The Rich Outdoors

Today my buddy Cody Simons @codysimons04 joins me to bs about elk hunting and also to chat about getting your bow dialed in. It is that time of year when it is time to get serious about shooting and making sure your bow is dialed. Cody knows his stuff and is one of the few people I trust working on my stuff. In this podcast, we cover some of the many misconceptions and focus on what things hunters need to do and worry about. Specifically talking about how to make sure your broadheads are tuned and why it is important to get your bow tuned for broadheads early and not the week before the season. This podcast gets a bit technical but I hope you all enjoy it. Show Notes:  Introduction – 0:03:10 Cody Archery Intro to Hunting – 0:05:36 Looking Back on Mistakes/Habits – 0:20:07 Single Pin vs Multi – 0:24:20 Target Panic & Releases -0:28:51 Gaps and Crowded Shots – 0:39:12 Bow Shopping Advice – 0:42:12 Arrow Technical Talk – 0:49:14 Get in Touch with Cody – 1:17:33 If you are a fan of the rich outdoors podcast, you are probably into hunting you might even do a bit of Backcountry Hunting. If that’s the case check out Backcountry Fuel Box. Backcountry Fuel Box is all about helping you find new meals and snacks to make your backcountry trips more enjoyable. When you sign up, each month you get a box full of new Meals, Snacks, Bars and all kinds of food goodies from all different companies to test out and try. We also offer great discounts so when you find the things you like you can stock up. Now is a great time to sign up as hunting season is fast approaching. Head over to backcountryfuelbox.com and get signed up with the code TRO and you’ll save 10%. There is zero obligation what so ever, you can cancel anytime! I tell you what if you sign up and don’t love your first box I’ll even refund you for the box. Today’s podcast is brought to you by Solo Targets. I pumped about the new solo targets too because I use the crap out of them. We all know that you should train like you fight or practice as close to the real thing as you can. Solo Targets are an archery target allow you to practice on a truly life-size, hyper-realistic target. Here is why I like Solo Targets, besides the fact that I get to shoot at giant bulls every day. The Solo Target is a hyper-realistic skin that can be used in conjunction with pretty much any block or target you already have. The solo skin also forces you into a much more real-life scenario where you have to pick a spot on the animal and not a circle on a target. Solo Targets has launched a bunch of new targets this year and you can pick whatever species you want from elk, sheep, ibex, deer, you name it. Check em out at solotargets.com and use the TRO code to save 15% off.

In this episode, my good buddy Mike Johnson of Hells Canyon Armory jumps on to give some tips on up upgrading your hunting rifle. This podcast is full of rabbit holes but Mike does a great job of covering pretty much everything from upgrades to Grandpas old 30-06 all the way up to full custom builds of his 300 HCA (300 Hells Canyon Armory) cartridge like the gun I just had him build out for me. We talk about caliber selection, optimal weights, and gun limitations for backcountry hunters. When it comes to guns there are not a lot of builders who know backcountry hunting as well as Mike and ones who actually spend time hunting in the backcountry. This is a great podcast for all of those hunters looking to expand their maximum range from 300 yards out to 5-600 yards or even farther. For more information hit Mike up at  hcarifles@gmail.com or on Instagram @hcamike Show Notes:  Introduction – 3m 54s Overview of Hells Canyon Armory – 5m 37s Finding Your Budget: Upgrades & New Setups – 11m 32s Ammo Advice – Factory & Loading – 17m 30s Spit Shine Grandpa’s Old Rifle? – 21m 58s Calibers – 26m 42s Best All-Around Rifle Calibers & Ammo Options – 33m 11s Re-Chamber & Barrel Costs – 39m 24s Advantages of Carbon Fiber Barrels – 40m 47s Ideal Rifle Weight – 44m 13s Some Recent HCA Projects – 52m 57s In-Depth on HCA’s Custom .300 Rifle Build – 54m 21s How to Contact at Hell’s Canyon Armory – 1h 01m 44s Today’s podcast is brought to you by On X the best freaking mapping system out there. I am blown away at how many people still don’t have it. This time of year I spend hours upon hours scouting with my On X maps. With tag draws in full swing it is 100% about getting a good tag and a big piece of getting a good tag is figuring out if you can find a hidden gem. Finding that spot where you can get away from people. That’s why I spend hours combing through the maps. My favorite feature this time of year besides the public-private mapping is the ability to switch form topo to satellite view, or even hybrid. I find certain features are more noticeable when I switch back and forth. I have also set about 10,000 waypoints on my maps marking everything that even remotely looks interesting. The cool part about that is that when I scout with my desktop all of those spots are automatically on my iPhone so when I go to the field I can save my maps and have all of that info. If you don’t have On X you are missing out check it out wherever you get your apps and use the TRO code to get 20% off your membership. Today’s podcast is brought to you by Solo Targets. I pumped about the new solo targets too because I use the crap out of them. We all know that you should train like you fight or practice as close to the real thing as you can. Solo Targets are an archery target allow you to practice on a truly life-size, hyper-realistic target. Here is why I like Solo Targets, besides the fact that I get to shoot at giant bulls every day. The Solo Target is a hyper-realistic skin that can be used in conjunction with pretty much any block or target you already have. The solo skin also forces you into a much more real-life scenario where you have to pick a spot on the animal and not a circle on a target. Solo Targets has launched a bunch of new targets this year and you can pick whatever species you want from elk, sheep, ibex, deer, you name it. Check em out at solotargets.com and use the TRO code to save 15% off.

What’s up ladies and gents, welcome to the podcast. Today I am joined on the podcast by the owner, founder, and chief bottle washer of Warrior Fuel supplements. I’ve followed Ryan and Warrior Fuel for quite some time now and I really appreciate how he is building this company. As a fellow entrepreneur, we talk a lot about business, building a brand and the highs and lows of it all. Ryan also drops a ton of knowledge about supplements and dispells more than a few myths about certain products. As a hardcore hunter himself Ryan understands what exactly we as hunters need and he shares some great advice on what backcountry hunters really need or don’t need. A quick note before we get started if you want to win an elk hunt with me this year head over to Patreon.com/therichoutdoors and become a patron of the podcast, it’s $5 and you get full access to Wapiti Wednesday, Muley Monday, and 100% ad-free listening to all of our podcast. On top of that, June 5th we are choosing one luck Patron to come elk hunting with me! It’s going to be an epic adventure that’s for sure. Mainly I want to take one person and show them from start to finish how to find elk and get one killed! Sign Up Here Show Notes:  Introduction – 0:06:18 Humble Beginnings – 0:13:35 Products, Branding & Industry Entry – 0:20:35 Deep Dive Into Supplements – 0:32:07 Pre-Workouts vs Energy Drinks – 0:39:03 Season Supplemental Intake – 0:43:30 Hunting & Keto: Pros & Cons – 0:52:41 What Hunting Means to Ryan – 0:59:57 Be Yourself & Make a Positive Impact – 1:06:33 Warrior Fuel Online & Social Media – 1:17:43 Product Recommendations: Warrior Fuel – Core 4  Warrior Fuel – Refuel  NOW Supplements, Full Spectrum Mineral, 240 Veg Capsules www.warriorfuelsupplements.com Today’s podcast is brought to you by On X the best freaking mapping system out there. I am blown away at how many people still don’t have it. This time of year I spend hours upon hours scouting with my On X maps. With tag draws in full swing it is 100% about getting a good tag and a big piece of getting a good tag is figuring out if you can find a hidden gem. Finding that spot where you can get away from people. That’s why I spend hours combing through the maps. My favorite feature this time of year besides the public-private mapping is the ability to switch form topo to satellite view, or even hybrid. I find certain features are more noticeable when I switch back and forth. I have also set about 10,000 waypoints on my maps marking everything that even remotely looks interesting. The cool part about that is that when I scout with my desktop all of those spots are automatically on my iPhone so when I go to the field I can save my maps and have all of that info. If you don’t have On X you are missing out check it out wherever you get your apps and use theTRO code to get 20% off your membership. Today’s podcast is brought to you by Solo Targets. I pumped about the new solo targets too because I use the crap out of ...

Today I am joined by my good buddies James Nash and Jim O’Leary to catch up on all the events circling James and realistically the hunting community. James is a Hunting Guide, Rancher, and all-around thoughtful guy that is very well spoken and in my opinion a great thought leader for our community. James’ recent nomination to an ODFW Committee put him in the heated spotlight of some very opinionated and negative groups. In this podcast, we talk about what went down from his perspective, as well as what we can learn from this incident. We also cover why “conservation” is becoming a tired word overused by both sides and how we could alternatively think about our role. On a lighter note, we also talk about what James has been seeing in regards to his extensive time studying elk habitat improvement and what his projections are for the upcoming season. Show Notes:  Introduction – 0:04:01 Overview of James Debacle – 0:06:44 Board Overview – 0:12:31 Oppositions – 0:16:03 Facing the Backlash – 0:25:16 Why Ant-Hunters Protect Predators More Than Prey – 0:35:06 How to Find the Good & Move Forward – 0:43:36 Conservation & It’s Future – 0:55:48 A Look Into the Reality of Ranching – 1:01:42 The Bright Side, Kokanee Fishing, and Jim – 1:13:30 Elk Management & 2019 Season – 1:19:26 Closing Thoughts – 1:24:26 Today’s podcast is brought to you by Solo Targets. I pumped about the new solo targets too because I use the crap out of them. We all know that you should train like you fight or practice as close to the real thing as you can. Solo Targets are an archery target allow you to practice on a truly life-size, hyper-realistic target. Here is why I like Solo Targets, besides the fact that I get to shoot at giant bulls every day. The Solo Target is a hyper-realistic skin that can be used in conjunction with pretty much any block or target you already have. The solo skin also forces you into a much more real-life scenario where you have to pick a spot on the animal and not a circle on a target. Solo Targets has launched a bunch of new targets this year and you can pick whatever species you want from elk, sheep, ibex, deer, you name it. Check em out at solotargets.com and use the TRO code to save 15% off. Today’s podcast is brought to you by On X the best freaking mapping system out there. I am blown away at how many people still don’t have it. This time of year I spend hours upon hours scouting with my On X maps. With tag draws in full swing it is 100% about getting a good tag and a big piece of getting a good tag is figuring out if you can find a hidden gem. Finding that spot where you can get away from people. That’s why I spend hours combing through the maps. My favorite feature this time of year besides the public-private mapping is the ability to switch form topo to satellite view, or even hybrid. I find certain features are more noticeable when I switch back and forth. I have also set about 10,000 waypoints on my maps marking everything that even remotely looks interesting. The cool part about that is that when I scout with my desktop all of those spots are automatically on my iPhone so when I go to the field I can save my maps and have all of that info. If you don’t have On X you are missing out check it out wherever you get your apps and use the TRO code to get 20% off your membership. 

In this podcast, we did something a little bit different. Jaden is one on my full-time employees, being that we both hunt all the time we end up talking about hunting quite a bit. Jaden has been struggling to punch his first elk tag so naturally, he is always picking my brain as he is bound and determined that this is the year of the elk. We thought we should just hit record on one of our regular conversation about elk, elk hunting, and various thoughts on certain gear. Hopefully, this podcast is helpful to a lot of you and I know many of the listeners are in very similar shoes as Jaden. Let us know what you think! Show Notes:  Introduction – 0h 3m 12s Confidence & Planning for Success – 0h 10m 12s Strategies & Tactics for Early Season Elk – 0h 23m 25s Roads Can Be Your Friend Too – 0h 35m 42s Skill & Knowledge vs. Quality Unit – 0h 39m 48s Qty & Quality: Getting to the Next Level – 0h 42m 39s At What Point Should You Invest in Gear – 0h 51m 16s Boots, a Needle in a Haystack – 57m 53s0h 3m 12s If you are a fan of the rich outdoors podcast, you are probably into hunting you might even do a bit of Backcountry Hunting. If that’s the case check out Backcountry Fuel Box. Backcountry Fuel Box is all about helping you find new meals and snacks to make your backcountry trips more enjoyable. When you sign up, each month you get a box full of new Meals, Snacks, Bars and all kinds of food goodies from all different companies to test out and try. We also offer great discounts so when you find the things you like you can stock up. Now is a great time to sign up as hunting season is fast approaching. Head over to backcountryfuelbox.com and get signed up with the code TRO and you’ll save 10%. There is zero obligation what so ever, you can cancel anytime! I tell you what if you sign up and don’t love your first box I’ll even refund you for the box. GO HERE Big thanks to goHUNT for being a podcast supporter. If you guys are not a goHUNT Insider yet you should probably get on that. If you are a total hunting nerd like me and geek out over finding tags you can get then you can literally spend hours searching and scanning with the filtering tools. If you are a total nub to hunting then this will help you immensely. Not Only do they break everything down and show you how to apply but you can also get a huge head start on where to start looking, even for just OTC tags. On top of all that it is the best place to shop for all your gear. Use the TRO code when you sign up to get $50 of in-store credit when you sign up. 

Hey girls and boys, ladies and gents. In 4 years of doing the podcast I have met some amazing hunters. Some truly talented and driven individuals. Today I sit down with what I would consider the best of the best. Today’s podcast is with a group of guys that I personally look up to and push me to be better, and more driven. These guys are all some of my best friends and yet have very different styles and approaches, yet that is precisely what makes this round table so amazing. That and the combined ego at this table is absolutely zero. When I first posed this concept to the guys they all had their reservations and none of them really knew each other other than through myself. I couldn’t be happier with how the discussion turned out and just as I predicted everyone melded together really well. My goal is to make this a regular staple on the podcast and get this group of killers together once a month or so for an epic round table discussion, but also to answer listener questions. If you guys have topics or questions for the group, please email info@therichoutdoors.net or send a direct message to the podcasts Instagram @therichoutdoorspodcast. Without further ado, I bring you one of the most solid group of guys assembled on a podcast. Oh, and a big congratulations to Ben and his wife, since the time of this recording, they had their new baby boy, congrats you guys! Show Notes:  Introduction – 06:33 The Meaning of “Hunting as a Lifestyle”- 12:00 Your Competitive Edge – Mental & Physical Toughness – 18:09 Ben’s Story on Frustration & Mental Endurance – 23:40 The Devil & Angel on Your Shoulders – 29:14 Defining Your Style & Finding What Works – 41:25 Ben Tells a Relative Story – 42:10 A Piece of Advice from Each – 53:48 Closing Comments to the Listeners – 64:05 This podcast is brought to you by a new sponsor and a cool piece of gear that I am excited to share with you guys. Based right here in Bozeman the Montana Bow Sling is a is something I have been using for the last year or so. One of the cool things I really like about the Montana Bow Sling is that it can attach directly to virtually any hunting pack, using the existing webbing, or just connect to itself, like a traditional bow sling. Some guys like slings and some don’t, but I definitely like having one. Whether just covering ground midday or just being able to glass without having to set my bow down they come in really handy. The downside to most slings is that it is one more thing to keep track of and carry. The cool thing with the Montana Bow sling is that it is always attached to my pack so I don’t have to put it away, get it out, or anything in between. On top of that, it only weighs 6-8 ounces depending on what style you go with. Like I mentioned I used this sling all last season and like how it is always available, easy to use and not in the way. Overall a really good piece of gear. Check them out at www.creativeoutdoorsmt.com and use code TRO for 20% off. Today’s podcast is brought to you by Backcountry Fuel. It is that time again, time to start stocking up the food stash in prep for hunting season. If you have been thinking about signing up now is the time there are only 5 or 6 boxes between now and archery season. So if you plan to stock up the time to start preparing for season is now not the week before season. I may be biased because it is my box but I love getting the box because first and foremost I now always have snacks and bars when Kels and I go for a hike or off on a trip. I have also found so many cool products from the box,

Like A lot of people I grew up going down to the local bow shop and drooling over the big mounts, listening to the stories, and most of all seeing all successful pictures posted up on the brag board. I started my archery career at a small bow shop in Balston Oregon. If any of you know where that is I will be impressed. Eventually, that little shop closed down and I had to start going into the bow shop in Salem, about 20 miles away. Ray Wurdinger has been helping me along since well before I had ever put an arrow through anything but a hay bail. Ray was a killer, and had hunted all over, to me he was the most successful hunter I had ever met. On top of that, the guy seems to be the luckiest guy I have still ever met to this day when it comes to drawing tags. I’ll never forget when Ray crushed the archery record for bighorn sheep, what an accomplishment. It was really fun to finally convince him to get on the podcast. It took us years to get him on here so please enjoy because he might not ever do it again. This podcast is brought to you by a new sponsor and a cool piece of gear that I am excited to share with you guys. Based right here in Bozeman the Montana Bow Sling is a is something I have been using for the last year or so. The cool thing I like about the Montana Bow Sling is that is attaches right to most any hunting pack using existing webbing or it can connect to itself like a traditional bow sling. Some guys like slings and some don’t, but I definitely like having one. Whether just covering ground midday or just being able to glass without having to set my bow down they come in really handy. The downside to most slings is that it is one more thing to keep track of and carry. The cool thing with the Montana Bow sling is that it is always attached to my pack so I don’t have to put it away, get it out, or anything in between. On top of that, it only weighs 6-8 ounces depending on what style you go with. Like I mentioned I used this sling all last season and like how it is always available, easy to use and not in the way. Overall a really good piece of gear. Check them out at www.creativeoutdoorsmt.com and use code TRO for 20% off. Today’s podcast is brought to you by another new sponsor I am excited to share with to you guys. Another great guy right here in Bozeman, Razco Holsters has the perfect pistol holster for outdoorsman. The Razco Holster is designed to keep your firearm on you and within reach at all times. If you hunt in grizzly country you know things are getting mighty dangerous these days. The Razco Holster is designed to mount right to your bino harness and can mount to pretty much any bino harness out there. Here is what I love about the holster, I ran this setup all season last year and the nice thing about having your gun mounted on your chest is that you always have it. The problem with having your gun on our belt is that it is constantly weighing down your belt or rubbing on the brush and making excessive noise. The down downside to attaching your to the waist belt on your pack is that half the time you set your pack down to sneak in on an elk. The Razco holster keeps it right there ready to rock, and if nothing else gives me the piece of mind. Weatherproof, comfortable, Lifetime warranty, go get yourself a Razco Holster at https://www.razcogear.com/ and use promo code TRO to save yourself 20% off. Show Notes:  Introduction – 0:04:04 Ray’s Start in Archery & Common Shooting Problems – 0:07:28 Target Shooter to Killer – 0:12:49 Patients or Ambition – 0:22:44 Choosing a Shooter & Whats Next? – 0:28:41 Time Spent – 0:38:44 The Story of Ray’s Record Setting Ram Hunt – 0:46:44 Words of Wisdom From Ray – 1:08:06

I may be biased but I tend to enjoy regular conversations with old-timers like Walt. Walt has been one of my hunting mentors since I was a little kid and I have always loved listening to him and his friends recount tails of the one that got away. While visiting family in Oregon I had to swing by to say hi and drop off a great book he lent me called One with the Wilderness by Mike Mitten. Walt has been on a couple of time throughout the years, but usually with his partner in crime Dave Brinker. Today was just me at Walt, we talk about all kinds of stuff, from when Walt had a fish hatchery in his backyard to some of the books that have shaped his life. We also talk a bit of elk hunting and Walt shares some old time stories as well. At 72 years young Walt has seen a lot over the years and I always enjoy sitting down with a fresh pot of coffee to BS with him. Enjoy, Show Notes:  Introduction – 0:04:07 Trad Bow Talk – 0:07:47 Evolution of a Hunter – 0:16:04 Talkin Fish – 0:32:46 Walts Hatchery & Native Salmon – 0:38:00 The Old Bow Hunter by Chet Stevenson 0:47:06 Hunt Talk: Goals, Luck, Solo – 0:49:18 Talkin Books & Walt’s Recommendations – 0:53:46 A Discussion on “The Silent Elk”- 0:59:41 Finding Elk On & Off Season Areas – 1:08:56 Closing Thoughts – 1:15:18 Today’s podcast is brought to you by On X the best freaking mapping system out there. I am blown away at how many people still don’t have it. This time of year I spend hours upon hours scouting with my On X maps. With tag draws in full swing it is 100% about getting a good tag and a big piece of getting a good tag is figuring out if you can find a hidden gem. Finding that spot where you can get away from people. That’s why I spend hours combing through the maps. My favorite feature this time of year besides the public-private mapping is the ability to switch form topo to satellite view, or even hybrid. I find certain features are more noticeable when I switch back and forth. I have also set about 10,000 waypoints on my maps marking everything that even remotely looks interesting. The cool part about that is that when I scout with my desktop all of those spots are automatically on my iPhone so when I go to the field I can save my maps and have all of that info. If you don’t have On X you are missing out check it out wherever you get your apps and use the TRO code to get 20% off your membership. Today’s podcast is brought to you by Backcountry Fuel. It is that time again, time to start stocking up the food stash in prep for hunting season. If you have been thinking about signing up now is the time there are only 5 or 6 boxes between now and archery season. So if you plan to stock up the time to start preparing for season is now not the week before season. I may be biased because it is my box but I love getting the box because first and foremost I now always have snacks and bars when Kels and I go for a hike or off on a trip. I have also found so many cool products from the box, and really that is why I started it. I would always see cool new products on Instagram but would never take the time to order each one or try them out. I’m telling you sign up, you’re gonna love it and if you don’t there is zero commitment, don’t like it just cancel. We are so confident you are gonna like it we don’t have to trick you into some 6 month deal. Head over to www.backcountryfuelbox.com and use the TRO code to get 10% off.

Spring Hunting season is finally upon us or least very very close. Spring bear hunting has exploded in popularity in the last few years and for good reason. Not only a great way to get out and enjoy the outdoors but a great way to help manage the growing bear populations, and fill the freezer with some great sausage meat. In this episode, I am joined by Steve Howard of Born and Raised Outdoors to talk about Spring bear tips and tactics. Steve is a very accomplished bear hunter who seems to punch his tag on a giant boar year in and year out. Steve spends most of his time hunting the coastal range of South West Oregon and has some truly great info and experience for all of those looking to hunt in coastal areas. Having said that there is definitely a lot of carryover to other regions for anyone looking to spot and stalk bears in the spring months this year. If you did not draw a spring bear tag this season but still want to go, I suggest you check out this OTC Bear Tag article that goHUNT did as it is a great resource to get you started on where to go. When you sign up to become a goHUNT Insider with the promo code TRO you are not only helping support the show but you also get $50 of in-store credit to use on all kinds of backcountry gear. Show Notes:  Introduction & SW Oregon Bears – 0:04:19 Early Spring Season – 0:07:40 Changing Tactics when Behavior Changes – 0:12:33 Terrain, Food Sources, & Scent Awareness – 0:18:36 Bear Activity: Times of the Day & Weather – 0:27:01 Field Judging Bear Size – 0:32:33 Calibers, Shot Placement, & Tracking – 0:39:11 Den Locations & Territories – 0:50:02 Why Bow Hunters Rifle Hunt Bears – 0:55:53 Gear Advice for Spring Season – 1:00:11 Bear Capes – 1:01:13 Born & Raised Outdoors on Youtube – 1:04:26 Today’s podcast is brought to you by another new sponsor I am excited to share with to you guys. Another great guy right here in Bozeman, Razco Holsters has the perfect pistol holster for the outdoorsman. The Razco Holster is designed to keep your firearm on you and within reach at all times. If you hunt in grizzly country you know things are getting mighty dangerous these days. The Razco Holster is designed to mount right to your bino harness and can mount to pretty much any bino harness out there. Here is what I love about the holster, I ran this setup all season last year and the nice thing about having your gun mounted on your chest is that you always have it. The problem with having your gun on our belt is that it is constantly weighing down your belt or rubbing on the brush and making excessive noise. The down downside to attaching your gun to the waist belt on your pack is that half the time you set your pack down to sneak in on an elk. The Razco holster keeps it right there ready to rock, and if nothing else gives me the piece of mind. Weatherproof, comfortable, and has a lifetime warranty, go get yourself a Razco Holster at https://www.razcogear.com/ and use promo code TRO to save yourself 20% off. If you have not yet, go check out our Patreon page head over to  www.patreon.com/therichoutdoors there you will get full access to an extra podcast every week, either a Muley Monday or Wapiti Wednesday, ad-free listening to every podcast, Q&A’s and much more. We also have a new tier that includes a badass swag pack and Backcountry Fuel Box. Check it out Patreon.com/therichoutdoors and thank you so so so much to all of you who are patrons of the podcast it really does mean the world to me.

In this episode of Wapiti Wednesday, my good buddy Justin Helvik and I dive into some awesome elk tactics conversation. Justin is a full-time educator, which leads us down the rabbit hole of how to better educate someone to become a better elk hunter. Put another way I pick Justin’s brain on how to shave the learning curve with something so time intensive as elk hunting. I love this conversation because Justin like many people have a pretty limited schedule when it comes to time off for elk hunting. We dive into how this affects both his hunting style as well as date selection. This podcast is full of useful bits of information as well as some great scenario based situation discussions about how and what we would do in certain situations. If you like podcasts that are just good conversation around elk hunting you are going to love this one. Show Notes:  Introduction – 1m 3s Shorten the Elk Hunting Learning Curve – 7m 1s What Info to Listen to – 16m 54s Justin’s First Archery Bull – 19m 53s Calling Timing & Experience the Stuck – 23m 13s The Joys of a Rut-Fest – 30m 17s People with Limited Time: Mobility vs Remote Areas – 40m 28s Challenge Bugling & Scenario Setups – 44m 29s Why to Ask Why – 50m 57s Hugh Glass – The Revenant, The True Story – 59m 3s Shout Out to John Shultz – Lancaster Brewing Co. – 64m 27s

I am really excited to bring this episode to you guys, Chris Eyer aka Mule Dragger is a fascinating guy, to say the least. Chris a mountain climber, a Marine, an entrepreneur, leather craftsman, and most notably a mule packer where some of you probably follow him on Instagram. That’s how I first met Chris, was just following him on Instagram. Well, technically we crossed paths one time I think but we’ll get into that later. Anyway, I reached out to Chris because he seems like a smart guy that with the sheer number of hours behind a horse would have some great stories. As I started to dive his background and research for this interview I had so many more questions. Chris a practicing Buddhist has some very insightful thoughts on things. Honestly, I see so much overlap in our thinking even though he is not really a hunter. I was definitely right about the stories part, as Chris has had some amazing experiences over the years, but he also has some great insights. I really hope you guys enjoy this episode and if you do share it with a someone who will enjoy it too. Show Notes:  Introduction – 0:05:27 So… What’s a Mule Dragger? – 0:06:59 Have We Met Before? – 0:10:05 Cultural Diversity & Your True Self – 0:14:45 Fake It Till Ya Make It – 0:17:27 Story Time – 0:24:32 What His Job Entails – 0:37:35 Crossing the Threshold – 0:43:10 What You Can Do for Our Wilderness – 0:50:18 The Therapy of isolation in the Woods – 0:51:58 Advice to Your Younger Self & the Future – 1:09:48 Chris’s Company – Heart W Brand – 1:17:31 Today’s podcast is brought to you by On X the best freaking mapping system out there. I am blown away at how many people still don’t have it. This time of year I spend hours upon hours scouting with my On X maps. With tag draws in full swing it is 100% about getting a good tag and a big piece of getting a good tag is figuring out if you can find a hidden gem. Finding that spot where you can get away from people. That’s why I spend hours combing through the maps. My favorite feature this time of year besides the public-private mapping is the ability to switch form topo to satellite view, or even hybrid. I find certain features are more noticeable when I switch back and forth. I have also set about 10,000 waypoints on my maps marking everything that even remotely looks interesting. The cool part about that is that when I scout with my desktop all of those spots are automatically on my iPhone so when I go to the field I can save my maps and have all of that info. If you don’t have On X you are missing out check it out wherever you get your apps and use the TRO code to get 20% off your membership. Today’s podcast is brought to you by Backcountry Fuel. It is that time again, time to start stocking up the food stash in prep for hunting season. If you have been thinking about signing up, now is the time there are only 5 or 6 boxes between now and archery season. So if you plan to stock up, the time to start preparing for season is now, not the week before season. I may be biased because it is my box but I love getting the box because first and foremost I now always have snacks and bars when Kels and I go for a hike or off on a trip. I have also found so many cool products from the box, and really that is why I started it. I would always see cool new products on Instagram but would never take the time to order each one or try them out. I’m telling you, sign up, you’re gonna love it and if you don’t there is zero commitment, don’t like it just cancel. We are so confident you are gonna like it we don’t have to trick you into some 6-month deal. Head over to 

Kyle Kamp is a Registered Dietitian who helps people work out the details of how to optimize their diet to get the most out of life as well as the backcountry. When he is not doing that he is an avid hunter and Outdoorsman. In this podcast, we dive into the importance of diet and understanding the high level do’s and do not’s of what we are eating and more importantly what we are using for fuel. This podcast gets deep into the weeds of what will make you perform better and what is mostly hype. You can find his article on balancing proteins and carbs in the backcountry here. Checkout Kyles website Valley to Peak Nutrition for more information, V2Pnutrition.com  Show Notes:  Introduction & Background – 0:04:10 Diet & Nutrition in Industry/Hunting – 0:15:47 What to Focus on and Changes to Make – 0:20:38 Carbs, Calories Per OZ & Food Prep – 0:31:10 Variety, Desirable Foods, & Fuel – 0:39:24 Camping from your Truck – 0:51:20 Protein Advice – 0:55:34 Planning for Cold Weather – 0:57:10 Literature and Advice Food Planning – 1:00:35 Where to Find Kyle & His Website – 1:03:43 Keto Talk – 1:05:43 Today’s podcast is brought to you by Backcountry Fuel. It is that time again, time to start stocking up the food stash in prep for hunting season. If you have been thinking about signing up now is the time there are only 5 or 6 boxes between now and archery season. So if you plan to stock up the time to start preparing for season is now not the week before season. I may be biased because it is my box but I love getting the box because first and foremost I now always have snacks and bars when Kels and I go for a hike or off on a trip. I have also found so many cool products from the box, and really that is why I started it. I would always see cool new products on Instagram but would never take the time to order each one or try them out. I’m telling you sign up, you’re gonna love it and if you don’t there is zero commitment, don’t like it just cancel. We are so confident you are gonna like it we don’t have to trick you into some 6 month deal. Head over to www.backcountryfuelbox.com and use the TRO code to get 10% off. This podcast is brought to you by a new sponsor and a cool piece of gear that I am excited to share with you guys. Based right here in Bozeman the Montana Bow Sling is a great piece of gear that I have been using for the last year or so. The cool thing I like about the Montana Bow Sling is that is attaches right to most any hunting pack using existing webbing or it can connect to itself like a traditional bow sling. Some guys like slings and some don’t, but I definitely like having one. Whether just covering ground mid day or just being able to glass without having to set my bow down they come in really handy. The down side to most slings is that it is one more thing to keep track of and carry. The cool thing with the Montana Bow sling is that it is always attached to my pack so I don’t have to put it away, get it out, or anything in between. On top of that it only weighs 6-8 ounces depending on what style you go with. Like I mentioned I used this sling all last season and like how it is always available, easy to use and not in the way. Overall a really good piece of gear. Check them out at www.creativeoutdoorsmt.com and use code TRO for 20% off.

You know, we don’t do a tone of bird hunting podcasts. My first ever podcast was a turkey hunting, but we don’t do a ton of them. I think like most people the hunts I look forward to each year tend to ebb and flow a bit. This year I am looking forward to doing a bit of turkey hunting. Last year I was after bears a lot and only spent a day or two chasing long beards. This year I am pretty pumped to explore Montana in search of a true mountain bird. In this episode, I am joined by a good friend Chad Harvey who is actually a regional rep for Pheasants Forever. Chad does a ton of bird hunting and tends to punch a few turkey tags every year. The thing I appreciate about Chad is that he likes to hunt birds like I do, in elk country. There are probably easier birds to harvest but I love hearing a gobble on the next ridge and having to run him down. This might be the only podcast to cover turkey hunting and Pheasant hunting in the same show, but since Chad works at Pheasants Forever it only makes sense that we talk about some upland birds as well. I have been trying to get chad to take me pheasant hunting for a couple of years now, as it is one of those things I would like to do but just do not really know where to start. We talk about Pheasant populations, habitat, and a bit about getting into hunting them. Hope you guys enjoy this conversation with Chad Harvey on mountain turkeys and Prairie Pheasants. Show Notes:  Introduction – 0:02:57 Chad’s Background – 0:07:51 Struggles Early On Locating Toms – 0:10:52 Terrain & Choosing a Starting Point – 0:15:20 Mountain Bird Tactics – 0:19:39 Covering Ground & Chasing Birds – 0:26:01 Working with Hens & Paranoid Birds – 0:33:35 Advice for New Hunters & Calling – 0:36:13 Chad’s 2019 Oregon & Montana Hunts – 0:38:56 Cooking Birds & Recipes – 0:41:43 Pheasants Forever & Conservation – 0:47:10 Pheasant Population & Planted Birds – 0:57:27 Pheasants in Montana – 1:02:16 Info & Memberships to Pheasants Forever – 1:04:41 Today’s podcast is brought to you by On X the best freaking mapping system out there. I am blown away at how many people still don’t have it. This time of year I spend hours upon hours scouting with my On X maps. With tag draws in full swing it is 100% about getting a good tag and a big piece of getting a good tag is figuring out if you can find a hidden gem. Finding that spot where you can get away from people. That’s why I spend hours combing through the maps. My favorite feature this time of year besides the public-private mapping is the ability to switch form topo to satellite view, or even hybrid. I find certain features are more noticeable when I switch back and forth. I have also set about 10,000 waypoints on my maps marking everything that even remotely looks interesting. The cool part about that is that when I scout with my desktop all of those spots are automatically on my iPhone so when I go to the field I can save my maps and have all of that info. If you don’t have On X you are missing out check it out wherever you get your apps and use the TRO code to get 20% off your membership. Today’s podcast is brought to you by Backcountry Fuel. It is that time again, time to start stocking up the food stash in prep for hunting season. If you have been thinking about signing up now is the time there are only 5 or 6 boxes between now and archery season. So if you plan to stock up the time to start preparing for season is now not the week before season. I may be biased because it is my box but I love getting the box because first and foremost I now always have snacks and bars ...

This past weekend the Montana Chapter of Wild Sheep had their annual banquet. Sheep banquet is always a good time and as a life member, there is at least a small chance at winning a sheep hunt. I have met a lot of great people through these types of events and I think Riley and I first met at one of these as well. Riley Pearson is good ol Montana boy who grew up hunting and running around in the outdoors. In this podcast we talk about his transition from chasing elk through the mountains to his love of sheep hunting. Riley first started hunting the “unlimited’s” with a friend and fell in love with the challenge of it all. We talk about the unlimited’s and really how it takes a special kind of person to want to use their entire hunting season to probably not see a legal animal. Poor Riley actually got a chance a great ram in the unlimited’s and end up missing. Talk about a heart breaker, as Riley shares the story and how it all went down. If ever there was a silver lining to not shooting a legal ram in the unlimited’s, the very next year Riley ends up being selected in the <1 Club drawing at Sheep Show to go on a Dall Sheep Hunt. If you aren’t familiar, <1 Club is a drawing at Wild Sheep Foundation’s Sheep Show where if you have never killed a Wild Sheep before than you are entered to win a hunt. Well, that year Riley was the big winner and ended up going on an epic hunt. Check it out here Show Notes: Introduction – 0:03:01 Riley’s Start to Sheep & Backpack Hunting – 0:04:19 Old Story About Yellowstone – 0:18:24 2nd Year Sheep Hunt – 0:21:42 Adapting with the Move to Arizona – 0:35:23 High Mountain Gear – 0:37:50 Riley Talks Montana Season Issues – 0:42:36 Applications, New Areas, & States – 0:49:08 Riley’s Ghana Hunt Film – 1:03:17 Today’s podcast is brought to you by Backcountry Fuel. It is that time again, time to start stocking up the food stash in prep for hunting season. If you have been thinking about signing up now is the time there are only 5 or 6 boxes between now and archery season. So if you plan to stock up the time to start preparing for season is now not the week before season. I may be biased because it is my box but I love getting the box because first and foremost I now always have snacks and bars when Kels and I go for a hike or off on a trip. I have also found so many cool products from the box, and really that is why I started it. I would always see cool new products on Instagram but would never take the time to order each one or try them out. I’m telling you sign up, you’re gonna love it and if you don’t there is zero commitment, don’t like it just cancel. We are so confident you are gonna like it we don’t have to trick you into some 6 month deal. Head over to www.backcountryfuelbox.com and use the TRO code to get 10% off.

Today on the podcast I am joined by a good friend, straight shooter, and for a Canadian a pretty damn good guy. Steve Ecklund is the Host of The Edge TV and has been fortunate to get to travel the world over hunting all kinds of big game critters. The thing I truly appreciate about Steve and the reason I would say I consider him such a friend is that Steve comes from very humble beginnings and he stays true to that. I first met Steve when we did our first show together back in 2016 EP 84: Mental Toughness in the Backcountry. We have since hung out multiple times and I can tell you he is the same in real life as the TV show and even on the podcast. I highly recommend going back and checking out that first episode if you get a chance it is truly one of my favorites. In this episode, Steve and I chat about some of his recent trips including a 4-day stent in a Mexican prison, riding in Russian helicopters, and the complications of the bathroom situation in a tree stand while -20 below. This episode is packed with great stories as well as some great takeaways. Please enjoy! Steve’s Next Level Hunter Bino Harness Steve’s Show “The Edge”  “The Edge” on the Pursuit Channel Show Notes:  Introduction – 0:04:20 Looking Back on Career & Accomplishments – 0:07:35 Steve’s Russian Snow Sheep Hunt – 0:10:41 Steve’s Multiple Mexican Fiascos – 0:21:24 Why We Mount Animals & the Meaning – 0:36:21 406 Hours in a Stand for A Buck Named “Slim”- 0:40:07 Whitetail Up North & Some Great Advice – 0:58:13 Behind Steve’s Company “Next Level Hunter Products”- 1:03:37 Where to Find Steve’s Content & “Wild Pursuit TV”- 1:08:06 Today’s podcast is brought to you by Backcountry Fuel. It is that time again, time to start stocking up the food stash in prep for hunting season. If you have been thinking about signing up now is the time there are only 5 or 6 boxes between now and archery season. So if you plan to stock up the time to start preparing for season is now not the week before season. I may be biased because it is my box but I love getting the box because first and foremost I now always have snacks and bars when Kels and I go for a hike or off on a trip. I have also found so many cool products from the box, and really that is why I started it. I would always see cool new products on Instagram but would never take the time to order each one or try them out. I’m telling you sign up, you’re gonna love it and if you don’t there is zero commitment, don’t like it just cancel. We are so confident you are gonna like it we don’t have to trick you into some 6 month deal. Head over to www.backcountryfuelbox.com and use the TRO code to get 10% off. Today’s podcast is brought to you by On X the best freaking mapping system out there. I am blown away at how many people still don’t have it. This time of year I spend hours upon hours scouting with my On X maps. With tag draws in full swing it is 100% about getting a good tag and a big piece of getting a good tag is figuring out if you can find a hidden gem. Finding that spot where you can get away from people. That’s why I spend hours combing through the maps. My favorite feature this time of year besides the public-private mapping...