A Hunter's Legacy

37: How Bowhunting Became His Last Connection To A Vanishing Lifestyle With John Padgett (Georgia)

Mitchell Fox Episode 37

In this gritty, down-to-earth episode, Mitchell Fox sits down with John Padgett from Georgia. He’s a woodsman shaped by riverlines, traplines, and the kind of Southern upbringing that’s getting harder to come by.

They dig into the moment a sharp old doe somehow sensed John’s presence. No scent. No sound. No sightline. Just instinct. That brush with wild awareness leads into deeper ground, as John shares how bowhunting slowly became his last true link to a vanishing way of life.

From running trotlines for catfish with his dad to missing the quiet, neighborly bonds of his hometown, John reflects on how fast the world is spinning. The bow stand, he says, is the one place that stills it for a while. He opens up about losing the fire for rifle hunting, chasing adrenaline the ethical way, and how killing less has taught him more.

They talk broadhead failures, wounded deer that still haunt the memory, and the humbling lessons that only come from doing things the hard way.

If you’ve ever questioned a shot or found yourself missing a world that’s slowly slipping away, this one’s for you.

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