
Hosted by Beau Martonik · EN

Beau Martonik sits down with Pat Burns, a big woods hunter from the Northeast who has been hunting mountain laurel thickets for years, killing giant bucks in cover most hunters won’t go near. Pat breaks down how he finds openings and funnels inside a sea of laurel using leaf-off maps, why he considers all those ladder stands on the edges to be the equivalent of hunting a field edge, how he creates access trails to get a quarter mile deep into the thick stuff without making a sound, and the story behind the giant buck he killed last fall. They also get into tracking an 11.5-year-old buck across a five-mile stretch of mountain over several seasons, why November 4th consistently produces for Pat, his approach to reactivating community scrapes with nothing but fresh dirt, camera strategy in remote terrain, and pushing the envelope once you’ve done enough homework to back it. Pat also works for Huntstock, an outdoor festival held in Massachusetts (August 7–9, 2026). Beau will be at the Massachusetts event recording live podcast interviews with Rick Labbe, Lanny Benoit, Jeff Doyle, Jim Massett, and others. 00:00:00 — Intro 00:01:07 — What Makes Huntstock Different From a Trade Show 00:04:20 — Podcast Row and Northeast Legends Beau Will Interview in Massachusetts 00:08:59 — Pat’s Background in Maine 00:11:23 — The Shed That Started a Years-Long Obsession 00:15:44 — Learning to Track Big Woods Bucks 00:20:42 — Five Miles of Sheds and Closing in on a Giant 00:25:58 — How Hunting Pressure Moves Big Woods Bucks 00:31:22 — The Shared Buck Discovery 00:39:06 — Why November 4th Is Pat’s Magic Date 00:45:53 — Reading Wind to Find Buck Beds in Thick Cover 00:49:43 — Finding Bucks in Miles of Mountain Laurel 00:57:13 — Creating Trails to Hunt Deep in Laurel 00:58:27 — Why Big Woods Bedding Isn’t a Science 01:01:37 — Why You Need Boots on the Ground, Not Just Maps 01:06:32 — How Pat Reactivates Community Scrapes 01:14:14 — Pushing the Envelope and Having a Backup Spot 01:25:24 — Camera Strategy in Big Woods 01:34:13 — Mindset and Staying in It Through Hard Seasons 01:41:25 — The Giant Laurel Buck Pat Killed Last Fall 01:48:14 — Bringing New Hunters Into This Style 01:58:37 — Huntstock Details and Beau’s August Appearance Resources: Pat's IG - https://www.instagram.com/thejohnnystewart/ Huntstock - use code EMW25 for a discount - https://huntstockevents.com/ Instagram: @eastmeetswesthunt @beau.martonik Facebook: East Meets West Outdoors Shop Hunting Gear and Apparel: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/ YouTube: Beau Martonik - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJon93sYfu9HUMKpCMps3w Partner Discounts and Affiliate Links: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/partners Poncho Outdoors - Poncho Outdoors makes tough, sharp-looking, no-BS apparel for hardworking outdoorsmen who put in the time year-round. Go to ponchooutdoors.com/EASTMEETSWEST to save $10 and free shipping Amazon Influencer Page https://www.amazon.com/shop/beau.martonik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beau Martonik sits down with Johnny Stewart -- a PA-based DIY public land hunter with 30+ years of big woods experience across Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, West Virginia, Ohio, and North Dakota. This one is all about summer scouting. Johnny breaks down how he runs trail cameras from April through September purely for inventory (confirming a buck survived the winter), why he almost never moves cameras in summer even if they are not producing, and the pattern he and Beau figured out for why bucks vanish from cuts the moment archery season opens. Turns out it is not always pressure. Sometimes it comes down to food, and not the food sources you would expect. They also dig into the mature forest / mature buck correlation -- including a story about a late-season WV buck that left his bed specifically to eat shelf mushrooms off a downed cherry log -- glassing velvet bucks from road vantage points, and Johnny's philosophy on mid-October scouting and hunting where the deer isn't. Plus gear talk on the Timber Ninja Kunai and new Mini Kunai, the advantage of hunting with a cameraman, and a teaser on a University of Georgia study showing that fresh scrapes glow in UV light. Topics: 00:00:00 — Intro 00:13:38 — Self-filming and upcoming YouTube content 00:17:55 — Mountain hunting traditions and the NH drag-out story 00:21:22 — How each year compounds; building a 30-year catalog with Spartan Forge 00:27:13 — Summer vs. fall deer locations; camera placement; cuts vs. mature woods 00:42:42 — Why deer leave cuts on opener (wild cherries and mushrooms) 00:47:56 — Mushrooms and the mature forest / mature buck correlation 01:18:13 — Camera soaking strategy; velvet transition window; early October shift 01:29:42 — Trail cam tips; spring seeps; summer scrape activity; UV scrape study teaser 01:44:54 — Glassing cuts in late July/August; velvet growth timeline 01:55:02 — Timber Ninja gear talk: Kunai, Mini Kunai, C2 sticks 02:10:00 — Wrap-up Resources: Johnny's IG - https://www.instagram.com/thejohnnystewart/ Johnny's YT - https://www.youtube.com/@TheJohnnyStewart Johnny's website - https://johnnystewarthunt.com/ Instagram: @eastmeetswesthunt @beau.martonik Facebook: East Meets West Outdoors Shop Hunting Gear and Apparel: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/ YouTube: Beau Martonik - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJon93sYfu9HUMKpCMps3w Partner Discounts and Affiliate Links: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/partners Poncho Outdoors - Poncho Outdoors makes tough, sharp-looking, no-BS apparel for hardworking outdoorsmen who put in the time year-round. Go to ponchooutdoors.com/EASTMEETSWEST to save $10 and free shipping Amazon Influencer Page https://www.amazon.com/shop/beau.martonik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beau Martonik sits down with Allie D'Andrea (Outdoors Allie) and Nick Berger for the first time in four years. A big chunk of this one is wild game cooking. Allie ran a head-to-head venison burger experiment comparing pure venison, pork shoulder, bacon, butter, mayo, and egg. Pork shoulder at 80/20 won. Mayo was last. She also covers how to handle bear meat, how to render bear fat, where to source fat at the grocery store, and what to do with the turkey that's been sitting in your freezer since last fall. Beyond the cooking, they get into bear hunting in Pennsylvania and the weight that comes with it, the honest math on guide hunts vs. DIY, why Florida outdoorsmen are underrated, deer camp culture, and fall plans including a Wyoming elk tag. Allie is the author of The Butcher's Table cookbook, available on Amazon. Topics: 00:00:00 — Intro 00:04:21 — Long-term content creation: staying in this space 00:16:38 — Guide hunts vs. DIY: the honest math 00:20:51 — Why Florida hunters are underrated 00:28:59 — Wildlife encounters and bear hunting in PA 00:52:46 — Deer camp culture 00:58:28 — Bear meat: how to grind, render, and cook it 01:06:04 — Venison burger fat experiment 01:14:57 — Freezer turkey and wild game cooking tips 01:35:24 — Hawaii axis deer, scalloping in Florida, and Wyoming elk Instagram: @eastmeetswesthunt @beau.martonik Facebook: East Meets West Outdoors Shop Hunting Gear and Apparel: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/ YouTube: Beau Martonik - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJon93sYfu9HUMKpCMps3w Partner Discounts and Affiliate Links: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/partners Poncho Outdoors - Poncho Outdoors makes tough, sharp-looking, no-BS apparel for hardworking outdoorsmen who put in the time year-round. Go to ponchooutdoors.com/EASTMEETSWEST to save $10 and free shipping Amazon Influencer Page https://www.amazon.com/shop/beau.martonik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beau Martonik sits down with Ryan Leary, a PA hunter who has been grinding big woods public land for six years and put together back-to-back mature buck kills including a 7.5 year old eight point in 2025. Ryan breaks down both hunts — the 2025 buck he killed at 10 yards after trusting his gut on fresh sign mid-morning, and the 2024 deer he killed the same evening he bumped on foot while hunting with a broken shoulder he probably shouldn't have been in the woods on. They also get into how he reads finger ridges and micro terrain, why getting into the nasty stuff changed his success rate, how the gypsy moth acorn wipeout forced him to rethink his whole approach, and what he's learned about mature bucks in the Pennsylvania mountains. Topics: 00:00:00 – Intro 00:04:34 – Background and How Ryan Got Into Big Woods Hunting 00:14:29 – The 2025 Buck — Setup, Sign, and the Kill 00:23:41 – Breaking Down the Terrain and Why the Tree Made the Difference 00:29:48 – Trusting Your Gut in the Big Woods 00:39:13 – Reading Mature Buck Bodies vs. Antlers 00:49:52 – The 2024 Season — Broken Shoulder, Big Encounters, and the Kill 01:00:22 – How Late October 2024 Was Unlike Any Season Recently 01:02:33 – Time in the Woods — Why It Changes Everything 01:13:40 – Micro Points, Buck Beds, and Reading Terrain 01:23:54 – Advice for Guys Getting Into Big Woods Public Land Hunting 01:28:50 – Closing Instagram: @eastmeetswesthunt @beau.martonik Facebook: East Meets West Outdoors Shop Hunting Gear and Apparel: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/ YouTube: Beau Martonik - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJon93sYfu9HUMKpCMps3w Partner Discounts and Affiliate Links: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/partners Poncho Outdoors - Poncho Outdoors makes tough, sharp-looking, no-BS apparel for hardworking outdoorsmen who put in the time year-round. Go to ponchooutdoors.com/EASTMEETSWEST to save $10 and free shipping Amazon Influencer Page https://www.amazon.com/shop/beau.martonik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beau Martonik sits down with Bill Vanderheyden of Iron Will Outfitters — 10 years of engineering broadheads and arrow systems built around what a setup actually needs to do when conditions are not perfect. They open with Bill's Colorado elk hunt — 10 miles back in the wilderness, a 4-hour chase into dark timber, and a frontal shot at 30 yards through a 3-inch window in the pines. From there the conversation gets into the science behind why that shot worked and what most hunters are getting wrong before they ever get to a moment like that. Topics include what actually makes a bow setup forgiving in hunting conditions, why FOC doesn't tell you what most people think, the physics of penetration and the speed vs. heavy arrow debate, why mechanicals on elk are a bigger risk than most realize, steep shot angles, effective range, and how to practice the shots that actually show up in the field. 00:00:00 – Intro 00:04:37 – Colorado Elk Hunt — 10 Miles Back, Frontal Shot Through the Pines 00:21:41 – Pin Setup and Shot Confidence in the Field 00:24:24 – Bighorn Sheep Hunt — Steep Cliffs, No Rangefinder, 55 Yards 00:34:10 – What Actually Makes a Hunting Setup Forgiving 00:44:42 – Penetration Physics — Momentum, Arrow Flight, and Blade Geometry 00:57:13 – Why Mechanicals on Elk Are a Risk Most Hunters Underestimate 01:02:29 – FOC — What the Number Actually Tells You and What It Doesn't 01:10:15 – Whitetail vs. Western Setup — How Much Actually Needs to Change 01:14:20 – Moving Deer and Shot Timing 01:25:05 – Steep Shot Angles — Tree Stand and Mountain Scenarios 01:32:55 – Holding Under Pressure and Practicing Real Scenarios 01:41:21 – Effective Range — How to Actually Define It for Your Setup 01:47:42 – The Iron Will Wide Broadhead on Elk 01:51:36 – Axis Deer Hunt in Hawaii — Setup Considerations 01:54:58 – Closing + Where to Find Iron Will Instagram: @eastmeetswesthunt @beau.martonik Facebook: East Meets West Outdoors Shop Hunting Gear and Apparel: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/ YouTube: Beau Martonik - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJon93sYfu9HUMKpCMps3w Partner Discounts and Affiliate Links: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/partners Poncho Outdoors - Poncho Outdoors makes tough, sharp-looking, no-BS apparel for hardworking outdoorsmen who put in the time year-round. Go to ponchooutdoors.com/EASTMEETSWEST to save $10 and free shipping Amazon Influencer Page https://www.amazon.com/shop/beau.martonik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beau Martonik sits down with Pennsylvania Game Commission elk biologist Jeremy Banfield to break down the biggest changes to Pennsylvania's elk hunting program in years. They cover the new October season that overlaps the rut, once-in-a-lifetime bull tags, the non-resident cap and higher application cost, how bonus points from all three old seasons are now combined into one application, and the completely redrawn hunt zones numbered 301–309. Jeremy also gives an honest update on the current state of the herd — population estimates, bull to cow ratios, habitat improvements, and where CWD stands relative to the elk range. If you're applying for a Pennsylvania elk tag, this is required listening before July 12th. Apply at huntfish.pa.gov — drawing is July 25th at the Elk Expo in Benezette Topics: 00:00:00 – Intro 00:04:21 – Herd Population — 1,563 Elk and How They Count Them 00:10:31 – Bull to Cow Ratio and Why It's Too High 00:13:27 – CWD — What It Means for Pennsylvania Elk 00:17:21 – Why the Herd Grows Slowly by Design 00:23:05 – New October Season — Why It Was Added 00:26:47 – Resident vs. Non-Resident Changes 00:32:59 – Bull Tags Are Now Once in a Lifetime 00:33:50 – New Bonus Point System — One Application, Combined Points 00:41:11 – How to Apply and What Your Choices Mean 00:52:47 – New Hunt Zones 301–309 — How They Were Built 01:02:12 – Zone Selection Strategy 01:07:10 – Application Deadline and Drawing Day Details 01:16:08 – What Elk Eat and When to See Them 01:20:53 – Closing and Where to Find the Rules Instagram: @eastmeetswesthunt @beau.martonik Facebook: East Meets West Outdoors Shop Hunting Gear and Apparel: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/ YouTube: Beau Martonik - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJon93sYfu9HUMKpCMps3w Partner Discounts and Affiliate Links: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/partners Poncho Outdoors - Poncho Outdoors makes tough, sharp-looking, no-BS apparel for hardworking outdoorsmen who put in the time year-round. Go to ponchooutdoors.com/EASTMEETSWEST to save $10 and free shipping Amazon Influencer Page https://www.amazon.com/shop/beau.martonik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beau Martonik sits down with Josh Ilderton and Mason Holz of The Untamed, recorded from the truck on the last morning of a West Virginia turkey hunting trip. They recap the week — tough conditions, birds that gobbled all day but wouldn't commit, the grind of hunting hard while balancing real jobs, kids' sports, and a weekly YouTube channel. Josh talks about what camp culture means to him and why the relationships matter more than the kills. Then they spot a longbeard and three jakes off the road, sneak up the bank, and Beau kills the longbeard ten minutes later. They also get into what's kept The Untamed going for eight years — persistence, authenticity, and playing a long game — and what Mason learned from his first season interning with a hunting media brand. Instagram: @eastmeetswesthunt @beau.martonik Facebook: East Meets West Outdoors Shop Hunting Gear and Apparel: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/ YouTube: Beau Martonik - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJon93sYfu9HUMKpCMps3w Partner Discounts and Affiliate Links: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/partners Poncho Outdoors - Poncho Outdoors makes tough, sharp-looking, no-BS apparel for hardworking outdoorsmen who put in the time year-round. Go to ponchooutdoors.com/EASTMEETSWEST to save $10 and free shipping Amazon Influencer Page https://www.amazon.com/shop/beau.martonik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beau Martonik sits down with Jason Redd of Timber Ninja Outdoors, recorded off the tailgate on the last day of a turkey camp trip in West Virginia. They recap three days of hunting — birds that gobbled all day on day one, a tom that put on a show for 90 minutes and never committed, roosted birds that got crashed by trespassers on day two, and a quiet final morning that just didn't come together. Good conversation on when to stay on a bird vs. move on, and what makes mountain turkey hunting so hard to predict. Jason also breaks down how he's been running the MTN Runner vest this season — what's working, what he'd change, and how he's setting it up differently for turkey vs. deer. Plus a first look at the Ronin, Timber Ninja's new single panel saddle coming out this summer. Timber Ninja IG Shop Timber Ninja in the EMW Gear Shop Timber Ninja Website Instagram: @eastmeetswesthunt @beau.martonik Facebook: East Meets West Outdoors Shop Hunting Gear and Apparel: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/ YouTube: Beau Martonik - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJon93sYfu9HUMKpCMps3w Partner Discounts and Affiliate Links: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/partners Poncho Outdoors - Poncho Outdoors makes tough, sharp-looking, no-BS apparel for hardworking outdoorsmen who put in the time year-round. Go to ponchooutdoors.com/EASTMEETSWEST to save $10 and free shipping Amazon Influencer Page https://www.amazon.com/shop/beau.martonik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beau Martonik sits down with Dioni Amuchastegui, one of the most respected public land mule deer hunters in the country, to break down what it actually takes to consistently find and kill giant bucks in the West. They cover how Dioni approaches scouting from the macro level down, why most hunters are picking spots before they understand the area, how to efficiently cover country to find where deer actually are, and what changes in buck behavior through the season that most hunters misread. Dioni also explains why deer seem to disappear after velvet drop — and why it has less to do with hormones than most people assume. He tells the full story of his buck from last year — finding him on the last day of his last scouting trip, waiting for the exact right weather window, making the stock, missing twice, and putting him down on the third shot. Dioni also breaks down Deadfall Design, his company making a bino harness holster attachment built for backcountry hunters who carry a sidearm. Topics: 00:00:00 — Intro 00:04:30 – Who Is Dioni and How He Got Started 00:09:38 – Killing a 195-Inch Buck on His First Serious Season 00:20:06 – What He Does Differently Than Most Mule Deer Hunters 00:28:39 – How to Read Country and Know When to Move On 00:36:16 – Balancing Family, Work, and the Scouting Grind 00:41:51 – Dry Firing on Deer Before the Shot 00:53:56 – Where Big Bucks Bed and Why 01:00:06 – Empty Pockets — Why Winter Kill Creates Hollow Country 01:06:02 – Why Deer Seem to Disappear After Velvet Drop 01:09:09 – Finding the Buck and the Competition That Followed 01:18:28 – The Stalk, Two Missed Arrows, and the Kill 01:31:01 – Staying Focused on One Species 01:34:36 – Deadfall Design — How It Started and What It Does 01:49:02 – Closing Dioni's IG Deadfall Design IG Deadfall Design website Instagram: @eastmeetswesthunt @beau.martonik Facebook: East Meets West Outdoors Shop Hunting Gear and Apparel: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/ YouTube: Beau Martonik - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJon93sYfu9HUMKpCMps3w Partner Discounts and Affiliate Links: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/partners Poncho Outdoors - Poncho Outdoors makes tough, sharp-looking, no-BS apparel for hardworking outdoorsmen who put in the time year-round. Go to ponchooutdoors.com/EASTMEETSWEST to save $10 and free shipping Amazon Influencer Page https://www.amazon.com/shop/beau.martonik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beau Martonik sits down with Brad Watts, a 15-year muzzleloading hunter and precision rifle competitor who works at CVA, recorded live at the NWTF show. They break down everything a hunter needs to know about muzzleloaders — how to choose the right one for your hunting situation, the difference between pellets, loose powder, and Blackhorn 209, how to properly clean and maintain your gun, and what actually causes misfires in the field. Brad also explains how competing in long-range precision rifle has made him a more confident hunter at every distance, and why that same mentality applies to how you should be practicing with your bow. If you've been intimidated by muzzleloaders or feel like you're missing something, this one clears it up. Topics: 00:00:00 — Intro 00:04:24 – Growing Up Hunting in PA 00:07:03 – Muzzleloader Seasons and Opportunities by State 00:09:30 – Getting Into Muzzleloading 00:13:53 – How Brad Got Into Muzzleloaders Through the Industry 00:15:03 – Keeping It Simple vs. Going Down the Rabbit Hole 00:17:51 – Precision Rifle and How It Makes You a Better Hunter 00:23:24 – The Importance of Practice 00:30:57 – Understanding Calibers, Bullets, and Powder Charges 00:36:47 – Pellets vs. Loose Powder vs. Blackhorn 209 00:42:05 – Cleaning and Maintenance 00:53:00 – Moisture, Misfires, and Storing Your Muzzleloader 00:59:32 – Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them 01:07:43 – New CVA Products — Endura, Optima XP, Cascade Rimfire 01:15:16 – Closing + Where to Find CVA Save 10% on CVA muzzleloaders, rifles, and accessories at bpioutdoors.com/cva — use code EASTMEETSWEST10 Instagram: @eastmeetswesthunt @beau.martonik Facebook: East Meets West Outdoors Shop Hunting Gear and Apparel: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/ YouTube: Beau Martonik - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJon93sYfu9HUMKpCMps3w Partner Discounts and Affiliate Links: https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/partners Poncho Outdoors - Poncho Outdoors makes tough, sharp-looking, no-BS apparel for hardworking outdoorsmen who put in the time year-round. Go to ponchooutdoors.com/EASTMEETSWEST to save $10 and free shipping Amazon Influencer Page https://www.amazon.com/shop/beau.martonik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices