Pennsylvania Woodsman

Sportsmen's Empire
  • 4.6 (25)
  • Wilderness
  • Weekly

The Pennsylvania Woodsman podcast is driven to provide relatable hunting, trapping, and fishing content in the Keystone state. Tag along with host Mitchell Shirk and cohost Robby Henne as they interview state biologists and officials, industry professionals, and Average Joe's who've mastered their niche in the outdoors. We strive to unite the outdoor community through relevant, tried-and-true information; regardless of the playing field on private or public land. Our content is focused on honing your craft, and celebrating Pennsylvania's outdoor heritage.

  1. 4d ago

    The Full Bear Experience: Murphy's Law at Bear Camp

    In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch welcomes back his good friend Nick Otto, host of the Huntavore Podcast, to relive their recent black bear hunting adventure in New Jersey. After years of hearing Mitch talk about bear hunting, Nick finally made the trip from Michigan to experience it firsthand. His only request? He wanted the full bear hunting experience. From hauling bait and studying bear movement to long days in the stand and sharing stories with the guys at camp, Nick was ready for whatever the hunt had in store. What neither of them anticipated was just how many little things could go wrong along the way.Over three days, Mitch and Nick battled shifting winds, heavy rain, disappearing bears, last-minute changes in hunting locations, and a few questionable decisions from the self-appointed Pennsylvania Woodsman guide service. With time running out, their persistence finally paid off when Nick got his opportunity at his first black bear. But the excitement quickly turned to uncertainty when the bear disappeared without leaving a blood trail, leading to a call for a tracking dog. The guys recount the highs, lows, laughs, and lessons of the hunt before leaving listeners with a cliffhanger. Be sure to catch the conclusion of the recovery story on Nick's Huntavore Podcast! Listen to part 2 coming soon on: https://sportsmensempire.com/network/the-huntavore Watch the recovery with Brandon from Bowkill Deer Tracking on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iKfZs9-Hi0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The Full Bear Experience: Murphy's Law at Bear Camp

  2. Oct 21

    Pennsylvania Proud: Hunting, Heritage & Deer Camp

    In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by Axel Hartman of Rack Daddies Hunting and Fishing to talk about life in the outdoor industry, hunting adventures, and the experiences that keep drawing them back to Pennsylvania. Axel shares what it's really like making a living in the hunting industry, from filming and editing to running an apparel business, along with his recent experience filming a Pennsylvania elk hunt. The two discuss the opportunities and challenges of social media, staying positive in an increasingly critical hunting culture, and why Pennsylvania remains one of their favorite places to hunt despite opportunities to travel across the country.As the conversation unfolds, Mitch and Axel find common ground in their appreciation for the traditions and camaraderie of Pennsylvania deer camp. They reminisce about childhood memories, the excitement surrounding opening day, and how changing seasons and lifestyles have influenced hunting camp traditions. Axel shares his efforts to rekindle those experiences through archery camp, while both reflect on the importance of introducing new people to the big woods, stepping outside familiar hunting routines, and preserving these traditions for future generations. Ultimately, this conversation is a reminder that some of the most meaningful hunting memories aren't necessarily made in the woods, but around the people and places that bring us together. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Pennsylvania Proud: Hunting, Heritage & Deer Camp

  3. Oct 14

    The Maturing Hunter: When Giving Means More Than Taking

    In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by Chris Stivers, co-host of the Average Joe's Hunting Podcast. Growing up in central Illinois, Chris cut his teeth hunting small game before following his dad into the whitetail woods and eventually developing a lifelong fascination with black bears. Chris shares how his perspective on hunting has changed over the years, including the story of passing a big Illinois buck so a young hunter nearby might get his chance. Two days later, that same 13-year-old killed the buck, and Chris was there to help him track and recover it—an experience that helped reshape what success in the woods means to him.From there, the conversation heads into the mountains of West Virginia, where Chris pursued a childhood dream of hunting black bears and eventually experienced hunting them behind hounds. Mitch and Chris discuss the challenges of mountain hunting, the culture and camaraderie surrounding houndsmen, disappearing small-game traditions, and how social media and trophy expectations have changed hunting. Ultimately, the conversation comes back to getting more enjoyment out of the hunt, appreciating the opportunities we've already had, and occasionally putting our own ambitions aside to help create an experience for the next hunter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The Maturing Hunter: When Giving Means More Than Taking

  4. Oct 7

    Swamp Woodsman: The Old-School Art of Hunting Wood Ducks

    In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by Pennsylvania native Chad Hodge for a conversation that starts with old-school deer camp and eventually finds its way deep into a wood duck swamp. Chad shares how growing up between Pennsylvania and Florida pushed him to find his own place among the seasoned hunters he looked up to. What started with archery and learning to work on his own equipment eventually grew into a passion for shotguns, patterning, turkey and waterfowl hunting, product development, and a lifelong pursuit of becoming a better woodsman.The conversation eventually turns toward Chad's true obsession: hunting drake wood ducks. Chad shares the story of calling in his 500th career drake on the final day of the season, his pursuit toward 1,000, and the lessons learned from decades spent creeping through creeks and beaver swamps. He breaks down calling and identifying wood ducks, hunting without piles of expensive equipment, protecting productive areas, and why this style of hunting can be an incredible way to introduce a kid to the outdoors. Along the way, Mitch and Chad discuss hunting culture, social media, old-school hunting traditions, and the danger of measuring your success against someone else's tailgate. At its core, this conversation is a reminder to learn from the hunters who came before us, pass that knowledge along, and find the part of hunting that means something to you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Swamp Woodsman: The Old-School Art of Hunting Wood Ducks

  5. Sep 30

    Stop Overthinking Your Western Hunt

    In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by Josh Craig of Western Hunter 101 to talk about taking the intimidation out of planning a western hunt. Growing up in the Midwest, Josh spent years dreaming about hunting elk and other western game but assumed those adventures required a guide, a pile of money, or knowledge he simply didn't have. Eventually, he realized the biggest thing holding him back was getting started. That experience ultimately led to Western Hunter 101 and a mission to help everyday hunters understand tags, planning, gear, preparation, and the steps necessary to turn a western hunt from a someday dream into an actual trip.Throughout the conversation, Mitch and Josh tackle one of the strange problems facing hunters today: we have more information, gear, mapping tools, and hunting content than ever before, yet all of it can make something relatively simple feel overwhelmingly complicated. They discuss choosing the right hunt and setting realistic expectations, finding hunting partners who will push rather than hold you back, avoiding the trap of thinking expensive gear creates success, and preparing physically and with your weapon for the opportunities that matter. Ultimately, the message is simple—do your homework, prepare yourself, pick a place, and go hunting. You won't learn everything from a screen, and sometimes the only way to become a better hunter is to quit waiting until you know everything and start gaining experience for yourself. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Stop Overthinking Your Western Hunt

  6. Sep 23

    Bear Camp BS: Scouting. Strategy, and a 600 Pound Story

    In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch sits down with returning guest Jason Miller of JMiller Custom Calls to kick off another New Jersey black bear season. The conversation starts beneath the mount of Jason’s biggest bear yet—a massive bruin estimated around 600 pounds live weight and now in the Boone and Crockett record book. Jason tells the full story of a hunt he almost didn’t go on, from reluctantly climbing into a stand late in an extended season to watching the bear work toward him, the shots that followed, and finally walking up on an animal far larger than he realized. It’s one of those hunting stories where seemingly everything had to line up just right, and it leads to a simple reminder: sometimes the biggest moments happen when you quit worrying about the outcome and just go hunting.From there, Mitch and Jason look ahead to another bear season and dig into the experiences that have shaped the way they hunt. They compare Jason’s commitment to proven locations with Mitch’s tendency to stay mobile, discuss scouting with a purpose, using bait and cameras for inventory, trusting fresh sign, and knowing when to stick it out rather than chase the next spot. Jason also adds a new challenge this fall by trading his compound for a recurve and setting his stand specifically for a close-range opportunity. More than anything, this is a preseason BS session about black bears, lessons learned through years of scouting and hunting, the camaraderie of bear camp, and why the work and people involved have become every bit as important as punching a tag. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Bear Camp BS: Scouting. Strategy, and a 600 Pound Story

  7. Sep 16

    When Life Changes, Hunting Changes

    In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitchell is joined once again by Albert Tomechko for a conversation about how deer hunting changes as life gets busier. Between work, kids, sports, family commitments, and everything else competing for time in the fall, the days of building an entire schedule around the perfect weather pattern or hunting every opportunity aren't always realistic. Mitchell and Albert talk about learning to adapt, communicating with family, making the most of limited opportunities, and recognizing how much unnecessary pressure hunters can put on themselves. Social media only adds to that pressure when it seems like everyone else is killing bigger bucks, hunting more states, and spending more time in the woods. But at some point, every hunter has to decide what success actually looks like for them.The conversation eventually turns toward the practical side of making limited hunting time count. Albert shares how he uses food, habitat, trail cameras, access, wind, and recent information to narrow down opportunities rather than forcing a hunt to happen the way he imagined it. Mitchell and Albert discuss learning from bad stand locations, improving access, knowing when a morning or evening hunt makes sense, and adapting when deer don't follow the plan. More than anything, this episode is a reminder that hunting doesn't have to look the same for everyone—or even remain the same throughout your own life. Whether success means a mature buck, a doe in the freezer, improving a property, sharing a recovery with family and friends, or simply finding a few quiet hours in the woods, the important part is making hunting fit the life you actually have. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    When Life Changes, Hunting Changes

  8. Sep 9

    Does Your Gun Actually Like That Ammo?

    In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitchell is joined by Ryan Burnett of Pattern Pros to talk about one of the most overlooked pieces of hunting preparation—actually knowing how your gun and ammunition perform together. Ryan explains how Pattern Pros grew from a frustrating day of shotgun patterning into a way for hunters to test multiple loads without buying full boxes of ammunition that may not work well in their gun. The guys walk through the process of properly patterning a shotgun at different distances, understanding point of aim versus point of impact, evaluating pattern density, and determining which gun, choke, and shell combination gives you the best opportunity when it's finally time to pull the trigger.The conversation expands beyond waterfowl into turkey hunting, choke tubes, modern steel shot, and even choosing factory ammunition for a deer rifle. Mitchell and Ryan discuss how hunters can spend thousands of dollars on guns, optics, decoys, clothing, and other equipment while overlooking the relatively simple step of testing what their firearm actually shoots best. More importantly, they discuss the ethical responsibility hunters have to eliminate as many controllable variables as possible before taking a shot at an animal. You don't have to be a ballistics expert or gun fanatic—you just need to put in enough time before the season to know what happens when you pull the trigger. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Does Your Gun Actually Like That Ammo?
See All (282)

4.6
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

The Pennsylvania Woodsman podcast is driven to provide relatable hunting, trapping, and fishing content in the Keystone state. Tag along with host Mitchell Shirk and cohost Robby Henne as they interview state biologists and officials, industry professionals, and Average Joe's who've mastered their niche in the outdoors. We strive to unite the outdoor community through relevant, tried-and-true information; regardless of the playing field on private or public land. Our content is focused on honing your craft, and celebrating Pennsylvania's outdoor heritage.

Information

  • Creator
    Sportsmen's Empire
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    282
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2017 Sportsmen's Empire
  • Show Website
    Pennsylvania Woodsman

You Might Also Like