The Fall Podcast

Ever shot two bucks in one sit? Thats how this one starts! Taylor and Mace hit the blood trail to help recover a big Northern Michigan public land buck!

You can kill a giant Michigan buck and still be left wondering if you’d make the same decision all over again. Bobby Kennedy joins me on this episode of The Fall Podcast to break down the slammer of a Michigan buck he killed this season and a question that’s going to get a lot more interesting when Michigan transitions to a one-buck state: Would he shoot that same deer next year? That conversation opens the door to a bigger discussion about hunting, perspective, and how we measure success. Are hunters only as good as the farms they hunt and the deer that call those properties home? How often do we justify pulling the trigger because we know our neighbors would have shot that buck anyway? And have we lost some of the mystery that makes deer hunting so special? We talk about the pressure to kill, the decisions we make in the moment, and why bringing back the unknown might be one of the best things we can do for our hunting experience. We also get into Bobby’s hunt in the Northeast for Sitka blacktail, where he put his tag on a world-class buck—but the hunt didn’t exactly unfold the way he expected. This one goes beyond inches and antlers. It’s a conversation about the decisions we make as hunters, the standards we hold ourselves to, and what we might be missing when we focus too much on the outcome. Enjoy the show!

Tracking deer with a dog already starts behind the 8 ball. Some days are easier than others. The last week for Taylor and Mace has been everything but easy.

I finally encountered my first shooter buck of the season, and it nearly turned into one of those hunts that changes everything. After several mornings in the stand and plenty of time trying to piece together what the deer were doing, things are starting to come together. In this episode, I’m breaking down that encounter, recapping my latest hunts, and sharing what I’m seeing in the woods as we head into the final stretch of October. The scrapes are heating up, bucks are starting to move, and I think the next few days could be special.

The final 10 days of October can change everything, but only if you know how to hunt them. This week on The Fall Podcast, I’m joined by Mitch Day from Prime Archery to break down bow tuning and, more importantly, the tactics and mindset that can make a difference during the final stretch of October whitetail hunting. We talk about getting your bow dialed in, making smart equipment decisions, and having confidence in your setup when it matters most. Mitch also shares the story of a challenging Ohio hunt that tested his patience and ultimately reinforced one of the biggest lessons in hunting: trust the process. When things get tough and the action isn’t unfolding the way you planned, it’s easy to second-guess yourself and abandon a strategy too soon. We discuss the importance of staying consistent, learning from each sit, and making the most of those final 10 days of October when opportunities can change in a hurry. If you’re gearing up for the back half of October, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.