Days In The Wild - Big game Hunting podcast

Arizona Elk Hunting with Steve Chappell, part 2 11.35

Title: Arizona Elk Hunting with Steve ChappelL, part 2
 
Show Notes:
In this second part of our conversation about elk hunting in Arizona, Steve Chappell from Elk Camp and I talk about times when elk calling might backfire on you, and how to think carefully through a situation before you react. Steve’s approach to elk hunting is thoughtful, refreshing, and smart, and I always learn something from him.
 
If there’s a bull nearby, between you and the bull that you’re tracking, it’s hard to pass that closest one up. But Steve warns that spooking that closest bull may completely backfire on you. For sure, you definitely don’t want to let them know that a human is calling them because it’ll give away too much.
 
You’ve been working a herd all morning long in an open Ponderosa forest, but you’re pretty sure that if you get closer you’re going to get picked off. Steve suggests waiting a little until the herd moves into thicker country. By letting them get out of view and then moving around them, you put yourself into a better situation . Sometimes the vegetation just works against you, and you need to adjust your strategy.
 
Good calls are always going to be effective. Ten, twenty years down the road, you’ll still be able to use these same calls. But interestingly, every guy or gal is not going to produce the same sound on the elk call. However, if you are casual about calling elk, you can ruin it for others. We talk about why you should be cautious about casually calling elk while you’re out driving in the country.
 
Please like us, share us, or leave us a review.  I’m sure you’re looking forward to September like we are. Let’s get out there and get into the wild.
 
 
What’s Inside:
What kind of unit selection Steve prefers.
What big bulls sound like to Steve.
Why Steve likes using an elk cow decoy and how it helps him out.
Steve recommends his favorite elk decoy.
Some specific advice for Arizona elk hunting.
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Days in the Wild on itunes
Days in the Wild on Podbean
Phoenix Shooting Bags
Elk Camp with Steve Chappel
 
Short Description:
In part 2 of my conversation with Steve Chappel, we talk about some of the challenges of hunting elk in Arizona. Steve’s thoughtful approach to elk hunting always makes me think more carefully about what I’m doing when I’m out in the desert. As an expert bugle caller, Steve talks a lot about how to communicate with the elk herd.
 
Tags:
elk cow decoy, arizona elk hunting, elk calling, elk decoy, elk bugling, identifying a dominant elk, tracking elk, hunting elk in open spaces

Arizona Elk Hunting Scenarios with Steve Chappell Part 1 - 11.34

Title: Arizona Elk Hunting with Steve Chappell 11.34
 
Show Notes:
These guys who are getting it done year in and year out can really help you build yourself into a better elk hunter. That’s why I wanted to talk with Steve Chappell from Elk Camp and Chappel Guide Service. Steve started as a guide back in the ‘90s in Arizona, and this family legacy has shaped his excitement for elk early on.
 
Herd bulls are all about jealously guarding their cows, so Steve has to trigger a response carefully from them. He says that herd bulls are more vulnerable than you think, so he prefers to use a display bugle. This sounds like a high, sweet note that then gets dumped down into that lip ball sound. When you put all of these sounds together, you’re going to get an aggressive bull coming right at you.
 
Modern hunting can help you find and track better than ever. When Steve is out tracking, he likes to use all of the resources available to him:
Where they feed
Their source of water
Cow-calf groups
Signs of rubbing activity
Flatline maps
OnX maps
 
It’s definitely to your benefit to read the situation so that you can be what you need to be on the hunt. I’ve hunted with guys who are more aggressive, and wow, the difference was amazing. We talk about the difference between being more aggressive and stalking quietly. Because he’s based in Arizona, Steve gives some Arizona specific advice around the full moon and the best rut days in the state.
 
I can’t encourage you guys enough; like us, give us a review, and share us with your friends. Help us continue to bring you hunting stories that prepare you for the different scenarios that you’re going to encounter out there.
 
What’s Inside:
How the elk react to a full moon.
According to Steve, these are the best rut days in Arizona.
Distance is the determiner in the effectiveness of Steve’s elk calling.
Steve’s tactic for introducing himself to a bull.
In Arizona, Steve prefers morning and evening hunts.
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Days in the Wild on itunes
Days in the Wild on Podbean
Phoenix Shooting Bags
Elk Camp with Steve Chappel
 
Short Description:
Sharing some Arizona specific elk hunting love today, Steve Chappel talks strategies, tips and tricks for getting the elk you’ve had your eye on. As a hunting enthusiast from the age of 5, Steve brings a wealth of experience to the table about tracking, calling, and making good judgement calls about the hunting situation.
 
 
Tags:
elk hunting, elk hunting in Arizona, Arizona elk camp, guided elk hunt, elk calling, elk bugling, elk chuckling, finding elk

Mule deer Hunting with Omni Warner

Planning a Mule Deer Hunt with Omni Warner
 
Show Notes:
Some guys like to start planning a hunt by deciding what kind of trophy they’re looking to bag, but Omni Warner prefers to draw a tag first. Although it can be easier for locals to draw a tag, it’s really hard all around, and that’s why he’s not too picky about what state he ends up in.
 
Some of Omni’s best mule deer hunts have been in Colorado, and we swap stories about some of the mule deer hunts we’ve been on. We’ve both tried to get our kids into hunting, but with varying degrees of success.
 
I know some of you guys know that I’m an outfitter in Arizona and I run hunts in South Dakota too. I have a couple of slots left in my schedule this fall, so I’m letting you know now before it’s too late that if you want to get in on an excellent hunt, you should get on my schedule.We also have amazing hunts you can do in February, where you can come out and experience a nice hunt in Arizona weather when the rest of the country is miserable and cold.
If you loved today’s episode, please share us or leave us a review. And don’t forget to visit our sponsor Phoenix Shooting Bags who make this podcast possible.
 
What’s Inside:
The best state for hunting mule deer.
Why Omni and I both love hunting the rut.
How Omni plans a hunt and looks for trails.
The key to hunting mule deer in the high country.
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Days in the Wild on itunes
Days in the Wild on Podbean
Phoenix Shooting Bags
Book a hunt with JohnOmni Warner on Instagram
 
Short Description:
Every hunter has a different strategy when he plans a hunt, and Omni Warner’s strategy starts with finding a tag first. We talk mule deer hunts all over the west, and some of Omni’s best tips for finding and stalking your animal.
 
Tags:
mule deer hunt in NM, mule deer hunt in CO, best way to plan a hunt, book a hunt, hunting in the 4 corners, hunting in Utah, how to plan a hunt

Kip Fowler Mule Deer Hunting on the Wasatch Front

Title: Mule Deer Hunting on the Wasatch Front with Kip Fowler
 
Show Notes:
A Southern Utah native, Kip now lives and hunts in Northern Utah, along the Wasatch Front. Backpacking bow hunting in the high country is one of his specialties, and he shares some of his advice for how to improve your hunting game.
 
Kip was always worried about becoming too reliant on technology, but there came a point when he realized that it was actually holding him back and it cost him a prize deer. That’s when he started to look for tools that would make the hunt easier, and he shares some of his adaptations.
 
It’s so easy in bowhunting to get discouraged, especially when you have moments where you get so close, but then something goes wrong. “Really successful bowhunters are constantly trying to eliminate the things that could go wrong”, says Kip. And they stick with it.
 
A lot of bowhunters will spend tons of time practicing their shot, testing their equipment, and planning their hunt. But they’ll forget to try out the food they’re going to eat ahead of time, and that can lead to some seriously unpleasant surprises out in the backcountry. Don’t forget to test your food, and your body’s reaction, before you head out.
 
Pictures can help you remember a hunt, but they don’t tell everything. Kip and I both have journaled some about our hunts, and the details we recorded are so much different and more helpful than just looking at pictures.
 
If you loved this podcast, don’t keep us a secret. Like us, share us, and leave us a review so that we can keep bringing you hunting stories from some of the greatest experts in the backcountry.
 
What’s Inside:
When water sources and feed sources are an important part of the hunt.
Where is it easier to hunt mule deer: the desert or the high country?
Why mental fortitude is going to help you on the hunt.
How nail polish, sharpies, and other hacks can help you make small improvements.
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Days in the Wild on itunes
Days in the Wild on Podbean
Phoenix Shooting Bags
 
Short Description:
As a lifelong bowhunter, Kip Fowler has some tips to take your bowhunting to the next level. In addition to telling some great hunting stories, Kip focuses on some of the smaller details today that can add up and make your bowhunting experience more successful and enjoyable.
 
Tags:
Utah hunting, mule deer hunting, hunting on the Wasatch Front, improve your bowhunting, bowhunting technology, bowhunting tips and tricks, bowhunting hacks

Bow Hunting & Mule Deer with Henry Ferguson

Title: Bow Hunting & Mule Deer with Henry Ferguson
 
Show Notes:
As I’ve been working through my broadhead testing to find the absolute best bow on the market, I’ve found that I can’t have it all. If I want good penetration, good flight big wound channels, you always have to give up something to gain something.  Henry Ferguson, an avid bow hunting sportsman, and I talk about what we look for in bows and some drawbacks to different designs.
 
There are so many variables in every hunting situation. You can go with your gut, or you can make the mistake of listening to some friends. Nathan talks about a hunt that ended disastrously because he ignored his own experience and listened to some fellow hunters. And instead of nailing his buck, he totally scared it off. Then he tried a different tactic, and he talks about the two important lessons he learned from this experience.
 
The energy of your body tunes the animals into what you intend to do. If you want to tip them off every time, do this one move that switches you from innocent bystander to deadly hunter. It’s so amazing how close you can get to an animal they don’t see you as a threat to them. We talk about how we sometimes use this move to get closer to bucks, and a few times when it backfired on us.
 
If you loved this show, don’t keep us a secret. Like us, share us, and give us a review. Your support continues to make this podcast possible.
 
What’s Inside:
Some of the most surprising results coming out of my bow testing so far.
The difficulty around finding the perfect bow hunting equipment.
The amazing moment when a buck knows you’re a hunter and not a lost hiker.
Henry shares some amazing hunting stories.
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Days in the Wild on itunes
Days in the Wild on Podbean
Phoenix Shooting Bags
 
Short Description:
We’re talking mule deer with my buddy Henry Ferguson who says that hunting mule deer with a bow is a lot like being a salesman. You have to get used to a lot of rejection. We talk about some hunting fails and what we would’ve done differently, and Henry imparts some of his wisdom after hunting mule deer for years.
 
 
Tags:
mule deer, bow hunting, best bows for hunting, stalking mule deer, best bow hunting equipment, Colorado mule deer hunt, Arizona mule deer, Utah mule deer

Improve Your Bowhunt John Stallone and Ron Nixon 11.33

Title: Improve Your Bowhunt John Stallone and Ron Nixon
 
Show Notes:
If you’re at all interested in bowhunting, then you need to become part of the Broadhead Nation with Ron Nixon. By sharing techniques and ideas, hunters can figure out how to improve themselves. Ron and I talk about what actually matters in bowhunting, and how you can improve your shooting accuracy.
 
First of all, you cannot control that animal no matter how much you want to. But your bow tune, your arrows, and your preparation are all things that you can manage.
 
The way you practice needs to mirror what it’s going to look like when you’re actually out hunting. Standing in front of a paper target is not going to make you a better hunter, and Ron and I talk about how to create realistic scenarios that will improve your shot when you’re actually aiming at an animal. 
 
Visualization is another thing you can control, and there is plenty of time in the field to sit down and think carefully about what you should do in different situations. What angle is this elk going to approach from? How long is it going to drink for? Will the does turn back? Playing the “what if” game helps you focus more on the things you can control, like your breathing or the buck shakes.
 
Never stop hunting. That’s the last thing you can control and the last piece of advice we want to leave with you. As long as you’re learning and getting out there, you’re going to be able to improve.
 
If you loved the show, like us, share us, and leave us a review. Your support lets us continue to bring you experts in the field.
 
What’s Inside:
What is your true effective range in bowhunting?
Why you need to change the way you practice.
How a beard could be messing up your shot.
Get consistent shots every time with this piece of advice.
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Days in the Wild on itunes
Days in the Wild on Podbean
Phoenix Shooting Bags
Broadhead Nation Group
Hunting Channel on Youtube
Shop Broadhead Nation
 
Short Description:
If you could focus on one thing that would improve your bowhunting experience, what would that be? Some hunters think a better approach would help them, and they end up focusing on those last 20 yards. Ron Nixon from Broadhead Nation thinks that focusing on the things you can truly control will be the only thing that improves your bowhunting skills.
 
Tags:
Bowhunting, bowhunting in AZ, better bowhunting practice, improve your bowhunting, improve your aim, best bow technique

Elk hunting with Joel Turner Part 2 -11.32

Title: Elk Calling That Plays on an Elk’s Instincts, pt. 2
 
Show Notes:
In this second part of my conversation with Joel Turner, we continue our discussion of our “What would you do?” elk series. World champion elk caller Joel Turner likes to humanize his elk calling to create scenarios that draw out the animals. Every year in the spring, I start thinking about elk like crazy.
 
Antelope don’t bugle. Mule deer don’t bugle. There is nothing like an elk bugling, and that’s what gets everyone excited about elk hunting.
 
“You’re never talking to the bull; you’re always talking to the cows”, says Joel. That’s how you can trigger the bull’s reaction. Joel has some other advice for how you can use different calls to manipulate the bull’s reactions so that you can put him in the situation that you want him to be in.
 
If you find a bull and you know he has some cows, but every time you go in to round up his cows, he just takes his cows and moves away, what would you do? In this scenario, the time period actually plays a part in the bull’s behavior. Joel explains the lull in breeding season, and why a bull will sometimes just stop reacting to you.
 
Joel’s elk hunting is very simple. The science behind elk hunting is not a variety of theories, ideas, and probable guesses. Figure out the instincts that the elk herd needs to prod them to move in the way you want, and you can easily manage their behavior. Figuring out which sound the elk are making is probably the hardest part, and even that is pretty simple.
 
I hope that some of you can put some of this knowledge to use this year as you’re out there hunting. Like us, share us, and leave us a review. It helps this podcast stay free and accessible for hunters.
 
 
What’s Inside:
As a situational hunter, Joel likes to think about putting the elk in a situation that benefits him.
How to figure out with certainty that a bull is with some cows.
Give a bull every instinctive reason to come to you.
3 more common scenarios that every elk hunter will encounter at some point.
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Days in the Wild on itunes
Days in the Wild on Podbean
Phoenix Shooting Bags
 
Short Description:
Joel Turner returns for the second part of our conversation about elk hunting situations. By simplifying elk hunting down to the basics, Joel uses elk calls to move the elk into situations that he can benefit from. Playing on animal instincts has helped him become one of the best elk hunters that I know.
 
 
Tags:
Elk hunting scenarios, elk hunting, bugling elks, calling bulls, challenging bulls, best elk calls, best elk hunting

Joel Turner what would you do Elk Hunting 11.31

Elk Hunting with Joel Turner
Title: Elk Calling That Plays on an Elk’s Instincts
 
Show Notes:
If you’re not hunting elk all of the time, then sometimes you might forget in between hunts what to do in different scenarios. That’s why I gathered together the best elk hunters around so that you can hear what they would do in similar elk hunting scenarios. World champion elk caller Joel Turner likes to humanize his elk calling to create scenarios that draw out the animals.
 
It’s rainy, it’s windy, and you haven’t heard a bugle all day long, but you know there’s elk in the area, what would you do? Joel hates elk hunting in the rain, but he’ll slide into the area where he thinks the elk are and he’ll give them a breeding scene. He demonstrates what that sounds like for me.
 
Calf sounds are a whole different instinctive sound for elk, so Joel likes to use this sound more often. For people, what is the one sound that gets everyone to come out of the house? Not some lady yelling, that’s for sure. Mammals are all programmed to pay attention to a crying baby, so hear how Joel uses that instinct to draw the herd out.
 
Joel likes to humanize the situation, or figuring out what people would do in a situation and then translate that into elk sounds. He talks about a few different ways you might be able to do that, and how that helps you predict what the elk will do.
 
If you loved this episode, please give us a review. It helps me keep this free and lets me reach more people. And remember to get out there and enjoy nature.
What’s Inside:
If the bulls aren’t bugling, you have to give them a reason to bugle.
How to use the calf sound to find where the elk are at.
What “glunking” is and why you want to use it.
Animals are all trying to learn from sex and fighting, and you’ll want to use that to your advantage.
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Days in the Wild on itunes
Days in the Wild on Podbean
Phoenix Shooting Bags
Shot IQ
 
Short Description:
What is one of the worst sounds in the world? Learn how to use crying babies to your advantage the next time you go elk hunting when you mimic a scared elk calf. Champion elk caller Joe Turner thinks up realistic scenarios that draw out the elk into open ground, and he uses mammal instincts to play on the elk herd.
 
 
Tags:
Elk hunting scenarios, be a better elk hunter, elk bugling, glunking and elk, calling an elk, finding elk, best elk bugles

Dana Sacia Hunting For Connections Bonus episode

Dana Sacia  Hunting For Connections
Phoenix Shooting bags Owner Anthony Stallone interviews Dana and discusses Hunting for connections. 

Elk Hunting Scenarios with Jason Phelps Part 2 11.30

Elk Hunting Scenarios with Jason Phelps Part 2 
 
Show Notes:
We’re back today to pick Jason Phelps’ brain again about how he’d react in certain elk situations. Of course, Jason’s elk calling technique is a huge part of how he hunts, so he shares a lot of different types of bugling calls and what they mean.
 
If there’s a specific bull that you want to kill, but you can’t identify him by his bugle, you’ll need to make a decision about which bull to kill. Weighing if you’re okay just targeting any bull may be impacted by how long you’ve waited to pull that tag. Jason talks about the factors that go into this decision for him.
 
As soon as you get close to a herd, the bull rounds them and moves them away from you. This can happen again and again, wasting an entire day of a hunt. We might feel like we have to get a response from the bull, but many of us are making this number one mistake, according to Jason.
 
Keeping in mind the hierarchy of the bull’s decisions can help you see why they react the way they do. They’ve got three main decisions that they’re always thinking about, so getting inside a bull’s head will help you predict their behavior.
 
Sometimes there just isn’t a clear answer. Some situations are tough because any way you move, you’ll spook them or you won’t have a clear shot. Try to be patient and read the situation, and be honest about the potential outcomes. Jason says that it’s okay to sit down and just admire the huge bull in front of you.
 
What’s Inside:
Jason’s restaurant analogy will make you think differently about chasing down a herd.
In September, if Jason sees cows, he always assumes there’s a bull there.
One of the benefits of giving a low, lazy bugle.
Day 1 of a ten day hunt or day 10 of a ten day hunt make a big difference in Jason’s strategy.
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Days in the Wild on itunes
Days in the Wild on Podbean
Phoenix Shooting Bags
Phelps Game Calls
Phelps Game Calls on Instagram
Phelps Game Calls on Facebook
 
Short Description:
Every hunter might approach a common scenario differently, so I ask Jason Phelps for his opinion. The rain in Washington plays into some of his strategy, but so do the elk calls his company manufactures. Jason has some suggestions for how to avoid common hunting mistakes, and when to take a deep breath and just appreciate being outdoors.
 
Tags:
elk hunting, elk scenario, elk bugling, elk calling, satellite bulls, challenging the bull, calling cows, elk hunting in WA