Episode 15 | This is Your Day w/ Stephan White | 36 Years to Get His First Buck!

This is a podcast you won’t forget. Stephan White joins Joe Kruse in the studio to relive the unforgettable hunting story where he finally tagged his first deer—after 36 years of hunting since 1987. Guided by Joe for two seasons with Big Woods Outfitters at Lake Parlin Lodge, this was Steve’s third year hunting on his own under the American Plan, and he finally connected with the buck he had been chasing for decades.

From the emotional high of seeing that deer standing in front of him, to the drag, the fire-starting mishaps, and the reflective moments sitting alone beside his buck—this episode captures everything we all love about deer camp: camaraderie, adrenaline, frustration, laughs, and once-in-a-lifetime memories.

Set in the snowy Maine woods and staying at Lake Parlin Lodge, this episode is pure Northeast hunting storytelling at its best—heartfelt, hilarious, and packed with wisdom from decades in the woods.

🎙️ What you’ll hear in this episode:
• Steve’s once-in-a-lifetime buck after 36 years of hunting
• How Joe tracked another buck, got Steve’s text, and rushed to celebrate and help get the deer out
• Steve following a pamphlet word-for-word to gut his first deer ever
• How Steve’s mother-in-law used to tell him every day: “This is your day”
• The surreal moment every hunter dreams of—and how it matched his exact vision
• Dragging the deer, smoke signals, frozen fingers & gear lessons learned the hard way
• Why starting a fire in cold weather is harder than it looks—and what to pack next time
• The emotion of doing it on your own, and why that made the hunt even better
• Ben Allen of Epic Adventures sharing a funny story about a client NOT seeing a deer
• Ben’s upcoming trip to the North Maine Woods to hunt deer
• Rifle, snow, tracking conditions & how the hunt truly unfolded
• Joe’s reflections on why this kind of hunt never gets old—no matter how many bucks you’ve taken
• The community of deer camp: long-time friendships, shared stories, and why this lifestyle keeps us all coming back
• Patriots vs. Dolphins banter (because it’s a tradition!)
• Listener shoutouts & what your support means to the team

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