Okayest Hunter ®

Dropping Pins: Kyle Hollibush with Avon Legend

In this episode, Derek talks to local WI hunter and videographer Kyle Hollibush of Avon Legend. Kyle was a late-onset hunter starting only 8 seasons ago, but has the drive and thirst for knowledge that has really helped him “figure it out” in the marsh bottoms. Kyle discusses his experience getting into hunting, where he found inspiration and information, and how the COVID pandemic helped accelerate his learning curve. Kyle discusses how he used trail cameras to help monitor ditches and water crossings to help locate traveling bucks. After finding a good buck, Kyle likes to locate nearby doe bedding thickets and leave soaker cameras up on the outside transitions to learn yearly patterns of pre-rut and rut buck movements checking does. Kyle dives into detail of how he found a buck on one such camera and, over the course of a couple of seasons, continued to explore and learn more about the area and timing of the buck's movements. One massive scrape in a thicket near a doe bedding area gave Kyle the intel he needed to set up and kill “Tiny” with his bow during the prerut. Kyle also explains his desire to bowhunt the Ohio rut after having the privilege of gun hunting Ohio and seeing the mature buck sign some of the Republic Ground offered. Kyle ends the episode with 3 major takeaways that are absolute truths for anyone looking to get serious about killing mature bucks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Getting Dialed In with Whale-Tales Archery

Getting dialed in for bow season isn't just about buying a new bow or shooting a few arrows before opening day. It's about building a setup you trust, developing repeatable shooting form, understanding your equipment, and putting in the reps so you're ready when the opportunity finally comes. In this episode of the Okayest Hunter Podcast, we're joined by Dan from Whale-Tales Archery in Dousman, Wisconsin, for a deep dive into bow setup, archery form, tuning, equipment, practice, and what it really takes to become a more confident and ethical bowhunter. As Dan puts it, “Archery is a hobby. Bowhunting is the reward.” We break down what happens when someone walks into an archery shop looking to get into bowhunting—from choosing a compound bow and establishing a budget to getting draw length and draw weight right, selecting a release, building a consistent anchor point, tuning arrows, setting up a bow sight, and figuring out what actually matters versus what might be overthinking it. We also talk about one of the biggest variables in archery: the shooter. Perfect textbook form isn't always the answer. Repeatability and consistency matter, and learning how your shooting form, release, anchor point, elbow position, draw length, and equipment work together can make the difference between chasing problems and confidently stacking arrows. The conversation also dives into choosing between bow brands, buying your first bow, the risks and advantages of used archery equipment, crossbow hunting and the stigma that still surrounds it, ethical shot distance, understanding your personal limitations, and why being capable of shooting farther doesn't necessarily mean you should take that shot on an animal. Whether you're brand new to bowhunting, upgrading your compound bow, trying to tighten your groups, or getting your hunting setup ready for whitetail season, this episode is a reminder that better bowhunting starts long before you're sitting in a tree. Topics include compound bow setup, archery form, bow tuning, draw length, draw weight, releases, bow sights, arrows, shooting consistency, crossbows, ethical shot selection, bowhunting gear, practice, whitetail hunting, and preparing for deer season. If you're getting ready for bow season, now is the time to shoot your bow, learn your equipment, know your limitations, and get dialed in before the moment that matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dropping Pins: Derek’s Seasonal Updates and IL Bow Kill Story

Derek kicks off this season solo with some updates on the upcoming Okayest Hunter Seminar, summer trial cams, IL scouting, and prepping for his son's WI youth hunt. In Dropping Pins, Derek tells the story of how his group's Illinois public land hunt unfolded and how he was lucky enough to arrow a nice IL buck. The story tells a tale of not settling, asking yourself the tough questions, and not being afraid to make a move or take a shot when a fleeting opportunity presents itself. No one wants to wound a deer, but sometimes you have to try to make it happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mobile Hunting Systems

Whitetail season is getting close, and we're breaking down everything that's changing in our mobile hunting setups for this year. In this episode, we dive into saddle hunting systems, climbing sticks, platforms, mobile hunting packs, bow setup, archery tuning, and the gear we're trusting this fall. We also discuss the latest Latitude equipment, organizing a streamlined hunting pack, reducing weight without sacrificing efficiency, and why simplicity often leads to better hunts. We also talk about preseason preparation, practicing with a new bow, release choices, organizing gear before opening day, and what we're looking forward to at our upcoming live mobile hunting seminar featuring experienced public-land whitetail hunters. Whether you're new to saddle hunting or looking to fine-tune your mobile whitetail system, this episode is packed with practical tips and honest opinions from hunters who spend countless hours chasing mature public-land bucks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bold Moves Fill Tags

What does it take to consistently find—and kill—mature whitetails? Sometimes the answer isn't hunting harder… it's making one bold move at exactly the right time. In this episode, Dave Bechtel returns to the podcast to break down the story behind his impressive gun buck, the in-season decisions that led to success, and why adapting to hunting pressure can completely change your season. The crew dives into trail camera strategy, public land and permission property tactics, aggressive stand moves, and how reading both deer and other hunters can put you in the right place when it matters most. Dave also shares the incredible story behind his recent ACL injury, suffered while rushing to protect his young son at swim lessons, and discusses the long road through surgery, rehabilitation, nutrition, and the goal of being back in the woods by October. Along the way, the conversation covers summer scouting, hanging cameras in brutal heat, surviving poison ivy, hunting overlooked spots, and plenty of laughs that make this classic Okayest Hunter conversation one you won't want to miss. If you're preparing for deer season, this episode is packed with practical whitetail hunting insights, relatable stories, and real-world lessons that can help you find more mature bucks this fall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices