Boondocks Hunting Podcast

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We talk with author and trapper Zach Hansen about late-onset hunting, moving to remote Idaho, and why trapping wolves sharpened every other outdoor skill. The path runs through failure, grit, and reclaiming trades we let slip as a country.

• adult-onset hunting sparked by nutrition and self-reliance 
• moving to a 35-person Idaho town at the end of an 80-mile dirt road 
• bowhunting mistakes, missed shots, and learning discipline 
• Sawtooth terrain realities and the mental game of backcountry hunts 
• why trades and shop-class skills matter for modern life 
• trapping as the f...

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We go deep on Florida’s brutal public land, the move back to New England, and how faith, family, and photography shape a better hunter and a better neighbor. AJ shares bear management realities, turkey plans, and the gear choices that build confidence when pressure rises.

• Florida’s extreme hunts and shifting rut windows
• Learning WMAs, quotas, and local regs
• Moving to Connecticut and finding community
• Balancing family time with a realistic season
• Photography as memory, mentorship, and meaning
• Bear populations, policy, and ethical methods
• Arrow builds for c...

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We dive deep into the 70 Rule with Brandon Barlow, a revolutionary system for timing your whitetail hunts based on fawn development and historical data rather than generic rut predictions.

• Using fawn births to backdate and identify when your local rut actually occurs
• How the 70 Rule gets its name from three key metrics - spots, track size, and body weight
• The story of the 20-point "Magnolia Buck" killed through four years of pattern documentation
• Why bucks found doing natural daylight behaviors are more consistent and easier to kill than those pu...

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Johnny Bauman never expected that a frustrating moment in the field would spark an entirely new business venture. After taking some buddies on their first duck hunt where they bagged trophy greenheads, he found himself scrambling to properly preserve their birds for mounting. What followed was an hour-long ordeal of researching techniques and gathering supplies – all while thinking, "There's got to be a better way."

That moment of necessity became the birthplace of Tagged and Bagged, a comprehensive pre-taxidermy preservation system that's rapidly becoming essential gear for serious hunters. Johnny joins us...

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The path from novice to seasoned hunter isn't straight, easy, or guaranteed. Jesse Richard knows this journey intimately, having transformed from a duck-hunting farm kid into one of Iowa's most respected deer hunters and the founder of Outdoor X Media.

Jesse pulls back the curtain on the evolution of hunting media over the past two decades. Remember those massive 25-pound cameras that cost $20,000? Jesse started filming hunts when equipment was cumbersome and hunting footage was exclusively produced by major companies. His storytelling takes us through the technological revolution that's democratized hunting...

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Brian’s story proves that success in the woods isn’t just about technology—it’s about showing up.

Raised on tradition, Brian was reluctant to use trail cams until 2019, when a giant 10-point buck with a kicker tine changed everything. Almost staying home because of the “wrong wind,” his wife reminded him: “you can’t kill them sitting on the couch.” That push led to a 26-yard shot on a 150” Pope & Young buck known as Kicks.

This week on the Chase The Unknown Podcast, we bring you a special segmen...

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Joe Miles, founder of Asio Gear, shares his journey from South Carolina whitetail hunter to creator of innovative camo patterns inspired by nature's perfect predators. His lifelong passion for bowhunting mature bucks led to developing gear specifically designed for the challenges of whitetail hunting.

• South Carolina hunting background with August 15th rifle opener and historically unlimited buck harvest
• Midwest hunting experiences revealed drastically different deer sizes and behaviors
• Creation of Asio Raptor pattern inspired by watching great horned owls disappear in the woods
• Development of RapX pattern for ground h...

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We dive deep into hunting essentials with a roundtable discussion featuring experienced hunters sharing their must-have gear, superstitions, and strategies for success in the field.

• Personal hunting superstitions range from finding turkey feathers to playing solitaire to transition from daily life to "hunting mode"
• The importance of quality boots, extra releases, and weather monitoring tools emerges as top equipment recommendations
• Knowledge of deer biology and behavior trumps any single piece of gear for hunting success
• Debate over wind strategy reveals different approaches - some avoid hunting on bad wind day...

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We sit down with Zach Spiker from Echoes Of The Hunt to talk about how a late start in hunting turned into a family lifestyle and a mission to tell honest stories from the woods. We get into first hunts, bowhunting lessons, border-state rules, and why long-form writing still matters in a world built for short clips.
• Zach’s path into hunting through family and the military
• First sit nerves and the moment awe beats the trigger
• Harvest gratitude and the responsibility of taking an animal
• Processors versus field dressing y...

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We recap our third annual wild game dinner and the chaos that comes with great food, good friends, and a little too much pregame. We swap travel and airport stories, talk upcoming hunts and gear, and end up laughing about how weird everyday life has gotten. 

• third annual wild game dinner highlights, raffles, kids, and community 
• wild game menu talk, venison chili, shepherd’s pie, venison parm, desserts, and timing lessons 
• travel scramble, bar stop decisions, and almost missing the dinner 
• Uber ride to the airport story and Newark morning...

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We sit down with DJ Jones to talk through the river rescue that went viral and the calm mindset that helped him get a six-year-old safely back to shore. We also swap stories on trophy bass, turkey hunting lessons, and what it really takes to keep making outdoor content while juggling work and family. 

• the St. Louis River rescue from the first scream to getting the kid warmed up 
• staying calm in high-pressure moments and avoiding compounding risk 
• water safety basics that too many anglers ignore 
• living with post-event s...

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Hunter Carr from Blue Hen Outdoors joins us to share his passion for the outdoors and mission to showcase authentic hunts with purpose. We explore hunting in Delaware, the evolution of his outdoor media brand, and the connections he's made across the hunting community.

• Born and raised in Delaware, Hunter grew up deer hunting with his father before expanding into waterfowl and turkey hunting
• Delaware offers exceptional but underrated hunting opportunities, especially for waterfowl due to its proximity to Chesapeake Bay
• Blue Hen Outdoors started as a bowhunting focus before...

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Craig James shares his journey from powerlifting champion to dedicated bowhunter and CrossFit coach, revealing how discipline connects every aspect of his life.

• Growing up in Wisconsin with his uncle Nick as his outdoor mentor
• Transitioning to bowhunting in his twenties after prioritizing sports and nightlife
• Achieving national championships in high school powerlifting
• Recently reaching the 900-pound club at just 132 pounds body weight
• Creating Behind the Grind as a platform to share his hunting and fitness journey
• Developing a meticulous system for tracking deer patterns using trail camera...

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The raw unpredictability of the hunt takes center stage in this conversation with Alex from Buck Down podcast as we navigate through a season defined by persistence through adversity.

When Alex's tailgate accidentally dropped open during a drive between hunting locations, he watched nearly all his hunting gear disappear—saddle, sticks, pack, and more. Rather than end his season, this catastrophe forced him to adapt, returning to ground hunting with older gear and a renewed appreciation for simplicity. "There's people that hunt with trad bows from the ground with no camera an...

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Are energy drinks sabotaging your hunting success? Logan Sandburn believes there's a better way. As a police officer who's spent 11 years working night shifts and chugging caffeine to stay alert, he knows firsthand the crash-and-burn cycle of traditional energy drinks.

During a hunting trip to Colorado, Logan learned the hard way about energy drinks' drawbacks - after chugging one and immediately climbing a mountain, he was hit with debilitating altitude sickness that nearly ruined his entire hunting experience. That moment sparked the creation of Timberwolf Supply Company and their flagship product...

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We ride the high of USA’s overtime win over Canada straight into a storm that cancels plans, then close our whitetail season with honesty, humor and hard-won lessons. From dropped gear to perfect shots, we share how persistence, purpose and brotherhood carried us.

• USA vs Canada rivalry setting the tone
• Nor’easter canceling the show and travel chaos
• Season wrap across NJ, WI, DE and PA
• Momentum from late October into November
• Donating venison and hunting with purpose
• Misses, pressure and managing self-doubt
• Mobile saddle setups and...

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A rough month turns into a reset as we unpack a public land clash, hard lessons on courtesy, and a season saved by smart moves and better wind. We trade stories from urban edges, river funnels, and thickets while laying out a clear rule set for when to sit and when to go.

• unwritten public land etiquette and conflict deescalation
• switching properties based on daylight data not bias
• private versus public tactics and pressure management
• aggressive saddle hunting, wind-first setups, and mobility
• micro-scouting thickets from the tree to find in...

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We sprint through a 48-hour run that starts with a long-range doe in brutal wind, adds a dawn 10-pointer, then rolls to Texas for fallow, aoudad, and a red stag. Along the way, we talk wind calls, safety checks, minimalist waterfowl tactics, reliable gear, and why the right outfitter changes everything.

• long-range whitetail shot selection and wind calls
• safety discipline under adrenaline at first light
• fallow and aoudad timing, angles and tracking
• red stag stalk with wind and terrain decisions
• why 4B Outfitters’ logistics and hospitality matter
• Osseo...

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We sit down with Sean Johnson, Get Sauce NJ, to show how simple techniques and smart seasoning turn wild game into meals anyone can cook at home. Along the way we talk ethics, public land reality, social media noise, and why shank and heart beat backstrap.

• New Jersey’s overlooked outdoor culture and public land grit
• Sean’s path from COVID livestreams to viral short-form cooking
• Turning “gamey” fear into flavor with fat, acid, and heat
• Kid-friendly gateway dishes like heart poppers and tacos
• Why shank, heart, and football roast...

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We close out the year with a father-son hunt that turns a windy near-miss into a perfect recovery—and a moment that defines the season. From hard lessons and smart gear choices to team wins, big events, and what’s next, this one’s about what worked, what didn’t, and why the brotherhood always comes first.

• building a ground blind and bait site with a five-year-old in mind
• swirling wind, blown deer, predator screams, and safety-first calls
• a quick second sit, camera failure, steady shot, and short recovery
• muzzlelo...

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We celebrate Squatch’s first New Jersey harvest, break down iron-sight shot execution, and talk about why camp trust beats antler size. Then we pivot to urgent New Jersey legislation, predator management, and the next generation learning the right way to hunt.

• first NJ hunt with a Browning A5 and iron sights 
• ladder stand setup, moonlit movement, and a clean follow-up 
• camp vibes, gratitude, and sharing stands without ego 
• public land courtesy and why goodwill matters 
• NJ bills A6055/S4893 and risks to science-based management 
• bear overpopulation, col...

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A veteran EMT turned researcher shares the night that changed his life: tree knocks, rock throws, and a boulder at the fire, then digs into Sussex County’s startling sighting density, field evidence from High Point, and how AI and bias shape what we accept as real. We question proof, examine timing and behavior, and map a clear path between open-minded curiosity and careful skepticism.

• origin story of Mike’s research journey from Florida expedition 
• Sussex County as an East Coast hotspot with 71 sightings 
• witness stigma and 48 new reports surfaced at...

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A gritty urban whitetail story moves from a painful miss to a clean seven-yard heart shot less than 24 hours later. We share what it takes to ignore social pressure, read suburban habitat, and stay steady when the season tests your patience.

• passing deer on purpose and trusting the plan
• hunting amid construction noise and retention ponds
• adapting to wind in urban edges and funnels
• camera intel, mock scrapes, and timing the drop in temps
• diagnosing a high miss and rebuilding confidence
• Wisconsin tags, gun week strategy, and late-sea...

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November keeps giving as we chase whitetails across Oklahoma plains and New Jersey thickets, turn misses into clean kills, and rebuild confidence one fix at a time. We share how small tweaks, smarter setups, and steady minds led to an 11-point buck, a buddy’s perfect shot, and a father-son recovery.

• Lone Wolf hunt in Oklahoma with high wind and blinds
• Missed shots, target panic, and the shot process reset
• Final-day redemption on a surprise 11-point buck
• Donating meat and mentoring young archers
• Guiding a friend to a double lun...

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A brutal Halloween storm gave way to a November surge, and our team caught fire with a string of kills anchored by a tight, suburban-style buck recovery and a five-yard heart shot. We trade trail cam dogma for aggressive rut moves, ethics in meat salvage, and practical filming tips that actually help.

• crew hot streak after storm
• small parcel strategy around orchards and marsh bedding
• target bucks Mr Perfect and Warrior weighed up
• shot details, rain, and recovery plan with thermal and dog
• meat salvage decisions and reporting...

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A cold front flipped the rut switch, and we ride the highs and lows: Peyton’s 650-yard recovery, Zach’s near-misses, a field-edge long shot with a dog track, and Connor’s October 28 magic. We dig into weather, wind, calling, ethics at low light, and why access wins.

• reading the wind and barometric pressure for rut movement
• edge sits with standing corn and late-morning cruising
• when to get aggressive with grunts and snort-wheezes
• low-light restraint and shot accountability
• long-range bow practice for field edges
• tracking strategy with and without a...

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The rain hammered down, the wind never settled, and a 20-year mystery finally walked into view. We’re fresh off New Jersey’s bear week with stories that run from legendary to hard-earned: Eddie closes the book on “Diamond Bear,” a boar first photographed in 2004 with a hollow diamond blaze on his chest, and we unpack the meticulous bait logs, peanut-fueled strategy, and storm gamble that made the difference. It’s a masterclass in reading daytime bears, avoiding being patterned, and using scent-only sits to force curiosity when bait would only feed competition.

T...

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We trade the “October lull” myth for real field notes on wind, drought, and timing rain, while gearing up for New Jersey’s bear week and a patient whitetail plan built on funnels, scrapes, and clean access. Midwest drought, East Coast color, and tag policies collide as we map the best sits ahead.

• warm, dry, and calm evenings changing wind strategy
• why high winds don’t shut deer down
• drought impacts on scrapes, scent, and sign
• reading turkeys as deer security in open fields
• post-rain movement windows and minimalist rai...

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We chase the early-season swings from hot starts to quiet weeks, then ride along as Kyle breaks a ten-year out-of-state streak with a messy, memorable, and deeply instructive liver-hit recovery. Strategy shifts, habitat puzzles, and why patience under pressure still wins.

• early-season highs and lulls across states
• e-bike access, quiet entry, and setup choices
• New York opener timing and time-off planning
• beans vs corn, drought impacts, and harvest timing
• Kyle’s ten-year standard and the mindset switch
• blind heat, rushed mechanics, and the shot window
• backing out over...

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Eddie Mackin, known as Mountain Savage on Instagram, shares his journey from childhood fishing trips to becoming an avid bear hunter across multiple states. His passion for the outdoors began early through his father's influence, creating a foundation for a lifetime of hunting adventures and outdoor experiences.

• Eddie has been hunting bears in Maine since 2017 with Northern New England Outfitters
• Recently brought his son bear hunting, creating a special generational hunting experience
• Successfully harvested bears in multiple states using different firearms and techniques
• Discusses differences between Maine bears (typicall...

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Archery season has officially opened in New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Virginia, with the Boondocks Hunting team celebrating six does and one buck harvested in the first week of action.

• Ryan shares his thrilling success story of taking a mature buck with his recurve bow at 15 yards
• Brief discussion about the tragic loss of two hunters during an elk hunt in Colorado
• Story about a black bear entering a dollar store in Vernon, NJ and biting a woman
• Craig details his Wisconsin hunting strategy around a neighboring cornfield that won't be...

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The Garden State Outdoors Podcast crew kicks off the 2025-2026 hunting season with stories from their Delaware trip and preparations for opening day in New Jersey and Wisconsin. They discuss early-season hunting strategies centered around identifying food sources and navigating challenges like earn-a-buck requirements and unpredictable weather.

• Delaware hunting trip focused on targeting bean fields and oak drops
• Deer preferred feeding in shorter bean fields (6-12 inches) versus mature chest-high beans
• Zach had a close encounter with a velvet buck at 37 yards but missed the shot
• Mike survived getting...

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The moment Christina Rafalco describes will resonate with any hunter—that magical time when the sun begins to set, the woods are bathed in golden light, and an extraordinary stillness descends. "Unless you're in that moment experiencing the quiet and how everything just settles down," she explains, "you can't understand it. I could do that every single day of my life."

Christina brings refreshing energy to this episode as she shares her journey into bowhunting as a 48-year-old single mom. Her story begins just four years ago when a relationship introduced he...

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Alysha Azzariti shares her journey of training Huck, her black Labrador retriever, into a skilled hunting companion, highlighting the incredible bond that forms between hunter and dog through this process.

• Growing up with an outdoorsy father who sparked her interest in fishing and hunting
• Finding a local breeder who became a mentor in training Huck for hunting
• Building basic obedience as the foundation for all hunting skills
• Using methods like food association to introduce gunfire without creating fear
• Teaching memory skills by placing bumpers and having Huck retrieve t...

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The countdown to hunting season is officially underway, and the excitement is building among the Boondocks Hunting team. As summer heat bears down, the crew gathers to welcome newest team member Zach and share their pre-season preparations, challenges, and expectations.

The conversation kicks off with a deep dive into the annual Boondocks Hunting competition—a months-long friendly tournament running from September through February that assigns point values to different game animals with various bonuses for antler size, weight, and more. With a modest $30 buy-in and an emphasis on ethical hunting practices, th...

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The unexpected journey from non-hunter to passionate outdoorsman lies at the heart of our conversation with Joe Arabia from Northern Jersey Outdoors. Having only started hunting six years ago at age 30, Joe offers a refreshing perspective that breaks from the typical "lifelong hunter" narrative that dominates outdoor media.

Joe's story begins with a surprise 30th birthday gift – apprentice hunting permits from his cousin who had been trying to get him into the woods for years. That first hunt, watching a doe approach through lightly falling snow, his heart pounding so hard he...

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Matt Williams shares his journey as a professional deer tracker and explains how his bloodhound Arrow helps hunters recover wounded deer through specialized scent detection abilities.

• Bloodhounds excel at tracking in dry conditions and can follow scent trails 40+ hours old
• Wounded deer release pheromones that intensify further from the hit site, creating stronger trails as they progress
• Different hit locations require specific waiting periods before tracking – 3-4 hours for shoulder shots, 6-8+ hours for gut shots
• Grid searching by hunters creates confusing scent patterns that make professional tracking more diffi...

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Travis Henderson from Trigger Traditions Outdoors shares his passion for waterfowl hunting and explains why seeing the dog work aspect of upland and waterfowl hunting brings him so much joy compared to other hunting styles.

• Lives in Sussex County, NJ and primarily hunts waterfowl and upland game
• Started Trigger Traditions as a way to document hunting memories with friends
• Hunts across multiple states including trips to Montana and Argentina
• Recently harvested his first turkey of the season using stealth and patience
• Uses a Browning Maxus Wicked Wing shotgun wi...

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Christopher Talmadge shares his hunting journey from childhood outings with his grandfather to rediscovering his passion as an adult and meeting fellow hunters through chance encounters on public land. He discusses mobile hunting strategies, tree selection techniques, and the importance of courtesy and community in the outdoors.

• Originally learned to hunt with his grandfather before life circumstances created a long break from the sport
• Reconnected with hunting by purchasing a bow and practicing until he met a like-minded hunting partner
• Shared story of meeting host Frank through a thoughtful note l...