In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by Nate Rozeveld from the Michigan Wild podcast to discuss their experiences in the hunting community, the evolution of hunting popularity, and the impact of technology on hunting practices. They explore the joys of small game hunting, the ethics surrounding the use of technology, and personal moral dilemmas faced by hunters. The discussion highlights the importance of networking within the podcasting community and the shared passion for the outdoors. In this conversation, Nate and Mitch explore the importance of being challenged in life and hunting, the reevaluation of personal goals, and the balance between family and outdoor pursuits. They discuss how experiences shape memories and the significance of enjoying the journey rather than focusing solely on outcomes. The conversation also touches on combating cabin fever during the off-season and the mental aspects of hunting and personal growth.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is back in his element consulting on crops.  This week's crop is a hot topic in the wildlife habitat and management world - switchgrass.  Switchgrass use has grown in popularity for habitat improvement as well as food plot screening.  While it's extremely effective when established, it's slightly more difficult to get started when compared to your fast growing annual food plots.  Mitch breaks down a few details and experiences he has had that hopefully you can implement into your switchgrass planting.

In addition to switchgrass, the use of annual screening such as egyptian wheat has increased.  While it's simpler to establish than switchgrass, there are a few things to consider when planting to ensure maximum potential.  In both crops, Mitch breaks down weed management, seed bed preparation, and timing of planting.  You'll hear information about herbicides that can be effective while aiding in your establishment, as well as the timing when they should be applied.  Start planning your successful plantings now - shooting from the hip this spring may result in frustration!

In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by Rich Yoder who shares his extensive experience in hunting, particularly focusing on predator hunting. He discusses the transition from traditional hunting to predator hunting, the impact of coyotes on deer populations, and the ethical considerations surrounding predator hunting. Rich emphasizes the importance of understanding animal behavior and the need for responsible hunting practices. The conversation also touches on the growing popularity of predator hunting and the implications it has for wildlife management. In this conversation, Mitch and Rich delve into the intricacies of coyote and fox hunting, exploring the behavioral differences between the two animals, the importance of hunting tactics, and the significance of proximity in successful hunts. Rich shares personal anecdotes from his hunting experiences, highlighting the challenges and triumphs faced in the field. The discussion emphasizes the need for serious preparation and understanding of wildlife behavior to enhance hunting success.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch recounts his out-of-state hunting trip he took last week to Kansas.  This was like nothing he's ever experienced before, as he was invited as a guest to join a group of guys from North and South Carolina to participate in an outfitted 3-day wing hunt.  The group was hosted by Wing Chaser Outdoors guiding service who absolutely knocked the hunting experience out of the park.  During the 3 days of hunting, the group killed around 100 geese and a dozen mallard ducks.  Shoulders and cheeks are sore from all the shooting, but the excitement remains as he is still reminiscing about the trip.  The big takeaways were, 1) Wing Chaser Outdoors was an excellent guide service, 2) the comradery at the lodge was excellent and 3) it would be nice if the Keystone state had waterfowl hunting similar to this!  Thanks for tuning in!

On this week's episode Mitch is joined by friends and family Jacob Mengel and Neal Kerschner.  Neal was fortunate to draw the tag of a lifetime: a Pennsylvania bull elk tag.  Neal was joined by his dad and Jacob, and the crew was able to experience what most only dream about.  Neal punched his tag on a beautiful 6x6 on the second day of the season on public land. He was proud to have the hunt play out in a manner closely to what he envisioned: a hunt worth working for.  An added bonus is that Neal's bull may be the northernmost bull elk harvested in PA's history since the hunt began.  We discuss the emotional rollercoaster of drawing the tag, choosing an outfitter, then hurrying up to wait for the December 28th opener.  Sit back and enjoy!  

In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by Hunter Scott and Tyler Hanna from PA Boys Outdoors and H3 Game Calls. They discuss their hunting seasons and the growth of their brands, as a new brand has been developed in the world of food plot and habitat consulting. The conversation delves into food plot management, strategic land management, and setting realistic expectations for hunting properties. They emphasize the significance of access routes, wind direction, and habitat improvement for successful deer management. In this conversation, they discuss various strategies for enhancing deer hunting success through effective habitat management and food plot implementation. They share personal experiences and insights on the importance of water holes, equipment investment, and understanding deer density. The conversation also touches on the balance between agricultural practices and wildlife needs, as well as innovative techniques like hinge cutting to improve habitat. They emphasize their commitment to helping others achieve success in their hunting endeavors through their services.

This week on the Pennsylvania Woodsman Mitch is joined by good friend Aaron Hepler to reminisce on this past year's hunting season.  If you've followed along to the show this season, you know that life has gotten busy and Mitch took a while to get into deer hunting mode.  Fortunately for him, he was not alone, as Aaron didn't jump on the deer hunting bandwagon too quickly either this season.  For the last 15+ years, both of these guys have been diehard deer hunters, especially when it comes to bowhunting.  Turns out, there are other fun things to do too!

Aaron discusses his new journey training a Brittany pup to be a bird dog.  A lot more effort went into working with his dog preseason and in season, then running cameras and scouting deer.  Aaron seems to think this hunting season was as fun as any he has had in the past.  And for the record, he still had an awesome deer season punching both buck and doe tags in PA!  We recount his deer hunting experiences and what he looks forward to doing more of in the future.  Thanks for listening, and remember to do what you love and not for likes!

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, it's story time as Mitch recounts the events of opening week of rifle season at camp.  Each season during rifle season, he along with family and friends join together for some old fashioned deer drives in the big woods of northern PA.  The events throughout this week led to exactly what you read in the title, a hematoma on Mitch's leg, how he lost his cell phone during a drive, and the events leading to recovering a 130" mountain buck.  

During the course of this three day hunt, Mitch's leg injury worsened from a fall he had opening weekend.  But being the blockhead he is, continued to push on hunting!  Organizing drives with a group can be somewhat challenging to effectively communicate with a group.  However, this social event is a fun change in pace to the solo venture of buck hunting all season.  Sometimes things do not always work out as you plan.  Drives get messed up, shot opportunities get missed, and sometimes story endings don't follow the Hollywood script.  However, the journey over this three day hunt turned out to be one for the memory books!

On this week's episode Mitch is gearing up for Pennsylvania's late season deer hunting with his flintlock muzzleloader.  This unique weapon has a 3+week long season for deer each year that creates a fun opportunity to fill a tag.  Over the past few years, Mitch has become slightly more serious in his shooting and preparation to fill a tag with the ol' smoke pole.  This was not always the case, in fact, plenty of animals have been scared by his inaccurate shooting in the past.  This forced a change to buckle down and learn how to become more accurate with quality practice.  

Mitch shares his experiences shooting after purchasing a book about black powder rifle accuracy.  He shares the process he installed into his routine for load development and practice to help alleviate flinching, and build a handload with the right powder charge and patch thickness.  There are a few other tricks he has picked up that have helped his success along the way.  If you're an experienced flintlock shooter, this may not be your episode.  However, if you're the fella that didn't fill a deer tag and is deciding to dust off the flintlock after a few years of not being engaged, this may help you get ready!

In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman Podcast, Mitch welcomes DJ Hoshauer back to the podcast to share hunting stories from this season, including DJ's successful season filled with unique experiences across multiple states. The conversation delves into some challenges faced such as unanticipated health concerns, and also recaps some exciting highlights. In this conversation, DJ shares his extensive experiences and insights from years of hunting, focusing on the 4 year journey of pursuing a unique buck he tagged opening day of Pennsylvania rifle season. He discusses the importance of scouting, understanding deer behavior, and adapting strategies based on environmental pressures. The conversation also highlights the emotional aspects of hunting, including the thrill of the chase, the lessons learned from missed opportunities, and the significance of family involvement in the hunting experience. After catching up on DJ's season, the two share the story of their hunt together last week when Mitch filled his 2024 PA buck tag. They cover the planning stages, strategies employed during the hunt, the camaraderie shared between friends, and the reflections on the day's events. The conversation emphasizes the importance of enjoying the experience over simply filling a tag, highlighting the thrill of the chase and the value of teamwork in hunting.