This week I’m joined by Nathan Killen, and we get into the stuff that doesn’t show up in highlight reels — weather that doesn’t cooperate, thermals that don’t do what you expect, and seasons that force you to adjust whether you want to or not.

We talk traditional archery, food sources, scrapes, rattling, and the little woodsmanship details that still matter no matter how much technology creeps into the picture. Nathan and I both share seasons where patience mattered more than aggression, and where trusting your gut made more difference than any piece of gear ever could.

There’s a thread running through this one about balance — using tools without losing the mystery, learning without overcomplicating it, and remembering that comparison will rob the joy out of this faster than a blown wind ever will.

This episode is about instinct, adaptability, and keeping the hunt honest.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 481

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—Truth From The Stand Merch

—Check out Tactacam Reveal cell cameras

— Save 15% on Hawke Optics code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on ASIO GEAR code TRUTH20

—Check out Spartan Forge to map your hunt 

—Save on Lathrop And Sons non-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check out Faceoff E-Bikes

—Waypoint TV

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alright, so this one’s just me.

I dug into a pile of listener questions and it turned into something bigger than I expected. We talk about antlers, sure—but mostly we talk about reps. About why the time in the woods matters more than the score on a tape. About building a life that actually lets you hunt the way you want to hunt, instead of squeezing it in around everything else.

I get into scouting in big woods, what’s changed for me with a traditional bow, and why humility shows up real quick when you put the wheels away and go back to wood and string. There’s some nuts-and-bolts stuff in there too—how I approach out-of-state hunts, what I’ve learned the hard way, and even a breakdown of the hunting trailer and cabin projects that are shaping the next few seasons.

But if there’s a thread running through all of it, it’s this: hunting isn’t separate from the rest of your life. Your fitness matters. Your recovery matters. Your mindset matters. If you want to do this for decades, you’d better treat it like something worth keeping.

This episode’s about playing the long game—on deer, and on yourself.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 480

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—Truth From The Stand Merch

—Check out Tactacam Reveal cell cameras

— Save 15% on Hawke Optics code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on ASIO GEAR code TRUTH20

—Check out Spartan Forge to map your hunt 

—Save on Lathrop And Sons non-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check out Faceoff E-Bikes

—Waypoint TV

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tim Palmer and I sat down in that quiet stretch after the season—the part of the year where the noise fades and you’re left with what the year actually gave you. We talk winter weather, ice fishing, and why water deserves more respect than most people give it.

We get into this past season—what went right, what didn’t, and how Tim shifted his approach away from pressure and back toward enjoyment. There are stories from the high country, close calls, grizzlies, and the kind of lessons you only learn when things don’t go perfectly.

A lot of this conversation lives in the mental space—trusting your prep, staying present when it counts, and understanding how mindset can either free you up or get in your way. This one’s about reset, perspective, and remembering why being out there matters in the first place.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 479

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—Truth From The Stand Merch

—Check out Tactacam Reveal cell cameras

— Save 15% on Hawke Optics code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on ASIO GEAR code TRUTH20

—Check out Spartan Forge to map your hunt 

—Save on Lathrop And Sons non-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check out Faceoff E-Bikes

—Waypoint TV

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Truth From The Stand, I’m sitting down with Joe Miles, and we’re digging into the kind of hunting that doesn’t get easier with better gear—cold sits, traditional bows, and the work it takes to stay honest in the woods. We talk longbows, confidence at the shot, and why preparation matters more when you strip things back instead of piling them on. Joe shares what drew him deeper into traditional archery, how projects like Brothers of the Bow shaped his perspective, and why legacy and authenticity still matter in modern hunting. We also get into the reality of public versus private ground, work ethic in the field, and even what it’s like stepping into truly dangerous game—where mistakes don’t get forgiven. This one’s about doing things the hard way on purpose, and what you gain when you do.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 478

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—Truth From The Stand Merch

—Check out Tactacam Reveal cell cameras

— Save 15% on Hawke Optics code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on ASIO GEAR code TRUTH20

—Check out Spartan Forge to map your hunt 

—Save on Lathrop And Sons non-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check out Faceoff E-Bikes

—Waypoint TV

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Truth From The Stand, I’m sitting down with Chad Sylvester for a conversation that started light and ended up digging pretty deep. We talk about whether hunting has become watered down, and what that question really means in a world shaped by technology, influence, and constant noise. Somewhere along the way, we get into old boots, old lessons, and the kind of hunting experiences that leave a mark because they’re earned, not curated.

We unpack how modern tools, social media, and shifting expectations have changed the way a lot of us experience the woods—and how easy it is to lose sight of why we started hunting in the first place. Chad and I get honest about influence, ego, motivation, and the tension between chasing outcomes and honoring the process. At the heart of it all is a reminder that woodsmanship, awareness, discomfort, and humility can’t be watered down—and that the best parts of hunting still live in the friction, the uncertainty, and the quiet moments when nobody’s watching.

This one’s about reconnecting with what matters, questioning our motives, and remembering that the hunt is supposed to shape us—not the other way around.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 477

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—Truth From The Stand Merch

—Check out Tactacam Reveal cell cameras

— Save 15% on Hawke Optics code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on ASIO GEAR code TRUTH20

—Check out Spartan Forge to map your hunt 

—Save on Lathrop And Sons non-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check out Faceoff E-Bikes

—Waypoint TV

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Truth From The Stand, I sit down with Travis Keith, and we wander through the overlap between hunting, wrestling, and the kind of mindset it takes to stay in the fight when things don’t go your way. We talk about tracking—both deer and personal progress—the role mentors play whether you realize it or not, and how most of the real learning comes from the hunts that don’t end the way you planned. Travis shares stories from recent seasons, close calls, and creative ways he’s gained access to overlooked spots, along with the unexpected generosity he’s found from other hunters along the way. It’s a conversation about patience, effort, faith, and listening to your gut—about remembering why you picked up a bow in the first place and how the woods have a way of giving back if you’re willing to slow down and pay attention.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 476

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—Truth From The Stand Merch

—Check out Tactacam Reveal cell cameras

— Save 15% on Hawke Optics code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on ASIO GEAR code TRUTH20

—Check out Spartan Forge to map your hunt 

—Save on Lathrop And Sons non-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check out Faceoff E-Bikes

—Waypoint TV

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, I’m sitting down with Jace to talk about what the season actually looks like when you strip away the highlight reel. We get into chasing specific deer that seem to vanish overnight, the mental grind that comes with late-season decisions, and how scouting, fitness, and intention all start to overlap when you’ve been at this long enough. We talk about the moments that don’t make social media—the near misses, the unexpected encounters, and the quiet wins that only mean something if you were there. At its core, this one’s about staying present, trusting the process, and remembering why the chase still matters when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 475

Link in Bio: 

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—Truth From The Stand Merch

—Check out Tactacam Reveal cell cameras

— Save 15% on Hawke Optics code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on ASIO GEAR code TRUTH20

—Check out Spartan Forge to map your hunt 

—Save on Lathrop And Sons non-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check out Faceoff E-Bikes

—Waypoint TV

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode feels like one of those late-season sits where you’re not just watching the woods—you’re taking inventory of yourself. John and I talk about rolling into 2026, how fast time keeps moving, and what it means to stay sharp when life, injuries, and expectations start stacking up. We get into the reality of hunting seasons that don’t always go as planned, a knee injury that forced John to slow down and rethink how he moves, and how recovery, discipline, and mental reps matter just as much as physical ones. We also dig into the pressure that comes with the outdoor industry, walking away from familiar paths, and having the guts to choose work that actually lines up with who you are. This one’s about paying attention—to your body, your goals, and the direction you’re headed—before the next season ever starts.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 474

Link in Bio: 

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—Truth From The Stand Merch

—Check out Tactacam Reveal cell cameras

— Save 15% on Hawke Optics code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on ASIO GEAR code TRUTH20

—Check out Spartan Forge to map your hunt 

—Save on Lathrop And Sons non-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check out Faceoff E-Bikes

—Waypoint TV

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Truth From The Stand, Aaron Hepler and I catch up after a long season and miles on the boots, talking about how seasons evolve and expectations need to with them. We get into adapting under pressure, trusting your gut when plans fall apart, and why dogs and bird hunts can be the best reset a big-game hunter can get. It’s a conversation about balancing technology with instinct, passing on what matters to new hunters, and learning when to let go of old goals so the hunt stays honest and fun.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 473

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—Truth From The Stand Merch

—Check out Tactacam Reveal cell cameras

— Save 15% on Hawke Optics code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on ASIO GEAR code TRUTH20

—Check out Spartan Forge to map your hunt 

—Save on Lathrop And Sons non-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check out Faceoff E-Bikes

—Waypoint TV

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I sit down with Andy May to talk bowhunting the hard way—how weather and wind messes with your shot, why traditional archery forces honesty, and what you give up when you decide to really chase mastery. We get into the mental side of hunting, the tension between time, technology, and ethics, and why the real competition is always with yourself. This one’s about sacrifice, perspective, and protecting the kind of hunting that still means something.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 472

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—Truth From The Stand Merch

—Check out Tactacam Reveal cell cameras

— Save 15% on Hawke Optics code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on ASIO GEAR code TRUTH20

—Check out Spartan Forge to map your hunt 

—Save on Lathrop And Sons non-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check out Faceoff E-Bikes

—Waypoint TV

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices