The lower 48's grizzly bear population is expanding, something that Jaden Bales of Wyoming is well aware of. As an avid hunter, Jaden knows the risks and is here to share some tips to keep you safe in bear county. He's also the Communications Director for Wyoming Wildlife Federation, where his job is to bridge the knowledge gap between scientists and the public so that Wyoming residents can be informed wildlife advocates. In this episode, we discuss issues that are negatively impacting wildlife, such as vehicle collisions and chronic wasting disease. And with that, Jaden shares some possible solutions as well as what you can do to help. 

Jaden Bales on Instagram

Wyoming Wildlife Federation
Website
Instagram 

A life in rural Alaska is a totally foreign concept to most people. Unless you’ve experienced it, you have no clue what it takes. Patrick Lumba is one of the few who’s lived in the Alaskan bush. Though he currently lives in Wassila, Alaska, Patrick spent 9 years in the little town of Galena. With no roads in or out, and a population of 470, Galena is truly remote. In this episode, Patrick describes the seasonality and subsistence hunting rural Alaskans experience in a year. We also get into a fascinating hunting regulation that I’ve never heard of in my life, trophy destruction. 

I've gotten a lot of questions lately from folks who want to hunt spring bear, but don't know where to start. Something that catches new bear hunters off guard, is the fact that, in some states, you need to be applying for spring hunts right now. So, I decided to sit down and give you a step-by-step guide to western spring bear hunting. I’ll walk you through why to hunt, how to apply, and where to go. Then we’ll cover the hunt itself with tips on targeting boars vs sows, what gear to bring, and my favorite hunting method, the spot and stalk. Hunting spring bear is a hell of a good time, and I encourage folks to get out there this upcoming season.

Shoot me your questions on Instagram, or by leaving a review on apple podcasts. 

In my home county, at the head of Wallowa Lake, sits a local heirloom, the Wallowa Lake Lodge. Built in 1923 from trees cut and milled on site, the lodge has seen nearly 100 years of visitors and locals alike enjoying the property, as the world changed around it. In this episode, the lodge's General Manager, Madeline Lau, sat down with me to share some fascinating history, from reintroducing elk via trains and skis, to the story of Taft and Tarzan, two of the largest elk the state has likely ever seen.

Check out the Wallowa Lake Lodge:
Website
Instagram

Kevin Plew has been fascinated with hunting his entire life, working as a hunting guide since the age of 14.  Elk is his passion, but he also guides for mule deer, white-tail, and buffalo. On a very recent hunt, Kevin found himself alone, face to face with an aggressive 225-pound black bear. His story is incredible, and further illustrates the need to carry a pistol while in the woods.

And to kick off this episode, we've got a special deer hunting story from 9-year-old Capen, the 6 Ranch Podcast's biggest fan. Capen loves to hunt and particularly loves the bear stories that have been told on this show.

Kevin on Instagram 

Cougars are one of the most divisive animals in the state. Hunting cougar with dogs has been illegal in Oregon since 1994, which creates strong opinions on both sides of the issue. And with incredibly low success rates, cougar hunting in Oregon is one of the toughest hunts in the nation. In today's episode, I'm joined by cougar expert, Derek Broman, for a deep dive on Oregon cougars. Derek is the Carnivore Fur Bearer Coordinator for Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, where he manages the bear, cougar, wolf, and fur bearer programs. We'll cover cougar biology and physiology, Oregon's cougar history, how the species has been managed, and how these powerful and elusive cats interact with other species on the landscape.

Nils Christoffersen comes from a long line of connection to land and natural resources. His family has operated the same farm in Norway for 22 generations. That's 600 years, folks, and it's still going strong. Nils' passion for working landscapes and the role of rural communities in their stewardship, has taken him around the globe. He's worked in ranching in Australia, farming in Israel, fishing and forestry in Norway, and forestry and wildlife in southern Africa. Nils is currently the Executive Director of Wallowa Resources, a non-profit that has played a large role in shaping my community by promoting education, healthy lands, and a strong rural economy. In this episode, Nils and I discuss some tough problems to solve, from our need for diverse crop production to the challenges in coexisting with wildlife.

Check out Nils' work with Wallowa Resources

Contact Nils on LinkedIn

On February 5th, 2021, Greg Jones was tagging wolves from a helicopter when the worst happened. The helicopter crashed, injuring those inside, but miraculously, both Greg and the pilot survived. Even more incredibly, another pilot saw what happened and was able to call 911 just 30 seconds after they hit the ground. But according to Greg, the aftermath was far worse than the crash itself. This near-death experience, and the knowledge that your story can end in an instant encouraged Greg to record these memories of what happened for his family and grandkids. It’s an incredible story that will stay with you long after hearing it. 

It's that time of year again. The weather is getting cooler, and folks are heading out into the backcountry, sometimes solo, to hunt. With colder weather comes far deadlier consequences if you're caught unprepared. That's why I wanted to take an episode to share my solo, backcountry gear list, from my weapon and ammo choices to my clothes and camp setup. I've been hunting my entire life and have spent years figuring out what gear works best for me. I'll tell you exactly what I use, why I use it, and how much each item costs. And stick around to the end of the episode to learn about a special opportunity to get your hands on a SIG SAUER Cross Rifle.

My cousin, Mona Mathews, is a canyon kid. She grew up in cow camps and weigh stations, navigating crazy steep country and checking for rattlesnakes on the playground of her school of less than 20 kids. Growing up in a rugged, sparsely populated community shaped Mona, teaching her self-reliance.  And it's that self-reliance and curiosity that has led her to travel the world, learning jiu-jitsu along the way. Mona now lives in Portland, Oregon, working as a holistic life coach, a mind-body practitioner, and a massage therapist for pain relief and injury prevention. During a visit to home, Mona and I discuss her unique childhood, and all the adventures she's had since leaving the canyon.

Book Mona and learn about her Women's Health Program