Episodi

  • On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce sits down with Josh Krstic from the Whitetail Addictions Team to talk about Josh's journey as a hunter, overcoming target panic & buck fever, scouting in-season, what early-season sign he keys in on, how to hunt low, brushing in your stand, hunting on highly pressured ground, and staying in the right mindset all season long.

    If you're looking for a well-rounded hunting episode, you've definitely come to the right place! From starting his bowhunting journey trading a bow for a tattoo, to joining the Whitetail Addictions team chasing giant deer, Wisconsin-native, Josh Krstic has had one of the most unique hunting journeys that we've heard on this show. A life-long fisherman and outdoorsman, Josh shares his story of heading to the UP on his first archery hunt, how he conquered target panic and buck fever, and eventually became the stone cold killer he is today.

    Josh shares how he breaks down sign both post-season and in-season to understand how target bucks are using an area, what types of sign he keys in on early in the year, adapting to hunting pressure of all kinds, hunting low and how to do it right, interacting with other hunters, and being willing to push where others won't. All that and more in this week's episode!

    Follow along with Josh's season on social media @thehuntingprivate and be sure to check out his episode on the Whitetail Addictions YouTube channel!

  • On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by host of the Huntavore Podcast: Nick Otto, to talk all about caring for your venison, ways avoid field dressing mistakes, how to overcome any mishaps, how much cleaning you should do to your venison, keeping the meat cool in warm temperatures, ways to prevent bacteria growth, cleaning equipment that may have contacted CWD prions, and how to care for your meat when waiting for CWD test results.

    Archery season is finally here and it's time to start thinking about filling the freezer! Nick Otto is a Michigander, host of The Huntavore Podcast, and one heck of a wild game butcher and cook. Now that deer season is finally here, taking care of the meat we work so hard to harvest is crucial. The start of a new season always means a few silly mistakes and knocking the rust off on that first hunt or harvest of the year, and in this week's episode Nick shares his thoughts on how to avoid some of these mishaps, and take great care of your venison.

    The guys also talk about dealing with venison in areas with high CWD numbers, and how to deactivate any CWD prions that may come in contact with your butchering surfaces. Nick mentions an episode of his show that takes an in-depth look at CWD in venison which can be found here for those interested: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-huntavore-sportsmens-nation/id1403496684?i=1000455202347

    Follow along with Nick and learn more about butchering and cooking wild game on social media @huntavore and by checking out The Huntavore Podcast on the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network

    Huge thanks to our fantastic partners:

    onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

    XOP Gear: www.xopoutdoors.com

    Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com


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  • On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Sam Bilhorn of Whitetail Partners to discuss what last-minute projects, tasks, and chores folks need to be thinking about to get their hunting properties ready before the archery opener. The guys discuss the importance of early-season strategy, planning and cleaning up access routes, how to think about accessing and hunting draws, bottoms, and inside corners, making sure that deer trails are cleared of any fallen trees, pre-season scouting, food plots and how to minimize pressure on your property when completing all of these tasks. The clock is ticking!

    Huge thanks to Sam for returning to the show. If you'd like to follow along with all of the awesome work that he and his team are doing over at Whitetail Partners, or are interested in hiring them to work on your property, you can find everything over at www.whitetailpartners.com/and follow along with Sam @sam_whitetail_partners

    Lastly, the guys talk about the DNR LiDAR maps in this episode as well, which can be accessed via this link:

    https://data-wi-dnr.opendata.arcgis.com/maps/f2e49a42f5e14dd5845536408279da9d/explore

    Check 'em out and get on some big bucks!

    Huge thanks to our fantastic partners:

    onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

    XOP Gear: www.xopoutdoors.com

    Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com

    Be sure to check us out on social media too!

    Instagram

    Facebook

    YouTube

  • On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce sits down with the lone wolf himself; Andrae D'Acquisto to talk all about the keys to consistently killing trophy bucks, hunting fresh sign, tactically pressuring deer, staying mobile, high-level thermal concepts, and above all else: hunting like a wolf

    If there's any name out there that's practically synonymous with big deer, it's Andrae D'Acquisto, and for folks who haven't heard of him, he's the mind behind today's modern mobile hunting equipment and tactics. A Milwaukee-native, Andrae started building his own mobile treestands in his garage back in 1984 when he realized there was nothing else on the market that did what he needed it to do. Fast forward 40 years to today, and Lone Wolf Custom Gear is the leading name in mobile hunting.

    Pierce and Andrae discuss Andrae's unique mentality when it comes to hunting giant deer, and contrary to what a lot of hunters will tell you, Andrae isn't afraid to shove a big buck around if he needs to in order to stack the deck in his favor. The guys talk about how crucial it is to stay mobile so that you're always in a "virgin spot" where deer have never encountered human presence before. After that, they dive into two thermal concepts you don't often hear about: thermal overflow and thermal creep, and after hearing Andrae's breakdown of each, you'll understand why that big one busted you last season. Lastly, the guys tease an upcoming episode all about the art of the Bump & Dump which will come out in part 2 of this conversation in a few weeks. All that and more in this week's episode!

    Big thanks to Andrae for joining us this week! Follow along with Lone Wolf Custom Gear at www.lonewolfcustomgear.comor @lonewolfcustomgear and @whitetailaddictions on social media

    Huge thanks to our fantastic partners:

    onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

    XOP Gear: www.xopoutdoors.com

    Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com

    Be sure to check us out on social media too!

    Instagram

    Facebook

    YouTube

  • On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce sits down with the Wisconsin Deer Program Specialist, Jeff Pritzl to discuss all major deer hunting updates, how dynamic of a state Wisconsin is to manage deer in, how the Department of Natural Resources really operates, how public input is crucial to getting things done, why not everyone's hunting situation may be a reflection of DNR data, and how you as an individual can become an amateur biologist to accurately assess the health of your deer herd, hunting situation, and hunting expectations.

    After a career in the field of biology, Jeff Pritzl now sits at the Deer Program Specialist for the Wisconsin DNR. Jeff's job is anything but easy as he looks at the wide range of struggles and experiences that deer and deer hunters deal with across a state with an extremely diverse landscape. In the Southern Farmland Region where deer can exceed 70 per square mile, to the Northern Forest Region where populations are a fraction of what they once were, there is no 'one size fits all' approach to addressing the issue of deer management in our great state.

    Jeff also dives into the nuances of not only helping the DNR to manage deer populations across the state, but also the people hunting them and the challenges that come with that. People may look at data that claims there to be so many or so few deer in an area, but on a 40 acre piece, it certainly may not seem that way during the 9-day season depending on a wide range of variables. If that sounds like you, it's up to you to let the DNR know, attend you CDAC meetings, and take advantage of public input opportunities.

    The guys also discuss how you can go about assessing your own deer herd and hunting situation, and how you can not only understand the sphere of influence you may have on your herd, but how you can assess the trends you're seeing over time in your area.

    This is a great conversation that covers a wide range of topics, all of which should leave you thinking about how you hunt this fall. Enjoy!

  • On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce sits down with BHA Boardmember Alec Bekkers, and NDA Field to Fork Coordinator, Brock Rosenkranz to recap their experience at the Beast Mode Archery Challenge, talk about everything that goes into coordinating Learn to Hunt events, lessons learned by both mentors & mentees, and some of the biggest hurdles, motivators, and rewarding experiences for both all parties involved.

    If you're not already excited for this fall's deer season, this conversation will get you there! The guys break down all of the upcoming events that new outdoorsmen can attend to learn how to hunt varios game, as well as the opportunities for experienced outdoorsmen to help the next generation on their way. Brock & Alec share some stories about past mentored hunts, as well as some insight about how their personal outdoor experiences have been shaped since getting involved with BHA & NDA.

    For folks interested in being a mentee or a mentor on a hunt this fall, be sure to check out the GoWild Wisconsin website, go to the Hunter Education tab, and select "Learn to Hunt", or follow the link right here: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/Education/OutdoorSkills/lth

    Huge thanks to our fantastic partners:

    onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

    XOP Gear: www.xopoutdoors.com

    Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com

    Be sure to check us out on social media too!

    Instagram

    Facebook

    YouTube

  • In this week's episode, Pierce talks with Aaron Warbritton from The Hunting Public to learn all about the importance of summer scouting, how to do it right, predicting shifts in deer movement, and setting yourself up for success all season long.

    If you haven't heard of Aaron Warbritton, we might have some bigger questions to be asking you. If you have heard of him, you know darn well that he's a wealth of knowledge in the woods whether he's chasing after whitetails or turkeys. This week, the guys unpack the different types of bedding, and why finding those areas now will lead you to success later this fall. Aaron breaks down primary and secondary bedding areas, how to identify them, and how you can build a strategy to set up an ambush on a big buck on his way back to bed.

    We talk through the "Bump & Dump" style of deer hunting, how you should expect bucks to use terrain features depending on the time of year. It's full of gold nuggets so be prepared to listen to this one more than once!

    Huge thanks to our fantastic partners:

    onX Hunt: www.onxmaps.com

    XOP Gear: www.xopoutdoors.com

    Huntworth: www.huntworthgear.com

    Be sure to check us out on social media too!

    Instagram

    Facebook

    YouTube

  • High school is a developmental time, you make some of your closest friends, you try new things, you learn a lot, and hopefully, you get to spend plenty of time fishing outside of school. But what if fishing could actually be part of school? Well thanks to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Fishing Association, that can be true!

    This week we're talking all about the WIFA with Appleton North Coach, Josh Beaman, and Neenah Coach & WIFA Board Member, Bradley Gumtow. The guys kick things off hearing about how they got involved with WIFA, how tournaments work, the experiences that kids are able to have, the number of high schoolers who have achieved Master Angler Status, and of course, how you or your student can get involved by joining their school's club or starting one of their own! If this doesn't make you want to get out on the water, we're not sure what else will!

    Also, you'll hear in the episode that after a terrible accident, one of the WIFA students, Brett Jedwabny has wound up in critical condition and is fighting for his life at the Milwaukee Children's Hospital. To raise money to support Brett and his family during this difficult time, the WIFA has organized the, "A Cast for Hope" fishing tournament that is open to anyone to participate through the Fish Donkey App. It's $25 to enter and 100% of the proceeds go to Brett & his family.

    You can also support Brett by donating to the GoFundMe set up in Brett's name by following this link: https://gofund.me/6f07b407

    Wishing you a strong and speedy recovery, Brett!

  • We talk about deer sign a lot. Tracks, rubs, scrapes, beds, and food sources all make sense when we think about them individually, but taking a step back to look at the big picture is something most of us don't do often enough. Luckily, there are people out there like Brian Dombrowski who can help us break things down!

    This week, Pierce & Brian start what was originally intended to be a woodsmanship podcast, and it is, at times... but that seems too limiting for the conversation the guys had. In this episode, the guys dive into scouting, understanding food sources, reading tacks and rubs, going with "the flow" of the woods, not wasting time playing safe in the early season, and at the end of it all, just keeping things simple. It's a conversation that should hopefully give you reason to pause, zoom out, and think about this upcoming season a little differently. Enjoy!

  • Ever drive by the county park on your way to work, see a giant and think, "Man, sure would be nice if I could hunt that."? Maybe you kick up a nice buck while walking your dog in a forest preserve but just don't know how you'd go about hunting the area. If either of those scenarios sound familiar, this episode is for you as Pierce sits down with a barefooted Lions fan: Dave McChesney!

    In this week's episode the guys dive down the suburban hunting rabbit hole and it is a blast! Dave shares the story of how he went from hunting over bait in a ladder stand to discovering mobile hunting and falling in love with hunting public land in metropolitan areas. The guys share their thoughts on suburban hunting opportunities, talk about how they discovered mobile hunting and lessons learned through trial & error, the highs & lows of hunting tiny parcels, teaching new hunters, planning the season with your spouse, and tons more! Check it out in this week's episode and follow dave on Instagram & Youtube @barefootdave_

  • It's hot, it's humid, the mosquito swarms could carry you away, and that can only mean one thing... It's time to start hanging trail cameras! And who would be better to talk about trail cam strategies with than Jacob Sklenar? That's right, folks, Jacob is back again to drop even more knowledge to help you guys get off on the right track this deer season, and you might want to grab your notepad.

    In this week's episode the guys share how their summers have been, and then dive right into strategy talk. Jacob breaks down why he uses trail cameras to answer a question he has, and how he goes about doing that. He shares areas he likes to hang cameras, when he likes to hang cameras, some subtleties he picks up about other hunters in an area and how they will shift deer movement, how he uses historic data about an area, reading tracks when the camera doesn't go off, and even a bit of speculation about technology in the woods. All that and more in this week's episode!

  • The long days of summer usually leave us with a lot of time to think. Usually that's just about how much we're sweating even though we're just sitting down, but when you can get past that, it can be a great time to reflect. That's exactly what we're doing in this week's episode with the Captain of The Sportsmen's Empire ship: Dan Johnson

    This week, Pierce & Dan hop on the line to talk about a little bit of everything! From the story of how Dan got his start in business and the outdoor industry, to injuries impacting hunts, saddles vs stands, getting kids involved in the outdoors, perfecting hunting strategies, and much more. Check it all out in this week's episode and have a great 4th of July weekend everyone!

  • Effectively E-Scouting is a hill (pun intended) that for some, seems nearly impossible to climb. But like everything outdoors, it can be as complicated or as simple as you want to make it, and having someone who really knows what they're doing to help break things down for you can make a world of difference. That's why this week, we're joined by the map master himself, Jared Larsen of onX Hunt!

    In this week's episode the guys cover a wide range of topics from crossing paths with wardens, getting into waterfowl hunting, not being afraid to go for a swim every once in a while, tricks to utilizing water access safely, developing a scouting process, the importance of utilizing onX features deliberately, and even some ethical dilemmas of technology in the outdoor space. All that and more in this week's episode!

    And don't forget to head on over to @thewisconsinsportsmanpod on Instagram to enter to win a free onX Elite membership!!!

  • It's training season for all fall outdoorsmen and while most folks are slinging arrows and hanging trail cams, the upland and waterfowl community are hard at work with their four-legged companions making sure they're both ready for the season. That's right folks, this week we're talking all about bird dogs with Wisconsin-native, Tyler Mieden!

    Tyler has been around hunting dogs for his entire life and has an incredible passion for training, working, and hunting with bird dogs whether it be in competitions or in the field. In this episode, Pierce and Tyler break down what hunting dog competitions look like from a competitor's perspective, where certain breeds' strengths lie, how to pick a bird dog if you're looking into getting one, Tyler's "Teach, Force, Reinforce" approach to dog training, and tons of other great information for dog lovers. Whether you're a lifelong dog owner or somebody just starting to think about getting a dog of your own, this episode is for you!

  • It's finally starting to feel like summer and all of our minds are beginning to look towards the fall... in other words, we're shifting into deer mode! This week, Pierce is joined by none other than the OG Wisconsin Sportsman: Josh Raley! After a crazy spring, the guys are finally back together to catch up about things they've learned over the past few months, realizations they've made, and more importantly, what the heck they're going to do this fall!

    In this episode, we kick things off by hearing about Josh's consulting season with Whitetail Partners and his entrance into the real estate game. After that, the guys discuss the differences between northern and southern deer hunting, where the most deer research is coming from, theories on what an additional gun season would look like in Wisconsin, and mindsets heading into deer season. Enjoy!

  • June is here and hopefully by now that means you've already dusted off the rods, reels, and tackle boxes, greased up the axles on the boat trailer and charged up the batteries. If you haven't we need to have a serious talk, and if you have, what did you forget on that first trip of the year? What did you have to pop into a bait shop for? What could you have just simply done better? As fun as they can be, fishing trips can also be a source of nightmares if not done properly. That's why this week, we're talking all about how to plan and prepare for a fishing trip!

    This week, Andrew Wolfe returns to the show after a big tournament up in Door County and Pierce is also coming off of a fishing trip not too far away from where Andrew was. After a week of chasing big smallies, the guys thought it would be a good idea to share their tips on how they prepare for a fishing trip. In this episode, the guys break down how they choose a place to go whether it be based off of a species, area, skill they hope to hone, or historic body of water, and then break down how they use their resources to figure out what the fish are doing before they go. Then the guys talk about gear essentials, what they never leave home without, what's overrated, and finally, how they prepare mentally for a trip. This episode is a fun one with plenty of entertaining tangents, but even more good info. Enjoy!

  • Summer is finally here and with turkey season in the rearview and a few good months between now and hunting season, it's time to start thinking about how to prepare for fall. While that typically includes thinking about where you'll be hunting, what gear you need to replace, and slinging some arrows in the backyard, one of the most important things we can work on is training ourselves mentally and physically for the months to come. That's exactly why this week we're talking to Brian Austin, owner and founder of Beast Mode Archery Challenge!

    Brian is a lifelong Wisconsinite from the Driftless region, who has a passion for fitness and, of course, bowhunting. He holds a physical education degree from UW Platteville, which he's used to create fitness programs specifically for bowhunters, and build Beast Mode ArcheryChallenge: where archery, fitness, and bowhunting intersect! Brian shares his insight on what outdoor fitness really looks like, and some of the best ways to build health, strength and mobility for hunting. Then the guys break down the phenomenal events Brian and his team at BMAC. From 3D shoots designed to test your body and your aim, to the grueling BMAC Endurance Challenge, Quiver Shiver, and BMAC Games, that will give you the ultimate physical and mental challenge, Beast Mode Archery Challenge has an event that's perfect to prepare you for the season ahead while having a ton of fun along the way!


    Go check out the events page at beastmodearchery.com to sign up for this year's remaining events, and follow along with Brian on Instagram and Facebook @beastmodearchery

  • As quickly as it arrived, turkey season is almost gone! These six weeks never seem to last long enough, even though it might seem like time is dragging when you find yourself sitting in a silent woods, just praying to hear a gobble in your direction. Hopefully none of you found yourselves in that situation (for long at least) this spring, but with one week left to go, it's a sprint to the finish in the turkey woods.

    This week, Pierce is joined for a second time by Drew Schleim, host of The Predator Podcast, and although Drew is a big time coyote killer, no turkey is safe from him either! The guys share stories from this spring including an hours-old story of Pierce tagging a bird with minutes to go in his hunt, and Drew helping others fill their tags while also filling multiple tags of his own here in Wisconsin and also South Dakota! Drew shares some stories and lessons learned from his time in South Dakota, how he managed to kill his first two Merriam's turkeys, and also shares some fantastic tips for punching a late season tag here in the badger state. It's a great conversation that will leave you itching to get out in the turkey woods one last time!

    Go check out Drew's turkey hunts on YouTube on the Sundown Outdoors Channel, listen in on the great predator hunting episodes he's putting out over at The Predator Podcast, and follow along with his adventures on Instagram @predatorpodcast_drew

  • There are good ways of doing things and better ways of doing things, and when it comes to bass fishing, there are endless ways to become a better bass angler. One of those ways is to spend time with someone who really knows bass, has fished for them competitively for years, and is a heck of an all around outdoorsman. In other words, spend some time picking the brain of Wisconsin-native, Andrew Wolfe!

    This week we're talking bass fishing and you do not want to miss this! Andrew is a lifelong bass fisherman who even represented the Badgers as a member of their college bass fishing team, and now spends his time fishing tournaments and for pleasure around the country. Heck, the guy even paid rent in grad school by winning tournaments! Throughout all that experience, he's become an incredible bass fisherman, and this week he's here to help us all level up our bass game to achieve more success on the water this year. The guys talk about the college bass fishing scene, lessons learned through fishing tournaments, scouting effectively, using the conditions to your advantage and much more. You can follow along with Andrew and his adventures on Instagram @heywolfe11 but fair warning, you will see some GIANT fish!

  • Early mornings, cold fingertips, shots ringing out over the marsh, and a limit of ducks on the strap might feel like a lifetime away right now, but in the words of Wisconsin Waterfowl Association's Executive Director, Bruce Ross, "If you want birds in the sky in the fall, you have to put them on the ground in the spring by creating good habitat." The key point there is, "creating good habitat", and that's exactly what the WWA is setting out to do with the launch of their new Public Lands Restoration Initiative!

    In partnership with the DNR, the WWA is setting out to help identify, evaluate, plan, and implement restoration on historic wetlands across the state that have been impacted by agricultural drainage and/or development, and this week, Pierce sits down with Bruce Ross to hear all about this new initiative, and how they plan to get it done. It's a fantastic conversation that will leave you searching for the sign up link to join WWA, as Bruce shares what the WWA is all about, what they're doing to help protect and restore wetlands, how they're going about educating hunters and non-hunters alike, and so much more. Whether you're a lifelong waterfowler or someone who's never even thought about it, this episode is for you. Go check out the WWA website to learn more about all the awesome work they're doing at wisducks.org, and mark your calendars for Saturday, August 24th to attend the Waterfowl Hunting Expo in Oshkosh!