Close Range Hunter

Archery elk season is right on top of us!  In this episode I cover five big picture strategies that I think are the most important, overlooked, or misunderstood aspects of archery elk hunting during the rut,  especially if you are solo hunting.  This isn't meant to be a comprehensive treatment of elk calling, tactics, and gear.  There are already many sources for that kind of information.   I...

 As I said in my first episode, I hunt all kinds of things.  In this episode I give a brief introduction to meteorites and meteorite hunting and describe a couple of trips I took in June.  It's been a while since my last episode because I've been out of town and busy with some of the stuff in this episode.  If you ever wondered about how people can find meteorites listen up! 

For this episode I had originally planned to get into the details and pros and cons of changes coming to Arizona OTC archery deer seasons.  At the last minute, I decided to more generally address why they are happening.  Spoiler alert:  It's due to the increasing mainstream popularity of hunting, monetizing hunting, and rapid technological innovation.  These things are putting increasing pres...

In this episode I talk about the pros and cons of backcountry travel and hunting with pack llamas. (Spoiler alert: It's almost all pros.)  Pack llamas have become very popular for backcountry travelers and hunters in the last few years, but we've been using them for almost 30 years.   In this episode I share some of our experience and basic info about why they are the ultimate pack anima...

These days it seems like hunting has become all about the gear and the "Industry"  Gotta have all the cool stuff.  The problem is then you have to carry all that stuff and it can slow you down. Turns out carrying less stuff can make you a more effective hunter.  In this episode I break down what I carry in my pack for a day of hunting.  I wouldn't say it's a minimalist approach...

In this episode I talk about why I usually hunt solo and why I think it is the way to go, and sometimes not.  I cover some of the pros and cons of hunting solo and some tips on what it takes.   I offer my opinion on why more people are becoming  interested in solo hunting and why some won't do it.  It is just something I've always done and until recently didn't realize that being &q...

Trophy hunting, is it good or bad?  What constitutes a trophy?  In this episode I give some of my opinions and insight on trophy hunting, scores, record books.  Why I think trophy hunting is a good thing, and how it can become a bad thing.   My personal philosophy and reasons for trophy hunting, or not.   At the end I introduce some new goals for becoming a well rounded hunter, whether you hunt wi...

It is that time of year again when the Arizona elk and antelope draw results are coming out and people are getting excited.   Every year at this time the internet/socials are flooded with posts saying, "I can't believe a drew this tag.  I've never hunted unit x before.  I'm not asking for your honey holes but..."  Don't be that guy and really don't be the guy who...

This is the introductory episode of the Close Range Hunter Podcast.  In this episode I talk about why I started the podcast, tell a couple of hunting stories, talk about traditional bowhunting, javelina hunting, hunting in Arizona, and where I plan to take the podcast in the future.  It was recorded at the spur of the moment sitting in the front seat of my truck in Arizona after a successful javel...