Days In The Wild - Big game Hunting podcast

Secrets to a Solid Elk Hunt with Sam Davis

Secrets to a Solid Elk Hunt with Sam Davis
 
Show Notes:
 
Sam Davis grew up in Wyoming, spending a ton of time outdoors and his dad was an outfitter. He’s been bow hunting since he was 15 out West, shooting everything from mule deer to elk. Sam’s a DIY hunting guy and goes for over the counter tags. He’s also been a guide for 23 seasons. Growing up, Sam didn’t realize how much being around animals shaped his hunting career, but looking back, he’s seen a ton of stuff that many guys won’t. 
 
I pick Sam’s brain about elk hunting, and we kick things off by talking about the best ways to narrow down hunting areas. We talk about why you shouldn’t be afraid to communicate with other hunters to pick up good tips and the top terrain features to look for when you’re scouting elk. Sam likes to work with drainages, open pockets where elk feed, and areas where they can bed, and he walks through his techniques.
 
Then we get into Sam’s ideal day of elk hunting. He’s an aggressive hunter, and he likes to move towards elk immediately after spotting them. Sam also shares what he’s learned from past hunts, how he handles hearing an elk while he’s glassing, and a story where he had an a-ha moment that changed the way he hunts.
What’s Inside:
 
The best ways to narrow down hunting areas
Top features to look for when you’re tracking down elk
Sam’s ideal day of elk hunting
 
Mentioned in this episode
Days In The Wild Podcast
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
Short Description:
Sam Davis grew up in Wyoming, started bow hunting at 15, and has been a guide for 23 seasons. I pick Sam’s brain about all things elk hunting, including the best ways to pick hunting areas and what an ideal day of hunting looks like. Sam also shares what he’s learned from past hunts, how he handles hearing an elk while he’s glassing, and a story where he had an a-ha moment that changed the way he hunts.
Tags
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, hunting advocacy, bow hunting, elk hunting, scouting, glassing, terrain

Tales from the Bow Hunt with Trevor Thompson

Tales from the Bow Hunt with Trevor Thompson
 
Show Notes:
 
Los Angeles native Trevor Thompson didn’t grow up hunting, but you’d never know that today. He tried his hand at art school before joining the Navy and being a member of the Seal teams for nine years. After getting out, Trevor did a little bit of contracting before working for Black Rifle Coffee and now he works for Protekt Products, a veteran-owned supplement company. 
 
Before he started working at Black Rifle, Trevor got introduced to bow hunting on a black bear hunt and was immediately hooked. He hasn’t gone a year without taking an animal since, and he mostly eats meat from his hunts at home. Trevor’s getting ready to head up to Kodiak to guide for brown bears. We chat a bit about the nature of bear hunting, how it’s changed, and how quota limits get set. 
 
Trevor shares a story from a tough elk hunt he had last year on the west coast of Oregon. He had his mind set on using only a self bow, but things didn’t turn out quite as expected. We trade a couple other stories from past bow hunts and mind-boggling shots, and Trevor shares the story of how he got his first animal with a longbow in Maui. 
 
If you’re a Howl for Wildlife member, you’ll get a discount on Protekt supplements. Check out their website below.
What’s Inside:
 
How Trevor got into hunting
A story from one of Trevor’s toughest elk hunts
How Trevor got his first deer with a longbow in Maui
 
Mentioned in this episode
Days In The Wild Podcast
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
Protekt Products
Trevor Thompson on Instagram
Short Description:
Los Angeles native Trevor Thompson didn’t grow up hunting, but you’d never know that today. He’s a whiz with a bow and we get into some great stories from past hunts. Trevor also shares all about his background, lessons learned from a tough elk hunt, and how he got his first animal with a longbow in Maui. 
 
Tags
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, hunting advocacy, elk hunting, bear hunting, bow hunting, self bow, 

Catching Elk Fever with Ty Stubblefield

Catching Elk Fever with Ty Stubblefield
 
Show Notes:
 
From being a part of Born and Raised Outdoors to becoming the Executive Director of the Montana Wild Sheep Foundation, Ty Stubblefield has spent the last 25 years in hunting and conservation. Here, I pick Ty’s brain on elk hunting and he shares some stories from out in the wild. Ty started elk hunting when he was in high school without any mentorship, but after graduating, he joined up with a hunter at the sawmill, where he sharpened his skills. 
 
Ty started out rifle hunting, but his mentor introduced him to bow hunting. Because his early hunting career was a struggle, Ty’s mission now is to help hunters learn as much as possible. Ty shares some of the biggest lessons he’s learned along the way and how he shot his first elk with a bow. You have to have a killer instinct and he says that’s the only way to be successful. Some people don’t have it, but it can be learned with consistency and practice.
 
Ty and I talk about his go-to approach for choosing an elk hunting area, his top criteria for picking a spot, and what he does once he gets there. We discuss how predation impacts where you hunt and how to draw the right tags. We also get into tips for creating opportunities in high pressure areas, Ty’s top elk calls, and some of his best hunting stories. 
What’s Inside:
 
Ty’s background and stories from his early hunting days
How Ty chooses a good elk hunting spot
Tips for creating opportunities in high pressure areas
 
Mentioned in this episode
Days In The Wild Podcast
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
Short Description:
From being a part of Born and Raised Outdoors to becoming the Executive Director of the Montana Wild Sheep Foundation, Ty Stubblefield has spent the last 25 years in hunting and conservation. Ty and I talk about his go-to approach for choosing an elk hunting area, how predation impacts where you hunt, and how to draw the right tags. We also get into tips for creating opportunities in high pressure areas, Ty’s top elk calls, and some of his best hunting stories. 
Tags
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, hunting advocacy, elk hunting, conservation, bow hunting, rifle hunting, elk calls, predation

Baker Leavitt

Hunting Gets Political with Baker Leavitt
 
Show Notes:
 
Baker Leavitt is a Broker of Expertise and the Director of Strategic Relations over at Black Rifle Coffee Company. In the 2000s, he made a fortune in real estate, but when the economy crashed, he lost everything. From there, he went to NYU to learn Arabic, and he started the drink company Kill Cliff, which he sold in the late 2010s. He then started up a consulting company called Digital Mongoose, and today he invests with several top companies.
 
We kick off our conversation by discussing a recent incident in Wyoming where someone got fined for torturing a wolf. Most of the hunting community, including Howl for Wildlife, was appalled and it’s our goal to see some better legislation passed. Shockingly, some people are against the person being punished, and we share our thoughts.
 
Baker and I talk about his fishing trips, one of which was with Donald Trump Jr.! Every year, Baker shoots one elk, and he shares his experiences hunting in Utah and Colorado. He lives in Florida, but he also has a farm in Georgia where he hunts whitetail. Baker loves turkey hunting, too. We talk about some of the political stuff Baker’s involved in, and we wrap things up with Baker sharing a story about an elk hunt on horseback in Idaho.
 
What’s Inside:
 
Our thoughts on the recent wolf incident in Wyoming
All about Baker’s background and some of the political stuff he’s into
A story from Baker’s elk hunt on horseback in Idaho
 
Mentioned in this episode
Days In The Wild Podcast
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
Baker Leavitt on LinkedIn
Short Description:
Baker Leavitt is a powerhouse entrepreneur and investor, and he joins me to chat about hunting, politics, and more. We discuss the recent wolf incident in Wyoming and all the places Baker likes to hunt and fish. We also talk about some of the political stuff Baker’s involved in and we wrap things up with Baker sharing a story about an elk hunt on horseback in Idaho.
Tags
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, hunting advocacy, anti-hunting, elk hunting, fishing, politics, hunting legislation

Archery Ops Podcast with Tim Gillingham

Archery Ops Podcast with Tim Gillingham
Show Notes:
 
I recently had the privilege of joining Tim Gillingham on his Archery Ops Podcast. On his show, Tim talks with the top experts in archery and bowhunting about what it takes to shoot better target after target, hunt after hunt, and shot after shot! 
 
Tim and I start off by talking about the history of the Days in The Wild Podcast and how it got to what it is today. We then get into hunting ibex in the Florida mountains of New Mexico, which for many hunters is the toughest hunt out there. It has the highest abandonment rate, and it’s physically brutal, not to mention the constant dodging of poisonous snakes. Tim and I share some stories and compare notes.
 
We also talk about bow hunting and why I’m considering picking up an even lighter bow to better manage in the cold weather. Tim shares some tips on ballistic efficiency and how to choose the right arrows at different site levels. We talk about how to shoot angles and trade some more stories around bow torquing.
 
Tim asks me how I prepare for the hunting season, both mentally and physically. I used to do sports training, and since 1998, I have changed my mentality around hunt-specific training. Tim and I talk about how we like to target practice. We wrap up with our ideas on bow hunting education and how to get more folks involved and on board. 
 
What’s Inside:
 
Ibex hunting in New Mexico
How to choose the right arrow for your hunt
How I prepare for an upcoming hunting season
 
Mentioned in this episode
Days In The Wild Podcast
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
Archery Ops Podcast
Gold Tip on YouTube
 
Short Description:
I recently had the privilege of joining Tim Gillingham on his Archery Ops Podcast. Tim and I get into hunting ibex in the Florida mountains of New Mexico, which for many hunters is the toughest hunt out there. We also talk about bow hunting strategies, how to prepare for an upcoming hunting season, and a little about hunting education and advocacy. 
Tags
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, ibex hunting, elk hunting, bow hunting, archery, arrows, hunting community, hunting advocacy 

Ryan Carter changing techniques

Elk Hunting Update with Ryan Carter
 
Show Notes:
 
Ryan Carter stopped by to chat with me at the recent Hunt Expo. Ryan and I go back a long time, and it’s been a while since we last caught up. Ryan’s an elk outfitter in south Utah and heads up DC outfitters. We kick things off by talking about what’s been going on with Howl, which has been taking off like wildfire. I briefly touch on NGOs and the mistrust that sometimes happens with donations. 
 
Next, we get into elk hunting. The last time we spoke, Ryan talked about how he does things differently when he locates bulls, especially around camera usage. Here, he shares how his techniques have changed and his current go-to plan of action. We also talk about how much confidence comes into play, and Ryan shares a story of how he and a client took down a couple of bulls.
 
I asked Ryan about his bull targeting approach, and he shared all the details. We also talk about client expectations in outfitting versus what’s actually possible, how Ryan keeps track of bulls once the rut starts, and why the amount of effort you put into hunting directly impacts your level of success.
What’s Inside:
 
The importance of confidence in your hunting game
Ryan’s go-to bull targeting techniques
How Ryan tracks bulls once the rut starts
 
Mentioned in this episode
Days In The Wild Podcast
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
Ryan Carter on Instagram
 
Short Description:
 
Ryan Carter is an elk outfitter in south Utah and heads up DC outfitters. It’s been a while since we last caught up and here, we chat about how his techniques have changed since then. We also talk about setting client expectations in outfitting, how Ryan keeps track of bulls once the rut starts, and why the amount of effort you put into hunting directly impacts your level of success.
 
Tags
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, hunting advocacy, elk hunting, rut, bulls

Marc Smith and Jeremy Dugger

Muleys with Marc Smith and Jeremy Dugger
Show Notes:
 
Marc Smith,  and Jeremy Dugger (AKA Muley Mojo) joined me at the Hunt Expo. We enjoyed the show and got to catch up on a bunch of good stuff. Marc moved out into the Four Corners area of New Mexico back in ‘94/’95 for his job, and he met Jeremy, who was working at the local archery shop. They immediately hit it off, and they’ve been a dynamic duo ever since. 
 
Marc and Jeremy share some stories from their hunts, and we kick off with a good one that shows how they split responsibilities between Jeremy’s scouting and game eye and Marc’s magnetic mule deer aura. We talk about whether or not game eye is a God-given gift or if it’s something that can be developed with practice. The guys also share how their seamless teamwork helps them bring down big bucks.
 
Jeremy gives some of his best scouting tips, why he’s a fan of tracking over glassing, and some of the tools he uses to get the job done. We chat about why getting up in scoring takes away from what hunting’s all about, how we feel about having to fill every tag we get, and Jeremy and Marc’s epic “shining beams” story. 
What’s Inside:
 
Stories from Jeremy and Marc’s hunts
Jeremy’s scouting and tracking tips
Perspectives on having to fill every tag you get
 
Mentioned in this episode
Days In The Wild Podcast
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
Marc Smith on Instagram
Jeremy Dugger on Instagram
Short Description:
Marc Smith, the Muley Slayer and Jeremy Dugger (AKA Muley Mojo) joined me at the Hunt Expo. Marc and Jeremy share some stories from their hunts, and Jeremy gives some of his best scouting tips. We chat about why getting up in scoring takes away from what hunting’s all about, how we feel about having to fill every tag we get, and Jeremy and Marc’s epic “shining beams” story. 
Tags
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, hunting advocacy, mule deer, mule deer hunting, bow hunting, tracking, glassing, scouting

Jana Waller and John Bair

Making Strides in Advocacy and Conservation with Jana Waller and John Bair
Show Notes:
 
I got to hang out with the dynamic duo, Jana Waller and John Bair, at the recent Western Hunting & Conservation Expo in Utah. Both of them are power players when it comes to hunting advocacy efforts, and I’m so thankful I got to chat with them. Jana has been in the hunting industry for 14 years but has been a hunter her whole life. She’s got 30+ years of big game hunting experience and started out hunting with her dad in Wisconsin. 
 
John is also known as “John the Auctioneer,” and he’s one of the most successful conservation auctioneers in the nation. He served as Chairman of the Board on the Wildlife Board in Utah and has over two and a half decades of serving and volunteering experience in conservation throughout the state. John’s family has been in the Colorado ranching business for over 100 years, and he grew up an avid predator hunter.
 
John and Jana have done a ton to help us out at Howl for Wildlife, and together, they belong to 15 different conservation organizations. Hunting advocacy doesn’t work unless hunters are active, and here, we talk about some of the current efforts that are making a difference. We also talk about reaching and educating non-hunters, fundraising wins and challenges, and more.
 
What’s Inside:
 
How to get involved in hunting advocacy efforts
Reaching and educating non-hunters
Why it’s important to portray hunting respectfully
 
Mentioned in this episode
Days In The Wild Podcast
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
 
Short Description:
I got to hang out with the dynamic duo, Jana Waller and John Bair, at the recent Western Hunting & Conservation Expo in Utah. Both of them are power players when it comes to hunting advocacy efforts and have done a lot for Howl for Wildlife. Here, we talk about some of the current efforts that are making a difference, reaching and educating non-hunters, fundraising wins and challenges, and more.
Tags
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, hunting advocacy, hunting legislation, education, non-hunters, howl for wildlife, fundraising

Dialed In Hunter, Josh Kirchner Coues , muleys and hunting in general

A Chat with the Dialed In Hunter, Josh Kirchner
Show Notes:
 
Josh Kirchner runs Dialed In Hunter, a blog that not only documents his own journey and growth as a hunter but also provides gear reviews, tips/tactics for western hunting and encourages other hunters to chase and achieve their goals. He’s a passionate bowhunter who has been hunting with his family since he was small. 
 
For the last six years, Josh has been eating, sleeping, and breathing the hunting lifestyle. Josh also does freelance writing for various online editorials and print publications. He provides high quality photos with every article, which have been used by companies like First Lite, Exo Mountain Gear, Katadyn, and Dark Timber Coffee. 
 
Josh shot a pretty good Coues deer recently, and here we recap some highlights from his hunt. I also share my own story about the buck I shot, and we talk about our ideal range to shoot from with a bow. We also talk about how having a family changes the way we hunt, breaking into the hunting industry, and the importance of observation and creating the right opportunities.
What’s Inside:
 
Highlights from Josh’s Coues deer hunt
How family life changes the way we hunt
The importance of observation and creating opportunities
 
Mentioned in this episode
Days In The Wild Podcast
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
Dialed In Hunter Blog
Dialed In Hunter on Instagram
 
Short Description:
Josh Kirchner runs Dialed In Hunter, a blog that not only documents his own journey and growth as a hunter, but provides gear reviews, tips/tactics for western hunting, and encourages other hunters to chase and achieve their goals. Here, recap a Coues deer hunt, talk about how having a family changes the way we hunt, and the importance of observation and creating the right opportunities.
Tags
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, hunting advocacy, dialed in hunter, observation, Coues deer hunting, bow hunting 

Why Hunting Activism Matters with Dan Gates

Why Your Activism Matters with Dan Gates
Show Notes:
 
Dan Gates runs Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management (CRWM) as Executive Director. CRWM was formed back in 2017, and they do a lot of hunting lobbying, advocacy, and education as a 501(c). Their mission is to enhance, promote, and defend the North American model of wildlife conservation and responsible wildlife management. Dan is also the President of the Colorado Trappers and Predator Hunters Association and he’s been working with us on some things for Howl for Wildlife.
 
Dan has intimate knowledge of wildlife issues and believes that if you’re not sitting at the table, you’re on the menu. Politics is part of wildlife conservation, but many hunters just want to hunt and not get involved. There are only a few people in the fight, and we’ve lost a lot of ground due to our current organizations not being organized properly. 
 
Here, Dan and I talk about how CRWM is working to make significant changes and cast a wider net. There’s a big disconnect in the hunting community when things come up that seemingly don’t impact them directly. Dan shares his thoughts on how we can get people to connect the dots. We also discuss what Dan’s doing to make key changes in the legislature, how the anti-hunting world tries to push their agenda, and more.
 
What’s Inside:
 
Why you need to get involved in hunting and conservation activism
How Dan’s making key changes in legislature
Why community education on conservation issues is critical
 
Mentioned in this episode
Days In The Wild Podcast
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
Save the Hunt Colorado
 
Short Description:
Dan Gates runs Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management (CRWM) as Executive Director. Here, Dan and I talk about how CRWM is working to make significant changes and cast a wider net in the advocacy world. We also discuss what Dan’s doing to make key changes in the legislature, how the anti-hunting world tries to push their agenda, and more.
Tags
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, hunting advocacy, save the hunt Colorado, conservation, hunting legislation, CRWM