The MeatEater

On this episode, Tony shares a few stories about unique encounters and how they always solidify his belief that if you want to be a better deer hunter, you have to learn how to let the deer teach you about themselves.

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Steven Rinella talks with Heather Douville and Jimmy Rinella in Alaska.

Topics discussed: Big sea otters; the proper skinning technique; the importance of a sharp knife; belly contents; and more. 

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Landscapes, wildlife, and Native people dominated the fascination with the early American West, but imagining that world is not easy. Fortunately, two talented and committed painters, one American and one European, left the future a rich and varied body of “Time Machine Visuals” of the Missouri River West in the 1830s. George Catlin was a Pennsylvanian whose life’s work was to be the historian of Native people. Catlin was a Romantic who believed preserving the West’s landscapes, animals, and Indian peoples was essential to the future. Karl Bodmer was the supremely talented painter on a Prussian prince’s 1833-4 journey up the Missouri, whose marvelous paintings have enabled modern Native people and Hollywood to re-discover the early West. Both men are celebrated now for their visual portrayals of a lost world.

Thank you to our sponsor Velvet Buck.

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Check out more MeatEater's American History audio originals "The Long Hunters" and "Mountain Men"

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This week is a special podcast featuring two hit songwriters and brothers, Josh and Matt Jenkins. The four brothers dive into industry highs and lows, their journey to Nashville, and what it feels like sharing all of these moments with family. Matt and Josh co-penned CMA song of the year "Buy Dirt" alongside Jordan and Jacob Davis, and they break down how the monster song came about. Matt shares a spiritual moment that led him to becoming a full-time songwriter, and Josh shares the moment that changed everything for him in Nashville. The episode ends with multiple gravorites and brother harmonies.

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First Lite just unveiled their brand new Forge Waders, and for the past four years, some of the MeatEater crew have been putting them through the ringer as part of testing measures. From setting beaver traps to bear hunting and, of course, good ole late-season duck hunting, the crew threw everything at these waders before landing on a finished product.

These waders have been expert-tested and reviewed, and the feedback from die-hard duck hunters helped inform the thoughtful and intuitive design of First Lite’s Forge Waders. Here’s a look at some of those specs.

Material: Nylon

For starters, First Lite designed the Forge as a one-piece wader, eliminating unnecessary seams or potential failure points. While the Forge’s construction might be minimalist, they have plenty of features that make them one of the best waders available like, MOLLE loops on the chest pockets for shot shell holders or other gear. For the boots, First Lite went with a 1000g insulated 14-inch LaCrosse Alpha with plenty of traction on the Vibram sole.

They’re built to keep you warm and offer plenty of stability while wading through swamps, sloughs, or icy conditions. The seat has OrthoLite O-Therm Aerogel for those frigid mornings in the duck blind, and the reinforced neoprene knee pads are plenty durable. After years of testing, here’s what the crew had to say.

“They’re the warmest, most comfortable waders I’ve used. I’ve been using them for spring bear hunting on the coast, beaver trapping through the ice just to put them through the ringer, and they’re just phenomenal, durable waders.”

“They’re the best waders I’ve experienced.”

“I’m about as old school as Flint arrowhead, so when the Forge wader project started a few years ago, I was skeptical of the lightweight materials. But shortly after testing some of the early versions, I became a believer. I wasn’t nice to them either. I forced my way through buck brush and flooded timber in Arkansas and a beaver trap line in Manitoba without an issue.”

“This duck season will mark three years that I’ve been running the same pair without a single leak or issue. Wet, cold air doesn't cut through these bad boys, yet they’re plenty breathable for those deep treks into the duck hole. I’m proud to have been a small part of this project and look forward to seeing other folks enjoy them as much as I have.”

"One of the biggest hurdles in waterfowl hunting is comfort. If you aren't comfortable, you aren’t having a good time. I could spend an entire day along a riverbank waiting for birds in these waders. Top to bottom, the Forge waders are the most comfortable waders I’ve ever worn.”

“Walking into a creek or river can be rough on a set of waders. Along with balancing a truckload of gear on your shoulders, you have to wade through thick brush or even hop the occasional fence. These waders are built for that kind of abuse.”

“I hunted the last three days of duck season this past year. Those days ranged from a low of -20 to a high of 0, and I stayed warm enough to hunt those last three days. The LaCrosse Alpha boot helped keep my feet warm, and they’re super comfortable.”

“It was a painstaking, detail-oriented approach, but we built a durable, high-performance wader. The price tag behind this product leaves no room for guessing, so we tested them in every condition available. I think folks will love the result.”

Click here to check out the Forge Waders now!

Steven Rinella talks with Mike Douville, Heather Douville, Janis Putelis, Seth Morris, and Jimmy Rinella in Alaska.

Topics discussed: Fishing to support the family; building your own boat; herring fisheries; naming a boat after your daughter; forced into boarding schools; sea stars and salmon sharks; long lining for black cod; diminishing quota allowances; recreational catch yields troucing commercial yields; Heather's new show, "Our Way Of Life" launching on September 29th on MeatEater; and more. 

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This week, Cal covers a fascinating Ice Age technology, a giant deer smuggling operation in Texas, a plumbing problem in Minnesota, and new legislation you should care about.

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To learn more and get involved with any Cal to Action, click here.

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Most deer hunters aren't living the dream of unlimited time in the woods. Tony Peterson recently pointed out in an earlier article how easy it can be to fall into the "must be nice" crowd. The reality for almost all deer hunters is a full-time job, kids, and obligations that thin our time in the field. Everyday life makes us weekend warriors with hunts squeezed into short vacations and a random day here or there.

The simpler question is, if you're that hunter, how can you find deer and find them fast with limited time?

To find a high-odds spot, combine as many attractive features as possible: terrain, cover, food, and, if the time is right, does. These elements are the pieces you need to start your search.

Using onX can reveal high-odds terrain features like saddles, long, tapering ridges, and secondary ridges (especially ones with a "turkey foot” shape). Of course, some of these places see plenty of pressure because of their popularity, but that doesn't mean deer stop using them.

Pair those features with an in-timber food source, an adjacent ag field, or changes in vegetative cover, and you've got the makings of an area that can be great. Using the "leaf-off" toggle on onX makes various stages of cover visible. For out-of-staters, or the weekend warrior, watch for close-by doe families that are likely using these spots as they will be the bread and butter of your hunt.

Why should you have a deer hunting goal? A clear direction before your hunt is vital to a satisfying experience. If you set a goal to shoot a booner, there's a better chance that you'll go home with an unfilled tag. A 110-inch buck could satisfy many hunters who hunt for little time. Without an expectation, you might pass bucks because they don't meet the expectations of other hunters.

The important thing for a hunt on a limited time is to understand that more satisfaction comes from the experience of hunting than the kill alone. The kill is the icing on the cake, and even the best whitetail hunters won't tell you a story is worthless because your kill wasn't big enough.

For the weekend warrior with no time to scout, or the out-of-state hunter with four days of vacation, mobility is crucial.

Plan a route. For the weekend warrior looking to up the ante, pick a piece of ground that you can keep walking until you find something that piques your interest. An area not overrun by hunting pressure. Searching for human sign can be as important as finding good deer sign. As a second option, pick a driving route that takes you past as much ground as possible.

Keep your eyes peeled for deer, vehicles in parking areas, and proximity to population centers. Rural doesn't always mean better! The theory that hunting near a city means you're hunting pressured ground could be true. However, you might end up in a rural area where every house has an archery target in the front yard. Population doesn't always equal pressure.

Now and then, when you see something that catches your eye, get out of the truck. Glass a little during morning or evening hours, have a look at the outer edge, and see if the sign up front gives you evidence to dig a little deeper.

A deer hunter can research online until they turn blue. The good news is that plenty of state agencies do a fair job of pointing hunters in the right direction. Interactive maps are available for most states. These can help you find public ground, and some states even have layers that will show you the success rates or zones of high deer populations. The data can help you determine specific tags you'll need to purchase and will also confirm your e-scouting of high-odds locations.

Beyond this, it's also helpful to have friends in the areas you're visiting. Ask them where they've seen deer often, or if they have heard of places that have been productive for other hunters. For the word-of-mouth information, I'd stick to this strategy. Be careful with advice on forums and social media. Not all of it will be accurate.

There isn't a substitute for reading sign and understanding the woods. Match the sign you've found to the intel you have from your resources and map scouting. Ask questions like whether there should be more tracks and trails. Is this enough sign density to build a good hunt?

Being able to identify browse-type plants and whether deer are eating them is a valuable skill. Check the browse for signs of active feeding. Fresh browse with nipped green tips is a good sign. If the tallest plant tapers shorter to the dirt, you've found an active feeding site. Confirm you're looking at deer sign by identifying scat and tracks. A bigger track area is a better bet that you're hunting a buck close by.

The written end doesn't happen after your last hunt of the season. Successful deer hunters working on limited time will tell you that a journal and history will keep you in the game. Using the same format and lingo in your journal will allow you to skim notes and recall the info.

Finally, don't be afraid to return to the same ground at home or in the same state. The more years you return, the more patterns you'll recognize, the more quickly you'll succeed.

Feature image via Thomas Clements.

Timothy Rawlings of Laveen, Arizona is facing a year in federal prison after getting busted for illegally outfitting hunts in Colorado—and a slew of other wildlife infractions. According to a Department of Justice press release, Rawlings was sentenced by United States District Judge S. Kato Crews on Tuesday, August 5, after he took a plea agreement.

According to the court, Rawlings and his co-defendant, Howard Wayne Rodarmel, who had already been sentenced, conducted their crimes through Old West Guides and Outfitters, which Rawlings owned and operated. Rawlings booked paying clients hunts for big game animals, such as deer, elk, mountain lions, and bear, in Colorado, despite not being licensed to do so.

Not only that, but Rawlings “knowingly violated” additional hunting regulations such as chasing animals with vehicles, hunting in unpermitted lands, and failing to register taken animals according to state regulations.

The investigation, which was conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Colorado Parks & Wildlife, involved undercover agents who were guided by Rawlings on an illegal hunt and witnessed firsthand such game code violations.

One of the most egregious—and legally damning—parts of Rawlings’s actions was that his clients largely didn’t live in Colorado. After bagging their animals, they would bring their animals home across state lines. This is considered “interstate commerce” under the Lacey Act, which has prohibited the transportation and trade of illegally obtained animals and animal products since 1900.

Ultimately, Rawlings was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison for violating the Lacey Act, followed by three years of supervised release. He must also pay $45,800 in restitution. His co-defendant, Rodarmel, who Rawlings had hired, did not face jail time but did receive three years of probation and $11,164 in restitution and fines.

“This was not a momentary lapse in judgment or isolated violation,” USFWS Office of Law Enforcement Assistant Director Douglas Ault said.

“For several years, Rawlings and his associates systematically violated Colorado’s hunting and guiding regulations, orchestrating illegal hunts, and facilitating the unlawful take, transport, and sale of big game across state lines for monetary financial gain. Their actions stripped wildlife from our landscapes and betrayed the foundational principles of ethical hunting. Violations like these erode public trust in licensed guides, undermine decades of conservation progress, and tarnish the legacy of fair-chase hunting that ethical sportsmen and women work hard to preserve.”

Hosts Spencer Neuharth, Brody Henderson, and Seth Morris talk with the American Chestnut Foundation's Jared Westbrook about the "near mythical" tree, chat about their favorite First Lite gear to commemorate the Season Opener Sale, play another round of MeatEater Price is Right, and host previous 1-Minute Fishing winner Pat Durkin to see if he can repeat the magic of his first appearance.

Watch the live stream on the MeatEater Podcast Network YouTube channel.

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