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The Southern Outdoorsmen Hunting Podcast

712 - Dr. Duane Diefenbach: Deer Hiding Spots, Escape Routes, Core Areas—Revealed by Massive GPS Study

The Southern Outdoorsmen Hunting Podcast

Andrew Maxwell & Jacob Myers

Wilderness, Sports

4.91.4K Ratings

🗓️ 11 August 2025

⏱️ 138 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Beginning in 2013, the Penn State Deer-Forest Study is the crown jewel of Dr. Duane Diefenbach's career in research. With over 1200 whitetail deer trapped and fitted with GPS collars, the study has collected an absolutely massive amount of data on how deer navigate the big woods and avoid hunters! Today Dr. Diefenbach reveals some of the most interesting information for hunters that has come from the study so far. 00:00 Introduction and Initial Challenges in Deer Tracking 01:23 Meet Dr. Dwayne Diefenbach: Background and Research 01:59 Long-Term Deer Research and Key Findings 04:31 Insights from GPS Tracking and Deer Movements 09:29 The Fascinating Story of Buck 8917 15:55 Techniques for Capturing Deer 18:56 Understanding Deer Home Ranges 30:11 Terrain and Deer Behavior During Hunting Season 41:11 Hunting Strategies for Steep Terrain 42:35 Deer Population and Density 45:13 Terrain and Vegetation Impact on Deer Movement 46:14 Hunter Density and Deer Harvest Rates 49:14 LIDAR Technology and Deer Habitat Mapping 51:11 Hunting Tactics for High-Pressure Areas 52:40 Deer Behavior During Hunting Season 55:47 Food Sources for Deer in Big Woods 01:10:07 Deer Movement Patterns and Home Ranges 01:18:01 Doe Movement and Family Groups 01:26:05 Antler Point Restrictions and Genetics 01:27:03 Impact of Antler Point Restrictions on Buck Population 01:31:42 Comparing Different Antler Restrictions 01:38:41 Historical Context of Deer Populations in Pennsylvania 01:42:48 Effects of Deer on Forest Vegetation 01:50:36 The American Chestnut and Its Decline 01:56:44 Challenges in Deer Management and Hunting Culture 02:02:12 Future of Deer Management and Hunting 02:09:21 Concluding Thoughts and Farewell Got a question for the show? Submit a listener Q&A form - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1uMXP Grab some Southern Outdoorsmen merch here - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1u4aK Join Woodsman Wire - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1u4aR Use the promo code “southern” for a discount on your OnX Hunt membership here - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1tyfm Check out the Mobile Hunters Expo -https://linkly.link/2Amhh⁠ Save 10% on your next Vortex Optics order at eurooptic.com using the Promo Code “southern10” - https://2ly.link/1wyYO Use code “SOUTHERN25” for a discount on Houndstooth Game Calls: https://2ly.link/24tFz Use code SOUTHERN20 for a discount on all vortex apparel, including eyewear Check out Latitude Outdoors for your mobile hunting gear - https://2ly.link/1zVDI Have you tagged a deer using something you heard on the show? Submit your listener success story here - Share Your Story Here Come chat with us on our Thursday Hunter Hangouts! Join our patreon - https://l.linklyhq.com/l/1uMXU NOTE: Not all advertisements run on this show are endorsed by The Southern Outdoorsmen Podcast unless an ad is read by one of the hosts. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

One thing we talk about with almost every guest on this show is map scouting. My favorite map scouting tool is LIDAR. If you're unfamiliar, LIDAR is basically like a 3D scan of the Earth surface. I like to say it kind of takes away all the surprises. LIDAR is now available on OnX Hunt on their topography map. If you go to your app right now, click on the topography map, you can flip on that LIDAR feature and boom it's going to come on and you're going to see what I'm talking about.

0:24.3

The LIDAR is going to allow you to see things that are normally hidden from view. This might be ditches, bends in creeks, rocks, old roadbeds. I personally love old roadbeds because deer like to walk them. They're great places to find scrapes. They're great camera locations. And you know before, an old roadbed or an old logging road might be something that you kind of happen upon while you're out scouting or hunting. Well now with the LIDAR, before I go into an area, I can turn on that LIDAR and I can see exactly where those road beds are. Even old logging roads from the 1930s, you can still see them on there. So that allows me to go straight to those spots and check them out. It's just an incredibly helpful tool, and it's available now on Onex Hunt. And hey, if you want to get 20% off your OnX Elite membership, you can use the promo code Southern. Like I said, it's going to save you 20%. Go check out that

1:11.4

LiDR feature. You'll be glad you did. Know where you stand with OnX Hunt. I'm super excited to

1:15.8

announce that Vortex just updated their Crossfire Riflescope line with the Crossfire HD

1:22.3

Riflescopes. These are an improvement over the previous design that delivers sharper detail

1:27.0

improving low light transmission, giving you a lot more confidence with your hunt.

1:30.7

If you're wanting an effective rifle scope, that gives you great low-light capability without breaking the bank.

1:35.8

Check out the new Crossfire HD scope from Vortex.

1:39.4

And if you're interesting buying one, you can head over to Eurooptic.com and use the code Southern 10 for 10% off your order of any vortex optics.

1:49.0

If you hunt deer out of trees, you need to go check out Latitudeoutdoors.com.

1:54.0

They got a little something for everybody, whether you're a saddle guy or if you hunt out of a climber.

1:58.0

Of course, Latitude makes some of our favorite saddles and climbing sticks, but they also make some great packs and backpack straps that you can attach to the bottom of a climbing tree stand to make it more comfortable to carry in the woods. Probably my favorite piece of gear I've gotten in the last several years is the Ranger 22 from Latitude. It's like a do-it-all backpack for me. It's compact, which I like, but it's

2:18.1

adjustable enough that it gets me through the whole season. It's the only pack I use. I use it in early bow season when I'm not carrying much in the woods all the way to late January rut hunts in the deep south when it's cold, and I'm carrying all kinds of clothes and all kinds of stuff on my back. the Ranger 22 is adjustable enough

2:34.3

that I can just use that one backpack

2:36.0

all season. And hey, all you Mossie Oak all kinds of clothes and all kinds of stuff on my back. The Ranger 22 is adjustable enough

2:34.3

that I can just use that one backpack all season. And hey, all you Mossie Oak Bottomland

2:38.6

fan, they just released the Ranger 22 in Mossy Oak Bottomland. So like I said, no matter how

2:43.5

you like to hunt, Latitude's got something for you. Go check them out at latitude outdoors.com.

2:50.2

I'll now hand you over to my best man, Eddie.

2:53.4

Wow, wow, wow. Second time's a charm, eh, Billy Boy?

2:57.8

Oh, God.

2:59.1

Substitution, courtesy of Paddy Power, embarrassing Eddie, makes way for sensible Samuel.

...

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