Wisconsin Sportsman

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Matt Streim of Weathered Oaks Game Calls to cover all things turkey strategy in wide open ag country! Matt is the Host of the Okayest Fisher Podcast, and owner of Weathered Oaks Game Calls. In this episode, the guys discuss the technology and materials behind Matt's double-sided pot calls, how Matt sees turkeys using what limited elevation is at their disposal to strut and travel, and how he uses it to his advantage to work around them. Matt shares his thoughts on finding birds on the limb in gray light, and calling strategies to coax stubborn field birds down towards areas that he can set up. All that and much more in this week's episode! Huge thanks to Matt for coming on the show! Be sure to check out Weathered Oaks Game Calls to get your hands on one of his calls at www.weatheredoaksgamecalls.com and follow along with his season @weatheredoaksgamecalls and check out the Okayest Fisher Podcast wherever you do your listening! Big thanks to our fantastic partners: Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Drew Schliem to talk about how you and your young ones can set yourselves up for success on opening day! Drew is the host of The Predator Podcast, but when he's not chasing coyotes he's a diehard turkey hunter. Drew dives into the importance of scouting prior to the youth hunt to locate the flock of birds you plan to hunt, how to get kids comfortable shooting without making them afraid of recoil, perfect distance for decoys and which decoys you want in your spread, and tons of other great info for positioning kids for a successful first turkey hunt. Whether you're getting ready for youth weekend, or excited to get out there during first season, this episode is for you! Huge thanks to Drew for coming on the show! Be sure to check out The Predator Podcast wherever you do your listening, and follow along with Drew's season @predatorpodcast_drew on social media, and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@Predatorpodcast Big thanks to our fantastic partners: Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Nick Otto, to dive into how we can all make the most of the various wild game we have the opportunity to harvest in the spring! Nick is a Michigan-native and host of The Huntavore Podcast here on the Sportsmen's Empire Network. The guys discuss the elimination of physical hunting licenses, the revival of old tools and firearms that have been passed down, the labor of love that is butchering your own meat, the best way to level up your fish fry, getting the most (and best tasting meals) out of your wild turkey, why wild hog might be the best protein that you're missing out on, revisiting the "Veni" debate, and much more! Be sure to tune into The Huntavore Podcast wherever you do your listening for some FANTASTIC wild game cooking content, and follow along with Nick and his adventures @huntavore on social media Big thanks to our fantastic partners: Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Dan Johnson for a little bit of a mental reset as we all gear up for the spring ahead! They guys discuss a wide range of topics from mental toughness and rolling with the punches, to rut timing, pet peeves in the hunting space, the psychology of poachers, and plans for the upcoming spring. All that and more in this week's episode! Be sure to follow along with Dan @ninefingerchronicles on social media and check out the Nine Finger Chronicles podcast wherever you do your listening. Big thanks to our fantastic partners: Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Kirk Olson, to dive into the intricacies of our Driftless trout streams! Kirk is a Wisconsin DNR Inland Waters Fisheries Biologist covering Crawford, La Crosse, Monroe, & Vernon counties. The guys discuss what makes the water quality so good in these streams, why types of data Kirk and his team try to gather and how, how streams are chosen to have restoration work done on them, the importance of conservation groups like Trout Unlimited, biggest fish found while electrofishing and the types of habitat they're found, future trout research projects, and lots more! If you want to learn more about the inner workings of our trout streams, this episode is for you! Huge thanks to Kirk for coming on the show! If you have questions or want to get in contact with him, send him an email at [email protected] Want to learn more about the past research they've conducted? Check out some fishery's data here: dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing/trout/TroutSurveys Big thanks to our fantastic partners: Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Zach Haas of Creek Bottom Land Management to talk all about how whitetails use water! Zach is a former aquatic biologist and lifelong deer hunter who combined his knowledge and passion into Creek Bottom Land Management over a decade ago. Zach shares the types of water that deer prefer and explains why not all water is created equal in the eyes of a whitetail. Then the guys discuss how to implement water on your property, or leverage an existing water hole if you're a public land hunter. All that and more in this week's episode! Get in touch with Zach about your whitetail property needs at www.creekbottomlandmgmt.com and follow along @creekbottomlandmgmt on social media Big thanks to our fantastic partners: Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Matthew Mendini from the onX Fish team to learn more about the latest member of the onX family, and how to use it to catch more fish! Matthew is a Wisconsin-native who found himself as one of the OGs of the TroutRoutes team, and is now shifting his focus towards onX Fish. Matthew shares how he reached his current position through being an avid angler and outdoorsman, and then the guys dive into the key features of onX Fish, what sets it apart from other fishing apps, why technology seems to be more easily accepted in the lake-fishing community, Matthew's approach to e-scouting lakes for different species, where the app's data comes from, and how you can use onX Fish to explore more water this year! All that and more in this week's episode! Huge thanks to Matthew for coming on the show! To learn more about onX Fish, head on over to onxmaps.com/fish to set up a 7-day free trial, and follow along with Matthew's adventures @matthewkmendini on social media Big thanks to our fantastic partners: Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Ben O'Brien to talk about the constant evolution of being an outdoorsman! Ben is a husband and father of three, an excellent outdoorsman, the founder of Woodside Media, and the Co-Host of The ROOST Show. In this episode, Ben shares what his early days working in the outdoor industry were like, how he navigated life and career changes with the help of some great mentors, and some of the realizations and subsequent changes he faced as he became a husband and father while working in the outdoor space. The guys dive into the importance of asking ourselves and others difficult questions and having tough conversations. And Ben shares the story of his son's first turkey harvest last spring, and the emotions, conversations, and questions that surrounded that experience for the two of them. Last but not least, Ben touches on his love of Wisconsin hunting culture, and shares his turkey hunting plans for 2026 which include a trip back to the Duren Farm to settle the score with a nemesis turkey named Limpy. All that and more in this week's episode! A massive thank you to Ben for coming on the show! Be sure to go check out Ben and Sam on the best dang turkey hunting podcast out there @roostshow to get fired up for this spring, and follow along with Ben's adventures @bennyob301 and @woodsidemedia and woodsidemedia.co Big thanks to our fantastic partners: Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by George Ermert and Alec Bekkers to share an update on the push for a Sandhill Crane Hunt and the continuation of the Knowles-Nelson stewardship program. The guys recap last month's Camo at the Capitol event, and share how conversations went with Wisconsin's lawmakers regarding the introduction of a responsible sandhill crane hunt, and the Knowles-Nelson stewardship fund. George shares his thoughts on the fantastic turnout from the event, and then updates us on the status of both bills sharing how close we really are to advancing them! It's important to note that the hearing of these bills ends on February 19th, and hunters & anglers must contact their state representatives before then if we want to continue pushing these bills forward. TAKE ACTION THROUGH BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERSwww.backcountryhunters.com/take_actionCall the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your representativeLet's make this happen! Big thanks to our fantastic partners:Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.comonX Hunt: www.onxmaps.comHuntworth: www.huntworthgear.comGood Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.comWisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Erik Johnsen to talk about using TroutRoutes in the Driftless Region, and tying flies to catch more fish! Erik is the Community Marketing Manager at TroutRoutes, and an avid fly angler who has spent time chasing countless species all over the country. In this episode, the guys discuss the pain of a long winter for trout anglers, how to use TroutRoutes in the Driftless and beyond, favorite tools within the app, how to e-scout for trout, Erik's fly business: Weights & Measures Co., and Driftless streamer tactics to help you catch more fish. All that and more in this week's episode!Be sure to give TroutRoutes a try by visiting troutroutes.com, and be sure to check out the awesome patterns Erik is whipping up over at Weights & Measures Co at weightsandmeasures.co Follow along with Erik @erikjohnsen Big thanks to our fantastic partners: Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin TAKE ACTION THROUGH BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERSwww.backcountryhunters.com/take_actionCall the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Tony Van Asten to learn about Tony's success hunting giant bucks in the Driftless! Tony is a Wisconsin-Native and outstanding outdoorsman, who spends the colder months of his year chasing deer, running trap lines, and shed hunting in the Driftless region of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. In this conversation, the guys discuss Tony's plans for trapping camp, and recap how he got an arrow in a Driftless giant this past fall. After that, Tony gives a phenomenal breakdown of how he sees bucks move through hilly terrain, and leverage thermals and multiple beds to monitor their surroundings. All that and more in this week's episode! Be sure to check out Tony's YouTube channel @tonyvanasten and follow along with his adventures on Instagram @tonyva3 Big thanks to our fantastic partners: Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin TAKE ACTION THROUGH BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERSwww.backcountryhunters.com/take_actionCall the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Kent Boucher to talk about the evolution of a hunter's approach to life. Kent is the Production Manager at Hoksey Native Seeds, Co-Host of The Prairie Farm Podcast, and host of The First Gen Hunter Podcast. In this episode, the guys dive into the importance of physical activity in nature for mental health, the journey of a first-gen hunter, and the impacts of social media on the hunting community. Kent shares how increased responsibilities at work and with a growing family have influenced his hunting priorities, while also emphasizing the importance of shared experiences and conversations around conservation. And the guys highlight the importance of being present in the moment and finding contentment in the outdoors. All that and more in this week's episode! Huge thanks to Kent for taking time to come on the show! Be sure to check out the fantastic work he and the team are doing over at Hoksey Native Seeds, The Prairie Farm Podcast, and The First Gen Hunter Podcast. Lastly, if you want to watch this episode, head on over to The Wisconsin Sportsman YouTube Channel! Big thanks to our fantastic partners:Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.comonX Hunt: www.onxmaps.comHuntworth: www.huntworthgear.comGood Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.comWisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsinTAKE ACTION THROUGH BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERSwww.backcountryhunters.com/take_actionCall the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce sits down with Jake Fleischman to recap his 2025 season and how he arrowed a hill country bruiser! Jake is a Wisconsin-native from the northwoods who has spent the last five years learning the intricacies of hunting the hilly terrain of the Driftless region. The guys dive into how Jake interprets deer sign throughout a year by analyzing scrapes and using rub lines to tell him when a deer uses an area. Then Jake shares the story of how he set himself up to make a great shot on a huge hill country buck during the rut!Be sure to go check out The Untrained Outdoorsman podcast which is hosted by Jake, and follow along with his adventures on social media @_jakefleischman_Big thanks to our fantastic partners:Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.comonX Hunt: www.onxmaps.comHuntworth: www.huntworthgear.comGood Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.comWisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin TAKE ACTION THROUGH BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERSwww.backcountryhunters.com/take_actionCall the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Matt Jefko to dive into the mental hurdles we must clear as hunters and humans in the outdoors. Matt is an avid outdoorsman, professional photographer, and high school Social Studies teacher in the Madison area. In this conversation, the guys recap their antlerless holiday hunts, discuss the mental hurdles that come along with shooting, finding joy in hunting without technology, student perspectives on hunting, the ethics of hunting and food acquisition, and a harrowing tale of a dead buck and a knife to the knee! All that and more in this week's episode!Huge thanks to Matt for coming on the show! If you'd like to follow along with his adventures and check out his photography, find him @okfej on social media Big thanks to our fantastic partners: Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.com onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com Good Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.com Wisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsin TAKE ACTION THROUGH BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERSwww.backcountryhunters.com/take_actionCall the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce flies solo to recap a snowy 5-day public land hunt chasing late-season bucks! If you listened to last year's "What I Learned Hunting A Public Land Giant", consider this the sequel. Pierce recaps the lessons learned from still hunting a new piece of public land, and how he adapted a minimalist approach to simply hunting where the deer sign told him, and where the terrain allowed him. Be prepared to hear about a couple of encounters with huge bucks and what they did to stay alive near the end of a long hunting season, and hear what was going through Pierce's mind as he encountered everything on this long, winter hunt. Thank you all for making 2025 such a phenomenal year! This was far and away the best year yet, and that's all thanks to those of you who tune in every week. Have a happy new year and we'll talk to you all in 2026! Big thanks to our fantastic partners:Lone Wolf Custom Gear: www.lonewolfcustomgear.comonX Hunt: www.onxmaps.comHuntworth: www.huntworthgear.comGood Chance Fly Fishing: www.goodchanceflyfishing.comWisconsin Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: www.backcountryhunters.org/wisconsinTAKE ACTION THROUGH BACKCOUNTRY HUNTERS & ANGLERSwww.backcountryhunters.com/take_actionCall the US Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your representative Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.