1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:05,120 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Wired to Hunt Foundations podcast, your guide 2 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: to the fundamentals of better deer hunting, presented by first Light, 3 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 1: creating proven versatile hunting apparel for the stand, saddle or blind. 4 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: First Light Go Farther, Stay Longer, and now your host, 5 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 1: Tony Peterson. 6 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 2: Hey, everyone, welcome to the Wire to Hunt Foundation's podcast, 7 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 2: which is brought to you by first Light. I'm your 8 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 2: house Tony Peterson, and today I'm going to talk about 9 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 2: going where you shouldn't, whether that's in the White Tail 10 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 2: Woods or the Elk Mountains or wherever. I know I've 11 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 2: mentioned this many many times, but it's worth bringing up 12 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 2: again that hunting content that you've been consuming for much 13 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 2: of your life came from people who don't operate in 14 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 2: the same world as you. They hunt unbelievable spots and 15 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 2: they either have control over them or they pay for 16 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 2: the opportunity to hunt where someone else controls the pressure. 17 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:02,639 Speaker 2: In a lot of content, the narrative that comes out 18 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 2: of these folks is pretty much an echo chamber of 19 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 2: do this, don't do that. But the truth is I 20 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 2: kind of have to do things differently from them. One 21 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:13,399 Speaker 2: of those things, but I think will make you a 22 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 2: better hunter is to go where you normally wouldn't go, 23 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 2: which is what this episode is all about. Earlier this summer, 24 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 2: I filmed a fishing show with the one and only 25 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 2: Andy May. During our shoot, I happen to catch a 26 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 2: personal best smally in a spot that has just kind 27 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 2: of come on a radar, on a lake that I 28 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 2: fish more than anybody of water ever except for maybe 29 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 2: the Mississippi River. I honestly don't know really why the 30 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:51,960 Speaker 2: spot holds big fish, but I have some ideas. Depth 31 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 2: definitely plays a role in it. I find differences in 32 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 2: small mouth concentrations and quality of fish, often in places 33 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 2: that are a foot or two deeper than the surrounding areas. 34 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 2: Food is another one. I know that the minos end 35 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 2: up getting pushed up against the shore there when the 36 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 2: wind is blown just right, but you know that happens 37 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 2: in a lot of spots on big lakes. So it's 38 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:14,839 Speaker 2: kind of still a mystery I'm trying to figure out. 39 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 2: But it's also a good reminder that on a specific 40 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:19,640 Speaker 2: lake where I'm real confident in my knowledge, I still 41 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 2: miss things all the time, and things are always changing, 42 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 2: So maybe that spot wasn't good five or ten years ago, 43 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 2: or maybe I just missed it, maybe something changed and 44 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 2: made it better. I think this is possible because some 45 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:34,920 Speaker 2: of the normal rock piles that usually host schools of 46 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 2: Brownies are getting a lot more pressure than they used to. 47 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 2: Now are bast smart enough to move somewhere where they 48 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 2: get harass less. Probably maybe I don't know. I know 49 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 2: deer moved to places where they get harrass less. In fact, 50 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 2: that's one of the biggest drivers in their daily habits. 51 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 2: It's something that's super relevant right now too, considering how 52 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 2: many states are opening up their white Tail season over 53 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,640 Speaker 2: the next few weeks, if they haven't already. Let me 54 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 2: lay this out in an orderly fashion so you understand 55 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:07,079 Speaker 2: where I'm going with this episode. As the season opens up, 56 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 2: we all dive into our opening week or early season 57 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 2: plan on an individual level. Great, that's great, how do 58 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 2: your best field edge stands and try to arrow that 59 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 2: dumb buck that just hasn't caught onto the pressure yet. 60 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 2: But understand this, the pressure that shows up opening weekend 61 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 2: and honestly the weeks before, as hunters get the itch 62 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 2: to hang stands and check cameras and just get in 63 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:32,919 Speaker 2: the woods, is going to change the deer right as 64 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 2: you think they should be most predictable. Now you've put 65 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 2: in all this work, at least I hope you have 66 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 2: to get yourself ready for filling an early season tag, 67 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 2: and now you're going to read the conditions and act 68 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 2: on that plan. But the wild cards are many. If 69 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 2: you don't have a sweet, tightly controlled place to hunt, 70 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 2: some plans will work out for hunters, but mostly they won't. 71 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 2: That means the fervor of opening week will come and 72 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 2: go and the reality of the season will set in. 73 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 2: This is just like when you go on your first 74 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 2: day of rutcation, say on November first, and you're so 75 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 2: excited you peech just a little bit on the front 76 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 2: of your cameo boxer's Mark Kenyan style. But after that 77 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,479 Speaker 2: first all day sit reality kicks you right upside the 78 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 2: head like a drunk muytai fighter at a dive bar. 79 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 2: As soon as you're done counting tweetybirds, your job is 80 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 2: to figure out the deer, and that isn't something you 81 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 2: can do by listening to advice from people who don't 82 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 2: have to worry about a hunting pressure or limited hunting 83 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 2: time or not having very much hunting skill. So how 84 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:37,360 Speaker 2: do you do this. One of the ways is you 85 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 2: go where you aren't supposed to. You're going to have 86 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 2: to go find the fresh sign somewhere. You're going to 87 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 2: have to look around and accept the fact that the 88 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 2: spot you thought was the spot of all spots, the 89 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 2: one you just knew you'd kill your number one hitlister 90 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 2: in has gone the way of the old dinosaur. Now, 91 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 2: this is so much easier to preach than it is 92 00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 2: to practice. I deal with this in my life all 93 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 2: the time, and I'm constantly fighting the patterns of my behavior. 94 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 2: I do have one benefit in all of this. It's 95 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 2: that I've been wrong about deer a lot, and fish 96 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 2: and turkeys and elk and squirrels and marriage and all 97 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 2: sorts of fun stuff. If you haunt enough to be 98 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 2: wrong a lot, you realize that you have less to 99 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:22,280 Speaker 2: lose than you think, and more to gain from breaking 100 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 2: some of the hard and fast rules that most hunters follow. 101 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 2: But you have to acknowledge two things. The first is 102 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 2: that you're going to do things you think you probably shouldn't. 103 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 2: The second is that it's not going to happen quickly. 104 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 2: Let's start with the first part. What do I mean 105 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 2: by going where you shouldn't. Well, isn't that self explanatory? 106 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 2: You have to go walk that swamp edge, You have 107 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:49,039 Speaker 2: to go into what you think is the primo betting area. 108 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 2: Sometimes you have to go where you can learn something. 109 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:56,039 Speaker 2: If you're thinking, man, this guy's an idiot, I'm not 110 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 2: walking into the best spot on the thirty acres I 111 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:00,720 Speaker 2: hunt only a few days after the season opener. Let 112 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 2: me remind you of something. I've been begging you to 113 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 2: find more spots to hunt. Why didn't you? Huh wouldn't 114 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 2: one more spot make a world of difference? So you 115 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 2: wouldn't be so scared to go? Figure out why you're 116 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 2: listening to just another moron. It's spout hunting advice instead 117 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 2: of taking your freshly killed and kate buckhead to the taxidermist. 118 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 2: Even you, mister, I only hunt thirty acres. Guy can 119 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 2: go where you think you shouldn't. The way I do 120 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:29,360 Speaker 2: it for those small properties is this, I wait until 121 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 2: I have the conditions working in my favor. The first 122 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 2: is that I know I won't be able to hunt 123 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 2: that property for at least a few days. I want 124 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:39,479 Speaker 2: to go in when I know I'm going to be 125 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,359 Speaker 2: somewhere else for a little while, you know, right before 126 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,720 Speaker 2: a trip or a long stretch of dumb work where 127 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 2: there won't be any hunting to do. The second is 128 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:50,480 Speaker 2: I want to go in there in the midday, preferably 129 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,360 Speaker 2: in the rain. The midday part is easy enough to do, 130 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 2: especially if I plan to do a morning hunt on 131 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:58,679 Speaker 2: one of those small properties. The rain isn't as easy 132 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 2: to come by, but it helped if you can get it. 133 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 2: I'll also just take a good steady wind to at 134 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:05,920 Speaker 2: least cover up some of the sound and some of 135 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 2: my movement. Then it's just a matter of guessing on 136 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 2: where the deer probably went if they weren't where I 137 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 2: expected them to be. I see this a lot in 138 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 2: my neck of the woods, where the deer starts really 139 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 2: tuck into the edges of the wetlands once the season opens. 140 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:24,239 Speaker 2: They are often a mix of soft and hard edges 141 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 2: close together, and it's consistently some of the best betting 142 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 2: cover also functions as staging cover, where those early season 143 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 2: bucks will often leave their first rubs of the year. 144 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 2: The overall goal is just take a quick look around 145 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 2: while causing as minimal damage as I can, yet still 146 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 2: trying to learn something if you are interested in this 147 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 2: and are a small property hunter, or hell, if you 148 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 2: hunt huge properties, this works too. You should think small 149 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 2: when it comes to hunting spots. Don't think of a 150 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 2: whole ridge or the whole edge of the cattail. SIU 151 00:07:57,720 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 2: think about the exact spot the bucks should want to 152 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 2: be the most. Then go find it. Take that walk. Yeah, 153 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 2: you'll leave scent, you'll probably spook some deer, but you 154 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 2: should learn something. And I'm going to get into this later, 155 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 2: but remember this isn't a short game. Even though you 156 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 2: might find some sign worth going mobile on right now, 157 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 2: you're also building up some knowledge on what the deer 158 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 2: do as soon as they know they are getting bow 159 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 2: hunted again. That knowledge comes into play for the rest 160 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 2: of your hunting life on that property you hunt right 161 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 2: now and others you'll hunt in the future. Look at 162 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 2: it this way. Even if you've been hunting the same 163 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 2: spot for fifty years, there are things you don't know. 164 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:41,199 Speaker 2: There are deer spots you've never understood in those five decades, 165 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 2: and there are countless things that are different this year 166 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 2: from twenty five years ago, as well as one season ago. 167 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 2: There's always something to learn. I feel this every time 168 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 2: I start setting up for the new season, and then 169 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 2: really understand it once I start hunting. But it's also 170 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 2: a motivator to get out figure some new things out. 171 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 2: Sometimes I have a hard time with that though, for 172 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:15,840 Speaker 2: a couple of reasons. One is that I get scared 173 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 2: and lazy. I don't want to spook dear, and sometimes 174 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 2: I just don't want to go do extra work for 175 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 2: something that should be fun, so I trick myself into 176 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:26,959 Speaker 2: doing it. This often means I pick up a shotgun, 177 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:28,839 Speaker 2: a round up my dogs. Maybe I'm gonna go jump 178 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:31,439 Speaker 2: shoot a few woodies. Maybe I grab my twenty two 179 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 2: and I'm gonna go hunt squirrels for a little bit. 180 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 2: If there is something else to hunt, I find it 181 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 2: easier to go where I think I shouldn't. Now I 182 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 2: know this is sort of a contradiction because I told 183 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 2: you not to make an impact, but again, you got 184 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 2: to figure out how to do this. It's more important 185 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 2: than not doing it. So if that's what it takes, 186 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,559 Speaker 2: go do it. It's kind of like how it's easier 187 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 2: to go winter scouting if you have the possibility to 188 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 2: find a shed antler or two, or how it's not 189 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 2: so bad to hike a couple of miles deep into 190 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:02,679 Speaker 2: an elk drainage if you know you have a couple 191 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 2: of blunt tip arrows in your quiver and really high 192 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 2: odds of bumping into those delicious and oh so stupid 193 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 2: mountain dwelling grouse. You know, the lowly woodcock, the worst 194 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 2: eating and easiest to hit game bird I've ever encountered. 195 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 2: And yes, I know you'll send me some nasty emails 196 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:19,680 Speaker 2: on how tasty they are and how they are the 197 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:23,079 Speaker 2: supreme challenge for real wingshooters, even though you're wrong, has 198 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 2: probably led to more accidental big woods deer hotspots for 199 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 2: me than any other activity, aside probably from winter scouting, 200 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 2: which I think is a big woods hunter's best friend. 201 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 2: The thing is, woodcock hunting is fun, especially if you've 202 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 2: got a puppy and you want them to learn the 203 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 2: ways of game birds without dealing with roosters that will 204 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 2: run them to death or the randomness of rough grouse 205 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 2: In the early thick woods. Woodcock are predictable. They feed 206 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 2: in low wet areas, the kind of areas that bucks 207 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 2: on public land often retreat to when the masses show 208 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 2: up with their bows and crossbows ready to roll the 209 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 2: routes I take through the woods to shoot a few 210 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 2: of those warner meters as the routes I need to 211 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 2: take to often figure out where the bucks are living. 212 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 2: This is one of my favorite things to do when 213 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 2: I have time and several thousand acres of national forest 214 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 2: to hunt, although I will do it on a smaller 215 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:17,320 Speaker 2: private parcel too. The truth is it's just something I 216 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 2: enjoy doing enough that I'll sand bag a little bit 217 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 2: of potential deer success now to do it. But even 218 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 2: that's not entirely true, because walking where I think woodcock 219 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 2: might be has led to an awful lot of deer. 220 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 2: Like I said a few years ago, I spent quite 221 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 2: a bit of time on a large parcel of land 222 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:38,719 Speaker 2: in northern Wisconsin hunting deer, grouse, woodcock, and catch it 223 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:42,319 Speaker 2: a few brook trout throughout September and October. I pretty 224 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 2: much target all those animals and fish. At some point, 225 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 2: and as the rut drew closer, I switched mostly to deer, 226 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 2: but I hunted spots I found four weeks earlier while 227 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 2: woodcock hunting, because that took me into places I needed 228 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,319 Speaker 2: to see to have a better deer plan throughout the season. 229 00:11:58,120 --> 00:11:59,960 Speaker 2: Some of the spots I've found this way have become 230 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:04,040 Speaker 2: season after season places that I always check and more 231 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:07,600 Speaker 2: often than not hunt at some point. Now, this is 232 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 2: a different strategy than the low impact style so many 233 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 2: people preach. But the truth is, if you hunt pressure ground, 234 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 2: the deer used to some impact. They are used to 235 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 2: people going into areas and leaving scent all around and 236 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:22,679 Speaker 2: generally making their lives more stressful. Now, you might think 237 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 2: you can shortcut this whole thing and be real smart 238 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 2: by running trail cameras, but that's a tall order. Sure, 239 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:31,599 Speaker 2: if you have one trail or one tight spot that 240 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 2: you can run a camera on and figure something out, great. 241 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:36,680 Speaker 2: Think about it this way. What if the property you 242 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 2: hunt has just one ten acre swamp on it. There 243 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 2: might be dozens of trails leading into and out of it. 244 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 2: There are hundreds of yards of inside and outside edges 245 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:50,280 Speaker 2: to hunt on that little swamp. How many cameras would 246 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:51,680 Speaker 2: you have to run to get a pattern on the 247 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 2: deer going in and out of it? Probably more than 248 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:57,200 Speaker 2: you own. Now, what can you learn by taking one 249 00:12:57,280 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 2: or two laps around and through it will be quite 250 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 2: a bit. Some of it will be actionable in the 251 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 2: short term, but a lot of it will be actionable 252 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,559 Speaker 2: in the long term. Now, of course, running cameras around 253 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 2: it all season long might give you a hell of 254 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 2: a glimpse into what you should do next season, So 255 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 2: there is that. But I still think there is such 256 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:18,720 Speaker 2: a benefit to finding sign in person and taking note 257 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 2: of the deer that you jump and really looking at 258 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 2: the land and how the deer use it or how 259 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 2: they heloc use it or whatever. The main takeaway to 260 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 2: this is that you can't be afraid to break the 261 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 2: rules a little bit. I mean the rules of the 262 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:33,559 Speaker 2: hunting industry, not your state rigs. Just to be clear, 263 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 2: the rules that others follow apply to their hunting situation, 264 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 2: not yours. And honestly, if the generally accepted hunting rules 265 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 2: that came from the hunting industry worked so well, it 266 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 2: wouldn't be so damn hard for so many of us 267 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:50,559 Speaker 2: to consistently fill our tags. Yet it is think about that. 268 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 2: I want you to think about this as well. As 269 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 2: you're opening week, plan unravels and you see how it's 270 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 2: really going to take shape. Maybe that bachelor group you've 271 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:01,120 Speaker 2: been glassing all summer sticks to the pattern and you're 272 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 2: good to go. That's great, But if not, what's next. 273 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 2: Maybe the best way to learn this is by going 274 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:09,079 Speaker 2: elk hunting, which is a topic I covered a few 275 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 2: weeks ago. Elk will teach you things about how quickly 276 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 2: gain can be here today and gone tomorrow, to force 277 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 2: you to keep an eye on the clock because you'll 278 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 2: be on limited time. They'll remind you pretty much daily. 279 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 2: But how if you're not really right around them, you're 280 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 2: in for long, slow, frustrating, boring days. White tails will 281 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 2: teach you the same thing if you learn to ignore 282 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 2: the reality that you do have a long ish season 283 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 2: in which to encounter them. They'll teach you that lesson 284 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 2: if you're willing to be honest about the gaps in 285 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 2: your knowledge on any given property, and your willingness, often 286 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 2: too your own detriment to keep slapping the ass of 287 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 2: that dead horse you're trying to ride when it's clear 288 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 2: that things have changed and then deer have left you behind. 289 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 2: You don't have to buy a well bred lab puppy 290 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 2: in a little twenty eight gage to woodcock hunt to 291 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 2: do this. You don't have to go hunt squirrels in 292 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 2: the same oaks that you're dear feet under you don't 293 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 2: have to trick yourself into jump shooting some teal on 294 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 2: a series of ponds hidden deep in a national force. 295 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 2: But you should look at what it takes to get 296 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 2: yourself out there, learning and looking around as that season progresses. 297 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 2: This is the best way to stay proactive in my opinion. 298 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 2: And if you need to pair this strategy with some 299 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 2: fresh trail camera sets, great. It's hard to gather too 300 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 2: much deer intel, at least in my experience, But my 301 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 2: main point is this, don't be like other folks. Don't 302 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 2: put all your faith into your early season plan without 303 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 2: acknowledging that if it doesn't work well, you need to 304 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:41,600 Speaker 2: do some work. Don't just say to yourself, well, things 305 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 2: will get back to normal as soon as the wreck 306 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 2: gets closer, because then you'll sit out so much of 307 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 2: the season on a long odds bet instead of getting 308 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 2: out there and adding to your baseline of property knowledge 309 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 2: and your overall understanding of just what deer might do 310 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 2: at any given point of the season. And don't forget 311 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 2: to come back next week because I'm going to talk 312 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 2: about shot angles, dear body language, and how to mostly 313 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 2: deflate lungs or puncture dear hearts when you draw your bow. 314 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 2: That's it. I'm Tony Peterson. This has been the Wire 315 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 2: to Hunt Foundation's podcast, which is brought to you by 316 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 2: a first Light. I just want to say thank you 317 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 2: to all the listeners, all the people who go read 318 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 2: the articles at the Mediatter's site, everybody who's viewing the 319 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 2: different series that we put up there. So much support 320 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 2: from you guys at Gales. We just absolutely love it. 321 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 2: We truly appreciate it. If you are listening to this 322 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 2: and you want to hear podcasts by Clay or whoever, 323 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:40,360 Speaker 2: you can go to the mediator dot com find those. 324 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 2: You can find all those series. The Element boys are 325 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 2: putting up all kinds of good stuff, and of course 326 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 2: tons of articles on every kind of hunting and fishing 327 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 2: and foraging and whatever else that you want to see. 328 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 2: It's all there. And if you're like, you know what, 329 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:56,560 Speaker 2: I think I need a new first Light jacket or 330 00:16:56,640 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 2: maybe an FHF bino harness something like that to your 331 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 2: stores there for you as well. So while you're doing 332 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:04,440 Speaker 2: a little reading and consuming some content, maybe do a 333 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:07,440 Speaker 2: little shopping too, you do you, but check it out 334 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 2: at the medeater dot com.