In this episode, Dan Johnson and Jason Thibodeau discuss the holiday season, family dynamics during Christmas, and the challenges of gift-giving. They then transition into late-season hunting strategies, focusing on weather patterns, deer behavior, and effective hunting techniques in the Midwest. In this episode, Dan Johnson and Jason Thibodeau discuss various strategies and insights for late-season deer hunting. They explore deer behavior, the importance of scent detection, and the balance betw...
Dec 18, 2024•45 min•Ep. 146
In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer podcast, hosts Jason Thibodeau and Dan Johnson discuss various topics related to hunting during the late season, including strategies for hunting, gift ideas for hunters, and the impact of weather on deer movement. They also touch on the importance of safety while hunting and the ongoing rut activity in southern states. The conversation provides valuable insights for both seasoned hunters and those new to the sport, emphasizing the need for preparation and...
Dec 13, 2024•35 min•Ep. 145
In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer podcast, hosts Dan Johnson and Jason Thibodeau reflect on their Thanksgiving experiences, discussing family gatherings, illness, and the challenges of hunting while sick. They share personal anecdotes about hunting with kids, the importance of being prepared for unexpected situations in the field, and the impact of family dynamics on hunting opportunities. The conversation shifts towards their evolving priorities in hunting, moving from a focus on big buck...
Dec 03, 2024•38 min•Ep. 144
In this episode, Dan Johnson and Jason Thibodeau discuss their hunting experiences during the current season, focusing on the challenges they faced in Illinois, their observations on deer movement and the rut, and reflections on opportunities missed. They share insights on hunting strategies, gear, and the impact of weather on deer behavior, while also contemplating the pressures of setting high expectations for their hunts. In this segment of the conversation, Dan Johnson and Jason Thibodeau di...
Nov 26, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 143
In this episode, Dan Johnson and Jason Thibodeau discuss their experiences during the rut season, focusing on Jason's recent hunting trip to Nebraska. They share insights on deer sightings, challenges faced due to weather and hunting conditions, and the impact of local wildlife management. The conversation also touches on family hunting experiences and the emotional highs and lows of the hunting season. In this engaging conversation, Jason Thibodeau and Dan Johnson discuss their experiences and ...
Nov 13, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 142
In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer Podcast, hosts Dan Johnson and Jason Thibodeau share their recent hunting experiences, discussing strategies, observations, and the challenges posed by external pressures from other hunters. They delve into the importance of trail cameras for gathering intel on deer movements and the decision-making process involved in choosing hunting locations. The conversation highlights the impact of weather and hunting pressure on deer behavior, as well as the dynamic...
Oct 30, 2024•37 min•Ep. 141
In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer Podcast, hosts Jason Thibodeau and Dan Johnson discuss their recent experiences with trail cameras, deer activity, and the impact of agricultural changes on deer behavior. They delve into the importance of understanding deer movement, the influence of pressure on hunting strategies, and how to effectively utilize scrape activity for successful hunts. The conversation emphasizes the significance of gathering data and adapting hunting approaches based on env...
Oct 23, 2024•49 min•Ep. 140
In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer podcast, hosts Dan Johnson and Jason Thibodeau discuss the October lull in deer hunting, share their experiences with youth hunting, and explore how weather changes impact deer behavior. They also reflect on the balance between family commitments and hunting, and address myths surrounding deer movement, particularly in relation to bobcats and the supposed October lull. In this conversation, Jason Thibodeau and Dan Johnson discuss various aspects of deer hu...
Oct 15, 2024•51 min•Ep. 139
In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer podcast, hosts Dan Johnson and Jason Thibodeau share their personal hunting experiences, focusing on a recent successful mule deer hunt. They discuss the emotional aspects of hunting, the differences between hunting mule deer and whitetail, and strategies for dealing with unexpected situations in the field. The conversation also covers the importance of learning from failures and the significance of preparation and safety while hunting. Takeaways: Hunting ...
Oct 10, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 138
In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer Podcast, hosts Dan Johnson and Jason Thibodeau discuss various aspects of deer hunting, including the importance of coffee and energy drinks for stamina, the challenges of hunting on small properties, the dangers of overhunting, and the effective use of trail cameras. They emphasize the significance of understanding deer behavior, the pitfalls of social media influence, and the necessity of scent control and weapon maintenance. The conversation wraps up wi...
Sep 24, 2024•57 min•Ep. 137
In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer Podcast, hosts Dan Johnson and Jason Thibodeau discuss their recent weekend activities, including coaching youth sports and the challenges that come with it. They delve into the insights gained from trail cameras regarding deer movement and behavior, emphasizing the impact of weather patterns on hunting strategies. The conversation shifts to the concept of core areas for deer and how these areas change throughout the season. They also explore early season ...
Sep 17, 2024•54 min•Ep. 136
In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer podcast, Dan Johnson and Jason Tibideau discuss their plans for the upcoming hunting season and the importance of preparing their weapons. They emphasize the need to practice shooting with broadheads and to ensure that bows are properly tuned and fitted. They also discuss the importance of shot placement and the debate between fixed and mechanical broadheads. The hosts recommend visiting local mom-and-pop stores for expert advice and tuning services. They ...
Sep 12, 2024•53 min•Ep. 135
On this episode of the Nine Finger Chronicles, Dan breaks down what he looks for in hunting spots while e-scouting public land. Recently, Dan found out that he finally drew a Kansas archery tag. He has never hunted Kansas, so he is starting from scratch when it comes to finding places to hunt. Because this is an out of state hunt, Dan is going to rely heavily on using digital maps to e-scout the public properties before he hunts them. You will hear what specific terrain features he is looking fo...
May 29, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 134
On this episode of the Nine Finger Chronicles, Dan is once again solo venting his ideas and frustrations to his listeners. The first part of this episode is dedicated his disinterest in "Hunting Masterclass" themed content. Dan feels there is no shortcuts to becoming a better deer hunter, specifically bowhunting. Time in the woods is the best and most effective method of learning. Then, Dan breaks down a very quick look in to his summer and fall trail camera strategy that includes summer invento...
May 22, 2024•34 min•Ep. 133
On this episode of the Nine Finger Chronicles, Dan gives us an update on how his spring is going and what is on his deer to-do-list. On Dan's list of things to do includes a little bit of habitat work that will improve cover, setting up mineral locations for summer inventory, moving treestands to better ambush points, and getting trail cameras ready to be places in their summer starting points. The more time we spent preparing for the upcoming season, the better success one will have for the upc...
May 15, 2024•41 min•Ep. 132
If you live in the midwest or the south and haven't done any scouting this year, I hate to say it, but you missed out on the perfect time of the year to scout. With that said scouting now is still better than no scouting at all. On this episode of the Nine Finger Chronicles, Dan gives his opinions about what we should all be doing right now to find better hunting locations for the fall. Dan talks about when trail cameras should go up, locating terrain features through e-scouting vs. boots on the...
May 08, 2024•30 min•Ep. 131
It's the offseason, that means planning, scouting, and habitat improvement for next deer season! In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer Podcast, Josh and the Whitetail Partners crew break down a recent design of a 200 acre hunting property. Enjoy!
Feb 23, 2024•34 min•Ep. 130
Ahhh... Shed season is upon us!!!! Wait, are you really that excited for shed season? A quick glance at social media would suggest that if you aren't shed hunting, you're REALLY missing out. But for those of us without primo ground and a boatload of late season food, a shed hunt often produces little more than a walk in the woods and sore feet. It's likely that for MOST deer hunters, you'd be better off using this time for other activities that may actually help your hunting next fall because, i...
Feb 09, 2024•47 min•Ep. 129
It's time to get boots on the ground! Deer seasons are wrapped up and the holidays are behind us. Time to get out there on the post season scouting grind to set yourself up for success in the 2024 season. To kick off the post season conversations, we're going to chat about post-season scouting. In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer Podcast, Josh talks with Greg Kazmierski of Whitetail Partners about scouting and capitalizing on micro features in hill country. Connect with the How to Hunt Deer ...
Feb 02, 2024•56 min•Ep. 128
If you're a deer hunter, you've likely dreamed of buying your very own hunting property. A place where you can have total control over what is done to the property, a place to bring family and friends, a place to kill big bucks, a place to simply call your own. But sometimes, land ownership isn't all it's cracked up to be. The hunting on a given property may fall short of our expectations. We may have forces beyond our control that hamper our enjoyment of the property. Owning ground may prove to...
Jan 18, 2024•32 min•Ep. 127
It's that time of year. Deer seasons are winding down for most, and while some still have a month of season left, the end is definitely just over the horizon. And though it's cliche, your success in the fall of 2024 just may hinge on what you do RIGHT NOW! Will you move on to other hobbies and interests, or will you lace up the boot straps and spend the time post season scouting? In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer Podcast, Josh and Pierce discuss their plans and strategy for post season sco...
Jan 12, 2024•48 min•Ep. 126
Deer season is winding down for many if not most, and it's time to sit back and reflect on our season. Did you get the buck you were after? Did you see the deer numbers you thought you should be seeing? Did the deer use your property in predictable ways? Were you able to access your hunting locations without bumping deer? All of these questions may reveal that our season could have been better from a deer hunting perspective. So what if you're unhappy with how your season went? If that's you, it...
Jan 04, 2024•59 min•Ep. 125
There are many guys out there who kill big deer every year. Some have access to primo ground. Some are able to afford expensive outfitters. Some are just plain lucky. And some, like the guest on this week's episode, simply put their nose down and put in the work. Today's guest is Ethan Escue. Ethan hails from West Virginia, but after a cross country move last summer, he found himself with very little time to find new ground and new bucks to hunt. His dedication and hard work paid off with FOUR m...
Dec 21, 2023•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 124
With mid-December comes one undeniable fact: for most across the whitetail's range, it's the late season. Even folks who cling to hope for second rut activity must now pivot and return to the basics of food, bed, and travel in between. While late season hunting can be as simple as food + cover = deer, there is some nuance to it. So in this episode of the How to Hunt Deer Podcast, Josh talks with Pierce Nelles about their late season deer hunting strategy. Connect with the How to Hunt Deer Podcas...
Dec 14, 2023•44 min•Ep. 123
This week, we mix things up a bit on the How to Hunt Deer Podcast! We air a recent episode of the Design. Build. Hunt. Podcast which features the Whitetail Partners Crew breaking down a 40 acre whitetail property design. No matter the size of your parcel, you can capitalize on its strengths to improve your hunting. This episode will show you a few ways you can do just that. Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! If you'd like to learn more, check out ...
Nov 30, 2023•42 min•Ep. 122
There's still a lot of season left. But for many of us, the passing of the rut means it's time to return to the real world. Work, family, holidays, and all those obligations we neglected in October and early November now demand our attention and we simply can't spend the time in the woods like we did earlier in the year. The season isn't over, but it's a great time to reflect on what you've learned, and how you've grown as a deer hunter. In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer Podcast, Josh talk...
Nov 23, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 121
In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer Podcast, Josh covers the highs, lows, and all the tough in-betweens of the first half of rutcation '23. Josh's rut hunt is over, so time to recap! This episode was recorded at the midway point of Josh's rutcation, after some pretty bad flops and blown opportunities. The takeaway? Have FUN! Hunting the rut really is a marathon, not a sprint. And the worst thing you could do is to let adversity steal your enjoyment. So give this episode a listen, and get bac...
Nov 16, 2023•26 min•Ep. 120
In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer Podcast, Josh talks with Pierce Nelles about their plans and strategies for hunting the rut. Ahhh... Sweet November. Time for those cagey bucks to blindly follow does into range, practically asking to be shot, right? Well... it's complicated. The rut may smile on you and you may be in the deer, or you may be just off the action and wondering if deer even exist. In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer Podcast, Josh talks with Pierce Nelles about their plans...
Nov 03, 2023•59 min•Ep. 119
Aaaahhhh, sweet November is upon us! The rut will soon cure our every woe, and whitetail bucks will throw caution to the wind and run circles around our stands just waiting for us to take a shot at them… right? While the rut can be the best of the year to arrow a mature buck, this is no time to take it easy. In fact, increased buck movement should motivate whitetail hunters to work even harder to make sure they’re in the right place at the right time. In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer Podc...
Oct 26, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 118
The best time of the year is here! The wind is brisk, cool, and from the north, the ag fields are being cut, and the bucks are starting to cover more ground, laying down sign and in search of the first hot does. This can only mean one thing, the pre-rut is upon us! In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer Podcast, Josh talks with Pierce Nelles about their thoughts, plans, and strategies for hunting the pre-rut. The guys discuss the deer they're chasing, their thoughts and reactions about an upcom...
Oct 19, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 117
