Can hunters actually influence the genetics of a free-ranging whitetail herd? Biologists often say no—but Bill Winke sees it differently. In this episode of Deer Dirt, Bill shares what he’s experienced firsthand and why he believes genetics can be influenced in wild deer. It’s a controversial topic, and we’re diving straight into the debate. FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Designing a deer property isn’t just about attracting more deer—it’s about being able to hunt them without blowing the place up. On this episode of Deer Dirt, Bill Winke breaks down how to design your property for low-impact hunting, including smart access, food plot placement, and setups that keep pressure to a minimum while putting you in position when it matters most. FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to food plot strategy, you need to consider whether you’re making the property ideal for the deer or ideal for you. Stressed deer are harder to kill and spreading them out also makes them harder to kill, but is an over abundance of food better for the deer? You might not need as much deer food as biologists suggest.FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alfalfa may be the gold standard for whitetail nutrition, but it's not always practical for a food plot. In this episode of Deer Dirt, Bill Winke shares three of his favorite food sources that are easier to grow, highly attractive to deer, and proven to keep whitetails coming back season after season. Whether you're planting your first plot or improving an existing one, this episode is packed with practical food plot advice to help you grow better habitat and hunt smarter. FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Looking for the best crossbow options for the upcoming deer season? In this episode of Geared For The Hunt, Josh Dahlke breaks down some of the top new crossbows hitting the market and shares what hunters should look for when choosing a setup for the fall. From speed and accuracy to balance, ergonomics, and real-world performance, Josh walks through the features that matter most and explains how different crossbows fit different hunting styles. Whether you're upgrading your current setup or buying your first crossbow, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you make an informed decision before opening day. Subscribe for more hunting gear breakdowns, product reviews, and educational content from the HuntStand team. FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Creating water holes for deer has become all the rage. And why not?! Deer are drawn to water holes, especially during the rut. But are water holes tipping the scales too far in your favor as an ethical deer hunter? FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should your whitetail food plots be centralized or spread throughout the property? In this episode of Deer Dirt, Bill Winke breaks down how food plot placement influences deer movement, hunting pressure, access, and overall property strategy. Both centralized and spread-out layouts can work, but each comes with unique tradeoffs. Bill explains how to think through your terrain, bedding areas, entry routes, wind direction, and long-term goals to create a food plot map that fits the way you hunt. Whether you are starting from scratch or refining an existing property, this episode will help you build a smarter, more effective whitetail food plot plan. FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After spending time with the new Savage 110 Carbon Hunter in the field, Will Cooper breaks down the features, design, and technology that set this rifle apart.In this episode of Geared For The Hunt, you'll learn about the rifle's carbon fiber-wrapped barrel, lightweight construction, AccuFit V2 system, AccuTrigger, and overall performance characteristics. Will shares his firsthand impressions and explains how these features can benefit hunters and precision shooters looking for a lightweight, accurate rifle platform.Whether you're researching your next hunting rifle or simply interested in modern firearm design and performance, this educational overview covers what makes the Savage 110 Carbon Hunter one of Savage's latest innovations.Learn more about the Savage 110 Carbon Hunter:https://savagearms.com/firearms/model/110-carbon-hunter FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Season 4 of Deer Dirt with Bill Winke, now part of The HuntStand Podcast and available in an all-new video podcast format. One of the most respected voices in whitetail hunting is back, bringing decades of experience in deer management, habitat improvement, hunting strategy, and mature buck behavior. Whether you own 20 acres or 2,000, Deer Dirt delivers practical, no-nonsense advice you can apply this season. In Episode 1, Bill tackles one of the most common questions in deer hunting: How many acres do you really need to consistently hunt and manage mature whitetails? From property size and carrying capacity to neighboring pressure, habitat quality, and realistic expectations, Bill breaks down what matters most when building a successful hunting property. If you're serious about deer hunting, land management, food plots, habitat improvement, trail cameras, or growing older age-class bucks, this series is built for you. Subscribe to The HuntStand Podcast for new Deer Dirt episodes throughout Season 4, featuring expert whitetail education from Bill Winke in both audio and video. FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Looking for the best hunting gear storage system? In this episode of Geared for the Hunt, Will Cooper takes you inside his hunting garage for a complete walkthrough of the LEVRACK storage system and explains how he organizes everything from trail cameras and bows to packs, optics, saddles, clothing, and more. Whether you're building your dream hunting garage or simply trying to organize your gear before the season, this episode is packed with practical ideas to maximize storage, save space, and keep your equipment ready for every hunt. In this episode: LEVRACK hunting garage tour Hunting gear organization ideas Bow storage and pack organization Trail camera and hunting equipment storage Garage setup tips for hunters How to build an organized hunting workspace If you're searching for hunting garage ideas, gear room inspiration, or the best storage solution for hunters, this episode is for you. Like, subscribe, and follow HuntStand for more episodes of Geared for the Hunt, where we break down the gear, technology, and setups that help hunters stay organized and hunt more efficiently. Learn more at www.levrack.com FOLLOW JOSH & WILL: Josh: https://www.instagram.com/josh.j.dahlke/ Will: https://www.instagram.com/willtcooper/ DOWNLOAD HUNTSTAND https://www.huntstand.com/subscriptions/ HUNTSTAND FIELD NOTES https://www.huntstand.com/fieldnotes/ GET SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huntstand/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntStand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstandofficial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices