Mike, Caitlin, and GT sit down with official Boone & Crockett measurer Nicole Tatman to explore the history, purpose, and conservation legacy of Boone & Crockett and Pope & Young. The conversation goes beyond antler measurements to discuss fair chase ethics, wildlife conservation, and the role record books play in documenting North America's greatest game animals.

Along the way, Nicole measures Caitlin's public-land archery elk, explains how the official measuring process works, and helps put the bull's impressive final score into historical perspective.

Mike sits down with Jeremy Cressley of Mountain Hollow Game Calls to recap the highs, lows, and lessons of the 2026 turkey season. From Osceola turkeys in Florida and New Mexico gobblers that wouldn't cooperate to discussions about TSS loads, public-land pressure, and calling strategy, the conversation is a candid look at why turkey hunting keeps us coming back year after year.

On the morning after his 46th birthday, Caitlin turns the tables and interviews Mike about the lessons he's learned through family, fatherhood, conservation work, hunting, fishing, and life in general. Through stories from Yellowstone, Montana, deer camp, youth sports, and raising Robert and Emmit, Mike reflects on gratitude, humility, getting older, and the people who have shaped him along the way.

In Episode 84 of the Outdoor Ruhls Podcast, Mike, Mark, and Caitlin share stories from Ole Bull State Park, Deer Camp, and the trout streams of north-central Pennsylvania while reflecting on the family traditions that shaped them. Along the way, they dive into the history of Ole Bull, swap fishing stories, laugh about unforgettable childhood memories, and look ahead to upcoming adventures in Cape Charles.

Mike and Matt record their first-ever two-person episode and dive headfirst into the rabbit hole of fishing tackle addiction. From Pennsylvania bass fishing and six-pound largemouths to braided line, fluorocarbon leaders, and thousand-dollar rod-and-reel setups, the brothers break down the gear they actually use and why serious anglers are always chasing the next perfect setup.

In this Mother’s Day episode, Mike and Caitlin reflect on family, motherhood, and a weekend adventure in Glenwood, New Mexico before Mike, Poppy, and Aunt Beth remember Grandma June Gettle Ruhl. Through stories of her art, kindness, family love, and lasting influence, the episode becomes a tribute to mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and the women who shape us across generations.

In this special Mother’s Day episode of the Outdoor Ruhls Podcast, Mike, Karen, Caitlin, and Poppy share stories and memories about Mike’s grandmother, Elizabeth “Nutt” Hartlieb, a complicated woman whose difficult upbringing shaped much of her life and relationships. Funny, uncomfortable, and heartfelt moments lead to a deeper conversation about family, resilience, gratitude, and the importance of choosing love and positivity even after hard experiences.

Mike sits down with Uncle Sim and Poppy to explore the history of the Cornwall iron mines, from their role in early American industry to their impact on the local community. Uncle Sim shares firsthand stories of mining life and explains how iron ore was mined and processed in Lebanon County. The episode wraps with the mine’s closure after Hurricane Agnes and reflections on how it shaped both the region and the Ruhl family.

A springtime catch-up episode where the crew reflects on recent family time, podcast recordings, and the busy transition out of winter. From turkey season “Valentine’s Day” hunts in New Mexico to gardening plans, bass fishing updates, and upcoming family trips, the conversation covers a little bit of everything. It’s a relaxed, story-driven episode about balancing life, family, and the outdoors.

Episode 78 dives into the remarkable story of Milton S. Hershey, tracing his journey from repeated failures to building a chocolate empire that transformed milk chocolate into an everyday staple. Through Uncle Sim’s firsthand experiences on a Pennsylvania dairy farm, the episode connects Hershey’s success to the hardworking families who supplied the milk that fueled it. It’s a powerful blend of American history, family storytelling, and the lasting impact of Hershey’s philanthropy and community vision.

In this episode, the Ruhls continue their family farm series by diving into springtime work, from hauling manure and preparing fields to planting crops with horse teams and coordinating large-scale threshing with neighbors. Uncle Sim shares vivid stories of hard labor, community cooperation, and Depression-era resourcefulness. The episode also captures the lighter side of rural life, with memories of softball, quoits, roller skating, and the mischievous traditions that brought the community together.

Dale and Denise Snyder share the story of how a farm upbringing and unexpected opportunities led to a lifelong career in zookeeping, filled with hands-on conservation work and unforgettable animal encounters. The episode highlights the vital role zoos play in education, wildlife rehabilitation, and connecting people—especially kids—to the natural world. At its heart, it’s a story about family, stewardship, and finding purpose in caring for animals and the environment.

In Episode 75, Mike sits down with Karl Malcolm for a wide-ranging conversation on conservation, forest health, and the critical role of disturbance in maintaining wildlife habitat. From black bear research to eastern forest ecology, Karl explains why habitat—not predators or disease—is the key driver of species success and how thoughtful management can benefit both wildlife and people.

Join the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society at ruffed.org

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.