The First Gen Hunter Podcast

Squirrel hunting has served as the first date for many hunters through the decades, and yet many fall away from it as they move on to bigger game like deer, elk, turkeys and waterfowl. Guest Marcus Gray is a wildlife biologist who has endured the test of time and with his own line of Mountain Feist squirrel dogs he is chasing squirrels with more passion than he had on his first ever hunt. These acrobats of the forest are well worth their weight in stew, and Marcus fills us in on how to bag a limit more often than we don’t. Marcus also takes us through the importance of conserving pollinator habitat, his dogs and a lot more.

Check out Marcus’ website: http://www.graysmountainfeist.com/

Follow on Facebook: Gray’s Mountain Feist

TFGHP Partners

https://whiteduckoutdoors.com/ - promo code: FIRSTGEN = 10% off first purchase

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

Term papers, all nighters, midnight coffee brewing, changing majors and… running a hunting YouTube channel on the side? It’s not the typical college experience, but the team members of Dorm Room Outdoors make it happen. In this episode they discuss how they balance classwork and sports with hunting, as well as a recap on their 2020 hunting seasons and what they hope the hunting world looks like in the future.

Follow DRO on Instagram: @dormroomoutdoors

Subscribe to DRO on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVIveRmj_treKjMsNO9aKEA

TFGHP Partners

https://whiteduckoutdoors.com/ - promo code: FIRSTGEN = 10% off first purchase

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

“I’ll take surprising hunting facts for $800…” Surprising as it may be, Rhode Island- The Ocean State, is a tremendous whitetail location with plenty of public hunting access, quality bucks, and incredible shed hunting opportunities. But don’t take my word for it because I’ve never been there. That’s why Ryan and Dan from Rhode Island Whitetails joined the show to fill you and me in on how to hunt deer in this beautiful whitetail state.

Follow Rhode Island Whitetails on Instagram: @rhodeisland_whitetails

Subscribe to their YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtX7q3LmRG0tOWDY3xlcqYg

TFGHP Partners

https://whiteduckoutdoors.com/ - promo code: FIRSTGEN = 10% off first purchase

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

Tagging big, mature deer on a regular basis is the culmination of a lifetime spent perfecting the finer details of hunting. Cole Young has done that. Cole gained access to a dynamite farm, custom fit the habitat to maximize its potential, got a monster whitetail on trail camera and then wrapped a tag around his antlers within two attempts at hunting him. There is so much to learn in this one, and if you are wanting to the the next step with improving your hunting success- this one is for you. 

https://whiteduckoutdoors.com/ - promo code: FIRSTGEN = 10% off first purchase

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

For many hunters small game is where they got started. Whether it was circling trees for squirrels, or stomping on brush piles for rabbits, the hunting was simple and the payoff was often a few delicious critters ready for the oven when the hunt ended. That’s exactly what this episode is about- how to hunt rabbits more effectively. Brad and Todd from Lone Oak Outdoors spend a month or two each year running behind a team of Beagles trained to sniff out speedy cottontails in Virginia. They fill us in on the dogs, the strategy and the gear needed to become a full time bunny buster.

Follow: @teamloneoak on Instagram

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbZG13tl8HobhdNHoUVXltg

East 2 West Hunts 10% off Promotion- Enter Code firstgen10 at checkout 

Shed hunting is one of the best ways to shake off the post hunting season blues and work off a few holiday pounds. Of course, in the midwest whitetail antlers are what most folks are looking for. But as you will hear in this episode, author Joe Shead, who literally wrote the book on shed hunting was kind enough to share his wealth of knowledge on how to find antlers for not only whitetails, but elk, moose, mule deer and caribou as well. 

Visit Joe's Website: https://goshedhunting.com/

Subscribe to Joe's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOzva_xtmYpJpuiEB3zf8Ow

East 2 West Hunts 10% off Promotion- Enter Code firstgen10 at checkout 

I believe one of the biggest factors that keeps hunters from expanding their experiences to other states is the mountain of questions and concerns about all of the details required for hunting far away from home. How do you bring your deer rifle, or you bow? What about the knives for field dressing? How about bringing the meat home if you are successful? These are some major questions that need to be answered before people can enjoy all the hunting opportunities that our country has to offer, and Alex Gruin is the guy to help. 

Follow Alex: @alexg.hunt, @east2westhunts

East 2 West Hunts 10% off Promotion- Enter Code FirstGen10 at checkout 

Everyone wants to belong. For many that's what hunting has provided for them. A network of like-minded, passionate individuals to swap stories, pictures and strategies with. Unfortunately, many of those networks get disrupted by jealousy, pride and harassment. The opposite of what people are looking for. But thanks to good people like Brad Luttrell and his team at GoWild, a thriving community of outdoor enthusiasts exists for all of the right reasons. Brad joins this episode of TFGHP to talk about his hunting roots, the founding of GoWild, the importance of participating in a supportive outdoor community, his favorite wild game recipes and his goals as a hunter. 

Download the GoWild App to join the GoWild Community

Visit: timetogowild.com

East 2 West Hunts 10% off Promotion- Enter Code FirstGen10 at checkout

Quail is one of the most underrated species to hunt and if your state is like mine, there are still a few more days to get out and chase after these incredible birds. The problem is a lot of hunters really don't know how to target these Bob White whistlers. Heath Rayfield of The Woodsman is a longtime upland guide who hunts quail almost daily in the Carolinas. Heath does such a a great job explaining many of the  important tips and tactics needed for bagging quail that I can pretty much guarantee you will be daydreaming about your next covey rise.

Follow Heath on Facebook and Instagram: @heathrayfield

Follow Buchanan Shoals: https://buchananshoals.com/

East 2 West Hunts 10% off Promotion- Enter Code FirstGen10 at checkout

Unlike most good things that come to an end, the conclusion of hunting season actually leads to more good things- specifically shed antler season. Hunting for shed antlers is a fantastic way to spend time outdoors. Racking up mile upon mile in search of that ivory colored tine sticking up out of the surrounding landscape is what dreams are made of. Speaking of dreams, the start of this show is a good conversation between Kent and Brandon which includes retellings of Kent’s dreams about shed hunting. There’s a ton of great conversation, laughs, and excellent shed hunting tips in this episode so be sure to tune in!