On Step Alaska

Argali founder Brad Brooks is back to recap his 6-week Alaskan adventure where he attempted to take a blacktail deer, caribou and moose with his bow. We talk about stalking blacktail vs. stalking mule deer, lessons learned and being alone with your thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clint Whitley is an archery hunting fanatic and the host of Western Hunting Hub. He and I talk about what happens when people lose their minds on social media forums, creating advocates, not enemies, hunting whitetail and our favorite recipes for wild game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Abby and I break down our success over the weekend. We talk about hunting muskegs, calling, the difference in deer response in high traffic areas and low traffic areas, difficulties in filming hunts, plans for this weekend and a new venison recipe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Daniel Buitrago and I talk about the world before podcasts, social media and the Internet, the defining attributes of people we looked up to growing up, the value being outside brings to our lives, the importance of sharing that with the next generation, the impact of climate change, the future of populations, draw hunt strategies and what hunts we hope we draw in 2022. Daniel is a...

In this episode Abby and I talk about different ways to cook wild game meat, salmon chowder, the housing market in Ketchikan and the plan for hunting this weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Juneau resident Dallin Hanchett is back to recap his Kodiak mountain goat hunt we previewed in Episode 233. We discuss the weather, elevation, brown bears, how to get mentally prepared each morning when everything is wet and cold, the helpful attitude of rural residents, savoring game meat to make it last and where this hunt ranks on his all-time list. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megap...

Abby and I discuss the first big weekend of Sitka Blacktail rut in the Ketchikan area. We talk about our unsuccessful weekend, beach hunting, setting anchors, hunting forums, how to feel when it seems like everyone else in Southeast Alaska called in a buck over the weekend, and what the plan is for this weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ian Hudson and I discuss calling styles including grunts, rattling and bleats for Sitka blacktail deer, hunting high-traffic areas, and whether or not bigfoot exists. If it did, it would be here, but is it? Ian is a co-host of the Tongass Talk podcast and a resident of Metlakatla, Alaska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack Lau (Alaska Wild Project and Double Shovel Cider Co.) is back to break down his moose camp. We talk about luxuries vs. necessities, expected daily mileage while hunting moose, what to look for when scouting a spot, archery set ups, fall fly fishing and promoting healthy eating habits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Newly minted Outdoor Life staff writer Tyler Freel joins me to talk about podcast analytics, his late summer and fall hunting trips, fly-in sheep hunts, getting weathered in, how to handle getting corked by entitled hunters, finding new friends on a Haul Road archery hunt, having a "portfolio of spots" and what makes good hunting shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice...

My wife and I recap her elk and mule deer hunts from last month. We talk about our summer scouting, her encounters while solo archery hunting before I arrived, what happens when the elk go silent and opening day rifle season mule deer success as a consolation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode I talk with Jaden Bales about the progression of a hunter. We discuss fine-tuning gear decisions, hunting in shorts (not in Alaska), turning information learned inside into success outside, luck and going with your gut. We also talk about the dynamics of trying to break into the content world as podcast hosts and writers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic...

Alaska Wild Project's Brandon Fifield recaps his moose hunt. We also talk about having intense experiences vs. tempting dangerous situations, meat care in bear territory, peppered game bags, urine-laced caribou livers, finding spots, respecting someone else's spot and looking out for each other. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As host of a successful podcast, Chad Ryker from Backcountry Rookies has talked to many hunters about many different types of hunts so we break down what is most important when telling a story, the type of guests we like having on, the ability of some big names to stay honest and humble after they get big and, of course, our hunting plans for the rest of the fall. Learn more about your ad choices....

In this replay from 2019, I talk about approaching muskegs quietly, using creeks as cover and expecting deer bedded in the transition. On this hunt, I was moving slow enough that I saw a deer bedded in brush well before the edge of a muskeg. He bumped, but I didn't rush after him. I gave a few quiet calls after a few minutes, then slowly moved toward the muskeg. He had only bumped to the edge of t...

In part 2 of how to hunt Sitka blacktail deer in Southeast Alaska, I replay one of my earliest episodes. The guys behind Drop Shot Calls invited me over to talk hunting, calling and all things Prince of Wales living. The recording is done at their bench as they are working on their calls so there is authentic background noise and examples of how they call to bring in the big bucks they are known f...

In part 1 of how to hunt Sitka blacktail deer in Southeast Alaska, I go back to episode 117 for a discussion with my buddy Ryan John. We talk scouting muskegs, what Google Earth can't show you, the importance of hunting the entire way to the muskeg not just the muskeg itself, how long to stay, being quiet, and when to eat snacks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Harrison Gottschling is back to recap the Alaska caribou hunt we previewed in episode 224. We talk about coping with the snow, changing plans, stalking caribou success, holding out for big animals in tough-to-draw units and the soundtrack of a long pack out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode I talk with Juneau resident Dallin Hanchett about his Kodiak mountain goat hunt next month. We discuss expectations, gear, goat populations, conditioning, dream hunts and guilty pleasure Lower 48 food. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Abernathey is the man behind the Destination Elk camera. Fresh off filming Corey Jacobsen and Donnie Drake's elk hunt in Alaska, John and I talk angles, gear, editing, software and tips for filming hunts. We discuss GoPro audio, DSLRs, filming in the rain, and what happens when Corey goes into predator mode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hike up a mountain with a tent and stove? Yeah. Kevin Timm is the owner of Seek Outside, the manufacturer of the hot tent in which I spent the majority of what would have been a rainy, foggy, miserable alpine hunt in September had it not been for my buddy who owned one of these tents. I do not own one, but I wanted to track down Kevin and talk about the technology behind the tents, what makes them...

Brandon Fifield is back to talk about his Dall sheep success. We discuss the importance of a positive mental attitude, the reality of hunts everyone wants to do, the state of sheep populations, the gear and strategies for moose hunting and the sadness of lumping physical challenges in with toxic masculinity, because engaging in challenges create self esteem more than comfort. Brandon is a co-found...

Jaden Bales is back to talk about his archery antelope hunt, but we mostly end up talking about things we don't understand like how a bear can just appear and elk can disappear. We also talk about lessons learned in sports that translate to hunting, what happens when a hunt is filmed, the value of a good wall map and the importance of supporting wildlife organizations in different states - especia...

Paul Atkins moved to Kotzebue nearly three decades ago. In this episode we talk about life in the Arctic including the strength of rural communities, real Alaskan winters, the local vs. non-local debates regarding hunting, the writing process and what he will miss most now that he is back in Oklahoma. His book Atkins' Alaska is available on Amazon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone...

Mark Boardman from Vortex Optics joins me to talk about applying a college education in a career, the fundamentals of a positive growth culture at a gear company, the importance of customer relations, quality products, his next hunt and when to pour gas on a good idea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices