On this episode we sit down with Bart Chancellor and Chad Smith.  They are handlers for two of the most famous and skilled dogs in Mississippi.  Bart's dog, Smoke and Chad's dog Si are known all over state and are legendary in many camps.  With over 2000 recoveries between them they have seen more big bucks and happy hunters than most of us ever will.  We were glad to get them in to talk with us about the blood tracking services, these two great dogs, and tell a few stories along the way.

These days with the technology available most of us have an intimate knowledge of the deer on our hunting tracts.  We are always hoping watching for the deer that is an all-star, or has the potential to become one if we can keep him alive a few more years.  When we identify that special deer, we find ourselves making decisions and planning around that one single deer.  From working as hard as we can to protect and nourish him, to eventually working to pattern and kill him.   It can be a roller coaster, and some are better at it than others.  Our friend Brandon Huerkamp has proven to be one of the best around at growing, identifying, and putting an arrow in mature super star bucks.   We talk about the process, tips, and stories with him.

On this episode we talk about the Noxubee Farm Supply racoon round up. We discuss our strategy, the acres we covered, and our opinion on the backlash not only from nonhunters, but most vehemently from the coon hunting community. We have coon hunters that hunt the ground we trapped and hunted during the round up, there are still plenty of coons to tree. We all have our particular species that we are passionate about, and we should respect each other as well as nature and the resources. The teams in the roundup were spread out across more than r 20,000 acres & 6 counties. The population was not wiped out, we are still getting pics of coons on cameras we are running for deer herd inventory. We are still trapping some of the properties. The pics made it look a little more dramatic than it was. We also talk about turkeys and how we try to help sustain populations where we hunt. It's a combination of habitat management and self control when it comes to hunter harvest. Make all you can, take as few as you can. It's really that simple.

Our friends at Noxubee Farm supply in Macon, MS are putting on a Racoon Roundup later this month so Chris and I went down to get more info.  We ended up setting up in owner Ryan Bostick's office and filming a podcast.  Ryan is a lifelong conservationist, hunter, and a veteran.  We think you'll love this conversation.   Get more details on facebook at www.facebook.com/noxubeefarmsupply

A short podcast on the annual debate of whether trapping is an effective means of turkey predator management.  Especially when compared to efforts in the area of habitat improvement.  Sometimes trapping might be the only thing that a lease holder, club member, or someone hunting by permission can do.

Good friend and exceptional turkey hunter, Hunter Crimm joins us to talk about trapping and his efforts to help improve his turkey numbers on leased lands that he hunts and manages.  Hunter has trapped for  years and shares his experience and stories with us.

Last episode we had former game warden Bo Harris in to talk about poachers.  As often happens, we got to telling stories and went down a few rabbit trails.  I saved a few of the stories and insights and patched them back together for a follow up episode.  Hope you enjoy.

Whether you own land or lease land, you have an investment of time and money in making it the best that it can be.   One of the most frustrating things is to have a poacher sneaking around taking advantage of your land and efforts.  Get to know your local game warden and have a line of communication with them.  On this episode we talk with a former warden from our area, Bo Harris.  We hit on the frustrations of having poachers, and some stories from the past that we can all relate to and Herring story with a goat that we didn't see coming when we started recording.

Our friend and logger Tim O'bryant AKA Cotontop3 on the socials sits down with us and we talk past, present, and future of logging particularly in the Southeast.   Tim and his family have logged in Mississippi and Alabama for 4 decades.   Like we always do, we go back in history for stories as well as discuss what the future looks like for the industry.  On this episode you get an inside look from a logger, a timber buyer, and a realtor, and all three of us are hunters and conservationists.  We discuss the challenges for landowners when they need to get small tracts cut, evaluating the timing and methods of cutting, and the trend in recreational value of land versus timber value.  You can folllow Tim on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@cotontop3 and the Woodsman Perspective on youtube at  https://www.youtube.com/@woodsmanperspectivepodcast

On our 20th episode we sit down with Jason and Brian Hollis of Hollis Farms.  The Hollis family has been growing and killing big whitetails and longbeard turkeys for more than 4 decades.  We talk about how it started, with their dad Joe Hollis and his vision, not only for land and deer management but his vision for raising boys and creating a legacy.   Jason and Brian are passing this legacy on to their own sons now.  They also have a successful Youtube channel with more that 80K followers.   They are on facebook and Instagram, Hollis Farms  Follow them here: https://www.youtube.com/@HollisFarmsMS http://www.hollisfarms.com/

Chris and Brent talk about a project that Chris did back in 2015.  Although his farm was producing great deer numbers and some quality bucks, Chris felt like it was lacking in cover nesting habitat.  Listen as he talks about the process of identifying the right area and taking on a project that would seem counter intuitive to most hunters and landowner, especially almost a decade ago.

For episode 18 we talk with GO Seed cofounder Risa Demasi about the incredible attributes their patented seed, Fixation Balansa clover.  We have been growing it in places for several years and it is one of our favorites.  Fixation's tolerance for wet feet, nitrogen fixing properties, tonnage and palatability make it an exceptional whitetail forage option.  You can learn more at www.goseed.com or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoSeedCo

MLB MVP Roy Oswalt sits down and talks with us about developing hunting tracts, killing giant whitetails, with a few stories in between.  He and Chris even share a tale about a road trip in Argentina.   Roy's approach to land development and whitetails is similar to his major league baseball career. He is intense, and constantly raising the bar.

Opening day of dove season is more than just a regular opener.  It is the official kick off of hunting season in the south.  It also coincides with the beginning of football season and the long Labor day weekend holiday. When you combine all of those elements, you've got the makings of a great southern social event.  On this episode we take a step back and discuss the traditional southern opening dove hunt and the social aspect of it.  We have special guest Bob Phillips of Columbus MS in with us to discuss his families long tradition of hosting large annual dove hunts.  Bob and the Phillips family have been hunters, land managers, and involved in the outdoors for generations, and as you'll hear that isn't going to change any time soon.

We get a rundown of what all Chris does this time of year to manage his farms and prepare for fall.  We talk herbicide, clover, planting, drainage and road maintenance, doves, ducks and second place travel ball trophies.   Can't get American Joint vetch, join the crowd.  We'll touch on that and on the way out we mention a great tract of land that Brent has listed for sale.  Thanks in advance to all our buddies we name drop on this one, including Brian Hollis, Jason Hollis, Bobby Cole, Hunter Crimm, Hometown Realty, Tim Brooks (our buddy from the corps), and I'm sure I'm missing someone.

What happens when a Mississippi boy has an unbridled passion for archery, turkey hunting, and people?  We sat down with Noxubee county native Steve Brown to find out for ourselves.  Steve has combined these three passions in a way that is hard to do justice with words.  Steve has completed 8 world slams on wild turkeys with archery equipment, spends countless  hours guiding clients to help them check off the most difficult of boxes for the ambitious turkey hunter, and has more great stories than a book store.  We had a good talk about this and more, we hope you enjoy it.  His instagram is BrownandCompanyoutfitters

Spring has always been turkey time for us. This year more than ever there is unprecedented attention on the wild turkey and its apparent decline.  We wade into this topic from 3 perspectives, discussing the hype, hunting, responsibility, and reality.   With firsthand experience managing turkeys and turkey habitat, Mitt and Chris point out that turkeys are in fact doing very well in places.  This success could be replicated on a larger scale, or could it?  We make several references to studies and commentary previously discussed on The Wild Turkey Science podcast as well as The Mossy Oak Gamekeeper podcast.  We encourage you to listen to those as well.  We also mention our friends at Apex ammunition, the are local guys to our area that make an exceptional product.

For our 12th episode we bring in Jack Robertson. As an owner and developer of the Hogeye Camera system Jack is in the fight against the wild hog as much as anyone.  Not only are they leaders in the advancing technology to get rid of hogs, but he travels extensively to help private landowners, farmers, corporations, and government organizations understand and eliminate wild hog invasions.  If you've seen those videos of a trap dropping on an unsuspecting sounder of  hogs, you were probably watching a Hogeye camera system.  Check out www.hogeyecameras.com to see more on their products.  You can follow them all social media platforms as well.  Instagram is @hogeye_cameras and facebook is Hogeye Trap Cameras.   Jack also hints to an upcoming cost sharing program here in Mississippi that we will be following closely!

On episode 11 we bring in a very respected member of the trapping community.  Chip Davis is one of us, a woodsman and habitat manager from the Ms Delta area that happens to have nearly 40 years of trapping experience.  He has also served twice as president of the Mississippi Trappers association as well as served on state and national trapping boards.  Chip not only brings the boots on the ground knowledge, but experience in advising those who make policy.  This talk is thought provoking in areas of ethics, management, and recruiting new trappers.   He can be found hosting other podcasts occasionally at www.trappingradio2.com and is the owner and developer of the Expand-a-pan.   Also check out the find a trapper resource at www.mstrappers.com this is a great resource for landowners who would like to add trapping to their management plan but may not have the time to do it themselves.    Enjoy!

The old fashioned deer camp is a dying tradition.  Not just the hunting club or lease, but the club where you have a camp cook, cabins and a bunk house, and the infamous skinning rack.  We talk with guest Shane Grantham who lives this lifestyle with his family as they are now 3 generations deep in the Dancing Rabbit hunting club in east central MS.