Deer Behavior 101 with Moriah Boggess

Show Notes:

I think it’s important to understand deer behavior, regardless of which kind of specific deer you hunt. Getting a good, rounded perspective on what deer do and being able to apply that to your hunting is key. Moriah Boggess is a subject matter expert on deer biology and management. As a deer biologist, Moriah spends his time doing research coordination, working with policy, and handling disease surveillance and management.

Moriah lives on the coast in North Carolina, and we start by talking about the different rut periods all around the country. Sometimes, within a state, you can have several ruts as you move around. We then get into home range, how it changes with the seasons, and how it impacts hunting. Bucks have two jobs in life: to stay alive and leave a legacy. Depending on what time of the year it is, home ranges change based on these priorities.

Moriah and I also discuss scrapes, rubs, and other things that’ll help us uplevel our deer hunting game. Both are communication mechanisms for deer, and Moriah talks about their different purposes. Our conversation also includes how the weather affects deer behavior, behavioral attributes of deer that you can key on to help you tag out, deer body language, and more.

What’s Inside:

• Home ranges and how they change throughout the seasons

Mentioned in this episode

Days In The Wild Podcast

Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone

Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/

Moriah on Instagram

Short Description:

Moriah Boggess is a subject matter expert on deer biology and management. Moriah and I discuss different rut periods, scrapes, and rubs, and how understanding them can up your hunting game. Our conversation also includes how the weather affects deer behavior, behavioral attributes of deer that you can key on to help you tag out, deer body language, and more.

Tags

big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, deer behavior, white tail deer, deer hunting, deer biology, deer body language

Muley Hunting with Richie Wilhelm

Show Notes:

Richie Wilhelm joins me for a little storytelling session, and I pick his brain on a few things. Richie owns and operates a small residential construction company in the La Crosse area of Wisconsin. He began the business around 15 years ago, and although self-employment comes with challenges, it’s allowed Richie to get the time off he needs around hunting season. 

We kick things off by talking about Arizona deer hunting and how the weather impacts herds. Richie had two mule deer tags this year in different states, and he killed two of his top three ever. He had two bad years of chasing whitetails, but his muley chase paid off. We talk about spotting and stalking whitetails and which states are best for sitting in a tree stand.

Richie shares the story of the first muley buck he shot back in September. He had ten days on a solo trip and hunted an area that he had some intel on. He finally got him from around 59 yards away and hit the buck in the shoulder. Unfortunately, Richie lost him, but tried again and headed back out about a month later. After a bunch of trials and tribulations and a storm thrown in, he finally got him and felt like he was on cloud nine.

What’s Inside:

• Spotting and stalking vs. tree stands

Mentioned in this episode

Days In The Wild Podcast

Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone

Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/

Short Description:

Richie Wilhelm joins me for a little storytelling session, and I pick his brain on a few things. Richie had two mule deer tags this year in different states, and he killed two of his top three ever. Here, he shares the story of the first muley buck he shot back in September.

Tags

big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, mule deer hunting, whitetail deer hunting, bow hunting

Crazy Coues Deer Story with Dave Maher

Show Notes:

I just had a crazy experience with a recent client on a Coues deer hunt, and Dave Maher’s here to help me unpack it all. Dave’s been on the show before, and he’s my go-to guy when it comes to gun stuff. My client was physically challenged, and I hunted with him for three days. I found several opportunities, but unfortunately, we couldn’t get to any fast enough. 

I also had Ryan with me, and he later found a good buck. Even though my client could shoot and he had a good setup, we were too far away. I decided to try to get as close as I could, but the best I could do was 700 yards. All of a sudden, the buck comes out of a tree, and my client hits the buck’s shoulder. He took a second shot, and the buck shot straight up into the air and dove forward into some trees, but he was still alive!

We moved in a little closer to wait for the buck to do something, and he eventually stood up. My client shot again, but missed. At this point, we don’t have another shot, but the deer got up again. Ryan got his eyes on him, and the buck walked into some trees. From here, we go on a crazy chase to find this deer and he eventually goes down for good. Here, Dave gives his analysis of the hunt and his take on why this buck was so hard to take down. 

What’s Inside:

• A crazy story from a recent Coues deer hunt.

Mentioned in this episode

Days In The Wild Podcast

Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone

Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/

Short Description:

Tags

big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, Coues deer hunting, gun tips, bullet tips, deer hunting tips

 South Dakota Recap with Dan Graff

Show Notes:

We’re doing a South Dakota recap here with my longtime friend Dan Graff. The hunting game is always evolving, and Dan talks about some of the changes he’s noticed since he was last out. Dan and I chat about being challenged when hunting with folks who put in more effort than you and how it can bring out the best in you and make you better. The people you hunt with always make the experience.

Here, Dan and I break down our trip from start to finish. Our first hunt was on November 5th and I glassed up a buck I called Too Tall. I share the highs and lows of trying to get him and how things ultimately turned out. Dan shares his perspective on how it all went down, and we talk about how things don’t always turn out as planned, even if you have the perfect setup.

Sometimes you see people on social media having successes, but no one ever shows the bad. It’s very easy to look at things like that and think everyone’s doing well. I’ve questioned my own self and have wanted to quit several times. 

I’m putting this out there and showing my vulnerability because I want others who feel the same way to know they’re not alone. For me, hunting is part of what I am and when I don’t have success, I view it as a negative reflection of who I am. My point is, don’t allow years of positivity and success to be erased by negativity. Focus on the good. 

What’s Inside:

• Stories from our South Dakota hunt

Mentioned in this episode

Days In The Wild Podcast

Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone

Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/

Prairie Harvest

Tags

big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, South Dakota, deer hunting, hunting trip, positivity, perseverance, self-reflection

Upcoming AZ and WY Draw with Dave Barnett

Show Notes:

Dave Barnett joins me here to talk about the Arizona elk and antelope draw. We also get into Wyoming, since that draw is coming up as well, and it’s a hot ticket. 2023 sailed by and Dave and I talk about how our year in hunting shaped up as things come to a close. I recap the highs and lows of some of my trips, and I’m hoping to redeem myself a little bit over the next couple of months.

There are no changes going into this year’s Arizona draw, and it’s looking like February 13th will be the draw deadline. Make sure you have your credit card updated by then, or else you might miss out on a tag! Dave and I talk about how the Arizona system works, including how bonus points work, how to view choices, and how they do their drawing. In my opinion, it’s the best system out there.

Dave and I get into how we feel about droughts and hunting according to moon phases. We then get into Wyoming and their draw system, which is one of the most convoluted out there. Dave shares how the units are set up and how they differ from Arizona. We talk about how the tags are split up, the difference between the regular and special draws, and more. 

What’s Inside:

• Quick recap of my hunts so far this year

Mentioned in this episode

Days In The Wild Podcast

Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone

Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/

Short Description:

Tags

big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, Arizona, Wyoming, tags, draw, antelope, elk, hunting season

Title:  Coues Deer with Fred Bohm

Show Notes:

Fred Bohm’s from the Tucson area, and he joins me here to talk about coues deer. He’s originally from New Jersey but headed west to Colorado after college. He’s been an Arizona resident for about a year and a half but has been hunting in the state for over 10 years. Fred’s father taught him how to hunt when he was younger, and he became obsessed with bow hunting early in the game. He got into coues deer hunting after snagging an OTC tag.

Fred’s known for his photography of his hunting escapades and has had a passion for it since he was a teen. He loves to inspire others, and I’ve always been a fan of his photos. Coues deer hunting season is coming up soon, and here, I pick Fred’s brain on his favorite hunting tips and tricks. We kick things off by talking about the difference in behavior in coues deer compared to eastern deer. Fred shares the characteristics you can use to your advantage to score.

Fred’s hunted a lot of different habitats throughout Arizona, and he shares his favorite spots. He shares his top rules for stalking coues deer and how to approach it. Fred and I also discuss his three most critical factors to contribute to hunting success, how to find the right areas, recommendations for equipment, and more.

What’s Inside:

• Differences between coues deer and other deer types

Mentioned in this episode

Days In The Wild Podcast

Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone

Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/

Fred Bohm on Instagram

Fred Bohm on Facebook

Short Description:

Tags

big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, coues deer, Arizona, deer hunting, hunting photography

John Stallone talks with blood tracking master with John Jeanany

Blood tracking with Richard Smith Throwback 

Hunting the Ribeye in the Sky with John Odell

Show Notes:

John Odell joins me to chat about hunting the ribeye in the sky, also known as the sandhill crane. I drew a tag for the first time this year, so selfishly, I want to find out all about it. John was a wildlife biologist for Arizona Game and Fish for 17 years. He worked in the small game program, and last year, he felt a calling to leave the department to move to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for about eight months. There, he learned some Spanish and spent some time at a culinary school.

John’s back in the States now, and he’s currently cooking at the El Tovar restaurant in the Grand Canyon. Hunting and food go hand in hand, and now John gets to explore both of his passions. John and I get into the history of the culinary world of wild game, and he shares some of his experiences from around the world. We also talk about the history of conservation in America and people’s perspectives on hunting today.

Next, we get into sandhill crane hunting. They’re the oldest bird in the fossil record that’s remained unchanged, and they're really a sight to see. John runs through some of their stats, characteristics, and behavioral traits and shares a little about how the species has changed over time. John also shares hunting tips, including which type of sandhill crane is best to eat, insights into how these birds move around, the best hunting tactics, decoys and calls, and more. 

What’s Inside:

• A chat about wild game culinary and conservation history

Mentioned in this episode

Days In The Wild Podcast

Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone

Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/

Short Description:

Tags

big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, culinary, conservation, cooking, wild game hunting, sandhill crane, bird hunting, calls, sandhill crane hunting

Jeff and I discuss the opportunities to hunt Alaska as a non-resident he explains some of the draw and we touch on the registration or quota hunts available in AK. 

Jeffs instagram

Jeffs podcast and blog