Bringing Back the Wild with Mike Arnold

In this episode of Bringing Back the Wild, Mike Arnold sits down with Dusty Vickrey, wildlife operations manager at Choctaw Hunting Lodge, to explore how passion, stewardship, and science drive one of Oklahoma’s premier hunting properties. Dusty shares how he grew up deer hunting and bowhunting whitetails before building a 17-year career in the school bus industry. A chance hunting trip and the COVID shutdown redirected his path and led him into full-time wildlife management.
Dusty explains how the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma manages more than 22,000 acres of free-range habitat alongside a 1,000-acre high-fence operation. He details a strict, biology-driven approach to conservation, including aging harvested bucks, spotlight surveys, habitat burns, and collaboration with wildlife biologists. Mentorship from Larry Weishuhn plays a key role in shaping long-term management decisions.
The conversation also covers elk, bison, exotic species, and turkey hunting, along with partnerships through Dallas Safari Club. Dusty emphasizes discipline, restraint, and teamwork as the foundation for growing mature animals and sustaining exceptional hunting experiences year after year.
https://choctawhuntinglodge.com/ 

In this episode of Bringing Back the Wild, I sit down with legendary outdoor writer Jim Zumbo to explore the life that shaped one of the most influential voices in hunting and fishing. Jim shares stories from his early days chasing rabbits in New York to building a career that led him to Outdoor Life and decades of adventure across North America.

In this episode of Bringing Back the Wild, I welcome conservation attorney and educator Shelby LaButte for a wide-ranging conversation on hunting, law, and education. Shelby shares how she harvested her first whitetail deer at age seven in Texas and credits her father and grandfather for shaping her passion for the outdoors. She explains why whitetails still anchor her hunting life, then recounts a recent trip to New Zealand where she pursued red stag and turkeys while exploring international conservation practices.

In this episode of Bringing Back the Wild, host Mike Arnold sits down with Robbie Kroger, founder of the Origins Foundation, to trace a journey that challenges nearly every stereotype about hunters and conservationists. Robbie grew up in urban South Africa with no connection to hunting, even while wildlife shaped his worldview. A move to the United States for graduate school changed everything. Friendship, curiosity, and experience led him into hunting, not as a pastime, but as a pathway to conservation, community, and truth.
Robbie shares how his scientific background in wetland ecology and his exposure to global politics reshaped his understanding of conservation at scale. He explains why storytelling matters, how misinformation harms sustainable wildlife use, and why hunters play a critical role in protecting ecosystems worldwide. The conversation also dives into the evolution from Blood Origins to the Origins Foundation and the mission to speak to the middle—using science, transparency, and real stories to defend ethical hunting and conservation.
This episode delivers insight, honesty, and perspective from one of the most influential voices in modern conservation advocacy.
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In this episode of Bringing Back the Wild, I sit down with my friend Ed Pham, whose journey to the United States shaped his passion for the outdoors and a life of service. Ed shares powerful memories of growing up in post-war Vietnam, arriving in America without speaking English, and discovering the freedom and opportunity that changed his life forever.

In this episode of Bringing Back the Wild, host Mike Arnold sits down with Seth Swerczek of Hornady to explore a life shaped by hunting, shooting, and service. Seth shares how he grew up along Nebraska’s Cedar River, learned to reload with his father, and harvested his first whitetail at age twelve. He explains how eight years in the United States Marine Corps sharpened his marksmanship and deepened his understanding of firearms fundamentals.
Seth then traces his path from technical representative to Marketing Communications Manager at Hornady, detailing hands-on training in bullets, brass, ammunition, and ballistics.

In this episode of Bringing Back the Wild, host Mike Arnold sits down with Russell Stacy, CEO of the Dallas Safari Club, for an in-depth conversation about hunting heritage, leadership, and conservation impact.
Russell shares how he grew up hunting in rural Louisiana and South Texas, learning the outdoors from his father and developing a lifelong passion for whitetails, quail, and waterfowl. He reflects on harvesting his first deer at seven years old and explains how hunting shaped his values, family traditions, and work ethic. Thanksgiving and Christmas hunts in South Texas still anchor his year and connect him to a tight-knit hunting community.
The conversation traces Russell’s journey from first attending a Dallas Safari Club convention to becoming a dedicated volunteer, board member, foundation president, and ultimately CEO. He explains how volunteering opened doors and why the organization’s strong volunteer culture sets it apart.
Russell also breaks down the roles of the Dallas Safari Club and the Dallas Safari Club Foundation, highlighting advocacy, conservation, and education efforts around the world. He discusses successful projects in Africa, Canada, and the United States, including anti-poaching initiatives, habitat restoration, and wildlife research. Throughout the episode, Russell emphasizes community, mentorship, and the responsibility hunters carry in sustaining wildlife for future generations.
Sponsors of Bringing Back the Wild include: Dallas Safari Club, Royal Outfitters UK, Life-Form Taxidermy, Zambeze Delta Safaris, and Choctaw Hunting Lodge.

In this episode of Bringing Back the Wild, Mike Arnold sits down with political strategist and Dallas Safari Club Government Affairs Director, Erica Tergeson, to explore why hunters must stay engaged in Washington, D.C. Erica shares her upbringing on a Colorado ranch, where she learned to shoot a Ruger .22, hunted prairie dogs, and developed a deep respect for rural life and wildlife. She explains how that background led her to Capitol Hill, where she now fights daily to defend hunting from federal restrictions and trophy import bans.
Erica breaks down how excise taxes through the Pittman-Robertson Act fund state wildlife agencies and why many lawmakers still misunderstand that system. She details her work building relationships with key committees, supporting pro-hunting candidates, and countering well-funded animal rights campaigns. She urges hunters to visit their representatives, engage across party lines, and support DSC’s political action committee to protect conservation, hunting traditions, and the future of wildlife management.