Show Notes
In the latest episode of the Antler Up Podcast, host Jeremy Dinsmore sits down with good friend and down right great hunter Tom Runscavage to discuss the art of balancing a passion for hunting with the demands of work, family, and other responsibilities. Jeremy and Tom dive deep into the challenges that many hunters face when trying to find time for their favorite activity amidst home improvement projects, career obligations, and family commitments. They emphasize the importance of setting realistic expectations, being flexible with hunting plans, and the value of prioritizing family and other crucial aspects of life. Both individuals have the challenge of this balance because they each had a child at the beginning of the year. Tom having his first and Jeremy his second child.
Tom shares his wisdom on making the most out of finite time, highlighting that the joy of hunting extends beyond just harvesting a deer. The conversation explores how having the right gear, without overcomplicating things, can enhance the overall experience. Both Jeremy and Tom agree that the true essence of hunting lies in creating lasting memories and having fun with friends. Tune in to gain valuable takeaways on maintaining a healthy balance between hunting and life's many demands, ensuring that you enjoy every moment spent in the great outdoors.
So, grab your gear, sit back, and join us on this episode as we Antler Up with Tom Runscavage on today's episode of the Antler Up Podcast.
Stay tuned, stay safe, and Antler Up!
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Show Transcript
What's up everybody? We're back for another episode of the Antler podcast. And on the other line, I'm joined by one of my best friends. got Tom, droptine Tom, RunScavage is on and yeah, get that drop time. Where is he at? Where is he in the background?
I mean, you don't have to sit there. Yeah, there he is. He is there. There's that drop time. But no, I.
Tom Runscavage (02:34.519)
those lives. There's a little joke
Jeremy (02:39.002)
Yeah, I like it, man. Dude, it's great to have you on again. It's been a while since we talked. mean, we've chatted here and there. And obviously in our text message, we daily, we're messaging in some form or fashion. But to sit down and have this conversation, I think it's great timing, number one, because of the crap you and I, I don't want to say crap, but like just the everyday stuff that you and I are going through right now, right? Of you're a new parent.
shit. I feel like I'm a new parent all over again after the 10 years. think you're it's like a new thing. Like if you have a kid after a decade, like now it's okay. It's like you're a brand new parent again. so that's where, where I'm at and that's where you're at right now and you're working, you know, you're, you're, in the medical field, your wife's in the medical field. So you guys are kind of at different ends and doing different things. And our passion is white tails. So, you know, I w we'll get into that, but I
our this conversation, I think our goal with it is just to kind of air some just emotions out some feelings out, just see where we're at, see how maybe what other people can do. Maybe they could give us feedback. Maybe we could see what we're going to plan on doing, how we could help things out and just whatever else kind of comes up, man. But you know, it was a long winded introduction. So, dude, how the hell are you,
Tom Runscavage (03:57.611)
I'm pretty good Jeremy. It's nice to be on again chatting with you. So looking forward to
Jeremy (04:03.325)
Yeah, dude. Dude, how about how about New York?
Tom Runscavage (04:05.919)
I know, I'm excited. I was jealous the other day when you and Tim were able to get up there and do some scouting and get some cameras out. But I it'll be sweet when I finally get up there, which will probably be the hunting season by the time I'm able to have free time to get up there. But it should be fun. I'm I'm chomping at the bit to see when the, I think it's August 1st, the New York tags go on sale. At least I want to get a doe tag. I haven't shot a deer with the rifle in a good couple of years and really want to get.
get something with it this
Jeremy (04:36.71)
Yeah, dude, I'm with you on that one for sure getting dude. We've been getting some a lot of deer on camera Actually, I didn't I mean I didn't put it in the message But today they were moving down on our lower half where one of my cameras are at it's kind of in that transition area a little bedding nearby thick Little little spot and I had like four or five deer on camera all at once three of them for sure were dealt with maybe one or two of them being fawns and
Tom Runscavage (04:41.911)
Yeah.
Jeremy (05:06.379)
The other two kind of had their head down. So I don't know if they had any headgear or not if they did That'd be great. That'd be cool. We've got some bucks though. And so we're that's exciting, dude I you know when when Tim and I did make that trip up right? Dang I wish Tom could have made it and I said I did I said have you talked to him and has he mentioned any chance he might be able to get out there and he goes no knowing him he might he was that that one second he might get a free free spot he might call me and be like hey you want to go for a ride so hopefully you do cuz dude it's I'm
I'm anxious to see how it will play out. You know, I'm anxious to see how the people around would be I'm anxious to see how what kind of deer we get because like Jim said along with him when they went up there that original time man like there they ran into a bunch of sign and you could kind of see it a little bit like even when for when we went up not too long ago, so with all that green up and everything like that I could see how It's going to hunt big and I think like all four of
Not necessarily. mean, if we could be up there a day where all four of us are that that'd be a fun, fun, hunt. But I almost feel like too, we're going to have our own little spots. Like it's not like we're going to be right on top of each other, which is kind of
Tom Runscavage (06:14.329)
Yeah.
Tom Runscavage (06:18.239)
Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. It'll be different. I've been a part of a lease before. I am part of a couple of hunting clubs locally, but I honestly rarely ever go up to them. When I do, it's usually rifle season, because whether it's a good thing or a thing, I'm pretty stubborn and stick to the spots on public that I know and love and just keep going back, even though I hardly see deer most of the time. something about it, I just
Jeremy (06:23.685)
Mm -hmm.
Tom Runscavage (06:46.445)
pull myself away from those spots.
Jeremy (06:48.772)
because when you finally do see a deer, it's the deer.
Tom Runscavage (06:50.711)
Yeah, exactly. I said that guy on the wall right there. was the November 8th this year. I think that was maybe the fifth or sixth of year I've seen, I saw all season at that point, which actually was a good year for me. I saw more buck than I had in a while, especially for the spots I'm at. It was pretty good. saw the, I don't know,
Jeremy (07:04.482)
Mm -hmm.
Tom Runscavage (07:19.437)
We'll talk about at some point, but I went to Colorado for elk this year and I spent two weeks out there in the backcountry. Guy I know that lives out there, he invited me to come along to his elk camp, which was like, I flew in, got picked up and it was about a 14 mile quad ride back to where they kinda, it's him and another guy, they're both in there, like, one guy's late 50s, other guy's early 60s.
but every year they set this camp up and they spend, think about three weeks out there. Like I so I spent the last two weeks of the season with them and I still kinda, I'm not gonna lie, it still kinda hurts, but I had two shots on elk, the first that we hunt mainly out of tree stands there, because then they've been hunting it for years and they kinda know the funnels of where they're gonna be and we'll kinda do calling and stuff in the mornings and the one little kind of drainage that he,
is the guy I was with his primary spot. That's where we went pretty much every morning and I saw a spike the first day. Second day I had a shot at a beautiful, think he's a six by six. I try not to look once I counted enough points that he was legal and he came in within 17 yards and just I was in this pine tree and he kind of was walking the like the little drainage right alongside me and he was almost pretty much eye level too which was pretty sweet
when I shot, I misjudged the branch that was in front of me and my arrow deflected off and sailed right over him and then ended up having another shot at an elk on day nine, actually in the same tree stand and he was a little bit higher up, of cresting above me and I shot and the hit was a little bit high, not in shoulder, right behind shoulder, but kind of in that no man's land.
Again, he was a little bit above me, so the arrow kinda just went upwards and did not downwards into the lung. So I feel like if he was a little bit lower and I was able to clip top lung and hit second, the back lung, I would have been in the money. But it was definitely an awesome experience and I was glad I was able to get out there. So it's still little heartbreaking that I had two opportunities. Actually, I've now hunted elk twice and I've had three opportunities where I've drawn back and shot at elk.
Tom Runscavage (09:45.323)
haven't come home with anything yet. But the positive is every time I go out for Elk, it kind of refocused me for Whitetail and I usually find success. The year out there with the first time I ended up coming back and shooting that drop tying buck and this year I shot a nice buck. So I was pretty happy with that. But I think I'm still kind of, I prepped a good amount prior to the season, especially with practicing my shot and everything.
Jeremy (09:54.236)
Yeah.
Tom Runscavage (10:12.813)
I think I just don't give myself that last kind of split second to kind of calm myself down and settle the pan. And that's what I think hurt me on the elk. And that's why for the whitetail, I really felt like I focused this year. When that buck came by at 12 or 13 yards, I really just gave myself that extra second to make sure I was in the money before I released. And yeah, that felt good. But I don't even know what the point of that was where we pretty much summed up the whole season.
Jeremy (10:36.848)
Nice. You just, yeah, I like it though. you, were one of those weird ones, man. You took a saddle out west and we're saddle hunting for some elk.
Tom Runscavage (10:47.4)
Yeah, yeah, my luggage, I my step, my saddle, my sticks. It was like I did well in the packing aspect of everything to get all my gear out. And again, I had plans in mind. I'm like, if I I shoot an elk by this date, I'm going to just get a one way or I'm going to cancel my flight and just get a one way vehicle to drive home and and whatnot. And I had plans if I if I get one. I also have friends out there. I dropped some meat off and just fly home
maybe come back at a later date. I had multiple, that's the thing about hunting out West, like for a mule deer antelope, you can definitely bring an animal back on the plane, but an elk's like a whole nother beast that I haven't really tackled yet to give advice on how to get them home, but it's just easier for us. mean, it's still a long drive, like probably 25 to 30 hours, depending on what part of the state. So it's tough to drive, but yeah.
Jeremy (11:27.291)
Yeah.
Jeremy (11:42.468)
How prepared are you right now for this year,
Tom Runscavage (11:46.047)
In what aspect? like the overall like woodsmanship, knowing what's going on in the woods or like just like gear, bow, that kind of setup.
Jeremy (11:54.306)
Mmm... Maybe everything.
Tom Runscavage (11:57.694)
Well, I mean, we went to what the montage shoot that was what May I think or was June I forget. So since then, I shot my bow maybe three times after that. So definitely less than ideal and less than I normally shoot. But I don't know that I've had I was actually looking the other day about a new bow like should I get the I like Matthews I have a halon
Jeremy (12:01.398)
Mm -hmm Yep, yeah, that was me
Tom Runscavage (12:26.398)
think that was 2016 that came out. again, still a good bow for today, but it's kind of getting, there's outdated, there's newer technology that's out there. And I'm like, do I get a new bow this year or I just stick with what I know? And I think at this point, like with the time I have, just, I don't think it's the smartest idea to get a whole new setup before the season.
Jeremy (12:46.776)
I think I think you're right. I think you're you're right on that one. think too right now I've the new bows are gonna be dropping here soon anyway, so it might even be You know, I mean you figure the seasons gonna roll around you're still comfortable with what you're shooting and all that stuff get through one more season and then figure out what which way you want to go and test some some bows out or whatever and See how you go and man. I'm not talking down on Matthews. It's just it's funny just cuz I'm I have
my thumb on, I guess on the beat of things, just cause I like reading on archery talk and different groups. It's crazy to see how many people, I mean, in the grand scheme of things, it looks like a lot because people are obviously the ones posting about it, but how many issues people are having with those, with the limbs cracking and they're not even, did you see? Yeah.
Tom Runscavage (13:33.667)
Yeah, I was just reading that actually today. I mean, honestly, I'd probably just wait to see what the sale is on the year before, like that phase four or whatever, there's any good deals. Because again, I don't need the, I don't really, I like archery for the fact that it's fun to shoot and I enjoy the hunting aspect more. I'm not really super into kind of the target side of things. So I'd be fine with a year or two older model if I get a good deal on it. But yeah, was reading about the kind of some issues people were having.
What I was also reading is that people with like strong, like the 70 to 80 pound limbs were the issues. And honestly, still, my bow is about like 57 pounds right now. And not that I'm a weakling, I do work out a decent amount, but I just, I feel comfortable with that. I can hold back for a while and it just, I've never had issues. I've shot through black bear and most of the deer, I at least get almost pass throughs like 80 % of the time.
fixed heads,
Jeremy (14:34.325)
dude you were still hitting targets out at 90 hundred yards plus with with a 57 pound bow I mean it's just all about your setup and what you know what your arrow setup is and all that jazz but yeah what about the woodsman side what you know what's going on on the camera front and getting out there and all that type of stuff how do you
Tom Runscavage (14:39.588)
Yeah.
Tom Runscavage (14:52.026)
Yeah, so I mean, so I had, I guess I'm sure we'll talk about, but I had, my son was born January at 26, so that kind of, I got out a little bit prior to that, but my kind of winter, early spring scouting was kind of pretty much nonexistent for the most part. I kind of told myself in the beginning that going into this season, again, my time's gonna be limited to what I normally do,
Work with how I work, kind of do seven 12 hour shifts in a row and then I'm off for seven days. So usually I would take off like whatever that kind of week I work in beginning middle of November and then I'd be off for three weeks. So this year we're trying not to do daycare and I have parents that are close by to help out but pretty much every day I request off from work. Those are the days I can hunt because my wife kind of we do opposite schedules when I'm working
she's at home with the baby and vice versa. So right now I'm at 10 days I can hunt for archery. it's already kind of a crunch of figuring out and where I hunt it's big woods, low deer density. So I mean in 10 days, if I see three or four deer, that's pretty good honestly. So to get a chance on one is even lower.
But that's why I think this year I'm just going to focus on the spots that I know and comfortable with that I've been kind of in the last couple years and kind of finally figuring some things out. And again, it's hunting. Like even when I think I have a spot dialed in, it's a deer might not show up for whatever reason. A coyote could have run through at some point or another hunter could have bumped them. But I think having when I did request my days off, I pretty much picked all kind of weekdays.
So I'll kind of avoid some of the pressure in that regards, just hunting more weekdays when not as many people are out in the woods. But I did manage to get, find time to get most of my cameras out. There's one area left that I have three cameras that I need to put out, but I think in total I have 15 out right now. So I think for the most part, that's actually, I'm pretty happy with that. And I probably won't end up getting to check them until.
Tom Runscavage (17:07.991)
come season rolls around when I actually get into these spots. like I said, I know the areas, I know I'm gonna hunt them. And the point in my life right now, if a 115, 120 inch buck comes by, I'm shooting them every day. that's kinda where I'm at with things. If it's a mature deer and it gets me excited, regardless of antler size, that's what I'm after.
Jeremy (17:30.744)
So how are you feeling mentally, you know, just overall, man, going into the season? Cause I have, I have like mixed emotions about it. I really do just be like on that personal side of things. You know, you know, we, we joke amongst our, group of friends of, you know, even this past weekend when we played golf, Tim asked me, he's like, what are your goals this year? You're to go buck wild again and just like shoot everything. And it's kind
I was like, no, you know, maybe does that will cause I'm not, I don't plan on having a bunch of tags in my, last year I was every round. got a dough tag for PA. You know I mean? This year, this year, honestly, I was thinking about, I got my four C one, like, which is back at home and get my local one here. And I might, I might get the two here and like in years past, I was getting all four or whatever I could, know, like whatever I can just whack and, and stack and if I could, and what my goal, my goal going into that is kind
Tom Runscavage (18:09.759)
Yeah.
Jeremy (18:29.711)
If see one early, great, there we go, can fill a tag here locally. If I get out again at some point in time, I'm not gonna kind of strive for it because kind of like what you were saying, I know I might bounce around here, Tom, but my scouting postseason was kind of lack thereof or very nonexistent just because of, know, Carly was born New Year's Eve, you know I mean? And those type of things. So luckily going off
more historical time and trying to be a little bit smarter again with, you know, timing quote unquote. but like you said, not that shit changes from year to year. Like, you know, you might still be in the right core area. just might have to make a shift here and there. And that's obviously being time in the woods, but yeah, I just, kind of going back to that. My, my kind of philosophy or goal this year is just to kind of make the most of the time when I am out there, just because of
I still want to have those opportunities, number one, but also I want to have those opportunities to go on trips, right? Where they're quick bangers. Like last year when I hunted Maryland, it was a weekend and I didn't get a chance to go back out there. What I've liked to, sure. Now adding, you know, I, just like my for shores are going to be PA, obviously New York, obviously. And I still want to do Ohio. Little man waking
Tom Runscavage (19:33.97)
Yeah.
Tom Runscavage (19:51.952)
Mm -hmm. No,
Jeremy (19:53.728)
Okay, okay. So like with that, I still want to make those trips and I want to make those happen. you know, I just, it's not one of those I'm hoping seasons. It's just like when I'm there, I want to make the most of it. Like I, like I, I, my goal is like, don't settle when you're out there. Like don't just.
this looks like, okay, I think I'll hunt here. Like don't, I don't want to fall back into that route routine that I did many years ago. so like that's, and that's where I'm at. And I'm also struggling with like making sure things are still right here at home. Like making sure, making sure when I do come home, it's not like who's, who's going on the wall of this deer. Hopefully I shot or me, you know I mean? and cause man, like even right now I'm, I'm home.
Tom Runscavage (20:24.444)
Yeah.
Tom Runscavage (20:32.303)
exactly.
Tom Runscavage (20:41.692)
Yeah.
Jeremy (20:47.744)
I'm not even working right now, right? Like it's summertime for us and Nora's busy. She's, she's like a, a main lead in her play that she's, you know, participating in. My wife's busy doing things with the baby. I'm helping out as much as I can. And it's like, dang, when could I get a podcast? Like when could I go create, you know, fun, like fun content stuff that I like doing, right? It's not that I,
Tom Runscavage (21:07.089)
I
Jeremy (21:13.663)
I'm obligated to to to an extent or anything like that. It's just I enjoy doing it. That means I get to go out, shoot my bow practice, getting up in the saddle, doing things, and then I get to take some video pictures. Man, I don't have time for that or.
Tom Runscavage (21:26.564)
I know chicken nuggets and French fries and air fryer about I don't know maybe an hour, hour and a half ago and that was my dinner and me and my wife were both home. It's just like, it's tough finding time for things anymore. Again, it is what it is, I guess is the thing. It's like I'm a husband, now a father and obviously a deer hunter but kind of prioritizing what's actually important out of those things that the deer hunting is not the first or the second thing and that's what.
you have to focus on. It's like you have to make sure your family is in the right place and you're in the right place with your wife and that the same thing that your child is being taken care of and that they're happy. I mean, like I said, that's what you do when you decide to get married and decide to have children. So it's just kind of like focusing and changing of priorities. Again, not that it's a bad thing or whatnot. It's just hunting will always be there for me and I'm going
get out regardless, but like I said, might, I might, out those 10 days that I have off, like maybe two of those days, I just, I wanna be at home with the family those days and maybe do some fall activity or whatnot. And like I said, it is what it is. I'm still gonna, when I'm out there, I wanna be 100 % focused on hunting and doing what I need to do and wanting to harvest an animal. But like said, I don't wanna leave the house arguing with my wife
making sure, like I said, my baby's crying and he needs something and I don't want to focus and prioritize hunting in that regard this year. Like I said, it's hopefully, we're both in our mid to late 30s. We have hopefully many, many years to get out there. My house is only so big, I can only fit so many deer heads in the wall. So I mean, some years you have success and some years you don't. And I
Jeremy (23:10.373)
Right,
Tom Runscavage (23:20.61)
I think all of us have to like kind of sit back and realize that like you, people kind of get so caught up in things and so obsessed with, with things that like they don't realize kind of the, the importance of everything else going around in your life. Like, can we're getting older? Our parents are getting older. Like are you checking in on them? Are you kind of spending time with them? Are you making sure your family's in the right place? I think those kind of should all be also priorities of people going into, to the season
Jeremy (23:33.661)
Yep.
Tom Runscavage (23:47.479)
Like I I like to take my dad out and he crossbow hunts and I bottom the crossbow so he can spend more time with them when he goes out in the season. So when I'm picking these spots, I always make sure that I have an idea where I want him to set up and I want him to find success because that'll make me just as happy if he harvests one of those big deer that I have on camera as well.
Jeremy (24:08.615)
Dude, I love what you said because there's been times where, know, there obviously my daughter's 10, my, the baby's a couple of months and you brought up about talking about your dad. Same thing. Like when I had a chance to go home this summer with him and walked the mountain and put out some cameras, shift cameras, put out new ones. And he got new knees a couple of years ago and he kept up, you know, a couple of years ago, really well post surgery.
And this summer, I don't know if he got a little bit lazy or what, but you there were times where I was just kind of walking slower. I'm like, look back and he's 30 yards behind me. And I'm thinking in my head, is he walking slower? Did he see something? Did he check something out? And I'm like, dang, you know what I mean? Like you just, you start to think that a little bit. And I saw, I caught up to him and there's one other spot I really wanted to dive in deeper, but we didn't get a chance to stuff like that. But then you, then you think about, dude, I'm going to throw this one out. You, this one boggles my mind a lot.
When you think about it, obviously I know, you know, when Nora goes to college or wherever she pursues at post high school and stuff, and that's years from now, hopefully she wants to stay home and live at home those summers and she gets an internship, whatever. Dude, I only got like eight more summers with her. Like what? You know what I mean? Like WTF. Like when I
Tom Runscavage (25:22.037)
Yeah.
Like did you after that like did you want to be home and like you probably started your maybe get an apartment or living with friends at the time or whatnot so yeah I said once you kind of go off to college like it's that's kind of like things are different and I guess thinking back how I was when I was 18 years old and how I am today like not that I Neglected my parents and whatnot, but like that wasn't your focus on life. You were trying to start your own life and whatnot
I see that now in the last couple years on like kind of refocusing and kind of back when I maybe would get annoyed with them or whatnot if they were kind of like asking me questions about my life, like they just care about you. that's really what it comes down to and kind of now appreciating that those moments you spend with
Jeremy (26:12.485)
100 % and I just again I go back to my to my daughter Nora that how much of an impact that we really do make man and I mean I know with you just just this is your first and you know he's only a couple months old and all that type of stuff but it's the little things like I don't want to miss now and and and be a part of it and selfishly I'm like man I kind of got a redo you know I mean like when I had Nora you know obviously I was 27 and I mean I was ready I was already married a couple
We were married two years at the time and a couple years dating and so we were it wasn't like this my gosh, like, you know, I was super super young but you know, I was I'm still a big kid at heart man Like we went to Walmart today. I'm like, let's go check out the toys kid. Like I'm excited for that type of stuff But yeah, like it's just putting things into perspective and at the end of the day man to be completely honest like I am so thankful for this platform to for people
Tom Runscavage (26:57.395)
Yeah, exactly.
Jeremy (27:08.717)
follow and listen and are interested enough to give me an hour of time and listen to us as we talk about this, Tom. But at the same time, I know if I don't kill a deer, know they're not hopefully not going to listen. I I didn't kill a couple bucks the last couple of years. I I guess that is the right thing. But at the same time, it's just no one really cares
Was what I'm getting at other than I'm rooting for you, right? Like you're you're one of my boys I'm rooting for you, but it's not good. It's not gonna be the end all be all if you don't kill a deer do what I'm saying like Right You know what I mean and and that's the that's the importance of of these friendships and and you know and all that type of stuff dude just because Having having that support during you know
Tom Runscavage (27:47.772)
the
Jeremy (28:06.878)
of this transition time period because I mean it is murky waters like you know that postpartum shit is is legit and You know is so the one second you're thinking you're doing the right thing in the next second You know you're you're getting screamed at but you you want to make sure you're doing all right It's it's tough man. It's a tough tough kind of nav to navigate through that and make sure you're doing good and man it but like you said though,
Tom Runscavage (28:13.7)
Yeah.
Tom Runscavage (28:25.2)
Yeah.
Jeremy (28:33.429)
people do get a little bit too wrapped up into things. And at the end of the day, they're white tails. Yes, we're passionate. And you could sit there and say, get up earlier and do something or whatever, whatever it be. But like you say, man, it's, you know, we're, we're approaching, you know, late tonight and we're just sitting down doing this just because honestly, this was the best time you and I actually have time to do something like
Tom Runscavage (28:54.936)
Yeah, yeah, I know. Like I said, it'll be after probably get off, I'll be kind of watching over him because he'll probably be waking up from his kind of early bedtime. So it's one of those things. Like I said, it is what it is. you only have so much time on this earth. So it's like spending that time with the people that you love and do the things you love. like, again, don't try. got to, it's the yin yang of balancing both of those things. That's kind of where it comes.
comes down to. Like I said, if I don't harvest a deer this year, I'm going to be just as content and happy with my life as if I did. I think everyone kind of needs to kind of realize that too and have their priorities kind of in check going into every year. again, we want to be successful in the woods, but it's also good to be successful in your overall life as well.
Jeremy (29:51.273)
What about, so like going up talking about that and cause man, that's my problem. Like when I get like, no matter what it is, I always kind of obsess over it. You know I mean? And so like that one thing I have to kind of, I think I do have to get put in my place a little bit at times, like either from a friend from, from my wife, from my, you know, my, sister, my older sister, something along those lines where I have to be kind of sometimes be like, dude, chill out or.
You know, kind of put me in my place just because I do, get psychotic about that's just my demeanor. That's how I've always, always been, striving at, I don't want to say perfection, but just that, you know, I just couldn't kind of consumes me. like with that, like I said, I've come to grips with my expectations for this year. What about you, man? Like, what are your, you know, obviously, like you said, when you go out, you're going to go out, but do you have any expectations or anything like that? You're just going to let, let shit kind of let it play out.
Tom Runscavage (30:48.865)
Yeah, I mean for the most part there was kind of a deer that I had been chasing the last like three seasons that I know now is, he got killed during rifle last year. He kind of made me kind of stay in this one spot. So now that he's dead, I'm just gonna kind of see where things go. My goal is there's not much, like food is just browse where I hunt at. So there's no, I don't really
designated early season, of like end of October and then kind of spots previously, but now like with the years that kind of of knowledge that I have, I kind of have an idea of where I kind of wanna like, cause I wanna kind of compartmentalize like this is if when it's this time of the year, I wanna kind of focus on this spot and not get burned because I've burned myself to kind of hunting this one area.
for multiple days when I should have been in this other spot because I was, after the season when I pulled cameras, there was more activity this time of the year. So I think once you kind of get to know, you don't also want to have one spot because again, things can change every season, whether it's food, whether it's kind of human pressure, whether it's, there's a lot of kind of logging and clear cuts that are going on in a lot of the spots I'm in. So things will change. So it's just having.
a lot of options, but not too many, if that makes sense, in the back of your pocket. So I like to have like three, at most four different areas that I feel comfortable with. And like I said, early October, I'll go into this spot because I found a little bit of a couple old oak trees. So I know if they produce, that's what I want to focus in on. So yeah, I think that's kind of where my head's at in regards
Jeremy (32:37.386)
nice.
Tom Runscavage (32:42.933)
how I'm gonna pick my spots to go in this year. Like I said, I know all these areas already. And then deer wise, like I told you, I don't have the time and the energy to focus in on one deer. And I think where I hunt, it's kind of, your chances are very slim. So I wanna go where I'm gonna have the best opportunity at multiple mature buck that might be in that area. For me keying in on
The dough, like the hangout is definitely gonna put me in the game more times than not. And again, it's just kind of all the things they get talked about, like kind of the diversity and the habitat, finding those areas, keying in on those food sources. Because again, a lot of what I hunt is just kind of like just mountainous, non acorn producing the trees and brush and swampy areas and stuff. So just kind
finding the diamond and the rough in those spots and just sometimes you just gotta sit there and wait a week and maybe one of those deer will come by and maybe you get the opportunity. But you have to be okay with that and if you're not okay with that then you probably should hunt a different kind of setup.
Jeremy (33:55.895)
Right. I kind of, it kind of reminds me of how, how we're saying, you know, if I go out here locally on a weekend, if mid early October, you know, maybe just getting, we're just still on that cusp of knowing when things get really good. You know what I'm saying? from historical data, like, again, like you said, if, a really nice buck gets me going, like I have that opportunity, I'll be more than happy and make that decision there. But like all the other part of me is also, I do want to at
test my hand at back at home at that if we if I get confirmation at that big bucks alive the one of the one I've talked about now for many years you know it's so funny because a couple years ago and I thought he was huge then he was he was a good dear then and now it's like FNA man that guy's he's just a friggin ghost
Tom Runscavage (34:41.032)
Yeah.
And that's just human nature. Everybody wants to get that giant, especially when you have history with them. It's just kind of like, why would you not try to go back and get it? So it's just kind of analyzing and assessing expectations and reality of the situation is kind of where everyone should kind of put themselves going
Jeremy (34:54.59)
Right.
Jeremy (35:06.508)
Dude, and honestly, if I have another situation where I get a decent buck, now I do have a little bit of goals when it comes to maybe a buck this year, that type of ordeal. Like last year, if I have that situation again though, where depending on the timing of it, and I'm like, man, this deer's getting me excited and then that other part of me is thinking of what else could potentially happen because
This opportunity. I mean, you don't know I don't want to be chasing my tail in Pennsylvania again and miss out on on New York and miss out on Ohio trips with friends Do you know what mean? Like I don't want to be like, I'm hunting here again Sorry guys type of ordeal like I want to So yeah, if a decent one pops out and it's decent timing and in October again If I'm very lucky enough to put myself in that situation then we'll make a game time decision but yeah, dude, I just want
Tom Runscavage (35:42.736)
Yeah. Yeah.
Jeremy (36:03.901)
I just want to go out and make sure everything is, is good on the home front this year, just because again, last year I was lucky. We were both lucky where they were still pregnant during that, that timeframe. And we were kind of have, have that, those opportunities where I hunted multiple States, you were, you went out West, did those things, but now it's kind of, you know, like I said, man, I'm, just, I'm, I feel like I'm just keeping my head above water.
Tom Runscavage (36:28.613)
I I know. It's like, there's a part of me that was kind of sad that I didn't plan any Western trips this year and I tried to kind of plant the seed. I'm like, can maybe, what if I just fly to Wyoming for like a three day antelope hunt or something like that? And she just looked at me and I'm like, well, maybe another year or two, that might be a feasible option, but for the foreseeable future, it's a PA and then she knows about the lease. I didn't hide that from her, so maybe she'll let me go. They said once or twice up there if things are good at
Jeremy (36:34.257)
I
Tom Runscavage (36:57.626)
So yeah, like I said, that's kind of the key. And again, maybe we talk in 10 years on the next podcast, we'll be in different places in our lives and we'll be doing those things again and going out west and, or like I said, who knows, maybe we have our own farms at that point, but you just never know what, like I said, what's gonna happen.
Jeremy (37:16.051)
Dude, what the hell would the antler a podcast be talking about 10 years from now that would not that's already not already talked about on every friggin podcast man. Dude, that's
Tom Runscavage (37:22.746)
We're probably talking about funnels and like how can you buy a stick that's one pound like you're so behind the times like you got to have this this four ounce stick that'll repel you up in the tree and like the saddle platform I don't know if you think saddles will be a thing in 10 years I don't know we might be who knows what we'll be
Jeremy (37:44.14)
It'll be like a Saddle Batman belt thing where like
Tom Runscavage (37:49.284)
Yeah, we'll probably be on like drones will be dropping us into our stands and.
Jeremy (37:53.479)
Yeah, talk about the ultimate quietness getting to your to your stand location Would
Tom Runscavage (37:57.786)
Yeah, yeah, that's we should one day record a talk about like what we think the hunting situation will be like in 10 years and then like said recap when 10 years happens to see what it actually was like. Yeah.
Jeremy (38:11.714)
little time capsule there, you know, dude, dude, this is how like, I don't want to get morbid or anything like that right now. But like, you know, like I said, just, you know, I'm working out, I'm out there sometimes I'm getting letting loose of, you know, some aggression, whatever. And a song will come on or something along those lines. And I'm sitting there thinking to myself, you know, if one thing is really cool about these podcasts and stuff, man, like, God forbid something ever would happen to me.
At least my family could like listen to podcasts and hear my voice. Like I know that sounds so weird, but it just, again, man, that's just where I'm just, I don't know. I'm in a weird spot right now, dude. The times when I'm with my friends and family and all that stuff, they're good days. Being alone in my own thoughts right now is not a good
Tom Runscavage (38:39.266)
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Tom Runscavage (38:56.472)
Yeah, yeah, it's I I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing I just think you kind of have now a broader view of the world and the the finite thing that is life and time and whatnot like so time is the biggest Enemy right now because just never enough of it. So I wish I could be a David Goggins and just keep on grinding and what? staying hard all the time going out like maybe 4 a runs and stuff, but
Jeremy (39:04.313)
Yep.
Jeremy (39:17.903)
Stay hard.
Tom Runscavage (39:23.446)
I don't know, I'd like to maybe sleep more than four hours a night. Like when I can catch up on a little bit extra sleep, I'm gonna do that, so.
Jeremy (39:30.062)
Dude, the worst is I'll come like, okay, it's almost 10 o 'clock. I'll sometimes get down here, whatever, and I'll do something. I always tell myself like, don't go past 10, 10, 15 on the computer. You know, I just, I hate that. And then I'll, you know, we're still, we're in the roommate phase still at this point just because of baby situation. So I'll go down to my, I'm down here in the basement. So I have a futon thing set up down here, whatever. And,
Tom Runscavage (39:42.871)
Yeah.
Jeremy (39:58.798)
I might go down a rabbit hole or try to read a book or something. Then I get this motivation, you know, at like midnight, I'm going to get up at, four 45. I'm going to go out there and run. I'm going to get this workout done even before the baby wakes up. And then I'm going to do that alarm goes off. I'm like, no way I'm still sleeping. Like not even close, man. Dude, exactly. Cause we have a good, we do have a good schedule where
Tom Runscavage (40:16.554)
No way. You like laughing and thinking about like, what an idiot.
Jeremy (40:26.766)
After breakfast with the baby, she usually sleeps for about 45 to an hour. And I'm like, that's my time where I get to go in the garage and workout. like it or.
Tom Runscavage (40:34.836)
Yeah, garage gyms, man, they're the best thing in the world now. Like that's, I was, a little setup in my garage and like, again, total dad thing. I got to like the mini fridge with the banquet beers and everything and listen to some Creed while I pump iron. Like it's, you can't beat it.
Jeremy (40:39.864)
Yep.
Jeremy (40:53.625)
shit, man. No, dude, you feel good though about your your other equipment like your what you got going on saddles and all that
Tom Runscavage (40:59.443)
Yeah, yeah, I keep using that so that the phantom saddle that you let me use I'm gonna use that again and then the platform like I I Don't know. I always had this fear like I thought saddle hunting was so complicated mainly because I would read stuff on Forums and all that in Facebook and these dudes like me it seemed like it was like rocket science and everybody's gear was wrong You gotta have this XYZ and I'm like, it's really not that hard like it's once you kind of play with it a couple times and like
kind of practice shooting the bow in the tree. Most guys can figure it out pretty quickly, I'm sure. So yeah, I'm gonna keep on rocking the saddle, keep on rocking my Halon bow. I did get a different bag from my, the Mr. Ranch frame pack. I got a little bit bigger of a bag this year. I think it's like the Pintler. More so because it was literally discontinued and I'm like, I might as well get this bag because it's a steal of a deal. But yeah, I
For the most part, used to say broadheads, used the Exodus QADs. I've used them for, I don't even know now, like eight plus years, I think, and I still like them, so I'm gonna keep on shooting them. So really nothing new in the gear front. have way too much hunting clothing in my garage that I need another piece of gear, like for my clothing system, like I need a hole in my head, just mix and match things together with that. think I have Stone Glacier, Sika, Kuyu, all that.
Jeremy (42:17.697)
Yeah, exactly.
Tom Runscavage (42:24.53)
all the top end stuff, obviously, you gotta have the high quality. yeah, you gotta look good. So yeah, I really like, there's really nothing that I can say I definitely need to pick up before the season. It's just, again, it's the time to actually practice with the gear and kind of get ready. And it's like riding a bike, it'll all come together. It might take a couple of sits to kind of figure things out again, but I think that's normal for everybody every time when the season rolls around.
Jeremy (42:28.353)
You got to look pretty, feel pretty out there.
Jeremy (42:52.811)
Yeah, no doubt, man. Now, dude, any other closing remarks that we didn't touch upon that you didn't think we could do or anything?
Tom Runscavage (42:59.666)
Not that I can think of. I wish everybody the best, honestly. I want everybody to be successful and I want everybody to find happiness in their life, whatever that means to them. just again, it's a thing that we love to do, so do it, but don't neglect the other things in your life that are kind of putting you in that position to be able to go out and do those things. Give your wife a kiss, hug your parents when you see
Be good to your children. That's all I can really say.
Jeremy (43:33.14)
Yeah, dude, I'm with you. Amen to that, man. Now, dude, I appreciate you doing this and I appreciate you talking. again, if you're listening to this and it hits home in any form or fashion, reach out to us, man. It's all, this is a community, you know what I mean? Just of good like -minded individuals that are just trying to pick each other up a little bit or be there and all that fun stuff. So just reach out or if things worked for you of.
doing little honeydew things around the house or anything like that that kind of earns you brownie points. I mean, obviously we know that, but if there's anything that you think is a word sharing, hit us up. We'd love to hear that. All right, man. Dude, check out drop tying Tom at Thomas Runescah. His only fans.
Tom Runscavage (44:13.554)
Yeah, sounds good.
Tom Runscavage (44:19.57)
It runs scab, yeah, it runs scab and then only fans I'm just doing feed picks right now so I'm gonna get a pedicure and get them all nice and cleaned up but yeah if you want any feed picks let me
Jeremy (44:25.962)
Yeah.
Jeremy (44:32.724)
Do we need to create like a mount only fans where like, like they're on the wall where you could just like, could home. Ooh, yeah, I'll pay
Tom Runscavage (44:39.106)
yeah, actually talking about feet pics reminds me of that awesome night on Tac a couple years ago with Billy and the gang. That was such a fun time. my God. That and then our Delaware hunt. I always like, I'll think about those moments and like think, man, that was a great time to be alive and I had such a blast those nights. So definitely, hopefully make some memories this year in New York. It will be fun. We can all get together.
Jeremy (44:44.85)
I know we
Yep.
Jeremy (44:58.163)
Dude, so good, man. New
No doubt. like it, man. Dude, thanks for tuning in, everybody. Tom, always a pleasure, brother. I'll talk to you guys all soon. We'll see you next week, everybody. Antler
Jeremy (45:14.537)
Dude, that was perfect. 45 minutes on the dot, dude.
Tom Runscavage (45:16.557)
Yep, perfect. Yeah, I appreciate
