Ep. 936: Something From The White House That We Can All Applaud

September 24, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

In 1991, Sam Ayupa of Northern Illinois was out pheasant hunting with a Remington 870 shotgun when he saw a big buck. He swapped birdshot for slugs, took one shot, and killed what turned out to be a world-class typical white-tailed deer. He skull-capped it, nailed it to a plaque, and hung it in his basement, where it sat for 30 years. It was not until an electrician named Don spotted the rack in 2023 and urged Ayupa to have it scored that the deer entered the public record. An antler collector from New York drove 600 miles to buy the rack before it was officially measured. Boone and Crockett scored it at 207 and 7/8 inches, making it the new USA typical record—two inches larger than the previous record—and the second-largest typical ever killed worldwide. The buck had 13 points, a six-by-five frame, brow tines 13 inches each, a seven-inch drop tine, and a 20-inch inside spread. Remarkably, the deer had been known to shed hunters before Ayupa killed it: its 1990 left shed measured 105 inches, the second-largest shed of all time. And for two years after the kill, before Milo Hansen shot his record buck in 1993, Ayupa unknowingly had the world record hanging in his basement.

A Shake-Up at the Top of the Record Books

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What you'll learn

1 (01:51) **Welcome & Episode Preview** - The host introduces the news roundup, listing a new USA typical whitetail record, a Pennsylvania state record elk, Etsy hypocrisy, fresh wolf news, and an interview with Rep. Ryan Zinke about the "A River Runs Through It Act."
2 (02:38) **New USA Typical Whitetail Record - The Sam Ayupa Buck** - Boone and Crockett announces a new USA record typical whitetail deer, killed 35 years ago in Illinois by Sam Ayupa, who was pheasant hunting with a shotgun.
3 (17:57) **The Gunfighters Podcast & Live Tour Announcements** - The host promotes a new podcast, "The Gunfighters," by author Brian Burrow, which explores why all famous gunfighters came from Texas, and announces live tour dates in the Midwest.
4 (19:51) **Sportsball Fights - Rams vs. Broncos** - The hosts predict the winner of a fight between a Ram and a Bronco (wild horse) based on animal mascot merits, sponsored by DraftKings.
5 (27:40) **Etsy Hypocrisy & Feather Sales** - The hosts return to Etsy's ban on legally sourced fur products, highlighting the platform's hypocrisy by allowing the sale of protected bird feathers and offensive merchandise.
6 (35:34) **White House Executive Orders - Restoring American Saltwater Angling** - The host dives into a major, nuanced executive order from the White House aimed at improving federal fisheries management, prioritizing recreational fishing.
7 (58:24) **White House Executive Orders - Reinvigorating America's Hunting Heritage** - The host analyzes a second executive order focused on expanding hunting access, reforming land management, and cutting bureaucratic red tape.

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Show Notes

Steve Rinella and the MeatEater Crew Discuss: Trump’s executive orders on hunting and fishing; Etsy loves Epstein but hates squirrels; a new U.S. record whitetail and a Pennsylvania state record elk; a little more on Yellowstone wolves (yes, it never ends), Congressman Ryan Zinke on the A River Runs Through It Act; and more!

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