Episodes
Friday Jan 12, 2024
Late-Season Deer Hunting and Scouting Tactics With Anthony Heller
Friday Jan 12, 2024
Friday Jan 12, 2024
Welcome to another episode of The Fair Chase Podcast!
Today, we talk with Anthony Heller about deer hunting and tactics for scouting all year.
Here's what we discussed:
- Anthony discusses his successful hunting season in 2023
- Anthony explains his approach to late-season scouting and hunting, focusing on finding new areas and potential deer movement.
- We discuss how late-season scouting allows for exploring new ground and discovering interesting spots.
- Anthony emphasizes the need to identify personal hunting goals and understand when one can dedicate time to hunting.
- We talk about scouting in January, February, and March, focusing on travel corridors, pinch points, and scrapes.
- We cover the misconception that scrapes are only active in October, providing examples of bucks hitting scrapes in January.
- Anthony talks about the importance of having multiple hunting plans for increased consistency and success.
- We discuss Anthony’s process for scouting a new 10,000-acre piece, starting with e-scouting
- We emphasize the importance of on-the-ground scouting after e-scouting to evaluate potential hunting spots.
- Anthony details four crucial elements to consider when scouting: sign, food sources, bedding, and access routes.
- Anthony advocates for pushing deeper into terrain during late-season scouting to discover overlooked productive spots.
- We discuss the impact of human pressure on deer behavior and the significance of locating areas unaffected by hunting pressure.
- Anthony stresses the need for consistent and thorough scouting, emphasizing the benefits of spring scouting.
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Friday Dec 29, 2023
Father Stephen Madbury on Hunting and his Ministry
Friday Dec 29, 2023
Friday Dec 29, 2023
Welcome to another episode of The Fair Chase Podcast! Today, we talk with Father Stephen Madbury, a Catholic priest from Arkansas who is passionate about hunting and God’s people.
Here's what we discussed:
- Father Madbury talks about his military background and upbringing in Arkansas
- Father Madbury’s surprising participation in American Ninja Warrior in 2018 and 2020
- The two talk recurve bows, emphasizing the challenge and satisfaction of pushing personal limits.
- Father Madbury's unique approach to social media, using it as a platform to share relatable content rather than imposing religious views on others.
- Addressing the challenges of identity in social media and the "mimic desire" effect, where individuals desire what they perceive others want, leading to an exhausting chase for worldly pleasures.
- Father Madbury’s church
- Hospital visits, counseling, maintenance work around the church
- The difficulty of surrender in ministry: doing everything right doesn't always yield expected results
- Hunting parallels with ministry: the experience of control and surrender, understanding the limits of personal effort
- Hunting as a spiritual activity: nature as a cathedral, a space for reflection and prayer
- Upcoming hunting plans: continuing white-tail hunting, future elk hunts, Gator hunts, and a white-tail hunt in South Texas
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Friday Dec 22, 2023
Epic Whitetail Footage with Jared Mills
Friday Dec 22, 2023
Friday Dec 22, 2023
Welcome to another episode of The Fair Chase Podcast!
Today, we talk with Jared Mills about filming monster Iowa bucks and his love for hunting.
Here's what we discussed:
- Jared talks about his passion for filming deer behavior up close
- Jared’s passion for hunting was influenced by dad and Grandpa into small game and trapping, later got into deer hunting
- Jared’s career path: internship with Midwest Whitetail, transitioned into full-time producer/cameraman, worked in retail/marketing for Muddy Outdoors, later switched industries, continued producing for Bill Winky while in pharmaceuticals, then returned full-time to hunting content creation in 2017
- Focuses on storytelling in hunting content, wants to maintain enjoyment without making it overly business-oriented
- Emphasizes the uniqueness of each hunting situation, encourages trial and error learning
- Embracing failure as a teacher and the importance of trying new things
- The pressure of success in hunting and its impact on enjoyment
- Significance of documenting hunts for memories and learning
- Strategies for late-season hunting, especially focused on food sources
- The experience of recognizing deer behavior through filmed hunts
- Anticipation of late-season hunting with a recurve bow
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Friday Dec 15, 2023
Hunting Out of State With Chad Ryker
Friday Dec 15, 2023
Friday Dec 15, 2023
Welcome to another episode of The Fair Chase Podcast!
Today, we talk with Chad Ryker from the podcasts Out Of State Hunter and Backcountry Rookies about hunting outside of your home state. We cover things like state regulations, resources, and recommendations for which states to check out based on what game you are looking to hunt.
Here's what we discussed:
- Discusses the Ohio Landowner Hunter Access Partnership Program (OLHAP) and its similarity to Michigan's Hunter Access Program.
- Talks about the Out of State Hunter podcast, a project focusing on hunting opportunities across all 50 states.
- Emphasizes the uniqueness of each state's hunting regulations and the complexity in understanding these regulations.
- Describes the challenges hunters face when navigating various state regulations and the importance of accurate information directly from state game agencies.
- Plans to bring in biologists to discuss habitat and species-specific details for a more comprehensive understanding of hunting environments.
- Highlights differences between Eastern and Western states in terms of hunting seasons, animal limits, and costs.
- Noted the significant cost difference between hunting in Eastern and Western states, with hunting in the East generally being less expensive.
- Identified Missouri and Oklahoma as states with good hunting opportunities, particularly for out-of-state hunters. Mentioned Oklahoma having both draw tags and over-the-counter opportunities. Highlighted Colorado as an excellent option for elk hunting, with various opportunities available, including some over-the-counter options.
- Highlighted New Mexico's unique hunting system, lacking a point system, which means everyone has an equal chance to apply for tags, although residents may have a better chance.
- Expresses a preference for hunting mule deer and admits to not being proficient in hunting elk, having missed opportunities in Arizona and opting not to shoot smaller bulls during a New Mexico rifle hunt due to logistics and personal preference.
- The importance of seizing opportunities to learn and expand knowledge within the hunting community.
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Friday Dec 08, 2023
NFL to Backcountry: Derek Wolfe on Big Game Dreams and Conservation
Friday Dec 08, 2023
Friday Dec 08, 2023
Welcome to another episode of The Fair Chase Podcast!
Today, we talk with ex-NFL player turned passionate hunter Derek Wolfe. We dive into hunting experiences and how those experiences were able to fulfill some awesome big game dreams Derek had.
Here's what we discussed:
- Derek's background: played 10 years in the NFL, predominantly with the Broncos and Ravens; started bow hunting at 13 and became passionate about it.
- Transition from football to pursuing his dream of hunting big game out west after retiring in 2021.
- Lion hunting controversy, initially not keen on taking a picture with the lion he hunted but used the experience to raise awareness about hunting policies.
- Advocacy for hunting awareness, particularly in Colorado where there's a proposed ban on mountain lion and bobcat hunting.
- Discusses his hunting experiences in Maryland, mentioning the accessibility to different bucks, the hunting culture, and the abundance of deer.
- Contrasting hunting experiences between white-tail deer and big game out West, including the challenges and time constraints.
- Comparisons between the thrill of hunting and experiences in football, highlighting the adrenaline rush and emotional intensity.
- The experience of moving from bow hunting to rifle hunting in Oregon and Montana.
- The importance of ethical hunting practices to avoid unnecessary suffering to animals.
- Discussion about media coverage regarding Derek's cat hunting and the subsequent validation by TMZ.
- Addressing misconceptions about hunting predators and the positive impact on wildlife populations.
- Highlighting the community aspect of hunting and its accessibility to everyone.
- Expressing the depth of respect and significance behind trophy hunting, debunking misconceptions.
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Friday Dec 01, 2023
The Mental Game of Archery: Dan Colloms
Friday Dec 01, 2023
Friday Dec 01, 2023
Welcome to another episode of The Fair Chase Podcast!
Today, we talk with Dan Colloms from Kifaru. Dan shares his background as a hunter from Tennessee and his transition to working for Kifaru in Wyoming.
Here's what we discussed:
- The transition from traditional archery to compound due to interest in hunting efficiency
- Shooting in Italy for the World Games
- Discussion on the international presence of traditional archery
- Explanation of target panic and its manifestation in different archers
- Importance of making a conscious decision in archery to overcome target panic
- Recognition of Sweden as a powerhouse in barebow shooting
- Dan's personal journey in competitive archery, including achievements and experiences
- All things Kifaru
- Initial skepticism about Michigan's hunting quality/Positive experience hunting in Michigan
- Success in harvesting a whitetail buck
- Dan’s Highlights: Alaska (caribou), elk hunting, and a bear hunt
- Plans for a rifle hunt in Wyoming
- Busy schedule with upcoming trips to Douglas, South Dakota, and Arizona
- Participation in shows, including the NFR in Vegas and sheep show
- Dan's dream hunt: Marco Polo Ram
- Discussion on the unique aspects and challenges of hunting Marco Polo
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Friday Nov 24, 2023
Generational Knives with Brandon Horobo
Friday Nov 24, 2023
Friday Nov 24, 2023
Welcome to another episode of The Fair Chase Podcast!
Today, we talk with Brandon Horobo from the Montana Knife Company about the creation of the company, successes and challenges in the beginning and of course, great hunting stories!
Here's what we discussed:
- The diversity of Brandon's experiences in marketing and how it led him to Montana Knife Company.
- The origin story of Montana Knife Company, founded three years ago to address the challenges in the knife industry and create high-quality, affordable knives.
- The goal of creating knives worth passing down for generations and bringing back the culture of durable, functional tools.
- The focus on authenticity and creating new hunters, distinguishing themselves from big companies that simply rebrand existing products as hunting knives.
- The founders' commitment to being hunters and crafting knives that they themselves would use.
- The importance of the emotional connection to knives, comparing it to the attachment people have to items like old rifles or cast iron pans.
- The significance of supporting local businesses and knowing where your money goes when purchasing products, contrasting it with the uncertainty of foreign-made products.
- Batch releases were initially necessitated by the availability of steel, but the practice continued and evolved.
- Plans to double down on culinary knives, with the goal of offering a complete set for the entire hunting and processing experience.
- Highlights of recent hunting experiences, including a BC bear hunt with John Dudley, an Alaskan Blacktail hunt, and a whitetail hunt in Texas.
- Expresses the desire to focus on hunting in Montana, emphasizing the importance of hunting in one's own region.
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Friday Nov 17, 2023
AI and Trail Cams with Wiseeye
Friday Nov 17, 2023
Friday Nov 17, 2023
Welcome to another episode of The Fair Chase Podcast!
Today, we talk with Jason Ray, CTO at WiseEye about some great hunting stories, how AI is used in hunting, and how trail cams can be beneficial to hunters.
Here's what we discussed:
- A successful squirrel hunt at 72 yards with a bow.
- The concept of being "freezer fillers"
- The differences in deer populations in different regions, like Louisiana and Michigan.
- The use of cell cameras in hunting and how they provide a connection to the property.
- The impact of cell cameras on attracting younger generations to hunting.
- WiseEye is focused on becoming a complete solution for hunters with both hardware and software.
- The transition to trail camera development with species recognition and predictive features.
- The company's approach to providing high-quality, large images for species recognition.
- Turkey hunting and its challenges.
- Wisey's background started as a species-specific feeder for hogs.
- The unique aspect of AI-driven predictions is based on the user's own data.
- The personalized and data-driven nature of Wisey's predictions.
- The challenge of making predictions understandable to the average user.
- AI can help remove biases and traditional beliefs about deer behavior.
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Friday Nov 10, 2023
Dillon Dietz Confirms Elk Are Real
Friday Nov 10, 2023
Friday Nov 10, 2023
Welcome to another episode of The Fair Chase Podcast!
Today, we talk with Dillon Deitz about how he built his brand, great hunting stories, victories, cool gear, mistakes, and lessons learned.
Here's what we discussed:
- Dillon’s journey from trying to present himself as a "badass hunter" to embracing his love for hunting and humor.
- The concept of what makes someone a "good hunter" and the pressure of comparing oneself to others on social media.
- The idea that hunting should be fun and not overly serious.
- Experiences of missing shots and making mistakes in hunting, and how those moments can be valuable learning experiences.
- Dealing with criticism and negative comments from hunters on social media.
- The humor and fun in posting hunting-related content and how it can lead to engagement and growth.
- The butchering process and the enjoyment of processing meat with friends.
- Dillon’s brand was initially built around his inability to kill an elk, but he finally succeeded!
- Discussion of hunting on private land in Montana compared to the challenges of finding private land to hunt in Michigan.
- Anticipation for new hunting gear releases in the coming year.
- Information on how to find the guest on Instagram @dillondeitz and the upcoming launch of a YouTube channel.
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Friday Nov 03, 2023
Nurturing Deer Herds: Challenges & Solutions with Erik Schnelle
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Welcome to another episode of The Fair Chase Podcast!
Today, we talk with Erik Schnelle from the National Deer Association and discuss the state of deer in the Midwest, concerns for deer herds, and deer management best practices.
Here's what we discussed:
- The positives regarding the deer herd in Michigan
- Concerns and challenges for deer herds
- How APRs help protect yearling bucks and improve the buck-to-doe ratio
- The idea of implementing an "Earn a Second Buck" program
- The implications of unbalanced deer populations on deer survival
- "Earn a Second Buck" strategy This strategy has been implemented in West Virginia and Virginia, resulting in a 14% increase in antlerless harvest.
- How the combination of APRs and "Earn a Second Buck" moves the needle significantly.
- Ways to get involved and support the National Deer Association
- Taking a new hunter hunting to introduce them to the experience
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