Okayest Hunter ®

This week, we dig into one of the wildest public-land stories you’ll ever hear: the real-life unraveling of an albino deer poaching case, caught on camera and traced step-by-step across a marsh in Wisconsin. We break down the ethics, the law, the selfishness debate, and the tension between technology, responsibility, and what it really means to hunt with integrity. From cell cams to drones to deer...

Walking out the door to the deer woods feels a lot different when there’s a spouse at home, kids melting down, and a to-do list a mile long. Hunting fills your cup, but sometimes it drains everyone else’s. On this episode of the Okayest Hunter Podcast, Eric and Derek tackle the “taboo” topic almost no hunting shows touch: what deer season really does to marriages, families, and modern dads. We tal...

Deer hearts on the cutting board, chili on the stove, and kids shaking in their boots at first light, this one’s pure deer camp. We break down Derek's son Gus dropping his first gun-season doe with the .350 Legend, from the shaky hands and cold toes to calling grandma and grandpa with the news and dragging her out as three generations share the moment. We swap deer camp hunting stories with the .3...

Deer Camp week is finally here, and Eric's deer camp buddies show up in full force. Clayton’s rocking the rut-stache, Colton makes his podcast debut, Joel’s ready to hunt the thick stuff, Mike’s on Celsius all caffeinated up, and Eric’s just trying to keep the cords plugged in and the bourbon upright. Calls come in, stories fly, and somehow we cover everything from crossbows to childhood trauma, d...

The rut is in full swing across Wisconsin! Eric, Greg, and the Okayest Hunter crew swap stories about missed shots, grunting bucks, and the kind of chaos only November can bring. From public land heartbreaks to private land success, this episode dives deep into the madness of the whitetail rut, listener call-ins, and real talk about what keeps us chasing deer season after season. Presented by ⁠Nos...

The boys are back in the studio, and this episode captures everything we love about November deer season: chaos, laughter, and a little bit of rut-crazed magic. Eric, Derek, and the Okayest Hunter podcast listeners trade stories about lost gear, hernias, and arm-wrestling gone wrong before diving into real hunting talk—rifle sight-ins, saddle setups, and the eternal struggle between safety and con...

Dylan Keith joins the crew to share one of the wildest public land hunting stories we’ve heard yet... from overcoming fear and hunting alone, to dropping a big Wisconsin buck… and earning himself a double hernia in the process. It’s a story about grit, growth, and why you never leave before last light. Presented by: Nosler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we’re joined by Kevin Vistisen from the Deer Hunter Podcast for an honest and entertaining deer camp chat. We cover everything from the science of deer vision and UV light, to why camo patterns might be more for people than deer, and how ego, gear, and gratitude shape the modern hunter. It’s equal parts science, storytelling, and Okayest Hunter banter, and brutally honest takes about hun...

Two bucks down, plenty of laughs, and a whole lot of chaos. The crew sits down to swap stories from an unforgettable week in the deer woods, where years of friendship, scouting, and sheer grit finally pay off. From youth hunts to public land redemption, this one’s packed with lessons on patience, pressure, and what it really means to hunt your own hunt. It's story time in the Okayest Hunter studio...

We sat down with Before the Echo’s Josh Teulker to talk about how priorities shift in hunting, and life, as we get older. From a guy who’s got 20 mounts collecting dust, Josh shares how chasing inches slowly gave way to chasing memories. We get into what happens in that ten-second window before the shot, why ego and antlers are often confused for value, and how hunting with friends (or your kids)...

What does it really mean to be a deer hunter? In this episode of the Okayest Hunter Podcast, we sit down to talk with John Stellflue about the stages of a hunter’s journey: shooting, limiting out, chasing trophies, and finally finding meaning in memories, camaraderie, and time afield. From big buck fever and scoring disappointment to lessons learned as fathers, mentors, and friends, this conversat...

Hot temps, swarms of mosquitoes, and the eternal struggle of when to draw back... we’re in the thick of early-season deer hunting. Eric and Derek swap stories from the woods, from bug-bitten earlobes to kayak-access hunts, and dig into the challenges of making the shot when it counts. We also break down fresh sign, trail cam pressure, family hunting chaos, and why picking the right spot (and the r...

What happens when you get fired from your job, invest in a thermal drone, and log over 2,000 hours of thermal drone footage on mature whitetails? You start busting hunting myths wide open. In this episode of the Okayest Hunter Podcast, we’re joined by Derrick Dixon of Whitetail Research, who’s using next-level drone technology to track deer movement, bedding, funnels, and thermals in ways hunters...

From dealing with ego and authenticity in the hunting space to finding balance between ambition and contentment, this conversation covers it all. We dive into the “old guard” versus the new wave of hunters, why gimmicks come and go, and how trust is earned in the community. We also talk about chasing big bucks versus simply enjoying time in the woods, the role of luck versus preparation, and the p...

This episode of the Okayest Hunter Podcast brings Thomas Kotz into the studio from Henry Repeating Arms for a conversation that covers a lot of ground. From the history of lever guns to what makes Henry rifles a favorite among whitetail hunters. We dig into bear hunting stories from Wisconsin and Montana, the appeal of small game, and the old-school tradition of still-hunting deer in the Northwood...

Colton Koza joins the show to share how he made his way from Missouri to Wisconsin, his background as a competitive trap shooter (including a national championship), and how he’s transitioning into chasing whitetails and turkeys on Wisconsin public land. We dive into the realities of hunting pressure, trail cameras, climbing gear, and the quirks of Midwest terrain compared to the Ozarks. From stor...

Scouting new ground means making your best guess and seeing if the deer prove you right... or wrong. This week, we’re talking trail cam strategy, mock scrapes, reading food sources like white oaks, and why ugly spots often hold the biggest bucks. From setting “traps” with cameras to second-guessing every move until the first shooter buck hits the dirt, it’s all part of figuring out new ground the...

In this episode of dropping pins, Derek sits down with fellow podcast host Anthony Heller of the Deer Vane podcast. Anthony is a seasoned podcast who has logged more than 200 episodes on the Deer Vane podcast title. He’s also one hell of a deer hunter and in the past, few years has connected on some gorgeous books, both on private and public ground In this episode, we talk about multiple factors t...

Foam Fest brought hunters from across the country, literally. Eric and Matt recap this year’s event, from youth shed hunts and trick shots to prize bows and gear giveaways from Nosler, Gerber, Bear Archery, and more. They share stories from first-time shooters, long-distance attendees, and the chaos that makes Foam Fest special. Then the conversation shifts to archery fundamentals—tuning your bow,...

We announce the winners of our biggest giveaway yet, talk through the gear that made it happen, and share what’s ahead for Foam Fest. Between stories about getting blown at while taking out the trash and lessons learned the hard way in the deer woods, we dig into real-time scouting, preseason prep, and why sometimes the best stand is the one you've never sat in before. This one’s laid-back, gear-p...

In this episode, Derek sits down to chat with good buddy Beau Below from Ghostbusters video productions. Derek and Beau have been friends for many years and I’ve talked deer hunting nearly every day to help each other scheme formulate a plan and attack on big deer. In this episode, we recap those amazing year last season where he tagged three mature bucks two of which scored over 160 inches. We hi...

The Okayest Hunter Podcast is back after a brief hiatus with some exciting updates, including a new studio and a giveaway! Tune in LIVE next week, Tuesday, August 5th, to hear the winners! In this episode, Eric talks about the chaos of moving, technical difficulties (because what would the show be without them?), and the lead-up to Foam Fest and hunting season. The conversation takes a deep dive i...

In this episode Derek talks with public land mad man, Cody Huhn. Cody was a successful buck hunter in lower Michigan before diving into his whitetail career with an internship with Midwest Whitetail in the land of the giants, Iowa.  Cody has since transitioned to learning everything he possibly could about the public hunting grounds of south central Iowa and documenting his journey on his YouTube...

Tune in as Anthony Heller co-hosts while Greg and Derek are on vacation. Eric and Anthony chat about their upcoming archery events and share stories from past hunts, touching on everything from gear choices to the frustrating realities of hunting big bucks. They dive into the excitement of moving to a new studio, building confidence by shooting 3D archery, and how their gear's evolved (or not) ove...

In this episode, Derek sits down with our fearless leader, Eric Clark’s cousin, Jeremy Clark. Jeremy is someone Eric has looked up to and admired as a deer hunter for several years. Eric has long talked about Jeremy’s effectiveness in the deer woods and was thrilled to get this conversation lined up.  Jeremy starts off discussing his first bow kill on a beautiful P&Y buck, which came together all...