InCamp Podcast

Andrew Ward, the Game Bird Section Supervisor with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, is on Upland Brief this week to talk all things Pennsylvania upland hunting. We cover pheasants, grouse, and woodcock, along with what hunters can expect heading into another season in the Pennsylvania woods and fields.Andrew shares some insight from his five-plus years with the Game Commission, including recent regulation changes that allow small game hunting during deer rifle season, the plan to stock approximately 230,000 pheasants statewide, and some tips for finding and hunting stocked birds. We also get into the latest grouse outlook, including a 28% increase in sightings and encouraging news regarding West Nile virus.There’s also a mid-episode break with Jed Hamberger joining us for a woodcock migration update. If you’ve been keeping an eye on the flights moving through Pennsylvania, you’ll want to catch that segment.Fair warning, we ran a little over time on this one, so thanks for sticking with us. There’s a lot of good information packed into this conversation, and I think it’s a worthwhile listen for anyone who spends time chasing upland birds in Pennsylvania.Takeaways:Pennsylvania’s 2026 pheasant stocking plans and where to find stocked birdsHunting pheasants during deer rifle season and recent regulation changesPennsylvania ruffed grouse population outlook and survey resultsWest Nile virus and its impact on grouseTips for hunting stocked pheasants and understanding bird movementA midseason woodcock migration update with Jed HambergerPA Upland Links:Grouse and Woodcock CooperatorsPartners and Affiliates:⁠⁠⁠Dead On Display⁠⁠Birddog Custom Wood Work⁠⁠⁠J. Miller Custom Calls⁠⁠Wilderness Athlete⁠

Tom Runscavage is InCamp this week on Whitetail Brief to talk rut hunting, what he’s learned from years in the deer woods, and why certain days seem to produce year after year.November 7th is a date Tom pays close attention to, and he breaks down what makes that time of the rut so interesting. We get into using historical trail camera data, reading fresh scrapes, identifying food sources, and adjusting your setups based on weather and deer activity.We also talk about blind calling, when to hit a grunt call, and how to make decisions when conditions aren’t exactly what you hoped for.In this episode:Why November 7th is a date worth paying attention toUsing trail camera history and past experience to pick hunting daysFinding and hunting fresh scrapes and food sourcesHow weather conditions influence deer movementBlind calling and using soft grunts during the Guest Links:https://www.instagram.com/trunscav/Partners and Affiliates:⁠⁠⁠Dead On Display⁠⁠Birddog Custom Wood Work⁠⁠⁠J. Miller Custom Calls⁠⁠Wilderness Athlete⁠

Ben Koch is InCamp this week to talk whitetail rut hunting, chasing bucks in November, and the stories that come with it. From his early-season buck this year to a late-rut buck last season, Ben shares some memorable hunts just as the whitetail rut heats up.Takeaways:-Ben’s early-season buck from this year-The story behind last year’s late-rut buck-Lessons learned through years of deer hunting-Growing up hunting and passing traditions to the next generation-Why pheasant hunting and time with friends mean so muchGuest Links:https://www.instagram.com/ben_koch9/?__d=1impressumPartners and Affiliates:⁠⁠⁠Dead On Display⁠⁠Birddog Custom Wood Work⁠⁠⁠J. Miller Custom Calls⁠⁠Wilderness Athlete⁠

Jed Hamberger of Grouse Brook Kennels is back on Upland Brief to give us an update on Pennsylvania grouse and woodcock hunting. We talk recent bird movement, where he’s finding grouse, how food sources like berries and crab apples factor into the hunt, and what he’s seeing with the woodcock migration.Takeaways:Where to look for grouse in Pennsylvania right nowHow habitat, food sources, and timing affect bird movementThe latest on woodcock migrationIf you’re chasing grouse and woodcock in Pennsylvania, Jed shares some timely insight from the field to help you make the most of your days in the woods.Guest Links:⁠Grouse Brook Kennel on YouTube⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/grousebrookkennel/⁠⁠https://www.grousebrookkennel.com/⁠Partners and Affiliates:⁠⁠⁠Dead On Display⁠⁠Birddog Custom Wood Work⁠⁠⁠J. Miller Custom Calls⁠⁠Wilderness Athlete⁠

Jared Hulse is on Whitetail Brief this week to talk in-season scouting, observation sits, and figuring out what deer are doing once hunting season gets underway.We get into how to use fresh sign to make better hunting decisions, when it makes sense to sit back and observe, and how trail cameras can help you keep tabs on deer without spending every day in the woods. We also talk about hunting pressure, access routes, changing weather conditions, and finding food sources in big woods where deer can be tough to pattern.Whether you’re hunting public land or your own property, knowing when to make a move and when to sit tight can make a big difference. Sometimes the best thing you can do is slow down, pay attention, and let the woods tell you what’s happening.Takeaways:How to approach in-season scouting and observation sitsUsing fresh sign and deer behavior to find active areasWhen trail cameras help and when it’s worth observing in personAdjusting your strategy for hunting pressure and weather conditionsChoosing access routes that keep you from bumping deerFinding food sources and deer movement in big woodsGuest Links:https://www.instagram.com/j.hulse/Partners and Affiliates:⁠⁠⁠Dead On Display⁠⁠Birddog Custom Wood Work⁠⁠⁠J. Miller Custom Calls⁠⁠Wilderness Athlete⁠