Jake DeBow didn’t just grow up around trapping; he grew into it, built a life around it, and somehow turned frozen beaver ponds, late nights, and a sewing machine into a thriving business. In this episode, Wayne sits down in Jake’s trapping shed to talk about New England Naturals, the art of fur, and why more people are starting to care about where their food and even their clothing comes from. Spoiler: beaver might be the best red meat you’ve never tried.
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Here’s what we discuss:
- Kicking off the return of Warden’s Watch Wild: “I’ve got some wild stuff going on.”
- Meeting Jake DeBow, three years in the making to get him on the show
- Growing up with a father who was a nuisance wildlife trapper
- “It was always raccoons and skunks coming home in cage traps.”
- Sports first, trapping later, rediscovering it in college and grad school
- Getting into beaver trapping because “beaver meat is delicious.”
- Starting a trapline together as a couple, relationship goals outdoors style
- “She was never squeamish… just fascinated.”
- Using everything from a beaver: meat, fur, skulls, and glands
- The “rabbit holes” of natural products and curiosity
- The quiet, frozen beauty of winter trapping
- “There’s something really special about being out there.”
- Why trapping is harder to get into than hunting
- Appeal for young adults after college looking for purpose and connection
- Accessibility of beaver vs deer, “there’s a beaver in just about every ditch.”
- Feeding 50% of their red meat intake from beaver
- “I’ve never had someone try it and not love it.”
- Beaver as the “beef of the river,” rich, mild, versatile
- Supplying beaver for a wild game dinner, big reactions from the crowd
- Getting 9 to 12 meals plus weeks of dog food from one animal
- The origins of New England Naturals and frustration with low fur prices
- “We got $12 a beaver… it didn’t feel right.”
- Early side hustle, Etsy shop, tinctures, moose antler dog chews
- Pandemic pivot and turning $2,000 and fiddleheads into a sewing machine
- Teaching themselves fur sewing from scratch
- Starting with beaver fur koozies and laughing about early attempts
- The TikTok turning point, one video and everything sold out
- “We couldn’t keep up… we were sewing until 2AM!”
- Hiring their first employee and outgrowing the basement
- Moving into a real workspace and rapid growth over two years
- Using social media for education, not just selling
- Breaking misconceptions about trapping and outdated stereotypes
- “Trappers were quiet for 30 years… that time is gone.”
- The importance of public understanding and support
- Why people are reconnecting with their food
- “There’s something special about being responsible for what’s on your plate.”
- That same mindset applied to clothing and materials
- Fur as durable, warm, and biodegradable
- Plastic clothing “is going to be your grandkids’ problem.”
- Product focus on practical, hard-use gear
- Core products: muffs, mittens, bomber hats, and hand warmers
- “We want fur in people’s hands that actually gets used.”
- Beaver fur hand warmers – simple, reusable, effective
- Cat toys made from real fur: “cats go nuts for them.”
- Future ideas: blankets, vests, and more product expansion
- Balancing growth, time, and staying true to their mission
- Shop New England Naturals
- Follow the fun on TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram
Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer: Jay Ammann
Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett
Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches
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