On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Sam Bilhorn of Whitetail Partners to discuss what last-minute projects, tasks, and chores folks need to be thinking about to get their hunting properties ready before the archery opener. The guys discuss the importance of early-season strategy, planning and cleaning up access routes, how to think about accessing and hunting draws, bottoms, and inside corners, making sure that deer trails are cleared of any fallen trees, pre-season scouting, food plots and how to minimize pressure on your property when completing all of these tasks. The clock is ticking! 

Huge thanks to Sam for returning to the show. If you'd like to follow along with all of the awesome work that he and his team are doing over at Whitetail Partners, or are interested in hiring them to work on your property, you can find everything over at www.whitetailpartners.com/and follow along with Sam @sam_whitetail_partners

Lastly, the guys talk about the DNR LiDAR maps in this episode as well, which can be accessed via this link:

https://data-wi-dnr.opendata.arcgis.com/maps/f2e49a42f5e14dd5845536408279da9d/explore
 

Check 'em out and get on some big bucks!

Huge thanks to our fantastic partners:

onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

XOP Gear: www.xopoutdoors.com

Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com

Be sure to check us out on social media too!

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

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On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce sits down with the lone wolf himself; Andrae D'Acquisto to talk all about the keys to consistently killing trophy bucks, hunting fresh sign, tactically pressuring deer, staying mobile, high-level thermal concepts, and above all else: hunting like a wolf

If there's any name out there that's practically synonymous with big deer, it's Andrae D'Acquisto, and for folks who haven't heard of him, he's the mind behind today's modern mobile hunting equipment and tactics. A Milwaukee-native, Andrae started building his own mobile treestands in his garage back in 1984 when he realized there was nothing else on the market that did what he needed it to do. Fast forward 40 years to today, and Lone Wolf Custom Gear is the leading name in mobile hunting.

Pierce and Andrae discuss Andrae's unique mentality when it comes to hunting giant deer, and contrary to what a lot of hunters will tell you, Andrae isn't afraid to shove a big buck around if he needs to in order to stack the deck in his favor. The guys talk about how crucial it is to stay mobile so that you're always in a "virgin spot" where deer have never encountered human presence before. After that, they dive into two thermal concepts you don't often hear about: thermal overflow and thermal creep, and after hearing Andrae's breakdown of each, you'll understand why that big one busted you last season. Lastly, the guys tease an upcoming episode all about the art of the Bump & Dump which will come out in part 2 of this conversation in a few weeks. All that and more in this week's episode!

Big thanks to Andrae for joining us this week! Follow along with Lone Wolf Custom Gear at www.lonewolfcustomgear.comor @lonewolfcustomgear and @whitetailaddictions on social media

Huge thanks to our fantastic partners:

onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

XOP Gear: www.xopoutdoors.com

Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com

Be sure to check us out on social media too!

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

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On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce sits down with the Wisconsin Deer Program Specialist, Jeff Pritzl to discuss all major deer hunting updates, how dynamic of a state Wisconsin is to manage deer in, how the Department of Natural Resources really operates, how public input is crucial to getting things done, why not everyone's hunting situation may be a reflection of DNR data, and how you as an individual can become an amateur biologist to accurately assess the health of your deer herd, hunting situation, and hunting expectations.

After a career in the field of biology, Jeff Pritzl now sits at the Deer Program Specialist for the Wisconsin DNR. Jeff's job is anything but easy as he looks at the wide range of struggles and experiences that deer and deer hunters deal with across a state with an extremely diverse landscape. In the Southern Farmland Region where deer can exceed 70 per square mile, to the Northern Forest Region where populations are a fraction of what they once were, there is no 'one size fits all' approach to addressing the issue of deer management in our great state. 

Jeff also dives into the nuances of not only helping the DNR to manage deer populations across the state, but also the people hunting them and the challenges that come with that. People may look at data that claims there to be so many or so few deer in an area, but on a 40 acre piece, it certainly may not seem that way during the 9-day season depending on a wide range of variables. If that sounds like you, it's up to you to let the DNR know, attend you CDAC meetings, and take advantage of public input opportunities. 

The guys also discuss how you can go about assessing your own deer herd and hunting situation, and how you can not only understand the sphere of influence you may have on your herd, but how you can assess the trends you're seeing over time in your area. 

This is a great conversation that covers a wide range of topics, all of which should leave you thinking about how you hunt this fall. Enjoy!

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On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce sits down with BHA Boardmember Alec Bekkers, and NDA Field to Fork Coordinator, Brock Rosenkranz to recap their experience at the Beast Mode Archery Challenge, talk about everything that goes into coordinating Learn to Hunt events, lessons learned by both mentors & mentees, and some of the biggest hurdles, motivators, and rewarding experiences for both all parties involved.

If you're not already excited for this fall's deer season, this conversation will get you there! The guys break down all of the upcoming events that new outdoorsmen can attend to learn how to hunt varios game, as well as the opportunities for experienced outdoorsmen to help the next generation on their way. Brock & Alec share some stories about past mentored hunts, as well as some insight about how their personal outdoor experiences have been shaped since getting involved with BHA & NDA. 

For folks interested in being a mentee or a mentor on a hunt this fall, be sure to check out the GoWild Wisconsin website, go to the Hunter Education tab, and select "Learn to Hunt", or follow the link right here: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/Education/OutdoorSkills/lth

Huge thanks to our fantastic partners:

onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

XOP Gear: www.xopoutdoors.com

Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com

Be sure to check us out on social media too!

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

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In this week's episode, Pierce talks with Aaron Warbritton from The Hunting Public to learn all about the importance of summer scouting, how to do it right, predicting shifts in deer movement, and setting yourself up for success all season long.

If you haven't heard of Aaron Warbritton, we might have some bigger questions to be asking you. If you have heard of him, you know darn well that he's a wealth of knowledge in the woods whether he's chasing after whitetails or turkeys. This week, the guys unpack the different types of bedding, and why finding those areas now will lead you to success later this fall. Aaron breaks down primary and secondary bedding areas, how to identify them, and how you can build a strategy to set up an ambush on a big buck on his way back to bed. 

We talk through the "Bump & Dump" style of deer hunting, how you should expect bucks to use terrain features depending on the time of year. It's full of gold nuggets so be prepared to listen to this one more than once! 

Huge thanks to our fantastic partners:

onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

XOP Gear: www.xopoutdoors.com

Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com

Be sure to check us out on social media too!

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

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High school is a developmental time, you make some of your closest friends, you try new things, you learn a lot, and hopefully, you get to spend plenty of time fishing outside of school. But what if fishing could actually be part of school? Well thanks to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Fishing Association, that can be true!

This week we're talking all about the WIFA with Appleton North Coach, Josh Beaman, and Neenah Coach & WIFA Board Member, Bradley Gumtow. The guys kick things off hearing about how they got involved with WIFA, how tournaments work, the experiences that kids are able to have, the number of high schoolers who have achieved Master Angler Status, and of course, how you or your student can get involved by joining their school's club or starting one of their own! If this doesn't make you want to get out on the water, we're not sure what else will!

Also, you'll hear in the episode that after a terrible accident, one of the WIFA students, Brett Jedwabny has wound up in critical condition and is fighting for his life at the Milwaukee Children's Hospital. To raise money to support Brett and his family during this difficult time, the WIFA has organized the, "A Cast for Hope" fishing tournament that is open to anyone to participate through the Fish Donkey App. It's $25 to enter and 100% of the proceeds go to Brett & his family. 

You can also support Brett by donating to the GoFundMe set up in Brett's name by following this link:  https://gofund.me/6f07b407

Wishing you a strong and speedy recovery, Brett!

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We talk about deer sign a lot. Tracks, rubs, scrapes, beds, and food sources all make sense when we think about them individually, but taking a step back to look at the big picture is something most of us don't do often enough. Luckily, there are people out there like Brian Dombrowski who can help us break things down!

This week, Pierce & Brian start what was originally intended to be a woodsmanship podcast, and it is, at times... but that seems too limiting for the conversation the guys had. In this episode, the guys dive into scouting, understanding food sources, reading tacks and rubs, going with "the flow" of the woods, not wasting time playing safe in the early season, and at the end of it all, just keeping things simple. It's a conversation that should hopefully give you reason to pause, zoom out, and think about this upcoming season a little differently. Enjoy!

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Ever drive by the county park on your way to work, see a giant and think, "Man, sure would be nice if I could hunt that."? Maybe you kick up a nice buck while walking your dog in a forest preserve but just don't know how you'd go about hunting the area. If either of those scenarios sound familiar, this episode is for you as Pierce sits down with a barefooted Lions fan: Dave McChesney!

In this week's episode the guys dive down the suburban hunting rabbit hole and it is a blast! Dave shares the story of how he went from hunting over bait in a ladder stand to discovering mobile hunting and falling in love with hunting public land in metropolitan areas. The guys share their thoughts on suburban hunting opportunities, talk about how they discovered mobile hunting and lessons learned through trial & error, the highs & lows of hunting tiny parcels, teaching new hunters, planning the season with your spouse, and tons more! Check it out in this week's episode and follow dave on Instagram & Youtube @barefootdave_

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It's hot, it's humid, the mosquito swarms could carry you away, and that can only mean one thing... It's time to start hanging trail cameras! And who would be better to talk about trail cam strategies with than Jacob Sklenar? That's right, folks, Jacob is back again to drop even more knowledge to help you guys get off on the right track this deer season, and you might want to grab your notepad.

In this week's episode the guys share how their summers have been, and then dive right into strategy talk. Jacob breaks down why he uses trail cameras to answer a question he has, and how he goes about doing that. He shares areas he likes to hang cameras, when he likes to hang cameras, some subtleties he picks up about other hunters in an area and how they will shift deer movement, how he uses historic data about an area, reading tracks when the camera doesn't go off, and even a bit of speculation about technology in the woods. All that and more in this week's episode!

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The long days of summer usually leave us with a lot of time to think. Usually that's just about how much we're sweating even though we're just sitting down, but when you can get past that, it can be a great time to reflect. That's exactly what we're doing in this week's episode with the Captain of The Sportsmen's Empire ship: Dan Johnson

This week, Pierce & Dan hop on the line to talk about a little bit of everything! From the story of how Dan got his start in business and the outdoor industry, to injuries impacting hunts, saddles vs stands, getting kids involved in the outdoors, perfecting hunting strategies, and much more. Check it all out in this week's episode and have a great 4th of July weekend everyone!

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