The WhitetailDNA Podcast

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we are joined by Skip Sligh to discuss all things habitat, land management, and chasing big bucks. Skip talks about the importance of mentoring the next generation of hunters, his journey of building his legacy farm in Iowa, and the realities of buying and selling recreational land. We also cover common mistakes when flipping farms and...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we're joined by Randy Graber from Custom Archery and Dan Ellyson from A1 Archery for a conversation covering all things archery. We kick things off by announcing the exciting partnership between Custom Archery and Bowtackle , along with the launch of Custom Archery's brand-new online store and what customers can expect to find there. Da...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we sit down with Dylan Lenz to discuss his journey from getting his foot in the door in the hunting industry to becoming Jeff Sturgis ' right-hand man. Dylan shares how years of hands-on experience shaped his understanding of land management and helped him grow and represent one of the most respected habitat consultants in the whitetail...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we are joined by Mike Hunsucker of Heartland Bowhunter . Mike takes us through his journey in the hunting industry and the evolution of Heartland Bowhunter over the last two decades. Mike shares how the brand got its start, the challenges and opportunities that have shaped its growth, and what keeps him motivated after 20 years of chasi...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we are joined by Tyler Markham of Legacy Acres Land Co . to discuss his unique journey from flipping houses full-time to becoming a leader in the land real estate industry. With an extensive background in residential, commercial, and recreational land transactions, Tyler shares the lessons he learned along the way and how those experien...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we are joined by Riley Arnold of Domain Outdoor to discuss the fundamentals of building a successful food plot for deer. Riley is the national sales and marketing manager for Domain and has years of experience planting food plots.  Riley shares his insights on selecting the right seed blends, proper seed rates, and the importance of tho...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, Kaleb Comstock heads north for his first-ever out-of-state turkey hunt, and the guys quickly learn there may be no tougher challenge than chasing late-season birds in the big woods of northern Minnesota. Alex and Kaleb break down the entire hunt, from tough conditions and hard-gobbling birds to the mental highs and lows that make turkey...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we head to Mont Du Lac Resort to sit down with Chris Nehring to talk all things Bowfest . Chris is the Sales and Marketing Director at Mont Du Lac Resort and has played a pivotal role in transforming Bowfest into what it is today. We dive into the history of Bowfest, what originally made it a staple summer archery event in Superior, Wis...

This week on the WhitetailDNA Podcast, we're breaking down one of the wildest turkey hunts we've ever been part of. From nonstop gobbling action and close encounters to the highs, lows, and lessons learned along the way, this trip had absolutely everything. We're joined in camp by Sam Soholt , and are able to fill a couple of tags! We dive into the setups that worked, the mistakes we made, how the...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we sit down live at the River Farm with Jordan Yira of American Legacy Land Co . for a conversation that's equal parts storytelling, strategy, and big news. Jordan dives into his roots, sharing how he grew up hunting and how that passion eventually evolved into a career in land sales, helping others find their own piece of ground. The e...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we sit down and record a solo episode to give a Spring update and answer submitted questions via the social media platform. Questions include how to get a buck to mature age on a property, novice turkey tactics, the future of WhitetailDNA, and much more. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show! *New Episodes Drop Every Wednesday* Connect wi...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we sit down with Joel Burham of Whitetail Fit . Joel has spent most of his life chasing whitetail bucks on public land and has had tremendous success. Today, we dive into his evolution in the hunting industry—from his early days finding his footing to building a respected presence rooted in discipline, fitness, and a passion for the out...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we are joined by Josh Anderson of Woodhaven Custom Calls to dive deep into the world of turkey hunting. Josh shares details about his highly anticipated 2026 turkey tour, along with his personal background in hunting and how he turned his passion into a career with Woodhaven. We break down what truly separates Woodhaven calls from the r...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we're joined by Charlie Johnson to recap his 2025 Iowa hunt. Charlie drew a coveted southern Iowa tag and put everything he had into it. Charlie dives deep into the preperation that made the difference, including invaluable scouting he did the previous November and a trip in the Spring to further dial in areas. The guys compare and cont...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we are joined by Ethan Stubbs . Ethan has an impressive resume in the hunting industry and has built a life around his passions. We dive into his journey through the hunting industry, getting his start as an intern for Midwest Whitetail and working alongside highly respected names like Jared Mills and Bill Winke, to carving out his own...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we are joined by Brian Dombrowski to break down what it really takes to find buck bucks on public land through year-round scouting. Brian resides in Wisconsin and is a seasoned bowhunter with a wealth of knowledge and experience tracking down big bucks on public land. Brian dives into his detailed scouting methodology, explaining how ha...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's 100th episode, we are joined by the legendary Don Higgins . Don shares his decades-long legacy in the hunting industry and how he built a reputation as one of the most respected voices. We dive into the importance of properly vetting land consultants before making changes to your farm and hear the incredible story of how Don transformed a simple...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we are joined by Barney Barney of Eastman's Hunting to dive into the mind and lifestyle of a die-hard bowhunter. Brian is the most successful bowhunter we know, consistently getting it done on public land. With more than 30 years behind the bow, Brian shares how he built his success the hard way—balancing real life while grinding it out...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we are joined by Jake Arvold of 1st Phorm Outdoors for a powerful conversation about family and leading by example to shape our children's lives. Jake shares what it was like growing up on a cattle farm in Wisconsin and how those early lessons his dad taught him shaped the man, father, and outdoorsman he is today. We dive into the impor...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we are joined by Kyle Douglas . Kyle is a highly respected professional archer who has won multiple big tournaments over the years. Kyle is known for his cool, calm, and collected demeanor on the line. We dive into the mindset, discipline, and competitive edge that separate good shooters from champions. Kyle breaks down what it really t...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! Today, we sit down with our good buddy Brandon Sobczak. Brandon is one heck of a shed hunter and bowhunter. He has an impressive track record of finding big antlers in the Spring and putting the pieces together for the Fall. The guys talk about everything you need to know about shed hunting—from mindset and timing to terrain and tactics. We dive into what...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we are joined by Jaden Bales of HuntWest . Jaden is the owner and operator of HuntWest, a hunt-planning company that helps prepare for a western big-game hunt. Jaden shares his roots growing up on a farm in Oregon, hunting at every opportunity he could before heading to Wyoming for college, and how those experiences shaped his approach...

Welcome back to another episode of the WhitetailDNA Podcast! Today, we are joined by Matt Payne to dig into his story that goes beyond hunting. Matt opens up about his battle with alcohol and how hunting became the catalyst for completely saving his life—dropping over 100 pounds and finding a new purpose. Matt chats about growing up chasing whitetails on the East Coast, then fast-forward to his wi...

Welcome to this weeks podcast episode! Today on the show, we sit down and chat with Aaron Olsen from Next Step Outdoors to recap his 2025 deer season where we talk all things public land hunting, a little about small permission pieces, a thermal drone recovery and what to do scouting this time of year! It was a great chat with Aaron!  *New Episodes Drop Every Wednesday* Connect with WhitetailDNA:...

Welcome back to the WhitetailDNA Podcast! On today's episode, we recap year one on the River Farm that Jeremy purchased in June of 2025. It was a full sprint to get the property ready for the 2025 hunting season. From improving access and dialing in travel corridors to building water holes, planting food plots, installing stands and blinds, and setting up mock scrapes, an incredible amount of work...