Talkin' Crossbows, Corn Piles, and Giant Deer w/ Ben Rising | HUNTR Podcast #89

On this week's episode of HUNTR Podcast, we're joined by returning guest Ben Rising. It's no secret that Ben knows how to kill big deer, as he's done so year after year. How do you grow and keep big deer on your land? Do you use corn piles and feeders to attract your target buck? What's your opinion on using crossbows? The are all topics that we discuss with Ben, as he shares his knowledge and opinions on today's hunting community.
Check out Whitetail Edge TV SCISSORS episode here:
• GIANT Buck VERY CLOSE ...
HUNTR Podcast is presented by:
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[@HUNTRPOD]

What are some topics you guys would like to hear us talk about???

[@russelllangworthy8855]

Bucky and I would like to hear a discussion on crossbows and corn piles. I don't think I've ever heard you mention those before. Lol

[@nickmiller460]

I think it would be great to have someone on to speak about how they locate a bucks specific bedding area and specific bed(s). Also, discuss the process on when and how they go about doing so. Such as, pre-season, during season, or post season. We talk about “intrusion” so much that it kind of contradicts these successful guys going into areas and finding the buck “bedroom.” Obviously guys like Ben are successful and have figured out the balance between intrusion and locating beds without spooking a buck off the property. Love the podcast. Even though there are multiple opinions and theories, that’s what makes hunting so great. People need to learn that you can disagree with someone and still like the podcast lol. Ignore the haters fellas.

[@michaeld9554]

The style of finding a world class buck to hunt. A look from a 10,000 foot view of the process of finding that level of animal 180-200 start to finish. Finding them is

[@scottbryant6349]

Can you guys do a gadgets and gimmicks episode? Want to learn about things like HECS suits and other extreme claims in the industry. Also you should see if you can get Lee Ellis and Drew Carroll on or Bill Thompson too

[@johna2835]

Tips for Planning an out of state do it yourself hunting trip - managing expectations and have an enjoyable/ successful trip

[@patschuette8045]

A game warden friend of mine says the ultra narrow xbows are worst problem for poaching ever created!! Easy to shoot out of truck window and silent!!

[@Masonjar94]

A local warden here said they’re putting thermals on crossbows now

[@mikefromoh2925]

Awesome conversation, I really like how candid and humble Ben is, for being such a good hunter!

[@HUNTRPOD]

Thanks Mike!

[@devinlor7566]

Ben is really him!! Awesome and very humbling guy… thank you for another amazing episode. Keep them coming and good luck to you all this season!!

[@chrisruzsa2798]

Lol. The same exact words about crossbows was said about the compound bows from trad and primitive bow guys that were against compounds lol.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Yea absolutely and they weren’t wrong

[@chrisruzsa2798]

@@HUNTRPOD how not? Every compound guy feels that they are and the stats still say they were.

[@cray-z7404]

Everyone should have to go back to spears only 😂

[@gameofantlers8833]

Outlaw corn piles 4 wheelers xbows and compounds and hang on

[@chrisruzsa2798]

@@gameofantlers8833 seriously outlaw everything except barehands and teeth lol.

[@justinwonch5568]

Great show. I truly enjoy Ben Rising.

[@HUNTRPOD]

He’s a great guy!

[@CentralMississippiWhitetail]

The “Scissors” episode was epic. It was cool to hear of the neighbors working together. The future is bright for those landowners. Great show.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Insanely great hunt

[@brandonbowling2443]

The only thing I have to say about the crossbow and compound archery season stuff is in my opinion a crossbow is no different than a modernize compound bow. Your cock it back in it’s held back by trigger. you pull the compound bow back and you still have a trigger to release it. So then what’s the difference. Back in the day true archery didn’t have trigger releases so if crossbows cannot be in archery season Inc. modernize compound bows does not need to be in there either

[@russelllangworthy8855]

The difference is you don’t cock the crossbow when the deer is coming. It’s already cocked. You just point and shoot.

[@ps2paulywalnutz439]

Really good point sick of xbow backlash. End of the day I’m just trying to put meat on the table

[@martymiller6565]

Whats the difference between having a corn pile, or an acre food plot?

[@Hubble-M]

The closing of the podcast almost made me regret not hitting pause for a bathroom break. I wasn't expecting to laugh that hard as I was checking my pack again to make sure I wasn't missing gear.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Haha I have to go back and watch it to see what we said now!

[@thetrooper1061]

Crossbows have been legal for the 20+ years I've hunted & lived in Ohio for general archery season. I don't know why Ben is acting like they just got on the scene being an OH resident... Cross & vertical bows have nearly identical range limitations. Obviously you need to practice way more with vertical to achieve those results but when you two guys talk about people essentially darting a deer at 80-100 yards with a crossbow it's not honest. Your talking about the exception not the norm. A 40 yards shot is what most ethical crossbow hunters would consider. Possibly 50 yards if the conditions and alertness of a deer allowed it... Which sounds to me like what any competent vertical archer should be able to do.

[@chrisruzsa2798]

They most hated weapon in history was the crossbow and really no good reason for it.

[@chrisruzsa2798]

Even on your statement of easier i disagree with. I cant draw 80lbs but i can draw 50-65. A compound with let off a 65 is cake and when you use your pins and everything bullseyes and 0” groups in a matter of seconds same as crossbow. People think crossbows are some new tech. In the middle ages they were going 350 yards while vertical went 450-700 even 800 yards not being unheard of. Now today a compound can go well over 1000 yards. This is the weapons range not necessarily the archers range. I personally don’t think any archery equipment should go past 50 yards except for time of war. Not on animals. The bow will always be more efficient than a crossbow so it was in middle ages so it is now. We just managed to get our weapons doing what the old war bows could.

[@laurelhighlandoutdoors3257]

@@chrisruzsa2798 If a compound bow is easier to pull back and use ......THEN USE A COMPOUND INTSTEAD OF A CROSSBOW BUT YOU WONT BECAUSE ITS EASIER

[@chrisruzsa2798]

@@laurelhighlandoutdoors3257 no its harder its a different challenge it’s cake walk to use a compound and i hate mechanical crap.

[@laurelhighlandoutdoors3257]

@@chrisruzsa2798 Hahah Little 6 year old kids use crossbows to hunt

[@shaneg8531]

Love you guys. I live in a area of PA where people see a 3pt legal buck blow it away and gun season and then complain bc they see now big bucks. I try my hardest on education on letting then go but it never helps I'm seeing a horrible issues of the state opening all these roads to allow more hunting opportunities but it's killing so many young and up and coming bucks it's sad. Gun season on Saturday and Sunday openers will be groups of 20 guys driving everything till there's hardly any bucks alive bc half or dead or wounded. I wish that was outlawed bc guys aren't woodsman.

[@HUNTRPOD]

PA boys stick together brother. Just keep doing you, it will turn in your favor!

[@Huskyhookerz]

I know a lot of people hate on Xbows but there are so many other reasons SOME people use them, I shot compound for years and was In leagues but working as an automotive tech for the last decade destroyed my wrists and drawing a bow back in the cold is just not comfortable anymore so I had to make the switch

[@hartpeakoutdoors833]

My progression in MS was being the guy smoking cigs with a crossbow the first year it became legal going and wounding a 178 the first week of season. It survived and was killed later that year. Since then I've developed to the point of filming my first bow kill last season with a compound. How many stories like that are there, compared to the guy that makes the shot? You only know about the one, because it's the only one you'd ever see. That being said, I love the tiered season idea. Make me find those loaded sawtooths with a stick in early October..

[@diehardoutdoors]

Well I have shot compound bow 20 years and I’m using crossbow this year because I’m hunting a buck thats 2 hours away and I don’t get to hunt down there a lot and I don’t get many opportunities so crossbow helps for sure

[@HUNTRPOD]

Yep that it does

[@russelllangworthy8855]

Wow. 2 hours away. That’s rough. I would probably give up hunting if I were you.

[@danweaver5787]

I wrote Ohio outdoors magazine to get ODNR to outlaw bait piles. Some agree some don’t. X bows aren’t really a problem imo

[@danweaver5787]

We are planting corn plots to combat neighboring corn piles. We hunt the area an county Ben does. Would think he’s planting corn plots as well 🤷‍♂️

[@rasant8917]

First…boo yeah! Now I need to listen to it

[@davidvvv501]

Great podcast.. Outfitters can destroy a good county fast.. Just look at Pike County Illinois.. Certain counties are still special because huge landowners can keep most outfitters out.. Decatur County Iowa is an example.. I think 200s are even more rare than you guys are saying.. Look at Ben, he lives big whitetails and said he hasn't seen a 200 since 2012.

[@HUNTRPOD]

It’s wild and don’t get me wrong there are some good ones, but because of the pressure of business and money, most overhung the herd they have access too and that is depleting the area of big bucks

[@normyoder2622]

I don't remember Ben mentioning it but my question is ,does he hunt some public ? Here in ohio . Good show guys!

[@HUNTRPOD]

Hey Norm! I knew he used to a bunch but I don’t think recently

[@colbykinney5633]

I've seen 2 bucks here in Eastern Ohio that would go over 200 one of them would have been close to 300. That deer probably had 50 inches of brown tines.. it was like an explosion of antlers .

[@HUNTRPOD]

😳 that’s a super giant

[@colbykinney5633]

@@HUNTRPOD that was 15 years ago. I still have dreams about that buck. I was on private that bordered public. That deer had to spend some time on public, kinda crazy to think a deer like that could be on public land 😳

[@thebarefarmer6924]

I'm kind of a hybrid, I want to manage and grow deer, but I also don't bowhunt. I get one week a year to hunt and then get to take my boys for youth. So I hunt KY rifle season. But I keep setting higher standards for myself every year and keep becoming a better hunter. I used to hunt with the bow, but I just don't have the time currently.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Awesome man, to be honest the growing and managing at this stage in life is better than hunting! And Kentucky is one of the most beautiful places to do it

[@rudygeorgiamulesandcountry1594]

I can vividly remember when compound bows first came on the scene with all the same controversy getting them accepted and legalized. Then you wanted releases, which opened the can of worms about crossbows utilizing a triggering device. Now your winning the same was recurve hunters did when compounds were getting legalized What goes around comes around, but you. Guys are in the top 10%; ... whatever ...

[@jedhuf7548]

When you get down to it… what’s the difference between hunting a feed plot an a bait pile?

[@HUNTRPOD]

Attractiveness, they'll walk past a food plot to get to a corn pile 99% of the time

[@jedhuf7548]

@@HUNTRPOD true. But we are still augmenting the habits and habitat of deer to increase our success. I’m not against either. I hunt SE PA and Maryland so I do what I can where I can. I had a feeder out on our horse farm when we first started there and now we have weened them onto food plots after we select cut some of the forest and have several small food plots in the woods.

[@russelllangworthy8855]

@@jedhuf7548 The difference between a food plot and a bait pile is that if a deer comes to a bait pile, it's at the exact distance you want it at for an easy shot. A deer can be in a food plot and be well out of range.

[@jedhuf7548]

@@russelllangworthy8855 I completely understand how it all works . I can shoot clear across my small woodland plots though. All terrain, all hunts are different.

[@russelllangworthy8855]

@@jedhuf7548 That makes sense. I keep forgetting that bowhunting is different now than when I started back in the '70s. I gave up gun hunting and started bowhunting because I didn't want to see how far I could shoot a deer, I wanted to see how close I could shoot a deer.

[@still1.]

💯 agree that xbows are not archery. I see guys in Ohio at a leased deer camp every year that don't practice and go out in the woods and take long shots over 50 yards and it bothers me that they think they are archers.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Absolutely, not saying everyone is that way but there’s a false confidence in long range shots with a crossbow

[@still1.]

@@HUNTRPOD I think you hit the nail on the head about the false confidence. That's a good way to describe what I have noticed with cross bow hunters. Shortcuts and the easy way are not the best way to respect the game that we love to play imo.

[@thetrooper1061]

@@still1. crossbows have been legal in OH for over 20years that I have been hunting and living here

[@still1.]

@@thetrooper1061 curious how that relates to the conversation? Are you saying that since cross bows are legal then it's OK to overestimate your abilities, to not practice and to take risky shots at deer?

[@thetrooper1061]

@@still1. it relates to this conversation because vertical and crossbow hunters have shared the woods of Ohio for at least 2 decades (probably more) without complications this is not a new phenomenon....NOW....so you are saying that a 50 yard crossbow shot is risky or unethical right? Than what would be considered ethical and within a reasonable distance 40 yards? 40 yards is exactly what a competent not even exceptional vertical archer should be able to hit. So why the problem with crossbows? Ballistically speaking they are nearly identical to vertical bows so why should they not be allowed? This is the main reason I get aggravated when the bowhunting community shits on crossbows. They are identical in performance in almost everyway except you have to draw a bow and obviously practice more. There hosts of this show have repeatedly said that guys are out there drilling deer at 100 yards away which is bullshit in reality the reason they don't like it is that someone with little experience on a crossbow and minimal practice can hold their own or outperform a very skilled vertical archer. AND as they say all the time more people on the "THEIR" woods

[@cabinvibesebaystore8956]

New sub! Liked 🔥🔥🎉😍😉🐸

[@HUNTRPOD]

Niiiiice

[@Mearsing22]

They don't even make you take the archery course and you can use a crossbow in new york

[@tylerhamilton149]

Where the hell can I buy Whitetail Property gear?

[@HUNTRPOD]

Haha I don’t think you can! We have internal sales…maybe we can give some away?

[@BIG_RIK]

I think other people talk about boiling bear grease because everything in this industry has been talked about over and over again so they are just looking to talk about something different. I personally love the meat eater guys. If you want only deer hunting info on their channel listen to mark kenyon and tony peterson.

[@elizabeth_williams]

Love that idea educating the deer to stay off corn piles

[@HUNTRPOD]

Haha not sure if they will just go to another and get killed or what

[@elizabeth_williams]

@@HUNTRPOD sadly you're right. We created a welfare population of deer that would rather be fat dumb and dead for the free pile handouts 😂

[@laurelhighlandoutdoors3257]

The Pennsylvania Game commission should make the scopes on crossbows illegal or make it a one week season, early like inline muzzleloader where you can only shoot doe.

[@HUNTRPOD]

That would be interesting for sure level the playing field but I imagine it could lead to more wounded deer. If there was no Xbows and that how they entered the season then yes, but it’s hard to pull back on what’s been legal

[@chrisruzsa2798]

Than compounds should lose the 80-90percent let off and sights and quiver attachments release mechanisms and everything else that gives them advantages.

[@laurelhighlandoutdoors3257]

@@chrisruzsa2798 There is a big difference from drawing a bow,to pulling a trigger. There needs to be a two week season for crossbows.

[@chrisruzsa2798]

@@laurelhighlandoutdoors3257 get a bow you can handle and no difference at all. I also remember the primitive and trad guys bitching about this same exact thing with compounds. Decades ago. You know what we are all archery and hunters we should be sticking together as one not fighting. The history of man kind was built on making weapons for efficiency.

[@chrisruzsa2798]

@@laurelhighlandoutdoors3257 by the way compounds have trigger release too and squeezing a trigger that is on a uncocked crossbow does nothing it needs to be drawn first so again this stupid argument of yours is voided. Learn your weapon become proficient with it work on your skills and don’t blame other weapons for your lack of success. Its pathetic.

[@veteranoutdoorsman9978]

Only walking by 4 guys in 2 miles is low pressure on nearly any public land.

[@HUNTRPOD]

😂 you’re right

[@veteranoutdoorsman9978]

@@HUNTRPOD but when you drag a big buck past 4 guys it's awsome

[@HUNTRPOD]

Heck yea man!

[@RVK866]

Come to NY I have thousands of acres of public to myself all archery

[@jamesmiller7710]

Actually most of the Amish listen on KZbin or Spotify if u wanna know

[@jerimahjohnson8698]

They are here...I think EHD is a serious issue here now. I can't stand the corn pile lifestyle. Of course I'm a food plot guy from way back and those darn piles change the game. I just bought another farm this week and it has lots of potential but the neighborhood is the key. Ben hit the nail on the baiting head...I have the best food around..corn real world beans winter green plots. Not until I knock that standing corn over will the deer really go after it. Last year snow on the ground deer walk thru standing corn to dig up alfalfa in the snow. You'd almost be better off letting food plots grow into weeds and just bait. Iowa seems to me to be the most unified state as far as hunters go. All the oil money in Texas can't flip that non resident landowner issue there and it's been tried. I gave up and sold now prices are too high to buy a big chunk.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Man what a key comment “you’d almost be better off letting your food plots grow into weed and just bait” …. That’s exactly the situation in many of those areas 🤯

[@OzarkJubal]

Dang, you lost me at "some guy boiling down bear fat and cooking duck in it? Like why? Who cares?" 'I just want to talk about deer, think about deer, and only hunt deer'... The guy that hunts deer, turkey, bear, ducks, and predators, is almost guaranteed a more skilled outdoorsman, and to be so closed minded to other kinds of hunting is unfortunate to say the least I think. Like your guest was saying, we all need to be in this together as hunters.

[@wk9953]

Agree. For me all of us outdoorsman from deer, moose and elk to fowl, pig and bear. All of us need to stick together and uplift each other and not judge ethical and humane hunting practices that get the job done.

[@HUNTRPOD]

At the end of the day we aren’t saying that isnt cool or we don’t do other things but deer hunt. I grew up grouse hunting and loved it, I bear hunting every year etc. what we are trying to say is that deep down if you looked who we truly are, we are deer guys. That’s the passion and that’s what ultimately we focus on all year long

[@wk9953]

@@HUNTRPOD I can respect that. There was a lot of things in this episode though that was y'all putting down other hunters, though and that I don't respect. I really like you guys and enjoy your content, but to me I want every hunter that wants to hunt and can hunt to hunt no matter if they bait and shoot young bucks with crossbows or hunt terrain with a trad bow, or anywhere in between.

[@wk9953]

@Mid Missouri Mountain Man I bet you shoot a compound as well. Compounds and crossbows are the same thing. Real bowhunters shoot single string trad bows, or that's what I would say if I was a judgmental prick.

[@OzarkJubal]

@Mid Missouri Mountain Man way to see the point and stick together there guy. Traditional hunters think compound users are lazy, I shoot a recurve crossbow now and most of your fancy compounds out-run and out-range my crossbow. Does that make all the compound users lazy? 🤔 Do we need to just get rid of muzzleloader and rifle season all together? Or should we just say personal choice and stick together as hunters.

[@rorynelson7548]

Can't be too picky around here, once rifle starts the boys in orange will shoot any damn deer they see

[@HUNTRPOD]

Yea sounds right

[@abevavra6725]

Sounds like Wisconsin crossbows and corn piles are the only way most people hunt

[@HUNTRPOD]

Not just your state lol

[@Mar-rt2yx]

Hey dudes you need a GoWild account!

[@HUNTRPOD]

We will take a look at it

[@flushot6513]

I just see crossbow corn piles I wanna get crossbow but. Seems These kids don't know how to hunt maybe wanna be let someone else do all the work and they just show up

[@charliewillman6767]

I love how you guys like don't just say you don't like crossbow hunters, and you dont like people who shoot young deer. You just go, "I'd never do it", and then two seconds later youre like, "I dont know why anyone would ever do it"... Like stop beating around the bush and trying to backhandily talk trash lmao.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Plenty of people we support using crossbows, just not everyone lol,

[@ernestroger3326]

Who’s idea was it to make baiting deer legal and why ? It just seems so unnatural.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Pretty sure the native Americans…may want to take it up with them

[@russelllangworthy8855]

@@HUNTRPOD Those pesky Native Americans sure had this country screwed up. Good thing the U.S. Government stepped in and put an end to a lot of their practices.

[@danweaver5787]

In the 50s n 60s there was a lot of habitat loss via mining and the chestnut blight. Deer numbers were so low some areas didn’t even have a season. So biologist got states to buy into supplemental feeding programs. That turned into baiting. Some states restructured the regulations on supplemental feeding like Iowa Illinois etc

[@buckydoedowner9040]

Talking Crossbows and corn piles? Geee... this is a first 🤡's

[@HUNTRPOD]

Haha calm down Bucky we won’t pick on you

[@buckydoedowner9040]

@@HUNTRPOD Have 2 mathews compounds and hunt over scrapes and ag fields.. So you wont be picking on me. Just think you guys beat the dead horse and miss out on lots of beginer hunters interest of the podcast... I'll be here watching the division of hunters as always... carry on with your favorite topic that effects you guys sooo much!

[@russelllangworthy8855]

@@HUNTRPODLol. Bucky cracks me up.

[@HUNTRPOD]

We have never once said a new hunter or young hunter shouldn’t use a crossbow, that’s exactly who they are for and those unable to draw vertical bows. Hell I’ll be on a bit pile this weekend so no complaints there haha

[@CatfishCody]

@@HUNTRPOD you hunt over bait?

[@Lovenlife139]

Your purest holier than tho attitude is wack bro. The guest, not the hosts.

[@flushot6513]

Well not all states allow crossbow during archery season as far as the rut times but I know you guys are entitled and that those big deer only belong to you cry babies