The First Gen Hunter Podcast

This is the most fun we’ve ever had on the show, we are all over the place. And by we I mean Brandon, Alex, Jake and Yours Truly. A million laughs and a super diverse conversation that includes a rating of our spring outdoor activities, Alex’s social media hater, tag acquisition bailouts in Montana, my poor fishing abilities and solstice/equinox blunder, Brandon’s old age, wolves in Idaho, tag application updates, and of course Jake forgetting to put powder in his muzzleloader. All of these topics and a whole lot more. We hope you enjoy the therapeutic effects of this episode as much as we did.

First Gen Hunter Partners

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Deer hunting changes quickly, and the hunting products available are one of the main sources of that change. Through time our ancestors went from using spears, slings, atlatls, eventually progressed to bows and arrows, and finally firearms- and that's only the weapon component to hunting. Clothing, trail cameras, footwear, optics and so many other important tools used by hunters have greatly changed, and that's what this interview is all about, taking the next step in becoming a more effective hunter. Bill Thompson, the founder of Spartan Forge, has combined his experience as a bow hunter with the skill and knowledge he has acquired through his years of experience working within Army Intelligence, along with hundreds of years of radio collar deer movement data, and created an incredibly powerful phone application that serves as a tool for decoding the patterns of whitetail movement where you hunt them in your corner of the country.

Check out the Spartan Forge website: https://www.spartanforge.ai/

Follow Spartan Forge on Instagram: @spartan.forge

First Gen Hunter Partners

Camofire Link: https://www.camofire.com/?avad=296077_f214c5e01

Black Ovis Link:  https://www.blackovis.com/?avad=296077_b2167fab1

East2West Hunts: https://www.alexgruin.com/- promo code: firstgen10 = 10% off any purchase

Idaho is probably most well known for it consistently over performing college football team that plays on blue turf, but the topic in this episode is all about their elk. Although I have spent very little time in Idaho, I have consistently heard tales of its incredibly steep terrain. Our guest Casey Byers has moved from the Midwest to Idaho and has settled into the elk hunting culture quite successfully. In this episode he talks about elk behavior, where elk can be found, specific tactics for hunting elk, and how to get one off the mountain if you are fortunate to tag one.

Follow Casey and His Team on YouTube: Hooked Hunting

Instagram: @hookedhunting

First Gen Hunter Partners

Camofire Link: https://www.camofire.com/?avad=296077_f214c5e01

Black Ovis Link:  https://www.blackovis.com/?avad=296077_b2167fab1

East2West Hunts: https://www.alexgruin.com/- promo code: firstgen10 = 10% off any purchase

One of the most fascinating aspects of the hunting world are all of the nuanced corners where hunters specialize in pursuing unique game with their own highly effective methods that most folks have no concept of. That’s where running beagles on swampers deep in the Alabama swamps fits in. This is the kind of hunting that requires year round dedication to dog training, maintaining physical fitness, well functioning equipment, and a certain measure of toughness that most other hunts won’t demand. Tremayne Benson of Benson’s Kennel is at the very top of this community and was gracious enough to lend us his time to explain what exactly it takes to be a houndsman in swamp rabbit habitat.

Follow Tremayne on Instagram: @bensonskennel

Check out the Benson’s Kennel website: https://www.bensonskennel.com/

First Gen Hunter Partners

Camofire Link: https://www.camofire.com/?avad=296077_f214c5e01

Black Ovis Link:  https://www.blackovis.com/?avad=296077_b2167fab1

East2West Hunts: https://www.alexgruin.com/- promo code: firstgen10 = 10% off any purchase

Sheds, Turkeys and Shrooms: the only spring hunting seasons here in the heartland. Imagine bagging all three in one day? That would be about as rare as a royal flush. But our guest Garrett “Gary” Feik has done just that, and he’s here to share his experience on how to find Morels. As unique and enjoyable as morel season is, it’s gone almost as fast as it arrives so knowing where to look is the best way to capitalize on this brief opportunity.

Follow Feik on Instagram: @gfeik77

First Gen Hunter Partners

Camofire Link: https://www.camofire.com/?avad=296077_f214c5e01

Black Ovis Link:  https://www.blackovis.com/?avad=296077_b2167fab1

East2West Hunts: https://www.alexgruin.com/- promo code: firstgen10 = 10% off any purchase

We are still in the thick of turkey season and First Gen Hunter is here to help you tag a gobbler. In this episode Brandon and I talk to The Primitive Preacher himself, Mr. Jesse Gjefle of the Wisconsin portion of the Driftless Area has a unique passion for old world hunting equipment, and builds his own bows and arrows, and he also naps and forges his own points. Yeah he’s that cool. We didn’t just bring him on to talk about his skills as a craftsman though, we have him on to lend some of his turkey knowledge that has served him well through the years as an avid turkey hunter. Jesse walks us through where he sets up, what turkeys do all day, how and when to call, and his own approach to hunting Ben Franklin’s favorite birds.

Follow Jesse:

Facebook: Primitive Preacher

YouTube: Primitive Preacher

First Gen Hunter Partners

Camofire Link: https://www.camofire.com/?avad=296077_f214c5e01

Black Ovis Link: https://www.blackovis.com/?avad=296077_b2167fab1

East2West Hunts: https://www.alexgruin.com/- promo code: firstgen10 = 10% off any purchase

The time, money and effort hunters put into filling a big game tag is hard to measure beyond the simple math that shows it ain’t cheap. Oddly enough hunters will often spare no expense on the gear, weapons, ammunition, travel and lodging in order to notch their tags, and then turn around and skimp on getting a high quality taxidermy job done on their prized game. This interview with master taxidermist Matt Welsh of Raccoon Valley Taxidermy addresses those kinds of mental breakdowns and inconsistencies along with the basics of preparing your trophy for the taxidermist, the difference between good taxidermy and average taxidermy, the one job that’s wide open for the taking within the hunting industry, and what life is like as a taxidermist,

Follow Matt:

Facebook & Instagram: @raccoonvalleytaxidermy

Website: https://www.raccoonvalleytaxidermy.com/

TFGHP Partners:

Camofire Link: https://www.camofire.com/?avad=296077_f214c5e01

East2West Hunts: https://www.alexgruin.com/- promo code: firstgen10 = 10% off any purchase

Sheds are nearly buried again in the green new carpet of spring, morels aren't quite ready and the gobbles of a tom turkey disturb the quietness of the cool morning air... ahh it's spring in the turkey woods. And there is no one better to talk about how to fill turkey tags than Mr. Heath Rayfield of Buckventures The Woodsmen. Heath is a family man, avid hunter, and hunting guide in the Carolinas, and hunting turkeys is his bread and butter. He was kind enough to come back on the show and explain to us how he finds so much success hunting these birds- year after year. 

Follow Heath on Instagram & Facebook: @heathrayfield

TFGHP Partner

https://www.alexgruin.com/- promo code: firstgen10 = 10% off any purchase

Spring has officially arrived and that means the end of shed season, the start of turkey season and a giant to-do list to complete before the archery deer opener this coming fall. Bow tuning, practice shooting and new accessory purchases dominate the list of “chores” that need to be addressed, but as a budding archer, putting together an effective plan for tackling the list can be tough to figure out. That’s why archery enthusiast Jeff Reid is here tell us how he gets ready during this valuable time leading up to hunting season. From competition shooting to making smart purchases Jeff walks us through a pathway to better hunting with the ol’ bow and arrow.

Follow Jeff on Instagram: @jeffreid

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https://www.alexgruin.com/- promo code: firstgen10 = 10% off any purchase

There are a lot of critters I hope to get the chance to hunt. Of course many of them are on everyone else’s dream hunt list, but near the top is this nonnative species of deer- the sika deer. With the rutting behavior similar to a midwestern whitetail, the body size of a southwestern Coues deer, the vocals of a miniature bull elk, and the habitat preferences of waterfowl- these deer are fascinating to say the least. As small as their range is in North America, Brandon and I had to get connected with a local who knows these animals well, and Laura Upham was the perfect person to talk to. Laura is a state forester, avid outdoors person, and a first gen hunter. We talk about everything she loves to do in the outdoors and then get an education on how sika deer live, and how to hunt them.

Follow on Facebook: Delmarva Tracking Hounds

TFGHP Partners

Facebook: Steele Custom Baits - 10% off first order for all First Gen Hunter Podcast listeners

https://www.alexgruin.com/- promo code: firstgen10 = 10% off any purchases