Petersen's Bowhunting Radio

Would you pay $180 to shoot a 170? Well, that's essentially what Nebraska bowhunter Zeke Pipher recently did, tagging a 174 7/8-inch monster on a 25-acre conservation property where he made a $180 donation for hunting rights. This week, as the rut heats up, sit back and listen to Pipher's amazing story about why you should always expect the unexpected when hunting mature whitetail bucks.

It's Halloween Week, and we're getting amped up for some ghoulishly good whitetail action. Christian and Mark discuss the most recent trail-cam intel on scrapes and rub lines, and then we get with Rob Babbit from King Whitetails in Kansas to learn what he's seeing and preview our upcoming King Whitetails rut hunt for Bowhunter TV. 

The whitetail rut is just around the corner, and this week we speak with two of the nation's most successful DIY buck hunters about how to get mature whitetails in bow range! Tethrd's John Eberhart and Greg Godfrey have successfully hunted bucks in more than 20 states and recently published the Ultimate Guide to DIY Bucks, a comprehensive, three-volume book that covers everything you need to know to punch more tags. 

Tethrd co-founder Taylor Chamblain is a deer-slaying ninja who operates in the shadows of Washington, D.C. Just a few miles from the White House and a stone's throw from CIA headquarters, Chamberlain uses his saddle gear and businesslike approach to deer management to help suburban homeowners combat a burgeoning whitetail population. Along the way, Chamberlain has a ton of fun as he fills his freezer, helps feed the hungry and even tags a few trophy bucks.

When a blood trail runs dry and sign becomes non-existent, recovering a wounded deer can be like finding a needle in a haystack. But drones are quickly changing the deer-recovery game, turning nightmare scenarios into dreams come true. Mike Yoder from Drone Deer Recovery in Ohio joins us to discuss how the legal, ethical use of cutting-edge drone technology is helping hunters recover deer that are mortally wounded and investigate non-lethal hits in a way that causes minimal disturbance to wildlife.

The popularity of saddle hunting is growing by leaps and bounds, particularly among DIY, public-land bowhunters who embrace a mobile strategy. This week, Latitude Outdoors co-founder Kevin Leach joins us to discuss how saddle-hunting gear can give you an important edge when it comes pursuing mature bucks on heavily pressured public ground.

Depending on where you live, whitetail season is either here, or opening day is just around the corner. This week, noted whitetail guru Bill Winke joins us to discuss tactics for the early weeks of the season. What is the best approach for the season's opening weeks, and how can you put yourself in position to succeed without jeopardizing your chances for success during the rut? 

Consistently taking mature whitetail bucks from highly pressured public lands in the East isn’t easy. From mountain bikers and hikers to small-game hunters and fellow bowhunters, the disruptions are many. On this week’s podcast, avid bowhunter Justin Ahart of Pennsylvania, who regularly hunts heavily pressured public parcels in New Jersey, shares his tips and tactics for scoring when human interference rises and deer sightings dwindle.

Dan Infalt, aka "The Hunting Beast," is one of America's most successful public-land whitetail hunters, consistently taking mature bucks on heavily pressured ground. We dive deep to explore Dan's unconventional methods and why hunting differently than the average deer hunter is the key to success. "If you hunt the same as everyone else," Dan said, "you get the same results."

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Bowtech recently launched the Honor, a limited-edition bow that celebrates the company's high-tech heritage while also supporting Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the families of military members and first responders killed or disabled in the line of duty. Bowtech's Todd Snader and Folds of Honor President Col. Nick Nichols join us to discuss how the bowhunting community is helping support this important mission.

Whitetails communicate in a variety of methods, and bowhunters can up their odds of success by using that to their advantage. This week, the guys from BuckStik join us to talk about how gland secretions play an important role in whitetail communication and how the company’s innovative, all-in-one licking branch, rubbing post and mock scrape system can be a game-changer in the woods.

Last fall, Tethrd invited 12 experienced saddle hunters to its first-ever Huntin' Camp, a weeklong, DIY, deer hunt that forced participants to hit the ground running on a large tract of Indiana forest none had ever visited before. By week's end, an incredible six of the 12 hunters had put a buck on the ground — a testament to the effectiveness of saddle-hunting tactics. Tethrd co-founder Greg Godfrey and Tethrd ambassador Dustin Moll join us to recap the hunt, share key insights learned along the way and preview the upcoming 2024 Huntin' Camp.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has eliminated non-resident, over-the-counter, archery elk tags, starting with the 2025 season. We discuss what this change means for tens of thousands of non-resident elk hunters from across the nation, as well as what it means for Colorado's resident bowhunters and the long-term future of Colorado's elk herd.

Bowhunters are always searching for the next big-game trophy hotspot. Pope and Young Club Executive Director Justin Spring and Director of Records Tim Rozewski join us to discuss the trends in where record-book deer and other game are coming from in recent years, the impact of new technologies on “fair chase” and their organization’s conservation efforts and educational initiatives.

Next to Fred Bear, there may not be another name in bowhunting more iconic than Chuck Adams. With an record-setting 226 Pope and Young animals to his credit and a 40-plus year hunting career that has spanned the globe, Chuck is a living legend who remains as passionate about archery today as he was five decades ago.

When it comes to scent control, former western hunting guide and avid bowhunter Cole Tanner of Ozonics has seen and tried it all. On this week’s podcast, Tanner dishes some great hunting stories, shares tips for best scent-control practices and discusses how ozone technology, including the company's brand-new HR600 unit, can be a game-changer in the woods.

When it comes to bowhunting, there is perhaps no greater and more challenging feat than completing the Archery Super Slam, taking all 29 North American big-game animals with bow and arrow. It’s so challenging, in fact, that fewer than 50 people have ever done it. The latest is Tom Edgington, who joins us to share the incredible stories of his 20-year quest.

Tactacam's Reveal is arguably the most popular cell camera on the market, and this week the company unveiled its all-new Reveal 3.0 lineup! The Reveal X 3.0 and Reveal Pro 3.0 offer unprecedented features and ease of use, automatically connecting to the strongest network in your hunting area, eliminating the need for SD cards, offering live aiming for hassle-free setup and using built-in GPS so you always know where your cameras are in the field. Tactacam's Greg Farrell joins us to dish all the exciting details.

Animal rights extremists are mounting a political effort to ban Colorado mountain lion hunting via a voter referendum on the November ballot. The measure — strongly opposed by sportsman and state wildlife biologists — could have a serious impact on Colorado's deer and elk populations and set a dangerous precedent for hunting opportunities across the nation. Dan Gates from Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management joins us to discuss this issue and explain how bowhunters from across America can help. 

The 4th of July is nearly upon us, and for most serious bowhunters, that means it's time to deploy scouting cameras in the field. Cuddeback's Dan Schultz joins us to discuss summertime trail-cam strategies as well as the latest high-tech offerings from this iconic trail-camera manufacturer.