Sportsmen's Empire - Whitetail Hunting

Ten years changes the hunter, but maybe not in the way you think. Ryan Mead sits down with Dan Johnson to compare notes on a decade of bowhunting, deer behavior, and the hard truth that experience eventually changes how much you care about doing everything “perfect.”

Ryan opens up about what has shifted most since his last appearance on Nine Finger Chronicles - from being overly cautious with trail cameras and stand access to prioritizing time, family, and high-percentage hunts over obsessive preseason perfection. Dan and Ryan break down how that mindset affects when to move cameras, when...

In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitchell is joined by Ryan Burnett of Pattern Pros to talk about one of the most overlooked pieces of hunting preparation—actually knowing how your gun and ammunition perform together. Ryan explains how Pattern Pros grew from a frustrating day of shotgun patterning into a way for hunters to test multiple loads without buying full boxes of ammunition that may not work well in their gun. The guys walk through the process of properly patterning a shotgun at different distances, understanding point of aim versus point of impact, evaluating pattern density, and de...

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Kent Boucher & Nicolas Lirio from Hoksey Native Seeds to discuss the benefits of prairie, and steps to take towards healthier land! In this conversation, the guys discuss Kent's unfortunate lifestyle choice of being a Chicago Bears fan, Nicolas' journey at Hoksey, drastic changes in Midwest ecology, small steps we can all take to make more conservation-minded decisions, how Hoksey's team can help you implement prairie successfully on your property, and tons more! 

Visit www.hokseynativeseeds.com to learn more and get in touch w...

In this episode, we sit down with Joe Miles of ASIO Gear to break down proven strategies for targeting mature bucks. From understanding pressure and movement patterns to dialing in your setup, Joe shares insights that can make the difference when it counts. We also dive into some of the newest ASIO Gear products and how they’re designed to give hunters an edge in the field. If you’re serious about chasing mature whitetails, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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Vitalize Seed, Grandpa Ray Outdoors, Northwoods Whitetail, Real World Wildlife Products

In this episode, experts discuss the intricacies of land management, habitat design, and hunting strategies to optimize deer hunting success. They share insights on food plot design, deer behavior, and habitat enhancement to help hunters and land managers make informed decisions. The guests detail the perfect food plot acre, and all the factors that have gone into their perfect design.

Takeaways

September deer hunting is changing fast, and the hunters who keep using August tactics are about to get left behind. Dan Johnson and Jason Thibodeau break down the second half of September, when drying beans, dropping acorns, shifting deer movement, and early crop harvests start rewriting the map right under your feet.

If you need to figure out where deer are moving now - and how to stay ahead of them before the October opener - this conversation gives you the playbook. Dan and Jason get into what the landscape is telling you, why trail cameras are...

Y’all are always asking me and Trey how we got started in podcasting, what the early days looked like, what we struggled with, and how we went from just having an idea to actually building something people listen to.

Well… we already had that conversation. 

So instead of making another episode telling the same story, I’m bringing THIS one back.

In this episode, Trey Reed and I sit down and get real about our journeys as podcasters—from the early days of recording with limited gear, figuring out what the hell we were d...

A child murder case, a psychotic break, and a question nobody wants to answer: when does a broken mind become a crime that can never be forgiven?

Dan and Kyle get into the Lindsay Clancy trial and the uncomfortable line between mental illness, accountability, and public outrage. What starts as a conversation about a headline-grabbing case quickly turns into something bigger - postpartum depression, psychosis, medication, the limits of the justice system, and how far a person can fall before anyone notices.

You'll hear Dan and Kyle unpack the details of the case, the role...

Western Kansas Deer Hunting: Decoys, Glassing, and Mature Buck StrategyWestern Kansas hunting gets brutally honest here: when deer numbers fall, CWD spreads, and the wind never quits, how do you still find mature bucks? Travis Glassman breaks down the exact strategies he uses to stay on deer in one of the toughest crossover zones in the Midwest, where whitetails and mule deer live in the same country but behave like completely different animals.

Dan Johnson catches up with Travis after years away from the show, and what unfolds is a practical, boots-on-the-ground conversation about hunting pressure, changing...

Episode DescriptionThe best mobile hunting systems do one thing - they disappear into the hunt. Nested Tree Stand Systems is built around that idea, and Gabe Denzine explains why this brand was designed from the ground up for hunters who pack in, climb once, and want every piece of gear to work together.

Gabe and Dan unpack how Nested grew out of a real problem: the clunky, cobbled-together setup so many hunters have been forced to live with. Instead of making another generic add-on to an existing line, the team built a true system - rails, stand...

The episode kicks off with excitement for dove season and a recap of recent travels, including a stop to learn more about ammunition and how much goes into making the right shells. The hosts welcome Curt Porter back to share advice and reminders before the season opens, creating a conversation that is both timely and informative. They also emphasize the value of learning from experienced hunters and passing that knowledge along to others, especially newer hunters and kids.

A major focus of the episode is dove hunting safety and legality. Curt explains practical things hunters should remember...

Folks! We have made it, summer is coming to an end and hunting season is officially here. We have a short one this week, hunting and fishing has been hot so we’ll get back to the interviews next week. Just finished up a week of fishing in Lake Charles and I am heading down for a dove hunt in Uvalde. Hopefully next week I can get caught up the deer hunting and get off and running!

Head to www.mybookie.ag, use promo code [SE], and get in on the action today. Bet on A...

Mule deer are still the vanishing icon of the West, and if you care about public land hunting, this conversation explains exactly why. Greg Sheehan, CEO of the Mule Deer Foundation, lays out the hard truth behind the decline, what changed after the mule deer heyday, and what hunters and conservation groups are doing right now to turn it around.

Greg brings a rare perspective to the problem. He’s spent decades on both sides of wildlife management, from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of La...

Nick opens with a personal update on the shift from summer chaos into early fall hunting season, then moves into two connected stories about wild game, generosity, and community. He reflects on being gifted Great Lakes salmon and lake trout, turning part of it into smoked jerky, and how that exchange strengthened a friendship. He also previews an upcoming New Jersey black bear hunt and a new venison donation project that uses hunters’ harvests to help feed others.

Key Topics

Sometimes a race doesn’t go according to plan—and sometimes it's an even bigger surprise at the end.

In this episode, we take a look back on a race when the hounds made a switch in mid-race, something we never knew about until just before dark when we corralled a giant in the rocks. 

It’s the kind of chase that reminds you why these moments stick with you: the chase, the instincts, the adrenaline, and the surprise waiting at the end. What started as one race quickly turned into a story worth telling—and a mem...

In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitchell is joined once again by his good friend Jason Goe for a conversation about scouting whitetails when time in the woods is limited. As work, family, and everyday responsibilities take up more time, preparing for deer season doesn't always look like it once did. Jason explains why, if he had to choose, he'd put more value on in-season scouting than months of offseason preparation. The guys discuss map scouting, reading terrain and habitat changes, finding fresh sign, and Jason's approach to "speed scouting" his way through unfamiliar areas until he finds...

Some hunting stories are funny. This one is pure deer-camp gold. Greg Franzoni and Dan Johnson trade the kind of public-land memories, family traditions, and hard-earned lessons that only come from years in the woods - and a few disasters you have to hear to believe.

Greg shares how a second-weekend deer camp became a multi-generation tradition built on communication, patience, and a whole lot of laughter. Dan brings the perspective of a bowhunter and storyteller who knows exactly how much the culture around hunting matters, especially when kids, dads, buddies, and grandkids all start showing up...

Vitalize Seed, Grandpa Ray Outdoors, Northwoods Whitetail, Real World Wildlife Products

This podcast episode delves into the intricacies of managing hunting properties, focusing on food plots, soil health, and the common mistakes landowners make. The host and guests share insights on the importance of soil testing, proper planting techniques, and the significance of timing and seed selection in achieving successful food plots. The conversation emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to land management, considering factors like soil temperature, depth, and the diversity of plant species to maximize hunting success.

Takeaways

September deer hunting is all about reading the landscape before the deer read you. If your season opens now, Dan Johnson and Jason Thibodeau break down exactly how they’d attack the first week of September - from scouting from the road to picking apart food, cover, water, and the subtle pressure points that actually reveal deer movement.

The big question is simple: if opener was tomorrow, where would you start? Dan and Jason answer that with a practical, boots-on-the-ground plan for early season whitetails, whether you’re hunting private ground, public land, or a short out-of-state trip...

In this episode, I sit down once again with Michael Pitts from Realtree to break down everything you need to know heading into early season. We dive into our personal game plans for this year, what’s already standing out in the woods, and how to stay one step ahead of deer before pressure starts to build.

Michael shares key insights on scouting smarter—not harder—including what specific signs to focus on, how to interpret early-season movement, and the small details that can make or break your hunt. From food sources and bedding transitions to trail camera...

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Brett Smith from Whitetail Land Management Services to do a little reflection, and suggestion on the current state of deer hunting in Wisconsin! Brett is a Wisconsin-native and the owner of Whitetail Land Management Services, who specializes in helping folks design and manage their properties around the country. In this conversation, Brett shares his thoughts on whether or not Buffalo County is still all it's cracked up to be, whether or not CWD is as serious as they say, the importance of deer herd balance, and how cell...

Clean comedy, childhood chaos, and a brutally honest conversation about what actually shapes us.

Dan Johnson and MCKV start with a laugh about Wayne's World, blooper reels, and the kind of humor that still works without swearing, but the episode quickly turns into something far more revealing: a raw, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful look at growing up, sibling battles, and the long shadow of childhood.

You’ll hear Dan and MCKV swap stories about:

Ready to publishPheasant hunting gets a whole lot better when you learn how a father-son crew turned South Dakota bird camp into a 30-year tradition, and why the best hunting stories sometimes start with World Series tickets. Brandon Marcourt breaks down the kind of upland and waterfowl setup most hunters only dream about, from wild pheasants and pothole ducks to the dogs, land access, and family rituals that keep the whole thing running.

Dan Johnson and Brandon trade stories about getting ready for youth season, the pull of cool August mornings, and what it means to finally...

A big thank you to Jared, Cameron, and Boomer for their hospitality and engagement. This episode follows Bama Wall Hangers as they travel to neighboring Columbus, MS to visit Apex Ammunition’s warehouse and production center to talk with company leadership about how Apex started, what makes its TSS loads different, and why the company expanded into dove loads. The conversation is part origin story, part ammo education, and part look at the realities of building a manufacturing business from scratch. 

We discuss Apex’s founding, the science behind tungsten super shot, and how the team thinks about...

This episode is a high-energy college football and Cowboys roundtable, with the group arguing through Big 12 and SEC team projections, hot-seat coaches, Heisman/National Championship picks, and the Cowboys’ outlook for the season. The conversation is funny, opinionated, and heavily Texas-focused, with lots of rivalry banter and bold predictions.

Timestamps

(00:00) Hunters Extravaganza recap and the audio meltdown

(01:18) Introducing the panel and resetting after Jeff’s connection issues

(03:06) Why the Hunters Extravaganza felt more like a shopping mall than a hunting show

(06:14) Football season is here, and the show shifts to c...

Western Kansas can make you a better hunter - or break your ego fast. Travis Glassman reveals how he consistently patterns mature whitetails and mule deer in one of the toughest, flattest, most overlooked deer countries in the West.

Dan Johnson and Travis catch up after years apart, and the conversation quickly turns into a sharp, practical breakdown of what it really takes to hunt a landscape where deer numbers are down, cover is limited, and every move matters. From chronic wasting disease and drought to shifting deer behavior, Travis explains why success out here depends less...

How do you know when it’s time to call it a day? After multiple dumps, long hours in the woods, and one blown track after another ending without success, every hound hunter eventually faces that decision.

In this episode, we talk about the reality of tough hunts—the frustration, the exhaustion, and the temptation to keep pushing when the woods just aren’t giving it up. Sometimes the best decision isn’t another drop; it’s loading the dogs, heading home, and living to hunt another night.

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In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitchell is joined by Pennsylvania outdoorsman and country music artist Robbie Jordan for a conversation about hunting traditions, life experiences, and finding purpose along the way. Robbie grew up in a military and law enforcement family where weekends were spent at hunting camp with his grandparents, and Pennsylvania rifle season was treated a lot like Christmas morning. He shares the lessons his grandfather passed down in the woods, how hunting remained a constant through his teenage years and military service, and why returning home to Pennsylvania after the Army gave him an...

The phones are listening, the deer are moving, and Jeremy Dinsmore is ready to throw arrows again. If you hunt whitetails, obsess over trail cam intel, or just love the kind of real talk that starts with a conspiracy theory and ends with a better deer season plan, this one is for you.

Dan Johnson and Jeremy Dinsmore kick things off with the creepy feeling that your phone is hearing every conversation, then quickly turn it into a bigger conversation about how modern life, rising costs, and constant distraction are changing the way we hunt and think...

We’ve spent the last few episodes talking about preparation, identity, and consistency—but eventually, every hunter reaches a season where the work doesn’t seem to be producing the results we hoped for. The cameras go quiet. The sign disappears. The buck doesn’t show. The plan falls apart. In Episode 320 of the Antler Up Podcast, Jeremy explores what happens when we’ve done everything we know to do and the outcome still doesn’t go our way. Because resilience isn’t tested when everything is working—it’s revealed when it isn’t.

Jeremy also gets personal, shari...

Vitalize Seed, Grandpa Ray Outdoors, Northwoods Whitetail, Real World Wildlife Products

In this episode of Maximize Your Hunt, host Jon Teater and guest experts discuss the intricacies of managing hunting properties, focusing on food plots, plant diversity, and the importance of questioning conventional wisdom in hunting strategies. They emphasize the need for ecological food plots that attract deer throughout the season and the significance of understanding soil biology and plant interactions. This conversation delves into the intricacies of managing food plots for deer attraction, focusing on the use of perennial crops, liquid fertilizers, and the importance of...

Early-season deer hunting is changing fast - and if you miss the shift, the woods can feel empty before the real action even starts. Dan Johnson and Jason Thibodeau break down what they’re seeing right now: a possible EHD threat, disappearing mature bucks, dropping acorns, shifting food sources, and the subtle changes in wind, thermals, and deer movement that can make or break your first sit.

This episode starts with real life, not theory. Jason opens up about the chaos of family life, stress, injuries, and trying to hold everything together as a dad while still st...

In this episode, I sit down with Austin Stanley to break down the story behind his incredible 2024 buck that made Pope & Young. We dive into everything from the hunt itself to the challenges he faced along the way—including pushing through and hunting while injured on the ground. Austin shares the mindset it took to stay in the game and how that experience shaped his season. We also look ahead to what’s coming this year, talking expectations, goals, and what we’re both excited about as the new season approaches. If you’re into real hunting stories, grit, and big...

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Clint Campbell to dive into the importance of doing the hard things to set yourself up for success! Clint is a PA-native, public land bowhunter, and host of the Truth From the Stand Podcast. In this conversation, Clint shares his hunting journey starting at age 12 going gun hunting, and how getting lost in the mountains led to him to not only shooting his biggest buck at the time, but falling in love with the explorative nature of public land bowhunting. Clint shares tips and stories from some of...

Hunting has always been about the experience, the tradition, and the love of the outdoors—but somewhere along the way, did the price tag start getting out of hand?

Trey Reed is back on the We Do This Too Outdoors Podcast, and this time we’re getting into a conversation that a lot of hunters are thinking about: Is hunting becoming a rich man’s game?

We break down the rising cost of hunting—from expensive leases and land access to bows, guns, gear, tags, travel, trail cameras, and everything the industry tells us we “need” to b...

School stress, college pressure, and the weird little moments that shape who your kids become - this conversation gets real fast. Dan Johnson and MCKV unpack the back-to-school season from both sides of the parent-child divide, with an honest take on homesickness, independence, and why some kids need more support than others.

They start with a surprisingly deep detour through Karate Kid, Rocky, and House of the Dragon before landing on what really matters: how kids handle pressure, identity, and growing up. From there, Dan and MCKV get into the emotional reality of back-to-school season, including what...

Western hunts get a lot easier when your gear, sleep setup, and ammo are dialed in before you leave home. Dan Johnson sits down with Wisconsin hunter Nick Brewer to break down the real-world system he uses to chase mule deer and pronghorn in Montana and Wyoming without wasting time, money, or energy.

Nick has spent roughly 15 years hunting out West, and he shares the hard-earned details that only come from doing it over and over: how he chooses between a lightweight rifle and a heavier custom build, why he handloads his own 7mm-08 ammo, and what...

Indiana bowhunter Seth Taylor has learned something most hunters spend years chasing: success in the woods has a lot less to do with giant bucks and a lot more to do with reading sign, managing pressure, and keeping the whole thing fun.

If you’re a public land hunter, a mobile bowhunter, or someone who’s ever talked yourself out of a good setup, this conversation will hit home fast. Dan Johnson and Seth break down the lessons Seth picked up after starting with almost no bowhunting experience and quickly finding out what works, what doesn’t, and wh...

Antelope and mule deer don’t just test your shooting. They expose every mistake in your glassing, rangefinding, wind reading, patience, and ability to disappear into terrain without blowing the whole stalk.

Dan Johnson and Kurt Belding trade hard-earned stories from the field and break down what actually works when you’re chasing pronghorn and mule deer with a bow. From 80-yard antelope shot windows to the brutal reality of crawling across open country only to watch deer melt into the next drainage, this conversation is packed with the kind of details western hunters usually learn the hard...

This episode is all about the reality of trying to balance work, the summer heat, and the hunting season you’ve been looking forward to all year. Sometimes the grind doesn’t just make hunting harder—it takes opportunities completely off the table.

We talk about how work schedules and brutal heat can keep you out of the woods, the frustration that comes with missing opportunities, and why you have to make the most of the time you actually do get.

Then we shift gears to a little dog training. We talk about one of the mo...