The First Gen Hunter Podcast

Ep. 234 Hunt Turkeys Like The Best Turkey Hunter I Know

Heath Rayfield is without question the best turkey hunter I know. As a long time guide, and as an always tagged out hunter he sets the bar for what it means to be a turkey hunter. In this episode Heath talks about tactics for hunting different times of the day, different times of the season, the best weather conditions for tagging turkeys, and he even offers up advice on how to hunt Merriams and Rios as well. If you still have a turkey tag to fill this season, you will definitely want to tune in!
 
Follow Heath: @heathrayfield
 
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Ep. 233 Pickin' Bones: Humans and CWD- What You Need To Know

Over the weekend there was a ton of buzz about two hunters who some sources claimed died of CJD, the human equivalent to CWD after eating meat from infected deer. This was very alarming of course, except that isn't what the original study actually said happened. This was a case of mass hysteria coming from a very limited amount of data that showed no known causation. Here's my take on the situation. Don't be alarmed.
 
The study from the Neurology Journal
 
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GoWild: @Kent Boucher
Facebook: @first.gen.hunter
Follow The Hunt Fish Life: @hntfsh_life
Follow Alex: @east2westhunts_alex (also on GoWild)
Follow East2West Hunts: @east2westhunts
Follow Caleb: @calebleedrake (also on GoWild)
 
Support First Gen Hunter by shopping at the following partners:
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Ep. 232 Spring Bear Hunting Tactics with Travis Adair

Turkeys are great, but they ain't the only thing to hunt this spring- bears are also on the menu. Most folks view bear hunting as a secondary hunting option, but I'm here to tell you that after you lend your hand to hunting bruins you will be hooked for life. Travis Adair has done just that, and in fact bear hunting is main hunting pursuit. But filling a bear tag is much easier said than done. They require a lot miles, a lot of glassing time, and favorable hunting conditions. Travis is joined me and Alex to discuss how he gets it done.
 
Follow Travis: @precision_bear_hunter
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Follow First Gen Hunter
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GoWild: @Kent Boucher
Facebook: @first.gen.hunter
Follow The Hunt Fish Life: @hntfsh_life
Follow Alex: @east2westhunts_alex (also on GoWild)
Follow East2West Hunts: @east2westhunts
Follow Caleb: @calebleedrake (also on GoWild)
 
Support First Gen Hunter by shopping at the following partners:
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Ep. 231 Pickin' Bones: When Hunting and Nonhunting Conservation Groups Work Together For Better Waterfowl Habitat and Water Quality

Partners of Scott County Watersheds worked with Ducks Unlimited to successfully acquire $8 million in a grant to help landowners in Scott County Iowa incorporate water quality improvement projects on their land. This is a huge win for the local residents, as well as hunters who will benefit from healthier game, and more habitat. This interview features a handful of folks who have participated in making this grant happen (Carter Amundsen, Mike Paustian, Jena Herrick)
 
Join Partners of Scott County Watersheds
Join Ducks Unlimited
 
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Follow First Gen Hunter
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GoWild: @Kent Boucher
Facebook: @first.gen.hunter
Follow The Hunt Fish Life: @hntfsh_life
Follow Alex: @east2westhunts_alex (also on GoWild)
Follow East2West Hunts: @east2westhunts
Follow Caleb: @calebleedrake (also on GoWild)
 
Support First Gen Hunter by shopping at the following partners:
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East2West Hunts Use promo code: firstgen10 = 10% off any purchase
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My Medic use promo code firstgen15 at checkout to save 15%
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FORLOH
Fox River Socks
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Tipton Gun Cleaning Accessories
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Ep. 230 Turkey Slams and The Most Underrated Place To Hunt LIVE with Nate Dodson

Caleb and I just spent an awesome few days in the Sandhills region of Nebraska looking for sheds with our good friend Nate Dodson. Nate is a cattle rancher who lives his life very close to the land. He is an avid deer, turkey and (when he draws a tag) elk hunter. He hunts turkeys all around the country, but most of his hunting takes place on the ranch where he grew up. The three of us recorded this episode live and late into the night after a full day of picking up sheds. The conversation jumps all over the place from shed hunting to Nebraska's wealth of hunting opportunities to wildlife management practices and collaring mountain lions. It's an excellent conversation that I can't wait to have again in the future. 
 
Follow Nate on GoWild: @Nate Dodson
Check out the First Gen Hunter Website
Follow First Gen Hunter
Instagram: @first.gen.hunter
GoWild: @Kent Boucher
Facebook: @first.gen.hunter
Follow The Hunt Fish Life: @hntfsh_life
Follow Alex: @east2westhunts_alex (also on GoWild)
Follow East2West Hunts: @east2westhunts
Follow Caleb: @calebleedrake (also on GoWild)
 
Support First Gen Hunter by shopping at the following partners:
Spartan Forge
East2West Hunts Use promo code: firstgen10 = 10% off any purchase
Old Barn Taxidermy Tell Them The First Gen Hunter Podcast Sent You!
Camofire
Black Ovis
My Medic use promo code firstgen15 at checkout to save 15%
AlienGear Holsters
FORLOH
Fox River Socks
Gunskins
Tipton Gun Cleaning Accessories
Outdoor Edge
Kuiu Tactical Hunting Apparel
 

Ep. 229 Pickin' Bones: Is There A Land Access Problem for Hunters?

A conversation that is gaining some buzz lately is hunter land access availability. Some hunters think this is a major problem in hunting and even go as far as saying new hunters should not be recruited into the hunting community. Alex and I weighed in on this hot button issue.
 
Check out the First Gen Hunter Website
Follow First Gen Hunter
Instagram: @first.gen.hunter
GoWild: @Kent Boucher
Facebook: @first.gen.hunter
Follow The Hunt Fish Life: @hntfsh_life
Follow Alex: @east2westhunts_alex (also on GoWild)
Follow East2West Hunts: @east2westhunts
Follow Caleb: @calebleedrake (also on GoWild)
 
Support First Gen Hunter by shopping at the following partners:
Spartan Forge
East2West Hunts Use promo code: firstgen10 = 10% off any purchase
Old Barn Taxidermy Tell Them The First Gen Hunter Podcast Sent You!
Camofire
Black Ovis
My Medic use promo code firstgen15 at checkout to save 15%
AlienGear Holsters
FORLOH
Fox River Socks
Gunskins
Tipton Gun Cleaning Accessories
Outdoor Edge
Kuiu Tactical Hunting Apparel
 

Ep. 228 Hunting Big Bucks in Small Habitat Areas with Kaleb Greiner of Midwest Whitetail

Kaleb is one of those people who lives outdoors. From his land management business and hunting whiteails to putting miles in shed hunting and scouting, Kaleb logs more hours outside than the vast majority of people I know. Kaleb's connection to the land has helped him become an expert whitetail hunter and the buck he killed in the 2023 archery season serves as the best evidence for this. Tune in as we talk about gaining hunting permission, EHD, locating target bucks, and hunting small pieces of habitat. 
 
Video of Kaleb's 2023 Giant Buck Harvest
 
Follow Kaleb: @kaleb.greiner
Check out the First Gen Hunter Website
Follow First Gen Hunter
Instagram: @first.gen.hunter
GoWild: @Kent Boucher
Facebook: @first.gen.hunter
Follow The Hunt Fish Life: @hntfsh_life
Follow Alex: @east2westhunts_alex (also on GoWild)
Follow East2West Hunts: @east2westhunts
Follow Caleb: @calebleedrake (also on GoWild)
 
Support First Gen Hunter by shopping at the following partners:
Spartan Forge
East2West Hunts Use promo code: firstgen10 = 10% off any purchase
Old Barn Taxidermy Tell Them The First Gen Hunter Podcast Sent You!
Camofire
Black Ovis
My Medic use promo code firstgen15 at checkout to save 15%
AlienGear Holsters
FORLOH
Fox River Socks
Gunskins
Tipton Gun Cleaning Accessories
Outdoor Edge
Kuiu Tactical Hunting Apparel
 

Ep. 227 Pickin' Bones:What's Up With Iowa's Deer (Part 2)? with State Deer Biologist of Iowa Jace Elliott

This is part 2 of my conversation with Jace Elliott regarding the health of the Iowa Deer Herd following the difficult 2023 hunting season. 
 
Follow Jace: @jace.elliott
Check out the First Gen Hunter Website
Follow First Gen Hunter
Instagram: @first.gen.hunter
GoWild: @Kent Boucher
Facebook: @first.gen.hunter
Follow The Hunt Fish Life: @hntfsh_life
Follow Alex: @east2westhunts_alex (also on GoWild)
Follow East2West Hunts: @east2westhunts
Follow Caleb: @calebleedrake (also on GoWild)
 
Support First Gen Hunter by shopping at the following partners:
Spartan Forge
East2West Hunts Use promo code: firstgen10 = 10% off any purchase
Old Barn Taxidermy Tell Them The First Gen Hunter Podcast Sent You!
Camofire
Black Ovis
My Medic use promo code firstgen15 at checkout to save 15%
AlienGear Holsters
FORLOH
Fox River Socks
Gunskins
Tipton Gun Cleaning Accessories
Outdoor Edge
Kuiu Tactical Hunting Apparel
 

Ep. 226 Writing For Outdoor Readers and Hunting Elk From A Tree Stand with Patrick Durkin

Patrick Durkin is one of my favorite outdoor writers. He cares about the details, and finds the humor in almost all stories, and has been a great inspiration to me as a fellow outdoor writer. In this conversation I thoroughly enjoyed hearing some of the wild hunting and fishing stories Pat has covered through the years, talking about Pat's successful elk hunts from his tree stand, and discussing some of the issues surrounding hunting and conservation. 
 
Follow Pat: @patrickdurkinoutdoors
Check Out Pat's Website
The Neil LaFave  Story Part 1
The Neil LaFave Story Part 2
 
Check out the First Gen Hunter Website
Follow First Gen Hunter
Instagram: @first.gen.hunter
GoWild: @Kent Boucher
Facebook: @first.gen.hunter
Follow The Hunt Fish Life: @hntfsh_life
Follow Alex: @east2westhunts_alex (also on GoWild)
Follow East2West Hunts: @east2westhunts
Follow Caleb: @calebleedrake (also on GoWild)
 
Support First Gen Hunter by shopping at the following partners:
Spartan Forge
East2West Hunts Use promo code: firstgen10 = 10% off any purchase
Old Barn Taxidermy Tell Them The First Gen Hunter Podcast Sent You!
Camofire
Black Ovis
My Medic use promo code firstgen15 at checkout to save 15%
AlienGear Holsters
FORLOH
Fox River Socks
Gunskins
Tipton Gun Cleaning Accessories
Outdoor Edge
Kuiu Tactical Hunting Apparel

Ep. 225 Pickin' Bones: What's Up With Iowa's Deer (Part 1)? with State Deer Biologist of Iowa Jace Elliott

It was a strange year of deer hunting here in the glorious whitetail state of Iowa. EHD outbreaks all over the place, extreme drought, and very warm temperatures well into the rut. All of these things left me with a lot of questions and Jace is here to help answer them.
Follow Jace: @jace.elliott
Check out the First Gen Hunter Website
Follow First Gen Hunter
Instagram: @first.gen.hunter
GoWild: @Kent Boucher
Facebook: @first.gen.hunter
Follow The Hunt Fish Life: @hntfsh_life
Follow Alex: @east2westhunts_alex (also on GoWild)
Follow East2West Hunts: @east2westhunts
Follow Caleb: @calebleedrake (also on GoWild)
 
Support First Gen Hunter by shopping at the following partners:
Spartan Forge
East2West Hunts Use promo code: firstgen10 = 10% off any purchase
Old Barn Taxidermy Tell Them The First Gen Hunter Podcast Sent You!
Camofire
Black Ovis
My Medic use promo code firstgen15 at checkout to save 15%
AlienGear Holsters
FORLOH
Fox River Socks
Gunskins
Tipton Gun Cleaning Accessories
Outdoor Edge
Kuiu Tactical Hunting Apparel