Stay ConnectedHosted by Will Cooper and Josh Dahlke, the HuntStand Podcast brings you real hunting stories, expert strategies, and conversations with the most respected voices in whitetail, turkey, elk, public land, and backcountry hunting. Whether you’re chasing your first buck or planning a western hunt, this is the show for driven outdoorsmen.
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What looked like a perfect opportunity on an old Texas brush country buck turned into a hunt Will Cooper won't soon forget. On this episode of The Setup, Josh Dahlke and Will break down a late-season, post-rut bowhunt on an MLD property in the famed Golden Triangle of South Texas. After getting a shot at an old, mature whitetail, everything initially pointed toward a successful recovery. But puzzling shot footage and a blood trail that didn't quite add up left more questions than answers. That's when legendary Texas tracking dog handler Roy Hines got the call. For Will, it was his first experience relying on tracking dogs to recover a deer—and one that brought an entirely new perspective to bowhunting, shot evaluation, and the importance of doing everything possible to recover an animal. From the setup and shot opportunity to the recovery and lessons learned, Josh and Will walk through the entire hunt, breaking down the decisions, challenges, and takeaways. Because sometimes the biggest lessons in bowhunting come after the arrow leaves the string. Watch the full breakdown on The Setup, a HuntStand Podcast series. FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial
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Some hunts go exactly how you drew them up. Others kick you square in the teeth. On this episode of the HuntStand Podcast, Josh Dahlke and Will Cooper look back at their hunting season from last fall and winter and unpack the moments that defined it. They revisit the highlights, punched tags, close calls, unexpected turns, hard lessons, and the hunts that still sting months later. From the moments you wish you could relive to the ones you'd probably like a do-over on, it's a look back at the reality of a full hunting season. The good. The bad. The gut punches. And the stories that make you ready to do it all over again. FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial
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Your first land purchase is a big decision that can carry a lot of stress. Here’s a checklist to consider before you start your search and sign on the dotted line. FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial
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Deer have an uncanny ability to determine when human activity is threatening. How much personal use should you subject your hunting property to? Can you acclimate deer to people? Bill Winke has some answers with the experience to back it up. FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial
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Taking deer herd inventory with thermal drones is becoming very common. Bill Winke has done it three times on his farm. Is the use of thermal drone to count deer crossing a line or just smart management? Winke discusses how to do it, when to do it, how to use the data, and some ethical considerations. FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial
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Can hunters actually influence the genetics of a free-ranging whitetail herd? Biologists often say no—but Bill Winke sees it differently. In this episode of Deer Dirt, Bill shares what he’s experienced firsthand and why he believes genetics can be influenced in wild deer. It’s a controversial topic, and we’re diving straight into the debate. FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial
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Designing a deer property isn’t just about attracting more deer—it’s about being able to hunt them without blowing the place up. On this episode of Deer Dirt, Bill Winke breaks down how to design your property for low-impact hunting, including smart access, food plot placement, and setups that keep pressure to a minimum while putting you in position when it matters most.
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When it comes to food plot strategy, you need to consider whether you’re making the property ideal for the deer or ideal for you. Stressed deer are harder to kill and spreading them out also makes them harder to kill, but is an over abundance of food better for the deer? You might not need as much deer food as biologists suggest.FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial
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Alfalfa may be the gold standard for whitetail nutrition, but it's not always practical for a food plot. In this episode of Deer Dirt, Bill Winke shares three of his favorite food sources that are easier to grow, highly attractive to deer, and proven to keep whitetails coming back season after season. Whether you're planting your first plot or improving an existing one, this episode is packed with practical food plot advice to help you grow better habitat and hunt smarter. FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial
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Looking for the best crossbow options for the upcoming deer season? In this episode of Geared For The Hunt, Josh Dahlke breaks down some of the top new crossbows hitting the market and shares what hunters should look for when choosing a setup for the fall. From speed and accuracy to balance, ergonomics, and real-world performance, Josh walks through the features that matter most and explains how different crossbows fit different hunting styles. Whether you're upgrading your current setup or buying your first crossbow, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you make an informed decision before opening day. Subscribe for more hunting gear breakdowns, product reviews, and educational content from the HuntStand team. FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial
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