Fur, Hounds, And Idaho Grit

Send us Fan MailWild stories pair with careful hands as we sit down with Amber Farrall, a houndswoman, mother, and fur craftswoman living outside Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Amber takes us from spring bear bait sites to fast lion trees, explaining how she reads tracks, protects her dogs when wolves prowl, and brings her kids into the work with patience and care. The field notes are vivid—an ancient, toothless lion ethically tagged, a sow bear seen injured in spring and healed by fall—and they anchor a conversation about what real wildlife management looks like when you’re the one following the snow and sign.We also dive into Amber’s fur business, Patriot Leather and Fur, born from family training and fueled by a love of durable, renewable materials. She breaks down the craft with a maker’s eye: how beaver can be delicate as tissue, why fox finishes beautifully, and what it takes to stitch clean seams on a century-old fur machine. From coyote trapper hats and beaver mittens to waist muffs for trappers, Amber keeps it local—legally harvested, Idaho-tanned hides turned into gear meant to be used hard and handed down. Along the way we talk ethics, ecology, and the full-use mindset that turns a harvest into meals and heirlooms—lion loins roasted like lean pork, breakfast sausage sizzling, jerky that disappears in a day.If you’ve ever wondered how hounds, conservation, and craft can coexist, this conversation offers a grounded, first-hand look. We grapple with predator pressure on elk and deer, the reality of wolves in thick country, and the misconception that banning trapping ends the practice. Amber’s approach is steady: respect the animals, use what you take, and keep the work honest. Subscribe for more stories from the backcountry and the bench, share this with a friend who loves real gear, and leave a review to help others find the show. What part surprised you most—the hunt or the craft?Check us out on Facebook  Hunts On Outfitting, or myself Ken Marr. Reach out and  Tell your hunting buddies about the podcast if you like it, Thanks!