Pennsylvania Woodsman

In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch sits down with Brandon Adamczyk, a New Jersey blood tracker who helped recover Nick Otto's first black bear during their recent hunting adventure. After sharing the story from the hunters' perspective, Mitch wanted to revisit the experience through the eyes of the man behind the tracking dog. Brandon shares how his frustrations with losing wounded deer led him into tracking, the time and dedication required to train a reliable dog, and the lessons he's learned along the way. The two discuss shot placement, fixed versus mechanical broadheads, animal reactions after the shot, and why a tracking dog's nose can often tell a different story than what a hunter sees from the stand.Mitch and Brandon then break down Nick's bear recovery, where Brandon and his Bavarian Mountain Hound, Laney, worked through thick cover, difficult terrain, and virtually no visible blood to locate a wounded bear. Brandon explains how he reads Laney's body language, what gives him confidence during a track, and the remarkable relationship between handler and dog. Along the way, they share practical lessons about preserving a blood trail, knowing when to back out, and making better recovery decisions. It's an insightful conversation about woodsmanship, learning from experience, and the incredible abilities of man's best friend.  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.

In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by Axel Hartman of Rack Daddies Hunting and Fishing to talk about life in the outdoor industry, hunting adventures, and the experiences that keep drawing them back to Pennsylvania. Axel shares what it's really like making a living in the hunting industry, from filming and editing to running an apparel business, along with his recent experience filming a Pennsylvania elk hunt. The two discuss the opportunities and challenges of social media, staying positive in an increasingly critical hunting culture, and why Pennsylvania remains one of their favorite places to hunt despite opportunities to travel across the country.As the conversation unfolds, Mitch and Axel find common ground in their appreciation for the traditions and camaraderie of Pennsylvania deer camp. They reminisce about childhood memories, the excitement surrounding opening day, and how changing seasons and lifestyles have influenced hunting camp traditions. Axel shares his efforts to rekindle those experiences through archery camp, while both reflect on the importance of introducing new people to the big woods, stepping outside familiar hunting routines, and preserving these traditions for future generations. Ultimately, this conversation is a reminder that some of the most meaningful hunting memories aren't necessarily made in the woods, but around the people and places that bring us together. 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 is joined by Chris Stivers, co-host of the Average Joe's Hunting Podcast. Growing up in central Illinois, Chris cut his teeth hunting small game before following his dad into the whitetail woods and eventually developing a lifelong fascination with black bears. Chris shares how his perspective on hunting has changed over the years, including the story of passing a big Illinois buck so a young hunter nearby might get his chance. Two days later, that same 13-year-old killed the buck, and Chris was there to help him track and recover it—an experience that helped reshape what success in the woods means to him.From there, the conversation heads into the mountains of West Virginia, where Chris pursued a childhood dream of hunting black bears and eventually experienced hunting them behind hounds. Mitch and Chris discuss the challenges of mountain hunting, the culture and camaraderie surrounding houndsmen, disappearing small-game traditions, and how social media and trophy expectations have changed hunting. Ultimately, the conversation comes back to getting more enjoyment out of the hunt, appreciating the opportunities we've already had, and occasionally putting our own ambitions aside to help create an experience for the next hunter. 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 is joined by Pennsylvania native Chad Hodge for a conversation that starts with old-school deer camp and eventually finds its way deep into a wood duck swamp. Chad shares how growing up between Pennsylvania and Florida pushed him to find his own place among the seasoned hunters he looked up to. What started with archery and learning to work on his own equipment eventually grew into a passion for shotguns, patterning, turkey and waterfowl hunting, product development, and a lifelong pursuit of becoming a better woodsman.The conversation eventually turns toward Chad's true obsession: hunting drake wood ducks. Chad shares the story of calling in his 500th career drake on the final day of the season, his pursuit toward 1,000, and the lessons learned from decades spent creeping through creeks and beaver swamps. He breaks down calling and identifying wood ducks, hunting without piles of expensive equipment, protecting productive areas, and why this style of hunting can be an incredible way to introduce a kid to the outdoors. Along the way, Mitch and Chad discuss hunting culture, social media, old-school hunting traditions, and the danger of measuring your success against someone else's tailgate. At its core, this conversation is a reminder to learn from the hunters who came before us, pass that knowledge along, and find the part of hunting that means something to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.