Lost Souls: A Campfire Segment By Field And Stream

We’re revisiting “Lost Soul” this week, one of the most powerful hunting essays ever published in the magazine’s archives. Written by Scott Bestial and read by his longtime editor and friend Dave Hurteau, the story unfolds during a brutal late-season whitetail hunt marked by deep snow, bitter wind, and the quiet weight of personal upheaval. What begins as a familiar deer hunting scenario—spooked does, a cold tree stand, and low odds, quickly becomes something deeper. Through bowhunting whitetails in December, Scott explores how time spent outdoors can intersect with grief, divorce, and emotional numbness. The hunt itself becomes less about antlers and more about awareness: watching matriarch does, reading winter deer behavior, and confronting what draws us back to the woods when motivation is thin. Listeners will hear insider reflections on late-season bowhunting tactics, whitetail herd dynamics, and the mental grind of winter hunting. More importantly, they’ll come away with a reminder of why hunting matters beyond tags filled the way wild places can ground us, challenge us, and, at times, give something back when we least expect it. This is a conversation, and a story, for hunters who understand that the outdoors often teaches its hardest lessons quietly, from a stand overlooking a frozen field. Get more from Field & Stream: https://www.fieldandstream.com/ Get to know the author, Richard Mann: https://www.fieldandstream.com/authors/richard-mann              Join the F&S 1871 Club and experience a membership dedicated to the outdoor culture of sporting traditions, storytelling, and the conservation of our lands: https://www.fieldandstream.com/1871-club/  Sound effects and sound design for Campfire provided by: Christmas Bells 1 by Cloud-10 -- https://freesound.org/s/536251/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Jingle bells.wav by juskiddink -- https://freesound.org/s/110158/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Deck The Halls - Christmas jingle played with bells by Ihaksi -- https://freesound.org/s/411420/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 DeerWalking.WAV by Damsteegt -- https://freesound.org/s/553116/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 Deer2.wav by juskiddink -- https://freesound.org/s/58661/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Indian Springs State Park Night Insects Soundscape 3.21.17 .wav by GnomeKid -- https://freesound.org/s/388016/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Walking in snow #1 by musicbrain -- https://freesound.org/s/215690/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 SHOOTING_ARROW_SINGLE_ARCHERY_FOLEY_03.wav by JoeDinesSound -- https://freesound.org/s/534953/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices