Ep. 651: MeatEater Radio Live! Rare Guns, Best Camp Spots, and Gettysburg

Summary

The MeatEater Podcast
Episode: Ep. 651: MeatEater Radio Live! Rare Guns, Best Camp Spots, and Gettysburg
Release Date: January 17, 2025

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Overview

In Episode 651 of The MeatEater Podcast, host Spencer Newharth, along with co-hosts Seth Morris and Corey Calkins, deliver a dynamic live show from their headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. This episode delves into a variety of outdoor topics, including rare firearms auctions, migration reports, fishing challenges, camping experiences, and an in-depth discussion on one of the most coveted public lands jobs—being a guide at Gettysburg. The episode is filled with engaging conversations, expert interviews, and interactive segments that cater to hunting enthusiasts, history buffs, and nature lovers alike.

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1. Sleep and the Full Moon Debate [01:35 - 05:26]

The episode kicks off with Spencer Newharth addressing an amusing personal anecdote about a disagreement with Corey Calkins regarding the effects of a full moon on sleep. Spencer initially dismissed studies suggesting that full moons disrupt sleep but later conceded that research indicates people do indeed have more difficulty sleeping during a full moon.

Notable Quote:

Spencer Newharth [02:50]: "Pretty consistently agreed upon by science that you sleep worse on a full moon."

Despite Spencer's newfound understanding, Seth Morris shares his own experiences, highlighting how full moons typically disrupt his household's sleep patterns due to increased activity from pets and family members. The discussion humorously underscores the universal frustrations caused by bright nights and restless nights during full moons.

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2. Rare Guns Auction with Joel Collander [05:28 - 18:06]

Guest: Joel Collander from Rock Island Auction
Timestamp for Key Segments: [07:52 - 17:52]

Spencer introduces Joel Collander to discuss the fascinating world of rare firearms up for auction. Joel highlights Rock Island Auction House as the premier destination for historic firearms, catering to both collectors and active users with a vast inventory of over 50,000 guns annually.

Notable Quotes:

Joel Collander [06:24]: "They were presented to Ulysses S. Grant, sold for $5.18 million."

Joel showcases exceptional pieces, including a Colt Walker revolver, noting its historical significance and extraordinary auction results. The conversation covers how antique firearms are valued, the meticulous care required in handling them, and the diverse clientele Rock Island attracts. Joel also shares details about other rare firearms, such as the 700 J.D. Jones rifle, discussing its unique characteristics and auction estimates.

Additional Highlights:

• Auction Insights: Joel explains the fluctuating nature of firearm auctions, emphasizing that the value of these collectibles is ultimately determined by what buyers are willing to pay.
• Rare Finds: Discussion on the most expensive firearm sold ($5.18 million) and upcoming auction items, including unique Colt Walkers and custom-made rifles.
• Collector Advice: Joel advises potential bidders to explore various bidding options on their website, emphasizing accessibility for all levels of collectors.

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3. Migration Report by Matt McCormick [18:08 - 20:21]

Presenter: Matt McCormick
Timestamp for Key Insights: [18:15 - 20:21]

Matt McCormick delivers an insightful migration report focused on waterfowl hunting forecasts across different flyways. Reporting from Montana's Pacific Flyway, Matt discusses the culmination of a successful hunting season influenced by severe weather patterns that pushed birds southward into Utah's Sac Valley.

Notable Points:

• Season Closure: The Pacific Flyway season ended on January 10th with a significant influx of birds due to a major storm.
• Regional Variations: While some flyways like the Central and Mississippi are beginning to close, others are experiencing massive bird pushes.
• Hunting Tips: Matt encourages hunters to seek out states with remaining open seasons and make the most of the final weeks for hunting opportunities.

Matt’s report provides valuable information for hunters planning their strategies in the waning weeks of the hunting season, emphasizing adaptability and seizing opportunities as bird movements change.

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4. One Minute Fishing Challenge [30:13 - 35:05]

Participant: Chester Floyd
Timestamp for Key Segments: [30:46 - 34:53]

In a lively interactive segment, Chester Floyd takes on the One Minute Fishing challenge from a frozen lake in Wisconsin. The goal was to catch a fish within 60 seconds to secure a $500 donation for Muskies Inc., a conservation group.

Notable Moments:

• Challenge Setup: Chester switches from fishing bluegill to baby perch due to lack of bites.
• Successful Catch: Despite the cold and challenging conditions, Chester successfully catches a perch in just 13 seconds.

Notable Quote:

Corey Calkins [33:25]: "Chester caught a little perch to make a donation to Muskies, Inc. Well done, Chester."

Chester’s quick success not only adds excitement to the show but also highlights the importance of supporting conservation efforts through engaging challenges.

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5. Top Threes: Coolest Camping Spots [35:15 - 50:03]

In this segment, Spencer, Seth, and Phil share their top three coolest camping experiences, offering listeners a glimpse into some of the most breathtaking and unique outdoor locations they've visited.

Corey Calkins' Top Three:

1. Death Valley, California [35:55 - 38:58]: March 2023 trip featuring the Sailing Stones at Racetrack Playa, stargazing under a moonless sky, and experiencing extreme temperature shifts.

   Notable Quote:

   Corey Calkins [37:10]: "It was blazing hot... but you got the full effect of being in the desert because by that night, it was freezing cold and there were no moon."

2. Valley of the Gods, Utah [41:38 - 43:07]: A remote and picturesque area within the Bears Ears National Monument, requiring a high-clearance vehicle to access, offering stunning buttes and mesas illuminated by a full moon.

3. Cape Flattery, Washington [46:12 - 50:03]: The northwesternmost point in the lower 48 states, providing a panoramic 270-degree view, serene beach camping, and vibrant marine activity.

Seth Morris' Top Three:

1. Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana [35:55 - 37:15]: Extensive experience guiding fishing pack trips, emphasizing safety and the rugged beauty of the wilderness.

   Notable Quote:

   Seth Morris [37:10]: "I schmeg before they go in. The dishwasher helps your dishwasher out."

2. Cumberland Island, Georgia [37:25 - 43:07]: Limited-access island showcasing wild horses, alligator sightings, and lush Spanish moss-covered trees, accessible via ferry from St. Mary's, Georgia.

3. Iceland Underneath Aya Fetja Yokio Volcano [46:22 - 48:35]: An adventurous month-long journey hitchhiking around Iceland's Ring Road Highway 1, camping near an erupting volcano, and experiencing the island's unique landscapes and friendly locals.

Phil Muskett's Top Three:

1. Missouri River, Montana [35:55 - 38:16]: Peaceful camping with views of an old homestead, wildlife activity, and serene river landscapes reminiscent of Lewis and Clark's explorations.

   Notable Quote:

   Phil Muskett [38:16]: "And it wasn't like a designated camp spot... It was just a cool spot to be in after a long, hard winter in Montana."

2. Northeast Montana Glacier Valley [43:10 - 50:03]: Camping near a massive glacier with awe-inspiring noises from ice sloughing off, accompanied by sightings of Dall sheep during a deer hunt.

   Notable Quote:

   Phil Muskett [49:10]: "That glacier made the craziest noises all night long."

3. East Alaskan Wilderness [46:12 - 48:35]: Although not explicitly detailed, Phil hints at breathtaking experiences in Southeast Alaska, capturing moose hunts and the majestic northern lights.

These personal stories not only highlight stunning natural environments but also convey the deep connection and respect each host has for the wilderness.

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6. Gettysburg Guide Interview with Phil Muskett [51:46 - 64:00]

Guest: Phil Muskett, President of the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides
Timestamp for Key Segments: [51:46 - 64:00]

Phil Muskett joins the show to discuss the prestigious role of being a licensed battlefield guide at Gettysburg, one of America's most historic and competitive public lands jobs.

Key Discussion Points:

• Desirability of the Role: Phil explains why guiding at Gettysburg is highly sought after, emphasizing the profound experience of sharing the battlefield's history with hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

  Notable Quote:

  Phil Muskett [51:46]: "People come here to learn and hear the stories of the men who fought here and it's words of fire in them."

• Rigorous Testing Process:

  • Written Exam: Three-hour exam covering fill-in-the-blanks and picture recognition.
  • Essay Section: Five essay options, three must be completed within three hours.
  • Panel Interview: Assesses communication skills and ability to convey complex historical narratives.
  • Field Practicum: Three-day mentorship with experienced guides, including creating and delivering a test tour.
  • Oral Examination: Two attempts to lead a two-hour tour across the 25-square-mile battlefield.

  Notable Quote:

  Phil Muskett [56:05]: "They set a Guinness book world record for the most expensive movie prop firearm ever sold."

• Challenges in Recruitment: With the average age of current guides at 72, there's a pressing need to attract younger talent to sustain the role.

• Wildlife and Conservation at Gettysburg:

  • Deer Population Management: Federal employees conduct controlled hunts to maintain ecological balance.
  • Beaver Management: Efforts to mitigate beaver dams affecting historical landmarks.
  • Wildlife Sightings: Bald eagles, hawks, and occasional black bears enrich the natural environment of the battlefield.

Phil's Insights: Phil shares personal anecdotes about the rewards of guiding, such as connecting visitors with their ancestral histories and inspiring future generations through educational tours.

Notable Quote:

Phil Muskett [60:40]: "Our current controversy on the battlefield deals with beavers... to the chagrin of many historians."

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7. Listener Feedback and Questions [64:00 - 68:43]

The hosts engage with listeners through live chat, addressing questions and sharing additional insights.

Key Highlights:

• First-Time Hunting in South Dakota: Advice is given to avoid Gregory County due to low retention rates and to consider drawing preference points for future quality hunting trips.

  Notable Quote:

  Corey Calkins [23:16]: "Plan on drawing some preference points, make a quality trip in like 2027 and for this first year... just don't do Gregory County."

• Waterfowl Hunting Stories: Phil shares a memorable hunt with Max Barda, highlighting scouting techniques and successful duck pushes.

• Venison Cooking Tips: The hosts discuss the ethics and techniques of presenting venison to guests, emphasizing transparency and culinary versatility to enhance acceptance of wild game meat.

• Deer Antler Consumption: A humorous discussion ensues about the possibility of eating deer antlers in velvet, sharing personal stories and debunking myths about the practice.

Notable Quote:

Phil Muskett [25:21]: "I love having people over for dinner that are wishy-washy about eating wild game and then just like, not telling them what it is."

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8. Final Segments and Closing Remarks [68:43 - 69:40]

As the episode winds down, the hosts recap key moments, congratulate Chester Floyd on his successful fishing challenge, and tease upcoming content, including the return of the MeatEater Movie Club. They encourage listeners to engage with future episodes and continue supporting conservation and outdoor education initiatives.

Notable Quote:

Steven Rinella [69:36]: "Hey, American history buffs... this new Mountain man edition about the beaver skin trade is available for pre-order now wherever audiobooks are sold."

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Conclusion

Episode 651 of The MeatEater Podcast offers a rich tapestry of outdoor adventures, expert insights, and lively interactions. From the allure of rare firearms auctions and strategic hunting forecasts to the serene beauty of top camping spots and the demanding rigor of becoming a Gettysburg guide, this episode is a comprehensive resource for outdoor enthusiasts. The engaging discussions, coupled with fun and interactive segments, make it an invaluable listen for anyone passionate about hunting, history, and the great outdoors.

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Key Takeaways:

• Rare Firearms Insight: Understanding the value and history behind antique firearms can enhance collection strategies.
• Migration Knowledge: Staying updated with migration reports is crucial for successful waterfowl hunting.
• Camping Inspiration: Exploring diverse and unique camping locations can enrich outdoor experiences.
• Guiding Excellence: Becoming a licensed Gettysburg guide requires dedication, extensive knowledge, and exceptional storytelling abilities.
• Community Engagement: Active participation and feedback from the community foster a supportive and informative environment for all listeners.

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Stay Connected: For more engaging content, detailed gun showcases, and beautiful camping spot visuals, visit The MeatEater Podcast on YouTube and other streaming platforms. Don’t forget to subscribe and follow for updates on upcoming episodes and exclusive content.

Transcript

[Steven Rinella]

Hey, American history buffs. Hunting history buffs, listen up. We're back at it with another volume of our Meat Eaters American History series. In this edition, titled the Mountain Men 1806-1840, we tackle the Rocky Mountain beaver trade and dive into the lives and legends of fellows like Jim Bridger, Jed Smith and John Colter. This small but legendary fraternity of backwoodsmen helped define an era when the west represented not just unmapped territory, but untapped opportunity for those willing to endure some heinous and at times, violent conditions. We explain what started the mountain man era and what ended it. We tell you everything you'd ever want to know about what the mountain men ate, how they hunted and trapped, what gear they carried, what clothes they wore, how they interacted with Native Americans, how 10% of them died violent deaths, and even detailed descriptions of of how they performed amputations on the fly. It's as dark and bloody and good as our previous volume about the white tailed deer skin trade, which is titled the Long Hunters 1761-1775. So again, this new Mountain man edition about the beaver skin trade is available for pre order now wherever audiobooks are sold. It's called Meat Eaters American History the Mountain Men 1806-1840 by me, Stephen Rella.

[Spencer Newharth]

Smell us now, lady.

[Corey Calkins]

Welcome to Meat Eater Trivia Meat Eater.

[Spencer Newharth]

Podcast.

[Corey Calkins]

Welcome to Meat Eater radio live. It's 11am Mountain Time on Thursday, January 16th and we're live from Meat Eater HQ in Bozeman, Montana. I'm your host, Spencer Newharth, joined today by Seth Morris and Corey Calkins. On today's show, we'll interview Joel Collander from Rock Island Auction about some super rare guns that are for sale. Then we'll get a migration report from Matt McCormick, followed by one minute fishing with Chester in Wisconsin. After that, we'll rank the three coolest places we've ever camped. And finally, we'll talk to Phil Muskett about one of the most coveted public lands jobs in America. But before we do anything, Cory, I need to issue an apology to you. Do you know why? No, there's not a chance. You know why? Cory and I were elk hunting in October and it was a big full moon that night. And I was talking about how I am very entertained by doctors and school teachers and nurses who say that like, the hospital is the worst place to work on a full moon. Kids are harder to deal with on a full moon. And I said all these studies have shown that that's not true. But I'm glad that they think that that's true. But there's multiple studies that are like, that is not the case. Which Corey said that he sleeps worse on a full moon. And I said, corey, you fool, there is no chance that's the case. Earlier this week, I was having a tough time falling asleep. Looked out the window, full moon. And so I'm like, was Corey right? So I googled it. There were like six to ten studies saying that that is the case. People have a harder time falling asleep on a full moon, and they wake up sooner on a full moon. They conducted these studies in South America, in the United States, in rural areas, in urban areas, in laboratories where you didn't even know, like, what the moon was doing that night. And it's like, pretty consistently agreed upon by science that you sleep worse on a full moon. So. Corey, I'm sorry.

[Seth Morris]

That's all right. I hate to say I told you so, but I mean, that was just my own life, you know, things I noticed in my life. I mean, there's like, what, three nights in a row where it's almost full happened this week.

[Corey Calkins]

Did you notice that you slept any worse?

[Seth Morris]

You know, my house has been in shambles. We had a little walk, water leak. So we got fans and dehumidifiers going nuts. So actually I slept great. But, yeah, typically full moon, like, my kid doesn't sleep well. My dog's up roaming around, needs to go outside and howl at the moon or something. So, yeah, it's typically a rough night to sleep, especially out camping. You know, it's a little bright.

[Corey Calkins]

Seth, you ever notice that full moons, they mess with you?

[Phil Muskett]

Other than just the. The fact that it's light out, especially like right now when there's snow cover, I just like.

[Joel Collander]

So I like darkness difference.

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah, I like darkness when I sleep. So. But I can't say that I've noticed a difference because of the full moon.

[Corey Calkins]

Phil, are your boys rowdier on a full moon, you think?

[Joel Collander]

I don't know. I've never noticed any sort of pattern like that. I know a lot of astrology people would beg to differ.

[Corey Calkins]

A few days ago, were they a real pain in your butt?

[Joel Collander]

You know, actually, for the first time, they, they. They weren't a pain in my butt for a while. So maybe it's like my kids are just the opposite, which, you know.

[Corey Calkins]

All right. Yeah.

[Joel Collander]

I don't know.

[Corey Calkins]

So, Corey, going back to our elk camp conversation in October. I'm sorry.

[Seth Morris]

That's all right. Thank you for the apology. I guess I wonder why that's the case. Must be gravity.

[Corey Calkins]

One of the studies I saw said it's actually more rare in children than it affects their sleep. And so it's something that's been baked into us by the time we're adults. That just messes with you.

[Seth Morris]

Wild, huh? Wild world.

[Corey Calkins]

All right, we're going to go to our first interview. Joining us on the line now is Joel Colander from Rock Island Auction. And he's here to show us some legendary guns that are coming up for sale. Joel, welcome to the show.

[Matt McCormick]

Hey, a pleasure to be here. Thanks for having us on.

[Corey Calkins]

First thing, Joel, tell us about what Rock Island Auction is.

[Matt McCormick]

The short way to put it is Rock Island Auction House is the number one auction house in the world for finding historic firearms. A lot of people associate us with six and seven figure firearms. Those are what we're most known for. But I love con on shows like this and saying, but there's guns for everybody. I mean you just want a. Something to go out to the field. You need a pre 64 Winchester model 70. You know, we're, we're gonna have that. We're, we're really catering to collectors at, at all levels. Not just collectors, but people use these things too.

[Corey Calkins]

You mentioned six, six and seven figure guns. What's the most expensive firearm you've ever sold?

[Matt McCormick]

That would be a pair of firearms that was in May 22. A pair of Remington new models, so percussion revolvers, mint condition, engraved by one of the finest engravers of the century, LD Nimski. And they were presented to Ulysses S. Grant, sold for $5.18 million.

[Corey Calkins]

Oh my goodness. 5.18. Is that what you expected those guns to yield?

[Matt McCormick]

No, we had a, I believe a pre auction estimate between between 1 and 3. So we had a seven figure estimate on it. We knew those were special. And above and beyond, once you start adding those historic figures, a lot of times there's, you know, there's no precedent for that. There's no precedent on, you know what, what should a Ulysses S. Grant revolver sell for? So when it comes to auction time, it's. Sometimes you get some fireworks.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah, it's, it's worth what somebody will pay for it. How many guns a year do you guys move.

[Matt McCormick]

Anymore? So we're changing a lot of auction formats, trying to do a lot of new things on with online platforms. Currently just about, just about under 50,000 guns annually.

[Corey Calkins]

Okay, 50,000 guns moving through Rock Island Auction. Now I see that you're wearing some gloves today. I assume that that's so you can delicately handle some of the firearms that you're about to show us. And you've got some guns that are coming up for auction in February. What do you have to share with us? Sure.

[Matt McCormick]

Well, these are in our February 21st through 23rd sporting collector firearms Auction, the full catalogs on our website. So people can do that. You're not. You don't need to be present, although we certainly encourage people to come. If you're in that Dallas Fort Worth area, come see the new facility that's in Bedford. We can talk about that later. But one of the ones, when you asked about the most expensive guns, one that was on our list for a long time was a Colt Walker. You know, it's the very, very first revolver with the Colt name actually on it. And we have one of those coming up in February.

[Phil Muskett]

Nice.

[Matt McCormick]

This is the model 1847. That's when Colt would have started producing the Walkers. Absolute, just as you maybe you can tell, just a unit. Just a unit of a revolver. I mean, the cylinder is multiple inches in diameter. These are hard use. To see them in any condition is absolutely phenomenal. There were only a thousand made for a military contract, 100 made for the commercial, for the commercial market. And they really, you know, our president, Kevin Hogan likes to say, you know, they really gave Samuel Colt the keys to the mint. They opened up doors for him. It was just the start of military contracts, as well as getting, you know, introducing people on a more powerful scale to the. To the repeater or repeating pistol.

[Corey Calkins]

For our audience members who are listening to this show, I'd suggest you go over to YouTube and watch this one, because Joel is handling these guns on the camera here. We're gonna just get to see all these expensive guns. What was the original price of that gun when it sold?

[Matt McCormick]

Well, the thousand that were sold to the US government, they sold for $25 a piece and an extra $3 per revolver for accessories and accoutrements.

[Corey Calkins]

Wow. Okay. And what do you guys expect it to sell for next month?

[Matt McCormick]

The Colt Walkers do set the top of the market. We've sold examples commercially and otherwise for right around 1.8 million. Those are fine condition, all original, but there's still examples out there and, like I mentioned, a range of conditions. I believe we have the estimate at this one at 25 to 50,000. So really good way for someone who, you know, if you don't want to spend the moon on a Colt Walker, things like this provide a really easy way to do it to get an original, authentic, you Know Texas Ranger history, Colt Walker in their collection.

[Corey Calkins]

That is a beast of a gun. I see somebody in the comments of the live chat saying that they would be the unlucky person who would put a dent in one of these things. Out of the 50,000 guns that you guys sell a year, I imagined some accident has happened along the way, right where, where somebody has fumbled a gun and, and you guys had a little accident there.

[Matt McCormick]

We don't have it happen here too much. But again, a lot of the guns that come to us, you know, we have our premier auctions, which are kind of the world class. Just the best guns in the world are going to be at our premier auctions. Those you don't see too many on, but the sporting collector auctions or some of our other arms and accessories auctions, you know, there's a lot of really good history in those that aren't in pristine condition. You know, they've been used, they've been there, they've done that. They've seen combat or they've seen the firing range. So, you know, some of them have some marks on it already. And some people prefer that they'd like a gun that's been there and done that instead of a safe queen or one that missed all the battles. You know, they want. They want something that a Texas Ranger might have had in their holster. So it's like I said, we catered all levels.

[Corey Calkins]

All right, Joel, what else do you have to show us today?

[Matt McCormick]

Well, this next one's gonna be two hands. One of our most popular videos of all time is me and another gentleman here firing some rifles by J.D. jones. J.D. jones invented like the Whisper line of cartridges, which of course gave rise to 300 Blackout. Famous handgun hunter, famous wildcatter. Also did some rifle cartridges and rifle rounds, and this is one of them. This guy's chambered in 700 J.D.

[Phil Muskett]

Jesus.

[Corey Calkins]

Wow.

[Seth Morris]

That'll pack a wallet.

[Joel Collander]

It doesn't even have a muzzle break.

[Corey Calkins]

Like.

[Matt McCormick]

That's ambitious. Giant fluted cylinder. Makes these things out of Phoenix. And just no atf or it's ATF exempt, so you don't need an ATF letter on. On a gun like this.

[Corey Calkins]

The.

[Matt McCormick]

The host cartridge is actually made from a.50 BMG. Brass that's been necked out to accept that.700 caliber cartridge.

[Phil Muskett]

How much does that thing weigh, Joel?

[Matt McCormick]

Too much.

[Seth Morris]

Too much.

[Matt McCormick]

I'm struggling with it now. I mean, this has got to be like 35 pounds.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah, Joel can't hold that for the whole interview because that, that is quite the workout. And he can't even fit the whole thing in the frame of his screen. This is another beast of a firearm.

[Matt McCormick]

Yeah, you're going to want the weight frankly with a, with a round like that. I did some napkin math and it's about 28, 000 foot pounds of force.

[Phil Muskett]

Gee, wow.

[Matt McCormick]

Like a 30. 06 is generating 2900 foot pounds of force.

[Corey Calkins]

And what, what was this gun used for back in the day when, when people are tilting these things around?

[Matt McCormick]

Nobody, nobody was. That's the good news. Like it has sling swivels on it, but I don't know for what. Oh, nobody's gonna want to carry this. You can see though it is in this heavy bench rest stock. So it's really just testing the boundaries of cartridge, which is what JD Jones is doing with the wildcatting and in the handgun hunting, he's testing the boundaries for, for things like that. So target shooting. It's also made for watching your friends shoot it, not. Not you a whole bunch of times. That's probably more entertaining as well, huh?

[Corey Calkins]

The kind of guy who would haul that around in their back. I think that's exclusive to someone like Doug Duran. What, what was the original price on that gun?

[Matt McCormick]

That I don't know the original price, but it's pretty modern. So these, the 700 JDJ that's just developed as recently as 1995, but I don't have the original price on our estimate for that weekend for the February auction will be 14,000 to 22.

[Spencer Newharth]

5.

[Matt McCormick]

These big boards are becoming more desirable all the time. So I wouldn't be surprised to see it float a little higher than that.

[Corey Calkins]

Okay. And that, that thing, you could shoot it if you bought that, right? That, that's one that you take out to the range.

[Matt McCormick]

Absolutely. It comes with a bunch of solids, so it comes with copper solids and soft points as well as the dies. And you, you would laugh if you saw the reloading dies for this. They're just, they're just comically large.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah. All right. And what's. What's the last gun you have to show us today?

[Matt McCormick]

Last gun. Kind of a classic. Got ourselves a Sharps back. I'll flip it around. You can see the good side.

[Phil Muskett]

Oh, that's beautiful.

[Matt McCormick]

Sharps 1874. And if you love, you know, 19th century American hunting or even Civil War history, boy, a Sharps is the way to go. I mean pre Civil War history, Civil War. And in the 1870s, like this one, you know, you come into those American bison hunts and all the hunting that was going on there. The Sharps were extremely popular for that. They come in a variety of calibers and sizes and lengths and they were going to configure them just about any way you wanted it. So they're popular for that reason and you can and great for collectors. So if you want to collect a variety of them, you can sure find them.

[Corey Calkins]

And so when that gun was on the market in the 1870s, do you know what the selling price was?

[Matt McCormick]

A base model gun. So again, short barrel, short octagon barrel and no kind of extra features. Right around 35 bucks.

[Corey Calkins]

And what do you think it's going to sell for next month?

[Matt McCormick]

Let me check the estimate on that guy. We have it at 75 to 9, 500.

[Corey Calkins]

Okay, $35.

[Matt McCormick]

Not fancy stock, but we do have a half octagon, half round barrel. Not as many of those produced that this. The full round barrels are the rarest, the least produced out of the model 1874. But like I said, great model this. It's, you know, kind of got its fame with the Quigley down under movies. So that was in 1874. And in the same chambering as well in the 45.

[Corey Calkins]

$110 $35 gives me a little sticker shock for 1874. I'd assume that thing would be half of that price.

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah.

[Corey Calkins]

Joel, if, if some listener is interested in one of these guns, how do they make a bid?

[Matt McCormick]

Rockisland auction.com Best way to do it, you can set it up where you just set in a seal bid. You tell us what your max is. You can also request just right on the website to get a phone call. You can bid live via phone in the auctions, just click a button and one of our folks will call you maybe five lots before the auction or before that lot comes up and says, hey, you know, this is Joel with Rock Island Auction Company. What. Let's talk about this gun a little bit and what your plans are for it. So any number of ways to bid. I like to joke at just about. We'll take a bit anyway, except for a smoke signal.

[Corey Calkins]

Okay. It's. It is pretty painless. Rock Island Auction is actually where we bought our punt gun. And I've heard rumors in the office that it may get fired next month. If you're in the Gallatin Valley and you hear a big old boom, someday you'll know what was going on. Joel, I. I had saw in an email recently that there was a gun you were supposed to tell Phil about. That was once upon a time in your auction House.

[Matt McCormick]

Phil, we. We set a Guinness book world record for the most expensive movie prop firearm ever sold, and that was for a. For the Han Solo DL44 blaster.

[Joel Collander]

Oh, nice. You beat me to the DL44. I was going to come in with that. With that. That. That name, but no, yeah, that sounds. That sounds great.

[Phil Muskett]

Where.

[Joel Collander]

Where was I for this? How could I have gotten a notification?

[Matt McCormick]

We told a few people about it, but it went for just over a million dollars.

[Corey Calkins]

You know what? I take it back, Joel.

[Joel Collander]

I take it all back.

[Corey Calkins]

You could have a million dollars. Wow.

[Matt McCormick]

Bidding's free. It's just the winning gets a little.

[Joel Collander]

That's a great point.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah. All right, Joel. Well, we're definitely gonna check with you, Check in with you later this year to see what other cool guns you guys have at the auction house. Already looking forward to that next interview. Thanks for joining us.

[Matt McCormick]

Hey, pleasure to be here. Thanks very much.

[Corey Calkins]

Have a good one, Joel.

[Seth Morris]

Thanks, Joel.

[Corey Calkins]

All right, our next segment is the migration report.

[Joel Collander]

When you can find food and the.

[Corey Calkins]

Temps are so low, then you'll suffer. The migration report is where Matt McCormick gives a waterfowl hunting forecast for each flyway. Take it away, Matt.

[Chester Floyd]

Hey, guys, I'm Matt McCormick with Flying V. And welcome to the Meat eater migration report for January 16, 2025. It's been a little while since we've done one of these, and for good reason. We've been hunting hard, and as you can see here in the Pacific Flyway of Montana, which is where I am right now, we are all the way snowed in, iced up, and the birds are pushing. We ended our season on January 10th, and let me tell you, it was a banger of a. Of an ending. And those birds on the front end of this storm pushed all the way down into Utah, down to the Sac Valley. Everybody in the Pacific Flyway had a hell of a season this year. So kudos to everybody that was able to get out and do some hunting. In the Pacific Flyway, in the Central Flyway, some seasons are starting to close. Same with Mississippi. But as we're pushing south, and if you've been paying attention, there are birds pouring out of the north, down to the south. On the front and back end of this recent storm. I see you guys got some snow down there. Talk to some guys. You guys are getting massive pushes of birds as we dive into these last few weeks of the season. So if you're looking to get out and do some hunting, find a state that's open, hit the road with your buddies. If you're in one of those states that's still open. Good luck. Have fun with these last few weeks because in about a month or so, all of you, including myself, are going to be wishing that season was still open. We're going to hit the road tomorrow, go find some birds somewhere else because we just can't handle it. And hey, it's hunting season, boys. It's still here. So get in the truck, go find birds and keep hunting. Good luck and be safe.

[Corey Calkins]

Now, I believe that is the last migration report we'll have for the year. But for more waterfalling content from Matt and Flying V, be sure to go watch their show on the Meteor YouTube channel. A new episode just dropped today. Corey, Seth, you boys take advantage of the final stretch of the Montana season here or.

[Phil Muskett]

No, I did, actually. Got out, like for the first time this year in the last week or so.

[Corey Calkins]

How'd that go?

[Phil Muskett]

It was good. Got a couple birds, not many. Okay. Weren't taking it too serious, huh? But just something to do on the weekends.

[Corey Calkins]

What was the hunt like? You were just like, waiting down some stream?

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah, just local public stuff around here. Yeah, nothing fancy.

[Corey Calkins]

You saving those ducks then for a special occasion or. What are you going to do with them?

[Phil Muskett]

We ate some of them already.

[Corey Calkins]

Oh, yeah, okay.

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah, we. We usually don't let them things sit around too long. My wife loves them, so. Oh, yeah, if we have ducks, we're eating them.

[Seth Morris]

Pretty fatty too, I'm sure.

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah. Yeah, they're delicious.

[Steven Rinella]

Hey, American history buffs. Hunting history buffs, listen up. We're back at it with another volume of our Meat Eaters American History series. In this ed titled the Mountain Men 1806-1840, we tackle the Rocky Mountain beaver trade and dive into the lives and legends of fellows like Jim Bridger, Jed Smith and John Coulter. This small but legendary fraternity of backwoodsmen helped define an era when the west represented not just unmapped territory, but untapped opportunity for those willing to endure some heinous and at times violent conditions. We explain what started the mountain man era and what ended it. We tell you everything you'd ever want to know about what the mountain men ate, how they hunted and trapped, what gear they carried, what clothes they wore, how they interacted with Native Americans, how 10% of them died violent deaths, and even detailed descriptions of how they performed amputations on the fly. It's as dark and bloody and good as our previous volume about the white tailed deer skin trade, which is titled the Long Hunters 1761-1775. So again, this new Mountain man edition about the beaver skin trade is available for pre order now wherever audiobooks are sold. It's called Meat Eaters American History the Mountain Men 1806-1840 by me, Steven Ranella.

[Corey Calkins]

All right, let's take a break for some listener feedback. Phil, what's the Chad have to say?

[Joel Collander]

Yeah, well, I see that Dr. Randall and Steven Rinella are both in the chat currently. Say hey, gentlemen, if you have a question for the crew, feel free to drop it in right now. Mitchell has a question for Spencer and you can be as, as specific or non specific as you'd like, but he says this is his first year hunting in South Dakota as a resident. What west river zone do you think I should try putting in for?

[Corey Calkins]

Well, if this is your first year, then I assume that means you have zero points and you are going to be quite limited. Mitchell, to. To draw like a pretty quality unit in western South Dakota as a resident, you probably need three or four points. What I would say is probably just avoid Gregory County. If this is your first time going west river, you're probably going to be drawn to that zone. When you look at a public land map and see your draw odds, that unit has an incredib low retention rate because people get fooled by the reasons I just said and then they go there and they're super disappointed and they never go back again and, and you may think at that point, oh, that it's what it's like to hunt western South Dakota. So it's, it's I, I would say just plan on drawing some preference points, make a quality trip in like 2027 and for this first year in 2025, just don't do Gregory County.

[Joel Collander]

Sounds good. I'm actually curious about this because I don't know how. I don't think any of you guys are much of waterfowl people as far as I know. But Eric's asking, with duck season coming to a close and after that migration report, does any of the gang have a good waterfowl story from this season?

[Corey Calkins]

I hunted zero waterfowl.

[Joel Collander]

That's what I thought.

[Seth Morris]

Corey, I'm too big of a skier to waterfowl hunt. When I get old, I'll waterfowl hunt.

[Phil Muskett]

That's how I always say I the best. Well, I photographed a waterfowl hunt this year with Max Barda and it was phenomenal. That dude is just a ducky dude. And yeah, he did a bunch of scouting and found this spot, the spring pond that ducks were flying Flying to between there and like a grain elevator that had some spilled grain laying around and yeah, Max knocked on some doors and it was just a phenomenal, like, you know, a thousand ducks over your head in the morning.

[Corey Calkins]

Wow. And you didn't have a gun in your hand. You had a camera.

[Phil Muskett]

Nope, I had a camera. Yeah.

[Seth Morris]

But they're amazing shots, though.

[Phil Muskett]

Oh, they're great as always.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah.

[Joel Collander]

Let's see. Jova and Figueroa. I don't know. Thoughts about passing off venison as something else. When cooking, people like to joke that you can't tell the difference between beef and venison. He says he's against it, but his wife is not. Have you ever done this before?

[Corey Calkins]

I, I wouldn't like, openly misdirect someone and say it's beef, but if I feel like someone would be hesitant to eat it, I maybe wouldn't volunteer. Yeah, it's venison. I don't know. There's, there's plenty of good ways to make venison where it doesn't matter what kind of red meat it is. Specifically with like a ground meat recipe. You can get away with damn near anything. And it doesn't matter that it came off a white tail rather than a cow.

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah, I, I, I love having people over for dinner that, like, are wishy washy about eating wild game and then just like, not telling them what it is.

[Seth Morris]

Yeah.

[Phil Muskett]

And then, then like them eating it and being like, oh, this is delicious. And then I tell them.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah.

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah.

[Seth Morris]

It blows my mind how folks would rather eat a Walmart cow steak versus a wild deer.

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah.

[Seth Morris]

And there's a lot of them.

[Phil Muskett]

There are.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah. I, I feel like the people who are against it are more so they had a bad experience when they were a kid and like their dad cooked their venison steaks to a well done hockey truck. Of course no one's gonna like that if that's all the exposure you had for a while. Just show them how dang good venison could be without lying to them.

[Joel Collander]

I'm not sure why this is directed at you, Seth, but I'm curious. Seth, can you eat the velvet from deer antlers as. Have you guys ever done that before?

[Phil Muskett]

I don't know why that's directed towards me either. Never even thought about doing deer eat it.

[Corey Calkins]

I feel like photos, like, when they're shedding their velvet, they'll eat it.

[Phil Muskett]

Yep.

[Corey Calkins]

There was also famously, Ray Lewis, the linebacker hall of Famer from the Baltimore Ravens, he got busted with. I think it was a Banned substance at the time. If it wasn't a bad banned substance, they were going to make it banned. But it was a deer antler spray, which I don't know how that was applied, if it's oral or if you like, you have an inflamed knee, so you spray it there. But interesting. Deer eat their own velvet. Yeah. So I think you could do it too.

[Seth Morris]

Didn't your wife kill a cactus buck covered in velvet?

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah, she did.

[Seth Morris]

I wonder if that's what they're referring to.

[Corey Calkins]

But you did eat it, maybe?

[Phil Muskett]

No, we didn't eat it. It's still on the antlers.

[Seth Morris]

They always say you can't eat the antlers, but maybe you can if they're in velvet.

[Corey Calkins]

Did you, when you got that mounted, did they strip it off and reapply it or did they freeze dry? I think they not freeze dry, but like flash freeze.

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah, I think they stripped it and reapplied it, which I don't know how.

[Corey Calkins]

That works, but I also killed a velvet buck. That one. They just like did a flash freeze on it and it's. It's held real good. It doesn't smell at all. I. There was one. There was a couple spots where it was starting to peel a little bit, and I noticed that will peel like an extra eighth of an inch every two years.

[Phil Muskett]

Oh, really?

[Corey Calkins]

Without it ever being handled. So I imagine, you know, when I'm old and gray, that thing is, is going to be peeling a little more. But for right now, it's, it's holding real well.

[Phil Muskett]

I one time in Pennsylvania was shed hunting and found a shed antler that was still in like full velvet. It was peeling off in places and it was cold outside. So I just like, picked up, was like, oh, this is cool. And then like brought it in the house.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah.

[Phil Muskett]

Not think like, because I couldn't smell it.

[Corey Calkins]

It was just like frozen live flesh.

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah. And it brought it in the house. So once it thawed out, it was just the most miserable smelling thing.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah. Yeah. I imagine you handled the same way when Kelsey killed her cactus buck. But when I killed my cactus buck, threw the whole head in the freezer until I could get it to the taxidermist.

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah, we. We took it like right away.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah.

[Joel Collander]

So Steve says that question was directed at you, Seth, because it looks like he needs some help. I don't know what that means.

[Phil Muskett]

Thanks.

[Corey Calkins]

Steve Brunella is in the chat today. Randall Williams. And I know Randall was saying something before our show today, that the sharps rifle plays a heavy role in their upcoming mountain man history project. Maybe Randall can tell you more in the chat about that.

[Joel Collander]

Oh, sure. Yeah, we'll do one more here. Dr. Randall Williams is asking about the streamathon. Great question, Randall. For those of you who didn't hear Phil trivia, I proposed a 24 hour stream of Red Dead Redemption 2 to raise money for the meat eater land access initiative. Unfortunately, the person in charge of content is on paternity leave right now, and I'm very disappointed he didn't drop everything he was doing, including his baby, to come tell me what the best idea that that was. But I'm still fighting for it. I'm going to. I'm going to pitch it officially at the next round of pitches that come through. So I've got faith. I have faith. Thank you for that question, Randall.

[Corey Calkins]

All right, our next segment is One minute Fishing. Do I feel lucky? Well, do you, punk? Go ahead, make my cast. One Minute Fishing is where we go live to someone who's fishing and they have one minute to catch a fish. And if they're successful, we'll make a 500 donation to a conservation group this week. Our angler is Chester Floyd, who's on a frozen lake in Wisconsin and he's fishing for a donation to Muskies Inc. Chester, welcome to the show.

[Steven Rinella]

Hello.

[I]

It's windy as all heck out here.

[Corey Calkins]

It looks cold, too.

[Seth Morris]

Oh, my.

[I]

And I'm cold.

[Corey Calkins]

Chester is the first person in the history of One Minute fishing to join us on the hard water. Tell us about what you're after today, Chester.

[I]

Well, we're really after some bluegill, but they're not biting, so we switched to baby little perch. Okay, that's what I catch here.

[Corey Calkins]

And how long have you been on the ice today?

[I]

About an hour.

[Corey Calkins]

And how many fish have you caught?

[I]

30.

[Corey Calkins]

Oh, okay, so there's a chance. I thought the answer was going to be three.

[Phil Muskett]

How many beers have you drank, Chet?

[I]

None. It's a work day.

[Phil Muskett]

Oh, come on.

[Seth Morris]

But it's lunchtime.

[Corey Calkins]

You're in Wisconsin and you're fishing, and Chester is.

[I]

Say hi to my brother, Ike.

[Seth Morris]

Oh, what's up, Ike?

[Corey Calkins]

Ike. Famous from the 18 inch wheel song, chester stole your bike and the sturgeon spear.

[Phil Muskett]

An episode with Giannis.

[Corey Calkins]

That's right.

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah.

[I]

He's a cookie guy.

[Corey Calkins]

And Chester has the camera very tight on his face. You almost can't even see both of his ears. I think he's trying to hide his location so nobody goes out there and catches his baby little perch that he's after.

[I]

When do you guys want to do this?

[Corey Calkins]

Chester's getting real cold. I imagine his fingers are getting frostbitten. First thing, Chester, tell us about what you're doing to try to catch one of these perch. What, what tactics we using?

[Phil Muskett]

Looks like it involves a live scope. Oh, no, that's a camera.

[I]

Yeah, that's just down in 2D sonar. We don't really need it. Literally, we're just in weeds and there's little perch everywhere, so I hope they're there right now.

[Corey Calkins]

And what are you dropping down there? A little waxy worm or what?

[I]

Wax worm and a little tungsten jig. Yep.

[Corey Calkins]

Okay, Chester, hand that phone over to Ike, and your one minute of fishing starts as soon as that waxy worm hits the water.

[I]

Okay.

[Corey Calkins]

Okay. He's. He's picking up his rod. He's showing the camera that that is bait for a little itty bitty fish. And we're ready. We're ready. Go for it. All right, the worm is in the water. Your 60 seconds starts now.

[Phil Muskett]

I'm on the edge of my seat already.

[Corey Calkins]

We've only had a few successful anglers in the history of one minute fishing. Pat Durkin.

[Phil Muskett]

And he pulled off a.

[Corey Calkins]

Perch that I would say if I described it as 4 inches long, that would be generous. Show us that fish, Chester.

[Seth Morris]

Chester, 20 seconds.

[Corey Calkins]

That was 13 seconds.

[Spencer Newharth]

Oh, my gosh.

[Corey Calkins]

13 seconds. Chester caught a little perch to make a donation to Muskies, Inc. Well done, Chester.

[I]

Thank you, guys. I appreciate it.

[Corey Calkins]

Are you gonna eat that thing?

[Phil Muskett]

He's allergic.

[I]

No, it's back at work kind of catching.

[Phil Muskett]

Oh, he's running.

[Corey Calkins]

Oh, he's running to another hole.

[Phil Muskett]

Is it a tip up?

[Corey Calkins]

What are you running to, Chester?

[I]

Where these bluegills are on the ice.

[Corey Calkins]

Okay. Oh, yeah. He's gonna show us the hot bluegill bite. Should this just be the whole show?

[Joel Collander]

Like, apologies to whatever we had coming up.

[I]

This is like the size, you know?

[Corey Calkins]

Uh huh.

[Seth Morris]

Perfect.

[Phil Muskett]

You're keeping those?

[I]

I'm cold.

[Corey Calkins]

Okay. All right, we will see you later. Chester, thank you for joining us. Congrats on getting that 500 donation from.

[Seth Morris]

Muskie's Inc. Nice job, buddy.

[Phil Muskett]

Good work.

[I]

See you guys.

[Seth Morris]

Man, it looked like it could have been 20 or dirty below zero with the wind chill.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah. Chester makes it look colder, and I trust that it was very cold out there.

[Seth Morris]

Sound cold.

[Joel Collander]

Incredible stuff.

[Matt McCormick]

Wow.

[Seth Morris]

There we go.

[Phil Muskett]

That was great content.

[Corey Calkins]

Thank our third successful angler. For one minute fishing, we had Pat Durkin, we had Yanni in Louisiana. And now Chester Floyd joins the hall of Fame.

[Seth Morris]

Wow.

[Corey Calkins]

All right, our next segment is top threes.

[Joel Collander]

I'm sorry this one is so long.

[Corey Calkins]

The other way. Phil, you should apologize for the ones that are short.

[Joel Collander]

Okay.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah, it's a real treat.

[Joel Collander]

Oh, that's not the right thing.

[Corey Calkins]

All right, this week we are ranking the three coolest places we've ever camped. Corey, you go first. What's the third coolest place you've ever camped?

[Seth Morris]

The third coolest place I've ever camped would have to be in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. I used to guide back in the Bob. We run fishing pack trips. There were six day pack trips. We joked that we were professional campers back there because we were helping other folks get back there, obviously, and get out successfully without getting hurt. That was our biggest goal. In and out. I did the math. Over eight years of running those trips, I did 340 to 360 days back in the wilderness, camping, sleeping on the ground under a tarp if it was threatening rain. But yeah, that's a picture of me when I was a. A cook back there. A chef. I would have been 20 years old, probably in that photo.

[Corey Calkins]

20 years.

[Phil Muskett]

You look to be about 13 in that photo.

[Corey Calkins]

Oh, bud couldn't even enjoy a beer yet.

[Seth Morris]

In that photo, there's a pile of baby back ribs and some looks like baked beans.

[Phil Muskett]

Baked beans.

[Seth Morris]

Bush's baked beans, of course.

[Phil Muskett]

Nice.

[Seth Morris]

Yeah. There's a photo of me with the river in the background. I'm probably schmegging dishes in the river.

[Corey Calkins]

Schmegging. I've never heard that term before.

[Seth Morris]

Yeah, just giving it a quick schmeg.

[Corey Calkins]

Okay. Water.

[Seth Morris]

Just to get the food off.

[Corey Calkins]

Do you. Do you schmeg your dishes at home, or is that exclusively when you're outside?

[Seth Morris]

No, I schmeg before they go in. The dishwasher helps your dishwasher out. Nobody else. Schmegs.

[Corey Calkins]

I mean, I think I do, but I don't say it that way.

[Phil Muskett]

I don't have a dishwasher.

[Corey Calkins]

So, Seth, is your dishwasher. Yeah. Yeah.

[Seth Morris]

You got a schmeg.

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah.

[Seth Morris]

Yeah. But, yeah, by far top three, third.

[Corey Calkins]

Coolest place was right here in Montana then.

[Phil Muskett]

Yep.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah. And if seeing those cool guns that Joel was showing us earlier wasn't enough to get you to come over to YouTube and watch, we're going to be showing you pictures of the coolest places that we've ever camped as well, and maybe in some cases, video. All right, Seth, what's the third coolest place that you've ever camped?

[Phil Muskett]

So my third coolest place is along The Missouri river, also in Montana. This was the view basically right outside my tent. But there's. You can kind of see there in the background, there's an old homestead. I don't know the history of it, but would love to know. But it. This was, like, one of the most peaceful. It was like, in the spring, everything's green. It was like, one of the most peaceful camp spots I've ever slept at.

[Seth Morris]

Yeah, looks like it.

[Phil Muskett]

And it wasn't like a designated camp spot. It's just like, off a two track. Turkeys were gobbling, coyotes were running around just outside of camp there. It was just a cool spot to be in after, like, a long, hard winter in Montana. And it's cool to just lay there at night just thinking about, like, Lewis and Clark came, like, saw that country, that exact country that I was sleeping in.

[Corey Calkins]

And so much of the Missouri river today looks very different than how it looked 100 years ago or 200 years ago. But that part of the river that looks like it did when Lewis and Clark came floating through.

[Phil Muskett]

So how are the skiers at night? They were not great.

[Seth Morris]

Really?

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah.

[Corey Calkins]

Pretty green in that photo.

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah.

[Seth Morris]

Lots of sage.

[Corey Calkins]

All right. The third coolest place I've ever camped is Death Valley in California. It was March of 2023. That's the hottest place in North America. It's the biggest national park in the lower 48. Went there on a weekday, so it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves, me and my wife. That picture you're seeing there, that's the sailing stones, and that's at the Racetrack Playa. Those are rocks that move on their own. No human is helping them create that giant skid mark behind it. It's all about ice and water and wind that pushes these things around this dried lake bed. And you can see I'm in shorts and a T shirt there. It was blazing hot at that time. But you got, like, the full effect of being in the desert because by that night, it was freezing cold and there were no moon. There's no moon that night. The stars were super bright. And a good barometer when you're camping and when you're stargazing is if you can see the Seven Sisters. If it's a good stargazing that night. If it's a good stargazing night. And the Seven Sisters that night were so vivid. I'd never seen anything like it. It felt like every other time I'd seen the Seven Sisters in my life, that was wrong. And in Death Valley that night, that. That was the correct way to view the seven sisters. And there was no moon out, which. Which makes for better stargazing. So Phil's got some more photos there. Yeah, that was, that was, you know, only a few hours after I was in the shorts and a T shirt at the racetrack playa. And we were camping in the national park, which you can't do a lot of in places in national parks where you're dispersed camping. Dispersed camping would be what we were just talking about, where you're not in a designated camping spot. Death Valley, because it's so big and remote, they allow you to do some, some dispersed camping. And that's what we did. The unique thing about that trip too, we were on a road trip. We were on a seven day road trip, me and my wife. And the next day we were going to Phoenix. From there we were camping in Death Valley. The night before the clocks changed for daylight savings, but we didn't have cell signal for like 24 hours. So the clocks changed that night. We come out of the park, we're heading to Arizona because we're going to Phoenix. Who does not recognize daylight savings?

[Phil Muskett]

Oh, yeah.

[Corey Calkins]

They're also crossing a time zone going into Arizona. So my brain was totally in a pretzel trying to figure out what time I was going to get to Phoenix. I didn't know if it was going to be 5pm or 10pm just because again, daylight savings happened. Didn't have cell service. Crossing a time zone going into a state that doesn't even do daylight savings. I was. It felt like a mess.

[Phil Muskett]

I'd have Siri.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah, but we got there for sure. All right. The second coolest place you've ever camped, Corey.

[Seth Morris]

Second coolest place I've ever camped would have to be on Cumberland island off the coast of Georgia. In 2013, my wife and I booked a reservation. Cumberland island is part of the National Seashore National park system. So only 300 people are allowed on the island a day. And X amount of people, I forget how many are allowed to camp.

[Corey Calkins]

Is that a gator or a croc in your photo?

[Seth Morris]

I think it's a gator.

[Corey Calkins]

Okay.

[Seth Morris]

And a wild horse. Well, wild horse in the background. But as a kid from Montana, used to seeing the horses, obviously, but seeing the gators and the teeny tiny little ticks on there, the Spanish moss covering all the trees was really cool. There's a lot of amazing American history on that island. I don't need to bore everybody with that.

[Corey Calkins]

How'd you get to the island?

[Seth Morris]

You have to take A ferry.

[Corey Calkins]

Okay.

[Seth Morris]

Yep. From St. Mary's Georgia.

[Corey Calkins]

And hauling your own camping gear there.

[Phil Muskett]

Yep.

[Seth Morris]

So we just had everything in our backpacks watered. Like, drinking water is tricky, so you want to carry around some water. There's a couple spigots of fresh water, but obviously you're along the ocean, so you got to be careful what you drink.

[Spencer Newharth]

So.

[Seth Morris]

Yeah, highly recommend it.

[Corey Calkins]

I'm gonna steal Seth's question. How are the mosquitoes?

[Seth Morris]

Mosquitoes non. Existent.

[Corey Calkins]

Okay.

[Seth Morris]

Yeah. We were there in April. Late April, I think. But the ticks. I mean, I'm used to the bigger ticks we have here in Montana. Teeny, tiny little ticks. Like, if you left your. The zipper open on your tent long enough, they just crawl right in there, and then they're on you. But otherwise, it was amazing.

[Corey Calkins]

Seth, second coolest place you've ever camped.

[Phil Muskett]

My number two, also in Montana. It's wasn't so much the place. It was just kind of what we saw that night. One of the nights while we were out there came. This is a deer camp in November. Wow. In Montana. But actually, Chester and his brother Ike were here at this. The moment this photo was shot. But we were kind of just sitting around the campfire at night, and someone, like, I don't know, got up to take a leak or something. And because you can't really see the sky too well, like, around the campfire, you know, some with someone got up and was like, hey, I think I can see the northern lights. And we all, like, jumped up and went away from the fire, and you could just. It was just like a beautiful northern lights show that night. Wow. Out on the plains in eastern Montana. It's just like, one of my favorite places.

[Corey Calkins]

And it looks like you were successful. I see some. See some animals.

[Phil Muskett]

Oh, yeah, yeah. We. We. I think almost everyone filled their tag on that trip. It was a good hunt.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah. Beautiful photo Seth is showing us. You can see the northern lights and every star in the sky.

[Seth Morris]

Is that the seven sisters? I can see above to the right of the.

[Corey Calkins]

Oh, you know what? I think it is. If you don't know what the seven sisters is, go take a look online about the seven sisters. And one. You've certainly seen it before, but maybe you didn't know what you were looking at. But again, that's a good way to judge just how good the stargazing is, is how good you can see the seven sisters. And I think Seth was just showing it off in his photo there.

[Matt McCormick]

Wow.

[Corey Calkins]

All right. The second coolest place I've ever Camped was the Valley of the Gods in Utah. And this was just this last September, that day I visited Monument Valley in Arizona. And where I'm sitting there on this highway is where Forrest Gump famously stopped running. That was where he had. He had his whole posse behind him. And he stood right where I'm sitting and he said, I'm pretty tired. And so that's where he delivered that line. And that is Monument Valley behind me, which is in Arizona. But the place that I had camped was in the Valley of the Gods. And that's part of the Bears Ears National Monument that you hear a lot of talk about when it goes from one presidency to the next based on what they do to that bit of public lands where we camped. You need four wheel drive to get there and a high clearance vehicle, and that keeps out, you know, a whole lot of folks. And Valley of the Gods was so cool. I would rank it over the Grand Canyon as far as just like pretty places that I've seen. So. So getting to camp there and be among all that was real special. And again, that is, that's more dispersed camping. You don't need a reservation somewhere. You just pull off on a road. And opposite of when I camped in Death Valley, it was a full moon that night, and it just really lit up the Valley of the Gods. And so you could see every butte and every mesa long after the sun went down. I took that photo. I know. Probably around midnight. Wow. Really? You can see everything that's happening miles off in the distance.

[Seth Morris]

That's cool.

[Corey Calkins]

All right, Corey. The coolest place you've ever camped.

[Seth Morris]

The coolest place I've ever camped would had to have been in Iceland underneath the Aya Fetja Yokio volcano. Oh, while it was erupting.

[Corey Calkins]

Sounded like you said that correctly. I didn't know anything.

[Seth Morris]

I hope I didn't butcher.

[Corey Calkins]

Do it. Do it again.

[Seth Morris]

Aya fetya yokyo.

[Corey Calkins]

Wow.

[Phil Muskett]

Wow. Sounds legit.

[Seth Morris]

But I mean, when you camp under it, you better, better know the damn name of it.

[Corey Calkins]

Is it erupting all the time?

[Seth Morris]

I don't believe it's always erupting, but in 2010, if anybody remembers it, it erupted from March to June, I believe, off and on. And it disrupted the entire globe. Like flights from Europe through Asia, and I think almost all the way into the US Were disrupted from the ash cloud that came from it.

[Phil Muskett]

Wow.

[Seth Morris]

But I circumnavigated the island. It's called the ring Road Highway 1. For four weeks spent on the road, hitchhiking My way around Iceland. It was an amazing time. Highly recommend. Just visiting if you can get. Just get there for a long weekend. But I spent a month there and I hitchhiked for half the way and then the second half.

[Corey Calkins]

Hitchhiked.

[Seth Morris]

Yeah.

[Corey Calkins]

Tell me about that.

[Seth Morris]

Well, I had heard that it was one of the friendliest places in the world.

[Corey Calkins]

Okay.

[Seth Morris]

So hitchhiking is a very easy way to get around. I mean, the locals are amazing. Lots of farmers just moving from town to town.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah.

[Seth Morris]

So it was actually very easy to get on Highway 1, stick out your thumb and make it to the next town.

[Corey Calkins]

Really.

[Seth Morris]

And then there's hostels everywhere. So it was really easy. There's a photo of me with. Most people know Doritos, or most Americans would know Doritos as Cool Ranch in the blue bag. But in Europe, or at least in Iceland, I'm assuming Europe, they're called Cool American.

[Corey Calkins]

Cool American. Just like Corey. Yeah.

[Seth Morris]

Very confused.

[Corey Calkins]

Holding the bag of Cool American Doritos.

[Seth Morris]

And then this is. And this is me in front of the phallological museum to the layman's. That's the penis museum in Iceland. Highly recommend. If you make it to the island.

[Corey Calkins]

Did you wind up in any sketchy situations hitchhiking around for a month?

[Seth Morris]

No. Not at all. No. It was so easy, huh? I would do it again. Did it make you.

[Corey Calkins]

Did it make you think about picking people up on the side of the road back here in the States?

[Seth Morris]

Oh, not in the States.

[Corey Calkins]

Okay.

[Seth Morris]

No, but I. I rented a car on the second half and then was able to camp in that scene right underneath the volcano. I woke up to it erupting. There was lightning and it sounded like cannons going off underneath.

[Corey Calkins]

Whoa.

[Phil Muskett]

That's cool.

[Seth Morris]

It was wild. I didn't pick up any hitchhikers because I never saw any, but I certainly would have.

[Corey Calkins]

You were willing?

[Seth Morris]

Totally.

[Corey Calkins]

All right, Seth, see if you can top that. The coolest place you've ever camped.

[Phil Muskett]

My number one is in Alaska on a Dall sheep hunt with Steve and his brother Danny. We camped up on this, like, finger ridge coming down from the main ridge the one night. And below us, that's just a huge. That whole valley is just a huge glacier. And the cool thing about camping by that glacier. And there was. There was a couple nights where we camped closer to it than this, but.

[Corey Calkins]

So is that water behind you or. That's the glacier.

[Phil Muskett]

That's just ice.

[Corey Calkins]

Damn.

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah. That glacier made the craziest noises all night long.

[Joel Collander]

Oh, really?

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah, just like big pieces sloughing off yeah. Smacking the valley floor and just it, like popping and just making crazy, like moaning noises is wild.

[Corey Calkins]

Anyone who's ice fish knows what Seth is talking about. Or the, you know, those sorts of noises that might wig you out. If you're new to ice fishing, I can't imagine what a glacier sounds like.

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah, it was cool. And then this photo, Phil, if you zoom in, there's two white dots right behind Steve there. We woke up the one morning, there's some dull sheep below us. Wow. Not legal, but it was cool to wake up to that. And then the next photo there, Phil, is just the valley. This is from, from where we camped. Looking up valley.

[Corey Calkins]

Amazing. All right. I don't think I can beat either one of those. But the coolest place I've ever camped was off Cape Flattery in Washington. And Cape Flattery is the northwestern most part of the lower 48. If you look at a map and you see that little point that's way on the edge of Washington, that's. That's Cape Flattery. And from there you're standing on a cliff that's like, you know, a 270 degree view around you. You were just on the edge of the United States. So we visited that. And then we couldn't camp there because that's a reservation. But we did camp down the road and on our way out of the reservation, stopped in some small town and bought some smoked salmon from someone's smoke shed. And then this is where I pulled my truck right onto the beach and camped there.

[Phil Muskett]

Nice.

[Corey Calkins]

And just listen to the waves all night. And I. I wish I could, like, bring that home with me. I've. I've since then, like, tried to listen to waves crashing on Spotify or something. It's not the same. So that, that was probably the coolest spot I've ever camped. And then it. You could sit there and watch the ships come in at night and try to figure out, like, what is that thing carrying? Oh, that's a cruise ship. Or like that one, you know, is three times as long as any boat I've ever seen in my life. That, that was fun to watch. All right, that is the end of the top threes, and we have one interview left for today. Joining us on the line next is Phil Muskett, the president of the association of Licensed Battlefield Guides. Phil is here to talk about being a guide at Gettysburg, which is one of the most competitive public lands jobs in America. Phil, welcome to the show.

[Spencer Newharth]

Hey, how you doing?

[Corey Calkins]

We're doing good. First thing, Phil, explain To us, why being a guide at Gettysburg is such a coveted job?

[Spencer Newharth]

Well, this is the Mecca of the American Civil War, so we get thousands of visitors. We get about 900,000 visitors a year, which is down from the 2 million we used to get. But people come here to learn and people come here and they hear the stories of the men who fought here and it's works of fire in them. And these people continue to come back and they find out about guiding and they like, hey, I can do that. So they want to aspire to be a licensed battlefield guide and spend their the rest of their lives on the battlefield telling the stories of those men who fought here.

[Corey Calkins]

And to be a guide there, you have to pass a very thorough test. I read a quote recently in a Wall Street Journal article from a lawyer saying that the Gettysburg guide test was harder than the bar exam. Will you walk us through what the testing process is?

[Spencer Newharth]

I sure will. So I've also heard it's as hard as the Harvard entrance exam. But it's a four tier process, a four step process. This, the first step is a written exam, which is fill in the blanks, recognizing pictures and describe, you know, writing out what that is. That's the first part of the test. That's three hours. And then part two is essays. And you've got five essay choices and you've got to write three. You've got three hours to get that done too. You're taking this exam? This past one we just did. We had 153, 52 people taking the test as of today, which is after the exam we have, we only advanced 20 out of those 150.

[Corey Calkins]

And how many of those 20, sorry, Phil. How many of those 20?

[Spencer Newharth]

Maybe five.

[Corey Calkins]

Five of them will end up passing. Okay.

[Phil Muskett]

Wow.

[Spencer Newharth]

Because the second step is a panel interview. Because yeah, it's great, you know, all that knowledge, but you got to get it from here to here to where people can understand it. So that weeds out a lot of people as well too. Step three is what they call the field practicum. They you spend three days working with a mentor who is a guide and you will write up your two hour test or your two hour tour that you're going to give to people when they visit. You give that to the, the mentor and practice that. They also drop you on a place in the battlefield, I. E. Little round top and tell us what happened here. You got five minutes and see how well you do.

[Corey Calkins]

Wow.

[Spencer Newharth]

And if you pass that, then you get into the oral examination, which is you could go around with your mentor, all right, until they feel you're. You're ready. And then you schedule with the National Park Service superintendent and you get two shots to go around the battlefield. It's 25 square miles, and you got two hours and 15 minutes to tell the story. So all of that minutiae you learned past tier one is out the window because you can't fit all that in. So you got to tailor it down to where it's still a story, where you're telling the basics. You get two shots at that. If you pass that, you become a guide and fail that, you start all over again.

[Corey Calkins]

And another important detail from that Wall Street Journal article was it said that the test hadn't been offered in seven years. So it's not like five people per year pass this thing. It's five people almost once a decade pass this, like, thorough test to be a guy to Gettysburg.

[Spencer Newharth]

Now, back when I passed the exam back in 2010, they were doing it every two years, and they were on that schedule until 2017. And then for whatever reason, the Park Service did not do the exam until we got down. We're down to 130 guides. When I started out, we had 156. So we're losing numbers and we need new blood. So we finally got this new exam, and we're hoping we get more than five. And we're hoping the association of battlefield guys, we're hoping that this will start on another regular 2, 3 year cycle like it used to be. To replace. The average age of the guide force right now is 72.

[Phil Muskett]

Whoa.

[Spencer Newharth]

I'm keeping it down. I'm 57. I'm keeping it there. It's go ahead.

[Corey Calkins]

With the stakes being so high, have you ever heard of somebody cheating?

[Spencer Newharth]

I have not heard of anybody physically cheating and being escorted out. I'm sure it's happened, but I'm not familiar with it. What I have witnessed is, you know, sitting at the people sitting at the table, and they're looking over now if they're writing the same thing down, the person you know, I don't know. But that's the limit of what I've seen as cheating. Because not only are you. You try to become a guide, but do on this exam. So what.

[Corey Calkins]

What are some too many. What are some examples, Phil, of people uprooting their lives for a chance to take this test?

[Spencer Newharth]

Well, we've got people from all over the country that are currently guides. And one of our guides sees a lawyer out in San Francisco, and when he was studying to be A guide. He would fly in. He'd do his reading out there and his walk in the battlefield when he'd come here, and hanging out with friends and spending the days on the battlefield. And once he passed the test and became a guide, he. Now he still works in San Francisco, and he'll fly out here and spend a month or two out here doing tours, then go back to San Francisco and. And work. We've got other guides. We had a Ohio state trooper for a while. Basically, he'd drive in on the weekends, do some tours, go back, do his job. So I. You know, another example I thought of yesterday was we used to have a nurse who worked down in Tampa, Florida, and he would come up here for a month straight. And at that time, we had quotas, so we had to do so many tours a year. And he would do his 90 tours in 30 days. So he was doing dang cuckoo tours all at once. And then he'd go back to Florida and work. He used all of his vacation to come here and give a tour.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah, it must be a pretty rewarding gig for how badly people want to do. But what, what's your favorite part of the job?

[Spencer Newharth]

Well, my favorite part of the job is sharing the stories. You know, taking people out on the field, spending two hours with them. That's the bare minimum tour. So. And putting people in places where important events happened. You know, I enjoy that. People with ancestors coming here and being able to take those ancestors, those descendants, to where their ancestor was fought, where he might have been killed, where he might have been captured, things like that. That is what, you know, I. I enjoy doing. And, and even with our school groups, we have school groups come in. We jokingly sometimes call March California month, because we get a whole bunch of California kids coming in. We get to tell these kids the stories, and maybe that'll spark some interest in their lives and that'll bring the next generation into guiding and the Civil War and history of America.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah, and. And Gettysburg is like 6,000 acres, all of which is managed by the Park Service. What can you tell us about the wildlife and conservation work that takes place there?

[Spencer Newharth]

Well, what we got here, we've got a big deer population, which they do every year. They have a big deer hunt here. Now, what they do is only federal employees are authorized to participate. So they come out here and they thin out the herd because it damages the vegetation around here and the local farmers crops. But then they take all of the meat that they. That they get and they donate it to the local shelters. Here in the south central Pennsylvania area. So it goes to a good cause. Our current controversy on the battlefield deals with beavers. We've got some beaver dams in front of Little Round Top, which was a marshy area on. During the battle on July 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 1863. But now we got these little ice skating rinks now, this time of year. Year. So we're dealing with that. And the Park Service, they can't do anything to remove the beavers until they start to damage the asset. And they've done some mitigations which have worked. So the beavers are staying, much to the chagrin of many historians. We've got a bald eagle that's seen around here periodically. We got a whole bunch of hawks, which they're fun to watch, too. Watch them dive bomb onto a field mouse or something. That's really amazing. Occasionally we get a black bear in here coming down off South Mountain, which y'all would call a hill, but that type of thing. The park maintains the tree lines as best they can to the what it was at the time of the battle. So they're constantly working on keeping that, then the landscape correct, even down to the fence rails and fence lines that were here during the battle. So all of that stuff they do.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah. That's great. Last question, Phil, is your last name really Musket?

[Spencer Newharth]

It really is. That's what my daddy gave me all those years ago. And I. I have actually had a guy on a bus argue with me, and I had to pull out my military ID and show him that. I mean, he was just adamant. I had people that have made bets, and at the end of the tour, they've settled their bet by asking that question. Oh, yeah. I get it all the time. I get it all the time. We got a Chris army here. We got a Steve Slaughter as well, too.

[Corey Calkins]

Whoa. Okay. Yeah.

[Spencer Newharth]

We used to have an Andy Custer, but she got married.

[Corey Calkins]

Oh.

[Spencer Newharth]

So now it's Andy Donahue.

[Corey Calkins]

Okay.

[Spencer Newharth]

But we had a Custer for a while as well, too.

[Corey Calkins]

There's some. There's some destiny involved, and maybe that helps you pass the test at the end when your last name is Musket or Custer or.

[Spencer Newharth]

Oh, yeah, yeah. At least you got to get one question right.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah. Well, Phil, thank you for guiding us through what it takes to be a guide and joining us on Media to Radio.

[Spencer Newharth]

Okay. And anytime you're out, check out Gettysburg Tours Guide, Gettysburg Tour guides dot org.

[Corey Calkins]

All right, we're gonna do that.

[Spencer Newharth]

We'll get you a tour guide and get you out on the battlefield.

[Corey Calkins]

Thank you, Mr. Musket.

[Phil Muskett]

Thanks, Phil.

[Corey Calkins]

Seth, you grew up, I don't know how far from Gettysburg, but in the same state. You ever been?

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah, so I went. When I started college, I started. I got my forestry degree from Penn State Mon Alto, which is a branch campus of Penn State, which. That's. It used to be the Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Forest Academy, which was started by Gifford Pinchot. But anyway, that college is not far from Gettysburg.

[Corey Calkins]

Okay.

[Phil Muskett]

And like, he mentioned South Mountain, the bear coming up. Coming down from South Mountain, we used to do all sorts of, like, forestry classes and stuff on South Mountain. And so I know the area well, and I've only actually been to Gettysburg like a handful of times. Just like, I think three, three or four times, something like that. But when I was younger in elementary school, my grandparents took me down there and we did like a. Like a motor tour. Like, we bought. It was at the time, it was a cassette tape. And we put that in the. In the cassette player in the car and drive around the park and it kind of like, told you, like, all the history.

[Corey Calkins]

So, yeah, I assume you were there every weekend. You took a field trip there every year.

[Phil Muskett]

No, no, no, did not. But it's. I recommend it. It's like, it's a really cool place. You can still see, like, bullet holes and walls and. And cannonball holes in buildings and stuff. It's really cool.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah. You know what? I grew up in South Dakota. I've only been in Mount Rushmore once, so. Same thing.

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah. Yeah, same thing.

[Corey Calkins]

All right, that brings us to the end of this week's show. Phil, let's get some final feedback from the chat.

[Joel Collander]

Yeah, I think people were just asking Steven Randall questions live in the chat. We don't have a lot, but we've got a few. Jude says that he shot his first deer while listening to me to Radio Live.

[Corey Calkins]

Hell, yeah.

[Joel Collander]

Thanks. Today we learned a lot. I. I don't think it was today, but I would guess recently.

[Corey Calkins]

Okay.

[Joel Collander]

So congrats to the proof. Let's see. Wapiti woods says Spencer. Is it. Is it specifically Ham special light that you love so much? Just bought a six pack of original Hams up in Rogers, Minnesota. Curious your thoughts of Ham's original. Ham's heavy.

[Corey Calkins]

My. My origin story with Ham Special Ed. It was the cheapest beer that you could buy at Hy Vee. It was $11.99 for a 30 pack. So when I'm, you know, an underage high schooler and I gotta send like, you know, one of the college kids I know there to buy me. I gotta send a $12 bill, and that'll get me a whole 30 pack of ham Special Light. The other thing is, hams has a reputation of just not tasting good. Ham Special Light was like a classic American light lager, like a. Like a Bush light or a Coors Lights tasting thing. But because it said hams on the can, nobody would touch it when you go to a party, like, I didn't have to worry about my 30 rack of ham Special Light walking away. Nice. So it was. It was the cheapest beer. It was the beer that was least likely to be stolen. So that. That was my origin story of Ham Special Light. It's not really about the taste. It's just like the nostalgia of it that it's. It's just what I've always dreamed.

[Phil Muskett]

And the light is discontinued now, right?

[Corey Calkins]

Discontinued.

[Phil Muskett]

Okay.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah. And I'm hoarding my last. I'm into my third to last case.

[Joel Collander]

Colin asked what you're switching to when your special light is all gone.

[Corey Calkins]

I'm. I don't. I'm not loyal to anybody. So, you know, I might be sitting at the bar one time, so brewery, pay attention. You know, Coors Light hit him up.

[Joel Collander]

On and slide into his DMs.

[Corey Calkins]

Miller Light does not matter.

[Joel Collander]

Okay, question for Seth from Eric. What is your favorite kind of hunt to film or photograph?

[Phil Muskett]

That is a good one. Well, a lot of my favorite photographs come from Southeast Alaska, which. Oh, we got Steve Brunello.

[Seth Morris]

Just get over here.

[Corey Calkins]

Five more minutes.

[Joel Collander]

You want to come? You can go sit next to Seth.

[Phil Muskett]

You want to.

[Corey Calkins]

Seth was just talking about his favorite hunts to capture through a camera.

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah. And I was saying some of my favorite, like one of my favorite places to photograph Southeast Alaska, because everything about it's cool and pretty, but the. The big Alaska hunts, like that dull sheep hunt the photos I showed earlier, and then the moose stuff is always cool to photograph.

[Corey Calkins]

Steve, you have any live feedback from today's show?

[Steven Rinella]

Seems like it's going great, man. Okay, boys are running over time.

[Corey Calkins]

Yeah, Phil. Phil had mentioned that Steve and Randall were in the chat. If you go back and watch this when it's not live, you'll get to see the whole chat replay. So if you're curious what Randall and Steve were talking about for the last hour, you'll just get to read their comments there on YouTube. YouTube, cool.

[Joel Collander]

We'll just. We. We are over time. So last question, because now that Steve walked into the room as well, Henry's asking, how's that beaver season coming along. Seth and Steve, you can.

[Phil Muskett]

I haven't said a beaver trap yet, but.

[Joel Collander]

Oh, all right.

[Steven Rinella]

No, I've got a couple, but I haven't gotten it real. I haven't gotten real hardcore into it yet. I mean, I got a few. I got a few.

[Phil Muskett]

I like trapping beavers in the spring when they're real active. Yeah, that's a lot of fun.

[Steven Rinella]

I'll get out there in the spring.

[Phil Muskett]

Yeah.

[Corey Calkins]

Last thing before we get out of here. The Meat Eater Movie Club returns next week. Randall and crew will be reviewing the 1988 movie the Bear, which you can stream on Amazon, Tubi or Pluto. Make sure you watch it before the next episode if you want to join in on the discussion. All right, thanks for listening. Thanks for watching. We'll see you guys back here next week.

[Steven Rinella]

Bye, suckers.

[Corey Calkins]

FOREIGN.

[Steven Rinella]

Hey, American history buffs. Hunting history buffs, listen up. We're back at it with another volume of our Meat Eaters American History series. In this edition, titled the Mountain Men 1806-1840, we tackle the Rocky Mountain beaver trade and dive into the lives and legends of fellas like Jim Bridger, Jed Smith and John Coulter. This small but legendary fraternity of backwoodsmen helped define an era when the west represented not just unmapped territory, but untapped opportunity for those willing to endure some heinous and at times, violent conditions. We explain what started the mountain man era and what ended it. We tell you everything you'd ever want to know about what the mountain men ate, how they hunted and trapped, what gear they carried, what clothes they wore, how they interact with Native Americans, how 10% of them died violent deaths, and even detailed descriptions of how they performed amputations on the fly. It's as dark and bloody and good as our previous volume about the white tailed deer skin trade, which is titled the Long Hunters 1761-1775. So again, this new Mountain man edition about the beaver skin trademark is available for pre order now wherever audiobooks are sold. It's called Meat Eaters American History The Mountain Men, 1806-1840 by me, Stephen Rinella.