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The moment Christina Rafalco describes will resonate with any hunter—that magical time when the sun begins to set, the woods are bathed in golden light, and an extraordinary stillness descends. "Unless you're in that moment experiencing the quiet and how everything just settles down," she explains, "you can't understand it. I could do that every single day of my life."

Christina brings refreshing energy to this episode as she shares her journey into bowhunting as a 48-year-old single mom. Her story begins just four years ago when a relationship introduced her to archery, quickly sparking a passion that transcended target shooting. With candid humor, she describes overcoming a severe fear of heights—starting with a modest 10-foot ladder stand before conquering her anxiety to climb 30 feet up. "Now I'm fine with it," she laughs, detailing her evolution from nervous novice to confident hunter.

The conversation takes listeners through Christina's hunting adventures across New Jersey's public and private lands. She doesn't shy away from the challenges, from tracking her first deer to having her birthday-gift ladder stand stolen by another hunter. These experiences taught her resilience and the importance of community. When describing the hunting brotherhood that welcomed her, Christina notes how fellow hunters looked out for her on public land: "Nobody would leave until they knew I was back to my vehicle and safe."

Her most captivating story recounts harvesting her first buck—a seven-pointer she ultimately commemorated with a tattoo. Listeners will feel the tension as she describes drawing her bow while her heart raced, watching through her peep sight as the buck gradually emerged from behind a tree. The emotional aftermath of that successful heart shot captures why hunting means so much to so many: "I'm standing over him with tears coming down my face because it's just such a moment."

Whether you're a seasoned hunter or curious about getting started, Christina's perspective offers valuable insights into hunting strategies, gear choices, and the unique considerations women face in the field. Her advice to other women interested in hunting resonates with authenticity: "Don't be shy. Ask questions. You're not going to learn by not asking."

Follow Christina on Instagram @cjr.76 and join our community where we celebrate the challenges, triumphs, and peaceful moments that make hunting such a transformative experience. Subscribe now for more stories from diverse voices in the outdoor community.

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Alysha Azzariti shares her journey of training Huck, her black Labrador retriever, into a skilled hunting companion, highlighting the incredible bond that forms between hunter and dog through this process.

• Growing up with an outdoorsy father who sparked her interest in fishing and hunting
• Finding a local breeder who became a mentor in training Huck for hunting
• Building basic obedience as the foundation for all hunting skills
• Using methods like food association to introduce gunfire without creating fear
• Teaching memory skills by placing bumpers and having Huck retrieve them later
• Training with live birds to build drive and confidence
• Challenges of public land hunting, especially during pheasant season
• The role of patience and consistency in developing a hunting dog
• How genetics matter but aren't enough without proper training
• Preparing for an upcoming Montana waterfowl hunting trip

Follow Alicia and Huck's adventures on Instagram at LifeWithHuck where she regularly posts training updates and hunting experiences.

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The countdown to hunting season is officially underway, and the excitement is building among the Boondocks Hunting team. As summer heat bears down, the crew gathers to welcome newest team member Zach and share their pre-season preparations, challenges, and expectations.

The conversation kicks off with a deep dive into the annual Boondocks Hunting competition—a months-long friendly tournament running from September through February that assigns point values to different game animals with various bonuses for antler size, weight, and more. With a modest $30 buy-in and an emphasis on ethical hunting practices, this competition has become a cornerstone of community building among the team. Past champion Brad holds a two-time winning streak that everyone's eager to break this season.

Summer scouting reports reveal fascinating patterns emerging in this unusually hot and rainy year. While mineral sites are showing heavy activity with impressive ground depressions, target buck sightings remain surprisingly scarce compared to previous seasons. The team theorizes that high corn and bean fields are providing ample cover, temporarily changing movement patterns compared to last year's drought conditions. Trail cameras are capturing more bears than mature bucks, suggesting this season may unfold differently than anticipated.

The extreme weather conditions are creating unique challenges—from encounters with rattlesnakes and wasp nests to sinking knee-deep in flooded terrain. These stories of outdoor mishaps provide both laughs and valuable lessons about respecting the unpredictability of nature. The group shares their concerns about early season hunting conditions, predicting higher mosquito pressure and changed deer movement patterns due to abundant natural water sources.

Join us for this pre-season conversation that captures the anticipation, brotherhood, and challenges that make hunting about so much more than just the harvest. Subscribe to follow the team's adventures as they prepare to head into what promises to be an exciting and unpredictable hunting season!

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The unexpected journey from non-hunter to passionate outdoorsman lies at the heart of our conversation with Joe Arabia from Northern Jersey Outdoors. Having only started hunting six years ago at age 30, Joe offers a refreshing perspective that breaks from the typical "lifelong hunter" narrative that dominates outdoor media.

Joe's story begins with a surprise 30th birthday gift – apprentice hunting permits from his cousin who had been trying to get him into the woods for years. That first hunt, watching a doe approach through lightly falling snow, his heart pounding so hard he could barely hold his shotgun steady, changed everything. "It opened up a different part of my brain," Joe explains, "I can't picture living without it anymore." This transformation from complete novice to successful trophy hunter provides a roadmap for late-blooming outdoorsmen everywhere.

We dive deep into the unique challenges of hunting Northern New Jersey, where mature bucks are scarce, predator pressures are high, and deer populations are concentrated in suburban areas where hunting isn't permitted. Joe shares the thrilling story of his 133-inch buck, taken during the rut after calling in the dominant deer who came charging in to chase off a younger rival. The conversation flows through tactical discussions about saddle hunting versus traditional tree stands, the effectiveness of different hunting strategies in the Garden State, and the complex relationship between hunting pressure and deer behavior. Whether you're hunting the crowded Northeast or just curious about regional differences in deer patterns, Joe's insights reveal how adaptability and persistence lead to success.

Ready to elevate your hunting game? Subscribe to the Garden State Outdoorsman Podcast for more authentic conversations with hunters who understand the unique challenges and rewards of Eastern whitetail hunting. Follow Joe's adventures on Instagram at Northern NJ Outdoorsman, and join us at our upcoming summer archery event to continue the conversation in person!

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Matt Williams shares his journey as a professional deer tracker and explains how his bloodhound Arrow helps hunters recover wounded deer through specialized scent detection abilities.

• Bloodhounds excel at tracking in dry conditions and can follow scent trails 40+ hours old
• Wounded deer release pheromones that intensify further from the hit site, creating stronger trails as they progress
• Different hit locations require specific waiting periods before tracking – 3-4 hours for shoulder shots, 6-8+ hours for gut shots
• Grid searching by hunters creates confusing scent patterns that make professional tracking more difficult
• Liver hits to the smaller lobe typically cause faster expiration than larger lobe hits due to blood vessel concentration
• Fixed-blade broadheads perform better for shoulder shots while expandables excel in soft tissue
• Professional tracking requires strict adherence to property boundaries and permissions
• Weather conditions like rain and temperature impact tracking success but rarely prevent recovery

For tracking assistance in central and southern New Jersey, contact Matt Williams at 609-457-5904 or find On the Trail Deer Recovery on Facebook and Instagram.

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Travis Henderson from Trigger Traditions Outdoors shares his passion for waterfowl hunting and explains why seeing the dog work aspect of upland and waterfowl hunting brings him so much joy compared to other hunting styles.

• Lives in Sussex County, NJ and primarily hunts waterfowl and upland game
• Started Trigger Traditions as a way to document hunting memories with friends
• Hunts across multiple states including trips to Montana and Argentina
• Recently harvested his first turkey of the season using stealth and patience
• Uses a Browning Maxus Wicked Wing shotgun with full choke for turkey hunting
• Explains how reading turkey behavior and adjusting call frequency/cadence leads to success
• Shares the social aspects that make waterfowl hunting uniquely enjoyable
• Describes the excitement of having hundreds of birds working a decoy spread
• Emphasizes the importance of proper scouting for waterfowl similar to deer hunting
• Discusses how regional differences affect hunting techniques and game flavor
• Highlights the special bond between hunters and their dogs

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Christopher Talmadge shares his hunting journey from childhood outings with his grandfather to rediscovering his passion as an adult and meeting fellow hunters through chance encounters on public land. He discusses mobile hunting strategies, tree selection techniques, and the importance of courtesy and community in the outdoors.

• Originally learned to hunt with his grandfather before life circumstances created a long break from the sport
• Reconnected with hunting by purchasing a bow and practicing until he met a like-minded hunting partner
• Shared story of meeting host Frank through a thoughtful note left on a truck at a public hunting spot
• Explores the unpredictability of deer patterns on public land, particularly in refuge areas
• Deep discussion of mobile hunting setups – comparing traditional stands to saddle hunting systems
• Emphasis on proper tree selection as possibly the most crucial factor in hunting success
• Debate on dealing with increased hunting pressure and adapting strategies accordingly
• Tales of navigating public land etiquette and encountering both helpful hunters and gear thieves
• Tips for reducing pack weight and increasing mobility for "run and gun" hunting approaches
• Insights on finding deer movement patterns by focusing on backside trails rather than main travel corridors

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A friendly competition unfolds as the Garden State Outdoorsman and Whitetail Advantage team up for a hunting trivia battle that tests everyone's outdoor knowledge amid plenty of good-natured ribbing.

• Contestants answer hunting-specific questions about deer behavior, hunting techniques, and equipment
• Post-rut deer are proven to be wary of hunters' calls, contradicting some contestants' expectations
• One contestant hilariously struggles with whether deer are smaller than elk (they are)
• The importance of stealth over speed emerges as a unanimous hunting principle
• Ancient hunting tools and historical hunting figures challenge participants' historical knowledge
• Detailed discussion about proper venison butchering techniques and the importance of removing deer glands
• A tiebreaker question about the number of deer glands (seven) ultimately determines the winner

Check out the Back Dam Productions crew and Callie's Calientes on Instagram for amazing game preparation techniques. Join us for our second annual wild game dinner coming up next week!

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Ryan Canton shares his 25-year journey hunting in New Jersey, from traditional bowhunting to mushroom foraging, and his experiences adapting to different outdoor environments.

• Hunting primarily in New Jersey with some time spent pursuing big bucks in Iowa
• Transitioning from compound bow to traditional bow hunting for a greater challenge
• Successfully harvesting two does with traditional bow equipment on opening day
• Finding mushrooms by identifying the right tree species - particularly declining ash, elm, and apple trees
• How natural food sources like acorn drops produce better hunting results than bait piles
• Comparing pheasant hunting between Iowa's open spaces and New Jersey's crowded public lands
• Working at a commercial shooting preserve guiding hunts and managing the property
• Saltwater fishing experiences including catching a massive mako shark
• Strategies for introducing new people to hunting through mentor programs

Find what makes your outdoor location special - "Anywhere you go, you can find something to get into."

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