The Bowhunter Chronicles Podcast

The Bowhunter Chronicles Podcast - Episode 387: He Shot my Buck Out From Under Me : Aaron Olsen Next Step Outdoors In this episode of the Bowhunter Chronicles podcast, Adam sits down to talk with Aaron Olsen of Next Step Outdoors to break down the real-world challenges of public land hunting, covering strategy, mindset, and decision-making from start to finish of a hard-fought hunt. The discussion explores balancing family life and hunting season, managing expectations, and adapting when conditions and pressure don’t go as planned. A pivotal moment in the hunt sparks the core debate of the episode: while glassing a buck, another hunter spotted the same deer, slipped in, and ultimately shot it out from in front of them. What followed became a race to the buck—and a larger conversation about ethics, unwritten rules, and fair play on public land. Was the other hunter in the wrong, or was it simply part of hunting ground that belongs to everyone? Beyond that moment, the episode dives into missed opportunities, mid-hunt adjustments, weather challenges, deer movement, and spot-and-stalk versus ground hunting tactics. Mental toughness and patience are tested as pressure increases from other hunters, leading to honest reflections on luck vs skill, scouting, preparation, and lessons learned for future hunts. Topics Covered: Public land hunting strategy Hunting ethics and shared ground Deer movement and scouting Spot-and-stalk vs ground hunting Decision-making under pressure 🎯 Ideal for hunters who spend time on public land and want to think deeper about strategy, ethics, and how to handle high-pressure situations. Chapters00:00 Intro 05:19 Introduction to the Hunt 07:56 Balancing Family Life and Hunting Season 10:35 Hunting Expectations vs Reality 13:13 Hunting Strategies and Styles Explained 15:55 Learning from Other Hunters 18:29 First Days of the Hunt Breakdown 20:13 Close Encounters and Missed Opportunities 27:04 Adjusting Strategy Mid-Hunt32:22 The Hunt Reaches a Turning Point 33:20 Fog, Wind, and Tough Hunting Conditions 35:18 Why Patience Matters in Hunting 36:59 Looking Back at Critical Decisions 39:23 Adapting Strategy to Changing Conditions 42:23 Spot-and-Stalk vs Ground Hunting Debate 44:38 Executing the Perfect Stalk 49:59 Mental Toughness and Morale in the Field 52:19 Planning the Next Day’s Hunt 52:46 Tracking and Patterning Deer Movement 56:56 Running Into Other Hunters on Public Land 01:01:57 Unexpected Outcome of a Shared Hunt 01:03:32 Ethics of Hunting and Public Land Pressure 01:06:33 Breaking Down Hunting Decisions and Strategy 01:09:35 Lessons Learned From the Hunt 01:16:11 Luck vs Skill in Hunting Success 01:18:48 Improving Techniques for Better Results 01:18:59 Importance of Scouting and Preparation 01:21:42 Evaluating the Hunt: Wins and Mistakes 01:24:55 Drone Use in Hunting Controversy https://www.paintedarrow.com - BHC15 for 15% off https://www.spartanforge.ai (https://www.spartanforge.ai/)  - save 25% with code bowhunter   https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com (https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/) s https://www.zingerfletches.com (https://www.zingerfletches.com/) https://huntworthgear.com/ https://www.lucky-buck.com (https://www.lucky-buck.com/) https://www.bigshottargets.com (https://www.bigshottargets.com/)   https://genesis3dprinting.com (https://genesis3dprinting.com/) https://vitalizeseed.com (https://vitalizeseed.com/) http://bit.ly/BHCPatreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices