In this episode of The Watering Hole, Todd and Justin welcome back the infamous Tracker John to share the wealth of knowledge he has gathered from years of following thousands of blood trails. The discussion dives into the fascinating science of how tracking dogs process scent, specifically how they can distinguish between different types of blood—such as lung, liver, or gut—and how their behavior on the trail can help a tracker predict the likelihood of a successful recovery. John provides a professional perspective on the mechanics of deer recovery, explaining how environmental factors like moisture in the snow can impact a dog's ability to stay on a trail and why achieving two exit holes is a major advantage for arrow penetration and tracking.

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In this week’s episode of the Watering Hole, we’re diving into that bittersweet post-season reality where the snow is melting and the itch for shed hunting is officially kicking in. We spend some time catching up on Ben’s recent outings in the mud—which didn't turn up any antlers—and discuss why Justin usually prefers to trade the antler search for some high-level spring scouting. There is also a pretty incredible update on a buck Jake shot back in November; it turns out the recovery was waiting for the guys just 50 yards from where they’d been parking their trucks all along. It’s a classic reminder that even with a dog tracker, these deer can pull a disappearing act right under your nose, leaving you to realize you've walked past them a dozen times.

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We’re hanging out with 22-year-old archer and University of Pikeville student, who just came off a massive weekend at the Lancaster Archery Classic. Coming to us from Zanesville, Ohio, he opens up about what it was really like out there on the floor, from the nerves of switching divisions to the grit it takes to compete at the collegiate level. He’s been behind a bow since he was a kid, and it’s great to hear him reflect on how those years of practice—and even the tough second-place finishes—finally clicked into place for this big win.

The best part of the conversation is hearing him describe that "flow state" where the world drops away and you just can't seem to miss a single X. But it’s not all serious target talk; he also lets us in on his favorite way to celebrate a major victory: buying a flashy new pair of cowboy boots. After his Vegas win, it was python, but this time around he’s eyeing some ostrich or alligator skins. It’s a fun, down-to-earth look at the person behind the bow, wrapped up with a sincere thank you to the Bowhunt or Die crew and the archery community that keeps the sport so much fun.

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