529 - New Zealand Turkey Hunt Post Hunt Chat

Single Year US Super Slam with Hank BrooksideThis week, Cameron and Andy are joined by Hank Brookside, who is not only the youngest person to ever complete a US Super Slam of turkey hunting but also the only person to have ever completed the US Super Slam in less than 12 months.This journey all took place from January of 2025 through December of 2025. Hank shares the story of how he completed the Slam in under 12 months, as well as some stories of his different hunts around the country. As you can probably imagine there are a few wild ones that he takes the time to share with us.Hank also shares his desire to finish his second US Super Slam entirely in the spring of 2027. He is still in the process of planning that season out, while he is riding the high of recently completing a 12 months US Super Slam.This is an episode filled with great turkey hunting stories from what would be, but is not likely to be for Hank, a once in a lifetime experience.Listen in!Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurkeyHunterPodcast80

The American Wild Turkey Historical Foundation with Paul CampbellPaul Campbell, Brent Rogers, and Nathaniel Maddux founded the American Wild Turkey Historical Foundation (AWTHF), also known as the Wild Turkey Archives, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the American Wild Turkey. Paul Campbell, who left NWTF in September 2025 and hosts the "Turkey Season Podcast," discussed the foundation's primary focus on creating a digital archive for rapidly degrading physical media and collecting oral histories from the first wave of modern turkey hunters. The foundation plans to operate on a subscriber-based funding model, not competing with conservation groups, with a long-term vision for a physical archival facility and will be filming call maker content at Unicoi in January.

Pre Season Turkey SoupAndy Gagliano and Cameron Weddington bring another turkey soup episode to you guys this week.Cameron and Andy discuss the struggles of air travel for turkey hunting, sharing a pro tip for circumventing long rental car lines before introducing the main topic on various turkey and turkey hunting news. They cover the nationwide Wild Turkey DNA project, which aims to study genetic diversity and inbreeding, Mississippi's newly extended season structure, and Pennsylvania's move to a one-bird limit offset by increased Sunday hunting opportunities. Other topics include the decline in fall turkey harvest in Virginia, challenges to the future of fall hunting, Wisconsin's available leftover tags, record applications in Delaware's turkey lottery, Ohio's proposed elimination of fall archery hunting, and Michigan's expansion of digital tagging for turkeys.There's some good info in this week's episode. Listen in!Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurkeyHunterPodcast80

Turkey Hunting with the Walking Dead with Steve WebbThis week, Steve Webb joins Cameron and Andy on this week's episode.You may not recognize Steve's name, but he has an amazing story to tell of what I'm sure is the most unforgettable turkey hunt he has ever been on - and likely the 2nd most unforgettable turkey hunt he has ever been on.Steve basically died on a turkey hunt, and he was shocked back to life by a life saving device that his doctors put him on after several doctor visits.Steve also shares an awesome story about a hunt with a blind hunter.There are 2 amazing stories in this episode that you do not want to miss. Listen in!Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurkeyHunterPodcast80

Remembering Jack Dudley with Preston Pittman and Austin DudleyIn this week's episode, we pay tribute to a true titan of the timber, the late Jack Dudley. Joining Cameron and Andy are two men who carry the Dudley legacy forward: Jack’s grandson, Austin Dudley, and 5-time World Champion Preston Pittman.As a legendary mentor in the sport, Jack Dudley helped shape the foundation of modern turkey hunting. Preston reflects on their historic rivalry in the National Turkey Calling Championship and the "old school" woodsmanship Jack instilled in him—specifically the difficult art of natural voice turkey calling. Austin shares personal stories of his grandfather's "stationary" hunting approach and Jack's larger-than-life personality, from family camp memories to his famous trophy photos in the local newspaper.Preston Pittman announces his forthcoming book, The New Breed: Turkey Hunting with Preston Pittman, set for release later this year.Whether you’re a fan of Pittman Game Calls or a student of turkey hunting history, this episode reveals the massive, often-unseen impact Jack Dudley had on the gear, the calls, and the culture of turkey hunting today.Listen in!Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurkeyHunterPodcast80

2026 Unicoi Recap ShowThis week, Cameron and Andy recap the 2026 Unicoi Custom Callmakers Show held in January in Helen, GA.This year's show was once again a tremendous success for the callmakers and other exhibitors at the show. It was also a success for Andy as he was able to bring home some great calls to add to his turkey vest for this upcoming spring.Andy bought incredible sounding calls from Roger Park, Darrell Dawkins, and Larry Stephens at this year's show, and he has audio clips from the woods running those calls for your listening pleasure in this episode.Andy also had a special gift given to him by budding callmaker Luke Ditto, who was introduced to the Unicoi Custom Callmakers Show by this podcast. That introduction has led to an interest in building turkey calls. Andy shares that story this week.This is a great episode, and we think you will enjoy it. Listen in!

Trapping Bobcats and Coyotes to Boost Turkey Populations with Bill SmithThis week, Bill Smith joins Cameron and Andy to discuss trapping bobcats and coyotes. Trapping these predators can benefit your turkey populations not just during nesting and brood rearing seasons, but throughout the entire year. I see more and more videos on social media of these predators killing adult wild turkeys. I know this is not a new phenomenon, but, with predator populations increasing around the country due to low fur prices, there is no doubt predators are taking more wild turkeys as opportunities arise. Your adult turkey hens are especially susceptible to predators while they are sitting on their nests full time in the spring. Eliminating coyotes, bobcats, and foxes should help you to have more turkeys on your hunting property.Bill Smith has a YouTube channel that is primarily focused on trapping these predators, and he is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to removing some of these animals from the landscape. In this podcast, Bill offers tips on trap sizes, baits, lures, sets, and pretty much anything and everything in between.This episode will help you to become a better trapper, and trapping will help your property to become a better place for turkeys to flourish. Listen in!Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurkeyHunterPodcast80

New Zealand Turkey Hunt Post Hunt ChatThis week, Cameron and Andy discuss, at length, their recent New Zealand turkey hunt with New Zealand Turkey Hunting Adventures and Dink Watson.This discussion also includes the post hunt chat with Dink and one of the other hunters who was there at the time.There are lots of stories, memories, and laughs shared during the chat, and we think that you will enjoy this show.Listen in!Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurkeyHunterPodcast80

2026 Unicoi Custom Callmakers Preview ShowThis week, Josh Painter joins Cameron and Andy on the show for the first time to discuss the 2026 Unicoi Custom Callmakers show that will take place in Helen, Georgia on January 8 - 10.The Unicoi show is one of the few places in the country where you can purchase custom made turkey calls from about 60 turkey callmakers. Many of these callmakers have 2 - 3 year waiting lists, but you can purchase calls from them right there in the show. In addition to the custom made turkey calls, there are other turkey hunting related vendors there selling their books, leather products, knives, and even some artwork. There will be several seminars held over the 2.5 day event as well.This is an event you do not want to miss, and this is a show you don't want to miss. Listen in!Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurkeyHunterPodcast80vMtU7IhpKmRfYxMaFM79

A Turkey Hunter's Christmas WishlistAndy Gagliano and Cameron Weddington opened the podcast, joking about their recent communication and teasing a recorded guest episode set for late January or early February. Cameron Weddington detailed his predator trapping efforts, reporting success with a bobcat and a coyote but noting three remaining coyotes avoiding his current trap setup. The majority of the discussion focused on a "Christmas spectacular" dedicated to turkey hunters, with gift recommendations from Cameron, including the Moonshine Leather Works Turkey Tote, hunting licenses and tags, new rubber boots, the Jaccard Meat Tenderizer, The Turkey Hunter Podcast diaphragm calls, and the Garrett Pro Pointer metal detector; and from Andy Gagliano, who suggested gas, hotel, and airline gift cards, Grizz Hawkins prints, TSS shotgun shells, a brown bag of "call cash" and a trip to the Unicoi Custom Call Maker Show as his top personal requests.Buy some merch and great sounding The Turkey Hunter diaphragm turkey calls from our Shopify store by clicking here: https://theturkeyhunterpodcast.myshopify.com/Join our Patreon group and get additional content, discounts on merch, and other great perks by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/TheTurkeyHunterPodcast80