunter, then you're, you're a bow hunter too. You, you do all these things Like. If you can only pick one, though, from waterfowl to turkeys, to deer to, what would it be? Would it be waterfowl, would it be deer Turkey, hunt Turkey, oh wow, I'm.

Speaker 2:

I'm a turkey fiend. I go every weekend. I can. If I can get a turkey trip in the year, I will take it. Ever since I started turkey hunting 3 or 4 years ago now, from just seeing the first gobbler come in at 120 yards, hearing him, seeing him strut, I've just been hooked ever since.

Speaker 1:

I love that. I wasn't expecting that answer, I really wasn't. I love that. Um, well, you know when, what's your experience like real quick before we we get going everything like for turkey hunting? Like you, what has been your, your biggest heartache that's so far been with hunting, uh, turkey hunting, because I think there's a lot more heartache with turkey hunting, as least right now where I am, with just my knowledge of turkeys and, you know, being a rookie when it comes to turkeys and everything like that the biggest heartache for me is not getting one.

Speaker 2:

Me too, like it feels like you can do everything right, but you don't get one, but, but, but, but. On a note to that any day I'm in the turkey woods and I hear a turkey gobble is a good day for me I agree that's it's and I think that just goes also in general with hunting.

Speaker 1:

Like my aspect of of success when I go out into the woods is you know what the target animal I'm going for. Like if I see animals, you know if I see deer, if I see turkey, if I see whatever it is like that's a success. Especially like what I do is I do a lot of hanging hunts and like as a turkey hunter, I'm also a A turkey hunter who Just Run and gun all over the place like that, that's my style of Of hunting.

Speaker 1:

So like, if I can get on birds you know, if I could see birds like, that means a lot to me and that's the Most important thing to me. And then killing the whole killing part that comes after Like, then that's the, that's the most important thing to me. And then killing the whole killing part that comes after like, then that's another um success and accomplishment.

Speaker 2:

After after that see, as much as I want to kill a turkey because I, because I personally haven't gotten one yet, I mean it's been three, don't worry, we're in the same boat.

Speaker 2:

but it comes with time, you know, and three or four years you got to learn when you start. But the biggest thing that I like is seeing how close I can get to him or how on top of him I can get without him knowing. Yeah, before he knows, I'm there and makes a move. You know what I mean. If that makes sense, I agree.

Speaker 1:

No, it a hundred percent does.

Speaker 2:

Like, like, like. It makes me feel like, okay, I'm of the apex predator that I think I am when it comes to hunting to trick a turkey and get that close to him agreed, absolutely agreed, and they're they're difficult like deer, are very curious animals versus turkey they don't.

Speaker 1:

They don't do the curiosity like deer do no getting close to them or is completely is a completely different game, um, you know. So I absolutely love it. Now, you know, and, and with turkeys.

Speaker 2:

Sound scares them. They don't want to go towards it or get curious with it, like some deer do. They're like oh, maybe it's a deer walking, or oh, maybe it's a squirrel no, they hear something they're gone.

Speaker 1:

They are gone. Those little legs are going. I love the way they run. Like that's one of my favorite things. Like when they run, like I am cracking up, but you know it's a challenge that's worth it.

Speaker 2:

Well, it was funny, my one friend that I mentioned that I took out deer hunting for the first time and saw how bad he wanted it. I took him last year down to South Carolina and I didn't shoot because I wanted him to have the opportunity being a trip and everything to go get a bird and have the cool story and everything. But um, no, it's funny. So we went down and he, he whiffed twice, but anyway happens one of the times he whiffed the bird got up and flew away. He, he literally turned, looked at me like is there, turkeys fly? I'm like what?

Speaker 1:

yes, they fly. Yeah, yes, they do. And people like people who don't know honey, like especially like they're like, oh, I didn't know, turkeys fly. I'm like like, yeah, they do. They're not going to fly for long, but they can fly, yeah, yeah. You know, I absolutely love that, that you've been able to come on today.

Speaker 2:

I appreciate the opportunity and thank you for having me on.

Speaker 1:

Of course, Any any other last words before we get going.

Speaker 2:

No, If anybody wants to holler at me or see any more of my content or check out my podcast, blue head outdoors on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, prime, and then blue head outdoors on Instagram, tech talk, YouTube see videos If you want to check them out.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, no, definitely, and the link is going to be down in the description below. Listen, one thing we definitely, because now I know where I'm going to be down in the description below.

Speaker 2:

Listen, one thing we definitely because now I know where you, I'm going to be hitting you up when I, when I go to Delaware and everything like that definitely because you said you're a big bear guy and I tried to get on a bear last year.

Speaker 1:

Oh, listen, come to us. So if you can put me on a bear, I can help you out with some stuff down here hell, yeah, no, we um, I'll let you know because we're going to be doing Bear camp and everything like that. We'll be camping out. I'm telling the Marsh boys to come To I've talked to them about it and everything Like that so we might have a big. Hopefully we have a decent good number.

Speaker 1:

Oh yeah, we'll be out all week, so yeah, yeah, definitely so I'll Keep you updated and everything like that. Like I said, everyone, make sure you Go check them out everyone. I hope you guys enjoy this episode and we'll See.

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