Days In The Wild - Big game Hunting podcast

Creed and Stallone AZ OTC Deer

I’m done for January and I’m here with Creed to chat about deer hunting. The time between the holidays and hunting goes by so fast. I didn’t get anything in December, but I made up for it in January with a big buck I call Megatron. He looked exactly like the offspring of a buck I chased around in 2017 and was in the same area. I stalked him twice last year but wound up getting Covid and my whole plan was shot. All this past December, I kept looking for him but every time I went to glass, some other guys would beat me to it. I wound up shooting him in the neck because he was quartering to me. 
 
Creed got an amazing Coues buck this January and it was a buck he had some history with. He found the buck last year and was living in a place where there were very few deer. He almost killed him last year and got to about 90 yards, but he miscalculated the distance between him and the ravine he was bedded in. This buck was the easiest for Creed to see and lived close to his house. Things took way longer than anticipated because he had to go slow to avoid making too much noise. He started stalking at 11:30 and got him at 2:00.
 
We also talk about the buck Creed got last year. He shot a Coues deer in January with a bow and before that he got another one with a rifle in November. The buck he shot last January was similar in size to the one he recently shot, and he got to hunt with his brother and cousin. Creed’s brother shot his first archery Coues deer on that trip and later that day they went in to look for another deer his brother had seen. Fortunately, he was right where he was supposed to be, and a doe led him in. Creed and I also talk about frontal shots and share our opinions.
What’s Inside:
How I finally got a buck I was tracking, Megatron.
How Creed got his recent Coues buck.
Stories from Creed’s hunting trip from last January.
Thoughts on frontal shots.
 
Mentioned in this episode
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
GoHunt: https://www.gohunt.com/
 
Short Description:
Creed is back on the show and we’re recapping our deer hunts from January. I share my story on how I got Megatron and Creed talks about how he got his amazing Coues buck. Creed also shares stories from his hunting trip from last January with his brother and cousin and we share our thoughts on frontal shots.
 
Tags:
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, deer hunting, mule deer, Coues deer, javelina hunting, bow hunting, archery

AZ OTC Deer Recap with Charles Whitwam

AZ OTC Deer Recap with Charles Whitwam
Show Notes:
 
Charles Whitwam and I are recapping an epic deer hunting trip with a ton of awesome stories. The last time he came out, it was a bit of a drought and neither one of us got a deer. We’re going through our trip day by day, and things kicked off on a Thursday. About an hour in, Charles was already on a stalk on a deer we named Limp Bizkit. He got in super close to a buck, but he had no shot. I then made a stalk where I was trying to cheat the wind. I moved to a spot where I tried to get a shot, and then a big buck we called Megatron came into view, but there was a doe right in front of him. Charles then found my number two buck, Heavy D, and dropped in after him and we chat about how things turned out.
 
Every morning of the trip, one of us had some great opportunities. Charles had the chance to shoot a big Javelina boar, but it was starting to get hot during the afternoon which was frustrating. We picked up some mule deer bucks, but we had to go out pretty far to get the wind right. We also were looking at a bunch of Coues deer who were in a decent position, but the doe wound up deciding for us and we passed on the buck that time. One evening, we decided to switch units, which didn’t turn out too great, so we packed up and tried somewhere else the next morning. 
 
Towards the end of the trip, Charles was within yards of a buck. I had to leave, but Anthony was with us, and he decided to take over. Charles snuck up closer to where the buck was within the flats and waited for a bit. Eventually, the deer caught his wind, and they took off. He moved in on another good buck, but the smaller lead buck got off to his right too much, and they both took off as well. Charles then sat up on some peaks and picked the bucks back up. The story continues through some more twists and turns but ends on a high note.
 
 
What’s Inside:
Recap and stories from an OTC deer hunt with Charles.
 
Mentioned in this episode
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
GoHunt: https://www.gohunt.com/
 
Short Description:
 
Charles Whitwam and I are recapping an epic deer hunting trip with a ton of awesome stories. The last time he came out, it was a bit of a drought and neither one of us got a deer. We’re going through our trip day by day. Although the trip had a lot of twists and turns, it ultimately wound up great for Charles.
 
Tags:
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, Arizona, deer hunting, OTC, doe, buck, mule deer, Coues deer

Hunters always the Villain Never the Hero Before Howl was Howl throwback

Hunters always the Villain Never the Hero 10.28
The Problem:
There was a time when hunters were revered as providers, adventures and even heroes. A societal shift has transformed the perception of the hunter/provider into an un-educated, reckless, blood thirsty animal hater. As a result hunters and hunting became recluse and stepped into the background, not because we were ashamed but because we did not want to offend the non-hunting public” the middle ground”. I remember when I took hunter safety back in the early 80’s one of the things we were told was never to flaunt our harvest because we do not what to offend anyone. This mentality of keeping to ourselves and sticking to the background was a sound practice back then. But it came with consequences: 1) We never took main stream credit for the good that we do, we never informed the main stream public that the majority of conservation was made possible due directly to the efforts and dollars of the hunter. So the middle ground was left to believe whatever they were influenced to believe. 2) While we were in the background our opposition was doing the opposite and taking a very public very “in your face” approach to pushing their agenda, infiltrating main stream media, using big name public figures, funding for movies and planting seeds in the minds of our young.  3) We no longer live in an age where we can shield the middle ground from our harvests. Social media and the internet allows information good and bad to travel at the speed of light and a picture that is intended for our friends and family to see may get placed in the eyes of a non-hunter. The anti-hunting public has exploited this and uses it to paint the picture and direct the narrative to make us look like we are evil.
Our silent work in the background approach has left us at a disadvantage, Anti-hunting have been building mountains of propaganda designed to discredit our efforts in conservation.  Moreover, they have become masterful at directing the narrative and using our own content against us. It’s so important now more so than ever that we become unified and start “marching” to the same drum, that we continue to recruit and cultivate new hunter conservationists, that we educate the non-hunting public about the truth about conservation and the role we play in it.       
Our Mission:
1)      To help the hunting industry unite and become a community: Through Social media efforts and our panel of industry influencers we aim to unite our industry into a community. We all don’t hunt the same or for the same reasons but we all love hunting.
2)      Help educate hunters the importance of portraying ourselves in a manner that shows our true drive and passion not just the trophy : Our Goal is to establish a  standard of conduct that will minimize the ability for the anti-hunting groups to use our own content against us.  
3)      Educate non-hunters in the good that we do as a community and the importance of hunting within the north American conservation model: One goal is to have a curriculum introduced in 5th -6th grade social studies that would teach children the North American conservation model. Another goal is to produce and distribute “Hug a Hunter” media to help bring awareness to the non-hunting public where funding comes from for wildlife management and restoration. Also, to produce and distribute articles based in fact that will shine a light on the truth in main stream media.    
4)      Recruit and cultivate new hunters: We will promote a grassroots movement to get our community to introduce new hunters to the lifestyle of hunting

The Controversial Frontal Shot with Joel Turner throwback thursday

The Controversial Frontal Shot with Joel Turner
Check out the article I wrote on frontal shots that goes along with this podcast
Also if you want to learn how to be in control of your shot check out Joel's program 

Calling and Hunting Stories with Bill Ayer

Calls and Hunting Stories with Bill Ayer
Show Notes:
Bill Ayer is with Slayer Calls. He got started around four or five years ago selling waterfowl calls. About two years ago, Bill started developing products for elk hunting. Bill and I might even try to put together a John Stallone elk call! Last year, they released their first-ever acrylic bugle tube and a couple of others. Slayer also has external calls and reeds. The elk products were well received, and they were able to adapt a lot of the waterfowl technology, giving them an edge.
 
Bill and I talk about our preferences in calls and some of the key features of Slayer’s bugle tubes and more. We also get into weight differences between acrylic and plastic tubes and some differences in what’s offered by competitors. The material of the tube impacts the sound, but it doesn’t necessarily affect performance. Elks all have different tones as well, and so using calls with different tones could even give you an advantage. Slayer also makes some pretty great turkey calls and they come in a bunch of different cuts. Bill has something new up his sleeve that could be a game-changer. He’s not quite ready to share it, but stay tuned.
 
Although he didn’t kill any bulls this year, Bill’s had some close encounters. He shares some stories from hunting in Idaho this past season. They chased some bulls with the Slayer Enchantress, but it was tough to get them to commit and close the distance. Bill tells a great story about what not to do while elk hunting. On one trip, he talks about his experience with higher elevation, which can really knock you out if you’re not used to it. If you’re heading to higher ground, make sure to do your research and plan accordingly.
 
 
What’s Inside:
Details on Slayer’s different calls.
Bill’s hunting stories from the past elk season.
How elevation can impact your hunting trip.
Waterfowl hunting stories.
 
Mentioned in this episode
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
GoHunt: https://www.gohunt.com/Slayer Calls
 
Short Description:
Bill Ayer is with Slayer Calls. Last year, they released their first-ever acrylic bugle tube and a couple of others. Slayer also has external calls and reeds. Although he didn’t kill any bulls this year, Bill’s had some close encounters. He shares some stories from hunting in Idaho this past season.
 
Tags:
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, elk hunting, elk calling, bugling, waterfowl, elevation, geese, turkey hunting, turkey calls, bulls

Javelina Hunting Q&A with Armando Martinez

Javelina Hunting Q&A with Armando Martinez
 
Show Notes:
Armando Martinez, also known as “the Bow Hitch” guy, is back to talk about all things Javelina hunting here in Arizona. We did a raffle for Howl for Wildlife for a fully guided javelina hunt with yours truly, and Armando was the lucky winner. We’re heading out during the upcoming HAM (handgun, archery, and muzzleloader) season, which is a great time of year for javelina. Archery season ends at the end of January and the new season kicks off on the 10th of February which gives the animals a chance to equalize a bit.
 
Armando reached out and wanted to do a bit of a Q&A on javelina hunting for all the listeners. We kick off by going into detail on what a javelina even is. They’re hoofed animals and are actually related to the hippopotamus. People in Arizona call them pigs, and the name “javelina” means “little javelins” and refers to the little tusks they have. We talk about key characteristics, differences between males and females, and what makes a particular javelina a good one to take down. In Arizona, javelina season starts as early as August and I share the best times of year to head out.
 
We chat about vitals and where to aim your shots, with the shoulder being your best bet. Javelinas do charge and go on the offensive, which makes them a great animal to call. I cover Arizona’s point system and why it’s one of the best and a little bit about my outfitting business, including what a typical hunt looks like. We talk about all the gear you need for stalking and glassing, which caliber bow to bring with you, and tips for shooting javelina with a rifle (shooting bags make all the difference). 
What’s Inside:
Javelina habits and characteristics.
What makes a good target javelina.
Best times of year to hunt and how to draw tags.
Vitals and where to aim your shot.
Details about my outfitting business and how to set up a hunt.
Ideal gear for stalking and glassing.
How shooting bags help your rifle.
 
Mentioned in this episode
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
GoHunt: https://www.gohunt.com/
 
Short Description:
Armando Martinez, also known as “the Bow Hitch” guy, is back to talk about all things javelina. Armando reached out and wanted to do a bit of a Q&A on javelina hunting for all the listeners. We chat about javelina habits and characteristics, what makes a good target javelina, where to aim your shot, and the best time of year to hunt. We also get into details about my outfitting business, ideal gear for stalking and glassing, and the benefits of using a shooting bag.
 
Tags:
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, javelina, javelina hunting, Arizona, archery hunting, bow hunting, days in the wild, hunting podcast, john stallone, armando martinez

Late Season Elk and South Dakota Mule Deer with John, Anthony, and Joey Stallone

Late Season Elk and South Dakota Mule Deer with John, Anthony, and Joey Stallone
 
Show Notes:
My cousin Anthony and his son Joey (who I call my nephew), just came off a late bull season elk hunt. I purposely waited about a week to hear their stories for the first time until I was ready to do this episode, and I saw them right after they came back. We kick off by talking about elk meat, ways to prepare and process it, and some stories from past elk hunting trips.  It’s pretty easy to make a delicious dish with elk if you’re paying attention to how you’re cooking it. Here, we share some tips on how to prepare meat from your own trips to get the best results.
 
Next, we get into how the actual elk hunt went. Anthony wound up getting sick during the scouting process and the initial scouting trip got pushed. He did a bit of scouting through maps and got some intel from a friend, but when they got there, the roads were really tough to navigate. Joey spotted a couple of mountain lions, but Anthony wound up finding him a buck instead. Then, Joey found two bulls and they decided to try to get them a night later. Anthony’s dad was there that day and his cousin Matthew, who was new to this kind of experience and was super impressed. Eventually, Anthony wound up getting a clear shot at a bull that he had to walk about 30-40 minutes to. 
 
Then I get into a mule deer hunting trip I had with clients in South Dakota. A huge storm hit and my clients couldn’t get through a particular pass until days later, but that meant I got some time to myself. The weather was good and I had some great shots, especially on the fourth day. I was also talking to my friend Charles through the radio and helping him glass. We found a buck that was bedded and then when I set myself up, three does wound up coming by. Then, four more does hopped over a fence along with a younger buck. Two fawns were headed toward Charles and I was giving him a play-by-play the whole time. Eventually, he shot the buck and it hopped the fence to my neighbor’s side. I kept at it to try to get one of my targeted bucks, and I actually wound up getting a mild case of frostbite. I powered through, but after a few more days of bad luck, I went home empty-handed.   
What’s Inside:
How to cook elk meat the right way.
Stories from the late-season elk hunt.
Joey’s lessons learned from the hunt.
Stories from a South Dakota mule deer hunting trip.
 
Mentioned in this episode
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
GoHunt: https://www.gohunt.com/
 
Short Description:
My cousin Anthony and his son Joey just got back from a late-season elk hunt and here, they recap their stories. We talk about everything from preparing and cooking elk meat to lessons learned from the trip. Then, I get into a mule deer hunting trip in South Dakota, which didn’t turn out as good as I hoped, but it made for some great stories.
 
Tags:
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, elk hunting, mule deer, mule deer hunting, elk meat, cooking, doe, white tail deer, bow hunting

AZ Draw with GoHunt researcher Dave Barnett

AZ Draw with Dave Barnett from GoHunt
Show Notes:
Dave Barnett is the Research Content Manager at GoHunt, where he deals mostly with their insider platform. He’s been working at GoHunt full-time since 2018 and prior to that, he did freelance writing work for them as far back as 2015. Through his work, Dave’s intimately familiar with how the drawing process works, and here, we talk tag strategy and pick apart Arizona. We go over how the state’s point system works, which happens to be my and Dave’s favorite. Backwards to a lot of other states, 20% of the tags go to the highest point holders while the other 80% goes to a random draw.
 
In the past, there were leftover tags available for deer hunts, but you don’t see that anymore. Dave and I talk about what’s different now, and even though the pressure is climbing, the odds of drawing are still pretty good. Some units are already closed, and we talk about how limited tag numbers create a focusing effect on what’s still available. We also discuss changes in the upcoming elk draw, which there haven’t been too many of in Arizona. However, a lot of the surrounding Western states have changed due to the growing population and demand from residents. 
 
Even a tiny percentage change in a point system can affect your strategy, and Dave gives us his take on Arizona. In general, if you’re a high point holder, it’s fairly predictable. We explain the point system in laymen’s terms and make it super simple to understand. We also talk about late-season hunting, which offers a totally different experience than some other states. Dave explains the different tiers of units and why it’s important to think about what you want to accomplish during your hunting experience. He also shares how you can use the GoHunt platform to decipher what’s best. 
What’s Inside:
Overview of AZ’s tag draw process 
How the current draw process differs from the past
Dave’s take on the Arizona point system
Late-season hunting strategy tips
Unit tiers and how to plan based on what you want to experience
How to use the GoHunt platform to plan your strategy
 
Mentioned in this episode
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
GoHunt: https://www.gohunt.com/
 
Short Description:
Dave Barnett is the Research Content Manager at GoHunt and here, we talk tag strategy and pick apart Arizona. We go over how the state’s point system works and changes in the upcoming elk draw. Dave explains the different tiers of units and why it’s important to think about what you want to accomplish during your hunting experience. He also shares how you can use the GoHunt platform to decipher what’s best. 
Tags:
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, elk hunting, mule deer, mule deer hunting, Coues deer, Arizona, tag, draw, archery, bow hunting, late season hunting, GoHunt

Wyoming Elk Draw review and changes

Dave Barnett joins me to discuss the WY draw some upcoming possible changes, how to navigate the Wyoming elk draw, Wyoming elk hunting tag strategies and Wyoming elk hunting opportunities  

In Field tips for Taxidermy prep with Josh Todd

In Field tips for Taxidermy prep with Josh Todd
 
Show Notes:
Josh Todd owns McDowell Mountain Taxidermy, a small custom shop in North Scottsdale. Taxidermy is Josh’s hobby and passion and he’s selective about what he takes in and works on. He also does a ton of refurb work cleaning up and bringing an animal back to life. Here, Josh and I get into in-field care to help your taxidermist give you the best possible product. There’s a lot you can do in the field and the moment you get something down, the clock starts ticking. Hunters often have that mentality when it comes to meat, but the same applies when you want to come back with a proper mount or something life-size. In warm weather, fur can start slipping pretty quickly, so the sooner you get the animal cold, the better. 
 
Josh talks about customizations and mannequins available and why having enough cape and shoulder is important. He also gives us a solid play-by-play from getting a bull down in an elk hunt to taking it to the taxidermist. Even though you’re racing the clock, don’t forget to take those hard-earned pictures – you’ll have time for those. Josh walks through all the right cuts and includes a ton of great details. When you’re packing up, never use trash bags or plastic bags and go with something breathable made for game hunting. And don’t forget to keep everything on ice.
 
One of the biggest issues I have is how to keep a larger animal with a big rack cool enough until it makes it to the taxidermist. Josh shares some tips on how you can get creative and do things right to get the best end result. We talked about his preferred methods for European mounts and whitening techniques and processes. Josh and I wrap up by talking about velvet antlers and how to handle them. Try your best not to touch the antlers because they’re super delicate by the tips. Velvet is developing organic tissue and it’s important to get it cold as fast as possible.
What’s Inside:
What to do in the field to preserve your kills the right way.
A play-by-play of what to do from getting a bull down to taking it to the taxidermy.
How to keep things cool when you have a larger animal/big rack.
What to do with velvet antlers.
 
Mentioned in this episode
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
GoHunt: https://www.gohunt.com/
 
Short Description:
Josh Todd owns McDowell Mountain Taxidermy, a small custom shop in North Scottsdale. Josh talks about customizations and mannequins available and why having enough cape and shoulder is important. He also gives us a solid play-by-play from getting a bull down in an elk hunt to taking it to the taxidermist. We discussed his preferred methods for European mounts and whitening techniques and processes. Josh and I wrap up by talking about velvet antlers and how to handle them.
 
Tags:
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, taxidermist, elk hunting, deer hunting, mannequin, velvet, taxidermy tips, days in the wild, john stallone, josh todd, hunting podcast