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

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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!

Had to record a recap on my nebraska trip while driving home! This trip was so full of ups and downs. Glad that it ended on a high note in the end. In this episode I cover expectations, hunting pressure and of course how everything went down on the hunt!

Wanted to do a bonus episode on the story of my 2025 Kentucky buck. Definitely one of the most interesting recoverys of my life with a bunch of hard lessons learned. Kentucky was a rough road this year but im happy to have been tagged out in my ol Ky home!

This was easily one one my favorite conversations since starting the podcast. Stewart is a great hunter, and has accomplished a lot over the last decade and constanly puts himself in good situations in tough terrain. Stewart also seems to find sucess on High opportunity hunts like quota or SOA hunts and we discuss that and much more in this episode.

-Hunting mountains. The do's and dont's!

-Finding funnels and pinches in super hilly terrain both escouting and on foot!

-How bucks use the terrain to rut

-Waiting till it's good vs getting burnt out

-Growing as a hunter and becoming more successful

-Baseball cleats>Hunting boots

Ep. 25 Shifting to the RUT!

This week, I sat down with a cold blooded bowhunter from the northeast. Tyler Forbes had a late start to the hunting scene but has quickly picked up on the game over the last 8 years and is consistently putting down great deer in the new england area. We touch on....

1. Taking kiddos hunting and what to expect.

2. Why november is a double edge sword!

3. What to key in on when it comes to does and this time of year.

4. Water sources playing a major role this time of year.

5. Doe bedding areas and what to look for.

6. Story of tylers 185 inch october buck from this season!

On this episode I sit down with one of my great friends colby, to discuss self fiming your hunts, different setups, his success the last several years and the story of his latest big buck! Appreciate everyone listening and helping this podcast grow!

I apologize for the lack of a guest this week guys! Life has been hectic BUT things are getting back to normal! I wanted to touch on some things to keep in mind heading into next week and also give a Mid Season update on my end! NOVEMBER IS ALMOST HERE FELLAS!!!

Ep. 22 Bottomland Bucks! Land Smathers is no stranger to the river bottoms of Mississippi. The terrain is monotnous, miserable at times, and locating and patterning bucks seems to be a touch harder than somewhere with a bit of topo. Throughout this episode we cover.....

-Bottomland terrain and how it changes from year to year.

-Big Buck sign and where its typically found

-What food sources the deer key in on this time of year

-Ground hunting (the good and bad)

-Access to stay hidden in flatland

-Travel routes and lowland funnels

-Water access

-Taking kids hunting. The Do's and Do NOTS