Bear Grease

Join Clay Newcomb live from the iHeartCountry Festival in Austin, Texas, for this special episode of Render, brought to you by Bobcat. Clay interviews country music superstars, Russell Dickerson and Dylan Scott, in the Bobcat Garage. Clay asks the artists how determination, grit, and hard work have helped them succeed.

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A trip that Brent looks forward to every year for the fellowship and hunting gets cut short by success. Getting what you're going after can leave a bitter taste when it ends before you've had a chance to relax. Brent takes a filled tag at most opportunities and he filled this one with persistence, patience and while honoring a memory, just as he was taught. Get comfortable and get hid, gobblers are on the way.

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On December 26, 1990, 17 year old Jason Dean was accidentally shot in the back during a North Georgia deer hunt causing an injury he shouldn't have survived. What followed was a chaotic, desperate effort to save his life deep in the woods, with no cell phones, limited resources, and miles standing between him and the only possible chance of survival.

As the story unfolds, it reveals far more than a hunting accident—highlighting the power of family, the weight of responsibility, and the role of faith and forgiveness in the face of the unthinkable. It’s a gripping account of how quickly life can change, and what it takes to fight your way back from the edge.

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Last fall we published an episode called “Pogie Boats” where we dove into a long-standing conflict between the commercial menhaden fishing industry and the recreational fishermen, charter fishermen, and conservation community. We also promised that we would keep you updated with this issue as it progresses. Just a few days ago, three key menhaden reform bills passed the senate natural resources committee, which is a big deal, and a step towards conservation on this highly-contested issue.

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Turkey season is still in vogue as Brent relates a story from one of his family members in Arkansas. Then he’ll wind up his recent trip to Alabama with a tale of some good folks doing some good things in conservation. Gather up and let’s give it a listen. 

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As host Clay Newcomb rolls in from the Turkey woods with a fresh gobbler kill, special guests and Mena, Arkansas residents Gary and Judy “Juju” Newcomb join with Dr. Misty Newcomb, Bear Newcomb, and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker to discuss the Mena circus disaster of 1951 as well as the tragic story of the vigilante murder of Peter Berryman events detailed in the last episode of The Bear Grease Podcast.

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Clay Newcomb gives behind the scenes details and answers viewer questions about the Alaska boat-based black bear hunt feature in the new film for the MeatEater “12 in ‘26” film series.  Both Clay and Bear Newcomb hunt black bears along the Alaskan coast–Bear with a modern rifle and Clay with a primitive self bow.

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Wild Turkeys have been a shining example of conservation efforts since their recovery from the brink of extinction in the late 1900s. In this episode, we not only talk to a gentlemen who has had the unique perspective to see the the recovery of the wild turkey and participate in some of the early conservation work, but we then spring forward to present day to talk about some the most current efforts being initiated to ensure turkeys and turkey hunting for the foreseeable future!

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It’s time for Brent’s annual Alabama turkey hunt with Reed Barganier. Just like most of Brent’s projects there's no shortage of calamity and adventure. This one is no different. Shots have been fired so get comfortable and let’s see how he fared. 

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In small towns all over America, there are remarkable and tragic stories that if not told could easily slip into oblivion. These stories must be recounted so history doesn’t get lost and the mistakes of the past are never repeated.

In Mena, Arkansas, the hometown of host Clay Newcomb there are two notable graves nearly in sight of one another.  One holds a story so unbelievable and tragic that it hardly sounds true, and one story that holds some dark history.

In 1951, Maria de Campa, the 9 year old daughter of trapeze artists was killed by an unattended circus lion outside the big top as the show performance was underway. Then the following day, as the circus moved to the next town on their tour a vehicle accident resulted in the escape of some exotic and dangerous animals into the National Forest.

Rewind 50 years before, to the story of Peter Berryman, a mentally unstable African American man who was arrested for allegedly kicking a young girl. The night before he was to stand trial before the judge, a group of masked men detained the deputy on duty, entered the jail, took Berryman, and beat and lynched him.  Despite town outrage, the perpetrators were never brought to justice.

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It’s Brent’s favorite time of year and the turkey stories are rolling in. He’s gonna share a couple from some listeners that are great examples of mentorship. One from a father and one about a father figure. The last one is about the man who taught Brent how to hunt turkeys. His lessons however, went far beyond the woods. 

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The chips fly around the poker table as the crew wagers which topic will come up more: Lake Pickle and his turkey hunting woes, or Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker’s fly fishing trip to Patagonia.  Confessions of past wrongdoing come up to try to clear the conscience to gain some favor in the turkey hunting woods.  Host Clay Newcomb is joined by special guests Jordan Blissett, Lake Pickle, and Lacey Pickle.

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The Florida water crisis, remains the focus of our discussion. However, we are going to hear about it from a different perspective. Pat Durden is a multi-generational Floridian, a cattlemen, and an outdoorsman. Pat is going to give his take on some the water issue Florida is up against, from the perspective of farmers and ranchers.

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As promised, Brent's back with the second half of his trip to Mississippi. A hunt that has as many ups and downs as a carousel at the county fair. He's also telling a turkey story from years back in Missouri where equines and bovines played a pivotal part.

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When Cody Villines prepared to draw down on three dark approaching turkeys, he definitely gets more than he expected. Janis Putelis hangs in for a fourth quarter double, Clay and Lake get a big surprise about what comes into their call, and a miraculous retrieval—all exciting stories from Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas, sure to get you fired up for Spring Turkey Season.

Watch Clay's Utah Mountain Lion Hunt on YouTube

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It's turkey week and Brent's got a tale hot of the presses from a recent trip to Mississippi. The ups and downs of chasing the King of Spring are well described oil this epic hunt with good friends down in the Magnolia State. This is so good it should be a movie, and it is! You’ll be able to see this hunt from First Lite very soon. Until then enjoy the narrative version right here on MeatEater’s “This Country Life” podcast.

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On this episode of Bear Grease Render, host Clay Newcomb is joined by Dr. Misty Newcomb and Josh Spielmaker, along with special guest and Turkey Stories newcomer Holly Newkirk, a sophomore at the University of Arkansas, in the Tecovas Hot Seat. Holly shares the full story behind her remarkable first solo turkey hunt, where she harvested her first gobbler and then turned heads by bringing it back to her sorority house lawn for photos, creating an unforgettable scene. The crew also dives into an unexpected but important thread from the Turkey Stories episode: hunting safety, and the lessons that surfaced along the way.

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Clay Newcomb answers your questions and breaks down his Utah mountain lion hunt captured in MeatEater's brand new "12 in '26" film series. He hunts with mules and hounds in the mountains, testing his fortitude in some seriously steep and rugged terrain. Presented by @Moultrie.Products and @onXHunt

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When you think of the state of Florida, a water crisis is likely not the first thing that comes to mind. However, There has been an ongoing fight for decades now centered around water, and more importantly how it is managed. In it's natural state, water would flow slowly south out of Lake Okeechobee, down through the everglades, and into the Atlantic ocean. Now, after some artifical damming and canal building- the water is released in large discharges to the St Lucie and Caloosahatchie Rivers, causing an aray of problems for those rivers, the residing wildlife, water quality, and neglects the everglades.

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Brent's first encounter with a bear happened many years ago on a hunt with his dad and a longtime family friend. It is a favorite memory involving an animal to which he would form stronger ties as he got older. The annual celebration of black bears has also introduced Brent to a large number of people he now counts as family. He's sharing that first experience with his father and a special project that spawned from the annual Black Bear Bonanza in Arkansas. 

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On this episode of the Bear Grease Podcast, it’s Turkey Stories time! We’ve gathered a lineup of hunters from Arkansas, Alabama, Virginia, and Mississippi, both young and old, connected by a love of spring turkey hunting.  You’ll hear about a University of Arkansas student on her first solo hunt, a hunter who survived being shot in the back, bobcats crashing the scene at the worst possible time, a woman in pursuit of a Turkey World Slam with a flintlock shotgun and more. Plus, insight from turkey biologist Mike Chamberlain and voices shaped by a lifetime in the woods. If you love turkey hunting or just plain old good stories, don’t miss this one.

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Brent's got his young hound Jessi out in the woods and her learning curve is falling flat. Patience is paramount during these times but Brent's is running thin until he realized sometimes, it's just the way it is. He's got two examples of that for you and a coon hunt with some folks that he donated as a fundraiser, which may have given him more than he gave away. 

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On this episode of the Bear Grease Podcast after a full day of hog hunting in Oklahoma, host Clay Newcomb sits down with Dale Brisby of Rodeo Time and Turnpike Troubadours frontman Evan Felker along with Donnie Daytona, Andrew Stubbs, and Bear Newcomb to swap stories about catching yearlings in the woods, bronc riding, training horses, and the realities of ranch life.  Evan discusses what life is like on the road playing music and working on a new album for "The Troubadours."

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The Wild Turkey is one of the most beloved, and also most studied game birds. In this episode, Dr. Mike Chamberlain, also known as the Wild Turkey doc, gives us a look into one of the greatest new discoveries in the world of turkey science. A discovery that might have huge implications for the future of turkeys and turkey hunting.

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It’s a celebration of stories featuring ladies from both sides of the nation. One culminating in a single turkey season with her father and the other one taking a little bit longer. Brent thinks you’ll like them both and we do too. 

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In this episode of the Bear Grease Podcast, host Clay Newcomb welcomes Rob Argue, a retired Canadian conservation office to share the harrowing events when he and his partner’s canoe capsizes in icy water in the Ontario backcountry. This life-threatening event tests his physical, mental, and emotional limits and capacity as hypothermia sets in as they put their trust in an emergency locator beacon. In this story you may even learn some life-saving tips if you find yourself in a similar situation.

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This week, Brent's talking about serving others and how the inspiration to do so can come at an early age. It can also come after a lifetime of taking when the realization to give back occurs. A listener story describes how a community served one another in the aftermath of severe weather. This is a good one and hopefully inspirational as well.

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On this episode of the Bear Grease Podcast, host Clay Newcomb is joined by the OG Render crew—Brent Reaves, Dr. Misty Newcomb, Bear Newcomb, Gary “Believer” Newcomb, and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker. Clay shows off his new bear fur mittens for his upcoming Arctic expedition, and Brent and Bear detail their coin hunting with self bow exploits, along with a deep discussion of the Bear Grease loggers episode featuring Teddy Villines.

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Beavers are an animal that notoriously get a lot of press. However, more often than not, it's negative press. Their damming everything up, they're causing floods, they're a nuisance, and so on- that's what we normally hear when beavers show up in conversation. Well in today's episode of Backwoods university, we're going to look at beavers in a very different light by learning about two stories. One took places back in the 1940s, one is still playing out in present time, and both of them involve beavers being the hero of the story.

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This week's episode discusses a two-hundred-year-old fable about coon hunting in Arkansas and a seemingly impossible task. The lessons are flying around like the monkeys in The Wizard of Oz. Get comfortable and check out what's happening on MeatEater's "This Country Life" podcast.

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In this episode of the Bear Grease Podcast, host Clay Newcomb sits down with Teddy Villines, father to Cody Villines and uncle to Caylon Villines featured in the last episode.  He is a lifelong Ozark logger shaped by generations of hard work, handshake deals, and respect for the land. Teddy shares stories from a life spent in the woods, including close calls, brutal injuries, and a terrifying runaway log-truck wreck that forced him to confront who is truly in control.

More than a logging story, this episode is about character, faith, and legacy. What it means to provide for your family, keep your word, and face life’s dangers with humility.

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For the past several weeks, Brent's been hitting the road from Tennessee to Pennsylvania as a goodwill ambassador, and meeting people from all over the eastern half of the country. We get the hunt and sports show stops, but guest lecturing at the University of Tennessee? What were they thinking? Pull up a chair and find out for yourself. It's time for MeatEater's "This Country Life" podcast. 

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On this episode of the Bear Grease podcast, host Clay Newcomb along with Bear Newcomb and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker are joined by Bear Grease featured cousins Caylon and Cody Villines, as well as Waylon Villines. The Villines family has been logging Newton County, Arkansas, for generations, and they’ve got the stories to prove it. Join us as we talk about Ozark heritage, the transition from old-school timbering to the modern era, and the grit it takes to remain a woodsman in the 21st century.

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Back in the late 1960s a ground breaking initiative started in the wildlife conservation space that would lead to one of the greatest wildlife wins we have in the entire country. The restoration of the wild Turkey can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of many people across wildlife agencies and conservation organizations this week. We have the privilege of talking to Mr. Benny Herring he was among the first in the state of Mississippi to start the successful Turkey restoration program.

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For many of us getting our children and the younger members of our family outdoors is a priority. How we get them outside and what we do once they're there can set the stage for how they view that experience for years to come. Brent's sharing a listener's story along that theme. Brent's also offering his own thoughts how he handled getting his own children outside; what he did right and maybe what he could've done better.

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In this episode of the Bear Grease podcast, host Clay Newcomb visits Newton County, Arkansas, to talk to Cody and Caylon Villines. They're woodsmen, hunters, and the most recent line of generations of loggers cutting hardwood in the Ozarks. They talk about the craft of selective logging, the evolution from horses to heavy equipment, and the quiet code of contentment passed down from their fathers. They also talk about the danger. From freak accidents to lost friends to a moment witnessing a miracle in the woods, this is an honest, deeply personal look at life in one of the country’s deadliest professions.

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From a listener's story about passing down the appreciation for wild things to Brent's first solo squirrel hunt, this week's This Country Life is sure to be one of your favorites. As a bonus, the recipe of how Brent's mama fried all the squirrels she nor his dad would eat is in here along with the reason why neither one would partake. Get the grease hot! We've got squirrels to fry.

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On this episode of the Bear Grease Render, host Clay Newcomb is joined by Dr. Misty Newcomb, Josh "Landbridge" Spielmaker, along with Backwoods University Podcast's Lake Pickle in the Tecovas Hot Seat.  Fresh off the release of the CBS Sunday Morning feature with legendary journalist Ted Koppel at Arkansas bear camp, the crew gives context and details of what happened behind-the-scenes. It was an unscripted weekend of uncertain expectations, tough hunting, and a turn-the-table conversation around the campfire leading to a tense moment where a missed shot at a black bear puts the spotlight squarely one particular hunter. The crew shares what the cameras didn’t show and their thoughts and impressions of their time with iconic news man Ted Koppel. Plus, Clay reflects on the black bear that helped inspire his upcoming book American Bear and the deeper history of bear reverence across cultures.

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It's officially February. During this month I know a lot of outdoors folks that find themselves wondering what to do. We're here to help! In this episode of Backwoods University, we're going back through some of the fascinating guests we've met along the way so far! From Grizzly specialists to marine biologist- from botanists to beekeepers, we've met a wide spectrum! On this episode we'll here about a bison charging a man, a man charging a grizzly, an age old debate about what kinds of ducks are edible, and here a great conversation story that will set us up for the next episode!

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It's no secret that snow and ice can disrupt the lives of people who don't get a lot of it. Brent's no different, and it may affect him more than most. He's snowed in at his studio and talking about a smorgasbord of things today that may or may not go together. You'll just have to listen and see what we mean. It's random stories time on MeatEater's "This Country Life" podcast.

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In this episode of the Bear Grease podcast, host Clay Newcomb dives deep into the world of mules, mule skinners, and the quiet kind of backcountry wisdom you only earn from miles in the saddle. Alongside legendary Arizona cowboy and Bear Grease Hall of Famer, Warner Glen, and mule trainer and clinician, Ty Evans, Clay explores why serious mountain hunters trust mules over horses, and how their self preservation instinct can be a virtue. They also discuss what these tough, insightful animals can teach us about grit, leadership, and self-control.  

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This week Brent's trying his hand at competition gumbo cooking. He and his friends from the Cache Bayou Hound and Mallard Club have entered a gumbo cooking contest. If it was a gumbo eating contest they'd win easily but it's not. Do they have the right stuff to come out on top, you'll have to listen and find out for yourself. He's also sharing a listener story about the perils of extreme cold weather duck hunting that could've ended tragically and almost did.  

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In this episode of the Bear Grease Render, host Clay Newcomb—alongside Bear Newcomb, Dr. Misty Newcomb, and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker—is joined by Clay’s squirrel-hunting “sensei,” Michael Lanier. The crew covers a wide range of topics, from Clay’s trophy deer “Jimminy Christmas” and his relationship with his Tecovas boots to the pressing question of whether he needs a haircut. The conversation eventually goes full mule when Michael brings his trusty mule, Willard, into the studio, sparking a deeper discussion about the recent Bear Grease Podcast episode on Ty Evans.

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This episode is a field report. Where we go and interview outdoorsmen, hunters, and anglers from all walks of life to get their opinions on different wildlife related issues. Today, we will be discussing the current hot topic of mallard declines in the lower Mississippi alluvial valley. We will be asking these different hunters about what they have seen through their own experiences duck hunting throughout the years, and what they think could be causing the declines.

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Brent's talking about music this week and the role it plays in his life. We can all relate to the moment when a song from your past takes you to a remembered place or triggers a memory of people or events. Hearing new songs that describe what you thought was indescribable is another joy altogether. Having the opportunity to spend time with the artists that can do that makes for a great story we think you'll enjoy.

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In this episode of the Bear Grease podcast, Clay Newcomb interviews Ty Evans, one of the country’s top mule trainers and clinicians. After a broken femur in the arena benched Ty’s rodeo career, he began studying a different approach to training horses and mules than the "Cowboy Way". One based not on brute force, but on trust and understanding how animals actually think. What he discovered taught him that sometimes the solution to problems isn't doing more of the same, but adopting an entirely new way of seeing the world.  

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Everyone needs help from time to time, and it's human nature to offer to do so. There are many ways to do it and this week, Brent's talking about how a conversation he had years ago with an unknown mentor continues to help him today. He's also issuing a challenge to help an organization that's helping people with disabilities enjoy the outdoors.

Hands of a Sportsman non-profit: http://www.handsofasportsman.org/

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In this episode of the Bear Grease Render, host Clay Newcomb and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker are joined by their primary care physician, Dr. Adam McCall, for a wide-ranging conversation on men’s health—physical, mental, and spiritual. With so much conflicting advice circulating online and across social media, it can be difficult to know what actually matters. Together, they offer a balanced, practical perspective on staying fit, healthy, and grounded in the modern world.

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There's no better time than now to set some new year's resolutions. In this episode, we are going to learn about how you,me, and really anyone can get involved in conservation. We'll learn about the Farm Bill and how it effects wildlife, wild habitat, and even hunting quality. We'll learn about conservation incentive programs like CRP and EQIP. Most importantly, we will learn how all of us can get involved and get some actual, tangible conservation in motion.

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Brent's out with the boys this week and they're all chasing rabbits. Well, more like following the dogs that are chasing the rabbits. He's giving insight into how a rabbit hunt with dogs is done, why it's so special to him, and where it ranks on his list of favorite things to do. The results may surprise you. Bubba, it's time to cut the pups loose on MeatEater's "This Country Life" podcast.

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