Petersen's Bowhunting Radio

Just about every bowhunter has come to the end of a blood trail without locating the animal that left it. Now, there is a new option for finding game after the shot thanks to Ohio-based Drone Deer Recovery. Owner Mike Yoder joins us to discuss the growing popularity of using thermal drones to recover downed game, drone recovery success rates and how state regulations impact the use of this fascinating technology.

If you are looking for bowhunting adventure, few destinations can match Manitoba. From bruiser black bears to trophy whitetails and a shot at a 60-inch moose, this remote Canadian province offers bountiful game and stunningly beautiful landscapes. Keevin Erickson of Travel Manitoba joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to discuss why this destination should be on every bowhunter’s bucket list!

Every bowhunter wants an edge. Well, what if you could know the best days to spend in the woods? Using data gleaned from millions of trail-camera photos gathered across many years, avid public-land bowhunter Steve Sherk did just that. In this episode, Sherk reveals the secret behind his "30/30" hunting strategy and how it has helped him and many others tag mature whitetail bucks. 

More and more state are banning the use of trail cameras on public land, with Kansas and Delaware the two latest examples. What does this mean for public-land bowhunters, and will more states follow suit as trail-cam technology continues to advance? Stuart Schrag and Jason Deal of Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Rob Hossler of Delaware Department of Natural Resources and avid public-land bowhunter Jace Bauserman join us to discuss this complex and controversial issue. 

One of the best ways to enjoy bowhunting success is sharing fresh venison with friends and family. In this episode, we discuss ways to share the success with an even wider circle through venison donation programs around the country. Matt Simcox of Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s Hunters for the Hungry and Randy K. Ferguson of Pennsylvania’s Hunters Sharing the Harvest explain how you can do good in the field and in the community by sharing your deer harvest with families in need.

The size and health of your local deer herd is largely a function of the quality of your soil and the plants that grow in it. Whitetails columnist Jason Snavely, owner of Drop-Tine Seed Co. and Drop-Tine Wildlife Consulting, joins us for a fascinating discussion of soil biology, food plotting and how the management choices you make on your deer dirt can impact the future of your habitat and your hunting.

Opening day of deer season is just around the corner, and if you haven't already gotten your trail cameras out into the field, now is the time! Lancaster Archery's PJ Reilly joins us to discuss how, where and why to use your trail cameras and how to interpret the things the cameras do - and DON'T - reveal about the deer in your hunting area.

At the tender age of 14, Aleah Wozniak has killed more trophy whitetails than most bowhunters will in two lifetimes! Wozniak, who has taken 10 bucks with archery gear — including nine that scored more than 140 inches — is also an excellent shot, regularly hitting the bull's-eye from 100 yards or more with her Hoyt bow. Aleah and her father, David, join us to discuss her incredible run of bowhunting success and the dedication required to be among the top teenage bowhunters in America.

Pennsylvania bowhunter Brandon Austin is a broadhead junkie. Austin, who has worked at the Lancaster Archery Supply pro shop for more than 20 years, has tested hundreds of broadhead designs over the years and hunted with more than 100 different models. In this episode, he joins us to discuss the features he looks for in a broadhead, the most effective design features and some his favorite models — past and present — that he trusts to get the job done on big game.

Field Editor Bill Winke is one of America's most respected whitetail hunters. In this episode, Bill and Editor Christian Berg discuss some deer-hunting fundamentals and Bill's plans for his new farm in Iowa. They also reflect on some of worst gimmick products ever sold to deer hunters and discuss some crazy, off-beat hunting strategies that just might work for anyone brave enough to try them!

When you have a once-in-lifetime buck running around in your area, but no real reason for it to visit your property, you need a game plan to get your shot. That’s exactly what Kansas resident Darin Williams did in 2022, creating an oasis at his five-acre woodlot surrounded by acres upon acres of wide-open farmland. The end result was a close — and we mean close — encounter with a 230-plus-inch buck called Megatron. Don’t miss this amazing story!

Planning a far-flung bowhunting adventure — from Western elk or Alaska moose to African plains game or New Zealand tahr — is no easy task, and it certainly helps to have an expert on your side. Ryan Martin with Rolling Bones Outdoors explains how a good booking agent can help with everything from submitting license applications and choosing a reputable outfitter to booking travel and purchasing the right gear for your hunt.

Since its start in Kentucky two decades ago, the National Archery in the Schools (NASP) Program has grown rapidly, now reaching more than a million middle and high school students every year. NASP President Tommy Floyd and Easton Archery Sales Manager Carri Garrett join Associate Editor Mark Demko to discuss the numerous benefits of NASP, including how it teaches kids important life skills, inspires them to excel in the classroom and serves as a stepping stone to the world of bowhunting.

This week, we are on location at All Terrain Bear Hunts in Canada. Outfitter Cory Grant joins us to discuss the world-class black bear hunting and walleye fishing he offers from his remote, boat-in camp in the wilds of northern Manitoba, and Christian and Mark share their experiences in the woods and on the water.

More than 16 million acres of public ground nationwide are surrounded in whole or in part by private lands. Land Tawney and Eric Hansen from Backcountry Hunters & Anglers join us to discuss the controversial practice of "corner crossing" to move from one public parcel to another where they join private land in a checkerboard pattern.

Getting a mount done is a great way to preserve your trophy, but if you don’t have or want to spend a ton of cash, there is an excellent, low-cost alternative — taking quality photographs! Professional wildlife photographers Ron Spomer and Lance Krueger join Associate Editor Mark Demko to discuss tips and techniques you can use to preserve memories that will last a lifetime.

Are crossbows taking over the bowhunting world? In this episode, we reveal just how dominant crossbows have become in many of America's top bowhunting states and what it means for the future of our sport. Michigan DNR’s Chad Stewart, Wisconsin DNR’s Brian Dhuey and Easton Archery’s Clint Warner join us to discuss the crossbow's growing impact on whitetail populations and the many opinions people have about the crossbow as a hunting weapon.

Trying to take an animal with your bow is hard enough. Throw in self-filming the experience and you have a daunting task. Well-known self-filmer Kaitlyn Maus (@kaitlynmausoutdoors) joins Associate Editor Mark Demko to talk about her passion for bowhunting and how she got started filming her own hunts. Plus, she shares her top tips for self-filmers who are just starting out, as well as what gear and equipment you really need to get started.   

Public-land turkey hunting isn't always easy, but success can be found by those hunters willing and able to put in the work and overcome challenges. In this episode, Contributor Clint Casper and good friend Ryan Bertsch join Editor Christian Berg to recap their spring season and share stories about how they overcame low turkey numbers and bad weather to get the job done in Kansas, Nebraska and their home state of Ohio.

Ted Nugent has sold more than 40 million albums and performed to sold-out audiences around the globe. He also eats, sleeps and breathes bowhunting. The rock icon joins us to discuss his lifelong passion for the outdoors, whether he writes music in the stand and why this summer’s tour may be your last chance to see the Motor City Madman live!