Dark Outdoors® is a multiple award-winning podcast that investigates terrifying encounters, unsolved mysteries, crime, and dangerous wildlife.
Hosted by award-winning wildlife journalist and conservation communicator Chester Moore, each episode investigates the darker side of the outdoors through gripping storytelling, expert interviews, and firsthand reporting.
From serial killers in remote forests and missing persons cases to poaching, wildlife trafficking, deadly animal attacks, cryptids, and emerging wildlife threats like screwworm, Dark Outdoors uncovers the stories most outdoor enthusiasts never hear.
Whether the danger comes from nature, criminals, or the unexplained, one truth remains: the outdoors has a dark side.
Dark Outdoors® is a multiple award-winning podcast that investigates terrifying encounters, unsolved mysteries, crime, and dangerous wildlife.
Hosted by award-winning wildlife journalist and conservation communicator Chester Moore, each episode investigates the darker side of the outdoors through gripping storytelling, expert interviews, and firsthand reporting.
From serial killers in remote forests and missing persons cases to poaching, wildlife trafficking, deadly animal attacks, cryptids, and emerging wildlife threats like screwworm, Dark Outdoors uncovers the stories most outdoor enthusiasts never hear.
Whether the danger comes from nature, criminals, or the unexplained, one truth remains: the outdoors has a dark side.
Episodes

May 6, 2025
May 6, 2025
30 min
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.

Apr 29, 2025
Apr 29, 2025
27 min
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.

Apr 23, 2025
Apr 23, 2025
22 min
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.

Apr 15, 2025
Apr 15, 2025
1hr 10 min
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.

Apr 1, 2025
Apr 1, 2025
25 min
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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Mar 25, 2025
Mar 25, 2025
17 min
Feral Apes in the American SouthcFrom 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.

Mar 11, 2025
Mar 11, 2025
22 min
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.

Mar 4, 2025
Mar 4, 2025
57 min
Surviving a Grizzly Attack in Wyoming. In this special uncut episode, Ben Verheul recounts his terrifying, hour-long survival story of being mauled by a grizzly deep in the Wyoming wilderness.
In this unforgettable episode of Dark Outdoors®, Ben Verheul shares the full, uncut story of his harrowing grizzly bear attack in the remote Wyoming backcountry.
You’ll hear:
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How he endured and survived a brutal grizzly mauling
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Why he was certain the bear that attacked him was the same grizzly he had previously encountered
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Firsthand insights into the split-second decisions that meant the difference between life and death
If bear encounters and survival stories intrigue you, this one will blow your mind. It’s a chilling, raw account of man versus nature at its most primal.

Feb 25, 2025
Feb 25, 2025
27 min
From crocodile massacres to tiger attacks, Chester Moore and author R.C. Bramhall uncover terrifying true stories of soldiers facing deadly wildlife in battlefields around the world.
In this chilling episode of Dark Outdoors®, Chester Moore sits down with R.C. Bramhall, author of Haunted War Tales: True Military Encounters with the Bizarre, Paranormal and Unexplained, to discuss the deadly wildlife threats faced by soldiers in wartime.
Topics include:
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A crocodile-caused massacre that remains one of the deadliest animal attacks in history
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Tiger attacks on soldiers in dense jungles
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The harrowing story of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and shark-infested waters
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Snakebites that proved as lethal as bullets
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Encounters with huge bunker rats in Vietnam—and much more
These stories highlight how war zones are not only dangerous from combat, but also from the wild predators and creatures that lurk in the shadows.

Dec 23, 2024
Dec 23, 2024
18 min
Dark Outdoors® investigates shocking reports of huge drones over Sabine Lake and deep inside Louisiana, and explores new tools to track these mysterious machines.
In this exclusive episode of Dark Outdoors®, Chester Moore delivers a detailed report on massive drone sightings across the Texas–Louisiana region.
Highlights include:
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A huge drone over Sabine Lake on the Texas–Louisiana border
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A report of a large drone in the interior of Louisiana
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Additional eyewitness accounts of mysterious aerial activity in the region
Joining the discussion is Scott Tompkins, creator of DroneTracker.app, a mapping system designed to log drone sightings and uncover patterns behind what’s really happening in the skies.
This episode raises important questions about who is operating these drones, why they’re flying in remote areas, and what it means for outdoor safety and security.
