1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Wired to Hunt Foundations podcast, your guide 2 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: to the fundamentals of better deer hunting, and now your 3 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: host Tony Peterson. Hey, everybody, welcome to the Wire to 4 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 1: Hunt Foundations podcast, which is brought to you by First Light. 5 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: I'm your host Tony Peterson, and today's episode is all 6 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 1: about whether you should start planning a deer hunting trip 7 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: this year. So I lied last week. We're gonna get 8 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 1: to all kinds of antler episodes in the future, but 9 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: I think there's something more important to cover to think 10 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: about right now, which is traveling for white tails. Now, 11 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: you've undoubtedly watched lucky bastards like Mark Kenyon hunt white 12 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,520 Speaker 1: tails all over the country while you're stuck at home 13 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: hunting the same farm you've hunted since you were twelve. 14 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: You might think, Man, some guys have all the luck 15 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: and that's just not me. But it can be. You 16 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: could hunt another state, I promise you, and you should 17 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:08,680 Speaker 1: because the clock is ticking on over the counter tags 18 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: and nonresident opportunities, and while white tails will be the 19 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: last to go on this front, it's almost inevitable at 20 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 1: this point. So if you've got to travel, itch, scratch it. 21 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:22,480 Speaker 1: My friends. This whole episode is dedicated to traveling for 22 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 1: white tails and white you Yes, you should do it. 23 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: I grew up in a tiny town in southeastern Minnesota, 24 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: in a tiny house, dreaming tiny dreams. The idea of 25 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 1: becoming an outdoor writer was laughable, and the idea of 26 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 1: hunting out of state for anything was lofty. That was 27 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: something rich folks did, and rich we were not. Hell 28 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 1: I remember being super stoked to get to go to 29 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: Subway once in a while, which isn't exactly the best 30 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: example of fine dining. But when I was like fourteen 31 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 1: or five, team some writer for Field and Stream the 32 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 1: magazine did a piece on turkey hunting northern Missouri public land. 33 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:10,960 Speaker 1: My dad read it, and then he did something I 34 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: thought he'd never do. He drove down there to hunt. 35 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 1: I was both astounded and jealous because I never thought 36 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: that would happen, and if it did happen, I never 37 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 1: thought it would happen without me. But that's exactly what happened. 38 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: He didn't kill a bird, but he came home with 39 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: stories of turkeys and coyotes and camping and hunting a 40 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: foreign land. I wanted nothing more than to experience it, 41 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: so I saved up some money from odd jobs. I 42 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 1: worked on local farms and the dishwasher gig I had 43 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 1: at one of the cafes in town, and that following spring, 44 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 1: a good buddy and I drove down there with my 45 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: dad to hunt turkeys. It was a six hour drive, 46 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: a cheap tag, and an absolute blast. We used paper 47 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 1: maps to find spots, and what little turkey skills we had, 48 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: we made up four and just sheer enthusiasm for the hunt. No, 49 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: none of us killed a turkey that year, but I 50 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: got hooked on the prospect of extending my hunting season 51 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: through opportunities in other states. It was kind of like 52 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 1: someone showed me a world I didn't even know existed, 53 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:12,919 Speaker 1: And half of the hang up I had was right 54 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 1: between my years. Believing you'll never do something is a 55 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: great way to ensure that you, in fact, will never 56 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 1: do that thing. Now, we hunted Missouri a few more times, 57 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: and eventually I killed a jake down there. Then I 58 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 1: had one of those magical trips where the stars aligned 59 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 1: and I killed two long beards with the longest, biggest 60 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: spurs I've ever collected in a lifetime of turkey hunting. 61 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: Both of those birds ended up wearing my tag in 62 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: the same trip and it was awesome, and that was 63 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: all she wrote for me as far as traveling to hunt. 64 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 1: After that, my buddies and I started to try and 65 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: find every turkey hunting opportunity we could in nearby states, 66 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: and then we started looking at pheasant hunting opportunities. We 67 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: kind of looked at everything but big game, because I 68 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 1: still had the idea that traveling to hunt deer another 69 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: big game was just not going to happen. Fast forward 70 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 1: to my college years at were knowna State university, where 71 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: I met a fellow named Ben who was a traveling 72 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: hunting fool. Now pay attention to this, this is important. 73 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 1: Ben wasn't rich. He was in college with me. He 74 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: was just more motivated to go at hunt west, even 75 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:20,839 Speaker 1: though he did it mostly with a rifle, and we 76 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,919 Speaker 1: became good friends, which we are to this day. And 77 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:27,919 Speaker 1: way back in two thousand and I think three, he 78 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: gave me some advice on putting together a rifle hunting 79 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: trip for antelope in Wyoming and really taking that first 80 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,839 Speaker 1: step toward a big game hunt. Now, my dad and 81 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:39,840 Speaker 1: I took that trip together. In the twelve hour drive 82 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 1: along I nin d overnight left us exhausted and in 83 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,839 Speaker 1: awe of the landscape we found ourselves in when the 84 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:49,160 Speaker 1: sun rose behind us and lit the prairie. That feeling 85 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 1: was only amplified when we first started seeing antelope from 86 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 1: the road. It was life changing. It made me realize 87 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 1: that even if you're broke, which I absolutely was at 88 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:02,840 Speaker 1: that time of my life, there was hunting adventure out 89 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: there waiting for me. I can't tell you how grateful 90 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 1: I am for Ben's advice and encouragement then and for 91 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: just that trip in general, because it changed the arc 92 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: of my personal and professional life. And even today, I 93 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 1: just feel insanely lucky for being shown that secret, like 94 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: I knew something that other people didn't, and it made 95 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 1: me feel like there was more to life than I 96 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 1: ever thought possible. But it's not all unicorn and glitter, 97 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: farts and rainbows, my friends. Traveling for hunts can also really, 98 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:39,960 Speaker 1: really suck. I don't know how many flat tires I've 99 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: changed in my life while on the road in the 100 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 1: middle of nowhere, but it's a lot. I've broken down 101 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: in quite a few random states, and that's not much fun. 102 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 1: The weather that might keep you from hunting at home 103 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:55,839 Speaker 1: one evening. That's the weather that might absolutely ruin a 104 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 1: camping trip. I've slept intense while it rained for four 105 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 1: or five of six days at a time, and I've 106 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:06,160 Speaker 1: lived out of tents while blizzards raged through. Now that 107 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: might sound badass, but it's not. It's stupid and it sucks, 108 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:13,039 Speaker 1: but it's part of the deal. If you're going to 109 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 1: travel to hunt, you won't get perfect weather most likely, 110 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 1: and if you do, you'll have more competition than you 111 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 1: can handle. In that way, a shitty weather can be 112 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 1: your friend if you can stomach what it does to 113 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 1: your daily life as a hunter and possibly as a 114 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: camper if you choose that route. The food situation often 115 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: sucks too, not to mention the sleep situation, and the 116 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 1: hunting situation might be the suckiest suck of all sucks. 117 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: This is the hardest part of the whole thing, and 118 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:47,479 Speaker 1: something I want to make very very clear. Everywhere you 119 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:51,839 Speaker 1: look in outdoor media, there is a constant drumbeat of 120 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 1: travel to hunt, go by that over the countertag get 121 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: out there and live your best hunting life blah blah blah. 122 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 1: Of course, what you don't hear from those people, and 123 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 1: believe me, I'm including myself in this as well. Is 124 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 1: that it's their job. They are getting paid somehow, most 125 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 1: likely and directly, but from going on a bunch of 126 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 1: hunts in a bunch of different states. Whether those checks 127 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 1: come from YouTube viewable hours, podcast advertisers, hell, maybe a 128 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 1: state game and fish agency that is paying influencers to 129 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 1: come promote the hunting in their state. It's coming from somewhere. 130 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: And if you think that isn't happening, do a little research, 131 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: because it is. If you hate that too many out 132 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: of state hunters are coming to your favorite honey holes, 133 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 1: there's a lot of factors, but influencers are one of them. 134 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: Don't kid yourself for a second. And you might be thinking, 135 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 1: we'll screw those assholes. But also this asshole i'm listening to, 136 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: it's kind of saying the same thing, and that is true, 137 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: and I confess to that. But I want you to 138 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 1: go hunt out of state. I want everyone to experience 139 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 1: this thing, even if it's going to make the hunting 140 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: harder for me and everyone else who is out there. 141 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 1: This is because we're all on borrowed time. Both from 142 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 1: the perspective that you've only got so many heartbeats left 143 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 1: in that chesty yours, and partially from the perspective that 144 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: as a hunter, there are a lot of things conspiring 145 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: against you if you're a nonresident, which, as Randy Newberg 146 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 1: likes to say, you definitely are in forty nine states. 147 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: I've said this dozens of times, so I'll keep it 148 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: short and sweet. This isn't going to get any easier 149 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 1: or cheaper to do. We keep making babies, and those 150 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: babies grow up and need places to live, they need 151 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 1: food to eat, They take up space. That causes the 152 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:36,319 Speaker 1: deer to live in smaller parcels of land and forces 153 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: more of us onto the fewer available acres. It's zero 154 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 1: some game, most likely, although it might not end for 155 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:46,680 Speaker 1: several decades, and that's not important. Actually that's super important. 156 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: But in the interest of this podcast, I'm going to 157 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 1: move on. What's important to you right now is that 158 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: you acknowledge that if you don't get going on this 159 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 1: traveling white tail thing, it might never happen for you. 160 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:01,440 Speaker 1: So here's the thing. You've got to make a decision. 161 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: If you think you can't afford it, maybe you're right, 162 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:07,959 Speaker 1: But what does that mean. Maybe you can't afford buying 163 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,680 Speaker 1: points in Iowa for three or four or five years 164 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: and then shelling out the same kind of money you'd 165 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:16,560 Speaker 1: pay for a nonresident ELK tag. Fair enough, But what 166 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:20,199 Speaker 1: about Wisconsin, where you can buy an already cheap nonresident 167 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 1: tag for half price the first time you buy it? 168 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 1: Or I'll put it in In other words, in a 169 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 1: different perspective, if I take my kids my lovely bride 170 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 1: to Olive Garden, I'll drop the same amount of coin 171 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:33,439 Speaker 1: as you would to hunt a deer for the first 172 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: time in Wisconsin. That's pretty crazy. So what would you 173 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:42,959 Speaker 1: rather have? Unlimited soup saladon breadsticks one night, or a 174 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 1: chance at a buck and probably a couple of does 175 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 1: while are on a sweet hunting trip. Of course, you 176 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:51,200 Speaker 1: probably don't have to camp for four or five days, 177 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: just go to a mediocre chain restaurant or drive twelve 178 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 1: hours to get there. I realized the comparison is a 179 00:09:56,880 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 1: little thin, but you get my point. If you make 180 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 1: up your mind at any trip is too expensive, or 181 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: that all trips are too expensive, then you've already decided 182 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: that you're not the traveling type. But before that, listen 183 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 1: to your hearts. My friends, is there something in you 184 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 1: that is awful curious about taking an odd of state 185 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 1: trip to hunt white tails. If so, take a long 186 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 1: hard look at some of the states that will sell 187 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 1: you a tag. There are plenty of them out there, 188 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: and every one of them has bucks that would make 189 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 1: you happy. And pay attention to that, because I mean it, 190 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: Every state out there has bucks that would make you happy, 191 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:40,200 Speaker 1: especially if you show up for four or five six 192 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 1: days on your first odd of state trip. I promise 193 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 1: you can find bucks that you're going to be tickled 194 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 1: pink about. But you want to be a little careful 195 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:55,559 Speaker 1: about focusing too heavily on that aspect, because it will 196 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 1: bite you right in your camel covered ass. A lot 197 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 1: of us make the mistake of folk a thing on 198 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: where We've heard big bucks are everywhere and they are 199 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 1: dumber than your average squirrel in other states. That's not 200 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: really true anywhere anymore, and it doesn't really matter. Iowa, 201 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 1: in all of its white tail awesomeness, won't make you 202 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 1: a great hunter Kansas either. Buffalo County, Wisconsin, won't By 203 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 1: County Illinois. What makes you a great hunter is the 204 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: challenge and the willingness to keep learning. What's one of 205 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 1: the best ways to do that, ding ding ding. Go 206 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 1: hunt somewhere new, experience, new terrain. Hunt deer that live 207 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 1: in an environment that is vastly different from your home ground. 208 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 1: If you live in the plains and have to drive 209 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 1: three hours to see a tree, give the big woods 210 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:46,079 Speaker 1: of some northern state a shot. You live in the 211 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:48,959 Speaker 1: swamps of Louisiana and have to worry about alligators stealing 212 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 1: your deer before you come to the end of your 213 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 1: blood trail, I don't know. Head to the middle of 214 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 1: the country and one of the flyover states and hunt 215 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 1: around some agg and deciduous forests, a place where the 216 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 1: local reptiles are small and relatively not very dangerous. Variety 217 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 1: is the spice of life, and it makes deer hunting 218 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: really special. It also, i'll reiterate, makes you a better hunter. 219 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:15,840 Speaker 1: If you don't believe me, consider this example. Take someone 220 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 1: who has access to primo ground in southern Iowa, say 221 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:24,080 Speaker 1: six acres, a well managed dirt where the opportunity to 222 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:27,440 Speaker 1: kill a booner is a sure thing every year. In 223 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 1: that scenario, you'll have someone who does exactly that and 224 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 1: might kill bucks well north of that one seventy mark 225 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:37,680 Speaker 1: on a consistent basis but that's the only place they hunt. 226 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:41,600 Speaker 1: They grew up there, they devote their time there, and 227 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:45,000 Speaker 1: they filled the trophy room with those giant, genetically gifted 228 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 1: corn fed bucks. On paper, that hunter looks like the 229 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 1: real deal, and in a lot of ways he absolutely is. 230 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 1: But could he do it in Pennsylvania? How about Florida? 231 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,960 Speaker 1: Could you even do it on public land in Iowa? Maybe? 232 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:03,320 Speaker 1: Or maybe not. Now, take some of the most badass 233 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 1: hunters you can think of, who have proven that they 234 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 1: can go to multiple states and kill good bucks. Sure 235 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,959 Speaker 1: they might not be killing an eight inches very often, 236 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 1: but they are killing way above average bucks in places 237 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 1: that are orders of magnitude more difficult than a well 238 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: managed property in a great state. Difficult makes us good, 239 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:27,319 Speaker 1: and challenge motivates us to get better, while hunting a 240 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:29,440 Speaker 1: well managed property can be a hell of a lot 241 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 1: of fun, and I don't begrudge anyone for doing it. 242 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:34,959 Speaker 1: That's not the only way to find enjoyment in the 243 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 1: White Tail Woods. Simply seeing how deer operating in a 244 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 1: new place that can do it. Filling a tag on 245 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:45,080 Speaker 1: a small book or a dough on public land a 246 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:47,960 Speaker 1: place you've never set foot on before, that absolutely can 247 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 1: do it too. Just spending a weekend camp with a 248 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 1: couple of hunting buddies, strategizing over deer, obsessing over deer. 249 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: That's a great way to have fun at this stuff 250 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:03,199 Speaker 1: and to get better. Plus, it'll force you out of 251 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 1: your comfort zone if you're used to sitting ladder stands 252 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 1: that have been up in specific trees since Bill Clinton 253 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: was in the Oval office doing not safe for work 254 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:14,440 Speaker 1: things while he was at work. Going mobile with the 255 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 1: saddle while ten hours from your home will do wonders 256 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 1: for you. Broadening your horizons by doing new things is 257 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:24,320 Speaker 1: one way to keep your mental health moving in the 258 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 1: right direction. While in the dear world, it'll make you 259 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:31,119 Speaker 1: a better, more fulfilled hunter. It will change your perspective 260 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: as a white tailed junkie in a good way and 261 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 1: make you better and help you open up your aperture 262 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: to what life has to offer. Dear wise, why would 263 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 1: you not want that? So here's my assignment to you, or, 264 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 1: as they say in the business these days, here's a 265 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 1: little call to action. Ask yourself what your hunting goals are? 266 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 1: What do you want on the next decade or two? 267 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 1: Is there any answer there that invokes a little over 268 00:14:55,600 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 1: the road adventure. If so, start planning it now. After all, 269 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 1: what else do you have to do right now? The 270 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 1: shed season isn't really in full swing yet, but it's close, 271 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 1: and this is not really a great time to start 272 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: winner scouting for a lot of people. This is kind 273 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,720 Speaker 1: of the time here, this white tailed purgatory. Doesn't have 274 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 1: to be, though. You can still start researching hunting opportunities, 275 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 1: and if you do, you'll have to start eat scouting 276 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 1: or tapping into your network of distant relatives and friends 277 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 1: of friends who might just own some deer ground in 278 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 1: a state that might just sell you and over the countertag. Now. 279 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 1: I'm not saying you have to go hunt anywhere, but 280 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 1: if you have any desire to seriously start considering it 281 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: now at the beginning of the year. Take some time, 282 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 1: map out a potential plan, talk to a good buddy 283 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 1: or two who might join you. But keep it small 284 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 1: and simple. The bigger the production, the bigger the headaches 285 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 1: and drama. You know. Of course, I'll get into that 286 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: stuff later, but for now, just kick it around, mull 287 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: it over a little bit, let it roll across your 288 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: brain for a little while. Then ask yourself in a 289 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 1: seventies punk in British accent sort of way. Should I 290 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: stay or should I go? If the answer is You're going, 291 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 1: then we've got a lot to talk about, much of 292 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 1: which I'll cover next week. Is I dive way deeper 293 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 1: into the hunt planning process. That's it for this show, 294 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:20,160 Speaker 1: My white tail loving brothers and sisters, I'm Tony Peterson 295 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 1: and this has been the Wired to Hunt Foundations podcast, 296 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 1: which is brought to you by First Light. As always, 297 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: thank you so much for listening, and if you want 298 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 1: more white tail advice, head on over to the meat 299 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 1: eater dot com slash wired see a bunch of our articles, 300 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 1: or check out our Wired to Hunt YouTube channel, where 301 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 1: we post weekly how to videos of all kinds of 302 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 1: white tail related topics.