Ep. 34 Tagging Mature Bucks CONSISTENTLY! - with Kelsey Moss

Ep. 34 Tagging Mature Bucks CONSISTENTLY! - with Kelsey Moss

In this episode of The Hunting Dad Podcast, I sit down with accomplished public-land bowhunter Kelsey Moss for an honest conversation about what it really takes to consistently find and kill mature bucks. Kelsey shares his incredible 2025 season, breaking down each of his four trophy bucks—from urban velvet deer and Tennessee public land to a successful DIY Georgia mountain hunt. Along the way, he explains his scouting process, trail camera strategy, hunting pressure, terrain analysis, and why eliminating where other hunters are likely to be has become one of his biggest keys to success. The conversation also dives into kudzu hunting, calling mature bucks, mobile hunting tactics, learning from missed opportunities, overcoming buck fever, and developing the mental discipline needed to execute when the moment finally arrives. Whether you're chasing your first mature buck or looking to become a more efficient public-land hunter, this episode is packed with practical hunting knowledge, plenty of laughs, and stories every deer hunter can appreciate.

Ep. 33 Hunting, Marriage & The DIY Grind With Cade Trickey

On this episode of The Hunting Dad Podcast, I sit down with DIY hunter and YouTube creator Cade Trickey. Cade shares his journey from working in the outdoor industry to building his own hunting channel, the lessons he's learned chasing animals across multiple states, and why he focuses on showing the real side of hunting. We dive into summer preparation, scouting philosophies, public land pressure, Arkansas hunting, deer hunting in the hills vs. bottoms, and Cade's upcoming journey into bear hunting. We also have a real conversation about something every hunting dad has to navigate — balancing time in the woods with being a husband and father. Cade explains how his wife supports his hunting lifestyle, why being present at home matters, and how a strong relationship makes chasing these adventures possible. This episode covers..... * DIY hunting, family balance, and chasing a dream * The real side of building a hunting channel * Turkey hunting across state lines * Arkansas duck hunting culture * Deer hunting hills vs. bottoms * First-time bear hunting adventure * What it takes to keep hunting and family working together!

Ep. 32 It's Not About the Deer | The Real Meaning of Deer Camp!

We're Continuing on with the new season with a laid-back campfire-style conversation with some good friends — Stewart Keen, Steven Fuller, and Scotty Flippo. This episode isn't about tactics, gear, or chasing the biggest buck. It's about the part of hunting that keeps us coming back year after year: The friendships, the traditions, the laughs, and the memories made around camp. We talk about how hunting changes as we get older, why deer camp means more than just filling a tag, taking kids hunting, morning vs evening hunts, public land struggles, mental toughness, hunting mistakes we've made, and the deer that mean the most to us. Because at the end of the day, the best hunts are very seldom measured in sucess by inches! Use code huntingdad at hawke optics to save 15% at checkout! Click this link to get 10% off AND FREE shipping off your order @ Dryshod boots! https://dryshodusa.com/?sld=14 [https://dryshodusa.com/?sld=14] And again, if you're looking to swap to, or try MOULTRIE cameras, Shoot me a message on either FB or Instagram and let me save you some bigtime cash!

EP. 31 Why Most Hunters Never Reach Their Potential with Sam Ubl

This week on The Hunting Dad Podcast, I sit down with Sam Ubl for one of my favorite conversations of the season. Sam shares his journey from outdoor writing and filming with Whitetail Adrenaline to building Chase Nation, while diving into the hunting lessons that completely changed his approach to mature bucks. We discuss the dangers of egos in hunting, the concept of "imposter syndrome," learning from mentors like Dan Infalt, and why being willing to challenge your own beliefs can accelerate your success in the woods. We also spend plenty of time talking about one of our favorite topics—boat access hunting. From dragging bucks out by canoe in Minnesota and Wisconsin to using kayaks and small boats to access overlooked public land, Sam explains why water access remains one of the most effective tools for finding unpressured deer. To wrap things up, we trade stories from our first-ever Nebraska mule deer hunts, discuss what surprised us most about hunting mule deer, and share lessons learned from chasing deer across the Sandhills and western prairies. If you're a public land hunter looking to improve, this episode is packed with hard-earned lessons and real-world experience. In This Episode * Sam Ubl's background in outdoor writing and filmmaking * Working with Whitetail Adrenaline and starting Chase Nation * The role of ego and imposter syndrome in hunting success * Lessons learned from Dan Infalt and The Hunting Beast approach * Why hunting sanctuaries changed Sam's results * Canoe, kayak, and boat-access hunting strategies * Accessing overlooked public land * EHD impacts on public-land deer hunting * First-time Nebraska mule deer experiences * Mule deer vs. whitetail observations * Muzzleloader accuracy and long-range hunting considerations Be sure and use CODE: Huntingdad @ Hawke optics to save 15% at checkout! Click this link to get 10% off AND FREE shipping off your order @ Dryshod boots! https://dryshodusa.com/?sld=14 [https://dryshodusa.com/?sld=14] And again, if youre looking to swap to, or try MOULTRIE cameras, Shoot me a message on either FB or Instagram and let me save you some bigtime cash!

Ep. 30 Whitetail Research with Derrick: What MIDWEST Drone Data Reveals About Mature Bucks, Ag Country Deer, and Hunting Pressure!

In this episode of the Hunting Dad Podcast, I sit down with returning guest Derrick from Whitetail Research to discuss what he has learned from another year of intensive deer research using drones, field observations, and data collection. The conversation dives deep into mature buck behavior, agricultural-country deer, bedding preferences, hunting pressure, acorn crop impacts, and how some bucks seem nearly impossible to kill with a bow. Derrick also shares details about his upcoming turkey decline research project, future broadhead testing, and what surprised him most during his second year of drone-based whitetail research. Life and Business Update * Derrick's transition from side hustle to full-time Whitetail Research * Traveling to agricultural states to continue research * How drone technology has changed deer observation * Upcoming research projects and content plans Agricultural Deer Behavior * Why mature bucks often bed surprisingly close to roads and homes * How deer become accustomed to predictable human activity * The importance of habitat diversity in ag country * Understanding riparian habitat and why deer use it heavily Deer Bedding in Soybeans * Mature bucks bedding directly in standing soybean fields * Why deer may spend entire summers living in crop fields * How deer use beans for food, security, and temperature regulation * Stories of stalking mature bucks bedded in soybeans Hunting Pressure and Deer Movement * How gun-season pressure changes deer behavior * Why some bucks relocate immediately after disturbance * How quickly deer return to normal patterns after pressure subsides * Examples of individual bucks responding differently to hunters Acorns and Food Sources * Comparing a bumper acorn crop year versus a poor mast year * How food availability changes movement patterns * Why mature bucks spent more time in openings during low-acorn years Mature Buck Intelligence * Why some deer seem nearly impossible to kill with archery equipment * The difference between locating a mature buck and getting within bow range * Derrick's observations on highly efficient bedding and travel strategies Predator Connections * Fascinating observations of mature bucks bedding near coyotes and bobcats * Similarities between predator behavior and mature buck behavior * Why mature deer may tolerate certain predators nearby Future Research Projects * Large-scale turkey population decline investigation * Conservation funding and habitat management research * Upcoming broadhead and arrow penetration testing * High-speed camera analysis of archery equipment Be sure and use CODE: Huntingdad @ Hawke optics to save 15% at checkout! Click this link to get 10% off AND FREE shipping off your order @ Dryshod boots! https://dryshodusa.com/?sld=14 [https://dryshodusa.com/?sld=14] And again, if youre looking to swap to, ot try MOULTRIE cameras, Shoot me a message on either FB or Instagram and let me save you some bigtime cash!