The excitement is palpable as archery hunters are taking the woods all around the country. There’s nothing quite like those first few crisp fall mornings, sneaking in close to bedding, or watching deer vacuum up white oak acorns as they pack on weight before the rut. While the early season is full of excitement, it can also be extremely challenging. Changing food sources, shifting home ranges and increased hunting pressure can make it tough to pin down exactly where the deer are right now. This ...
Sep 15, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 55
Conventional whitetail wisdom espouses a few basic tenets for early season hunting: find where the deer bed, find where they eat, and don’t hunt mornings. While hunting mornings in the early season is very different than, say, November 5th, early season morning hunts can still be very productive. In this episode, guest Mark Haslam shares the strategies he’s used to kill mature bucks in the morning during the early season four years running, including his most recent South Carolina velvet brute. ...
Sep 08, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 54
In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer podcast, Josh talks with outdoor writer Josh Honeycutt about his approach to hunting early season bucks. Josh Honeycutt is an outdoor writer and accomplished deer hunter who lives in Kentucky. He's had the opportunity to hunt deer in many different states at all times of the season, and he believes the early season just might be the bet time to tag a specific mature buck. In this episode, the guys discuss Josh's approach to hunting the early season, how he...
Sep 01, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 53
We’re now coming to the end of August. Food plots are planted, stands are hung, and the cameras are in the field doing their work. Are you forgetting anything? One often overlooked part of deer hunting is access. Many hunters pay little to no attention to how they access their properties or their stands, figuring the quickest way from point A to point B is a straight-line. But bullet proof access, or at least really good access, is one of the most critical things when it comes to upping your odd...
Aug 25, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 52
Much of the content of this podcast, and many others, is focused on getting you a shot opportunity on a whitetail deer. But once you've taken the shot, what now? There's good news and bad news here. The bad news is, once the shot is fired, you can't control anything about the flight of your chosen projectile, the reaction of the animal, or the quality of the hit. The good news is, after the shot is fired, there are a lot of things you can make sure to execute perfectly to give you the best odds ...
Aug 18, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 51
Archery openers for many states are just around the corner, and many hunters dream of an opening day buck. But the truth is, most hunters will go home disappointed with their dreams of giant antlers smashed to pieces by the reality of opening day's challenges. It really is tough to get on deer, let alone a good buck, on opening day. But it's not impossible. In fact, there are some guys who seem to tag out on opening day, or close to it, with impressive consistency. What can we learn from guys li...
Aug 11, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 50
In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer podcast, Josh talks with Parker McDonald of the Southern Ground Hunting Podcast about hunting deer in thermal hubs. Thermal hubs are essentially areas where the thermals cause scent to collect. Bucks love to use these areas both for bedding and during the rut, as they provide security and the ability to scent check nearby doe bedding. But they can be really tricky to hunt without getting busted. So in this show, Parker explains how to put yourself in a pos...
Aug 04, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 49
Late July/early August is a great time to do some digital scouting and hang some stands. Understanding thermals and their impact on wind currents can help you take your scouting and stand sight selection to the next level. Thermals can make or break a hunt. Not only do they influence how deer move across the landscape, but hunting with thermals in mind can be the difference between you watching as a white tails bound off through the timber or you getting a chip shot at your target. But thermals ...
Jul 28, 2022•57 min•Ep. 48
Bowhunters across the country have dusted off the bows to get dialed in for the upcoming archery season. Summer archery practice is a vital part of fall hunting success. If you’re like many bowhunters, there are parts of your gear you’re considering swapping out for one reason or another. One piece of gear Josh recently swapped out is his sight. The old peep and pin setup provided a cluttered sight picture, didn’t perform well in low light, and required a somewhat unnatural feel when aiming. Ent...
Jul 21, 2022•46 min•Ep. 47
Fall archery openers are right around the corner. Do you have a bead on the caliber of deer you’re after yet? Trail camera intel can be hit or miss, and can leave you scratching your head, wondering where the bucks might be. But have you really put much thought into your trail camera strategy? Why do you have your cameras where you have them? What intel are you hoping to see? Once you get a picture of a buck, how do you adapt to close the net on his whereabouts? In this episode of the How to Hun...
Jul 14, 2022•59 min•Ep. 46
The month of July is full of excitement for the deer hunter. Fall hunting seasons are just around the corner and the bucks are really beginning to show their potential for the fall. One really helpful tool for summer scouting that has come to market in the last few years is the cellular trail camera. These cameras provide you with real time data so you can make informed decisions when scouting and hunting. There are lots of cellular camera options on the market now, but none has been more reliab...
Jul 07, 2022•54 min•Ep. 45
With hunting season only a couple months away, it’s time to start thinking about food plots. Some hunters believe they’re the ticket to tagging mature bucks each fall. Others avoid them, supposing daylight sightings of bucks are few and far between on food plots. What role should they play in your hunting strategy? And what goes into establishing a food plot that will attract deer? In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer podcast, Josh talks with Jon Teater of Whitetail Landscapes about establish...
Jun 30, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 44
It’s officially summer. It’s hot, the woods are thick, and the water is calling your name. But for the die-hard whitetail hunter, the work never stops. It’s time to get boots on the ground for some summer scouting. While fighting ticks, thick vegetation and a three-digit heat index may not sound like a lot of fun, summer scouting can set you up for success this fall, especially if you’re covering unfamiliar ground. In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer podcast, Josh talks with Aaron Warbritton...
Jun 23, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 43
Here in mid-June, many whitetail bucks are starting to pack on inches of antler growth at a steady rate. That means it’s time to get your trail cameras ready and in the field so you can formulate your game plan for the fall! We all love getting photos of big bucks, but are you really getting the most out of your trail camera photos? What if there’s a way to learn more from the data you collect? This episode is all about maximizing your trail camera data. In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer p...
Jun 16, 2022•56 min•Ep. 42
Over the last couple of years, saddle hunting has take the deer hunting industry by storm. What was the tool of choice for a rag-tag bunch of DIY tinkerers has quickly become mainstream with the surge of commercially available tree saddle options. If you’ve put much time into researching good tree stand options, you’ve probably come across tree saddles at some point. So it’s time to ask the question, Should you hop on the saddle hunting bandwagon? In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer podcast,...
Jun 09, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 41
Most whitetail hunters today, especially archery hunters, hunt from a tree stand of some sort. The days of nailing 2x4s to a tree and calling it good are behind us as deer hunters have rightly become a more safety conscious bunch. There are a ton of commercially available options today, but they aren’t all created equal. When choosing a tree stand, a little research and thought goes a long way toward making sure you’re happy with whatever purchase you make. The last thing you need is to find out...
Jun 02, 2022•29 min•Ep. 40
Thanks to today’s high quality mapping technology, mapping apps have become an essential part of the serious whitetail hunter’s kit. Many of these apps now offer multiple mapping layers, live weather reports for your area, customizable pins, and even month by month aerial imagery. There’s no question that a great mapping app can help you be more confident and successful in the field. Unfortunately, many aren’t taking advantage of many of the awesome features that are available at their finger ti...
May 19, 2022•42 min•Ep. 39
Choosing the right bow for you is really important. But don’t overlook the accessories! Quality accessories can go a long way in enhancing your bow’s performance and making the entire archery and bowhunting experience more enjoyable. But should you shoot a three pin or single pin sight? Drop-away rest or whisker biscuit? Stabilizer or no stabilizer? And what kind of release should you shoot? The choices can be overwhelming, but this episode of the How to Hunt Deer podcast is all about simplifyin...
May 12, 2022•48 min•Ep. 38
Ask ten different guys to name the best bow on the market for hunting whitetails and you’ll probably get ten different answers. When it comes to archery equipment, there is no such thing as one size fits all. There are a ton of variables to consider when choosing the right bow for you and the way you hunt. So how do you go about narrowing the field and finding the right bow? In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer podcast, Josh talks with Nate Sellers of Average Jack Archery. Nate is an absolute...
May 05, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 37
One of the most intimidating parts of getting into deer hunting is the buying gear. The options are endless, and almost everyone has strong opinions about go-to gear you simply can’t live without. Pair this with the top notch marketing of many great brands, and a guy or gal looking to get into the sport can feel lost. This is certainly true when it comes to selecting camouflage. So how do you pick the camo that’s right for you? In this episode, Josh talks with John Adams of Natural Gear Camo abo...
Apr 28, 2022•45 min•Ep. 36
In recent years, hunting terrain features has garnered tons of attention in the whitetail hunting world. Benches, saddles, draws, ridges, these words are often thrown around. But are we really capitalizing on them and how they influence the way whitetails flow through the properties we hunt? In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer podcast, Josh is joined by Dan Johnson, host of the Nine Finger Chronicles podcast, to talk all things terrain features. Terrain features play a key role in Dan’s hunt...
Apr 21, 2022•44 min•Ep. 35
In recent years, many in the hunting industry have promoted a hardcore, laser focused, guerrilla warfare style of whitetail hunting. While there’s a lot to be said for this king of intensity, many folks would be well served by a healthy dose of diversification in their outdoor pursuits. Whether you’re hiking, foraging, fishing, hunting small game, or enjoying some other kind of outdoor recreation, the skills gained and honed in other activities can help you become a better deer hunter. In this e...
Apr 14, 2022•58 min•Ep. 34
In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer Podcast, Josh talks with Zach Ferenbaugh of The Hunting Public about how spring turkey hunting can make you a better deer hunter. Zach and the rest of the THP crew spend each spring on the THP Turkey Tour, traveling state to state hunting turkeys in lots different landscapes. Much of what they learn each spring while chasing longbeards serves them well each fall, when it’s time to chase whitetails again. Spring turkey hunting can benefit the avid whitetail...
Apr 08, 2022•56 min•Ep. 33
Sooner or later, every deer hunter wants to find a way to share the experiences they have in the field with others. Some will just tell stories, some will write about it, some will take photos, and a few will tackle filming their hunts. Filming hunts requires a whole new level of dedication and skill and can be extremely rewarding, or extremely frustrating. In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer podcast, Josh catches up with Jared Mills of Midwest Whitetail to talk about filming hunts. Jared ha...
Mar 31, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 32
In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer podcast, Josh talks with Alabama big buck killing machine Michael Perry. Michael has had great success killing above average deer on heavily pressured public land in unforgiving terrain. Just last season he was fortunate enough to connect on the current Alabama muzzleloader record, a 195 6/8” bruiser. To what does Michael owe his success? Scouting, scouting, and scouting. Michael’s approach to using maps to scout for whitetails is quite different than many...
Mar 24, 2022•52 min•Ep. 31
In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer podcast, Josh talks with K.C. Smith about how K.C. uses maps to scout for deer in the more open terrain west of the Mississippi. Map scouting can be a challenge in more open regions. As K.C. explains in this episode, areas often provide better cover and forage than what it appears to provide on the map. This means relating boots-on-the-ground scouting to map scouting is extremely vital. K.C. is often working with unfamiliar territory and limited time. This...
Mar 17, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 30
In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer Podcast, I catch up with Greg Litzinger to hear what he keys in on when map scouting for deer in the big woods and salt marshes of New Jersey. Greg, aka the Bowhunting Fiend, hunts highly pressured public land in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. All the competition means Greg needs every edge he can get to seal the deal on big bucks. Map scouting is one of the tools Greg uses to get himself away from the hunting pressure and on the deer. While map scouting is ...
Mar 10, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 29
On this episode of the How to Hunt Deer Podcast, Josh talks with Zach Ferenbaugh from The Hunting Public about map scouting for whitetails. Map scouting has become an indispensable tool for serious whitetail hunters. Mapping apps allow you to dissect aerial and topo imagery to locate potential bedding areas, feeding areas, and travel routes the deer prefer. Until you actually put boots on the ground, it’s all just an educated guess. But being an effective map scouter can make you far more effici...
Mar 03, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 28
Serious whitetail hunters across the nation are hitting the woods in search of shed antlers. While our social media feeds fill up with piles of bone, it can be easy to become discouraged if we don’t have much to show for our efforts. If you want to become a better shed hunter, then this episode is for you! In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer podcast, Josh talks with Dwayne Jones of Shed Season about improving as a shed hunter. Dwayne is almost as passionate about finding shed antlers as he i...
Feb 24, 2022•27 min•Ep. 27
This episode is part two of the conversation with Clint Campbell of the Truth from the Stand podcast. If you didn’t catch last week’s episode, we covered the ins and outs of building on your experience to help you become a better deer hunter. In this episode, we’re talking about expanding your property portfolio. One of the best things you can do to grow as a hunter and increase your effectiveness in the woods is to push yourself to find, scout, and hunt new properties. Clint and I cover why you...
Feb 17, 2022•52 min•Ep. 26
