Nine Finger Chronicles - Deer Hunting Podcast

In this episode of Nine Finger Chronicles, Dan J. sits down with David of Tag and Brag during the Code Blue Scents "scrape week," just as the pre-rut is heating up. Dan opens with his New York City trip, then the two get into the hunting life. They talk about the pressure of turning a passion into a job, the guilt of leaving family behind in November, and staying present instead of wishing the season away. They also cover how age changes what a big buck means to you.Then the conversation turns to strategy. David explains why scrapes are a top priority right now. He covers how to read fresh sign and licking branches, and why trail cameras tell you when deer are moving but can also leave you with "coulda, shoulda, woulda" regrets. Dan and David compare notes on hunting terrain features like thermal hubs instead of a single scrape, and on how scrapes matter less as the rut gets going. They also cover longer sits, when to move stands, and reading a doe that's about to be pursued. David shares a story of a giant buck trotting right under his stand.Thanks to this episode's partners: Code Blue Scents (codebluescents.com, code NFC20 for 20% off), Wasp Archery (wasparchery.com, code NFC20 for 20% off), Vortex Optics (vortexoptics.com), Vapor Trail Archery (VaporTrailArchery.com), Reveal Trail Cameras (tacticam.com/cameras) and Ozonics (ozonicshunting.com).Our Sponsors:* Check out KUIU: https://www.kuiu.com* Check out Thompson Cigars and use my code thompsoncigar.com/NFC for a great deal: https://thompsoncigar.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dan and Pierce Nelles of the Wisconsin Sportsman talk about what's on their minds as the whitetail rut gets close.The conversation starts with election ads and mailers, the Pepto Bismol jingle, online gambling and betting on politics. From there it moves to AI, drones and data centers near farmland. They also get into the proposed Wisconsin power line, solar fields on wildlife habitat, and whether you sell the family land or conserve it. Along the way they recommend Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac.Then it's back to the woods. Pierce tells the story of a hunt where he left his headlamp on while a mature 10-pointer stared him down at 20 yards. They swap stories about forgotten bows and harnesses. They also talk about how a cold front after days of rain could set off the rut, and how Dan plans to cycle through his best stands by wind and access. He also explains the one-grunt call he trusts on cruising bucks.Thanks to our partners: The Wisconsin Sportsman, Wasp Archery, Ozonics, Vortex Optics, Code Blue Scents, Vapor Trail Archery and Reveal Trail Cameras. Use code NFC20 for 20% off at Wasp Archery and Code Blue Scents.Our Sponsors:* Check out KUIU: https://www.kuiu.com* Check out Thompson Cigars and use my code thompsoncigar.com/NFC for a great deal: https://thompsoncigar.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Rut season is almost here, and Dan and Bob Barlau are talking whitetails on the Nine Finger Chronicles.Dan kicks things off with a water park bucket comparison for the rut. He also tells us about the nocturnal bucks on his trail cameras and the 3-year-old 10-pointer he's hoping makes it to next year. Then the conversation goes off track: R&B in the truck, CDs thrown out car windows and the Columbia House CD club.They get sentimental over their favorite coffee mugs, shout out Dan's grandma and Bob's mom, and challenge you to call your mom or grandma.After a round of thanks to the show's partners, Bob tells the story of his Minnesota metro bow hunt. He covers how the draw works, how he picked his stand and how he took a buck on opening day. Dan and Bob then get into wind, pressure and first-time-in stands, and what the rest of the season looks like in Wisconsin.Partners: Wasp Archery, Vortex Optics, Vapor Trail Archery, Code Blue Scents, Reveal Trail Cameras and Ozonics.Our Sponsors:* Check out KUIU: https://www.kuiu.com* Check out Thompson Cigars and use my code thompsoncigar.com/NFC for a great deal: https://thompsoncigar.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The advice hunters get online is often backwards. Stop chasing the perfect setup, obsessing over every rule, and letting other people define what a “good” hunt looks like. Dan J. shares a raw, funny, and honest reality check on modern deer hunting—and what can happen when you stop overthinking and just hunt.Dan takes on the pressure to manage every inch of ground and hunt by committee, then makes the case for trusting your woodsmanship, reading the sign, and spending more time in the woods. He shares his plans for the rut and explains why staging areas are among his favorite low-impact setups.In this episode, Dan talks about wind, access, fresh sign, trail cameras, and knowing when to take the shot instead of chasing the perfect hunt. He also reflects on hunting with kids, setting expectations, filling the freezer, and how a phone-free sit reminded him to slow down and enjoy the woods.Along the way, Dan makes the case for less social-media ego, more gratitude, and celebrating hunters on their own terms. Not every deer has to be a giant to make the season memorable.For bowhunters heading into the rut—and anyone ready to stop overcomplicating the hunt—this is an unfiltered reminder to get outside, enjoy the moment, and make the season your own.Our Sponsors:* Check out KUIU: https://www.kuiu.com* Check out Thompson Cigars and use my code thompsoncigar.com/NFC for a great deal: https://thompsoncigar.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Cold fronts are overrated if you do not know what the deer are already telling you. Ross Cady joins Dan Johnson for a brutally honest deer hunting conversation about when to hunt, when to wait, and how to stop letting analysis paralysis ruin your season.Ross breaks down a real-time decision on whether to hunt an October cold front, using trail camera intel, crop progress, scrape activity, and property layout to weigh a risky sit against a better window in late October and early November. If you have ever stared at OnX too long, second-guessed a stand setup, or worried about “blowing” a spot before the rut, this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar.You’ll discover:Why standing corn can completely change buck movement on Iowa farmsHow Ross evaluates mature buck activity on the north end of his property versus doe-heavy southern coverWhy a cold front alone is not enough to justify burning a hunt dayHow mock scrapes, trail cameras, and transition points can reveal what deer are actually doingThe mental trap of social media hunting pressure and unrealistic trophy expectationsDan and Ross also get real about what it means to actually enjoy hunting again. They talk through the freedom that comes from trusting your instincts, the value of making the best decision with the information in front of you, and why a successful hunt is about more than inches on a rack.Ross also shares his perspective as someone who works with the Iowa Corn Growers Association, giving a unique look at how farmers, deer hunters, and land managers see the same landscape through very different lenses. Along the way, the two compare notes on overanalyzing setups, calling your shot, and knowing when to stop worrying and just go hunt.Essential listening if you are trying to make better late-October decisions, manage your hunt days wisely, or break free from the obsession with perfection. If this season has you overthinking every move, this episode will help you get back to what matters most - being in the woods, making a plan, and letting the hunt happen.Our Sponsors:* Check out KUIU: https://www.kuiu.com* Check out Thompson Cigars and use my code thompsoncigar.com/NFC for a great deal: https://thompsoncigar.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy