Fan Outdoors: Andy Tri, Tom Carpenter

In this episode of FAN Outdoors, hosts Billy Hildebrand and Bob St. Pierre dive into the spring hunting and fishing season with a mix of humor, personal stories, and expert insights. The show opens with a sponsored segment for Mood.com, a federally legal cannabis delivery service. The conversation then shifts to the arrival of spring, with reflections on early mornings, dock installations, and the ritual of getting boats ready for the season. A major focus is on bear activity as they emerge from hibernation, featuring a detailed interview with Andy Try, Minnesota DNR’s bear specialist. Andy explains bear behavior, food sources, human-bear coexistence, and the importance of securing trash and bird feeders. He also discusses bear population trends, reproduction rates, and upcoming hunting deadlines. The second half centers on turkey hunting, with guest Tom Carpenter sharing his philosophy on scouting, decoy use, and the importance of patience and timing. He emphasizes that turkeys follow patterns, often don’t gobble consistently, and that midday hunting can be more effective than early morning. Both guests highlight the joy of being in nature, even without a harvest, and the deep connection hunters feel with the outdoors. The episode closes with a warm farewell and a nod to the upcoming turkey season. Key takeaways include: 1) Secure attractants like trash and bird feeders to prevent bear encounters; 2) Scout from a distance and avoid pushing turkeys during early season; 3) Use decoys strategically—especially in open fields, not dense woods; 4) Understand that turkeys follow predictable circuits and may not gobble every day; 5) Midday is often the best time to hunt turkeys; 6) Bear populations are stable or increasing in many areas, but hunters play a key role in population control; 7) Always be prepared for wet or snowy conditions when scouting; 8) The mental and emotional rewards of hunting often outweigh the harvest.