The MeatEater Podcast

Ep. 779: Canadian Moose, Case Knives, and Old Rifles | MeatEater Radio Live!

Date: October 17, 2025
Host: Brent Reeves (with Seth, Corey, and Phil)
Guests: Craig McCarthy (North Mountain Adventures), John Pantuso & Tom Taylor (Case Knives)

Episode Overview

This lively episode of MeatEater Radio Live! finds Brent Reeves and the crew holding down the fort at MeatEater HQ during peak hunting season. With the office running on a skeleton crew, they dive into hunting tales, gear talk, adventures in Canada, and a fun "show and tell" segment with old rifles and knife stories. Special guests join to discuss the realities of guiding in Manitoba and the legacy of Case Knives, capturing the spirit and humor fans expect from the show.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Seasonal Updates and Project Announcements

• MeatEater Season 13 premieres October 20, 6pm MST – new episodes every Monday for seven weeks.
• Teasers for upcoming episodes, including Alaska backcountry bear hunts, Africa, Texas turkey hunting with Luke Combs, and another muzzleloader hunt.
  • Seth: “If you watched the last Muzzleloader hunt that Steve did, you’ll have to watch this one to see if there’s any redemption.” [04:32]
• MeatEater Sheds on YouTube is a hit, especially the Jeff Foxworthy episode.
• Announced the MeatEater Live Southern Tour for December, hitting places like Birmingham, Nashville, Memphis, Fayetteville, Dallas, and Austin.

2. Personal Hunting & Fishing Stories

• Montana Elk Bowhunting:
  • Corey shares the grind of a tough archery season with little luck despite close encounters:
    “The number of giant bulls that I’ve had under 100 yards, I just can’t do anything about.” [08:20]
• Fall Fishing in Montana:
  • Seth details a switch-up from hunting to a memorable smallmouth bass trip at Fort Peck, landing a six-pounder.
  • Seth: “Fall fishing…for anything is awesome, but fall smallies is one of my favorites.” [10:03]
• Brent’s Canadian Moose Adventure:
  • Dream hunt in Northern Manitoba with Craig McCarthy's North Mountain Adventures, planned over a year.
  • Challenging logistics: float plane drop-offs, plywood shacks counted as non-permanent camps, wild country, northern lights.
  • Moose taken with a .300 PRC at 460 yards; one backstrap weighed 49 lbs, the other 51 lbs!
  • Brent: “From the time we left the bank on that float plane till we got back, it was just one incredible adventure after another.” [10:53]
  • Craig (on guiding): “It’s probably the most fun I have all year...It’s something I’ve loved to do since I was ten or twelve.” [15:47]
  • On guiding logistics: Multiple flights required just to get in lumber and boats, often two to three hunts before making up the costs. [21:14]
  • Caribou and bear guiding, with family involvement in both guiding and the local rodeo scene.

3. Show and Tell: Old Rifles & Gear Table Finds [27:24]

• Corey: Showcases quirky finds from the office "free table"—old boots, fishing boots, DVDs, elk calls, musket nipples, turkey call striker, and a handmade wicker basket.
• Seth: Brings in a Winchester Model 55 rifle (1931), inherited from his great-grandfather—used to feed family and friends during the Depression.
  • “It was my great-grandfather’s...He bought this to feed his family and neighbors during the Depression.” [33:00]
• Brent: Shares video of net fishing for catfish with his brother on the Arkansas River. Explains the “barrel net” method and cheese-based bait.
  • “We’ve probably caught...I don’t know how many pounds of fillets, and we ain’t sold the first one yet.” [35:30]

4. Listener Q&A [38:09 and throughout]

• Hunting tips:
  • Still-hunting bears—look for fresh scat, food sources (acorns and white oaks in the east), and hunt when the ground is wet for stealth.
    • “Find out what they’re feeding on...acorn flats or anywhere there’s a bunch of white oaks.” – Seth [41:20]
  • Best use for fox pelts: hanging display or fur trim for a coat/scarf.
• Notable experiences:
  • Seth recounts visiting Boston and Salem; describes the historical feel and the Halloween “circus” atmosphere in Salem.
    • “It was a circus...thousands of people dressed up like witches.” [40:33]
• Moose hunt highlights:
  • Hardest part: walking on the spongy ground, but the magical ride back with the moose in the boat under the northern lights.
    • “We turned our lights out and actually drove back to camp by the northern lights—with that moose in the boat.” [44:46]
• Oldest Guns Used:
  • Most hosts used classic lever guns or hand-me-down bolt-actions dating back to the Depression era or early/mid-20th century.

5. Craigslist Comedy: Oddball Hunting Finds [47:28]

• Corey: “Hunting Smokepole”—seller posts a deer, not the gun (“shows results!”), and a never-used porta-potty pitched as a hunting blind.
• Seth: Farmhouse for sale as a “handyman’s dream”; entertaining notes about needing work, cash only.
• Brent: 50% off sale featuring a wall-mounted pike (with lure) and vintage wooden snowshoes—“That is foreign to me.” [54:02]

6. Case Knives Deep Dive [56:39]

• Guests: John Pantuso & Tom Taylor
• Case has been crafting knives for 136 years; the mini trapper pattern in partnership with Brent is back in stock.
• New product: the modernized Crossroads Barlow—classic pattern updated with G10/richlite handles, S35VN steel.
  • “Generational” value—knives handed down, built and finished by multi-generation employees.
• Brent’s Knife Factory Story: Meeting Dave Jackson (50+ years at Case), who built the first knife Brent ever bought for his dad—“It was really cool to be there and talk with the man that built the knife that I gave to my dad.” [66:32]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Brent, on the staff holding down HQ: “This place is like a ghost town, except for us—the dedicated.” [02:36]
• Corey, on hunting: “Gone out 11 days now and it’s just either been raining or sleeting...just makes me appreciate bow hunting and the grind of it all.” [08:02]
• On giant moose backstraps: “One of them weighed 49 pounds and the other one weighed 51.” – Brent [13:39]
• Craig McCarthy: “Our main flights are otters...You can usually put about 3,500 pounds in a plane—plywood, 2x4s...never on one flight.” [21:14]
• Seth, introducing his family rifle: “It was my great-grandfather’s...from what I hear, he bought this to feed his family and neighbors and friends during the Depression.” [33:00]
• On meeting the man who built his first Case knife: “I handed it to Mr. Jackson—he pulled it, looked at it, and said, ‘Oh yeah, I worked on that knife,’ and handed it back to me.” – Brent [66:32]
• Craig McCarthy, on guiding: “I think at day 18 or 19 is when you quit caring how you look.” [20:08]
• Craigslist gold—Corey: “Porta potty. Hunting blind or extra at the pool...never used, but cleaned out.” [49:03]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:17] – Show kick-off, introductions
• [03:12] – MeatEater Season 13 preview
• [07:43] – Live tour announcement
• [07:51] – Montana hunting and fishing stories
• [10:53] – Brent’s Canadian moose hunt adventure
• [14:47] – Interview: Craig McCarthy, North Mountain Adventures
• [26:37] – Show and Tell segment (free table, old guns)
• [35:08] – Brent’s barrel net catfishing video
• [38:09, 41:06+] – Listener Questions (bear hunting, gear, old guns)
• [47:28] – Craigslist hunting finds
• [56:39] – Case Knives interview (John Pantuso, Tom Taylor)
• [69:08] – More listener Q&A (headlamps, mounts, early season hunting clothes)
• [76:20] – Closing round—Oldest guns used for hunting

Recurring Tone & Language

Easygoing and humorous, peppered with hunting jargon, working-man wisdom, and heartfelt stories of family and tradition. The hosts engage in light ribbing, honest gear talk, and plenty of “insider” knowledge, always keeping things relatable for listeners whether seasoned outdoorsmen or newcomers.

Summary Takeaways

• Hunting is never just about the kill—it’s about camaraderie, family, hardship, tradition, and the wild places that define us.
• Old gear, family heirlooms, and classic brands like Case Knives hold places of honor at the table (sometimes literally), each with a story in tow.
• Adventure is alive and well—whether in the backcountry of Manitoba, the free table at MeatEater HQ, or a “smoke pole” ad on Craigslist.
• New seasons and old friends: The outdoor community thrives on shared experiences—be it epic moose hunts, kids’ first fish, or a bear camp gone right.
• Podcast tradition: The show mixes real tips, wild tales, and meaningful moments—rooted in authenticity and love for the outdoors.