Western Hunter

2021 was a heck of a year for The Western Hunter.   Nate Simmons and I sit down and talk about the lessons learned and what we will do differently heading into the 2022 hunting season.

My guest today is Jordan Jonas the winner of the hit TV show Alone season 6.   Jordan is a hunter and his hunting skills contributed directly to his ability to survive in the Arctic for 77 days.   We talked about behind-the-scenes stuff, dreams, family, hunting and mental preparation.   He is a character, if you have watched the show then you know what I mean.   It is obvious that the guy you saw...

Remi Warren doesn't need an introduction to this audience. Like most of you, I think Remi is one of the most interesting people in the world as well as one of the top ambassadors for the hunting community. While attending the Pope and Young convention we found some time to sit down and talk again. I didn't have any specific agenda; with Remi I didn't need one. We just talked about life, parenthood...

In this episode I sit down with Dean Capuano from Swarovski.  Dean and I met via phone on his very first day on the job at Swarovski over 20 years ago. Since then, we have hunted together in Austria, Africa, Mexico and many different US states.  We go into detail about what it takes to make the best optics in the world and what the future may hold. 

Connor Gabbott is a professionally trained chef, photographer, videographer and hunter.   In this episodes he shares his secrets for preparing and sharing wild game. But we also dig into his evolution as a hunter, his entry into the camera world, and career changes.  Connor wrote the introduction and shared some of his favorite wild game recipes in The Wild Kitchen Volume 3 from Wilderness Athlete...

Rafe Nielsen from Browning is back again! In this episode we talk about life without a SHOT Show in 2021. We dig into new rifle products and how those products are developed and brought to market. We also spent time talking about gun safes, why we should all invest in one and the process of purchasing and installing a safe in your home. One of the coolest new products from Browning this year is th...

Roy Grace has been bowhunting his entire life and has hunted every species the west has to offer. Roy is also the records chairman for the Pope and Young club. In this episode we talk about why the record book is important and why we should all consider entering a trophy if it qualifies for the "Book".   He got me so fired up for this summer's convention in Reno, that I have already made plans to...

There are dozens of boot companies, each with dozens of different models from which to choose. Making the wrong choice can cost money and ruin a hunt. In this episode I talk again with Kendall Card from Crispi, about how to research websites to narrow down what features to improve your chances of making the best choice. 

Electric assisted (e-bikes) are exploding in popularity worldwide. When it comes to western hunting e-bikes, Bakcou is leading the way. In this episode I sit down with Bakcou founders Bryan and Dave to discuss their company, their bikes, the current status and the future of hunting with e-bikes.   These guys are hunters first and bike enthusiast second. With years of experience their perspective a...

Not long after the turn of the 19 th century the Glenn family settled in Southeast Arizona. Warner and Wendy Glenn raised a son Cody and daughter Kelly in the same country.     Cody and I became friends the first day of junior high. His friendship and the Glenn family changed the course of my life. I shot my first deer with Cody and Wendy. I built fences and corrals, branded calves and learned how...

Not long after the turn of the 19 th century the Glenn family settled in Southeast Arizona. Warner and Wendy Glenn raised a son Cody and daughter Kelly in the same country.     Cody and I became friends the first day of junior high. His friendship and the Glenn family changed the course of my life. I shot my first deer with Cody and Wendy. I built fences and corrals, branded calves and learned how...

Boots are one of the most important pieces of hunting gear in our kit. I sit down with Kendall Card from Crispi and cover some important topics we all need to consider when purchasing footwear. Kendall is also the co-founder of Camofire and Black Ovis, so I couldn't resist digging into how they launched both of these industry leading companies.

Rafe Nielsen is not only a hunting partner he is the marketing director at Browning.   We spent time talking about John Browning and many of his contributions to modern firearms and to our military.   We also dive into modern production practices and why we now have the best hunting product that we unimaginable just a decade ago.

Remi Warren has been a field editor for Western Hunter Magazine for so long that neither of us can remember! In this episode we dive into his hunting career, how he got started, and what is really doing right now. Remi is one of the most adventurous hunters I know. Long before New Zealand was a hunting destination he bought a one what ticket there just to check it out….who does that? Take a look b...

In this episode I sit down with Steve Opat from Fairbanks, Alaska.   Steve is an avid hunter and is also a medical helicopter flight nurse. He is in a unique position to learn from peoples mistakes. We talk about the what brought him to Alaska, his experiences, and the survival mindset. Steve always has a unique perspective and this conversation could have gone on for hours! I have no doubt he wil...

Ralph and Vicki have been producing some of the best video hunting content since before outdoor TV even existed! Not only are they absolute pioneers in the business they are two of the most sincere and authentic ambassadors in the hunting industry. No offense to any of my previous guest but this was the most enjoyable podcast I have recorded in our short history.   Though I had been dying to know...

Bob Lacher was born and raised in Alaska. As a child he hunted with his dad to feed the family, not for trophies. The adventure bug bit him hard! He started flying a bush plane at an early age and has been exploring and hunting the far reaches of Alaska every since.   I first got to know Bob through his book "Alaska Raw", which is available at www.westernhunter.net . This book is filled with some...

Native Alaskan Heather Kelly was tired of the limited food options available to backcountry travelers. So she did what nobody thought was possible and created her own foods, which lead to the creation of Heather's Choice. Her dehydrated (not freeze dried) meals were the first pre-packaged options with real meat that were not overly processed.   She literally started the trend and now has the bigge...

In 2016 Steve killed the largest bull elk ever taken with a bow.   At almost 430" it is my opinion this record may never be broken. I met Steve while on business in Montana. Fortunately I had the recording equipment with me and he had to time to sit down. We talked about the hunt and how his thoughts have changed in the years since that crazy day in Montana. 

If they were looking for a new "Most Interesting Man in the World" I would nominate George Bettas.   He has worked with the Boone & Crockett Club, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and was one of the founders of the Mule Deer Foundation, most of which was after he retired from a career at Washington State! He is the author of the regular column "The Hunting Horseman" in Western Hunter Magazine and has...

Wayne Carlton is truly a legend in our industry. He pioneered the art of calling elk with diaphragm calls. Back in the 80's his elk calling seminars were epic, and folks would drive hundreds of miles for the privilege of listening to his educational, inspirational and always entertaining talk.   Though slowed down by Parkinson's disease, this 76 year old giant still captures my imagination with ev...

Last fall Justin Gordon killed the largest mule deer ever taken with a bow. In this episode Justin and I talk about his buck, but being one of the most introspective hunters I have ever met, our conversation goes much deeper than just inches of antler. From mental and physical preparation to the plight of mule deer, we cover it all. The Gordon buck will in all likelihood be the highest scoring dee...

Mike Duplan is one of best mule deer hunters I have ever met.   He has taken huge bucks in some of the most heavily hunted areas in Colorado…and I mean huge.   He co-authored "The Edge, The Complete Approach to Hunting Mountain Mule Deer", which is regarded as the finest book ever written on the subject. But Mike is far more than an mule deer hunter, he is and adventure hunter.   He has taken a gr...

As the sun set on our last night in an Arizona Coues deer hunt I sat down with Mark Denham and The Western Hunter videographer Matt Neddermeyer to talk about the realities of hunting the grey ghost. The sun was setting as we built a big fire and started the conversation. It was almost a shame that we did not film this episode, I highly doubt anyone has recorded a podcast in a more beautiful settin...

In this episode I sat down with Western Hunter shooting editor Colton Bagnoli at his home in Kalispell Montana.  He is one of the most talented and hard working people I have ever known. He is an accomplished gunsmith, taxidermist, trapper, bow mechanic as well as being police officer and sniper for their tactical team. This episode was brought to by Browning, The Best There Is. Check out the full...