Where To Hunt Wisconsin Podcast

In this episode, we take the podcast on the road, recording live from the Majestic Theater with serial entrepreneur Andy Wines. While Andy dives deep into his productive and intentional approach to work, he shares how he balances his entrepreneurial ventures with deer hunting. The conversation flows naturally from tactical hunting insights—like scouting with trail cams and choosing the right stand—to the profound, almost spiritual aspects of harvesting your own food and passing down traditions to the next generation. We touch on the romantic side of hunting, exploring the primal connection to nature, and why being in the woods offers a reset like nothing else. Whether you're a seasoned hunter or just curious about the lifestyle, this episode delivers a mix of humor, insight, and heartfelt moments. Don't miss Andy's take on what makes deer camp sacred, and the joy of sharing these traditions with his daughter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Van Beek joins this episode of Dropping Pins with an epic early-season deer hunting success story. As a new dad juggling family and hunting, Joe shares the detailed strategy that helped him bag one of his best bucks yet. He dives deep into how he scouted the area, set up trail cameras, and utilized unique access points to outsmart mature deer during a hot and dry early fall. With confidence, patience, and meticulous attention to detail, Joe’s plan paid off, resulting in a thrilling encounter where he had a 45-minute standoff with the buck at just 26 yards. From scouting swamps to making calculated decisions in the field, this episode is packed with insights for hunters looking to elevate their game. Plus, Joe’s post-hunt encounter with the police over a driveway blood trail adds a hilarious twist to the story! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Okayest Hunter Podcast kicks off with Greg’s return, bringing plenty of classic OHP banter. The crew dives into early-season hunting updates as Greg shares his recent bowhunting experiences, including a few close encounters but no shots fired. They strategize around an incoming cold front and juggle hunting plans with family commitments. The conversation heats up with gear talk, featuring Muck Boots’ new Alpha Pursuit ankle boot, and they explore its benefits for Midwest hunting. The highlight of the show is guest Jody Marler, a homebuilder and media pro from Montana, who’s taking a nostalgic trip back to Illinois for some whitetail action. The group trades stories on deer camps, the evolution of hunting gear, and keeping things authentic in the outdoor world. Perfect for anyone who loves swapping hunting strategies and hearing down-to-earth stories from the field. Check out the new Muck Alpha Pursuit Ankle Boot: https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-101146695-15887989 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg

In this episode, Derek sits down with Big Buck Killer Ryan Glisky of Pennsylvania. Ryan starts off by talking a little bit about his early season success in Maryland this year with a great buck he took on an early season betting pattern. Ryan relates a lot of his decision-making with confidence that has been built up over the years in the areas and styles of hunting he incorporates. The conversation turns from early season to Ryan‘s favorite time of year to hunt which is the rut. He talks about his focus on doe betting areas and travel pinch points between dough betting. The idea of confidence comes up again as they discuss the importance of putting time in and sticking it out in locations, you have confidence in.   Ryan shares a wealth of knowledge and a diverse range of strategies that he has used to put himself in front of mature bucks.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Shutts joins Eric and Derek from Bear Archery to talk about the latest lineup of Bear bows, including the highly anticipated Persist 33, Whitetail INT, and the Legit Max. They dive into Bear Archery's mission of making hunting accessible to everyone by offering bows that are not only packed with innovative technology but are also highly adjustable to fit a wide range of hunters. Ryan shares his passion for archery and breaks down each bow’s unique features while the hosts throw in a bit of banter about their recent hunts and family experiences in the deer woods. Whether you're a seasoned hunter or just starting out, this episode highlights some of the best bow options for anyone looking to level up their archery game this season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Dropping Pins, Derek talks with good buddy Matt Streim who owns Weathered Oaks Game Calls and is co-host of the Okayest Fisher Podcast. Although Matt cut his teeth as a Northwoods tree stand hunter, circumstances have since changed and Matt has found himself hunting areas that are lacking trees large enough to hunt from. This has created the opportunity for him, along with the family members he hunts with,  to explore ground hunting mature whitetails. No blinds, no enclosed hunting shack, just a homemade stool/ chair and experience with how to blend into the surroundings.  Matt talks about some of the challenges of hunting from the ground, and how one of the largest hurdles coming from a tree stand background, is giving up visibility and basically only being able to focus your shots to one side of you, rather than 360 degrees.  Matt discusses things he has learned and how he uses these techniques to stay super mobile and keep the deer unaware of his next moves. Matt dives into an awesome

Eric flies solo this week, catching up with everyone right before heading off on a family vacation. With hunting season underway, he shares a sweaty 90-degree hunting recap, dealing with malfunctioning trail cams and some seriously obnoxious doe blowing his cover. You can expect the usual Okayest humor, a bit of gear talk (spoiler: mosquitoes hate Sitka), and the stress of juggling family life, work, and hunting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode starts off a little unexpectedly as Derek and Tony are just chit chatting before hit the record button, but things escalate quickly as they often do with good hunting stories, and Derek hits record after Tony dives into a great story about one of his first travel public land hunts. This hunt takes place before the public land DIY hunting craze hit and many of Tony’s fellow outdoor industry insiders didn’t think hitting the public would pay off in any way. But Tony had to prove them wrong! This story kicks off an awesome episode with plenty of stories from Tony with all sorts of great learning moments, anecdotes, and key takeaways.  Tony shares his incredibly down to earth and relatable experiences with listeners as he provides lessons learned from his vast experiences hunting public land all across the US.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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