EP 409 Campfire Time with Legendary Jim Zumbo

Episode Overview In this nostalgic episode, host Larry Weishuhn sits down around the mic with his longtime friend Jim Zumbo. Zumbo is a legendary outdoorsman, author, and the former long-time hunting editor for Outdoor Life magazine. The two swap stories from decades of shared adventures, reflecting on the evolution of the outdoor industry, memorable hunts, and the chaotic fun of their early promotional tours. The Colorado Moose Hunt: Jim recounts drawing a rare, once-in-a-lifetime moose tag in Colorado. Early in the hunt, he passed on a massive 50-inch bull because it was standing too close to an active camp of elk hunters. On the final day, wanting to bring home the meat, Jim ended up shooting a much smaller bull. Ironically, he later found out that a chiropractor from Boulder harvested the exact same giant bull he had walked away from. NRA Great American Hunters Tour: Larry and Jim reminisce about traveling across the country together in a van for the NRA. They recall the grueling yet hilarious realities of the tour, which included speaking at unconventional venues like a freezing ice-skating rink in West Virginia. They also share a comical incident in California where they thought their blue van was stolen, only to eventually realize the parking garage's yellow lighting had created an optical illusion, making the van look white. Historic Writer's Camps: The pair discusses the wild, early days of outdoor media gatherings, specifically a 30-person camp at Tony Knight's farmhouse in Illinois. This event featured outdoor industry pioneers like Bill Jordan and marked the first major industry appearance of Jim Shockey, who famously showed up in a solid white hunting suit. The Genesis of a Writing Career: Jim shares the origin of his prolific career, which includes authoring over 20 books. While attending forestry school in the Adirondacks, he shot a legendary local buck named "Old Joe" and wrote about it for the student newspaper. Encouraged by a professor to write for a wider audience, he pitched an ice-fishing story to Outdoor Life, launching a massive career in outdoor journalism. Upcoming Adventures: Wrapping up the episode, Jim talks about his upcoming participation in the prestigious One Shot Antelope Hunt in Lander, Wyoming. He will be hunting on a team alongside close friends, including Rick Lambert. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices