In this episode, Ryan sits down with elk addict and Florida resident Scott Dunton to explore what it takes to build a western hunting lifestyle while living at sea level, working a demanding medical career, and managing type 1 diabetes. Scott opens with the contrast of his South Florida routine hunting invasive iguanas with a blowgun in his neighborhood before shifting into his annual migrations west to Montana and Wyoming. He recounts a brutal archery hunt in Montana’s Crazy Mountains, where he tagged a 6x6 bull on day one and immediately stepped into one of the hardest pack-outs of his life. From there, he and his buddy moved into Wyoming’s Bighorns on a rare once-in-two-decades tag, chasing a 360–370 class bull above timberline through miles of rugged country.

But the hunt took a shocking turn when their camp was raided in the middle of the night bows sabotaged, gear stolen, and their sense of safety shattered. Scott shares the psychological toll of knowing people, not predators, had been just feet from their tents, and how anti-hunter hostility has changed the way he thinks about backcountry safety. Still, the trip wasn’t lost; help from the folks at Paint Rock Lodge turned a nightmare into new friendships. The conversation closes with Scott’s gratitude for his father’s mentorship, why sharing meat matters more than antlers, stories from his spot-and-stalk bear and pig hunts, taking his 12-year-old daughter on her first whitetail hunt, and his best advice for newer hunters still trying to notch their first tag.

Key Takeaways

• Invasive species offer real hunting opportunities: Florida’s iguanas give Scott a year-round “mini-hunt” lifestyle and keep his skills sharp.
• The Crazy Mountains are unforgiving: Montana tested him with brutal terrain, deadfall, and a punishing pack-out after tagging his bull.
• Camp theft & anti-hunters are a real concern: Having bows cut and gear stolen in Wyoming did more psychological damage than physical—reminding hunters to stay vigilant.
• Hunting with health challenges is possible: As a type 1 diabetic, Scott proves that preparation and discipline can overcome serious obstacles in the backcountry.
• Mentorship accelerates success: His father’s guidance—slow down, glass more, read sign—has shaped almost every win in his elk-hunting journey.
• The real trophy is sharing meat: Giving elk steaks and jerky to friends and coworkers is one of Scott’s favorite parts of the hunt.
• Go “one more ridge”: When you’re ready to turn back, push farther. Most hunters won’t—and that’s why you’ll find elk.

Follow Scott Dunton: Instagram

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