For some of you guys out there, deer season is a week away! Some states across the country will be opening up their season once September hits. For folks like us, we are still having to wait till October to get in a tree stand. Here in Iowa, we are still in our season prep mode and we are getting ready to employ a tactic that we tend to get a lot of questions on. With September looming and bucks getting ready to lose their velvet, we are getting ready to put out our rub trees! On this episode of the Raised Hunting podcast, we go through what our line of glandular scents are, our strategies for using our glandular scents, and how you guys can use a rub tree to hopefully help you guys get a shot on your target buck this season. We dive into the major places where we use rub trees, the process we have for putting them in, as well as show examples of how they have worked for us. We also breakdown our strategies for hunting our mock scrapes and how we use them throughout deer season.

Check Out:

Raised Hunting Website:

https://www.raisedhunting.com/

Raised Scents:

https://www.raisedhunting.com/pages/raised-scents

Raised Nocks:

https://www.raisedhunting.com/pages/raised-nocks

Raised Canine:

https://www.raisedhunting.com/pages/raised-canines

For some hunters, the thrill of chasing a buck they have had years of history with is the pinnacle of their hunting season. They watch this buck grow year after year, with the hopes of one day being able to get an arrow in him and see him on the wall. He may throw some crazy junk and be a giant, he may be the toughest deer on the farm to hunt, or he may just even be their biggest buck to date. Whitetails are truly amazing animals when it comes to their antlers. They can have so much character that truly make them stand out on trail camera photos, but for some deer, telling them apart year after year can be a challenge. On today's episode of the Raised Hunting Podcast we dive into the topic of how hunters recognize specific bucks year after year. We look at bucks that we had years of history with on multiple properties we hunt and look at what made them stand out every year. From looking at rack configuration, to body characteristics, to even looking at the location of the photos, we give as much insight as we can to help you guy recognize your bucks year to year.

Summer time is finally here and we all know what that brings, velvet bucks! If you are like us, then the chances are you will be driving down the gravel roads on summer nights looking for velvet slobs. For a lot of deer hunters, this is the begging of the summer scouting routine and a way to get an inventory of your deer. The real question is, does summer scouting really pay off? On this episode of the Raised Hunting Podcast, we break down our summer scouting strategies and give our opinions of why summer scouting may not be worth your time. We discuss some new strategies we are implementing for this coming season, as well as what new hunters should be really looking for during the summer months. We also dive into the new hunting laws that have been put in place here in Iowa, and how they can effect public land hunting. So what do you guys think, is summer scouting for whitetails worth it?

Deer season is here! Opening day in Iowa kicks off this weekend, and for a lot of us, we all have that big target buck waiting for an arrow.  That chill is setting in during the morning, the leaves are changing, and the stands are ready, you'd be crazy not to go the first day. Is that your best chance at your target buck though? As hunters we all have days, or even part of a week that historically, have been our best days to be in the woods. What day truly is the best for hunting? We broke down what days we have had success from in our past, from a specific date number,  even a week prior to or during the rut. What's your favorite days to hunt.

When have you ever seen a deer pee on a tree? We guarantee the answer is never.  Deer communicated with in a much different way, glandular scents. Scrapes and rubs have a much deeper meaning than most hunters think. From does in heat, to summer bucks returning to their fall areas, to the middle of the rut, whitetails use their glands everywhere. We take an in-depth dive to the world of whitetail glands and why they use them for communication. We give you a look into how these glands produce scent, as well as dive into our own glandular scents. The hunting game has changed. 

Day in and day out we have absolute beasts in the hunting industry. There are some hunters consistently putting their tags on record setting animals every season.What make them different from you? Does time make you a great hunter, is it your knowledge of the animal you're hunting, or is it strictly you drive? We have had success for many years and still wonder what the answer is. We broke down our own knowledge to come up with an opinion on what truly may set those record holders apart from the rest of the hunting world. 

Well you did it, you shot your target buck or bull! They take off like a bat out of hell and you lose sight of them. You need to start your search, but where do you start? We have all heard the myths about "just start heading to water and you'll find him", or "they won't go up hill". Some people even say "only gut shot animals go to water". Well what if we told you that isn't always the case. In this episode we break down as many myths about recovering your animal as we can. We dive into our own recoveries on both deer and elk and how they busted those myths. 

All three of us have hunted private and public ground with success. Like all of you, we have faced the challenges as well. You can still find ways to get permission on private ground. You can still kill big bucks and bulls on public ground just as you can on private land. All your success comes from the work you put in on the opportunities you get. On this episode we dive into our knowledge of hunting both private and public ground, how you can still gain access to private ground, and how to still be successful no matter where you hunt. 

Why are you not finding your deer? Simple, you are not taking the best shot. You have confidence in your shot, but it doesn't hit the right spot, or you take a shot you know you shouldn't have taken. Sometimes you may not even know what you are actually hitting on the animal. We'll talk about the misconception of the shoulder as well as the anatomy of big game animals. We want to help you understand your shot placement and animal behavior as best you can to bring you the most success possible!

We all have that friend who spends day in a day out prepping for the season. It can be fun and it can be a lot of time spent in the field looking for your big bucks. When you take a look at the end result, is the hunting season worth the summer preparation?  

The vast majority of hunters use some sort of trail camera, whether you are hunting out west or in the timber. We love seeing our big boys pop up on those SD cards. Cell cams make that feeling even better! You can get a picture of a big buck sent to you in a matter of second. Hunters are getting more of an advantage over big game animals. We break down our opinions on how using a cell cam is cheating! Who's side are you on?

Whether it is the middle of the season, the end of summer, or even the harshness of winter, trailcams are a part of the hunting game. You check them to get an inventory on your deer and to see how and when they are moving. However, is that possibly putting pressure on them and messing with your hunt? On this episode we breakdown our opinions on how you should check your trailcams as a hunter, and what good pressure on your bucks can look like!

It's pretty common for broadheads to cause an argument among bowhunters. Lately there seems to be a lot of discussion claiming mechanical broadheads are a bad option. From our personal experience we would have to disagree. In this podcast we cover our thoughts on why Mechanical Broadheads don't suck! 

It has long been a topic of heated debate in the whitetail hunting community. Hunters have argued for years about the existence of a mysterious area known as "no man's land." This elusive spot for some, is nestled between the top of a deer's back and the top of the vertebral column, is said to contain no vital organs, which would be the back strap. Some hunters believe in "no man's land" sits below the vertebral column, just above the shoulder in the middle of the body. The argument for many hunters, how can you have a a shot go below a deers spine and not clip any vitals. In this episode, we dive into the myth of "no man's land," spurred by a listener's intriguing story. The listener recounted shooting a buck with a muzzleloader and discovering an arrow lodged just beneath the spine, evidence of a previous hunter's attempt. This prompted the age-old question: does "no man's land" truly exist? We sit down and debate this controversial topic with experiences and tests of our own that may shed light on the location of "no man's land".

I think it is safe to say that if you are a hunter, you love seeing big bucks on trail cameras! Whether they are chasing after a hot doe, hitting a scrape you set, or coming out of the shadows at night, the photos and videos from trail cameras can get you excited at any point in the day. With the dawn of cell cams, hunters can get all that information in real time, especially on public ground. The real question is, how would that effect hunting if trail cameras were banned? Today we look to answer that questions with a discussion about a few of the new laws that are looking to be passed in Iowa. One of those laws being, hunters would only be allowed to leave tree stands on public ground over night. So that means no blinds and no trail cameras! We break down our opinions on the laws and how that could effect not only public land hunting but private pieces if you were not allowed to set cameras out. We would be diving back to the 1970s!

If you guys are like us, then you have probably sat around a fire with your buddies, asking each other dumb questions. You guys sit an argue about what animals you could beat in a fight, would you rather hunt every year or take a year or two break but shoot a 200" in buck, and whacky questions with outlandish ultimatums. That is exactly what we go here for you guys today, just some guys being dudes and trying to talk about some wild hunting scenarios! We got a wild conversation and still try to give you guys some insight on our strategies for some of our past deer that we mention! We also want to hear your opinions on our scenarios and what you guys would choose! Would you sacrifice all your tactics for hunting 10,000 acres with world class mule deer and whitetails only using a recurve?

Well folks it is that time of year! It is time to fully begin preparing for deer season! With the weather warming up and the calendar days flying, we have begun our early stages of preparation. We have begun planting our food plots and slowly starting to get our trail cams back out! We get a lot of questions from you guys asking about how we planet our food plots, where we are planting them, when we are putting them in, and many more. In this episode we try to cover as much as we can for you guys from plot locations, how we plant them, when we start planing them, and what we are changing up this year! If you guys still have further questions on how to start planting your food plots, we got you covered! You can check out "Food Plots For Dummies" on the Raised Hunting YouTube, where we dive into four simple steps on starting your food plots!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiNeSNT4dAA

The times have clearly changed, and with that comes new ways of learning how to do specific things. Within this generation, the ways of learning have changed like never before. It has become easier to gain information on a topic instantly with the power of the internet. With the power of a few words typed into Google, we can gain incredibly amounts of knowledge in minutes from videos, to articles, to even podcasts. Today with all this access to knowledge, the learning curve for hunting has changed drastically. The real question is, has it been more effective? We wanted to give our opinions on the matter of the true effectiveness of that knowledge for new and even experienced hunters. From the insight that David has on how his generation learned hunting, to what Easton and Warren have grown up with, we breakdown some tips to help you guys navigate through this influx of information and find credible sources! For all you guys out there that love the family banter, oh boy do we have it in full force today!

This seems to be a popular topic you guys want us to cover, so we got it for you today. If you guys are like us, then we know you guys have experienced the heartbreaks of hunting, especially with whitetails. Well today, we are unlocking our memories and dragging out the ghosts of big bucks that we either missed, disappeared, or passed to only get shot by other hunters. We have the tales for all of them! We do bring in a palette cleanser at the end and talk about some of our most memorable whitetail hunts. So sit back and relax and relive some tails of heart break with us.

Besides being a method of survival, hunting has become a passion. Hunting can be an escape, a way to spend time with family, or even just a hobby. Millions of Americans love to hunt and continue to do so every season. However, a common issue continues to plague us. As familiar scenes unfold across public lands—with packed parking lots and unexpected encounters with fellow hunters—doubts arise. Can there truly be a place for new hunters in these already congested spaces? The frustration of trekking through seemingly remote terrain, only to find it teeming with others, is a common narrative. Even seeking permission on private land can lead to disappointment as other hunters have beaten us to it. We love getting folks and kids involved in hunting just as much as we love hunting ourselves. We enjoy seeing the parents who take their kids out with them for the first time. We sat down with this discussing because we want to see if there is a solution, or if the problem is already overgrown. Using information from studies, personal experiences, and even accounts from you guys, we want to try and answer one question: Is there a genuine need for new hunters?

In a recent episode, we posed the question: "Is bowhunting turkeys ethical?" Back then, opinions were divided, with the majority still leaning towards the ethical side. However, as we've progressed through this turkey season, we're starting to question our stance. In this episode, we're getting real with you all. We'll break down our turkey hunts from this season and candidly discuss what went wrong. Despite our extensive experience bowhunting turkeys and enjoying significant success in the past, this season has presented challenges. We've faced tough shots and, regrettably, experienced instances where a perfectly placed shot with the bird getting away. So, it brings us back to the fundamental question: Is turkey hunting with a bow truly ethical?

ANNOUNCMENT: Thank you to everyone who sent in their turkey harvest photos from this season! We love seeing you guys out enjoying the hunt, but also seeing your success that comes with it! Congratulations to the winners of the Raised Hunting Turkey fan mounts: Joseph Mains, Travis King, and Jim Holloway! If you guys can send us your name and address to contact@raisedhunting.com and we will get your mounts sent out! Keep up the excellent work this turkey season everyone and we still want to see photos!

The gobbler action in Iowa is really heating up! Within the first week of turkey season, all three of the boys have managed to punch at least one tag. But as the season progresses, the birds become more skittish under the pressure from other hunters. Whether you're waiting for your season to begin or scouting for new birds, obstacles can still stand in your path - quite literally.One of our RH Podcast faithful listeners raised an interesting topic: how to get a bird to cross a fence or creek. We dive into our experiences battling stubborn birds at fence lines and offer strategies to encourage them to break through. Additionally, we'll discuss Easton's recent hunt, where he conveniently bagged his turkey right after recording last week's episode!We're eager to see your turkey photos from this season, and if you share them with us, you might just walk away with a turkey fan mount!

As hunters, we are always dreaming of that next step, that next animal to chase. For some hunters it maybe a giant elk. For others, it may be a mule deer. For a good amount of hunters, they get bit with a bug for a bigger sense of adventure. Alaska is a place that many hunters and outdoorsmen dream of traveling to, chasing moose, caribou, grizzly bears, and numerous other species. For us here at Raised Hunting, it is for sure on the bucket list. The real question though, is how can you make a hunt like this happen?Today, we wanted to answer that question for you guys! We brought in our good buddy Sam Beavers, a professional hunting guide and consultant, who has experience guiding hunts in both Alaska and Africa. Sam provides us with as much information as possible to help answer the questions that many hunters have about booking hunts in Alaska. From the travel expenses, to the amount of days you would be hunting, information about DIY hunts, to a total price package of of a guided hunt with Sam. We tried to provided you guys with as much information as possible to give you guys an idea about booking an Alaskan hunt! We have provided a list of Sam's guide services below!

Book Your Hunts Now!:

Renfro's Alaskan Adventureshttps://renfrosalaskanadventures.com/

Bullet Safaris:https://bulletsafaris.com/

Iowa Trophy Hunts:https://iowatrophyhunts.net/

Finally, it's here—turkey season has officially arrived in Iowa! We've got a short and sweet episode for you today because, like many of you, we're eager to get back out into the woods. Opening day of turkey season in Iowa started with a bang. Easton set a goal for the season: to take David on a hunt and call in a bird. The father-son duo accomplished their mission, albeit not without some turkey rodeo action. Meanwhile, Warren headed to a familiar spot, armed with knowledge of patterned birds, and bagged one early. We've got plenty more hunts to share with you in the coming week, so stay tuned for more turkey action. Good luck to everyone turkey hunting this season, and congratulations to those who've already punched a tag!

We're just a week away from getting back out into the woods for turkey hunting here in Iowa. There's nothing quite like the sound of fired-up toms in the morning, with the sun rising, or the shock gobble of a bird you had no idea was there. Over the years, the Raised Hunting crew has experienced some phenomenal turkey hunts all across the country. Today, we want to share some of our best turkey hunting moments with you. From the fastest bird call-ins to the farthest distances we've called them from, and even encounters with seemingly possessed birds, we cover it all.

Hunting has been a part of human existence since the dawn of time, initially a means of survival, now embraced for the thrill it offers. It provides an opportunity to reconnect with nature, dedicating precious hours to the pursuit. It's a time for bonding with family and old friends, sharing stories, and creating cherished memories. Achieving success in hunting is a quest unto itself, offering a satisfaction like no other. In a shut down world, hunting served as an escape. Months of preparation turned into a moment where success is measured in mere seconds. In this episode, we look to answer one question: Why do you hunt?

Turkey season holds a special place in our hearts – it's a time of excitement, strategy discussions, and the thrill of chasing gobblers. But in this episode, we're not just sharing turkey hunting tactics; we're diving into the hottest takes of the turkey hunting world. Drawing from comments across social media, other podcasts, and personal encounters, we've compiled a list of topics that ignite passionate debates. From reaping turkeys to the use of decoys and even the ethics of bow hunting for turkeys, we dive into some of the biggest debates we can find. This conversation seems to even strike a nerve with us, so you guys are in for a wild ride!

Today, we're stirring the pot once again in the hunting world, delving into a debate that never seems to lose steam: heavy arrows versus light arrows. Every hunter has their own opinion on the matter, and we're diving headfirst into this controversial discussion. While we've touched on this topic before, today we're going deeper, tackling a specific question: how does the weight of an arrow affect its ability to achieve pass-throughs and precise shot placement on big game animals? We give our own opinions on the debate as well as dive into a view past studies to provide some facts on arrow speed based on their weights. We even break down our bow set ups to provide some in-field insights to inform the discussion. So buckle up, because things are about to get interesting in the hunting community once again.

The countdown is on for getting out and chasing turkeys. With some turkey season for some states getting ready to open in March, we wanted to share our ideal turkey tactics for opening day with you all! We break down our scouting methods, ideal blind and decoy setups, and offer tips for hunting pesky pressured birds as the season progresses. Whether you're turkey hunting with a bow or a shotgun, we cover tactics to help you be successful with both! We hope these strategies can bring you success this turkey season!

With the weather heating up here in Iowa, our anticipation for turkey season is growing! We're starting to see more birds getting active and even hearing early gobbles ring out in the mornings. With turkey season in Iowa still just over a month away, it's time for us to start thinking about our setups and tactics. From scouting with trail cameras to bow and blind setups, to shot placement, we cover as much information as we can on how we prepare for turkey season. So, break out those calls, pattern those shotguns, and get ready to sling darts because the thunder chickens are coming!

GIVEAWAY WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT! We have a winner of the first-ever set of the Raised Hunting Lighted Nocks! Congratulations to our winner, bbd92781 from Apple Podcasts! Please send us your name, address, and arrow size to contact@raisedhunting.com, and we will send you the first-ever set of the Raised Hunting Lighted Nocks! Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway and left us reviews! We love reading all of your reviews, so keep leaving them and helping us grow this podcast!

As hunters, we've all asked ourselves this question at some point: am I hunting too hard? Conversely, we may wonder, am I not hunting hard enough? Whether it's chasing a target buck, embarking on an out-of-state hunting trip, or simply searching for a massive shed, there's a fine balance between pushing oneself and avoiding burnout. This topic was sparked by a discussion between David and Warren while they sat in on the Eastmans' boys' podcast at the Western Hunting Expo. We share personal scenarios to evaluate whether we've been hunting too hard at certain times or if we haven't been pushing ourselves enough.

GIVEAWAY ALERT! We're excited to announce another giveaway that could enhance your hunting experience! Raised Hunting is giving away our first-ever set of Raised Lighted Knocks! To enter for a chance to win, simply leave us a review! Good luck to everyone who participates, and stay tuned—we'll announce when these are officially available on our website!

With spring around the corner, we're approaching one of our favorite times of the year: turkey season! Nothing beats getting set in the morning and hearing gobbles ring out in every direction. Whether you're hunting with a shotgun or a bow, turkey hunting still provides one heck of a rush! However, certain states have seen a major hit and decline in their turkey populations over the years. Some states, like Nebraska, have even reduced the number of tags per hunter from three birds to two. So, what has been the major cause of this decline in gobblers? We break down some of our theories and take a look into fur trapping studies to try to develop some reasons for our turkey decline. We also want to hear from you on how your turkey numbers are and your ideas on why they might be low!

To us here at Raised Hunting, this is one of our favorite times of the year—it's finally shed season! There is something about walking through the woods and finding a pile of sheds that is just so satisfying, especially if you find the sheds from your target buck. Whether it's on your own ground or public land, sheds are hitting the ground, and it's time to get walking. Today, we have some tips for you on how to hopefully bring home some more antlers this year! For you new shed hunters out there, we have tips on what to look for when it comes to signs and areas to cover for success on both private and public land. We also delve into the topic of selling sheds, which gets Warren a little fired up.

Deer season is on the rise! For some of you guys out there, you are lucky and get to start chasing bucks when September rolls around. If you are like us here in Iowa, then you are having to wait till October. Even with deer season being so close, there are still some last minute preparation steps that can be done. On today's episode of the Raised Hunting Podcast, we are answering questions from you guys! We a sit down and discuss ways to manage your farm from building up small properties, food plot placement, setting up a new farm or lease, setting up a food plot with good access, and many other scenarios. We take a look at how we have set our own farms, food we have planted that has been successful, as well as strategies to hunt your food plots. We also have a special guest that joins at the right time of the show! Our buddy, Shane Edwards, shares his incredible insight on how effective food plots can be and what he has done to make his so successful.

If given the opportunity, many hunters will go into the deer season with a target buck in mind. It may be a buck you have a history with; it could be your biggest buck to date, or it could be a new buck that piques your interest. Many of these opportunities come from hunting private land and deer management. Could it be possible to consistently kill a target buck every year on public hunting ground? The answer to that question is yes. We sat down with Brook Martin, who has been taking the public land hunting game to a new level. Since moving to Iowa from the east coast, Brook has had consistent success targeting a buck and harvesting that buck on public land. We break down his strategies and the challenges he faces with public land hunting to find out what makes him so successful!

As bow hunters, we are always eager for an opportunity to get out and shoot, refining our form – akin to a hitter stepping into the cage for some tee work. For some, it's as simple as heading into the backyard and shooting at a bag target. Others prefer 3D target courses. We often engage in both, especially when sighting in a new bow. The real question is: How beneficial can a 3D course be for hunters?

Today, this topic comes from Jake Dalluge, who wants to explore whether a 3D archery course can provide hunters with a false sense of security. We delve into both the positive and negative aspects of 3D and how they can impact a hunter's mindset as they approach the hunting season. From shooting at long distances to bow setup, and even introducing a new hunter to the course, we share the knowledge gained from our experiences shooting 3D courses in the past. The goal is to provide you with an in-depth list of pros and cons.

In today's age of hunting, a good chunk of private property can be hard to come by, especially for deer hunting. If you have private ground to hunt, whether it is permission, owned, or leased, then you may be looking to try and manage your herd population. You may know some of the neighbors, but not all of them. You walk out to the stand one morning ready for a sit and notice a stand right on the edge of the fence line on the other side. Although the stand is not facing your side of the fence, it is in a tree 10 yards from it. The real question is, is setting a stand right on the property line fair? This topic comes to us from written in to though podcast, who is dealing with this situation. We sat down to give our opinion on whether "fence squatting" is ethical or not. From providing examples of our stand locations, to scenarios we have dealt with, to solutions to help keep more deer on your side of the fence. So, what do you guys think, is fence squatting ok?

With the case currently unfolding in Ohio, poaching has become a major conversation in the hunting world. Each year thousands of hunter across the U.S. lose opportunities to harvest incredible animals due to poachers. Many cases come across Fish and Game Departments each year and will continue to do so. The majority of states sentence poachers with heavy fines that can range upwards of $30,000. The real question is, can this truly be enough to deter individuals from poaching again. How many of the cases are resulting in fines and how many poachers are actually getting caught? We wanted to dive into our own experience on the matter and the information from the Ohio case to give our opinions on the repercussions of poaching chargers. From how social media has impacted poaching to discussing alternative sentences for the crime. We want know what you think! Should poaching wild game in the U.S. result in jail time?

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0uF5Fkn0NaiPojbbHbtKjw

There are those days in a hunter's life, where they wake up and get a feeling deep down. You start walking to you stand, and your hair stands up on end. The feeling that drives your mind and tells you that today is the day you kill your buck. Whether the wind is just right, the temperature is perfect, your stand is in the perfect spot, or you just begin to get that feeling that the hunt will go perfect. We call that feeling "hunter's" gut. For us it's a feeling of excitement but a feeling that doesn't happen often. However when it does, the rewards are wild! We want to see how many other hunters get "hunter's gut" and how successful they are with it. We also break down strategies for hunting your nocturnal bucks!

ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!

The Raised Hunting Podcast you guys know and love is on the move! The Raised Hunting Podcast is getting its very own channel! Within the next few weeks, the podcast channel will be going active. All prior episodes of the Raised Hunting Podcast will be uploaded and you can catch the newest episodes weekly. So make sure you guys check out the link below and hit that subscribe button!

The Raised Hunting Podcast Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@RaisedHuntingPodcast

For us whitetail hunters, one of the most exciting things to us is hunting a new piece of ground. We take the time to get it set up, hunt it, and harvest the first buck off that ground with a huge sense of pride. For some hunters, especially new ones, the main challenge with a new piece of ground is where to start. How do you scout? What should you be looking for to tell you deer are on your property? Where is the best place for my tree stand? We wanted to tackle these questions and bring you guys a whitetail scouting guide! From the entry level hunter to even the experienced veteran, we cover as many whitetail scouting tips as possible to give you guys the best chance of downing a buck on your new spot. Special thanks to Mike Prado for the topic idea!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCMENT!!!!!!

The Raised Hunting Podcast you guys know and love is on the move! The Raised Hunting Podcast is getting its very own channel! Within the next few weeks, the podcast channel will be going active. All prior episodes of the Raised Hunting Podcast will be uploaded and you can catch the newest episodes weekly. So make sure you guys check out the link below and hit that subscribe button!

The Raised Hunting Podcast Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0uF5Fkn0NaiPojbbHbtKjw

The times are changing to the future, even in the hunting world. Technology is continuing to make it's impact on the outdoors. A major piece of that puzzle is the use of drones, mainly for recovering your deer. The use of thermal drones has been a hot topic in the hunting conversation for good reason. While the theory behind their use can be incredibly beneficial, there are also some negative connotations. We dive into the debate and share our opinions on the use of thermal cameras on drones. From scenarios in past hunting seasons, tracks we have done with the dogs, and created situations, we try and tie in as much knowledge we have to help you guys form your opinion.

When you have been deer hunting for many years, you begin to pick up on a lot small details in the woods. Some major details that some hunters both old and new still miss, can come from the animal that they are hunting. Whitetails can be meticulous creatures when it comes to their body language. Their posture, tail movements, and reactions to surrounds, can potentially be the one factor that makes or breaks a hunt. So what are some major body language "tells" that hunters should be looking for? We dive into our knowledge of whitetail hunting over the yours to bring you guys our top signs when it comes to reading deer. From making the decision to call to a deer, to seeing them casually in a field, we breakdown a few specifics in the body language of a deer to help give you guys the extra edge in the woods! What are some signs you look for?

Well folks, it is that time of year, bow season for whitetails here in Iowa has come to a close. Although, it wouldn't be a normal bow season if we didn't have it come down to the wire to fill a tag. On December 1st, the final day of the season, Easton AKA "Mr. Deercember", was able to punch his tag on an absolute stud! This makes it three bucks now for Easton in the closing days of December. On this episode, Easton breaks down his hunt and his season to give us some insight on what he learned. We all wanted to take a dive into the knowledge we had gathered from this bow season, to help give you guys and ourselves, some strategies to take into 2024. From stand movement, to hunting water, to food plot management, we dive into as many scenarios as we can think of!

Last week we broke down a study, discussing the breakdown of whitetail genetics. We asked the question, does culling your bucks truly benefit or hurt your herd potential in the future! This week we took a deeper dive into which bucks do hunters normally cull while trying to manage their deer. What traits do you look for in a "cull buck"? What age are you shooting them? These were the most common questions we felt are usually asked when it comes to culling deer. We also dive into a study done by one of our very own listeners! His study dives into the amount of crops produced in the states of Iowa and Wisconsin, and how that correlates into the size of deer in each state, as well as the health of the deer. Which, his study left us with one question. Which is a sign of better health for a buck, a bigger body or a bigger rack?

Doug Swain, A friend of Davids for over 20 years joins us on the Raised Hunting Podcast Today. David and Doug shared a career in the fire department back when the Holders lived in Montana. The two friends share stories of their times in the fire department, hunting adventures, and one story that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Doug shares with us one of the craziest encounters we have ever heard. On a scouting trip for elk season, Doug finds himself face to face with not one, but two mountain lions! While trying to back out from his scouting trip, Doug is being stalked by two mountain lions within five yard of him! So sit back and enjoy this epic story!

In the deer hunting world, it is safe to say many if not all of us, have heard of a buck referred to as a "cull buck". They are your bucks that typically never get bigger racks, have flaws in their racks or themselves year after year, or simply just a deer you kill as a management deer. What if we told you that these bucks could have the potential to be the father of the next world record? On this episode, David brings fourth a study that may just turn your perspective on culling deer and saving the lives of your smaller bucks. We will have the study linked below for you to take a look! We also begin the episode with a breakdown of our best late seasons strategies for all you December and January big buck hunters!

https://deerassociation.com/strike-3-for-the-myth-of-the-genetic-cull-buck/

With the rut truly in full swing in Iowa, we have been seeing bucks going crazy! So what does that mean if you are gunning for your target buck? Trying to pin him down can be a nightmare, but it can still be done. We wanted to break down hunts we have had in past seasons for our big targets and hone in on strategies that paid off. From hunting water during hot weather, to sitting only one stand, to even taking days off to scout, we have tried it all. The rut can be the toughest times to kill a deer, but it can be one of the best for finding new bucks to hunt after! What do you guys think, is the rut overrated?

"Sweet November'' started off with a bang! Warren with a sit on November 1st arrowed the biggest deer in Raised Hunting history! The deer we know as "BG" strolled by at 8 yards and that was all she wrote. With the rut in full swing in Iowa, getting into your stand can be tricky. We wanted to breakdown some strategies we have used to access our stands in sticky situations during the rut and deer season in general. From using UTVs, to getting in earlier, to even just walking in like we own the place, we have used them all. Our buddy Shane Edwards joins us again this week as we also breakdown some tips to help you guys during the rut!

This is the time that every deer hunting gets excited for! This is the time where the most bucks are on their feet, and your adrenaline is at an all time high! We are getting into the rut ladies and gentleman! All the chaos, madness, prime hunting is about to get underway. We wanted to break down for you guys our top tips of hunting the rut and the days leading up to it. With it being Halloween and the first week of November, some hunters may already be seeing some rutting activity heating up. We dive into our past hunting seasons and use our knowledge, to come up with the best rut tips for you guys. Whether you have a target buck, or you are just hunting for a good buck, we got you covered. We also dive into the topic of keeping new hunters interested. Rut can be a good time for new hunters to see deer movement, as well as the excitement of hunting whitetails is all about!

Your target buck comes out with 10 minutes left of light, but he is out of bow range. What would you do? Would you grunt at him or let him walk and wait for another opportunity? You have an up and comer walk right under your stand while you are trying to manage your population. You know he may have a chance to grow another year, but there is a big chance that the neighbor could get to him first. Are you taking the shot or passing him? We have had these same experiences over the years and with in the few weeks! There are so many scenarios that every deer hunter gets put in season after season, and we wanted to break down a few for you guys. We take our past seasons and dive into some of the shot opportunities we have had, as well as deer we have let go. We want to know what you guys would do, or other scenarios you have ran into in the stand!