Days In The Wild - Big game Hunting podcast

Ed Woolstenhulme Lessons Learned Mule Deer

Today, we’re starting a new series called Lessons Learned. The goal of this series is to focus on the lessons we learn that change the way we hunt.
 
I’m joined today by Ed Woolstenhulme from Utah. He’s been hunting since he was big enough to hold a BB gun, and he’s spent a lot of time working as a hunting guide too. Over the years, he’s learned a lot about hunting mule deer, both from hunting and guiding. He tends to like the action side of hunting, but he learned the hard way that it pays to be patient.
 
Ed tells a story about a big mule buck with a unique coat that had eluded him for four solid days while he was guiding a client. Ed and the client decided to sit down for the night to wait the buck out and glass the area. Typically, Ed would rather walk the terrain and try to stir the animals up, but this time, waiting paid off big time. The elusive mule buck with the unique coat bedded down about 150 yards from them. The client took the shot, and bagged himself a beautiful buck.
 
Ed wasn’t always so patient though. He’s got a few stories about times when he rushed things and messed up the hunt. One time, he was guiding for two guys, a man and his son. They were about 550 yards out when Ed decided to set them up to take a large buck that they had been hunting. The kid didn’t get a good shot though, and the buck disappeared over a fence onto the neighboring ranch, never to be seen again.
 
I’ve had this problem too. As a guide, sometimes we forget that the guy behind the trigger isn’t us. What seems like a slam-dunk shot for you may not be the same for the actual shooter. In cases like that, it’s better to really take your time, get a good range, and do a dry fire. Most of the time, there’s no rush at all to take the shot, so don’t hurry and skip your fundamentals.
 
What’s Inside:
Why it’s important to take your time
Learn good glassing skills
Learn the terrain by walking it, but know when to sit and wait
Tips for guiding
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Days In The Wild
Awesome Sauce Mineral
Muley Times Instagram
 
Short Description:Today, I’m kicking off a new series called Lessons Learned with mule deer hunter and guide Ed Woolstenhulme. Over the years, he’s learned a lot about the importance of being patient, and we swap stories about times we rushed things and messed up the hunt: and the times we were patient and scored big.
 
Tags:
mule deer hunting, big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, big buck hunting, hunting stories

I Got A Tag, Now What? With Jaden Bales

I Got A Tag, Now What? With Jaden Bales
 
Show Notes:
A lot of new hunters have no idea where to start when it comes to prepping for a hunt. They got a tag, but they have no idea what to do next.
 
Longtime hunter Jaden Bales has developed a system for hunting prep. He, like me, thinks that you have to be in the hunting mindset year-round. Start your scouting early. Learn the land before the season starts. You can look at weather reports and maps to figure out where the water is, and that’s going to massively affect where the animals are going to be. Your local area game and fish sites are going to be a great source of information, too.
 
You can also reach out to local experts; just be sure and ask the right questions. You don’t want to be “that guy!” Remember, these guys get asked about the basics all the time, so try and get that stuff figured out on your own first.
 
Jaden also works with the Wyoming Wildlife Federation to help conservation efforts in his home state. To learn how you can help, go to wyomingwildlife.org.
 
What’s Inside:
ABH: Always Be “Hunting”.
Study the lot as soon as you pull a tag.
How to get info online about the area.
What questions to ask the local experts.
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Days In The WildJohnStallone.me
Wyoming Wildlife Federation
Jaden Bales on Instagram
 
Short Description:So you pulled a hunting tag; now what are you supposed to do? Longtime hunter and friend of the show Jaden Bales tells us how to properly prepare for a hunt by studying the area before the season even starts, plus shares tips and stories about how to take that scouting knowledge and use it on the hunt. 
 
Tags:

Preseason Practice and Prep

So I have had many people ask me about getting ready for season so I put together a solo podcast to talk about the subject. bellow are links to some of the video I reference .
Elk Practice
Never Miss an Elk Again
First shot pin checking
Archery Training drill
In The Field Practice
Some practice scenarios 

Lessons Learned Coues Deer with Jay Scott

Lessons Learned – Coues Deer with Jay Scott
 
Show Notes:
We’ve all heard the saying: keep your eye on the ball. It’s true in baseball, and as a general statement about goals in life. Gotta keep your eyes on the prize. Well, Jay Scott learned from years of experience that in hunting, you have to keep your eye on the buck. He’s been hunting coues deer in Arizona and Mexico for years, and that’s the biggest piece of advice he has for hunters of all skill levels. “Those coues deer especially have a unique ability to get away from you.”
 
Nothing is more frustrating than stalking a deer for hours and then, when you decide to move to a better shooting position, the buck disappears on you. The trick is to work with a buddy who can keep the buck glassed while you make your move.
 
This is more difficult to do when you’re alone; Jay recommends getting a height advantage on the animal so that you can keep it in sight while you move. It’s also a good idea to wait a good 30 minutes or so after a deer beds down, just to make sure that he isn’t going to get back up again and move once you look away.
 
I lost a buck this way one time while hunting with a friend. I had him in my scope with my rifle all set to shoot, and then I looked away for no more than 30 seconds to check on my friend. When I looked back in my scope, the buck was gone.
 
Its for this reason that the spotter’s job is so important. If you’re spotting for a buddy, treat your job with the same intensity that you would treat the shooting or the stalking portion of the hunt. All it takes is a split second while you look away to grab a sandwich from your bag, and bam, the animal vanishes.
 
Jay also has some great stories and tips for finding coues deer. Features like prominent shade are good things to look for in the Arizona desert, because the deer will move from open feeding areas to the shade to rest. The time of year and weather plays a factor too. That’s why its important to learn the land, and the animals on it.
 
That way, if the deer does manage to disappear on you, at least you’ll know where he should be next.
 
What’s Inside:
Keep your eye on the prize: in this case, the animal you want to harvest
The importance of intensity as a spotter
Tips for finding coues deer in the Arizona desert
Use elevation and ridgelines to help spot animals
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Days In The Wild
Jay Scott Outdoors Podcast
 
Short Description:Deer are elusive creatures, and they can vanish on you in an instant. That’s why Jay Scott says never to take your eyes off an animal you want to harvest. He explains this tip and more, while sharing stories of hunting coues deer in the Arizona desert.
 
Tags:
coues deer hunting, big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, big buck hunting, hunting stories, hunting in arizona, how to spot

Hunting Is A Mental Game with Brandt Smith - Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned – Hunting Is A Mental Game with Brandt Smith
 
Show Notes:
Whitetail deer are a ton of fun to hunt. In my experience, when you’re hunting whitetail, anything goes. You can stalk ‘em, hunt ‘em from a stand, rattle ‘em in... There are so many options. My friend Brandt Smith has been hunting whitetail since he was 17, and he’s got a lot of great stories to share. 
 
After some early success with big bucks, Brandt ran into a dry spell that lasted for a few years. During that time, he had to re-evaluate what he was doing, “Yeah, some things are going my way... but what can I do better?”
 
One thing he figured out is that whitetail are really good at noticing the intrusion of a hunter into their area. You may think you’re being quiet and sneaky, but you are educating deer with the things you are doing. You have to be extra careful, not only when getting into your stand, but when leaving it too, because if you stir up animals, even on your way out, they are going to learn to avoid that location.
 
Ultimately, hunting is a game of chess. It’s less about how quickly you can get up the ridge, or how many days you can spend out in the wilderness at a time hunting. It’s a mental game, a battle of wits between you and nature.
 
This comes into play especially when hunting from a tree stand. Keeping your mental game focused when you’re standing on a 2x2 platform for hours is a real challenge, but it’s one you need to master. Brandt also learned that he had better success when he did shorter trips. It’s hard to stay focused for 17 straight days, for example, but two 5 day stretches, one at the beginning of the season, and one near the end? Brandt started doing way better once he adopted this strategy.
 
You also have to be willing to put in the time it takes to learn the land. Brandt says that “time plus location equals success.” It’s the genetics of the area that produce big bucks, and they will make another one if you get the kill.
 
“You gotta hunt smart, and hunt hard. Don’t climb out of the treestand to eat a sandwich... You never know when it’s gonna happen.”
 
What’s Inside:
Whitetail deer: one animal, many methods to hunt
Hunting is more mental than physical
Tips for keeping your focus
You can’t perfectly predict the deer, so you have to always be ready
Time plus location equals success
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Days In The Wild
Fade to Black
 
Short Description:We like to think of hunting as a physical activity, but it’s much more a mental game: you versus nature. Whitetail deer expert Brandt Smith shares stories and tips for outsmarting whitetail deer and upping your mental focus on hunts.
 
Tags:
whitetail deer hunting, big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, big buck hunting, hunting stories, white tail, mental focus

Arizona Mule Deer with Hunter Weems

Arizona Mule Deer with Hunter Weems
 
Show Notes:
Today, I’m talking with my friend Hunter Weems from Arizona. He’s been guiding hunts since he was old enough to have a license, and he grew up in his dad’s guide outfit. So, it goes without saying that he really knows his stuff when it comes to hunting and guiding in the Arizona backcountry. I brought him on the show to pick his brain about mule deer.
 
One thing Hunter learned over the years is the importance of good scouting and prep work. In fact, he takes pride knowing that he’s out there with boots on the ground before any of the other outfits in the area. By spending all that time out there scouting, you learn where all the animals tend to be, and how they tend to move around. Then, when it's time to hunt, you know right where the bucks are going to be.
 
Trail cameras can also be a great tool for prep work. Hunter likes to set his cameras up around water. “The deer can walk anywhere they want. They can’t drink anywhere they want.” But, as helpful as trail cameras are, they’re no substitute for boots on the ground scouting. If you’re relying solely on cameras, you’re not going to do very well. 
 
When it comes to locating deer, stick to what you’ve had success with in the past. If there’s good feed and water nearby a bedding location, for example, you’re probably going to see a lot of deer there. That’s a general terrain combo that you can look for in other units. Take your past successes and build on them.
 
But, also, you can never fully predict the behavior of mule deer. For example, when it comes to migration, the deer tend to move down from the mountains when the snow gets heavy. But Hunter saw a big buck one time that decided to migrate down ahead of the rest of the herd. The snow hadn’t picked up yet, but something inside told this deer to go ahead and move. And other times, he’s seen deer hanging around in snow up to their bellies!
 
At the end of the day, it’s when you combine experience with the extra work it takes to set yourself up for success that leads to the best hunts. Hunter definitely loves what he does; you can get in touch with him at ArizonaCustomHunts.com to learn about him and his guide outfit.
 
What’s Inside:
Remember: guides provide a service, not a product.
Scouting on the ground is the key to a good hunt.
How to use trail cameras to help scout.
What to look for when trying to find deer.
Don’t let uncomfortable conditions like wind scare you off. They don’t bother the deer!
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Days In The Wild
Arizona Custom Hunts Instagram
ArizonaCustomHunts.com
 
Short Description:Today, we talk with my friend Hunter Weems, who’s been hunting and guiding in Arizona since he was old enough to get a license. I pick his brain about scouting, locating deer, trail cameras, deer migration patterns, and more.
 
Tags:
mule deer hunting, big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, big buck hunting, hunting stories, hunting in Arizona, how to use trail cameras

Elk Calling with World Champ Jermaine Hodge

 Elk Calling with Jermaine Hodge
 
Show Notes:
 
A lot of people ask me about the top four or five elk sounds to learn. For beginners, I would suggest working on calf sounds but if you want to consistently call elk, practicing on cow sounds is your best bet. In this episode, we have world champion elk hunter and expert caller, Jermaine Hodge, to demonstrate how you can use a diaphragm to make cow and calf sounds.
 
“Those two are the most important for me, in the woods. Those were the ones that were getting it done for me on a consistent basis.”
 
A good location bugle will help you find the bull. Then, you can move in and start your cow and calf sounds to draw him in. Jermaine shows off and explains his location bugle on both a tube and a diaphragm. That’s definitely the next thing to learn. After that, grunts and chuckles should be your focus.
 
As a somewhat more advanced caller, I was curious to pick Jermaine’s brain about different bugles. Listening to the way the bull responds to your location bugle can tell you a lot about the animal’s temperament. If you get a chuckle as a response to your location bugle, then the bull is mad and doesn’t want you coming close. Personally, I get a lot of success using courting bugles when I’m having trouble getting a location call.
 
You don’t have to be the best elk caller in the world. Sure, it helps, but you don’t have to be perfect to successfully call some elk. Practice the calls that you’re not good at, and the ones you are good at will improve along with them. Youtube can be a good way to listen to elk if you can’t get out into the field.
 
What’s Inside:
Jermain talks about the most important elk calls for a beginner to learn, and demonstrates them on a diaphragm and a tube.
Master your cow and calf sounds, location bugle, grunts, and chuckles first.
The way a bull responds to your calls can tell you a lot about what’s going on.
Practice makes perfect. Your calls won’t get better unless you get out there and work on them.
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Phoenix Shooting Bags Save 20% with code: johnstallone
Days in the Wild
Primos.com Save 15% on everything at Primos with code: STL02
Jermaine Hodge on Instagram
Jermaine Hodge on FacebookColorado High Altitude Hunters
Short Description:
Jermain demonstrates and discusses the most important beginner elk calls: cow and calf sounds, location bugles, grunts, and chuckles. Also, the way a bull responds to your calls will tell you what he’s up to and how he’s feeling.
 
Tags:
How to call bull elk, elk hunting, elk calls, elk bugles, location bugles, how to call with a diaphragm, cow sounds, challenge bugles, better elk calls, what does an elk sound like

Big Mule Buck Behavior with Dustin Wittwer

Big Mule Buck Behavior with Dustin Wittwer
 
Show Notes: 
It’s one thing to read about stuff in a book or hear about it in a podcast. It’s a real “ah hah” moment when you see it happen in real life. Little details like that, the ones that you only learn from experience, can really make a difference on a hunt.
 
Mule deer bucks are smart. Dustin had always read about big bucks circling back on their own tracks, but in 2019, he saw it firsthand. He was watching a group of bucks when another hunter arrived to go after the same group, and when the wind gave the other hunter away. As the bucks moved around the side of the peak, the largest buck stopped. The buck did a 180 turn, went back along his own tracks, and bedded down in such a way so that he could watch his back trail. If the hunter had decided to try and follow, that buck would have seen him instantly and bolted.
 
The trick is not to follow a spooked buck, but to circle around the other way. Dustin’s brother was able to turn this knowledge into success on a past hunt by circling around the peak the other way. He came up behind the buck, who had already bedded down and was focused the opposite way, and took him with a bow. 
 
“Watching those big bucks, and trying to play chess instead of checkers, that’s what I really learned. Thinking about the mountainside, thinking about which way the buck is going to go.”
 
Firsthand lessons are always the best, and that means getting out there and hunting. And it means sticking with it if you don’t succeed right away. Dustin and his brother learned that on a 7 day hunt. Sometimes, all you need is one more good stalk to walk away with a beautiful buck. Most of my success happens in the last day or two that I have scheduled, so don’t give up early.
 
Hunting over and over within the same unit is a great way to learn the area. You’ll learn the terrain and the habits of the animals. You can find out the best feeding spots and bedding areas. Even if you kill the animals that use those spots, nature will fill that void back in, and you can return and use that knowledge again and again. 
 
“There’s always something to chase. There’s no way someone can tell you exactly how to do it.” You can study and discuss hunting and deer all day, but there’s always a new experience out there to learn from. 
 
What’s Inside:
Dustin shares stories and lessons learned from years of hunting.
How to circle around a big buck and catch him unaware.
Stick with it to succeed. Don’t give up early.
Hunt the same area repeatedly to learn the terrain and behavior of the animals.
Beware of big cats!
Mentioned in this Episode:
Phoenix Shooting Bags Save 20% with code: johnstallone
Days in the Wild
Primos Save 15% with code: STL02
Finding Backcountry Podcast
 
Short Description:
Learning about bucks is one thing, but experiencing their habits in the wild is another. Dustin talks about tactics for stalking mule deer and shares stories from his years of experience.
 
Tags:
Buck hunting, mule deer hunting, stalking bucks, big buck hunting, how to hunt big bucks

Randy Ulmer on String Jump

Jumping The String With Randy Ulmer
 
Show Notes:  
Randy Ulmer joins me today to talk about the dreaded “jumping the string.” What does it mean if a deer jumps the string? Something triggers the deer to jump when an arrow is shot; and moves before the arrow can get to it. Today we discover a few theories about just what causes deer to jump the string.
 
When an arrow is shot, deer can collapse their front legs and drop their chests in preparation to spring, and the arrow ends up missing them. This is a lot easier if their heads are down to start with. An alert deer is much more likely to jump than a non-alert deer, and older age class bucks are much more likely to jump than younger bucks. Older bucks have been pursued more, by other hunters and predators, so they are more sensitive. Young bucks jump as well, just not as often. Interestingly, when targeting a deer in a group, the other, non-targeted deer aren’t as likely to jump as the targeted one. 
 
What causes a buck to jump? There are a couple theories. Some people think it’s the sound of the bow shooting the arrow, and another camp of people think it’s the sound of the actual arrow. Distance might also play a role. The closer you are to the deer, the more likely they are to detect you. The closer the deer, the louder the bow and arrow are, and the more likely the target deer is to jump.  The kind of arrows you use makes a big difference as well. Thinner, slower, stiffer arrows make less noise, so deer are less likely to jump. 
 
While frustrating, there are things you can do to cut back on the number of bucks that jump the string. Randy likes to use the same bow for every animal because he has a great feel for it. Put shock absorbing devices on the bow to mute the sound. Use a very small diameter arrow.  You can’t avoid the problem completely but you can implement some of these to avoid losing that prize buck. 
 
What’s Inside:
What is the distance sweet spot when it comes to bow hunting?
Which deer are mostly likely to jump?
The importance of researching deer in the area you want to hunt. 
 
Mentioned In This Episode:Phoenix Shooting Bags Save 20% with code: johnstallone
Days in the Wild
Primos.com Save 15% on everything at Primos with code: STL02
 
Short Description:
There is nothing more frustrating than finding a prize buck, loading your bow, taking a shot, and then seeing the deer “jump the string.” Many, many bucks have been lost this way. Today Randy Ulmer and I discuss what causes a deer to jump the string and what can be done to curb it. 
 
Tags:
String jumping, jumping the string, bow hunting, older age-class bucks, blind, ground blind, Whitetail deer, Mule deer, Coues deer
 

Paul Medel - Calling Unresponsive Elk

Calling Unresponsive Elk with Paul Medel
 
Show Notes:
Last year, Paul kept hearing from hunters that they could not get the elk to respond. Even for me, it was tough to get a bugle out of them. Personally, I’ve found here in the desert that drought conditions affect the estrus cycle, so it’s possible we’ll continue to see elk that don’t respond if we have another dry summer. So if you’ve got no action and the bulls aren’t fired up, what do you do? ElkNut Paul Medel demonstrates elk calling techniques that he employs when faced with a reluctant elk herd.
 
“If you can see the elk and what you’re doing is not working, they’re still callable. You just have to get your mindset right”, insists Paul. That’s why he tailors his calls to attract a bull. 
 
When you’re chasing down a bull and then you lose sight of them, a hunter might get impatient and make a lot of sounds to get the bull to respond. That’s the worst thing you can do because it gives away that you’re a hunter. Be patient and wait longer, recommends Paul. And by longer, he doesn’t mean 15 minutes. You’ve got to be prepared to outlast the bull.
 
The first time you have a shot to kill a bull, you need to take your shot. Because after the first shot, the bull’s going to know that you’re an imposter. After you miss that first shot, there’s a diminishing rate of return on every time after that that you lay eyes on that bull.
 
Paul loves what he does, and you can hear his passion for his work. Check out my other podcasts with him, or head to his website for more education on elk calling.
 
What’s Inside:
Paul demonstrates different bugle calls so that you can actually hear the trills, buzzes, and squeaks that give you better insight into how an elk feels.
How to read the temperature of an elk through different circumstances.
Anytime you can, you should hunt over the counter, then you can hunt in other spots.
There’s a reason the draw units are draw units. Everyone wants them because they’re better.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Phoenix Shooting Bags Save 20% with code: johnstallone
Days in the Wild
Bushnell.com Save 15% on everything at Bushnell with code: STL02
ElkNut.com
 
Short Description:
There’s never a bad time of year to practice elk calling. ElkNut Paul Medel demonstrates elk calling so that you can start tuning your ear into the subtle differences that will help you become a more effective elk caller.
 
Tags:
Elk hunting, elk bugling, stalking elk, calling elk, desert elk hunting, AZ elk hunt, better elk calls, what does an elk sound like, how do you call elk