Deer Talk Now

Are scent-control products a total gimmick, or do they actually work? In this episode of Deer Talk Now, host Dan Schmidt sits down with veteran whitetail expert Steve Bartylla to break down the hard truths of odor management. Drawing on decades of field experience and lessons learned from trapping and legendary hunters like Gary Clancy, Steve explains why half-hearted attempts fail, how microclimates and thermals trick even experienced hunters, and why whitetails react instantly to the slightest trace of human odor. Tune in as they discuss practical, next-level strategies—from managing your gear and washing boots to avoiding hidden scent traps—that will help you stay out of a mature buck's nose this season!

In this episode of Deer Talk Now, host Dan Schmidt sits down with Keith Mark, founder and CEO of Hunter Nation, to discuss the critical battles being fought to protect America's hunting heritage. Tune in as they cover major advocacy efforts—including gray wolf delisting, public land access, baiting regulations, and streamlining deer tagging processes. Plus, Keith shares big news on upcoming Hunter Nation events featuring music legend Ted Nugent in Green Bay and football icon Brett Favre in Waukesha!

In this podcast, Daniel Schmidt and Steve Bartylla dive deep into the science and strategy behind mineral licks. Learn when, where, and how to establish mineral sites to maximize herd health, boost antler growth, and use them as a tool for your trail cameras and scouting strategy. Whether you're managing a small property or looking for an edge this fall, Steve shares his proven tactics for making mineral licks actually work for your deer herd.

In this podcast, Host Daniel Schmidt talks with Randy Wood about how to trouble shoot 10 common problems people have with their crossbows.

In this podcast Dave Schoenberger and Dan Schmidt reminisce on Dave's trophy buck from the 2025 season. This buck was a 21 pointer that grossed 271 inches.

In this podcast Donal Barry Jr. recaps his hunt of an incredible 32 pointer that scored 272 5/8".

In this podcast, Steve Bartylla explains how he sets up mock scrapes, the purpose of them, and his best tips for making scrapes.

descriptionIt might be summer, but that doesn’t mean it’s too soon to start thinking about hunting deer in the colder months. Randy Flannery shares his deer tracking wisdom in this Deer Talk Now Podcast from how to tell the size of a buck’s rack from a track to how you know you can catch up to the deer versus endlessly tracking.

Do deer seem to bust you, even when you're convinced you're doing everything right? There may be a scientific reason why. Mike Slinkard explains how electroreception works in animals and how understanding this little-known sense could help you gain an edge in the woods.

This is a game-changer for land managers — get custom whitetail habitat plans without having to hire someone. Gregg Farrell explains the groundbreaking new Habitat IQ app that tells you where to hunt and how to make your land better over time. Plus, get the details on the latest trail cameras from Tactacam that have some incredible features at an affordable price point.

You just purchased a new hunting property — what now? Hear John Stoltzfus and Brad Rucks’ discussion on the three keys of prime deer habitat and how to improve each one in this Deer Talk Now Podcast.

Ted Marum joins Dan Schmidt for a Deer Talk Now Podcast episode about big bucks, what state is the best for deer hunting today, the snowstorm that put Buffalo County on the map, plus much more.

Lee Lakosky details his experience with EHD and managing whitetails, highlighting what has worked to help prevent mature buck losses from the disease. During this podcast, you'll hear:- What has helped Lee’s herd survive EHD after going from 50 mature deer all the way down to 5 over the course of a few years- Specialized feeding plans, water treatment and how to clean up ponds to prevent EHD spread- What ponds grow muck faster (where midges that transmit EHD hatch from) — and it’s probably not what you would think

Award-winning writer Steve Sorensen is on the podcast with Dan Schmidt to discuss deer numbers, regulations to reduce the herd and help the habitat, regulations in city limits, the effects of antler point restrictions (APRs) and more.

With decades of habitat consulting under his belt, Steve Bartylla shares his best tips for using fertilizer and lime when planting food plots for deer.

In this episode, Cameron Coble breaks down what it really takes to become an official Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett scorer. We dive into how antlers are scored, which factors matter most, and why these measurements go far beyond trophies — they play a critical role in tracking herd health and guiding conservation efforts. Cameron also shares insights from scoring notable deer, including the Donal Barry buck.

CEO of Archery Trade Association Jeff Poole joins the podcast to talk about how the archery industry has evolved. He gives updates on the new format of the ATA Trade Show, which is now allowing consumers to attend, as well as tips on how to get into bowhunting on a budget, how ATA promotes bowhunting throughout America, plus much more.

In this episode of Deer Talk Now, we sit down with Jeremy Flinn to discuss the biggest challenges and debates shaping deer hunting today. The conversation turns to modern deer management and some recommendations from state wildlife agencies that he believes simply don’t make sense. We also dive into the ongoing debate about hunter recruitment, if CWD is something that needs to be solved, and more.

Dan Schmidt gives his tips on how to have better hunting success on public land after years of experience doing it himself, from access points to dragging out deer, when to hunt, where to hunt, and how to outsmart deer as well as other hunters.

Legendary hunting personality Roger Raglin joins us on the podcast to tell us the incredible story of how he got his start, the realities of working in the industry, where his catch phrase “Jiminy Christmas” came from, and much more.