Josh "Landbridge" Spielmaker and Bear Newcomb welcome Kyle Plunkett and Kyle Veit, hosts of the Ozark Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about recent deer hunts, including public-land bucks, rattling and grunting during the rut, saddle hunting, and the challenges of getting a deer out of the backcountry. The conversation also turns to a favorite piece of Ozark folklore—the persimmon seed winter forecast—and the crew’s hopes for a snowy season. Bear talks about his upcoming friends-and-family deer camp.

A major part of the discussion centers on Clay’s recent High Arctic experience and his conversation with Inuit hunter Devon Manik and author Frank J. Tester. The group reflects on the realities of life in the far north, extreme cold, traditional caribou clothing, Inuit culture and language, and the deep respect for wildlife that comes from depending on the land.

Remember to preorder Clay Newcomb’s book, American Bear, and get a signed postcard during the preorder promotion starting November 9 through December 9, 2026.

Thank you to our sponsor, Tecovas.

If you have comments on the show, send us a note to beargrease@themeateater.com

Connect with Clay and MeatEater

Clay on Instagram

MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips

MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube

Shop Bear Grease Merch

Josh "Landbridge" Spielmaker and Bear Newcomb welcome Kyle Plunkett and Kyle Veit, hosts of the Ozark Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about recent deer hunts, including public-land bucks, rattling and grunting during the rut, saddle hunting, and the challenges of getting a deer out of the backcountry. The conversation also turns to a favorite piece of Ozark folklore&mdash;the persimmon seed winter forecast&mdash;and the crew&rsquo;s hopes for a snowy season. Bear talks about his upcoming friends-and-family deer camp.
A major part of the discussion centers on Clay&rsquo;s recent High Arctic experience and his conversation with Inuit hunter Devon Manik and author Frank J. Tester. The group reflects on the realities of life in the far north, extreme cold, traditional caribou clothing, Inuit culture and language, and the deep respect for wildlife that comes from depending on the land.
Remember to preorder Clay Newcomb&rsquo;s book,&nbsp;American Bear, and get a signed postcard during the preorder promotion starting November 9 through December 9, 2026.
Thank you to our sponsor,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tecovas.com/">Tecovas</a>.
If you have comments on the show, send us a note to <a href="mailto:beargrease@themeateater.com">beargrease@themeateater.com</a>
Connect with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.themeateater.com/authors/claynewcomb">Clay</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.themeateater.com/">MeatEater</a>
Clay on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/clay_newcomb">Instagram</a>
MeatEater on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/meateater">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StevenRinellaMeatEater/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MeatEaterTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAaa0mleeU128Ad5iM1RFIg">Youtube</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@MeatEaterClips">Youtube Clips</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@MeatEaterPodcastNetwork">MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube</a>
Shop&nbsp;<a href="https://store.themeateater.com/collections/bear-grease-podcast">Bear Grease Merch</a>

The Bear Grease Podcast with host Clay Newcomb delivers compelling storytelling through documentary-style episodes exploring the culture, traditions, and history of rural America. He’ll dive in deep with hunters, biologists, anthropologists, and hillbillies to learn about human nature and our ancient connection to the land. Bear Grease explores unique people, topics, and stories that reveal the incredible value of life lived close to the land. Part of the MeatEater Podcast Network.

Bear Grease

Home to the Bear Grease podcast and Bear Grease Render show with Clay Newcomb, and This Country Life with Brent Reaves.

Clay Newcomb delivers compelling storytelling through documentary-style episodes exploring the culture, traditions, and history of rural America. He’ll dive in deep with hunters, biologists, anthropologists, and hillbillies to learn about human nature and our ancient connection to the land. Bear Grease explores unique people, topics, and stories that reveal the incredible value of life lived close to the land. Follow up with the Render discussion show, where Clay interviews experts and brings together a cast of crew members to explore themes within the Bear Grease show.

Brent Reaves is a lifelong outdoorsman whose family roots go back over 150 years in the river bottoms of rural Arkansas. On This Country Life, he's inviting you into his home to teach you everything he knows about hunting, fishing, and the very best parts of country living. To Brent, country living is about living life on your own terms, or as he says, "beating the system." In each episode, Brent's going to tell you a story about a time he did just that, and teach you a country skill you need to know to do the same. So pull up a chair or drop the tailgate, Brent's got a thing or two he can teach you.

Part of the MeatEater Podcast Network.

Home to the Bear Grease podcast and Bear Grease Render show with Clay Newcomb, and This Country Life with Brent Reaves.
Clay Newcomb delivers compelling storytelling through documentary-style episodes exploring the culture, traditions, and history of rural America. He’ll dive in deep with hunters, biologists, anthropologists, and hillbillies to learn about human nature and our ancient connection to the land. Bear Grease explores unique people, topics, and stories that reveal the incredible value of life lived close to the land. Follow up with the Render discussion show, where Clay interviews experts and brings together a cast of crew members to explore themes within the Bear Grease show.
Brent Reaves is a lifelong outdoorsman whose family roots go back over 150 years in the river bottoms of rural Arkansas. On This Country Life, he's inviting you into his home to teach you everything he knows about hunting, fishing, and the very best parts of country living. To Brent, country living is about living life on your own terms, or as he says, "beating the system." In each episode, Brent's going to tell you a story about a time he did just that, and teach you a country skill you need to know to do the same. So pull up a chair or drop the tailgate, Brent's got a thing or two he can teach you.
Part of the MeatEater Podcast Network.

Ep. 523: Render - The Rut, the Arctic, and Reading the Persimmon Seeds

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/cd21ed21-b915-42ac-a4df-b4fe017b6397/transcript