Oklahoma Outdoors

As more and more seasons are coming to an end, it's time to reflect back so that we can push forward. Charles Admire joins John on the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast this week to look back on their seasons and learn from the situations they found themselves in this year. The guys cover several different topics from private and public land deer hunting to waterfowl. John kicks things off with an important lesson he learned about edge habitat on his quick trip to Nebraska back in September, and Charles reflects on some time he spent on public land in northern Oklahoma. 

The guys talked about how far is too far when doing a hang and hunt, and how far is not far enough. They discuss treestand height and shot angles, hunting out of enclosed blinds, and even some waterfowl talk about whether being hidden or having lots of decoys is more important. No matter what you chase, it's important to look back on the experiences you had and learn from them for the future. Whether big bucks are your thing, or chasing coyotes out on the prairie, there is always more to learn!

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As deer season comes to an end, it's time to switch gears into habitat mode. Charles Greer with Whitetail Fanatic Land Consulting gets things going this week on the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast with a great conversation about how to improve the land you hunt on. Charles has hunted whitetails from Maryland to Texas, but now spends most of his time in Oklahoma. Charles's knowledge quickly becomes evident in this episode as he and John cover a wide variety of topics, all centered around improving the landscape for better hunting.

The guys start off by defining "bedding cover" which is a term that is often thrown around in the whitetail world. They also discuss timber stand improvement (TSI), foodplots vs feeders, how deer use the wind, the different uses for timber, and the statewide issue of eastern red cedar. Charles really impressed John with his knowledge, and there is certainly something in this episode for everyone!

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Have you ever dreamed of hunting exotic game in wild places? Well those dreams may be closer to home than you think. Scotti Campbell is the owner and operator of Top'o Texas Outfitters in the Davis Mountains of west Texas. Scotti has made a name for himself by being one of the few outfitters willing to tackle the near impossible task of chasing free range aoudad (also known as Barbary Sheep) spot and stalk style with a bow. Aoudad are one of many non native species who have flourished in Texas, and many who have hunted them consider them one of the toughest animals to hunt in North America. Part of what makes them so difficult to hunt is where they live. The Davis Mountains are as rough and rugged as they come, filled with cliffs and cactus. 

Scotti Campbell is one of the most genuine people you will ever talk to, and he and John have a great conversation about all the hunts Top'o Texas Outfitters has to offer. While they have become known for being a bow hunters paradise, including traditional archers, Scotti and his crew welcome all types of hunting for a variety of game. While Aoudad are their bread and butter, Top'o Texas also offers a limited amount of Elk, Mule Deer, Antelope, and Javelina hunts, most of which take place on a private 120,000 acer ranch nestled into the beautiful and scenic Davis Mountains. If you are looking for adventure close to home, you definitely need to look into Top'o Texas Outfitters. 

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Lightning can strike twice! This week on the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast, John tells the story of his 2022 Archery buck. A buck he took on the same day out of the same stand as his archery buck in 2021! John had a little history with this big eight point, and even came close to shooting him with a rifle in 2021. The buck was a little more consistent in 2022, but nowhere close to being paternable. That all changed after the rut though when the buck became a slave to his stomach and started hitting a food source on a regular basis.

The big eight suddenly became one of the most consistent and paternable bucks John had ever hunted, something John has seen a lot during late season. He was so consistent in fact, that John had no problem being patient and waiting for the right time to hunt him. That patience almost cost John the buck however when hog hunters on horse back and a pack of dogs interrupted one of his hunts! In the end though, waiting was the right call, and three days after Chirsmas, John was finally able to punch his second Oklahoma buck tag on the big eight!

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This week on the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast, John has one of his most special guests of all time on, his wife Mackenzie. John and Mackenzie talk about the real life struggles of balancing hunting and family. After four years of marriage, and adding a baby into the mix this year, the two talk about what they do well, and areas they still need to improve upon when it comes to John's hunting addiction. Mackenzie knew John was a big hunter before they got married, but honestly had no idea what she was getting into on a full year around basis. Not to mention how it would get even more complicated by adding a baby into the mix.

Mackenzie talks about expectations, and how she has learned to be more upfront with John before the season even gets underway. John and Mackenzie have both learned how important communication is, and the more heads up the better. Mackenzie is a planner, while John is much more go with the flow. They have learned over time that the more they can plan ahead, the better it is for both of them. John has also had to learn that a baby really does change things, and that sometimes you really have to take a step back and think about your priorities in life.

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We have a doozie this week on the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast. John did a little deer hunting over the weekend, and had one of the best and worst encounters of his entire deer hunting career. If you have listened to the podcast much, you might have heard him talk about the 2% buck. A big main frame 10 point ghost he has been after ever since he first laid eyes on the buck in 2018. He refers to the buck as the "2% buck" because every year he gives himself only a 2% chance of killing him. This year, the 7 year old buck shrunk from his previous typical 10 point frame to a 9 point, but still holds as much majestic wonder as ever. For the first time since 2018, John laid eyes on the buck this weekend. Not only did he see the deer, but he had a legit chance to harvest the buck! The events that unfolded next must be heard to be believed, and even then it sounds like a stretch.

That's not the only crazy encounter John had over the weekend though. What seemed like a chip shot on another mature buck turned into a nightmare. John had a buck that had been visiting a feed site for several nights in a row, and finally had the right conditions to go in for the kill. Yet again however, some crazy circumstances led to that deer living another day, and John still holding a tag in his hand with the season quickly winding down.

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This week we have a much needed change of pace on the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast. Josh Taylor joins John to talk about the line of products he and his partner Morgan offer at Oklahoma Fowl Company. Based out of Oklahoma City, OFC offer a line of blind accessories to make the lives of waterfowlers both more organized and safer. From shell holders to magnetic gun rest, the products offered by OFC are designed and battle tested by hard core duck hunters. Wether you hunt from a boat, layout blind, A-frame, or homemade blind, OFC has a product to make your hunt more organized, and more enjoyable.

One of those hard core product testers is Josh himself, who has been chasing ducks and geese from Nebraska to Texas for years. After Josh runs us through the different OFC products, he and John talk hunting and it becomes very obvious that Josh has spent some time over a decoy spread. Josh gives a crash corse on hunting geese which is something John has done very little of in his life. The guys talk decoy spreads, blinds, and the difference between calling lesser and greater Canadian geese. Deer season may be ending soon, but there is still plenty of time to get out there and hunt some waterfowl!

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With gun season over in Oklahoma and most states across the country, hopefully that means freezers are getting full. Now that you have all that beautiful red meat, it's time to think about what to do with it. This week on the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast, John is joined by Sportsmens Empire brother Nick Otto, aka the Huntavore, to talk about all things venison and cooking. This is an episode you are going to want to take notes on!

Nick is an adult onset hunter, meaning he started hunting a little later in his life. While a lot of people learn to hunt first and then cook, Nick is quite the opposite. Nick got into hunting because of the food it provides, so it just makes sense that he cares so much about the great quality wild game can have if you take care of it. Nick and John discuss some basic venison prep, and Nick shares a few recipes you probably won't find in your grandma's old cook book.

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If you follow the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast on Instagram, you may already know what this title is about. This emotion packed episode is about John's 2022 Colorado elk hunt, which started off with a bang when his truck was stolen from the hotel parking lot on the first night of his trip. John had been looking forward to this hunt with his buddy Nathan Jasper for a year and a half, but everything got flipped upside down when he stopped for a night in Denver and car thieves stole his truck and everything inside.

After a very expensive trip to Cabelas, John still went on and followed through with the hunt, but his troubles were far from over. An early snow storm dumped 8-10 inches of snow, making travel around the lodge near impossible. Trying to roll with the punches, John and Nate dropped to lower elevation to try and find the elk the snow had pushed down. All they found down low were hunters and land locked pieces of public that were blocked off by private landowners. This trip turned into a life lesson about trials and perseverance, and they are some life lessons that John will not soon forget. 

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As November comes to an end and rifle season fades away, many people consider the season done for. That very fact is one reason you should not give up yet! As John is off in Colorado chasing elk, he wants to make sure that you are not down in the dumps just yet. There is still over a month of deer season left and it can be some of the best hunting of the entire year. This may be a shorter episode of the Oklahoma Outdoors Podcast, but it is a very important one.

John absolutely loves late season whitetail hunting. In fact, 5 of his last 7 Oklahoma bucks have come after December 22! This episode is meant to both educate and encourage folks to not give up. Late season can be one of the easiest and best times to pattern a mature buck. As hunting pressure goes down and bucks become slaves to their stomachs, punching your tag can be as predictable as a late season cold front. 

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