The HUNTXP Podcast

J.D. Larson

Two real hunting buddies. Real laughs. Real fails. Real faith. Welcome to the deer camp you can tune into every week.

  1. Oct 2

    1,250 Miles to Get 25 Yards From a Giant Mule Deer | My First High-Country Mule Deer Archery Hunt

    Traveled 1,250 miles from the Midwest to the Idaho high country—and somehow ended up just 25 yards from the biggest mule deer we saw all week. In Episode 59 of the HUNTXP Podcast, JD breaks down his first high-country mule deer hunt and what he learned when months of preparation finally met the reality of hunting the mountains. This wasn’t a punched-tag story. It was a learning-how-to-get-close story. After hiking deep into the backcountry, JD and his brother Cody found bachelor groups of velvet mule deer, learned to play mountain thermals, crawled through loose rock, ditched boots to stalk in socks, and twice worked inside roughly 25 yards of mature bucks. One of those encounters put JD incredibly close to the biggest buck they saw all week—with no ethical shot opportunity before it disappeared. The biggest lesson? Getting within bow range and actually creating a shot are two very different skills. We break down what worked, what JD would do differently, the mistakes that cost opportunities, why patience matters once you're inside a buck's bubble, and why the “short game” may be one of the most overlooked skills in western bowhunting. We also get into Jonny's Wisconsin season, Wes punching his buck tag, Moose's blood-trailing debut, and a wild encounter with a pack of wolves. 🎁 EPISODE 59 GIVEAWAY: Listen for the giveaway word during the episode, then send it to us by DM, email, or in the comments for a chance to win a HUNTXP hat. 🛒 SHOP HUNTXP: huntxp.com/store If you're a Midwestern hunter dreaming about heading west for the first time, this one's for you. Level Up Your Hunt.

    1,250 Miles to Get 25 Yards From a Giant Mule Deer | My First High-Country Mule Deer Archery Hunt
  2. Sep 25

    E:58 The Most Lethal Arrow Setup? Ranch Fairy & Derrek Dixon Weigh In

    What’s the most lethal arrow setup for whitetails—and where do Ranch Fairy and Derrek Dixon agree? We’re bringing back a conversation from Huntstock that puts Troy “Ranch Fairy” and Derrek Dixon of Whitetail Research at the same table. Troy brings his experience testing arrow performance. Derrek brings what he’s seen finding wounded deer with thermal drones. Together, they dig into heavy arrows, broadheads, tuning, shot placement, and what happens when a setup meets something tougher than a foam target. These two get rolling, and JD and Jonny mostly get to sit back and enjoy the questions, stories, and laughs. Before the Huntstock conversation, Jonny shares the story of his son Jude’s opening-weekend Wisconsin buck, what he learned about coaching a young hunter through shot placement, and why they backed out before attempting the recovery. In this episode:• Arrow weight, FOC, and why straight arrow flight matters• Broadhead sharpness, durability, and penetration• What wounded-deer recoveries reveal about shots and setups• Crossbow range, deer reactions, and shot decisions• Early-season opportunities for young hunters• Derrek’s surprising observations of mature bucks bedding near coyotes 🎁 LISTEN FOR THE GIVEAWAY WORDWe share a giveaway word during the episode. Listen for it, then send us a DM or leave a comment with the word for a chance to win a HUNTXP hat! 🧢 SUPPORT THE PODCASTGrab hats, hoodies, tees, and more for everyday wear and days in the woods. Your support helps us keep these conversations going.Shop the HUNTXP store. 🎙️ ADD YOUR VOICEHave a different take on arrow setups, a recovery story, or a question for us? Send a short voice memo or video—30 seconds to two minutes—to JD@huntxp.com. We may feature it and respond on a future episode. Find Jonny’s 2024 buck hunts and Jude’s opening-weekend hunt on our channel, and subscribe for more hunting stories and conversations.

    E:58 The Most Lethal Arrow Setup? Ranch Fairy & Derrek Dixon Weigh In
  3. Aug 6 ·  Bonus

    New to Deer Hunting? Start Here | Post Hunt Clarity

    Are you new to deer hunting—or still trying to become more consistent in the woods? Start here. Gabe Denzine and Ben Resnick, founders of Post Hunt Clarity, join the HuntXP Podcast to explain how new and intermediate hunters can build real hunting skills, avoid expensive gear mistakes, and gain the confidence to fill more tags. Post Hunt Clarity was created to lower the barrier to entry for hunters who didn’t grow up with a parent or grandparent showing them the ropes. Their step-by-step deer hunting education covers the lessons many hunters are forced to learn through years of trial and error: finding places to hunt, choosing the gear that actually matters, scouting, reading deer sign, understanding wind and thermals, making ethical shots, tracking and recovering deer, and handling what comes after the shot. In this episode, we discuss: • Why modern hunting content can leave beginners unprepared • The gear new hunters need—and what they can skip • How to stop wasting money on unnecessary hunting products • Building woodsmanship, confidence, and ethical hunting habits • Finding hunting access and getting landowner permission • Why success should begin with filling a tag, not chasing a “booner” • The hardest parts of learning to hunt without a mentor • Post Hunt Clarity’s hunting courses, community, bonus resources, and partner discounts • Gabe and Ben’s hunting backgrounds, friendship, and decision to build PHC Whether you’re preparing for your first deer season, trying to harvest your first whitetail, or looking to understand why your current hunting strategy isn’t working, this conversation will help you hunt with more clarity. Learn more about Post Hunt Clarity: https://www.posthuntclarity.com/ Follow HuntXP and subscribe for honest conversations about hunting, outdoor life, and the experiences that shape us. #DeerHunting #HuntingPodcast #NewHunter #WhitetailHunting #HuntingTips #Bowhunting #PostHuntClarity #HuntXP

    New to Deer Hunting? Start Here | Post Hunt Clarity
  4. May 21

    Two Hunters and an Enviormental Activist Walk into a Podcast... | ft Robin Greenfeild

    Two hunters. One environmental activist. Twenty years since they last sat down together. In this episode of HUNTXP, Ashland, Wisconsin natives Jonny BeBeau and JD Larson reconnect with former high school soccer teammate and internationally known environmental activist and forager Robin Greenfield. What started as a reunion became one of our most unexpected conversations yet. Robin has spent years challenging modern food systems and exploring what it means to live in deeper relationship with the natural world. At the time of recording, he is immersed in a year-long campaign to forage 100% of his food and medicine—harvesting everything from herbs and greens to mushrooms, fruits, meat, and even salt while traveling with a mobile pantry of more than 30 wild foods and medicines to share at talks and interviews. Meanwhile… we’re hunters. So we asked the question: What do hunters and environmental activists actually have in common? Turns out—a lot. We talk conservation, fishing, food systems, sourcing protein from the land, sustainability, growing up in Ashland, old soccer stories, and why people often portrayed as opposites may share more values than they realize. Robin also shares about his new documentary film and his current work helping launch the 1 Million Community Fruit Trees Initiative. This one isn’t about agreement on everything. It’s about conversation. And it’s one we think more people should have. 00:00 – Reuniting after 20 years05:20 – Robin’s return to northern Wisconsin12:15 – What hunters and environmentalists have in common22:40 – Foraging 100% of food and medicine35:30 – Fishing, food sourcing, and conservation49:00 – Sustainability, values, and community1:02:00 – Robin’s documentary and what’s next Website: https://www.robingreenfield.org Year of Foraging:https://www.robingreenfield.org/foraging/ Why Robin Is Foraging 100% of His Food and Medicine:https://www.robingreenfield.org/foraging/why/ Foraging Guidelines:https://www.robingreenfield.org/foraging-guidelines/ 1 Million Community Fruit Trees Initiative:https://www.robingreenfield.org/fruit-trees/ Food Freedom (Book):https://www.robingreenfield.org/foodfreedom/ Start Here Guide:https://www.robingreenfield.org/start-here/ FAQ About Robin:https://www.robingreenfield.org/faq/ Robin in the Media:https://www.robingreenfield.org/media/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/robjgreenfield/ YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@RobinGreenfield Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/RobinGreenfield Website:https://huntxp.com Listen to The HUNTXP Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. #hunting #foraging #robingreenfield #conservation #podcast #wildfood #outdoors #huntxp #ashlandwi #sustainability #fishing #publicland #foodfreedom TIMESTAMPSLearn More About Robin GreenfieldFollow RobinMore from HUNTXP

    Two Hunters and an Enviormental Activist Walk into a Podcast... | ft Robin Greenfeild

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Two real hunting buddies. Real laughs. Real fails. Real faith. Welcome to the deer camp you can tune into every week.

You Might Also Like