Aggressively Hunting and Scouting Mature Bucks in the Big Woods: Kevin Bolder

On today's episode of The Exodus Podcast, we are back in the studio talking with Kevin Bolder. Kevin hunts the big woods of wisconsin and has learned a thing or two about chasing mature bucks in the never ending tracks of timber. We discuss:
• Transitioning from fixed stands to mobile hunting for bigger bucks
• Focusing on edge areas and transitions where different types of vegetation meet
• Observing rub lines and the height of rubs helps determine the caliber of deer in the area
• Trappers learn the value of creativity and problem-solving when faced with intelligent prey
• Encountering a black wolf while grouse hunting
• The diverse terrains in Wisconsin's big woods
• Having conviction in your process and being meticulous in your approach
• How the rise of popular hunting podcasts and exposure to experienced hunters influenced Kevin's hunting style
• Strategically approaching a buck's bedding area with the wind in your favor
• It's better to push in close and risk bumping the deer than to hang back and waste time
• Factors like food availability and weather can influence how far deer move from their bedding areas
And so much more!
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[@gordonneverdies]

I love these types of podcasts. Find a successful public land guy and just pick their brain. Lots to learn from this one. Thanks Jordan.

[@ExodusOutdoorGear]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@craighartman3975]

I agree! I learn soon much.

[@ukjw2]

Amazing podcast. Gonna listen twice. Please do more like this.

[@justinjhauser5110]

Man, i can relate to this podcast so much. I live in langlade county and have also hunted other parts of the state with way better buck to doe ratios as well as waaaay more mature bucks and less wolves. I am a trapper as well and have been able to legally trap and assist in trapping wolves during the few wolf seasons we had before the feds shut us down. Mature bucks close to access points rather than miles back in the big woods is definitely a real thing around here. 100%. Shining is an absolute golden nugget to locate big bucks. Absolutely loved this podcast.

[@ChadUnderwood-ek5qh]

From another fellow Wisconsinite, thank you to Kevin and the guys at Exodus for discussing WI big woods hunting! There is a lot of good content out there for eastern US big woods, but not much for WI. Would love to hear more on how predators such as wolves and coyotes impact hunting approach in northern WI or similar big woods areas. It's something I deal with regularly, and predator pressure is much harder to predict than hunting pressure. Just another challenge in the deer woods!

[@mitchvaughn5977]

I can relate to you 100% kevn I live n central wi an im obsessed with bow hunting so nice to hear somebody finally talk about tagelder that's 90% what I hunt...great podcast Thanks bud!

[@justinjhauser5110]

This is awesome. Fellow Northern Wisconsin-ite!

[@craigarnold323]

Great woodsmanship info here, thanks guys!

[@stdavis22]

this guy was great. killer show

[@BrandonBarlowTV]

Nice one guys

[@joerentmeester5421]

Kevin seems super intentional. Great pod!

[@pennyontrack]

Awesome info. Got a spot I will try this on

[@david.6040]

Good stuff

[@Tryingyourbestatwhateveryoudo]

I hunt giant timber and bluff lines and it literally takes many hours in the woods to really learn the deer and there patterns but i have found most of the time you want find a lot of buck sign on side of a mountain but put up a camera and hang on because the giants are there most of the time then if you hunt the to where it's more flat and still big hard woods you can always remember that a mature buck will bed close to the top of the bluff because they can easily see what's coming towards them and they don't have to worry about anything coming behind them because of the bluff. I know if you remember what im about to say you will see more deer. If you have food, water, and cover then the deer have all they need and if there's not a million people stomping around in there then the deer will be there. Hunt as close to the thicket on full moon nights if you don't have to walk through the big woods but hunt the woods around your acorn trees on dark nights and a perfect situation is to be between the water and there food except on full moon nights then if possible get very close to the bedding area because on full moon nights the Deer will be on their feet feeding all night then start making there way back into there bed right at daylight and a little after but make sure if the thermals start going down you need to get out but if you got a good cold morning with thermals rising all day then you need to stay put. Now i do disagree with this guy when he says to intentionally bumping bucks out of their bed on purpose. I would never advise that for anything because if you have a true mature buck that have lived in a area and you bump that buck you probably want ever see that buck again and 99% of the time if you bump that buck your not going to get a shot. Also no matter what anyone tells you i promise that a buck DOES NOT BED IN THE SAME DAMN PLACE but to bump a buck on purpose around where I hunt honestly you would never kill a mature buck. I literally scout all during deer season for the following year, but also while hunting,but honestly i can't believe this man ask why would a big buck leave the area if they get bumped out by humans instead of predators is a big difference and it might work for this man to bump a buck out of there area over and over i just can't believe a mature buck will keep coming back to that spot. Im sorry but about middle way through the video gave a little bad advice now that being said i do believe that it's a must to know the property and how it lays out but i don't think it's a good idea to bump bucks on purpose it's just not a good idea.

[@TheGuyFromWI]

WI boys know how to get it done. WI big woods will humble you in more ways than one.

[@nickjolie7267]

What is shining ? Night time with lights ?

[@gordonneverdies]

Big spotlight. Usually out of your vehicle. Edit: Make sure you don't have a gun in the car.

[@stevefulscher8531]

once a buck reaches 3 years old he is done growing taller so how could the rub height be an indicator of an old buck. mature bucks are within an inch or two of each other in height. the height on a rub would be because of tine length and nothing else

[@Tryingyourbestatwhateveryoudo]

Who in the hell told you that bucks rack stops growing taller at 3 year old because you need to tell that person to learn more about deer and whatever they do don't be giving information about deer because there stupid

[@richstafford1245]

At this point almost all these type discussions are regurgitation of Infalts talking points…