Sept. 13, 2026
Ep 131- Beetle Taxidermy (Feat. Shane Swanson)
On this episode we are joined by outdoorsman and taxidermist Shane Swanson for a masterclass in wilderness survival and unique woodsman skills.
Shane takes us behind the scenes of his taxidermy work, detailing his fascinating process of using dermestid beetle colonies to clean skulls. He explains how these flesh-eating beetles create pristine, museum-quality European mounts, what it takes to maintain a thriving colony, and why this method beats traditional boiling every time.
Beyond the taxidermy shop, Shane shares gripping, first-hand stories from a lifetime spent in the deep woods, including:
- The Reality of the Trap Line: The hard work, strategy, and wildlife knowledge required to run lines in harsh conditions.
- Survival Mode: A harrowing account of getting turned around and completely lost in the thick bush, and the crucial decisions that saved his life.
- The Exploding Ice Tent: A wild, chaotic story of an ice fishing trip gone wrong when a heater mishap turned his shelter into an absolute fireball.
- Bear Encounters: Heart-pounding moments standing face-to-face with apex predators and how to handle high-stakes wildlife standoffs.
Whether you are looking to manage your own beetle boot-camp or want to hear incredible survival stories from a true woodsman, this is an episode you don't want to miss.