Oklahoma Outdoors

Charles Greer of Whitetail Fanatics Land Consultants joins John again this week for another conversation about proposed changes to some important rules and regulations in Oklahoma. The Guys cover a few repeat topics, but Charles also brings up a few new ones that even John hadn't heard about yet, such as CWD regulations going to the Ag department, and a wildlife commission with the power to make changes as they please. Some of these topics may be getting old, but again, these legislation decisions are going to echo throughout the state for years to come. So please give this episode a listen, and make your voices heard!

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

There are several important and pressing issues concerning hunting and wildlife in Oklahoma right now, and on this episode of the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast, we try to lay out exactly what those concerns are. Michael Arnette is one of many who has reached out to John in the last few weeks, and he does a great job of laying out some of the proposed legislation and how it might affect the sportsmen and women of Oklahoma and beyond. If you have been on social media at all recently, you have probably seen articles about airbows, velvet seasons, trail camera bans, and much much more.

Michael and John do their best to weed through some of the proposed bills, and what it could mean for both hunters and wildlife. The guys talk about how other states have handled some of these topics, and how it has affected them. Some of what is said in this episode is certainly opinion, but much of it is factual and taken directly from bills that are currently in circulation in the state legislature. It is growing more important every day for people to get involved with what happens in politics, no matter what side of the isle you fall on. If the people who love to hunt and fish don't stand up for their rights, there are not many others to do it for them!

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

We have a very special episode on the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast this week. Tim Slavin runs the Oklahoma Outdoor Outreach Foundation and joins John to talk about the great acts of service they provide. The foundation is celebrating their fifteenth anniversary this year, and their mission is to "provide disabled, chronically and terminally ill individuals the opportunity to enjoy the heritage of outdoor sporting activities." Tim and his volunteers have 16 hunters signed up for their spring turkey hunt coming up this April, and have two deer hunts planned for the fall.

Tims passion for this project shines through as he talks about the hunts and opportunities they are able to offer. Those opportunities take a lot of work though, and the organization is always looking for more volunteers. Tim talks about who is eligible for their hunts, and what they are looking for in volunteers. Even if you are not an experienced hunter, they are always needing folks to help around camp to cook, clean, and organize. If you don't feel comfortable being a guide, and cleaning isn't your thing, they are more than happy to accept financial help as well. They are a 501 c3 non-profit organization, and you can learn more by listening to this podcast, or check out their facebook and website at oklahomaoutdooroutreach.org. 

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

Things get a little fiery this week on the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast. There are a couple key pieces of legislation in Oklahoma right now that could have huge impacts on the way people enjoy the state's natural resources. This is a hold nothing back episode where John takes on the hard topics around laws and regulations that the sportsmen and women of Oklahoma and beyond deal with on a daily basis. The podcast starts off with some of the usual hot topics. Should Oklahoma remain a 2 buck state or go to 1 buck tag? Are crossbows really having a negative impact on the quality of the deer herd?

If those topics don't get your water boiling, there's more. A bill to start an August velvet deer season has already passed the senate and moved to the house, and could go into effect as early as next year! Not enough you say? Did you know there are people pushing to get airbows legalized for archery season in Oklahoma? Have you seen trail cameras are now banned on public land in Kansas? Topics like these can no longer be ignored, and they are only becoming more common.

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

When you meet a man named "Bobcat" you better pay attention to what he has to say. On this episode of the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast, John is joined by Keith "Bobcat" Williams of A.M. Calls. Keith makes a unique type of turkey call that uses petrified wood in place of your typical slate or glass pot call. Not only is the call a beautiful piece of art, but it makes realistic turkey noises that you have to hear to believe. An added advantage to the petrified wood is that it dries quickly if it gets wet, so they can be a great option for those misty days or spring mornings of heavy dew. Keith and John discuss the whole line of A.M. Calls, including the adjustable striker Keith offers. The striker adjusts to give the calls different sounds, or simply retracted to fit in your pocket or vest easier. 

In an unexpected bonus to this episode, Keith also talks about how predator numbers are affecting turkey numbers across the nation. Keith spent several years as a professional trapper (thus the nickname) back in the 80's, and talks about how the decline in fur prices also led to the decline of interest in trappers. Keith doesn't claim to be the best turkey hunter, but throughout the conversation his knowledge of woodsmanship really shines through, and you may just want to pay attention when ol Bobcat has something to say.

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

On this episode of the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast, John is joined by two of his best friends, Randy and Kelly. Randy is one of John's childhood friends, and if you listen to the show, you have heard John reference Randy's deer lease in West Texas several times. Kelly and John met in college, and now the three have become hunting buddies and share a camp multiple times a year. This week, the boys aren't talking whitetails though. Randy and Kelly loaded up some toys and brought them to John's family ranch to do a little night time coyote hunting. 

Randy has been into coyote hunting for a long time, and for several years spent way more time in varmint tournaments than a deer stand. Over the years he has accumulated some high quality night time hunting gear, and this podcast is mostly centered around that gear with some hunting techniques thrown in along the way. The guys talk thermal vs night vision and some of the benefits and downfalls of each. Why an electric ATV may be the way to go, and the advantages of having a raised hunting rack in the back of it. The three talk about some of the differences in calling coyotes with thermal versus walking up on hogs, and how to do each one safely. If you have been thinking about going on a thermal hunt, or maybe buying a thermal of your own, this episode is a great resource before you go spending a whole lot of money.

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

Rain is falling, temperatures are rising, and the days are getting long. All of these things can only mean one thing, spring is here! This week on the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast, John is going all in on spring turkeys. Fellow Sportsmens Empire podcaster and National Wild Turkey Federation employee Paul Campbell joins John this week to talk about the excitement of chasing spring gobblers. The passion Paul has for these birds is more than evident as he and John cover a wide variety of topics surrounding one of America's favorite game birds.

Paul and John share one thing in common, neither of them are any good at using a mouth call, one of the most popular turkey calls on the market. Paul does a great job of discussing mouth call alternatives, and why you might use one over the other. The guys also talk about locator calls and when a certain one might be appropriate. Paul and John talk a little bit about the different habitat types that turkeys live in, and how different calling turkeys in deep timber is compared to the open plains. Over all, this is one of the best darn turkey talks the Oklahoma Outdoors podcast has ever had.

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

The third and final installment of the "what did you learn" series drops this week on the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast. John is joined by Josh Garroutte to once again break down their 2022 hunting seasons and figure out what they can learn to make their future hunts better. This was a great episode to have Josh on, as he did a lot of learning during his 2022 deer season. A typical November finds Josh chasing whitetails on the ground in states like Kansas or Iowa, but since he didn't draw a tag in either of those states, he spent the entire month right here in Oklahoma chasing bucks in the mountains.

After growing accustomed to a more spot and stalk form of hunting over the last few years, 2022 had Josh going back to the basics and more traditional styles of whitetail hunting. He spent time studying scrapes and licking branches, diving deep into herd health with protein feeds and minerals, and working on his shooting form mid season. John also threw in a few lessons of his own, like why you SHOULD NOT hunt your best spot, why you should hunt for yourself, and how he found himself once again learning that trail cameras don't always tell the whole story.

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

Come along with the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast as John travels back in time and educates his younger self. This episode is the lone ranger version of the what did you learn series John has been doing the last few weeks, but instead of just looking at the 2022 season, John goes back even further. John highlights some of his "ah ha" moments from his 18 years of chasing whitetails, where he started from ground zero and learned most of the knowledge he has now from the school of hard knocks. 

John tells the story of when he first learned how important wind and scent control were when chasing a creature who literally lives and dies by its nose. Many of these topics have been covered at one point or another, but this episode compiles them into a single list, and deep dives into each area. Some of these topics are great for young or newer hunters, while others are more directed at the advanced listeners. No matter your skill level, the topics in this episode are great to keep in mind, and all of them are things John wishes he would have learned 18 years ago. 

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!

This week on the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast, John continues his "what did you learn" series with returning guest Tyrell Roy. Tyrell is one of those under the radar killers, who constantly harvests mature whitetail bucks with his bow year after year. Tyrell is fortunate to hunt some fantastic whitetail country in north west Oklahoma, and every year fills most of, if not all of his tags with his bow. So it only makes sense that he is a great candidate for the what did you learn series.

Tyrell and John take turns talking about the ups and down of their seasons, and what they learned along the way. Tyrell takes us to his DIY elk hunt in Colorado, and his once in a hundred lifetimes moose encounter! Ever had a rutting moose drool on your chest while trying to stomp you into the ground? Well Tyrell has, and he does a great job of bringing you along for the action. John talks about gaining access on private ground out of state, and Tyrell recalls his brief stint with target panic, even after years of success harvesting bucks with his bow. The guys also talk about not getting ahead of yourself on opening day, how you should never stop scouting, and how important it is to take does if you love hunting whitetail deer in the great state of Oklahoma. This is a great episode looking back at the 2022 season, and once again is meant to encourage you the listener to reflect back on what you learned this past season.

Check out the Sportsmen's Empire Podcast Network for more relevant outdoor content!