West Virginia Outdoors Audio Playlist

Available Episodes

5 of 537

December 13, 2025 - West Virginia Outdoors with Chris Lawrence
On this edition of West Virginia Outdoors, Chris Lawrence tackles some of the most pressing wildlife issues facing the Mountain State. The show opens with a detailed breakdown of the 2025 EHD outbreak, including an excerpt from Ethan Barton, wildlife disease specialist with the West Virginia DNR, explaining why Mid Ohio Valley counties were hit hardest and why deer populations are expected to recover. Chris also addresses ongoing frustration over the delay in buck harvest numbers, while sharing newly released fall turkey harvest data that shows a significant statewide decline. Later, Colin Carpenter, the DNR’s Bear Project Leader, joins the show to explain the growing impact of sarcoptic mange in black bears, how it spreads, what hunters and landowners are seeing, and why a new multi-state research project may finally provide long-term answers. A timely, information-heavy episode focused on science, transparency, and the future of West Virginia’s wildlife.
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December 6, 2025 - West Virginia Outdoors with Chris Lawrence
On this episode of West Virginia Outdoors, Chris Lawrence brings you four big buck stories from across the state. The hunters in this episode include: Jamie Suko from Braxton County who shot a 10-pointer on her property, Hayden Blankenship who shot another 10-pointer with his bow in Wyoming County, Brady Raymond with a big buck in Mason County, and Chad Gore who got a buck on public land in the Eastern Panhandle.
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November 29, 2025 - West Virginia Outdoors with Chris Lawrence
On this edition of West Virginia Outdoors, Chris Lawrence delivers a full morning of hunting and fishing stories from across the Mountain State — starting with the show open and moving through four big-buck interviews and a river-run “best of” fishing segment.Segment 1 – Show Open:Chris kicks off the show with listener shout-outs from across the country and previews four remarkable West Virginia buck stories. He sets the stage with updates from elk camps, podcast listeners abroad, and a rundown of where each of the day’s featured hunters took their deer.Segment 2 – Jamie Suko, Braxton County:Jamie Suko proves you don’t need a large tract of land to harvest a trophy buck. From just over two acres behind her home, she tags a big 10-point she and her husband had tracked for a year. She walks Chris through the hunt, the nerves, the shot at 30 yards, and the fast recovery — all while juggling a toddler back at the house.Segment 3 – Hayden Blankenship, Wyoming County:Next up is Hayden Blankenship, who takes a Southern West Virginia bow-only county giant — a 10-point buck he’d documented for more than a year. Hayden describes near-misses from the previous season, velvet photos, and the dramatic opening-day encounter when the deer fed five yards from his blind before presenting a perfect shot.Segment 4 – “Best Of” River Fishing with Larry Nibert:Chris heads out on the water with Larry Nibert of The West Virginia Experience for a replay of one of the show’s most popular fall fishing conversations. They discuss reading river water, locating smallmouth pockets, cold-weather gear, and why sudden temperature drops produce trophy fish. Along the float, they break down lure selection, turbidity, oxygen levels, and navigating the ledges of the New River. Savannah even hooks multiple fish during the interview.Segment 5 – “Best Of” Fur Tanning with Keith Daniels:The show closes with a visit to the West Virginia Trappers Convention, where fur buyer Keith Daniels explains the science behind properly scraping, drying, and preparing pelts. Chris asks about common mistakes trappers make, how long pelts stay on stretchers, and the chemistry of pickling and tanning. Daniels details how furs are transformed into lightweight, flexible leather ready for the garment trade.
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November 22, 2025 - West Virginia Outdoors with Chris Lawrence
On this edition of West Virginia Outdoors, Chris Lawrence breaks down major deer-hunting news heading into buck season. The show opens with an interview from WMOV’s Tom Sussman, speaking with Scott Gardner of the Ohio DNR about emergency bag-limit reductions in Athens, Meigs, and Washington counties after severe EHD losses, including archery harvests counting toward the new single-deer limit. Back in studio, Chris welcomes Captain Ed Goodson of the West Virginia Natural Resources Police to cover hunter safety, permission to hunt on private land, tree-stand fall prevention, class A and class B incident trends, and last-minute hunter education requirements. A timely, detailed guide for every hunter headed into the woods Monday.
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November 15, 2025 - West Virginia Outdoors with Chris Lawrence
On this edition of West Virginia Outdoors, Chris Lawrence celebrates the heart of West Virginia’s deer rut as bowhunters across the state report record-sized racks and once-in-a-lifetime encounters. Brett Skelly, the DNR’s Deer Project Leader, joins the show to discuss herd health, population balance, and why this year’s mast crop is changing deer behavior. Then, Lincoln County hunter Donnie Baisden shares his remarkable story of tracking — and finally taking — a massive buck on newly purchased land. A true West Virginia hunting tale about patience, precision, and persistence in the woods
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