Michael Waddell

“The Bone Collector: from Realtree cameraman to the loudest laugh in hunting TV.”

82STACH SCORE

✂ Chevron Celebrity Era: 2000s 🏆 HOF Inductee

Is this a Legendary Stach?

Stach Stats

Stash Power80

Ruggedness86

Curl Factor15

Legend Status80

Stats are for entertainment purposes. The mustache committee's decisions are final and occasionally arbitrary.

Style: Chevron
Peak Era: 2000s
Hall of Fame: Inducted 2026
Fan Votes: 0 legendary · 0 meh

The Story

About Michael Waddell

Michael Waddell is a Georgia-born hunter and television host best known as the face of Bone Collector, the hunting series he co-founded on the Outdoor Channel, and before that as host of Realtree Road Trips. His break came through Realtree: after winning a turkey-calling contest, he was hired by Bill Jordan's company, started behind the camera and worked his way in front of it, where his Southern humor and infectious enthusiasm made him one of the most popular personalities in the genre.

Bone Collector grew from a TV show into a full brand, with apparel, gear and a "brotherhood" following built around Waddell and his co-hosts. Turkey hunting remains his signature, but the shows have covered whitetail, elk and big game across North America.

Waddell's facial hair has varied over the years, usually a goatee-and-mustache combination, but the mustache has been the constant, framing a grin that is rarely off his face.

The Verdict

Why the Stach Became Iconic

Waddell's mustache is the working end of a goatee, a thick chevron that anchors the whole look, and it sits above what may be the most recognizable laugh in outdoor television. It is less about grooming than attitude: loud, country, unpretentious and a little bit mischievous.

He also represents the handoff between generations of hunting TV. Bill Jordan's era wore clean chevrons; Waddell's wears them with a goatee, a flat-brim cap and a catchphrase. The Hall is happy to have both.

On the Record

Appearances

Realtree Road Trips — host
Bone Collector (Outdoor Channel) — co-founder and host
Turkey-calling competitor and longtime Realtree pro staffer

Fun Facts

He got his start at Realtree after winning a turkey-calling contest, then worked as a cameraman before hosting.
Bone Collector grew from a television series into an apparel and gear brand with a devoted following.
Turkey hunting is his signature pursuit, and his calling skills predate his television career.
The facial hair has come and gone in various forms over the years, but the mustache is the constant.