Wisconsin Sportsman

Sturgeon spearing season is right around the corner here in Wisconsin so it’s time to talk spearing! This week, Josh talks with artist, photographer, fish decoy carver, and avid darkhouse spear fisherman, Ryan Ebert. Ryan spends his winters chasing pike with a spear on the lakes of the upper midwest and has been spear fishing Wisconsin’s sturgeon spearing season for a decade. He also creates some...

With deer seasons wrapping up across the country, it’s time to get out for some post-season scouting. This time of year, the woods are an open book, with trails, tracks, rubs, and terrain features easily visible. But what exactly should you be looking for? And how do you weigh and interpret what you find? In this episode, Josh talks with Garret Prahl about where to start with post-season scouting,...

Ever dream of buying your own little slice of heaven for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation? It’s a goal for many, but can seem out of reach. In this episode, Josh talks with Neil Hauger, a Land Specialist with Whitetail Properties. Neil’s territory includes some of the best whitetail real estate in the country, including Buffalo County Wisconsin. Neil shares some tips on how to find the rig...

With deer seasons winding down across much of the country, it’s time to evaluate the gear you used this season. First up for me? Arrows. In this episode of the Wisconsin Sportsman Podcast, Josh is joined by Isaac Smith of Vector Custom Shop. Vector Custom Shop produces a high quality, durable, and forgiving arrow built to fit your specs. Their dynamic spine calculator allows them to provide you wi...

While deer seasons are coming to a close across the nation and many hunters are trying to catch a buck hitting a late season food source, folks down south are gearing up for the peak of the rut. In much of the Deep South, peek breeding doesn’t take place until December, January, or even February. Are you looking to extend your season or mix up the late season game by chasing some late rutting buck...

This week on the Wisconsin Sportsman, Josh talks with Alex Comstock of Whitetail DNA about late season hunting. Alex consistently kills bucks during the late season, and this year was no different. He was able to harvest a beautiful North Dakota whitetail in frigid temps. The guys discuss staying warm in the late season, hunting close to home, and why Ghost Blinds suck in the wind. Be sure to chec...

In this episode, Josh is joined by Jared Hook to hear the story of Jared’s quest for a 170” Wisconsin giant he called Y2K. After three encounters with this buck, Jared was able to seal the deal. A giant buck, a crazy recovery, and year-round hard work all add up to make this a hunt Jared will never forget! The guys also get into the progression of maturing as a hunter, attaining hunting land, and...

Plenty of monster whitetails hit the ground in Wisconsin over the last month. In this episode, Josh catches up with Mitchell Patterson to hear how he harvested a giant 14 point named Ernie. Tune in to hear the story and pick up a few lessons along the way! You can find more from Mitchell Patterson on Instagram, @patta_tat_hunts.    Wisconsin Sportsman is Powered by Simplecast Hosted by Simplecast,...

Bowhunting is full of ups and downs, and they’re all made a little sweeter when you taste success! In this episode, Josh gives an update on his 2021 archery season. From epic failure to tagging a buck on public land, Josh shares the good, the bad, the ugly, and a few lessons picked up along the way.    Wisconsin Sportsman is Powered by Simplecast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.a...

The rut is approaching! Is your head in the game? As the season drags on, hunting can be a grind. Decision fatigue, adversity, and boredom can cause you to lose your edge. This week, Josh catches up with Mark Kenyon of the Wired to Hunt podcast to talk about the mental side of bowhunting. The guys discuss common pitfalls and strategies for keeping your head in the game when things get tough.    Wi...

In this episode, Josh is joined by Wisconsin Waterfowl Association members Bruce Russ (Executive Director), Peter Ziegler (Project Director), Todd Schaller (Volunteer Director), and George Ermert (Volunteer Director). If you haven’t heard of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, they’re doing a ton of great work benefiting waterfowl and wetland habitat in the state of Wisconsin. The guys give a for...

Deer season is finally here! This week we hear from the Wisconsin Deer Program Specialist, Jeff Pritzl. Jeff has been with the Wisconsin DNR for three decades, and that shows in this episode! What do we do with CWD? How are wolves impacting hunting in the Northwoods? How can hunters be more involved and more informed when it comes to deer management in our state? Jeff answers all these questions a...

We’ve all been there. You’re pumped up for the season opener, only to have a hard reality check when things just don’t work out. Early season can be one of the most challenging yet rewarding times for chasing mature bucks. Determined to make this early season count, Josh catches up with Anthony Heller of the DeerVane podcast to discuss setting an early season strategy from start to finish. From wi...

In this episode, Josh is joined by the crew from Half Rack, a 2% Certified hunting accessory brand for Community Conservation Day in Waterford, WI. The day was a huge success, and the guys from Half Rack raised over $5k for conservation efforts in southeastern Wisconsin. The guys chat about their passion for conservation, stealing pins from Josh Dutton, fine gear and fond memories. Give this episo...

The 2021 Wisconsin whitetail bow opener is just a little over one month away! It’s time to make your final preparations and plan your strategy for the year. In this episode, Josh talks about what he’s doing to prepare for the season and outlines how his strategy will change throughout the season. Topics range from honey-do lists to mobile hunting to why Josh doesn’t know what he’s doing when it co...

In this episode, Josh talks with Jamie Cline from Overwatch Outdoors. Jamie is an innovator, longtime saddle hunter, and inventor of the Transformer Saddle. Josh and Jamie discuss the history of saddle hunting, how the industry has changed and evolved, and why YOU should consider adding a saddle to your hunting arsenal. You can check out the Transformer saddle on  overwatchoutdoors.net  and learn...

It’s what you’ve been waiting for: Wisconsin Big Woods bowhunting! In this episode, Josh talks with outdoor writer Tony Peterson about hunting public land bucks in the big woods of northern Wisconsin. Tony is an avid whitetail deer hunter who travels the country every fall in pursuit of whitetails. He gets to hunt big deer in some of the coolest places, yet the big woods of Wisconsin draw him back...

On this episode of the Wisconsin Sportsman Podcast, we’re joined by Midwest Whitetail Great Lakes Region pro staff member Josh Mersberger. Josh is the owner of Mersberger’s Rut, Strut, and Stream Taxidermy. We discuss Josh’s conservative tactics for small properties, what NOT to do with your deer if you want to get it mounted, and getting started filming your hunts. You can see Josh’s Taxidermy wo...

In this episode we chat with Dan Donovan, one half of the husband and wife team that founded  the Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co., the world’s first fly shop dedicated to musky. We cover how to get started musky fishing, the gear you need to chase musky on the fly, and musky conservation efforts. Check out more from the Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co. at muskyfool.com and on instagram @muskyfool.   Wisconsi...

Today we chat with outdoor writer Pat Durkin. Pat’s lengthy and diverse career as an outdoor writer has resulted in his work being featured in many Wisconsin newspapers, outdoor magazines, and online outlets such as themeateater.com . If you read about the outdoors in the state of Wisconsin, you’ve probably read something from Pat. In this episode, we talk about how he got his start in outdoor wri...

In this episode, we catch up with Shane Simpson of Calling All Turkeys. Shane lives in Minnesota and travels around the country each spring recording his hunting endeavors. In this episode we talk about why Wisconsin is Shane’s favorite state for turkey hunting, getting started turkey hunting, choosing and using the right turkey call for you, aggressive turkey tactics, and much more. You can find...

In this episode, we hear from Bret Owsley with the Wisconsin DNR. Bret is the southern district wildlife supervisor for the DNR’s wildlife management program and an avid outdoorsman. In this podcast we cover what opportunities each season holds for the Wisconsin sportsman, the vast amounts and types of public lands that are available, and some of the different programs the state uses to recruit, r...

The state of Wisconsin has a rich and storied outdoor heritage and provides a plethora of opportunities for those who love to hunt, fish, and recreate outdoors. The Wisconsin Sportsman podcast exists to celebrate and spread a passion for natural resources and outdoor recreation in the state of Wisconsin. Toward that end, on this podcast we will discuss all things outdoors in the Badger State, from...