Southern Ground - Sportsmen's Nation

The South has a rich hunting culture with deep roots.  It's vital that we preserve our heritage and rich history of whitetail hunting.  This week Mark breaks down how he has introduced his kids and effectively killed deer with them on the stand.  From remaining quiet to tracking and skinning Mark covers every aspect.  Make it fun and exciting and kids will have fun and be excited to see and drag out deer.  Remember, one day we'll be old and will need our then grown children to help load deer, plant food plots and set up stands.  Thanks for listening.  

This week Mark breaks down his technique to capture whitetails during the summer months.  Right now, deer are eating and hiding.  Doing what they do best as a prey species.  There are several easy approaches to monitor the local herd without unnecessary pressure.Topics covered:  swamps, bottomland, pine plantations, thermal cover, thickets, bait sites, passive setups, video or photo modes, destination food sources are all covered.  Thanks for listening.  

Turkey season is over and we're just killing time until the deer season opener.  This is an ideal time of year to walk the land and find native american artifacts.  The South is loaded with history and using land features is an effective method to build a collection.   Mark covers terrain features, using rainfall to your advantage, how identifying artifact ages can help understand how many you may have on your land, and a practical and easy way to spot points.  Have fun, preserve history and spend time outdoors.   

This week Mark covers several tactics to better huntability within Clubs.  Even if you can't cut trees or manipulate the land there are several land management tools you can implement.  Managing hunters and overall pressure is imperative to meet harvest goals and to see and kill mature bucks.  Mark discusses ways to become more lethal all while seeing more deer.

This week Mark covers food plot plantings throughout the South.  Objectives, goals, necessities, and how to maximize your sweat equity.  Whether you have 1 acre openings or hundreds of acres to plant, there are many key factors and elements that will affect your success and game usage.   High production plots can exist within sandy soils, drought conditions, sunlight deficiency, and high densities.  There are many tactics to combat those issues.  You don't need expensive equipment either.  Plan ahead and you'll increase your huntability.  

This week Mark covers his 18 years of real estate land sales, along with the ins and outs of buying land.  How to navigate agents and find someone that will add value to your investment.  There has been an influx of new land agents and branded brokerages over the past 10 years.  Some are knowledgeable and others are posing as specialists without experience.  Land is one of the best investments you can make.  Build a legacy and grow trees to support ownership.  Whether you have representation or purchase without an agent, there are many factors to consider.  Land only appreciates and the value is only what someone is willing to pay.  

This week Mark covers what you can be doing right now to prep and scout deer for early season and rut hunting.  Changes on the landscape, food plots and agriculture crops should be assessed to determine how deer will use them this year.  Especially, when you can identify "deer magnet" sites that other hunters will overlook.  Like a clear cut.   Mature bucks are hiding out in tight core areas.  Locate now to help reduce pressure during mid to late summer.  Bucks will remain in these core areas up until the pre-rut.  Locating pregnant doe group bedding now will improve your rut hunting.

This week Mark discusses how many Toms can be taken off your land to maintain a sustainable population.  Even if you are not doing much land management, you probably would like an opportunity to kill a bird annually.  Over harvesting is the fast track for a declining population.  Right now, the South has heated turkey issues in every state.  Some hunters are openly against data collected from biologists and researchers while others are pushing for new regulations to better conserve the game bird for future generations.  Something has to give and there are many parallels with whitetail conservation changes in the 1980s and 90s.  

Hiring the right land and wildlife consultant can make a monumental impact on your property. But if you make a bad hire, you may end up with detrimental ideas and waste of funds. There is quite a bit of parody in the space and you should do your homework to secure the right fit for your specific needs. Who has real experience in your region and who is simply regurgitating buzz words from social media.  Should you hire a national consultant or stay localized? Land, just like any form of real estate, will be the largest purchase for most people and it should be treated like an investment. I cover many ways to secure someone that will be most suitable for your goals. Just because a consultant has name recognition, doesn't mean that they won't "phone in" a canned report which I have personally seen. 

Tyler Ross joins the show this week to cover a variety of hunting, wild game meat and conservation related topics.  Tyler has worked with Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, National Deer Association, Ruffed Grouse Society and is an owner of Timber Ninja Outdoors.We cover hunting turkeys in Western North Carolina, waterfowl, public & private land hunting, forestry issues throughout the Southeast that affect wildlife and a killer Tundra Swan recipe.  

Matt Coon joins the show this week for an inside look at managing land in the Deep South.  He and I have a lot in common with managing game & hunters.  Trapping, burning, guiding, we cover it all.  Matt covers his trapping techniques that have boosted turkey and quail numbers, tips & strategies while guiding a turkey hunt, a killer twist on a dove jalepeno popper, and the benefits of timely trapping.

A fifth generation Texan, author and fellow podcast host, George Bitch shares his story of managing & hunting his family ranches in South & Central Texas.  We discuss melanistic deer, arrowheads, George's mapping business and upcoming projects for 2024.  

Hailing from the Georgia, Casey consistently targets and kills mature bucks in Georgia and South Carolina.  We discuss tactics to identify high traffic buck areas and the challenges of bow hunting both public & private land in the South.  Thanks for listening.  

Dr. Christopher Jenkins joins the show this week to discuss his consistent hunting success with Black Bear and Mountain Bucks in Southern Appalachia.  Reading sign and patterning big game in big woods terrain is challenging even for the best woodsman.  Chris shares many tips and tactics for his success.  He spends more than 150 days every year pursuing game across the South on both public and private land.  This is an awesome listen. 

This week Larry White joins the show to discuss his style of Lowcountry public land hunting and his culinary skills.  Larry is an incredibly talented chef that runs www.wildgamegourmet.com.  He shares hundreds of wild game recipes on his website from game species across the South.  Thanks for listening. 

In this episode of The Southern Way, Mike Neiduski joins the show to discuss his passion of upland game hunting.  We cover the challenges of wild coveys, the elusive woodcock, quail, bird dogs, and public land tactics.  Mike recently acquired Ugly Dog Hunting and shares his plans for the company.  Thanks for listening.  

Every season comes to an end. Right now, deer seasons are closing down around the country. And Josh's season of being host of The Southern Way Hunting Podcast has come to an end so Josh can focus on a few other projects that are demanding his attention. BUT YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS!!! Mark Haslam of Southeast Whitetail is taking over as host and will do a great job. In this episode, Josh and Mark have a good discussion about deer hunting over bait, and Josh hands Mark the keys to the kingdom. Enjoy!

In this episode of The Southern Way Hunting Podcast, Josh talks with Mark Haslam of Southeast Whitetail about southern hunting & hunting culture. The guys also share some BIG NEWS about a few changes coming for The Southern Way Podcast. Enjoy! 

The out of state hunting trip... Deer hunters often dream of striking out for new ground, bigger deer than they can find at home, and a little bit of adventure. But once you decide to make the leap, what can you do to get on bucks quick?In this episode of the Southern Way Hunting Podcast, Josh talks with Rick Hall of Southern Game & Tackle about finding bucks on out of state trips. Rick has been traveling to hunt out of state for years, and he's learned a thing or two about what it takes to find bucks on new dirt. The guys have a great conversation about making trips, being prepared, and what Rick does to get on deer. Be sure to check out Rick's podcast, Southern Game & Tackle!

Across most of the whitetail's range, a November rut is the norm. This is because historical climate conditions dictate that fawns must be born during a specific window in order to survive. But across much of the south, this isn't so. In fact, depending on where you are, you might see whitetails breeding during any month of the year! What has created such strange rut timing in the southern US?In this episode of the Southern Way Hunting Podcast, host Josh Raley talks with Lindsay Thomas Jr. of the National Deer Association about why the rut time is so varied in the Deep South. The guys cover it all, from photoperiod, to stocking deer, to buck/doe ratios. They even get into a conversation about CWD and what hunters in the south should learn from states like Wisconsin that are on the brink of a major deer herd disaster. Enjoy!

In this episode of the Southern Way Hunting Podcast, Josh is flying solo to talk about a strategy he's found to be highly effective on pressured ground: hunting pressure funnels. This strategy isn't flashy, takes a lot of legwork, and depends on lots of hunting pressure. But it sure seems to work! In fact, this has been Josh's primary strategy over the last four seasons, and his encounters with mature bucks have skyrocketed. Tune in to hear how he puts this simple but not easy strategy to work! Have you tried this strategy? Let us know how it works for you on Instagram!

We all know that when hunting the rut, we want to be around the does. But which does are more likely to lure a big buck your way? Knowing the answer to this question can be a key to success for rutty bucks! In this episode of the Southern Way Hunting Podcast, Josh talks with Brandon Barlow about how Brandon tracks doe estrous dates to get on big bucks. The guys discuss how Brandon tracks the does on his properties, how he calculates their estrous dates, and how he sets up to capitalize when the bucks move in. Enjoy! 

Hunting feed trees. If you hunt in the south, chances are you've tried your hand at the tried and true tactic for getting on deer. And chances are you've been disappointed with some of your results. While hunting feed trees can be very productive for getting on deer, it's not always the best method for getting on the top end bucks in your area. In this episode of the Southern Way Hunting Podcast, Josh talks with Kaylan Pope about hunting feed trees and why they may be overrated for those targeting top end bucks. 

Does your camo pattern REALLY matter? The old timers were killing deer in blue jeans. Tons of deer have fallen to the cheapest thing on the shelf at Wally World or hand-me-down faded out Mossy Oak. Guys in the north rock red and black plaid against the snow white backdrop. So it stands to reason that camo is overrated, right? Right?!While camo doesn't kill deer and isn't essential for being a successful hunter, quality camo CAN keep you concealed and comfortable, meaning more hours in the field. But what all goes into high quality camo? In this episode of The Southern Way Hunting Podcast, Josh talks with Ev Tarrell and Jamie Dykman of Code of Silence about the science behind their camo. Enjoy!Connect with Josh and The Southern Way Podcast on Instagram. 

In this episode of the Southern Way Hunting Podcast, Josh talks with Alabama hunter Dustin King about how Dustin's strategy and tactics for public vs. private land. The guys cover everything from buck bedding and travel to natural browse to trail camera strategy and everything in between. Buckle up, it's a good one!Follow Dustin's season on his YouTube channel, Hard Earned

Ever feel like you're just behind the action? Like you're always just a few days behind, hunting last weekend's sign when the deer seem to have moved on? Or maybe you've fallen into the trap of following trail camera photos from this year and you're often too late to the party? Situations like these are why many hunters are beginning to rely more and more on historical data. Using historical data to tracks certain bucks' seasonal patterns or when certain areas seem to switch on every season has garnered a good bit of attention in the last few years. And there's one good reason for this: it works! But it only works if you gather, analyze, and track the right data in the right way and then ACT when the time is right. In this episode of the Southern Way Hunting Podcast, Josh talks with Brandon Barlow about using historical data to hone in on big bucks! Brandon has lots of experience tracking specific bucks and specific areas and has been able to consistently capitalize on his intel when the time is right. In fact this season, he nearly called his shot and was able to take a public land stud in September. In this episode, the guys discuss Brandon's overall approach to historical data, how he uses both SD and cell cameras, how mock scrapes play into his strategy, and how he times his hunts to make sure he's there when the buck he's after finally shows. This is a FANTASTIC episode for anyone looking to take their hunting strartegy to the next level. Enjoy!Connect with Josh and the Southern Way Hunting Podcast on Instagram. Connect with Brandon Barlow on Instagram.

For many, deer season has been in for a couple of weeks and that means one thing: the deer know they're being hunted. It doesn't take long for those bucks that were consistent all summer in our food plots or feeders to pattern us and shift their behavior. Combine this with fresh acorns on the ground and you've got a recipe for a hunting strategy disaster. Unless you adapt, that is. In this episode of the Southern Way Hunting Podcast, Josh talks with outdoor writer Josh Honeycutt about adapting one's hunting strategy once the pressure is on and daylight sightings begin to dwindle. If there's one big takeaway from this episode, it's that all hunting strategy is situational. There is no silver bullet. But this episode will help you adapt to many of the situations you'll encounter this fall. Enjoy!Follow us on Instagram!

Have you ever thought about taking the show on the road? Loading up and crossing state or county lines to hunt new turf and try your hand at hunting unfamiliar public lands? Do you think you have what it takes to get it done on good bucks no matter where you're hunting?In this episode of the Southern Way Hunting Podcast, Josh talks with Jeremy Aron and Daniel Lemmon of Do It Yourself Hunter about finding success WHEREVER you are. These guys spend much of the fall traveling to different states in pursuit of big whitetail bucks. And guess what? They're good at it! In this episode, the guys discuss what goes into making them successful hunters at home AND when they cross into unfamiliar territory. Enjoy!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

When you dream of hunting big bucks, saw grass and palm trees probably don't come to mind. But that's  the backdrop for a crew of die hard deer hunters taking big bucks in South Florida known as Swamp N Stomp. As you can see from their videos, hunting South Florida is a challenge unlike anything else a whitetail hunter can do. If the 100° temps don't get you, the alligators, snakes and other critters that would love to eat you just might. But Florida also offers whitetail hunters a ton of great opportunities, like cheap out of state tags, ample public land, liberal bag limits, and the ability to extend your season into July and on into February. If you're up for the challenge and decide to give it a shot, you just might be rewarded with one of the most unique hunts, and some of the best hunting memories, you'll ever make. In this episode, Mark Barton, Danny Perez, and John Menor from Swamp N Stomp share their different tactics and strategies for getting on deer, and some great bucks, in South Florida. The guys discuss everything from map scouting to the importance of observation sits to making sure you're prepared for all that South Florida hunting may throw at you. Whether you plan on hunting South Florida or not, there's a ton of great takeaways in this episode. Enjoy!Find Swamp N Stomp on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Tik Tok.Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

Great episode this week! In this episode of the Southern Way Podcast, Josh talks with Kaylan Pope about how mature bucks bed on & traverse high pressured land. If you're looking to up your mature buck hunting tool box, this is the episode for you!Connect with  Kaylan on Instagram. 

Over the last couple of years, new opportunities to chase velvet bucks have opened up for southern hunters. One of the earliest is found in the great state of Tennessee. Each year, hunters have the chance to hunt velvet bucks in August on private lands with archery tackle or on some select public lands within Tennessee's CWD unit. While the conditions are anything but pleasant, unpressured deer with a more layed-back August temperament make the hunt worth while. In this episode of the Southern Way Hunting Podcast, Josh talks with Taylor Philpot and Justin Grogan of Revive Outdoors about their TN velvet hunt success. Both guys were able to fill their tags with velvet bucks, but that's where the similarities in their stories end. For this episode, Taylor shares the story of how his three year public land velvet pursuit came to an end with a beautiful Tennessee bucks. If you missed part one of this conversation, listen to last week's episode where the guys discussed the mission of Revive Outdoors and the story of Justin's buck. Links:Check out Revive Outdoors online, on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube.

Over the last couple of years, new opportunities to chase velvet bucks have opened up for southern hunters. One of the earliest is found in the great state of Tennessee. Each year, hunters have the chance to hunt velvet bucks in August on private lands with archery tackle or on some select public lands within Tennessee's CWD unit. While the conditions are anything but pleasant, unpressured deer with a more layed-back August temperament make the hunt worth while. In this episode of the Southern Way Hunting Podcast, Josh talks with Taylor Philpot and Justin Grogan of Revive Outdoors about their TN velvet hunt success. Both guys were able to fill their tags with velvet bucks, but that's where the similarities in their stories end. For this episode, the guys share a bit about Revive Outdoors, how they became hunting buddies, and the story of Justin's velvet 8 point buck. Make sure to tune in next week to hear the rest of the story, how Taylor finally punched his tag, and what advice Taylor and Justin have for those who might want to try their hand at the Tennessee velvet season. Links:Check out online, on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube.

In this episode of the Southern Way Hunting Podcast, Josh talks with Stephen Cordaro of Hunt Solo Public about early season southern bucks & travel hunts. Stephen is what you might call a grinder. Whether it's shooting, fitness, scouting, or hunting, Stephen is always pushing himself, striving to get just a little bit better. In this episode, the guys discuss Stephen's love for chasing public land whitetails both in the south and across the country, how Stephen approaches early season hunts in the southeast, and what he's doing right now to make sure he's in peak physical condition. Enjoy!

Welcome to episode one of the Southern Way Hunting Podcast! On this show, you'll hear hunting tactics, stories and strategies from hunters across the south. Our aim is to sharpen our skills as hunters and outdoorsmen, become more efficient and effective in pursuit of our craft, and even have a little fun while we're at it. And of course, no matter the pursuit, we focus on doing things the southern way.In this first episode of the Southern Way Hunting Podcast, host Josh Raley talks with Dan Johnson about southern hunting and southern hunting culture. 

This week on the very last episode of the Southern Ground Hunting Podcast, we're joined by another previous member of the SGH team. Michael Pike sits down with us from across the country as he travels the American West. Must be nice...It has been a pleasure bringing you all podcasts for the last 5 years on the SGH podcast. We'll see ya'll over on The Southern Collective Hunting Podcast starting August 1st!!!  Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant, outdoor content!

If you're a longtime listener of the Southern Ground Hunting Podcast, you may know today's guest as the original co-host of the show. Blake Echols joins in for one of the final episodes of SGH, to both re-live the "good old days", and also catch up on what he's doing these days.Only one more episode left of the Southern Ground Hunting Podcast. We hope you'll tune in as we say farewell to this chapter, and welcome a new one. It's been a wild ride so far, and we look forward to what's next!Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

Hey everyone and welcome to history in the making! Okay maybe that's a little bit overkill, but still we have some really exciting news to share in this episode of the Southern Ground Hunting Podcast. Matt & Parker are joined by a common face around these parts, Walter Lee. They share some huge news about the future of Southern Ground Hunting that you'll definitely want to hear. The guys also announce a huge giveaway we're doing to celebrate the new changes. We're going to be giving away a Bowtech CP28 bow, fully loaded with a Black Gold sight, Ripcord rest & TightSpot quiver. Make sure you're subscribed to The Southern Collective on YouTube for a chance to win!!! Extra entries if you're a part of our Patreon community:https://www.patreon.com/socohunt Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Our Partners:Tethrd - www.tethrdnation.comNucanoe - www.nucanoe.comBowtech - https://bowtecharchery.com/Black Gold Sights - https://blackgoldsights.com/bowsights/Ripcord Rests - https://ripcordarrowrest.com/TightSpot Quivers - https://www.tightspotquiver.com/Join or Die Knives - https://joinordieknives.com

This week on the Southern Ground Hunting Podcast, Parker and Matt are catching up. The guys talk everything from new Tethrd products, self-filming, cell cameras & climbing sticks. We also welcome a new podcast parter to the show, Bowtech. The guys chat about the new partnership, as well as their Carbon One setups for this fall.  Our Partners:Tethrd - www.tethrdnation.comBowtech - https://bowtecharchery.com/Black Gold Sights - https://blackgoldsights.com/bowsights/Ripcord Rests - https://ripcordarrowrest.com/TightSpot Quivers - https://www.tightspotquiver.com/Join or Die Knives - https://joinordieknives.comBecome a SGH Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SouthernGroundHunting

For many of us, our dads are the ones who got us into the sport of hunting. This week on Southern Ground, Parker and his dad reminisce on past hunts they've shared together. They talk through the highlights of their early days of hunting, and how that shaped the bond that they have now. There may not be a more important relationship in your life than the one you have with your dad. This week, we want to give dads a huge shout out. Thank you for bringing in the next generation of hunters!Our Partners:Tethrd - www.tethrdnation.comNucanoe - www.nucanoe.comBowtech - https://bowtecharchery.com/Black Gold Sights - https://blackgoldsights.com/bowsights/Ripcord Rests - https://ripcordarrowrest.com/TightSpot Quivers - https://www.tightspotquiver.com/Join or Die Knives - https://joinordieknives.com Become a SGH Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SouthernGroundHunting

This week on Southern Ground Hunting: We're pumped to have Brent Stubblefield from Join or Die Knives, along with James Moffit from Trailhead Creative on the show to chat a little bit about the history and trajectory of our newest partner, Join Or Die Knives. If you haven't heard of Join Or Die, you should definitely take a listen to this episode. If you're like Parker, you might not truly know what a "good" knife feels like after a lifetime of picking up Walmart specials or other cheap retail knives. He would tell you, without a doubt, there's a difference. Tune in to hear a little bit more about why Join Or Die is... different from your other run of the mill knives. Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant, outdoor content! Our Partners:Tethrd - www.tethrdnation.comBowtech - https://bowtecharchery.com/ Black Gold Sights - https://blackgoldsights.com/bowsights/Ripcord Rests - https://ripcordarrowrest.com/TightSpot Quivers - https://www.tightspotquiver.com/Join or Die Knives - https://joinordieknives.com Become a SGH Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SouthernGroundHunting

If you've followed along with Southern Ground Hunting, you probably know that we're suckers for September opener whitetail hunts. Travelling out of state for that first hunt of the year is pretty much the only thing we think about all summer long. This week, Jake Fleischman is joining us all the way from Wisconsin to share a success story from opening day in North Dakota. Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content! Our Partners:Tethrd - www.tethrdnation.comBowtech - https://bowtecharchery.com/Black Gold Sights - https://blackgoldsights.com/bowsights/Ripcord Rests - https://ripcordarrowrest.com/TightSpot Quivers - https://www.tightspotquiver.com/Join or Die Knives - https://joinordieknives.com Become a SGH Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SouthernGroundHunting

This week on the Southern Ground Hunting Podcast we're talking about... you guessed it... FUNNELS! Matt and Parker start looking at encounters and success from last season and one of the common factors is that a majority of them took place in funnels. We discuss several of these hunts and how each spot specifically laid out, but we also talk about finding good funnels that should produce during all phases of the deer season. Our Partners:Tethrd - www.tethrdnation.comBowtech - https://bowtecharchery.com/ Black Gold Sights - https://blackgoldsights.com/bowsights/Ripcord Rests - https://ripcordarrowrest.com/TightSpot Quivers - https://www.tightspotquiver.com/Join or Die Knives - https://joinordieknives.com Become a SGH Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SouthernGroundHunting