Stay ConnectedListen to the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, hosted by Matt Wyatt. We’ll dive into fascinating conversations about Mississippi’s rich outdoor life, where each episode brings new knowledge about wildlife, the outdoors, and unique local experiences. Join us for diverse stories all aimed at shaping the state’s cultural outdoor narrative.
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Copyright: © Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, Matt Wyatt sits down with Dr. Holley Muraco, a marine mammal researcher with Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension Center. From growing up in Potts Camp to training dolphins at Disney and researching walruses in Alaska, Dr. Muraco shares her fascinating path back to Mississippi. She dives into the state’s surprising marine mammal diversity, including urban dolphins in the Mississippi Sound, manatees most people never see, and even resident sperm whales and giant squid battles off our coast.
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In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, Matt Wyatt sits down with Trent Ellis, a Mississippi hunter turned viral storyteller, to talk about his path from a quiet finance office to social media stardom. Trent shares how he went from sitting in a school break room with zero clients to making millions of people laugh online. They talk about overcoming rejection, working with what you’ve got, and why the best content comes from real life and the rural South.
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In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, Matt Wyatt sits down with Dr. Richard Buchholz, biology professor at the University of Mississippi, to explore the strange and fascinating world of wild turkeys. Dr. Buchholz shares his journey from the Bronx Zoo to studying wild turkeys in the Florida wilderness, eventually becoming a leading researcher on turkey behavior, mating displays, and yes—the science of the snood. They also discuss his work with oscillated turkeys in Central America, his surprising methods for catching them, and the growing success of the Gulf Sea Life citizen science app.
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Host Matt Wyatt welcomes back Kennie Prince, retired conservation officer and author of Poacher’s Nightmare, for more outrageous and unforgettable stories from his undercover career. Kennie shares new tales—from a fake duck hunt gone sideways, to a turtle trafficking ring tied to international exports, to a gun buy that accidentally knocked out fiber optic service to 800 homes. He explains how going undercover was as much acting as it was law enforcement, and how even his wife got in on the role. With humor, danger, and the kind of stories only real field experience can deliver, this episode dives even deeper into Mississippi’s wild side.
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In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, host Matt Wyatt welcomes back Anthony Ballard, Black Bear Program Coordinator for MDWFP, for a deep dive into one of Mississippi’s greatest wildlife comeback stories. Anthony shares updates from this year’s den checks, which revealed a record number of litters across the Delta. He explains how female bears raise cubs in cypress trees, what threatens their survival, and how the population is expanding across the state. The conversation covers bear behavior, cub development, and the challenges of darting a live bear at five yards—all while highlighting the importance of public education in reducing human-wildlife conflict.
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In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, host Matt Wyatt talks with Chris McDonald from the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce about the state’s expanding efforts to control the wild hog crisis. Chris shares how Mississippi became the first state ag agency in the nation to lead a hog trapping program and how that program has grown from a simple contest to a full-scale, multi-county operation. The conversation covers funding, trap loans, landowner support, and the innovative Youth Trapping Corps, which partners with FFA chapters to teach kids how to trap, weld, and launch their own local businesses. If you’re dealing with wild hogs—or just want to know how the state is fighting back—this one’s for you.
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In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, host Matt Wyatt is joined by Dr. Wes Neal, Research and Extension Professor at Mississippi State University, to talk all things private ponds—how to grow big bass, avoid common stocking mistakes, and understand what actually causes fish kills. Wes walks through the science of pond management, explains why crappie are a disaster in small ponds, and breaks down his three golden rules for success: build it right, stock it right, fish it right. From salinity stress to bass genetics to catfish crowd control, this episode is a masterclass for anyone trying to manage a productive private fishery in Mississippi.
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In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, host Matt Wyatt sits down with Brooks Warren of the Turcotte Fish Hatchery to uncover how Mississippi raises and stocks fish across public lakes and rivers. Brooks explains how field biologists determine what fish are needed, how the hatchery grows and delivers everything from Florida-strain largemouth bass to bluegill and striped bass, and how fish sometimes end up in ponds thanks to birds—not humans. They also talk about the physical work behind the scenes, surprising fish encounters at the Ross Barnett Spillway, and how anglers play a key role in shaping Mississippi’s stocking efforts.
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In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, host Matt Wyatt welcomes back Houston Havens, MDWFP Waterfowl Program Coordinator, for a deep dive into duck migration, breeding grounds, habitat management, and what really affects duck populations each season. From frozen Delta water to ducks migrating thousands of miles to the prairie pothole regions of Canada, Houston explains how weather, habitat, and private landowners shape the future of Mississippi duck hunting. This episode offers a full-season recap, insight into the science behind duck bands, and the crucial role of landowner partnerships in sustaining healthy waterfowl populations.
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In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, host Matt Wyatt sits down with Brent Madden, Captain at the Mississippi Conservation Officer Training Academy, to break down what it really takes to become a game warden. From the intense six-month training program to the unexpected challenges in the field, Brent shares his personal journey, the misconceptions about conservation officers, and the grueling physical and mental tests that prepare cadets for the job. If you've ever wondered what it takes to wear the badge, this episode delivers an inside look at one of the toughest and most rewarding careers in law enforcement.
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