The Ozark Podcast
Kyle Veit & Kyle Plunkett
Ep. 243 - Joe Massey - Black Bear Stories, Part 2: The Side of Hunting Nobody Talks About
OCT 7, 202635 MIN
Description
Hunting is emotional.
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After 30 days of baiting, $1,000+ in food, and a week off work — Joe Massey drew back on a shooter bear at 17 yards and made a bad shot.
This episode doesn't end with a grip and grin. It ends with something rarer in outdoor media: honesty. Joe walks through the shot, the search, the rain that washed away the blood trail, and the emotional weight of wounding an animal you've spent months pursuing and genuinely love.
It's a conversation about the heartbreak side of hunting that most people never show. This is the episode you share with someone who doesn't understand why hunters feel what they feel.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – A Shooter Bear Appears
4:00 – No Blood, No Arrow, and Rain All Night
10:00 – The Honest Conversation
16:00 – The Weight of Taking a Life
20:00 – The Paradox: Why Hunters Love the Animals They Pursue
29:00 – Wendell Berry's "For the Hog Killing"
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: [email protected]

