Sportsmen's Empire - Western Big Game Hunting

When hunting season wraps up, the adventure doesn’t have to end. In this episode, we sit down with Jeremy Moore of Dog Bone Hunter to talk about shed hunting, training dogs to find antlers, and turning the off-season into an opportunity to get outside, work with your dog, and keep your hunting skills sharp.We discuss what makes shed hunting such a rewarding activity, how to get started training a shed dog, and why the time spent working with your dog in the off-season can pay dividends when fall rolls around. Whether you’re an experienced shed hunter, a deer hunter looking for a new off-season hobby, or someone interested in getting a dog involved, there’s something here for you.So, settle in and join us for another episode of Creekside Chronicles, where it’s about more than the hunt. It’s about the hounds, the people, and the heritage we pass along.Hounds, Hunting, Heritage. @dogbonehunter IG - heathhyatt147FB Heath HyattYoutube - Heath Hyatt  Send your stories or questions to: [email protected] Follow our Sponsors:Inukshuk Double U Hunting SupplyMuddy River Transport DarkenergyOnX  Inukshuk:Inukshukpro.comCorey.ca Darkenergy:  best-charging banks on market. Discount code is CODE4darkenergy.com Frontline Optics- Duty sunglassesPolarizedNo questions asked replacementCharitable Donation with every pairFree shippingFrontline-Optics.com use promo code - CODE4https://frontline-optics.com?sca_ref=5672409.03I05MEwyy Subscribe to: Full Cry MagazineBear Hunting MagazineAmerican Bear FoundationVirginia Bear Hunters Association  For the best lights in the businessCheck out: Cajunlights.com   Double U Hunting Supply: Get all your hound hunting gear at Double U. Products every hound hunter trusts to keep up with their pack. Double U Hunting Supply.com We would like to thank those who support this podcast.  Special thanks to Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode.  www.dusupply.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@DoubleUHuntingSupply/podcasts Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Huntavore, Nick welcomes Mitchell Shirk of the Pennsylvania Woodsman Podcast back to the show to finish telling the story of Nick’s first Pennsylvania black bear hunt. What began as a promising morning hunt quickly turned into an emotional roller coaster involving a difficult recovery, thick briars, challenging wetlands, and a tracking dog that ultimately made all the difference.Missed Part 1? Head over to Pennsylvania Woodsman Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sportsmens-empire-whitetail-hunting/id1062077484?i=1000798492824Together, Nick and Mitch recount the highs and lows of recovering the bear, the importance of making ethical decisions in the field, and the responsibility hunters carry when taking an animal’s life. They also discuss the field care and processing of Nick’s first bear, along with his plans to turn the harvest into meaningful meals for his family.The conversation goes beyond the hunt itself, exploring the respect, humility, friendships, and appreciation for wild game that make the full hunting experience so rewarding.In This EpisodeThe recovery challenge: After the initial shot, the bear disappeared without leaving an obvious blood trail. Nick and Mitch decided to bring in Brandon and his tracking dog, Laney, rather than risk contaminating the trail by searching the area themselves.Following Lainey through tough terrain: The tracking team worked through dense briars, thick grass, and wetlands before the dog picked up the trail and led them to the wounded bear.Brandon Bowkill Tracking: https://youtu.be/3iKfZs9-Hi0?si=rPNlpV8afAwwY6i4A difficult final encounter: Finding the bear alive in extremely thick cover forced Nick to confront the uncertainty and danger of the situation. With Mitch and Brandon alongside him, he worked to bring the hunt to a close.The weight of taking an animal’s life: Nick reflects on his shot placement, the excitement that affected his trigger control, and the responsibility he felt to ensure the bear was recovered. Both hunters discuss why a successful hunt should include humility, respect, and an appreciation for the animal.Building friendships through hunting: Brandon and Laney became essential parts of the experience, demonstrating how hunters can come together to help one another and make lasting connections.Field care and processing a bear: The conversation covers skinning, quartering, keeping the meat clean, and taking advantage of cool nighttime temperatures to help the quarters cool properly.Letting the animal guide the cooking: Nick rethinks his original plans to cook bear like other proteins and embraces the value of low-and-slow cooking to make the most of the animal’s dense meat, connective tissue, and rich flavors.Making the most of the harvest: Nick shares plans for braised bear roasts, slow-cooked shanks, shoulder cuts prepared like short ribs, rendered bear fat, and a bear pot pie made with pastry incorporating the rendered fat.Celebrating the first bear: Mitch reminds Nick that the significance of a harvest isn't measured by the animal's size. Nick explains that feeding his family with the meat is what ultimately completes the hunt.The TakeawayThe full bear experience wasn't a perfectly planned hunt, but it became an unforgettable lesson in persistence, humility, and respect for wildlife. Nick's story highlights that hunting doesn't end when the trigger is pulled. It continues through recovery, careful field handling, processing, cooking, and sharing the harvest with family.For Nick, the real reward is not simply having harvested his first bear. It's the opportunity to use the animal fully, learn from the experience, and turn the harvest into nourishing meals that give the hunt a meaningful conclusion.Listen in for a candid conversation about the realities of bear hunting, the people who make recovery possible, and the connection between hunting, food, and gratitude.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week is another what is the goal podcast. Why is foundation training so important? Do we skip it and just go along with the genetics and hope it carries the dog along, For me it’s more than that, it’s bonding, time learning the dog, and it gives me a baseline on how hard and fast I can push the dog. So what is your goal, your purpose? So, settle in and join us for another episode of Creekside Chronicles, where it’s about more than the hunt. It’s about the hounds, the people, and the heritage we pass along.Hounds, Hunting, Heritage. IG - heathhyatt147FB Heath HyattYoutube - Heath Hyatt  Send your stories or questions to: [email protected] Follow our Sponsors:Inukshuk Double U Hunting SupplyMuddy River Transport DarkenergyOnX  Inukshuk:Inukshukpro.comCorey.ca Darkenergy:  best-charging banks on market. Discount code is CODE4darkenergy.com Frontline Optics- Duty sunglassesPolarizedNo questions asked replacementCharitable Donation with every pairFree shippingFrontline-Optics.com use promo code - CODE4https://frontline-optics.com?sca_ref=5672409.03I05MEwyy Subscribe to: Full Cry MagazineBear Hunting MagazineAmerican Bear FoundationVirginia Bear Hunters Association  For the best lights in the businessCheck out: Cajunlights.com   Double U Hunting Supply: Get all your hound hunting gear at Double U. Products every hound hunter trusts to keep up with their pack. Double U Hunting Supply.com We would like to thank those who support this podcast.  Special thanks to Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode.  www.dusupply.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@DoubleUHuntingSupply/podcasts Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch welcomes back his good friend Nick Otto, host of the Huntavore Podcast, to relive their recent black bear hunting adventure in New Jersey. After years of hearing Mitch talk about bear hunting, Nick finally made the trip from Michigan to experience it firsthand. His only request? He wanted the full bear hunting experience. From hauling bait and studying bear movement to long days in the stand and sharing stories with the guys at camp, Nick was ready for whatever the hunt had in store. What neither of them anticipated was just how many little things could go wrong along the way.Over three days, Mitch and Nick battled shifting winds, heavy rain, disappearing bears, last-minute changes in hunting locations, and a few questionable decisions from the self-appointed Pennsylvania Woodsman guide service. With time running out, their persistence finally paid off when Nick got his opportunity at his first black bear. But the excitement quickly turned to uncertainty when the bear disappeared without leaving a blood trail, leading to a call for a tracking dog. The guys recount the highs, lows, laughs, and lessons of the hunt before leaving listeners with a cliffhanger. Be sure to catch the conclusion of the recovery story on Nick's Huntavore Podcast!Listen to part 2 coming soon on: https://sportsmensempire.com/network/the-huntavoreWatch the recovery with Brandon from Bowkill Deer Tracking on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iKfZs9-Hi0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Blacktail deer might be one of North America’s most underrated big-game hunts—and Mark Boardman is here to explain why. From Washington’s rugged high-country rifle hunts to the rain-soaked timberlands of the Pacific Northwest, he shares what makes these elusive deer so challenging and rewarding to pursue.Mark has spent nearly 18 years at Vortex Optics, but his connection to blacktails goes back to growing up hunting them in western Washington. In this conversation, he explains what makes Columbia and Sitka blacktails unique, where hunters can find them, and how a memorable high-country hunt produced a buck of a lifetime.You’ll hear about:Why access can be more challenging than getting a tagHow to scout habitat edges, rubs, and overlooked logging roadsWhy rainy days can be productive for still-huntingWhen blacktail rut activity typically picks upHow high-country hunts differ from low-country timber huntsWhich whitetail tactics can also work on blacktailsMark also shares stories from hunts in Washington and Alaska, discusses his upcoming Oregon hunt with his dad and brother, and explains why he keeps pursuing blacktails even when bigger-antlered deer are an option. For hunters looking to explore new country and try a different kind of deer hunt, this episode offers useful insight and plenty of inspiration. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.