Offstage With Toby Brohlin Cadillac Creek Outfitters

Michael Ray, Paul, and Lil Skinny sit down with Toby Brohlin, the man behind one of the top waterfowl hunting destinations anywhere, after two unreal days in the blind.

They talk about how Toby built Cadillac Creek, what hunting meant to him after losing his dad, and how the outdoors became the thing that helped pull him through one of the hardest seasons of his life. What started as a love for music and life on the road turned into something completely different back home in Texas — and eventually became Cadillac Creek.

The conversation gets into a lot more than hunting. Toby talks about walking away from one dream, listening when life pushed him in a different direction, building something for his family, and creating a place that feels more like home than a business.

They also get into the hunts themselves — huge feeds, thousands of birds, the madness of those first volleys, and why this place is different from anywhere else.

It’s a conversation about faith, family, loss, purpose, and how sometimes the thing that saves you is nowhere near the plan you had for yourself.

If you love the outdoors, good stories, and hearing how people actually built what they built, this one’s worth a listen.

Learn more or book a hunt at CadillacCreek.com.

Follow Offstage America on Instagram & Instagram @offstageamerica

Follow Michael 

Instagram - @michaelraymusic

TikTok - @michaelrayofficial

Follow Paul

Instagram & TikTok - @pauloffstage

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:25

Hey, what's up, guys? Welcome to Office America. This is Michael Ray, my boy Paul over here. And um, y'all, we're here at Cadillac Creek Outfitters, um, one of the top best waterfowl bird hunting spots in the world. Uh, and we happen to have the man that made it all happen, the visionary, the the bird whisperer, the goose massacre legend. Gooseberry. The goose, what's that? The goosebear.

SPEAKER_00 0:52

Gooseberry. The gooseberry.

SPEAKER_01 0:57

You gotta get it. You gotta get a shirt that says that.

SPEAKER_02 0:59

You're all welcome, Toby Broolin.

SPEAKER_01 1:03

Thank y'all so much.

SPEAKER_02 1:04

Buddy, dude, this place is amazing, man. Thank you for having us. Uh oh, by the way, we have uh you'll probably he's pretty much a co-host now with us. Uh little skinny skinny and Grayson, our buddy uh from Talladega Knights, the little redheaded kid. You know, we gotta get him out. Bro, we gotta get Grayson out here. You'll love him, dude.

SPEAKER_00 1:22

Yeah, he's one of my best friends.

SPEAKER_01 1:23

I'm gonna come at you like a spider muggy, dude. He's the sweetest guy in the world. He's awesome. The commentary when those geese were coming in from him would have been hilarious. Oh, yeah. That's right.

SPEAKER_02 1:34

He's that's wondering my dirty pee band.

SPEAKER_00 1:38

He's still on his dirty pee-band.

SPEAKER_03 1:40

It's a Dr. Quinn in medicine one movie.

SPEAKER_02 1:44

We threw Dr. We threw Grandpa uh what was it, Grandpa Chips War Medals off the What did you do? What did you do? It's a great movie, dude. This place is amazing. Skinny's been telling me about this place. Well, last year when y'all all came up, I couldn't make that trip. And um, as everybody everybody knows, hunting is my favorite thing in the world, man. And and um you getting to know you and you sharing your story about how this whole place came about, you know, is like hunting was therapy for you during that time as well, you know. And so uh anytime I get the opportunity, you know, to be at places like this, man, I always you know jump on it. And I have never in my life seen what we saw the first two days here, dude.

SPEAKER_00 2:27

It is one of the kinds.

SPEAKER_02 2:28

It's crazy, insane. But man, I would let's take us back, man. So, first off, we jam, my man grabs a guitar, plays it like a savant, and sings his ass off, you know. So music, I go are you from you're from here, right? In the Amarillo?

SPEAKER_04 2:44

Born and raised.

SPEAKER_02 2:45

So what got you going, man? What got you?

SPEAKER_04 2:47

Uh, you know, back in the back in the 90s, we didn't have the phones in our hands. The 1900s before the internet. Yeah. But uh, no, man, I started playing the guitar. I was six years old, and uh that was remember being young and playing playing the guitar. Well, it all started. My dad was working in na in uh Austin, and he brought this dude back back in those times. You could meet meet him at the runway or at the tarmac or whatever. And this he gets this dude gets off the plane with my dad, he's got long hair, and I was a young kid. I was like, that's the coolest thing I'd ever seen. And uh, long story short, that guy is Clint that's been cooking for y'all. So Clint was this long-haired rock star-looking cat from Austin, and he was carrying a guitar case, and it was just one of those pivotal moments. I wanted to be that guy. Started growing my hair out, and my parents buy me a guitar, take guitar lessons and stuff, and I played guitar and did the whole band thing for the majority of my life.

SPEAKER_02 3:46

Touring like torn.

SPEAKER_04 3:48

I mean, I was I was in uh right out of high school. I I graduated when I was 17, moved to the East Coast and toured up and down there. Um, just waiting for the big break, and like I said, the fine print at the bottom of the poster. But uh had a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_02 4:03

We always judge in the beginning, it's like your and you it's all the names, and I'm like, in the beginning, you're like, I'm the Ann Moore. That's good.

SPEAKER_04 4:10

That's my guy. But no, man, it was uh it's all all I did for a long time, and uh then life took me for a whole different uh whole different direction, and uh never dreamed that this would be where I'd end up, but blessed.

SPEAKER_02 4:24

Man, I have so much respect for you for a lot of reasons, man. But one of them is when you have that dream, right, as a kid, you know, and you see that and you chase it, and then sacrificing, you know, it's it was whether it's music or starting a business or anything, it's massive sacrifice. And music is even it's time, is what you're sacrificing. That's the one thing, no matter who you know or who skinny knows, because he knows everybody. He might know a guy that has time on his hands. I don't know. But you know, it's the one thing you can't get back. Trump's called him three times since all the shipments ignored it all three times. He's gotta prove some stuff. Um but you know, you sharing the story with us earlier about you know you coming about to take care of your family, you know, and and be here. We got to meet your sweet mom the other night, dude. She was awesome. As soon as she came in, dude, they ain't no denying you and her, bro. Oh man. I was like, that is that's gotta be his mama.

SPEAKER_00 5:11

It's just been uh it's just been so heartwarming for me watching her journey the last couple months and everything she's been through to her to be there with you and enjoy that moment was just man, it that you know topped everything on this trip.

SPEAKER_02 5:23

Yeah, man.

SPEAKER_04 5:24

So thank y'all for putting that putting that on. And like I don't think it was hard to tell. It was for her.

SPEAKER_02 5:30

It's fun, man. Anytime, man. We're all mama's boys. So when you when you moved back, man, was it you were you like done with music?

SPEAKER_04 5:39

You No, I uh I moved back and the band was still together. Um we were doing little bar gigs and whatnot around here, but um just my dad passed away. My I was in moved back home to go to college. Dad passed away unexpectedly, and he and I were like peas and carrots being on butter kelly.

SPEAKER_03 5:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 5:58

We were we were tight and it was unexpected. Threw me for a loop, and you know, as a as a musician, I was not exactly on the the the straight and narrow. Our road can be a little curvy. Surprise, surprise, but um, you know, it threw me for it threw me for a loop and um thank God I saw my mom and my nieces and my sister and I I could see that they needed me more than I needed to be out playing rock star. Um and came back home and just with the intention of trying to help my mom get back on her feet. Um that was that was almost harder than watching my dad pass and just seeing that decline and how hard it was on them. Um I started bartending, uh met my wife, and uh she uh she she pretty well saved my life. Um told me if you want to hang out with me and see me, I'll I sit in the back row at church, and um that that was that was where I needed to be, and here we are now. Awesome. Just crazy times.

SPEAKER_02 7:00

And during that time, you were telling us earlier you know your friends had moved, you know. It was been a few years, so life changes, you know, as you grow and you realize like when you get a dog, I don't know if y'all feel this way, but like when you become an adult, it's like five years isn't a lot when you're a kid, you know, right? But five years, bro, as adults, your buddy's life can your life can change, you know what I mean? Like you have no idea massively, you know. And uh and so you came back and you're just kind of hunting on the weekends, right?

SPEAKER_04 7:25

I uh when I came back home, like my dad passed, and we were a hunting family. Like I grew up around hunting. Um, my granddad was a big hunter, big sportsman, fishing and hunting, all that that was just kind of a way of life. Um he passed away when I was too young to to really enjoy that with him. And my dad, he was a working man, worked all my life. You know, like I'm talking no days off kind of guy. Um so if we got to go on one dove hunt a year, that was a big deal. Um and it wasn't ever a smash, you know, we'd go to some family land and sing some dove, right? But it was I was around it, and uh when he passed away, I I knew that you know I didn't want to just bury him, I didn't want that to be the end. And so I booked a hunt to Canada, took his ashes up there and did a little fly fishing and spread his ashes on a goose hunt, and it was just kind of like lit a fire in me and kind of became my new happy place. And when I moved back home, like you said, all of my friends and people that I'd been hanging out with, they'd all gotten married or moved on or they're in college or whatever, so I was just this long-haired musician, nobody to hang out with in a small town.

SPEAKER_01 8:38

I I cannot imagine it with long hair, by the way, right now.

SPEAKER_04 8:40

Yeah, yeah, no, yeah, start a ha have have w a little girl and it it tends to go away. That's why we keep hats on long hair. Yeah, when I was 16. There are pictures out there. Yeah. But uh, but no, man, I just kind of started hunting with some guys on the weekend. Um they took me under their wing, let me have a a space in their uh in the blind, and I saw an opportunity, man, and started the business. I I never thought that it would be anything more than just paying for my new addiction. Yeah, but it became it became a a place that I almost felt like I don't know, I tried I tried everything I could get my hands on to fill that void, you know, and uh it was almost a just a place where I had a little bit of peace and it kind of became my new stage, so to speak. Uh and it huntings saved my life, you know. It really, it really did. Um I saw an opportunity started the business, and like I said, I never dreamed that it would be what it has become. Right. Um and I take no credit for that. I think that's a hundred percent a god thing. Um I was I I my whole life I just thought I was gonna be on the stage, and you couldn't tell me anything otherwise. Um and I'd had way bigger plans and different plans, maybe not bigger, but different plans. And um started the business in 2015, about the same time as everybody was sitting at home watching Duck Dynasty, and I think that had a lot to do with the growth too. It was like everybody all of a sudden was into everywhere, dude.

SPEAKER_02 10:12

It was everywhere.

SPEAKER_04 10:14

It was like, oh yeah, it's cool, right? Yeah, that's what I do. Yeah, I just do it more swag. But no, it was uh I I really think that that had a lot to do with it, and then just once I kind of was uh a little bit nervous or ashamed of how I looked, so to speak, you know, looking tattooed guy going and knocking on doors to a farmer to ask permission to go and hunt in a small town, you don't know what you're gonna get, right?

SPEAKER_02 10:41

That ain't the big uh belly bell bearded guy coming in.

SPEAKER_04 10:44

I didn't have the didn't have the beard and the bandana, but but no, it uh as soon as I kind of put that behind me and just said, you know what, this is me. You'll give me five minutes of your time or five seconds of your time, you'll see that I'm not a bad guy. I may look a little rough around the edges, but um God opened doors and here we are.

SPEAKER_02 11:03

Yeah, man, it was part of your plan. It's part of his plan for us, you know. Absolutely, and that's what I love, man. Um one thing that when we were starting this podcast, one thing I wanted to really try to, you know, have, and it's just kind of naturally. I've never told any guest or anything, hey man, you know, make sure you push this or you know, anything like that. Biggest thing is like, man, in a world that's so divided now, right? And every and everybody's comparing real life to some BS highlight reel on you know social media, you know, kids are you know, comparing themselves or and it's just like man, you know, they think when they see somebody that's successful, like in your position, they see this beautiful place, you know, people don't always see the journey. Oh, yeah. You know, and and people are listening and and watch, and it inspires people, you know what I mean, to hear a story like yours where it's like, man, you know, to give up your dream, you know. I mean, we know it's like, dude, you you move uproot and leave your family and go tour, and it is not sexy in the beginning. You're in a van, you're sharing a hotel, you're sleeping in the van because you can't afford a hotel room. Yeah, you're doing all these things, man, and and to to have that vision your whole life, you know, and then for you to listen to the Holy Spirit and God, you know, guide you in that that moment. It just speaks so much about you, man. And and I love, dude, every more every before every hunt, man, you gather everybody around. We say a little prayer every day before Clint Cooks, who is a badass chef, by the way. Amazing. Unbelievable. Everything here so on the road. I gotta hit a treadmill, dude. I tried to Oh my goodness. Like crazy, man.

SPEAKER_00 12:30

I'm about to eat myself out of a career. He's gonna leave medium skin. We're working on medium skin.

SPEAKER_01 12:39

His hand's gonna change on Instagram. We'll be like, ah, he's been he's been a galaxy again, I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 12:44

Um, but one thing you've created here that's really cool, dude, it's everybody, you know, from the guys that you have working for you here, the guides, man, it's like right away, dude, you feel like it's a family, you know, and right away everybody's clicked. And the atmosphere, and it starts with you. You know what I mean? You you've created this place that one, if you love to bird hunt, this is the place you come to. You look up Cadillac Creek, you're gonna post it. We're gonna have Troy. Yeah, we're gonna post all of it. Some videos and photos. That's not AI.

SPEAKER_01 13:17

We literally, we literally there's a video, and I just watched it of and it was when the birds were coming in, and you go, oh my god, look at that.

SPEAKER_02 13:26

I've never, dude, I have uh never in my life seen that many birds. What don't you wasn't for the time most of time he's full of shit. He's sending me the reel of this ducky. Um well, we we're sitting there at the water, and you say you don't really hunt water much, right?

SPEAKER_04 13:49

Like not very often, unless we need to move stuff around, or you know, we're at the tail end of the season. So it's kind of one of those things, y'all hit it at the right time or we can send them packing. Uh we've got a week, a week left. Um, but no, I I'm not a big, not a big fan of hunting water because A, it's a long day. B, uh we don't typically have a lot of water to haunt. Right. So I gotta keep them a little safe spot. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Uh but when we do, we may have to do it.

SPEAKER_02 14:15

Buddy, y'all do it. I'm we're gonna I'm spoiled for life. So you see the video. We're let me just put you there for a second. So here we are, all the how many people do we have with us? 20? 26, right?

SPEAKER_04 14:29

I believe.

SPEAKER_02 14:30

On that day, though, yeah. So they have coffin blinds lined up, all his crew man. I mean, this is this place is five-star. You go out there, coffin blinds are already set up, decoys are out. I mean, literally everything but load your gun and pull the trigger for you. You know, they they make it happen. And so we're all all of us are the doors are still open on the coffin. I'm I'm sitting straight up, dude, loading my gun, safety on, right? And all of a sudden, I don't know what I apparently I didn't see the 5,000 geese that just landed right in front of us, and I hear fire, fire, whatever. And I'm like, oh my god, I'm like trying to load the gun. Everybody shooting.

SPEAKER_01 15:03

Those first three rounds were incredible. I mean, it was just backwards. We we we they came in so fast and so thick, we couldn't even get them out of the water fast enough. Like it was in I mean, I I'll never forget the the other one where we are were literally reloading and shooting again. And you were going we were going through six or nine rounds of run, and it was just unbelievable.

SPEAKER_02 15:26

When when did when you you decided to when you were hunting and then you had this vision to bring this, right? Were you already guiding?

SPEAKER_04 15:34

Were you uh I so the guys that I kind of started hunting with on the weekends, um I I didn't have money to buy decoys or whatever, you know. So I just I had to learn how to be a hand. And so I learned learned the best I could how to call, had a dog, you know, and then just kind of learned how to be an asset. Um scouting, driving around, finding fields, you know, and typically if you find a field and get permission on it, they're not gonna not let you go hunt with them, right? Um but no, I I would say that I guided a bit, like I go and help them, but um it was really once I started my own thing that you know just kind of hit the ground running.

SPEAKER_02 16:15

That's awesome, man. It's it's been incredible, dude. Like I I I've never I'm I'm coming back every year whether it's getting you're body or not. I'm coming. Just show up. Yeah, I'll just be here. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:24

It's been really cool because uh just building this, you know, just kind of as going from you know, me and Toby being acquaintances to friends, and now I consider him part of my family, you know. It's been really cool to kind of watch this journey. We had a mutual friend, uh uh gotta give a shout out to Ryan Lambert. But what if Ryan Lambert? I this none of this would have happened. Uh so I got brought down on a hunt. Um I got to hang out with Toby. Toby didn't even know I did music for a while, and then uh started coming to Nashville and just built a cool friendship. So uh it uh it doesn't go unnoticed, my friend. I appreciate you.

SPEAKER_04 16:55

I think it's there's something to that though. Like when we were building this place, we prayed over it and prayed over and prayed over it. And that was one of my biggest things that I just want people when you walk through the doors, I want you to feel that presence. Whether I want you to leave feeling like family. And I try to go out of our out of my way to make sure that everybody walks through the doors and feels that way. Uh I don't I don't like my guys feeling like employees. I don't want to wake up every morning and go play boss, I want to go to work with my friends. And you know, and it's just it keeps it keeps the morality, right? Right. And now, you know, the majority of our clients are repeats. So one group leaves, one group of friends leaves, and another group of friends comes, you know. So it's like a revolving door of just getting to hang out with your friends because over over the last decade they've all become family.

SPEAKER_00 17:45

Right. And that's the I think the most important thing to tell people that if you're wanting to book a hunt at Cadillac Creek, that's the experience you get. Because like yesterday I feel I didn't feel like I was hunting with a guide. I feel like I was hunting with my 100%.

SPEAKER_02 17:57

Absolutely dude.

SPEAKER_01 17:59

It's like camaraderie experience, it's just and he and he and it he doesn't take it seriously in like the good way. Like you joke around, something silly happens. He's the first one that's like make keeping it light, right? Obviously, he's taking it seriously, but it's not where it's like, oh my god, someone laughed and made a joke. Shut up.

SPEAKER_02 18:17

Yeah, you just got good great people, man. It's like I said, it's it starts with you, dude. And it's been one of the it's been, dude. I've I told I told them today whenever they were like, you know, we're gonna go hunt in the afternoon. I'm like, man, I'll go. Also, I've never killed this many birds in two days. So like if we don't, I'll go with what everybody wants to do, you know. Um, but I think that's the power of the outdoors. It's the power of the outdoor community, you know. Um, you know, we were here one night, and then the next day another couple came in, you know, right away. You're told I'm talking to them last night, we're hanging out by the fire, you know, um, and they're showing me these photos of their land in Oregon, and we're gonna go get an elk.

SPEAKER_03 18:56

You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_02 18:57

And that's how when you and I I explained that to people, and that's why like yeah, uh uh one of the days we just had a couple of the guys and we just did a group podcast, right? Because everybody's got a story, yeah, you know, and there's nothing I was saying that when I was told him and uh and our other buddies, Brady and Troy, I said, one thing I want to do is is you know, bring this to our hunt lodges that we hunt in these, you know. And the best one of the best parts about hunting is when you're sitting around talking with everybody, man, you get to know people, right? And you you realize that the world's way smaller than it than it feels, you know, and you make lifelong friends, you know, over over the outdoors, you know, and and you have real conversations, you know, with people, you know, and you have you connect with people, and it's it's when you can come to a place like this where everybody's hanging out, dude. We're playing music, it's just kind of you know if hey, if you want to go take a nap, go take a nap. You wanna go sit by a fire, go sit by fire, you know. We're gonna go, we'll be hunting this time in the morning. Just make sure you're up, or skinny's gonna be running in your room like he does me every morning. Um I woke up Nessa Skinny 3, not next to I shouldn't have said that. We edit that out, please. Actually, no clipbait. That's clickbait. We're gonna use that one. No, but it's just you know, it's just like you said, man, it's just yeah, you don't feel like you're at this like beautiful place. Well, yeah, like you feel like you're just with your buddies, you know, hanging out. And and uh man, it's just a community that that that you've created, dude.

SPEAKER_04 20:19

And it's I'm glad to hear that. I'm glad you feel that way.

SPEAKER_02 20:22

It's awesome, man. It's awesome. I uh I was telling Skinny yesterday, I was like, dude, I have never because when he sent me when he first saw I called Skinny, so I wanted him and Grayson to be the first guest on on offstage America, you know.

SPEAKER_00 20:36

I just gotten off the phone and I had a couple friends cancel on me right when Michael calls me. I was like, Well, this is fake. This is perfect.

SPEAKER_02 20:43

Yeah, Michael kills anything. Michael loves a hundred. Like Mikey likes it back in the day.

SPEAKER_01 20:48

He he called, he literally gets off the phone with you and calls me. He's like, uh, so we might be going to Texas to go on. And I was like, All right.

SPEAKER_02 20:55

Yeah. And so uh he called, I called him to you know, he's like, hey man, he goes, You want dude, you could come out here. And I'm like, oh my god, man. I go, I've heard of this place, you know what I mean? And and I mean before he even told me about it, I knew of the, you know, I've heard of this and and seen on you know socials and stuff like that. But um so I was like, Yeah, I go, man, we think we bring the podcast there, you know, because that's this is what we want to do, man. We want to be able to bring these stories of of the outdoors and and and people that hunt or fish or understand the outdoors, they'll get it, and people that might have an interest in it. You know, it's a it's such a healing thing, you know, and it's it's such a there's a spiritual thing, man. Like, you know, you feel God out there, you know, that sunrise is coming or the sun's setting, or you see, you know, 5,000 freaking birds flying across, you know, just adrenaline's pumping, man.

SPEAKER_01 21:41

It's just a good time. I would just like to say though for the record, I didn't even know we were going until I was on the plane, and Skinny posted a video saying, see you soon. And I'm like, oh, finally, Michael didn't send me anything. So I had no clue I was getting into until I was on the plane. I was just like, okay, I mean, nobody uh look, I I keep friends, like I know enough next move, dude. You know what I mean? Listen, I know I know enough about Michael for going hunting, it's probably not gonna suck. So I mean and and like you know, just say yes to every opportunity because you I've gotten into all kinds of cool shit in my life. Just say yes. I mean, what's the worst that's gonna happen? Yeah, you know. I mean, uh yeah with you, that's a different story.

SPEAKER_04 22:23

It's it's cool, like that's my favorite. Thing of this business in general is just it we'll have the guys flying in on private jets and then uh maybe at the same time or the next group will be your blue-collar guys. You know, everybody's got a story, but every it's so many different walks of life in the same room together for the same purpose. And when you're out there, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter who you are. Yeah. Or you know what I'm saying? It's just it's been it's been super cool um to get the opportunity to to share what you know my gift with all kinds of folks.

SPEAKER_01 22:58

I mean, we get out there on this is Wednesday, Tuesday, yesterday, and we're kind of dragging a little bit. We got up a little late, we were running behind, and we get there, and Ricky's bought like breakfast sandwiches and everything, and it was like life saving. Oh, yeah, Ricky. Like, oh, look at this. This is great. Nice sausage, biscuits, and burritos. Yeah, and that and it set the tone. Everybody, you know, got some food in their bellies, and we went and committed a hate crime against geese.

SPEAKER_02 23:24

132, is that what the final count was?

SPEAKER_03 23:26

132.

SPEAKER_02 23:27

One snow geese that just got shot up. Yeah, like a like a prisoner, dude. I didn't even go after it, dude. I was sitting in that blind and I'm in my mind, I hear someone say, There's snow geese there. I go. There are about 20 people about to shoot this thing. I shot my two Canada geese, which I learned from uh Jay. Uh not Canadian because they're not, they're they're not they don't have citizenship. Uh yeah, so I was like, all right, I'm just gonna shoot these Canada geese over here. And I look over and that that bird got shot so many times it stayed still in the air for a minute. You know, took it like a matrix movie, dude.

SPEAKER_00 24:04

I love everybody in the mind said, I got it. As soon as it fell every hit 15 people, I got that one.

SPEAKER_01 24:10

I mean, I definitely hit it once. I'm not saying I'm the one I delivered the kill shot, but I definitely delivered a shot.

SPEAKER_04 24:15

Like Annie Oakley.

SPEAKER_01 24:19

It was it was it was impressive. And then we have that video where he yells fire, and it just looks like dive bombing in the water. I mean, he just awesome. It fires me up, dude. You really didn't realize how many you were getting until you rewatched like one of those videos, and you're just like, oh my god.

SPEAKER_00 24:34

Shout out to our boy Art with the cool content. That's right.

SPEAKER_02 24:37

Yeah, Art's the man. Wait, so what was this what before so did you you had the land here?

SPEAKER_04 24:43

Yeah, we uh so my wife and I had been trying to find a place and build a lodge for like four years and just stockpiling cash, saving money, looking for the perfect place. And what a great wife, by the way. Hey man, I wanna start a hunting lodge. All right, we got it. She's a yeah, one of the one of the few out there. Yeah. But no, we one thing would follow through after the other, and we found this piece of land, and COVID happened, and you know, just one thing after the other, and uh we'd all but just kind of giving up on at that particular time, like, all right, man, God's saving us again, you know, whatever. Um had a buddy buy a place across the creek from us, and we were going to look at his house, and we drove past this place, and my wife was just kind of joking at the time. She was like, Oh, we could turn that barn into a lodge. Um we got home that night, pulled up the listing, looked at it, and the very next day called a realtor buddy of mine and the builder that we'd been talking to, uh, and came and looked at it, and they were like, we can't build anything like this for what you can buy this for. So we just dug our heels in and went to the went to the drawing board and made it happen. We bought this, and um, it was just a a horse barn. I'm talking dirt floors, just a working horse barn. It was a nice barn. I remember the barn.

SPEAKER_00 25:58

Yeah, so the first time I came down, it was still a horse barn. Yeah, yeah, because we were hanging out in the house. Yeah, so yeah.

SPEAKER_02 26:02

So you've been here before the ball.

SPEAKER_00 26:04

Yeah, this was yeah, so I came I came, I think it was four years ago, something like that, three or four years ago. And then there was a season I didn't get to come, and last season I got to come down, uh, it was my first time in the new lodge. And so yeah, so I got one without the lodge, one with the new lodge, and this is my second time in the new lodge. So that's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 26:22

There are a lot of jealous people hitting us up on social media, and and some people were rubbing it in their face intentionally. Yeah. But it it is crazy how many people are like, where are you? Like, what how what in the world is is going on? My nephew has hunted like it almost his whole adult life, and he just goes, Holy shit, that's a lot of birds.

SPEAKER_04 26:41

There's one thing we are we are blessed with is an abundance. Yeah, yeah. Typically start to finish, man.

SPEAKER_01 26:46

Yeah. For someone who's maybe new to this, right? And is like, hey, I'd love to do it, but I feel nervous going somewhere with a bunch of people who want to hunt. Like, obviously, we've seen this and it's comfortable, but what would you tell someone who's new to this that wants to experience it?

SPEAKER_04 27:03

I'd say we we take uh beginners all the time. Um we this is what we do. We've got it down to a science. We're gonna make sure that you understand what you're doing, make sure you're safe, and we're gonna be right behind you watching. You know what I mean? Like we're gonna we're not just gonna turn you loose and let you, you know, let you lose. Figure out for yourself. But no, man. Um we're we're more than happy to take guys that have never done it before and change their lives.

SPEAKER_01 27:35

Make them addicted.

SPEAKER_04 27:36

Yeah, yeah. Send send them home with a new addiction or something.

SPEAKER_01 27:39

They're gonna go home and try and go goose hunting and be like, this sucks.

SPEAKER_00 27:42

I think for me, that's probably uh and you you probably can uh vouch for this, Toby, but that's probably one of my favorite things about hunting is taking somebody that hasn't. Oh, yeah, man. Because um last year, uh a friend of mine, uh Jake, Jake Gardner came and plays uh uh for Riley Green's band, his band leader. He came down and uh he'd been hunting stuff with his dad, but he just recently lost his dad, and he came down with his dad's shotgun and was like, Man, I want to kill a bird with my dad's shotgun. And so that was like, okay, I see what that was about, and let's get back to do that and take that picture for him. Really, really cool, really special.

SPEAKER_04 28:16

I I didn't even realize that, but that's that's a cool thing, is like sometimes there's there's stuff like that going on that I don't even know. And it's it's therapy to somebody else, and that's that's awesome. I'm glad I'm glad to know that.

SPEAKER_00 28:28

Yeah, man. It was it was it was really cool. And that was actually the first time I met Jackie. He's like, man, I'm nervous, like I haven't, you know, I don't I don't even know if this gears work. I was like, man, let me look at it, let's like figure it out, and that's what's really cool about making those experiences that you know that hunt was more just as much special to me as it was for him just seeing him getting out of those experiences and uh you know honor his father. So pretty cool.

SPEAKER_02 28:51

Yeah, whenever you can uh put somebody on something, yeah, man. You know, like when I took my dad out and put him on that big trophy, you know, his first ever, you know, trophy buck, you know, he hunted his whole life as Florida, you know. Yeah, he didn't really mount a lot of those. Yeah, and no real big trophy bucks happening. And shout out to my buddy Ronnie, Rock and U Ranch set it all up. Me and my buddy Josh Phillips, we were both like, man, we never really brought our dads on a hunting trip, you know. And I've never done it. My dad has trimmers, you know. So Ronnie's place with the blinds is set up, you know, and Ronnie was kind enough. He's like, bring them here, you know, and uh we'll get them set up, you know. And Spencer, the guy, man, he had an um I we had uh our buddy Chase Lowry's a badass photographer, videographer in Nashville, brought him. So he had every, you know, we were in the blind, dude. It looked like we're it looked like this, dude. We had lights and can't, you know, GoPros, you know, everywhere. And uh, and man, dude, for me, it was like I'm sitting there with my dad, get him set up, you know, a moment I thought would never happen. You know, I I I because one thing I never wanted to do was I ever put him in a situation where he would feel embarrassed or might not be able to, you know what I mean, or do anything like that. And so he was in the binos and I had his gun, and I'm like, man, I'm gonna, you know, when we uh Spencer the guide had been watching this deer, you know, for for a little while. And so I'm like, all right, well, tell me what, you know, we're waiting. I'm like, man, if I just get the I'll get it set for him, you know, and then we'll switch seats real quick and then you know, happen. And it was just this one moment, dude, like right before he pulled the trigger, man. I'm like, I got I'm behind him now. You know, it's just like father-son, like how life kind of changes, you know what I mean? Because he was the one that taught me how to shoot. My he bought me my first 22 when I was eight years old, you know what I mean? Like he's he's the one that taught me how to shoot, you know. Now it's like now I'm guiding him and he's about to destroy this monster, you know what I mean, of a of this deer, dude. And and I saw one the next day, but the biggest buck I ever killed in my life, not even close as excited as I was, you know what I mean? Like putting my pops on that in that moment, you know, and you see that, and and uh he dropped it, he nailed it, he dropped, and if he goes, shit, I missed, and I'm looking through my side, no, you didn't, dude. He's on the ground, and I dude, though those tremors went away, bro. Whenever uh Spencer was like, hit him, you gotta hit him again. My dad standing, dude. Reloads, pow, hits it again. I'm like, where's the where's the shaking, dude? In that moment, that split moment, man. But but that's the stories, man. Like when we're here, dude, is uh um, is it Matt? The uh the the guy that came with the his sons hunted with us. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, seeing that's you know, his little boy, dude, and and and those moments, man, it's like that's that's what Aaron. That's what was so therapy for me, you know, when I was going through a lot of uh you know hard times is like when I I would say I tell everybody I'm like, man, I grew up loving hunting. Yeah, during that time when I needed it, is when I fell in love with it. You know, like I've always loved it, you know. I've always loved all of it. I don't get up early for a lot of things, but hunting, I will I will do it, you know. And so but that moment, man, when you know when you're like you what you what you went through, you know, that you really feel that connection and and that that moment in time is just so special, dude. It's uh it's really cool, and I just very grateful, man, to be here. So I appreciate you having us out and uh inviting me, man, and and letting us do this. How many how many birds do you think total? Do you know the number of birds y'all?

SPEAKER_04 32:17

Oh this year, I don't I don't have it off the tip of my tongue, but typically speaking, we're typically we run around four to five thousand a year.

SPEAKER_02 32:28

Oh my god, that's crazy. That's amazing, man.

SPEAKER_04 32:33

Yeah. We stack them over. We stack them, dude.

SPEAKER_02 32:36

We stack them. Adreita tells you goes, How's the hunt going after yesterday? Okay, when we killed 132, and they had already stacked them. I didn't even, I just sent her a video back. Going decent. How does this look? Yeah, it's all right. My uh my shoulder hurts. There were so many dang birds I never saw this before.

SPEAKER_01 32:54

I have I have a bruise on my shoulder after yesterday.

SPEAKER_00 32:58

So I'm machine in three and a half is not out like that.

SPEAKER_01 33:03

This guy, this guy hands me a bunch of them yesterday and doesn't like warn me. I wasn't paying and I'm not paying attention. I need some shills and I just yeah, I'm not paying attention, right? Like, I'm just like load, boom, come on, but I mean it's fine. Like I've shot like magnum like slugs out of it, but I wasn't ready for it. So I'm like, you're used to pop. I was like, oh shit, that hurt a little bit. Hold it a little tighter this time, yeah. And it was but it was fun. Now I'm gonna be as bruised as other BBs too.

SPEAKER_04 33:33

Yeah, I don't even shoot three and a half turkeys.

SPEAKER_02 33:40

You you you wondered why so many dropped. A bird hurt skinny at some point in his life. I don't know what happened, but there's a parakeet somewhere that bit him. He's been getting revenge on him ever since. Oh no, the pigeon pooped on him as a kid.

SPEAKER_00 33:52

Yeah, man. When I started hunting, my dad just always is like, he just kind of treated me like an adult. You know, I already felt like I was one, you know. I felt, you know, I was you know, nine years old going on 54, yeah, deer camp and everything. It's uh I don't know. I just always wanted to be like those guys. I guess it's a brain thing, but it's just like, hey, the bigger the better. I will just try to hold on.

SPEAKER_02 34:14

Well, dude, you can see the difference, man. Like, you know, Adrian and I talk about this with like you know, this new age of technology and iPad and you know, all this stuff, right? It's like, well, you don't, you they're they're gonna be they're gonna have to know how to use it. You know what I mean? So you can't keep them off of it or else they're you're gonna do a disservice later on in life for them, right? So they need to know how to do it. Carrie can do it all better than all of us, like somehow say, I'm I'm like, hey, will you edit my video for me? She's nine. She's like, yeah, uh, but like, you know, with you you see these kids out here, dude. And the reason why you felt that way, the reason why I felt that way growing up, the reason why you felt that way, honey. There's a there's a brotherhood, there's a bond, you know what I mean? Like whether you're a kid or you're 80 years old, you know, and you see these kids, man. The boys are out there as soon as those geese got down, they're out there grabbing duck or grabbing geese. I keep saying ducks again, grabbing geese and we don't bring them in, and they're just they sit and talk to you, you know what I mean? Like like they're like like they're adults, you know, and it's it's like that's the that is why the outdoors is important. Oh, 100%, you know, for kids, you know what I mean? Yeah, man. It's you know, it's it's it's hard work, man. It's not easy, you know, like it's not an easy thing, you know, to do, and and you gotta go out there and it's cold as hell sometimes, you know what I mean? It's freezing and might not always be comfortable. You might be sweating your butt off dove hunting in a field in Texas, you know. But builds characters. But Bill's character, man. Yeah, and it's just you just really see that that difference of those kids that that I you know, I'm sure they're you know have their technology and all their stuff, but like they know how to separate separate it, you know, and and come out here and just unplug for a minute. You know, it's it's healthy to do.

SPEAKER_04 36:01

I absolutely love like I love putting kids on. Yeah, like best watching that, watching that little spark. Yeah, man. And there's a lot of kids running around here calling me Uncle Toby. Yeah, Uncle Toby. I don't think they know that I'm not, you know.

SPEAKER_02 36:15

Well, you probably saw a lot of them grow up, like you said. You have that repeat business, you know.

SPEAKER_04 36:19

Matt's Matt's little boy that just left. He uh he started hunting with us, he was four, like legit hunting with us when he was four. That's what in eighth grade he said.

SPEAKER_01 36:28

Yeah, my my son just turned six and I was FaceTiming him from the blind uh this evening. Yeah, and he's just like, Let me see your gun. And I was like, Yeah, man, like we'll bring you out on one of these. Now he wants to go kill all the geese in his backyard because there's tons of geese in our backyard. By the way, my wife asked if we could come kill them all. We gotta bring Toby to Whisper. If we go, they'll leave it. They shit on everything, it is awful. But so this is the funny thing. So he goes, he goes, Can I come kill geese when I'm famous? Because now I'm on YouTube with you, right? Like it thinks we're famous now. And I was like, buddy, you don't have to be famous to kill geese. He goes, But you are, and you're killing geese with your friend. And I was like, no, buddy, we'll get you, we'll go let you kill geese. So now, like, and and he's not like, and I I grew up in the city and then moved to a farm, and then I've you know I've done hunting family on 1780 acres. So and he's not really been in that yet, and now he's all curious, and you know, yeah, yeah, he wants to experience it, which that kid's probably gonna be an absolute assassin the way he can shoot things on a video game.

SPEAKER_02 37:26

Probably come in just like a gun and be like, where's the X and Y, Dad?

SPEAKER_01 37:29

I don't know where he's gonna come in here and go three for three, and we're gonna be like, We're retiring. This is dumb. This kid's really good.

unknown 37:36

It's awesome.

SPEAKER_02 37:36

Yeah, are you do do uh so you do you still play any music out or during the during the offseason?

SPEAKER_04 37:42

I play at church as often as I can. Yeah, yeah. You know, the last couple of years I've spent majority of my time in the hospital, unfortunately. Not not for myself, but with my mom and I uh I had I I wasn't on stage much this last year.

SPEAKER_02 37:56

How is she how she I mean she's she seemed like she was in good spirits and good.

SPEAKER_04 38:00

We got to bring her home this last week, praise God. That's awesome, man. Praise the Lord. She's she's still got a long road ahead, but uh she's she's home and happy. So we'll try to keep her here as long as we can.

SPEAKER_02 38:09

Yeah, man. Yeah, she was having fun.

SPEAKER_04 38:11

Oh yeah, yeah, man.

SPEAKER_00 38:12

It's been cool to uh watch all social media the amount of prayer warriors and people, you know, the amount of support, man. It's just it's I keep talking about it, just the the amount of joy I got seeing her in the country. Oh, dude, watch it the other night. It was like a lot of things.

SPEAKER_04 38:27

I mean, she took a nasty fall back in May and life completely changed for her. Um but she she was going through therapy, got out of the hospital right as the season kind of right as the season started. Um she got out of therapy, we had her home for a couple weeks, and uh I just kept, you know, I was trying to keep her spirits high because it was like one thing after the other. I mean, she'd get out be out of the hospital for a week if she made it that long and something else, and she'd have to go back in. So we were home, we had a good thing going, taking her to lunch, and you know, everything was kind of going smooth and had uh had a great thing going. And kept telling her, I was like, Mom, season's fixing a kickoff, and put you to work, just joking with her, I'm gonna make you go scout with me, and right now she popped off, she said, I'd I'd really like to go and see it one time, and you know, in person, I'd like to see it one time. So I was like, say less. I did not book opening weekend. Um we took her hunting to get out there and you know, drove out the night before, figured out how we could get right to the perfect spot where we she didn't have to walk any. And uh when you know the floodgates open up, it rained the night before, so got all my guys out the opening morning. It's an absolute muddy mess. And we all but carried my mom into the end of the blind and got to hunt with her that day. Um then she went one more time before before her most recent fall. Um and she spent several months in the hospital again. But um, you know, it was just it's cool to to share that because growing up, you know, hunting was me and my dad's thing. She would uh she'd call us ten times, but you know, we pulled out of the driveway, she'd call, make sure we had everything, but hunting was not her thing. Yeah, she was not she did wasn't real fond of all the deer hanging in the house, you know, they're staring at me. Sure wasn't gonna eat them, yeah. But uh, but no, man, it's just it's it's wild to see how how God works. And um, you know, she's she's uh she's my everything right now, you know. Yeah, so I'm just glad she's uh glad she's out there and it's my my highlight of every morning, man. Four o'clock in the morning, I'm on the way to the field, and she sends me a text message every single day. She'd wake up in the hospital and send me a message. That's awesome, man.

SPEAKER_02 40:45

So I always say I'm like moms have a direct line to God. Oh because when a mama prays, yeah, things move, bro. Like 100%. Things move, dude. And I I've had, I mean, anytime a song's about to go, number one on my mom. Make sure you're you're praying and I really you got this, right?

SPEAKER_04 41:05

Yeah, yeah. She'd tell me she'd be going through all of her little prayer lists, you know, like and she'd just line it out and tell me, well, first I start here and here and here, and I'll pray for them and them and them and them. And it's like, all right, you know, so many people say I'm praying for you. When Hellwoman says it, she means she's doing it, yeah. And and absolutely, man.

SPEAKER_02 41:23

That's the best gift you give somebody. We need to make her a queen of queen of Cadillac Creek shirt. Yeah, that was all yeah, she was so sweet, man. It was awesome and awesome to meet. I'm so glad that she's yeah, man.

SPEAKER_04 41:39

I'm gonna love her.

SPEAKER_02 41:40

Doing good and especially because you're right, man. It's like, you know, people don't think when I was really close to my grandparents, you know, my and and you don't realize, you know, because to us, you know, it's it's different when it's your parents because you knew her young too. You know what I mean? But you're your grandparents, you know, you've kind of always been old when you're in your mind, you know what I mean, when you're a kid, you know. And uh, and so when they're going through that stuff, man, you kind of you if you you kind of forget that, oh, wait a minute, they're facing, they're having to face this. You know what I mean? Like, and as a mother, she probably doesn't want to make you worry. You know what I mean? So there's stuff that's a burden. Yeah, yeah, yeah. There's stuff that she's like, I don't want to say anything, you know, and and uh it's a motive, it's it's it's keeping them motivated for something, keeping them excited for something when they're getting out, you know, and and uh and so having her here the other night, man, was was awesome, man. I thought no, she's really proud of you, dude. Proud of her this place that you build, man, it's awesome. Um also I don't know if everybody can see we're rocking Callag Creek swag. Can you can people get this online or is it just here?

SPEAKER_04 42:44

Yeah, I've got uh by the time this is out, we'll have all this year's stuff online. Typically, at our season gets so crazy, the Pro Shop stuff, I can't keep up with online stuff. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it'll we'll put all of this year's merch online in the next few weeks.

SPEAKER_02 42:59

And for anybody watching, and we'll put the link up uh on the thing, but where where can people go if they're Cadillac Creek.com. Cadillac Creek.com.

SPEAKER_04 43:06

They can book hunts and yeah, and you can find anything you need on there.

SPEAKER_02 43:10

Awesome, man. Um before we wrap anything up, man, is there anything that y'all come back and tell us? Yeah, you're gonna have to call somebody's gonna call Skinny and be like, hey man, maybe Michael's been here, he ain't left. He actually put a fence wheel in the backyard, you gotta get him out of here.

SPEAKER_01 43:29

Tanner said he's leaving only if the cops show up.

SPEAKER_02 43:32

I'm leaving him only through the cops.

SPEAKER_01 43:35

Um I definitely feel he's probably got some wisdom to leave behind.

SPEAKER_02 43:39

One of the things that uh I wanted to do with this podcast kind of a little traditional thing, is you know, as as adults and as men, you know, and leaders, uh you know, we've we're able to build on the shoulders of our fathers and mothers and you know, and what they set for us, you know. So it's always I feel like it's like our our job, right, to make sure that this next generation has strong shoulders to stand on, you know, and and and we leave our kids something that's better than than what we have, you know. And uh so we always try to wrap up with what is something that you would tell this next generation, being the journey that you've had, man, you know, musician, that's what it was gonna be. You know, you leave your hometown, you go, you tour, you come back. Gotta be there for your family, you know, and you pivot, you know. And that's what life is, man. You know, sometimes with God, God will, you know, what's that saying? You want to make God laugh, tell them your plans. You know, and uh, and so you know, when that pivot comes, a lot of people, man, it's tough. Yeah. You know, they battle, especially when it's something like your passion, you know, that you're gonna give away, you know what I mean, to to step up and and be a be a leader for your family, you know, in a in a really hard time, you know. So um is there what i anything that you would say or any advice that you would give?

SPEAKER_04 44:53

I think uh, I mean, obviously, it it's kind of cliche, but don't be afraid to dream. Don't ever stop dreaming and don't stop chasing that dream. Don't take no for an answer. Work harder than the next guy, yeah, and you know, stay hungry. But also you gotta be you gotta be willing to if God slams a door, it's usually for a reason. There's a reason. And he's not gonna slam a door in your face without opening a window. And you just gotta be willing to willing to crawl through there and see what's on the other side, because and dude, his plans are always better. Yeah, and and like I said, man, I take no credit for what this has turned into. Um it literally hunting saved my life. Yeah, and I won't take an ounce of credit for for this. Uh my calling was not to be a musician or even to be a guide or an outfitter. All of our callings are the same to spread the truth. And that's that's the one thing that I want to make sure that every morning I it may just, you know, sometimes of course, sometimes it just feels like you're kind of going through the motions. But without uh without that, I'm not I'm not starting my day off on the right foot. You know, just take a minute and you gotta give it all to God and uh work hard and dream because somebody's out there, somebody made a hell of a living off of post-it notes. Yeah, you can you can absolutely make a living doing anything. Good point. You know, I've made a living with music. It wasn't a good me good living like I was telling you earlier, but uh I know a lot of broke musicians that are happy people. Yeah, man. And don't chase a dollar, just yeah, chase your dreams.

SPEAKER_02 46:29

Your stories inspire, man. And uh your your your willingness to sacrifice yourself or your family, man, is a really honorable thing. And uh, and like I said, dude, what you've created here is incredible, dude. It's uh I I mean you what you explained was awesome, but I don't think you can really explain it. You know what I mean? You have to see it. Um anybody, like I said, any any bird hunters out there, any waterfowl hunters out there, Cadillac Creek, Cadillac Creek.com. Yeah is a is a go book a hunt here, I'm telling you. Um place is incredible. You're having time in your life, you're gonna meet incredible people. Toby's one of the best, man, and uh, and you gotta come out here. Food's great. It's Clint always. Yeah. This the chef here. What a crazy full circle thing that was, dude. That's freaking wild, dude. I had no idea.

SPEAKER_00 47:16

World-class waterfowl, face-based environment, and just all around great hospitality. Yeah, you gotta come check it out.

SPEAKER_02 47:23

You gotta come, man. Skinny, love you, buddy. Thank you, man. Um, I wanted Skinny on because I wouldn't be here. Uh thank you. Wouldn't have even got to meet you, you know what I mean, if it wasn't for you. And Skinny's always uh always very kind with his friends and his relationships with people, you know, and he he brings good people together, you know, because he's he's one of the best.

SPEAKER_00 47:42

So uh tides raised all ships, and I just love doing great things with great people.

SPEAKER_02 47:45

Yeah, man. Well, I appreciate you. I wanted him on here with us, you know, because we wouldn't be here without us. So hey, cheers, guys. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_04 47:51

Thank y'all, yes, sir. Caleg Creek, see you next year.

SPEAKER_02 47:55

Office America, we love you. Thank you so much, Toby. I love you, buddy. Thank you so much, man. Really appreciate you, man. Thank you. Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_03 48:03

Thank y'all.

SPEAKER_02 48:03

We'll see y'all next episode. Calak Creek. Y'all go get on them birds.