Turkey Season

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The Origin & Evolution of Turkey Calls

In this episode, Paul Campbell is joined by Brent Rogers, Chris McDonald, Danny Ellis, and Rick Powell, the four men behind one of the most detailed works ever produced on the history of turkey calls.

They break down how the book came to life, the years of research behind it, and the mission to preserve a disappearing body of knowledge before it’s lost for good. From iconic call makers to unknown folk artisans, the conversation highlights the stories, craftsmanship, and historical moments that shaped turkey hunting in America.

More than just a book, this project is a preservation effort, capturing the people, the tools, and the culture that built the Turkey call tradition we know today.
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Isaac Pentecost joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation on turkey hunting, faith, friendship, competition calling, and the kind of upbringing that shapes a life in the outdoors. Paul and Isaac swap stories from the road, talk about hunting Osceolas, Gould’s, and new states on the map for 2026, and reflect on the old-school turkey hunters who taught them patience, gratitude, and how to enjoy the woods for more than just the kill.

They dig into the culture of turkey hunting, the value of good friends, the mental side of the sport, and why the best parts of this life still come down to simple things: hearing a bird gobble, cutting up at camp, and sharing time with people who love it the same way you do. Isaac also opens up about his faith, the verses that ground him, and the peace he’s found by keeping the Lord at the center of everything.

It’s funny, honest, and full of the kind of conversation that makes turkey camp feel like home.
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Episode Description

In this episode, Paul sits down with Dr. Michael Chamberlain for a wide-ranging conversation on one of the most important (and fast-evolving) frontiers in wild turkey science: genetics.

Dr. Chamberlain breaks down the Wild Turkey DNA Project—how it started with “odd plumage” birds showing up on social media, and how it quickly exploded into a massive, nationwide effort to map genetic diversity across the species’ range. Along the way, he explains what genetic diversity actually means for wild turkeys on the ground, why some populations may be less resilient than we assume, and how inbreeding signals can quietly build for generations before showing up as real-world declines in reproduction and survival.

The conversation also dives into the restoration era and the trap-and-transfer days—what records exist, what the genetics are already revealing decades later, and how today’s tools could allow wildlife agencies to be far more surgical if translocation ever becomes necessary again. Dr. Chamberlain also shares fascinating insight into turkey behavior—winter flock fidelity, limited dispersal, and why “they could walk there… but they don’t”—and how that creates genetic pockets across the landscape.

To wrap it up, Dr. Chamberlain offers a grounded outlook for the 2026 spring season in the South, explaining why the woods may “sound different” this year, what that means for harvest pressure, and why hunters play a direct role in the turkey’s future.

Topics include:


The Wild Turkey DNA Project and why it’s grown so fast


Odd plumage birds, domestic crosses, and what the genes are showing


Genetic diversity, inbreeding risk, and population resiliency


What restoration-era translocations may have shaped (and what they didn’t)


Why turkeys form “genetic pockets” even without obvious barriers


The promise of using genetics to guide smarter, more targeted management


A realistic 2026 season outlook—and a call for hunter responsibility

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In this episode, Paul is joined by Missouri turkey hunter and state trooper Sam Hallam for a conversation that wanders through the Ozarks, the Deep South, and the heart of what keeps turkey hunters coming back every spring.

Sam shares how he grew up learning the craft from a quiet, deadly turkey hunter—his dad—and how that foundation eventually turned into a full-blown obsession that now includes traveling across the country to hunt public land. The two talk honestly about getting humbled in Alabama, the allure of big timber, and how some of the most meaningful hunts don’t always end with a punched tag.

The conversation dives into hunting pressured public ground, the realities of killing jakes, and why judgment has no place in the spring woods. Paul and Sam reflect on why turkey hunters can be so fiercely protective of the tradition, how social media has changed the culture for better and worse, and why slams and checklists should never overshadow the reason we hunt in the first place.

Along the way, they swap stories of turkey camps, managed hunts in historic strongholds like Caney Mountain, unexpected friendships formed over shared ground, and those quiet moments in the woods that remind you this isn’t just about killing a bird—it’s about being there when the woods come back to life.

If you care about heritage, public land, spring mornings, and hunting turkeys for the right reasons, this episode will feel like a long sit around a campfire with someone who gets it.
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In this episode of The Turkey Season, Paul sits down with Iowa photographer and farmer Clayton Worrell, better known online as Grizhawk—one of the most recognizable turkey photographers in the space today.

Clayton’s images aren’t about grip-and-grins or highlight reels. They’re about quiet moments, hard-earned light, and turkeys simply being turkeys. From frost on a gobbler’s back at fly-down, to breath hanging in the cold air, to subtle steps and head tilts that most people miss, Clayton breaks down the patience, planning, and obsession behind capturing a single frame.

The conversation wanders—in the best way—through farming, family, photography, hunting evolution, creative standards, social media fatigue, and why sometimes a photograph is just as satisfying as pulling the trigger. Clayton shares how he scouts locations like a hunter, stages photo setups days in advance, and often spends weeks chasing one image that may never happen.

They also dig into:


Why Clayton hunts less and photographs more as he gets older


The frustration (and beauty) of spending days for one usable image


Editing photos to feel like art, not just documentation


The importance of high standards and refusing to put your name on work you don’t believe in


How the turkey community differs from whitetails—and why that matters


His upcoming gallery-style booth at the NWTF Convention in Nashville

This is a laid-back, honest conversation about creativity, patience, and what it really means to appreciate wild turkeys beyond the moment of the shot.

If you’ve ever watched a bird through binoculars instead of shouldering a gun—or felt more pride in earning a moment than owning it—this one’s for you.
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