237. Stephens Stories from the Smokies

In this episode I am joined by lifelong houndsman and competition squirrel hunter Erik Walley. Erik traces his journey from running deer and fox dogs as a kid, to becoming a dominant force in the squirrel dog world with his "Pure Country" line of OMCBA curs. He shares the story of his first fox dog Slim, how he got barred from local fox pens for having dogs that caught too much game, his transition into coon and then squirrel hunting, and the dog that first put him "on the map" — Pure Country Scout. Erik talks candidly about selling Scout after Hurricane Katrina, walking away from dogs for more than a decade to chase team roping, and then getting pulled back into squirrel dogs with the world champion Hawk and his offspring. Throughout the conversation, he highlights the importance of a good women, good dogs, breeding for hunt, mouth, and consistency, and why he believes OMCBA-registered dogs give him the most options in today's multi-registry competition scene. Erik closes by reflecting on the rising level of competition, the need to get more youth involved, and the satisfaction of sharing final casts and world hunt stages with his wife, Melissa. Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420083161566245  https://animalhousingsolutions.com https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia

In this week's episode I am joined by Chris Watson, founder of the Arizona Working Dog Alliance (AWDA) and creator of the Anecdote of the Houndsman YouTube channel. Chris shares how he got started with hounds in Arizona, the old-school mentors and bloodlines that shaped his pack, and the standout dogs that defined different eras of his hunting. From there, the conversation shifts to media, advocacy, and politics: how Chris went from YouTube and live streams to founding AWDA when no one else would step up, what it's like dealing with legislators and game commissions, and why hunters must become the "squeaky wheel" to protect hound hunting. Chris lays out a blueprint for positive education, smarter use of social media, taking non-hunters and kids to the woods, and holding fellow houndsmen to higher standards in dog care and ethics. They also highlight the Arizona Hound Hunters Rendezvous—what it is, who shows up from across the country, and how it's becoming a hub for Western houndsmen, storytelling, and collaboration. https://azwda.com Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420083161566245  https://animalhousingsolutions.com https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia

In this week's episode I am joined by Charlie McPherson, fresh off one of the biggest accomplishments of his hunting career—winning the 2026 Autumn Oaks National Dual Championship with his Black and Tan, McPherson All In Double Deuce. Charlie has been hunting Black and Tans for more than 20 years, but Deuce is the first dog he has really pushed in the hunts. At just five years old, Deuce has already built an impressive resume, winning hunts in 11 different states and earning his place in the Hall of Fame at only two years old. Despite all those accomplishment, Deuce continues to prove himself in competition. We talk about what makes Deuce special, including Charlie's emphasis on one trait above all others: accuracy. Charlie explains why he believes an accurate dog is the foundation of a winning coonhound and what he looks for when evaluating a young dog. The conversation also turns toward Deuce's pups and Charlie's efforts to reproduce the traits he values most. He shares his experiences with young dogs that are starting early, showing the potential to become competitive coonhounds themselves. From more than two decades of hunting Black and Tans to finally putting a dog on the competition stage and taking home a National Dual Championship, Charlie McPherson has plenty of experience to share.    Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420083161566245  https://animalhousingsolutions.com https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia  

In this week's episode I sit down with legendary Bluetick breeder and hunter Lonnie Uchtman. Now in his 70s, Lonnie has spent a lifetime hunting, breeding, and promoting the Bluetick Coonhound. Lonnie's breeding program has produced some of the most influential stud dogs in Bluetick history, beginning with the legendary Hawk and continuing through generations of dogs that carried the Uchtman name and bloodline forward. But despite the incredible accomplishments associated with his dogs, Lonnie has never operated a large breeding program or focused on producing puppies in volume. His philosophy has always been simple: quality over quantity. For decades, Lonnie has relied heavily on linebreeding, carefully maintaining the traits he values most. While Blueticks have always been his breed of choice, Lonnie has never been interested in a slow dog. He wanted hounds with the ability to drive a track, and just as importantly, he valued a natural-born tree dog. And like any man who has spent more than 70 years around coonhounds, Lonnie has plenty of stories. He shares a few during this episode, but there are many more to be told. His daughter, Lori Uchtman Rowe, has helped preserve those stories and the history of the Uchtman Blueticks in the book Home of the Hawk Dogs: The Legacy of Lonnie Uchtman and His Bluetick Hounds. Check out the link below to learn more about the book and the Uchtman Bluetick legacy. Whether you're a Bluetick enthusiast, a breeder, or simply someone who appreciates the history of coonhunting and the people who have dedicated their lives to it, this is an episode you won't want to miss. https://linktr.ee/uchtmanbluetickfarm  Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420083161566245  https://animalhousingsolutions.com https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia

This week on the podcast, we sit down with Chad Hatfield of Kentucky, a lifelong dog man with a deep appreciation for working dogs of all kinds. While Stephens Curs are his primary breed, Chad admits he isn't color blind when it comes to good dogs. His kennel and experience have included a variety of breeds, and today he has everything from a Walker and a Plott to Beagles and Goodman Hounds. Chad also shares his longtime involvement with the Stephens Breeders Association, where he has served in several different positions over the years. We talk about the breed, the importance of the association, and the people who have helped keep the Stephens Cur moving forward. One topic Chad feels strongly about is getting young people involved in hunting and dogs. He discusses the importance of putting opportunities in the hands of the next generation and shares how he has given many puppies to kids over the years, hoping to spark the same passion that has meant so much to him. It's a conversation about Stephens Curs, good dogs of every color and breed, giving back to the sport, and making sure there is another generation ready to carry it forward.   Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420083161566245  https://www.facebook.com/p/Animal-Housing-Solutions-Inc  https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia      

In this week's episode I am joined by Stuart Oller. For Stuart, hounds have been a part of life for more than seven decades. He started hunting with hounds at just four years old, following a family tradition that included his uncle, father, brothers and cousin. Growing up in Northern California, Stuart has spent a lifetime learning what good hounds can do and chasing a wide variety of game across some rugged country. Over the years, Stuart has hunted just about everything that can be legally pursued with a hound, including coon, fox, bobcat, mountain lion and bear. While fox hunting is what he primarily does today, bear hunting has always held a special place in his heart. Stuart also has a long history with a particular type of hound. Since his teenage years, he has maintained his own line of Trigg and Treeing Walker crosses, developing dogs that have proven themselves over generations of hunting. We talk about what went into building that line, the qualities Stuart has selected for over the years and why maintaining a family of proven dogs has been so important to him. We also get into one of the biggest frustrations facing Stuart and many ranchers in Northern California today—the introduction and expansion of wolves in the area. Stuart shares his perspective on how wolves have affected the country he hunts and the challenges they have created for local ranchers. This is a conversation with a true old-school houndsman who has spent almost 70 years behind a dog. From following his family into the woods as a young boy to hunting multiple species across Northern California, Stuart Oller has seen tremendous changes in the hound world—and he has plenty of stories and experience to share along the way.   Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420083161566245  https://www.facebook.com/p/Animal-Housing-Solutions-Inc  https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia  

In this episode, Dave Pelzer takes us back to the early days of his coonhunting career and what hunting looked like when a dog didn't have to carry a fancy pedigree to earn its keep.Dave's coonhunting story began in the spring of 1956 with a $3 coonhound and a lifetime of hunting ahead of him. Nearly seven decades later, Dave has seen just about every side of the sport—from the days of hide hunters and mixed-breed hounds to today's highly specialized dogs and modern electronic tracking systems. We talk about the hide-hunting era and the dogs that made it possible, including mixed-up hounds that might have included bird dog crosses or just about anything else that could put a raccoon in a tree. For Dave, those dogs were judged by what they could do in the woods, not simply by what was written on paper. Over the years, Dave has owned nearly every breed of coonhound, with one exception—he has never owned a Plott. But one breed has continued to pull him back. Dave owned Redbones early in his hunting career and returned to them in the mid-1980s. He has remained with the breed ever since. Dave's connection to the Redbone breed extends beyond the dogs in his kennel. He currently writes the Redbone column in Full Cry Magazine for the American Redbone Coonhound Association, helping preserve the stories, people and traditions of a breed with a long history in the sport. This is a conversation about much more than dogs. It's a look back at how coonhunting has changed, what has stayed the same, and what can be learned from someone who has been turning loose hounds for nearly 70 years.   Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420083161566245  https://www.facebook.com/p/Animal-Housing-Solutions-Inc  https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia  

Today's episode proves that sometimes all it takes is one lucky break to ignite a lifelong passion. Nate Hinkson never planned on becoming a coonhunter. After hunting just twice, he won a Plott Hound puppy in a raffle—and that unexpected moment changed everything. In just a short time, Nate has immersed himself in the hound world, traveling across numerous states to compete, expanding his kennel with two more Plott Hounds, and earning the opportunity to handle dogs for respected Plott breeder Bill Shininger. His rapid rise is a testament to hard work, dedication, and a willingness to learn from every cast. Beyond the competition hunts, Nate's background as a professional dog trainer brings a unique perspective to the sport. We dive deep into training philosophy, discussing how solid fundamentals, consistency, and understanding canine behavior translate from everyday dog training to developing successful coonhounds. Whether you're starting a young pup, fine-tuning a competition dog, or simply looking to become a better handler, Nate shares practical insights that apply well beyond the woods. From an accidental introduction to becoming an up-and-coming competitor, this episode is packed with stories, lessons learned, and valuable training advice for houndsmen of every experience level. Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420083161566245  https://www.facebook.com/p/Animal-Housing-Solutions-Inc  https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia  

In this weeks episode I am joined by my good firends Zack and Brenna Southall of Goldmine Black and Tans.  What starts as a love for one breed can turn into a lifelong passion, and that's exactly what happened for Zack Southall. Zack shares how his passion for Black and Tans began while attending guide school just over a decade ago. What started with an appreciation for the breed has grown into a serious commitment over the last five years, with Goldmine Black and Tans becoming a familiar name on both the bench show and nite hunt circuit. We dive into the major investments they've made over the past year, from upgrading their kennel facilities to strengthening the quality of the dogs they're campaigning. But for Zack and Brenna, success isn't measured solely by wins or trophies. They believe the greatest reward in the sport is the friendships and relationships they've built along the way. Whether you're a Black and Tan enthusiast, a competition hunter, or simply enjoy hearing the stories behind successful kennels, you'll appreciate Zack and Brenna's dedication to the breed and the people who make this sport special. Follow Goldmine Black and Tans and keep an eye out for them at the next bench show or nite hunt—you'll likely find them making new friends as quickly as they're collecting wins. Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420083161566245  https://www.facebook.com/p/Animal-Housing-Solutions-Inc  https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia  

Another great episode from the vault. Jimmy Tipton has lived his whole life in the Smoky Mountains and has been following dogs since he was old enough to walk. He has followed many different hounds but he has found Stephens Curs to be his breed of choice. He has had a lot of luck pursuing bears and coons in the rough mountains around his home.  Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420083161566245  https://www.facebook.com/p/Animal-Housing-Solutions-Inc  https://fullcrymag.com Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@TreeTalkinMedia  https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia