I'm Mike Reed. This show is about hunting, travel, dogs, and vanlife. In my world, they all kind of run together into one big mess of dirt, feathers, dog hair, and questionable choices. Most episodes include me telling stories from the road about hunting and training, but I’ll also bring in guests who’ve helped me along the way.

This isn't a studio podcast. It's recorded at remote campsites, hunting lodges, and muddy backroads across the country.

For the record, I'm not an expert, just a regular guy who seems to always learn things the hard way. I've had more than my share of wrong turns, unruly dogs, cold nights, and empty straps. I've also had some unexpectedly great experiences. I hope listeners will enjoy my adventures and learn from my mistakes.

I'm in my 60s and I've spent most of my life in the South. I was born in Tennessee and lived my early years on a farm. I was one of those kids who was always outside—hunting, fishing, shooting, and camping. When I was young, my family moved away from the country, but I kept coming back to visit my grandfather at the family farm. Later in life, things changed. School, relationships, and my career kept me out of the field. I was lucky enough to travel the world, but I went decades without owning a dog, going hunting, or sitting next to a campfire in the middle of nowhere a thousand miles from home.

I didn’t reject the outdoors, my life just led me away. Now I'm back and making up for lost time!

Several years ago, I was invited to a hunting camp in the Mississippi Delta. That trip helped spark my love affair with hunting dogs. Since then, I've owned retrievers, coonhounds, bird dogs, squirrel dogs, rabbit dogs, and a bunch of mutts my wife and I rescued.

    

I've owned dogs that won Super Stakes, trucks, and a pile of prize money. I have a nice Lab that was on the hunt test & field trial circuit and made it into the Master National Hall of Fame. I've also owned a Vizsla that was only good at stealing my booze. Thanks to my dogs, I've met a host of great trainers, handlers, and hunters.

About the time I got into dogs, I also bought my first camper van as a sort of "rolling camp house." I've been across the U.S. countless times and even got in a trip through Alaska and the Canadian Rockies. I know what it's like to live on the road, so I'll discuss the gear I use and my favorite destinations.

I'll also talk about my time in the Delta. I have a camp house there that I use as a home base when I'm not on the road, and we do plenty of hunting, grilling, and storytelling.

I hope you enjoy the show and thanks for listening!