Sportsmen's Empire - Whitetail Hunting

A raw 9/11 conversation turns into something bigger: perspective, grit, and the uncomfortable question of what we owe our kids, our country, and each other. Dan Johnson and Kyle start with family, wrestling, and the pressure of young athletes proving themselves, then pivot into a powerful reflection on how tragedy changes the way we see failure, sacrifice, and what really matters.

Dan shares what it means to prepare his daughter for a brutal wrestle-off, not just physically, but emotionally—including how to lose with grace when the outcome matters most. Kyle adds the therapist’s lens, the athlete’s mindset, and the reality of trying to motivate kids without turning into the “dad voice” that makes them tune out. Together, they wrestle with how much to push, how to teach resilience, and why sports can reveal who someone really is.

Then the episode takes a hard turn into September 11th. Dan recounts exactly where he was when the towers were hit, how his response has evolved from rage to compassion over the years, and why the day still forces him to check his own priorities. Kyle shares his own vivid memories of watching the attacks unfold in real time from a college dorm, along with the lasting impact of seeing the country stunned, scared, and briefly united. They talk through the national mood, the rise of distrust, and why so many people now question the government and the media.

You’ll also hear them break down several of the most talked-about 9/11 conspiracy theories, including the World Trade Center 7 collapse, the missing trillions, and claims of advance warning. Rather than stopping at outrage, they dig into the tension between incompetence, corruption, propaganda, and the human need to make sense of chaos.

This episode hits on loss, responsibility, conspiracy, patriotism, and the way ordinary people keep showing up for family when the world feels unsteady. Essential listening if you want honesty, strong opinions, and a reminder to hug your people a little longer today.

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What actually stays in your pack when it’s time to hunt whitetails? On this episode of the Hunting Gear Podcast, Dan and Bob do a complete gear dump for the fall season. From grunt tubes and scent control to bow ropes and screw-in steps, if it takes up space in their packs, it’s getting talked about.

Join the conversation on the Sportsmen's Empire Facebook and Instagram pages, or connect with Nine Finger Chronicles and Hybrid Outdoors. Let us know what gear never leaves your pack!

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EPISODE DESCRIPTION - Ready to publishColorado just changed the elk hunting game—and the next round of regulations could reshape how residents and non-residents chase tags, points, and opportunity. If you hunt the West, this is the kind of episode that can save you years of confusion and help you make smarter decisions before the 2028 changes take effect.

Dan Johnson sits down with Colorado hunter Adam Parr to break down what is really happening with the state’s draw system, why archery tags went from over-the-counter to draw for non-residents, and how point creep has exploded in some units. Adam explains the new system’s biggest shifts, including the move toward a 50/50 split between preference-point tags and weighted lottery tags, plus the simplified point-buying process that could make Colorado easier to navigate and more fair.

You’ll discover:

• What Colorado’s current over-the-counter options actually are for non-residents
• Why some archery units jumped from a few points to double-digit point totals
• How the new draw rules may change your odds and planning strategy
• Why the state’s regulation updates could reduce complexity instead of adding to it
• How residents and non-residents should think differently about long-term tag planning

Adam also shares how he approaches his own season as a resident hunter—from deciding when to burn points versus hunt over the counter, to scouting, glassing, trail cameras, and why he targets unpressured elk early in the season. He talks through the realities of hunting at 9,000 to 10,000 feet, how dry years push elk higher into timber, and the small details that separate a filled freezer from a long, exhausting grind.Then the conversation turns tactical. 

Adam explains the strategies he uses to find elk, including location bugles in the dark, reading fresh sign, hunting natural pinch points, and using terrain and wind to his advantage. He also makes a strong case for hybrid broadheads on elk, especially when blood trailing and recovery matter most.If you are applying in Colorado, planning a Western hunt, or trying to stretch your points without wasting years, this episode gives you a real-world look at what is changing and how to adapt. It’s essential listening for Western hunters who want more than hype and fewer expensive mistakes.

Big deer hunting success comes down to two things most hunters get wrong: trigger control and finding the micro pocket that deer actually use. Dan Johnson breaks down how to resist shooting the first decent buck that walks by, why that discipline is the difference between filling a tag and chasing a true target buck, and how access routes, bedding edges, and staging areas can completely change your odds.

He also shares the real-world thinking behind hunting pressure, trail camera strategy, and why the smallest overlooked pocket in thick cover often holds the oldest deer on the property. If you’ve ever felt one good buck away from breaking down and taking the shot, this episode will hit home.

You’ll discover:

• How to build your own “hit list” and stick to it without blowing the season too early
• Why trigger control matters more when you’re trying to move from average bucks to mature deer
• How micro pockets, bedding edges, and soft transitions create high-percentage setups
• The difference between morning and evening access routes and why one bad entry can wreck a hunt
• What staging areas really look like, including the edge sign that gives them away

Dan also gets candid about the sacrifices behind chasing bigger bucks, from eating tag soup to passing deer you’ve already convinced yourself to shoot. This is the mindset episode for hunters who want to level up, make sharper decisions, and stop wasting opportunities on the wrong deer.

Perfect for whitetail hunters heading into archery season, especially if you’re trying to hunt smarter, pass more deer, and finally connect on the buck you’ve been waiting for.

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This episode centers on Johnny Bauman and his company, Tagged and Bagged, a hunting accessory brand built to help hunters transport birds properly to the taxidermist. The idea was born from a painful personal experience: losing a dog’s last retrieve to freezer burn. That moment inspired Johnny to create a higher-quality solution that protects birds and preserves the memories connected to them. The hosts relate to that purpose because they understand how much care goes into turning a hunt into a lasting keepsake.

The conversation explains how Tagged and Bagged works and why it matters. The product includes a large protective bag, tags, cotton, wrapping materials, instructions, and other supplies designed to prevent freezer damage. The group emphasizes that the product is American-made, compact, and useful for hunters who travel. They also discuss how properly packaged birds save taxidermists time and reduce the risk of damaged feathers or other problems.

The episode also explores hunting culture, business ethics, and the challenges taxidermists face. Johnny, Brad, and Tucker discuss deposits, delayed pickups, storage fees, communication, and the difficulty of holding completed mounts for months or years. All parties are looking for solutions to this matter.

The final section features several memorable hunting stories. Johnny describes a dramatic Vancouver Island duck hunt involving a 14-foot boat, an axle repair in a Walmart parking lot, heavy fog, tidal dangers, crab traps, and a successful harvest of numerous sea ducks. He also shares the story of an Idaho bear hunt and talks about an upcoming Alaska trip for sandhill cranes, ducks, fishing, and possibly black bear. The episode closes with themes of adventure, perseverance, friendship, and helping hunters protect the memories created in the field.

https://taggedandbagged.com

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Connor Little welcomes Brandon Smith back to the podcast to celebrate the return of hunting season in Texas. They begin by recapping their opening-weekend dove hunts, discussing dry conditions, extreme heat, bird numbers, and the different experiences of hunting in North and South Texas. Connor also shares the story of his long drive south, a memorable breakfast-taco stop, and the advantages of using a 28-gauge shotgun for morning dove.

The conversation expands into gear and strategy, including the differences between 28-, 20-, and 12-gauge shotguns, hunting ducks on large lakes, and the frustration of birds landing outside comfortable shooting range. Connor and Brandon also discuss taxidermy costs, turnaround times, and rifle cartridges such as the 6.5 PRC and .25-06.

They then look ahead to the rest of the season. Brandon talks about hunting a small property where deer primarily travel through, while Connor shares his plans for South Texas and his goal of eventually taking a 150-class buck in Bowie. Both hosts explain why they enjoy introducing friends and new hunters to the outdoors, even when it means giving up some personal hunting time.

The episode also includes stories from Louisiana fishing trips and Brandon’s past spearfishing adventure in Mexico. They close with a detailed discussion about passing deer, the value of mature bucks, and how property size, deer movement, personal history, and the possibility of never seeing a buck again can all influence the final decision.

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Every houndsman remembers his first.

Your first dog.

The first time you heard a hound open on a track.

The first time you followed that voice through the dark.

The first time you walked up to a tree with the game in it.

The first dog that really meant something to you.

But some of the best firsts come later.

The first time your son or daughter hears a hound open.

The first time they grab the lead.

The first time they walk into a tree and realize what this life is all about.

Those are the moments that stick with us.

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Ten years changes the hunter, but maybe not in the way you think. Ryan Mead sits down with Dan Johnson to compare notes on a decade of bowhunting, deer behavior, and the hard truth that experience eventually changes how much you care about doing everything “perfect.”

Ryan opens up about what has shifted most since his last appearance on Nine Finger Chronicles - from being overly cautious with trail cameras and stand access to prioritizing time, family, and high-percentage hunts over obsessive preseason perfection. Dan and Ryan break down how that mindset affects when to move cameras, when to hunt mornings, why some properties fire in late October, and why pressure from neighbors can push bucks exactly where you want them.

You’ll discover:

• Why Ryan stopped overthinking every trail camera move and now focuses on efficiency
• How his Michigan properties behave differently from his Northeast Missouri lease
• Why late October can outproduce the “popular” November dates on certain farms
• How deer movement shifts when crops come out, cover changes, and pressure ramps up
• What years of hunting multiple states have taught him about buck quality, timing, and patience

Ryan also shares the reality of balancing deer hunting with work, family, and a side passion for three-on-three basketball at 44, plus the lessons he learned from out-of-state trips in Kansas and Missouri, including the classic “Michigan mistake” - shooting too soon when you finally see the kind of bucks you never get at home.

This episode is perfect for hunters who are trying to decide whether to keep grinding preseason or simplify, and for anyone who has ever wondered if the “right” hunting dates are really the same everywhere. If you like practical deer hunting talk with real-world pressure, access, and timing insights, this one will have you rethinking your own season plan.

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In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitchell is joined by Ryan Burnett of Pattern Pros to talk about one of the most overlooked pieces of hunting preparation—actually knowing how your gun and ammunition perform together. Ryan explains how Pattern Pros grew from a frustrating day of shotgun patterning into a way for hunters to test multiple loads without buying full boxes of ammunition that may not work well in their gun. The guys walk through the process of properly patterning a shotgun at different distances, understanding point of aim versus point of impact, evaluating pattern density, and determining which gun, choke, and shell combination gives you the best opportunity when it's finally time to pull the trigger.

The conversation expands beyond waterfowl into turkey hunting, choke tubes, modern steel shot, and even choosing factory ammunition for a deer rifle. Mitchell and Ryan discuss how hunters can spend thousands of dollars on guns, optics, decoys, clothing, and other equipment while overlooking the relatively simple step of testing what their firearm actually shoots best. More importantly, they discuss the ethical responsibility hunters have to eliminate as many controllable variables as possible before taking a shot at an animal. You don't have to be a ballistics expert or gun fanatic—you just need to put in enough time before the season to know what happens when you pull the trigger.

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On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Kent Boucher & Nicolas Lirio from Hoksey Native Seeds to discuss the benefits of prairie, and steps to take towards healthier land! In this conversation, the guys discuss Kent's unfortunate lifestyle choice of being a Chicago Bears fan, Nicolas' journey at Hoksey, drastic changes in Midwest ecology, small steps we can all take to make more conservation-minded decisions, how Hoksey's team can help you implement prairie successfully on your property, and tons more! 

Visit www.hokseynativeseeds.com to learn more and get in touch with the Hoksey team!

Huge thanks to Kent & Nicolas for taking time to come on the show! Be sure to check out The Prairie Farm Podcast wherever you do your listening, and follow @hokseynativeseeds on all social media platforms to stay up to date with what's happening on the prairie farm! 

Big thanks to our fantastic partners:

Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com

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Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin

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