Nine Finger Chronicles - Deer Hunting Podcast - Details, episodes & analysis

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Nine Finger Chronicles - Deer Hunting Podcast

Dan Johnson, Sportsmen's Empire

Sports

Technology

Leisure

Frequency: 1 episode/4d. Total Eps: 1105

Going strong for over a decade with real relatable podcasts, The Nine Finger Chronicles covers in-depth hunting strategy, individual hunter profiles, hunting success stories, and current events surrounding hunting rules, regulations and conservation practices. Host Dan Johnson is a passionate sportsman whose year revolves around the outdoors, his crazy family, and his overall love for Mother Nature. This podcast is brought to you by the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network.

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Data updated on 06/11/2026

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https://redcircle.com/brands
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https://thompsoncigar.com
1140 shares
https://www.kuiu.com
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Score global : 42%

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Scrapes & Rut Tactics

Wednesday, November 4, 2026 • Duration 01:02:29

In this episode of Nine Finger Chronicles, Dan J. sits down with David of Tag and Brag during the Code Blue Scents "scrape week," just as the pre-rut is heating up. Dan opens with his New York City trip, then the two get into the hunting life. They talk about the pressure of turning a passion into a job, the guilt of leaving family behind in November, and staying present instead of wishing the season away. They also cover how age changes what a big buck means to you.

Then the conversation turns to strategy. David explains why scrapes are a top priority right now. He covers how to read fresh sign and licking branches, and why trail cameras tell you when deer are moving but can also leave you with "coulda, shoulda, woulda" regrets. Dan and David compare notes on hunting terrain features like thermal hubs instead of a single scrape, and on how scrapes matter less as the rut gets going. They also cover longer sits, when to move stands, and reading a doe that's about to be pursued. David shares a story of a giant buck trotting right under his stand.

Thanks to this episode's partners: Code Blue Scents (codebluescents.com, code NFC20 for 20% off), Wasp Archery (wasparchery.com, code NFC20 for 20% off), Vortex Optics (vortexoptics.com), Vapor Trail Archery (VaporTrailArchery.com), Reveal Trail Cameras (tacticam.com/cameras) and Ozonics (ozonicshunting.com).

Our Sponsors:
* Check out KUIU: https://www.kuiu.com
* Check out Thompson Cigars and use my code thompsoncigar.com/NFC for a great deal: https://thompsoncigar.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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The Rut: A B.S. Session

Friday, October 30, 2026 • Duration 01:05:33

Dan and Pierce Nelles of the Wisconsin Sportsman talk about what's on their minds as the whitetail rut gets close.

The conversation starts with election ads and mailers, the Pepto Bismol jingle, online gambling and betting on politics. From there it moves to AI, drones and data centers near farmland. They also get into the proposed Wisconsin power line, solar fields on wildlife habitat, and whether you sell the family land or conserve it. Along the way they recommend Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac.

Then it's back to the woods. Pierce tells the story of a hunt where he left his headlamp on while a mature 10-pointer stared him down at 20 yards. They swap stories about forgotten bows and harnesses. They also talk about how a cold front after days of rain could set off the rut, and how Dan plans to cycle through his best stands by wind and access. He also explains the one-grunt call he trusts on cruising bucks.

Thanks to our partners: The Wisconsin Sportsman, Wasp Archery, Ozonics, Vortex Optics, Code Blue Scents, Vapor Trail Archery and Reveal Trail Cameras. Use code NFC20 for 20% off at Wasp Archery and Code Blue Scents.

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Coffee Cups & Metro Bucks

Wednesday, October 28, 2026 • Duration 01:00:09

Rut season is almost here, and Dan and Bob Barlau are talking whitetails on the Nine Finger Chronicles.

Dan kicks things off with a water park bucket comparison for the rut. He also tells us about the nocturnal bucks on his trail cameras and the 3-year-old 10-pointer he's hoping makes it to next year. Then the conversation goes off track: R&B in the truck, CDs thrown out car windows and the Columbia House CD club.

They get sentimental over their favorite coffee mugs, shout out Dan's grandma and Bob's mom, and challenge you to call your mom or grandma.

After a round of thanks to the show's partners, Bob tells the story of his Minnesota metro bow hunt. He covers how the draw works, how he picked his stand and how he took a buck on opening day. Dan and Bob then get into wind, pressure and first-time-in stands, and what the rest of the season looks like in Wisconsin.

Partners: Wasp Archery, Vortex Optics, Vapor Trail Archery, Code Blue Scents, Reveal Trail Cameras and Ozonics.

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This Is What Brain Damage Sounds Like

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 • Duration 54:54

The advice hunters get online is often backwards. Stop chasing the perfect setup, obsessing over every rule, and letting other people define what a “good” hunt looks like. Dan J. shares a raw, funny, and honest reality check on modern deer hunting—and what can happen when you stop overthinking and just hunt.

Dan takes on the pressure to manage every inch of ground and hunt by committee, then makes the case for trusting your woodsmanship, reading the sign, and spending more time in the woods. He shares his plans for the rut and explains why staging areas are among his favorite low-impact setups.In this episode, Dan talks about wind, access, fresh sign, trail cameras, and knowing when to take the shot instead of chasing the perfect hunt. He also reflects on hunting with kids, setting expectations, filling the freezer, and how a phone-free sit reminded him to slow down and enjoy the woods.

Along the way, Dan makes the case for less social-media ego, more gratitude, and celebrating hunters on their own terms. Not every deer has to be a giant to make the season memorable.For bowhunters heading into the rut—and anyone ready to stop overcomplicating the hunt—this is an unfiltered reminder to get outside, enjoy the moment, and make the season your own.

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STOP Overthinking Your Hunt

Friday, October 16, 2026 • Duration 01:08:36

Cold fronts are overrated if you do not know what the deer are already telling you. Ross Cady joins Dan Johnson for a brutally honest deer hunting conversation about when to hunt, when to wait, and how to stop letting analysis paralysis ruin your season.

Ross breaks down a real-time decision on whether to hunt an October cold front, using trail camera intel, crop progress, scrape activity, and property layout to weigh a risky sit against a better window in late October and early November. If you have ever stared at OnX too long, second-guessed a stand setup, or worried about “blowing” a spot before the rut, this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar.

You’ll discover:

Why standing corn can completely change buck movement on Iowa farms
How Ross evaluates mature buck activity on the north end of his property versus doe-heavy southern cover
Why a cold front alone is not enough to justify burning a hunt day
How mock scrapes, trail cameras, and transition points can reveal what deer are actually doing
The mental trap of social media hunting pressure and unrealistic trophy expectations

Dan and Ross also get real about what it means to actually enjoy hunting again. They talk through the freedom that comes from trusting your instincts, the value of making the best decision with the information in front of you, and why a successful hunt is about more than inches on a rack.

Ross also shares his perspective as someone who works with the Iowa Corn Growers Association, giving a unique look at how farmers, deer hunters, and land managers see the same landscape through very different lenses. Along the way, the two compare notes on overanalyzing setups, calling your shot, and knowing when to stop worrying and just go hunt.

Essential listening if you are trying to make better late-October decisions, manage your hunt days wisely, or break free from the obsession with perfection. If this season has you overthinking every move, this episode will help you get back to what matters most - being in the woods, making a plan, and letting the hunt happen.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out KUIU: https://www.kuiu.com* Check out Thompson Cigars and use my code thompsoncigar.com/NFC for a great deal: https://thompsoncigar.comAdvertising Inquiries: Privacy & Opt-Out:

Epic October: B.S. Session

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 • Duration 01:20:49

Is the October lull real, or did the deer just hear you’re coming and decide to take the week off? Dan Johnson and Pierce Nelles debate the seasonal mystery, swap whitetail advice, and ask the important questions—like whether a cold front is worth spending PTO on, and whether a giant buck photo means you’re actually good at hunting.

They get into fresh scrapes, trail-camera tricks, hunting pressure, and why advice from a guy with a giant food plot may not exactly fit your five-acre setup. There’s also talk about teaching young hunters, career regrets, Amish hats, baby names, and Dan’s ongoing battle with drywall.Come for the October-lull argument. Stay for the detours. Leave with a reminder to trust the sign in your own woods—and maybe hire someone else for the bathroom remodel.

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Blueberries & Big Bucks

Friday, October 9, 2026 • Duration 53:58

A family-owned blueberry farm the size of a small company. A hunter who packs out elk, chases bucks across state lines, and still walks 13 miles a day switching irrigation valves. Eric McKay returns with the kind of farming-and-hunting conversation that makes you rethink what it takes to stay in the game.

Dan J. sits down with Eric to unpack how a 1,000-acre Michigan blueberry operation actually works - from processing 5 to 7 million pounds a year to battling frost, extreme heat, and the brutal timing of spring freezes that can wipe out a crop without killing the bushes. Eric breaks down how weather changes sugar content, why Lake Michigan helps and hurts at the same time, and what it really means to keep a multi-generation farm family-owned when bigger buyers are always circling.

We also get deep into the hunting side of Eric's life, including what keeps him coming back to southern Illinois, why his favorite Michigan window is late October, and how his western addiction started in 2012 and never really stopped. He shares what makes Colorado his favorite elk destination, why Montana tested him harder than almost any trip he's taken, and how altitude, dehydration, and sheer pack-out misery separate a fun hunt from a true grind.

You'll discover:

How a blueberry farm processes, packages, and markets fruit at massive scale
Why late frosts, summer heat, and rainfall can change both yield and flavor
What deer do around blueberry farms and how hunters use that to their advantage
Why Eric prefers specific timing windows in Michigan and southern Illinois
What makes western public land hunting so addictive, physically brutal, and worth it

Eric also talks about hunting with his kid and wife, managing tags across multiple states, and why this season is more about family, freezer fills, and being in the woods than chasing giant score numbers. If you love whitetail strategy, western hunting stories, or the reality of making a living on the land, this one is loaded.Perfect for hunters, farmers, and anyone who wants a behind-the-scenes look at the intersection of hard work, weather, deer movement, and chasing big country.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out KUIU: https://www.kuiu.com* Check out Thompson Cigars and use my code thompsoncigar.com/NFC for a great deal: https://thompsoncigar.comAdvertising Inquiries: Privacy & Opt-Out:

Hunting Down One Buck: What Do Nocturnal Trail Cam Pictures Mean?

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 • Duration 01:12:49

Hunting Mature Bucks: Trail-Camera Clues, Access, and Public-Land Pressure

When a mature buck appears on camera in the middle of the night, is it a real opportunity—or just another clue to file away? Dan and returning guest Pierce dig into how they interpret trail-camera photos, plan hunts, and make decisions when a buck only shows up a few times each season.

They discuss the role of wind, thermals, access routes, and historical movement, along with why sitting a proven setup can sometimes beat constantly moving. The conversation also explores the challenges of hunting small parcels and public land, where pressure and limited access can change a carefully made plan.

Dan and Pierce share hard-earned lessons from missed opportunities, close encounters, and years of hunting. They also talk about earning landowner trust and finding a respectful path to hunting permission.

Whether you’re trying to make sense of nocturnal trail-camera activity, hunt a pressured property, or get closer to a mature buck, this episode offers grounded strategies and honest perspective from the field.

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Finding Success In The Big Woods & Swamps

Friday, October 2, 2026 • Duration 55:18

Joey Mnczunski joins Dan Johnson to share how he left a crowded family lease in southern Michigan and built a public-land hunting approach in Northern Michigan’s big woods. Over years of scouting and hunting, Joey learned to read swamps, clear-cuts, river bottoms, and changing deer pressure—and to hunt the spots rather than chase one specific buck.

Joey talks about how antler point restrictions may have affected hunting in the region, how he finds promising ground, and why he rarely hunts the same tree twice in a season. He also breaks down speed scouting by boat, locating scrape hubs along fire trails, and adjusting to deer that move into swamps as firearm season approaches.

The conversation includes the story behind Joey’s last-season buck: a once-logged autumn olive thicket regrew, the deer sign returned, and Joey set up there—leading to a close-range encounter.If you’re interested in public-land deer hunting, big woods scouting, or adapting your strategy to terrain and pressure, this episode is packed with lessons earned in the field.

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Suburban Bowhunting & Population Control

Wednesday, September 30, 2026 • Duration 45:45

Urban deer hunting gets wild fast when 10 acres can hold 15 to 20 deer. Returning guest Mike Ward joins Dan Johnson to explain how he and his organization help manage overpopulated deer in southeastern Pennsylvania, where deer move through backyards, landscaping beds, and neighborhoods.

They discuss why deer numbers rebound despite heavy harvest pressure, how township partnerships and archery-only management work, and why hunting small suburban parcels still depends on wind, access, and understanding deer and human movement. Mike also explains how donated venison supports local food banks.

Plus, hear the story of an opening-day hunt on an 8-acre property where Mike and a friend each tagged a buck—including a 10-point buck Mike hadn’t known was there. It’s a look at the realities of suburban deer management, the challenges of hunting tight parcels, and the surprising opportunities that can come with them.

Check out Thompson Cigars and use my code NFC for a great deal: https://thompsoncigar.com

Check Out www.outdoorsy.com and enter NFC to have your service fees removed.

Nine Finger Chronicles - Deer Hunting Podcast - Details, episodes & analysis

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Nine Finger Chronicles - Deer Hunting Podcast - Details, episodes & analysis

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