Hound PodCast: Double U Hunting Supply · Hound Podcast; Double U Hunting Supply

GTTD - What? No White River?

·44 min·4 clips

Steve Fielder explains why he canceled his 16th annual White River hunting trip after a grueling week.

Host Steve Fielder explains his decision to skip his 16th annual coon hunting trip to Arkansas's White River National Wildlife Refuge. Fielder, a veteran coon hunter and podcaster, just returned from a seven-day Pennsylvania hunting trip with friends Randy and Troy Smith. He details a packed schedule, physical fatigue, and a desire to help his wife with Christmas decorations as reasons for staying home. The episode recounts the history of his White River group, which began in 2010 with Nevin "Nubbin" Moore and included members like Fred Sanders and Gary "Frog" Hayes. Fielder describes the evolution of their lodging from Maddox Bay cabins to a trailer at Indian Bay and finally to the Great Plains Waterfowl Lodge. He notes a perceived decline in raccoon numbers in the North Unit, attributing it not solely to hunting pressure but possibly to disease and habitat changes from logging. Fielder also recalls seeing a photo of 80 coon carcasses piled at Maddox Bay, which he found disturbing. A surprising insight is Fielder's candid discussion of aging, as he will turn 80 next year and deals with vertigo and severe knee arthritis. He contrasts his physical challenges with the resilience of his friend Tom Strang, a paraplegic hunter he visited in Pennsylvania. Fielder proudly shares recent successes of his Plot Hounds, like Bear Pen Fever's Ghost, a 15-month-old dog that earned multiple titles. He reflects that the White River's "glory years" featured easier hunting on well-maintained trails with more abundant game. The tone is reflective, conversational, and deeply personal, blending nostalgia with honest assessment. Fielder's style is meandering and heartfelt, often digressing into stories about friends and dogs. This episode will deeply resonate with longtime coon hunters familiar with White River traditions and listeners interested in an elder sportsman's perspective on aging and changing landscapes. Those seeking fast-paced hunting action or structured commentary might find the rambling narrative less engaging.

As heard by us

A reflective update on age, travel, and the changing White River hunt, with thanks to the people and sponsors around the show.

Fielder uses the episode to explain why he is sitting out the White River trip this year after a long Pennsylvania hunt. Age is part of it, but so are the harder pieces that pile up with travel: flooding, storms, and the way trails and timber keep changing underfoot.

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Why you'd press play

Hear a houndsman explain why he is sitting out White River this year.

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