On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Tony Van Asten to learn about Tony's success hunting giant bucks in the Driftless! Tony is a Wisconsin-Native and outstanding outdoorsman, who spends the colder months of his year chasing deer, running trap lines, and shed hunting in the Driftless region of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. In this conversation, the guys discuss Tony's plans for trapping camp, and recap how he got an arrow in a Driftless giant this past fall. After that, Tony gives a phenomenal breakdown of how he sees bucks move through hilly terrain, and leverage thermals and multiple beds to monitor their surroundings. All that and more in this week's episode!

Be sure to check out Tony's YouTube channel @tonyvanasten and follow along with his adventures on Instagram @tonyva3 

Big thanks to our fantastic partners:

Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com

onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com

Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com

Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin

TAKE ACTION THROUGH BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERS

1. www.backcountryhunters.com/take_action
2. Call the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Kent Boucher to talk about the evolution of a hunter's approach to life. Kent is the Production Manager at Hoksey Native Seeds, Co-Host of The Prairie Farm Podcast, and host of The First Gen Hunter Podcast. In this episode, the guys dive into the importance of physical activity in nature for mental health, the journey of a first-gen hunter, and the impacts of social media on the hunting community. Kent shares how increased responsibilities at work and with a growing family have influenced his hunting priorities, while also emphasizing the importance of shared experiences and conversations around conservation. And the guys highlight the importance of being present in the moment and finding contentment in the outdoors. All that and more in this week's episode!

Huge thanks to Kent for taking time to come on the show! Be sure to check out the fantastic work he and the team are doing over at Hoksey Native Seeds, The Prairie Farm Podcast, and The First Gen Hunter Podcast.

Lastly, if you want to watch this episode, head on over to The Wisconsin Sportsman YouTube Channel!

Big thanks to our fantastic partners:

Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com

onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com

Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com

Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin

TAKE ACTION THROUGH BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERS

1. www.backcountryhunters.com/take_action
2. Call the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce sits down with Jake Fleischman to recap his 2025 season and how he arrowed a hill country bruiser! Jake is a Wisconsin-native from the northwoods who has spent the last five years learning the intricacies of hunting the hilly terrain of the Driftless region. The guys dive into how Jake interprets deer sign throughout a year by analyzing scrapes and using rub lines to tell him when a deer uses an area. Then Jake shares the story of how he set himself up to make a great shot on a huge hill country buck during the rut!

Be sure to go check out The Untrained Outdoorsman podcast which is hosted by Jake, and follow along with his adventures on social media @_jakefleischman_

Big thanks to our fantastic partners:

Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com

onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com

Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com

Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin
 

TAKE ACTION THROUGH BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERS

1. www.backcountryhunters.com/take_action
2. Call the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Matt Jefko to dive into the mental hurdles we must clear as hunters and humans in the outdoors. Matt is an avid outdoorsman, professional photographer, and high school Social Studies teacher in the Madison area. In this conversation, the guys recap their antlerless holiday hunts, discuss the mental hurdles that come along with shooting, finding joy in hunting without technology, student perspectives on hunting, the ethics of hunting and food acquisition, and a harrowing tale of a dead buck and a knife to the knee! All that and more in this week's episode!

Huge thanks to Matt for coming on the show! If you'd like to follow along with his adventures and check out his photography, find him @okfej on social media

Big thanks to our fantastic partners:

Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com

onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com

Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com

Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin

TAKE ACTION THROUGH BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERS

1. www.backcountryhunters.com/take_action
2. Call the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce flies solo to recap a snowy 5-day public land hunt chasing late-season bucks! If you listened to last year's "What I Learned Hunting A Public Land Giant", consider this the sequel. Pierce recaps the lessons learned from still hunting a new piece of public land, and how he adapted a minimalist approach to simply hunting where the deer sign told him, and where the terrain allowed him. Be prepared to hear about a couple of encounters with huge bucks and what they did to stay alive near the end of a long hunting season, and hear what was going through Pierce's mind as he encountered everything on this long, winter hunt. 

Thank you all for making 2025 such a phenomenal year! This was far and away the best year yet, and that's all thanks to those of you who tune in every week. Have a happy new year and we'll talk to you all in 2026!

Big thanks to our fantastic partners:

Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com

onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com

Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com

Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin

TAKE ACTION THROUGH BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERS

1. www.backcountryhunters.com/take_action
2. Call the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by outdoor writer, Matt Geiger to dive into why we hunt! Matt is a New England native who now lives and hunts in Southwest Wisconsin. The guys dive into Matt's hunting season so far, the ag tag program, stories from the Cazenovia Doe Derby, the importance of hunting rituals, a knife in the knee, the importance of venison as a food source, using venison to as a bridge between hunters and non-hunters, CWD's impact on deer herd dynamics, teaching children through conservation, and the importance of Sharing the Land. All that and more in this week's episode!

Huge thanks to Matt for coming on the show, if you want to check out some of his fantastic outdoor writing, head on over to geigerbooks.com or check out his social media @geiger.matt

Big thanks to our fantastic partners:

Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com

onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com

Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com

Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin

TAKE ACTION THROUGH BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERS

1. www.backcountryhunters.com/take_action
2. Call the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined once again by Wisconsin BHA Chapter Chair, Alec Bekkers to discuss all things public lands and public land policy here in Wisconsin! The guys dive into what a lack of funding for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program would mean for hunters and anglers in Wisconsin, and ways we can still make our voices heard to advocate for its reauthorization. Then they dive into a new proposed bill that would put fees on "non-consumptive" outdoor pursuits such as hiking, biking, XC skiing, and even foraging on state lands. They unpack the common and not-so-common ground between the hunting and other outdoor recreation communities, and the importance of conversations aimed at educating one another rather than taking to social media to rant. Lastly, Alec plugs some upcoming events being hosted by BHA to advocate for public lands and get together with some great folks. All that and more in this week's episode!

Mark your calendars for January 7th and come on down to Madison for "Camo at the Capitol" for a chance to make our voices heard as sportsmen and advocate for public lands in-person with our state representatives! 

Big thanks to our fantastic partners:

Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com

onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com

Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com

Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin

TAKE ACTION THROUGH BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERS

1. www.backcountryhunters.com/take_action
2. Call the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of the Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Jared Larsen to recap his 2025 midwest archery tour, and fill up the tank for the weeks ahead! Jared is a Wisconsin-native, avid outdoorsman, and the Whitetail/Turkey Marketing Manager for onX Maps. The guys dive into the challenges of chasing whitetails in the late season, the benefits of a small parcel "training ground", how Jared punched tags in Illinois and Wisconsin this fall, planning access to spots, and the delicate balance between technology and woodsmanship in the woods. All that and more in this week's episode!

Huge thanks to Jared for coming on the show, you can follow along with him on social media @jareclarsen and to learn more about onX visit onxmaps.com

Big thanks to our fantastic partners:

Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com

onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com

Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com

Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin

TAKE ACTION THROUGH BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERS

1. www.backcountryhunters.com/take_action
2. Call the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Caleb Frostman to hear all about how he was able to fill two buck tags on public land this archery season! Caleb is a Wisconsin-native and avid outdoorsman who has spent a lot of time pursuing wild game all around the state of Wisconsin, and even in the Twin Cities area. The guys dive into what Caleb's early years of hunting looked like in the northwoods, and how those lessons lead to him punching not one, but TWO buck tags a couple of weeks ago! Then the guys discuss plans for deer camp and the camaraderie that accompanies the 9-day gun season, and the importance of connecting with good people through the outdoors. All that and more in this week's episode!

Huge thanks to Caleb for taking time to come on the show! Follow along with his adventures @frostmancaleb

Big thanks to our fantastic partners:

Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com

onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com

Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com

Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin

TAKE ACTION THROUGH BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERS

1. www.backcountryhunters.com/take_action
2. Call the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative
    

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Doug Duren to dive into conservation on private land in an ever-changing environment. Doug resides in the Driftless region of Southwest Wisconsin, and is the founder of Sharing the Land; a non-profit focused on connecting private landowners with outdoor recreators seeking land to access. In this episode, the guys dive into what projects Doug has been working on around the farm, his recent appearance on Meateater Sheds, and his involvement with The Prairie Farm Podcast. Then they dive into how landowners can implement conservation projects in conjunction with livestock, the pros and cons of absentee landowners, non-deer impacts of CWD on a landscape, holes that exist in the North American model of Conservation, private landowners role in conservation, how valuable access to someone's land is, and the changing landscape of hunting and conservation. All that and more in this week's episode!

Huge thanks to Doug for coming on the show! If you'd like to learn more and follow along with Doug, you can do so on Instagram @dougduren and @sharingtheland Check out his other projects using the links below:

Doug's website: www.dougduren.com

Sharing the Land: www.sharingtheland.com

The Prairie Farm Podcast:  hokseynativeseeds.com/the-prairie-farm-podcast

Hoksey Native Seeds - A Sharing The Land Example of "It's Not Ours, It's Just Our Turn"

Inside Doug Duren's Family Farm | MeatEater Sheds

Big thanks to our fantastic partners:

Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com

onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com

Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com

Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin

TAKE ACTION THROUGH BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERS

1. www.backcountryhunters.com/take_action
2. Call the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.