Whitetail Rendezvous

Once an opportunity comes, you got to go on muscle memory, put the pins where you want it, and let go of the trigger. There are massive lessons learned that cultivate a hunter mindset. Owner of Prodigy Outdoors, Tim Cool tells the story of a shot and a loss which is an example of the stories we don’t hear about on social media – the lesson learned from a miss, a lost buck due to a bad hit. This is bow hunting and stuff happens – a twig, a last-second move, a shaky hand, and we have all been there. Tim bravely shares the reality of bow hunting and the advantage of using a water source as a back barrier to funnel bucks to your stand. On top of that, he reveals how he came up with hunting a crosswind strategy and when to start planning your next epic hunting.

Understanding the impact of eating organic food rather than buying processed food in the groceries is something to ponder on seriously. With thorough research, people understand the countless benefits of supporting organic food, not just for your health, but for the people behind the process as well. Kory Slye, creator of I Am Dad, the Outdoorsman!, shares the joy of hunting with his family through the organic food he harvests, processes, and prepares yearly. The Slyes are big fans of organic food and Kory will take us into an enticing journey from field to plate and reveals where he got recipes worth trying. On a serious note, the Outdoorsman Dad gives us his view on the consumption of organic food.

The University of Montevallo has been offering outdoor scholars program, and they have grown from 8 to 48 students after completing its fourth year. This program is one of a kind as it provides students an opportunity to learn about careers in the outdoor industry while they’re getting a college education. William Crawford, Director of Outdoor Scholars Program, talks about the job opportunity for the Assistant Director position of the outdoor scholars’ program. William says they are looking for someone who can help them as they continue to move forward and grow with their vision. Are you the one they’ve been looking for?

What a time to be a woman in the outdoors right now! It’s a norm in society that women are viewed as less powerful in some areas, most especially in hunting. However, the tables have turned because women have proven their prowess in hunting. Heather Shaw, the Regional Biologist for the Ruffed Grouse Society, and her best friend and co-host, Meadow Kouffeld, are models of tough women outdoors. The ladies go from one story and adventure to another to demonstrate that there are no limits for women outdoors. Both passionate women hunters, they take on the importance of doing DIY hunts and mentorship, inspiring and introducing other women to hunting, and the fulfillment of hunting with a bird dog.

Kip Adams, QDMA’s Director of Conservation and a certified wildlife biologist talks about the facts and fallacies surrounding CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease). It is a 100% fatal disease found in most deer species, including elk, moose, mule and white-tailed deer. As of today, the disease has no vaccine or cure making it an alarming national issue. Kip discusses further about the details related to CWD including its differences to EHD as well as the importance of understanding rules and regulations with regards to deer transport. A discussion on prion which is a misfolded protein in the body is also emphasized.

It was a life-changing workplace accident back in 2014 that Ethan Featheroff, the founder of FeatherNett Outdoors, would say was his humble beginning. He almost lost his life that day and had to deal with a lot of surgeries ever since, but it led to him having the opportunity to take a 215-inch buck. Grabbing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that may never come again, Ethan shares how he had to postpone surgery for hunting, going viral on social media, and what they do at FeatherNett Outdoors.

Disaster can happen anytime, either natural or man-made. If you happen to be trapped in this kind of situation, what will you do to survive? Christopher James of Be A Lion Outdoors is a writer, blogger, survivalist, and all-around avid outdoorsman. He shares his knowledge about the four cores of survival and the rules of three. Christopher has been in the wilderness of North America and made sure no matter what happened he would get out. Survival is a mindset, and in times of catastrophe, your mental attitude is the key to survival.

There’s a stigma that women are supposed to stay home barefoot and pregnant. On the contrary, women are the fastest growing segment in the outdoor industry right now. Melissa Blair, Vice President of Wildlife Women, shares how they started from a Facebook post from their president, Bridgette Holbrook, where people got connected and engaged. Wildlife Women is an outdoor group created to educate, encourage, and inspire women in various aspects of the outdoors regardless of their experience level or passions. Melissa shares how the organization got started as well as the events that they are hosting throughout the year.

The great outdoors is not exclusively a man’s world. Mandy Uhrich is living proof that women can also shine and take an important role in hunting. As a biologist, tournament angler, TV and radio personality, seminar speaker, and outdoor educator, Mandy has been paying her knowledge and experience forward by empowering women and children in this male-dominated field. She shares where she is coming from through her outdoors background as well as the many organizations and activities she has taken part in. Believing in enjoying the outdoors and, at the same time, paying it forward, Mandy shows that the future of hunting and angling is in our hands and we must keep that motivation for more people to appreciate these things.

A shoulder injury made Bo Hutchison decide to stopped hunting and focus more on family and career. Then in 2016, he decided to focus on his health and rediscovered his passion for archery. Bo is the creator of Humble Bow Hunter, a community of hunter exploring personal growth through archery and bow hunting. Bo wanted a place for like-minded people to talk freely about the subjects they are passionate about. With the community, he has assembled a great team of hunters and genuine people to discuss a myriad of topics in a place where real life, passion, and life experiences are welcome. Bo shares how the community is not about the number of harvests or the size of the rack, but a place to talk about the journey and the part of the hunting lifestyle that people may not understand.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease that has been affecting wildlife species, particularly the deer family. As this disease continues to spread, it should undoubtedly be a cause of concern for all stakeholders and hunters alike. Josh Honeycutt, Associate Editor and Deer Hunting Editor for Realtree.com, sheds light into this issue as he shares his knowledge about the disease. A writer himself who has written a great deal on this topic, Josh pulls out two of his articles – “What We Know About the Recent News of a CWD Cure” and “Why Chronic Wasting Disease Should Scare You Away From Deer Hunting” – and goes over them to inform us what we should and shouldn’t be concerned about. Equip yourself with what the experts say about CWD and how you can be cautious with it.

Hunting in women has been practiced for quite some time. However, some women have barriers to going fully outside to learn and experience more. Erin Merrill, a blogger from Central Maine, celebrates a decade of writing about the Maine outdoors and shares her thoughts, adventures, and insights into the world of hunting and conservation from a woman’s point of view. Erin’s blog, And a Strong Cup of Coffee, is a way to chronicle what she’s been doing and the emotions behind them, as well as to make an impact on other women to make them realize that it’s okay to try new things.

Hunting has become not just a hobby but a way of life for many people. Hunters seeking for dynamic and various shooting consider Arizona as one of the best sites, but some say that you have to wait twenty years to get a tag and hunt a great mule deer or a Coues whitetail deer in the state. This belief gets debunked by JP Vicente, Founder of Big Chino Guide Service. Known for calling in monster bulls and shooting trophy bucks, JP reveals the biggest secret in western Arizona as he uncovers how to hunt deer in the area and the opportunities to get over the counter tags. Learn more about the Big Chino Outfitters – from their cutting-edge facilities to their offers to passionate hunters aiming to get archery tags that are on a budget. Also, discover if bucks are better on private or public land, the limited opportunity areas in Arizona, the most essential gear you need to hunt, and more DIY tips and techniques for an extraordinary hunting experience in the West.

As hunters grow old, we need more of the younger generation to step up and continue. John and Keagan Zelko of the family-oriented TV show, Hardcore Generation TV, are on a mission to encourage more young people to discover deer hunting. They share about the reasons and the philosophy on why they hunt and how they talk about their experiences to others. Touching as well on the impact of social media, they give their insights on how they use it to spread the word on hunting.

In this day and age where you’re fighting for space and for time, American Outdoor News is bringing the best of the outdoors through a cross-platform format of diverse topics. Chris Avena started the quarterly digital magazine in 2018. He was introduced on his first deer hunt in his mid-teens. That started him on a journey that has become who he is today, and in 2010, he started his social network for hunters called SeeMeHunt.com. Chris discloses the focus of American Outdoor News which is to inspire the passion of the outdoors by providing relevant, engaging, and quality content to our readers. He says their diverse staff of writers are seasoned professional outdoorsmen in their perspective fields who have drawn on their own personal experiences to share their adventures with the readers. Whether you are passionate about hiking the Appalachian Trail, hunting the Plains of Africa or fishing the Sea of Cortez, American Outdoor News has it covered.

Hunting is not only about strategies and techniques; it is also about being physically fit to carry out those hunts successfully. Les Welch, Midwest affiliate for Fit 4 The Hunt, knows the importance of merging fitness and hunting. He gets everybody fit for their hunt and is ready for the mountains. Les talks about the importance of being in better shape and how it contributes to the success of your hunt. He also shares about his 2018 season, leading us to his multiple trips while giving insights for the next hunt on the road.

Mark D’Ambrosio, a long-range shooting instructor at Branded Rock Canyon and former sniper in the Marine corps, provides his extensive LRS resume to help us understand what it really means when it comes to hunting. Mark shares his own journey and experiences coming into the hunting world, imparting lessons and advice that can make your next hunting successful. In particular, he speaks about the various requirements to be an effective LRS – from your gun set-up to your skills. He also talks about the ethical side of hunting, putting forward the humility required to assess whether you will only injure an animal or take them down in one hit.

The Hunting Beast is made up of quite possibly the most hardcore deer hunters across the country. Most people that are a part of the forum have a common goal, and that is to harvest mature bucks. There are all different types of threads ranging from debating theories on the moon to just talking about what kind of deer makes a person happy and it even includes big buck contests every year which can be a lot of fun. Dan Infalt, president of Hunting Beast, joins us to talk about deer hunting, putting out educational hunting DVDs, hunting on public land, what it takes to put a mature buck on the ground, and more.

One of the aims of a broadhead is to kill as quickly as possible. A big time, hardcore hunt calls for a high-quality broadhead, and Iron Will Outfitters knows exactly what you need. They are known for making high-quality broadheads for bow hunters who love the chase. Their passion for becoming better hunters drove them to engineer the ideal broadhead – a premium broadhead as reliable as science allows. Bill Vanderheyden, Co-Founder and Lean Engineer of Iron Will Outfitters, shares the excellence of their premium product as well as its sharpeners for touch-up. On top of that, he gives insights on maximizing an arrow’s penetration and FOC.

Married with two boys -42 years old -Born and raised in PA and live in York County, PA -Bowhunting for 26 years — have only ever pursued Whitetail though when it comes to big game hunting -CEO of Titanium Archery Products -Founded TAP in 2016 and started running the business full time at that point Manufacturer of High Performance Bow Accessories Titanium Archery Products, LLC· Our vision for pushing the boundaries of performance in archery is what drives the innovation that has made our products successful. Try them for yourself and FEEL the difference. TAP is NOT ANOTHER CARBON COPY.