It is the bow opener here in Michigan! Bill Freet joins me for this episode as we discuss the outlook for the early season. Then we do a deep dive on bow setups and tuning.
This Episode is a special one. My daughter Keira is the guest of honor as we celebrate her very for buck hunt. Plus the announcement of the release of www.mihuntingpodcast.com
Calvin Dennis with Scent Hunter Tracking joins me on this episode breaking down data collected from the 2022 season tracks. Some interesting data when it comes to means of take and the equipment used.
Deer season is quickly approaching and there is always plenty to do before opening day. This episode I cover Items that I am focusing on to get ready for the upcoming season.
On this episode I break down mock scrapes and how I use them to help me get closer to my target bucks. It is the middle of July and there is not better time to establish mock scrapes on your hunting properties.
Joined by the team from Vantage Point Archery to talk broadheads and the release of their patented new design for a single bevel broadhead, that will be a game changer. Not only do the produce the largest selection of fix blades on the market, they are making advancements in many other products we as archers depend on. I also give a quick update on my summer food plots. This was the first time trying a roller crimper and I breakdown my thoughts on the process. Summertime activates are in full swing with plenty of time to be on the water but deer season will be upon us before we know it.
On this episode I give the break down of my 2023 turkey season. But first share announcements of the upcoming website that is just a couple weeks away from being released, as well as a line of MI Hunting Logo wear. A reminder that the application period for Michigan bear and elk tag is running until June 1st. Then we stop off at the Conservation News Desk for a couple resent stories in the outdoor space.
Albert Tomechko with Vitalize seed joins the show again. Vitalize seed offers a one two punch for better nutrient cycling on your Ag field, garden, or in many cases food plots that will work with natural soil biology that will decrease to need for synthetic fertilizer, improve soil health, and improve plant quality and nutrition. As the names imply, Nitro Boost fixes nitrogen for the fall planting of Carbon Load that will in turn prime the soil with carbon maintaining the Carbon and Nitrogen ratio. Al also touches on a new product that is available as a natural amendment to boost plant performance.
It is mid April and we are on the doorstep of turkey season here in Michigan and many fishing seasons open soon as well. This episode we stop off at the conservation news desk with updates on the new Michigan gun laws and a monster dead head found by a 3 year old in Ohio. Next I cover my plan for the upcoming turkey season, fishing seasons. Then close it out with planned habitat improvements.
On this episode guest biologist Kristie Sitar discusses, Factors Limiting Deer Abundance in the Upper Peninsula, a report she co-authored. She breaks down the data used in looking at the factors that are contributing to a decline in buck harvest in the UP of Michigan. From degraded habitat, hard winters, and predation, each play a role in affecting the deer population. We discuss each in detail in regards to the correlation these factors have with buck harvest. We close with the current state of the UP's deer population and what can be done to help a declining deer herd.
Spring is here! We can start to shake off that cabin fever and get outside for a whole new set of hunting and fishing activates. In this episode we will take a look an what is available in the the month of April for hunting an fishing opportunities. First we head to the conservation news desk for a couple resent articles.
It is ice fishing season! On this episode I breakdown the tactics I use to go after my favorite fish, the Northern Pike. Before I cover that we stop over at the Conservation News Desk for a couple news stories. One involves wolves and sea otters. The other is a breakdown of public vs private bucks killed with the 2021-2022 season. If you like to target Northern pike of are interested in trying your hand at going after this aggressive fish, then this episode is for you.
Joining me on this episode is Johnathon Croel. We sit down and discuss all things hunting. From nutrition, ethics, gear, and tactics, we cover it all. Enjoy the episode and do not forget to apply for your Michigan turkey tag.
The last day of the 2022 deer season is the first day of the 2023 deer season. There is no time like to present to get prepared for the upcoming deer season. For me this means scouting and completing habitat work. There is no better time to create bedding areas on you hunting ground. I fire up the chain saw and start cutting timber to create opens in the canopy and put cover on the ground. I break down my hunting area and how and where i decided to add additional bedding cover. This episode I bring back the Conservation News desk to discuss a bill banning "Assault weapons" and what it could mean for Michigan hunters.
On this episode my wife Kim joins me as we discuss on of our new favorite wild game dishes. With a freezer full of meat, the next part come down to how are you going to serve it up. Many of us have that usual burger and backstraps down. But what about the rest of the cuts and dishes. Kim runs through her preparation for pho using freshly made stock and canned venison. The goal is to continue to expand the ways we prepare our wild game dishes.
Hunting in Michigan provides for unique opportunities. On this episode I tell the story of a doe I was fortunate to hunt on the shore of Lake Michigan. Morning started with a blown sit and a missed opportunity. Ended with a hunt full of first for me as a hunter, and a pack out to remember. Everything had to go right on this one.
My dad joins me on this episode to do a wrap up of November and the Rut. We break down what our mindset going into the rut was and how we planned on hunting this November. The farm we hunt is set as a rut property were that the bulk of the bucks do not show up until they are in full on rut mode. We discuss what we learned from this November and what we plan to do habitat wise to improve the property and hunting in the future. The rifle opener was good to me as I harvested my first buck of the season. We cover opening day and how the buck almost got away.
Another South Dakota hunting trip is in the books. This year was my first mule deer hunt. Joining me for this episode is Duane Croel for the second time. Duane is the reason for my interest in hunting South Dakota and hope that we have many more trips in the years to come. For this year I was the solo hunter. Hunting mule deer for the first time in an area I have never hunted before pushed the limits of my skill as a deer hunter. We discuss the the challenges we faced and the lessons we learned. Ultimately if came down to having to call a local friend to take us into a new area that we did not have the confidence going to ourselves and finally harvested my first mule deer buck
On this episode I update on my season so far. It has be a season full of ups and downs with a ton of lessons learned. I discuss my resent doe harvest and the challenges that came after the shoot. Thanks again to Calvin Dennis and Willow with Scent Hunter Tracking for aiding on recovering my deer. Then I break down a public land piece i have focused on for this year. Diving in the scouting I have done throughout the season to bring me closer to my goal if harvesting a mature buck on public land this year.
Calvin Dennis owner of Scent Hunter Tracking and long time friend joins for this episode. Calvin and his dog Willow are on their second year as a tracking team. They have learned a lot from each other and ready for another season. Calvin breaks down why he got into blood tracking with dogs and what his process is when getting a dog and training for tracking. He explains what a hunter should pay attention to once a shot is made and when it may be time to call a tracker in. Then we discuss wait times for the different shot placements and the information a tracker will want to get from you if your give them a call.
Music:
Vampire Vamp30
by bhzimmy
To get more information or to reach out to Calvin head on over to:
Scent Hunter Tracking
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075715553658
Resources available mentioned on the show
Michigan Deer Trackers
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/michigandeertrackers
United Blood Trackers
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/unitedbloodtrackers
Webpage:
https://www.unitedbloodtrackers.org
Joining me on this episode is long time friend, Lee Witkop. Lee sits down and tells his story of hunting Thanksgiving Day where he shoots three deer. We discuss the area he was hunting and why he set up where he did. Then we get into what his strategy will be going into this deer season. We talk hunting encounters with deer in past hunts and scouting. Swapping information on what gear we will be using to aid us in our hunts.
This episode is all about the final preparations for the 2022 deer season. These are the last few weeks to get ready. Whether you are hunting private ground or public land, hunt with a bow or firearm, going out of state or staying local, there is so much to get done. I break down what I will be focusing on over the next few weeks and what you may want to get done as well.