Trust Your Instincts and Be Patient

In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitchell is joined by Jeremy Dinsmore of the Antler Up Podcast to discuss preparations for the upcoming hunting season. They talk about technical difficulties with recording podcasts, practicing shooting their bows, and managing their schedules. They also touch on the use of trail cameras and the importance of trusting their instincts while hunting. In this conversation, Jeremy and Mitchell discuss their scouting and hunting strategies for deer. They talk about the importance of scouting and gathering information through trail cameras, as well as the challenges of piecing together the puzzle of deer movement. They also discuss the timing of the hunting season and the importance of being patient and selective in choosing locations to sit and deer to pursue. Jeremy expresses his desire to improve his woodsmanship skills and become more proficient in different hunting scenarios. They emphasize the importance of enjoying the hunt and making memories, regardless of the size or caliber of the deer harvested.

Mitchell Shirk (01:49.715)

. So we started off with a little bit of showing Mitch how to do technical things because my guest, Jeremy Dinsmore, Mr. Antlerup, is a lot more tech savvy than I am. I really wouldn't, I didn't want to have him on the show to talk about tech. wanted to talk about hunting. But Jeremy, thanks for coming on the show. It's good to talk to you. It's been a while.

Jeremy (02:16.721)

Dude, Mitch, it's a great pleasure, man. It is. It has been way too long, and it's good to... Dude, I think even the last time we had a chance to really talk was not this past year, but the year prior's outdoor show. I mean, I know maybe one of the meetings, and we talked a little bit past that or of some sort, but like as a true kind of long form conversation, it's been a long time.

Mitchell Shirk (02:37.555)

It happens all the time. You know, there's, people I run into on a daily basis, work wise, personal wise, podcasts, whatever that you have these aspirations. You want to do stuff and life just doesn't happen that way. And that's just been the story of my life. But man, what have you been up to? It's good. Like I said, it's good to catch up with you.

Jeremy (02:54.731)

man, honestly, me. It's been a whirlwind with life too, dude. It's, it's, you you and I were just kind of BS and real quick until we said hit the record. And you know, as, as both, you know, we both have platforms here on the sportsman's empire and I'm behind with recordings and you're behind on recordings. It's just, you know, honestly, it's okay. I keep telling myself, even if it's not okay, it's okay. You know, we'll, we'll get things taken care of. And, and I think too, that's why.

We have a very, I guess, how would you coin it, relatable platform. You know I mean? We're both here out of PA, obviously. But we're your average guys, right? We have full -time jobs. We have families. We have our wives. We have our kids. So it happens. And we'll get through with it. it's our favorite time of the year is just right around the corner for you and I. other than.

A new baby happened this past year for me. And so a lot of things kind of dialed back just because of being there for the girls and with work and school just started back up again. So right in the thick of things for teaching. So trying to get in that new routine, Mitch, that's the key. It's like for what? 10 months of the year I'm in that school routine, right? I'm going to work every day. I'm coming home and figuring out my oldest daughter has dance class three days a week.

When am I podcasting? What does my wife have? When am I now going to go hunting? And that type of stuff. then summer rolls around, right? And then it's like, there's a new routine. So now I'm trying to get back into that school routine.

Mitchell Shirk (04:37.779)

Yeah, let's be clear right now off the start here. mean, think most people that listen to our shows realize that when we say it,

You know, you listen to a podcast, and I'm guilty of this, you listen to the podcast, you listen to the guests, listen to the hosts, and they talk so in depth about hunting and the time and everything else, and you just get this misconstrued thought that, like, we just have it easy. We do whatever we want, and it couldn't be farther from the truth. Like, there are days where I ask myself, why am I doing one more thing into my schedule just because my sanity levels are barely there, and trying to work through all those scheduling things, I have the same thing. So I'm kind of curious.

Jeremy (04:58.832)

You

Mitchell Shirk (05:14.759)

I'm working through the same thing. So let's talk about how do you, number one, how are you trying to get prepared right now for the upcoming season amidst a change in your life schedule? And maybe kind of roll into how have your expectations had to get adjusted from that major life change?

Jeremy (05:35.237)

Yeah, those are really good questions, Mitch. And I think the thing that I've really kind of wanted to own is the not expand myself with extra locations to hunt. Excuse me. And what I mean by that is I'm honing in on where I've put in a lot of time in years past. And if that means if I plan on going into

location a after work and planning on hunting, but I get in there and it's not really what I'm hoping it would like, as far as science telling me and I scout more because now maybe I'm going to push one way direction or one way or another. Maybe that could set it up for another potential hunt in the future or no, don't come back here. So I'm really focusing in on really like having that macro level and I turn that into a couple of different micro levels locations.

So I'm really focusing on that and as far as expectations go I'm last year was a really good year for me Mitch I had five deer down in two and a half weeks in the state of Pennsylvania I hunted Six times and killed five deer in those six times. I hunted so it was very efficient I know that's not going to happen this year by any stretch of the matter that I couldn't get any more Any more luckier as last year went but my my expectations are basically

how can I continue to build on the efficiency, right? Like how can I put myself in an opportunity where seeing deer on stand, all that type of stuff. And I'm okay with, you know, trying to, there's a couple deer that I would love to maybe get a crack at and try to piece the puzzles together if I have the opportunities with the right wind and conditions, all that type of stuff. And I'm not that person either where.

If conditions are not 100 % in my favor that I won't go like I'll still go I only have so many limited times to get out there so you know, even if it is a Saturday and my main the one spot I really wanted to go to unless it's Really really bad then I might just go somewhere else and change adjust that way but at this point in time I'm going to You know just kind of see what the season brings and kind of go with it that way instead of just being like it's it's this buck or bust or

Jeremy (07:56.549)

I kill this mini deer or bust. I just want to continue building off of the, like I said, the efficiency, but the way I went into last year, like to kind of backtrack just a slight bit, Mitch, last year I went into that season last year with a very positive mind frame. you know, like you could really, in any space, it doesn't matter, you could really hone in on judging.

Yourself and putting yourself up against other people right and I think that's where no matter what field you're doing That's the worst thing that you can do and just me my friends that I'm really close with we really supported each other and helped each other out and just really went in with a positive mindset and Just I had a fun right and like I said, I couldn't be any luckier than I was it was like first night I went out killed a deer that first Saturday again. I went out killed a deer. It was just like

boom, boom, boom, boom. And it was fun, right? And I just want to kind of, my expectation is keep that mind frame, but then be, how can I continue to be efficient going throughout the year?

Mitchell Shirk (09:04.873)

you

Mitchell Shirk (09:08.659)

I think one of the things I've struggled to is getting on a consistent routine of practicing, shooting my bow in a habit that I think is going to build me and not just maintain. you know, the other thing too is I've kind of made a little bit of a modification to the system I plan to use when I'm mobile hunt. And I have yet to practice it one bit. I did a little bit of stand manipulation on a piece of private land. And when I did that, I put my saddle on and kind of.

Jeremy (09:20.518)

Mm

Mitchell Shirk (09:38.795)

used it a little bit but I'm rusty. Talk to me a little bit about what you're doing preparation wise in little, you you doing little tidbits of time on a couple days a week basis or how do you kind of manage the day to day leading up to season with that type of thing?

Jeremy (09:54.875)

Yeah, so now that we're in the thick of September, basically now is when I really, when I really like to focus in on bringing my saddle to my in -laws. Like that's where I usually like to go, go get a lot of training in because of their, how much yardage they have in your yard. And they have some, some trees too, which is good. So I'm able to get a couple of feet off the ground. I don't bring my full setup. I usually do that as the season gets closer, just work through that and bring up a few out.

arrows in the quiver doing it that way. each week I try to, I mean, I shoot every day. what I mean by that, like it's, could be three arrows, only 13, 15 yards. That's all I have in my backyard basically. And that might be all I have. But the other times I try to get at least one, if I'm lucky, two days where we could go to my in -laws where my daughter has dance. It's not far from there. So

If my wife's okay with the baby, I might just say, I'm going to run up and shoot for a little bit. Then I'll just pick my daughter up at dance, come home, call it a night that way. but right now is I find it very important to practice those shots that are going to somewhat mimic some opportunities and reality and to build on that it's 3d targets. I really think it's really important to get that and not really

if you're shooting a 3d target like put a little spray paint spot where is that kill zone right like not where those rings are because a high percentage of them all they're not in the correct spot so like get some sort of spray paint put it there and that's what you should really be aiming at and making sure too at different angles where is that that arrow impacting so that's what i really like to do now especially like i said in the month of september

I know you are closer or are in the unit where you're going to open up here probably in one or two weeks. but like for me as statewide, basically the month of September, I'm really honing in on making sure I'm efficient. come day one, I'm not fumbling everything. And it's just like, yeah, I know I feel good. I'm confident. I know what I'm doing. I've done it before that first hit. Still, you're going to be, man, you forgot something or you're, you're not as efficient. You're not as fast. You're not as quiet.

Jeremy (12:14.481)

So I try to at least get a couple mock sits in or a mock climb or whatever, especially those last two weeks as best I can.

Mitchell Shirk (12:25.395)

Yeah, I really like that. And I think from the shooting side of things too, not a lot of time. think right now, my wife leaves for hockey.

sometime between three and four thirty in the afternoon. That's usually like cutting it close for me to finish my work day up. So I'm usually stuck to maybe just a small chunk of time in the morning just to fling a few arrows. Most of the time in the evening maybe if I try to shoot my bow the boys which are two and four they want to bring their bows out and dad's really not flinging arrows he's just making sure they don't shoot each other. So you know with that time that I do and I try to build up leading into the season I try to shoot reps

earlier throughout the summer, of get your muscle memory going on. And then I'll kind of switch to shooting broadheads. And I haven't done it nearly as much as I want to, but I usually switch to shooting broadheads for that, that, confidence builder to make sure my bow is tuned the way it is. My sight is set up. I've got everything in a hunting situation. just the other day, my wife said to me, she's like, why is the ladder on the back porch? And said, I have it set up so I could climb up on the roof so I could shoot an arrow off of the roof before. She's like, why would you do that? I was like,

well it's trying to simulate what we have at home shooting from an elevated position and the best part about that was when I said that my mother -in -law was standing right next to her and they both looked at me like you're nuts but just stuff like that you know getting into a routine now trying to shoot one arrow at a time trying to simulate cold muscles I'm gonna go to work in five minutes I'm gonna grab a bow and one arrow I'm gonna go out of random yardage and shoot and just cold shot go through the cycle and execute a good shot

I just tried I think trying to take those little 10 bits of time I used to like

Mitchell Shirk (14:11.719)

not put any emphasis into that. I used to in the summertime and leading in the season, I didn't change my shooting strategy. I used to think that I needed to drill arrows, shoot bullseye, shoot the highest score I could, and that was going to equate to me being more prepared for hunting season. It's farther from the truth. I actually shoot less now than I did five years ago, and I feel more prepared going to kill something than I do compared to then. It's just that mindset of how you're to kill something with the bow is a big deal.

Jeremy (14:38.183)

Yeah, think I grew 100 % in green. think too, it goes along with what like comfort level you are like with your equipment too. know, for example, this past summer, I've finally bit the bullet of putting myself out there and competing on local 3D courses and ASA events and stuff like that. you know, those were really good for me to get that heart rate up a little bit. You know what I mean? And like you said,

Mitchell Shirk (14:58.27)

Mm.

Jeremy (15:07.751)

I shot more than I've probably ever shot as far as summer goes, but it was different. now going now, I mean, I'm not doing those training sessions quote unquote like I was in April and May and heck even in June when I had those tournaments basically. And now it's just been a couple of arrows. I transitioned into the hunting bow early. I had some friends that are just wrapping up their competitive season and they're like, all right, time to get the hunting bow out. I'm like, woo.

You know, I've been doing that now since July basically. And I think it's important too, Mitch, to mention like, even though you're not shooting now, like you said, you're confident, right? Now, how can you continue that throughout the season? Because most people, what ends up happening is they stop shooting, right? They're like, I'm good. There's the broadheads, they're already in there. I keep one arrow at least with a field point.

Mitchell Shirk (15:52.521)

Mmm.

Mitchell Shirk (15:56.426)

Yep.

Jeremy (16:03.608)

Nearby obviously not in your quiver but nearby so that way you could you could shoot to make sure you're still feeling good and and You know, even if it's only three to five to a dozen arrows or something every other night Just make sure you're ready because you like you said you want that cold shot to make sure it's gonna hit its mark

Mitchell Shirk (16:25.147)

Absolutely. Now talk to me a little bit about how you view cameras right now in dad life. Do you rely more heavily on cameras? Do you rely less heavily on cameras now with this change of schedule, so to speak?

Jeremy (16:40.037)

Jeremy (16:43.908)

I like them. I wouldn't say it really makes any bigger difference in how I manage things to be quite honest, just because with my work schedule, with my profession that I do, the weekends are really when I'm going to hit home, right? That's when I'm really going to put in lot of time and effort. Do they help? Yeah. And honestly, I think it's for a more long -term plan. And I think it's a good learning.

more than anything for me personally, I think you know, I I'm that I do believe that if you get that deer on camera once in a blue moon and they pop up on on camera I'm already too late and I am in that fixed I don't want to say fixed but I am hard -headed thinking that way if you get that deer obviously that has a pattern and you're able to come up with something and kind of draw and get an idea of that location

Have at it right, but I don't really use them for like it's it's heating up. better go get in there Just because it's I've gotten bitten in in the butt in the past with that So now honestly I use it for data. I use them for learning a little bit of deer behavior I love running videos on camera or on on video mode just you know what I mean, especially those SD cameras and hang them up high and let them soak for a year or if I get in there and

Mitchell Shirk (18:05.183)

Mm

Jeremy (18:12.783)

And am I able to check it or whatever? I mean, it's huge. I, couple of years ago, I put out a, and a TASCO camera on public land here and I just let it sit there all year. Had it in the most random spot. mean, I picked it specifically and, dude, it was awesome to see how deer traveled through there. How, you know, when, when would a fellow hunter walk, walk on by and have no clue that camera was there. So it was just interesting to see. And I mean,

I wasn't expecting much, but I just felt like it could be a good little hiding spot basically for deer to retreat to and stuff. it held true. mean, there were some really good bucks on it, but it was good to see how the deer also behave in that area at certain times of the year. So I just think that's a good learning tool, right? That's just adding more attributes into your overall hunting character, I guess you could kind of say.

Mitchell Shirk (19:12.597)

couldn't agree more and especially when you talk about the long -term history. So there was a time where I would rely very heavily on cameras. You know, had a strategy of when you pulled them, how you pulled them, continue to look at it throughout the season, look ahead and make plans for the future. And I think that can work to a degree, but truth be told, I just don't have the time nor the desire to go that extra mile with

running cameras. So with that I just made the decision from the deer hunting perspective this year I'm really not gonna run many. I have like two or three properties that I'm gonna run maybe one cell camera on just to kind of monitor.

If I'm going to make a four hour trip to a piece of property and maybe put a three day sit in or something, if something turns on and makes me feel like I should go out there, I'll use that information. But as far as running the cameras to the degree I want, I just didn't have that in me. Now what I did decide to do, and this is kind of my next point I wanted to bring up, I used to try to set my hunting season up where I would look at the weather, the forecast, and have all these things I would think might lead

lean towards a good sit. And I've forced myself into that situation to hunt that.

It was a time that worked, now it doesn't. So I've completely shifted gears in how I hunt and I am going with the old, do I want to take time off and make the most of it regardless of the hands that are dealt with me. So I've made the decision this year, I'm going to go for a week in New Jersey because I have an overlapping bear and deer season. I'm running cameras there. I'm just going to go with the information I have leading up to it and I'm going to walk in, look at stuff, read stuff on the maps and say this is where I think I need to

Mitchell Shirk (21:04.613)

I'm gonna try that and I'm gonna continue that throughout the whole year and I think that it's really weird for me I'm not used to doing it that way but I think it's gonna be a healthier way for me in the long run just because I know if I want to do it old -school way I'm probably gonna be unhappy to a certain degree because I probably won't meet my expectations of keeping up with it does that make sense

Jeremy (21:26.535)

100 % yeah, I think too because you brought up a great point of you know how Like do people use and I just think man like with the cell cams, particularly you have to You put in like you're gonna get what you put in with it. Like what I mean by that is if you want to drive yourself crazy and Chase your tail and and move them and all that type of stuff and then have at it, right? but like if you want to

Like you said, monitor, check things, see how things are going or whatever. Like that's, that you kind of got to come up with a game plan just because there were times where in years past, same thing, where I'm a couple hours away where I'd normally like to hunt and I would get, you know, say a buck on camera twice in two days or something. And then be like, I don't know, say it's a Tuesday. I'd be like, all right, I'm sick. You know what mean? I would drive in and next thing you know, it's.

Mitchell Shirk (22:11.881)

Mm

Jeremy (22:23.847)

Maybe not the right conditions or whatever. And I wouldn't see a thing. And I've just come to kind of scale it back a little bit, monitor. And in the last couple of years, it's kind of, especially this, like I said last year, I didn't go home to hunt until October 23rd. And October 23rd, that's when I killed a doe mid -morning. And 10 minutes later, I filled my buck tag.

And then I was like, okay, well then I'm off until Halloween and November hits, I'm going to go with a buddy out to Ohio. And that allowed me to hunt more there with him. So it's just, again, and at that point in time, as far as cameras were going, I maybe, my dad had a cell camera up and running. I did not, I had one that was not working. Well, it wasn't activated, so it was still taking pictures. It just wasn't sending.

Mitchell Shirk (22:51.06)

Hmm.

Jeremy (23:18.245)

And then there was, I had like two SD cameras that I was able to get a lot of great info on that it's going to help me this year. And it's going to, you know, solidify that don't go in to these, to this location basically until that middle end of October. Whereas in years past it'd be like, man, I'm getting a buck early season. I might have a chance to kill this deer. And then it just, blows everything up.

Mitchell Shirk (23:41.621)

Yeah, and being ahead of the bell curve is one of those things that it's hard to do. I've started to learn how to do it on a couple of properties. One in particular is really close to home here. I've noticed since I've hunted here that there's a timeframe in late October. It's always somewhere around October 16th, 17th, 18th is the starting point. And it'll go for about a five to seven day stretch where ...

Stuff's turned on and I've learned and I've seen it on cameras and I saw it person already that there'd be a hot dough and It would bring in a couple couple buck that were cruising

Last year, I had a cell camera up that was not working and I just decided that when it got to, it right around October 18th, 20th, I hadn't seen anything that was telling me I needed to hunt. I haven't even seen a buck that I would shoot at this point at this property. But I said, you know what? I said, the wind is right for it. The time of year is right for it. And we actually had a little bit of a cold snap swing. And I just decided, even though there's nothing on the camera that tells me I need to hunt this spot, I'm going to do it.

So I went in, I think the first sit I did was an evening sit and saw a couple smaller bucks. And then the next morning, the wind stayed consistent and it's one of those stands that I can kind of get it in out of morning or evening. So I went in the next morning in the dark, got set up and I had a small buck come under me first thing. And then about an hour into the morning, I had a beautiful shooter come past me. I don't know how big he actually was, but it was definitely a three plus.

Jeremy (24:47.142)

Mm -hmm.

Mitchell Shirk (25:16.961)

year old deer, it got my heart pumping. I was definitely going to shoot him just outside of where I could shoot. He was on the neighboring property walking a line. I could not shoot him, but I mean that just solidified in my mind that I did it right even though I didn't use a camera. I used cameras in past, but that told me that what you learned about this property so far seems to be applicable even without a camera.

Jeremy (25:32.871)

Mm -hmm.

Jeremy (25:43.236)

Yeah, dude. And you kind of flip it and sit there and say, you trusted your gut. You trusted your instincts. And that's the same thing. mean, you listen to really any podcast and everything like that. they'll harp on that. But I think it's true. I really do. You listen to your gut. I mean, it may not work every single time, but a lot of the time when it does work out, you feel really good about it, whether you feel a tag or not. Like if you put yourself in that position, like you just said, you saw a really good three, three and a half.

four -year -old deer and you know that's just like you said and and these cameras only capture such a small piece of the overall picture and then that's where you know when you do get confirmation that's great but then how what kind of level of scouting have you done or how much do you really know that that area where you could kind of piece things together of like okay here's where a deer could possibly move or is moving or the faint trails all that type of stuff and

I mean, for years, Mitch, mean, there's been a buck up on camera. I have yet to see him in a tree. My dad has a couple of times. And I'm awful at a guessing age, but he's got to be at least this year five, six years old if he, once we finally hopefully get confirmation on it. But last year when we did, when I finally checked cameras this past summer and

There are a couple of locations on that mountain where I have, I didn't check it all last year because of the season I had and where I was. They, I let them even soak even further. I purposefully put these cameras in those long -term spots on purpose to try to see a piece in a big puzzle together of where this deer likes to go. And on every single one, that sucker was on them at some point time of the year. And it.

Mitchell Shirk (27:30.004)

Mm.

Jeremy (27:39.332)

You know, obviously I felt really good about that because I purposefully put these cameras in specific spots just from years past, but it's like, I'm like going back to that very first question of like my expectations, how I'm managing and everything like that. Like I've put in a lot of time on this mountain. Like that's where I'm going to put a lot of my eggs in the basket. You know, you hear individuals talk about having plan A, B, C, and D. I do have those, but it's on that piece.

Like I have some other things here locally where I live in central PA, but for the most part Mitch it's you know I've really put in a lot of time over the last couple years there that I have a I feel like a good pulse where if I need to make a switch I can and If it's if I don't need to make this switch then hopefully something good can happen

Mitchell Shirk (28:08.799)

Mm

Mitchell Shirk (28:29.685)

So, with that information that you took from last year of that specific buck and getting confirmation you're going to hunt him this year, do you now have almost like a schedule or a time frame in your mind or approach of how you want to approach the season with that information or is that not quite how you view it?

Jeremy (28:51.078)

I don't really view it that way. I mean, I guess I kind of do just because I, again, like even going back to saying like, wouldn't go in there. Like in years past, I would always like you that 16th, 17, 18th, 19th, even like that four day window was always like a random, really good time. I don't want to say random, but it was just always a good time to get into woods because you might have that one. And I've...

you know, I missed actually to deer during that timeframe, but in different years, but it just seems to me that the most way I could be more efficient and spend more like time in a sense is, that later October timeframe. And to go along with that, it's honestly, I look at the, Fawn drops. I mean, like right now,

Mitchell Shirk (29:44.085)

Hmm.

Jeremy (29:46.626)

on that same mountain with the two cameras that I have out, cell cameras, again, because the piece is over two hours away, they're in two different spots, locations, and I have on top and one on the bottom. And basically I'm getting different, different Fawn groups where you could tell ones are, a couple of them are already losing their spots. Then there's like one or two that are, they look as fresh as fresh gets. Like it's pretty wild. And

And from years past and experiences, I've, I've hunted that property where it's October 28th and I've had a doe running for her life and watch her getting chased by three different bucks all in one line. You know what I mean? So it's like just using that timeframe where I think if I just spend time there, I, you know, one of them could potentially be there. Maybe that big, that big one, just because he's been too.

It's not, there's no pattern. You know I mean? Like I can't sit there and be like, on a West wind, he, he's always here on a North wind. He's always here. He's just basically, I just confirmed that he is a big roamer and just loops. And it's like a matter of, would need 10 friends that be in 10 different spots and be like, all right, maybe one of us will get them basically. you know, so that's, it's a great, great question. And it's, it's to me, man, it's, it's the biggest puzzle. And I guess that's why.

He survives like he does. mean, he's a sweet deer.

Mitchell Shirk (31:17.309)

That's exciting. You know, we're talking a lot about these timeframes in October and I've said this a couple years now that if I get to November and I have not filled my buck tag, I'm getting nervous because I would much rather hunt for a buck in October. I think I'm more consistent. I have an easier time getting on them. I personally think it's just easier to catch one making a mistake. Yeah, you can definitely kill one the first second week of November on a chase on a

down dough if you just happen to put yourself in the right for the right tree but I've had a lot of days in November where I sat there twiddling my thumbs not seeing anything and then you know a couple days go by I'm ready to give up and then boom it's on fire and I would rather have that October time frame.

Jeremy (32:03.172)

Yeah. Well, I think too, there with all the knowledge and stuff that's out there and just again, the history that you put it, your time and effort into like you're finding out like what seems to be your, your, your best opportunities, right? Like I'm, I'm really big into finding those that those scrapes and everything along those lines again, and just using that, that, that the FON data, like I just know like that middle late October, man, it's for whatever reason up

where I live or where I like to go home from back at home, there's always a dough or two that come in early and it's crazy and it's fun. Like you said, there's been plenty of times where I've gone in November, know, November 2nd, like you get those, you go on social media and it's hello, sweet November. And it's like, man, those first couple of days in November, sometimes when I've gone in, it's been like the worst. then November 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th, it's like, holy cow.

There's deer everywhere and then dies off and then it picks back up again. And it's just like you said, you got to be in those right trees and hopefully that doe runs right by where you could get that shot off for that buck. And hopefully he slows down. He's not running like it would his head cut off.

Mitchell Shirk (33:16.703)

think one thing I'm actually looking forward to with on the topic of not being so picky with my cameras, not saying I have to put a sit in based on this information I have on this preset stand, not having camera set and having this mindset that I'm gonna actually take time and just learn it. I think it's actually gonna be a good opportunity because I'm getting so outside of my comfort zone to learn something new because there's been many times where I've gone into the woods

and thought, man, I really think I should try to sit here even though I end up talking myself out of it because I had information elsewhere. So I think getting in different trees and trying things that feel right from the gut, I actually think it's gonna teach me some stuff. you'd said, I forget what the context was, but you were like, I think you said something along the lines of like, sometimes it works in your gut and sometimes it doesn't, but what does it matter? And that's how I'm in now.

Jeremy (34:15.878)

Mm -hmm.

Mitchell Shirk (34:16.657)

now where if I have a gut thought and I'm wrong it doesn't matter because I tried and I can continue I just think it's gonna be a new avenue of learning and I'm actually kind of excited for it it doesn't you filling the tag is not as much of a deal as it was years ago and I think with that mindset it's gonna allow me to learn something a little different in how I approach things

Jeremy (34:39.278)

Yeah, no, that's awesome. And I think too, like when you, man, it was funny because I would always bust on my dad about it because I would be away. And obviously here where I live two and a half hours away from my dad and we would come up with a game plan for him because he would always, he takes the nice little chunk time off or, because of his work of capability and the one year he got his knees replaced. So he still had a bunch of time off like in the fall, which was great for him. got out to hunt a lot and there were

Two specific times, Mitch, that I could think of where I'm like, what are you seeing as far as sign goes? And I was like, man, I don't know, like right here, dad. And I would send him like a way point. I'm like, I think you should get up here with your climber. Cause he still has like a lone wolf, climber that he, he just loves and everything like that. And he'd be like, he'd message me and he's like, well, I'm not in that spot where you sent me, but I'm a couple of ridges up or something like that. I'm like, okay. But he would maybe be able to like see down into that.

like little hemlock patch that I basically told him to maybe sit outside and he'd be like, there's some chasing going down by those hemlocks. I should have gone there. And I'm like, man, you should have listened to me. then the funny story was from like two years ago, the deer that I've kind of alluded to earlier, the big one, he was a real big heavy nine at that point. And he, I think we, my dad saw him once or something along those lines.

And the night before, it's kind of in a similar spot where I have a camera on top now. said to him, I go, that top's been very quiet. I said, I haven't really gotten any deer. I said, I got a couple of does though going through the last couple of days, like trickling, like nothing crazy. You know, it's big woods. There's no ag or anything on this property. And I said, I don't know, dad, you should go there tomorrow morning. I said, I think that would be a good spot. Just park a little bit further down the road where we normally do so you can.

get in nice and quiet. He's like, okay. So our school day starts at eight 40 where the bell rings and the pledge of allegiance happens. And it was literally like eight 38 and I get a ping on my watch and I wear it Garmin. So obviously you can't, it's not like I could see the photos or anything like that. And I just see that the self, the cell image went off and I was like, you know, I was like, it's probably another dough or something like that. And I quick had a minute before I, you know, did the pledge of allegiance and I look and I went, my gosh.

Jeremy (37:05.678)

And I've looked again and I was like, that is the biggest deer I've ever seen up on there. And I, call my, or like text my dad, cause I, he, he wasn't going to hunt over that camera. He was going to like hunt near it. And I didn't hear from him like, like, Hey, I'm set up or something along those lines. So I, I had that feeling he wasn't up there and I'm, message him. I'm like, my gosh, do you see this deer? And he didn't respond and I call him and I'm, I was hoping to hear like a whisper like, Hey Jared, what's up?

And I don't, he's like, Hey, how's it going buddy? What's up? Like, are you at school? I was like, are you not up, up at the, up the mountain? He goes, no, why? I go, look at your phone right now. And he was like, my, like, he's just, he couldn't believe it. And again, there were two specific times where it's like, I came up with a game plan form, right? I had just this gut feeling Mitch, like that's what we're getting back to. And every time that I've ever kind of talked myself out of it for myself.

Always something could have potentially, I could have put myself in the situation. So from like those points on, was like, I'm listening to my gut and if it works three out of 10 times that 30%, I'll be happy. You know I mean? And, cause when it does, man, it's, there's no better feeling when, when it finally does work out because you had that gut feeling. So I'm telling you, I think your, your mindset and what you think you're going to be doing this year, it's going to be a lot of fun just because you're going to try things.

You're outside your comfort zone and sometimes the good things happen in those situations.

Mitchell Shirk (38:42.217)

never know never know. So what is something that when you look at the way you're hunting and what you're doing out what is something that you have a goal that you would like to get better at over the course of the next few hunting seasons what's one thing that you look at and say man I'd really like to get a little bit more proficient at or or learn a little bit more about in this one attribute of the game.

Jeremy (39:05.69)

Yeah, that's a great question. I really would like to get better at really getting to like the patient side of things. Like when it comes to the, not the heat of the moment, but like last year, like I said, with those few hunts that I did have, like, like my best friend was like, dude, like pass something up.

You know what mean? And I just like, didn't, just, you know, I've always said I'm not at that point in my stage of my life and my hunting life where I'm just going to let things like walk or pass, but I feel like this year, you know, just from years, years experience of hunting where I've hunted and the opportunities that I have, I'm okay with this year being a little bit more selective and just having that like,

That okay thing like and I know that's not necessarily like a specific skill of like learning buck bedding and like all that type of stuff but it's just it's like being Like that patient of like it's okay to not kill something You know I mean of? Like my right now with with my wife you she used to always eat the venison But now it's like my daughter and I just because for whatever reason after after the baby she just like can't do it. I don't know

Mitchell Shirk (40:11.049)

Yeah.

Jeremy (40:33.168)

It's just her thing, which I get it's on, you maybe she'll come back around, but, but as far as like maybe like a, a true woodsmanship or something type skill, I've really want to just continue to like be able to like, no matter which part of the country you put me in, like I'd feel confident in where I'm not there yet. I do feel like.

Mitchell Shirk (40:33.47)

Mmm.

Mitchell Shirk (41:00.287)

Hmm.

Jeremy (41:02.501)

If you put me in some type of open country, like heck man, like where I hunted last year in Ohio, I know there's very similar parts of Ohio that kind of is similar to the state of Pennsylvania. And you know, you have the rolling Hills and timber and all that type of stuff. But like where I hunt specifically with my friend on, his property and stuff, it's nothing like I've ever hunted before. You would be good there just knowing like your past and kind of your, you know, like some of the spots that we've talked about before. But for me, I, I.

I was a fish out of water. So it's just like being comfortable in those different scenarios. I saw some two biggest deer on hoof when I hunted there, but I wasn't able to get the shot opportunity. it honestly, like that's what I would really like to get better at in these next couple of years. And I think the only way to do that is be in those positions. Obviously, like I can't get better in open timber or rolling hills or.

Mitchell Shirk (41:35.082)

Hmm.

Jeremy (42:00.922)

farm if I'm not hunting that obviously but you know so like honestly like those like for this year I can't wait to go to the state of Ohio to get another crack at it. To be honest with you I think I'm a little bit more excited about that than I am like the PA opener just because again I got my butt kicked you know what I mean and knowing what I saw it's like my gosh on top of it it's like okay man let's

Mitchell Shirk (42:23.274)

Yeah.

Jeremy (42:29.755)

Let's giddy up and try to get better at this just because I want to be in range on a caliber dear of that magnitude.

Mitchell Shirk (42:36.841)

Yeah, I get that. I get that for sure. So.

Tell me something that you, what's an obstacle that you've maybe struggled with in the past when it comes to bow hunting that you feel now that you've like, man, I feel like I've kind of checked it off the box. I feel really confident that like, this was my, this was the biggest struggle I had to overcome. And now I think like, not that we ever master anything, but like, that's not the thing that's always in the forefront of your mind going into a season.

Jeremy (43:08.016)

I would think there were so many times where in years past that I would be like, man, I hope this works out. Or like, this is good enough. Whereas now I feel very confident and if it's not what I'm looking for or what I've, you know what mean? I don't say, man, I hope this works. Do you know I mean? I feel like even if I do not see a deer, I'm full fledged confident in the decision that I made. And if it's like, if I'm

In the timber and like, used to just be like, it's good enough. Let's just hunt and hope something happens. Whereas now that no longer happens. And it took me a while to get there. You know I mean? It was just like, I'm out here. I got a hunt. got a hunt where it's like, now I'm okay with if I'm running out of time, you know, it's like, man, I only have an hour and a half left and whatever. Like I might just sneak around on the ground and see if I'm finding a fresh food. Like, like what are the deer maybe.

Mitchell Shirk (43:47.189)

Hmm.

Jeremy (44:04.627)

browsing on like is it is there any fresh acorns is there like whatever I'd rather mark that up like I said earlier and come back another time rather than just hope and that's just something I feel like I've definitely gotten better at

Mitchell Shirk (44:20.819)

Yeah, and that's one of those things that you don't learn overnight. It's one of those things that you can't listen to a podcast, you can't watch a YouTube video, you can't just get that. It's experience that's going to help you go through that. Now there's definitely some things that maybe you cut the corner a little bit on as far as what you learned, but there's no doubt about it that experience when it comes to being patient, like you were talking about being patient in respect of maybe passing a few deer this year.

you that's something you don't you don't you don't just go out and feel like you're gonna pass a deer but I will say the first one that you pass is the hardest one and once you do you keep going through and you realize that you know it doesn't matter if you shoot one but like all the stuff you're talking about it's like it's time everything is time it takes time it takes time to learn takes time to gain everything getting yourself outside of your comfort zone as far as the the placement you know I've really only hunted deer in Pennsylvania

Jersey. That's about my wheelhouse and I'm okay saying that. I would love to challenge myself in some other different places. It just hasn't happened because it's time and that time will hopefully come at one point in my life but being comfortable where you're at is a big deal too.

Jeremy (45:34.789)

Yeah, I kind of even want to go back to because you about the patience thing. So like the conversation I just had with my dad this past week, he sent me a picture of he was up there a couple of days ago. He needed to swap out an SD camera and he did he brought it home and he's like, hey, look at this this this buck picture. And he sent me it and and it was really nice. Young deer was a great eight point buck, especially for mountain.

But man, like in the photo, I could tell that that buck was young. And I said to my dad, I was like, man, I hope he, he makes it. And I said, I said he would be, I would give him a pass when is like, if he, that sucker stepped out in front of me last year, he was getting an arrow, questions asked. And I said to my dad, said, hopefully it's not like November, like 10th and I'm getting my tail licked and I'm my.

Mitchell Shirk (46:06.868)

Mm

Jeremy (46:29.978)

My tails between my legs at that point. said, because man, I hope he doesn't show up because I don't know if I would pass him at that point in time just because, like, but like you said though, like I need to be able, I need to go into the season and say, I'm okay with eating my tag this year. If that means that, do you I mean? So that's, that's, you know, that's, that's a really important factor. And that's what I meant by being more patient just because, you know, I want to be able to maybe chase.

Mitchell Shirk (46:36.765)

Yeah, absolutely.

Mitchell Shirk (46:50.068)

Absolutely.

Jeremy (47:00.047)

another caliber deer, that I've never seen before yet on, on the hoof, right? Like I've seen, like my dad has, and, just other than cameras, just because it just, it's exciting. And I've always told that I've said it on my podcast before this deer is not going to be, I don't focus a season on him just because the area is too big. Like I said, there's no rhyme or reason to certain cameras and patterns and all that type of stuff. So there's no,

I don't like if a really nice seven point walked in and he put on a show for me Mitch. He's gonna get it. No doubt about it. And that's just kind of how I've always managed those seasons. But when I look at like this deer, again, he just he had a nice frame to him, but he was skinny antlers and he had a small body and I was just like, man, he he's going to be a stud because he might only be a two and a half year old deer and he's already a nice eight point. You know what mean? Like

Mitchell Shirk (47:58.428)

Absolutely.

Jeremy (47:58.574)

It's just, it's just, I don't know. would, that was like when I was having that conversation with my dad, I kind of caught myself by surprise. I was saying that. So that's why I was like, I do need to be a little bit more patient because it could, you know, for all I know that'd be a great deer for my dad next year or whatever, or this year. don't care if you would shoot it or not, but it's like, I'm okay with giving that deer a pass.

Mitchell Shirk (48:21.595)

Exactly and the biggest takeaway from that is like whatever somebody listens to somebody say something like that. It's your hunt. It's not their hunt. It's not my hunt. You what you shoot and what you choose to pass has zero impact on me and has zero impact on anybody else. Do what makes you happy and that's what's most important. I've passed a lot of deer in my life because that makes me happy because if I shoot it then I'm done and I guess what I don't like being done. I really don't.

Jeremy (48:28.291)

Exactly.

Jeremy (48:45.338)

Yeah.

Jeremy (48:48.742)

Yeah, it's fun. Dude. It's funny because last year of saying the season I had, mean, I do the deer I shot last year. It was a cool hunt. I shot a doe 10 minutes later, shot him. It's at the location. When I scouted it with my dad, said, I'm going to kill a buck here this year. And again, I looked at the date and I was like, man, if I kill this deer right now, I, I could hunt Ohio for a longer period of time. And he came in, I just said, I'm like,

I never doubled up before. I told my dad, I'm going to kill a deer here in this specific tree. I'm going to do this. Like he got me grabbing my bow. Like let's do this. And I did it right. And he was a, he was a young six point, you know I mean? Like he, he even to this day, like my dad's like, he was a, he was a good size deer and everything like that. I was like, yeah, he's not going to win any awards, but he made that hunt so memorable because I was with my dad and it had all those things for it. Now this year I I'd pass them if it was the same deer again. You know I mean? So it's just.

Mitchell Shirk (49:39.878)

Exactly.

Mitchell Shirk (49:46.996)

Mm -hmm.

Jeremy (49:47.406)

That is, I don't care. I've always said this. I don't care what kind of caliber deer you do it. As long as you do it legal and all that type of stuff. If you do it with the bow and arrow, man, that is so tough because you have to get them in range. You have to have that, that great placement, all that stuff. So, and like you said, Mitch, it is your hunt. Like they're not art. They're that deer is not my deer. And it's just, you go out there and you have fun. You make the memory that you want to make. It's your hunt.

And I couldn't agree more with that statement. if that means it's a four, like a three on one side and a spike on the other, that's, you're only able to hunt four days a year and that's the deer you want to harvest, like go after, do it. Like, it's not going to, you know I mean? That's what it's about.

Mitchell Shirk (50:37.194)

The last question I'm going to ask you is kind of a random one. It kind takes after when you used to always do rapid fire. So got one question for it. kind of off the rocker a little bit. So let's just say this one.

particular special buck you've been talking about this episode let's just say somebody said to you hate i want to hear this year i want to kill that here but in return i will give you the pump of your choosing what kind of fun would it take for you to give up the opportunity to help that you had that much history with try something different

Jeremy (51:15.671)

I honestly would be wanting that. I want an adventure. I don't care if it's a backpack hunt or I mean, I do want it to be a backpack hunt and that I will say, but I want some form of an adventure where it's either mule deer, whether it's elk, I don't really care either one.

I've never, I've done mule deer already in the past. I would like to do an elk hunt. So maybe I'll kind of lean more that way, but I would like some sort of an adventure where the cams on my back. right now as we're recording this, one of my best friends, Tim Seesalk, he's high country mule deer right now. And he finally pulled that tag and you know, I think it was nine years in the, in the waiting to try to finally pull it when he technically his percentage was, you know, year six or year seven and he

Mitchell Shirk (52:04.789)

Hmm.

Jeremy (52:09.787)

didn't draw it at that point in time. so yeah, I'm going to say some sort of adventure. And I think if you would have asked me last year, I would have been like, give me that Iowa tag and do that mid Midwest thing. But right now, man, I'm on an itch. really want to, like, I even want to go upstate New York and do a backpacking bear hunt. Like I'm looking for that to do with some friends. And yeah, dude, I want to.

I want to pack on my back and I want to go experience some sort of adventure just because man, I'm 37 and God willing, could hunt for a very long time, but I want to be able to experience that one time at least where camp's on my back and I got a friend or two with me we could just sleep under the stars, man, and talk about life and hopefully over open fire with some fresh meat on the fire pit.

Mitchell Shirk (53:06.579)

like it, I like it. Jeremy, it's always a blast to have you on. We got to do this a little more frequently than we the last time. So thanks for coming on the show. Quick, make sure anything special you got going on, you can listen to Antler Up podcast the same place as you listen to this. You got anything else going on that you want to touch base with here before we let you go?

Jeremy (53:24.26)

No, man, just like you and I are, it's, awesome that we dropped the same day we drop every Wednesday on the sportsman's empire. And, you know, just always, I'm always open to chat hunting with anybody. So just kind of like you, Mitch, man, we're, just individual guys of, we, just every day of work and individuals that we, love doing this type of stuff. you know, obviously just checks out over whatever platform, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, all that stuff.

And, you know, love talking hunting.

Mitchell Shirk (53:56.809)

that's it thanks again buddy

Jeremy (53:58.128)

Thank you.

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