Episodes
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In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman Podcast, Mitch is joined by Cody Readinger, a successful bow hunter known for consistently harvesting big bucks in challenging terrains. The conversation delves into Cody's journey from a casual hunter to a dedicated bow hunter, the emotional experiences tied to hunting, and the importance of scouting and preparation. They discuss the balance between family life and hunting passion, Cody's hunting philosophy, and the story behind his latest big buck. The episode emphasizes the significance of understanding terrain features and the challenges of hunting in Pennsylvania's Ridge and Valley region. In this segment, Cody shares his insights on deer hunting, emphasizing the importance of fieldwork, understanding deer behavior, and utilizing technology like cameras for tracking. He discusses his strategic approach to hunting, particularly focusing on wind direction and the significance of patience and preparation. The conversation culminates in a profound moment of connection with a buck, leading to reflections on faith and the journey of growth in both hunting and life. They share their insights on the influence of podcasts in learning about hunting, the importance of embracing failure, and the need to find a personal 'why' in the hunting experience. Cody discusses the impact of social media on expectations and the significance of valuing experiences over mere success. The conversation also touches on personal reflections, life lessons, and the role of faith in guiding one's journey in hunting and life.
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In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by PA native Chris Weist. The two delve into the intricacies of deer hunting, discussing various strategies, mental challenges, and the impact of technology on the hunting experience. This includes how Chris prioritizes his time throughout the fall, what challenges he is facing, how to navigate feed trees in monotonous timber, and much more. They explore the importance of patience, the significance of food sources, and the need for aggressive tactics in certain situations. The discussion also touches on setting realistic goals and expectations for the hunting season, as well as the balance between utilizing technology and maintaining the adventure of hunting.
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Missing episodes?
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On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman Mitch is joined by returning guests and good friends Mike Lesher, Mark Lesher, Jason Miller and Jared Lesher. The five sit down near the close of the 2024 New Jersey Segment A bear hunt, and discuss what a week it was! Beginning in summer, the crew made multiple trips to scout and locate bears that would meet their season goals. The Leshers and Jason hunted all week long and were able to have some cool encounters with archery tackle. Mitch came to camp with his Lyman Flintlock muzzleloader in hand later in the week. Tune in to hear the highs, lows, mishaps and successes of this DIY public land bear hunt! This episode truly highlights the camaraderie and teamwork shared by this crew of guys!
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In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman Mitch is joined by Troy Fowler, known as the Ranch Fairy. The two discuss a highly controversial topic: quartering towards shot angles with archery equipment. Can you really shoot through the shoulder of a deer with a bow? With most arrow set ups, no, not without luck or wounding the animal. Arrows don't like bone, especially with lighter arrow setups that are commonly used. Troy emphasizes the importance of understanding shot placement and the anatomy of deer. Troy also compares the toughness of deer and pigs, highlights the significance of arrow setup and flight, and encourages critical thinking in bowhunting. He shares valuable lessons from his experiences and stresses the need for discipline and understanding of equipment in order to be successful in hunting. That means knowing what your arrow is capable of doing should it encounter a heavy bone like the humerus of a whitetail. If it can't go through it, don't take the shot! Or, listen to the 12 factors of arrow flight from the Ashby Bowhunting foundation to learn what setups have the highest chance of passthrough if you so decide to take this shot angle. This episode revolves around making ethical choices in the world of bowhunting.
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In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch interviews Cliff Bailey, a passionate hunter and creator of KEO Vlogs on YouTube. They discuss Cliff's background in hunting, the evolution of his family's hunting traditions, and the journey of creating his YouTube channel. The conversation delves into land management practices, the journey of targeting bigger bucks, and the lessons learned over the years. They also explore hunting strategies, the significance of wind, and how to manage pressure while hunting. Cliff shares insights on deer behavior, the role of food sources, and the impact of the rut on hunting success. The discussion emphasizes the importance of patience, knowledge, and adaptability in the pursuit of hunting big mature deer.
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In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch interviews Ricky Brule, host of the Range Podcast and Creative Director for Vaportrails Bowstrings. They discuss Ricky's various roles in content creation, the balance between work and personal hobbies, and the impact of social media on the hunting community. The conversation delves into the controversies surrounding hunting practices, particularly the use of crossbows, and the importance of community and family in the hunting experience. Ricky shares insights on adapting hunting techniques across different regions and reflects on the changing priorities that come with fatherhood. The episode concludes with a reminder to enjoy the journey of hunting and the significance of building connections within the community.
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On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by Jason Goe and Jere Preston from the Final Stand YouTube channel. This episode discusses various aspects of hunting, beginning with a conversation focusing on modern muzzleloaders versus flintlocks. The boys dive into Jere's recent trip back from bear hunting in Canada, then shift gears to whitetail hunting in Pennsylvania and Maryland. The conversation also delves into strategies for hunting on public land, the importance of monitoring ground scent and wind control, and the impact of technology on hunting practices.
Throughout the discussion, the speakers share personal anecdotes and insights, emphasizing the challenges and rewards of being a dedicated hunter. Additional topics navigate the evolution of hunting strategies, emphasizing the importance of scouting over gimmicks and the nuanced role of trail cameras. The team shares insights on navigating public land hunting, the significance of timing in scouting, and the challenges of introducing children to hunting in a meaningful way. The discussion also touches on the importance of family traditions in hunting and the need for a supportive community that values both successes and failures in the sport. This is a don't miss episode sure to fire you up for the start of 2024 deer season!
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In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitchell is joined by Jeremy Dinsmore of the Antler Up Podcast to discuss preparations for the upcoming hunting season. They talk about technical difficulties with recording podcasts, practicing shooting their bows, and managing their schedules. They also touch on the use of trail cameras and the importance of trusting their instincts while hunting. In this conversation, Jeremy and Mitchell discuss their scouting and hunting strategies for deer. They talk about the importance of scouting and gathering information through trail cameras, as well as the challenges of piecing together the puzzle of deer movement. They also discuss the timing of the hunting season and the importance of being patient and selective in choosing locations to sit and deer to pursue. Jeremy expresses his desire to improve his woodsmanship skills and become more proficient in different hunting scenarios. They emphasize the importance of enjoying the hunt and making memories, regardless of the size or caliber of the deer harvested.
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This week on the Pennsylvania Woodsman we are back with part 2 of our conversation with Cole Seitzinger in what we are calling a "Dream Season". If you missed last week, Cole shares his 2023 PA P&Y buck story and the obstacles experienced along the way. It was 8 days later Cole was able to lay hands on his target 150 class buck in the Prairie State. However, the theme of overcoming obstacles remains in place!
Despite initial setbacks and doubts, Cole's wife encouraged him to go on his Illinois hunt after a 12-year hiatus, arriving a day late due to family obligations. Cole bounced around the farm until landing in a tree that proved to be successful. Initially, the wind kept him from hunting his primary target location. The tree he picked was a good distance away but allowed him to observe from a distance. The power of November had his target buck on his feet, which just happened to cruise by his tree in bow range mid-morning. Lots of lessons learned from stand selection and shot placement, to tracking, trusting your instincts, and sharing memories made in the field.
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In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by his buddy Cole Seitzinger, who talks about balancing family life with hunting and his transition to hunting with a saddle. The balancing act requires Cole to be specific with his time to allow success; the saddle helps with his time efficiency. The conversation begins with the pros and cons of saddle hunting and the impact of content creation on the hunting experience. From here, Cole breaks down the hunt for his 2023 PA buck.
Cole was able to harvest this buck on the first sit of the year at this property. He had not hunted it for 3 seasons, in fact the previous sit he also arrowed his largest PA buck to date. Cole shares the ins and outs of learning the timing of the properties he hunts, and how he had to make an adjustment after missing the best time at another property. This is part one of two, tune in next week when Cole breaks down his trip to Illinois where he arrowed a bruiser!
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In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch discusses his experience with bear scouting and hunting leading into the 2024 season. After a successful 2023 season, he is back in New Jersey for bigger and better things. There were many takeaways from last season, forcing Mitch to modify his preparation for an even better outcome this year. This includes the importance of scouting and finding food sources, as well as the need for fallback options and scouting for people pressure.
Finding food in summer is a start, but it's also crucial to continue to monitor as the season start to close in. Mitch shares the scale of land he is scouting both with cameras and boots-on-ground, and how he plans to choose stand locations for wind direction and lay of the land. The goals and outlook for this season are slightly different from normal: be patient, learn from your experiences, and set realistic expectations for the hunting season with the time that's available to prepare.
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This week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman is bound to ruffle someone's feathers. Take it with a grain of salt; it's two average Joe's having a conversation about their opinions of hunting in PA. Our guest is John Kolb from Suffering Outdoors, and he and Mitch discuss five items that they believe if changed would improve the hunting opportunity in Pennsylvania. Both John and Mitch are avid bowhunters, so the majority of this discussion revolves around improvements for our own self-interest.
Before we start, let's make it known that we both believe the Pennsylvania state agency does an excellent job of collecting data and making well informed decisions for our hunting seasons. This is not an episode of critique, rather expanding on what's already worked well in the Keystone state, with a dash of selfish-interest. We start the episode by listing a few things the state has already implemented that have made hunting regulations easier or created better hunting opportunities. From here we break down our five points of interest, leading up to our grand finale. Let's just say, the final point argues the use of a trigger during archery season... What do you think would make hunting PA better?
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On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch introduces Shaun Trump from Northern Duck Calls to the show. Shaun is as passionate about duck hunting as Mitch is about deer. So much so, that he's turned a hobby of building ducks calls into a business. After our introduction, Shaun discusses how he first got into building calls and the complexities of using a lathe and combining it with reeds and cutouts. He also discusses his experiences of hunting ducks in Arkansas, and how the culture of waterfowl hunting is much different when compared to the northeast. You are able to sense a "homesick" feeling from Shaun when he talks about Arkansas, but he quickly changes the subject to building a network and culture here in the northeast around duck hunting. If you're looking to upgrade some duck calls for this season, shop local and check out Northern Duck Calls!
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On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, we dive deep into the Radix Hunting Monarch blind line up. Our guest is none other than Clifford Martin, owner and operator of Radix hunting gear. One thing to note about Radix is the attention to quality in their products. That's because Clifford is a diehard successful deer and turkey hunter, and strives to provide the best possible equipment in the field for himself and also consumers. If it doesn't pass his extensive testing, it gets modified before you can ever get your hands on it!
We begin by breaking down the Monarch G1 ground blind, and work our way up the ladder towards hard shell blinds. Along the way we discuss the differences in these blinds when compared to competitors you might find out on the market. With each series of blind, we discuss the structural integrity behind each product, and how each has been modified over time for improvements. Two main factors come into play with Monarch blinds: structural integrity to hold up to mother nature, and silent use when in close proximity to game. We also break down each blind and how Clifford view's their purpose in his world of deer and turkey hunting. Make sure to check them all out at Radixhunting.com!
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Troy Dietterich is back on this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman for part two of his property conversion. In addition to experimenting with different food plot practices, he is creating more usable cover and native browse on his property. This includes converting a 3-acre crop field back into wildlife habitat. In this episode we discuss: field layout, goals and objectives, vision of balance between cover and food plots, screening and plant establishment, maintenance and upkeep, and most of all - patience. Enjoy the process and keep some of Troy's learning experiences in mind for your next habitat project!
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Sometimes good things just take time. This week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman is no exception, as this is a slightly longer conversation. Our guest is Cory Gulvas and we dive into the world of traditional archery. Cory's passion has driven him to competition level shooting, solely hunting with a recurve, and even bow building. In that time, Cory has faced nearly any obstacle that a new stickbow shooter could possibly experience. Take notes if you're a noob!
Cory is often approached for advice, and typically finds people struggling with the same things repeatedly. We discuss getting into traditional archery for the correct reasons, choosing the best equipment to start, aiming methods, shot execution, target panic, and much more. If you've been struggling to figure out how to overcome many of these common issues when shooting a trad bow, your questions may be answered in this episode.
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Branching off from last week's episode, we discuss weed management and some key in-the-field observations. Mitch mentioned that there are three common "modes of action" to control weeds including mechanical (tillage, hand pulling), chemical (herbicide), and biological (plant competition). Is it possible to manage weeds with only one? This week's guest on the Pennsylvania Woodsman is Troy Dietterich who shares some interesting observations from his personal hunting property.
Troy and his wife prefer to limit the use of pesticides on their property. This is something anyone can do successfully if they stay dedicated and work hard towards. That's not to say it doesn't come a little more difficult and with a greater learning curve. Troy has used a multitude of seed blends and management styles on his food plots; some successful and some not. We dive into what worked, what didn't, and what key observations were made in order to make better decisions moving forward. This episode is a great example of just because someone says you should do something a certain way (this includes recommendations from Mitch!), doesn't mean you can't modify tactics to better serve your property and personal goals!
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No-till and soil health have almost become buzz words in the food plot world. The practices themselves are sound and have a good purpose when it comes to wildlife use. But does that mean you need to keep up with the Jones' just because someone else told you so? This week Mitch shares his exposure to no-till food plotting, a few of the reasons why he adopted it, and shares a few hurdles you may face when making the transition. This is all from the hip first hand experiences in Agriculture as well as food plots. He discusses weed management, moisture management, and low budget planting equipment with practices to ensure you don't encounter the same challenges as he and many others.
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On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by Nate Sellers of Average Jack archery. The episode dives into opening the case and dusting off your bow from last season. We discuss how to get back into shooting shape - this includes, reps, routine, gear checks, tuning, and more. Practice makes perfect, but what about when you don't have a lot of time to practice? Being intentional about what you are practicing, and practicing it the correct way goes a long way if reps are frequent but short. Small steps build confidence for shooting at game this fall - start now!
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On this week's episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman we are kicking things off in a different style. While we are cruising through summer, we still have a ways off before the fall. Work, honey-do list, and summer time activities are still the bulk focus of our time. Therefore, if success in fall is to happen, it needs to be done by maximizing the little time we have to prepare and staying focused. Mitch and the guest will set a timer for 30 minutes and dive into a topic. When the timer runs out, it's back to the real world. Take the same logic with your summer preparation and be deliberate!
This week's guest is Dan Johnson, host of the Nine Finger Chronicles and leader of Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network. Just because Dan works "in the industry," does not mean he is blessed with unlimited time to prepare each fall and kill tons of game. He has a family and a business that requires his undivided attention all year. Therefore, in order to stay sane in the hunting world, he has to be specific when setting goals and expectations. This means being realistic and achievable, and yet also finding satisfaction. Around this framework, we will discuss specifics of preparation for hunting at home and out-of-state trips with what little free time he has available.
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