There’s a particular kind of restlessness that hits a hunter in the off-season. It’s not impatience exactly. It’s more like a low hum in the background of everything you do. You’re mowing the lawn, you’re half-present at dinner, but somewhere in the back of your mind you’re replaying last season’s misses and mentally walking new ground you haven’t set foot on yet.

That’s where K.C. and I found ourselves in this episode, and honestly, it’s where I think most serious hunters live from February through August.

We got into the anticipation of a new season and that electric feeling of scouting fresh country you’ve never hunted before. There’s something almost spiritual about standing in a new piece of woods with a stick bow on your shoulder and nothing but questions in front of you. Ground hunting with a trad setup doesn’t leave you a lot of margin. It demands that you close the distance in a way that most hunters never have to think about, and that changes everything. How you move, how you think, how you manage the inevitable doubt that creeps in when the woods go quiet.

Because here’s what K.C. and I kept coming back to: doubt is part of the deal. Despair shows up on long trips. There are mornings you climb out of your sleeping bag wondering why you drove eight hours for this. The hunters who kill consistently aren’t the ones who never feel that. They’re the ones who’ve learned to respect the feeling, sit with it, and keep putting one boot in front of the other.

We talked about the mental side of all of it. Confidence, visualization, the kind of self-awareness that only comes from time in the field and honest reflection. The best hunters I know treat the mental game the same way an athlete does. You prepare for failure as much as success, and you build systems that hold up when emotion wants to take the wheel.

We also got into deer behavior, being in the right place at the right time, and how skills from completely different disciplines can transfer into better hunting. That last part is something I think gets overlooked constantly.

If you’ve ever walked back to the truck empty-handed and wondered what you’re missing, this one’s for you. Pull it up on the drive to work. It might not give you all the answers, but it’ll remind you you’re asking the right questions.

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—⁠Truth From The Stand Merch⁠

—Check out ⁠Tactacam Reveal⁠ cell cameras

— Save 15% on ⁠Hawke Optics⁠ code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on⁠ ASIO GEAR⁠ code TRUTH20

—Check out ⁠Spartan Forge⁠ to map your hunt 

—Save on ⁠Lathrop And Sons⁠ non-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check out ⁠Faceoff E-Bikes⁠

—⁠Waypoint TV⁠

Most hunters spend their off-season trying to make things easier. Better gear. Warmer clothes. Closer access. And honestly? I get it. Comfort is seductive. Your brain is literally wired to chase it.

But here’s what nobody in the hunting industry wants to tell you: comfort might be the single biggest thing standing between you and consistently killing mature deer.

In this episode, we’re digging into something that underlies everything we’ve talked about in the Hunter’s Operating System series. Discomfort. Not suffering for the sake of suffering, but deliberate exposure to hard things that builds the kind of conditioning most hunters never develop.

Here’s the reality. Mature bucks don’t live in easy places. They live in the margins. The nasty, hard-to-reach terrain that most people look at and immediately write off. If your threshold for discomfort is low, you’ll never consistently go where the deer actually are. Or you’ll go once, decide it isn’t worth it, and head back to the easy spots everyone else is hunting.

I talk about what training jiu-jitsu taught me about this, because a hard round on the mat and a brutal November sit have more in common than you’d think. Both put you in a place where your body wants out and your brain starts building its case for quitting. The difference between hunters who punch tags and hunters who don’t often comes down to whether they recognize that negotiation for what it is: a feeling, not a verdict.

I also get into a two-week Midwest hunt that nearly broke me. Eight days in. Same buck. Two misses. Tag still in my pocket. I almost went home. I didn’t. And in the last 30 minutes of the last day, everything came together.

That’s the hunt. Not the one on day one when you’re fresh and fired up, but the one that happens when you’re exhausted, beaten up, and your brain has assembled a genuinely reasonable argument for quitting.

The hunters who separate themselves aren’t the ones who never feel that pull. They feel it just as much. They’ve just built the capacity to stay anyway.

Every hard thing you choose in the off-season is a decision you’ve already made before the season starts.

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—⁠Truth From The Stand Merch⁠

—Check out ⁠Tactacam Reveal⁠ cell cameras

— Save 15% on ⁠Hawke Optics⁠ code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on⁠ ASIO GEAR⁠ code TRUTH20

—Check out ⁠Spartan Forge⁠ to map your hunt 

—Save on ⁠Lathrop And Sons⁠ non-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check out ⁠Faceoff E-Bikes⁠

—⁠Waypoint TV

There’s a version of hunting that looks great on the outside. Big buck, good photos, done by noon. Then there’s the version most of us actually live, which is messy and complicated and tied up in kids and jobs and the slow realization that your priorities don’t stay the same forever.

That’s what Greg Litzinger and I got into on this one, and I’ll be honest, it’s one of those conversations that kept going in my head long after we stopped recording.

Greg isn’t out here pretending that hunting exists in a vacuum. He talks openly about what it means to chase deer when you’ve got a family counting on you, and how the calculus of a day in the woods changes completely once other people are in the equation. That’s not a complaint. It’s just the truth, and it’s the kind of truth that doesn’t get said enough in hunting media.

We spent a good chunk of time on burnout, and I think that part will hit home for a lot of people listening. It’s easy to grind yourself down chasing something that’s supposed to bring you joy. Too many sits, too much pressure, not enough honesty with yourself about why you’re out there. The fix isn’t complicated, but it requires admitting something most hunters resist: that more time in the field isn’t always better, and that scouting smarter beats sitting longer almost every time.

We also got into location and intel, which Greg treats as the serious discipline it is. Knowing where deer want to be before you ever climb a tree is the whole game. That part of the conversation is worth a relisten if you’re building a strategy for the fall.

But what stuck with me most was Greg talking about fitness and time. He’s not dramatic about it. He just lays it out plainly: the physical demands of hunting don’t get easier, ignoring that is a mistake, and the window you have to bring your kids into this thing is shorter than you think. The memories made in the field are the ones that last, not the antlers on the wall.

Whether your kid is old enough to run a treestand or just old enough to tag along and ask a hundred questions, don’t wait for the perfect season. Lead by example and enjoy the process.

Hope you get as much out of this one as I did.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 492

• Scouting and historical sign tell you more about a buck’s potential than any single trail cam photo ever will.
• Don’t chase scrapes. They’re exciting, but they’ll burn you. Focus on the habitat instead.
• Knowing where a deer isn’t is just as valuable as knowing where he is. Eliminating country keeps you from burning good setups at the wrong time.
• Mature bucks will humble you. Missed opportunities and close calls aren’t failures, they’re information.
• The shot is just one moment in a very long process. The anticipation, the tracking, the recovery, the emotional weight of it all. None of it is clean or simple.
• When you’ve chased a specific animal for years, every decision carries real weight. This episode gets into that honestly.

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—Truth From The Stand Merch

—Check out Tactacam Reveal cell cameras

— Save 15% on Hawke Optics code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on ASIO GEAR code TRUTH20

—Check out Spartan Forge to map your hunt 

—Save on Lathrop And Sonsnon-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check outFaceoff E-Bikes

—Waypoint TV

Tom Murphy and I have had a lot of conversations about deer hunting, but this one felt different. We got into the kind of detail that most hunters never talk about out loud, specifically what it actually takes to hunt a mature buck over multiple seasons without losing your mind or your confidence.

Tom’s account of finally closing the deal on a deer he’d been after for years is worth the listen on its own. The shot, the tracking, the emotional weight of the whole thing. He doesn’t sugarcoat any of it.

We also dig into scouting, historical sign, habitat quality, and why knowing where a deer isn’t can be just as valuable as knowing where he is. Simple idea. Hard to actually put into practice.

If you’ve ever locked onto a specific animal and let the whole thing consume a few years of your life, this episode will feel familiar. If you haven’t, consider this a fair warning.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 491

• Scouting and historical sign tell you more about a buck’s potential than any single trail cam photo ever will.
• Don’t chase scrapes. They’re exciting, but they’ll burn you. Focus on the habitat instead.
• Knowing where a deer isn’t is just as valuable as knowing where he is. Eliminating country keeps you from burning good setups at the wrong time.
• Mature bucks will humble you. Missed opportunities and close calls aren’t failures, they’re information.
• The shot is just one moment in a very long process. The anticipation, the tracking, the recovery, the emotional weight of it all. None of it is clean or simple.
• When you’ve chased a specific animal for years, every decision carries real weight. This episode gets into that honestly.

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—⁠Truth From The Stand Merch⁠

—Check out ⁠Tactacam Reveal⁠ cell cameras

— Save 15% on ⁠Hawke Optics⁠ code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on⁠ ASIO GEAR⁠ code TRUTH20

—Check out ⁠Spartan Forge⁠ to map your hunt 

—Save on ⁠Lathrop And Sons⁠ non-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check out ⁠Faceoff E-Bikes⁠

—⁠Waypoint TV⁠

This week I’m joined by Kolton Schenker, and we spend some time talking through what it looks like when hunting starts to shift from something you do… to something you really commit to.

We get into his background—years behind a compound bow, time spent out West, and what came with finally stepping into land ownership. But where the conversation really settles in is around his move to traditional gear. What that transition felt like, the frustration that comes with starting over, and why he stuck with it anyway.

He shares a few stories along the way—close encounters, missed chances, and the one that finally came together with a stick bow. And like most guys who make that switch, it wasn’t about making things easier. It was about slowing things down and paying attention in a different way.

A lot of it comes back to the same idea: the longer you do this, the more you realize it’s less about the outcome and more about how you go about it. The work, the reps, the time in the woods—and the people you get to share it with along the way.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 489

• Long-term reps build intuition 19 years in, Kolton still finds new ways to learn.
• Trail cams show you what’s there, but observation sets teach you how they move.
• Getting lower, tighter, and uncomfortable often leads to more real encounters.
• Switching to traditional gear forces you to slow down and truly focus.
• Misses aren’t failures, they’re part of the process that makes you better.
• The reward isn’t just the shot, it’s the encounters, the moments, the grind.
• Hunting becomes more meaningful when it’s shared, with land, with family, with purpose.

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—⁠Truth From The Stand Merch⁠

—Check out ⁠Tactacam Reveal⁠ cell cameras

— Save 15% on ⁠Hawke Optics⁠ code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on⁠ ASIO GEAR⁠ code TRUTH20

—Check out ⁠Spartan Forge⁠ to map your hunt 

—Save on ⁠Lathrop And Sons⁠ non-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check out ⁠Faceoff E-Bikes⁠

—⁠Waypoint TV⁠

This week I’m joined by Will Coggin, and it’s one of those conversations where you realize pretty quick how many parallels there are between the things we spend our time on.

We talk about how hunting and jiu-jitsu have a way of bringing people together fast, and how a lot of what Will learned in the military—discipline, structure, adaptability—shows up again in the woods. Not in some forced way, just in how you approach problems, deal with failure, and keep getting better over time.

We also get into hunting in the Blue Ridge Mountains—what that terrain demands from you, how it forces you to adjust, and why the process ends up mattering more than the outcome. And somewhere along the way, it turns into a conversation about community too—why having the right people around you matters, and how things like the Veterans Mat Collective are giving guys a place to keep growing, both on and off the mat.

Like most of these conversations, it comes back to a simple idea: if you stick with something long enough, stay open to learning, and surround yourself with good people, you’re probably going to get more out of it than you expected.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 488

• Shared challenges and interests create fast, meaningful connections.
• Discipline and structure carry over from the military into hunting and everyday life.
• Hunting and jiu-jitsu both reward attention to detail and the ability to stay present.
• Mastery comes from learning how to learn, not just repeating the same actions.
• Adaptability is critical—both in the woods and in life transitions.
• Challenging environments like the Blue Ridge Mountains demand patience, strategy, and persistence.
• Community and brotherhood—are essential for growth and purpose.

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—Truth From The Stand Merch

—Check out Tactacam Reveal cell cameras

— Save 15% on Hawke Optics code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on ASIO GEAR code TRUTH20

—Check out Spartan Forge to map your hunt 

—Save on Lathrop And Sonsnon-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check outFaceoff E-Bikes

—Waypoint TV

This week I’m joined by Vince Battiata, and we spend a lot of time talking about what it really takes to hunt public land the way most guys say they want to—but don’t always follow through on.

We get into the reality of balancing time, making decisions when things aren’t clear, and what it actually looks like to chase big deer that don’t give you many chances. Vince shares some stories from past seasons—some that worked out, some that didn’t—and what those experiences taught him about timing, access, and trusting your gut when it matters.

A lot of this conversation comes back to putting in the work—scouting, learning from past hunts, and staying committed even when things aren’t going your way. And like most good hunting conversations, it ends up in a familiar place: the guys who stick with it, pay attention, and keep showing up are usually the ones who figure it out over time.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 487

• Limited time forces better decisions and sharper focus in the woods.
• Confidence and timing matter more than perfect information.
• Chasing big deer is a long game built on failure, adjustment, and persistence.
• Access and mobility often determine opportunity more than anything else.
• Historical sign and past experiences shape better decisions moving forward.
• The best lessons come from hunts that don’t go your way.
• The reward is in the process—earning it, not just killing one.

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—⁠Truth From The Stand Merch⁠

—Check out ⁠Tactacam Reveal⁠ cell cameras

— Save 15% on ⁠Hawke Optics⁠ code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on⁠ ASIO GEAR⁠ code TRUTH20

—Check out ⁠Spartan Forge⁠ to map your hunt 

—Save on ⁠Lathrop And Sons⁠ non-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check out ⁠Faceoff E-Bikes⁠

—⁠Waypoint TV⁠

This week Chad Sylvester is back on, and we get into some of the parts of hunting that most guys would rather avoid.

Not tactics. Not setups. The stuff underneath that.

We talk about taking an honest look at yourself as a hunter—where ego gets in the way, how identity can start driving decisions, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is put yourself in a place you’re not comfortable. New ground, unfamiliar terrain, situations where you don’t have all the answers.

A lot of it comes back to letting go a little bit. Trusting your instincts, staying present, and not trying to control every outcome. Because the longer you do this, the more you realize the hunts that teach you the most are usually the ones that don’t go the way you planned.

And like most good conversations, it lands on something simple—if you’re not willing to sit in discomfort, stick with it, and keep showing up, you’re probably not going to get what you’re after. Not in hunting, and not in much else either.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 486

• Honest self-assessment is where real progress starts—most hunters avoid it.
• Ego gets in the way of learning more than lack of knowledge ever will.
• The best hunters rely on intuition built from reps, not constant second-guessing.
• Growth usually comes from putting yourself in uncomfortable, unfamiliar situations.
• You don’t control the outcome—you control your presence and decisions.
• Grit is built by doing hard things consistently, not occasionally.
• The experience—and what you learn from it—matters more than what you kill.

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—Truth From The Stand Merch

—Check out Tactacam Reveal cell cameras

— Save 15% on Hawke Optics code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on ASIO GEAR code TRUTH20

—Check out Spartan Forge to map your hunt 

—Save on Lathrop And Sonsnon-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check outFaceoff E-Bikes

—Waypoint TV

I started thinking about something I’ve run into a lot lately—not just in the woods, but on a jiu-jitsu mat, and honestly even going back to my wrestling days. It’s that moment when things get hard and your brain starts trying to talk you out of it. Not because you’re in real trouble… just because you’re uncomfortable.

I’ve felt it getting smashed by guys half my size, I’ve felt it sitting in a tree when nothing’s moving, and I’ve definitely felt it in a few other places along the way. And the more I’ve paid attention to it, the more I’ve realized that moment—right there—is usually where things start to go one way or the other.

So this episode is really about that. About staying composed when it would be easier not to. About figuring out how to keep going without panicking or making a bad decision just to feel better. Because whether it’s hunting, jiu-jitsu, or anything else, the people who stick with it a little longer tend to be the ones who end up where they want to go.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 485

• The role of grit in hunting and life
• Lessons from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and wrestling
• Angela Duckworth’s research on grit and success
• Practical ways to develop mental toughness
• The importance of a clear top-level goal

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

—⁠Truth From The Stand Merch⁠

—Check out ⁠Tactacam Reveal⁠ cell cameras

— Save 15% on ⁠Hawke Optics⁠ code TFTS15 

—Save 20% on⁠ ASIO GEAR⁠ code TRUTH20

—Check out ⁠Spartan Forge⁠ to map your hunt 

—Save on ⁠Lathrop And Sons⁠ non-typical insoles code TRUTH10

—Check out ⁠Faceoff E-Bikes⁠

—⁠Waypoint TV

This week Tony Peterson is back on the podcast, and we dig into the parts of hunting that don’t always follow the rules. We talk about how weather, pressure, and the difference between public and private ground shape deer movement—and why woodsmanship still matters more than most people think.

A lot of the conversation centers on paying attention to what’s actually happening around you, spending more time in the woods, and being willing to adapt when the plan stops making sense. Like most good hunting conversations, it eventually lands on a simple truth: the longer you do this, the more you realize getting better mostly comes from time, observation, and learning something new every season.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 484

• Woodsmanship and observation still drive success, especially on pressured public land.
• Understanding how deer react to human presence is often the difference between close encounters and empty sits.
• Spending more time in the field increases opportunity and reveals patterns trail cameras often miss.
• Finding big bucks and killing them require very different strategies.
• Breaking conventional hunting rules can lead to unexpected success in challenging environments.
• Most barriers in hunting are mental, not tactical.
• The best hunters treat every season as a learning process, adapting to what the woods are showing them.