We’re not all habitat work all the time here at NDA. We know the importance of enjoying the fruits of your labor and that’s the primary focus of the Coffee and Deer podcast. The show is hosted by NDA President and CEO Nick Pinizzotto and his long-time hunting buddy and friend Mike Groman and focuses on hunting heritage and conservation policy. Nick and Mike are typically joined by expert guests — from NDA staff to outdoor writers to policymakers — to share hunting stories and discuss important conservation issues impacting deer and deer hunting. We hope you’ll join us for a fun and informative discussion over coffee about all things deer.
Episodes
Wednesday Feb 23, 2022
Wednesday Feb 23, 2022
You often hear deer hunter saying things like, “It’s going to be hard to top that one,” after they or a buddy shoots a trophy buck. In the case of South Carolina deer hunter Lucy Mahon, it’s going to be nearly impossible to outdo herself by taking a more unique trophy than she did during the 2021 season. A few weeks ago, Lucy, a dedicated Coffee and Deer Podcast listener, shared photos of her beautiful eight-point buck with a unique spotted hide. Nick and The Doctor invited her on the show to explain how she first became aware of the deer and eventually caught up with it after several failed attempts. She also shares her story of having quit deer hunting because of a negative experience she had, and how it took almost two decades before she decided to go again. If you have a great deer hunting story you want to share, send it to nick@deerassociation.com, and you just might find yourself as a guest on the show.
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Show Sponsor: Browning
NDA Hunting for Love Sweepstakes
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Music by Bensound
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About the National Deer Association
The National Deer Association (NDA) is a non-profit deer conservation group that works to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting. Thank you for subscribing to our podcast!
Support NDA’s mission by becoming a member today.
NDA has the highest ranking from Charity Navigator, an independent group that monitors non-profits for financial efficiency and effectiveness.
Learn more about deer and deer hunting in our weekly, free e-newsletter.
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Wednesday Feb 09, 2022
Wednesday Feb 09, 2022
Her first bow was fashioned by her father out of a stick and string when she was a child. Now, Jen Delaney can blow out candles and put an arrow through the opening of a spinning wine bottle and does it with flare as she taunts her doubters. Those are just a couple of her many trick shots she pulls off with her traditional archery gear. Her talent combined with a natural ability to entertain has made her the most popular archer on TikTok, and her Freedom and Feathers audience is growing by the day with more than 1.2 million followers. She also has significant followings on Instagram and YouTube.
In this episode, Nick and The Doctor talk with Jen about her journey as an archer, and why it’s so important to her to pass the sport along to others. They also discuss how to reach broad audiences with a shooting, hunting, and conservation message. A new hunter, Jen talks about her excitement to learn more about the sport and spend more time afield in the coming years. This is a fun show you definitely don’t want to miss.
It's also an Ask NDA Anything episode, and the guys share their methods for keeping hands warm in the field in response to a listener’s question. Remember to send us your Ask NDA Anything questions, which will be answered in the next episode. To submit your question and be considered for a coveted NDA hat, please email Nick Pinizzotto at nick@deerassociation.com.
Important Links
Follow Nick Pinizzotto on Instagram
Follow Mike Groman on Instagram
Music by Bensound
Subscribe to the Podcast on:
About the National Deer Association
The National Deer Association (NDA) is a non-profit deer conservation group that works to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting. Thank you for subscribing to our podcast!
Support NDA’s mission by becoming a member today.
NDA has the highest ranking from Charity Navigator, an independent group that monitors non-profits for financial efficiency and effectiveness.
Learn more about deer and deer hunting in our weekly, free e-newsletter.
Follow us on our other channels: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Wednesday Jan 26, 2022
Wednesday Jan 26, 2022
Do we really need more hunters? Even though the answer to that might be an obvious “yes” for most, not everyone agrees largely due to concerns about competition for places to hunt and the ability to acquire tags. In this episode, Nick and The Doctor are joined by NDA’s Director of Hunting, Hank Forester, to tackle this difficult question and others related to new hunter recruitment. They also discuss NDA’s Field to Fork program and the enjoyment and satisfaction that comes from mentoring new hunters. For more information on NDA’s Field to Fork program, visit www.deerassociation.com/fieldtofork.
Remember to send us your Ask NDA Anything questions, which will be answered in the next episode. To submit your question, please email Nick Pinizzotto at nick@deerassociation.com.
Follow Hank Forester on Instagram
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Music by Bensound
Subscribe to the Podcast on:
About the National Deer Association
The National Deer Association (NDA) is a non-profit deer conservation group that works to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting. Thank you for subscribing to our podcast!
Support NDA’s mission by becoming a member today.
NDA has the highest ranking from Charity Navigator, an independent group that monitors non-profits for financial efficiency and effectiveness.
Learn more about deer and deer hunting in our weekly, free e-newsletter.
Follow us on our other channels: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
Swing and a miss! It happens to even the most experienced hunters and skilled shooters and not coming through at the moment of truth at some point in a hunting career is inevitable. Being able to recover quickly from these major disappointments is important so that the next opportunity can be taken advantage of. In this episode, Nick and The Doctor are joined by Heartland Bowhunter co-owner and personality Shawn Luchtel about the matter of missing and what he does to refocus after it happens. He also shares his pre-shot routine that helps him control adrenaline and improve his chances of hitting the mark. Shawn tells the story of one of his most memorable misses, and how that fateful moment still sticks with him today. Also discussed in this episode is the evolution of the Heartland Bowhunter television show, and their web-based shows Behind the Draw and Full Strut. In addition to the interview, our hosts tackle a couple new “Ask NDA Anything” questions. To submit your question, please email Nick Pinizzotto at nick@deerassociation.com.
Important Links:
Follow Shawn Luchtel on Instagram
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Music by Bensound
Subscribe to the Podcast on:
About the National Deer Association
The National Deer Association (NDA) is a non-profit deer conservation group that works to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting. Thank you for subscribing to our podcast!
Support NDA’s mission by becoming a member today.
NDA has the highest ranking from Charity Navigator, an independent group that monitors non-profits for financial efficiency and effectiveness.
Learn more about deer and deer hunting in our weekly, free e-newsletter.
Follow us on our other channels: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Wednesday Dec 22, 2021
Wednesday Dec 22, 2021
If you want to hear a deer hunting story that’s sure to give you goosebumps and may even bring a tear to your eye, don’t miss this episode. Nick and The Doctor are joined by Kathleen Savaiano who went on her first deer hunt and found success as a recent participant in an NDA Field to Fork event in Missouri. She tells the story of her long journey from an initial interest in trying hunting to the moment she squeezed the trigger. Kathleen talks about the barriers that kept her from hunting sooner, and she describes her flood of emotions as she approached her downed doe. Finally, she describes her entire experience as a Field to Fork participant and how the thoroughness of the program was exactly what she was hoping for as a first-time hunter. This is a rare opportunity to hear a great deer hunting story from the perspective of someone who has done it for the first time.
You can learn more about NDA’s Field to Fork program here.
Follow Nick Pinizzotto on Instagram
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Music by Bensound
Subscribe to the Podcast on:
About the National Deer Association
The National Deer Association (NDA) is a non-profit deer conservation group that works to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting. Thank you for subscribing to our podcast!
Support NDA’s mission by becoming a member today.
NDA has the highest ranking from Charity Navigator, an independent group that monitors non-profits for financial efficiency and effectiveness.
Learn more about deer and deer hunting in our weekly, free e-newsletter.
Follow us on our other channels: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
Did you know that hunting privileges are continually under attack by animal rights activists and even some deceptively named organizations like the Humane Society of the United States and Center for Biological Diversity? Luckily, we have groups like the Sportsmen’s Alliance working on these issues and in this episode Nick and The Doctor talk with their CEO, Evan Heusinkveld. He explains that even though deer hunting typically isn’t directly being threatened, all anti-hunting issues matter and it’s up to everyone who hunts to be aware and involved. Evan warns us to be careful about who we’re supporting financially as these groups are good at raising money from people who aren’t aware of their intentions related to stopping hunting. There are a lot of nuances to the way anti-hunting groups work to accomplish their agendas, and he discusses what it’s going to take to beat them at their own game.
Follow the Sportsmen's Alliance on Instagram
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Music by Bensound
Subscribe to the Podcast on:
About the National Deer Association
The National Deer Association (NDA) is a non-profit deer conservation group that works to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting. Thank you for subscribing to our podcast!
Support NDA’s mission by becoming a member today.
NDA has the highest ranking from Charity Navigator, an independent group that monitors non-profits for financial efficiency and effectiveness.
Learn more about deer and deer hunting in our weekly, free e-newsletter.
Follow us on our other channels: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Wednesday Nov 24, 2021
Wednesday Nov 24, 2021
It’s hard to believe, but with the peak of the rut behind us many hunters have moved on from their bows and regular archery seasons and are either picking up their firearms or are looking ahead to some winter hunting. In this episode, Nick and “The Doctor” recap their hunting seasons so far and tell the stories behind three recent successful hunts. Nick tells the story of his Halloween Eve buck and Mike shares tales of his November doe and buck kills. They guys share the tactics they used that helped them fill their tags while also discussing what they felt they did well, and what they can improve on. They also offer their thoughts about what they’re most disappointed about so far, and what they’re most optimistic about moving forward.
Follow Nick Pinizzotto on Instagram
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Subscribe to the Podcast on:
About the National Deer Association
The National Deer Association (NDA) is a non-profit deer conservation group that works to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting. Thank you for subscribing to our podcast!
Support NDA’s mission by becoming a member today.
NDA has the highest ranking from Charity Navigator, an independent group that monitors non-profits for financial efficiency and effectiveness.
Learn more about deer and deer hunting in our weekly, free e-newsletter.
Follow us on our other channels: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
If you’ve never tried hunting whitetails with a decoy, you’re missing out on an adrenaline-filled experience. In this episode, Nick and “The Doctor” are joined by the President of Montana Decoy, CJ Davis, and the guys discuss deer decoy tactics that the novice and experienced decoy user will find useful. You won’t want to miss CJ’s story about his most memorable hunt with a decoy, which is sure to make you laugh hard enough to cry. In addition to CJ’s decoy expertise, he’s had a long and successful outdoor career and has worked for organizations such as the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Quality Deer Management Association, which is now NDA of course. He is also an avid and experienced traditional archer.
Follow Nick Pinizzotto on Instagram
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Subscribe to the Podcast on:
About the National Deer Association
The National Deer Association (NDA) is a non-profit deer conservation group that works to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting. Thank you for subscribing to our podcast!
Support NDA’s mission by becoming a member today.
NDA has the highest ranking from Charity Navigator, an independent group that monitors non-profits for financial efficiency and effectiveness.
Learn more about deer and deer hunting in our weekly, free e-newsletter.
Follow us on our other channels: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Wednesday Oct 27, 2021
Wednesday Oct 27, 2021
It’s November and that means it’s the Super Bowl of deer season for most whitetail hunters. This episode is all about hunting the rut and Nick and “The Doctor” were joined by legendary outdoor writer and Field and Stream Field Editor, Scott Bestul. Scott has more than 30 years of experience writing about whitetails and whitetail hunting, and he’s also an accomplished hunter having pursued deer across the country with both bow and firearm. He shares his opinion about whether the peak rut is the best time to be in the deer woods, and he also gives away his favorite tactic for tagging bucks this time of year. The hosts and our guest also share their favorite rut stories. Spoiler alert! None of the stories end with a punched tag. This information-filled episode is one you don’t want to miss as you head afield hoping to get close to the buck of your dreams.
For more information about Scott and to access an extensive archive of his work in Field and Stream, visit this link on the Field and Stream website.
Follow Nick Pinizzotto on Instagram
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Subscribe to the Podcast on:
About the National Deer Association
The National Deer Association (NDA) is a non-profit deer conservation group that works to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting. Thank you for subscribing to our podcast!
Support NDA’s mission by becoming a member today.
NDA has the highest ranking from Charity Navigator, an independent group that monitors non-profits for financial efficiency and effectiveness.
Learn more about deer and deer hunting in our weekly, free e-newsletter.
Follow us on our other channels: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Wednesday Oct 13, 2021
Wednesday Oct 13, 2021
Running a state wildlife agency has to rank up there as one of the most difficult jobs in the country given how passionate sportsmen are about hunting. Deer in particular drive much of that passion, especially in states with hundreds of thousands of hunters who all have their own idea of how to manage deer. Maybe that’s why Bryan Burhans, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and NDA board member boldly proclaims that turkeys are better than deer! He joins Nick and “The Doctor” on this episode to humorously explain his reasoning and to talk about his passion for his job despite the challenges it sometimes brings. Also in this episode, the guys answer “ask NDA anything” questions from our listeners and discuss how their early season archery hunting is going.
For more information about our guest, Bryan Burhans, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission website.
Follow Nick Pinizzotto on Instagram
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Subscribe to the Podcast on:
About the National Deer Association
The National Deer Association (NDA) is a non-profit deer conservation group that works to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting. Thank you for subscribing to our podcast!
Support NDA’s mission by becoming a member today.
NDA has the highest ranking from Charity Navigator, an independent group that monitors non-profits for financial efficiency and effectiveness.
Learn more about deer and deer hunting in our weekly, free e-newsletter.
Follow us on our other channels: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube