698 - Don’t Start With Sign—Start With the Landscape with Clay Newcomb

Today we sit down with Clay Newcomb of ⁨@MeatEaterTV⁩ , host of the Bear Grease Podcast on the ⁨@MeatEaterPodcastNetwork⁩ .Clay has hunted all over his state of Arkansas as well as across the country. While he is mainly known for bear hunting, he also has quite a wall full of big whitetails! In this episode, we discuss Clay's upbringing hunting the piney woods of Southern Arkansas and his transition into mountain hunting later on. In this episode, he explains: - Why timing is the most important aspect of having a successful deer hunt- Not getting sucked into sign- Looking at the landscape first- Eliminating large areas that aren't good for deer hunting- Lessons from his mentors on mountain huntingand a ton more. We also have a great discussion around bear hunting on public land in the mountains, without the use of bait or hounds. 01:44 Clay Newcomb's Background and Family Influence05:32 The Evolution of Hunting Techniques12:42 Mentorship and Learning from Peers15:54 Adapting to New Hunting Environments19:43 Scent Control and Hunting Strategies25:56 Balancing Life and Hunting27:53 In the Field Tips and Gear Recommendations39:23 The Importance of Timing in Hunting40:18 Learning from Experienced Hunters43:18 Introduction to Bear Hunting43:53 The History of Bear Hunting in Arkansas47:18 The Fascination with Bears52:10 The Significance of Bear Grease54:52 Challenges of Public Land Bear Hunting01:13:30 The Resurgence of Black Bears01:18:07 The History of Bear Hunting in the South01:18:23 Generational Memory and Wildlife Erasure01:20:16 Bear Hunting Techniques and Tips01:33:08 The Role of Mules in Hunting01:39:57 Close Encounters and Risky Situations01:48:56 About the Bear Grease PodcastGot a question for the show? Submit a listener Q&A form - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1uMXPGrab some Southern Outdoorsmen merch here - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1u4aKJoin Woodsman Wire - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1u4aRUse the promo code “southern” for a discount on your OnX Hunt membership here - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1tyfmSave 10% on your next Vortex Optics order at eurooptic.com using the Promo Code “southern10” - https://2ly.link/1wyYOUse code “SOUTHERN25” for a discount on Houndstooth Game Calls: https://2ly.link/24tFzUse code SOUTHERN20 for a discount on all vortex apparel, including eyewearCheck out Latitude Outdoors for your mobile hunting gear - https://2ly.link/1zVDIHave you tagged a deer using something you heard on the show? Submit your listener success story here - Share Your Story HereCome chat with us on our Thursday Hunter Hangouts! Join our patreon - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1uMXUNOTE: Not all advertisements run on this show are endorsed by The Southern Outdoorsmen Podcast unless an ad is read by one of the hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices