Days In The Wild - Big game Hunting podcast

Henry Ferguson

Deer Hunting Today with Henry Ferguson
 
Show Notes:
For a lot of people, deer hunting is just getting tougher, not easier. In this episode, I talk with big buck hunter Henry Ferguson about the challenges of deer hunting today. Henry’s got a great perspective on deer hunting, and we covered the whole gambit.
 
There are a whole lot of things affecting deer herds. Human population, weather, and loss of habitat are changing how we hunt. Even social media is putting its mark on today’s hunters. A lot of these things seem like they’re getting worse, not better. So what do we do?
 
Wildlife management is a good start. Everywhere’s different, but here in Arizona, we deal with a trickle rut, which is influenced by buck to doe ratio. I talk a bit about how that affects our herd numbers. Henry’s in Colorado, and he questions some of the wildlife management practices they’ve got going. The truth is, a lot of deer herds are declining and hunting is the only tool we’ve got to handle that.
 
“Everybody is hunting for different reasons,” says Henry. Every hunter has their own goals. That’s a good thing. It’s important to keep that in mind during the hunt. Henry shared some stories about how keeping that in mind helps us enjoy hunting more. People hunting differently means there’s less competition, and more success for everyone.
 
Henry’s a great hunter, and he knows his stuff. You can hear how much he cares about hunting, wildlife management, and how we can enjoy hunting more.
 
 
 What’s Inside:
Social media and expectations can change how we take down bucks. It shouldn’t.
I talk about the trickle rut, what causes it, and how it impacts the herd.
A lot of deer herds are declining. This isn’t because of hunting, but hunting is the only tool we have to manage the herd.
Everyone hunts differently, but that helps more than it hurts.
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Phoenix Shooting Bags Save 20% with code: johnstallone
Lacuesa Discount with code: johnstallone
 
Short Description:
Things are getting tougher for hunters – not easier. John talks with Henry Ferguson about the new challenges facing deer hunters, and how hunters can keep moving forward and keep enjoying the sport.
 
Tags:
Chronic wasting disease, social media and hunting, population control, changing hunting, mule deer, whitetail deer, deer hunting
 

Arizona OTC Deer Hunt Q&A Mike Costello

This was an impromptu podcast Mike and I did on his drive to AZ. Mike reached out to me with some questions about hunting in arizona during the OTC archery deer hunt so we decided to record the conversation 
 
Mike Costello Hunting Ain't Easy on Apple Podcasts
Spot And Ambush Hunting https://johnstallone.me/spot-and-stalk-hunting-for-the-not-sneaky/
 
 

Llamas, Elk Hunting, and Archery with Omni Warner

Llamas, Elk Hunting, and Archery with Omni Warner
 
Show Notes:
 
After spending most of my day on the computer waiting for a tag, I got to chat with Omni Warner. He shared some great stories from his season so far. During a hunting trip in Colorado, Omni rented llamas to get into a special area. The first day of that hunt was rainy so they didn’t get out until the second day. On that day, his brother wound up killing a good buck. The next day, they found a bigger buck hunting along a ridge line that was about 3 miles long. 
 
Unfortunately, the next day their trailer broke down and they lost a day trying to get it repaired. They then went in on a different trailhead and glassed some bucks. They scouted some over the summer but couldn’t find them. During their last full day of hunting, they glassed up a buck in his morning bed and got him. Hunting in different states is always an adventure. 
 
On a separate Elk hunt, Omni took his sons for their first archery experience. His goal was to see his sons kill a bull and his one son accomplished it on the first day. Their first morning, they got two bulls bugling and his son was able to take a textbook perfect shot at a bull that was about six to eight yards away! Omni’s wife also shoots a bow. Her bow is much lighter, and we get to talking about how you don’t need a heavy bow for a successful kill. 
 
There’s so much diversity in what people shoot and all of them can work under the right setup and circumstances. It’s really all about shot placement. Accuracy, forgiveness, and sharpness of your broadhead are the three main factors. There are also a ton of transferable skills between shooting in a competition and shooting live game. The same confidence is required as well as the same way you calm your nerves, pick a spot to aim at, and set up your shot.
 
What’s Inside:
What it’s like to hunt and camp with llamas.
The advantages of hunting in different states.
Omni’s experience Elk hunting with his sons.
How aging affects your hunting game.
Shooting in competitions vs. shooting game.
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Days In The Wild
JohnStallone.me
 
Short Description:. Omni Warner has some great stories about his hunts so far this season. We talk about his experience hunting with llamas and a successful elk hunt with his sons. There are so many different ways to shoot a bow and similarities between shooting in a competition and a live hunt. It’s all in the setup and the circumstances and how much confidence you can bring to your game.
 
Tags:
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, big buck hunting, hunting stories, elk hunting, archery hunting, llamas, bugling

Paul Medel AZ Elk Lessons Learned

Elk Season Recap with Paul Medel
 
Show Notes:
Elk hunter Paul Medel spent pretty much the entire season hunting elk, and he’s here with us today on the show to talk all about it.
 
We spent the first day of the season together, and Paul saw more elk that day than he’d see in a whole season back on his home turf in Idaho.  The desert terrain threw him for a bit of a loop at first, though. In open areas like that, you might hear an elk bugle that sounds like it’s only 100 yards away, when it’s actually way further out. It took Paul a few days to really learn the rules of the land. “The elk are different in Arizona. The way they live, the way they react to things.”
 
Those bulls can be sneaky too! A big one managed to walk right up behind Paul’s son while he was raking, and he never even heard him. Paul watched without a shot as the bull checked out the noise, and turned and walked right back the way he came.
 
Paul also demonstrates and explains the three calls he used on the hunt. Remember, it’s not just about making good sounds, it’s about making the right sounds in the right situations. He was able to get a lot of responses out of the elk using those calls, and he goes into detail about calling tactics.
 
What’s Inside:
Arizona has a high concentration of elk.
Spend a few days learning the land when you hunt in a new area.
Bulls are sneaky! Keep your eyes peeled.
A demonstration of elk calls.
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Days In The Wild
elknut.com
 
Short Description:Elknut Paul Medel spent the season hunting elk, and he’s here today to recap the season. We talk elk behavior, the unique challenges of the Arizona landscape, how to cover a lot of ground while still having a good time, and more!
 
Tags:
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, elk, bull elk, big buck hunting, hunting stories,  elk calls, cow calls

Ironwill Bill Lessons Learned

Ironwill Bill Lessons Learned 
Bill Vanderheyden,  Co-Founder and Lead Engineer of Ironwill Broadheads shares with us stories of hunting elk.
#ElkHunting 
#Broadheads
Iron Will Outfitters - High Quality Broadheads and Components for Bow Hunting
 

Lessons Learned: Ibex Hunting with Brian Cillessen

Lessons Learned: Ibex Hunting with Brian Cillessen
 
Show Notes:
Today, I’m swapping stories and tips with Brian Cillessen, star of Beyond Rubicon. This episode is going to be a real mixed bag of good hunting info, so pull up a seat and get ready to hear some great stories!
 
Ibex are crazy animals. They’re like aliens. There’s something mesmerizing about the way they work a mountain. They’ll go up and down a cliff face like Spider-Man; one time when Brian spooked a group of them, he thought they’d jumped off a cliff into the void. But he walked over to the cliff face, and they were scurrying safely down the rocks. 
 
Brian learned about the New Mexico mountains known as “The Rock.” It’s some seriously intense New Mexico bush, but you can’t let it get into your head. You have to respect the terrain, sure, but the moment you become afraid of it, it’ll become your worst nightmare for real. He encountered two rock slides back to back, but after spending some time and learning the mountains, he got a handle for the area. 
 
Brian shares a success story that illustrates a great point: sometimes, you find success on the very last day of the hunt. He was in a situation where he was sick, the rest of the hunters had already packed up and left, and he was about to call it quits. But he decided that since he was halfway up the rock already, he might as well give it one last shot. And guess what? He spotted a herd of ibex, got into position, and bagged a billy that was hopping across the boulders below him.
 
We also talk bowhunting in the wind, Brian’s first kill with a bow, the thrill of scoring an Ibex for the first time, and more. 
 
What’s Inside:
Ibex are spider-goats!
Be confident in harsh terrain: don’t let the bush get into your head.
Don’t let the wind work against the angle of your shot.
Sometimes, success comes at the very end of the hunt. Don’t give up!
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Days In The Wild
 
Short Description:Ibex are amazing creatures, like some crazy cross between a goat and Spider-Man. Brian Cillessen, star of Beyond Rubicon, is here with us today to talk about lessons learned hunting ibex in the New Mexico mountain region known as “The Rock.”
 
Tags:
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, ibex, goat hunting, mountain goats, new mexico mountains, beyond rubicon, bow hunting

Are We losing The OTC archery Deer Hunts In AZ?

I speak with Brian Rimsza the Chairman of Bowhunting in Arizona and a board member of the Arizona Bowhunters Association about the possible changes to the OTC deer hunts here in AZ. It's very important for you to voice your opinion to the commission so that we don't lose our hunting privileges and we do what's necessary to maintain and healthy deer herd . Please share this episode and please take the time to reach out to the decision makers 
 
Hello,
 
As the Chairman of Bowhunting in Arizona and a board member of the Arizona Bowhunters Association I have been working with the Department and the Commission for the past six months to develop a better alternative to the drastic closure of over 30 OTC archery deer hunts that was made in the spring of 2020 . I commend the Department and Commission for their willingness to bring me into this process and listen to my ideas. Based on these conversations the AZGFD is going to present their Hunt Guidelines proposal to the Commission on December 10, 2021. The Commission will choose one of these recommendations to utilize in the management of OTC archery deer for the next 5 years so, it is very important! The hunt guidelines establish the parameters in which the Department and Commission can make hunt recommendations.
The Department's three recommendations for OTC archery deer management are:
Maintain the status quo. Basically, keep doing it the same way we have been doing it. This will lead to more and more OTC hunts being moved to a draw and the eventual closure of all OTC hunts once they exceed 20% harvest and a great loss of revenue.
Utilize a harvest threshold system. This is the managment strategy I have been fighting for.
Move everything to a draw. (estimated loss of 1 million dollars in tag sales revenue)
You can watch the webcast using this link:AZGFD
AZGFD
Public Forum Webcast. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) will conduct the second of two webcasts from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, to provide an update and gather public input on the review of the five-year game management hunt guidelines.
www.azgfd.com
 
I have included an additional breakdown of the potential for the threshold model that I propose below.
 
Threshold Model
  
Continue to issue OTC permits in the same manner we do now. Establish harvest objectives for each unit. These objectives will include an individual season objective along with an annual harvest objective. Utilizing a mandatory harvest reporting system similar to bears/lions requiring successful hunters to report their harvest via telephone, internet, or etag within 48 hours of harvest. Once the season harvest objective has been met in a unit close the season the following Wednesday at sundown. In addition to the harvest reporting, also utilize MANDATORY REPORTING to collect harvest data from unsuccessful hunters as well. This option would allow the department to reopen the units that were closed during the 2021 hunt recommendations process and return them to the OTC format.
 
Pro's
Reopen hunts that were closed last year
Accurate Harvest data
No loss of revenue
Active management during season, eliminating overharvest
Ability to evaluate non-resident harvest vs. resident harvest
Does not restrict non-resident participation
 
Con's
No restriction to non-resident tag sales
Currently there is a perception that non-resident participation/harvest should be restricted in the OTC deer hunts. At this time there is no data to support this claim although it is a strong perception from many. In 2020 non-residents accounted for 10.5% of the total OTC tags purchased, but we do not know what percentage of harvest occurred by non-residents v​s residents.
After utilizing this system for a few years, we would have data to show if non-resident participation/harvest needs to be regulated.
Requires an Article 3 rule change for mandatory reporting
 
 
Mandatory Reporting
 
The department has fought the idea of mandatory reporting for years. To put things in perspective, the Department’s hunter questionnaires from the 2020 OTC archery deer hunt showed 814 deer were killed, yet their estimate for total OTC archery deer killed in 2020 was 3,654. This estimate was made with only 24% of hunters actually completing a hunter questionnaire. Additionally, I have included an attachment containing a study completed by AZGFD in 2019 on moving to mandatory reporting. When you read the report, you will see "All states indicated that mandatory reporting has worked well for them." 
 
My suggested way to implement mandatory reporting would be to utilize the e-tag for those successful in the field as well as a paper tag. When you go to apply for elk and antelope in January the portal will prompt you to complete your mandatory hunter questionnaires. If you do not complete the questionnaire then you would not be allowed to apply for the draw. There would be no fine or penalty you simply could not apply for the draw without completing the mandatory report. 
 
Take Action!!!!!!
 
It is more important more than ever that we present a unified position to the Commission. I realize there are many great ideas and ways to manage our wildlife, but these are the only recommendations that are currently being considered at the December 10 Commissioner’s meeting. These recommendation are what will be presented to the Commissioners on December 10th. I encourage everyone to send an email to the Hunt Guidelines email showing their support for two items.:
 
HARVEST THRESHOLD MODEL FOR MANAGING OTC DEER
MANDATORY REPORTING OF BOTH SUCCESSFUL AND NON-SUCCESSFUL HUNTERS
 
Please send your email before December 1st.
 
AZhuntguidelines@azgfd.gov
 
If you have additional questions, please call me or email me.
 

Hunting in Hawaii with Armando Martinez

Hunting in Hawaii and The Bow Hitch with Armando Martinez
 
Show Notes:
 
Armando Martinez has a great product called The Bow Hitch. It’s a neat little device that makes carrying your bow suck less. He’s got a website and is on Facebook and Instagram, so check it out. The links are below. 
 
Armando started up The Bow Hitch with a friend of his in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he was born and raised. Armando is a fireman by trade and is set to retire in about 10 months. He grew up hunting, and started doing work as a guide in New Mexico, which took his hunting to the next level. He’s got a great story about hunting in Hawaii, a place I’ve heard was wild but couldn’t wait to hear more.
 
While he was working as a guide, he met someone who lived in Hawaii and wound up inviting him out to hunt. Now, Hawaii is way different than the mainland when it comes to regulations. They do have game and fish and have seasons on some parts of the island, but most of the game lands are privately owned. On privately owned lands, they don’t have seasons, so the dates and weapon choices don’t matter. Some areas do draw tags, but Armando didn’t have to go through that for his trip. 
 
On his first day out, Armando borrowed a custom rifle along with his bow after his guide suggested it. The animals in Hawaii are way more skittish, so a rifle would give him a better chance of shooting something to take back home with him. He went after a buck about 43 yards out but lost him. After 12 hours, he got pretty dehydrated from the heat and wind. The terrain on the islands is paradise, but it can be really rough.
 
The best part of the story is when Armando went to the airport to check in for his flight home and he realized he was a day early! He got an extra day of hunting to do, and he went out alone this time with his bow. In a grassy field, he came up on a bunch of deer and two bucks who were feeding and didn’t see him. It gets crazy from here on out. Armando wound up shooting the buck and then had to get some help to take it down. The buck kept getting back up and they would lose him in the grass, and at one point it charged at the other guy! It finally went down, and everyone lived to tell the tale.
What’s Inside:
What it’s like to hunt in Hawaii’s terrain.
Armando’s story of taking down a buck in the islands.
How hunting permits are different in Hawaii.
Information about The Bow Hitch.
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Days In The Wild
JohnStallone.me
Thebowhitch.com
The Bow Hitch on Facebook
The Bow Hitch on Instagram
 
Short Description:Armando Martinez is the co-founder of The Bow Hitch, a company with a device that makes carrying your bow suck less. He’s also got a wild story about hunting in Hawaii, which is way different than hunting on the mainland. 
 
Tags:
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, big buck hunting, hunting stories, deer hunting, rifle hunting, archery hunting

Long Range Hunting Dave Maher

Long Range Hunting Dave Maher
 
Show Notes:
I don’t think anyone knows more about hunting rifles than competitive shooting expert Dave Maher. Today, he’s on the show to give us a deep dive into all things hunting rifles and hand loading.
 
Did you know that the barrel of your rifle vibrates harmonically when you fire a shot? The barrel is actually moving around rapidly while the bullet is traveling through it, and this affects your accuracy. Dave explains exactly how this works, and tells us how you can “tune” your ammunition so that it exits the barrel consistently.
 
Dave also gives an in-depth guide to developing and tuning a load for your particular rifle. Start by looking at what you’re trying to hunt. This will tell you your caliber and bullet grain. Then, it’s time to start tuning your powder load. The goal is to get to consistent, small groups, and it’s going to take some trial and error to get there.
 
We also talk about ballistic software, shooting positions, shooting in the wind, recoil management, and more!
 
What’s Inside:
What are barrel harmonics?
The ins and outs of developing a load.
What “miles per hour” is your rifle?
Practice in the wind.
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Days In The Wild
 
Short Description:No one knows rifles like competitive shooter Dave Maher. He’s here today to geek out about all things hunting rifles, including how to tune and develop your own hand load. Plus, a deep dive on the science of barrel harmonics, a case for the sitting shooting position, dealing with the wind, and more!
 
Tags:
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, hunting rifle, shooting tips, hand load, reloading, powder load

Elk Hunting with Morgan Abbott

Elk Hunting with Morgan Abbott
 
Show Notes:
 
I’m talking to listener Morgan Abbott. He grew up in rural Utah, hunting with his dad – he shot his first deer at four years old! Today, he’s 23 and plans to take additional time off work so he can spend more time hunting. Just a few weeks ago, Morgan got into the Wasatch limited entry muzzleloader and shot elk with a friend of his. His friend drew the tags and they put their plans together, started placing trail cameras and locating cows over the summer. 
 
They showed up the night before the hunt, checked their cameras and didn’t see what they wanted. They were discouraged but woke up on opening morning and started glassing from square one. They hiked into a canyon and then another location and glassed up a 300-310 bull, a straight 6 point. His friend wanted to shoot it, but he thought they could do better. A third friend wound up joining them and they started bugling and some bulls started to respond. They spent a couple of days bugling and tracking, but nothing was happening.
 
On the fourth day, Morgan got to the trailhead they were working early, but someone had beat them to it. They decided to try a totally different area altogether and drove about an hour to another spot. He ripped a bugle and had 4 bulls answer immediately! They chased bugles all morning, found some cows and a 5 point, but they wound up letting him go and went back to camp. The next day, they woke up at 4am to hit the trail and were the first ones in the canyon. They bugled but it was dead silent. Right when they started to get discouraged again, they heard a long bugle about 10 minutes after shooting light, saw two cows through a small opening, and spotted a 6 point! After a lot of hard work to home in, they wound up getting it. It came in at around 330.
 
All the stress just left them after they shot the elk, and I know there’s no better feeling. It’s all worth it and it really is such a humbling experience. You don’t always realize how tired you are after the chase until it’s all over. Morgan said his pack out was exhausting but they wound up going home proud.
What’s Inside:
Morgan’s experience on the Wasatch Elk Hunt.
How to bugle.
How the chase humbles you when you finally get your kill.
Mentioned in this episode:
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Days In The Wild
JohnStallone.me
 
Short Description:Listener Morgan Abbott tells his intense story about getting a 6 point elk on the Wasatch hunt in Utah. After almost a week of bugling and tracking cows and bulls, they finally got their kill, which was a humbling experience for the whole crew. 
 
Tags:
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, big buck hunting, hunting stories, elk hunting, Wasatch elk hunting, muzzleloader