Dark Outdoors® explores true crime, unsolved mysteries, and deadly encounters in the wild.
From serial killers in remote places and chilling missing persons cases to eerie outdoor mysteries and dangerous wildlife encounters, each episode exposes the stories mainstream media overlooks.
Hosted by award-winning wildlife journalist Chester Moore, Dark Outdoors® brings gripping interviews with survivors, investigators, and experts to reveal what really happens when adventure turns into danger.
Episodes

Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
The Horse Serial Killers Return
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
From Texas pastures to Nevada ranches, horses are turning up shot, mutilated, and poisoned—and the killers are still at large. Chester Moore investigates this chilling, underreported crime wave and what it means for ranchers and outdoor enthusiasts.
In this gripping episode of Dark Outdoors, host Chester Moore uncovers a chilling and ongoing mystery across Texas and beyond: horses being found shot, mutilated, or poisoned in a string of brutal, unexplained attacks.
From Kendall, Waller, Bexar, and Smith Counties in Texas to ranches near Las Vegas, Nevada, horses are being executed in pastures, dumped in brush, or tied up and shot at point-blank range. Authorities have few leads—and the killers remain free.
This episode examines:
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Whether these killings are tied to the illegal horse meat trade, ritualistic activity, or thrill killers
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Exclusive insights from Higher Calling Wildlife’s investigative reports
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Why the pattern may represent one of the most underreported animal cruelty crime waves in the U.S.
If you’re a rancher, horse owner, or outdoor enthusiast, you won’t want to miss this deep dive into a crime wave spreading fear and silence across rural communities.

Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
The Truth About "Jaws", Its Making, Great White Attacks & Shark Persecution
Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
Jaws terrified moviegoers and changed how we see the ocean—but the fear didn’t end on screen. Chester Moore explores the real shark attacks, behind-the-scenes chaos, and decades of shark persecution sparked by Spielberg’s masterpiece.
Beneath the surface of Hollywood’s most iconic ocean thriller lies a deeper, darker truth. In this chilling episode of Dark Outdoors, we journey into the murky waters behind the making of Jaws—a film that forever altered public perception of the sea and its apex predator.
But the terror didn’t stay confined to the screen. We dive into:
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Real-life great white shark attacks that fueled lasting fear
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How Steven Spielberg’s cinematic masterpiece triggered decades of shark persecution, misinformation, and ecological imbalance
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Behind-the-scenes stories of chaos, mechanical monsters, and production nightmares
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The cultural fallout that left both sharks and oceans misunderstood
From blood-soaked beaches to the legacy of misunderstood killers, this is the untold story of fear, fiction, and fallout.

Tuesday May 20, 2025
Murder Mountain, The Hound From Hell & Encountering Growers
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Tuesday May 20, 2025
From Murder Mountain to grow ops, Chester Moore reveals chilling encounters in the wild—traffickers, killers, attack dogs, and survival stories that prove the outdoors can turn deadly without warning.
Encountering an illegal grow or trafficking operation is one of the most dangerous threats in the great outdoors—and in this shocking episode of Dark Outdoors, we share terrifying real-life accounts.
You’ll hear stories of:
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A savage trained killer dog unleashed on a hiker who stumbled onto a grow site
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The infamous “Murder Mountain” and its deadly legacy, made famous by the Netflix series
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A serial killer who turned himself in carrying a human breast in a bag
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A hunter held at gunpoint on a deer lease after crossing the wrong path
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A special defense and safety segment with Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County, Florida
These chilling accounts expose the hidden dangers lurking where crime and wilderness collide—and why every outdoor enthusiast should take precautions.

Tuesday May 06, 2025
Poacher Poses As Woman To Kill City Deer & A Look At lllegal Wildlife Cloning
Tuesday May 06, 2025
Tuesday May 06, 2025
Chester Moore unravels a bizarre case that begins with a man posing as a woman to poach deer in a city park—and spirals into a shadowy world of wildlife trafficking, exotic animal cloning, and black-market “Frankensheep.”
In this unusual episode of Dark Outdoors, we uncover one of the strangest wildlife crime stories ever told. It begins with a man posing as a woman to gain illegal access to a city park—and its vulnerable deer population.
But what starts as a bizarre poaching scheme quickly spirals into something far darker:
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A hidden web of wildlife trafficking and exotic animal cloning
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Shocking connections to the black-market trade of Marco Polo sheep
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The creation of “Frankensheep hybrids” for high-stakes deals in the underground animal trade
Join us as we follow the trail from urban deer blinds to the global black market, exposing a story where greed, cloning, and poaching collide in the darkest corners of the outdoors.

Tuesday Apr 29, 2025
Lost Interview - Missing TX 40, A Body In A Barrel & Murder In the Pineywoods
Tuesday Apr 29, 2025
Tuesday Apr 29, 2025
In a never-before-heard interview, the late Jerrie Dean shares chilling insights into unsolved disappearances, cold cases, and rural murders hidden in the Texas wilderness.
n this special lost episode of Dark Outdoors, we reveal a rare interview with Jerrie Dean, founder of the Missing Texas 40 Project, recorded before her passing.
Jerrie shares haunting perspectives on:
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Unsolved disappearances and suspicious deaths across Texas
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The disturbing case of a body found in a barrel
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A brutal murder deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas
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The broader mystery of rural crime and missing persons in America’s wilderness
This gripping conversation not only shines a light on forgotten victims but also honors the tireless work of a woman dedicated to uncovering the truth.
Dark Outdoors® is proud to continue Jerrie’s mission, with support from Texas Fish & Game, bringing awareness to missing people in every episode.

Wednesday Apr 23, 2025
Attacked! Surviving Vehicle, Campsite & Trailhead Attacks
Wednesday Apr 23, 2025
Wednesday Apr 23, 2025
From vehicle ambushes to campsite assaults, Chester Moore and special guest Jeff Stewart reveal real-world survival strategies for anyone who ventures deep into the backcountry.
In this intense episode of Dark Outdoors, host Chester Moore dives into life-or-death survival tactics for those who may find themselves attacked in vehicles, campsites, or other remote locations. Whether you’re off-roading miles from cell service or camping in the deep backcountry, knowing how to respond could be the difference between survival and tragedy.
Joining Chester is Jeff Stewart—renowned author, gunsmith, and seasoned outdoorsman—who shares decades of tactical knowledge and backwoods expertise. Together, they cover:
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How to survive vehicle ambush scenarios
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Proven defensive tactics and practical gear recommendations
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How to mentally prepare for the unthinkable in remote areas
This episode is a must-listen for overlanders, hunters, campers, and rural residents who spend serious time off-grid.
And don’t miss our “Missing in the Wild” segment at the end of the show—brought to you by Texas Fish & Game—spotlighting unresolved wilderness disappearances that demand attention.

Tuesday Apr 15, 2025
The Real Story of "Jaws" and the 1916 New Jersey Shark Attacks
Tuesday Apr 15, 2025
Tuesday Apr 15, 2025
Four people were killed and one injured in a wave of shark attacks along the New Jersey coast in 1916. While history blamed a great white, modern experts suggest a far more adaptable—and dangerous—suspect: the bull shark.
In July 1916, a series of shark attacks along the New Jersey shore left four dead and one injured, sparking nationwide panic and later inspiring the iconic film Jaws. While a great white shark was captured and blamed, modern science points to another predator: the bull shark.
Renowned for its ability to thrive in both saltwater and freshwater—and its aggressive behavior—the bull shark may have been the true culprit behind the 1916 Jersey Shore shark attacks.
In this episode of Dark Outdoors, we:
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Revisit the chilling events of 1916 and their cultural impact
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Examine evidence that challenges the “great white” narrative
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Explore the bull shark’s unique adaptability and hunting behavior
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Speak with a Texas shark expert about population trends
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Reveal a promising, simple shark deterrent that could protect both people and sharks in the future
Whether you’re fascinated by true crime, marine biology, or ocean predators, this episode dives deep into one of the most infamous—and misunderstood—shark attack stories in history.

Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
Dark Occult Encounters -Mystery of the Hooded Ones
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
From hooded figures around midnight fires to chilling satanic ceremonies, Chester Moore exposes real encounters with the occult in the wilderness—and the terrifying dangers they pose.
In this unsettling episode of Dark Outdoors, we confront the occult in the great outdoors through first-hand accounts of bizarre and terrifying rituals.
You’ll hear:
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A border patrol agent who stumbled upon hooded figures gathered around a ritual fire in an area infamous for satanic activity
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A security guard who witnessed a dark outdoor ceremony firsthand
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Three boys who came face-to-face with a disturbing ritual deep in the woods
These stories uncover the hidden world of satanic groups, sacrificial sites, and secret occult practices that can turn a night in the wild into a nightmare.
Special thanks to Chris James of the Strange Things with Chris James podcast for contributing one of these chilling accounts.
Please subscribe to Dark Outdoors® to keep up with true crime stories and terrifying encounters in the wild.
Dark Outdoors partners with Texas Fish & Game to bring you our Missing in the Wild reports. Learn more at fishgame.com.
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Tuesday Mar 25, 2025
Tuesday Mar 25, 2025
Feral Apes in the American South
From an orangutan-like creature on a swamp porch to baboon sightings in the woods, Dark Outdoors uncovers chilling reports of wild primates lurking across Texas, Florida, and beyond.
In this eerie episode of Dark Outdoors, Chester Moore investigates decades of strange, unnerving encounters in the American South—not with native wildlife, but with creatures resembling feral apes and wild primates.
Firsthand accounts include:
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A woman who saw an orangutan-looking creature on her porch in a swampy homestead
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A hunter who encountered a troop of baboons deep in the wilderness
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A hairy hand reaching into a deer blind under cover of night
Some researchers suggest these sightings may stem from escaped or released primates dating back to the mid-20th century, when exotic pet ownership and roadside zoos were more common. Over time, populations may have adapted, creating secretive breeding groups in remote, unmonitored regions.
Wildlife journalists and field investigators have documented anomalous hair samples, chilling vocalizations, and ambush-like behaviors that align more with great apes than with any known North American species.
Join us as we explore the legends, theories, and eyewitness encounters that suggest something wild—and very real—may still be lurking just beyond the campfire’s glow.

Tuesday Mar 11, 2025
Tuesday Mar 11, 2025
From missing hunters to eerie swamp dolls, Chester Moore and author Lyle Blackburn explore chilling tales of disappearances, dark rituals, and even serial killers hidden in America’s swamps.
In this intense episode of Dark Outdoors, host Chester Moore is joined by renowned author and storyteller Lyle Blackburn, discussing his book Sinister Swamps and the unsettling mysteries that haunt these wild, watery landscapes.
Highlights include:
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Campers and hunters who vanished without a trace in the Everglades and Great Dismal Swamp
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The terrifying case of mysterious dolls discovered in an Alabama swamp
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Accounts of serial killer activity lurking in America’s wetlands
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Other eerie tales where wilderness and true crime collide
With Blackburn’s vivid storytelling and Moore’s investigative edge, this episode sheds light on the dark secrets hidden in swamps across the South.
Dark Outdoors partners with Texas Fish & Game to bring you our Missing in the Wild reports. Learn more at fishgame.com.
