Days In The Wild - Big game Hunting podcast

Bonus episode John Stallone Bowhunter

I was invited to do a podcast on The Interview with Craig Weinberg and I had great time chatting with him on various aspects of my life and bowhunting.  

Zach Kenner Goat Hunting from a Boat in Alaska

Goat Hunting from a Boat in Alaska
 
Show Notes:
Passionate about hunting in Alaska, Zach Kenner talks up the benefits of hunting from a boat, and chasing down billy goats. The remoteness of the Alaskan wilderness can make it a challenge to get at the animals, but Zach loves the challenge of figuring out an accessible and affordable way to keep chasing down trophy animals. 
 
Zach’s not a native to Alaska, and sometimes his head is stuck on thinking about hunting like he’s still in the lower 48 states. The weather and the sheer inaccessibility of some of the best areas means that really thinking through a strategy is required. Looking for a billy goat to add to his trophy collection, Zach shares how he hunted goats from a boat. Being out on the water can add a whole new challenge depending on if it’s the more sheltered inlets like south of Ketchikan, or if you’re out on the water like out around Kodiak.
 
You can’t get around flying into certain parts of Alaska because there’s sometimes no other way to access those remote areas. And when a plane trip costs $3,000, the cost of a hunt can add up quickly. I know when I’m filming a hunt, I have to balance the cost of the travel, the food, the tags, and even if I need to hire a local guide. Zach and I talk about the trade offs for traveling or staying close to home for hunting.
 
What’s Inside:
We talk about the quotas of different animals, and how that affects the hunting in Alaska, Arizona, and Idaho. 
How the goats can get “aged” because of the landscape. 
Alaskan hunting can include fighting through Devil’s Club, rugged cliffs and rainy banana belt weather. 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Days in the Wild on itunes
Days in the Wild on Podbean
Phoenix Shooting Bags Save 20% with code: johnstallone
Days in the Wild
Bushnell.com Save 15% on everything at Bushnell with code: STL02
Zach Kenner on Instagram
 
Short Description:
If you want to make the best of your Alaskan hunting trip, Zach Kenner says to avoid getting hung up on a lot of the rules that hunters in the lower 48 states have learned. From all of the traveling you’ll do to reach the best hunting grounds to slogging through a temperate rainforest to hunt, hunting in Alaska is amazing. 
Tags:
Goat hunting, Alaskan hunting, hunting on Kodiak, AK hunting, boat hunt, hunting on a budget, hunting guide, hunting on a boat

Bear & Bighorn Sheep Hunting in British Columbia with Nick Trehearne

Bear & Bighorn Sheep Hunting in British Columbia with Nick Trehearne
 
Show Notes:
Based out of Northern British Columbia, Nick Trehearne has been able to marry his love of hunting and photography and work as a full-time photographer for the last nine years. His stomping grounds are some of the most remote and beautiful spots in North America. 
 
When you’re out in the mountains, your depth perception can get a little off. Nick talks about hunting in Southern Alberta where he was out for 18 hours for just one stalk because of the distances he needed to travel. Sometimes using technology can help you fix problems like this, but sometimes technology can cause more problems because it doesn’t work in the field like it’s supposed to.
 
One of Nick’s favorite hunts is the spring bear hunt in BC. It’s all spot-and-stalk, with no baiting allowed. But it’s nothing to glass 30-40 bears in a single night. The rules for bear hunting are different, but that shouldn’t hold you back. This is a great hunt that Nick highly recommends. 
 
If you’re interested in javelina hunts in Arizona, check out the newly revamped Days in the Wild website where all of my guided hunts are in one place. 
 
What’s Inside:
How many deer get wounded because people guess the wrong range?
Relying on technology can be a blessing or a curse depending on how new or reliable it is. 
Hunting outside Yellowstone means you have to plan for how the wildlife will react around the huge amount of people they often encounter. 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Nick Trehearne on Instagram
Days in the Wild on itunes
Days in the Wild on Podbean
Phoenix Shooting Bags Save 20% with code: johnstallone
Days in the Wild
Bushnell.com Save 15% on everything at Bushnell with code: STL02
 
Short Description:
Full-time hunting and fishing photographer Nick Trehearne hunts across Alberta and British Columbia for bear and bighorn sheep. Canadian wildlife, terrain, and hunting rules are a little different, so we talk about some of his favorite hunts in Canada and the Yellowstone are. 
Tags:
Javelina hunting, hunting in British Columbia, sheep hunting, bear hunting in BC, hunting in Canada, sheep hunting in Alberta, bear hunting in Canada

Caje Golden the Cameraman Life in field stories

Caje Golden the Cameraman Life in field stories 
 
Show Notes:
Caje Golden plays baseball for Montana State University and is also a professional hunting guide. We sat down to talk about some of his favorite hunts, and how he ended up taking his camera along for the hunt. 
 
When you get back from a hunt and you’re describing the buck that got away, no one’s going to believe you without some pictures. That was what initially drove Caje into marrying his love of hunting with photography. The hunting photography niche is full of experts who’ve been generous and open with their knowledge, and Caje talks about his journey in this hobby.
 
First-aid courses are a requirement for being a guide, but the first time you have to apply what you learned can be a little wild. Gutting out an elk once, I was talking to my wife and sliced my thumb right down to the bone. When you’re stuck in the backcountry and you’re hundreds of miles from a hospital, getting help after taking a broadhead to your thigh is going to become a legendary, and bloody, story.
 
I usually get a chance to sit down with my buddies and talk, but it was great to meet a new hunter and hear about some of the hunts that have shaped his work as a guide. If you’re interested in hiring a guide, check out my website for guided hunts throughout the year in Arizona and South Dakota.
 
 
 
What’s Inside:
The photography courses and mentors that Caje has used to develop his photography skills.
First-aid and emergency services in the backcountry can be sketchy.
What happens when you’re a guide and your client dies on the mountain?
Mentioned in this Episode:
Days in the Wild on itunes
Days in the Wild on Podbean
Phoenix Shooting Bags Save 20% with code: johnstallone
Days in the Wild
Bushnell.com Save 15% on everything at Bushnell with code: STL02
Caje Golden on Instagram
 
Short Description:
For a young hunter, Caje Golden has great stories that reflect his commitment to hunting and outdoor life. From hunting photography to emergency mountainside first-aid, Caje shares stories from his favorite hunting trips in Montana. 
Tags:
First-aid while hunting, Montana hunting stories, hunting photography, best Montana hunting photography, hunting in mud, best hunting photography mentors

Dan and Dave Acosta Hunting AZ Throwback Thursday

Dan and Dave Acosta Hunting AZ Throwback Thursday
 
episode from 2016 Dan and Dave talk about what it takes to be successful bow hunting in Arizona

Brian Rhead Hunting in Inclement Weather

Show Notes:
Brian Rhead guides for an outfit up in Alaska where they hunt grizzly bear. He’s learned that he has to keep his gear in functioning order so he can confidently pull out his gun in the constant drizzle. In our conversation, we talk about some of his tips for keeping his gun ready to fire.
 
1500 yard shots are not a problem, if you know and understand your gun. But you’re really going to get out of it what you put into it. If you’re a terrible shot at 700 yards, then you need to figure out what your gun likes to do, and that means looking at the three conditions that affect your weapon:
Temperature
Elevation
Weather
 
Brian gets deep talking about ballistic calculations, real-time calculators, and knobs. He prefers to look at the yardage on a knob up to 700 yards. From 700-1100, that’s where G7 works well. Beyond 1,000+ yards, you really need to understand the direction you’re shooting in and factor that into your calculations. 
 
We’re both looking forward to some great hunts next year, depending of course, on how the situation with COVID works out. If you’re planning a hunt, I’ve got coupon codes with some of my favorite retailers that you can use to get yourself outfitted. 
 
What’s Inside:
Keeping your gun dry can be a challenge in a wet climate like Alaska; here’s how Brian does it.
Brian talks about how he uses real-time ballistic calculations to make a better shot.
No matter how quiet an arrow is, there’s still a chance that it will spook an animal.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Days in the Wild on itunes
Days in the Wild on Podbean
Phoenix Shooting Bags Save 20% with code: johnstallone
Days in the Wild
Bushnell.com Save 15% on everything at Bushnell with code: STL02
Brian Rhead on Instagram
 
Short Description:
Variety is the name of the game for Brian Rhead. We talk about some of his favorite grizzly bear hunts up in Alaska, and he shares some of the hunts he’s looking forward to in 2021, including water buffalo in Australia, snow sheep in Russia, desert sheep hunts in Mexico, and mountain goats in Canada.
Tags:
Grizzly bear hunting, hunting in Alaska, best rifle for hunting, best gun for wet weather, best shotgun for hunting, keep your gear dry, mountain goat hunting, bow and arrow hunting
 

Coyote Calling and Predator Hunting with Brandon Nily

Title: Coyote Calling and Predator Hunting with Brandon Nily
 
Show Notes:
Coyotes are one of the smartest animals out there, so if you want to outsmart them, you’d better bring your A game. We’re talking about predator hunting today with Brandon Nily from Coyote Calling Academy. We’ll be covering what kind of weapon is ideal, how to find the animals, and why you shouldn’t educate the animals about human behavior.
 
Understanding coyote behavior will help you track them down, says Brandon. Because they’re creatures of habit, he likes to ask ranchers, rural school bus drivers, and rural postal workers where they usually see coyotes on their routes. That gives him an idea of where to lay in wait for them.
 
If you don’t have the wind with you when you’re out there hunting them, you’re going to be starting off in the negative. You simply won’t be able to beat their nose. Brandon demonstrates some of the hunting calls he uses to attract coyotes to his position, keeping in mind that coyotes are motivated by sex, food, and a challenge. By manipulating the volume and pitch of a call, Brandon can change his message to this apex predator. 
 
If you’re interested in predator hunting, Brandon’s podcast Coyote Calling Academy covers it more thoroughly, and you can find it on any of the podcast platforms.
 
 
What’s Inside:
What does a warning bark from a coyote sound like?
How Brandon finds where coyotes like to hang out.
Why I approach all of my hunting like every white-tailed hunter does in the Midwest. 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Coyote Calling Academy
Coyote Calling Academy podcast
Coyote Calling Academy on Facebook
Days in the Wild on itunes
Days in the Wild on Podbean
Phoenix Shooting Bags Save 20% with code: johnstallone
Days in the Wild
Bushnell.com Save 15% on everything at Bushnell with code: STL02
 
Short Description:
Can you trick the nose on a coyote? It’s definitely going to take a different stalking approach when you switch to hunting predators, and Brandon Nily from Coyote Calling Academy is an expert at tracking, calling, and killing coyotes. 
 
Tags:
Predator hunting, hunting coyote, Colorado hunting, night hunting, bobcat hunting, stalking predator, finding predators, coyote calls, calling for coyotes

Robby Denning Tracking Wounded Game

Title: Tracking Wounded Game with Robby Denning
 
Show Notes:
In the last hunting season, I’ve wounded more animals than I ever have, and it’s causing me to really reflect on what I’m doing and if I need to change my technique. A lot of people want to blame the equipment when that happens, but I think it’s easy to blame something that you can “fix” without examining your headspace. Robby Denning and I talk about some of the emotions that an ethical hunter has to deal with when they injure an animal without killing them. 
 
Even with a “slam dunk” shot, things can still go wrong. In August, I had a 70 yard shot to a Coues buck, and even though my sweet spot is between 50 and 100 yards, it didn’t go anything like I planned. Luckily I had some video footage, so Robby was able to take a look and give me his opinion on my setup. 
 
If someone’s missed their shot a few times, when is it time to pull their hunting card? You hope that you have hunters out there who are practiced enough, and with a good set of ethics, but sometimes they still miss their shot or wound a lot of animals. Robby has a philosophical bent about the hardiness of wild animals, but we both feel that as hunters, we should be respectful of the animals that we hunt. 
 
Robby tries to make sure he’s done everything he can to recover that injured animal because he wants to honor his role out there in the field. No matter how hard you practice, sometimes things just don’t go as planned. Getting out of your head over those mistakes is going to take some reflection on your part. 
 
What’s Inside:
Robby and I share strategies for hunting down wounded animals.
The ethics of hunting down an animal you’ve wounded. 
Talking through my last failed shot, Robby and I talk over what I should have done to kill on the first try.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Days in the Wild on itunes
Days in the Wild on Podbean
Phoenix Shooting Bags Save 20% with code: johnstallone
Days in the Wild
Bushnell.com Save 15% on everything at Bushnell with code: STL02
Primos.com
Robby Denning on Instagram
Robby Denning
Short Description:
It’s going to happen at some point; you’re going to take a shot and it’s not going to be a clean kill. Robby Denning and I are going to talk about what you need to do to make that right out there in the field, and the emotional toll that can have on you. 
Tags:
Hunting ethics, ethical hunting, hunting a wounded animal, clean kill, tracking a wounded animal, ethical hunting laws, archery hunting, Coues deer hunting

What is the Point of Arizona’s Trail Camera Ban?

Title: What is the Point of Arizona’s Trail Camera Ban? 
My take: This is over simplified but I feel that AZGFD should place a season on trail cameras from Aug 10th – Nov 27th  on all trail cameras directly placed on or trails leading to (250 yds away or more)  water sources and allow trail cameras everywhere else like pinch points, travel corridors, saddles etc. The main we are having is a people problem in the high profile hunting areas 13a&b, 9 etc. and the main issue is that guys are checking cameras without regard for fellow hunters who may be sitting that water. The guys running cameras in the south desert units are not having these issues and the guys running cameras off water sources are not having these issues.  Don’t punish the whole state for these albeit high profile but isolated areas.  We can solve this issue with a compromise that both benefits the hunter and the animals. 
Show Notes:
If a sportsman doesn’t understand a rule, then they’re not going to follow it, says Kip Adams from the National Deer Association. We sit down and talk about the different ways hunters and wildlife biologists use trail cameras, and how the Arizona trail camera ban addresses both a social and a scientific problem. What I really want to know is: Is it really going to make a positive difference on wildlife conservation?
 
I didn’t get serious about using a trail camera until the early 2000s, but I just mostly used them for scouting and inventory. I wanted to see what was out there. There are already rules regarding Will Call Hunting, which says that you can’t run dogs and tree a lion, and then go get a client to come shoot the lion. But in the spirit of Fair Chase, do trail cameras give an unfair advantage to hunters?
 
There are at least five other states that have restrictions on trail cameras too. Kip gives me an outside perspective on how other states are dealing with cell phone pictures and cameras. My concern is that if every hunting issue is dealt with state by state, hunters’ rights will be chipped away in every state because we won’t see the bigger picture. We’ll think that turkey hunting in Wyoming doesn’t have anything to do with us.
What’s Inside:
3 out of 4 hunters are hunting some species of deer, but they’re not working together on deer-related policy issues.
Is there an issue with the amount of human traffic on the trail that’s making it harder for the animals?
How Kip uses trail cameras in his work as a wildlife biologist.
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Days in the Wild on iTunes
Days in the Wild on Podbean
Phoenix Shooting Bags Save 20% with code: johnstallone
Days in the Wild
Bushnell.com Save 15% on everything at Bushnell with code: STL02
 
Short Description:
For an outsider’s perspective on the Arizona trail camera ban, I talked to Kip Adams from Pennsylvania. With a background in wildlife biology, and as an avid hunter himself, Kip understands both hunters’ frustration with this ban and the concern of conservationists. 
 
Tags:
Ethics and hunting, will calling hunting, trail cameras in hunting, ethics of hunting, spirit of fair chase, deer hunting, hunting and conservation, trail camera ban

AZ OTC Whine Fest with Charles Whitwam

Charles and I had the opportunity to hunt the first week of AZ OTC deer season. Admits a terrible drought and poor rut conditions we encountered a large amount of out of state hunters that really didn't give 2 F%&#s... 
 
Check out Charles on IG or His website California Guided Wild Pig & Deer Hunting - Shadowtrekker Adventures