Ryan Furrer Podcast

After a long pause- we're back.  And I'm happy to be joined by one of my friends and mentors. Mr. Ben Moyer. Ben is a lifelong outdoorsman, outdoor writer, conservationist who has spent the biggest parts of his life in the woods and streams of-as he coined it, "Northern Appalachia".  As he sees it, Appalachia could be split into 2 different regions culturally. I never really thought about it until Ben, and I sat down to discuss his new book. "Smoke To See By" .   After our discussion, I agree. It's different, and that's one of the things so great about Appalachia.  As Ben writes: A widely traveled visitor's first sight of Greene County PA or much of the Alleghenies' western foothills, might understandably result in such a mundane impression. But that would be a limiting view, informed by screen shots and televised images of "spectacular" places elsewhere- alpine peaks, tempestuous coasts, lust tropic beaches. Through that lens to hail one place as "spectacular" risk missing the remarkable elsewhere. This book and interview are loaded with great stories as Ben connects the stories with the details about places, they happened in giving the story texture while deepening the meaning. If you've traveled, hunted, or fished in and around true Appalachia I'm certain you'll find this book, and podcast of true value. You can buy "Smoke to see by" almost everywhere books are sold.  Go out and get it! Enjoy!

Well, if you are into being "politically incorrect" you'll likely enjoy this episode. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Matt Rinella. I mean Dr. Matt Rinella. Yes, if you think that last name rings a bell, it's because Matt is the brother of Steve Rinella, who founded the now very famous Meateater brand. Not to be outdone as a "founder' of sorts, Matt has founded the now semi-famous (at least on Instagram) 'Hunt Quietly' brand. (Said in my most quiet whisper).You see. Matt, Steve, and their other brother Dan grew up together hunting, fishing, and trapping in Michigan. Although I don't know for sure, but I assume they formed a tight bond as hunting and fishing has a way of doing that with people.  As they got older, they found themselves moving throughout the country guided by the outdoors. Matt, like Steve now lives in Montana, and their brother Dan lives in Alaska. Now. Here's where they differ. Steve obviously started the meateater television series, along with the meateater podcast, social media platform, sales swag, hunting gear, a clothing brand, a bestselling author, promotes hunting, cooking and eating wild game etc, etc. All in the name of conservation. Well. Is it in the name of conservation? See, this is where it gets tricky. I'll be the first to say. I watch, listen, and buy from meateater. I like it, I like most of the people involved, and I get it. BUT, I also completely understand where Matt is coming from. He makes very valid points, like (Killing for content) the downside of the R3 movement, the whole public land craze and many more. With social media now the last 10 years, hunting has changed. A lot. Is it for the better? That's the real question. With this topic I'm certain there will be strong opinions on both sides. regardless of where you sit, it's worth a listen. As always, I hope you enjoy, and please share your thoughts.    

"You Ain't No Crabber!" HA! Now this, was some great discussion! We rolled up our sleeves and did some deep divin' (well, not that deep because as we learned in this podcast the water quality of the Bay doesn't lend itself to clarity). Even so, we got into the nitty gritty details of what's going on with the water quality with, 2 guys who spend, let's just say, A LOT of time fishing it.  Bay fisherman and crabber of 26 years CJ Canby. Capt. of the FV Miss Paula. And fairly young (8 years) Capt. Luke Mcfadden of the FV Southern Girl. Don't let Luke's for lack of better terms "inexperience" fool you. He's been working on boats since about the age of 12 and has amassed millions of followers with billions of downloads on social media with his everyday quick video segments explaining exactly what is happening with "a day in the life of a bay waterman" His social media platform is telling a story with seriousness, humility, and humor. If there is a day that these guys aren't fishing the bay in fishing season, then that's only because they're working on their gear.  We cover it all. What got them started, (the old days) the fishing now, vs then.  The water quality and how it effects their lively hood. What's is, or isn't being done about it, and why. This one was so good we decided to follow up with maybe a more "lighthearted" vol 2 (Coming soon)With that, as always let us know what you think. hit the like, and share. Enjoy. 

The Ashby Foundation- with Rob Neilson, and Rob Hummel. Yep! You guessed it, arrow penetration.  Fixed vs mechanical. Slow and heavy, vs light and fast. If this topic is not thee most argued topic in all of archery hunting, then I don't know what is. I know year in and year out it comes up on social media when you undoubtably will see one side of the industry "professionals" touting the light and fast side while taking what some would consider extremely long shots with archery tackle.Then there is the other side with very heavy, high FOC (front of center) arrows taking really up close and personal shots. One thing I know for sure, each side is very passionate about what they believe. If I'm being honest, I enjoy both arguments.  I think it definitely comes down to situation(s). What you're hunting (animals). Where you're hunting (terrain). And, what you're shooting (type of bow).If you go back a few episodes I had Tim Gillingham on. To say Tim had a strong opinion of the "light and fast" That would be an understatement. But hey- It's Tim Gillingham, one of the world's best archers and a very accomplished hunter so his opinion counts, right!? If you're a data nerd you should check out their website and listen to this podcast, it's packed full of data!What say you? Light and fast- or slow and heavy. As always leave me some feedback, hit the like and share button. I hope you enjoy. 

Hey folks!  Another great episode of the Ryan Furrer Podcast.. The Pennsylvania rifle season is freshly behind us. If you're like me and you tuned into social media during the 12 days of the gun season, you probably saw a variety of post, ranging from hunters either giving praise while sitting behind a big buck. Or hunters giving criticism to the Saturday opener and not seeing a deer on public land.Either way, Executive Director Bryan Burhans is fine with it. He likes to hear the praise and criticism. As he puts it- "it's how he gains perspective". Bryan, myself and my co-host Rob sat down and went over everything. The Saturday vs Monday opener. Hunter numbers. Access. Access in relation to hunter numbers. R3 ( retain, recruit, reactivate). Public land/hunting. You name it, I think we covered it.  It's a doosie! Be sure to check out our new up and coming YouTube channel as well. ( Ryan Furrer Podcast)Again. leave me a comment. Give it a like  and a share. Thanks- I hope you enjoy it. 

Hey! Another great episode in the books at RFP.  My good friend and National Deer Association- Director of Conservation. Certified Wildlife Biologist,  the "Deer Nerd"- Matt Ross.Should we question science!? If you ask me- hell yeah you should. If you didn't question the science, would it actually even be "science"? Science needs questions constantly in order for it to "stand" As you'll hear in this podcast, I have no problem asking  questions. Trust me. There's a lot of conversations had in the hunting community, in deer camps, or just as bar room banter that are poised from a science or factual type perspective.  But are they really factual? Or are they just stories, or terms that have just been passed along from one "expert" to another, then on to another that somehow end up being the gospel? So we're testing the waters. This was some great back and forth between Matt and I that will  make you  laugh, and hopefully even raise your eyebrows. Give it a listen, and give me your thoughts.  Is there anything you've heard in hunting circles that make you wonder?As always give me some feedback- leave a good review, subscribe and share! Please!   

This one happened fast folks.  And I must say, it was ( I think) a great episode! I kid you not when I say it happened fast. I stumbled across Mike on social media about 2 weeks ago, thought wow, that's pretty cool he's finding wounded animals with a drone. Good stuff!Fast forward those 2 weeks, Mikes been finding deer everyday, some times multiple a day.  His social media following has averaged 1000 new followers a day for the last week! ( That reminds me, if you're reading this and don't follow me, go hit the follow button ha!) I need to get better at that. Back to Drone Deer Recovery and this episode. Not only did we talk about the ins- and outs of locating deer with a drone. We covered EVERYTHING! From technology,  (the goods, the bads, and the ugly). The legalities. the statistics, the weather conditions, foliage, morale's, self policing as sportsman, etc. I mean everything- Some great discussion was had! Please give this show a listen, leave me some comments, a good review, hit the like and share button!  Go follow Drone Deer Recovery, check out his Youtube channel, leave Mike some feedback.  Enjoy!

Whoa!!! This is a GOOD one, and I'm not trying to be biased. It's just good.   If you're a hunter who likes to "follow" along with the who's, who of the hunting side of social media and Youtube. Then this episode is for you.So, if you are one of those people, then I'm sure you have heard of Meateater, right? How about "Wired to Hunt"?  Yep. My next guest is none other than the Meateater's own,  Mark Kenyon! I probably don't have to tell many podcast listeners who Mark is or what he does. So I wont. But what I will tell you is how this episode came about. I've known Mark for 10 years or so. He's one of the guys who in the hunting world that I would say. "has made it" Right!? Like a baseball player coming out of triple A. He's been "called up". His platform is arguably one of the largest in the industry.  He is literally 'livin the dream'. Well. At least that's what it looks like to us who follow along on social media. I mean, think about it, his job is to travel the Country chasing White-tailed deer basically from the beginning of the early season all the way up until the last day of the late season. Then, all he has to do is tell us about it via social media, the website, articles and videos on Youtube.  How hard can that be!? Ha!Well.. That's where this story takes a turn. Not to say Mark doesn't thoroughly love his job, he does. But it became NOT FUN! That's right, I just wrote, Mark was "livin the dream", right? But somehow it managed to make him miserable.  So he had to ask himself so difficult questions. Somehow try to get it all back into perspective. And that's what he did. He put it into perspective,  made a new plan.  Then he wrote about it.  Back in September Mark penned an article "How to make Deer Hunting, Not Fun". I read the article and it resonated with me. It's very easy to get caught up in what we think is the "dream". Especially in the days of social media. It's one big buck picture after another.  Mid October through mid November after about 10 minutes scrolling though Instagram I feel like the worst hunter ever. ha! "What am I doing wrong!?" "Must be something, I better get out there!" "I need a buck picture to post"! Right? Don't lie, we've all been there. In this episode we unpacked it all. All the emotions, all the anxiety and more. Have a listen. As always feel free to leave your question and comments. I'd love to hear some feedback.  I hope you enjoy.  

Hey everyone!  Welcome back to another episode of the Ryan Furrer Podcast. It's been a while. But this one was well worth the wait. Tim Gillingham! What can I say!? They guy has been around Professional Archery for a long time. The last 20 years or longer Tim has been traveling the Country shooting his bow, working for arrow manufactures (Gold Tip) while constantly growing the sport of Archery. He's what I would call a "grinder", pushing the limit of himself, his equipment, his peers, and even his sponsors. Ha! Yes, he's the type of guy who isn't afraid to have a difficult conversation with anyone.  I like him..  He unapologetically says what's on his mind.  If you like that in a person then boy, oh, boy is the episode for you. We cover an array of topics: IBO, ASA, NFAA, Known yardage, unknown yardage, Tim's opinion (strong, ha!) of each. Draw length, weight, speed, his "command style" release etc. And as soon as you thought you heard enough about target archery we start down a whole other rabbit hole talking about hunting. His set-up, my set-up, light arrows, heavy arrows, even Ranch Fairies,   why I've been doing it all wrong (according to Tim) for 25 years. ( joking) And of course the only tried and true argument to be had this time of year amongst bowhunters, the GOAT of  arguments-  Mechanicals vs Fixed  ( I mean, why not, right?) HA! Honestly- This was one of my favorite episodes. It's loaded with great info, back and fourth banter for archer's and hunters alike. I truly hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.  As always, lets us know in the comments, or send me an email.. Enjoy!  

With turkey season over and not much hunting going on a lot of bowhunters/ shooters turn their summertime efforts to honing their archery skills in the way of 3-D archery.   3-D archery is essentially walking through the target course, standing at a pre-determined spot or "stake" acquiring the target or in this case the lifelike 3-dimensional animal, picking your spot, and in some classes judging the distance (more on that in the podcast) and making the shot.  Trust me. It's fun and the whole family can do it. Almost like golf but with archery tackle.   When talking 3-D archery or just archery in general, these two guys do it well, and have been doing so for a long time.    We go back in time to the beginning, back when things were just simpler and now have become nostalgic. We cover how they got started, what keeps them going, the mindset they use entering a tournament etc.   Ohh!  Let me not forget to mention we spend a great deal of time talking about how Darrin has switched from a lifetime of shooting right-handed to a lefty!  Yep! He was forced with a decision to make regarding his archery career. This is a great episode from beginning to end.  You won't want to miss the details!   As always, let me know your thoughts, rating and feedbacks are always welcome!  I hope you enjoy it! 

If you've been around turkey hunting or more so, turkey calling for as long as I have then the name Matt VanCise probably more than rings a bell. Yep.. Matt was calling on the "big stage" with some of the greatest ever 25 years ago.   The likes of Mark Drury, Denny Gulvas, Matt Morrett, Dick and Chris Kirby, Preston Pittman. The list goes on.  Aside from sounding like a hen turkey on stage, (Honestly if you find Matt on Facebook and listen to some of his calling, you'd swear he has feathers)  Matt has spent a lifetime chasing thundering gobbles through the mountains of Pennsylvania. Yep, born and raised in PA, Matt cut his teeth chasing the ever so difficult PA mountain gobbler(s). In this podcast we break down the way Matt hunts gobblers. from scouting, calling, patience, and everything in between. This is an action packed podcast full of real hunting stories, ones that are explained in so much detail you think you were sitting right there beside Matt. As always.. Let me know what you think.  I enjoy hearing from you. 

If you're an avid turkey hunter but consider yourself as just a semi-avid podcast listener you've probably heard of my next guest, "The Wild Turkey Doc". Dr. Mike Chamberlain. That's how poplar "doc" is in the turkey world.  In fact, the day Doc and I recorded this podcast I was his 3rd podcast of the day and 5th for the week. And rightfully so. His level of knowledge, dedication, and enthusiasm is unparalleled.  You know when you meet new people and every now and then someone just stands out? You're not sure what it is about them, but it's just different.  For me- I'm really interested in people who excel at their craft, whatever it is. I feel if you're one of the best at something, I want to hear what you have to say, as usually people who are at the top of their game articulate their experiences with a passion that you cant fake.  That's how I feel about Doc. When you listen to doc 'talk turkey' you can tell very quickly he has dedicated years, day in and day out of research of something he loves. It's one of the places I feel he finds his peace. You know they say, find a job you love you'll never work a day in your life. Doc has done just that. And for that, all turkey hunters should be grateful he's pursued his passion.  He and his students research has helped many State agencies manage their turkey population for thousands of hunters to enjoy year after year. With that, this podcast is full of knowledge. We cover a little bit of everything. I hope you enjoy listening to it half as much as I did recording it. Let me know your thoughts.  

On this episode I'm joined by one of my childhood hunting and fishing buddies Mike Squires and one of his buddies who is now my new buddy,  Darren Hudock.  Mike and Darren met by chance as they were trapping coyotes on the same farm. Soon after that talked turned into hunting them. Then it wasn't long and they were both running some of the best infrared rigs money can by to hunt coyotes ( That's usually how it goes, ask my wife) And man have they been putting them down.  It seemed like it was everyday they were posting pictures of another successful hunt. So with that I kindly reached out to them and invited myself on one of there hunts. Ha! Thanks guys! Now- I've been outspoken in the past when it comes to hunting tools, and tactics in the technology driven industry. It's quite the conundrum for me. On one hand I'm of the mindset "enough is enough"  I think that technology has taken over for good woodsmanship and pure passion. Where does it end!? BUT... When it comes to predators and invasive species like feral hogs, BRING ON THE TECHNOLOGY BABY!  I think this episode is just the beginning of the discussion of predator hunting and technology in general.  Be sure to let me know your thoughts! Also in other "BIG NEWS" as you'll here in the into- We've started down the path of another Podcast. It's titled "Bubba the Hunter" There's a story behind the name, so tune in and check it out. As with RFP it can be found on all your podcasting platforms.  Please be sure to check it out. 

Look. We all as hunters like to hear stories and see pictures of the giant bucks that roam the Midwest, there is no denying that.  But for me, there is just something about those bucks that roam the hills and hollars'  of the big woods in the East and those hunters that year after year are successful in pursuing  them.  David Miller fits that bill. David is the founder of the Appalachian Range Outdoor YouTube channel.  And just as I mentioned above- he successfully chases big giant mountain bucks in the east. More specifically when I mention east  I'm talking Southern WV.  Yep. read that again. I said West Virginia. Now I knw what you're thinking. When we think of WV we instantly think of John Denver, moon shine stills, diggin' ginseng, steep hills and lot's of mountain laurel.  well at least I do.  Also when you're around a group of deer hunters and someone mentions "Big Bucks",  WV usually isn't in your top 3 States. Or maybe even your top 5? Well let's be serious, unless you specifically know what I'm talking about it probably isn't even in your top 10! But..  Did you know that there are 4 Counties in WV that are BOWHUNTING ONLY!? Yes! you can only hunt deer with a bow and arrow in those counties ( That's cool!) David Miller knows that. He was born there. He knows the in's,  the out's, the nooks and crannies of killing big bucks in Southern West Virginia.  And he came on the podcast to tell us all about it. We coved everything from his early days, to hanging trail cameras, hunting off the ground in steep terrain, His overall "process" of getting on these big deer.  and so much more.So here he his... Big Mountain Bucks with Mr. David Miller . I hope you enjoy it.   

Hey all! This episode I recorded with my good friend and the man behind the scenes of the Ryan Furrer podcast Mr. Rob Harrity.  If you like a podcast with many different rabbit holes and good stories, this one is for you.  Seriously, lots of rabbit holes.We started off with shed hunting, or lack there of in Rob's case,  then made every turn, bend, up, and down you could from there. I'd like to list all the topics in order but honestly I cant remember them all. I know the discussion was good and full of, I think, great info. Hopefully you think the same. Let me know! 

In this episode I'm joined by President and CEO of the TRCP ( Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership) Mr. Whit Fosburgh. Whew! What a great discussion we had.Lately, I've really been thinking about all the different conservation non-profits. (NGO's) Let's be honest, there are A LOT of them. Let's be more honest.  Sometimes it's really hard to discern between who's doing what and where.  While we're being honest, I'm willing to bet that the majority of license buys are unaware to most of the NGO's let alone what they are up to and how it effects their own concern from a hunting, fishing, access standpoint. In this episode Whit and I not only cover the history of the TRCP, we also go over why it, and others like it are so important. We cover the challenges that are being faced head on on a daily basis. How some of those challenges have been neglected over the years, not necessarily maliciously but more so just an afterthought.  But.. It's not to late. We cover the importance of being involved, what can each individual do, and how little time it actually takes to have an impact. I believe we're living in a time to have the most positive impact then any other time before with social media at our fingertips.With hunters and maybe more importantly non- hunters just a "click" away. A positive message followed by sound education can be profound. This episode is just that. Some topics covered.History of TRCPTRCP's top 10 initiatives  for 2022   Land and Water Conservation FundPublic AccessCWDAnd much, much more. As always we appreciate you taking the time to listen any feedback is welcomed. Hit "like" and if you feel it's worthy of "sharing" please do so. Hope you enjoy it!         

Hey Folks! In the episode of the Ryan Furrer Podcast I am joined by my good friend Mr. Josh Hillyard. Not only is Josh the Whitetail Community Specialist for the outdoor hunting apparel company First Lite . But if you have ever listened to Mark Kenyon's "Wired to Hunt" Podcast Josh is probably more famously known  simply as "Furter". All kidding aside- Josh is a great dude who heart and soul belongs in conservation. We break down what Josh is up to nowadays in his new role with First Lite.  His past very successful hunting season. What the future holds Raising kids in the outdoors.How First lite is giving back to Conservation and much more.. As always- I hope you enjoy the show. 

Hey everyone. Happy New year! I Welcome back to The Ryan Furrer Podcast. It's a new year and 2022 is going to be a BIG year for the Podcast!  We have a lot of new episodes/ guest along with some of our favorite returning guest in the works.   Hopefully you have been finding the past episodes enjoyable/ educating and entertaining. More on that later!  In the meantime- let's get right to our next episode. It is with great pleasure to bring you my friend,  Mr. Lindsay Thomas Jr. Chief Communications Officer at NDA. Not only is Lindsay the editor of NDA's Quality Whitetails, he also no stranger when it comes to whitetail behavior, habitat management, herd management and overall conservation. I reached out to Lindsay after watching one of his videos on you tube in regards to the " 2nd rut"  It's the late season here in PA and some hunters may be seeing just that.  We cover but not limited to;What is the late rut Can doe fawns breed Overall herd health and much, much more.. Please as always give it a listen and let me know your thoughts.    

If you're from Pennsylvania and like big bucks... Well, I guess you don't have to be from PA. Actually where you reside doesn't matter- what does matter is that you like to hear about someone who shot a big buck! And if that is the case, this is the perfect episode! It just so happens Sam Musi is from PA. He also killed a big buck. You may recognize it as it made a pretty big splash on social media. North American Whitetail did a story on it as well. I caught up with Sam to get the low down as I'm a big fan of big bucks that happened to be killed in PA.  What a cool story it was. It just so happens that Sam is a regular guy, just like most of us. He works, he has a family, the kids play soccer on the weekends, and Sam likes to hunt. So he hunts when and wherever he can. That's how this all started way back in 2018 with one trail camera photo on a 5 acer piece of property Sam and his family own and live on.  As they say.. The rest is history. Some things discussed but not limited to:Why do kids have to play in the yard?Saturday morning soccer gamestrail cameras of the cellular type. to saddle, or not to saddle. With that- you'll have to listen for the rest. I hope you enjoy the podcast it was my pleasure to bring it to you.  

This is a not only a great episode of all the Pennsylvania hunters out there, it's a great episode for all hunters in any State as it give you great insight on how your State agency conducts business. Yes, I said it, "business"  at the end of the day, it's a business, it has to make money. On the topic of money, that's one of the first things we covered.  Bryan walks us through how PGC comes about their income and how that money is allocated.  It's a great discussion with some interesting insight that I think all can learn from regardless of what State you reside. After the sticky subject of discussing money the conversation turns more to of what you may hear at hunting camp or your local watering hole. That may include but not limited to;Bryan's backgroundHerd, hunter and habitat managementThe not so new 'concurrent deer season'sAntlerless license allocationsCWDWildlife management unitsAnd much, much more. I will say this, coming from the top of the PGC Bryan was very accommodating.  At the end of the day he's a hunter and a lover of all things outdoors that let's his passion lead him as the Executive Director of the PGC.  From my perspective- he's in it for all the right reason's. With that it was my pleasure to bring you Bryan Burhans As always please leave some questions or comments on social media or you can email me at Ryan@ryanfurrerpodcast.com . Enjoy. 

Here you go folks! The first episode was so well received we had to go back and see what Steve was up to. If you like hunting big mountain bucks on public land this show should tickle your fancy. If you missed the first episode you can go back just 2 shows to episode 23 and  give it a listen. I might mention, it's definitely worth doing so. If you have been following Steve's social media you've probably noticed there is no shortage of giant big woods bucks on his trail cameras. (He post new pictures almost daily from some of the 150-200 trail cameras he's running on about half a million acres!) Yes! I said it. half a million acres!In round 2 we delicately go over some of the tactics Steve plans on using from opening day and on throughout the fall.  If all goes as planned I feel sure that Steve and some of his clients my have a taxidermy bill to worry about in the near future. Steve is a great down to earth guy who certainly knows how to hunt big mature bucks. This show was a pleasure to bring to you. As always, please leave us some comments, and hit the subscribe button. 

This episode of the Ryan Furrer podcast I was joined by the Robbie Kroger and Cody Heitschmidt of Blood Origins. Also sitting in on the chat was a past guest on the Blood Origins podcast my good friend Rob Harrity You ask, what is Blood Origins? Well, If you are a listener who cherishes the freedom to hunt, fish, and enjoy all that mother nature has to offer Blood Origins and their platform is for you.Below is an excerpt from the Blood Origins website;   No matter your personality or background, an innate desire to learn more about why you are the way you are exists within most of us. It's introspection, a desire to dig deep within yourself and your past to determine what makes you tick the way that you do. Stories about generations of outdoorsman have seated into your conscious, evoking thoughts of your own hunting adventures. Each story stirs a distinctive scent deep in your lungs. It pervades your being. It makes you smile. These questions of self and belonging are not unique to any one of us. These stories answer the question of where you belong, to whom you belong.           We took a deep dive into what drives Robbie and Cody. What is their why? With that,What is your why? What drives you to the outdoors? This was a great episode, with some great discussion, with some great people. I hope you enjoy it.  as always please leave us some comments. 

If you are a deer hunter who wants to hear about a guy who strictly hunts public land in the East, this podcast is for you! In fact, Steve Sherk has never hunted private land. Yep! Go back and read that again. Steve has never hunted private land. This was some great conversation about how Steve hunts big deer in the big woods,  we barely scratched the surface. Things covered;Sherks Guide ServiceCoverBedding areasAccessTime of year and much more. Like I mentioned we barely scratched the surface so Steve has agreed to come back on closer to season to cover some more. To see trail cam photos of giant public land bucks be sure to give Steve a follow on facebook at Steve Sherk Jr or on Instagram at Sherksguideservice Between now and then If you have any questions for Steve or something specifically you would like us to talk about send me an email at my new email address Ryan@ryanfurrerpodcast.com and I'll be sure to bring it up.Speaking of new email addresses we also have a brand new website! So please check it out as well at www.ryanfurrerpodcast.com We're in the infancy stages now but you can go back to any past podcast and  I'll be uploading more podcast, blogs, articles, and video links as we move forward.  It's exciting times for the podcast- As always any feedback is welcome. I hope you enjoy it. 

What can I say!? Except it never gets old listening to someone like Barry Wensel! This episode is just that. Me listening to one of the greats share his stories. He has tons of them too! This barely scratched the surface. Barry's whole life he's had a knack where strange/ funny things just "happen" to him. So we dove into that. Things coveredHow to use your bow in self defense. (maybe he'll start a school?) How not to talk to a GrizElk calling 101Mating habits of Black bearsTrust me.. If you like to laugh, you wont want to miss this one... 

In this episode of the Ryan Furrer Podcast I was joined by my good friends, husband and wife team of Hunterra Maps- Ben and Kate Harshyne. Not only is Hunterra a great product, but it's brought to you by great people. That's part of the reason why I had them on the show. They are living the American Dream of entrepreneurship.This journey takes you from living in the rat race type of lifestyle brought to you by Corporate America in the Washington D.C area to 'living it up' in campgrounds across the Country in an Airstream camper before digging their roots in the mecca of Big Buck Country of rural Iowa.Their story is an inspiration to anyone who wants to 'make it' on their own. As to the maps- as I mention in the podcast it a valuable tool every hunter should have on hand, as valuable as a rangefinder in my book. I'm constantly looking at my map and learning, even after I think I had it all figured out. So with that, give it a listen and check them out on all social media platforms and on the web at Hunterra.com Hope you enjoy. 

With this episode of the Ryan Furrer Podcast I was joined by Thee Turkey Doctor- Dr, Michael Chamberlain. Wow! Michael has dedicated his life to wild turkey research, research that has helped state agencies keep a huntable population in their states since the re-introduction days for hunters to enjoy. The amount of information Michael and his students (past and present) have about the wild turkey is literally mind blowing. We honestly barely scratched the surface. So that's why I persuaded Michael to come back on to bring more "turkey talk" in the next few weeks. From peak gobbling times, to brood laying, predators, turkey survival rates, DNA testing, incubation periods etc, the list goes on, we talked about it. I cant stress enough the amount of info Michael is armed with when it comes to wild turkeys, and the fact that at the end of the day he's like most others, just a "down to earth" solid, good guy, that likes to hunt turkeys. So please- sit back and listen to the show, it's a good one. I hope you enjoy it as much as I. Thanks!

In this episode of the podcast I sat down with one of my good friends and long time Professional Archer, Tony Tazza. When I say long time, Tony starting shooting Professionally back in the late 90's. So yeah- He's been around. The word "professional" get's used often to describe someone who makes their living mostly when involved in a sport. (Someone is a "pro" baseball player, or a "pro" golfer. etc) They get paid to play a "sport' Another way to use the word "professional" is as a descriptor to someone's character. And honestly, the two ways of description should coincide when you're paid to participate in a sport in the publics eye, but oftentimes that isn't the case. EXCEPT when we are talking about Tony Tazza. Tony not only get's paid to shoot a Bow and Arrow, he's also one of the nicest, most modest, approachable guys you could talk to on and off the archery course. I actually heard one of Tony's competitors say one time that "he's the nicest guy in archery" Not only is has Tony been a "pro" archer he also owns his own Archery Pro Shop "The Archery Zone" in Johnstown, PA. Before that, a very well respected sales representative for Hoyt bow company, selling bows to Bowhunters, and Target archers in archery shops throughout PA, WVA, and MD. With over 15 National Titles, Tony's modest character and pedigree has allowed him to pursue one of his life's passion for over 25 years. Other topics discussed The Good Ole" days How the Archery Hunting scene has changed in PAThe fact that Tony couldn't remember how many national Titles he's wonThe future of archery And much, much more.. As always, I hope you enjoy the show!

In this episode of the Podcast I'm joined by long time Outdoor Writer, Ben Moyer. Ben is a life long resident of PA. Growing up hunting and fishing throughout the mountains set him on his lifelong journey of adventures he later made it his living writing about. We cover everything from how and why he started writing, PA's rich hunting heritage, as well as how with around 6 million acres of public land, and about 121 State Parks PA is a mecca for outdoor recreation. Things also discussed The amount of "gear" one can accumulate over a lifetime of being an outdoor enthusiastWill Ben write a book? The Future of huntingAs always- I hope you enjoy the show.

In this episode of the Ryan Furrer Podcast I spoke with my good friend, Kip Adams. Kip is the Conservation Director for the National Deer Association. (Formally QDMA)Every year for the past 13 years Kip and his team put together the "Deer Report". Over 65 pages stuffed with state-by-state harvest data, hunting trends, disease information, fawn recruitment rates, and much more.To me- this report may be one of the most under utilized tools of information a hunter has available to them, It has that much of valuable information. Other things discussed were PA Black BearsKips past as a Bear Biologist Winter time habitat improvementHunting Camp's When it comes to "all things whitetail" Kip is a wealth of knowledge. There will be more episodes like this to come. As always please leave your questions and comments. Thanks!

Wow! This episode delivers on many different levels from a history, artifact point of view. Gene is a wealth of knowledge when is comes to Bowhunting history and honestly this chat didn't even begin to scratch the surface. We talked about how for some hunters they are skipping the "romance" portion of being a hunter. The part where you become curious about the history, curious about your weapon, or maybe the landscape of where you are hunting. Curious as to who was doing it before you? How long ago? With what? And the most important the, why? Way before social media and "hero" shots, what drew them to the woods or mountains. Was it food? Maybe in some cases, but let's be honest. Food isn't the reason we hunt, I mean It may be "A" reason, but not "THE" reason. There's a much deeper interest than that for most hunters, I'm sure of itGene is one of those guys who in his 60 plus years of being arguably one of the greatest Whitetail Bowhunters of all time, he ask those questions. Then he seeked those with answers out- and later shared their stories. I'm fortunate enough to be one of the people Gene shared those stories with. Now I'm bringing them to you. I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I did making it.

Will Brantley is a permeant fixture in the outdoor industry. One that wears many different hats you might say. From his freelance writing, he's also the Hunting Editor of Field and Stream magazine, as well as along with his wife they own Brantley Outdoors which specializes in content management and consulting for some of the industries largest brands. Ohh, let's not forget, they also do some guiding in the fall at their place in Western KY. They stay busy. Will is very versed in "all things Outdoors" Topics discussed but not limited to: The unfortunate shooting on Reelfoot lakeTrials and tribulations of a Public Land HunterHunter recruitment Youth involvementAs always please share your thoughts and feedback. Enjoy!

Whoa! Hold on boys and girls of the hunting scene, this is going to be a HOT TOPIC!! On this episode of the Ryan Furrer Podcast I'm joined by past President and current Board Member Jim Willems from Pope and Young. The main topic of discussion was the highly debated issue of the modern day Crossbow. Yes! There I said it- we're actually sitting down having a discussion about crossbows and if they have a place in the actual bow season. Let's be honest if you're a bowhunter the advancements in crossbow technology in the last few years really has to leave you scratching your head. Just the other day I saw a crossbow ad where their marketing read "Meet your next rifle!" HA! So why not sit down with one of the top guys at Pope and Young. I mean P&Y is the organization that is actually responsible for us as bowhunters having an actual bow season in the first place, so I would think their opinion would be valid.I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I'm personally not anti-crossbow, I am however starting to question how far this is actually going to go. Where does it end? So this isn't a crossbow bashing podcast, It's a discussion that more hunters should be having. Hopefully from this episode they do. If you don't stand up for something, you'll fall for anything. We said it in the podcast- speak up, become heard, get involved with Pope and Young, or your State Bowhunting Organization. As the great Fred Bear said, "If you're not working to protect bowhunting, you're working to destroy it" Please, as always have a listen and feel free to share your comments or questions.

Here we go! My first ever solo episode. I thought about it, kicked it around for a while and figured- ahh, why not!? So here it is. I mention in the beginning that if you don't like it you can turn it off at any point. LolI had some listener questions that I wanted to spend some time on with the details. Things covered;Flintlock MuzzleloadersThe late season Pros/ ConsMy season in a nutshellIs it to early to think about shed hunting!? Things to look forward to with the podcastAnd much more.. I really hope you like it. I also enjoy the feedback so please keep it coming.

In this next episode of the Ryan Furrer Podcast ( RFP) we are joined by one of the greatest Whitetail Bowhunters of all time. He also happens to be the twin brother to one of the greatest Whitetail Bowhunters of all time as well. Twin brother to Barry, Mr. Gene Wensel! Even though this episode was a bit longer, we didn't even scratch the surface. Gene has already agreed to follow up with a sequel- Part duex coming soon. Stay tuned ( pun- intended)It's important to me to introduce (via the podcast) the likes of Barry and Gene Wensel to all huntersAs hunters we owe a great deal to them as they paved the way for a lot of today's Outdoor Television. Not only that- they're just great down to earth, funny guys. The type you just want to sit around the fire and listen to. Most- if not all of the younger hunters today know the modern day "celebrity" hunters, but have never heard the likes of the Wensels, Rodger Rothar, Bart Schleyer, Paul Schafer etc.Hopefully I can do my part to help change that. Things we covered, but not limited to.On the not so serious side:Barry's boogersGene's eating habitsWho's older?Fred bear's toothbrush, and socksOn the more serious side, but not so much;Hunting and technologyGetting kids involvedThe back countryAnd everything in between.In all seriousness this episode will give you good insight to Gene Wensel as a person. We were just more so shootin' the breeze. So grab a drink, sit back and enjoy the listen. As always let me know of your questions and comments. Thanks!

In this episode I'm joined by Giant Chasing, Master of Bowhunting Legend, Mr. Don Higgins. (yes- I capitalized that as it should be his title.)Some things covered, but not limited to:Don and I had some great conversation about why we, or in this case, he hunts rather than the typical what, and how one hunts. We went over some of Don's past hunts- from his early childhood where he killed his first buck on his family farm which started that internal fire of learning everything there is to know about whitetail deer and habitat they need to thrive in. That in-turn lead him on a 20 year journey of changing the landscape of that farm that eventually not only has many other deer calling it home, but also Don's biggest buck harvest to date. We also talked morning vs evening hunts.Cold weather sittin' And the fact that Don's has NEVER turkey hunted. Plus much more.. As always, give us a like, subscribe and leave any question or comments you may haveEnjoy!

Super excited about this next episode of the Ryan Furrer Podcast with my friend and legendary Bowhunter, Barry Wensel. I was very anxious to get this podcast recorded and out to the masses, as over the years I've found that a lot of new bowhunters, or even hunters in general for that matter have never heard of Barry and/or his twin brother Gene. ( Check them out on Brothers of the Bow.com) That's really unfortunate especially in today's world with the amount of hunting "content" that's out there floating around all the different platforms. Here's why. Barry and Gene are 76 years young- Barry started self filming his own hunts when he was 14 years old! That's right, 62 years ago! Ha! He's also credited with killing not only the first deer but the fist 2 deer on video back in the early 80's (Bowhunting October Whitetails) which started the ball rolling with what now has become the "industry" of oudoor television. Yes- he/ they are the epitome of what we like to coin certain old-school types as the O.G'sYeah I'm sure someone would have filmed their own hunt sooner or later, but at this point Barry was the first. Since then Barry still continues to hunt, self film and kill giant Whitetails like no other. Oh yeah! let me mention, he has only ever hunted with traditional equipment. Yep! Big mature 5.5 yr old or older bucks all inside the 25 yard line with mainly a recurve bow in hand. The real "Stick and String" Pet peeve of mine.. As with all the other episodes please give a like and subscribe to the podcast. You can give feed back or submit listener questions via social media, or at Rpfurrer@yahoo.com With that- out of the respect of Bowhunting I bring to you, Barry Wensel. Hope you enjoy!

In this next episode of the RFP I was joined by special guest(s) John Plowman (Director) and Ben Moyer of Pennsylvania's Hunters sharing the Harvest (HSH) This program is special, it will pull at your heart strings. I helped with HSH a few years ago and it really raised my eye brows as to how needed it is/was. I learned 1 in 6 PA families are food insecure this time of year. 1 in 6 folks!The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture estimates that before the pandemic more than 1.53 million Pennsylvanians experienced chronic hunger EVERYDAY! Including 478,500 seniors, and 437,000 children. Since the pandemic the food banks are reporting a significant increase in their communities with an average of around a 65% increase in food demand. Hunters can help! Hunters are helping! Hunters as a group are some of the most passionate, caring, giving people I know. Last year alone (2019) HSH had a record setting year with over 160,000lbs of venison donated. ( The most in the Country) To break it down for you 1lb of venison is roughly 4 meals. That's 640,000 meals donated by hunters! Guess what though!? It wasn't enough- they still fell short, the food banks needed more. This year HSH has set a goal of 200,000lbs of donated venison. If you ask me, that's very achievable. I don't like to use the term "we need awareness" As awareness is just a word thrown around by some as it's going to fix an issue. But more so, we need people to ACT on their awareness! It's one thing to be aware, but it's a whole other to do something. That's why I'm doing this podcast, now we as hunters need to do more, do your part if you can. Go to sharedeer.org find a participating butcher in your area and help fight hunger!

In this episode of the RFP we have special guest and family friend, Josh Merschat. Josh along with his wife and kids are the owner(s) of Northwest Montana Outfitters out of Trout Creek Montana. Not only is Josh the owner, he's one of the hardest working backcountry guides in the business. (Seriously, you better lace up your boots when you hunt with this guy, he'll walk your toenails off!) Ha! I mean it- He's done that before. You see, his dad, uncle and grandparents we're taking him to the mountains when Josh was just old enough to walk. It's literally in his blood. It's who he is and what he's meant to do. He and his family are from PA, but every year for about the last 18 or so when those summer days were starting to wain and the bulls were going hard antler, he'd pack up and be gone! After he's done chasing screaming bulls and rutted up bucks- he moves on to running hounds after those big cats that lurk in the shadows of the mountains that very few people see. That gets him through late winter. Then he's home for only a short break then back at it treeing the spring bears. He's a hunter- he hunts. hard. But... Not only is he a backcounty guide, he's dabbled in bull riding, raising bulls to bull ride, rodeo clown, horseman, stone mason and as I mentioned, a houndsman (specializing in big cats, and bears) basically- a modern day cowboy, an all around great dude and dad! So- If you have any interest in hunting anything in the west, or chasing big bears, and big cats with hounds, or just want to hear some cool story telling- give this episode a listen. As always- let me know what you think!

Its NOVEMBER! This episode is a must listen for you as you travel to and from your favorite hunting spot. Here's why.If you're anything like me (aside for trying to pick a restaurant to eat at with my family) This is a very daunting task. You end up going back and forth in your mind hundreds of times trying to decide which spot to sit. Well, give this episode a listen as it just might help you decide on what stand you should sit that day....Possibly, maybe? Some of the things covered but not limited to:Skipping work to hunt. (rutcation)The wind and the rain (I left out fire)Ridgetops and creek bottoms The misnomer of sex ratios- (simple) Math with a deer nerd. Ha!The secret to killing big bucks! (yep- there's a secret) And much, much, more . As always please enjoy. Leave some feedback, ask questions, or just simply tell us some stories. There is more to come as we "work" and by work I mean "hunt" our way through November.Good luck out there!

Big Buck Breakdown! Who doesn't like to hear about world class- giant bucks!? Well in this episode I had the pleasure of sitting down with avid bowhunter Chad Lytle. Get this, Chad had not one, but two encounters with this mega giant in the same day! Some of the topics discussed were, but not limited to;Playing the lotteryWhen it comes to mega giant bucks, do we really have friends!? The nose bleed section Lucky BuckInterrogations after the fact. Please give it a listen and as always leave some questions or comments below.

This episode couldn't drop at a better time if you're a deer hunter. If you're on you way to your treestand this is a must listen!I spoke with two of the industries most leading authorities when it comes to deer science. Wildlife Biologist Kip Adams, and Matt Ross from the QDMA We covered some not so serious topics such as "Earning your keep" Hunting Camp, and of course, Roadkill. Then some serious topics such as;The trials and tribulations of getting the kids involvedWhat plays the biggest part in the Timing of the rut.The October lull- or lack thereof Mast crop vs food plots. (cattle love brassicas)When is the best time to kill a specific mature buck? Early season vs Late seasonIs there science to support deer movement when related to weather temperature, the barometer!? Then the "King of all deer movement discussion"- the moon phase. I hope you enjoy it. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out.

Story Time! For me, this was a great one because I LOVE hearing the stories of this generation of hunters. This one was truly special.Today, a lot of people throw around the word "Conservationist" and rightfully so, as hunters, anglers, birdwatchers etc. we all are to some degree. Then- there are people like Dr. Dave.People who have spent 60+ years ensuring the future of our great sport. Doing it all because they loved everything it meant to be a hunter. When you listen to the episode you'll soon realize that it was and still is his calling, it's what he was meant to do. Dr Dave was the Professor of Wildlife Management at the University of West Virginia for 35 years, the Director of Conservation for the Pope and Young club, Conservation Editor for Bowhunter Magazine for almost 50 years, President of the National Bowhunters Education Foundation, (which lead to getting bowhunting legalized abroad) a 2007 inductee in the Archery Hall of Fame, and many more. As an educator, bowhunting activist and author Dr Dave built a reputation as one of Archery's most reliable sources of factual pro-wildlife, pro-conservation, and pro-hunting information available.

In this episode I'm joined by Pennsylvania Game Commission CWD Communications Specialist Bob Frye. We cover everything from the difference between CWD and EHD, the 3 CWD zones within the commonwealth, butchering, eating, crossing State lines with high risk parts, PA provided dumpsters- along with some lighthearted conversation of PA hunting in general. Hope you enjoy the listen and as always leave some questions and comments.

Nick the trainer Dude is an is an inspirational, motivational, body and mind building back country hunter! Nick takes us through his life long journey of battling and overcoming addiction. Then how bowhunting and the mountains have played a huge part at keeping him "grounded" and allowing him to be the best version of himself as a father,grandfather, husband, body builder, and bowhunter. Nick is the epitome of "if you want it, bad enough you can do it" through hard work and discipline. Speaking for myself I need to find motivation and inspiration almost daily- it's what helps keep my mind moving forward. Listening and following to someone like Nick having that common ground of being a bowhunter just hits home.. Please feel free to leave your questions and comments! Enjoy.

Today I am joined by Clint Campbell, host of the Podcast "Truth From The Stand" and owner of "Skull Brew Coffee Company." Topics Discussed:Pre-season scouting summertime long distance, lack thereofPublic land flops & failures - successOut of StateDo hunters get a bad name?