What does it take to build a career preserving memories from the hunt?

This week on the Dreaded Archer Podcast, I'm joined by Karissa Jones, owner of Countrified Glitz LLC, to talk about her journey into one of the most unique careers in the outdoor industry taxidermy.

Karissa shares how she walked away from sports, chose trade school over the traditional college route, became a certified welder, and unexpectedly built a successful business creating custom European mounts before expanding into full taxidermy.

We dive into the art and business of taxidermy, what it really takes to preserve an animal, how technology like 3D printing is changing the industry, and why skilled trades deserve more respect. We also discuss social media's role in growing the hunting community, the future of taxidermy, and the "sweet dance" every hunter experiences while pursuing a mature buck.

Whether you're a hunter, entrepreneur, artist, or someone looking to carve your own path, this episode is packed with stories, insight, and conversations that go far beyond the mount on the wall.

In this episode:

• Karissa's journey into taxidermy
• Choosing trade school and becoming a certified welder
• Building Countrified Glitz LLC from the ground up
• The art and science behind great taxidermy
• Common mistakes hunters make before taking an animal to a taxidermist
• The impact of social media on hunting
• How 3D printing is shaping the future of taxidermy
• The business of preserving hunting memories
• Why the chase makes a successful hunt even more meaningful

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves hunting, archery, and the outdoors.

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In this episode of the Dreaded Archer Podcast, I'm joined by Mark Bussell of South Louisiana Archery, one of the most outspoken voices in the archery community. If you've spent any time on Archery TikTok, you've probably seen Mark in his shed, working on bows and giving his unfiltered opinions on everything from bow setups to the future of the sport.

We dive into Mark's journey into hunting and the outdoors, the special bond he shares with the hunting camp he's built with the same guys he grew up with, and why those friendships are just as important as punching tags. We also discuss the differences between hunting the swamps of South Louisiana and chasing whitetails in the Midwest, why public land 135-145 inch bucks are true trophies, and how social media has changed hunters' expectations.

Of course, we couldn't have Mark on without talking archery. We tackle the current state of the archery industry, Bow of the Year debates, custom strings versus factory strings, why some companies are doing a better job of serving everyday archers, and whether the industry is becoming too expensive and gear-focused. We also discuss Oregon's IP28 initiative, hunter apathy, and why sportsmen across the country need to pay attention to threats facing hunting and conservation.

This episode is full of honest opinions, hard truths, and the kind of hunting camp conversations that make you want to pull up a chair and stay awhile.

🏹 Topics Covered:
• Mark Bussell's hunting and archery journey
• South Louisiana hunting culture and camp life
• Midwest vs. South Louisiana deer hunting
• Why 140-inch public land bucks are trophies
• The state of the archery industry
• Bow of the Year and bow technology debates
• Factory strings vs. custom strings
• Oregon IP28 and hunter advocacy
• The future of hunting and archery

Grab a cup of coffee, head to the bow shop, or kick back at camp and enjoy this conversation with one of the most authentic voices in the archery world.

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This week on the Dreaded Archer Podcast, I'm joined by De'vina Jackson (Melanated Archer) and Ana for one of the most honest and inspiring conversations we've had on the show.

What started as a discussion about archery quickly became a conversation about resilience, personal growth, friendship, and the impact a community can have on someone's life.

De'vina shares her powerful story of battling chronic pain, multiple surgeries, depression, and the difficult moments that left her questioning how much more she could endure. She opens up about how her son's archery coach recognized the pain she was carrying and encouraged her to pick up a bow—an experience that ultimately helped her find a new sense of purpose and motivation to keep pushing forward.

Ana also shares her archery journey and how the sport has challenged her to step outside of her comfort zone. We discuss her decision to begin competing in USA Archery events, the confidence she's gained through competition, and what it's been like growing as an archer while embracing new challenges.

Together, De'vina and Ana talk about what archery truly means to them, the friendships they've built through the sport, and their passion for volunteering at Impact Archery. We also discuss their experiences attending the Vegas Shoot, one of the biggest archery events in the world, and how it helped deepen their connection to the archery community.

The conversation also explores representation in archery, the growing number of African American women entering the sport, and how culture, self-expression, and individuality are sometimes viewed within traditional archery spaces.

This episode is a reminder that archery is about much more than scores, equipment, and competition. Sometimes it's about healing. Sometimes it's about finding confidence. And sometimes it's simply about finding a community that helps you become the best version of yourself.

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This week on the Dreaded Archer Podcast, I sat down with Pierre Cheek, better known as P_Outside, for a conversation that covered everything from competitive archery to anime.

Pierre shares how he got started in archery, what it's been like documenting his journey on social media, and his experience competing at the 57th Indoor Nationals. We also dive into the unique challenges of being a left-handed archer, the growth of archery on platforms like TikTok, and why now might be one of the most exciting times to be involved in the sport.

One of the biggest topics we tackled was the possibility of compound archery being included in the 2028 Olympics. We discuss what that opportunity could mean for archery as a whole, how it could bring new eyes to the sport, and whether it could help grow the next generation of archers.

Of course, no Dreaded Archer conversation stays on track forever. Towards the end of the episode, Pierre and I found ourselves going down an anime rabbit hole, talking about some of our favorite series of all time, iconic characters, and why shows like Cowboy Bebop, Naruto, Dragon Ball Z, and others have had such a lasting impact on us.

This episode is a little bit of everything archery, competition, social media, the future of the sport, and a healthy dose of nerd culture mixed in. I had a blast recording this one, and I think you're going to enjoy it.

Pull up a chair, grab a drink, and enjoy the conversation.

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On this episode of the Dreaded Archer Podcast, Trey is joined by Alonzo Andrews from Arrow Zona Born to talk archery, turkey hunting, bow setups, and the evolving culture of the outdoors community.

Alonzo shares how he first got into hunting and archery, what inspired him to start documenting his journey online, and how the outdoor space is changing as more African Americans get involved in hunting and archery. The conversation also covers his recent move from Bear bows to Hoyt, what he looks for in gear, and whether today’s hunters rely too heavily on expensive setups versus skill.

The guys also discuss the future of archery, social media’s influence on hunting culture, upcoming 2026 hunting plans, and what they hope to see from the next generation of hunters and archers.

If you enjoy authentic hunting conversations, archery debates, gear talk, and real stories from passionate outdoorsmen, this episode is for you.

Posters by Mack specializes in custom plaques and prints, including Billboard plaques, album cover posters, YouTube plaques, pull photo prints, and more. Mack designed and created my 100th episode plaque, and the final product was top-tier. Communication was seamless from start to finish, and my order shipped in under 48 hours. If you’re a creator looking to showcase your milestones with high-quality custom work, check out postersbymack.com.

On this episode of The Dreaded Archer Podcast, Brayden Henson from Double H Outdoors joins me for a deep dive into the details that actually matter in bowhunting.

We get into bow setups, strings, arrow builds, broadhead tuning, animal reaction time, bow speed vs forgiveness, sights, and the importance of putting in reps instead of constantly chasing new equipment. Brayden also breaks down why confidence in your setup matters more than hype, and why too many archers overcomplicate the process instead of mastering the fundamentals.

We also discuss practicing at long range, ethical shot selection, and whether compound archery belongs in the Olympics.

This episode is packed with real bowhunter talk, strong opinions, and practical insight for anyone looking to become more confident behind the string.

At the end of the day, the gear matters, but the archer matters more.

Posters by Mack specializes in custom plaques and prints, including Billboard plaques, album cover posters, YouTube plaques, pull photo prints, and more. Mack designed and created my 100th episode plaque, and the final product was top-tier. Communication was seamless from start to finish, and my order shipped in under 48 hours. If you’re a creator looking to showcase your milestones with high-quality custom work, check out postersbymack.com.

What does it really take to build something in the archery industry… and what does it cost you along the way?

In this episode of the Dreaded Archer Podcast, I sit down with Michael Stonebreaker, the man behind The Bowtique one of the most respected custom arrow wrap companies in the game. If you’ve built arrows in the last few years, you’ve seen his work. But this conversation goes way deeper than wraps.

We get into how Michael fell in love with archery, what pushed him to start The Bowtique, and how he turned a simple idea into a brand trusted by arrow builders all over the country. We talk about craftsmanship, why details matter, and how the rise of custom arrow building is changing the culture of bowhunting, but this one gets real.

Michael opens up about the sacrifices that come with chasing a dream missing time in the woods, the pressure of running a growing business, and what it’s like to be so deep in the grind that you don’t even realize how far you’ve come… until your son reminds you.

This episode is about more than archery.
It’s about passion, sacrifice, fatherhood, and building something that actually means something.

If you’re serious about your setup… and serious about the life you’re building… this one’s for you.

🎯 Topics Covered:

• The rise of custom arrow builders
• How The Bowtique became a premier arrow wrap brand
• Why arrow wraps actually matter
• The future of archery and gear culture
• The hidden cost of building a business
• Balancing hunting, family, and the grind

Posters by Mack specializes in custom plaques and prints, including Billboard plaques, album cover posters, YouTube plaques, pull photo prints, and more. Mack designed and created my 100th episode plaque, and the final product was top-tier. Communication was seamless from start to finish, and my order shipped in under 48 hours. If you’re a creator looking to showcase your milestones with high-quality custom work, check out postersbymack.com.

This episode meant a lot to me.

I sat down with Rob Mahaffey. Rob is an avid hunter, conservationist, but most of all he's my friend. We had one of those conversations that every hunter needs to hear. Not just about drones, not just about technology, but about the future of hunting as a whole.

We talked about thermal drones and where they fit, but what this episode really turned into was a deeper discussion about responsibility. About what it means to be a hunter today… and what it’s going to take to make sure hunting is still here tomorrow.

Rob said something that stuck with me, "every generation is looking through a different window." And his window is longer than most. He’s seen the changes. The pressure. The slow shifts that a lot of us might not even realize are happening in real time. And that’s where this conversation gets real.

Because it’s easy to focus on gear. On tags. On the next hunt. But the bigger question is—what are we putting back into this lifestyle? What are we doing to protect it?

Conservation isn’t just a word we throw around, it’s the foundation of everything we do. If we take this for granted and if we assume it’ll always be there, we’re setting ourselves up to lose it.

This episode isn’t about arguing sides. It’s about perspective. It’s about understanding where we’ve been, where we’re at, and where we’re headed.

And more than anything it’s about asking yourself:

What are you doing to make sure the next generation gets the same opportunity?

Posters by Mack specializes in custom plaques and prints, including Billboard plaques, album cover posters, YouTube plaques, pull photo prints, and more. Mack designed and created my 100th episode plaque, and the final product was top-tier. Communication was seamless from start to finish, and my order shipped in under 48 hours. If you’re a creator looking to showcase your milestones with high-quality custom work, check out postersbymack.com.