The Blacktail Coach Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Let’s rethink what success looks like in blacktail hunting. When schedules tighten, budgets pinch, and weather goes sideways, clear cuts offer a practical, ethical path forward that keeps us learning and in the game. We explore why open ground—rich with food, sunlight, and visibility—can help you introduce non-hunters, hunt with kids without frustration, and stay flexible when set...

Send us Fan Mail A season that humbled us also sharpened us. We went all in on named target bucks and ran into a wall of warm temps, atmospheric rivers, and shifting deer behavior that pushed daylight activity into a crawl. Cameras that fired pre-season went quiet. Windstorms changed cover overnight. Predators and pressure added chaos. And yet, we found what matters most when a tag stays unpunched...

Send us Fan Mail If “more deer, more tags” hasn’t moved the needle in California, what will? We make the case for a better message—forest health and balanced wildlife management—and back it up with a rigorous camera trap study designed to deliver real numbers, not anecdotes. With blacktail deer as an umbrella species, we walk through how the right habitat mosaics lift the entire ecosystem, from ne...

Send us Fan Mail A number on a page says California holds 500,000 deer. Our boots say otherwise. We sat down with Paul Trouett and John Wagenet to map the ground truth of blacktail across Mendocino and the B‑Zones—why herds feel thinner, how habitats shifted, and what it takes to bring the Pacific Ghost back into the open. We start with lived experience: families who learned safety by feel, close...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered if AI can actually help you tag a smarter hunt, or if it’s just another loud voice with half-truths? We put it on the stand and tested its advice against muddy boots, real rub lines, and the stubborn logic of blacktail country. Starting with a simple question—why bucks shred willows—we dug into nutrition, chemistry, and behavior to see what holds up: soft bark that p...

Send us Fan Mail Ever passed a buck on the first morning and felt it echo all week? We did, and the story unpacks more than a near miss. We break down a Kansas whitetail hunt that swung from single-digit wind chill to warm afternoons, then connect each lesson to blacktail realities in the Pacific Northwest. Along the way, we dig into why food doesn’t force daylight, how wind and terrain shape move...

Send us Fan Mail Bucks broadcast more than tracks. They paint the woods with scent from orbital, forehead, tarsal, metatarsal, and interdigital glands—messages about identity, rank, breeding readiness, danger, and direction of travel. We break down how to read that code, why blacktail scrapes differ from whitetail, and how to separate fleeting “dominance rubs” from dependable, year-over-year rub l...

Send us Fan Mail Big blacktail aren’t a mystery when you respect their routine. We sit down with Mark Boon to unpack how a hunter who once struggled close to home stacked two strong seasons back-to-back and sealed a Pope & Young buck in September. The shift wasn’t magic; it was method. Mark traded rut-only hopes for a locating-first strategy, used trail cameras as tools instead of toys, and le...

Send us Fan Mail A chocolate-antler blacktail at 20 yards on opening morning isn’t a fluke—it’s the outcome of a system built on habitat, scent discipline, and patient stand time. We sit down with Cully Scroggins to unpack how a summer-long pattern, a tight entry route, and a believable scent profile turned a thick patch of viny maple and ferns into a daylight magnet. If you’ve ever been told big...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to stop throwing Hail Mary hunts and start building a plan that works? We open the playbook for 2026 and share every path you can take to become your own guide, from the Trophy Tactics course to small-group coaching and immersive field days. You’ll hear exactly who each option serves, how to choose based on your schedule and learning style, and why disciplined note taking an...

Send us Fan Mail When the sky flips, deer and elk rewrite their script—and we show you how to read it. From August scorchers to winter squalls, we map out what animals actually do in heat, wind, rain, snow, and sudden barometric swings so you can plan smarter sits and stay safe doing it. We start with early season strategy: water and wallows for elk, shady alder–conifer drainages for blacktail, an...

Send us Fan Mail Shopping for a hunter can feel like trying to read a gear catalog in another language. We make it simple with a clear map of what actually gets used, what’s worth upgrading, and how to time big purchases so you don’t overspend. From arrows, ammo, and batteries to heated vests, merino layers, and trail camera essentials, we share the real-world picks that carry a season—not just a...

Send us Fan Mail Ever feel that nagging urge to change everything mid‑sit? We’ve been there. This week, we dig into why second guessing wrecks hunts and how a simple, structured plan—paired with honest data—keeps you on track to tag mature blacktails. We lay out the season framework we teach our coaching groups: a calendar you actually follow, the intel you record each day, and the small, repeatab...

Send us Fan Mail Some hunts hinge on perfect gear. Most hinge on better judgment. We sit down with Smokey Crews to unpack the quiet moves that turn a fleeting chance into a clean kill—why he swears by a Chuck Adams side quiver through thick coastal brush, how a “60-yard” caribou needed a lower hold despite a correct range, and what really happens when a big Roosevelt bull makes that straight-line...

Send us Fan Mail A record is a number; a trophy is a feeling. That line sets the pace as we sit down with Smokey Crews to unpack the mindset, effort, and odd twists of fate behind a lifetime of tags—from a rare, double-shovel caribou taken on the first morning to a hilariously gnarly velvet bull chosen for pure character the next day. We explore how to decide what you’re hunting for, how to hold o...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Smokey Crews, a living legend in the bowhunting world whose journey from self-taught hunter to record book champion offers profound lessons for archers of all skill levels. Known as "Mr. Roosevelt" for his exceptional success with trophy elk, Smokey's story begins with a seven-year-old boy hunting squirrels alone with a .22 rifle, never having a mentor to guide...

Send us Fan Mail Venturing into the wilderness alone creates a unique set of challenges that even experienced hunters must carefully navigate. In this practical episode, Aaron and Dave tackle listener Brian's questions about solo hunting strategies and venison preparation techniques that can transform how your family enjoys wild game. The hosts share a counterintuitive secret that completely...

Send us Fan Mail Decoys have long been a staple in whitetail and turkey hunting, but their potential for blacktail hunting remains largely untapped. Why leave such an effective tool out of your hunting arsenal? Aaron and Dave break down everything you need to know to successfully deploy decoys for blacktail deer this season. The positioning of your decoy isn't just important—it's absolut...

Send us Fan Mail The dream of hunting your own land captivates many outdoorsmen, but what happens when your property is only 22 acres? Can you truly create a thriving deer habitat that supports quality hunting opportunities?  Responding to an email from Keith in Northern California, we dive deep into the science of deer behavior and habitat management for small properties. The secret lies in under...

Send us Fan Mail The silent language of the forest speaks volumes to those who understand it. Join Aaron and Dave as they decode the secret messages left behind by blacktail deer and reveal how these subtle signs can transform your hunting strategy. The hosts dive deep into track identification, explaining how to distinguish between doe and buck prints based on subtle differences in shape and size...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when your meticulously planned hunting season suddenly falls apart? When that trophy buck you've been patterning all summer becomes inaccessible because someone dumped garbage on the access road? Or when predators take over your carefully cultivated mineral site?  Dave shares his fresh wound—losing access to "The Locker Room," a honey hole with three Po...

Send us Fan Mail The whitetail hunting industry has conditioned us to believe that spraying a little doe estrus will magically bring in monster bucks within 30 minutes. Nothing could be further from the truth, especially when hunting the elusive blacktail deer. Aaron and Dave tackle the complex world of deer scents, pheromones, and attractants - explaining what actually works and the science behin...

Send us Fan Mail We break down the five key factors that significantly increase your chances of a successful hunt when combined. These natural indicators compound to create optimal hunting conditions when your target buck is most likely to be on its feet during daylight hours. • Barometric pressure of 30.2 and rising creates increased deer movement • Moon phases, especially "red moon weeks,&q...

Send us Fan Mail The difference between consistently successful hunters and those who struggle isn't luck – it's preparation. In this detailed conversation, we break down our proven pre-season routine that consistently puts us in position for trophy blacktails. The journey begins with strategic planning. We discuss the critical importance of understanding "Red Moon" phases – pe...

Send us Fan Mail The hunting season approaches, and the Blacktail Coach team is back with essential preparation guidance. This episode addresses the questions hunters are asking right now – from gear priorities on limited budgets to the effectiveness of their system for rifle hunters. The answers reveal a practical approach focused on what genuinely improves success rates rather than marketing hyp...