Sitka Southeast Podcast

In Episode 10 of the Sitka North Carolina Podcast, we sit down with mechanical engineer, bowhunter, and Additive Archery founder Thomas Pham to dive into the endless world of archery tinkering. From building custom gear to solve his own problems to launching a business centered around innovation through 3D printing, Thomas shares how small adjustments—not constant upgrades—can make the biggest difference in your shooting. We also tackle some of the hottest debates in modern archery, including FOC, broadheads, gear trends, bow setup, and why consistency will always beat chasing the latest fad. Whether you're a seasoned bowhunter, an archery gear junkie, or just getting started, this episode is packed with practical insights that will help you better understand your equipment and become a more effective archer.As always, come into the store and mention the podcast for 15% off your next purchase.Host: Jake Norris (@jnorri15)Co-Host: Landon Pearson (‪ ⁨@BruteModeCollective⁩ )Special Guest: Thomas Pham ( ⁨@Fulldraw_Tundra⁩ )

Episode 9 of the Sitka Southeast Podcas, Jake and Landon are joined by a very special guest, John Barklow—Senior Product Manager for Hunting at Sitka Gear and the driving force behind SITKA’s whitetail and western big game systems.In this episode, John walks us through his incredible journey from joining the U.S. Navy at 19, to decades of military service training special operations communities in extreme mountain environments, to becoming one of the most respected voices in modern hunting gear design. We get into the work behind the scenes at SITKA—how new products are designed, tested, and refined before ever reaching the hunter. We also cover the Fall 2026 lineup, including deep dives into whitetail and western systems and much, much more.As always, come into the store and mention the podcast for 15% off your next purchase.Host: Jake Norris (@jnorri15)Co-Host: Landon Pearson ( @BruteModeCollective  )Special Guest John Barklow ( @knowledgefromstorms8262  )

In Episode 8 of the SITKA Southeast Podcast, Jacob and Landon sit down with Hunter Purdue, a Master Wildlife Enforcement Officer with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, for one of our most informative conversations yet. We dive deep into what it really means to protect and manage North Carolina’s public lands while uncovering what hunters need to know before stepping into the woods this fall.In this episode we cover what a Wildlife Enforcement Officer actually does in North Carolina, how North Carolina game lands are acquired and funded, the biggest challenges facing North Carolina public lands today,t he most common game land violations officers encounter, and much more. If you hunt North Carolina Public Lands....the epsiode is for you.As always, come into the store and mention the podcast for 15% off your next purchase.Host: Jacob Norris (@jnorri15)Co-Host: Landon Pearson ( @BruteModeCollective  )Special Guest: Hunter Perdue (@ncwildlife)

In Episode 7 of the Sitka Southeast Podcast, we're joined by North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission District 6 Wildlife Biologist, Rupert Medford.Rupert brings years of experience studying deer behavior and habitat management as he sits down with Jake and Landon to discuss what truly makes prime mature buck habitat and how hunters can learn to recognize it in the field. We dive into effective trail camera strategies, understanding deer movement, and practical ways to reduce human pressure on the properties we hunt.Whether you're managing your own hunting property, scouting public land, or simply trying to better understand mature whitetail behavior and habitat, this episode is packed with valuable insights from a professional wildlife biologist.As always come into the store and mention the podcast to receive 15% off your next purchase.Host: Jacob Norris (@jnorri15)Co-Host: Landon Pearson (@brutemodecollective)Special Guest: Rupert Medford (@ncwildlife)(@rupertmedford)

Jacob, Jay, and Landon sit down with Corey Oakley, Chief of Inland Fisheries for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, for an in-depth conversation about the science and strategy behind managing North Carolina’s fisheries. In this episode, we dive into bass management (F1 Bass Program and Alabama Bass), the role of aquatic vegetation and plant life beneath Lake Norman, and how habitat impacts fish populations and angler success. Corey shares insight into fisheries management decisions, conservation efforts, and what anglers should know about the future of one of North Carolina’s most talked-about lakes. Whether you're a hardcore bass fisherman, conservation enthusiast, or just curious about what’s happening beneath the surface, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.As always come into the store and mention the podcast to receive 15% off your next purchase.Also, be sure to check out Corey's Podcast "Better Fishing with Two Bald Biologists" to learn how to apply sound science to more fishing success.Host: Jacob Norris (@jnorri15)Co-Host: Landon Pearson (@brutemodecollective)Fishing Wizard: Jay Stevens (@quackwhackpack)Special Guest: Corey Oakley (@ncwildlife)Stay tuned for the next episode where we dive into all things regarding whitetail habitat as well as iuman Interferance and deer behavior with NC Wild Life's very own District 6 Wild Life Biologist, Rupert Medford. Deer hunters... you don't want to miss this one.

In this episode, Jacob, Landon, OT, and Jeff Cordero sit down to cover everything from Jeff’s career in NASCAR to balancing a demanding schedule with a passion for hunting. The crew dives into how Jeff makes time for the outdoors, early season archery preparation, practical bow practice tips, and advice on dialing in your archery setup before the season kicks off. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your shooting, fine-tune your gear, or hear how a NASCAR professional stays connected to hunting, this episode has something for every bowhunter.As always, come into the store and mention the podcast to recieve 15% off your next purhcase.Host: Jacob Norris (@jnorri15)Co-Host: Landon Pearson (@brutemodecollective)Gear Wizard: OT Mitchell (@owentatemitchell)Special Guest: Jeff Cordero (@jeffcordero_)Location: Stika Gear Charlotte (@sitkacharlotte)Stay tuned for the next episode where we discuss Lake Norman's F1 Bass Program, Lake Norman Drought Conditions, and much more with NC Wildlife Fisheries Biologist Corey Oakley.

The shift to whitetail season is officially underway for the Sitka Charlotte Crew. In Episode 4, Landon, OT, and Jake dive into our full whitetail prep process — from getting our properties ready for the upcoming season to dialing in our early scouting plans on both public and private land.We’re talking trail cameras, moving stand locations, habitat and land prep, and the gear that lives in our trucks all season long. We also break down the Sitka gear setups we’ll be running while scouting, covering miles, and preparing for opening day.If you’re already thinking about deer season, this episode is packed with practical prep, gear talk, and behind-the-scenes insight into how we approach the transition from spring to fall.As always, come into the store and mention the podcast to recieve 15% off your next purhcase.Host: Jacob Norris (@jnorri15)Co-Host: Landon Pearson (@brutemodecollective)Gear Wizard: OT Mitchell (@owentatemitchell)Location: Stika Gear Charlotte (@sitkacharlotte)Stay tuned for the next episode where we discuss summer archery practice, maintenance, and set ups.Time Line:03:14 - Episode Intro — The Shift to Whitetail Prep07:04 - Summer Camera Placement & Deer Patterning13:58 - Tracking Deer Data16:38 - Wind Direction, Thermals & Hunting Hill Country22:22 - Old Stands, Farm History & Hidden Hotspots26:24 - Saddle Hunting Setup & Tree Stand Mishaps32:14 - Why Saddle Hunting Changes the Game36:15 - Essential Gear Kept in the Truck All Season40:51 - Upcoming Hunts & Future Plans53:51 - Summer Scouting Gear Recommendations1:02:22 - Scrapes vs Rubs Debate1:16:11 - Upcoming Events & Future Guests

Episode 3 is here, and this one is all about fishing. We officially introduce Jay Stevens as our fishing co-host and sit down with special guest Tater Hog — professional fisherman and owner of his own freshwater bait company (Tater Hog Custom Lures).We dive into Tater’s background, how he got started in competitive fishing, and what led him into designing and making his own custom baits. We also break down post-spawn fishing tactics, seasonal patterns, bait selection, and strategies that can help you put more fish in the boat this time of year.Whether you’re a hardcore angler or just getting into fishing, this episode is packed with stories, insight, and practical tips from guys who live it every day.Check out Tater Hog's Custom Baits Here: https://taterhogcustomlures.com/Come in the store, mention the podcast, and recieve 15% off your purchase at check out.Make sure to follow/subscribe so you don't miss upcoming episodes.Host: Jacob Norris (@jnorri15)Co-Host: Landon Pearson (@brutemodecollective)Fishing Wizard: Jay Stevens (@quackwhackpack)Special Guest: Tater Hog (@tater_hog)Location: Sitka Gear Charlotte (@sitkacharlotte)Stay tuned for the next episode as we make the transition to Whitetail Season.Time Line:00:48 Introducing Jay Stevens & Tater Hog01:19 What This Episode Covers01:41 Where the Name “Tater Hog” Came From05:23 Why Lake Norman Produces Elite Anglers09:47 Breaking Down the Spawn & Post-Spawn Phase12:04 Why Post-Spawn Is Tater Hog’s Favorite Time to Fish14:12 Tater Hog’s Custom Baits Explained20:07 How Tater Hog Got Into Bait Making24:15 Transition Into Designing Custom Baits29:56 Strike King Partnership & Mass Production35:45 Breaking Down Post-Spawn Tournament Tactics45:40 – Moon Phases & Nighttime Shad Spawn Behavior50:10 – How Technology Changed Fishing53:35 – “Norman Has a Bait Problem, Not a Fish Problem”1:00:02 – Learning Lure Cadence in Real Time1:12:27 – Upcoming Sitka Charlotte Events

In this episode, we break down everything that’s been happening so far this turkey season. The Sitka Charlotte Staff shares real stories from the field—what’s worked, what hasn’t, and the lessons learned along the way.We also take a deep dive into Sitka Turkey Gear, talking through what we’ve been running this season, what stands out, and how we have adapted the gear to fir our hunting styles. Mentiont the podcast in the store at checkout and get 15% off your purchase.If you’re chasing gobblers this spring or just getting started, this episode is packed with practical insights, honest feedback, and boots-on-the-ground experience.Topics include:- Early season turkey hunt recaps- Successes, close calls, and tough lessons- Sitka turkey gear breakdown- What we’re changing moving forwardMake sure to follow/subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes, and let us know what you want to hear next.Host: Jacob Norris (@jnorri15)Co-Host: Landon Pearson (@brutemodecollective)Gear Wizard: OT Mitchell (@owentatemitchell)Special Guest: Catie Pearson (@catie.outdoors)Location: Sitka Gear Charlotte (@sitkacharlotte)

Welcome to Episode 1 of the Sitka Southeast Podcast. Filmed out of our Charlotte, NC Store. In our debut episode, we introduce Jacob, Landon, and OT from the store staff and dive into who they are, their backgrounds, and how they got here. We also talk about turkey hunting season so far, discuss Sitka Gear, share stories from the field, and give you a preview of what’s coming in future episodes. Whether you’re into hunting, gear, or good conversation, this is the perfect place to start.Host: Jacob Norris (@jnorri15)Co-Host: Landon Pearson (@brutemodecollective)Gear Wizard: OT Mitchell (@owentatemitchell)Location: Sitka Gear Charlotte (@sitkacharlotte)