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

Friday Jul 07, 2023
Attacked By Feral Dogs: Canines Are Maiming and Killing People In The Wild
Friday Jul 07, 2023
Friday Jul 07, 2023
Chester Moore investigates a surge in feral dog attacks—from a Texas fatality to a Georgia mauling—and speaks with Jerry Mills of Wolf Tejas, who shot his way out of a pack ambush.
In this chilling episode of Dark Outdoors®, host Chester Mooreinvestigatesrising problem of feral dog attacks across the U.S.—and what it means for anyone who spends time outside.
You’ll hear:
-
Jerry Mills (Wolf Tejas) recount how he shot his way out of a pack of feral dogs
-
Details from a brutal attack in Georgia and a recent fatality in Texas
-
Chester’s own narrow escape from a feral pit bull
-
Practical outdoor safety tips for recognizing, avoiding, and surviving feral dog encounters
Dogs may be man’s best friend, but feral dogs can be a nightmare—this episode explains why and how to protect yourself.
But is brought to you by Texas Fish & Game and Texas Frightmare Weekend.
Follow Chester Moore on Instagram @thechestermoore
Email: chester@chestermoore.com

Tuesday Jun 27, 2023
Park Predators With Investigative Journalist Delia D’Ambra
Tuesday Jun 27, 2023
Tuesday Jun 27, 2023
ChesterPark host Delia D’Ambra to discuss the chilling reality of missing people in America’s parks and forests.
In this episode of Dark Outdoors®, host Chester Moore talks with the creator of the acclaimed true-crime podcast Park Preda. Together, they examine the disturbing number of mysterious disappearances in national parks, forests, and other public lands.
They discuss:
-
Why so many people vanish without explanation in the outdoors
-
The mysterious circumstances behind these cases
-
How Park Predators brings overdue attention to tragedies often ignored by mainstream media
Connect with Delia’s investigative work through her podcasts and reporting.
📲 Follow Chester Moore:
-
Facebook: Higher Calling Wildlife
-
Blog: highercalling.net

Monday Jun 12, 2023
Monday Jun 12, 2023
From serial killers to covert operatives, this Dark Outdoors® episode exposes the sinister dangers hiding in one of Texas’s most famous forests.
In this chilling episode of Dark Outdoors®, host Chester Moore probes the dark mysteries of the Sam Houston National Forest.
Highlights include:
-
An archival interview with the founder of the Missing TX 40 Project
-
Compelling information on a serial killer with ties to the forest, currently serving time after pleading guilty in connection to a woman found murdered in a barrel on his property
-
The disturbing fact that his property sits across the street from the forest—and that he began killing and savagely raping women as a teen in the late 1970s
-
Additional accounts of dangerous encounters in the Sam Houston woods
-
A shocking final story involving covert operatives operating in the forest
This episode sheds light on why the Sam Houston National Forest remains one of the most unsettling and dangerous outdoor locations in Texas.
Dark Outdoors® is sponsored by Texas Fish & Game and Texas Frightmare Weekend.

Wednesday May 31, 2023
Wednesday May 31, 2023
From a bloody, bearded stranger in the woods to an attempted abduction and a brush with Ted Bundy’s dark trail, this Dark Outdoors® episode proves the wilderness can be just as terrifying as the movies.
The cult classic Southern Comfort terrified outdoors lovers when it debuted in 1981—but the real-life stories in this episode of Dark Outdoors® are just as chilling.
Host Chester Moore explores:
-
Lou Marullo’s eerie encounter with a bloody, bearded man in the woods at night
-
A terrifying breath in the outdoors
-
The team’s thoughts on the best non-lethal defense tools for outdoor safety
-
A shocking connection to Ted Bundy’s handiwork in the deep woods of Utah
This episode blends true crime, survival insight, and wilderness horror stories that will make you think twice the next time you’re far from help.

Sunday May 07, 2023
When Hogs Kill: Mind Blowing Research & Accounts of Hog Attacks
Sunday May 07, 2023
Sunday May 07, 2023
In this gripping episode of Dark Outdoors®, host Chester Moore interviews Dr. Jack Mayer, one of the world’s leading experts on hog behavior and hog attacks. Bean sproutsunderreported dangers in the outdoors.
Topics include:
-
The surprising link between dogs and hog attacks
-
A chilling account of a legitimate predatory hog that targeted humans
-
Practical strategies on what to do if you’re attacked by a hog
-
Insights into hog behavior that explain why these encounters are rising
-
And much more from decades of Dr. Mayer’s field research
This is a must-listen for hunters, hikers, and anyone spending time in hog country who needs to understand the real threat posed by feral hogs.

Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
Texas Cattle Mutilations: What No One Else Will Tell You
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
Chester Moore and researcher Jeff Stewart dig into the grisly wave of Texas cattle mutilations making national news—and reveal why the real story may not be what most people think.
In this wild episode of Dark Outdoors®, host Chester Moore teams up with fellow author and researcher Jeff Stewart to explore the disturbing series of cattle mutilations in Texas that have recently captured national headlines.
This episode asks the hard questions:
-
What is really behind these grisly livestock deaths?
-
Are the usual explanations—UFOs, cults, or predators—just distractions?
-
Could there be a different, overlooked cause that makes more sense than the sensational theories?
With their combined experience in field research, wildlife behavior, and investigative reporting, Moore and Stewart take a different spin on the mystery, challenging the popular narratives surrounding these bizarre cases.
Dark Outdoors® is brought to you by Texas Fish & Game and Texas Frightmare Weekend.

Saturday Apr 15, 2023
Saturday Apr 15, 2023
Season two of Dark Outdoors® kicks off with Chester Moore and investigator William Ramsey digging into the mysterious drownings at Lady Bird Lake in Austin—and whether they connect to the global Smiley Face Killer phenomenon.
In the season two premiere of Dark Outdoors®, host Chester Moore is joined by William Ramsey of William Ramsey Investigates to examine the disturbing series of mysterious water deaths at Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas.
This episode explores:
-
Whether these drownings are linked to the Smiley Face Killer phenomenon or just random tragedies
-
Theories about what could really be happening along Austin’s waterfront
-
Insights on the Gary Faust interview with a man who discovered a body at Lady Bird Lake—and his chilling encounter with a mysterious figure
-
Other bizarre and unsettling water-related deaths that raise more questions than answers
Listeners are encouraged to explore Ramsey’s work at William Ramsey Investigates for deeper dives into unsolved mysteries.
Follow Chester on Instagram @thechestermoore and on Facebook at Higher Calling Wildlife for updates on investigations and field work.

Sunday Oct 30, 2022
Halloween Bonus Episode: Dark Outdoors In The Movies
Sunday Oct 30, 2022
Sunday Oct 30, 2022
In this bonus episode of Season One,Dark Outdoors® withChester Moore sits down with his longtime friend and fellow spooky movie fan Patrick Trumble.
Together, they dive into the weirdest, wildest, and scariest films that take place in the outdoors—where nature itself becomes the perfect stage for horror.
From cult classics to forgotten gems, this fun and creepy conversation highlights the movies that still haunt campers, hikers, and horror fans alike.

Thursday Oct 27, 2022
Horse Serial Killers & The Mysterious TX Horse Massacre
Thursday Oct 27, 2022
Thursday Oct 27, 2022
Chester Moore and researcher Jeff Stewart investigate brutal horse killings in Texas and Nevada, unveiling new details and possible motives behind these disturbing crimes.
In this shocking episode of Dark Outdoors®, host Chester Moore digs into the disturbing wave of out spreading across Texas, Nevada, and beyond. He is joined by author and researcher Jeff Stewart as they share new details on this gruesome trend and explore the unsettling question: Why are horses being targeted?
This episode covers:
-
Recent horse massacres in Texas that have left ranchers shaken
-
The rise of serial horse killings in multiple states, include
-
Possible motives behind these crimes—from cruelty to ritual to thrill killing
-
What these attacks reveal about the dark intersection of crime and the outdoors
📲 Instagram: @thechestermoore
Dark Outdoors® is brought to you by:
-
Texas Frightmare Weekend
-
Hog Hunt USA
-
Texas Fish & Game Magazine

Saturday Oct 01, 2022
Strange Water Deaths, The Smiley Face Killers & Outdoors Death Cults
Saturday Oct 01, 2022
Saturday Oct 01, 2022
If you think you’ve heard it all in true crime and outdoor mysteries, think again. In this episode of Dark Outdoors®, host Chester Moore interviews William Ramsey of William Ramsey Investigates about a disturbing series of mysterious water deaths that continue to baffle police across the nation.
The discussion explores:
-
The Smiley Face Killers phenomenon, a chilling theory about coordinated drownings of young men
-
How these cases may connect to murders in outdoor settings across the U.S.
-
The disturbing possibility of death cult involvement in unsolved killings
This episode combines true crime, deep investigation, and outdoor danger into one of the most unsettling D explorations yet.
