Are you hunting the sign a mature buck left behind or figuring out where he’s going next? This week on Back 40, Bronson Strickland, Tony LaPratt, Jason Michael, and Skip Sligh break down how they read buck sign and use it to predict a deer’s next move. We dive into scrapes, rubs, bedding, travel corridors, hunting pressure, and the clues that actually matter when deciding where to set up. As the rut approaches and bucks begin covering more ground, knowing where a deer has been is only part of the equation. The real challenge is anticipating where he’ll be when you’re in the stand. If you’re trying to turn fresh sign into an actual encounter with a mature buck, this episode will help you think one move ahead.

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Don’t let the heat fool you, November is almost here. This week, K.C. Smith checks in from Texas, Dalton Tunis brings us a report from northern Indiana, and Thomas Mlsna joins us from Wisconsin’s Driftless Region. With warmer-than-normal temperatures across much of whitetail country, we break down what each hunter is seeing right now, how bucks are moving despite the heat, and what’s changing as we head into one of the most anticipated stretches of the season. From fresh sign and food sources to current conditions and increasing rut activity, we’re getting boots-on-the-ground reports from three very different regions. Tune in for fresh, in-season whitetail intel as October comes to a close and November begins.

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Bleating, grunting, snort-wheezing, and rattling, all have their place in a deer hunter's arsenal. When and how you use each call matters though, and not all calling situations are created equally.

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This week on the show I'm joined by Dan Infalt, one of the most renowned DIY whitetail bowhunters of the modern era, to discuss how his hunting approach shifts on a week by week basis from late October through the end of November.

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Late October is here and things are about to change fast. This week on Rut Fresh Radio, we’re joined by Phil Tuttle in Illinois, Jordan Budd in Nebraska, and Josh Henson in Texas for fresh, boots-on-the-ground reports from across the country. We’re talking scrape activity, mature buck movement, the impact of warm weather, and why the next cold front could be the trigger hunters have been waiting for. Are bucks starting to move in daylight? Should you be hunting aggressively yet? And just how important is “scrape week” when it comes to killing a mature buck? The best stretch of October is here. It’s time to pay attention.

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It's almost the rut, but not quite. The pre-rut requires a different mindset and different strategies, but it can be as productive as the actual rut. You just might need to get into the cover and work the bucks where they feel safe.

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Every hunter has been there... waiting on a buck that should show up while wondering if you’re wasting valuable time. This week on Back 40, Tony LaPratt, Bronson Strickland, Jason Michael, and Skip Sligh break down how they decide when to stay patient and when it’s time to make a move. We dive into what makes mature bucks predictable, how quickly patterns can change throughout October, and whether you should be hunting the deer you have right now - or the deer you hope shows up next. If you’re staring at trail camera photos, waiting on a familiar buck, or trying to decide when to shift your strategy, this conversation will help you make that call.

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October is moving fast, and conditions are changing across whitetail country. This week, Kaitlyn Maus checks in from the Midwest as she prepares to head to Wisconsin, Aaron Hepler brings us the latest from Pennsylvania, and Dan Tutor reports from the big woods of Maine. We break down what each hunter is seeing right now - from current deer movement and fresh sign to food sources, weather, and how October patterns are beginning to shift. With three very different regions represented, we get a boots-on-the-ground look at how whitetails are behaving as we move another week closer to the heart of the season. Tune in for fresh, in-season whitetail intel and a look at what’s happening in the woods right now.

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Most hunters love to sit over scrapes, but they often have their timing wrong. Whitetail science tells us that two to three weeks before peak breeding is the time to hunt scrapes, which means for a lot of hunters, they need to be in the woods right now.

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This week on the show, Mark's joined by the one and only Mark Drury to explore nine big ways he’s changed his mind about deer and deer hunting in recent years.

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How close is too close? This week, Jack Huston (Missouri), Scott Peceny (Michigan), and Christian Babcock (Oklahoma) join the show with fresh, boots-on-the-ground reports from across whitetail country. The conversation centers around hunting close to bedding areas: how tight these hunters are willing to get, what they're seeing from bucks right now, and how their approach changes based on conditions and fresh sign. We also cover current deer movement, food sources, weather, and what’s changing as we move deeper into October. Tune in for real-time whitetail intel from three different regions and a look at what hunters are experiencing in the woods right now.

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