Generations To Hunt

Welcome back to another episode of the Generations of Hunt podcast! Today, I'm joined by my good friend , Dave, who helped me out with the "Stay Out September" series. We're here to catch up on how his hunting season went and to share some of the lessons learned along the way.

Dave kicked off the season with high hopes, having done extensive winter, spring, and summer scouting. His wife rescheduled a trip to Disney, giving him a full week in early October to hunt. Dave set up a solo hunt camp in Southern Michigan, sleeping in a minivan and braving the cold. Despite the challenging conditions, it was a rewarding experience that taught him a lot about hunting new terrain.

Dave attended the Bowhunter Chronicles camp for the first time, which was a mix of camaraderie and serious hunting. He faced new terrain challenges but enjoyed the experience of hunting with a group. One memorable moment was his creative tree selection for a hunt, which involved climbing a spindly tree to get to a massive oak.

Dave had two main spots for the rut season. The first spot was disrupted by another hunter who unknowingly used the same trail as the target buck. Despite this, Dave learned valuable information about the buck's behavior, such as the early opening of scrape lines.

The second spot was a Metro Detroit public land property where Dave had patterned a buck over two years. Despite setting up a camera and hunting strategically, he faced challenges from other hunters and even had his camera tampered with. However, he still managed to gather crucial data for future hunts.

Early Season: Dave confirmed that his scouting was accurate, even if the timing was slightly off.

Rut Season: He learned that bucks can open scrape lines earlier than expected and that human presence can significantly alter deer behavior.

Public Land Hunting: Encounters with other hunters can be both respectful and disruptive, highlighting the importance of adaptability.

Dave's season was a mix of highs and lows, but it was filled with valuable lessons and experiences. From solo camping in a minivan to navigating the complexities of public land hunting, Dave's journey offers insights for hunters of all levels.

Generations of Hunt podcast, we kick off a new sub-series with a special guest, Matt Michalek, affectionately known as Matt.com. Matt is a tech-savvy hunter from Michigan who brings a wealth of knowledge to our discussion, especially when it comes to data and industry trends.

We dive into several hot topics, starting with the recent developments in Michigan's deer management and regulations. Matt sheds light on the new Deer Management Council and the upcoming recommendations that could impact the 2024 hunting season. We also discuss the controversial solar farm projects and their implications for local wildlife.

One of the key points we explore is the impact of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) on the deer population. Matt provides insights into the data, revealing that while EHD had a significant impact, it wasn't as devastating as some feared. We also touch on the ongoing debate about baiting and its legality, with Matt sharing his personal experiences and observations.

We delve into the statistics of deer harvests, particularly during the muzzleloader season, and the surprising trend of hunters using their combo tags for antlerless deer. This leads to a broader discussion about the need for better population management and the role hunters play in conservation.

The episode also covers the proposed changes in hunting license prices, including the controversial increase for senior hunters and the adjustments for non-resident tags. We debate the potential impact of these changes on hunter participation and conservation efforts.

Throughout the episode, we emphasize the importance of understanding and adapting to new regulations, as well as the need for hunters to take an active role in managing the deer population. Matt's data-driven approach provides a fresh perspective on these issues, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of hunting in Michigan.

In this episode of Generations of Hunt, I had the pleasure of chatting with Matt, one of our seasoned big buck hunters. We kicked things off discussing the temptations of Black Friday sales, especially when it comes to upgrading hunting gear. Matt shared his recent gear changes, including his switch to the Maverick saddle and the Ranger 22 pack, which have significantly improved his hunting experience.

We then dove into Matt's hunting season, which started off slow in October due to concerns about CWD and EHD affecting the deer population. Matt spent the early part of the season exploring public lands and attending the Bowhunter Chronicle camp, where he finally started seeing some deer activity. By late October, he began getting promising pictures of bucks on his family's property, which reignited his hunting fervor.

Matt recounted the thrilling hunt on November 2nd, where he successfully shot a massive buck after a brief but intense encounter. He detailed the meticulous process of tracking and recovering the deer, which ended with a short and successful track job. The buck, a mainframe eight with a kicker, turned out to be his biggest to date, and Matt shared his excitement about getting it mounted.

We also touched on the broader aspects of hunting, including the challenges of finding the perfect backpack and the importance of having the right gear. Matt and I discussed the potential changes in hunting regulations, such as the idea of a one-buck rule or an earn-a-buck system, and reminisced about the nostalgia of traditional muzzleloader seasons.

Joe and Matt catch up after a busy deer season. They discuss their experiences and challenges during the hunting season, including work commitments and the impact of weather on their hunting plans. Joe shares his excitement about finally harvesting a deer, while Matt reflects on his own hunting experiences, including a pheasant hunting trip in South Dakota that turned out to be a highlight of his season.

The conversation shifts to their hunting strategies, with both hosts discussing the importance of adapting to changing conditions and deer behavior. They touch on the challenges of hunting in different states, including issues with trespassers and the unpredictability of deer movement during the rut.

Joe recounts a thrilling encounter with a large buck, detailing the moments leading up to his successful shot. He describes the adrenaline rush and the process of tracking the deer afterward. The episode concludes with both hosts expressing their enthusiasm for the upcoming hunting seasons and the lessons learned from their experiences.