The Hunting Dad Podcast

Jackie Sexton is a one great dude! It was awesome getting him to come on the podcast and talk about deer and this incredibly frustrating time of the rut. We're coming up on the last part of November where things get tricky so if you're still looking to tag a buck, this may be an episode for you! Appreciate you guys listening! 

Had to record a recap on my nebraska trip while driving home! This trip was so full of ups and downs. Glad that it ended on a high note in the end. In this episode I cover expectations, hunting pressure and of course how everything went down on the hunt!

Wanted to do a bonus episode on the story of my 2025 Kentucky buck. Definitely one of the most interesting recoverys of my life with a bunch of hard lessons learned. Kentucky was a rough road this year but im happy to have been tagged out in my ol Ky home! 

This was easily one one my favorite conversations since starting the podcast. Stewart is a great hunter, and has accomplished a lot over the last decade and constanly puts himself in good situations in tough terrain. Stewart also seems to find sucess on High opportunity hunts like quota or SOA hunts and we discuss that and much more in this episode.  -Hunting mountains. The do's and dont's! -Finding funnels and pinches in super hilly terrain both escouting and on foot! -How bucks use the terrain to rut -Waiting till it's good vs getting burnt out -Growing as a hunter and becoming more successful  -Baseball cleats>Hunting boots 

Ep. 25 Shifting to the RUT!  This week, I sat down with a cold blooded bowhunter from the northeast. Tyler Forbes had a late start to the hunting scene but has quickly picked up on the game over the last 8 years and is consistently putting down great deer in the new england area. We touch on....  1. Taking kiddos hunting and what to expect.  2. Why november is a double edge sword!  3. What to key in on when it comes to does and this time of year.   4. Water sources playing a major role this time of year.   5. Doe bedding areas and what to look for.  6. Story of tylers 185 inch october buck from this season! 

On this episode I sit down with one of my great friends colby, to discuss self fiming your hunts, different setups, his success the last several years and the story of his latest big buck! Appreciate everyone listening and helping this podcast grow!

I apologize for the lack of a guest this week guys! Life has been hectic BUT things are getting back to normal! I wanted to touch on some things to keep in mind heading into next week and also give a Mid Season update on my end! NOVEMBER IS ALMOST HERE FELLAS!!!

Ep. 22 Bottomland Bucks! Land Smathers is no stranger to the river bottoms of Mississippi. The terrain is monotnous, miserable at times, and locating and patterning bucks seems to be a touch harder than somewhere with a bit of topo. Throughout this episode we cover..... -Bottomland terrain and how it changes from year to year. -Big Buck sign and where its typically found  -What food sources the deer key in on this time of year -Ground hunting (the good and bad) -Access to stay hidden in flatland -Travel routes and lowland funnels -Water access -Taking kids hunting. The Do's and Do NOTS

This one has been a long time coming! I've always looked up to Jake since I've got to know him well and this was a great conversation to say the least. Jake Bush is known for killing big bucks early, and efficiently. He also decided in the last year or so hit the breaks and to take a step back from both his podcast (Latitude in session) and the realm of the hunting world in the social media aspect. Becoming both a husband, and father of two great kiddos, he's had to change his approach on tackling his whitetail season start to finish going forward. I hope you guys enjoy this one as much as I loved recording it!

Hank Gibson has done the impossible. Tagging a 200+ on a mere 4 acre parcel of land. When I got the picture recently I knew this was a story that deserved sharing. In this episode we dive into the transition from a typical stationary to becoming mobile and how that played the major role in filling this tag. We also touch on how this buck had Hank patterned as well and what it took to finally seal the deal on this mega. Hank is also one good dude and a hell of a dad, and I admire that about him. I encourage you to give this story a listen.    Be sure and take a few seconds to leave a 5 star review on apple or spotify to enter for an upcoming giveaway 👀

Lane Housner is a great friend of mine and a dude I can count on to fill a tag all across the country. Lane is a lot like me and is all about capitalizing on any opportunity to get in the woods or on the road any good chance he has. This was a very laid back conversation with good laughs, good tips, and learning his approach to out-of-state hunting trips and what makes him successful on them year in and out!  Taking a second to leave a 5-star review on spotify or apple makes a world of difference. I appreciate you guys listening and would love a share, and feedback! 

Jonathan Boehme better known as "catman" has definitely earned the label of a great woodsman. He's also someone I've looked up to as fellow Youtuber. Catman is no stranger to oak tree identification and them awesome little nuts that fall from them most seasons. With the mast crop either starting to or already dropping in most areas, I figured it was time to have him on to discuss.....    Where his woodsmanship came from The timing of the acorn drop What are some of the top few trees that produce the best hunts if more OR less mast is better for hunting What areas produce acorn crops when in a drought-like summer late season acorn desire vs. early Growing his youtube to what it is now!

Clay has become a good friend of mine and proven himself to be a super efficient hunter over the last several seasons. He's started this year off on one heck of a hot streak tagging two velvet bucks in a few weeks time in both Tennessee and Kentucky. We spend most of this episode discussing both of these hunts and what it took to be successful in both of them!    Appreciate y'all taking the time to listen recently and it's not going unnoticed! Be sure and listen for upcoming giveaways and head over to either apple podcasts OR spotify and drop a 5 star review. Weekly episodes will continue throughout season along with videos dropping on the DO3 OUTDOORS Youtube channel so be sure and subscribe! 

Kenzie Taylor has been a great friend of mine for years! Shes also earned the reputation of a great tracking team between her, and her pup Leibe! With season coming in everywhere asap, I knew now would be a good time to talk about tracking your deer after the shot happens! in this podcast we cover things such as...... What got her fascinated with tracking deer in the 1st place Wait times on certian organ/area hits When to push a wounded deer and when to back out WHAT NOT TO DO IF YOU'RE UNSURE OF HIT! Archery recovery Statistics on Mechanical vs fixed Broadheads Gun recovery statistics How a dog ACTUALLY tracks a wounded deer Using the "Traker" app and how it can help!   Kenzie covers a broad area of western Kentucky, Southern Indiana, and parts of southern illinois! If you find yourself neededing help this season, Save her number @ 270-339-7662   As always subscribing to the podcast helps Greatly!! Along with of course sharing with a friend, and leaving a 5 star review! THANKS GUYS

EP. 15 Thermal Drone Study on MATURE BUCKS!    When the words...... drone, and thermals come into play in the outdoor world, it can put a sour taste is almost anyones mouth.... Derrick, however, sat down the weapons for an entire year to pursue his dream of learning, recording, and researching mature bucks for an entire year for our benefit and knowledge. Over the course of a year, he collected the eye-opening data, habits, and travel patterns of trophy whitetails. In this podcast....   •The reasoning behind the passion for this type of research •Future plans for the show and upcoming videos •How often deer are around your trails cameras without a trigger •Time frames when mature moved the most outside the rut •Pre rut habitats and feed tree visits •Morning vs. afternoon foot travel comparisons and MORE!   Guys, be sure and head over to whitetail research on youtube and check out some of these top-level videos Derrick is producing.   Be sure and share this episode with a friend and, as always, a 5 star review on apple or spotify is greatly appreciated

Driving home from Tennessee I decided to record a short recap of the first hunt of the year. While fun and exciting at times, I came home empty handed for the 1st time in quite a few seasons. I go over the conditions, pressure, game plans, and failures I experienced over the last four days.     Thanks for listening guys! To help the podcast grow, share it with a friend and help me out with a 5 star review on spotify and apple podcasts!

Picture this, you've done your homework, scouted all year and listened to every podcast imaginable on how to get yourself in a position to kill a big buck..... BUT now which tree should I climb!? More times than not in my younger days, I would find myself overthinking at the base of a tree to a point i'm wasting a lot of time when its getting daylight or prime time is quickly approaching. While a very novice subject, this is a conversation that will help flatten a learning curve on what to look for when picking out a tree! In this episode.......   The process of finding a Kill Tree What makes a tree a good or bad choice Things to avoid at all costs Height vs Cover  Climbing with multiple sticks One sticking, how to ascend and descend safely

Kelsey moss is a heck of a bowhunter! He continues to knock down mature bucks from state to state, year in and year out! Moss contributes a lot of his sucess to his availability to hunt and calling in big bucks close. In this podcast.... Sharing hobby time with your spouse  How his career aids in his success Kelseys (4) buck 2024 season Executing the shot Managing Buck fever!    Remember guys, YOU make this show grow so a quick 5 star review on apple and spotify really helps! Be sure and subscribe for future episodes and videos on youtube!   

This episode wont help you tag a buck this fall but its sure to give you a laugh! I sat down with my three kiddos for a fun little recording before we went on vacation. Each of them get to help tell their views of the both sucessful and unsucessful hunts theyve been on over the years with ol dad!    Look forward to seeing you guys back on wednesday for the normal episode!

Ep. 12 HELP YOUR TAXIDERMIST! Season is Quickly approaching, so what better time to sharpen up on some skills that are sometimes put on the back burner until its too late! This week I sat down with my good buddy Jason Chappell of Blackford Creek Taxidermy to talk about field care of your trophy. We cover tons of topics such as... The allotted time you have before your cape starts decomposing  Keeping your animal clean and cool on your way to the taxidermist  In feild tools to avoid dragging the animal Early season/velvet care Correct cuts when caping  Taxidermy myths and prices Cwd regulations    This was a great conversation packed full of good info and laughs. Hopefully this helps you guys in the coming weeks! Remember, leaving a 5 star review on apple podcasts and Spotify helps the show tremendously, along with of course, sharing this with a buddy!

Jordan jones is a lot like me! Family guy. Unfiltered, and just loves shooting deer. Jordan has also learned to balance family life, a job, and consistently tagging big mature bucks across multiple states.    We start the recording off talking about early season scouting and why jordan thinks its more hurtful than helpful in a lot of states. Then we transition into what he believes are the 3 things it takes to consistently kill mature bucks year after year. This conversation gets deep and gets somewhat emotional. I personally loved this chat and hope that you guys do too!   Share this podcast with a friend and leave a 5 star review to help the podcast grow! 

Steven Fuller is an amazing friend of mine, and also a decently known name in the outdoor space. Steven is also owner of THGTV (The Huntin' Grounds TV) where they have a great team of individuals spread out across the country. We talk about growing a show, growing youtube, and some myths that seem to follow the outdoor industry aurora. We also cover the progression of his property and how its led to multiple GREAT bucks and this past season... Leading to a Southwest Missouri Booner!    I appreciate the support after 10 episodes! Remember the best way to support the podcast is sharing it with a friend, and leaving a 5 star review on either apple, or Spotify. 

Cody Huhn is a whitetail fanatic to say the least! You're also not going to find many guys that put in more time finding and learning multiple big deer year after year. In this podcast we mainly cover early season scouting, food, and really just the basics of summer deer, where you'll mainly find them, and how that can help you capitolize on a buck early rather than later! Cody also has a youtube and facebook page (PUBLIC LAND WHITETAILS) where you can see how he incorporates some of these tactics in the field! Appreciate all of y'all tuning in and subscribing! Remember, the best way to help this podcast grow is to leave a 5 star written review, and subscribe. Thanks Guys and Gals!

Me and Byron haven't always seen eye to eye, and in some ways we never will BUT I consider him a friend now, even though we may not agree with how we pursue deer. I couldnt think of anyone more fit for this debate! Dont worry, we keep it professional! This is a conversation I've been looking forward to for some time now. We dive into the reasons why I love my Cell cameras and byrons reasons why he doesn't. The goal was to find middle ground on what we feel like would be fair going forward with the mixture of technology and the roots of hunting.    Remember guys, the best way to help the podcast grow is to share it with a buddy, leave a 5 star review and subscribe for future episodes! Thanks!

Reese johnson is a great friend of mine from Kentucky. He's also a trail camera GURU. Running close to 80 cameras a season, reese is no stranger to finding big deer and learning all their habits. In this podcast we cover the timing, placement, and the historical importance of a camera set. We touch on jumping into a brand new farm/public piece and how to approach that from scratch. We also cover tons of tips that we've both learned over the years to optimize photos/videos, and even some brands that we trust! Remember, the best way to help the podcast grow is to share it with a friend and leave a 5 star review! Thanks guys! 

In this episode, I cover the big GIVEAWAY I'm doing 1st thing, followed by a conversation with my wife Madi. This one if full of laughs, death stares, and was interesting to say the least. But in all seriousness, Madi is a saint and has put up with a lot from me over the years.  We cover....... 1.) How we met, and the joining of our kids to create a blended family. 2.) How my hunting intensity has both cooled off and also heated up over the years. 3.) How our children's behavior effects time away and trips. 4.) What I do to help her in the off season and her "love Language" 5.) Preparing her and the kids for trips away from home. 6.) Side jobs keep us from dipping into "our money" and pay for tags. 7.) Most "angry" she's ever been....... story 

Justin Synan is a great friend of mine that has consistantly located, hunted, and taken great whitetails all over the states. This week, we sit down and talk about his background in hunting, his transition from Maryland to Kentucky, and now his move to Iowa. We also cover Public vs Private bucks which may actually surprise you, a little bit of fatherhood knowledge, incorporatting the kiddos, and of course a few tips on keeping the wife happy while afield.    Remember to be on the lookout for the big Waterfeather boat giveaway, and also help the podcast by leaving a 5 star written review, and of course subscribe for weekly episodes! THANKS!!!

Andy May is one of the most well known bowhunters in the eastern united states. His commitment to becoming a better person, and hunter each day, is something that I admire. Andy is also a father, so in this podcast we dive into how he's managed his time throughout the years between balancing work, kiddos, and limited time off, yet still making the most of his time. Wether it be in the woods, or at home preparing for hunts. 

Sometimes as hunters we need to put ourselves in the significant others shoes! We spend days, weeks, and possibly even months away doing what we love during certian times of the year. Take it from Amanda Johnson, the wife of a serious hunter, who has no off season. Wether its sheds, gobblers, scouting, western hunts, and of course whitetails, her husband (and great friend of mine) Resse does it all. Take notes from what Amanda says can gain you some time away without the reprecussions of a fight, or an argument! And also what you SHOULD BE doing when the time is right!    Be sure and Leave a 5 star written review and remember the best way to help the podcast grow, is to share it with a friend! Thanks guys and I hope you enjoy this interview!

In this episode, I'm joined by a great friend, father, and bowhunter Greg Staggs. Greg has become the "go to guy" in terms of one sticking in the mobile community, but on this interview we touch on How communication with your spouse will lead to more tree time       2. Hunting with your children, and how it changes drastically each year       3. Writing for outdoor/Hunting magazines       4. The mobile community. Good And Bad

Welcome everyone, lets get this party started. This is just a short prelude to the following weeks, months, and possibly years! Be sure and subscribe and follow along for weekly uploads and follow us on all the social platforms!