Dark Outdoors

Real Life Southern Comfort, Serial Killer Encounter While Surf Fishing & The Bloody Man In the Woods

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.

When Hogs Kill: Mind Blowing Research & Accounts of Hog Attacks

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. 

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.

Texas Cattle Mutilations: What No One Else Will Tell You

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.

Death On Lady Bird Lake: Mysterious Water Deaths In Austin and Smiley Face Killer Similarites

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.

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Halloween Bonus Episode: Dark Outdoors In The Movies

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.

Horse Serial Killers & The Mysterious TX Horse Massacre

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

 

Strange Water Deaths, The Smiley Face Killers & Outdoors Death Cults

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.

Bitten By A Cottonmouth: Firsthand Account Of A Serious Snakebite

Cottonmouth Bite Survival & Snakebite Defense
Chester Moore talks with veteran Lucas Pelt about his near-fatal cottonmouth bite—and snake venom expert Dr. Spencer Greene explains what to do (and not to do) when venom strikes.

In this intense episode of Dark Outdoors®, host Chester Moore interviews Lucas Pela, a veteran and outdoors enthusiast who survived a serious cottonmouth bite. Lucas recounts how the bite happened and shares the painful and life-changing aftermath.

In our Dark Outdoors Defense segment, renowned snake venom expert Dr. Spencer Greenebecause

• What to do if you’re bitten by a venomous snake

• The biggest mistakes and what NOT to do

• Why quick decisions can mean the difference between life and death

The outdoors may be a place of serenity and beauty—but for someone experiencing a venomous snake bite, things can turn dark in an instant.

 

 

Rising Shark Numbers, Shark Attacks & New Shark Deterrent Tech

In episode four of Dark Outdoors®, host Chester takes a deep dive into the rising shark population in the Gulf of Mexico—and what it means for both the ecosystem and outdoor enthusiasts.

You'll be there.

• Which shark species are increasing in the Gulf, and why they’re vital to the ecosystem

• The truth about the bull shark’s attitude and behavior

• The often-overlooked species just behind the bull shark in attack statistics

• How a massive great white shark turned away from a surfer at the last moment

• How Shark Banz deterrent technology is helping change the game.

🌐 Learn more: darkoutdoors.com
📲@thechestermoore

 

The Phantom Killer, Moonlight Murders And Dangers of Urban Forests & Parks

 

Chester Moore investigates Texarkana’s infamous Phantom Killer, with rare eyewitness revelations, family ties to a prime suspect, and insights from The Town That Dreaded Sundown.

In this epic, hour-long episode of Dark Outdoors®, host Chester MooreOfFor and the Phantom Killer, the real-life terror that inspired the 1976 cult classic The Town That Dreaded Sundown.

This episode explores:

• How the Phantom Killer operated—and what his methods reveal about similar predators still at large today

• A rare revelation from an eyewitness who saw a white-masked figure in Texarkana during the Phantom’s reign of terror

• An interview with John Tennison, cousin once removed of one of the chief suspects

• A fascinating conversation with Pamula Pierce Barcelou, daughter of director Charles B. Pierce, who shares behind-the-scenes insights into the making of The Town That Dreaded Sundown on its 50th anniversary

• Why outdoor lovers should remain cautious in urban and suburban parks, greenbelts, and forests where predators may still lurk

• Chester’s own personal brush with danger, to remind

This can’t-miss episode blends true crime, history, film, and survival awareness into one of the most intense Dark Outdoors® investigations yet.

🌐 darkoutdoors.com
📲 Instagram@thechestermoore

D is brought to you by:

• Texas Frightmare Weekend — The Southwest’s premier horror convention & film festival

• Hog Hunt USA — A forthcoming app for hog hunting

• Texas Fish