Episode Show Notes — FowlCo Outfitters: World-Class Waterfowl Hunting & Hospitality

Today on The Storied Outdoors, we welcome the team from FowlCo Outfitters—purveyors of world-class outdoor recreation and hospitality. Based in Oklahoma, FowlCo has become one of the most respected names in waterfowl hunting, blending premier guided experiences with unmatched southern hospitality.

Founders Josh Teff and John David Blagg join us to share how FowlCo grew from a shared passion for the outdoors, a commitment to meaningful relationships, and a deep reverence for the Creator’s handiwork. With more than 100 years of combined guiding experience, the FowlCo staff has crafted an environment where guests don’t just hunt—they feel at home, become part of the family, and take stories with them that last a lifetime.

From crisp sunrise hunts and chef-prepared meals to their lodge’s signature Speakeasy and fire-pit gatherings, FowlCo’s blend of excellence and authenticity has shaped countless unforgettable adventures.

How FowlCo’s philosophy emphasizes connection—to God, nature, and people—and how this vision reshaped their entire outfitting experience.
“Here’s the path, all you have to do is walk down it.” —Josh Teff

Returning guests often feel more like family. Josh and John David share stories of genuine friendships formed through years of hunting together.
“Putting emphasis on people is THE most important thing we can do.”

How chef-inspired meals, lodge design, atmosphere, and intentional spaces—like the Speakeasy and fire-pit—help create “moments” that deepen the experience.

The spiritual and emotional dimension of pursuing wild game, and how awe, gratitude, and wonder shape their personal walk with God.
“I go from wanting to go… to I get to go.”

Unforgettable stories, hard-earned wisdom, and memorable mishaps—including a fully sunk tractor and an icy sprint to flag down a passing boat.

What moments and memories always resurface when the guides sit down together after a long season.

FowlCo is a premier waterfowl outfitter located in Oklahoma, offering guided duck and goose hunts with a focus on hospitality, faith, and unforgettable experiences. From culinary excellence to curated lodge environments, FowlCo has become a destination where guests return year after year—not just to hunt, but to belong.

In This Episode We Discuss: Hunting as Connection, Not Just Bag Limits• Why Relationships Are the Heart of FowlCo• Hospitality as Storytelling• Experiencing the Creator Through the Outdoors• Lessons From a Century of Guiding• The Stories the Crew Tells Around the Fire About FowlCo Outfitters

Stoking Embers | Reflections on Our Conversation with Dr. Chris Jenkins

In this Stoking Embers episode, we look back on our conversation with Dr. Chris Jenkins—conservationist, biologist, hunter, and CEO of The Orianne Society. Our time with Chris lingered long after recording, stirring reflections on the connection between wild landscapes, the creatures that inhabit them, and the stories that shape us.

We talk about the significance of tending to the wild places that form our identity, the beauty in paying attention to the overlooked things of creation, and how spending time outdoors shapes the soul. And yes—we revisit a few of Chris’s epicbear hunting stories from the Appalachian Mountains and the backcountry of Idaho, and what those moments taught us about courage, humility, and wonder.

• The Orianne Society — Conservation of reptiles & amphibians:
  https://www.oriannesociety.org

• Backcountry Hunters & Anglers — Public lands & waters conservation:
  https://www.backcountryhunters.org

• Snake Talk with Dr. Chris Jenkins (Podcast):
  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/snake-talk/id1501749931

Stoking Embers is our space to slow down, reflect, and revisit the conversations that continue to shape us—long after the microphones are off.

Learn more about Chris and the work mentioned in this reflection:

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Chris Jenkins—conservationist, biologist, storyteller of the wild, and CEO of The Orianne Society, a nonprofit working to conserve reptiles and amphibians across the Southeast. Chris also serves on the Board of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, where he advocates for protecting wild places and public lands for future generations.

From tracking Eastern Indigo Snakes through longleaf pine forests to bear hunts in the Appalachian backcountry and the rugged mountains of Idaho, Chris shares the stories, landscapes, and defining experiences that have shaped his life’s work.

What We Discuss

* Chris’s childhood influences and the call toward conservation

* The **Nantahala Mountains** and their lasting effect on his identity

* Why reptiles and amphibians matter—and what they tell us about ecosystem health

* Life in the field 150+ days a year and the clarity that comes with immersion

* Reconciling science and wonder, data and awe

* How hunting and biology can coexist in harmony

* Memorable bear hunts, close calls, and lessons learned in the wild

* The responsibility and joy of stewarding wild places

About Our Guest

Dr. Chris Jenkins is the CEO of The Orianne Society and a board member of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. His work focuses on habitat restoration, species conservation, and thoughtful connection to the landscapes that shape our stories.

Learn more about The Orianne Society:

(https://www.oriannesociety.org)

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers:

(https://www.backcountryhunters.org)

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