Okayest Hunting Blog

Summer Scouting for Whitetails: Find Buck Beds, Deer Sign, and Early Season Opportunities
Summer Scouting for Whitetails: Find Buck Beds, Deer Sign, and Early Season Opportunities
Bowhunting, especially on public land, is usually less about finding one magic spot and more about stacking enough small advantages together that eventually something works. Read more...
Hunter walking through summer woods during tick season while scouting and preparing for whitetail season
The Growing Threat of Ticks: What Hunters Need to Know About Lyme Disease and Alpha-Gal
Three of the most common tick-borne illnesses, and the ones that you hear about a large majority of the time, are Lyme disease, Alpha-gal syndrome, and Anaplasmosis. Read more...
Calling: How Good Do You Actually Need to Be?
Calling: How Good Do You Actually Need to Be?
Too many guys put too much on emphasis on being a good caller and developing that perfect tone. I’m still not the best caller in the world, but I’ve developed... Read more...
Late season layering for cold weather hunts
How Northern Deer Hunters Stay Warm All Winter: A Layering System Built for Harsh Climates
When it comes to trapping heat and maintaining comfort, layering is the only way to go. Read more...
mature buck hunting is not the same as just deer hunting
Why Mature Bucks Are a Whole Different Animal
Mature bucks are a completely different animal. You can’t hunt them like any other deer. This isn’t for everyone though, and we completely understand if you want to kill the... Read more...
Okayest Podcast Network wildlife and land management, Southern U podcast
Land Management and Wildlife Biology Podcast from the Southern U
Whether the discussion is buying your first piece of land, managing a small hunting property, or just better understanding wildlife biology, the Southern U will be there leading the conversation. Read more...
Okayest Cook Podcast from the Okayest Podcast Network
The Okayest Cook Podcast: Where Hunting Stories and Cooking Collide
The Okayest Cook podcast has definitely delivered on its promise of entertainment and inspiration. As avid hunters, we automatically take on some level of wild game cooking. It’s easy to... Read more...
Deer hunting spike buck
Hunt Your Own Hunt And Respect It
Somewhere along the line, success got boiled down to antler size. Big racks. Trail cam trophies. Grip-and-grin glory. That’s what gets posted, shared, celebrated. And because of that, some hunters... Read more...
3D Archery Hunting Prep
Is 3D Archery the Best Hunting Preparation?
Shooting bag and block targets is great for building form and confidence but it isn’t the optimal form of training for the hunt. 3D targets provide the exact target that... Read more...
Wild Strength Podcast with Whitney Tramel
Meet Wild Strength: A Podcast Fueling Hunters, Athletes, and Adventurers
The podcast is hosted by Whitney Tramel, a Texas native who has since found her way out west. While Whitney is the host of an outdoor fitness podcast, she wasn’t... Read more...
Dealing with anxiety in deer hunting
Discarding Anxiety; The Power Is In The Progress
It’s about taking that extra step to scout a little more, or walk a little further into the deer woods, or discard your anxiety and accept the situation as it... Read more...
Hunting Dad Gift Guide for 2025
The Okayest Hunter’s Last Minute Father’s Day Gift Guide
The Okayest Father’s Day Gift Guide. That doesn’t mean the gifts are subpar or are mediocre. This is a gift guide that preaches affordability and useability simultaneously while also focusing... Read more...
Okayest Fisher podcast
How the Okayest Fisher Podcast Preps You for a Summer of Bass, Crappie & Muskie
Whether you are looking for technical knowledge, entertainment, or just some encouragement, you can find it in this podcast. It’s fishing season, don’t be afraid to go all in. Read more...
Offseason Hunting Hacks
Off-Season Hunting To-Do-List for Okayest Hunters
Not everything on the offseason to-do list has to be hard work! Fishing is a high priority for me during the summer. It’s a great way to have fun with... Read more...
Hunter's decline
Why Hunters Quit Hunting
At the end of the day, what keeps people in this thing isn’t inches of antler it’s connection. To the land. To each other. To something bigger than ourselves. Read more...
Turkey Season Podcast - Okayest Podcast Network
Appreciation for Wild Turkey, Hunting, and Conservation
There are a ton of podcasts out there hitting you with all the best turkey hunting tips and tactics. There is a small element of that here as well, but... Read more...
Philosopher King’s Guide to Shutting Down Keyboard Warriors
Philosopher King’s Guide to Shutting Down Keyboard Warriors
Hunting is personal. The decisions you make, where you hunt, what gear you use, what deer you decide to shoot are yours alone. Of course, we know all this, and... Read more...
How to find shed antlers
How to Find More Shed Antlers
I know we have a lot of ground to cover to find shed antlers, but if you make an effort to slow down and keep your eyes on the ground... Read more...
Finding Strength in Our Differences: A Deer Hunter’s Perspective
Finding Strength in Our Differences: A Deer Hunter’s Perspective
It doesn’t matter if you’re chasing a trophy buck or a tag-filling doe—your hunt is worth celebrating. Read more...
Supporting Small Businesses: Finally A Gift Guide Featuring Underrated Brands You’ll Want to Discover
Supporting Small Businesses: Finally A Gift Guide Featuring Underrated Brands You’ll Want to Discover
keep it simple with the “Okayest Holiday Gift Guide.” We’ve put together a list of products that we love and use with the intention that it’ll give you some ideas... Read more...
Late Season Whitetail Hunting Tactics
Practical Late Season Whitetail Tactics
The late season can be tough in terms of staying off of the deer’s radar and getting picked happens all too often. Compared to the early season, when the foliage... Read more...
Why Deer Camp Matters: Lessons, Laughter, and Legacy
Why Deer Camp Matters: Lessons, Laughter, and Legacy
There is no doubt that hunting is special, but the most special aspect is that we hunt with those we love. Sadly, because we are human, nothing lasts forever. Whether... Read more...
Gun deer hunting season tactics
Unique Tactics for a Successful Whitetail Firearm Season
Firearm season is a special time for whitetail hunters. For many, the next couple weeks will make up the entirety of “deer season.” Read more...
Motherhood and Hunting: Unexpected Parallels
Motherhood and Hunting: Unexpected Parallels
You can only read so much or watch so many videos, but truly to understand hunting, is to experience it. Motherhood is the exact same thing. You won’t understand it, until you do... Read more...
Practical deer hunting tips from seasoned hunters
Teachable Moments Distilled from Experienced Whitetail Hunters
As bowhunting picks up steam, it's time to embrace elevate your game in the deer woods. Here are some practical hunting learnings we've distilled from the Dropping Pins podcast you can apply this hunting... Read more...
Bear Archery New Bows for 2025
A Legacy of Tradition, Innovation, and Resurgence
"We still have machines in our Florida facility that Fred Bear himself worked on," Shutts mentioned. "It's an incredible feeling to be part of a company with so much history and tradition. Our heritage is something we... Read more...
Whitetail Wisdom Shared from Tony Peterson with Meateater
Learning from Tony Peterson’s Whitetail Wisdom
Don’t let bad conditions stop you from hunting. “There’s always potential for movement,” Tony says. Whether it’s unseasonably hot or there’s a cold front rolling in, deer behavior can surprise... Read more...
clean miss on a whitetail buck
Missed Shots Teach Us The Most
To have a deer this close and never present a shot is pure torture. The buck finally started to turn but ended up walking directly away. I scrambled to find... Read more...
Early season bowhunting and mosquitoes
Mosquitoes: An Early Season Nightmare
While mosquitoes negatively affect hunter movement in the deer stand, they can however affect deer movement. Deer don’t particularly like getting swarmed by bugs either. While they are more tolerant... Read more...
Nosler 30.06 whitetail hunting ammo
High Quality Whitetail Hunting Rifle Ammunition for Ethical Shot Placement
When it comes to hunting and shooting, Nosler, Inc. is a name that stands out for all the right reasons. For over 75 years, Nosler has been leading the charge... Read more...
Summer Wild Game Recipes for the Grill
Summer Wild Game Recipes for the Grill
If you or somebody you know was fortunate to harvest some wild game, you will be in for a treat. Some of the best cooking happens during the summer and... Read more...
Basic wild turkey butchering tips
Basic Wild Turkey Butchering Tips
My favorite thing to gain from a successful turkey hunt is wild, delicious meat. Wild turkey is some of the best game meat in existence. It’s lean, flavorful, and absent... Read more...
Turkey calling basics
A Beginner’s Guide to Turkey Calls
Scouting, patterning your shotgun, and preparing your gear are all important, but one of the most important things you can do before the season is to get to know your... Read more...
What can you learn from antlers during shed hunting?
Shed Hunting Intel Informs Deer Scouting for the Next Season
A spring shed hunt can tell you so much about the deer in your area. Don’t just throw them in the bone pile without gathering some information from them! Finding sheds... Read more...
Does the hunting industry have an identity problem?
The Identity Crises within the Hunting Community 
Tying your identity to externals can contribute to a divisive mindset that separates "us" from "them." How many folks fight over crossbows vs. compound, Chevy vs. Ford, or Saddle vs.... Read more...
How to get better at deer hunting or at least okayer
How to Become a Better Whitetail Deer Hunter - Or At Least Marginally Better
Don’t compare yourself to others or use some famous hunting influencer as your benchmark. Being better for yourself is way more rewarding than bettering yourself for others.  Read more...
The second whitetail rut
Stay The Course and Stay in The Hunt
Harvesting any deer is going to have some luck involved; I don’t think we can pull it off just based on our own merit. Whether it’s through prayer or attitude,... Read more...
Stillness is the Key - Especially when deer hunting
Finding Stillness in the Woods: The Okayest Hunter's Guide to Deer Camp
Finding moments of stillness has become a rare treasure in our fast-paced world, where time seems to slip through our fingers, much like that shooter buck we had our crosshairs... Read more...
Deer Camp hunting stories and memories shared
Hunting Creates Great Memories and Builds Strong Bonds
Hunting is the great connection. It has been since the beginning of time. We should use this connection for the betterment of the lifestyle and make it more attractive for... Read more...
Whitetail Buck Anatomy
Basic Deer Anatomy to Help Understand Shot Placement
All of the deer’s vitals sit inside the ribcage. The diaphragm creates a wall at the back of the last rib (just forward of the middle of the body) and... Read more...
How to find Big Bucks on Public Land
How to find Big Bucks on Public Land
If you are interested in finding the biggest buck a piece of public land offers, you don't need to start by locating the food source. Deer and, most importantly, mature... Read more...
Whitetail Grip and Grin
Capturing the Moment: Tips for Photographing Whitetails You Harvest
Whether you're a seasoned outdoorsman, an Okayest Hunter or a newcomer to the world of hunting, documenting your harvest through photographs is a fantastic way to relive the excitement and... Read more...
Is mobile hunting the only way to hunt deer?
IS MOBILE HUNTING THE BEST?
Sure, mobile hunting has led to the downfall of a lot of wary bucks who would have lived long lives in their little hidden pockets of timber if not for... Read more...
Out of state hunting trip
Planning and Executing Out-of-State Hunts
The longer you wait to get the ball rolling on your out-of-state hunting plans, the longer it will take to get in the woods. Start exploring your options, figuring your... Read more...
Being a hunting ambassador
What's It Like Being a Hunting Ambassador?
Being an ambassador for hunting is more than buying your tags every year and changing your social media profile pictures to your latest kill. It’s about representing the lifestyle and... Read more...
deer hunting archery practice
Basic Summer Archery Practice Progression
The key is to have a plan and stick to it. Remember perfect practice makes perfect and consistency is the goal. Go into this fall being a better archer than... Read more...
Watering holes for early season whitetails
Hunting Early Season Whitetails in the Heat
Water is vital for the survival and overall well-being of whitetail deer. During dry seasons or in regions with limited natural water sources, waterholes become critical for sustaining deer populations.  Read more...
DIY Duck Hunting Boat
Building Your Own DIY Duck Hunting Boat
Building Your Own Duck Boat By Jeff Ludeke | PUBLISHED June 11th, 2023 There's a common saying that boat stands for Bust Out Another Thousand (B.O.A.T.). Knowing that boats can become money... Read more...
Hunting camo vs flannel patters
Hunting Camo: Fad or Function?
Hunting requires hiding from your target. Don’t depend on camo; rather, depend on cover. A dense cover behind you and some outline-breaking cover in front of you is the ticket.... Read more...
Turkey Hunting Season Lessens Learned
Turkey Hunting Season Reflection
If you are a hunter, failure and success will both be familiar (often more heavy quantities of failure) but failure is not a bad thing. Failure can make you hardened... Read more...