The MeatEater Podcast
Ep. 771: Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CLXXXIV
Release Date: October 1, 2025
Host: Giannis Patelis (guest host)
Guests/Contestants: Bronson Strickland, Sam James, Spencer, Corey, Seth, Brody
Theme: All About Whitetails – MeatEater Trivia Special
Episode Overview
In celebration of Whitetail Week, Giannis Patelis hosts a special edition of MeatEater Trivia focused entirely on North America's most pursued big game animal: the whitetail deer. With special guest Bronson Strickland from the National Deer Association and the regular cast of trivia contenders, the episode serves up a blend of competitive fun, practical knowledge, and classic MeatEater banter. Aside from testing knowledge about hunting, conservation, and wild foods—this time, exclusively about whitetails—the crew also riff on gear, management practices, record books, and culinary quirks.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Special Stakes & Focus (00:32 - 03:17)
- Instead of the usual $500 charity prize, the winner gets a lifetime membership (worth $1,500) to the National Deer Association.
- Every trivia question is whitetail-related, covering three of MeatEater’s "four verticals": hunting, conservation, and cooking (fishing excluded).
- Bronson Strickland introduces the NDA’s mission and value:
"Because it is an organization all about deer, all about education, making people better hunters, better stewards, advocacy for deer..." — Bronson Strickland (02:27)
2. Whitetail Week Promotions & Sales Banter (03:17 - 07:19)
- Extended, humorous digression about gear deals—including cellular trail cams, First Light apparel, and the nostalgia of the original First Light "Chama" hoodie.
- Insights into cell camera use: seasoned deer learn to ignore them if they’re a familiar presence, especially with solar setups.
3. The Trivia Format & “Index” Reference (07:19 - 08:31, 08:45)
- Jennifer Index: This week, Giannis’ wife Jennifer scored a 4/10 on the quiz, setting a benchmark for contestants.
- Contestant banter and pre-game jitters, especially from first-timer Bronson Strickland.
The Whitetail-Only Trivia Challenge
1. Listener Question: Minimum Pope & Young Score (08:48)
Q: Which antlered big game species shares the same Pope & Young minimum entry score (125") as typical whitetail deer?
A: Shiras moose (10:28)
- Notable Reaction: Surprise that moose and whitetails have the same typical entry score.
- Info Drop: Shiras moose archery world record is 192", with habitat across the northern Rockies.
2. Forestry Know-How: The "DBH" Acronym (11:57)
Q: In forestry, what does DBH stand for?
A: Diameter at Breast Height (15:15)
- Educational Moment: Why DBH is set at 4.5 ft and its importance in forest and wildlife management.
"That would be the equivalent of Boone and Crockett score for me and a deer—DBH for a forester." — Bronson Strickland (15:30)
3. OnX Markers: Whitetail Icons (16:39)
Q: How many waypoint icons in OnX specifically use the term “whitetail”?
A: One (18:42)
- Sidebar: Lively discussion on digital scouting techniques and personalized icon color-coding.
4. Top Whitetail Cartridge (20:11)
Q: Which cartridge accounts for the most Boone & Crockett whitetail entries?
A: .30-06 Springfield (22:33)
- Runner-ups: 12-gauge shotgun, then .270
- Trivia Twist: Bowhunting (various draw weights) far exceeds firearms in record entries.
5. Dental Pad—The Overlooked Anatomy (24:12)
Q: What is the name of the fibrous tissue replacing a whitetail’s upper front teeth?
A: Dental pad (27:13)
- Zero-for-the-room moment; even the biologist missed it.
"The answer is surprisingly simple—but sweet." — Giannis Patelis (26:38)
- Factoid: Dental pad serves as a cutting board for lower incisors.
6. Regional Butcher Lingo: “Fish Fillets,” etc. (29:10)
Q: "Fish fillets," "sweet meat," and "mud veins" refer to which cut?
A: Tenderloins (30:25)
- Banter: Only minimal regional knowledge; laughter over the "mud veins" nickname.
7. Record Book State Rankings (32:16)
Q: Which state has the most Boone & Crockett whitetail entries?
A: Wisconsin (34:20)
- Discussion: Submission bias and hunting regulations may influence state standings.
- Top 5 States: Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio.
8. World Record Archery Bucks’ Home State (36:01)
Q: Where were both the archery typical and non-typical world record whitetails taken?
A: Illinois (37:54)
"Mel Johnson killed the world record typical in 1965 with the trad bow. Luke Brewster killed the record non-typical in 2018." — Giannis Patelis (37:55)
9. Legality of Hunting Whitetails State-by-State (41:09)
Q: In how many states can you legally hunt whitetail deer?
A: 45 states (43:05)
- Tricky Clarification: Exclusions are Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, California, Utah.
10. Wild Meat Nutrition—Ranking Calories (47:23)
Q: Order these by caloric density (high to low): lean ground beef, skin-on pheasant, venison, catfish fillets.
A:
- Lean ground beef (1,250 cal/lb)
- Skin-on pheasant (672)
- Catfish fillets (653)
- Venison (544)
Memorable Quotes & Moments
- "If I do 50%, it'll be a victory for me. I'm terrible at trivia."
— Bronson Strickland (00:53) - "It is an organization all about deer, all about education, making people better hunters, better stewards, advocacy for deer. So it's just a wonderful organization made up of great people."
— Bronson Strickland on NDA (02:27) - "I've gone so long now without touching or being near some of these cameras that I'm coming to think that I have two, maybe three year old bucks that have seen that camera from the day they were born."
— Giannis Patelis, on evolving deer behavior (05:05) - "The answer is dental pad… The hard, rubbery pad helps them efficiently gather large quantities of plant matter by pinching it between the pad and their bottom teeth."
— Giannis Patelis (27:13) - "My favorite icon is green, because that's what I do when I have hunting permission on a place."
— Sam James (18:06) - "I searched for a while...like, what does that [tenderloin] muscle do? Do you know, Bronson?... Hip thrusting would be my answer."
— Giannis Patelis and Bronson Strickland, joking about biology (30:25) - “If you think you know what a giant non-typical world record whitetail looks like, you actually don’t. You need to go see pictures.”
— Sam James (39:01)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Stakes & NDA intro: 00:32
- Sales and gear talk: 03:17
- Trivia format, Jennifer Index: 07:19, 08:31
- Trivia begins: 08:45
- Listener-Submitted Question (P&Y score): 08:48
- DBH in forestry: 11:57
- OnX whitetail icons: 16:39
- Top whitetail cartridge: 20:11
- Whitetail dental pad: 24:12
- “Fish fillets”/Tenderloin nicknames: 29:10
- Record book state rankings: 32:16
- World record archery bucks: 36:01
- Legal whitetail hunting states: 41:09
- Calorie ranking by meat: 47:23
- Final winner and reflections: 51:16–53:14
Contest Outcomes & Wrap-Up
- Winner: Spencer
- Prize: Lifetime NDA Membership
- Scores (final):
- Spencer: 7
- Bronson: 5 (adjusted down based on follow-up)
- Brody & Seth: 4
- Corey: 3
- Sam: 1
- Notable Trivia Takeaways: Even guests with advanced wildlife biology degrees (Dr. Strickland) found these whitetail-specific questions challenging.
Episode Tone, Humor, and Vibe
True to form, the MeatEater crew keeps it light, irreverent, and accessible—balancing serious conservation insights with in-jokes, regional quirks, and the part-competitive, part-comradely eyerolling listeners expect from the trivia crew. Listeners get not just answers but context, anecdotes, and practical lore—everything that makes the outdoors and its culture endlessly fascinating.
For anyone looking to learn more about whitetails, gear, conservation, or simply enjoy the camaraderie and wit of outdoor obsessives, this episode is an essential listen—trivia and wisdom in generous measure.