One Public Land Buck, Two Hernias, and a Lifetime of Stories

We hit record, crack jokes, and somehow end up doing a full 2025 deer season year-in-review with the crew—public land chaos, private land chirping, a perfectly-orchestrated deer drive, and the universal truth that the freezer doesn’t fill itself (unfortunately). You’ll hear: Tyler’s first real taste of public land deer hunting (and the humbling that comes with it) The Thanksgiving-ish deer drive that turned into a full-blown tradition Matt’s “dumb luck” story that includes a 47-yard double-lung from the ground… after ditching the camera (as is tradition) Derek’s heater of a season across Wisconsin + Illinois, capped by the best kind of win: his son taking his first deer A few real talk moments on what Okayest Hunter actually stands for—kindness isn’t weakness, community matters, and the loudest negativity doesn’t get to define the mission It’s funny, it’s rowdy, it’s heartfelt in the least convenient way… and it’s the perfect sendoff into almost 2026. Brought to you by Nosler. Shoot straight. Keep it tight. And try not to lose your boots in the marsh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 camp dynamics, this one pulls apart the whole mess with honesty, humor, and a hard look at what hunters owe each other. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 talk honestly about guilt, selfishness, “hunting season survivor” spouses, and how easy it is to overdraft your family’s emotional bank account chasing a few precious sits in November. We also share the story behind our Sweet November Sweepstakes, why we had to nuke our old Apple Podcasts feed (and all the reviews with it), and how the Okayest community rallied to rebuild ratings from scratch. There’s a live winner draw, plenty of laughs about tech issues and vertical video chaos, and some surprisingly heavy moments about generational deer camp, getting kids involved, and raising a family that still wants to come “home” to the woods with you. If you’re a hunter who loves your family as much as you love the rut—and a spouse who’s ever felt like a hunting widow—this one’s for you. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review on the new Okayest Podcast Network feed so more okayest hunters (and their better halves) can find the show. Presented by Nosler: CODE OHP for 20% OFF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 .300 Win Mag, Damien’s swamp donkey drag from hell, and Derek's buddy Mike finally tagging a big, wide 7-pointer after nearly three decades of grinding it out on tough ground. Of course, we talk about the viral Clayton gag video, soft-handed internet haters, buck shaming, tattoos for deer camp, and why we’re still fighting for a hunting culture where any legal deer is worth celebrating. There’s some gear talk and housekeeping too: Nosler’s Black Friday deals, Latitude, Gerber, Rack Hub, a Moultrie Edge Solar cam giveaway, and our loaded November sweepstakes. We wrap it all in gratitude—for our kids, our buddies, our wives who hold the fort down, and the deer that make all of this possible. Grab a bowl of chili, hug your people, and enjoy the deer camp recap. Enter our November Sweepstakes here: https://www.okayesthunter.com/pages/okayest-hunter-fred-bear-sweet-november-sweepstakes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, dolphin tattoos, chili debates, Mallort curses, cabin chaos, Kwik Trip addictions, dads getting stuck in trucks, and the annual reminder that nobody gags harder during a gut job than Clayton. Shane calls in to share he's heading to Adams County, Wisconsin. Colton learns what he definitely doesn’t want to grow into. And the crew tries (and fails) to stay on a single topic for more than 11 seconds. It’s the most unhinged, authentic, big-buck-dreaming, belly-laughing Deer Camp episode we’ve ever recorded. Sorry, kinda. Good luck this weekend. Stay safe, shoot straight, and may your Mallort shot not curse your season. Presented by Nosler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 ⁠Nosler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Nosler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 hunting culture today. Presented by Nosler Shoutout to our partners, Latitude Outdoors, Gerber Gear, and Rack Hub. Hunt your own hunt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices