Habitat Podcast
The Habitat Podcast is a podcast for land and wildlife habitat managers, and for hunters who learn and utilize different types of habitat in their hunting strategy. We interview hunters and habitat managers from across the country, picking their brain to learn their success's and failures. We are different in the fact that we are not the experts. This podcast is for us and the listeners to learn a thing or two, from the experts we analyze.
411: Illinois Deer Camp Hunt Recap: I Missed A Monster!
Habitat Podcast #411 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, Jared Van Hees is in deer camp with five buddies on Illinois public land!
We discuss:
-The crew shows how six hunters scouting blind on public land turned a dozen onX pins into dozens.
-One hunter admits he sat three hours in a swamp tree facing the wrong direction after climbing in at 5 a.m.
-A first-morning eight-point steps onto the trail 31 yards away, fifteen steps from the parking area.
-The group tells a buddy the blood trail looks too dark while th...
410: How He Built 70 Acres That Kept a 160-Inch Buck Coming Back with Corey Franceus
Habitat Podcast #410 - In today's episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Cory Franceus and Andy Hutchens!
We discuss:
-Cory explains why the work he starts in June pays off on an October bowhunt.
-Hutchy parks his e-bike 20 yards from the tree and kills his Ohio buck on his fourth sit there.
-Hutchy credits untouched sanctuaries and narrow food plots for holding bucks on a 500-acre farm.
-The crew compares a 188-inch buck’s rack and body size with a smaller-racked deer from the same farm.
-Cory re...
DCD: He Bought A Field Full Of Weeds - Now Mature Bucks Walk Right Where He Wants with Jake Hofer
Habitat Podcast Deer Camp Detour - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, Andy Hutchens has Jake Hofer in camp!
We discuss:
-Jake explains why he hasn’t made an aggressive move yet on a buck he passed four times last fall.
-He says the next three weeks come down to his gut, not Instagram’s “can’t kill them from the couch.”
-He breaks down how a missing hard frost keeps Illinois creek-bottom cover and browse holding longer.
-He argues that every deer season is different, but it rhymes, and that you only hav...
409: Should You Keep Hunting a Buck After You Bump Him? with Brett Smith
Habitat Podcast #409 - In today's episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Brett Smith!
We discuss:
-Brett explains why he scouts aggressively during the rut instead of waiting for a buck to come to him.
-He recalls bumping the same buck four days in a row and weighs the pressure difference in Michigan.
-He targets leeward ridges and the top third of draws where cover, wind and fresh sign come together.
-He walks the road between public-land parking areas to enter overlooked cover without going miles deep.
...
408: How He Makes 8.5 Acres Hunt Like A Much Bigger Farm
Habitat Podcast #408 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Art’om Rank!
We discuss:
-Art’om splits one overgrown cedar thicket on his 8.5 acres into three separate bedding areas.
-Trail cameras show bucks moving cedar to cedar as the wind shifts, and he sets up in the gaps between.
-He studies forestry at Glenville State and gets a key to the college farm so he can hunt before class.
-He splits an acre food plot into five zones of sorghum or miscanthus so a buck h...
407: He Accidentally Shot a Buck in the Head, Then It Tried to Kill Him with Mike Hlavaty
Habitat Podcast #407 - In today's episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Mike Hlavaty!
We discuss:
-Mike hunts a coal strip mine in Muskingum County alone at age 10, long before youth seasons or hunter safety.
-He and his brothers build ladder stands out of electrical conduit, hammering the steps flat and painting them.
-Mike crossbow-shoots a buck in the head the night before Ohio's gun opener, and it runs him over in the dark.
-He escapes by ramming the buck's head...
#406 - The Highs and Lows of Our Opening Weekend Public Land Deer Camp
Habitat Podcast #406 - In today's episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are at deer camp with the Habitat Podcast Patreon Hunt crew!
We discuss:
-Twelve Patreon members hunt Michigan state land from Latitude saddles over the archery opener.
-Jared holds at full draw for 55 seconds before heart-shooting a doe while Matt films from 50 yards.
-Andy and Matt find a ditch of dropping pin oaks that holds the most sign they saw all weekend.
-Matt climbs four sticks above an old ladder stand in a cottonwood to watch most of...
#405 - He Spent 14 Years Perfecting 26 Acres: Heres What Worked with Gavin Sodders
Habitat Podcast #405 - In today's episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Gavin Sodders!
We discuss:
-Gavin transforms his family's roughly 26-acre Indiana hayfields through fourteen years of habitat work.
-Gavin watches more than 500 persimmon trees emerge naturally after years of trial-and-error habitat work.
-Gavin learns why oversized square food plots and mowing the entire property leave deer without cover.
-Gavin uses a central access trail and a button-hook approach to reach stands before deer hit his scent.
-Gavin plants six micro...
404: How He Designed 80 Acres In Michigan So That Bucks Never Leave (Virtual Property Tour) with
Habitat Podcast #404 - In today's episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Cory Franceus and Chad Fike!
We discuss:
-Chad goes from years of small bucks to big Michigan deer after three trips to Tony LaPratt's boot camp.
-Cory reads an 80-acre Big Rapids-area rectangle by what surrounds it: ag, cattle and a block of wet cover.
-Chad splits two wide-open fields that blew deer out every hunt into about ten plots across six acres.
-A rifle blind on the hill by the house...
403: Fixed Blade Or Expandable: Which One Actually Kills Faster? with Matt Zahl and Cory Franceus
Habitat Podcast #403 - In today's episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Cory Franceus and Matt Zahl!
We discuss:
-Hutchy gets poison ivy and cellulitis prepping one stand in southern Ohio in 95-degree heat.
-Matt plants a sixteenth-of-an-acre plot in the middle of his swamp after a year of rain.
-The crew picks cereal grains and oats as the late plant if you're still stuck in a drought.
-Jared asks whether deer that survive EHD in Jackson County come back with any immunity.
<...402: How He Builds Successful Mock Scrapes On Food Plots with Arron Bleise and Kevin Gross
Habitat Podcast #402 - In today's episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Arron Bleise and Kevin Gross!
We discuss:
-Arron explains why planting an inch and a quarter deep in July left his seed sitting 21 days.
-Arron adds pearl millet to his mix for the relationship it builds with mycorrhizal fungi.
-Arron runs a zero-rate fertilizer strip in corn that comes back comparable to his full rate.
-Arron lays out the 220-acre family farm his dad has hunted since 1978 and may one day lose.<...
Return Of The Deercamp Detour: What It's Actually Like On A 14 Day Fly In Alaska Hunt with Justin Curtis
Deercamp Detour - In today's episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with the Deercamp Detour! Today we talk with Justin Curtis. We discuss:
Hunting fair-chase red stag and giant Sika deer on a family trip to Ireland. Buying 95 acres in Iowa to build food plots for unpressured late-season bucks. Launching the Chloe Faith Outdoors YouTube channel with his 12-year-old daughter. Surviving 70 mph winds and a collapsed tent on a brutal Alaskan brown bear hunt. Taking down a giant brown bear that required nine rounds to finally stop. The massive 29 1/16 Boone & Crockett skull score...401: How Janis Putelis Turned 50 Acres Of Big Woods Into A Whitetail Paradise
Habitat Podcast #401 - In today's episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Janis Putelis!
We discuss:
-Janis cut every white pine off 20 acres and released the oaks hiding underneath them.
-Why 40 acres is barely enough timber for a logger to justify moving his equipment in.
-The US Fish and Wildlife Habitat Partners Program funded his 7-acre oak savanna restoration.
-Doing the slash and burn work himself credited against his share instead of costing $7,000.
-Ground deer used to walk straight through now has...
EPISODE 400 SPECIAL! The First 3 Things Mark Drury Does On A New Farm
Habitat Podcast #400 - In today's episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Mark Drury!
We discuss:
-Jared and Hutchy open episode 400 by thanking eight years of listeners since March 2018.
-Mark explains why EHD has cut his southern Iowa deer herd by sixty to seventy percent.
-Mark sold his big farm for scattered satellite farms as an insurance policy against EHD.
-Mark is restoring 150 acres of Iowa pasture to native prairie using nothing but spring fire.
-Mark mulches eastern red cedar to cut...
399: Turning 40 Acres of Worthless Swamp Into a Big Buck Sanctuary with Joe Allera
Habitat Podcast #399 - In today's episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Joe Allera!
We discuss:
-Joe buys 40 acres of wetland because 40 acres of tillable ground was priced out of reach.
-Joe cuts over 100 deer beds into his swamp transitions with a weed whacker and a saw blade.
-Joe reads marsh elevation off the vegetation: phragmites highest, reed canary the deepest.
-Joe hunts the wrong wind on purpose, blowing his scent straight into the bedding area.
-Eight mature bucks have come out...
398: Is Some Rain Worse Than No Rain At All For Food Plots? with Lincoln Rohn
Habitat Podcast #398 - In today's episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Lincoln Rohn!
We discuss: -Lincoln pulled about 50 stumps out of an acre-and-a-half plot near Free Soil and left three on purpose. -Why Lincoln leaves stumps and pine pods standing in a plot — deer hold to structure the way bass do. -The stump bucket serration that laid Lincoln's knee open, and why he pulled his pant leg down and kept cutting. -Lincoln walked into his cabin carport this spring and found $100,000 of equipment in a foot of water. -Why Lincoln will no...
397: Does Killing a 170" Buck in Iowa Make You a Better Hunter?
Habitat Podcast #397 - In today's episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Adam Miller!
We discuss:
-Why Adam says killing a 170 in Iowa Zone 7 wouldn't make him a better hunter. -How Adam drew Iowa Zone 7 with three points and is going mostly as Joe's cameraman. -Why out-of-state deer forgive mistakes that Michigan deer would never let you make. -Adam missing the same buck three times in a single sit and emptying his quiver. -The October 23rd school drop-off that cost him a shot at a giant tending...
396: The Real Reason Michigan's New Baiting Law Doesn't Make Sense with Josh Arborgast
Habitat Podcast #396 - In today's episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Josh Arbogast!
We discuss:
Josh explains how Michigan's new baiting law only restricts corn within 300 yards of a home. He ties that 300-yard rule to Rep. Ken Borton's personal grudge from an old baiting ticket. Michigan's earn-a-second-buck pilot in five counties heads toward a final NRC vote around August 12th. Josh's biggest gripe: the pilot doesn't yet require the second buck be taken in the same county as the doe. Roughly 275 hunters under 40 packed the last NRC meeting, the...395: What 20 Years of Food Plotting For Clients Taught Him with Kasey Thren
Habitat Podcast #395 - In today's episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Kasey Thren!
We discuss: -His client base sits in sandy central Michigan soil, and he's learned to work with it, not against it. -He switched to a First Products no-till drill after decades of rototilling to save time. -He leans on Morgan Composting's Dairy Doo and humic acid instead of pricier synthetic fertilizer blends. -A simple wire utilization cage tells him instantly whether a property has an overbrowse problem. -He warns hinge cuts only survive about 50% of the time, even...
394: Two Fields, 250 Yards Apart, Completely Different Deer Pressure — Here's Why with Al Tomechko
Habitat Podcast #394 - In today's episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Al Tomechko of Vitalize Seed Co!
We discuss:
Grass pressure is higher than usual this year, even in Albert's no-till fields. Two exclusion fences 250 yards apart show drastically different deer browse pressure. A Kentucky agronomist's study found early-terminated cover crops outperformed planting green. Albert plants clover-chicory-oats in fall, then frost seeds more clover each spring. That one-two punch adds roughly 15 pounds of clover per acre in six months. The new Grain Bin Mix is a $60, free-shipping gap filler, not...393: He Left His 15-Year Career To Chase His Passion For Land with Cory Franceus
Habitat Podcast #393 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Cory Franceus!
We discuss:
Corey explains why he walked away from a 15-year corporate career. What pushed him to pursue a career in the hunting industry. How years of habitat work prepared him to help land buyers. The massive road project transforming Jared's hunting property. Why sunlight and drainage fixed a muddy access road better than gravel. The reality of rebuilding a farm after EHD devastated the local deer herd. Why Corey considers this season a "recruitment year" fo...392: The Biggest Mistake He Made Managing 36 Acres In Illinois with Brent Davis
Habitat Podcast #392 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Brent Davis!
We discuss:
Habitat mistakes often become your greatest teachers. Property-specific habitat beats one-size-fits-all advice. Chainsaw work produced Brent's biggest habitat improvements. Direct-seeding acorns can outperform planted trees. Thick woody cover consistently attracted more mature bucks. Switchgrass wasn't the best solution for his property. Access improvements changed how he hunted mature deer. A single community scrape outperformed multiple scrape locations. Trees and shrubs created better long-term habitat value. Habitat success comes from adapting, not following trends.An...
391: Stop Wasting Money On Food Plot Seed: Do This Instead with Doug Holmes
Habitat Podcast #391 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Doug Holmes!
We discuss:
The Downburst 960 is the 9th generation design after years of testing. The original idea came from ruining a food plot due to seeding errors. Native seeds require a completely different planting approach. Drop seeding is often ideal for small-seeded habitat plantings. The new 960 was specifically redesigned to handle fluffy native seeds. Accurate seed rates save money when planting expensive seed. Habitat Day 2026 had the largest turnout in event history. Doug's property shows what 8+ years of...390: The 10-Acre Big Buck Factory He Built Around His House with Dave Hoy
Habitat Podcast #390 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Dave Hoy!
We discuss:
Dave harvested his biggest buck ever—a 145" deer—from 10 acres. The property's "mullet" design prioritizes access and deer security. Strategic screening allows stand access without alerting deer. Heavy cutting accelerated habitat improvements and bedding cover. Small properties allow for extremely detailed habitat management. Waterholes and mock scrapes are becoming key attraction points. Dave is growing over 1,000 trees in his habitat nursery. Integrated Habitat Solutions focuses on helping landowners execute projects. Many landowners need labor and gu...389: After Multiple Years Of Habitat Work, These 3 Things Worked The Best with Jake Bollinger
Habitat Podcast #389 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Jake Bollinger!
We discuss:
Jake's 82-acre farm is transitioning from ag production to habitat. Miscanthus screens are being used to create visual barriers. Hybrid willows are helping create bedding and screening cover. Switchgrass has been the highest-impact habitat improvement. Air-pruning beds produce stronger root systems for trees. Jake grows oaks, chestnuts, persimmons, and shrubs from seed. He uses habitat corridors to direct deer movement. EHD killed dozens of deer on and around his property. Hinge cutting sometimes created be...388: Tree Tubes, Cages & The Right Way To Protect Fruit Trees with Cory Franceus and Matt Zahl
Habitat Podcast #388 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Cory Franceus and Matt Zahl!
We discuss:
Tree tubes are easy, but cages may protect better long-term. Apple trees can struggle when tubes hold leaf debris. Mouse guards help prevent young trees from being girdled. Weak trunks can get damaged after tubes come off. Fruit trees need yearly maintenance, not just planting. Autumn olive can explode fast after sunlight hits the ground. Some autumn olive is worth keeping if it creates bedding. Spring is the time to clean up...387: The Simple Sprayer That Changed His Food Plot System: Liquid Fertilizer, Clover, and Southern Habitat Strategy with Cale Giddens
Habitat Podcast #387 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Cale Giddens of Plot Blaster!
We discuss:
Plot Blaster was built to solve common ATV sprayer frustrations. A boomless sprayer can reduce broken nozzles and bent booms. Staggering food plot planting can spread out weather risk. Small sprayer setups make it easier to manage plots in phases. Liquid fertilizer and lime are becoming more useful for food plotters. Drought years often come down to getting seed up and praying for rain. Clover can be king if you have th...386: New Vitalize Seed Mixes for 2026: Native Mixes Are Here! with Al Tomechko
Habitat Podcast #386 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Al Tomechko of Vitalize Seed Co!
We discuss:
Protecting young trees properly is just as important as planting them. Native grasses and diverse cover improve bedding and soil health. Splitting fertilizer applications improves nutrient efficiency. Weed matting can drastically reduce maintenance around trees. Diverse habitat creates more resilient deer properties. Soil biology drives long-term property improvement. Irrigation can dramatically improve tree survival rates. Native seed mixes provide food, cover, and pollinator benefits. Small annual improvements compound over time. He...385: Turning an Ugly Property Into A Big Buck Haven with Max Wierda
Habitat Podcast #384 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Max Wierda!
We discuss:
Ugly properties often hold massive habitat potential. Cover can matter more than food on pressured land. Food plots are often the gateway into habitat work. Waiting to learn a property before over-improving can help. Electric fencing small plots can dramatically improve success. Hinge cutting creates immediate browse and bedding cover. Michigan pressure pushes mature bucks into hidden pockets. Habitat improvement is a long-term learning process. Neighbor cooperation is critical for age structure goals. Massive bu...384: The BEST Budget Food Plot Setup for Deer Hunters with Lincoln Rohn
Habitat Podcast #384 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Lincoln Rohn!
We discuss:
Simple food plot setups can outperform expensive systems. Seed-to-soil contact is critical for germination. No-till methods improve long-term soil health. Most beginners skip important soil testing steps. Sprayers are essential for weed management. Hunting pressure changes mature buck behavior fast. Minimal tillage preserves moisture and soil biology. Habitat improvements don’t require huge acreage. Sanctuary cover helps hold pressured deer. Smart strategy matters more than expensive equipment.And So Much More! Shop the new...
383: The Truth About Honeysuckle and Declining Turkey Numbers: Why You Need To Burn Your Property Now!
Habitat Podcast #383 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Travis Owen and Ethan Strunk!
We discuss:
Prescribed fire restores native habitat fast Honeysuckle destroys understory vegetation Turkeys need visibility to survive predators Burning improves turkey nesting habitat Fire helps control invasive plant species Healthy habitat supports more wildlife diversity Predator pressure rises in invasive monocultures Small burns can make huge habitat impacts PBAs make prescribed fire safer and accessible Habitat neglect today hurts future hunting generationsAnd So Much More! Shop the new Amendment Collection from Vi...
#382 - Small Parcel Series: Turning Small Acreage Into a Whitetail Magnet
Habitat Podcast #382 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Josh Tanner!
We discuss:
Small parcels fail because of pressure—not size If the wind isn’t perfect, don’t hunt your property Water holes can stop every deer on small land Switchgrass creates instant security cover You don’t need equipment—just effort and consistency Bedding cover is more valuable than food on small parcels Edge feathering helps control deer movement Access routes are critical on limited acreage Less intrusion = more daylight movement You can build a great proper...#381 - Do You Actually Need A Big Farm To Kill Big Bucks? with Randy Birdsong
Habitat Podcast #381 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with Randy Birdsong of HeadHunters TV and The Raven Project!
We discuss:
Food plots aren’t enough—they must be positioned strategically “Bridge food” (like clover) is critical during late winter stress Micro bedding areas (150–200 yards away) increase daylight movement Access can make or break your entire season Design properties in repeatable “deer pods” Rotate food types by season to control movement Don’t give deer multiple equal options at the same time Mature bucks are highly patternable across years Smaller, m...380: Designing A Property To Make Mature Bucks Feel Safe with Lee Vandenbrink of Everland Outdoors
Habitat Podcast #380 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with co-host Andy and Lee Vandenbrink! We discuss:
Deer daylight movement skyrockets when they feel completely secure Access routes matter just as much as stand placement Most hunters overlook how they enter and exit stands Habitat work is about giving back, not just taking from the land Aerial maps reveal features you’ll never notice on foot Sanctuary areas are the foundation of mature buck hunting Logging (done right) can drastically improve habitat Invasive species management should come before habitat improvements Mapp...379: How to Make Deer Move Exactly How You Want Them To Do with Will Hastings
Habitat Podcast #379 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with co-host Andy and Will Hastings! We discuss:
Mock scrapes can shift bucks from passive movement to aggressive daylight behavior Water holes create consistent stopping points for mature bucks during pre-rut Dividing fields forces bucks to move instead of observing from safe edges Screening cover increases daylight movement by creating visual security Community scrapes outperform random mock scrapes when enhanced correctly Low-impact access keeps deer from associating key areas with human pressure Central farm areas often become the safest bedding zones fo...378: The #1 Reason Mature Bucks Leave Your Property with Matt Bullins
Habitat Podcast #378- In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with co-host Andy and Matt Bullins! We discuss:
Overhunting the same spots quickly pushes mature bucks into nocturnal movement
Poor entry and exit routes alert deer before you ever reach your stand location
Mature bucks avoid main trails and use subtle, low-pressure travel routes
Hunting the wrong wind can ruin your chances before the hunt even begins
Staggering feed keeps deer checking during daylight instead of bedding nearby
Pressure is of...
377: What Finding Shed Antlers Really Means for Your Farm with Ryan Lawrence of Antler Anchor Co
Habitat Podcast #377- In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with co-host Andy and Ryan Lawrence of Antler Anchor Co! We discuss:
Finding shed antlers is a strong indicator of quality winter habitat.
Green food sources like clover often produce the most shed finds.
Shed hunting reveals bedding areas and late-season deer patterns.
Edges between food and cover are prime locations to search.
Fence crossings and terrain changes often cause antlers to drop.
Walking slowly is one of the most im...
376: How to Design Water Sources Mature Bucks Actually Use with Waylon Meyer
Habitat Podcast #375 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with co-host Andy and Waylon Meyer of Earth Blinds! We discuss:
Water sources often become social hubs for whitetail deer Mature bucks may only visit specific areas they feel safe Water holes create predictable movement opportunities Strategic placement near bedding or transition zones can be deadly Water sources are excellent trail camera locations Proper pond design prevents wildlife from getting trapped Preventing muddy edges can reduce disease transmission Deer often prefer stagnant water over flowing streams Pond size should match herd de...375: Why Saddle Hunting Might Be BETTER on Private Land with Cory Godar
Habitat Podcast #375 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with co-host Andy and Cory Godar of Latitude Outdoors! We discuss:
Weight savings matter most deep into multi-day hunts. Saddle hunting isn’t just for public land — it’s a lethal private land tool. Frame packs purpose-built for whitetail are filling a huge gap in the market. Efficient packing systems reduce noise, stress, and fatigue. Packing out a deer is often easier than dragging. Simplicity wins — don’t overcomplicate your mobile setup. Family life shifts priorities, but efficient systems maximize limited time.A...
374: Do Mature Bucks Actually Use Hinge Cut Bedding? with Sam Tumberg
Habitat Podcast #374 - In today’s episode of The Habitat Podcast, we are back in the studio with co-host Andy and Sam Tumberg of Purpose Filled Habitat Management! We discuss:
Most hinge cuts fail because they aren’t aggressive enough Flush cutting is often more reliable than hinge cutting in northern timber Mature bucks are nomadic — focus on security cover, not “buck beds” Half-acre bedding cuts are a strong starting point for most properties Downed large-diameter trees create high-value structure Layer hinge heights to control sightlines and security Ash trees can barber-chair — extreme caution required Water sources inside staging area...