Wired To Hunt Podcast

This week on Back 40, Jake Hofer dives into a frustrating reality a lot of serious hunters eventually run into: the harder you try, the worse your deer hunting seems to get. He brought in four guys who’ve lived it and worked through it—Thomas Mlsna, Jared Van Hees, Kyle Heuerman, and Terry Peer—to break down why more effort doesn’t always mean more success. From over-managing your property and putting too much stock in food plots, to increasing pressure without realizing it, each guest shares where well-intentioned hunters go wrong. There’s also a deep dive into the hidden cost of overhunting, how small adjustments in strategy can create big results, and why some of the best hunters do less—not more. One idea. Four perspectives. A conversation that might completely change how you approach your season. Connect with Jake Hofer and MeatEater MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The daily lives of deer are mostly a mystery to hunters, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to learn as much as we can about them, especially if we're hunting pressured ground. Connect with Tony Peterson and MeatEater Tony Peterson on Instagram and Facebook MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the show, we’re diving into an exciting project to save 4,000 acres of prime hunting ground in the Southeastern United States and help make it public land in perpetuity. Connect with Mark Kenyon, Jake Hofer, and MeatEater Mark Kenyon on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to The MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop Wired to Hunt Merch and MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tony explains how a recent turkey bow hunt in Nebraska reminded him of how we as hunters should always be thinking about scouting when we are in the woods, regardless of whether we have deer on our minds or not. Connect with Tony Peterson and MeatEater Tony Peterson on Instagram and Facebook MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What can 100+ farms teach us about big bucks? To answer it, I’m joined by Jack Huston with Midwest Deer Surveys, who has flown hundreds of properties with thermal drones and seen exactly where deer are - and more importantly, where they aren’t. From density rings and social stress to bedding, pressure, and why “thicker” farms consistently produce, this episode challenges a lot of conventional thinking. We also get into how doe harvest impacts herds over time, what role genetics actually play, and why many hunters don’t struggle killing deer. Connect with Mark Kenyon, Jake Hofer, and MeatEater Mark Kenyon on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to The MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop Wired to Hunt Merch and MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time is flying by, but that doesn't mean you have to waste it. This week, Tony explores the reality of using our time wisely before it's too late and regret what we missed out on in the whitetail woods. Connect with Tony Peterson and MeatEater Tony Peterson on Instagram and Facebook MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blood Trails is a true crime podcast born in the outdoors--and in Season 2, we're going even deeper. From the grisly killing of a mountain man in Montana to the cold-blooded murder of a deer hunter in Florida to the strange disappearance of an angler in Texas, these stories delve into the recesses of the wilderness--and the evil of the human heart. Follow the show now to get notified when Episode 1 drops, Thursday, April 16. Follow Blood Trails on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, iHeart, Pandora, Amazon. Connect with Jordan Sillars and MeatEater MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Jordan Sillars on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark is joined by diehard mountain buck hunter, Eric Crawford, to discuss the lessons he's learned chasing big woods big mountain bucks in Idaho and beyond. Connect with Mark Kenyon, Jake Hofer, and MeatEater Mark Kenyon on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to The MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop Wired to Hunt Merch and MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Tony talks about how expanding our social circle in the interest of whitetail hunting can be a great move, but only if it involves the right people. Connect with Tony Peterson and MeatEater Tony Peterson on Instagram and Facebook MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Back 40, we’re tackling a frustration just about every landowner has faced at some point: you plant a beautiful food plot… and the deer barely touch it. We asked one simple question: Why aren’t deer using your food plots? To answer it, we brought in four guys who’ve spent years figuring this out the hard way—Thomas Mlsna, Jared Van Hees, Kyle Heuerman, and Terry Peer. From poor plot placement and overlooked soil issues to hunting pressure and treating food plots like a silver bullet, each guest breaks down the biggest mistakes they see—and what actually gets deer to use a plot consistently. We also get into the importance of transition vs destination, how to properly gauge utilization with cages, and why plot size and pressure are often more connected than you think. One question. Four perspectives. Endless insight. Connect with Jake Hofer and MeatEater MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, Tony goes through some of the standard turkey hunting advice that is really holding back a lot of modern hunters. Get more Turkey Week content at themeateater.com! Connect with Tony Peterson and MeatEater Tony Peterson on Instagram and Facebook MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Tony breaks down hunting turkeys in high winds, rain, and extreme temperatures. Get more Turkey Week content at themeateater.com! Connect with Tony Peterson and MeatEater Tony Peterson on Instagram and Facebook MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the show I'm joined by Dr. Mike Chamberlain to discuss the future of wild turkeys and turkey hunting in America. Connect with Mark Kenyon, Jake Hofer, and MeatEater Mark Kenyon on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to The MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop Wired to Hunt Merch and MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Tony talks about how if we don't pay attention the non-target critters in the woods, we often alert deer to our presence without even being aware of it. Connect with Tony Peterson and MeatEater Tony Peterson on Instagram and Facebook MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the show I’m joined by Thomas Mlsna of Untamed Ambition to break down the habitat projects that actually move the needle for mature whitetails. We dive into the difference between busy work and impactful improvements, why most habitat plans fail, and how access and pressure often matter more than the habitat itself. From small properties to long-term land investments, this episode focuses on what truly changes deer behavior - and helps you consistently kill older bucks. Connect with Mark Kenyon, Jake Hofer, and MeatEater Mark Kenyon on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to The MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop Wired to Hunt Merch and MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Tony discusses how all serious whitetail hunters should be working year-round to find new ground to hunt because they never know when they'll need it. Connect with Tony Peterson and MeatEater Tony Peterson on Instagram and Facebook MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the show I'm breaking down my top 10 wildlife related books - from whitetails, to caribou, grizzlies, and beyond - that I'd recommend you listen to or read this coming year. Connect with Mark Kenyon and MeatEater Mark Kenyon on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to The MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop Wired to Hunt Merch and MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Tony explains how struggle and discomfort mold us into better deer hunters, but only if we embrace then when we don't want to. Connect with Tony Peterson and MeatEater Tony Peterson on Instagram and Facebook MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the show I’m joined by the legendary DIY bowhunter Andy May to discuss the scouting philosophies and strategies that separate the elite whitetail hunter from the average. Connect with Mark Kenyon and MeatEater Mark Kenyon on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to The MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop Wired to Hunt Merch and MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Tony breaks down what's happening to nonresident hunting opportunities, and how important it is to consider going on an adventure now before it's too late. Connect with Tony Peterson and MeatEater Tony Peterson on Instagram and Facebook MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop MeatEater Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.