Ep. 485: Old-School Turkey Hunting, Storytelling, and Why It Still Matters with Brent Reaves // Meat Eater

Brent Reaves of MeatEater joins Beau Martonik to talk turkey hunting, storytelling, and why the best parts of hunting have nothing to do with pulling the trigger.

From chasing gobblers across the South to lessons learned over decades in the woods, Brent shares stories, hard-earned wisdom, and why patience, tradition, and community still matter today.

They dive into turkey hunting tactics, how hunting styles have changed over time, and why sometimes the best move is simply sitting still and letting the woods work. This episode blends old-school perspective, humor, and real-world experience from a lifetime outdoors.

Topics:

00:00:00 — Intro

00:04:27 – Intro at NWTF and meeting Brent Reaves

00:10:53 – Brent’s background and transition to MeatEater

00:15:35 – The art of storytelling and why it matters

00:20:40 – Why people connect to hunting stories

00:28:35 – Hunting community and bringing people together

00:30:53 – Why turkey hunting stands above everything else

00:36:41 – Lessons from long turkey hunts and failures

00:47:23 – How turkey hunting has changed over time

00:49:09 – Patience vs. run-and-gun hunting styles

00:54:02 – Calling strategies and reading turkey behavior

00:58:40 – Gear, knives, and hunting traditions

Resources:

Brent's IG

This Country Life Podcast

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