EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT BONE COLLECTOR’S MICHAEL WADDELL
Mastering the hunt makes for must-see TV.
By Devin Pangaro | March 1, 2024
Proudly hailing from the South, Michael Waddell is no stranger to getting dirty for a good cause. Most days you can find the camo-clad host of the Outdoor Channel’s Bone Collector chasing the big bucks (literally) and bringing down game all over this glorious country alongside his motley crew. He’s a tribute to a culture that respects the land, the pursuit, and the hunter lifestyle. He’s also an American that we’re proud to align ourselves with in our efforts to drive donations for the military and first responder non-profit Folds of Honor. In short, he’s our kind of guy and we think you should get to know him.
Let’s get after it.
WADDELL'S FACTS
BIRTHPLACE: Booger Bottom, GA
TELEVISION HOST: Outdoor Channel’s Bone Collector
CELEBRITY SPOKESMAN: The Outdoor Channel and National Wild Turkey Foundation
AUTHOR: Hunting Booger Bottom: Life Lessons from the Field
HUNTER OF: Anything legal within the continental United States
HE GOT HIS START HUNTING DOWN GOBBLERS IN GEORGIA
From a young age, Waddell showed a special talent in bagging turkeys. So much so, that he became a bit of a local legend in his backwater town. By the time he was a teenager, he’d refined his turkey calling skills to such a degree that he caught the attention of Bill Jordan, owner and operator of the hunting apparel company, Realtree. What followed was a full-time position contributing to hunting videos on behalf of the brand, and eventually conceiving the show Realtree Road Trips on the Outdoor Channel which is what got him in front of the camera on a national scale and built up his fanbase, known as The Brotherhood.
HE’S WON SEVERAL GOLDEN MOOSE AWARDS
For the unfamiliar, the Golden Moose Awards are held annually in Las Vegas by the Outdoor Channel during the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show and Conference. Waddell has taken home the coveted Golden Moose for his work on both Realtree Road Trips and Bone Collector. In more recent years, he’s even stepped up to host the show himself.
HE REPS THE BIGGEST BRANDS IN THE HUNTING BIZ
In addition to his start with Realtree and his duties holding it down as the face of his Bone Collector brand, Waddell has also partnered up with Hoyt Archery, Rambo Electric Bikes, and Bushnell amongst others. Bringing top quality to the blind, you can bet that if Michael Waddell believes in it, so should you.
HE REALLY IS FROM BOOGER BOTTOM, GEORGIA
Yes, it’s a real place. It’s also rural as hell. The kind of middle-of-nowhere town where southern hospitality is a way of life, and the locals tell tales of supernatural occurrences and epic fishing and hunting trips. It’s also a place where Michael Waddell still returns to every year. After all, you never forget where you came from.
HE HOSTS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATED SHOWS ON THE OUTDOOR CHANNEL
Currently airing three times a week, Bone Collector has become a viewer favorite for its heavy action and true-to-life entertainment. Waddell teams up with an expert squad consisting of licensed hunting guide Nick Mundt and archery guru Travis “T-Bone” Turner to embark on adventure-fueled hunts that tests each man’s mettle.
HE’S GOT HIS OWN LINEUP OF DEER HUNTING SCENTS
Aimed towards concealing human scent from the animals they stalk or attracting specific game, the Bone Collector-branded selection is highly regarded for its effectiveness in the field. Some scents work to overwhelm the animal’s olfactory sense, while others lure the animals by creating a wallow to draw them out of hiding.
HE’S GOT A KILLER YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Want a recipe for an unbeatable elk chili? You better head to the official Bone Collector YouTube page.
Big fan of Theo Von? Who isn’t. Watch the Bone Collector boys take him, Caleb Pressley from Barstool Sports, and NFL linebacker Cole Holcomb turkey hunting in the swamplands of Florida.
From gear unboxings to setting up a bow, Waddell’s channel is just as informative as it is entertaining.
HE GIVES BACK TO HIS COMMUNITY
Never one to back down from making a difference, Waddell has a long history of supporting wildlife conservation, education, and military and first responder non-profits in any way he can. He also works to promote ethical standards within the hunting community and prioritize safety in the field.