The WHTL Podcast - Whitetail Deer Hunting Tactics, Stories & Expert Guests

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Latest Episodes:

MDRN Whitetail EP. #2 - 49 Years of Bowhunting for Giant Whitetails - What Don Higgins has Learned Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of MDRN Whitetail, Don breaks down the principles that actually built a 49-year career chasing giants — not the tips everyone's already heard, but the ones he had to learn the hard way. We get into:

The "same time, same place" theory Don first wrote about in 2003 — and how tracking one buck's annual pattern for six straight years led to a first-morning kill
Why hunting "the fringes" isn't about staying on the edge of everything — and how a 2-acre patch of cover next to an elderly neighbor's yard produced a 200-inch buck
The October morning that broke Don of hunting mornings for over a decade, what he learned following a buck's tracks in the mud at first light, and the one condition that brings him back to a morning stand today
Why "time in a tree" isn't the success factor most hunters think it is — and how Don hunts fewer hours now than at any point in 49 years
How he handles tips on other people's target bucks, and why he's walked away from two 200-inch deer he could hunt right now

Whether you're running public land, a handshake permission property, or your own ground, Don's approach proves the same thing MDRN Whitetail is built on: the principles matter more than the property.

🎙️ Follow Don Higgins: HigginsOutdoors.com | Chasing Giants Podcast

Got a topic or guest you want to hear? DM me on Instagram: @mdrnwhitetail

Follow along on social! IG - @modernwhitetail YouTube - @WHTLDEER

Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would've been possible without them! -Buck Land Funding: https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding -Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off: https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_ -OnX: https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt -Painted Arrow: ⁠⁠bit.ly/PaintedArrow -Latitude Outdoors: https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/

#429 - Half Your Summer Bucks Will Be Gone by October — Here's Where They Go with Kaleb Greiner Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the WHTL Podcast, your source for Whitetail Deer Hunting Tactics, Stories & Expert Guests. In this episode, we're back in the studio with Kaleb Greiner.

We Discuss:

Roughly half of summer bucks relocate before October in pressured country.
Cereal grains want to be six inches tall on opening day, not two feet.
The best summer camera in ag country sits 20 to 80 yards off a pond.
Deer walk through an open gate instead of hopping the fence beside it.
A creek drying up can move a buck straight to the nearest pond.
White oak acorns pull deer off green fields from September 15th on.
Raking leaves off an oak flat and broadcasting rye makes a green carpet.
Hunting one buck every sit beats bouncing between farms all season.
Mature bucks bed in five-yard waterways in the middle of cut fields.
Trading TSI and chainsaw work for permission opens doors money can't.

And So Much More!

Want to become a better whitetail hunter? Click the link below and sign up for the Whitetail Master Academy today! https://bit.ly/WhitetailMasterAcademy

Follow along on social! IG - @WHTLDEER TikTok - @WHTLDEER YouTube - @WHTLDEER

Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would've been possible without them!

Buck Land Funding: https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding
Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off: https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_
OnX: https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt
Painted Arrow: ⁠⁠bit.ly/PaintedArrow
Latitude Outdoors: https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/

MDRN Whitetail EP. #1 - Where Technology and Woodsmanship Collide Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to MDRN Whitetail — where woodsmanship and technology collide. I'm Cameron Derr, and I didn't learn to deer hunt from a mentor. I learned it from editing YouTube hunting content — first on The Tineman, then as Creative Director at Exodus Outdoor Gear, where I produced Trail Cam Radio (the Exodus Podcast, now WHTL), Whitetail Cribs, and hosted the Deer Gear Podcast. Every guest I edited became an unofficial teacher. Since picking up a bow in 2016, I've killed 10+ bucks — including a couple 150 class Ohio bucks, 160-class Ohio giant, a 140-class North Dakota buck, and a full-velvet mid-160s 9-point — almost entirely by applying what I learned from other people's content. That's the whole premise of this show: the learning curve doesn't have to be as long as everyone says, if you know how to actually pull the "why" out of what you're watching and listening to. Here's how MDRN Whitetail works: Week 1 — a long-form conversation with a guest, opening with the same question every time: by the end of this episode, what should you learn? Week 2 — myself and Tre Kerns break down last week's episode: what mattered, what we've tried, what actually works.

This show runs in conjunction with the WHTL Podcast — thank you to Jake.

Got a topic or guest you want to hear? DM me on Instagram: @mdrnwhitetail

Follow along on social! IG - @modernwhitetail YouTube - @WHTLDEER

#428 - How Jason Michael Breaks Down 5,000 Acres of Brand New Public Land in 12 Hours Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the WHTL Podcast, your source for Whitetail Deer Hunting Tactics, Stories & Expert Guests. In this episode, we're back in the studio with Jason Michael.

We Discuss:

Mature bucks have distinct personalities, and each one has to be hunted differently.
A buck labeled nocturnal is usually only nocturnal on your 80 acres.
Red oaks carry the November acorn crop long after the white oaks are washed up.
Big public ground gets read faster with short probes than with mile-long loops.
Wind speed covers your entry noise better than wind direction ever will.
Sixteen hours of rain shutting off at midday can trigger the best sit of October.
Maples drop their leaves weeks before oaks, so pick your stand tree with November in mind.
In big terrain, thermals don't set up until roughly two hours after sunrise.
Deer bed on the edge of a block facing out, not in the dead center of it.
Respecting what a whitetail's nose can do changes how you hunt him.

And So Much More!

Want to become a better whitetail hunter? Click the link below and sign up for the Whitetail Master Academy today! https://bit.ly/WhitetailMasterAcademy

Follow along on social! IG - @WHTLDEER TikTok - @WHTLDEER YouTube - @WHTLDEER

Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would've been possible without them!

Buck Land Funding: https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding
Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off: https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_
OnX: https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt
Painted Arrow: ⁠⁠bit.ly/PaintedArrow
Latitude Outdoors: https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/

#427 - Make Mature Bucks Hunt You: The Mock Scrape Setup That Flips the Table on a Nocturnal Buck with Jeff Hopkins Aug 04, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the WHTL Podcast, your source for Whitetail Deer Hunting Tactics, Stories & Expert Guests. In this episode, we're back in the studio with Jeff Hopkins.

We Discuss:

A buck's tarsal gland leaves a scent fingerprint that bottled urine can't copy.
Frozen tarsal glands soaked in glycerin gel make your own dominant buck scent.
Wax paper under a mock scrape keeps your lure from soaking into the ground.
The direction a buck kicks scrape dirt tells you which way he's traveling.
A mock scrape carrying a stranger's scent makes the resident buck hunt you.
Two or three well-placed mock scrapes beat a farm covered in them.
Baking soda patted in with a sock outperforms any bottled field spray.
Nothing completely beats a deer's nose — you just make him think you're farther off.
A rub on both sides of a tree means he's working that line back and forth.
Rattling pays in a short pre-Halloween window, in 10 to 15 second sequences.

And So Much More!

Want to become a better whitetail hunter? Click the link below and sign up for the Whitetail Master Academy today! https://bit.ly/WhitetailMasterAcademy

Follow along on social! IG - @WHTLDEER TikTok - @WHTLDEER YouTube - @WHTLDEER

Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would've been possible without them!

Buck Land Funding: https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding
Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off: https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_
OnX: https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt
Painted Arrow: ⁠⁠bit.ly/PaintedArrow
Latitude Outdoors: https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/

#426 - How Rare Is a Booner, Really? This Thermal Drone Pilot Flew 50,000 Deer to Find Out with Jack Huston Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the WHTL Podcast, your source for Whitetail Deer Hunting Tactics, Stories & Expert Guests. In this episode, we're back in the studio with Jack Huston.

We Discuss:

Buck-to-doe ratios average 2.3 does per buck, far tighter than the 10-to-1 hunters assume.
You need to remove at least 20% of your doe herd in a season to actually shrink deer numbers.
Improving timber stand quality can boost a property's deer-holding capacity by 50%.
Mature bucks average one per 88 acres of habitat, tightening to 30-40 acres on the best farms.
On pressured or poor-habitat farms, expect just one mature buck per 200-300 acres of cover.
Genetics beat soil quality — top farms produce 5x5-or-better bucks at triple the rate of weak farms.
Genetic "hot pockets" for antler potential typically span only a quarter to half a county.
Mature bucks stay 100-500 yards off doe bedding areas rather than bedding right with them.
Removing an established mature buck opens space for a genetically superior buck to move in.
A drone detection system can geofence a property and track intruding drones down to the centimeter.

And So Much More!

Want to become a better whitetail hunter? Click the link below and sign up for the Whitetail Master Academy today! https://bit.ly/WhitetailMasterAcademy

Follow along on social! IG - @WHTLDEER TikTok - @WHTLDEER YouTube - @WHTLDEER

Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would've been possible without them!

Buck Land Funding: https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding
Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off: https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_
OnX: https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt
Painted Arrow: ⁠⁠bit.ly/PaintedArrow
Latitude Outdoors: https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/

#425 - The Biggest Lie The Archery Industry Tells You with Travis T-Bone Turner Jul 21, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the WHTL Podcast, your source for Whitetail Deer Hunting Tactics, Stories & Expert Guests. In this episode, we're back on the road in Georgia with Travis "T-Bone" Turner of Bone Collector.

We Discuss:

Confidence with your bow setup comes from accuracy, not chasing raw speed.
Spend real money on your rest and release — everything else is negotiable.
A 450-520 grain arrow with 14-18% FOC is the sweet spot for whitetails.
Fixed blades test your form; mechanicals forgive small mistakes at the target.
Index every broadhead to the same clone so accuracy stays consistent.
IBO speed ratings rarely match what you'll actually shoot in the field.
A three-blade mechanical still cuts even if a blade fails to open.
Crossbows are a legitimate gateway into compound archery, not a threat.
Scouting matters less than adapting fast on unfamiliar hunting ground.
The best whitetail setups trade a little speed for real-world forgiveness.

And So Much More!

Want to become a better whitetail hunter? Click the link below and sign up for the Whitetail Master Academy today! https://bit.ly/WhitetailMasterAcademy

Follow along on social! IG - @WHTLDEER TikTok - @WHTLDEER YouTube - @WHTLDEER

Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would've been possible without them!

Buck Land Funding: https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding
Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off: https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_
OnX: https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt
Painted Arrow: ⁠⁠bit.ly/PaintedArrow
Latitude Outdoors: https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/

#424 - Would You Still Hunt If NOBODY Knew What You Killed? Why Chasing Big Bucks Is Ruining Your Hunting with Tony Peterson Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to The WHTL Podcast! Join us as we dive into whitetail hunting tactics, deer camp stories, and conversations with the biggest names in the industry. Hosted by Jake Hofer, this podcast digs deep into what actually makes hunters better — not just what fills the freezer.

On today's episode, Jake sits down with Tony Peterson (MeatEater, Wired to Hunt, Foundations Podcast) for one of the most honest conversations we've had on the show. Tony challenges the way most hunters measure success, breaks down why ego and fear of failure hold people back more than skill ever does, and makes the case that some of the biggest improvements to your season have nothing to do with deer hunting at all.

We discuss:

Why chasing the biggest bucks might be the wrong measure of a "good" hunter
The role ego plays in every decision hunters make in the woods
Why fear of failure is the #1 thing holding hunters back from getting better
Why September might be an easier — and smarter — time to kill a mature buck than the rut
How fitness, sobriety, and home life directly impact your success in the stand
Why gear can never replace reps and experience
The question that changes everything: would you still hunt if nobody ever knew what you killed?

And so much more!

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 – Intro

00:11:54 – Why early season might beat the rut

00:26:13 – Your measure of success might be wrong

00:31:04 – The ego problem every hunter fights

00:34:39 – What actually makes you a better hunter (it's not gear)

00:52:24 – Gear won't fix you: the final 2%

01:01:45 – Would you still hunt if nobody knew?

Want to become a better whitetail hunter? Click the link below and sign up for the Whitetail Master Academy today!

https://bit.ly/WhitetailMasterAcademy

Follow along on social!

IG - @WHTLDEER

TikTok - @WHTLDEER

YouTube - @WHTLDEER

Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would've been possible without them!

-Buck Land Funding: https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding

-Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off: https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_

-OnX: https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt

-Painted Arrow: ⁠⁠bit.ly/PaintedArrow

-Latitude Outdoors: https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/

#423 - What Everyone Gets Wrong About Planting Fruit Trees for Deer with Thomas Damren Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the WHTL Podcast, your source for Whitetail Deer Hunting Tactics, Stories & Expert Guests. In this episode, we're back in the studio with Thomas Damren.

We Discuss:

Rootstock is the "engine" of a tree — it decides size, speed, and hardiness.
Home Depot trees are grown on dwarf rootstock built for yards, not neglect.
Start with just five trees before planting a full orchard.
Seedling rootstock outgrows dwarf and semi-dwarf even with zero maintenance.
Compost, mulch, and a shovel test set a new tree up to survive.
Window-screen tubes protect trunks from voles without the downsides of plastic.
No single apple variety is perfect — every one has a worst trait to manage.
Crab apples bear younger and more reliably than full-size apples.
A weeping crabapple can be bred to hang low as a natural scrape tree.
Trademark protects a discovered variety's name; only a bred variety can be patented.

And So Much More!

Want to become a better whitetail hunter? Click the link below and sign up for the Whitetail Master Academy today! https://bit.ly/WhitetailMasterAcademy

Follow along on social! IG - @WHTLDEER TikTok - @WHTLDEER YouTube - @WHTLDEER

Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would've been possible without them!

-Buck Land Funding: https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding

-Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off: https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_

-OnX: https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt

-Painted Arrow: ⁠⁠bit.ly/PaintedArrow

-Latitude Outdoors: https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/

#422 - The Biggest Gear Mistakes Deer Hunters Make Before Season with Cameron Derr Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the WHTL Podcast, your source for Whitetail Deer Hunting Tactics, Stories & Expert Guests. In this episode, we're back in the studio with Jake Hendrickson.

We Discuss: