We’re back with Joel and Chris breaking down the Lake Cumberland poker-run chaos, early velvet shed (testosterone + daylight shift), acorn drops vs beans, why your plots are starving in this drought, quick water-hole hacks, and blind/stand setups that actually kill. We also dig into real Ohio buck-size odds and why most hunters don’t tag out. Pull up—this one’s loaded.

Ron Lance has hunted with Joel Snow for 25 straight years—and dropped a 211-inch and 198-inch buck from the same stand four years apart. We dig into the stories behind those giants, the evolution of Joel’s outfitting, the truth about TV crews vs. real clients, mechanical vs. fixed broadheads, and the Yukon moose hunt that turned camp upside down (shoutout to “Marty the cook”). If you love whitetails, big antlers, and unfiltered camp talk, this one’s for you.

Highlights

25 years in camp: how it started at a Bob Evans & never stopped

Two 200s from the same tree (bow) — how rare is that?!

COVID-year camp life, grit, and keeping the hunts rolling

Moose in the Yukon: riverboats, chainsaws, and a near-record bull

Why Joel downsized to keep age structure & quality up

Mechanical vs. fixed: the shot that “zippered” a 170

From plumbing & heating to full-time outfitter—hard lessons learned

If this episode fired you up, smash Like, drop your favorite moment in the comments, and Subscribe for weekly whitetail, gear, and big-buck strategy deep dives. 🦌🔥

Rick’s back—and we go deep. Beatty Buck origins, the Brian Stevens freak frame (why “four 14-inch tines” blows minds), how B&C/P&Y/Buckmasters actually measure racks, the “common base” controversy, replicas, panel scoring drama, and field-photo tricks that make covers. Plus trapping roots, Ohio stories, and why the deer matters more than the number. Comment your biggest scoring gripe.

DescriptionRecorded Aug 25, we cover fresh EHD chatter in Logan & Champaign Counties, how to build rub-post + licking-branch sets that actually stop bucks, late-summer plot tweaks (rye/oats/brassicas), camera strategy (scrapes vs edges, 360 options), and Joel’s back-to-back Illinois buck stories (muzzy + bow). Wind, entry/exit, and CWD travel tips included. Subscribe for weekly whitetail intel.

Joel Snow goes deep on how trapping lit the fuse: snagging his first Fur-Fish-Game at 13, catching a red fox on night one, hair-trigger pan mods, rock-solid bedding, dirt-hole sets, double-staking for coyotes, and running a 200-mile trapline while in college. We break down red vs gray fox behavior, fur prices then vs now, Tom Miranda/Russ Carman lures, and coon/muskrat/mink tactics—plus wild stories about Tom Miranda and Stan Potts Hunts. Subscribe and drop your trapping questions!

In this episode of the Vulnerable podcast, legendary outfitter Joel Snow tells the unbelievable true story of how he killed a 201" giant Ohio whitetail — with only 6 hours of actual hunting time after years away from the stand.Joel breaks down:How he found the buck with only one photoWhy timing and scouting mattered more than the rutHis thoughts on bedding, scrapes, water access, and camera strategyHow he hung a tree stand just 5 feet off the groundHis real-time reaction the moment the buck appearedThis is a masterclass in big buck strategy, woodsmanship, and whitetail psychology — all wrapped in raw, unfiltered storytelling from a guy who has outfitted hundreds of successful hunters.If you're serious about deer hunting, managing land, or chasing mature bucks — this is a must-watch.🎧 Listen, learn, and laugh with Joel, Cory, and Chris as they dive into what it really takes to outsmart a 200" buck during the Ohio whitetail rut.

n Episode 10 of the Vulnerable podcast, we dive deep into the future of outfitting with longtime outfitter Joel Snow. From the changing dynamics of land access and bartering for permission to the shift in hunter behavior and late-season tactics, this episode is packed with real-world insights from 25+ years in the whitetail woods. We also talk about the economics of hunting, outfitting longevity, landowner relationships, and how whitetail hunting is evolving.This is the episode for anyone who wants to understand the business and strategy behind successful deer hunting in 2025 and beyond.

n this episode of Vulnerable, we sit down with the iconic Rick Busse — a name synonymous with taxidermy in Ohio. From growing up hunting squirrels in the 70s to building one of the most respected taxidermy reputations in the Midwest, Rick shares it all. We dive into his early days with recurves and Baker tree stands, his surprising past in the music industry (including opening for Wonder Woman herself), and his deep passion for white-tailed deer. This one’s full of history, laughs, and raw whitetail wisdom.

Whether you're a hunter, trapper, or just love a good story, this episode hits every note.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment if Rick has ever mounted one of your deer!

In Episode 8 of Vulnerable, Joel and Cory go deep into how to manipulate deer movement using fences, hog panels, and habitat edges. Joel shares his DIY method for building waterholes using rubber roofing and a garden hose—and how they help kill mature bucks during the rut. They also dive into the controversial topic of crossbows and whether they deserve their own season. The episode wraps up with Joel telling the story behind a client who killed TWO 200" bucks from the same tree and how CRP and landowner relationships can change your hunting game.

In this raw and hilarious episode of Vulnerable, we sit down with our longtime friend and professional butcher Travis Harshbarger — the man behind hundreds of deer every season. We get into:

🔪 Travis’ wild journey from high school to mastering the butcher’s knife

🦌 What REALLY happens during Ohio’s gun week (and how many twisted teas it takes)

💀 Why some deer come in half-gutted or still full of secrets

🔥 The truth about deer heart recipes, broadheads in nostrils, and butcher war stories

🚨 Travis' honest take on CWD, EHD, and why the state's handling of it is total bullsh*t

🧼 Field dressing tips, why some deer are straight-up rotten, and how butchers know it

🧠 Why mounting your deer might not be worth it anymore—and why Euro mounts are taking over

🦴 What it’s really like being up at 2AM processing 600+ deer a year

This is the behind-the-scenes truth you won’t get anywhere else — unfiltered, real, and straight from a guy who's elbow-deep in the whitetail world.