The Fowl Life

Nearly 20 years ago, Federal Premium launched a steel load that changed what waterfowl hunters carried into the blind. Now three of the men behind Black Cloud are telling the full story. Dan Compton, Adam Moser, and Eric Carlson sit down with Chad in Canada to explain what actually happens after you pull the trigger. They break down Federal’s primer technology, propellant, FLITECONTROL FLEX wad, FLITESTOPPER pellets, pattern density, shot size, choke selection, and why every part of the shell matters when temperatures drop and birds refuse to finish.

The guys get honest about Black Cloud’s early problems with ported chokes, the engineering work that fixed them, the ethical limits of steel, and why patterning your shotgun is still one of the most important things a hunter can do. Then, there is the snow goose test that ended with hundreds of birds on the ground and shattered vehicle windows hundreds of yards away.

This is an honest and unique look inside the failures, testing, science, and obsession that built one of the most trusted shot shells in waterfowl hunting.

This episode is presented by Federal Premium Ammunition and brought to you by Benelli Shotguns, HiViz Sights, Rob Roberts Custom Gunworks, CamoSpace, Banded Brands, Safari Club International, MOJO Outdoors, Realtree Camo, and Jargon Game Calls.

Most hunters know which tires look tough. But few know whether it is actually right for the miles between home and the field. Chris Holt of Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels joins Chad to talk about everything from highway mileage to muddy cornfields, deep snow, towing trailers across the country, tread life, traction, and why the most aggressive tire is not always the smartest choice.

But Chris is more than a tire guy. Born in Poland and adopted into a Michigan family, he was introduced to hunting by his wife. Now he is raising his kids on venison, chasing Michigan whitetails, and helping carry forward one of the most recognizable names in American motorsports. From Mickey Thompson’s racing roots and American manufacturing to Michigan deer camp, Detroit-style pizza, Pokémon, and a little Bad Boys basketball, this conversation covers some ground.

This episode is presented by Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels and brought to you by Federal Premium Ammunition, Banded Brands, GATR Coolers & Drinkware, Corning Ford, ESP Hearing Protection, CamoSpace, Bodyguard Bumpers, Bedslide, and LEER Truck Toppers. Thank you for supporting the brands who support us!

Blake Lasanski turned the Wisconsin outdoors into a full-time job. From filming goose hunts to documenting high-level snowmobiling, he built Blake Media around the pursuits most people have to save for the weekend.

TFL Midwest Host Joel Kleefisch gets the story behind the camera before the conversation turns to something every sportsman and woman should be thinking about: voting. They talk about what happens when hunters stay home on Election Day and what that can mean for your rights, your access, and your future in the field.

This episode is brought to you by Travel Wisconsin and CamoSpace.

Ted Nugent has a message for every hunter thinking about choosing opening day over Election Day.

Leave the blind. Go vote.

Ted joins Chad after being inducted into the Michigan Outdoor Hall of Fame, but the celebration quickly turns into something much heavier. An EHD outbreak has devastated his Michigan property, and Ted says more than 90 percent of the deer are gone. From there, nothing is off limits. Ted and Chad go after wildlife regulations they believe punish responsible hunters, question how much authority government agencies should have over private land, and talk about what happens when the people funding conservation are treated like criminals. They also share what hunting has given wounded veterans, why the outdoor life can pull people out of their darkest moments, and why Ted believes America’s hunters could decide the future of the country if they stopped sitting out elections.

It is loud, raw, political, and completely unfiltered. Exactly what happens when Chad Belding and Ted Nugent get rolling.

This episode features an unfiltered conversation. The opinions expressed belong to the individuals speaking and do not represent the views of The Fowl Life’s partners or sponsors.

This episode is brought to you by Safari Club International, Benelli Shotguns, Federal Premium Ammunition, Banded Brands, CamoSpace, Eukanuba Premium Dog Food, Mossy Pond Retrievers, HiViz Sights, Mojo Outdoors, and Jack Link’s Protein Snacks.

The duck counts say the birds are out there. So where the heck are they?
Dr. Chris Nicolai is back for Part 2, and Chad goes straight to the questions waterfowl hunters argue about every season. Are the counts accurate? Are warm winters changing migration? Is hunting pressure keeping birds north of the border? Could shorter seasons and smaller limits be coming?
Chris breaks down what the science actually shows, why Canada has lost so many resident waterfowl hunters, and how fewer hunters can still create more pressure when the remaining crowd is willing to travel farther and hunt harder.
Chad also turns the conversation on himself. What happens when television, social media, and the hunting industry expose places that once stayed quiet? How much responsibility do content creators carry when attention leads to crowds, leases, and disappearing access?
From public land and duck stamps to flooded corn, Canadian regulations, terminal wetlands, and the future of waterfowl hunting, Part 2 goes directly into the questions hunters cannot stop asking.
This episode is brought to you by Safari Club International, Ducks Unlimited, Nutrien Ag Solutions, CamoSpace, Banded Brands, Benelli Shotguns, Federal Premium Ammunition, HiViz Sights, Mojo Outdoors, and Realtree Camo.