The Bowhunter Podcast

Planning a far-flung bowhunting adventure — from Western elk or Alaska moose to African plains game or New Zealand tahr — is no easy task, and it certainly helps to have an expert on your side. Ryan Martin with Rolling Bones Outdoors explains how a good booking agent can help with everything from submitting license applications and choosing a reputable outfitter to booking travel and purchasing the right gear for your hunt.

Since its start in Kentucky two decades ago, the National Archery in the Schools (NASP) Program has grown rapidly, now reaching more than a million middle and high school students every year. NASP President Tommy Floyd and Easton Archery Sales Manager Carri Garrett join Associate Editor Mark Demko to discuss the numerous benefits of NASP, including how it teaches kids important life skills, inspires them to excel in the classroom and serves as a stepping stone to the world of bowhunting.

This week, we are on location at All Terrain Bear Hunts in Canada. Outfitter Cory Grant joins us to discuss the world-class black bear hunting and walleye fishing he offers from his remote, boat-in camp in the wilds of northern Manitoba, and Christian and Mark share their experiences in the woods and on the water.

More than 16 million acres of public ground nationwide are surrounded in whole or in part by private lands. Land Tawney and Eric Hansen from Backcountry Hunters & Anglers join us to discuss the controversial practice of "corner crossing" to move from one public parcel to another where they join private land in a checkerboard pattern.

Getting a mount done is a great way to preserve your trophy, but if you don't have or want to spend a ton of cash, there is an excellent, low-cost alternative — taking quality photographs! Professional wildlife photographers Ron Spomer and Lance Krueger join Associate Editor Mark Demko to discuss tips and techniques you can use to preserve memories that will last a lifetime.

Are crossbows taking over the bowhunting world? In this episode, we reveal just how dominant crossbows have become in many of America's top bowhunting states and what it means for the future of our sport. Michigan DNR's Chad Stewart, Wisconsin DNR's Brian Dhuey and Easton Archery's Clint Warner join us to discuss the crossbow's growing impact on whitetail populations and the many opinions people have about the crossbow as a hunting weapon.

Trying to take an animal with your bow is hard enough. Throw in self-filming the experience and you have a daunting task. Well-known self-filmer Kaitlyn Maus (@kaitlynmausoutdoors) joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to talk about her passion for bowhunting and how she got started filming her own hunts. Plus, she shares her top tips for self-filmers who are just starting out, as well as what gear and equipment you really need to get started.

Public-land turkey hunting isn't always easy, but success can be found by those hunters willing and able to put in the work and overcome challenges. In this episode, Contributor Clint Casper and good friend Ryan Bertsch join Editor Christian Berg to recap their spring season and share stories about how they overcame low turkey numbers and bad weather to get the job done in Kansas, Nebraska and their home state of Ohio.

Ted Nugent has sold more than 40 million albums and performed to sold-out audiences around the globe. He also eats, sleeps and breathes bowhunting. The rock icon joins us to discuss his lifelong passion for the outdoors, whether he writes music in the stand and why this summer's tour may be your last chance to see the Motor City Madman live!

Sure, you know about the saddle-hunting craze. But do you know about one-sticking? In this episode, YouTuber Greg Staggs from Staggs in the Wild joins us for an in-depth discussion of the one-stick climbing method and how it can take your mobile bowhunting the next level in terms of weight reduction and stealth!

The National Deer Association's Field to Fork initiative introduces adults to bowhunting. Mark, Christian and PJ discuss the importance of outdoor mentors. Then, Pennsylvania Field to Fork Coordinator Elizabeth Kligge explains how archery plays such an important role the innovative, food-focused recruitment program.

It's 3-D shooting season, and Brandon Waddell from Mountain Archery Fest is here to discuss this year's event lineup. Featuring seven tour stops from coast to coast, Mountain Archery Fest offers bowhunters an awesome opportunity to hone their shooting skills, compete for prizes and connect with fellow bowhunters in a fun atmosphere that also includes activities such as novelty shoots and corn hole tournaments.

Can an affordable, compact pickup truck be a capable bowhunting and overlanding vehicle? Editor Christian Berg discusses how his new 2022 Ford Maverick can be a great outdoors rigs with just a few modifications. Christian also has guests from Ford Motor Co., Leitner Designs and more.

The beat goes on for John Dudley and Nock On Archery! In this episode, John discusses the new-for-2023 PSE Nock On Unite bow, shares a number or archery shooting and bowhunting tips and dishes all about the new ownership group at PSE and why he believes the brand will be a force to be reckoned with well into the future.

Hearing ability diminishes over time, and for a bowhunter that loss is perhaps most noticeable during spring turkey season. TETRA Hearing founder and audiologist Bill Dickinson joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to discuss how hearing loss impacts the hunt, what aging sportsman can do to offset that loss and how TETRA Hearing products can make a world of difference in the field.

It's turkey time, and we help get you ready for the hunt! P.J. Reilly of Lancaster Archery Supply joins us to talk turkey hunting, and editor Christian Berg shares his favorite spring gobbler memories. Plus, the National Wild Turkey Federation's Doug Little andJared McJunkin discuss what hunters can expect this year as far as turkey populations and hunting opportunities around the country.

Shed antler season is upon us, and we've got great advice for putting more bone in your backpack! Cody Robbins from Live 2 Hunt and Whitetails columnist Jason Snavely share their best shed-hunting tips and discuss how this great springtime activity can help set you up for bowhunting success in the fall.

We've all experienced magical days in the woods where deer seem to be everywhere, as well as sits where you'd swear there isn't a whitetail within 10 miles. This week, the National Deer Association's Kip Adams and Mississippi State Deer Lab's Steve Demarais join Associate Editor Mark Demko to discuss how various environmental factors and weather conditions affect deer movement, as well as some of the misconceptions that hunters have about when, where and why deer travel.

Todd Snader from Bowtech Archery and Excalibur Crossbows joins us to discuss the 2023 model lineup. Whether you prefer to hunt with a compound or a crossbow, there are some great, new options on the table.

Lancaster Archery's PJ Reilly joins us to announce a major new partnership with the podcast, and then we catch up with pro shooter Brandon Reyes of T.R.U. Ball and Axcel Archery to discuss tournament shooting, bowhunting and how to overcome the dreaded target panic affliction.

It's Valentine's Day, and we're talking with two of America's best-known bowhunting couples! Lee and Tiffany Lakosky and Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulo discuss what it's like to hunt alongside your significant other and dish some fun memories from the field.

Lancaster Archery President Rob Kaufhold recaps a 2022 deer season that included taking a 170-class whitetail buck with his recurve bow. Then, the guys from Vantage Point Archery join us to discuss their new, 125-grain, single-bevel broadhead and why so many compound bowhunters are switching to single-bevel designs for their proven performance in the field.

We're at the Lancaster Archery Classic in Pennsylvania o kick off the indoor shooting season! Lancaster Archery's PJ Reilly discusses the 2023 tournament field and format, while Hoyt Archery's Jeremy Eldredge recounts his successful September bull elk hunt and dishes details on Hoyt's 2023 hunting bows.

The 2023 Archery Trade Association show is in the books, and there was a lot of great new gear to be seen! Editor Christian Berg and Associate Editor Mark Demko recap their time at the show, highlight some of the best new products of the show and also include a "bonus segment" on three small brands bringing new innovations to the bowhunting community.

Now that deer hunting season is over, it's time for Act II — cooking and grilling season! Rick and Jen Wheatley of Food for Hunters join Associate Editor Mark Demko to share their tips and tricks and tips for transforming venison into delicious dishes in the kitchen. Among the topics covered are field dressing basics, aging venison, how to prepare different cuts and ways to make better burgers. They'll also share some of their favorite recipes, many of which can be found HERE

TenPoint Crossbow Technologies has three blistering, new models this year, headlined by the Flatline 460. TenPoint founder and Executive Chairman Rick Bednar joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to talk about the new lineup, the development and that goes into every TenPoint model and his lifelong passion for archery and bowhunting.

With winter upon us, opportunities for bowhunting might seem bleak. But predator hunting is about to kick into high gear. Iconic predator hunter Fred Eichler joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to discuss the challenge and thrill of pursuing coyotes, foxes and bobcats with archery gear, as well as how to fine-tune hunting and calling tactics for stick-and-string success.

The New Year is just around the corner, and that means time for new bowhunting gear! Editor Christian Berg and Associate Editor Mark Demko preview the 2023 ATA Show, highlight upcoming product coverage, recap their 2022 bowhunting seasons and look ahead to some exciting new developments on the horizon.

We've all been there. You had your heart set on a particular deer in your hunting area, and another hunter killed "your" buck! Field Editor Eddie Claypool shares his feelings about a very special Kansas deer that was killed by a neighboring rifle hunter this fall and discusses how bowhunters can deal with the disappointment that comes when you let a great young buck walk only to see it tagged by someone else.

The rut has come and gone, but there's still time to fill your tag. Petersen's Bowhunting Crossbows columnist and Alberta resident Brad Fenson joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to talk about the equipment, gear and planning needed to be successful in the late bow seasons, as well as the little things that make all the difference when you're trying to punch your tag amid bone-chilling cold, frigid wind and snow.

The all-new Era is the first-ever carbon bow in the Elite Archery lineup. Elite pro shooters Darrin Christenberry and Aron Snyder join us for some in-depth analysis of Era features such as its carbon-fiber riser, S.E.T. cam-tuning system and the ability to easily customize draw-length, letoff and the feel the bow at full draw.

Former All-American college wrestler and UFC fighting champion Chad Mendes has beaten some of the toughest opponents in the world. Off the mat and outside the octagon, however, Mendes is a passionate bowhunter who enjoys the challenge of pursuing world-class bucks and bulls. Mendes joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to talk hunting and his Finz & Featherz Guide Service that gives fellow sportsmen the opportunity to experience awesome outdoor adventures alongside professional athletes and celebrities.

Sure, Indiana is renowned for its high-quality hoops, but the state has also become well-known for its world-class whitetail hunting. On this week's Bowhunting Podcast, Tony Wright of the Hoosier State Record Buck Program joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to talk about the growing number of trophy-caliber bucks taken in Indiana each year, where these deer are coming from and why the state is producing so many mature whitetails.

Long Island might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of great bowhunting destinations, but this densely populated suburban area in the shadows of New York City is home to a burgeoning whitetail population. Jacqueline Molina from Babes & Bucks of Long Island joins Editor Christian Berg to talk about a passionate group of female bowhunters who are helping control deer numbers in their neighborhood.

The whitetail rut is finally here, and that means magic could literally happen at any moment! On Nov. 3, 2021, Oklahoma bowhunter Zach Meadows took the buck of a lifetime, a 17-pointer that scored 196 6/8 inches net, making it one of the largest non-typicals ever taken in the Sooner State. Meadows joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to share his top tips and tactics for taking mature bucks during the rut.

It's Halloween Week, and that means frightfully good action in the deer woods. Laden Force and Haynes Shelton from North American Whitetail magazine and TV join Editor Christian Berg to discuss the deer-hunting tactics you can use RIGHT NOW to put a big buck on the ground as October comes to a close.

What if you could predict the best days and times to hunt whitetails? Thanks to the all-new Whitetail Activity Forecast from Hunt Stand, you can! The Forecast combines peak breeding dates from more than 4,000 counties nationwide with real-time, localized weather data and predicts peak movement periods for each day and also ranks each day's movement potential from 1 to 100. Hunt Stand's Brian Murphy joins Editor Christian Berg to discuss the new forecasting tool and how it can help you be a more efficient deer hunter.

Bryan Burhans, executive director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, joins Editor Christian Berg to discuss how he lost an incredible 110 pounds in the past nine months and how it has dramatically increased his enjoyment of the outdoors. Burhans also discusses the challenges of managing Pennsylvania's whitetail herd and the growing role crossbows are playing in the state's archery season.

From a daylong sit in a whitetail stand to a backcountry elk hunt, a backpack is an essential piece of bowhunting equipment. Mystery Ranch's Chris Nolan and Alex Rich join Associate Editor Mark Demko to discuss what goes into selecting the perfect pack for your hunting needs, as well as take a closer look at the company's new Treehouse Series, designed especially for serious whitetail treestand hunters.

Not many hunts are harder than pursuing big-woods whitetails on public ground. In this episode, Steve Sherk of Sherk's Guide Service in Pennsylvania discusses his lifelong passion for pursuing mature bucks on the public, offers tips for locating bucks in areas of vast timber and explains how he used his know-how to build a business that offers a unique opportunity for hardcore bowhunters willing to embrace the ultimate whitetail challenge!

Many bowhunters develop eye problems as they age, impacting their effectiveness in the field. Optometrist and competitive archer Joe Vincent and Adjustable Red Dot co-owner Tim Zelenka join Associate Editor Mark Demko to discuss why our eyesight changes over time, how it erodes our ability to see clearly and focus on the pin and target and how we can cope with the challenge of aging eyes.

Nolan Johnson of California kicked off his 2022 hunting season in a big way, taking a spectacular 4x4 mule deer on the second day of the archery season. Johnson joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to share the story on the hunt, which ended with him taking the longest bow shot of his life at the biggest buck he's ever seen.

Deer season is finally here, and we get you ready with our annual season preview. Field Editors Eddie Claypool and Bill Winke join Editor Christian Berg and Associate Editor Mark Demko to discuss the best days to hunt this fall and the strategies and tactics that will help you punch your tag, from opening day all the way through the late season!

No other county in the United States produces as many Boone and Crockett bucks as Buffalo County, Wisc. Legendary whitetail guru Tom Indrebo from Bluff Country Outfitters joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to talk about the county's world-class hunting and share some of the some of the insights he's gained from 40 years of studying mature bucks.

Few bowhunts offer better odds of success than blind hunting for pronghorns over waterholes. Shantane Strohschein of Crazy Horn Outfitters in Gillette, Wy., joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to talk about the world-class pronghorn hunting in her corner of the state, the excitement of bowhunting for speed goats and the things you need to keep in mind when antelope hunting.

Whitetail season is almost here for bowhunters lucky enough to hunt states with early-September openers. Zachary Estridge and Wess Brown from Palisades Bowhunting in Kentucky join Editor Christian Berg to discuss late-summer strategies for velvet bucks and why tree saddles have become an increasingly important part of Palisades' low-pressure bowhunting philosophy.

With bowhunting seasons right around the corner, now's the time many hunters begin their trail-cam scouting in earnest. Tom Rainey from Browning Trail Cameras joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to talk about how you can get the most out of your trail cameras this year, as well as what's new from Browning Trail Cameras in 2022.

When you think of bowhunting whitetails from the ground, the first thing that usually comes to mind is sitting in a ground blind. Years ago, Michigan's Tracy Breen chose to forego manufactured blinds for a more natural approach. On this week's podcast, the longtime bowhunter talks about the benefits of simply tucking yourself into the vegetation, as well as the many things you need to consider when trying to ambush wary whitetails at eye level.

Pronghorn antelope are almost certainly the most accessible western big-game species to bowhunters. From geographic distribution and abundance to license costs and the amount of public land available to pursue them, pronghorns truly are an incredible resource for those seeking affordable adventures!

Covert Optics recently rolled out an all-new lineup of thermal optics designed especially for bowhunters. Whether you hunt predators, hogs and gators or just need help searching for a wounded big-game animal in the dark, thermal optics can help! Covert's Lucas Johnson joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to talk about the company's innovative, new products.