Wild Faith Podcast

Episode 86: Wisconsin Giant Down | Sam Melton’s Hunt for a Once-in-a-Lifetime Buck

In this episode of the Wild Faith Podcast, Evan sits down with Sam Melton to relive one of the most unforgettable hunts of the season — the pursuit and harvest of a true Wisconsin giant.
Sam walks through the full journey — from the early-season grind and hard encounters to the final moments when everything came together. Along the way, he shares his keys to success, the mental battles that every bowhunter faces, and how faith and persistence shaped the outcome.
This is more than a big-buck story — it’s about trusting the process, staying grounded through setbacks, and finding gratitude in the grind. Whether you’re chasing a target buck of your own or just love a good redemption story, this one’s packed with lessons every hunter can relate to.
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Chasin’ the Rut Season 2 Ep. 3: Bucks Hitting the Ground, Pre-Rut Tactics, and Halloween Week Success (Sam Melton & Ryan Murray)

The action’s heating up across the Midwest as Halloween week brings the first real wave of pre-rut chaos. In this episode of Chasin’ the Rut, Evan sits down with Sam Melton and Ryan Murray to talk through a week full of big-buck success and shifting deer patterns.
Sam breaks down the hunt for his October giant — from the setup and shot to what made this hunt come together — while Ryan dives into late-October strategies, hunting Ag Country, and chatting about youth-season success with his daughters big buck! It’s the perfect mix of stories, tactics, and timing for one of the best weeks of the year to be in the stand.
🎯 Be sure to tune in this Wednesday for Sam’s full episode, where he tells the complete story behind his buck of a lifetime.
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The Migration Minute: Elliott Snider from Freelance Duck Hunting and the North American Waterfowler app

In this week’s Migration Minute, Luke is joined by Elliott Snider from Freelance Duck Hunting to break down how the first cold fronts of mid-October are shifting bird patterns across the Central Flyway. Elliott shares what he’s been seeing in the field — from early pushes of teal and gadwalls to the first greenheads showing up — and dives into how he’s adapting decoy spreads, calling strategy, and hide setups for these changing conditions. The two also talk about managing expectations early in the season and the importance of staying flexible as migration momentum builds. Elliott closes with one solid piece of advice for hunters everywhere: focus less on limits, and more on learning what the ducks are telling you.
 
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Episode 85: Before the Rush Slowing Down to Hear the Holy Spirit

In this episode of Wild Faith, Evan talks about something we all wrestle with — the pace of life right before it all ramps up. The hunts, the holidays, the deadlines, the noise. Before the big rush hits, Evan shares what God’s been laying on his heart about slowing down, listening to the pull of the Holy Spirit, and remembering what truly holds value. He talks honestly about how easy it is to lose focus when life gets loud — how we start chasing things we want instead of the things that actually matter. Through Scripture, quiet reflection, and stories from the outdoors, Evan invites listeners to find peace before the storm, to pause long enough to hear God again, and to realign their hearts with what’s real — faith, family, and the presence of God. If you’ve been running hard, feeling stretched thin, or just needing a moment to breathe, this one’s for you.
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Chasin’ the Rut Season 2 Ep. 2: The Cold Front Switch | How to Hunt the October 20–25 Sweet Spot

It’s finally here — the first real cold front of October, and deer movement is about to blow wide open. In this week’s Chasin’ the Rut, Evan breaks down exactly how to hunt the October 20–25 window across Minnesota and the upper Midwest. From a youth season recap to mid-week cold-front strategy, stand setups, and daily game-plan breakdowns — this is the week mature bucks start showing in daylight. Buck sign is popping, scrapes are hot, and the pre-rut window is cracking open. Get ready — it’s go time.
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The Migration Minute: Cal Ness from Midwest Flyways

In the first episode of The Migration Minute, Luke sits down with Cal Ness from Midwest Flyways to kick off the new series and talk early-season waterfowl. They break down what Cal’s been seeing across the Midwest for early-to-mid October migration, how he’s adjusting his spreads and calling as the first big pushes of birds roll through, and the small details that make a big difference this time of year. Cal also shares one piece of advice for every waterfowl hunter heading into the heart of the season — a simple reminder to stay patient, adaptable, and grateful for time in the blind.
 
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Episode 84: The Great Debate: Moon vs. Weather — and the Truth Behind the October Lull

In this episode, Evan and Luke break down one of deer hunting’s longest-running debates — moon vs. weather — and uncover what’s actually happening when deer appear to disappear.
They dig into real movement data, talk through how changing food sources and cover shifts influence daylight activity, and explain why it’s not that deer stop moving — it’s that they move differently.
From cold fronts and barometric pressure to staging areas and scrape timing, this one’s packed with insights to help you adjust when early October feels slow.
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Chasin’ the Rut Season 2 Ep. 1 | October Bowhunting Tactics | Tail End of the Lull (Dan Johnson, Shane Simpson, Cody Butler)

Chasin’ the Rut is back for Season 2.We’re rolling into the week of October 13th–19th, right on the tail end of the October lull — that stretch when whitetail movement slows, temperatures swing, and hunters start wondering when things will break loose.
In this episode, we’re revisiting powerful conversations with three experienced bowhunters: Dan Johnson from Sportsman’s Empire, Shane Simpson, and Cody Butler.
They share practical, field-tested advice for the heart of October, including:
How to simplify your approach and hunt smarter using terrain and real-time sign (Dan Johnson)
How to adapt to shifting food sources and early-season pressure (Shane Simpson)
How discipline and timing can make the difference when the woods feel slow (Cody Butler)
Whether you’re hunting public land or hanging stands on the home farm, this episode will help you make the most of October deer movement and prepare for whats to come
Presented by Wild Faith.Watch on YouTube | Listen on Spotify & Apple PodcastsFollow @wildfaith and share what you’re seeing in the woods this week.
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