How Zach Houchin Tagged a 200" Kentucky Monster | 100% WILD Podcast Ep. 481

How Zach Houchin Tagged a 200" Kentucky Monster | 100% WILD Podcast Ep. 481

In this episode of the 100% WILD Podcast, Matt Drury is joined by guest co-host Jim Richman (Editor-in-Chief for DeerCast) as they discuss a massive Midwest early-season temperature drop that triggered daytime deer movement across the region. Matt breaks down his recent public land Idaho elk hunting trip alongside MLB legend Adam Wainwright and internet icon Rut Daniels (Bud Fisher). The crew dives into the realities of backcountry elk hunting, discussing camp fellowship, wallo setups, and high-altitude hiking strategy when cold fronts roll through the mountains.

The main feature of the show highlights an incredible installment of DeerCast's Giant Tracker series with guest Zach Houchin from Kentucky. Zach shares the full story of harvesting a gross 200-plus-inch non-typical whitetail that exploded in growth from a clean 10-point the previous season, adding over 24 inches including unicorn base points, and 13-inch tines. Zach details how he utilized DeerCast WindCheck to navigate dying evening thermals near soybean and corn field edges, the gamble of passing 4-year-old bucks on smaller acreage, and a harrowing encounter where coyotes began eating a harvested buck just 30 minutes after the shot.

00:00:00 – Midwest Temperature Drops & Early-Season Daylight Deer Movement

00:01:25 – Matt Drury's Idaho Elk Hunt Recap with Adam Wainwright & Rut Daniels

00:03:18 – Introducing DeerCast Giant Tracker: Zach Houchin's 200" Kentucky Buck

00:05:00 – Antler Growth Explosion: Tracking a 10-Point That Added 24 Inches of Trash

00:08:10 – Early-Season Food Sources: Corn Rows, Soybeans & Kentucky Baiting Laws

00:11:35 – DeerCast WindCheck: Navigating Dying Evening Thermals in Early Season

00:14:00 – The 20-Yard Moment: Stepping Out at Sunset on High Barometric Pressure

00:17:40 – Age-Class Debate: Passing 4-Year-Old Bucks vs. Managing Small Tracts

00:24:45 – SHOWING THE RACK: 13-Inch Tines, Unicorn Points & Massive Non-Typical Trash