The Hunting Dad Podcast

In this episode of The Hunting Dad Podcast, I sat down with Justin Bailey, a traditional bowhunter who travels to hunt public land and has developed an aggressive approach to pursuing mature whitetails. From hunting thick native grass and overlooked bedding areas to using a decoy to bring big bucks into bow range, Justin shares the unconventional tactics that have helped him get close to some incredible deer.

Justin breaks down how he approaches unfamiliar public land, why hunting pressure can matter more than traditional buck sign, and how fresh tracks, doe bedding areas, food sources, and overlooked terrain features can help you find mature bucks during the rut. He also explains his approach to using decoys, grunting, and rattling together to create opportunities that other hunters might never get.

If you're tired of hunting the same old spots, waiting for bucks to show up, or walking past overlooked areas because they don't look like traditional deer habitat, this conversation might change the way you approach your next hunt.

Whether you're hunting big timber, thick cover, or open country, this episode is packed with ideas to help you think differently, hunt more aggressively, and create your own opportunities on public land.

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In this episode of The Hunting Dad Podcast, I'm sitting down with Arkansas deer hunter Austin Crutchfield to talk mid-season whitetails, river-bottom hunting, and the tactics that have helped him find success year after year.

Austin recently punched two buck tags just four days apart, and we break down how those hunts came together, from summer scouting and trail-camera intel to finding the right food sources and making adjustments when a setup isn't working.

We get into the importance of finding hot oak trees, identifying fresh acorn sign, hunting persimmons, and understanding how changing water levels can create overlooked feeding and bedding opportunities. Austin also shares his thoughts on scrapes, trail-camera-shy bucks, overhunting productive areas, and why you need to find where a buck feels comfortable moving in daylight instead of repeatedly hunting where he only shows up after dark.

We also discuss mobile hunting on private ground, using e-bikes to access deeper areas, balancing hunting with work and family, and making the most of limited time in the woods.

No magic tricks or guaranteed formulas here—just a down-to-earth conversation about paying attention to the sign, adapting to what the deer are doing, and making every hunt count.

If you're trying to tag a good buck before the rut, this episode has plenty of practical ideas to take into the woods.

Thanks for listening to The Hunting Dad Podcast! If you enjoy the show, leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and check out DO3 Outdoors on YouTube.

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In this episode of The Hunting Dad Podcast, I got to sit down with my great friend, Jacob Myers from The Southern Outdoorsman podcast to talk about one of the biggest challenges facing hunters who travel from the South to the Midwest — figuring out what information to actually trust.

From scent elimination and access to stand placement, wind, public-land tactics and everything in between, Midwest whitetail hunting comes with no shortage of opinions. The problem is, a lot of those opinions conflict with one another.

We dive into how hunters can sort through all that information, determine what actually matters, and develop a system that fits the way they hunt instead of constantly chasing the latest tactic or piece of advice.

We also talk about the differences between hunting Southern whitetails and Midwest deer, what makes the transition challenging, and how conversations through The Southern Outdoorsman have helped them learn from hunters with completely different experiences and approaches.

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In this episode of The Hunting Dad Podcast, I sit down with Gabe Staggs, the 19-year-old son of super successful public-land hunter, Greg Staggs. Gabe has already developed an impressive track record of finding and killing mature public-land bucks, and we dive into the process behind his success. We talk about growing up learning from his dad, scouting, finding "an edge within an edge," unconventional access routes, hunting pressure, target panic, and the lessons he's learned from both success and failure. Gabe also shares the incredible story of a 173-inch public-land buck, the shot he missed, and the surprising journey that followed. This is a great conversation about learning to hunt smarter, adapting to individual deer, and ultimately beating public-land bucks at their own game.

In this episode of The Hunting Dad Podcast, I sit down with Brad from Triple B Archery in Owensboro Kentucky to break down the world of modern bowhunting and talk about some of the biggest things bowhunters tend to overthink.

From arrow spine, FOC and arrow weight to bow tuning, grip, draw weight and speed, Brad explains what actually matters when it comes to building an accurate and dependable hunting setup. The guys also dive into paper tuning, center shot, modern bow technology and why sometimes keeping things simple is the best approach.

They also get into one of the most frustrating problems bowhunters can face: target panic. Jacob and Brad share their personal experiences battling it, different release styles, and what helped them become more confident and consistent shooters.

And, of course, there are plenty of hunting stories along the way—including forgotten releases, dry fires, equipment mistakes and a few lessons learned the hard way.

The big takeaway? Stop obsessing over the latest gear and complicated setups. Build a bow that fits you, tune it properly, practice until you're accurate and, most importantly, put the arrow where it needs to go.

Straight arrows, everybody. Shoot straight!

Use code huntingdad at hawke optics to save 15% at checkout!

Click this link to get 10% off AND FREE shipping off your order @ Dryshod boots!

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And again, if you're looking to swap to, or try MOULTRIE cameras, Shoot me a message on either FB or Instagram and let me save you some bigtime cash!

This episode with Jake Bush is the standard of what it means to mature as both a hunter and a father. Instead of glorifying endless scouting and spending every spare minute in the woods, we discuss how becoming husbands and dads forced us to rethink success.

The discussion covers why less scouting has actually produced better results, the importance of being mentally present instead of simply logging miles, balancing family with hunting, developing confidence in your instincts, hunting mature bucks with limited time, and preparing for upcoming trips out of state, specifically Kansas. The episode wraps up with a reminder that the stories, memories, and family moments often outweigh any set of antlers hanging on the wall.

Steven Fuller joins The Hunting Dad Podcast to talk about one of the biggest life changes imaginable—getting married and instantly becoming a dad. Steven shares what it's been like adjusting to family life while balancing work, hunting, and managing one of Missouri's premier whitetail properties.

Jacob and Steven dive into introducing kids to hunting, creating positive first experiences, and whether young hunters should be chasing trophy bucks. They also discuss land management strategies, public land hunting, upcoming out-of-state adventures in Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas, and Missouri, plus why overlooked hunting spots often produce the biggest deer.

The episode wraps up with an honest discussion about hunting gear and why Dryshod's Evolution boots have become their go-to footwear for everything from scouting to mountain turkey hunts.

Whether you're a seasoned hunter, a new dad, or trying to balance family with your hunting obsession, this episode is packed with laughs, practical advice, and relatable stories.

• Steven's transition into marriage and becoming a dad.
• Learning to balance family, work, and hunting.
• Why structure is so important for introducing kids to the outdoors.
• The best age to start hunting—and why every kid is different.
• Why first hunting experiences matter more than first kills.
• Should kids target trophy bucks or simply enjoy the hunt?
• Funny stories about hunting with young kids.
• The value of having a private property for family hunts.
• Public land strategy versus private land management.
• How Steven approaches habitat improvements.
• Native grasses vs. food plots.
• Summer scouting and trail camera strategies.
• Why overlooked hunting spots consistently produce mature deer.
• Upcoming Nebraska and Iowa hunt plans.
• Spot-and-stalk hunting in timber.
• Favorite Dryshod boots and why they've become daily footwear.

Be sure and use CODE: Huntingdad @ Hawke optics to save 15% at checkout!

Click this link to get 10% off AND FREE shipping off your order @ Dryshod boots!

https://dryshodusa.com/?sld=14

And again, if youre looking to swap to, or try MOULTRIE cameras, Shoot me a message on either FB or Instagram and let me save you some bigtime cash!

This week on The Hunting Dad Podcast, I sat down with Zach White to break down one of the most debated topics in deer hunting: summer scouting.

The conversation dives into the difference between simply finding deer and actually understanding how they use the landscape throughout the year. Zach shares how his background in waterfowl hunting shaped his aggressive scouting style, why learning doe movement can be just as valuable as chasing giant bucks, and how to avoid wasting time on low-percentage areas.

We also discuss:

• Why many hunters overcomplicate summer scouting.
• When boots-on-the-ground scouting is worth it—and when binoculars are the better tool.
• How to locate mature bucks before the season.
• Trail camera strategies that actually produce useful information.
• The importance of tracks, fresh droppings, water, browse, and overlooked food sources.
• Why low-pressure, "low-hanging fruit" opportunities often lead to early-season success.
• How deer shift from summer patterns to fall patterns and what hunters should expect after velvet sheds.

Whether you're hunting public or private land, this episode is packed with practical tips to help you head into opening day with more confidence and a better plan.

In this episode of The Hunting Dad Podcast, I sit down with accomplished public-land bowhunter Kelsey Moss for an honest conversation about what it really takes to consistently find and kill mature bucks.

Kelsey shares his incredible 2025 season, breaking down each of his four trophy bucks—from urban velvet deer and Tennessee public land to a successful DIY Georgia mountain hunt. Along the way, he explains his scouting process, trail camera strategy, hunting pressure, terrain analysis, and why eliminating where other hunters are likely to be has become one of his biggest keys to success.

The conversation also dives into kudzu hunting, calling mature bucks, mobile hunting tactics, learning from missed opportunities, overcoming buck fever, and developing the mental discipline needed to execute when the moment finally arrives.

Whether you're chasing your first mature buck or looking to become a more efficient public-land hunter, this episode is packed with practical hunting knowledge, plenty of laughs, and stories every deer hunter can appreciate.