Harvest numbers. Hidden bias. Millions of dollars in hunting revenue. In this episode, we uncover why Illinois’ deer population estimates may not add up and explore smarter ways to manage the herd — including lessons from Iowa.

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At the end of each season, we like to go over our data and see when the most mature bucks were harvested based on what we have available. Year after year, the trends seem to be the same. Was this year different? Listen to the full episode and find out what we saw as the best days of the 2025 deer season.

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For any info on real estate available through Midwest Farm and Land, or anything that RG Outdoors has, contact Rodney Hawkins 618-925-3153.

Check out Raks Big Game Supplements for all your mineral and protein needs! Go to Raksbiggame.com and use code FULLDRAW for 15% off your entire order!

Submit questions or comments to:

[email protected]

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To consistently harvest mature bucks year over year, you have to take advantage of the offseason. If you want to take advantage of the offseason, you need to prepare for it. Austin and Canyon talk about that this week on Full Draw Friday.

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Support our Partners:

For any info on real estate available through Midwest Farm and Land, or anything that RG Outdoors has, contact Rodney Hawkins 618-925-3153.

Check out Raks Big Game Supplements for all your mineral and protein needs! Go to Raksmineral.com and use code FULLDRAW for 15% off your entire order!

Submit questions or comments to:

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Cam Hanes recently made some comments about the importance of a forgiving bow over a fast bow for hunting. I tend to agree with everything he said on the matter. I talk about that, what we saw at the ATA, and more on this episode.

Ridge Hunter Products and Merchandise:

Ridgehunteroutdoors.com

Discount Code: RHOPOD for 10% off everything in your order

Support our Partners:

For any info on real estate available through Midwest Farm and Land, or anything that RG Outdoors has, contact Rodney Hawkins 618-925-3153.

Check out Raks Big Game Supplements for all your mineral and protein needs! Go to Raksbiggame.com and use code FULLDRAW for 15% off your entire order!

Submit questions or comments to:

[email protected]

Find us on Social:

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Austin was able to take a huge mainframe 8-point buck back in late October. We talk about how he got it done on that deer, giving bucks some wind, and much more on this episode of Full Draw Friday.

Full Draw Friday Note

Ridge Hunter Products and Merchandise:

Ridgehunteroutdoors.com

Discount Code: FULLDRAW for 10% off everything in your order

Tactical Approach Outdoors:

Tacticalapproachoutdors.com

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Support our Partners:

For any info on real estate available through Midwest Farm and Land, or anything that RG Outdoors has, contact Rodney Hawkins 618-925-3153.

Check out Raks Big Game Supplements for all your mineral and protein needs! Go to Raksmineral.com and use code FULLDRAW for 15% off your entire order!

Submit questions or comments to:

[email protected]

Find us on Social:

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You've probably heard someone say over the past few years, "hunting is turning into a rich man's game." Or something along those lines. Is it really, though? And, what do they actually mean when they say hunting? Canyon talks about all that on this episode of the RHO Podcast!

Ridge Hunter Products and Merchandise:

Ridgehunteroutdoors.com

Discount Code: RHOPOD for 10% off everything in your order

Support our Partners:

For any info on real estate available through Midwest Farm and Land, or anything that RG Outdoors has, contact Rodney Hawkins 618-925-3153.

Check out Raks Big Game Supplements for all your mineral and protein needs! Go to Raksbiggame.com and use code FULLDRAW for 15% off your entire order!

Submit questions or comments to:

[email protected]

Find us on Social:

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2025 has been a banner year at Ridge Hunter Outdoors. We've been fortunate to harvest and film several nice bucks and turkeys, produce some really fun episodes and new series, and reach goals that we had set for ourselves. Thank you all for making this year what it was. We can't wait to see what 2026 is going to bring!

Ridge Hunter Products and Merchandise:

Ridgehunteroutdoors.com

Discount Code: RHOPOD for 10% off everything in your order

Support our Partners:

For any info on real estate available through Midwest Farm and Land, or anything that RG Outdoors has, contact Rodney Hawkins 618-925-3153.

Check out Raks Big Game Supplements for all your mineral and protein needs! Go to Raksbiggame.com and use code FULLDRAW for 15% off your entire order!

Submit questions or comments to:

[email protected]

Find us on Social:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC50IZ_HE2pnMBjRyPpmgvMg

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Food is the key to hunting mature bucks and any deer during the late season. However, not everyone has access to hunt good food sources. So, how do they fill their tags in the latter part of the season? Canyon answers that question on this Full Draw Friday!

Ridge Hunter Products and Merchandise:

Ridgehunteroutdoors.com

Discount Code: RHOPOD for 10% off everything in your order

Support our Partners:

For any info on real estate available through Midwest Farm and Land, or anything that RG Outdoors has, contact Rodney Hawkins 618-925-3153.

Check out Raks Big Game Supplements for all your mineral and protein needs! Go to Raksbiggame.com and use code FULLDRAW for 15% off your entire order!

Submit questions or comments to:

[email protected]

Find us on Social:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC50IZ_HE2pnMBjRyPpmgvMg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RidgeHunterOutdoors

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The Christmas Story. Luke 2: 1-20

Merry Christmas, everybody!

We're finally back with a solo episode from Canyon, where he discusses the Illinois firearm season, updates you on how the team has been doing, talks about YouTube, content, expos for next year, and more! It's been a great season, and we're not done yet!

Ridge Hunter Products and Merchandise:

Ridgehunteroutdoors.com

Discount Code: RHOPOD for 10% off everything in your order

Support our Partners:

For any info on real estate available through Midwest Farm and Land, or anything that RG Outdoors has, contact Rodney Hawkins 618-925-3153.

Check out Raks Big Game Supplements for all your mineral and protein needs! Go to Raksbiggame.com and use code FULLDRAW for 15% off your entire order!

Submit questions or comments to:

[email protected]

Find us on Social:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC50IZ_HE2pnMBjRyPpmgvMg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RidgeHunterOutdoors

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