Guest: Scott Leysath — The Sporting Chef Episode: Field-to-Table Made Simple

What’s inside (quick hits):

• The three biggest mistakes that make wild game “gamey”—and how to fix them

• Field care that actually matters (cooling, cleanliness, trim)

• Cut-to-method pairings for deer, elk, upland, and waterfowl

• Weeknight formulas: fast marinades, hot-and-fast sears, smart sides

• Gateway dishes that win over non-hunters (and why they work)

Takeaway: Respect the animal, manage heat and fat, add acid and texture—great wild game is technique, not luck.

Follow Scott: @thesportingchef Follow John: @johnstallone

Guest: Marlon Holden Episode: Fall 2025 – Mule deer hunting, Camo, Boots, gear

What we cover (quick hits):

• Hunting mule deer in South Dakota recap

• Layering systems, camo to wear

• Boots, socks
• AZ mule deer quota system

Connect with Marlon: @graylighthunter Connect with the show: @johnstallone

Rifle vs. Archery — strengths, limits, and how to choose

What we cover (quick hits):

• Why Matt hunts with both weapons—and what each teaches the other

• Ethical effective range: defining it for your skills, terrain, and conditions

• Fieldcraft vs. ballistics: closing inside 40 yards vs. building a rock-solid rifle position

• Calling, wind, and movement discipline—what changes with bow vs. rifle

• Practice plans: 4-week tune-ups for bowhunters and rifle hunters

• Gear that matters (and what’s overrated) for real-world hunts

Links: IG: https://www.instagram.com/mattrege/

If you enjoyed this one, share it with a hunting buddy and leave a quick rating—it helps a ton.

Whitetail Rut Tactics + Buying Land

John sits down with Jordan Blissett to break down practical rut strategies—how to read phases (seeking, chasing, lockdown), pick high-odds terrain, manage wind the smart way, and decide when to call or stay silent. Then they pivot to buying land for whitetails: access and neighborhood first, must-have habitat features, quick-win improvements, and rookie pitfalls to avoid.

Highlights

• Rut stand selection: leeward edges, hub scrapes, ditch/creek crossings

• Calling & decoys: when they help—and when they burn a spot

• Pressure management on small tracts

• Land buying: access, cover diversity, neighbors, red flags

• First-year improvements that move the needle

Follow Jordan

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/jordanblissett/

• Team page: https://openseasonproperties.com/our-team/jordan-blissett/

Legacy, Stewardship, and Straight Talk: A Conversation with Dan Cabela

John sits down with Dan Cabela—conservation advocate and scion of the Cabela family—to share a wild-game meal and talk honestly about why hunting matters, how funding and policy actually move the needle for wildlife conservation, and what it takes to bridge the gap between hunters and non-hunters. No dunking, no shouting—just good food and better questions.

• Origin story: The moment Dan’s love for the outdoors turned into a commitment to stewardship.

• Conservation, not slogans: How regulated hunting, tags, and excise taxes fund habitat, research, and management.

• Ethics in practice: Fair chase, technology creep, and what “doing it right” looks like before, during, and after the shot.

• Bridging divides: How to talk to non-hunters with humility, data, and real stories.

• Global perspective: Wins and lessons from projects around the world—and what actually scales.

• Legacy & responsibility: Carrying a famous name without being trapped by it.

• Wild game on the table: Cooking notes, transparency, and why sharing a meal changes the conversation.

• Stewardship > rhetoric: Policy + funding + local buy-in beat internet arguments.

• Many pathways to help: You don’t have to hunt to support wildlife—join, donate, volunteer, vote smart.

• Food is a bridge: A plate of honest wild game opens doors that debate can’t.

• Measure impact: If it doesn’t move habitat, populations, or community support, it’s just noise.

1. Cold open & wild-game dish

2. Dan’s early field memories → stewardship pivot

3. How conservation gets funded (and where it fails)

4. Ethics & tech in modern hunting

5. International lessons that apply at home

6. Sharing wild food with skeptics

7. Rapid-fire: favorite hunts, mentors, books

8. Calls to action & ways to get involved

Dan Cabela is a lifelong outdoorsman and conservation advocate whose work spans habitat projects, policy support, and community engagement. He focuses on pragmatic solutions that sustain wildlife and local economies.

• Howl for Wildlife — Take action, learn more, and support science-based management: [howlforwildlife.org]

• Guest: Dan Cabela — IG @dancabela

• Host: John Stallone — IG: @johnstallone

We sit down with Robert Cowan and Michael Cardinal

John sits down with Michael Cardinal to unpack the hunt behind his latest bull—how he scouted, read sign, and made decisions when the plan fell apart.

“Missing in the High Country: An Elk Hunter’s Story in Colorado”

Guest Dac Collins

In this episode, John unpacks the developing story of an elk hunter who went missing in Colorado—what’s known so far, how search-and-rescue operations unfold in the Rockies, and the practical steps backcountry hunters can take to reduce risk and help responders if something goes wrong. The conversation balances empathy for the family with actionable fieldcraft and preparedness.

Note: Facts are evolving. We stick to verified information and avoid speculation.

• Timeline & terrain: What’s known about the incident and the landscape factors at play (elevation, weather, access).

• SAR reality check: How mountain Search and Rescue is mobilized, what slows missions, and what information helps the most.

• Preparation that matters: Comms plans, weather/nowcasting, navigation backups, and “don’t split the party” rules.

• If you get turned around: Immediate steps that improve survival and make you easier to find.

• For hunting partners at home: How to structure check-in windows, map shares, and who to call if a teammate is overdue.

• Respect & responsibility: Keeping the focus on the missing hunter and supporting family and responders.

• Tell two people your plan (route, camp, bail-out options, check-in times).

• Carry redundant comms: phone + battery, offline maps, PLB or satellite messenger (preset check-ins & SOS).

• Weather drives risk—nowcast every 30–60 minutes in the mountains.

• If lost: STOP (Stop, Think, Observe, Plan), make yourself findable (bright panel, whistle, signal mirror), and stay put when it’s safer than wandering.

• Trip plan shared (route, alt routes, check-in times, who to call)

• Phone with offline maps + spare battery

• PLB or sat messenger with preset messages to a contact

• Paper map + compass (know a bearing to camp/trailhead)

• Weather layers (puffy, rain shell, hat/gloves) + headlamp

• Signal gear: whistle, bright panel, small mirror

• Fire kit, basic med kit, calories & water treatment

Throwback episode with Paul Medel