Pennsylvania Woodsman

Opening day of Pennsylvania statewide archery season is opening this coming weekend, so if you're not fired up by now, this episode should help! On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by Grant Forney and Brandon Miller of the Everyday Outdoorsmen YouTube channel. This is an old fashioned B.S. Session discussing many topics including:- videoing hunts and content production- discussing hunting with non hunting community- equipment and stand setups for public land hunting- season goals and expectations, and how they have adapted over time- hunt scheduling during preferred times of season, and more!Additionally, Grant and Brandon discuss some of the products they use from show sponsor Huntworth. They break down their preferred camo, garments, and accessories which they use from the warm early archery season, to late season when Heat Boost Technology can be brought into the field. Huntworth gear is suited for all kinds of weather as well as budgets, and the Everyday Outdoorsmen have put it to the test! Thanks for listening and good luck to everyone this season!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman we sit down with Brian Good from Triple Trophy Taxidermy. Brian has pursued this art of taxidermy from a young age and has never ceased learning and honing his craft making trophies come alive (almost). Brian is an avid hunter, and we of course discuss his interest in turkey hunting, hunting with his children, and everyone's favorite, whitetail deer. WIth each of these hunts, there comes a different level of care and preparation if you plan to have them mounted, which Brian breaks down easily for everyone.Triple Trophy stands for the three big game species here in Pennsylvania - turkey, bear and deer. With each species opening this fall, skinning and handling each properly are vital. Are there additional tools to keep in your kill kit for preparation? How should you handle skinning and field dressing? Should you take measurements for a taxidermist? We cover this and more! Brian provides insight to how he handles certain aspects of his work, which highlights the quality of the product he delivers. This is a major reason why people will travel to take their trophy to him. If you're looking for a quality taxidermist, check out Brian near Ringtown, Pennsylvania! https://www.tripletrophytaxidermy.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch catches up with owner and operator of Little Mountain Outfitters in Richland, PA, Devon Zimmerman. Devon is a diehard bowhunter that loves to tinker with archery equipment and share his knowledge and experience. For most of his bowhunting career, Devon has chosen to shoot mechanical broadheads with moderate arrow weights between 450-525 grains. With the popularity growing in FOC, heavy arrows, single bevel and machined broadheads, he decided to find out for himself.Last year, the setup that tuned well in his bow was over 600 grains, tipped with a VPA broadhead with over 200 grains of the weight in the front. Devon had a good sample size in year one shooting multiple doe and a nice buck throughout October and November. From those experiences, he decided to shoot something very similar again this year. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages among both commonly used arrow setups, why he feels this current arrow works well for him, but ultimately is not for everyone. No matter where you land in the debate of arrow setups, every experienced bowhunter's perspective is an opportunity for us to learn something new or approach this from a different angle. Regardless, make ethical shot decisions for your setup and capabilities! Thanks for listening!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant, outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, we are taking a slightly different course. With deer season right around the corner, we've been focused on preparation. From strategies to harvest your target, to meat preparation, we've got you covered for this fall. But everything revolves around filling an antlered deer tag these days. What about antlerless deer? Are enough being harvested in your area?This week's guest is Dustin Kieffer from Mark M Kieffer and Son. Dustin is a third generation grain farmer in central Pennsylvania, farming around 3200 acres. After a quick back story on the operation, we dive into a controversial topic - too many deer. This episode does not have any motive or suggestion to the problem. It's simply to provide you the listener, a different perspective in the community. We discuss the changes in deer pressure over the previous decades, and how this operation is adjusting it's farming practices to the ever growing deer population in this region of the state. We as deer hunters are not the only ones who appreciate deer. Some people depend on us harvesting them for their income!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant, outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsmen, Mitch starts off with an update on season preparation. Nothing like waiting until the last minute to get stands, plots, and more ready for opening day! Habitat management and private land hunting strategy are something Mitch enjoys deeply, and these recent projects got him fired up; prompting a little bit of philosophical argument between private land and public land hunting. At the end of the day, do what you love!The main course of this episode Mitch is joined by Nick Otto, host of the Huntavore podcast on Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network. Prior to marriage and kids, Mitch used to butcher deer within 1-2 days of harvesting during early season when the weather was warm. Now, it takes a bit more planning to accommodate processing into daily life. Processors are always an option, but if you enjoy doing it yourself and want to save some coin, this episode may help you out! Nick discusses the proper measures to take after the shot during the early season. We navigate field dressing, skinning, quartering, cleaning, aging, temperature, and more. Lastly, if you do not have a walk-in cooler, Nick provides some excellent tips on how to turn household appliances into a poor man's deer cooler, buying you time to process! This is a fantastic episode for quality table fare! Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant, outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch speaks with none other than Mr. Whitetail himself, Larry Weishuhn. Larry is an award winning outdoor writer and professional biologist who has forgotten more about whitetails then most folks will ever know. Mitch and Larry reconnect after meeting a year ago at a local game dinner where Larry spoke, and begin by discussing Larry's one hunting trip to Potter County Pennsylvania. We discuss whitetail biology and hunting experiences throughout Larry's career. Also, tactics from spot and stalk to rattling, and how whitetail biology as well as hunting pressure can impact their success. We also discuss our favorite hunts outside of whitetails including black bear and a story which combines flintlock muzzleloaders and yogi bear. Thanks for tuning in! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch talks with the executive director from Hunters Sharing the Harvest, Randy Ferguson. Since 1991, HSH has received nearly 2 million pounds of donated venison provided to food banks and shelters; 200,000 pounds alone was donated during the 2022-23 deer season! Randy shares how this grass roots program has grown over the past 30 years and where he believes they are headed. You'll learn about deer processor involvement, hunter involvement, and how hunters can benefit thousands of people with quality lean protein! This season, consider using one of your tags to donate meat to families in need. You can find out all you need to participate in this episode, and for more information visit sharedeer.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on the Pennsylvania Woodsman we chatted with Garrett Regalski, co-owner of PABoyzOutdoors social media page. Garrett eats, sleeps, and breathes goose hunting, and we have a good old fashioned B.S. session on the matter. Garrett talks about last season's success from multiple limits to multiple bands. This year may require a slight adjustment to time available with a new job in place, which he touches on briefly. We discuss essential gear versus time and money wasters, decoy spreads and well camouflaged blinds, and do you really need to pattern a goose gun? Learn from Garrett by his experience, and get fired up for the season right around the corner!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant, outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to the 100th episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman! It's hard to believe it's been 2 years already since the beginning of this show. Thank you all for your support! On this week's episode, Mitch is joined by 3 guests he has personal connection to - his father Jeff Shirk, and his two grandfathers Raymond Shirk and Kenny Mengel. Mitch grew up hunting with these three, harvesting his first deer with them, and hearing all the stories of their hunting experiences at each of their deer camps.We begin by telling the stories of how each camp began, one of which started out of an old school bus! We share many stories including first deer, first bucks, first bears, camp comradery, family fun, and more. You'll get to hear their perspective how deer hunting has changed over the last 65+ years for better or worse. Stories of changing deer populations, changing hunting dynamics, but all centered around deer camp and those annual traditions that make Pennsylvania hunting heritage strong.Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Summer scouting season is in full swing. Burning boot leather in the hot summer sun, moving cameras and gaining intel with the velvet rut around the corner, doctoring mock scrapes, all to prepare for fall. Tackling new areas and large chunks of public land can be intimidating. It can also be tough to read the woods this time of year with summer vegetation present.This week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman we chat with Ryan Glitsky. Ryan is a diehard bowhunter native to PA who spends a ton of time in the offseason scouting and learning. Our conversation is all over the place revolving around whitetail deer and scouting during summer. We run down many rabbit holes discussing camera locations, mock scrapes, funnels, and learning from them during a difficult time of year to read sign. This episode should have you fired up for fall!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant, outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman we catch up with Al Tomechko from Vitalize Seed. After discussing some big projects that took place during the off season at Al's place, we dive into Vitalize seed. Vitalize uses a two-pass planting system with the summer mix called "Nitro-boost" and the fall mix called "Carbonload". Al breaks down the plant species used in Carbonload and how they work together to provide the best food plot possible.There are hundreds of different food plot blends on the market and thousands of different opinions. Some would disagree that certain plant species cannot be mixed into the same blend. However, with proper seed balance and ratio, diverse mixes can produce maximum tonnage that work together rather than compete. Al follows soil biology principles when he and his team develop seed blends. Diversity allows better nutrient exchange between plants, and wildlife can tell the difference. Tune in to learn more about the "why" and "how" of Carbonload; you might want to consider planting it this year!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We are following up with part two of our conversation with Sherwood Schoch this week on the Pennsylvania Woodsman. We picked up from last week with the continued development and material first used in Jennings bows. Using trial and error they began to revolutionize the archery industry we know today. One of the four authors on the National Archery Association manual is Sherwood - and he also played a large role establishing archery in the olympics.With the connections Sherwood made in his career, you can imagine the stories and people he met along the way. Stories with Fred Bear at Grouse Haven Lodge, and meeting celebrities like Ted Nugent and Ted Williams. We cover it all in this episode, with the living archery legend, Sherwood Schoch.Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman we interview an archery legend, Sherwood Schoch. Sherwood is originally from Boyertown, Pennsylvania, and was one of the four men responsible for developing and marketing the first compound bow. He worked side by side with Tom Jennings and changed the industry forever with Jennings compound bows. This interview will be broken into two episodes. In part one, we learn about Sherwood's introduction to hunting and archery, leading to his job as an archery magazine editor after his service in the Navy. From here, Sherwood shares his experience shooting at the highest level of competition archery, winning a national championship, and the doors that continued to open through this journey. That journey would snowball into developing a compound bow and leading seminars all across the country to promote the compound as a valid hunting weapon during the archery hunting season. You'll hear connections with big names including Pete Shepley, Fred Bear, Ben Pearson, Tom Jennings, and many other archery legends. Be sure to watch out for part two soon!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman we have Duane Dunmire from the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists. Duane is the Vice President of PFSC striving to advocate outdoor heritage of hunting, trapping, angling, boating, shooting sports, the Second Amendment, and natural resources. This is accomplished by their constant presence in Harrisburg protecting our outdoor heritage. Duane shares with us his passion for hunting and also passing on the outdoor lifestyle to younger generations. We discuss standard operations at PFSC, goals and objectives, and how their organization handles adversity within the hunting community, between anti hunters and hunters, and within our capital. Listen in for all this organization has to offer you as a Keystone sportsman or woman, and consider supporting them by joining today!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman we have a treat for you reptile fans! We were joined by John Hebenthal who is a rattlesnake hunting phanatic! John loves the outdoors and all creatures that walk it... or slither it! He takes passion learning as much as he possibly can about wildlife, and sharing his knowledge with those who are willing to listen. We begin by learning how this fascination began followed by his journey rattlesnake hunting. Along the way you'll find that John is not afraid to open some books, scan the internet, read peer-reviewed research, and collaborate with experienced snake enthusiasts. John has soaked in rattlesnake knowledge like a sponge! We discuss tools of the trade, safety, biology of rattlesnakes, seasonal habits and patterns, map scouting for snakes, and much more!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman we have repeat guest Bryan Hale from Elk County Outfitters. If you tuned into the previous episode with Bryan, you know how devoted he and his team are to having quality elk hunting in the Keystone State. We begin by catching up with Bryan on the previous season's success and new records that were broken. Bryan transitions into discussing the updates within the states elk application and drawing.For 2023, the drawing has been moved up to July 29th, and the application was opened back in February. Bryan discusses why these changes occurred based on his research with state officials. He also shares with us recent calf mortality data shared by the state and how this has impacted tag allocations. There is a ton of excellent information packed into this episode all centered around this majestic game animals that haunts North Central PA!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman we chat with Chris Heskett. Chris is a PA native that specializes in physical fitness and nutrition. Chris is also an avid hunter that strives to fill his freezer every season with quality meat for he and his family. Mitch and Chris discuss how maximizing your physical health has many benefits in the field during the fall season.Men are extremely guilty of being a "know-it-all" or DIY for just about anything. The reality is with anything in life, we all have strengths and weaknesses. If you're a plumber, you may be able to turn a wrench but it may not make you a mechanic. In Mitch's case, he may have played sports and followed programs in the past, but that doesn't make him an expert in physical fitness. Getting help from a professional like Chris can help anyone reach their physical fitness goals. Mitch and Chris discuss workouts, off season and in season health, eating habits and wild game, and catering a plan that fits with your goals and lifestyle. Be sure to check Chris's podcast the Wild Nutrition Podcast wherever you get your podcasts!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!Wild Nutrition | Podcast on Spotify Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman we welcome back Jason Miller from JMiller Custom Calls. Jason and Mitch swap stories recapping their season. If you've kept up with the recent turkey hunting episodes on the show, you know Mitch's season ended almost as quickly as it started, killing two birds in three hunts. Jason's PA season began on the slow side, but rapidly caught up during the mid season when he punched both his tags in one week. Jason is an experienced hunter punching a PA spring gobbler tag every year since 1994. Learning experiences are within the hunting story and there is plenty to take away and use for yourself from this conversation. Both Mitch and Jason made some mistakes this season, but ultimately the adjustments Jason made led him to some big gobblers! Each bird they harvested this season was called in with Jason's custom mouth calls. Be sure to check out JMiller Custom Calls at the links below, they are killer!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! https://www.instagram.com/jmillercustomcalls/https://www.facebook.com/jmillercustomcalls Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on the Pennsylvania Woodsman we chat with fellow Sportsmen's Empire contributor Parker McDonald from Southern Ground Hunting. Parker is a stone cold killer that travels across the country hunting and filming his adventures. Not only is he well versed with a stick and string or gun in hand, Parker's attention to detail for bringing the hunt to the viewer is compelling. Parker shares with us the amount of work behind the scenes that goes into one of his videos. Quality is a must for Parker, and he shares with us the tools he uses as well as the process to make it happen. If you're interested in filming your hunts, Parker is the man to take some notes from!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week's episode we head south to chat with fellow Sportsmen's Empire Network contributor John Hudspeth from the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast. You may be wondering how does a guy from Oklahoma relate to Pennsylvania? First, he is a fantastic guy that anybody would want as a hunting partner, second, he is a hard working family man that can relate to balancing priorities in life of Faith, Family, and Whitetails, and third, he knows how to consistently connect on mature bucks with a few certain tactics. We start the episode off by diving into John's 2022-23 hunting season and the 2 dandy bucks he harvested this season. From here the conversation transitions to how and why he chooses his access and stand locations. John hunts his family ranch which is an operating cattle farm. While the ranch is 1000+ acres, around 90% is grassland and pasture, leaving John with "huntable" ground comparable in size to what many may see in PA. John also uses feeders in his strategy (legal in OK). While many think this is "cheating," Mitch and John both attest to the difficulties of mature bucks daylighting at these locations. The guys dive into how using this valuable tool can orient better stand placement, promote daylight movement, and allow opportunity for the best bucks in the neighborhood. They also discuss the value of elevated tower blinds on private land, especially when hunting near food sources.Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch chat's with Matt Dale from Dale Outdoors. Mitch opens by recapping his exciting week of turkey hunting and filling his second tag at the end of week one with a bow! If you listened to last week's episode of Mitch's opening day gobbler, he talked about using the "whine" call. He first heard this call explained on one of Matt's youtube videos. We begin our conversation by diving into this call - what it is, how and when to use it, and its context for hunting situations. We continue down the rabbit hole of keeping realism in your turkey calling. This includes using "wheel-wheel's", "do-it do-it's", gobbler yelping, and more. We discuss the value of volume and cadence in calls, especially in everyone's favorite yelping scenario. How does a spring turkey hunter yelp sound vs. how does a real hen yelp sound? Last, Matt recaps a hunt for a bird he called "Quirky", which took 7 hunts until he connected by pulling out an old secret weapon. This is dynamite turkey hunting information to keep you fired up midway through the season!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant, outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch sit's down and reflects with his cousins Jacob and Joshua Mengel on the opening day of spring gobbler. Mitch was invited to hunt at their cabin in Potter County for the opening weekend of PA's season. We dive into our thought process of approaching the rainy opening day, splitting into the areas we wanted to explore. For Mitch, this was solely based on e-scouting and conversing with Jake and Josh. From here the boys recount the events from first light until noon in each area - all with exciting encounters and lessons learned. Mitch however, hid the lucky horseshoe in his backpack and was able to find a lone mountain top gobbler before the buzzer ran out at quitting time. What an awesome weekend, we can't wait for the next one! Enjoy!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant, outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Solid machined broadheads have resurfaced in popularity recently, and one company making a big impact is Vantage Point Archery. This week on the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch chats with Alex Christianson and Ryan Corkwell about the ins and outs of VPA broadheads. Last year at the beginning of the season, Mitch decided to test out some single bevel broadheads. However, he quickly learned he needed help understanding what style head, what type of metal, how to sharpen, and how to implement these heads into his bowhunting setup. This year, he plans to do his preparation well in advance, and what better way to begin then discussing with the experts themselves. We address all of Mitch's concerns about adopting these broadheads into his quiver and many more. Hopefully this will help you determine if you are ready to make any changes to your set up!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant, outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch sits down with Jason Miller from JMiller Custom Calls. You're in for a good ol' fashion B.S. session swapping stories and pulling takeaways for the upcoming season. Jason is a diehard turkey hunter who continues a streak since the 90s of filling a tag in the Keystone state. Jason is extremely persistent, scouting constantly. Nearly every morning leading up to opening day and throughout the season Jason is up watching and listening to what the birds are doing in his area. Then, the plan is simple - be aggressive and get as close as possible without spooking!With this insane passion for turkey hunting, Jason has begun cutting his own mouth calls. What started out as a hobby to pass the time simply to fine tune the sound he likes, has now turned into selling these calls for a little more turkey hunting opportunity. Jason discusses this journey and relates back to many of the experiences he has had since beginning this call making journey. Jason's passion is contagious - you should be ready to chase those thunder chickens after this episode! You can reach out to Jason for more information on his turkey calls through Instagram @jmillercustomcalls. #radixhunting #huntworth #vitalizeseedCheck out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant, outdoor content!Show Sponsor Links:Radixhunting.comHuntworthgear.comVitalizeseed.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hunting has a variety of emotions relating to its mixture of being both a science and an art. Many relate their hunting passion to their career choices. But is passion the true metric for career decision? This week on the Pennsylvania Woodsman we chat with Eric Lance from the HuntScience Podcast. Eric is a biologist that consults with landowners privately and also is an associate biology professor. Eric talks about how his passion for wildlife first drove his interest towards becoming a hunter - not the other way around. Eric's career experience is a great testimony to learning the influence of our strengths and weaknesses before applying them in our own careers.This allows us to transition into discussing the current projects Eric is working on. Eric is well rounded in land, big game, small game, and waterfowl management. He discusses the nesting success project he is doing with migratory birds and cites numerous examples of sound wildlife management through his own experiences. Understanding carrying capacity, population dynamics, and the habitat requirements of a species is necessary to interpret data and make decisions. It also is essential to understand what the most limiting factors are for a species - such as habitat loss. Tune in to better understand how certain management practices Eric uses have a positive impact on the game species you love!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant, outdoor content!@radixhunting #radixhuntingwww.radixhunting.com @huntworth #huntworthwww.huntworthgear.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Good Friday and Easter weekend is a time to slow down and celebrate. It's easy to be caught up in the chaos of everyday life and be consumed by personal goals. This is especially true for us as bowhunters and outdoorsmen and women who desire to take our pursuits to the next level. On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, we have a conversation with Merle Fredericks from Christian Bowhunters of America and discuss things in a bigger picture. Merle digs into the details revolving around the question, "what does Good Friday mean to you?"Merle's life has been comparable to most - a husband and a father working as a police officer in New York, and a love for bowhunting. His passion for chasing whitetails with a stick and string is no different than anyone else. But Merle sheds light on truth greater than this pursuit, and shares witness to us beyond the world of hunting. Be open minded as you listen to Merle's message as a leader of Christian Bowhunters of America. Happy Easter!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!www.radixhunting.com@radixhunting #radixhunting Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on the Pennsylvania Woodsman we are proud to announce a new partnership with Radix Hunting! Our guest is none other than the founder and owner of Radix, Clifford Martin. Clifford is originally from Southeastern Pennsylvania, but has been blessed with the opportunity to move to Iowa and live out his dream. In the time he has spent hunting the midwest, he has been able to hone in and consistently connect with big mature whitetails. During that time, he has learned how to fine tune his approach and mindset when pursuing top caliber bucks. Even with all his success, you still won't find a more humble individual who continually says he is a student of the whitetail, learning almost daily. We gain some background knowledge of Clifford and harass him a little on how he convinced his wife to move to the whitetail capital of the world! Then we transition into his stewardship of the whitetail, learning their behavior and some of the consistencies he gravitates towards. We address the question, "what does it look like to be an aggressive hunter?" and how his patience has improved throughout his hunting career. Last, we dive into his most valued tool - trail cameras. Clifford mentions multiple times that he feels "cameras don't lie" and his need for quality video to collect as much information as possible. Quality was a driving factor in producing Radix trail cameras, check them out for yourself! @radixhunting #radixhuntinghttps://www.radixhunting.com/Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch was privileged to speak with Dr. Grant Woods from Growing Deer TV. If you've followed along with Dr. Woods for any length of time, you know how dedicated he has been to producing educational content through his channel. With over 700 episodes of Growing Deer TV, the trials and research conducted at his farm "The Proving Grounds" are well documented. Within this content is a journey of striving to provide high quality food plots through building healthy soil.Food plot content has been taken to a crazy level in the media. More people have dabbled in food plots than not, and there are more "professionals" now than ever before. Like deer hunting, food plots can have an ego associated with the time, money, and blends growers put out. Regardless of differing food plot blend preferences, we can all agree that good food plots start with good soil. Dr. Woods shares with us how he has developed his food plot system to promote quality soil and highly efficient nutrient exchange. We navigate the journey to the current day, and practices such as no-till and the learning curves associated with this management. Dr. Woods addresses much of the confusion about the seed blends he uses and how each blend has a very specific purpose. You'll learn how this system is allowing him to feed more wildlife with fewer input costs than ever before!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When emotional attachment is present with a hunting property, it can become difficult to implement the correct habitat improvements without some guidance. Trying to learn on your own is possible, but can also be costly. It's not uncommon to install food plots, road systems, or implement logging, only to realize later the practice was placed in the wrong section of the property, or even implemented wrong. It's overwhelming compiling habitat improvement recommendations, especially if you take into account multiple professional opinions. If you're considering having a habitat specialist consult your property, it's important that you work with someone you trust and has strong communication skills to reach your desired goals. . On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman Podcast, we chat with Josh Raley. Josh is the host of the How to Hunt Deer Podcast, Wisconsin Sportsman Podcast, and also a property consultant with Whitetail Partners in Georgia. Josh has a wide range of deer hunting experience throughout the country and understands how to manipulate property in an advantageous manner. We discuss setting goals and objectives for a property, assessing where the highest priorities lie for improvements, and dive into a host of habitat project topics. Josh explains the misunderstood aspects of hinge cutting, hunting access, invasive species management, and other private land habitat strategy. We wrap up discussing what we as landowners and managers can be doing right now to improve the landscape. It's time for some sweat equity! Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you talk with 5 different food plotters, you'll likely hear 5 different recommendations for seed blends. Like the truck we drive or the bow we shoot, many are just as passionate about their food plots. It can be extremely difficult to determine what seed blend fits your hunting property and scenario, when 5 different experts may disagree with each other. The reality is, there are so many variables to consider when choosing a food plot that it's rarely ever "wrong".On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, we talk with Mike Lindahl from Domain Outdoors. If you visit Domain's website, you'll notice an abnormal amount of different seed blends. Each blend is designed for a slightly different purpose and scenario. Mike shares his knowledge from getting started developing seed blends, choosing plant varieties that are favored throughout the whitetail's range, and then customizing for different property goals and objectives. Mike shares 3 different property scenarios he is working with and how the food plots look slightly different from farm to farm. Each plan is designed to cater towards Mike's hunting goals and the property's hunting strengths and/or weaknesses. One thing Mike emphasizes is that it's perfectly adequate to tinker with a variety of blends on one farm in order to learn and fine tune for future hunting seasons. If you're planning your food plots for 2023 currently, don't finalize before you listen to this episode!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Most novice ideology around food plotting and farming involves heavy tillage and pulverized soil. Following this, many believe a monoculture crop that is manicured similar to production agriculture is required to draw and attract wildlife. Did you ever stop and wonder, how did wildlife survive prior to man making things look "perfect"? The truth of the matter is, excessive tillage is not required to grow quality food plots and can be detrimental to your soil. So how do we shift our mindsets off of recreational plowing?This week on the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch chat's with Al Tomechko from Vitalize seed company. Al has built his company around the foundation that better soil builds better wildlife. This is not achieved by any miracle juice, pixie dust, or magic bean planted from overseas. It's achieved by using plant species designed to cycle nutrients in the soil - the way the Great Plains were made over thousands of years. Al discusses how minimal soil disturbance, timely planting, and species management all aid in mining nutrients to the soil surface, making them plant available. The deer and wildlife don't care if the buffet you provide looks messy - a plethora of plants is preferred! Enjoy this soil health and food plotting discussion between two soil nerds, it might help you make better food plots!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hunting is about the adventure and the path you take to reach your destination; having a big set of antlers is just a bonus! On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, we sit down with DJ Hoshauer and discuss his eventful 2022 archery season. DJ is a family man that loves sports and loves hunting. He does everything in his power to set himself up for success each fall - not only from a scouting and physical preparation end, but also as a father, husband, and employee.We begin discussing DJ's approach throughout a calendar year to the upcoming season addressing physical and mental health as a diehard bowhunter and family man. Next we chat about his more recent infatuation with hunting out west, including some high country Mule Deer hunting. This past season however, DJ was unable to draw any tags of his interest in the western states, allowing him to focus in depth on a monster buck he knew about in the PA big woods. We dive into the knowledge he had about the deer through trail cameras and on foot scouting, as well as collaboration with some friends that hunt the area. From here, it's an awesome whitetail hunting conversation filled with grind and determination to the end when he places an arrow in the boiler room at 20 yards. These are the stories that jack you up with excitement! Thanks for listening!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Regardless of the task at hand, preparation and planning is a gateway for success. Too often in the world of food plots folks try to put the cart before the horse. Seed blends, food plot shape, planting methods, herbicides, all of these things are important but need to be addressed after the basics. One of the things that drives Mitch crazy is the amount of bad and/or misinterpreted information in the food plot world. Many food plotters have a lack of understanding as it relates to fertility and properly preparing soil for successful plant growth. Before you go purchase the next miracle juice or throw-and-grow mix, do the one thing that is cheap and yet provides the most information for getting started: TAKE A SOIL SAMPLE!This week on the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch invites his boss Eric Rosenbaum to walk us through the basics in food plot planning. Eric is the owner and Senior Agronomist of Rosetree Consulting, a private agronomic consulting company that works with farms all throughout Eastern Pennsylvania and partly in Maryland and New Jersey. A large part of the job entails making cost effective decisions with growers that maximize plant yield and profitability. Nearly all of this begins with proper soil preparation! Eric walks us through the basics of how to pull a soil test, where to send it, how to interpret results, how to address deficiencies in a cost effective but also efficient way (especially with minimal equipment), and more. Lack of planning typically yields poor food plot results. Pull your samples now, and plan ahead to achieve maximum plant quantity and quality. Don't overlook the basics! Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Many of the best hunters in the country would agree with the statement, "you kill your bucks in the off season." Time spent this time of year scouting and analyzing trail camera data are valuable tools to put the pieces of the puzzle together during fall. This is especially true in areas with rugged, vast terrain which generally speaking hold lower deer densities; typical of the big woods in Pennsylvania. Here, the time investment may be quite a bit larger than most would think in this setting, depending where you set your goals! On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, we chat with Beau Martonik. Host of the East Meets West Hunt Podcast, Beau is a diehard mountain buck hunter from Northern Pennsylvania. Beau shares his experiences pursuing mountain bucks and how he uses cameras over a duration of a few seasons not to just find bucks, but also to fine tune his approach and timing when hunting these areas. We discuss "soaking" and clustering cameras, a 3-year timeframe of data intel prior to investing hunting time, off season scouting and how to prevent making a pattern in your travels, interpreting trail camera data, and in-season scouting to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Lastly, Beau emphasizes that we all have a different style and level of enjoyment for hunting, and that it's important to mold our own style of preparation that fits our lifestyle and schedule. Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Deer season is officially over for the 2022-23 season in Pennsylvania. The general narrative from this point on is cabin fever until spring turkey season. For every diehard deer hunter though, there is always something to be doing to prepare for next fall. Whether you're cutting timber and travel corridors on private land or scouting new ground on public land, the hunt never quite ends. This week on the Pennsylvania Woodsman we chat with Dwayne Jones from Shed Season.Dwayne is just as crazy about scouring the landscape for fallen antlers as he is sitting in a deer stand - maybe more! We discuss Dwayne's recent property purchase and how he has begun to transform the land into a whitetail mecca. Dwayne shares the habitat projects in place including timber management, prescribed fire, invasive species removal, and of course, food plots. From here we dive into the beloved topic of pursuing mature bucks not only during the hunting season, but also during the months of February and March when antlers are falling. The attraction created on Dwayne's property is not only good for hunting, it's good for sheds! We cover strategies to find more antlers, putting the pieces of the puzzle together on mature bucks using shed antlers, and the added joy during the offseason for him and his family!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Do you ever feel like you do the same things each hunting season and never mix things up? It can be extremely easy to stay in your comfort zone going to the same properties, hunting the same species, at the same times each year. While there is nothing wrong with this, it does prevent you from experiencing new places and adventures. On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman we chat with Dan Mathews. Dan is the host of the Western Rookie and Nomadic Outdoorsman podcasts on Sportsmen's Empire network.The Nomadic Outdoorsman is exactly what you'd expect; a guy who travels around hunting anything and everything there is a season for. If you could hunt shadows, that would be included too! Dan first fills us in on the epic season he had punching multiple tags in multiple states. We discuss elk camp in Colorado and how to plan and prepare mentally for a trip west of the Mississippi River. Throughout the conversation weaves a buffet of other topics including hunting strategy and philosophy, getting out of your comfort zone, taking on new adventures, and time management as a father and husband. Don't over indulge!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, we chat with Jason Redd from Timber Ninja Outdoors. Jason is originally from flat land country in the Mississippi River Delta, but now resides in western North Carolina. Much of the landscape he hunts encompasses mountains, laurel, rhododendron; all things which folks from Pennsylvania who hunt big woods can relate to. We discuss the transition to hunting this type of topography and how Jason has fully embraced the challenge of targeting mature bucks in this atmosphere.Jason shares some of the hunting experiences targeting a specific buck this past fall. While he did not get a shot, two visual encounters were a win. Jason shares that in an environment as tough as this big woods, sometimes punching a tag in year one on a mature buck doesn't always happen and you need to play the long game. Each year in pursuit builds on the story pursuing a trophy of this caliber, which is sweetened when the moment finally presents itself to release an arrow. We discuss how he may approach targeting this buck and others for 2023, and last we discuss how throughout the entire journey he has done it with a longbow. Pinnacle challenges yield the greatest reward for those who endure!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more awesome content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sometimes things just fall into place during hunting season. This week on the Pennsylvania Woodsman we chat with Troy Dietterich and reflect back on killing a Pennsylvania and Ohio buck during that magical window between late October and early November. Troy is a hard working family man that loves to bow hunt. He and Mitch converse about their faith in Christ and the constant battle of managing time in the woods without being overbearing on our loved ones. While it's a battle that neither of them have figured out, it's something they believe needs constant attention and is relatable to many hunters out there.Troy was able to purchase his dream home this past year with a chunk of land attached. Up until this point Troy has loved the thrill of chasing bucks in the mountains on public land. While that passion still resides within him, he has adjusted slightly to include habitat manipulation and private land hunting strategy into his game. We dive into how his preparation in Pennsylvania looked different and how he was able to connect on his largest buck to date on the new farm. We then shift gears to discuss revisiting the thrill of public land hunting in Ohio. Troy logged some scouting time in this area during the previous hunting season. Having a general idea where he wanted to look upon arriving this fall, he scouted his way into a tree that produced a buck within 3 hours on day one. This episode is all about adapting to the current situation and being a hybrid hunter!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more awesome content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Typically after the end of firearms season, the majority of deer hunters have packed it up until next year. Those that pursue whitetails after Christmas with a bow or flintlock muzzleloader generally have less hunting pressure to deal with if you're able to endure the elements. However, the herd that remains at this time of year is typically on edge; not to mention the landscape is barren providing less cover to conceal hunter movements. Deer have been pushed into hiding spots that can seem to be like a dark hole at this time of year. Finding these pockets can be a challenge.This week on the Pennsylvania Woodsmen we chat with Alex Krzywulak from the In The Presence YouTube channel. Alex is a public land hunting fanatic that seems to get it done anywhere you put him. However, this does not come without the hard work he puts in to prepare for hunting season by scouting. Even though late season can isolate deer making them hard to find, he is not afraid to get aggressive during morning and evening hunts this time of year. In order for this to be successful, he casts a large net, meaning he does not rely only on a few spots to capitalize. He feels scouting a larger area early allows more places to check this time of year to A) find deer in the first place and B) have options to fall back on if he messes a spot up during his aggressive approach. There is still time to fill a tag and Alex is no stranger to doing so this time of year, good luck! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, we are discussing small game with Emily Boyd. Emily is the small mammal biologist for the Pennsylvania Game Commission and she drops a wealth of knowledge on us! We discuss some of the less common small game species discussed in the Keystone State including snowshoe hares, Appalachian cottontail rabbits, and eastern fox squirrels. Most of these species provide liberal hunting opportunities, however, snowshoe hares only have a 1 week season between Christmas and New Years. Emily shares with us some of the habitat types you may find snowshoe hares if embarking on this adventure!In addition to general biology, we discuss one of the greatest threats to rabbits in North America; rabbit hemorrhagic disease. This disease has already been found in domestic rabbits, but is quickly spreading into wild populations. The concern is not "if" but "when" will it happen? There is a high mortality rate with those that contract it, and drastic management changes may occur to combat this issue. Find out what you can do as a conservationist to help address the problem!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more awesome content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on the Pennsylvania Woodsman, we have a conversation with Jeremy Dismore and Dimitri Sidorick from the Antler Up podcast. Both Jeremy and Dimitri are PA boys that love the challenges of hunting whitetails. We catch up on their seasons and how Dimitri was able to fill multiple tags in PA and Ohio, and Jeremy's encounters with shooters throughout archery season and doe harvest during firearm season. Throughout the conversation we bring to light how easy it is to add pressure on yourself to punch a tag with social media influencing our lives. It's nearly impossible to scroll through social media in the fall and not feel as though everyone has filled a tag except you. Each season we all go in with some level of expectation, but is success truly measured by the kill? It can be easy to allow doubt to creep in when the cards are not dealt in your favor. But at the end of the day, embracing the chase along the way is a much better way to enjoy your hunting season. Dimitri and Jeremy have had differences between their hunting seasons, but rest assured they both had a ton of fun all year long!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more awesome content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Most hunters have a polar reaction to the orange army and rifle season; you either love it or you hate it. While the tactics and styles used in rifle season drastically vary compared to archery tackle, it is still an opportunity for hunters to share one commonality - enjoy creation and the pursuit of big game. Mitch used to dread the 2 week firearm season as this meant added hunting pressure in his hunting area, complexity to archery hunting, and the remote possibility that a target buck could be harvested by someone else. Over time though, he has realized that no one owns the deer we chase, and when one dies another takes its place. So instead of allowing the opening of firearm season to dampen the enjoyment of deer hunting, Mitch embraces it with friends and family.On this week's episode, Mitch sits down at the breakfast table on a rainy morning at the close of a successful 2-day group hunt at deer camp. Joining him is long-time friend and hunting buddy, Clayton Good, as well as a new guest and familiar voice on the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network, Andrew Muntz from the Ohio Outdoors Podcast. Also at the end we are greeted by Mitch's Father, Jeff, who decided to hop on and share his side of the hunt including the buck he shot during the last drive of day 2. We share stories, explain drive set-up and strategy, and the failures and successes that occurred throughout the week. This episode leaves us ready for next year! Thanks for listening!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more awesome content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on the Pennsylvania Woodsman we are going back to the biology classroom. We have a conversation with the state’s furbearer biologist: Thomas Keller. Tom is a down to earth family man who enjoys hunting and trapping as much as the next guy in line. When he reached out to us to share information about this potential reintroduction, skepticism was fairly high. Is it really worth bringing another predator into this state? Listen with an open mind and decide for yourself!We discuss the road leading Tom into this position with the game commission and his passion for wildlife. Next we dive into the background of the American Marten. When was the Marten eradicated from Pennsylvania? What are it’s feeding habits? What is the preferred habitat? Is the American Marten a threat to game populations such as turkeys and ruffed grouse? What benefits does the American Marten have for the ecosystem? Tom addresses all this and much more in our conversation. The fear of the unknown is typically what breeds negativity, but after listening to Tom, you’ll have less to fear as a hunter and game species appreciator!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more awesome content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, we chat with listener Charlie Baer. Charlie laid down his best buck to date this past archery season and we break down his hunt and the steps leading to his success. Over the past few seasons, Charlie has developed a mobile hunting system that works for him using a saddle and sticks. We discuss how this style of hunting has changed his mentality and approach to a piece of property when targeting whitetails. It's a great combination of story and strategy!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more awesome content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman we are discussing current events happening in our neighboring state; New Jersey. On November 15th, the state voted unanimously to reinstate a bear season from December 5-10th. There has not been a bear hunt since 2020. During that time frame, there has been an explosion in the bear population and a substantial increase in bear-human conflicts. Joining us on the show this week is diehard bear hunter, Jay Lyon.Jay grew up hunting in his home state of New Jersey and has found his greatest passion in black bears. He is no stranger to hunting bears in the northeast as he has taken numerous bears in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and surrounding states. After our introduction we dive right into the exciting opportunity unfolding in less than two weeks. In addition, we address the concern of the anti-hunting agenda in the state of New Jersey and how that continues to spread. Even if you do not plan to participate in this hunt, be a supporter of this conservation effort and a voice against the anti hunting community. Don't assume this can't happen in your neighborhood!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more awesome content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman we are first joined by Nick Otto from the Huntavore podcast on Sportsmen's Empire. Nick calls in to join us during the start of Michigan's firearm deer season, something Pennsylvania will be doing in just another week. Nick's podcast focuses on the aftermath of a successful hunt and how to break down and properly process game for quality table fare. Nick provides us with some excellent tips and tricks for managing your kill in the field, and back at deer camp. He shares philosophy of hanging head up or down, to skin or not to skin, moisture and temperature management, and more.Following our intro with Nick, we chat with Jon Lewis from the Just Hunt Club. Jon is originally from Pennsylvania and is no stranger to understanding whitetail hunting heritage in the Keystone State. He also has done his fair share of whitetail hunting in the northeast including Pennsylvania, New York, and New Hampshire. We chat about his hunting strategies across the country and how they may or may not relate to the northeast. We also discuss his experiences hunting whitetails via tracking in the snow, and recap his successful New Hampshire monarch he harvested last season. Tons of information in this week's episode, thanks for listening and good luck during the upcoming firearm season! Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more awesome content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on the Pennsylvania Woodsman Mitch and Robby have a round table discussion with some experienced PA black bear hunters. Returning to the podcast is Mark Lesher, along with Chris (Chopper) Schroeder and Robby's dad, Rob Henne. We cover a multitude of topics including scouting, finding food, reading terrain, adapting to hunting pressure, planning drives with the wind in mind, communicating effectively in group hunts, and much more. Pennsylvania is a target rich environment for black bears, as the habitat manipulation and quality management plan have sustained a growing population. Even with this in mind, roughly 3,000 to 4,000 bears are harvested annually out of 200,000+ bear licenses sold!Unique to this conversation is the fact that while our guests have hunted slightly different terrain and food sources for bears, many of their tactics mirror. For instance, it is common for many bear drives to involve yelling and noise. While this helps to keep those walking in line, the theory also is that it will encourage movement towards a post of standers. However, while that may be effective at times, the group discusses how and why they refrain from making noise during drives, and how added stealth often leads them to higher success. Whether you are a novice bear hunter or well experienced, this is a conversation that anyone can learn something from!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more awesome content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Most deer hunters impatiently wait for the first week of November. Now that it's here, are you ready? Have you formulated a game plan to capitalize? Was the work you did to prepare in the off season enough? This week on the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by Jon Teater from Whitetail Landscapes. Jon is a professional whitetail hunting property consultant, avid deer hunter, and the host of the Maximize Your Hunt Podcast on Sportsmen's Empire.We begin by discussing some key components of what it takes to design hunting properties efficiently. We touch on topics including when is the right time to harvest doe, and how do you deal with fence sitters? Then of course, we discuss being as efficient as possible during the off season as well as during the hunting season. Jon shares what the rut looks like for him this season and how you may be able to capitalize during the rut. Jon is a fascinating person who has a mountain of knowledge, for more, be sure to check out his podcast!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more awesome content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The first time Mitch heard Paul Campbell from the Ohio Outdoors (O2) podcast say the words, "the month of October belongs to turkeys," he thought Paul needed to be checked into a mental hospital! However, after chatting with Paul and Brett Barry on this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, there may be some merit to those words after all! Both Brett and Paul think about turkeys the way many guys think about whitetails and have a fall turkey hunting tour planned out each season. If you've never hunted turkeys in the fall, it's a whole different story compared to spring!Both guys begin by sharing their infatuation for turkeys, and Brett leads into his introduction to using dogs during the fall season. He touches briefly on developing a dog for turkey hunting and the gear needed, then immediately dives into the strategy behind scouting, busting up flocks, and calling in turkeys during the fall hunting season. Most turkey hunters think about hunting in spring when gobblers are fired up during breeding season. But during the fall, finding food and security cover is key, just like hunting whitetails. Brett and Paul are loaded with tips and tricks to being a more successful turkey hunter, especially during the fall when birds' behavior is a little more difficult to manipulate!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more awesome content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There are tons of fantastic deer hunters across the entire country. Each and every one of them has a unique set of tactics they bring to the table. Usually they are developed specific to the regions they hunt most. Deer density, hunting pressure, food sources and more all affect the strategy of targeting mature whitetails. While there are many great hunters who can relate these components well in agricultural settings, finding people that consistently find success in big woods public land can be difficult. The few that do are definitely grinders!On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch has a conversation with none other than Johnny Stewart. Johnny is from western PA and has hunted whitetails across the country, but still finds himself fascinated with northeastern big woods. Many of you have probably listened to Johnny on other shows and know his intricate level of detail when scouting and hunting mature deer. This episode is not much different, but we break down the hunting season from archery through late season flintlock and how Johnny works through some of the basics. Enjoy!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more awesome content! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.