This week on the Design. Build. Hunt. podcast, Josh and Greg dig into one of the most overlooked problems in deer hunting—overhunting your stands. They unpack what “pressure” really means, how to recognize the signs that you’ve hunted a stand too much, and what to do to protect the integrity of your property. From access routes and wind management to understanding your property’s tolerance level, you’ll learn how to hunt smarter—not harder—and keep your deer calm, consistent, and killable. Whether you manage 30 acres or 300, this episode will help you understand why restraint and timing are two of your most powerful tools. 🎧 Presented by Whitetail Partners — helping hunters design properties that hunt better and produce more opportunities every season. 👉 Learn more or start your own habitat consultation at www.whitetailpartners.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Design. Build. Hunt., host Joshua Raley sits down with Whitetail Partners consultant Scott Christison to unpack the transformation of Scott's Minnesota property. Scott walks through the exact steps he took to bring his Whitetail Partners plan to life: cutting timber, shaping bedding areas, building access trails, and rethinking how deer move through the property. The result? A once-random deer movement pattern turned into predictable travel, increased daytime activity, and a property that continues to improve. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining an established property, this episode is packed with practical insight on how to make your ground easier to hunt and more attractive to deer. Learn more about Whitetail Partners consulting at www.whitetailpartners.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The pre-rut is where big-buck dreams meet reality. In this episode, we unpack why discipline, timing, and knowing your property’s limits make the difference between consistent success and blown opportunities. We cover how pressure builds through morning hunts, why food-source setups shine in the evenings, and how to match your tactics to your ground—whether it’s 10 acres behind the house or 300 acres in farm country. Every property is different—and the right pre-rut move depends on how deer use your ground. If you want a customized plan built around your land and hunting goals, head over to WhitetailPartners.com and let’s get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

October can be one of the best, or one of the most frustrating, months of the year in the whitetail woods. In this episode, the guys unpack how deer behavior shifts from early October through the so-called “lull” and into the prerut. They cover why movement feels inconsistent, how to balance limited, smart aggression with long-game patience, where water and fresh sign fit, when mornings finally make sense, and what to fix in the off-season to make next October better on your property. If you want help dialing in your October plan or property layout, reach out to us at www.whitetailpartners.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Design. Build. Hunt., we’re breaking down how to make the most of October cold fronts. We talk about when it’s worth getting aggressive, when to hang back and observe, how to approach mornings versus evenings, and which food sources tend to shine right now. Most importantly, we look at how to read your ground and your specific buck so you’re hunting with purpose. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are deer feeders a smart management tool or just a crutch hunters lean on? In this episode of Design. Build. Hunt., Josh sits down with Whitetail Partners consultant John Hudspeth to tackle one of the most controversial topics in hunting. The guys break down the difference between supplemental feeding and baiting, the regional differences that matter, and the biggest mistakes hunters make when relying on feeders. More importantly, you’ll hear practical strategies to use feeders without ruining your chances at mature bucks. Whether you see feeders as a key tool or a shortcut, this conversation will challenge your perspective and sharpen your strategy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trail cameras are one of the most powerful scouting tools we have as hunters—but they can also sabotage your season if used the wrong way. In this episode of the Design. Build. Hunt. Podcast, Josh and Sam dive into the most common trail camera mistakes that cost hunters opportunities, from facing cameras into the sun to checking them too often, relying too heavily on the intel, and waiting too late to move setups. Along the way, you’ll hear practical fixes, tips for getting the most out of both SD and cellular cameras, and a breakdown of season-long camera strategy—so your setups are working for you, not against you. If you’ve ever wondered how to get better photos, more reliable intel, and smarter hunting opportunities from your trail cameras, this episode is packed with lessons learned the hard way. 👉 Ready to take your trail camera strategy to the next level? Download our free resource, Trail Camera Mistakes & Season-Long Strategy, at whitetailpartners.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Design. Build. Hunt., Josh sits down with Tim Kaiser to unpack Tim's opening-day bow kill on his 60-acre western Wisconsin farm. Smart design, early-season food, and a simple focal point in the plot did the heavy lifting with a timely cameo from a younger buck to seal the deal. Tune in to hear how prime bedding, a just-off wind, bullet proof access, and a solid focal point turned "in the field" into "in range." Ready for help on your place? Reach out today at whitetailpartners.com and let’s get the conversation started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most hunters cram in “fixes” a week before opener—and then wonder why the season feels like damage control. In this episode of Design. Build. Hunt., Josh and Sam flip the script and show you how to win the long game by treating this fall as a data-gathering season and using the post-season window to design with clarity. You’ll hear the simple yearly rhythm: observe this fall, walk the property right after season, then design and implement with purpose this winter and spring. Do it right, and you’ll save time, money, and frustration while stacking the odds for future seasons. Need a second set of eyes or a full design/build partner? Head to our website to get in touch: Whitetail Partners. Tell us about your property and goals, and we’ll help you choose the right path—virtual coaching, onsite consultation, or turnkey implementation. No spam. No pressure. Just a clear next step. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many, early season hunting starts with high hopes, only to end in the disappointment of empty fields and fading daylight. But with the right design, food sources, and setups, your property can stand out in those crucial first weeks of the season. In this episode of Design. Build. Hunt., Josh and Sam dig into what makes a stellar early season property. From shaded summer bedding cover to strategic waterholes and low-pressure stand locations, they walk through the key features that give hunters consistent early season opportunities. Whether you’re hunting big ag or big timber country, this episode will help you see your land with fresh eyes and set it up for success when those September and October hunts roll around. Ready to take the next step on your property? Visit WhitetailPartners.com for free resources and to schedule your initial consultation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As deer season approaches, it’s easy to feel like you’ve run out of time. But the truth is, there are still critical steps you can take right now to make this season more successful. In this episode of Design. Build. Hunt., Josh and Sam break down five last-minute deer chores that actually move the needle. If you’ve got habitat or hunting questions of your own, head over to whitetailpartners.com and reach out through our contact page. We’d love to help you prioritize your next steps and set you up for success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every year, well-intentioned hunters and land managers pour time, sweat, and money into food plots only to watch them struggle or fail. In this episode of Design. Build. Hunt., we break down the most common reasons food plots underperform and the steps you can take to avoid the mistakes. From soil prep mistakes to poor seed selection and timing errors, this episode is full of actionable tips to help you grow vibrant, attractive food plots. If you’re ready to stop guessing with your food plots and start seeing real results, head over to WhitetailPartners.com and get in touch! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we’re breaking down the whitetail habitat plan for Greg’s personal property in Ohio. This one’s a little different—Greg isn’t just a landowner, he’s also part of the Whitetail Partners Network. That means the expectations were high, the goals were personal, and the design had to deliver on all fronts: hunting strategy, wildlife habitat, and year-round usability for Greg and his family. We walk through the layout of the land, discuss the key challenges it presented, and share how he approached bedding, access, food plots, and stand placement with a long-term vision in mind. You’ll hear why Greg’s Ohio property became a blueprint for balancing personal hunting preferences with proven design principles—and how he's phasing the implementation to make it realistic and efficient. Whether you're managing your own land or just love learning how great hunting properties come together, this episode gives you a detailed look at the process, priorities, and decisions that shaped Greg’s whitetail setup. Have a property of your own you want to transform? Get in touch with Whitetail Partners today at whitetailpartners.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Design. Build. Hunt. podcast, host Josh Raley is joined once again by Whitetail Partners founder Sam Bilhorn for a deep dive into a real client property design—one that blends smart planning, custom goals, and phased implementation. Josh and Sam walk through a 120-acre Wisconsin property, discussing its strong mix of ag land, diverse cover, and a tornado-altered ravine that provides outstanding whitetail habitat. This design highlights what it looks like when a landowner wants to partner on the process—taking on some of the work while letting the Whitetail Partners team handle the rest. It’s a great example of how we phase improvements, keep things budget-conscious, and stay aligned with the landowner’s unique goals. Whether you’re managing your own property or just curious about how we approach a real design, this episode is full of takeaways for hunters, landowners, and DIY habitat managers alike. Want your own property tailored for deer movement, hunter access, and long-term success? Visit WhitetailPartners.com to get started with a custom plan built around your land and goals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Design. Build. Hunt., Josh is joined by Tim Kaiser to tackle a question that’s been stirring debate: are water holes overrated? With some consultants saying to skip them and others swearing by them, we break down when—and where—they really matter. From construction tips and placement strategies to runoff considerations and common mistakes, this episode is packed with great info. If you’re thinking about adding water to your whitetail design—or want to fix an underperforming setup—this conversation is for you. If you're thinking about adding a water hole or improving one that’s underperforming, we’d love to help you get it right the first time. Visit www.whitetailpartners.com to schedule a consultation, check out more habitat resources, or reach out with your questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Design. Build. Hunt., Josh and Tim Menoher dive into one of the most overlooked yet impactful areas on a property when it comes to habitat management—field edges. They unpack how a sharp edge between open ground and timber can limit deer use and how subtle improvements like edge feathering, native browse regeneration, and strip disking can transform these dead zones into dynamic habitat features. Learn why edge diversity matters, what mistakes to avoid, and how to time and scale your improvements for maximum benefit. Whether you're managing an ag field, a food plot, or an open clearing, this conversation offers practical fixes you can implement now to shape better deer movement come fall. If you're ready to take your proeprty to the next level, head over to whitetailpartners.com and get in touch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can have the best food plots, bedding cover, and stand locations—but if your access is wrong, it won’t matter. In this episode, Josh Raley and Sam Bilhorn dig into the hidden cost of poor entry and exit strategies. Learn how to recognize when your access is hurting your hunts and what changes you can make this summer to fix it—before deer season is here. What You’ll Learn: Red flags that your access isn’t working How poor access ruins even the best habitat plans What smart access looks like (and how to build it) Simple, affordable improvements to make right now 👉 Need help dialing in your access? Book a virtual consult and let’s get to work at www.whitetailpartners.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve got your whitetail habitat plan in hand—now what? In this episode, Josh is joined by Sam Bilhorn to walk through how landowners can move from vision to execution. They break down how to prioritize summer tasks, stay on track with implementation, and avoid the common trap of doing a little bit of everything with no real impact. Whether your plan is brand new or a few years old, this episode gives you the clarity and confidence to take meaningful steps this season. If you have a plan but need help putting it into action, reach out to us at WhitetailPartners.com to schedule a coaching call or follow-up consultation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Understanding what’s possible on your hunting property is the key to long-term success. In this episode of Design. Build. Hunt., host Josh Raley is joined by Brenon Maynard from Whitetail Partners New York to discuss hunter expectations. They dive into the realities of land management, how to set achievable goals based on your area’s potential, and why managing your expectations leads to a more rewarding hunting experience. Whether you’re looking to buy land or improve the property you already own, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you make informed decisions. Thinking about buying hunting land or optimizing your property for better results? Visit www.whitetailpartners.com to learn how our expert consultants can help you design, build, and hunt more effectively! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Design. Build. Hunt., Josh and Lee Dixon dive deep into whitetail strategy in the South. From setting up sanctuary bedding and food sources to executing the perfect hunt, Lee breaks down the step-by-step approach that led to harvesting a great buck. Learn how access, habitat improvements, and a well-timed cold front made all the difference. Plus, we discuss the #1 habitat priority you should focus on right now to set up for success next season. The clock is ticking on habitat season, and our calendars are filling fast! Need a strategic plan for your property? Book a consultation with Whitetail Partners today at whitetailpartners.com and let’s design your dream hunting ground before it’s too late! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices