On today’s episode, I'm joined by Rendell, and we're diving into our recent hunting adventures across different states. We tackle the challenges of long drives, varying deer populations, and what makes certain states our top picks for hunting. Scouting, finding secondary food sources, and reading historical sign are key topics we cover. Rendell shares an intense story about a 180-incher that got away, highlighting the challenges of open terrain hunting. We also discuss the mistakes made, lessons...
May 22, 2024•1 hr 40 min
In this chat, Ryan and I dive deep into our trail camera tactics and how we decipher the data for our hunts. With around 30 cameras each, we stress the importance of picking spots with dense cover that make mature bucks feel at home. Our strategy is simple: focus on deer trails, key terrain features, scrapes and transitions. Our talk revolves around understanding the 'why' behind deer behavior, blending trail camera intel with on-the-ground scouting and ass time in a tree in season. We highlight...
May 15, 2024•1 hr 39 min
Join me on the Truth From the Stand Podcast as I sit down with Troy Fowler to delve into the heart of bowhunting and arrow dynamics. We're diving deep into the world of hunting experiences, arrow spine, and fine-tuning those crucial shots. Troy drives home the critical nature of arrow flight, spotlighting how using underspined arrows can dramatically impact lethality out in the field. Plus, he shares invaluable insights into bare shafting and its profound effect on arrow trajectory. But wait, th...
May 08, 2024•1 hr 34 min
Today on the podcast I’m joined by my buddy Sam Ubl. Sam has been hunting public and by permission land, and using water access way before it was “cool.” Sam has a DIY mentality, where there’s a will there’s a way. This approach came from trudging through the swamps of Wisconsin with his dad as a youngster, where sometimes making your own water access skis were a necessity to cross the marsh, reeds and bog. Now…with a camera in hand you can see Sam and his crew at work on Chase Nation. This conv...
May 01, 2024•1 hr 40 min
Today on the podcast I’m joined by my buddy Cody Schleich. I’m always looking to meet guys who embrace the challenge of hunting big woods and hill country. Cody is one of those guys who is a calculated and aggressive grinder hunting mature bucks in rugged terrain. Hunting mature bucks ithese areas can sometimes feel like finding a needle in a haystack to get an opportunity…and it often ends in heartbreak. But when it comes together, you’d be hard pressed to find a more gratifying feeling. Awesom...
Apr 24, 2024•1 hr 21 min
Today on the podcast I’m joined by my buddy Tony Peterson. In today’s episode we dive into how at times, removing your ego …or adding a little ego can make all the difference in your hunting success. Go overboard and you’ve probably missed something…not enough and you may not take that leap your gut is telling you to that would lead you to killing that mature buck. Truth is, it’s a balancing act. Just like when to believe hot sign..and when to walk right past it. Awesome chat with Tony as always...
Apr 17, 2024•1 hr 40 min
Today on the podcast I’m joined by my buddy Dan Johnson. If you’re anything like Dan and I (and all of you out there juggling family, work and other responsibilities), it seems like our time gets more limited every year. Whether by choice or out of necessity, efficiency is the name of the game. Gone are the days of having all the time in the world to scout or hunt endlessly. Or have all puzzle pieces to the chess match. Now we rely on past experiences to fill in the gaps and make quick decisions...
Apr 10, 2024•1 hr 43 min
Today on the podcast I’m joined by my buddy Brandon Barlow. Brandon hunts public and small permission parcels in the south. As a native New Yorker he's had to adapt his hunting approach from relying on the historical calendar dates of good whitetail hunting...to now using long-term data to keep him in the game as his season is much longer. And the deer seem to have a much broader breeding window within specific pockets. He runs 100+ cameras a year and has been able to glean some pretty interesti...
Apr 03, 2024•1 hr 33 min
Today on the podcast I’m joined by my Jacob Sklenar. At face value you meet Jacob and your first thought is that this guy is a detailed and meticulous killer…who finds consistent success by embracing the grind and suck that chasing mature whitetails is. Once you dig a little deeper, you realize Jacob is on a different journey than just killing mature bucks. He uses hunting as a vehicle of personal growth…and to hopefully leave people who he meets, better than he found them. This folks…is what it...
Mar 27, 2024•1 hr 36 min
Today on the podcast I’m joined by my buddy Michael Varady. Mike is one of those guys I’ve had the good fortune to meet the past few years. The dude just flat out gets it done in the high pressures state of New Jersey. He was one of my inspirations to begin tinkering with a traditional bow. Like with all die-hard outdoorsman there’s always a season…hunting season, scouting season, shed season, turkey season…then fishing? Mike is as committed to the craft as anyone you’ll meet. And he just flat o...
Mar 20, 2024•1 hr 44 min
Today on the podcast I’m joined by my buddy Luke Shimer. Luke is one of the best all around outdoorsman and most authentic people I’ve had the good fortune to know. Watching Luke run the in the mountains of Montana is like watching someone breathe…it looks natural and for him sustenance. Whether he’s chasing critters in the mountains or the streams of Montana…or salt water critters in the Caribbean…all I know is you’ll eat good. And you’re always welcome at his campfire - thanks for listening. A...
Mar 13, 2024•1 hr 26 min
Today on the podcast I’m joined by my buddy Nathan Killen. Nathan is one of the best hunters I’ve had the privilege to meet while running this podcast. His hunting is only outdone by the quality person he is. Nathan had a great year fulfilling a Long-time goal of killing a true giant public land monarch in the mountains of Virginia. Bucks like this don’t come around often, and if you pay attention, they’ll teach you lessons you might think you already know. Great chat as always - thanks for list...
Mar 06, 2024•1 hr 27 min
Today on the podcast I’m joined by my buddy Tim Bunao. Tim and I are birds of a feather in the sense that when we set a goal…there’s no turning back. We both have adopted a similar approach the past few years…and that’s simplifying things, and trusting our gut to find more success. Tim Moved west to expand his hunting opportunities a few years ago…he’s still a die-hard whitetail bow hunter. Now he ’s just added a few species to list. He had an epic season this year from as last minute move to st...
Feb 28, 2024•1 hr 43 min
Today on the podcast I’m joined by my buddy Todd Freeman. Todd is one of those guys who constantly seeks adventure - whether it’s traveling back to his home state of Michigan to hunt the U.P. or out his back door kayaking into hard to reach place in New Jersey. One thing he’s always looking for are bucks that like wet feet. Aside from that, he’s become my go to resource as I jump in to the world of shooting a long bow. Prior to recording this episode, Todd and I spent the day in his shop buildin...
Feb 21, 2024•1 hr 19 min
Today on the podcast I’m joined by my buddy Steve Smallridge. Steve is a die hard outdoorsman , splitting his time mostly between chasing whitetails and duck hunting the big water of Michigan. The traveling whitetail gypsy bug has bitten him and he’s started exploring beyond his home state for the past few seasons …and finding success. He’s also a competitive Jiu Jitsu black belt and sees a lot of similarities between hunting and jiu jitsu…and that each ultimately feeds the other. I hope you enj...
Feb 14, 2024•1 hr 30 min
Today on the podcast I’m joined by my buddy Steve Jewett. Steve is has a been a bowyer for a few decades and is the owner of Bushmen Bows. I’m planning to begin my descent into traditional madness. I wanted to start last year, but a shoulder injury delayed my plans. Now that I’m functional again, I’m ready to make the leap and Steve is helping me get sorted before I take the plunge and have him build me a custom long bow - thanks for listening. Available on all podcast platforms! WHAT TO EXPECT ...
Feb 07, 2024•1 hr 39 min
Today on the podcast I did something a little different. My buddy Aaron Hepler and I headed south to Virginia to do something I’ve never done before. We went quail hunting with bird dogs with the folks at Cumberland Estate. I’ve hunted rabbits with dogs as a kid, but the only upland bird hunting I’ve ever done was busting brush with the old man chasing pheasants…never with a dog. And, I love anything with history behind it and the grounds we stayed on and hunted were full of history and birds. G...
Jan 31, 2024•1 hr 20 min
Today I’m joined by my buddy Chad Sylvester to do our annual “good, bad, and ugly” episode where we cover the season that was…all the good and all the warts. It’s impossible to lay a foundation for improvement without first examining what you’ve done well, and where you’re falling short. This episode acts as an annual reset for me and helps me take a hard look at the man in the mirror. Admittedly, I had a pretty good year, but there’s always things to work on. Hope you all dig the sesh - thanks ...
Jan 20, 2024•1 hr 23 min
Today I’m joined by my buddy Mario Trafficante from the Hunting Beast. Mario is one of my favorite people to chop it up with. We have a lot in common beyond hunting, and those commonalities bleed into our approaches to hunting. Sometimes things don’t play out like we intend, and the path less traveled is what ultimately fills your tag. Being open to those twists of fate and being willing to indulge them can make all the difference. I hope you all dig the conversation as much as I did - thanks fo...
Jan 17, 2024•1 hr 52 min
Today I’m joined by my buddy Tyrell Roy. As many big bucks as Tyrell has on his wall, it’s never about the mount or trophy. It’s always about the experience, the chess match, and challenging himself to be a better hunter. This year he wanted to see if his skills and all the success he’s had in Oklahoma would translate when traveling out of state on his first out of state public land whitetail hunt. Let’s just say he got the full public land experience with all the highs and lows that come with i...
Jan 10, 2024•1 hr 43 min
Today I’m joined by Brandon Lilly. Brandon knew all too well the pressure to perform from his days as an elite powerlifting athlete. He draws on that experience to keep hunting free of the outside noise or pressure to perform. Doing hard things and reframing success, setting reasonable goals, and humbling yourself is the pathway toward gaining the most fulfillment in hunting. Make mistakes, learn from them, and embrace the beginning stages whether you’re a new hunter…or learning a new style of h...
Jan 03, 2024•1 hr 32 min
Today I’m joined by my good buddy Johnny Stewart. Johnny is grinding through his late season with a few tags still in his pocket - he’s on his way to Iowa as we speak. He filled 3 buck tags this past October through November in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The success didn’t come easy. Some of his key spots were burned early in the season between human pressure and logging that occurred. Today we talk about changing plans when things go south. And even after years of success how Johnny is alw...
Dec 27, 2023•1 hr 28 min
Today I’m joined by my good buddy Greg Litzinger. Greg has had one of his best seasons…and one of his worst at the same time. He’s been in the game, having encounters more times than most in a couple seasons combined. A branch here, a deflected arrow there…and being just a step behind a target deer has been the story of his season. He’s still grinding it out…he’s the “Ultimate Warrior” and I have a feeling antlers will be in his late season future. Always love catching up with my guy - thanks fo...
Dec 20, 2023•1 hr 29 min
Today I’m joined by my buddy Jace Allen. Jace is one of those people who is just born to deer hunt and chase mature bucks. He’s as dedicated to his craft as anyone you’ll meet. That doesn’t mean there aren’t hard lessons to learn…even for the most experienced woodsman. Most guys are thrilled to fill a tag no matter how the hunt ends so long as it end with a buck on the ground. Jace is a little different and the hunt and the animal means more to him than another piece of taxidermy on his wall. He...
Dec 13, 2023•1 hr 23 min
Today I’m joined by my Jake Hofer from Exodus Outdoor Gear. Jake is one of my good buddies and one of the best deer hunters I know. The running joke in our friend circle for a long time was if a deer was going to be killed by our group of friends…Jake would be the one to do it. Year after year he fills tags on mature bucks. This year He drew a coveted Iowa tag…but made the decision to leave Iowa during prime—time to catch a few good weather days at home in Illinois. Sounds crazy to leave Iowa, r...
Dec 06, 2023•1 hr 19 min
Today I’m joined by my buddy Erik Barber. Erik has had a killer fall, filling two archery tags. Funny thing about filling tags early, is you sometimes feel like you’re missing out with so much season left. I don’t think anyone would complain about filling tags early…but there is definitely some fear of missing out, or missing those November sunrises. Erik is as passionate an outdoorsman as you’ll find, initially cutting his teeth at Midwest whitetail with the guys from THP and now working for Vo...
Nov 29, 2023•1 hr 50 min
Today We’re talking about my recent hunt in Kansas. Three seasons ago I set a goal to kill a Kansas whitetail from the ground. I had a lot of opportunities that I screwed up the previous seasons. Each set up got a little better last year and I really felt this was the year to meet my goal. I wasn’t looking for a giant…when I hunt out of state, my mission is to try and take a buck that is the average/representative animal for the area I’m hunting. It would’ve been really easy to screw this hunt u...
Nov 22, 2023•1 hr 20 min
Today I’m joined by my buddy Jared Scheffler of Whitetail Adrenaline. Beyond Jared being a killer with the stick and string, he’s the passion behind Whitetail Adrenaline that brings us, what I consider, to be the hands down best hunting content ever made. Being great at anything comes with a cost. We talk about the cost of perfection and getting your passion back, traditional archery and of course…decoying open country giants - thanks for listening! To listen to the podcast click the purple play...
Nov 15, 2023•1 hr 18 min
Today we’re doing something a little different… I’m turning over the reins of the show to my buddy Aaron Hepler to talk about the filling my PA tag this October. Pulling this buck out with my kayak was something I set as a goal a few years ago when I found this area scouting. I’ve been beaten by two different bucks in this spot the previous two season…things finally came together on October 16th. To listen to the podcast click the purple play button at the top of the page. You can also download ...
Nov 08, 2023•1 hr 17 min
Today I’m joined by my buddy Austin Culbertson. Austin is one of the killers from Missouri that I’ve come to know over the past few seasons. If you remember the episode he and I did last season, he talked about a buck that got away that was haunting him…a true giant that was living in plain site…but seemed un-killable - then he got his chance and the worst situation for a bowhunter happened. Going into the offseason he only wanted to know if this deer he’s played chess with was still alive…he wa...
Nov 01, 2023•1 hr 12 min
