Kountryfried Outdoors: Chasing Your Experience

In this episode of Chasing Your Experience, host Sean Smith catches up with co-host Sam Dunlap as they dive into Sam's recent tag draws in Colorado for archery elk and mule deer. Sam shares his inspiring journey of archery recovery, highlighting the challenges and triumphs along the way. The conversation shifts to the controversial decision by the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency to release orph...

Join host Sean Smith as he welcomes back James Holm, the Scrape Doctor, to kick off an exciting new mini-series on "Chasing Your Experience." After last season's deep dive into the world of mock scrapes, Sean and James are ready to dig even deeper. In this episode, they explore the crucial "Why" behind mock scrapes, unraveling the science and strategy that make them a powerful tool for hunters. Wh...

In this heartfelt final installment of the live series from the 2025 Buckeye Big Buck Club Annual Banquet, host Sean sits down with Brantley and his father, Travis, for a memorable conversation. Brantley, who is celebrating a significant milestone—the induction of his very first Buckeye Big Buck Club qualifying buck—shares the excitement of harvesting a remarkable 146-inch trophy buck at just six...

In this exciting fourth installment of our live series from the Buckeye Big Buck Club 2025 Banquet, host Sean sits down with Kendra Wecker, the Chief of Ohio’s Division of Wildlife. Join us as they explore the dynamic world of wildlife management, diving into a range of topics that highlight the Division's commitment to conservation and community engagement. In this episode, Kendra shares insights...

In this enlightening episode of "Chasing Your Experience," host Sean Smith welcomes disease ecologist Dr. Risa Pesapane to delve into the fascinating—and often misunderstood—world of ticks in Ohio. With her extensive background in disease ecology, Dr. Pesapane shares her expertise on how to identify various tick species, understand their life cycles, and recognize the tick-borne diseases that pose...

In this heartwarming third installment of the Chasing Your Experience podcast, we dive into an extraordinary family adventure recorded live at the 2025 Buckeye Big Buck Club Banquet at Ashland University. Join us as we welcome the Twigg family—Todd, Kate, Journee, and Fisher—as they share their unforgettable 2023 deer season, where each member of the family achieved remarkable success in the field...

“Chasing Brutus: Tricia's 204” Monster Buck" Join us for yet another exhilarating episode of Chasing Your Experience. This week’s episode is the second live recording from the Buckeye Big Buck Club 2025 Banquet! In this special installment, we dive into the thrilling journey of Tricia Lucius, who, with the encouragement of her husband Brian and brother Mike Daring, transformed from a novice hunter...

Join host Sean Smith as he kicks off a special series of live episodes from the 2025 Buckeye Big Buck Club Banquet at Ashland University! In this inaugural episode, Sean engages in a thought-provoking conversation with board members J.R. Tucker and Joe Bouch, delving into the heart of the hunting community. Tune in as they explore the exhilarating journey of hunting for the first qualifying whitet...

Join host Sean Smith for a special live recording at the 2025 Buckeye Big Buck Club Banquet in Ashland, Ohio! In this exciting introduction to a new series of episodes, Sean sets the stage for a deep dive into the world of hunting, conservation, and unforgettable experiences shared by passionate outdoors enthusiasts. Episode Highlights: - Episode 1: Sean kicks things off with insightful conversati...

Join hosts Sean and Sam for another engaging episode of the Chasing Your Experience Podcast as Season 2 rolls on! In this jam-packed discussion, the duo dives into a variety of pressing topics that are shaping the landscape of Colorado and beyond. Sam brings us the latest updates from the Centennial State, including the ongoing saga of the transplanted wolves and the contentious new proposal to ba...

Episode Title: Gear Talk and Season Recap: Reflections on Ohio’s 2024 Deer Season In this solo episode, host Sean Smith takes listeners on a deep dive into his gear setup for the 2024 deer season in Ohio. He shares insights into the changes he made to his arrow configuration and how these adjustments impacted his performance in the field. Join Sean as he candidly reflects on the highs and lows of...

Join hosts Sean Smith and Sam Dunlap as they gear up for their thrilling 2024 expedition into the Colorado Backcountry in pursuit of elk! In this exciting episode, the duo dives into a variety of topics that highlight the intersection of adventure and conservation. Listen in as they dissect the recent Vice Presidential Debate surrounding public land usage, sharing their insights on how political d...

In the thrilling conclusion of our three-part series with the Scrape Doctor, James Holm, we dive deep into the final stages of his innovative mock scrape system. As the hunting season winds down from post-rut to its end, James shares his expert insights on how to effectively utilize scrapes to increase your chances of success. Join us as we explore the nuances of deer behavior during this critical...

In this exciting episode of Chasing Your Experience, join hosts Sean and Sam as they take you on a nostalgic journey through their first bow harvests. Reliving the highs and lows of their early hunting experiences, the fellas share stories filled with laughter, lessons learned, and a few unforgettable mishaps. From the thrill of the chase to the inevitable blunders, hear how these two passionate h...

Episode Description: Transition Tactics: The Scrape Doctor’s Guide to Pre-Rut Success with James Holm In the second installment of our insightful series with James Holm, the renowned Scrape Doctor, we delve into the critical transition period as deer shift from their summer patterns to the pre-rut and the onset of the rut. Join us as James shares his expert strategies for effectively utilizing his...

Episode Description: Kountryfried Returns: Summer Shenanigans and Prepping for Colorado After a mid-season break, Kountryfried Outdoors is back and ready to dive into the summer adventures that have shaped our journey! Join Sean and Sam as they catch you up on their escapades and the behind-the-scenes hustle of balancing their passion for the outdoors with the realities of everyday life. In this e...

Episode Description: The Big Deer Contest: Fostering Community and Outdoor Fun with Chief Mike Currington In this inspiring episode, Sean sits down with Fowler Township Police Chief Mike Currington to discuss the origins and growth of the Big Deer Contest, an annual event that has become a beloved tradition in Trumbull County. Born out of the challenges of the COVID lockdowns in 2020, Chief Currin...

Episode Description: Hodge-Podge of Topics: Current Events, Hunting Updates, and Epic Shots In this lively episode, Sam and Sean dive into a mix of intriguing topics, keeping listeners engaged with their signature banter and insight. The duo kicks things off with an update on the ongoing saga of C.J. Alexander, who faces a 23-count indictment in Ohio—an unfolding story that has captured the attent...

In November 2022, the deer hunting season presented some unique challenges with record high temperatures that brought deer movement to a standstill. In this episode, Sean reflects on a tough hunting trip with his buddies at the much-anticipated Rutcation camp, which turned out to be more like watching paint dry than chasing bucks. Despite some close encounters with a mature buck, none resulted in...

Episode Description: Dragging Deer Made Easy with Unkle Stubb's Outdoors Imagine this: you’ve hiked deep into the wilderness, and after a rewarding hunt, you’ve successfully filled your freezer. But as the adrenaline fades, reality sets in—you’re far from your truck, navigating the steep and rugged terrain with your harvest in tow. Instead of regretting your choices, why not arm yourself with the...

In this enlightening episode of the Chasing Your Experience Podcast, Sean sits down with the renowned James Holm, better known as the Scrape Doctor. Since his first mock scrape in 1985, James has transformed the art of mock scraping into a science, challenging traditional beliefs about where and when to use these techniques in whitetail hunting. Join us as James shares his journey from the early d...

Episode Description: Hats Off to Conservation: A Conversation with Justin Ross In this exciting episode, we sit down with the multi-talented Justin Ross, a local sales rep by day and a passionate advocate for conservation and community support. As a chapter coordinator for Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH), Justin dedicates his time to bridging the gap between hunters and those in need...

Episode Description: Highlights from the Open Season Sportsman's Expo Hello everyone! Over St. Paddy’s Day weekend, Sean made his way down to Columbus, Ohio, for the Open Season Sportsman's Expo, and let me tell you—it did not disappoint! In this exciting episode, Sean shares his first-time experience at the expo, which was packed with great people, incredible vendors, and standout products. Join...

Episode Description: Exploring the Buckeye Big Buck Club with Jim Williamson Welcome back to the second installment of our mini-series from the 4th Annual Antler Scoring Event at Northeast Outdoors in New Philadelphia, Ohio! In this episode, Sean sits down with Jim Williamson, a dedicated Board Member and Historian of the Buckeye Big Buck Club, who brings over 25 years of experience to the table....

Episode Description: Live at Northeast Outdoors: Antler Scoring Event - Part One Hello everyone! Welcome to a special live edition of Kountryfried Outdoors, recorded at Northeast Outdoors in New Philadelphia, Ohio, during their fourth annual antler scoring event! In this exciting first part of our two-part series, Sean sits down with official scorers from the Buckeye Big Buck Club as they put the...