Peax Thrive Vodcast

There's one thing that will end a hunt faster than a blown stalk or busted gear—and that's getting cold and wet. Once extreme cold sets in and your feet start to go numb, your hunt is headed downhill fast. Yes, you can tough it out for a little while, but the truth is, you're on borrowed time and your hunt might already be over! I've been on enough late-season hunts to know this all too well.  Get...

Today's show is going to be a bit different, OK, a lot different. This Thrive episode isn't about hunt planning, elk strategy, or bear tactics. It's about something that comes up more than just almost anything else: Merging Western hunting & successful marriages, and what it looks like when one of you disappears into the wilderness for long periods of time.  I've been on over 100 podcasts, and I r...

In this special Live From the Hunt edition of the Thrive Vodcast, I sit down with my good friend Chiam — cameraman, hunter, freeze-dry fanatic, and world-class skinny-jean-wearing tech gear junkie. Warm weather has delayed the elk migration, the elk aren't cooperating, and we were grinding through long days deep in the backcountry. This was the perfect chance to dive deep into some "new" gear that...

What happens when you give me the keys to the bus and let me run wild? I've been sitting on this pre-recorded episode for a while now. We are now   40 shows deep into this Thrive journey, so I figured it's the perfect time to drop it.   Brice Bishop, a good friend and the founder of Peax Equipment, and I sit down to talk about what he was thinking when he gave me the green light on this Thrive con...

If you hunt long enough, unfortunately, wounding an animal is going to happen. It's not a matter of if, it's when! It sucks. It's heartbreaking. It's real, and it just happened to me! What you choose to do next is where the story can take a sharp turn—for better or worse. In this Thrive episode, I take you deep into the thick—where hope fades and second chances are rare. A blood tracking dog named...

Five years. Four hunters. One millionaire ranch owner. In the end, the Supreme Court said… "We're not taking the case."   In today's Thrive Vodcast, we're breaking down what this decision really means for Western hunters — and what you might need to know before stepping over that corner. Then, we switch gears to the most badass backcountry rifle I've ever carried — the Weatherby Model 307 Alpine C...

This is part two of my conversation with the legendary Bearded Butcher Brothers. Scott and Seth take us from our elk hunt together back to the butcher shop and into one of the craziest chaos stories. A bison breaks loose from their White Feather Butcher shop and goes on a rampage through town! The whole family joined in the chase down, it is real, and it's hilarious. The storytelling is classic Be...

In this special edition episode of the Thrive Vodcast , I sit down with the legendary Bearded Butcher Brothers. Scott and Seth are the two men behind YouTube's most popular carnivore and butchering channels.  I'm blessed to call these two guys friends. They are not only masters in the butcher shop, they're passionate hunters, family men, and fantastic storytellers. We dive into our elk hunt togeth...

That's a wrap for most of the western archery seasons. The bows are cased, the bugles have gone quiet, the bulls are becoming more reclusive, and now it's time to switch gears. We're headed into those late rifle elk seasons, and your entire approach needs to shift. Here's the thing! The elk have changed, and so should you! They're no longer rut-raging love machines; they've changed priorities, the...

There's something about the magic of September! The elk bugles, the crisp mornings, the miles we grind, it's sacred ground for archery elk hunters.    In this Live From The Hunt Thrive Vodcast, I take you beyond the adrenaline and intense obsession of September. Yes, it's magic, it's important, but it's not "THE" important.  We dive into the obsession, the pressure, the expectations, and how to ke...

This episode is the first live from the hunt series! I'm on an archery elk hunt with Jeff Helm, Josh Smunk, and Brian Andrews.  Jeff is packing elk out, so Josh and I set down to record this live from the hunt episode.  Hope you enjoy it. ___________________________________________________ Additional Thrive Resources ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Treeline Academy Western Hunt Courses ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠  -  ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Use code THRIVE t...

The season is finally here, and I couldn't be more fired up. It's going to be a real test for me, but I would not want it any other way.  Before I head out into the Wilderness, I wanted to release a Live On Location episode I did with Corey Jacobson.  I was honored to sit down with Corey, he is one of the best elk hunters and arguably the world's best elk caller. Corey has forgotten more about elk...

In today's episode, we're cutting through the pack animal noise and answering one of the most common questions I get: What's the deal with pack llamas? What's all the hype? Are they really worth it? How do they stack up against horses, goats, or mules? Should you buy them? Can you rent them? Why llamas? I've spent the last decade building one of the most capable Western pack llama teams out there!...

The Western seasons are firing up, and if you're not already prepping, you're behind the curve.  On this episode of the Thrive Vodcast, I'm diving into how I'm prepping for back-to-back steep terrain, high-stakes hunts, while rehabbing from torn quad surgery and turning 60 along the way. We review some killer gear upgrades, share a few strategy shifts, and review another juicy plot twist in Colora...

Five Rules To Save Your Elk Season If you chase elk in the West long enough, you're going to face Hunt Area Paralysis. It happens when you pour all your effort and mental collateral into one so-called quote "money spot" , only to pack in and find it stone cold. No fresh sign. No bugles. No Nothing. But you end up staying anyway, because you can't walk away from the mental investment you've made. T...

After every season, I hear the same thing: 'Man, I wish I had prepared better.' Lack of preparation probably leaves more tags unfilled than poor shooting ever will. Today we're fixing that. We're diving into three elk-season preparations that can make or break your hunt, from mapping tech failures to motor-vehicle nightmares. This isn't the glamorous stuff people brag about on Instagram — but it's...

Welcome to Peax Thrive Vodcast Episode 26! This is another Live On Location episode, and I'm joined by one of the most intensely dedicated elk hunters I know—Dan Staten, the founder of ElkShape. Over the years, Dan and I have had some epic podcast conversations—and this one's no different.  If you know Dan, you know he is intense and doesn't cut corners. He's hands down one of the most disciplined...

Bear Spray "versus" firearm is the question we are going to tackle on today's Thrive Vodcast. It's a question of survival. If you spend time in grizzly country, you might only get one chance to get it right. We're not talking barstool debates or Instagram flexing. We're talking about what works when the chips are down and a grizzly bear is closing the gap at 30 miles an hour. When it comes to stop...

Do you ever wonder why elk aren't where they're "supposed" to be? Everything looks perfect, but the elk are not there! This is part two of my Live On Location Thrive Vodcast with Cody Rich from the Rich Outdoors.  Everyone has opinions, and you have heard them before: go high, go deep, go remote.  While those are generally solid suggestions, they only work with the right features and, more importa...

This episode kicks off a brand-new format of the Peax Thrive Vodcast: Thrive Live On Location, and we're coming to you straight from the Total Archery Challenge in Red Lodge, Montana. Fair warning: this episode hits a little differently. I'm joined by Cody Rich — one of the prolific and sharpest E-Scouting minds in the elk finding game.    When we sat down, we swore we would not talk E-scouting… a...

Welcome to the Peaks THRIVE Vodcast! Join Mark Livesay as he redefines hunting podcasts for Western hunters. This unique show dives deep into essential strategies, tools, and tactics to elevate your hunting game. Expect insights on advanced e-scouting, hunt planning, DIY backcountry meals, gear reviews, and tech training—all tailored for success in the field. Each episode features two formats: in-...