The 100% Wild Podcast

The Science of Saving the Wild Turkey with Mike Chamberlain | 100% WILD Podcast Ep. 467

The Science of Saving the Wild Turkey with Mike Chamberlain | 100% WILD Podcast Ep. 467 In this episode of the 100% WILD Podcast, Matt Drury and Tim Kjellesvik sit down with Dr. Mike Chamberlain, the "Wild Turkey Doc" and NWTF distinguished professor, to address the alarming declines in wild turkey populations across North America. Dr. Chamberlain breaks down the mission of the Wild Turkey Lab, a comprehensive archive designed to turn complex research into actionable data for hunters and land managers. We dive deep into the biological impact of habitat fragmentation, explaining how modern land...

Inside Leupold Optics with CEO Bruce Pettet | 100% Wild Podcast Ep. 466

The 100% Wild Podcast

Inside Leupold Optics with CEO Bruce Pettet | 100% Wild Podcast Ep. 466 In this episode of the 100% Wild Podcast, Matt Drury and Tim Kjellesvik sit down with Bruce Pettet, the President and CEO of Leupold & Stevens, to discuss the cutting edge of hunting optics and technical innovation. Bruce pulls back the curtain on Leupold’s relentless product roadmap, highlighting the launch of the VX-4HD rifle scope, which offers top-tier glass and superior low-light performance for under $1,000. We dive into how these optics allow hunters to capitalize on the "moment of truth" during those final...

Inside Leupold Optics with CEO Bruce Pettet | 100% Wild Podcast Ep. 466

The 100% Wild Podcast

Team Radical Secrets for Professional Coyote Management | 100% Wild Podcast Ep 465

The 100% Wild Podcast

Team Radical Secrets for Professional Coyote Management | 100% Wild Podcast Ep 465 In this episode of the 100% Wild Podcast, Matt Drury and Tim Kjellesvik sit down with the elite predator hunters from Team Radical, Justin Roepke and Nate Standerfer. After a successful run clearing out nuisance critters on Terry Drury’s Illinois lease, the guys dive into the tactical world of predator management. They discuss why high coyote densities are the #1 roadblock to expanding your deer herd and wild turkey populations, and how Team Radical managed to go viral by recording their high-stakes night...

How to Grow Your Turkey Population by Trapping Predators with Jared Lurk | 100% Wild Podcast Ep. 464

The 100% Wild Podcast

How to Grow Your Turkey Population by Trapping Predators with Jared Lurk | 100% Wild Podcast Ep. 464 In this episode of the 100% Wild Podcast, Matt Drury and Tim Kjellsvik are joined by Jared Lurk and Cody West to dive into the essential, yet often overlooked, world of nest predator management. While high-level habitat work is crucial, many landowners are finding that high numbers of raccoons, opossums, and skunks are the primary roadblocks to a thriving wild turkey population. The crew discusses why trapping is a "lost art" that needs to return to the modern hunter's repertoire, sharing how...

How to Master 1031 Exchanges for Hunting Land | 100% Wild Podcast Ep. 463

The 100% Wild Podcast

How to Master 1031 Exchanges for Hunting Land | 100% Wild Podcast Ep. 463 In the fourth and final podcast of our Cultivating Value series, Matt Drury and Tim Kjellsvik sit down with Joe Dierker, owner of First Harvest Land Exchange, to demystify the most powerful financial tool for landowners: the 1031 Exchange. While Episode One touched on financing, this episode dives deep into the high-stakes world of tax deferral strategies and building long-term wealth through real estate. Joe explains the "make or break" mechanics of using a Qualified Intermediary (QI) to avoid the "constructive receipt"...

Timber Management is Key to Gain Big Bucks and Equity | 100% Wild Podcast Ep. 462

The 100% Wild Podcast

Timber Management is Key to Gain Big Bucks and Equity | 100% Wild Podcast Ep. 462 In Part Three of our special Cultivating Value series, powered by Buck Land Funding. Matt Drury and Tim Kjellesvik are joined by professional logger and Whitetail Edge founder Ben Rising to reveal how your property's timber acts as a "hidden bank account". This episode pulls back the curtain on the timber industry, explaining why Walnut is King and how to identify trees that can be worth upwards of $10,000. Ben explains the critical differences between stump bidding and percentage logging, providing expert advice...

How to Increase Land Value Through Habitat Management | 100% Wild Podcast Ep. 461

The 100% Wild Podcast

How to Increase Land Value Through Habitat Management | 100% Wild Podcast Ep. 461 In Part Two of our special Cultivating Value series, powered by Buck Land Funding, we move from the financial side of land ownership to the "boots on the ground" work that actually creates equity. Matt Drury and Tim Kjellesvik sit down with farm managers Wade Robinson and Forrest Bonin to discuss how strategic habitat improvements like prescribed burns and Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) can transform a standard property into a high-value hunting destination. The crew breaks down the "60/40 Rule" for safe fire...

How to Finance Your First Hunting Property: Expert Land Lending Secrets | 100% Wild Ep. 460

The 100% Wild Podcast

How to Finance Your First Hunting Property: Expert Land Lending Secrets | 100% Wild Ep. 460 Welcome to the premiere of our new special series, Cultivating Value, powered by Buckland Funding! In this first installment, Matt Drury and Tim Kjellesvik are joined by land lending experts Megan Cheek and Jamie Whitaker to pull back the curtain on the often-intimidating world of recreational land financing. Whether you are a first-time buyer dreaming of your own 20-acre sanctuary or a seasoned investor looking to flip a prime Midwest tract, this episode breaks down the nitty-gritty details of down...

It Charged Me! Chaos Tracking a 208” Giant | 100% Wild Podcast Ep. 459

The 100% Wild Podcast

It Charged Me! Chaos Tracking a 208” Giant | 100% Wild Podcast Ep. 459 Warren McDonald joins the show to share the unbelievable journey of his 208 5/8-inch Indiana monster whitetail, a world-class buck with a massive paddle-like drop tine. This legend led Warren on a tactical chase. Warren reveals the absolute chaos of the harvest, from a 3-yard spinning shot to a series of follow-up shots in giant weeds that resulted in the deer charging him. Beyond the hunt, we dive into the giants movement in a 6.5-mile loop every four days and why planting turnips was the key to bringing this deer back...

More Episodes

Timber Management is Key to Gain Big Bucks and Equity | 100% Wild Podcast Ep. 462

In Part Three of our special Cultivating Value series, powered by Buck Land Funding. Matt Drury and Tim Kjellesvik are joined by professional logger and Whitetail Edge founder Ben Rising to reveal how your property's timber acts as a "hidden bank account". This episode pulls back the curtain on the timber industry, explaining why Walnut is King and how to identify trees that can be worth upwards of $10,000. Ben explains the critical differences between stump bidding and percentage logging, providing expert advice on how landowners can ensure they aren't leaving money on the table when managing their woods. Whether you are a land flipper looking to offset your initial purchase or a long-term owner managing a legacy property, Ben’s 25 years of experience provides the ultimate guide for turning standing timber into true land equity.

The conversation moves from the wallet to the woods as Ben explains how strategic timber management creates what he calls "hotel rooms" for mature bucks. We dive into why summer logging with full foliage can provide instant bedding cover and nutritious browse that attracts deer immediately. From the debate over cedars as thermal cover to the best ways to vet a reputable logger, this episode is a masterclass in forestry for the modern hunter. Stick around until the very end for some legendary stories from Ben's past, including his history with bare-knuckle fighting and his professional take on the Bigfoot mystery.

00:00 - Intro to the podcast

03:55 – Harvesting vs. Holding: Timber as a Value-Added Asset

08:20– Chainsaw 101: Top Mistakes Weekend Warriors Make

12:15 – Stump Bidding vs. Percentage Logging: How Not to Get Ripped Off

21:28 – The Landowner’s Perspective: To Harvest Now or Leave for the Next Guy?

30:20 – BMPs and Soil Management: Protecting Your Woods for the Long Term

35:10 – The $15,000 Tree: Understanding High-Value Walnut and Veneer

42:50 – Cedars & Thermal Cover: Are They Trash Trees or Bedding Gold?

46:50 - Timing the Harvest: Why Summer Logging Creates Instant Bedding

52:10 - Creating "Hotel Rooms": Strategic Timber Cuts for Mature Bucks

01:01:50 – The Bigfoot Debate: Does the Master Logger Believe the Legend?

01:09:35 – Bare-Knuckle Fighting: Stories from Ben Rising’s Wild Past