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.

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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.

On this episode of The Hunting Dad Podcast, I sit down with DIY hunter and YouTube creator Cade Trickey. Cade shares his journey from working in the outdoor industry to building his own hunting channel, the lessons he's learned chasing animals across multiple states, and why he focuses on showing the real side of hunting.

We dive into summer preparation, scouting philosophies, public land pressure, Arkansas hunting, deer hunting in the hills vs. bottoms, and Cade's upcoming journey into bear hunting.

We also have a real conversation about something every hunting dad has to navigate — balancing time in the woods with being a husband and father. Cade explains how his wife supports his hunting lifestyle, why being present at home matters, and how a strong relationship makes chasing these adventures possible. This episode covers.....

• DIY hunting, family balance, and chasing a dream
• The real side of building a hunting channel
• Turkey hunting across state lines
• Arkansas duck hunting culture
• Deer hunting hills vs. bottoms
• First-time bear hunting adventure
• What it takes to keep hunting and family working together!

We're Continuing on with the new season with a laid-back campfire-style conversation with some good friends — Stewart Keen, Steven Fuller, and Scotty Flippo.

This episode isn't about tactics, gear, or chasing the biggest buck. It's about the part of hunting that keeps us coming back year after year: The friendships, the traditions, the laughs, and the memories made around camp.

We talk about how hunting changes as we get older, why deer camp means more than just filling a tag, taking kids hunting, morning vs evening hunts, public land struggles, mental toughness, hunting mistakes we've made, and the deer that mean the most to us.

Because at the end of the day, the best hunts are very seldom measured in sucess by inches!

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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 week on The Hunting Dad Podcast, I sit down with Sam Ubl for one of my favorite conversations of the season.

Sam shares his journey from outdoor writing and filming with Whitetail Adrenaline to building Chase Nation, while diving into the hunting lessons that completely changed his approach to mature bucks. We discuss the dangers of egos in hunting, the concept of "imposter syndrome," learning from mentors like Dan Infalt, and why being willing to challenge your own beliefs can accelerate your success in the woods.

We also spend plenty of time talking about one of our favorite topics—boat access hunting. From dragging bucks out by canoe in Minnesota and Wisconsin to using kayaks and small boats to access overlooked public land, Sam explains why water access remains one of the most effective tools for finding unpressured deer.

To wrap things up, we trade stories from our first-ever Nebraska mule deer hunts, discuss what surprised us most about hunting mule deer, and share lessons learned from chasing deer across the Sandhills and western prairies.

If you're a public land hunter looking to improve, this episode is packed with hard-earned lessons and real-world experience.

• Sam Ubl's background in outdoor writing and filmmaking
• Working with Whitetail Adrenaline and starting Chase Nation
• The role of ego and imposter syndrome in hunting success
• Lessons learned from Dan Infalt and The Hunting Beast approach
• Why hunting sanctuaries changed Sam's results
• Canoe, kayak, and boat-access hunting strategies
• Accessing overlooked public land
• EHD impacts on public-land deer hunting
• First-time Nebraska mule deer experiences
• Mule deer vs. whitetail observations
• Muzzleloader accuracy and long-range hunting considerations

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!

In this episode of the Hunting Dad Podcast, I sit down with returning guest Derrick from Whitetail Research to discuss what he has learned from another year of intensive deer research using drones, field observations, and data collection.

The conversation dives deep into mature buck behavior, agricultural-country deer, bedding preferences, hunting pressure, acorn crop impacts, and how some bucks seem nearly impossible to kill with a bow. Derrick also shares details about his upcoming turkey decline research project, future broadhead testing, and what surprised him most during his second year of drone-based whitetail research.

• Derrick's transition from side hustle to full-time Whitetail Research
• Traveling to agricultural states to continue research
• How drone technology has changed deer observation
• Upcoming research projects and content plans

• Why mature bucks often bed surprisingly close to roads and homes
• How deer become accustomed to predictable human activity
• The importance of habitat diversity in ag country
• Understanding riparian habitat and why deer use it heavily

• Mature bucks bedding directly in standing soybean fields
• Why deer may spend entire summers living in crop fields
• How deer use beans for food, security, and temperature regulation
• Stories of stalking mature bucks bedded in soybeans

• How gun-season pressure changes deer behavior
• Why some bucks relocate immediately after disturbance
• How quickly deer return to normal patterns after pressure subsides
• Examples of individual bucks responding differently to hunters

• Comparing a bumper acorn crop year versus a poor mast year
• How food availability changes movement patterns
• Why mature bucks spent more time in openings during low-acorn years

• Why some deer seem nearly impossible to kill with archery equipment
• The difference between locating a mature buck and getting within bow range
• Derrick's observations on highly efficient bedding and travel strategies

• Fascinating observations of mature bucks bedding near coyotes and bobcats
• Similarities between predator behavior and mature buck behavior
• Why mature deer may tolerate certain predators nearby

• Large-scale turkey population decline investigation
• Conservation funding and habitat management research
• Upcoming broadhead and arrow penetration testing
• High-speed camera analysis of archery equipment

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, ot try MOULTRIE cameras, Shoot me a message on either FB or Instagram and let me save you some bigtime cash!

Jackie Sexton is a one great dude! It was awesome getting him to come on the podcast and talk about deer and this incredibly frustrating time of the rut. We're coming up on the last part of November where things get tricky so if you're still looking to tag a buck, this may be an episode for you! Appreciate you guys listening!