Where To Hunt Wisconsin Podcast

This week Derek and Eric chat with Ryan Shutts, the Product Manager behind Bear Archery’s compound and youth bow lines. Ryan shares insights on Bear’s deep-rooted tradition in archery and how they're keeping Fred Bear's blue-collar, accessible ethos alive in a world where prices keep going up. We chat about the resurgence of traditional archery, the smooth draw of single-cam bows like the Adapt 2, and why balance is something to strive for in a bow in contrast to shaving pounds. Ryan also shares tips for getting your kids into archery and the importance of finding the right bow to match your hunting style. He also answers a bunch of listener questions! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today Derek talks to Devin Duncan of Virginia. Devin grew up hunting the vast public land mountains of western Virginia and learned the ropes from his father. Devin talks about how his dad had used mules for years to pack into remote steep terrain and also for packing out the harvest.  Devin talks about the woods of his area and how the deer survive in pockets of terrain. We discuss an awesome hunting story from Devin’s largest buck, takes a couple seasons ago. Devin goes into detail about how and why he chose the area he did and how he chose to approach his spot. All the decision making he put into setting and making a move later in the day paid off HUGE with a chance at a monster mature buck followed by a strange bear sighting.  Devin shares some ideas about backpack style hunting, tree stands, saddles, and still hunting.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Okayest Hunter Podcast, Jace Martinetto shares his journey from being a landscaper to becoming the producer and videographer for outdoor hunting shows, including Okayest Hunter and Jake Break Hollow. Jace discusses how his passion for videography led him to take big risks, invest in his craft, and eventually transition from his media business to focusing full-time on building Jake Break Hollow—a unique hunting show inspired by camaraderie and the "good life" of the outdoors. Jace also opens up about the challenges and excitement of moving across the country to pursue this venture. Check out Jake Brake Hallow: https://www.jakebrakehollow.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Derek sits down to talk with another big buck killer from the North East. Rodney Elmer of Mountain Deer Taxidermy is a generational hunter from Vermont who chases big buck tracks through New England when the snow flies.  He has been a hunter safety educator, taxidermist, and seminar speaker and most recently created a successful YouTube channel focused on having fun with family and friends in the deer woods. Rodney and Derek start by chatting about the terrain and territory that Rodney hunts in the NE. This big woods terrain is not only challenging on hunters but also the deer population.  They discuss deer habits and behaviors and how that relates to time of year and the landscape they live in.  Rodney gets into an awesome tracking story from his younger years in which tracking a small buck led him to a much larger buck, which decided to teach Rodney a few lessons that day. Rodney does a masterful job explaining and laying out his thought process on what he did and why, as well as how the

Greg Tubbs is back in studio! We dive right into the chaos of Foam Fest 2024, where apparently, three bows met their unfortunate demise! From near-misses to unexpected bow mishaps, we recount the highlights and memories from the event. We’re not out here trying to break bows, but hey, it’s better to work out the kinks at Foam Fest than from a treestand! With Eric, Derek, and Greg in the studio, you know it’s going to be a wild ride. We talk about the event’s great turnout, awesome giveaways, and, of course, some classic hunt camp banter. Tune in for a dose of Midwest camaraderie, okay jokes, and the usual shenanigans as we chop it up with Tyler Webster from the Birds, Booze, and Buds podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we talk to Jeff Doyle, a renowned buck tracker from the Northeast. Jeff has an awesome YouTube channel and tracking series called “Tracking 200” that focuses on using snow and a hunter’s wits and knowledge to follow bucks and kill them in an intense moment. Jeff talks about his upbringing in hunting with his dad and how he really began to sprawl out and learn as he moved from his beginning hunting areas. We discuss some tracking stories and how sometimes getting caught up on the “hot area” can be a bit silly and good bucks can live anywhere. Jeff dives into some great stories in which calling and pretending to be another buck have helped him get the big bucks standing in the tracks to come a little closer. Jeff highlights an awesome story from this past season with his father in which intuition and past experiences helped put in the perfect spot at the perfect time and get it all on video in “The Perfect Tracking Day” which will hit YouTube later this fall.

Well, this episode was a bit of a wildcard. Eric was flying solo and decided to just wing it on a random Monday night. With the phone lines open and no real game plan, he wasn't sure how things would go—honestly, there was a good chance it would suck. But he made it happen. Eric chatted about everything from mock scrapes and prep work for hunting season to the upcoming Foam Fest, which is shaping up to be a good time with lots of gear, giveaways, and good company. He also touched on a new initiative Okayest Hunter is launching called "Fulfill Your Tag," aimed at raising money for conservation through small donations when you buy your hunting tags. It’s all about doing more than just filling a tag—it's about giving back and ensuring we give more than we take. There was one caller, Noah, who saved Eric from rambling alone for too long. They talked about the importance of community at events like Foam Fest, shared tips on mock scrapes, and discussed the unpredictable nature of hunting and the excitement that c

Gary has a long history of being a woodsman here in WI. He grew up hunting and spent many years trapping and running a series of huge traplines with at times over 300 traps. Gary’s interest has since turned in the direction of bowhunting mature bucks both here in WI and trips around the Midwest.  Gary has filmed for The Hunting Beast, Public Land Whitetails, and Behind the Echo YouTube channels and has been featured on many podcasts.  Today we talk about a few of his ah ha moments through his re-invigorated desire to hunt big bucks. Gary has spent a lot of his time in the vast marshes of WI but has since taken on learning hill country areas of Indiana and Illinois, finding great success in both new states. His stories lead us through multiple different learning experiences.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Okayest Hunter podcast, Eric Clark is flying solo in the studio but brings on a guest, Kevin Vistisen, to discuss the latest in hunting and gear. Eric starts by acknowledging that his usual co-hosts, Derek and Greg, are busy with other commitments, but he keeps the energy high with plenty of updates on their upcoming events, like Foam Fest and partnerships. Eric dives into the nitty-gritty of hunting life, from dealing with technical mishaps to managing personal life interruptions, all while keeping a laid-back, relatable tone. The episode highlights the excitement surrounding Foam Fest, their 3D archery event happening in Wisconsin, with details on the impressive giveaways from their sponsors, like Latitude, Spartan Forge, and Nosler. Eric also touches on the ongoing struggle hunters face with mosquitoes during early season hunts, sharing tips on how to mitigate the annoyance, including a recommendation for Cedar oil-based products like Cedarside. The conversation takes a casual turn

Ep. 7- Dave Bechtel We start the conversation with diving into a few things that Dave does to make sure he is dialed with his archery setup with consistent realistic practice. Dave talks about the importance of keeping up with practice through season.  Dave tells a story about hunting with his Aunt Karen and how he made a bold opening day decision in 90 degree heat to hang and hunt in an area no one else ever went on a piece of private property. The target buck came by and Dave made short work it.  We discuss how this mindset has helped Dave put himself into bucks on other properties, like a group of bucks he hunted and eventually killed last season.  We talk a little about what to look for on new properties and things he has learned while traveling to IL to hunt public land.  We end the episode with the one that got away from Wi gun season last year.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Scot, from Feathers and Antlers Outdoors, joins the OHP crew for a laid-back chat about his archery shop in Commerce, Georgia. For the past nine years, Scot and his family have been running the shop, offering a wide range of bows, arrows, broadheads, and outdoor gear. The shop’s all about making sure customers feel welcome and have plenty of space to browse without feeling cramped. The conversation is full of laughs as Scot and the hosts dive into what it’s like running an archery business, the latest trends in gear, and some of the quirks of the industry. Scot’s especially proud of the fact that they’ve shipped custom arrow builds to all 50 states, proving just how far their reputation has spread. They also touch on the importance of supporting local businesses and give a nod to Fred Bear, one of the original legends of archery and a true pioneer in outdoor content creation. https://www.feathersandantlersoutdoors.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Logan is a Union Lineman who lives in West Virginia. He has hunted since he could walk but has really started to chase mature deer the past three years. He hunts mainly on weekends and has really dived deep into learning and understanding big bucks and their habits.  Logan tells a great story about his first and biggest mature buck he killed in 2022 and how that hunt helped him realize how thermals overrule wind direction in the evenings, and how mature deer use the landscape to keep them alive.  Logan dives into another epic story about a property he scouted in Ohio. We make a pit stop and discuss his scouting techniques and what he does when looking at a new property. We continue into his story about hunting the biggest buck he has ever hunted and the lessons that deer taught him.  We discuss some more recent finds he discovered while scouting this past offseason and his plans to get back on the buck this summer and fall.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Okayest Hunter Podcast, the guys are joined by Bill Thompson from Spartan Forge. They chat about hunting ethics, technology, and business values. Bill shares his journey of developing Spartan Forge, emphasizing the importance of creating tools that enhance hunter autonomy while maintaining transparency and integrity in the business. He also touches on the future of Spartan Forge, teasing upcoming features and collaborations that aim to push the boundaries of hunting technology. Throughout the episode, Eric, Derek, and Bill discuss the broader implications of their work, touching on leadership, the philosophy of stoicism as it relates to business and deer hunting, and the challenges of maintaining ethical standards in business. The conversation highlights the importance of focusing on long-term success and making decisions that align with core values, both in hunting and in life. The episode is a blend of humor, deep insights, and practical advice, making it a must-listen for hunters an

Steve starts off by talking about his massive trail camera studies he has done over the past 5-6 years which now has 120+ cameras collecting data in the big woods of northern Pennsylvania. Steve has found that across multiple different types of locations such as bedding areas, scrapes, feeding areas, and transitions one thing has been consistent- big bucks move in daylight when weather conditions are right. Steve aims to choose his hunting days when the weather is right and tries to do the same with his clients.  We talk about trail cam strategies and things we have seen and learned about deer movement from them which transitions us into some stories about attempting to use trail cam data to attack specific bucks and how most of the time, unsuccessful plans are the greatest teachers. Steve shares two unsuccessful attacks last season and we talk about how huge of a role acorns can play not only in deer movement, but rut activity and shed antlers dropping also. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph

On this episode of the Okayest Hunter podcast, the crew welcomes Matt Morris, an amateur boyer and avid traditional bow hunter. They start by introducing Matt and his unique hobby of making traditional bows, known as bowery, and delve into his background. Matt shares his journey from hunting with a compound bow to embracing traditional archery. He describes the appeal of crafting his own bows, saying, "I wanted to simplify some things. If you start at the bare bottom of a very basic stick that shoots other sticks." Matt, a Marine Corps veteran with a background in government and aerospace, explains how his transition from a high-pressure job to the private sector led him to traditional bow making. He emphasizes the importance of action and hands-on learning, comparing it to his wife's experience in the workplace. Matt recalls how his friend Zach Hason, podcast host of the Okayest Trapper podcast, led him to make a bow for Zach, who, much to Matt's chagrin, still doesn't use it. The conversation shifts to Ma

Former Marine Sniper Tony Van Asten joins the podcast to talk about setting up a leased property to attack a specific buck and the lessons learned along the way. Overlooked buck bedding, wind swirls, and knowing when to shoot before big bucks get your scent. Tony also talks about tactics in hill country and how to use thermals and entry times to increase your odds. Tony shares a story about jumping a big buck next to a parking lot in July, then coming back during bow season and capitalizing on his plan even after his arrow falls off the rest before his shot. Tony's YT: https://www.youtube.com/@tonyvanasten/videos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Jonathan McCormick AKA Red Beard Outdoors shares his inspiration and his focus on outdoor activities. He introduces "Red Beard Outdoors," his podcast that began as an Instagram page to document his adventures with his kids in Utah's incredible public lands. Jonathan loves sharing outdoor experiences and gear reviews, and he's all about having great conversations and staying consistent with his content. The chat dives into hunting setups, comparing mechanical and fixed broadheads, and the importance of practicing archery in different conditions. Jonathan also shares his excitement for his upcoming hunting trip to Wisconsin, where he'll be using his saddle setup. He's looking forward to the chance to unplug and enjoy the outdoors. Presented by: www.nosler.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian joins Derek with an awesome story that draws multiple learning opportunities and links into 3-4 other stories about the same location but affords new and different insights and experiences that tie together very nicely.  Along the way, we discuss subtleties of mature buck movements, bedding areas, how bucks use the wind and thermals to travel through areas, and how Brian has taken advantage of this.  Derek interjects with a few correlations to ideas that were brought up in the first two episodes and how they relate to multiple circumstances.  We wrap things up with Brian telling us about his goals for this season in attacking a totally new area with different terrain that he is not used to.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Beau Below with Ghost Bucks joins us in the studio as we talk about whitetails, whitetail fever, and random stories. We're getting excited about the upcoming season! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Derek talks to two fellow WI hunters who have been in a group chat about deer hunting together for 5+ years. We start with some initial stories about learning moments in which Cory shares his mock scrape tactics for locating and hunting mature bucks on public land bordering private and a few lessons learned from chasing a true giant.   Tim shares a story about cutting his teeth hunting Northwoods deer in Lincoln and Oneida counties. He tells about a legendary buck named “Rome” who Tim chased for a few seasons and followed on his trail cameras. This buck taught him many things but one big takeaway was that mature bucks do their own thing and seldom walk the same trails as other deer, which saved this bucks life in one encounter.  We also discuss learning moments and important things to think about when hunting out of state and in new areas. Tim and Cory talk about hunting public land in Iowa and how to manage time and multiple hunting areas.  We talk about trail cameras and how hunters should try not to ge