EP167 Best Time Of Day To Hunt Bucks In Each Phase Of The Deer Season 

The best time of day to hunt bucks changes as the season goes on. It is true that you can take a buck at any time of day and on any day of the whitetail deer season, but there are times when the odds are better. On this episode I talk about the best time of day to hunt bucks in the early season, pre-rut, rut, late season and everything in between.

Take Aways

  • Deer movement tendencies will differ by region, landscape, micro-climate, and local food sources and cover. This episode provides broad recommendations that must be measured against what happens in your local area.
  • There is no better way to determine the best time to hunt than by real data from your hunting spot. Trail cams provide the best objective measurements of when bucks are moving.
  • Consider reviewing last years trail camera data for the time you plan to hunt this year to get a sense of how deer typically use the land.
  • Early Season – Deer may still be in their summer habits and habitat and may be less skittish and more forgiving until hunting pressure pushes them to moving less during the daylight.
  • Pre-Rut – Bucks are up and covering ground looking for does, they are active much more during daylight.
  • Rut – Bucks are active around the clock, chasing does, fighting, and looking for the next moment of excitement, until they putter out and enter a rest phase.
  • Late Season – Bucks are still interested in breeding but begin to return to their regular habits, specifically eating and looking for thick cover.
  • Listen to the episode to hear about the best time of day to hunt bucks in each phase of the deer season.

 

EP166.5 Black Bear Hunting Tactics, Gear, Shot Placement, Field Care & More

Black bear hunting is intense, both in the pursuit and the habitat. It can be tough to hunt where these bears reside, especially when it is wet and cold. On this episode I interview Alaska native and long time black bear enthusiast Jeff Lund about how to find and take down these amazing predators and what to do once you have a bear on the ground.

Part 1: Black Bear Hunting 101 – Why, Where, When, Strategy & More

Take Aways

  • Jeff Lund is the host of The Mediocre Alaskan podcast
  • Jeff also recently released the book A Miserable Paradise – Life In Southeast Alaska
  • Black bear hunting often takes you into cold wet conditions requiring waterproof gear and a critical need to stay warm
  • The ideal firearm to use for hunting black bears is one you are well practiced with and shoot with reliable accuracy under field conditions
  • Moderate powered rifles such as the .270 and and 30-06 are more than sufficient for black bear hunts at realistic ranges up to 300 yards
  • These bears are not typically a threat to humans under normal field conditions, but always put your safety first
  • Depending on the bear’s diet, the meat can be outstanding and is very versatile when ground
  • Listen to the episode to learn about the tactics, gear, field care and more

EP166 How To Pick Your First Crossbow For Deer Hunting

The crossbow market can be a crowded place, but if new hunters focus on a few core factors they can navigate things more easily and cheaply. On this episode I talk about how to streamline the consideration process so new users can make simpler and faster purchase decisions.

Take Aways.

  • A more expensive crossbow does not always mean a more effective crossbow.
  • Often you are paying more to make the bow lighter, smaller, more balanced, more ergonomic, simpler to use, etc. These things all have value but they do not necessarily make the bow more effective at taking game.
  • Three factors to focus on are price, speed, and weight.
  • If the velocity is high enough to effectively take deer and the bow is light enough to effectively wield, it will do the job.
  • Bows do not retain their resale value as well as firearms do, so spending alot of money on one you ultimately do not appreciate can be an expensive mistake.
  • It is better to start with something cheap and effective to get you into the woods.
  • Then let your own experiences teach you what features best suite your preferences, hunting style, and real world opportunities. 
  • Then you can confidently upgrade to something that is a better fit for you down the road.

 

EP165.5 Black Bear Hunting 101 – Why, Where, When, Strategy & More

Black bears are one of the most impressive predators you can hunt in North America. They have a large and diverse home range which affords many opportunities to newer hunters. On this episode I interview Alaska native and long time black bear enthusiast Jeff Lund about how to get started hunting these amazing creatures.

Part 2: Black Bear Hunting Tactics, Gear, Shot Placement, Field Care & More

Take Aways

  • Jeff Lund is the host of The Mediocre Alaskan podcast
  • Jeff also recently released the book A Miserable Paradise – Life In Southeast Alaska
  • Black bears can grow to up to 350lbs in some areas
  • The best place to find black bears is around food sources, often by streams full of fish or in the higher elevations with good forage
  • These bears are not typically a threat to humans under normal field conditions, but always put your safety first
  • Seasons differ across the country but the closer the bears get to hibernating the more temperamental they may become
  • Listen to the episode to hear about how beginners can get into black bear hunting.

EP165 Goose Hunting Gear Basics

Show Notes:

You need gear to hunt geese, fortunately a lot of that gear can double for duck hunting. On this episode I talk about the gear you need, should have, and should consider to go goose hunting and how it stacks up with duck hunting gear. I also talk about the single most important thing when it comes to getting you waterfowl hunting gear together and no it is not a type of gear or a brand, it matters much more than that. 

Items Somewhat Unique For Goose Hunting

  • Shotgun – Whatever you already have or can borrow is the best place to start! Hunt, learn, and then decide what would be best for you to buy.
  • Choke – People often go with a little tighter choke than what they use for duck hunting.
  • Shells – Consider going with larger shot than you use for duck hunting, higher velocities, or something denser than steel, like bismuth. 
  • A Goose Call – You do not need anything super fancy, but I waded through cheap calls until I found something that worked work well like the Field Proven Raptor Goose Call.
  • Decoys + Decoy rigs/anchors + Decoy Bag – You can start with as few as 6-12 decoys. You want something cheap, small, and durable.
  • A Good Hide – Many hunters, including experts build their own blind on location with whatever they can find that day. This should cost you $0 to get started.
  • Decoy/Gear Transportation – A Jed Sled is ideal once you have more gear than you can carry on your back, but a cart or kayak are good options too, if you have them.  

Items That Overlap Alot Of Duck Hunting

  • All the required hunting licenses – This will include some mix of general state hunting license, state waterfowl hunting license, and federal license depending on where you live.
  • Ear Protection – Never get into a goose blind without ear protection. Start with the cheapest foam ear plugs money can buy then work your way up to better electronic options, I think Tetra Hearing makes the best ear protection in the industry but they are most likely a second or third season purchase for most new waterfowl hunters. Keep in mind a good earplughttps://tetrahearing.com/collections/hearing-protection-for-waterfowl-hunting strategy can make the difference between foam ear plugs being a usable tool and something that ruins your hunt.
  • Waders – You need to have a way to get into water to retrieve decoys and geese.
  • Waste Up Camo – You should be hidden well for goose hunting, but little below your shoulders should ever be visible.
  • Call Lanyard – Keeps you calls handy so you can grab them with minimal movement, and keeps them from getting lost in the mud.
  • Jerk Rig – Something to create motion on water when the wind isn’t blowing.
  • Cold Weather Gear – As the season progresses you will need items that are wind and waterproof. Warm gear will help extend your season.
  • A Hand Warming Plan – Some people like warm gloves, a callers glove, a warmer muff or just pockets with handwarmers. Get some experience and see what you prefer.
  • Headlamp – Expensive options get you very little more function than cheap ones. Waterproofing is about the only feature worth paying more for.
  • Decoy Gloves – Something waterproof is a must have for cold days with cold water.
  • Seat – You need something that will keep you dry, comfort is a plus. Consider a short folding stool, a turkey chair, a piece of an exercise mat, or just a bucket with a lid.

Listen to the episode for all the details!

EP164 Goose Hunting 101

Show Notes:

Goose hunting is a fun and exciting pursuit in its own right. Yet many of the strategies and tactics are similar to duck hunting. On this episode I focus on what is unique about hunting geese, and how you can find and apply general duck hunting methodologies as well.

Take Aways

  • When I talk about goose hunting, I am talking in the most general sense but still focusing on Canada geese since they seem to be the most prevalent for the largest number of new hunters.
  • The same four core duck hunting strategies apply to goose hunting but there are differences, some work better than others for geese and some are more expensive than others!
  • Goose hunting often occurs at somewhat further range than duck hunting, there are practical and technical reasons for this, though I would not go into it thinking this is supposed to be long range hunting by any means.
  • Geese are bigger than ducks, much bigger. Do not try to catch a falling goose out of the air. It is a very dangerous proposition!
  • For beginners tips on how to hunt waterfowl in general, listen to the last 15 or so episodes I have done on duck hunting.
  • For how strategies and tips specific to goose hunting, listen to this episode!

EP163.5 The #1 Thing I learned About Deer Hunting Last Season

We should always be learning from our hunting experiences, and the experiences of others. This past season I learned a very important lesson about opportunities in the deer woods and how to manage them. On this episode I talk about how you can make decisions that enable you to enjoy your deer hunt to the fullest.

Listen to the episode to hear about the #1 thing I learned about deer hunting last year and how you can avoid making the same mistake I did.

 

EP163 How To Field Dress, Clean, & Cook Ducks

Show Notes:

One of the best things about ducks is how easy they are to process. If you were just out duck hunting and brought some birds home, this is the episode for you! I talk about how to dress, clean, and cook ducks, and give multiple approaches for each step of the process.

When it comes to ducks, they can be cleaned like just about any game bird, the videos below will give you some insight into the nuance of the steps and help you with techniques that involve both plucking and not plucking the feathers.

Also remember, wild ducks are not store bought chickens, you didn’t get them the same way, don’t try to cook them the same way. Ducks require their own set of cooking methods, more about that is discussed in the episode.

EP162 Tetra AlphaShield & Multi-Pursuit Review | Critical For All Hunters

Show Notes:

Up until recently every hunter using a firearm had to make a decision with every hunt. Do they protect their future or relish the present? Tetra Hearing has changed the game for all hunters when it comes to saving their hearing and enjoying every precious sound of every hunt and game species. Whether you are hunting ducks, geese, turkeys, deer, pheasants, grouse, crows, doves, elk, or anything else the Tetra AlphaShield & Multi-Pursuit hearing devices can not only save your hearing but help you hear better and hunt better.  I make no commissions on this product and there are no affiliate links. These are my own opinions and this my very own detailed and passionate review.  This may be the most important podcast episode I have ever done. Please listen to this episode.

Pros:

  • Allows you to hear everything around you with crisp clarity.
  • Audio quality is exceptional, no static, hum, ambient sounds, distractions, etc.
  • Can be custom tuned to your actual personal hearing levels for each ear.
  • Instantly blocks out the sound of gun fire and loud calling to protect your hearing.
    • These are designed to both stop the incremental hearing loss that comes from infrequent shooting with the average deer and turkey seasons as well as stop the accelerated hearing loss caused by high volume shooting seen in hunting waterfowl, pheasants, doves, crows, etc. 
  • Utilizes advanced audio processing technology to filter out various sounds you do not want to hear but more clearly capture subtle sounds you do want to hear.
  • Filters out the majority of wind noise.
  • Amplifies the unique sounds of the game animals you are hunting like turkey gobbles and yelps, duck quacks and wing beats, deer grunts and footfalls, pheasants flushing, and much more. 
  • Far better than anything I’ve seen on the market. In my mind they have no competitors, no one else offering similar products is even in their league. 
  • Fits snugly in your ear and will not fall out.
  • Works great while wearing a hat, beanie, whole head facemask, camo head shroud, etc.
  • Can be put on in seconds.
  • Reduces flinching causes by loud muzzle blast and may help some hunters shoot more accurately.
  • Uses long lasting disposable hearing aid batteries you can easily and inexpensively get in bulk.
  • Super simple to use, there is almost no way to do it wrong. Before long you can easily put them on in the dark without effort or thought.
  • Is sensitive enough to pick up the faintest whisper and the wing beats of ducks but instantly blocks out the roar of magnum shotgun shells.
  • Can be programmed for the game animals that you personally hunt.
  • Improves your hearing so well that even archery hunters may want to use them to hear game more clearly from further away.
  • Designed by ear doctors and hunters, does its job with outstanding excellence. 
    • It is as if they thought of every intricate detail but put it in a package with unexplainable simplicity. 
  • Utilizes high grade hearing aid technology meant to be used constantly, reliably, and without down time. 
  • Comes with 6 different size tips to accommodate different ear sizes.
  • Tetra has confirmed that people with Health Saving Accounts (HSA) can use those funds towards purchasing their products.

Cons:

  • They fit too tightly for my small ears at first. They felt acceptably snug after a few outings. But after a few half day hunts they fit comfortably enough that I would forget I was wearing them. I’d rather them fit perfectly from day one, but this is still preferred over being too loose.
    • Some people with small ears may not wear them enough to find out that their ears will adapt to them and they become comfortable over time.
  • Sounds weird indoors and around town. But they are meant to be used in the field and they do thrive in their intended environment.
  • The battery door feels a little delicate when open. Should be fine, but be careful to take it is easy when changing batteries. 
  • Price. No two ways about it, they are expensive. Costing as much as a firearm makes them a significant purchase. A very well worth it purchase, but not something most people can casually buy without saving up. 
    • They do go on sale occasionally. And Tetra has said they are working on sourcing more cost effective components to lower the prices.

Final Analysis: Every hunter using a firearm should get these, especially those hunting game requiring regular and frequent shooting like waterfowl, pheasants, doves, etc. If you are a new hunter it would be better to hunt another season or two with a less than thrilling firearm and buy these before upgrading your gun. Everyone should put these on their vision list and prioritize them as they are financially able. 

Learn more at www.TetraHearing.com

As a note, Tetra sent me these devices to review, thanks to them for their support. I have since bought by own Tetras.

EP161 How To Hunt Ducks From A Boat | Strategies & Benefits

Show Notes:

A boat provides more than another tool, it enables you to hunt in new ways. On this episode I talk about core strategies to hunt ducks from a boat, kayak, or canoe.

Take Aways:

  • Small boats can be often be borrowed or purchased used inexpensively.
  • Boats enable you to not just reach places you could not access otherwise but they open up new hunting techniques.
  • Always be mindful of safety and what is beyond the water when hunting from a boat.
  • Make sure you have a plan to get back upstream when hunting moving water.
  • Always check your local laws for water and boat hunting.
  • Stealth is always important, even when hunting from boat.
  • Take appropriate safety measures like a life vest, they do make camo ones.
  • Listen to the episode to hear how to effectively hunt ducks from a boat.

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