The Southern Outdoorsmen Hunting Podcast

GPS-collar research has revealed some surprising truths about mature bucks—and much of it flies in the face of conventional hunting wisdom. In this episode, we break down what the data actually says, how it has changed the way we hunt, and why some of the best deer in the woods may be much closer than you think.

• Why mature bucks are often found surprisingly close to roads and parking areas
• What years of GPS collar research has taught us about deer movement
• The biggest misconceptions hunters have about bedding areas
• Why focusing on individual buck beds may not be the best strategy
• How terrain and habitat work together to influence deer behavior
• Why hunting success involves more luck than many hunters want to admit
• Practical ways to use deer behavior research to become a better hunter
• How to think differently about pressure, access, and overlooked areas

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Use code “SOUTHERN” for a discount on Whitetail Hill food plot seed & trees - https://linkly.link/2myBP

Use the promo code “southern” for a discount on your OnX Hunt membership here - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1tyfm

Check out Latitude Outdoors for your mobile hunting gear - https://2ly.link/1zVDI

Use code TSOP15 for a discount on Mossy Oak - https://linkly.link/2ERb8

Use code SOUTHERN20 for a discount on all Vortex apparel, including eyewear

Have you tagged a deer using something you heard on the show? Submit your listener success story here - Share Your Story Here

NOTE: Not all advertisements run on this show are endorsed by The Southern Outdoorsmen Podcast unless an ad is read by one of the hosts. 

Today, Chris Jones of South Carolina joins us to discuss what it really takes to consistently find mature whitetails on public land. From breaking common hunting myths to reading overlooked terrain features, Chris shares the mindset and woodsmanship that have helped him tag big bucks where most hunters assume the odds are stacked against them.

In this episode:

• Why Chris believes he’s found bigger bucks on public land than he ever did on private
• The biggest misconceptions hunters have about public land pressure
• How to identify overlooked areas where mature bucks actually live
• Why miles walked often matter more than hours spent in a tree
• The scouting strategy that changed the way Chris hunts
• Using topography, access, and human behavior to your advantage
• Why “hard-to-reach” isn’t always as far as people think
• The importance of woodsmanship over relying solely on technology
• How Chris approaches postseason scouting and e-scouting together
• Common mistakes hunters make when searching for mature buck bedding
• Developing confidence to hunt your own plan instead of following the crowd
• Practical advice for becoming a more consistent deer hunter, regardless of where you hunt

Check out Chris' YouTube channel here - https://www.youtube.com/@Simpleman667

Join our Circle Community here - ⁠https://the-southern-outdoorsmen.circle.so/checkout/join-the-community⁠

Got a question for the show? Submit a listener Q&A form - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1uMXP

Grab some Southern Outdoorsmen merch here - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1u4aK

Join Woodsman Wire - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1u4aR

Use code “SOUTHERN” for a discount on Whitetail Hill food plot seed & trees - https://linkly.link/2myBP

Use the promo code “southern” for a discount on your OnX Hunt membership here - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1tyfm

Check out Latitude Outdoors for your mobile hunting gear - https://2ly.link/1zVDI

Use code TSOP15 for a discount on Mossy Oak - https://linkly.link/2ERb8

Use code SOUTHERN20 for a discount on all Vortex apparel, including eyewear

Have you tagged a deer using something you heard on the show? Submit your listener success story here - Share Your Story Here

NOTE: Not all advertisements run on this show are endorsed by The Southern Outdoorsmen Podcast unless an ad is read by one of the hosts. 

This week on the Thursday Q&A, we’re tackling some of the biggest debates in deer hunting—from bait, minerals, and food plots to summer scouting, scent, and mature buck behavior. We also answer a listener question about hunting rocky, mountainous terrain in Arkansas and share how we’d approach finding and killing an older buck in big-woods country.

In this episode:

• Do minerals, Deer Cane, and attractants actually work?
• The biggest mistake hunters make when baiting deer
• Why mature bucks prioritize security over food
• Are food plots overrated compared to bedding cover?
• Common deer club management mistakes that keep older bucks from surviving
• Does artificial deer scent help or hurt your odds?
• How to properly use scent if you choose to hunt with it
• Summer scouting vs. in-season scouting—which is more effective?
• Camouflage vs. solid colors: does it really matter?
• How we’d hunt rocky mountainous terrain in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas
• Finding habitat diversity, terrain funnels, and mature bucks travel in big woods
• Plus upcoming events, World Deer Expo, and Mobile Hunters Expo updates.

Join our Circle Community here - ⁠https://the-southern-outdoorsmen.circle.so/checkout/join-the-community⁠

Got a question for the show? Submit a listener Q&A form - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1uMXP

Grab some Southern Outdoorsmen merch here - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1u4aK

Join Woodsman Wire - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1u4aR

Use code “SOUTHERN” for a discount on Whitetail Hill food plot seed & trees - https://linkly.link/2myBP

Use the promo code “southern” for a discount on your OnX Hunt membership here - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1tyfm

Check out Latitude Outdoors for your mobile hunting gear - https://2ly.link/1zVDI

Use code TSOP15 for a discount on Mossy Oak - https://linkly.link/2ERb8

Use code SOUTHERN20 for a discount on all Vortex apparel, including eyewear

Have you tagged a deer using something you heard on the show? Submit your listener success story here - Share Your Story Here

NOTE: Not all advertisements run on this show are endorsed by The Southern Outdoorsmen Podcast unless an ad is read by one of the hosts. 

Larry Weishuhn is back on the show, and in this conversation he dives into the timeless hunting skills that can’t be bought, downloaded, or replaced by technology. From the story of his very first buck to decades of lessons chasing mature whitetails across North America, Larry shares the woodsmanship principles that have shaped his hunting career.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Larry’s unforgettable first buck and how it shaped his lifelong passion for whitetails
• How the pioneers of modern mature buck hunting changed the way hunters think
• Why woodsmanship is a skill that has to be earned—not purchased
• The psychology of confidence, lucky charms, scents, and why paying attention matters most
• Reading tracks, rubs, scrapes, and other overlooked sign
• Lessons learned from decades as a wildlife biologist
• Deer vocalizations, grunting, rattling, and what deer are really communicating
• Why mature bucks often move when other hunters aren’t in the woods
• Larry’s approach to all-day sits and midday deer movement
• How to choose high-odds stand locations beyond obvious food sources
• The importance of observation, perception, and trusting your instincts in the woods
• Practical tips for becoming a better woodsman and more complete deer hunter

Whether you’re new to deer hunting or have decades of experience, this episode is packed with practical wisdom from one of the most respected voices in the whitetail world.

Check out Larry's newest book, Deer Addictions.

Join our Circle Community here - ⁠https://the-southern-outdoorsmen.circle.so/checkout/join-the-community⁠

Got a question for the show? Submit a listener Q&A form - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1uMXP

This week we’re diving into your hottest deer hunting takes and answering some of the biggest questions from The Southern Outdoorsmen community. From crossbows and dog hunting to cell cameras, persimmons, and deer behavior, we tackle some of the most controversial topics we’ve discussed in a while.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Should crossbows have their own season?
• Are Southern gun seasons too long?
• Should dog hunting be allowed on public land?
• Are mature bucks more wary of cell cameras than standard trail cameras?
• Do ozone products and scent control actually work?
• Are persimmon trees overrated as a hunting food source?
• Can terrain ever be too steep for deer?
• What do deer eat in hardwood bottoms besides acorns?
• Should public land have statewide antler restrictions?
• The biggest lessons we’ve learned that changed the way we hunt over the last five years.
• Is modern deer hunting losing the traditions that made it special?

We’d love to hear your thoughts on these topics. Join the discussion in our Circle community and let us know where you agree—and where you think we’re completely wrong.

Join our Circle Community here - ⁠https://the-southern-outdoorsmen.circle.so/checkout/join-the-community⁠

Got a question for the show? Submit a listener Q&A form - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1uMXP

Most hunters focus on what to plant, but the bigger question is where, why, and how. In this episode, Caleb Huckaba of Whitetail Hill breaks down the biggest food plot mistakes he sees, how to design food plots that actually produce daylight mature buck encounters, and why strategy often matters more than the seed itself. Whether you’re planting a quarter-acre kill plot on a permission property or managing a large hunting tract, this episode is packed with practical habitat and hunting advice you can apply this season.

In this episode, we discuss:

- The biggest food plot mistakes hunters make

- Why mature bucks only visit some food plots after dark

- Kill plots vs. destination food plots

- Where food plots should be located in relation to bedding

- Food plot layout and hunting strategy

- Soil testing, pH, lime, and improving poor soils

- Choosing the right food plot blend for your goals

- Small property and permission-land food plot strategies

- How to plant successful food plots with or without equipment

- Food plot diversity and seasonal attraction

- Using chestnuts, persimmons, and other mast trees to improve hunting

- Creating year-round food sources and property hotspots

- Stand placement, access routes, and reducing hunting pressure

Use code “SOUTHERN” for a discount on Whitetail Hill food plot seed & trees - https://linkly.link/2myBP

Join our Circle Community here - ⁠https://the-southern-outdoorsmen.circle.so/checkout/join-the-community⁠

In this Q&A edition of the show, we cover a wide array of questions and hot takes from listeners!

• How should you hunt areas with tornado/storm damage?
• Can a property become an immature buck factory?
• Is flat land harder to hunt than hill country?
• Are more trail camera bans coming?
• Are sliding bow sights overkill?

and a lot more!

Join our Circle Community here - ⁠https://the-southern-outdoorsmen.circle.so/checkout/join-the-community⁠

What actually creates bigger bucks? Is it genetics, nutrition, habitat, or something else entirely?

In this episode, National Deer Association’s Lindsay Thomas Jr. separates decades of deer research from hunting folklore. We dive into the biggest myths surrounding deer management, aging bucks on the hoof, habitat improvement, feral hogs, and the science that has fundamentally changed how we understand whitetails. If you’re serious about becoming a better deer hunter or land manager, this episode is packed with practical, research-backed information you can apply immediately.

Topics discussed:

• Why genetics matter far less than most hunters think
• The Mississippi State study that changed how we view big bucks
• How to accurately age bucks on the hoof
• Common mistakes hunters make when managing deer
• Why cull buck programs don’t improve genetics
• The truth about nutrition, habitat, and antler growth
• How to improve a property—even if it’s small
• Food plots vs. timber management: where to invest your effort
• How hunting pressure influences mature buck movement
• The four biggest factors that actually affect deer movement
• Why feral hogs are so damaging to deer and turkey populations
• Why trapping is far more effective than simply shooting hogs
• How to work with neighbors to improve deer quality across a landscape
• Lessons from over two decades of deer research and management

Join our Circle Community here - ⁠https://the-southern-outdoorsmen.circle.so/checkout/join-the-community⁠

Today we are throwing it back to one of our favorite episodes of all time with whitetail legend Bobby Worthington! In this episode, Bobby talks about perfecting archery setups to get mature bucks in bow range and make the shot count.

Join our Circle Community here - ⁠https://the-southern-outdoorsmen.circle.so/checkout/join-the-community⁠

Dillon Harper has spent over a decade hunting North Georgia’s mountains, breaking down the terrain features that consistently produce deer, bears, and hogs. In this conversation, he explains why hidden springheads have become the most important feature he hunts—and how they can concentrate animal movement in vast mountain terrain.

In this episode:

• Why Dillon believes some hidden springheads are more valuable than saddles
• How “community springs” pull multiple game trails into a single location
• Using LiDAR and slope shading to identify overlooked mountain features
• The connection between water, terrain funnels, and rutting buck movement
• Summer scouting strategies for deer, bears, and hogs
• How bear activity helps predict productive deer hunting locations
• Monitoring mast crops and adjusting for changing food sources
• Finding isolated water sources that don’t appear on topo maps
• Trail camera tactics for dealing with curious black bears
• Bear hunting strategies, bedding habits, and locating mature boars
• Wild encounters with bears deep in the mountains
• Why learning to read topography can dramatically improve mountain hunting success

Whether you hunt deer, bears, or simply enjoy learning how animals use mountain terrain, this episode is packed with practical scouting and hunting insights from one of the most dedicated mountain hunters you’ll meet.

Want to learn even more? Join our Circle here - https://the-southern-outdoorsmen.circle.so/checkout/join-the-community