Michael Waddell

For the past fourteen years, Michael Waddell has been a key member of the Realtree Outdoor Productions staff.  Michael joined Realtree in 1994 as a cameraman and producer for the popular “Monster Bucks” and “All Stars of Spring” videos. Michael spends much of his time hunting for the Realtree cameras and hosting “Realtree Road Trips,” a fast paced, reality-based hunting show that premiered in July 2003 on the Outdoor Channel, and has won numerous awards. Michael is currently in the process of hosting a new show on the Outdoor Channel called, “Bone Collectors,” created and produced by Surf & Turf Entertainment. Michael grew up hunting and fishing with his father.  After graduating from high school, he started competing - and winning - turkey calling contests on a regular basis.  Michael gained recognition as one of the nation’s top callers, and in 1993 he won the Realtree Grand America Turkey Calling Contest in Perry, Georgia. His performance caught the attention of Bill Jordan and earned Michael a spot on the Realtree Advisory Staff. His big break came while guiding an outdoor writers’ hunt in Pine Mountain, Georgia; after showing David Blanton some footage he and his brother-in-law shot while hunting deer and turkey, Michael was hired as a freelance cameraman. Currently Michael is hosting Realtree Roadtrips that can be seen on the Outdoor Channel, which has won a record breaking seven Golden Moose awards over the last four years, three of which were the coveted fan favorite hunting show award in 05, 07 and 08. In 2007, Michael signed on and became part of the Gander Mountains elite pro-staff and hosted Gander’s We Live Outdoors Television show.  He is also apart of Thompson Center’s Pro Staff and appears on Thompson Center’s Game Trail Television Show.  Both shows can be seen on The Outdoor Channel.In 2008 things continued to evolve as Michael was signed to be the official celebrity spokesperson for The Outdoor Channel, was elected to serve as chair of the National Hunting and Fishing Outdoors Day and named the official spokesperson for National Wildlife and Turkey Federation.  Michael’s down home country boy image along with his humor and natural born hunting ability has led him to be one of the most sought after hunting personalities in the hunting industry today. Michael loves to hunt and spend time with his family, wife Ashley and his three boys, Mason (8), Meyer (4) and the twins, Macoy (19 mo.) and daddy’s little girl, Addie (19 mo.).