What would you do with 40 acres?

In this solo episode of the Wild Faith Podcast, I'm breaking down the habitat plan for my family's farm and walking through the improvements designed to turn it into a property that holds more deer, creates better hunting opportunities, and encourages mature bucks to move during daylight hours.

From bedding areas and food plots to travel corridors, waterholes, screening, stand locations, and hunter access, I'll share what surprised me most, what projects I'm most excited about, and where I think most hunters get it wrong when managing a small property.

Along the way, I'll challenge you with questions every landowner and deer hunter should consider:

• Food plots or bedding cover?

This farm means a lot more to me than just hunting. It's a place filled with family memories, lessons learned from my dad, and hopefully a place where my daughters will one day create memories of their own. Improving this property isn't just about growing bigger bucks—it's about stewardship, legacy, and leaving something better than I found it.

Whether you own 5 acres, 40 acres, or 400 acres, this episode will get you thinking differently about deer habitat, hunting pressure, and how to maximize the ground you have.

After listening, send me a message or leave a comment: What would YOU do with 40 acres?

If you're interested in improving your hunting property, creating better deer habitat, or developing a long-term land management plan, I highly recommend reaching out to Jake Blow of Habitat Pro LLC. Jake specializes in whitetail habitat design, hunting property layout, bedding cover improvements, food plot strategies, travel corridors, waterhole placement, hunter access planning, and overall property optimization for deer and wildlife. Whether you own 10 acres or several hundred acres, he can help build a customized plan based on your property's goals and limitations.

Jake Blow – Habitat Pro LLC

You can also find Habitat Pro LLC on YouTube and Facebook, where Jake shares habitat management tips, property transformations, food plot strategies, and educational content for landowners looking to get more out of their ground. If you've ever wondered what your property could become with a professional habitat plan, Jake is a great resource to start that conversation.

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Deer season is getting closer, and this episode is packed with everything from whitetail trivia and legendary buck stories to saddle hunting setups and preseason gear talk.

We put our deer knowledge to the test with challenging trivia questions covering deer biology, aging bucks, record-book whitetails, state-by-state hunting facts, and some surprising statistics that even experienced hunters may not know. Along the way, we discuss the Missouri Monarch, mature buck behavior, Minnesota deer facts, and what makes some of the country's top whitetail states so special.

We also shift gears and talk through South Dakota hunting preparation, saddle hunting setups, boots, optics, backcountry food, and some of the gear we're excited to use this fall. As bow season inches closer, the anticipation is building and this conversation feels a lot like sitting around deer camp with friends talking hunting.

Whether you're hanging stands, scouting, shooting your bow, or just counting down the days until opening morning, this episode will help get you fired up for another season in God's creation.

God is good. We'll see you in the woods.

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Happy 250th Birthday, America!

In this episode, Luke and I sit down and catch up on everything from summer life, gardens, family adventures, and storms rolling through the Midwest to the excitement of another hunting season right around the corner.

We talk deer season goals, South Dakota plans, introducing our kids to the outdoors, hunting dogs, conservation, and the legacy of Teddy Roosevelt. As we celebrate 250 years of freedom in this incredible country, we're reminded how blessed we are to enjoy God's creation and pass these traditions on to the next generation.

Whether you're spending the Fourth of July at the cabin, on the lake, around a campfire, or simply with family and friends, we hope you have a safe and memorable holiday weekend.

Thanks for being part of the Wild Faith family. God bless, and Happy Birthday, America!

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In this episode of Wild Faith, we sit down with Ray and Krysta Howell of Kicking Bear Ministries to talk about the journey that led to one of the most impactful outdoor ministries in the country. We dive into how Ray's love for hunting and the outdoors eventually grew into a calling to reach kids and families through archery, mentorship, and the Gospel.

Ray shares stories from some of his most memorable hunts, the lessons he's learned in a lifetime spent outdoors, and the heart behind starting Kicking Bear. We also hear how Ray and Krysta met, what it's been like serving together in ministry, and why investing in the next generation remains at the center of everything they do.

Most importantly, we talk about what they hope every child walks away with after attending a Kicking Bear event—that they are loved, valued, created with purpose, and never alone. Whether you're a hunter, a parent, or someone passionate about mentoring others, this conversation is packed with encouragement, perspective, and a reminder that one person can make a lasting difference in a young person's life.

Kicking Bear Links:

Events: https://kickingbear.org/events/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kickingbearoffical/

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Burnout is real—and it's affecting far more people than we realize.

In this episode of Wild Faith, we sit down with Jesse Urban, co-founder of Be Still Retreats, to talk about his faith journey, the calling behind Be Still, and the growing crisis of burnout among pastors, ministry leaders, and everyday men.

We dive into the importance of rest, why so many people struggle to slow down, and how God often meets us in the stillness. Jesse shares the story behind Be Still Retreats, the mission of helping those who spend their lives serving others, and the upcoming Rest in the Riser event in partnership with HHA USA aimed at addressing clergy burnout through faith, fellowship, and the outdoors.

Whether you're a pastor, a husband, a father, or simply someone carrying more weight than you should, this conversation is a reminder that rest isn't weakness—it's part of God's design.

Jesse's Links:

Rest In The Riser (Registration): https://www.strideevents.com/events/rest-in-the-riser-3d-archery-shoot/2026/register

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestillinc/

HHA USA: https://www.hhausa.org/events/

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On this episode, we recap our recent trip to Basswood Lake in the BWCA. Jake, Jordan, and Ryan experienced the Boundary Waters for the first time, and together we share stories from an unforgettable few days in the wilderness.

We talk about the incredible fishing, the beauty of Basswood Lake, and what it's like to truly get away from it all in one of the most remote places in Minnesota. From chasing walleyes, smallmouth, and northern pike to weathering a storm miles from camp, the trip was full of adventure, lessons learned, and memories we'll be talking about for years.

Most importantly, we share where we encountered God throughout the trip in the beauty of creation, the challenges we faced, and the brotherhood built around campfires, canoes, and life in the wilderness. A huge shoutout to LaTourell's Moose Lake Outfitters for helping make the trip a first class experience. 

Basswood delivered another trip we'll never forget and a reminder of why it's important to step away from the noise and return to the wild.

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How many times have you said "I'm good" when you really weren't?

We are back with The Check-In, and this week we're talking about the pressure men feel to always have it together. The truth is, a lot of us are carrying more than we let on—stress, responsibility, anxiety, exhaustion, and the fear that being honest will make us look weak.

In this episode, we unpack why men stay silent, the lie that strength means handling everything alone, and what it actually looks like to be honest about where you're at. If you've been carrying a weight nobody knows about, this conversation is for you.

You don't have to have it all figured out. You don't have to pretend you're fine. And you were never meant to carry it alone.

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A lot of men say they want change.

But what if part of us is still clinging to the very thing keeping us broken?

This week we dive deep into the story of the crippled man at the Pool of Bethesda in The Gospel of John 5, where Jesus asks a question that still cuts straight through the heart of men today:

"Do you want to be healed?"

We unpack why so many men stay stuck in cycles of anger, isolation, addiction, shame, distraction, and spiritual numbness — even when they know they need change. We talk about the fear of surrender, the death of the old self, and why true healing in Christ requires more than just wanting life to get easier.

This is a raw conversation about what it means to stop lying beside the pool and finally get up and walk.

If you’ve been carrying the weight of the old man for too long, this episode is for you.

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Turkey season came to an end in the best way possible. In this episode, me and my brother recap the final days of the season, the ups and downs along the way, and both punching our tags before spring came to a close. There’s just something special about those last few mornings in the turkey woods knowing another season is about over.

We talk lessons learned, favorite moments from the spring, and why these hunts always end up being about more than just chasing birds. Hope you guys enjoy this one and thanks for following along all season long.

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Late season turkey hunting is where things start getting real. The woods get quieter, birds stop following the script, and every hunt starts feeling more like a chess match. In this episode, we talk through how our mindset and tactics change once the season starts winding down and why this stretch of the season might actually be some of our favorite days to hunt all spring.

We dive into midday run and gun setups, pressured gobblers, aggressive calling, roosting changes, decoy strategies, covering ground, and what it takes to finally get a stubborn late season tom to commit. If you’re still holding a tag and trying to make one last bird happen before season closes, this episode should fire you up to get back in the woods.

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