The Hunting Dad Podcast

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!

Ep. 28 The Ruts White Flag Lap! -Jackie Sexton

Jackie Sexton is a one great dude! It was awesome getting him to come on the podcast and talk about deer and this incredibly frustrating time of the rut. We're coming up on the last part of November where things get tricky so if you're still looking to tag a buck, this may be an episode for you! Appreciate you guys listening!

Ep.27 Nebraska Mule Deer Recap!

Had to record a recap on my nebraska trip while driving home! This trip was so full of ups and downs. Glad that it ended on a high note in the end. In this episode I cover expectations, hunting pressure and of course how everything went down on the hunt!

Kentucky Buck DOWN (Hunt Recap)- Bonus Episode

Wanted to do a bonus episode on the story of my 2025 Kentucky buck. Definitely one of the most interesting recoverys of my life with a bunch of hard lessons learned. Kentucky was a rough road this year but im happy to have been tagged out in my ol Ky home!