824 - Everything to Know About Ground Hunting with Zach Ferenbaugh
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Zach Ferenbaugh of The Hunting Public has killed some of his biggest bucks without ever climbing a tree — slipping through cover on the ground, calling them into bow range, and getting close enough to reach out and touch them. In his first-ever sit-down with us, Zach breaks down the woodsmanship behind ground hunting whitetails: reading conditions and other animals, moving through the woods undetected, why deer can't see nearly as well as you think, and why getting closer actually makes a mature buck easier to kill.
If you love turkey hunting, hate sitting still, or just want another tool in the bag, this one's for you.
In this episode:
- Why Zach walked away from the tree stand — and started killing bigger bucks on the ground
- How to move through the woods: when to speed up, when to freeze, and how to use wind, rain, and terrain to time every step
- Reading other animals as alarms — including the woodpecker "deer alarm" that tips him off before a buck ever shows
- Why the nastiest, thickest cover gives the hunter the advantage, not the deer
- How deer really see (and why staying still beats staying hidden)
- Calling and rattling on the ground: making it sound real, and "becoming the deer"
- Deer drives, bumping deer on purpose, and why spooking them isn't the end of the world
- Gear, shot angles, single-bevel broadheads, and shooting through cover
Special thanks to the NWTF for providing us with a space to record this episode.
Join our Circle Community here - https://linkly.link/2o0Sn
Grab some Southern Outdoorsmen merch here - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1u4aK
Join Woodsman Wire - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1u4aR
Use code “SOUTHERN” for a discount on Whitetail Hill food plot seed & trees - https://linkly.link/2myBP
Use the promo code “southern” for a discount on your OnX Hunt membership here - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1tyfm
Check out Latitude Outdoors for your mobile hunting gear - https://2ly.link/1zVDI
Use code TSOP15 for a discount on Mossy Oak - https://linkly.link/2ERb8
Use code SOUTHERN20 for a discount on all Vortex apparel, including eyewear
NOTE: Not all advertisements run on this show are endorsed by The Southern Outdoorsmen Podcast unless an ad is read by one of the hosts.
Chapters:
00:00 The three-yard buck
01:12 Eight years to finally get Zach on
02:24 How ground hunting made deer hunting fun again
06:24 More opportunity, faster learning off the ground
09:08 The mental hurdle of leaving the tree
13:19 Moving through the woods: speed up or freeze
16:15 Using wind and conditions to time every move
19:34 The best teacher in the woods is the deer itself
34:13 Reading conditions to predict where deer bed
46:52 Reading other animals and the woodpecker "deer alarm"
54:05 Why the thicker the cover, the better
58:42 Staying patient with a buck at seven yards
1:03:05 Why deer can't see you as well as you think
1:11:45 The sign that says sit down — and the sign that lies
1:20:24 Deer drives and spooking deer on purpose
1:33:00 Becoming the deer: how Zach moves and calls
1:40:06 Calling on the ground and making rattling sound real
1:54:52 How turkeys and elk made him a better deer hunter
2:02:14 What Zach carries: the M2 pack, water, and gear
2:12:46 Shot angles, single-bevel broadheads, and shooting through cover
2:23:30 Do what makes hunting fun for you
Our Sponsors:
* Check out MyBookie and use my code SOUTHERNOUTDOORSMEN for a great deal: https://www.mybookie.ag
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use our code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com
* Check out TruDiagnostic and use our code SOUTHERNOUTDOORSMEN for a great deal: https://www.trudiagnostic.com
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
More description
Want to go deeper? Join our Circle Community here: https://linkly.link/2o0Sn
Zach Ferenbaugh of The Hunting Public has killed some of his biggest bucks without ever climbing a tree — slipping through cover on the ground, calling them into bow range, and getting close enough to reach out and touch them. In his first-ever sit-down with us, Zach breaks down the woodsmanship behind ground hunting whitetails: reading conditions and other animals, moving through the woods undetected, why deer can't see nearly as well as you think, and why getting closer actually makes a mature buck easier to kill.
If you love turkey hunting, hate sitting still, or just want another tool in the bag, this one's for you.
In this episode:
- Why Zach walked away from the tree stand — and started killing bigger bucks on the ground
- How to move through the woods: when to speed up, when to freeze, and how to use wind, rain, and terrain to time every step
- Reading other animals as alarms — including the woodpecker "deer alarm" that tips him off before a buck ever shows
- Why the nastiest, thickest cover gives the hunter the advantage, not the deer
- How deer really see (and why staying still beats staying hidden)
- Calling and rattling on the ground: making it sound real, and "becoming the deer"
- Deer drives, bumping deer on purpose, and why spooking them isn't the end of the world
- Gear, shot angles, single-bevel broadheads, and shooting through cover
Special thanks to the NWTF for providing us with a space to record this episode.
Join our Circle Community here - https://linkly.link/2o0Sn
Grab some Southern Outdoorsmen merch here - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1u4aK
Join Woodsman Wire - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1u4aR
Use code “SOUTHERN” for a discount on Whitetail Hill food plot seed & trees - https://linkly.link/2myBP
Use the promo code “southern” for a discount on your OnX Hunt membership here - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1tyfm
Check out Latitude Outdoors for your mobile hunting gear - https://2ly.link/1zVDI
Use code TSOP15 for a discount on Mossy Oak - https://linkly.link/2ERb8
Use code SOUTHERN20 for a discount on all Vortex apparel, including eyewear
NOTE: Not all advertisements run on this show are endorsed by The Southern Outdoorsmen Podcast unless an ad is read by one of the hosts.
Chapters:
00:00 The three-yard buck
01:12 Eight years to finally get Zach on
02:24 How ground hunting made deer hunting fun again
06:24 More opportunity, faster learning off the ground
09:08 The mental hurdle of leaving the tree
13:19 Moving through the woods: speed up or freeze
16:15 Using wind and conditions to time every move
19:34 The best teacher in the woods is the deer itself
34:13 Reading conditions to predict where deer bed
46:52 Reading other animals and the woodpecker "deer alarm"
54:05 Why the thicker the cover, the better
58:42 Staying patient with a buck at seven yards
1:03:05 Why deer can't see you as well as you think
1:11:45 The sign that says sit down — and the sign that lies
1:20:24 Deer drives and spooking deer on purpose
1:33:00 Becoming the deer: how Zach moves and calls
1:40:06 Calling on the ground and making rattling sound real
1:54:52 How turkeys and elk made him a better deer hunter
2:02:14 What Zach carries: the M2 pack, water, and gear
2:12:46 Shot angles, single-bevel broadheads, and shooting through cover
2:23:30 Do what makes hunting fun for you
Our Sponsors:
* Check out MyBookie and use my code SOUTHERNOUTDOORSMEN for a great deal: https://www.mybookie.ag
* Check out Omaha Steaks and use our code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com
* Check out TruDiagnostic and use our code SOUTHERNOUTDOORSMEN for a great deal: https://www.trudiagnostic.com
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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