Episode 74: A Picture’s Worth...

In this episode, Mike and Caitlin are joined by GT for a conversation about old photographs, the memories they preserve, and the way a single image can instantly carry you back to a different time. What starts with digging through family photos for an Outdoor Ruhls social media project turns into a deeper reflection on family history, outdoor traditions, and the emotions tied to the pictures we keep.

Mike shares a photo of himself as a teenager with his friend Dan after what he believes was each of their first Canada geese, a picture that prompted him to reconnect with Dan and relive the story behind it. GT brings a family photo from a California vacation at Convict Lake in the mid-1990s, using it to reflect on family trips, how different people show up in the same photograph, and how pictures can preserve not just faces but the feeling of being together. Caitlin shares a childhood photo from a canoe trip in Sylvania, remembering both the fun of the adventure and the frustration of being badly outfished by another kid in the boat.

Mike then shares one of his most meaningful hunting photos: a candid shot of him, his dad, and Pop Grant after he killed his first doe as a 12-year-old in Pennsylvania. The picture captures more than the deer—it preserves a moment of pride, instruction, and connection between generations of family in deer camp. Later, Mike and Caitlin call Memaw and Poppy, and Memaw shares a remarkable old photograph of Aunt Lena’s store in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, where Pop Bud learned the baking skills that became part of his legacy. That conversation opens into memories of Pop Bud’s extraordinary baking, the family traditions that came from it, and the way recipes, like photographs, can carry family stories forward.

This episode is about much more than photography. It’s about memory, legacy, family, and the small moments that become priceless with time. Some pictures are beautifully composed, some are candid, and some are technically nothing special at all—but the right one can still hold an entire world.

Website: https://outdoorruhls.com

Email: outdoorruhls@gmail.com

Instagram: @Outdoorruhls

Episode 73: Camping with Kate

Mike and Caitlin kick off the episode by looking back at last week’s conversation with Mountain Hollow Game Calls and celebrating the new “official turkey call” status for the Outdoor Ruhls podcast. From there, they welcome one of their longtime Yellowstone friends, Kate Olsen, for a conversation that feels equal parts reunion, storytelling session, and tribute to the wild, formative years they all spent working in the backcountry.

Kate shares how she grew up in central Pennsylvania, rowed in college at St. Lawrence, and drove west to Yellowstone almost immediately after graduation. What followed was a crash course in the realities of fieldwork in the American West: learning how to wear waders, carrying impossibly heavy packs, working with horses and mules, and diving headfirst into remote backcountry fisheries projects with almost no prior camping experience. The conversation revisits those early Yellowstone summers, especially the grueling work on Specimen Creek and Grayling Creek, where long hitches, huge loads, fire-scarred landscapes, and unpredictable conditions turned into some of the most unforgettable experiences of their lives.

The episode then shifts into a fun “best, worst, and weirdest” camping conversation. Kate, Mike, and Caitlin swap stories about freezing nights, forgotten sleeping bags, violent storms, collapsing tents, sketchy backcountry moments, and the strange but unforgettable realities of life lived outside for weeks at a time. Along the way, they talk about the little pieces of gear they now consider essential, how their camping styles have changed over the years, and why those hard, messy, hilarious trips remain some of the most meaningful memories they share.

At its heart, this episode is about friendship, resilience, and the kind of outdoor experiences that shape who you become. Mike, Caitlin, and Kate reflect on just how deeply those Yellowstone years still connect them—and why even after all the miles, jobs, and years that have passed, it still feels easy to pick up right where they left off.

Website: www.outdoorruhls.com
Email: outdoorruhls@gmail.com
Instagram: @outdoorruhls

Episode 72: The Legend of Mountain Hollow

Spring is creeping in, gobbles are echoing across ridges, and turkey season is officially on our minds. In this episode, Mike sits down with Jeremy Cressley and Adam Brewer of Mountain Hollow Game Calls, a small, family-run company with a 44-year legacy rooted in the hardwood ridges of Pennsylvania and New York. From booth days at the Harrisburg Great American Outdoor Show to the recent transition of ownership from longtime steward Ken Hamill to Jeremy, this is a conversation about tradition, craftsmanship, and keeping a hunting heritage alive.

Jeremy and Adam share how Mountain Hollow grew from a regional Northeast following into a nationally recognized brand, fueled by loyal customers, NWTF partnerships, pro staff and field staff teams, and a whole lot of time spent talking turkeys at outdoor shows. Adam’s story comes full circle—from being a 13-year-old kid idolizing the guys behind the booth to becoming one of the faces of the company himself. It’s a reminder that sometimes the hunting community is built one conversation at a time.

The guys break down the nuts and bolts of turkey calling—mouth calls (latex vs. prophylactic), box calls, double-sided friction calls, push buttons, locator calls—and how confidence and practice matter just as much as the call itself. They dive into public-land pressure, East vs. West turkey behavior, morning roost gobbles versus late-morning “lonely tom” action, and why sticking it out past 9:00 a.m. can change your season.

Beyond the gear, this episode is about passion: the obsession that gets you up at 4:00 a.m., the heartbreak of slow seasons, the magic of a 10:30 a.m. shock gobble, and the bonds formed over shared hunts. We also touch on Mountain Hollow’s growing YouTube presence with their Hollow Ground series and their involvement with the One Wish Foundation, helping create unforgettable hunts for kids facing serious illness.

If you love spring mornings, public land puzzles, and the sound of a gobble breaking the silence, this one’s for you.

Links & Resources

Mountain Hollow Game Calls
Website: https://mountainhollowgamecalls.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MountainHollowGameCalls

Outdoor Ruhls Podcast
Website: https://outdoorruhls.com
Email: outdoorruhls@gmail.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/outdoorruhls

Episode 71: A River Runs Through Us

Mike, Caitlin, Poppy, and Robert recap a family weekend trout trip to the world-famous San Juan River in New Mexico—one of the best trout fisheries anywhere, and only a few hours from home. Robert proudly reports on the highlights: cold mornings, frozen rod guides, lots of action early, and “pretty big” trout, while the adults compare notes on what they caught (mostly beautiful wild brown trout), how they fished (worms under bobbers, plus a jerkbait-style minnow lure), and why Robert is now lobbying hard for a pair of waders.

The conversation dives into what makes the San Juan special: a cold, consistent tailwater below Navajo Dam that creates year-round trout habitat, an upper section with special regulations (single barbless hook), and the mix of stocked rainbows and wild browns—including the very real possibility of hooking a monster fish. Poppy shares some of his favorite moments from the trip: fishing by headlamp in 14-degree air, ducks and geese overhead, turkeys gobbling nearby, and that unbeatable feeling of being outside while the day wakes up.

From there, Mike and Poppy take a nostalgic detour back to Pennsylvania trout culture—opening day traditions, 5:00 a.m. starts, claiming “your hole,” Dinty Moore beef stew on a camp stove, the Yellow Breeches pilgrimage near the hatchery, and the old deer camp weekends where a whole crew of dads and kids turned trout season into a family reunion. Along the way, they talk about the underestimated skill of bait fishing, reading the seam, dialing in weight and drift, and why trout fishing—no matter the method—has a way of anchoring you in the moment while still connecting you to family, memory, and time.

The episode closes with a reflection on why trout fishing shows up so often in literature, capped by Mike reading the iconic A River Runs Through It passage about “the Arctic half-light” and how, eventually, “all things merge into one.” It’s equal parts trip report, family story, and love letter to rivers.

Website: outdoorruhls.com
Instagram: @outdoorruhls

Episode 70: Love Ruhls

Throwback Episode: “Romancing the Spam” (Originally Episode 5)

It’s been a busy week around Outdoor Ruhls. We’ve upgraded the Outdoor Ruhls West Podcast Studio, and Mark and Rachel have been hard at work on a special cooking project we can’t wait to share more details about soon. We’ve also scheduled a family reunion for the end of March, and Mike and Emmit are heading back to Pennsylvania to spend time with family—including Uncle Sim and Uncle Dick—with plans (hopefully) to record more stories about family history, the Hershey chocolate story, and the Cornwall Iron Mine / Cornwall Iron Furnace chapters. And with Valentine’s Day just behind us, Mike is excited to replay this throwback episode featuring his favorite person: Caitlin.

In this special re-release, Mike and Caitlin revisit the early days of their story—how Caitlin grew up in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, spending summers outside, playing sports, and building an early connection to fishing and the outdoors through family trips and time on the water. Caitlin reflects on her student-athlete path, including her late start in track that turned into becoming a Wisconsin state champion in the 400 meters, and how her love for wildlife, with a big assist from Steve Irwin, helped steer her toward conservation.

That conservation road leads straight to Yellowstone National Park, where Caitlin lands a Student Conservation Association internship and meets Mike. They talk about those intense early backcountry field days, learning the rhythms of wilderness work, and the now-legendary moment that inspired the original title: Caitlin’s first backcountry meal plan… featuring an unforgettable week of Spam.

From there, the episode follows the path from coworkers to partners: Caitlin’s return to Yellowstone for the wolf program winter study, her work in wildlife health, the early days of building a life together in Montana, and Caitlin’s first big-game success—a Fort Peck mule deer stalk that ended with one of Mike’s all-time coaching moments: reload. The conversation eventually brings things home to New Mexico, where they’ve continued hunting, fishing, working in conservation, and raising two boys—Robert and Emmit—who are quickly becoming part of the Outdoor Ruhls story themselves.

Website: outdoorrhuls.com
Instagram: @outdoorrhuls

Episode 69 Show Notes: A Homestead Castle

In this episode, Mike sits down with his neighbor John Brown—one of the most industrious (and endlessly interesting) people in New Mexico—to unpack the wild, winding story behind their little corner of Santa Fe. What starts as a conversation about neighbors and an RV park quickly turns into a deep dive into homesteading, New Mexico history, family legacy, and the kind of DIY grit that built a life on a windy ridge south of town.

Mike and John reminisce about the first time Mike and Caitlin drove out to look at a house—through an RV park, down a rough road, past a “junkyard,” and right into a welding-helmet introduction that somehow felt like home immediately. From there, John shares what life looks like today: helping run the 100-unit Santa Fe Skies RV Park, working as Safety Director for Bradbury Stamm Construction, supporting the family’s vacuum excavation business, and constantly building metal art sculptures out of salvaged scrap—from giant hearts to bottle trees and moving “pampas grass” sculptures that dance in the wind.

Then the story goes way back. John explains how the property became Brown Castle Ranch, including his family’s connection to the Homestead Act, a deed signed in the era of FDR, and a “landlocked” parcel that most people didn’t want—until it became one of the most scenic spots in the region. Along the way, John tells stories about the ranch’s history, including his late brother Willie’s collection of antique machinery (hit-and-miss engines and WWII-era equipment), and the remarkable legacy of John’s grandmother—whose behind-the-scenes work in Forest Service public relations helped shape the early Smokey Bear era.

The conversation also drifts into the bigger picture: Santa Fe’s growth, changing development pressures, and the never-ending puzzle of New Mexico water law—paper water vs. wet water—and how politics can shape everything from RV parks to suburban sprawl. And just when you think you’ve heard it all, John casually drops stories about being sent to Egypt at age 24 to rescue a million dollars’ worth of farm machinery from a port, and later traveling the world for motorcycle trials—from New Zealand to Namibia to scooters in Sardinia.

It’s a classic Outdoor Ruhls-style conversation: local, personal, hilarious at times, and packed with the kind of stories you only get by sitting down with a neighbor who’s lived ten lifetimes—and still has time to weld art outside the window while you’re recording.

Links & Mentions

• Outdoor Ruhls website: www.outdoorruhls.com

• Instagram: @outdoorruhls

• Santa Fe Skies RV Park: SantaFeSkiesRVPark.com

• Email: OutdoorRuhls@gmail.com

As always, thanks for listening—leave a review, share the episode with a friend, and send us your ideas for future guests and stories.

Show Notes — Episode 68: Expectation, Meet Reality…

After a full year of anticipation, Mike and Caitlin finally get the crew up at 3:30 a.m. and hit the ice—only to get completely skunked. Not a bite, not a fish in sight… just one lone pike visible down the hole, like it was there purely to taunt them. Which sparks the episode’s theme: all those times the outdoors (and life) humbles your plans and hands you a totally different version than what you pictured.

The Setup: Big Hype, Zero Fish

Ice fishing season in New Mexico can be short and unpredictable, so when the lake opens you go. Mike, Caitlin, the boys, and Necie make the early push and fish hard for six hours—moving, changing tactics, running tip-ups, checking electronics… and still come up empty. The day becomes the perfect launch point for a classic Outdoor Ruhls tradition: turning disappointment into stories.

Matt’s Classic: Getting “Marty’d”

Matt joins the call and brings up the infamous Canada guided fishing trip—supposed to be muskie glory, but instead became the birth of a family phrase: getting Marty’d. Their guide Marty catches fish while the guys struggle, then drops the all-time unhelpful explanation: fish like the way some people smell better than others. The trip ends with Poppy requesting “no more Marty,” and Marty gets reassigned to wheelbarrow duty.

Lake Erie Dreams… and Glass Water Reality

Matt and Mike relive the trip where they chased Lake Erie smallmouth fame only to get pinned down by wind for days. When it finally lays down? The lake goes dead calm and crystal clear—so clear they can see their tubes on the bottom… and, conveniently, the total absence of fish. All the hype, none of the payoff.

Mark’s Hunting Curveball: The E-Bike Letdown

Mark shares the story of buying e-bikes for deer camp—money spent, gear hauled, plans made—only to learn the trail they wanted to ride is off-limits. Instead of cruising in like futuristic backwoods commandos, it’s back to walking. It’s a perfect “expectation vs. reality” moment… with a side of Pennsylvania public land side-eye.

Poppy & Meemaw: Snow, Stubbornness, and 52 Years of Evidence

Mike calls Poppy and Meemaw, and the weekend’s “quick ice check” turns into a full-on snowbound adventure. Unplowed roads, blocked turnarounds, and a near-miss that has Meemaw flashing back to Cape Hatteras 1974—when a confident newlywed assured her the truck would be fine in the sand. The theme of the day becomes clear: no guts, no glory… but also, sometimes no guts, just stuck.

Mike & Caitlin: Barbary Sheep and Corner-Crossing Confusion

Caitlin’s Barbary sheep hunt gets the full reality treatment: flat tire, brutal road, sheep spotted… and then two hunters magically appear ahead of them by crossing a questionable public/private corner. The sheep bed right on the boundary, forcing a tough decision and showing how unclear rules can change the entire outcome.

Honeymoon Horseback Ride: The Worst Brochure Ever Printed

Mike and Caitlin swap one of their best “we thought this would be romantic” stories: a Nicaragua horseback ride that looks dreamy in the pamphlet—but turns into a two-hour trotting marathon on skinny horses, on roads, through town, in heat and humidity, with maximum chafing and minimal joy. Three beach pictures later, it’s back to trotting like their lives depend on it.

GT’s Houseboat Fiasco: Rainy Lake vs. Reality

GT tells the legendary Rainy Lake houseboat trip: the brochure promised a Northwoods yacht experience, but the reality was a floating 1960s camper, mechanical issues, storms, brotherly shouting in rocky channels, and a DEET sprayer that blasted mosquito repellent over dinner like seasoning. The cherry on top: months later a “gift” arrives postmarked from Canada—a DEET sprayer—thanks to a perfectly executed prank.

The Takeaway

Sometimes the outdoors doesn’t deliver the trophy—or even a bite—but it delivers stories you’ll tell for decades. Episode 68 is a reminder that “bad” trips often become the best memories… once you’re warm, dry, and far enough away from the moment to laugh about it.

As always, you can find all of the Outdoor Ruhls content on the website www.outdoorruhls.com, and on Instagram @outdoorruhlspodcast. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube—and you can always reach out via email at outdoorruhls@gmail.com.

Episode 67 Show Notes

A Ruhl’s Best Friend…

In this episode, Mike and Caitlin check in with Mark and Rachel from the Outdoor Ruhls East studio for a heartfelt (and funny) conversation about dogs—the ones we’ve lost, the ones who shaped our lives, and the ridiculous trouble they sometimes get into. The episode centers on saying goodbye to Hatch, Mark and Rachel’s beloved Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and spirals into classic dog stories: skunks, stolen treats, fishhooks, and the kind of loyalty you only get from a four-legged best friend.

In This Episode

• Two studios, two households, one theme: dogs as family

• Mark and Rachel’s goodbye to Hatch (and what made him so special)

• Why Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are built different: water-loving, tough, and emotionally tuned-in

• Mike’s legendary dog Gus/Atticus stories—including the smoked trout “crime scene”

• Caitlin’s childhood cocker spaniel Murphy: Thanksgiving chaos, counter-surfing, and stolen treats

• The skunk incident that turned a pheasant hunt into a hazmat situation

• The accidental lesson everyone learns eventually: you can’t go “just look” at puppies

• The truth about dog sunscreen (yes… including that part)

• Bonus: a St. Bernard + black lab “mystery litter,” groundhog wars, and a terrifying possum chase

Featured Dogs (and Legends)

• Hatch (Chessie) – Loyal, gentle, empathetic, and the ultimate companion

• Gus / Atticus – The obedient gentleman… except for that one smoked trout

• Newt (Lab x Chessie) – Sweet, sensitive, semi-feral, and occasionally on the wrong side of the law

• Murphy (Cocker Spaniel) – Food-obsessed escape artist and treat thief

• Barkley (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) – Learned to swim… then fought a muskrat and ate a hook

• Trigger (St. Bernard x Black Lab) – Gentle giant, groundhog terminator, possum-fearing sprinter

Memorable Moments

• Hatch “ruing” one last time on his final day

• Murphy eating an entire apple pie… and smelling like apples afterward

• The skunk mix-up: “That’s a cat… wait… that’s NOT a cat.”

• Barkley’s pond era: from “learning to swim” to “defending the koi pond”

• The dog sunscreen debate—settled once and for all

Quotes Worth Remembering

• “We don’t deserve dogs… especially not the really good ones.”

• “You don’t go and look at puppies.”

• “If not friend, why friend-shaped?”

Where to Find Us

• Website: www.outdoorrhuls.com

• Instagram: @outdoorrhuls

• Listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

A missed connection at O’Hare derails a long-planned flintlock hunting trip, sparking a conversation about knowing when to push forward—and when to bail. Mike reflects on the power of last week’s episode with Uncle Sim, the importance of community and perspective across generations, and how even bad luck can lead to better stories, new plans, and gratitude for the people (and dogs) who matter most.

Episode 65 — Winter Ruhls

In this mid-January “slow season” check-in, Mike, Mark, and Poppy look ahead to a quick Pennsylvania trip for the last week of flintlock/muzzleloader season—and hope for ice fishing that’s been spotty in PA and nearly nonexistent in New Mexico. To lean into the winter vibe, they call up Uncle Sim (born 1932, turning 94) to hear what winter meant on the Rexmont farm before TVs, freezers, and modern conveniences.

Sim walks the crew through old-school farm life month-by-month: holiday traditions, New Year’s butchering, and the realities of preserving food without modern refrigeration—smoked meats, canned meat (including his legendary canned tenderloin), dried produce on the woodstove, and hauling water by hand. The conversation is packed with details about how much work went into keeping a farm running through winter: manure piling and spring spreading, milking routines, and making do with limited electricity and heat from a single stove.

The stories really come alive when Sim describes the community that revolved around the farm—neighbors coming down for butchering weekends (and lively debates over pig weights), kids playing “boom sock” in the barn lofts, and entire mining towns forming hockey teams to play on the farm pond. He also dives into winter fun like sled riding from Rexmont down to the farm, and the grit-and-humor of growing up with a party-line telephone, Saturday-night baths, and a no-nonsense “wood chest” behind the stove for discipline.

Sim’s memories spill into food and market life too—potatoes and apples stored in the barn and basement, cider and apple butter days, and his mom’s Saturday market routine in Lebanon selling cakes, cookies, eggs, and chickens (plus a classic hot-dog theft-and-getting-caught story). Before signing off, Sim touches on small-game hunting traditions—how the boys couldn’t hunt until the corn was husked—and how different the hunting felt back then compared to today.

In this episode:

• Mid-winter hunting plans: flintlock/muzzleloader wrap-up + hoping for ice

• New Mexico vs. Pennsylvania winter realities

• Rexmont farm winters: butchering, preserving, and staying busy

• Canned tenderloin, smoked meats, dried produce, and life without freezers

• Community weekends: butchering gatherings, homemade wine, and farm “events”

• Barn games like “boom sock” and town-vs-town pond hockey

• Sled riding routes, party-line phones, and Saturday night bath routines

• Lebanon market trips: baking, selling farm goods, and Sim’s hot dog story

• Small game hunting and corn husking as the gatekeeper for fall hunting

Follow along:
Instagram: @OutdoorRuhls • Website: www.outdoorrules.com • Listen on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / YouTube

Episode 64 Show Notes

Title: To Be Precise…

Hosts/Guests: Mark Ruhl with guest Dan (Rachel’s brother)

Main Topics: Precision/custom rifles, modern cartridges, optics, reloading, ethical range, and why Western hunts shouldn’t be put off.

Overview

Mark sits down with his brother-in-law Dan—an unapologetic precision-rifle nerd—to talk about how “custom rifles” have evolved from the old days of blueprinted Remington 700s to today’s world of high-end clone actions, carbon barrels, and purpose-built setups. They bounce between hunting and competition shooting, covering what matters most (and what doesn’t) if you’re trying to build a rifle that performs in the real world.

Key Conversations & Takeaways

Custom rifles: then vs. now

Dan explains how “custom” used to mean tweaking a factory action, but now includes a massive aftermarket of 700-footprint actions (Defiance, Terminus, Lone Peak, Impact, etc.) with features like DLC coating and shorter bolt throws. The takeaway: modern custom actions are generally excellent—it often comes down to preference.

Hunting reality check: don’t wait to hunt out West

Dan emphasizes that Western tags are getting more expensive and harder to draw, pressure is increasing, and conditions can change fast (winter kill, disease, predators). His advice is simple: if you want to hunt the West, do it sooner rather than later.

Tree stand grind vs. mountain grind

A fun comparison: Dan admits he’s wired for movement, so long, cold tree-stand sits are mentally harder than pounding miles in the mountains—even if the mountain is physically tougher. Still, they agree there’s value in the quiet headspace you get in a stand.

Factory ammo is better than ever (for most hunters)

Reloading used to be about saving money; now it’s often about precision. Dan says factory ammo can be “one-hole good” at 100 yards, but handloads shine when you care about SD/ES consistency for long-range steel. For hunting at normal distances, many shooters don’t need to reload if they find a factory load their rifle loves.

Cartridges: don’t get paralyzed by the debate

They dig into why modern cartridges like 7 PRC are popular: they’re designed around long, high-BC bullets, good external ballistics, and manageable recoil. But they also stress that within ethical hunting ranges, many cartridges are plenty lethal—what matters most is practice, good bullets, and knowing your limits.

Optics matter more than people think

Dan and Mark agree: if you’re spending big money, don’t blow it all on the rifle and cheap out on the glass. Quality scope + proper mounting (rings, torque, leveling) prevents a lot of “scope problems” that are really mounting problems.

Suppressors and kids

A strong point: kids often fear the noise more than recoil. Suppressors reduce blast, make coaching easier, and can improve shooting comfort—even if brakes reduce recoil more.

Competition shooting as hunter training

Dan says matches (especially NRL Hunter) expose what you don’t know—positional shooting, recoil management, building fast shooting platforms, and understanding wind/ballistics. His warning is blunt: a rifle marketed as “1000 yards out of the box” doesn’t mean the shooter is capable of ethical long shots on game.

Memorable Quotes / Moments

“Don’t wait” (about hunting out West)

“The rifle may be capable… chances are you are not.” (about long-range marketing)

Precision is fun, but the goal stays the same: shoot within your limitations—and actually know what they are.

Links & Mentions

Dan on Instagram: Transient Outdoorsman

Discussion of training resources and instruction (including Dan’s shoutout to precision-rifle coaching content)

Outro / Where to Follow

Find more Outdoor Ruhls content at outdoorruhls.com and on Instagram/Facebook at Outdoor Ruhls.

Episode 63 — “Pulpo Bob Goes Spearfishing”

Setting: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico — last full day of the trip, sunrise coffee over the Sea of Cortez, private beach cove + pool life with the kids.

Summary

The crew recaps a week in Cabo built around family and fishing: striped marlin “combat” fishing close to shore, a slow tuna day, and then a smaller-boat trip that produced tuna, wahoo, and the main event—Robert’s spearfishing mission. Along the way: sashimi and ceviche on the boat, the arch + Lover’s Beach, Wild Canyon animals (lovebirds, macaws, guinea pigs), and a reminder that the best part was being together.

Key Beats

Cabo basecamp

• Airbnb in the hills ~5 km from downtown; private pool + a private Sea of Cortez beach with a view of Cabo and the arch.

Customs surprise

• Mike gets hit with a 19% tax on “professional” podcast gear after choosing the X-ray line.

Fishing recap (4 different vibes)

• Striped marlin: not classic trolling—boats pile onto bait balls and free-line live mackerel; 4 hooked / 3 landed (~100–120 lbs).

• Dorado hunt: no dorado; bonito/skipjack; still ends up marlin fishing.

• Tuna day: eight-hour grind; a couple tuna lost; GT lands a marlin on a cedar plug.

• Small-boat troll (Diablo Loco): faster, deeper-running hard baits; captain “guns it” to set hooks—two yellowfin + one wahoo landed, plus a bigger fish lost mid-fight.

Main event: Pulpo Bob Spearfishing

• Robert drives the whole plan. Snorkel + fins + speargun over a rocky reef ~25 ft deep.

• Robert wears a wetsuit top + life jacket for warmth/comfort and stays in the water a long time—guide calls him “a beast.”

• Fish spotted: parrotfish, triggerfish, butterflyfish, puffers, and eel-looking guys (morae vibes). No speared fish yet—Robert is determined for next time.

Boat lunch + family fun

• Tuna sashimi + wahoo ceviche on the boat.

• Glass-bottom boat tour to the arch + Lover’s Beach (not Divorce Beach).

• Wild Canyon animals + surprise camel ride; kids’ favorites: pool, beach, guinea pigs, lovebirds.

Wrap + CTA

“No bad days” (except the tax-room hour).
More at www.OutdoorRuhls.com and Instagram @outdoorruhls.
Stormy Kromer orders / episode ideas: outdoorruhls@gmail.com.

Episode 63 – “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Flintlocks Revisited)” – Show Notes (Medium)

It’s Christmas week, and the Outdoor Ruhls crew is down in Cabo San Lucas with family—so instead of a brand-new episode, Mike replays a fan-favorite from last year: “Beautifully Imperfect,” the episode that captures why Pennsylvania flintlock muzzleloader season is the real “most wonderful time of the year” (and not Christmas). Mike opens with holiday wishes from the family to yours: Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Festivus, Happy New Year, and Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo.

Recorded live from deer camp (“the shanty”), Mike, Mark, and Matt revisit what makes flintlock season so special: it starts the day after Christmas, it’s uniquely Pennsylvanian, and it’s equal parts tradition, teamwork, and chaos. The guys break down how a flintlock works—flint strikes the frizzen, sparks ignite pan powder, fire runs through the touch hole—and why it’s so unreliable. Moisture, bad flints, powder leaking out, hangfires, misfires, and the infamous long lock time make follow-through essential. Even when everything works, flintlocks are harder to shoot accurately than modern rifles, and for most real woods hunting, 50 yards is a solid flintlock distance.

They share how the Ruhls got into flintlocks thanks to a high school biology teacher, Mr. Jerry Stover, and why this season became their favorite way to hunt together between Christmas and New Year. Much of the magic comes from deer drives—less sitting all day, more moving, more teamwork, and (in the good years) snow on the ground for tracking and unmistakable blood trails. They also touch on the appeal of the season’s tag structure in PA, where flintlock can turn into a rare chance at a statewide antlerless opportunity with the right permit.

Gear talk includes their evolution from patch-and-round-ball to conicals and eventually their go-to PowerBelts (around 295 gr), plus the hard truth that flintlocks generally need real black powder—substitutes and pellets can mean misfires or painfully slow ignition. And of course, they admit the obvious: they’ve missed plenty. Flintlocks have a way of failing at the worst moment… then firing perfectly five minutes later at a stump.

The episode closes with classic deer camp humor and family lore—like Davey’s early flintlock success, the crew’s running jokes about muzzleloader terms, and the legendary moment when young Mark sat down as a “stander” and Poppy furiously tried to signal “STAND UP” as a buck slipped through. It’s frustrating, it’s hilarious, it’s tradition—and it’s exactly why the season is, in their words, beautifully imperfect.

Connect with Outdoor Ruhls:

• Instagram: @outdoorruhls

• Email: outdoorruhls@gmail.com

• Website: www.outdoorruhls.com

Episode 62 – “Safety Third” – Show Notes

Mike, GT, Mark, and Matt gather for a laughter-filled tour through decades of mishaps, close calls, and self-inflicted injuries that earned the family motto: Safety Third. After a quick recap of New Mexico whitetail hunting—highlighted by Robert’s impressive 8-mile day and his deep dive into the Hunter Ed manual—the crew turns to stories from Pennsylvania’s rifle season, upcoming flintlock plans, and their soon-to-depart trip to Cabo for striped marlin and tuna fishing.

The centerpiece of the episode is a collection of outrageous (and true) injury stories:

• Matt’s greatest hits: a utility-knife knee stab, an ambulance ride after a toe-kick saw carved a half-circle into his leg, and countless stitches from 30 years in the trades.

• Tim’s “fire trilogy”: torching a tar-paper house after hornet spray ignited, setting a bathroom ablaze with paint stripper and a live outlet, and another exterior siding fire—followed by losing a house years later in a neighbor-caused garage fire.

• Ruhl childhood classics: Mark hatcheting his finger at age four, the infamous blender incident, and Mike nearly taking off his fingertip with a chop saw while working on a boat project.

• Bonus stories include Caitlin’s first pocket-knife wound at age seven, Robert running a log splitter responsibly at seven, and a teaser for future wildlife-encounter episodes—especially Grant’s legendary feral cat saga.

The episode wraps with updates on Outdoor Ruhls’ viral reels, details on ordering Stormy Kromer caps, and how to connect with the show:

• Instagram: @outdoorruhls

• Email: outdoorruhls@gmail.com

Outdoor Ruhls Podcast – Episode 61
“Hell on Ice”

A spray-painted “PET” deer, a viral MeatEater post, custom Outdoor Ruhls Stormy Kromers, and a 60-year-old wooden toboggan that refuses to retire—Episode 61 is full-tilt winter chaos. Mike and Mark open with the story behind the now-famous “PET” deer that wandered past their Pennsylvania blind, how the video ended up with Steve Rinella, and why it’s been viewed over 3 million times. They also welcome new listeners and describe what the show is at its core: a family-driven outdoors podcast built on storytelling, humor, and shared memories.

Then comes the snow carnage. Memaw and Poppy recount how their massive wooden toboggan once helped spark two marriages, long before it started racking up injuries—like Memaw’s Christmas Day broken nose and Ron’s broken ankle at Log Hollow Camp. Mike, Matt, Davey, and Kate add their own chapters: the Fairview Golf Course jump that left Davey with a badly injured wrist; the infamous nighttime return run where Ann Boyer hit the same jump in the dark and bruised her hip so badly she remembered it for decades; and a reminder that once the toboggan claims one victim, it usually isn’t done.

The episode wraps with more “hell on ice”: the Perry County canoe-sled crash, Kate’s one and only ice-fishing trip that ended with a fractured tailbone, her too-small snowsuit exploding in the Swiss Alps, and Hunter’s full-send ski and snowboard wrecks. Through all of it, the throughline is pure Outdoor Ruhls—family, laughter, and stories that last far longer than any trophy.

Want an Outdoor Ruhls Stormy Kromer hat?
👉 Email OutdoorRuhls@gmail.com (R-U-H-L-S) with:

• Color choice (Blaze Orange or Forest Floor)

• Your head measurement or hat size

• Any questions about sizing or ordering

Episode 60: Seven for Seven

Show Notes – Outdoor Ruhls Podcast

Seven years old. Seven-point buck. First day of rifle season in Pennsylvania. In this episode, Mike sits down with brothers Mark, Matt, and Davey—and the kids—to relive a wild opening day that ends with Robert tagging his very first deer.

It’s a full-family, full-circle kind of story: archery season recaps, arguments about Saturday vs. Monday openers, a half-tame deer literally licking the rifle barrel…and then an evening hunt in the “Squid Shootin’ Shack” where everything comes together for a perfect 160-yard shot.

In This Episode

Stormy Kromer x Outdoor Ruhls Hats Are Coming

Mike kicks things off with an update on a special collab with Stormy Kromer.

Two colors: Blaze Orange (perfect for rifle season) and Forest Floor (plaid).

Custom Outdoor Ruhls logo on the ear flap.

These are fitted, sized hats, not one-size-fits-all.

Need at least 36 hats ordered to make it happen.

👉 If you’re interested, email outdoorruhls@gmail.com

(that’s R-U-H-L-S) with your color choice and size. Mike and the crew can help you figure out sizing using Stormy Kromer’s head-measuring guide and online calculator.

Saturday vs. Monday Opener – The Great PA Debate

The Ruhl brothers and Davey wade into one of the hottest topics in Pennsylvania deer hunting:

Did moving rifle opener from Monday to Saturday kill deer camp culture or make hunting more accessible?

The old rhythm of heading to camp on Friday, hanging stands, telling stories, and then hunting Monday.

How archery season, Sunday hunting, and changing deer numbers have shifted when and how deer get killed.

Nostalgia, tradition, economics, and what they’d like to see the Game Commission do next.

Archery Season Recap

Before rifles come out, the crew looks back on fall:

Mark’s big-bodied 8-pointer with his compound bow and those wild flashing lighted nocks (“disco party in the woods”).

Davey’s quick November 3rd bow buck on his parents’ small Lancaster property.

How antler restrictions have quietly changed Pennsylvania buck quality and hunter expectations over the last 20+ years.

Getting Robert Ready – BB Gun to 6.5 Creedmoor

Mike and Uncle Matt walk through how Robert went from:

Red Ryder BB gun → air rifle → .22 → 6.5 Creedmoor

Practicing at 100 yards with reduced-recoil 6.5 Creedmoor loads.

Using Pennsylvania’s mentored youth hunting program so a 7-year-old can hunt with his own tag while an adult carries the rifle to and from the stand.

The kids’ pre-season excitement, talking about dreams, not sleeping, and “going to sleep is like fast traveling” to opening morning.

Deer Named “Pet” & The Weirdest Hunt Ever

On the morning hunt, Robert and CJ sit in a ground blind with Mike, Poppy, and Uncle Mark…and things get bizarre:

A doe walks in with “PET” spray-painted in bright orange on both sides.

The deer walks right up, sniffs the muzzle, and licks the rifle barrel.

Everyone realizes somebody raised this deer like a pet—and that it’s probably not equipped for real wild life.

No legal bucks show up, but it’s a story none of them will ever forget.

Seven for Seven – Robert’s First Buck

The evening hunt is where the magic happens:

Mike, Uncle Matt, and Robert head to the elevated hard-sided blind that CJ used last year—the “Squid Shootin’ Shack.”

Does feed out at about 160 yards. A good buck follows them into the cornfield.

Uncle Matt and Mike quietly coach Robert: Can you hit him? Are you sure? Do you know where to aim?

Robert settles the crosshairs behind the shoulder, squeezes…

The buck runs 30–40 yards and tips over in sight.

Chaos, hugging, shaking, and a very proud dad and uncle.

It’s a big 7-point—perfect for a seven-year-old. Last year CJ shot an 8-point at eight years old, so now it’s officially “Eight for Eight” and “Seven for Seven.”

Naming the Stand & Saving the Stories

The kids brainstorm new names for the blind now that it holds two first bucks—maybe “Cousins’ Cracking Shack” or some mash-up of Squid and Bob. Mike reflects on:

How special it is that almost the whole family was there—Rachel, Kaylee, Caitlin, Meemaw and Poppy—either watching from other blinds or helping with recovery and butchering.

Why recording these stories on the podcast matters, so CJ, Robert, and Emmit (and their kids someday) can hear their own voices and family memories years down the road.

How to Support Outdoor Ruhls

Preorder a Stormy Kromer x Outdoor Ruhls hat

Email: outdoorruls@gmail.com

with your size and choice of Blaze Orange or Forest Floor.

Listen & Follow

Website: outdoorruls.com

Instagram & Facebook: @outdoorruls

Subscribe & Review

If you enjoyed this first-buck episode, please follow the Outdoor Ruhls Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen, and leave a rating or review—it helps other hunters and families find the show.

More deer season stories—and more from the kids—coming soon. 🦌🧡

Episode 59: German Roots, American Soil (Part 2)

Hunting stories, canning venison, bone broth, and the legacy of an old-world Oma

This is the second half of our two-part conversation with Erika — Rachel’s mom and CJ’s Oma.
👉 If you haven’t listened to Episode 58: German Roots, American Soil yet, go back and start there first.

Mike opens the show from New Mexico, talking about their upcoming trip to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving and the deer opener. From there, the episode turns over entirely to Mark, Rachel, and Erika as they pick up right where Part 1 left off.

What’s inside (short & sweet):

• Erika’s three hunting experiences: a pressured one-and-done deer hunt, a Florida gator that turned out to be much bigger than she paid for, and a wild boar taken on the ride back from the stand.

• The legendary “giant gator board” that hung in their old house — and the Craigslist story that finally got it out the door.

• Oma’s role as the head of the butchering crew: deboning deer, directing the work, and teaching CJ to help from a young age.

• How Erika makes venison bone broth and canned meat: roasting bones, long simmering, straining, pressure canning, raw-packing venison cubes, and why canned meat stays tender for years.

• Wild game talk: antelope vs. elk, using the organs, keeping tongues, and why caul-fat meatballs are amazing on day one and questionable on day two.

• German vs. Pennsylvania Dutch food and culture: sweetened salads, chow-chow, dialects, and her infamous first hot-dog-and-sauerkraut experience at Hersheypark.

• What Erika hopes CJ carries forward: self-sufficiency, curiosity, old-world traditions, and her strong servant-hearted nature.

Listen & Follow

Spotify • Apple Podcasts • OutdoorRuhls.com
Instagram: @outdoorruhls

Episode 58: German Roots, American Soil (Part 1)

Erika’s Old-World Childhood, Multi-Gen Living, Gardening, Canning, and the Roots She’s Passing Down

This week, Mark and Rachel sit down with a very special guest: Erika — Rachel’s mom and CJ’s grandma (Oma). Erika grew up in a small village in southwest Germany where almost everything was homegrown, home-baked, home-butchered, and home-preserved. In this warm, funny, and deeply nostalgic episode, she shares those old-world traditions and the ways they’ve carried into her modern life in Pennsylvania — including multi-generational living, gardening with CJ, preserving food, and creating a home built around family and service.

In this episode we talk about:

Growing up in southwest Germany

• Life in the village of Atmohausen where everyone knew everyone — sometimes before you got home.

• 90% homegrown food: milk from the neighborhood milk house, sourdough from the village oven, vegetables from the garden, meat from family and neighbors.

• Why food was precious after WWII and how the Cold War years shaped frugal, no-waste habits.

• Sundays as true family days: stores closed, big hikes, and exploring the woods with her dad.

Multi-generational households — then and now

• Living with grandparents, parents, and kids together under one roof, each with their own kitchen and living space.

• How everyone pitched in: babysitting, nursing someone back to health, sharing meals, combining resources.

• How Rachel and Mark have recreated that model today with their own multi-generational home — CJ upstairs, Oma and Opa downstairs, one shared laundry room, and lots of shared life.

Village camping, Red Cross trips & the ‘thunder log’

• Summer trips with 50 village kids in old military tents with no floors.

• Breakfast choices: jelly bread, liverwurst, or “go without.”

• Downpours, floating air mattresses, and digging trenches in the middle of the night.

• The infamous story of Erika’s dad being carried, asleep on his cot, into the lake at dawn — and calmly walking it back out.

Old-world butchering and food traditions

• Helping her butcher uncle, learning nose-to-tail principles the old German way.

• Why pig tails, cheeks, and snouts were delicacies — and why cow tongue is still one of her favorites.

• School lunches of liverwurst and pickles on homemade bread and trading with “city kids” for factory-made white bread.

How Erika met John and came to America

• The persistent American soldier who approached her at a train-station bistro.

• Giving him a fake name — and how he still managed to find her.

• Her father’s condition: he would fly to the U.S. with her, and if he didn’t approve, she’d be coming right back home.

• Falling in love with central Pennsylvania, cowboy hats, and a new life far from home.

• Early married life in Monterey, California, overlooking the bay while John served at Fort Ord.

Gardening: old-world skill, modern joy

• Why cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce are her favorites — and why cabbage is her lifelong gardening nemesis.

• Seed catalogs (especially heirlooms) as “a stroll through the candy store.”

• Gardening organically, fighting weeds, and the success of using tarp between raised beds.

• The special bond between Oma and CJ in the garden: picking seeds together, eating herbs straight off the plants, and spending hours outside together without screens.

• Why gardening is for every age — from toddlers with trowels to grandparents with wisdom.

Quail, chickens, bees & rabbits

• Raising meat rabbits as a child — and why she’s happy to eat rabbit now but won’t raise them again.

• Backyard chickens, broody hens hatching quail eggs, and the daily “Easter egg hunt” of finding tiny speckled eggs.

• The joys and frustrations of beekeeping and why they may try again in the future.

Canning and preserving the old-fashioned way

• Why canning meat, vegetables, and broth is a deeply satisfying and practical tradition.

• Deboning meat with purpose: saving certain cuts, preparing others for future meals.

• Making rich bone broth the traditional way: roasting, simmering, straining, and pressure canning.

• Why learning to preserve food is a skill Erika believes every generation should carry forward.

Passing on traditions to CJ

• What Erika hopes CJ keeps with her for life:

  • Self-sufficiency paired with a servant’s heart

  • The courage to try new skills

  • Respect for tools, sharp knives, and her own capabilities

  • A love of gardening, canning, and homemade foods

  • German holiday traditions like Nikolaustag and Christmas Eve celebrations

• Why investing time with kids when they’re small is the key to staying connected when they're older.

Next time…

This episode ends right before Erika begins telling stories about her brief but unforgettable experiences with hunting, alligators, and wild boar, plus how she became the quiet general of the deer-butchering crew.

Those stories — and the full deep dive into canning meat, raw-packing venison, and old-world food preservation — will kick off Episode 59.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at OutdoorRuhls.com
Follow along on Instagram: @outdoorruhls

In Episode 57, Long Exposure, Mark steps in as host to interview his wife, Rachel, about her journey from harvesting a trophy Illinois buck to becoming one of Lancaster County’s top photographers. They discuss her hunting roots, the creative influence of her father’s photojournalism, and her rise in wedding and elopement photography—known for her emotional, documentary style and love of blue-hour light. It’s a warm, funny, and heartfelt look at how Rachel’s passion for storytelling and the outdoors has shaped both her art and family life.

Episode 56 — Happy Birthday to Us!

Guests/Voices: Mike, Mark, Matt, and Poppy (recorded in Quentin, Pennsylvania)

Summary

The Ruhl boys celebrate one full year of Outdoor Ruhls with a roundtable: remembering dear family friend Catherine Schott, swapping mid-season whitetail updates, plotting a mentored-youth hunt for Robert, and looking back on favorite episodes and lessons from year one—plus a big list of show ideas we’re excited to make next.

Chapter Guide

• 00:00 Cold open & intros from Quentin, PA

• 02:00 Remembering Catherine Schott: leadership, service, and “100% effort”

• 08:30 Mid-season deer report: rut signs, standing corn, and stand strategy

• 14:30 Poppy’s shoulder replacement, recovery timeline, and rifle-season hopes

• 18:30 Mark’s tag-punch with the compound & living with MG (myasthenia gravis)

• 26:00 Mini-adventure: helping friend Bob Bridges recover his buck

• 32:30 Mentored-Youth plan for Robert: licenses, tags, rifle fit, and range prep

• 41:00 Year-one reflections: favorite episodes, why we’re doing this, and family voices on tape

• 50:00 What’s next: episode ideas (Safety Third, Hell on Ice, Monkey Business, witticisms & mixed metaphors, FFA, Milton Hershey, photography, canning/gardening, San Diego sport fishing)

• 58:00 Closing thoughts & Thanksgiving/ice-fishing chatter

Season Highlights

• Rut watch: Chasing starting in spots; movement muted by standing corn that should come off soon.

• Mark’s season: Passed a young 8; later took a big-bodied 8 with the compound after MG symptoms eased.

• Poppy: Two weeks post-op (left shoulder). Eyeing rifle season with caution (lead sled, muzzle brake).

• Pipeline stand tales: Doe standoffs, quick decisions, and a clean 30-yard shot.

Mentored-Youth (PA) — Our Plan for Robert

• License path discussed: Mentored Youth permit; at age 7 the youth can hold their own tags.

• This year’s reality: Missed the antlerless draw → buck only for Robert.

• Antler rule (as discussed): Youth buck can be legal without standard point restrictions (≥ ~3" spike).

• Firearm handling (as discussed): Mentor carries during travel; one gun between mentor & youth; transfer only once settled.

• Rifle options: 6.5 Creedmoor vs. youth .243; priority is fit, comfort with recoil/noise, and range time first.

Note: We’re sharing our understanding from chat—always check current PA Game Commission regs before hunting.

Year-One Favorites & Why They Matter

• Family history episodes: Uncles Sim & Dick (“it was perfect—family, family, family”), Pop Bud stories, and Norway diaries.

• Guest standouts: Pat Durkin, Ben Goldfarb, Bob Jacquart (Stormy Kromer).

• Why we’re doing this: Capturing voices and stories while we can—“priceless” for the family archive.

Future Episode Ideas We Tease

• Safety Third: Home-shop mishaps, tool tales, and hospital runs (special cameo ideas: Grant’s table-saw lesson).

• Monkey Business: Animal shenanigans (squirrel bites & rabies shots, plus broader critter capers).

• Hell on Ice: Toboggan carnage, ice-fishing wipeouts, and Potter County legends.

• Witticisms & Mixed Metaphors: Pop Grant’s classics (“nat’s ass over a nail keg”) and the kids’ best mash-ups.

• FFA & Milton Hershey: With Harold Burkheiser, Dan Kreider, and local ag history.

• Photography: Rachel + Tim (gear, field craft, storytelling).

• Canning & Gardening: Bone broth, pantry projects, and field-to-jar know-how.

• Sport Fishing: Dave Arnold & Capt. Matt Arnold (San Diego), plus a dream trip episode.

People Mentioned

Catherine Schott, Bob Bridges (and daughter Anna), Davey, Sim & Dick, Beth, Dave & Matt Arnold, Harold Burkheiser, Dan Kreider, Rachel, Kaylee, CJ, Kate & Anne.

Gear Corner (brief)

• Bows: Crossbow vs. compound (vision/eye-patch workarounds for MG).

• Rifles: 6.5 Creedmoor & youth .243 considerations for young shooters.

• Stability: Lead sleds, brakes, and smart recoil management for healing shoulders.

Links & Thanks

• Website: OutdoorRuhls.com

• Instagram: @outdoorruhls

• Cooking page for future recipes: OutdoorRuhls.com/cooking
  Big thanks to our listeners—especially the Central PA crew—who’ve been with us through the first year. We’re just getting warmed up.

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