On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by PA's very own Average Jack Archery - Nate Sellers.  A lot has transpired since Nate's last appearance on the show.  Nate has transitioned into the outdoor industry full time between his pro shop and also working for Huntworth gear.  We discuss this new journey and what his next goals are; one of which is being more competitive in target archery.

We discuss the growth and lack thereof in the sport of archery.  There was a time many local clubs had high levels of competitive archers.  Today many are barely holding on; what happened?  Those people who have stuck around have found themselves with the greatest archery technology to ever exist.  This has shortened the gap to proficiency and increased the level of competition that's still present.  We discuss what separates a good shooter from a great shooter.  Last, we discuss involving new shooters and getting folks started on a good note with a bow in hand.  This is an all around dynamite archery episode - get your bow and shoot in this nice weather!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Harvesting a bear within a lifetime in Pennsylvania is an accomplishment by most hunter's standards.  However, doing so in regularity degrades the theory many say to a person's success - luck.  On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman we chat with Ryan Hausman.  Ryan has harvested a bear the last five years in a row with rifle, muzzleloader, and archery equipment.  One of his bears topped out at 615 lbs field dressed!

This episode revolves all around Ryan's stories and experiences.  There is nothing lacking from the entertainment department in this episode.  Some of the situations Ryan has found himself have turned into a rodeo.  But there is also a lot to take away and use within your own bear hunting schemes.  Patience, thoroughly scan thick cover, and place yourself where there is abundant food to name a few.  Hopefully Ryan's experience harvesting five bears helps you harvest one for yourself!  Check out the article that was written after Ryan harvested bear number five.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman is quite a bit different from normal.  Mitch rides solo and just talks about life during the winter months.  To cut it truthfully, February sucks.  Not a lot is happening if you're a deer hunter, and the reality is most of us do not have the ability to devote a lot of time to hunting, considering the months of neglect other things in life get while hunting season goes throughout fall.  

Most shows are doing a great job of keeping the fire lit for the upcoming season.  Mitch envies them, because for many it's everything we have to keep scraping by sanely this time of year!   Mitch reflects on how the Pennsylvania Woodsman began, and discusses the difficulty and frustration experienced along the way.  That begs the question, why is it here and where is it going?  Don't worry, this episode isn't all doom and gloom.  Just the reality that sometimes things get hard!  So if February has been tough on you, you're not alone.  

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by PA hunter Howie Miller.  Howie works his tail off in and out of the field to make the most of his time in the woods.  Howie reflects on the 2023 grind of a season where he played cat and mouse with a dandy buck throughout the fall.  Howie lives in the southern half of the state, but chooses to hunt as much as possible around his camp in the northern portion of PA.  This creates challenges when hunting deer that are not resident to your living quarters.

Howie wrapped his tag around a stud buck during the first week of the Pennsylvania rifle season.  Thrilled to no end, we reflect on the story, successes, and lessons learned throughout a satisfying fall.  Lastly, we discuss a new journey which began late last summer; managing a newly purchased property.  Howie has as much enjoyment working in his own dirt as he does scouting public land.  We discuss the new challenges and goals he has moving forward into the next season.  Thanks for tuning in!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman we chat with Dustin Adam.  Dustin has had a roller coaster journey the past few seasons chasing some big deer as well as making some big changes in his life.  Over the last few years, Dustin has been connecting on above average bucks on a consistent basis. While there are some key components to his success, the thing that stands out most is his hard work ethic.  Dustin shares his success stories from the previous two bucks he harvested along with a number of other takeaways.

Dustin is not alone in his hunting pursuits; beside him hunting every bit as hard is his wife Brandy and stepson Waylon.  Together, they have begun a journey managing a newly purchased farm for better hunting and wildlife.  Dustin shares the first buck harvest on this property with Waylon as well as the hurdles he experienced throughout the transition of the ground becoming his own.  These hunting stories have tid bits of tips and advice to pull from and use in the field.  One common theme to the Adam family success is capitalizing in early season.  However, you will find everyone in the family hunting right up until the end whenever needed!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman we chat with Brandy Adam. Brandy works for the National Rifle Association and plays a huge role in planning the Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg each year. We kick off with the prep work for the show. A lot has changed since the NRA has taken it over in 2014, and we would argue it's bigger and better than ever. From here, we learn a little bit more about Brandy's journey through the world of hunting and outdoor recreation.

Brandy did not grow up in a hunting family, and has grown from a borderline anti hunter to an extremely successful woman in the field. This part of the show provides a ton of perspective most men will typically never see. Guys, if you've wanted to get your wife or daughter involved in your passions, there is a lot to learn from this episode. Brandy not only hunts harder than some guys, she has a desire to help grow hunting and shooting sports in local clubs, and inspire other women to navigate the unique journey of being a female in the outdoor world.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week/s episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch chats with Frank Brock from Morse Nursery.  Frank is an expert in utilizing their plant genetics to improve the quality of a hunting property.  There is a lot to unpack in this episode!  We discuss many of the tree species available at morse nursery, including the most popular: chestnuts, persimmons and pears.  We dive into real world scenarios for applying these to the landscape.  Frank has had the pleasure to work with landowners across the country, and is no stranger to Pennsylvania and the Northeast.

Mitch provides Frank with a few landscape scenarios common to PA landscapes including completely forested ridges to mixed agricultural properties.  From here, Frank shares  a few possibilities to lead us towards success.  This includes how to plant trees with high survival rates, how to shorten the window of time before trees produce, quality sites for planting species based on soil type and moisture, and most importantly, how to orient plantings for advantageous deer hunting.  This is another great episode to get you thinking about new plans for your property this spring season.  Be sure to check out the links below for Morse Nursery, and use the promo code Woodsman10 for a 10% discount on your purchase!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by founder of Whitetail Landscapes, Jon Teater. Jon hails from Tully, New York and consults with landowners throughout the country, primarily targeting the northeast. Jon is extremely detail oriented - more than many consults you may have seen on YouTube or listen to on other podcasts. This is one of the many things that sets him apart from others within the industry. His attention to deer habits and their tendencies in terrain and hunting pressure dictate how he improves the layout and habitat of a hunting property.

We discuss many different philosophies of property layout and hunting strategies throughout a property. We compare some other well known people's consulting strategies and recommendations, and then break down how different doesn't mean it's wrong. Instead, it is a direct result of the environment and experiences with which that consultant lives and works in. From here we discuss how Jon approaches cutting a bedding area. This includes concepts such as "walls of cover" and segmenting deer with diversity. Even if you are not a private landowner or hunter, there is a lot to unpack in this conversation revolving around mature bucks and how deer relate to their surroundings.  

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As we close the '23 deer season everything is still fresh in our minds.  It's difficult not to begin planning our trips and goals for the 2024 season right now!  Regardless of whether we accomplished our goals or have room for improvement until next year, thorough planning prepares the way for success.  This week on the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch chats with good friend Andrew Muntz from the O2 podcast.  The boys reflect on their 2023 deer season, including Muntz's Drummond Island buck and his trip over to PA deer camp with Mitch (spoiler alert- he missed a buck!).

The conversation goes from 2023 reflection into 2024 planning - and becomes more of a counseling session for Mitch than a series of detailed strategies.  The guys discuss their attempts to resolve personal conflicts such as: enjoying peaceful time in the field, not allowing inches of antler to gauge a season, valuing time with friends and family, prioritizing family and responsibility over deer hunting, and much more.  Mitch is battling the path to take for his next hunting goal - how can you be successful with limited time?  It might not be the sexiest deer hunting conversation, but it sure is as real as it gets and comes from the heart.  

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch catches up with Nate Thomas from the Missouri Woods and Water Podcast, also on Sportsmen's Empire.  The two catch up over deer season, and Nate shares that 2023 deer season was a little tougher than years past.  While he had success in many ways, from taking kids hunting and his brother-in-law harvesting one of the target bucks, things just did not align for Nate's tag to get filled.  A change in scenery is just what the doctor ordered - coyote hunting!

Nate, Micah, and Andy have really invested time and money into the tools of the trade to coyote hunt throughout the calendar year.  The hunt dynamic compared to deer hunting is distinctly different in Nate's eyes, which is why he enjoys it so much.  We discuss tools of the trade: what are essential pieces of equipment, and what are the things that after using for a season you learned were a waste of money?  Nate shares a few exciting hunting experiences with us as well, which is a perfect way to begin the winter portion of predator hunting!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.