The Rich Outdoors

My first out of state hunt was a big threshold that I crossed. I had hunted elk most of my life. At 9, I went on my first elk camp trip and I had been into archery that long as well. I was 21 years old and had hunted my home state quite a bit. I’d even made multiple trips around Oregon with family and friends on various hunts. For the most part, at the time, I didn’t personally know anyone who was hunting out of state, but I had heard about these two guys who got their Oregon elk and then bombed over to Idaho to hunt there. I remember the light bulb going off in my head and thinking, “Wait a minute! You can just go there and hunt elk too?!” That next winter, I pulled up the Idaho Fish and Game Hunt planner on their website and proceeded to start down a rabbit hole that might have been a key turning point in my life. As a kid, I remember laying in my bed looking at the Oregon game regulations and studying all the dates and tags to see how many hunts I could get. I was trying to have the most amount of days in the woods. As I dove into the Idaho Hunt planner though, this was on a whole new level. An entire state to comb through and figure out! I spent hours upon hours trying to plan my first out of state hunt, and I will never forget purchasing that first non-resident elk tag. I ended up hunting by myself. Between no one else having the time off or just not wanting to “waste” that much money on an elk tag, I couldn’t convince any of my friends to go. With no chance to really scout anything, I showed up with a lot of ambition and zero direction. That hunt turned out to be one the best elk hunts I have ever been on. It tested me in every way possible. I followed a herd bull for hours in a hurling rainstorm, wearing nothing but some cheap-o, Bi-Mart camo rain gear. I was so close so many times, but just never got an opportunity. After being completely soaked and dejected, I almost threw in the towel and headed home. After driving to town and getting a burger, I thought, “I gotta give it one more try.” I slipped into the same area I had left the herd that morning, and with a stroke of luck that bull stepped out. He offered me a shot as soon as I bumped into the herd. I could hardly wait the 30 minutes to start looking for blood, and when I came over the hill, I was looking at the first true herd bull I had ever taken. It was a long night, with wind blowing sideways and rain beating me down. The next morning when I woke up, the sun was shining down and I didn’t own a dry piece of gear. I built a fire to dry things out, and made a huge breakfast before heading in to get my last two loads of meat. I will never forget that “having done it” feeling that morning. When everyone doubted me, when I had no idea what I was doing, when I had no one to show me how to do it or where to go, I killed my biggest bull to date, by myself, in a completely new state. This hunt opened my world and started me on a journey to find the next thing, to travel to new places, and ultimately, it really showed me that I can pick a spot and go anywhere. Fast forward to today, and many of my best hunting memories are choosing somewhere completely new and figuring it out. I get tons of questions from you guys, listeners of the podcast, about planning your first elk hunt or planning an out of state hunt. While podcast provides loads of information, I wanted to really take it to the next level. What if I could take a hunter, one of you guys–a listener of the show, and show you from start to finish how to be effective? From how I look at choosing a unit and why, to how to e-scout, and how to make a game plan without ever setting foot in the unit. You and I will both have no idea where to go, but we are going to find elk and get one killed. I want to show you how to not only call elk but how to call elk in that area, how to hunt that area,

Welcome to the show, its episode #328 of the podcast and today I am joined by a new guest to the show Allen Bolen of Bolen Lewis Outfitting on of British Columbia. Bolen Lewis has some of the biggest Mountain Goats in the world. I am really glad I got to chat with Allen, the guy absolutely crushes it on the mountain and is willing to push himself to crazy limits. If you guys get a chance go check out his Instagram to see some of the crazy adventures of bowhunting giants. Show Notes:  Introduction & Background – 0:04:01 Why He Got Into Hunting – 0:07:58 First Record Mt Goat & Driving Force – 0:13:31 Allen’s Thoughts on the Term “Trophy Hunting”- 0:17:01 Allen’s Caribou Accomplishments & Future Goals – 0:23:32 Overall Goals in Hunting & Accomplishing 0:31:18 Deciding on Your Animal & the Results – 0:39:27 Thoughts on Scoring Animals – 0:41:01 Balancing Entrepreneurship & Hunting – 0:46:09 Allen’s Big Ole’ Wasatch Buck – 0:52:41 Allen’s Final Thoughts – 0:59:29 This episode is brought to you by Greenbelly Meals. Greenbelly Meals are a true meal replacement bar. Chris Cage the founder, designed these bars to be 650 calories and 33% of your daily nutrition for 6 core nutrients. I have been using Greenbelly meals for the last two season now and I absolutely love them. They make a great option for a lunch or mid day meal and with two bars per resealable pack I can divide them up during the day. The best part is, they are actually really delicious. Greenbelly bars come in three different flavors and I honestly like all three. These bars are one of the best options for quick, easy, light weight backcountry meals that I have ever come across, so check them out. To get more information and to order some for your next hunt, just go to www.greenbelly.co and use coupon code TRO10 for 10% off your first order. This episode is brought to you by On X. The number one mapping system that works from your phone, tablet, or desktop. If you have not played with The On X app yet you are missing out, this thing is amazing and a must-have for serious hunters, not to mention a lot of other professions. Not only does it show you public-private in all 50 states but now On X has added a new weather feature that gives you update weather information wind direction. I am constantly bouncing from On X to goHunt to google earth on my computer this time of year as it is such an important tool for me when scouting. Not to mention marking tons and tons of way points to go check out. This year I am starting way early and I am bound and determined to find more big bulls before the season than I have in years past and On X is going to be a huge part of that. Get 20% off you app membership with code TRO onxmaps.com or wherever you purchase apps.

Ever dream of a DIY trip to Alaska? How about a backpack caribou hunt on Adak Island? That second one is about as extreme of a caribou hunt as you can get. This week I am joined by Abe Henderson and we talk a lot about DIY hunting in Alaska and the logistics of making it happen. Before we get started though I want to give a huge shout out to all of the Patrons of the podcast, you guys are awesome. For those still confused about what’s going on, starting January we started a Patreon page. Patreon is essentially a really easy way for you the listener to show your support to the podcast and get bonus episodes, extra content, and a lot more. Most creators do some kind of small bonus episode which is cute but really if I am going to pay $5 a month it better be well worth it not just because. So if I am going to ask you the listener for money we are going to stack the value and make damn sure its worth it. The Last two years we have done Muley Monday and Wapiti Wednesday from June Through about October with over 100 episodes last year. This year we are moving both of those to the Patreon platform and producing one every week throughout the whole year 100% ad-free. This is only the start we have a lot more up our sleeves for all of you patrons so if you think this is about paying for a podcast you’d be mistaken. And for all of you smartasses, you have said buy tags not podcast by all means if $5 is gonna break the tags bank then learning from other elk and mule deer hunters are probably not your biggest priority. Like I said we have some really cool shit coming and if you want to be a part of it out head over to patreon.com/therichoutdoors and if not no worries, we will still have a weekly show just like this one, 100% free every Thursday as we have for almost four years now. Again thank you guys so much for all your support and enjoy the podcast with Abe Henderson. Show Notes:  Introduction & Background – 0:06:26 Abe’s Podcast – “Alaska DIY”- 0:13:23 Abe’s Dreams that Provoked the Move – 0:17:57 Grizzly Story – 0:21:33 Haul Road Caribou Hunt – 0:28:04 Highs & Lows of the Trip – 0:38:33 Abe’s Video Coming to Youtube March 5th – 0:48:31 The Real Threat of Bears – 0:51:44 Finding Quality Transport & Fly Out Trips – 0:54:39 Final Advice on an Alaska Trip – 1:03:20 Abe’s Film Coming to Youtube March 5th – 1:09:49 Today’s podcast brought to you by goHUNT.com Tag season and research season is here and if you don’t have it you need goHUNT it will save you so much time and effort. If you are on the fence about whether you need it or not let me just tell you it is the first place I turn to when I start planning a hunt. It is 100% worth every penny to me and I think pretty much everyone I have introduced it to. If you’re a goHUNT member already which I feel like most of you are by now make sure you use the code TRO at checkout to save some money. This episode is brought to you by On X. The number one mapping system that works from your phone, tablet, or desktop. If you have not played with The On X app yet you are missing out, this thing is amazing and a must-have for serious hunters, not to mention a lot of other professions. Not only does it show you public-private in all 50 states but now On X has added a new weather feature that gives you update weather information wind direction. I am constantly bouncing from On X to goHunt to google earth on my computer this time of year as it is such an important tool for me when scouting.

The Jimmy Herman is back. I am proud to call Jimmy a good friend of mine who has a successful career in Nashville while also having a deep passion for the traditions of hunting. Like myself, Jimmy is a bit of an Old Soul who fancy’s some of the old school things of a generation gone. In this podcast, Jimmy and I catch up and talk about traditions within hunting and the importance. Like myself, Jimmy is from a very small community and I would say he does a great job of being well traveled whilst still holding onto the small farm town tendencies. Jimmy shares some great advice on not losing yourself while also chasing your passion and we both joke about becoming crotchety old men. This podcast is a fun conversation with a well-rounded individual. Show Notes:  About Jimmy and Career Goals – 0:09:56 Maintaining Traditions – 0:17:54 Mentors – 0:24:58 How Jimmy’s Background Formed Him – 0:28:25 Advice to Self – 0:34:07 Life Experiences & Music – 0:35:40 An Old Soul – 0:43:45 Tech vs. Tradition: The Future of Hunting – 0:47:40 Advice for Dreams and Changes – 1:01:48 Alaska – 1:07:29 Jimmy’s Website, Shop, and Instagram – 1:10:20 This episode is brought to you by Greenbelly Meals. Greenbelly Meals are a true meal replacement bar. Chris Cage the founder, designed these bars to be 650 calories and 33% of your daily nutrition for 6 core nutrients. I have been using Greenbelly meals for the last two season now and I absolutely love them. They make a great option for a lunch or mid day meal and with two bars per resealable pack I can divide them up during the day. The best part is, they are actually really delicious. Greenbelly bars come in three different flavors and I honestly like all three. These bars are one of the best options for quick, easy, light weight backcountry meals that I have ever come across, so check them out. To get more information and to order some for your next hunt, just go to www.greenbelly.co and use coupon code TRO10 for 10% off your first order. This episode is brought to you by On X. The number one mapping system that works from your phone, tablet, or desktop. If you have not played with The On X app yet you are missing out, this thing is amazing and a must-have for serious hunters, not to mention a lot of other professions. Not only does it show you public-private in all 50 states but now On X has added a new weather feature that gives you update weather information wind direction. I am constantly bouncing from On X to goHunt to google earth on my computer this time of year as it is such an important tool for me when scouting. Not to mention marking tons and tons of waypoints to go check out. This year I am starting way early and I am bound and determined to find more big bulls before the season than I have in years past and On X is going to be a huge part of that. Get 20% off you app membership with code TRO onxmaps.com or wherever you purchase apps.

This was a fun podcast, Sam Davis is my kind of guy. A Wyoming cowboy that just absolutely loves all things hunting. Sam and I met at a trade show and have stayed in contact the last year. We finally got the chance to turn the mic’s on and tell some stories. It is easy to tell through his voice that Sam loves hunting to his core. I am thoroughly impressed with the number of big bulls Sam has put on the ground and even more impressed at his wife’s accomplishments with a bow. I think she puts me to shame. In this podcast, we talk Wyoming and all things sagebrush to backcountry.  Sam and his hunting buddies have drawn some great treasure species tags (yes you read that correctly) and last year Sams hunting buddy drew his Wyoming moose tag. A cool hunt none the less but it sounds like the moose bug has now bitten Sam pretty hard. Show Notes: Introduction – 0:03:06 Sam’s Strategy on Elk & Open Country – 0:08:58 Sam is All About Moose Hunting – 0:24:11 Scouting & Finding New Ground – 0:34:59 Sam’s Youtube Channel: Predators Never Quit – 0:43:51 Story: The Buck in the Reservoir – 0:48:20 Broadheads & Bow Setup – 0:55:22 Where to Find Sam’s Online Content – 1:05:51 Today’s podcast brought to you by goHUNT.com Tag season and research season is here and if you don’t have it you need goHUNT it will save you so much time and effort. If you are on the fence about whether you need it or not let me just tell you it is the first place I turn to when I start planning a hunt. It is 100% worth every penny to me and I think pretty much everyone I have introduced it to. If you’re a goHUNT member already which I feel like most of you are by now make sure you use the code TRO at checkout to save some money. This episode is brought to you by On X. The number one mapping system that works from your phone, tablet, or desktop. If you have not played with The On X app yet you are missing out, this thing is amazing and a must-have for serious hunters, not to mention a lot of other professions. Not only does it show you public-private in all 50 states but now On X has added a new weather feature that gives you update weather information wind direction. I am constantly bouncing from On X to goHunt to google earth on my computer this time of year as it is such an important tool for me when scouting. Not to mention marking tons and tons of waypoints to go check out. This year I am starting way early and I am bound and determined to find more big bulls before the season than I have in years past and On X is going to be a huge part of that. Get 20% off you app membership with code TRO onxmaps.com or wherever you purchase apps. To get full access to The Rich Outdoors Podcast episodes, including Muley Monday and Wapiti Wednesday, become a Patreon here. Get the exclusive TRO Insiders Feed in the podcast app you already listen to.  

Not only is South Cox one of my favorite storytellers but he is such an amazing hunter that he has so much to share. One of the best in the business, in my opinion, I always enjoy having South Cox of Stalker Stick Bows on the podcast. South is renowned for being a high country Mule deer guy with a trad bow so it was really cool this year to see him head after screaming bulls and get it done at less than 5 yards. In this episode we a lot and tend to bounce around to some interesting topics, but South shares some of the struggles he encountered on his elk hunt as well as one of the coolest stories I have heard all year as he ended up arrowing his bull at feet, not yards. We also chat about knowing when to be aggressive and when to be patient. This might be South’s most valuable skill as he does this seemingly flawlessly. Even as he recounts his Nevada Mule Deer harvest this year, he amazes me with knowing just what to do at the right moment. We also talk about the struggles of more and more people in the backcountry and how South deals with pressure in places there never has been in years past. A great episode and one I highly recommend. Do me a favor and be sure to follow @stalkerstickbows on Instagram and be sure to check the Full Draw Film Tour Schedule for a show near you to go check out South’s Elk Hunt on the big screen. This episode is brought to you by Greenbelly Meals. Greenbelly Meals are a true meal replacement bar. Chris Cage the founder, designed these bars to be 650 calories and 33% of your daily nutrition for 6 core nutrients. I have been using Greenbelly meals for the last two season now and I absolutely love them. They make a great option for a lunch or mid-day meal and with two bars per resealable pack I can divide them up during the day. The best part is, they are actually really delicious. Greenbelly bars come in three different flavors and I honestly like all three. These bars are one of the best options for quick, easy, light weight backcountry meals that I have ever come across, so check them out. To get more information and to order some for your next hunt, just go to www.greenbelly.co and use coupon code TRO10 for 10% off your first order. This episode is brought to you by On X. The number one mapping system that works from your phone, tablet, or desktop. If you have not played with The On X app yet you are missing out, this thing is amazing and a must-have for serious hunters, not to mention a lot of other professions. Not only does it show you public-private in all 50 states but now On X has added a new weather feature that gives you update weather information wind direction. I am constantly bouncing from On X to goHunt to google earth on my computer this time of year as it is such an important tool for me when scouting. Not to mention marking tons and tons of way points to go check out. This year I am starting way early and I am bound and determined to find more big bulls before the season than I have in years past and On X is going to be a huge part of that. Get 20% off you app membership with code TRO onxmaps.com or wherever you purchase apps. To get full access to The Rich Outdoors Podcast episodes, including Muley Monday and Wapiti Wednesday, become a Patreon here. Get the exclusive TRO Insiders Feed in the podcast app you already listen to. Show Notes: Introduction – 0:03:18 Tag Choices & the Extra Pressure – 0:06:26 Too many Bulls? – 0:12:53 A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words – 0:19:18

Welcome to the podcast! In today’s episode, I am joined by my buddy Brad Brooks who somehow has not been on the podcast in over 300 episodes. Brad is the owner of Argali Outdoors and has created some great film and is also a hardcore backpack hunter and gearhead. Time flew by in this episode and we never even got to half of the stuff we wanted to talk about. In fact, Brad and I were talking and we’ll probably end up doing a part two to this podcast. In this podcast, we talk a bit about entrepreneurship, as Brad is a fellow entrepreneur and the struggles of the balancing work and hunting. We also cover a lot of tips on backpack hunting both in early season as well as late. This season Brad, Ryan Callaghan, and a couple buddies joined in on a pretty epic backcountry mule deer hunt in Idaho that ended up being in the single-digit temperatures.  We talk about what backpack trips in those temps look like in comparison to early season and some tips for packing necessary items. Also big thank you to all of you who have supported the podcast on Patreon, I can’t thank you guys enough. We have a long ways to go but I think we are going to be able to do some really cool things over there. If you haven’t yet, go check out our Patreon page and sign up if you want a chance at winning a new stone glacier 40/56 pack. We will be drawing at the end of the month, so get your name in the hat if you want to win. Hope you enjoy this episode and if you have more questions on gear for Brad, please leave a comment and we can cover those in part 2 Show Notes: Shot Show & the Industry – 0:05:51 Brad Brooks & His Company, Argali – 0:13:58 Social Pressure & Outside Influences – 0:19:40 Backpack Hunting Gear & Advice – 0:25:47 Ideal Camp Spot, Shelters, & Bedding – 0:38:22 Brad’s Late Season Mule Deer Hunt – 0:43:37 Brad’s Gear: Early vs. Late Season – 0:51:46 Brad’s Game Bags – 1:01:38 Ridiculous Gear that you Still Carry – 1:10:21 Weight vs Comfort – 1:12:05 Where to Find Argali Gear Online & Videos – 1:20:00 Today’s podcast is made possible by the awesome folks at On X. I can’t thank the good folks at On X enough, not only for making the podcast possible but for such killer product as well. There probably hasn’t bee more than a day or two in the last three months that I haven’t used the On X App. This is my second full year Using nothing but the On X app on my phone and honestly, I don’t see any reason to use a GPS. If you already have On X be sure to use the TRO code when you renew your account to not only save 20% off but also help support the podcast. If you don’t have the On X app, well, I guess you just don’t know what your missing. OnXmaps.com or available at in your favorite app store. MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab located in Bozeman, MT, has established itself as the elite source for improving mental toughness, physical preparation, and performance research for the backcountry hunter. I personally tested their pre-season Backcountry Hunter program here in Bozeman, with Dustin Diefenderfer, the founder of MTNTOUGH and I loved it. It is a great workout that will test you and push you to the limits physically and mentally. Their online programs are 90-days, all video based, and is delivered through the private MTNTOUGH site that is accessible on any device.  Think of it as a private social training platform specifically built for Backcountry Hunters. They now have a 90-day online program for pre-season,

Today, I am joined by a couple of good buddies to catch up on hunting stories and catch up about season. Tony is a good friend of mine that guides pig hunts in Califonia and spends most of his free time chasing Blacktails or Mulies. Tony and I first met when I went on a pig hunt and we hit it off. A lot of great hunts together and more than a few great stories later, we are still getting shenanigans just in a new state. Ben Guttormson is no stranger to success and a fellow elk nut like myself. Ben not only had great year chasing bulls but absolutely crushed it with some amazing Mule Deer. In this episode we dive into both Tony and Ben’s seasons, lessons learned, and everything in between. Show Notes: Introductions & Game Preferences – 0:04:04 Ben Talks Elk and his 2018 Season – 0:07:34 Tony Talks his 2018 Season – 0:33:16 Ben Tells a Great Rifle Hunt Story – 0:40:00 Brain Over Body, or Body Over Brain? – 0:59:10 Shop Talk – 1:07:25 Ben’s Story:#1 Lesson Learned 2018 – 1:08:48 Tony’s #1 Lesson Learned 2018 – 1:22:53 Today’s podcast is made possible by the awesome folks at On X. I can’t thank the good folks at On X enough, not only for making the podcast possible but for such killer product as well. There probably hasn’t bee more than a day or two in the last three months that I haven’t used the On X App. This is my second full year Using nothing but the On X app on my phone and honestly, I don’t see any reason to use a GPS. If you already have On X be sure to use the TRO code when you renew your account to not only save 20% off but also help support the podcast. If you don’t have the On X app, well, I guess you just don’t know what your missing. OnXmaps.com or available at in your favorite app store. MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab located in Bozeman, MT, has established itself as the elite source for improving mental toughness, physical preparation, and performance research for the backcountry hunter. I personally tested their pre-season Backcountry Hunter program here in Bozeman, with Dustin Diefenderfer, the founder of MTNTOUGH and I loved it. It is a great workout that will test you and push you to the limits physically and mentally. Their online programs are 90-days, all video based, and is delivered through the private MTNTOUGH site that is accessible on any device.  Think of it as a private social training platform specifically built for Backcountry Hunters. They now have a 90-day online program for pre-season, and a brand new 90 day online program for post-season. The post-season program is specifically built to pack strength back on to a hunter after a long season in the field and will be available Jan 1. An ideal winter program to capitalize on all the work you have put in this hunting season. Make sure to go www.mtntough.com to take a look at these programs and there you will also find a few of their favorite workouts as free downloads, including a no-gear and a heavy pack workout.

Welcome to the podcast! For about the last year Now I have been getting to know the guys at MTN Tough and both Ara and Dustin are great guys. Ara is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to fitness and is a retired Lt Colonel and Army Ranger who taught physical education at West Point. In this episode, we dive into developing mental toughness, creating a routine, overcoming injuries, pushing your limits and a lot more. Ara, like myself, has had a number of injuries to overcome. We dive into the theory of working out the opposing side of an injury to carry strength throughout the body. Ara, is big on creating the habit vs training for the event and we talk about how training for the event can cause burnout in athletes. We also talk about pushing the limits of recovery vs understanding your new normal. If you are looking to get back in shape or just getting a jump on 2019 season this is a good kick start. Show Notes: Introductions – 0:03:15 Post Season Feedback – 0:05:05 Why Goals Help Push Your Limits – 0:09:19 Advice & Help to Push Through – 0:18:06 Facing Injuries & Overcoming Them – 0:23:47 Knowing When to Ignore Your Ego – 0:31:44 Negative Effects of In & Out of Shape Cycle – 0:37:36 Hunting Burnout & Mental Toughness – 0:55:15 Getting Yourself to the Next Level – 1:02:09 Where to get Info on the Fitness Programs – 1:13:19 This episode is brought to you by Greenbelly Meals. Greenbelly Meals are a true meal replacement bar. Chris Cage the founder, designed these bars to be 650 calories and 33% of your daily nutrition for 6 core nutrients. I have been using Greenbelly meals for the last two season now and I absolutely love them. They make a great option for a lunch or mid-day meal and with two bars per resealable pack I can divide them up during the day. The best part is, they are actually really delicious. Greenbelly bars come in three different flavors and I honestly like all three. These bars are one of the best options for quick, easy, lightweight backcountry meals that I have ever come across, so check them out. To get more information and to order some for your next hunt, just go to www.greenbelly.co and use coupon code TRO10 for 10% off your first order. Today’s podcast is made possible by the awesome folks at ON X Maps. I can’t thank the good folks at On X enough, not only for making the podcast possible but for such killer product as well. There probably hasn’t been more than a day or two in the last three months that I haven’t used the On X App. This is my second full year Using nothing but the On X app on my phone and honestly, I don’t see any reason to use a GPS. One of the cool things I started doing this year was turning my tracker on and saving routes anytime I found a predominant elk or game trail. How many times have you thought to yourself “I know there’s a trail right here somewhere”. By saving all of those trails I now have those trails saved on my app and can refer back to them anytime I am cutting through that same area. Just a little On X quick tip for ya. If you already have On X be sure to use the TRO code when you renew your account to not only save 20% off but also help support the podcast. If you don’t have the On X app, well, I guess you just don’t know what your missing. OnXmaps.com or available at in your favorite app store. Want more great content from The Rich Outdoors? Check out the new Patreon page for The Rich Outdoors Insiders Feed including ad-free listening,

In 2019 there are five things I want to make absolutely sure I get out of my hunting season. For me, these are the keys to having a great season or at least being able to look back and feel great about the passing season. Something Old I love finding and exploring new country as much as anyone but for me, I also really enjoy rolling into old stomping grounds with good friends knowing right where to look while reminiscing on past hunts in the same canyon. Something New Another hunt I want, and will always have is something new. For me it about discovery, I love the research side. I love trying to find the right unit or the right tag and then spending hours scouring OnXmaps and Google Earth to find the unknown. The feeling of not really knowing what’s around the next bend or over the next ridge. The feeling of killing a big bull in an area you found 100% on your own and have never been to is one of the top feelings you can gather in your hunting quest. Also, it’s a fact that the meat of said elk tastes better. One for Me Every year I look forward to spending some quality time in my own head. Some years it’s only a quick weekend trip or sporadic deer hunts, and other years it is 10 days in the backcountry. Either way, it is important to me to have those trips. As a natural introvert, I realize I probably enjoy these more than others. I truly encourage everyone to spend some time in the outdoors alone, and preferably overnight. I believe its something that once you cross the chasm of feeling uncomfortable can really teach you a lot about yourself. One with You. This year if I had to say there was something I missed it would be that I didn’t do enough hunting with others. Ironically a year ago when I looked back on my previous season and was planning 2018 I just knew I wanted to hunt solo more. I had actually planned to hunt with friends but due to busy schedule ended up having to cancel on those hunts. This year I wanna make sure I schedule in those hunts with friends and people who I enjoy spending time with. It can be easy to see friends and say “we should do this” but unless you put it in the calendar it can be just as easy to let those empty promises slip through the cracks. When you set a trip or a date or a plan in place you not only make sure you are more likely to follow through with those plans but you also get the added benefit of looking forward to those plans with those people. This could be making sure my wife and I spend time on trips just for us or setting time aside for hunting with old buddies. An Adventure Through and Through. This last one may be a bit arbitrary to me but with every year I want to have an adventure that pushes me. My top 20% of experiences could probably fall mostly into this category. On a lot of different levels seeking the next adventure is what pushes me to become better and honestly what gets me through the day to day of life. Again, this is different for everyone, but for me, adventure tends to be in the mountains. We could probably do a deep dive into the correlation of risk and adventure but the overarching theme of adventure seems to have elements of risk and unknowns. Adventure has and probably will come from various pieces of every hunt or trip I go on, but as I look forward at my plans for 2019 I want to make sure that element exists at sufficient level. Overall this is how I am thinking about my 2019, it should be said that this could involve many hunts or only a few. A lot of these principles overlap, in fact, it is very likely that they do. In years past my true adventure has been with old friends, while other years I have had epic adventures while solo and exploring new area’s. These are merely the piece that I hold dear and want to ensure within my season. It should also be noted that one thing I have started doing is making sure I have a safety net in place....

Today I am joined by the first annual Billy Goat Society winner Heath Hansen. Last year the Rockey Mountain Goat Alliance followed the steps of the Wild Sheep Foundation with their less than one club creating the first Billy Goat Society. The Billy Goat society is a great way to raise funds and awareness for goat conservation all while sending one lucky winner on their first goat hunt. The Billy Goat Society is only eligible to those who have never harvested a rocky mountain goat yet. 2018 was the first year of the raffle giveaway and I happened to meet Heath Hansen the winner right after his lucky drawing. Heath is a great guy and I couldn’t be happier to see him be drawn for the once in a lifetime opportunity. Heath ended up having a great hunt and got to hunt with a couple of good friend of mine Daniel Watson (@danwato) and Dustin Roe (@dustinroe) of Backcountry BC and Beyond and it sounds like it was a great trip. In this episode, Heath and I cant up and Heath shares his experience on the hunt. Heath’s wife was ended up getting a tag as well and was also able to harvest a goat, and even with her bow just to one-up her husband Heath. Huge congrats to both Heath and his wife it sounds like one hell of an adventure. Be sure to check out the Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance here and you can learn how to enter into the Billy Goat Society drawing here. Show Notes: Meet Heath Hansen – 03:51 Heath’s 2018 Season Overview – 04:26 Heath’s Goat Hunt Contest Win – 07:23 Hunt Start – 16:01 Day 3 Billy Down – 23:59 Thoughts on Future Goat Hunting – 27:56 After the Kill – 33:17 Heath’s Wife Gets a Goat – 41:46 Looking Back: High & Low – 50:36 Advice for 2019 Winner – 51:58 Sheep or Goat? – 53:08 See the Hunt Video Online – 53:42 Pete Talks the Billy Goat Society Giveaway – 54:33 Contest Eligibility & Entry – 56:47 How to Get Involved – 58:26 Today’s podcast is made possible by the awesome folks at On X. I can’t thank the good folks at On X enough, not only for making the podcast possible but for such killer product as well. There probably hasn’t bee more than a day or two in the last three months that I haven’t used the On X App. This is my second full year Using nothing but the On X app on my phone and honestly, I don’t see any reason to use a GPS. If you already have On X be sure to use the TRO code when you renew your account to not only save 20% off but also help support the podcast. If you don’t have the On X app, well, I guess you just don’t know what your missing. OnXmaps.com or available at in your favorite app store. MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab located in Bozeman, MT, has established itself as the elite source for improving mental toughness, physical preparation, and performance research for the backcountry hunter. I personally tested their pre-season Backcountry Hunter program here in Bozeman, with Dustin Diefenderfer, the founder of MTNTOUGH and I loved it. It is a great workout that will test you and push you to the limits physically and mentally. Their online programs are 90-days, all video based, and is delivered through the private MTNTOUGH site that is accessible on any device.  Think of it as a private social training platform specifically built for Backcountry Hunters. They now have a 90-day online program for pre-season, and a brand new 90 day online program for post-season.

Dirk Durham is an awesome elk caller, and an all-around great guy. If you have seen Born and Raised Outdoors’ Land of the Free Project or many of Elk101’s content you have probably seen Dirk bugling in bulls. I always enjoy having Dirk on the show and today I get to catch up with him on his 2018 season of highs and lows. In this episode, we dive into the struggles that the crew had with early season heat and light rutting activity. We also talk about Dirks struggles with wolf competition in northern Idaho and what he does with continually more pressure on elk from wolves. This year Dirk was able to capitalize on tough Idaho season with a great solo hunt bull that he worked for hours. Dirk shares the highs and lows of the hunt and some great tips for solo hunters as well as heavily pressured bulls. Show Notes: Meet The Bugler Dirk Durham – 0:02:34 Dirk’s 2018 Season Overview – 0:03:40 Staying Motivated & Screwing Up – 0:11:04 Follies – 0:23:32 Dealing with Hot Weather Bulls Up High – 0:27:52 Dirk’s Solo Hunt – 0:30:54 Advice for Calling Solo – 0:40:43 Trail Cams – 0:47:41 Dealing with Wolves – 0:51:45 Biggest Lesson from 2018 – 0:54:05 Hunting with Born & Raised – 0:56:22 Calling in Rifle Season – 0:57:36 Dirk’s Durham’s Online Content – 1:06:47 Today’s podcast brought to you by goHUNT.com Tag season and research season is here and if you don’t have it you need goHUNT it will save you so much time and effort. If you are on the fence about whether you need it or not let me just tell you it is the first place I turn to when I start planning a hunt. It is 100% worth every penny to me and I think pretty much everyone I have introduced it to. If you’re a goHUNT member already which I feel like most of you are by now make sure you use the code TRO at checkout to save some money. Today’s episode is brought to you by Backcountry Fuel Box. The monthly subscription that brings you all kinds of awesome snacks, bars, jerky’s, dehydrated meals and fuel for your next adventure. With hunting season right around the corner, now is a great time to sign up and get a box full of goodies every month for your next hunt. If you were like me, you eat the same thing every season. This year, mix it up and get all kinds of great new brands sent right to your doorstep without having to research and order each individual product. With Backcountry Fuel Box, there is no commitment what so ever, feel free to skip a box or cancel anytime. Head over to backcountryfuelbox.com and get signed up. If you use the TRO code you will save 10% off each month.

Welcome to the podcast, today I am joined by my buddy Micah Fink. Micah and I were sat next to each other at a dinner almost two years ago and hit it off talking about horses, hunting, and all kinds of random stuff shinanigans. A mutual friend had just done a killer video on Micah and his Heroes and Horses nonprofit called One Eighty Out. Micah is a former Navy Seal and complete badass, who really found his piece himself through horses and the cowboy lifestyle. Micah started Heroes and Horses as a way to give back and help other veterans overcome their struggles of PTSD and other demons they faced after war. Micah has a great mindset around overcoming your struggles and becoming stronger through your struggles of life. In this episode, we dive into Micah’s crazy story of being at ground zero on 9/11, becoming a seal, Traveling the remote jungle of the Amazon, finding his purpose in helping veterans, and crazy has horse wrecks. There was so much that we didn’t get to but an absolute great podcast either way. We are already planning a second episode, so let us know what you want to hear more of but I think Micah and I could BS for hours. Show Notes: How 9/11 Changed Micah’s Life – 0:03:48 Processing Trauma & Adversity – 0:14:35 Micah’s Amazon Experience – 0:22:22 Micah’s Mustang Ride from NM to AZ – 0:44:45 The Stress of Running Horses – 0:51:41 How Heroes and Horses was Started – 0:58:04 Micah’s Advice for Helping Veterans – 1:12:11 This Mindset and Raising Kids – 1:22:13 How to Help Heroes for Horses – 1:31:25 Today’s podcast is made possible by the awesome folks at On X. I can’t thank the good folks at On X enough, not only for making the podcast possible but for such killer product as well. There probably hasn’t bee more than a day or two in the last three months that I haven’t used the On X App. This is my second full year Using nothing but the On X app on my phone and honestly, I don’t see any reason to use a GPS. If you already have On X be sure to use the TRO code when you renew your account to not only save 20% off but also help support the podcast. If you don’t have the On X app, well, I guess you just don’t know what your missing. OnXmaps.com or available at in your favorite app store. MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab located in Bozeman, MT, has established itself as the elite source for improving mental toughness, physical preparation, and performance research for the backcountry hunter. I personally tested their pre-season Backcountry Hunter program here in Bozeman, with Dustin Diefenderfer, the founder of MTNTOUGH and I loved it. It is a great workout that will test you and push you to the limits physically and mentally. Their online programs are 90-days, all video based, and is delivered through the private MTNTOUGH site that is accessible on any device.  Think of it as a private social training platform specifically built for Backcountry Hunters. They now have a 90-day online program for pre-season, and a brand new 90 day online program for post-season. The post-season program is specifically built to pack strength back on to a hunter after a long season in the field and will be available Jan 1. An ideal winter program to capitalize on all the work you have put in this hunting season. Make sure to go www.mtntough.com to take a look at these programs and there you will also find a few of their favorite workouts as free downloads, including a no-gear and a heavy pack workout.

Welcome to Muley Monday, today is a little walk down memory lane. Ryan Hatfield is the author of the series know as Idaho’s greatest. With the recent release of the second edition of Idaho’s Greatest Mule Deer, Ryan joins me to share some of the behind the scenes from the stories from the newest book. What started as a way to capture the stories of his uncle’s big bucks, led down a path to digging up the stories behind hundreds of Idaho’s greatest Mule Deer ever killed. If you enjoy old time stories of big bucks and bulls you will enjoy Ryan’s Books. Show Notes: Ryan Hatfield: Editor at Western Hunting Magazine – 04:45 Old Timers – 10:28 How the Book Came to Be – 15:41 Ryan’s “Ah Ha” Moment – 19:31 Purpose Behind Ryan’s 2nd Book – 24:27 Trend in Idaho Genetics – 38:39 The Story Behind the Cover Photo – 44:28 Story on Idaho Record Non-Typical Elk – 56:35 Get Ryan’s Books at: www.IdahoBigGame.com – 60:48 Today’s podcast brought to you by goHUNT.com Tag season and research season is here and if you don’t have it you need goHUNT it will save you so much time and effort. If you are on the fence about whether you need it or not let me just tell you it is the first place I turn to when I start planning a hunt. It is 100% worth every penny to me and I think pretty much everyone I have introduced it to. If you’re a goHUNT member already which I feel like most of you are by now make sure you use the code TRO at checkout to save some money. This year I launched Backcountry Fuel Box, a monthly subscription box for backcountry meals, bars, snacks, gues, and all kinds of great new products you have probably never heard of. It is a killer way to test out new options, or just save money by stashing each box for season. Check it out at backcountryfuelbox.com and save 10% with code TRO.

Welcome to the podcast, Today I am joined by Justin Shaffer who is a total badass and awesome guy who takes full advantage of his opportunities in Alaska as we all live vicariously through him. In this episode, we take a deep dive into all the things you need to know before submitting your application to hunt in Alaska which is due by the 17th. If you are past the deadline when you hear this there is still a ton of useful information for anyone who may be thinking about someday traveling to Alaska to embark on a hunting adventure. While you are listening to this take a second an give Justin a follow on Instagram the dude has done more in the last two years than I will probably do in a lifetime and is by every definition of the word a Badass. Show Notes: Justin’s 2018 Season & Injury – 03:51 AK Draw System & Guide Requirements – 05:56 License Carry Over for Applications – 10:41 Sheep Hunts, Units, Guides, & Costs – 11:47 Mountain Goat Details – 19:19 All About Grizzlies & Brown Bears – 25:35 Justin’s Arctic Grizz – 34yds with Bow – 28:03 Justin’s Musk Ox & Application Strategy – 30:19 Elk Draw Info & Areas – 36:44 Moose Draws, Logistics & Size of the Area – 41:23 Float Hunts vs. Flying Into Backcountry – 47:51 Caribou: Knowing Who, When & Where – 50:56 The Haul Road: Dalton Highway – 52:05 What You Need to Know: Apply & Hunt Alaska – 55:06 How to Get Ahold of Justin for Booking Caribou – 56:42 Today’s podcast brought to you by goHUNT.com Tag season and research season is here and if you don’t have it you need goHUNT it will save you so much time and effort. If you are on the fence about whether you need it or not let me just tell you it is the first place I turn to when I start planning a hunt. It is 100% worth every penny to me and I think pretty much everyone I have introduced it to. If you’re a goHUNT member already which I feel like most of you are by now make sure you use the code TRO at checkout to save some money. Today’s episode is brought to you by Backcountry Fuel Box. The monthly subscription that brings you all kinds of awesome snacks, bars, jerky’s, dehydrated meals and fuel for your next adventure. With hunting season right around the corner, now is a great time to sign up and get a box full of goodies every month for your next hunt. If you were like me, you eat the same thing every season. This year, mix it up and get all kinds of great new brands sent right to your doorstep without having to research and order each individual product. With Backcountry Fuel Box, there is no commitment what so ever, feel free to skip a box or cancel anytime. Head over to backcountryfuelbox.com and get signed up. If you use the TRO code you will save 10% off each month.