Show Notes
CWD, fake hunting trends, and corporate money are quietly reshaping the future of whitetail hunting - and Kevin Vistison thinks most hunters are looking at it all backwards.
Dan Johnson sits down with Kevin for a raw, wide-ranging conversation that starts with gear and quickly turns into one of the most provocative hunting discussions of the year. From the brands he trusts to the ones he refuses to support, Kevin breaks down how hunting companies, holding groups, and private equity can influence the culture and even the regulations that affect your time in the woods. You’ll discover:
- Why Kevin believes CWD has been used to justify bureaucracy, fear, and bad policy
- How COVID changed the way he thinks about information, trust, and “official” narratives
- The baiting and feeding contradictions he sees in state regulations
- Why he says hunters should pay closer attention to where their money actually goes
- How modern media, branding, and social platforms are reshaping what hunting looks like to the next generation
Dan and Kevin also get into the evolution of hunting gear, the shift from hauling a truckload of clothes to packing a minimalist system, and why comfort, quiet, and simplicity matter more than macho suffering ever did. Kevin shares the story behind Deer Hunter Gear, why his clothing is made in the U.S., and how he built it around a real problem he saw in the field.
This episode is also about what hunting still means at its best - community, mentorship, and the unexpected connections that change lives. Kevin shares how one podcast introduced him to a lifelong hunting partner, and Dan reflects on the spiderweb of friendships, businesses, and opportunities that this community has created over the last decade.
Essential listening if you care about whitetail hunting, the business behind the brands, and where the future of the sport is headed.
