Sportsmen's Empire - Whitetail Hunting

Halloween hits the deer woods hard. One strange sound in the dark, one set of eyes in the timber, and suddenly every walk back to the truck feels a little less ordinary.In this Halloween edition of Deep in the Hunt of Texas, Connor and Jeffro swap hunting stories, creepy encounters, and the kind of campfire tales that make you listen a little closer to what’s moving in the brush. They joke about using an Aztec death whistle to clear out a crowded public-land spot, then get into the real things that unsettle them: big cats in the woods, strange lights, and the uneasy feeling that something may be following you through the dark.The conversation moves between laughs and genuine nerves. Jeffro recalls a frightening walk across a field after an evening hunt, when a sound kept getting closer until he turned around and found a cow just feet away. Connor shares a night in the stand when the noise of a hog under his tree had him scrambling for his light and pistol. Their stories capture the unpredictable side of hunting: animals can appear from nowhere, a familiar path can feel strange after dark, and even experienced hunters can find themselves rattled.They also revisit a different kind of haunting: the deer that got away. Jeffro tells the story of a giant six-point he had in his sights but couldn’t bring himself to shoot without being sure. 

Later, a trail-camera photo showed the buck had been around all along. Connor remembers two remarkable bucks he never managed to catch up with. Those missed chances still linger, along with the familiar hunter’s debate over patience, ethical shots, and knowing when to take an opportunity.From there, the episode heads deeper into paranormal territory. Connor recounts the Cash-Landrum incident, a famous Texas UFO case in which three witnesses described a bright, heat-producing object over a rural road, followed by a formation of helicopters. The mystery, the witnesses’ reported symptoms, and the unanswered questions make it a story that continues to invite speculation.The unsettling stories continue with a reported thermal-scope sighting of a figure that appeared human, then dropped to all fours and disappeared into the timber. Connor also shares an East Texas hog-hunting account about a large, upright creature that seemed to stalk the hogs before launching at one. 

The hosts consider ordinary explanations, acknowledge the lack of verified evidence, and still wrestle with the details that make these stories hard to forget.Throughout the episode, Connor and Jeffro bring the humor and honesty of longtime hunting partners to stories about public-land pressure, deer-season timing, trail cameras, and the strange sounds that seem louder when you’re alone in the woods. It’s part hunting talk, part Halloween storytelling, and part reminder that the walk back to the truck can be the most nerve-racking part of the hunt.Whether you’re a deer or hog hunter, a fan of Texas mysteries, or simply someone who enjoys a good story told by the campfire, settle in for a spooky trip through the woods with Deep in the Hunt of Texas.

Brad and Tucker welcome longtime hunting writer and broadcaster Ron Spomer to discuss shotguns, rifles, cartridges, and the choices hunters face in the field. They compare classic firearms such as the Remington 1100 and Browning A5, and talk about how gun quality, fit, maintenance, and the shooter all shape performance.

The conversation turns to rifle cartridges and the debates that surround them. Ron explains that successful hunting depends less on chasing a supposedly perfect caliber and more on choosing a suitable bullet, placing it well, and understanding how a rifle shoots. He discusses familiar options such as the .243, .270, .30-06, 7mm Rem Mag, and 6.5 Creedmoor, as well as straight-wall cartridges like the .350 Legend. 

Ron’s advice is to prioritize familiarity over novelty: practice with the same rifle and ammunition, know its trajectory, and don’t take a new rifle into the field before you’re comfortable with it. He also shares thoughts on choosing a manageable rifle for young hunters, using a firearm when traveling to hunt, and the growing interest in suppressors.Alongside the technical advice, Ron recalls a lifetime of hunting across different landscapes and for many kinds of game. His standout memory is a Dall sheep hunt in Alaska: after a hard week in the mountains, he and his companions rode back through snow beneath a full moon, startled a grizzly, and watched wolves cross a riverbed near camp. For Ron, moments like that capture what makes the hunt meaningful: the people, place, challenge, and shared experience.

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Blacktail deer might be one of North America’s most underrated big-game hunts—and Mark Boardman is here to explain why. From Washington’s rugged high-country rifle hunts to the rain-soaked timberlands of the Pacific Northwest, he shares what makes these elusive deer so challenging and rewarding to pursue.

Mark has spent nearly 18 years at Vortex Optics, but his connection to blacktails goes back to growing up hunting them in western Washington. In this conversation, he explains what makes Columbia and Sitka blacktails unique, where hunters can find them, and how a memorable high-country hunt produced a buck of a lifetime.You’ll hear about:

• Why access can be more challenging than getting a tag
• How to scout habitat edges, rubs, and overlooked logging roads
• Why rainy days can be productive for still-hunting
• When blacktail rut activity typically picks up
• How high-country hunts differ from low-country timber hunts
• Which whitetail tactics can also work on blacktails

Mark also shares stories from hunts in Washington and Alaska, discusses his upcoming Oregon hunt with his dad and brother, and explains why he keeps pursuing blacktails even when bigger-antlered deer are an option. For hunters looking to explore new country and try a different kind of deer hunt, this episode offers useful insight and plenty of inspiration.

The advice hunters get online is often backwards. Stop chasing the perfect setup, obsessing over every rule, and letting other people define what a “good” hunt looks like. Dan J. shares a raw, funny, and honest reality check on modern deer hunting—and what can happen when you stop overthinking and just hunt.

Dan takes on the pressure to manage every inch of ground and hunt by committee, then makes the case for trusting your woodsmanship, reading the sign, and spending more time in the woods. He shares his plans for the rut and explains why staging areas are among his favorite low-impact setups.In this episode, Dan talks about wind, access, fresh sign, trail cameras, and knowing when to take the shot instead of chasing the perfect hunt. He also reflects on hunting with kids, setting expectations, filling the freezer, and how a phone-free sit reminded him to slow down and enjoy the woods.

Along the way, Dan makes the case for less social-media ego, more gratitude, and celebrating hunters on their own terms. Not every deer has to be a giant to make the season memorable.For bowhunters heading into the rut—and anyone ready to stop overcomplicating the hunt—this is an unfiltered reminder to get outside, enjoy the moment, and make the season your own.

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In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by Axel Hartman of Rack Daddies Hunting and Fishing to talk about life in the outdoor industry, hunting adventures, and the experiences that keep drawing them back to Pennsylvania. Axel shares what it's really like making a living in the hunting industry, from filming and editing to running an apparel business, along with his recent experience filming a Pennsylvania elk hunt. The two discuss the opportunities and challenges of social media, staying positive in an increasingly critical hunting culture, and why Pennsylvania remains one of their favorite places to hunt despite opportunities to travel across the country.

As the conversation unfolds, Mitch and Axel find common ground in their appreciation for the traditions and camaraderie of Pennsylvania deer camp. They reminisce about childhood memories, the excitement surrounding opening day, and how changing seasons and lifestyles have influenced hunting camp traditions. Axel shares his efforts to rekindle those experiences through archery camp, while both reflect on the importance of introducing new people to the big woods, stepping outside familiar hunting routines, and preserving these traditions for future generations. Ultimately, this conversation is a reminder that some of the most meaningful hunting memories aren't necessarily made in the woods, but around the people and places that bring us together.

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On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Thomas Mlsna of The Untamed Ambition, to discuss how to make the most of the October lull, and set yourself up for success throughout the pre-rut and rut! Thomas is a holistic land management specialist and avid whitetail hunter from the driftless region of Wisconsin. In this conversation, the guys dive into managing pressure from yourself, neighbors, and farming activity, why habitat with less funneling can actually hold more bucks, prime trail camera locations and how to interpret data from them, October scouting, and tons more. Check it out in this week's episode!

Huge thanks to Thomas for coming back on the show! To learn more about his land management services, visit theuntamedambition.com and follow along with his season @theuntamedambition on social media

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What does it take to become a successful deer hunter when public land is your only option? In Episode 205, I sit down with Jason Griffin to talk about his journey as a deer hunter and how he’s built his success hunting exclusively on public land.

Jason shares his experiences, lessons learned, and the strategies that have helped him consistently find and harvest deer on ground that anyone can hunt. We dive into the challenges of public land hunting, learning how to read the woods, adapting to hunting pressure, finding overlooked spots, and putting in the work it takes to get it done.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you can consistently kill mature deer on public land, this episode is packed with insight, real-world experience, and motivation to help you become a better hunter.

No private leases. No exclusive access. Just public land, hard work, and figuring out how to make it happen.

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The best deer hunting lesson in this episode has nothing to do with antlers: stop chasing social media pressure and start hunting your actual property. Dan and Jason break down a real weekend in the stand, and it turns into a brutally honest conversation about cold fronts, PTO, deer movement, and why a "good hunt" is not the same thing as a dead buck.

Dan shares a Friday night sit where he confirmed a key river-bottom setup, watched nine deer come through shooting range, and learned more from the hunt he didn't tag out on than he would have from a rushed kill. Jason adds his own read on the same weather shift, explaining why the cold front didn't create a magical October explosion and why crop harvest, travel corridors, and local terrain matter more than blanket advice.

You’ll discover:

• Why a late-October or November PTO day usually beats chasing a random cold front
• How to decide whether a stand is truly "hot" based on doe movement, access, and wind
• Why cell cameras, trail intel, and social media advice only matter if they fit your specific land
• What Dan’s river-bottom setup revealed about thermals, staging cover, and deer behavior
• Why leaving the phone in the truck can make a hunt feel like hunting again

Jason also explains how limited time, kids, work, and real-life pressure change the way hunters approach the season - and why that makes the simple act of sitting still in the woods even more valuable. If you’ve ever felt behind because you’re not chasing 180-inch bucks on command, this conversation will reset your expectations in the best way.

Perfect for deer hunters who need a reality check, a confidence boost, and a reminder that the story, the process, and the quiet moments still matter more than the grip-and-grin.

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This week, we’re talking about the opportunity to head over to West Virginia for their early season and what it means to get out of your comfort zone, hunt new country, and spend time with people who share the same passion for hounds and hunting. There’s something special about hunting a new area, learning from new people, and making memories along the way.

We wrap up the show by turning our attention to youth season and one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves as hunters: What is our goal when we take a young person hunting?

So, settle in and join us for another episode of Creekside Chronicles, where it’s about more than the hunt. It’s about the hounds, the people, and the heritage we pass along.

Hounds, Hunting, Heritage.

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What does it take to build a name in the hunting industry? On this episode of the We Do This Too Outdoors Podcast, I'm sitting down with Hunter Flanders of RETAY USA for a conversation about the brand, the firearms industry, and the world of hunting.

We get into the people and passion behind the name, what makes the outdoor industry tick, and the importance of connecting with the hunters who make this community what it is. Whether you're a RETAY fan, a waterfowl hunter, a shotgun enthusiast, or someone who simply loves the outdoors, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.