Okayest Hunter ®

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 convenience in the tree.

As calls roll in from listeners across the country, we get live rut reports from Wisconsin, New York, and beyond—bucks chasing, wolves appearing out of nowhere, and the kind of adrenaline-filled encounters that remind you why November is sacred.

There’s even a few surprise guests, from moms dropping big deer to first-timers filling tags the Okayest way.

If you’re looking for deer camp energy and a reminder that we’re all just big kids building tree forts with bows, this one’s for you.

Brought to you by: Nosler, Latitude Outdoors, Gerber Gear, Rack-Hub, and your favorite deer camp traditions.

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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

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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 hunting culture today.

Presented by Nosler

Shoutout to our partners, Latitude Outdoors, Gerber Gear, and Rack Hub.

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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.

Presented by: Nosler

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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) changes everything.

It’s equal parts campfire talk and reality check, with plenty of laughs about crow calls, EHD, and how no one ever talked trash at the old deer check stations.

Presented by Nosler: Use Code OHP for 20% Off

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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 conversation digs into the culture of deer hunting, ego, and why camp matters more than inches of antler.

Presented by: https://www.nosler.com/

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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 right knife) can make all the difference. Toss in some gear talk with Nosler, Latitude, Gerber, and Rack Hub, plus listener call-ins that keep it real, this one’s packed with the highs, lows, and humor of chasing whitetails before the rut.

Presented by Nosler

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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 have never seen before.

Derek shares how his research is confirming some long-held whitetail wisdom, while completely flipping other assumptions on their head. From how bucks really use wind and thermals, to why trail cameras can mislead weekend warriors, this conversation is a deep dive into big buck behavior backed by data, not guesswork.

Key takeaways:

What 2,000+ hours of drone observation revealed about mature buck movement

Thermals vs. wind: which one deer actually rely on most

Why your trail cameras might be lying to you

How time of day changes everything for big buck activity

Practical ways hunters can apply this research to limited sits

If you’re serious about learning the truth behind whitetail movement or just love deer hunting podcasts that dig deeper than campfire stories, this one is packed with insights you won’t hear anywhere else.

Presented by: Nosler

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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 parallels between deer hunting, business, and family life. At the heart of it, hunting isn’t about proving anything to anyone else. It’s about shaping your own journey, staying grounded, and finding joy wherever you can.

Presented by: Nosler. Use code OHP for 20% off at checkout.

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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 Northwoods.

There’s plenty of talk about rifles, hunting culture, and a few lessons the deer woods are always quick to hand out. If you’re after a deer hunting podcast that mixes honest stories, gear talk, and the kind of camp banter most of us live for, this one’s worth a listen.

Presented by: Nosler — Use code OHP for 20% off.

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