6 Ranch Podcast

It's tough being a salmon. Very few fish survive to spawn, as they face seemingly insurmountable obstacles on their journey to the ocean and back. Obstacles that are naturally occurring, like predation, but many more that are human caused. From my home on the 6 Ranch, a juvenile salmon has to make it through 8 major dams before reaching the ocean, losing many siblings along the way. These fish are unbelievably tough, but their natural resiliency won't be enough to save them from extinction unless we act now. My guests today, John Appleton, owner of Alpine Archery and Fly, and Kyle Smith, Snake River Director for American Rivers, are part of a cause to remove 4 of the lower Snake River Dams. We discuss the feasibility of this idea, and just what it would take to make it happen. Whether or not you care about Columbia Basin salmon and steelhead, you'll be surprised by just how big of an impact these fish have on a global scale. 

Learn More About the Cause
Watch The Lost Salmon
American Rivers
Trout Unlimited

Send Your Questions
Congressman Cliff Bentz
Kyle Smith - [email protected]
John Appleton - [email protected]

When he was just seventeen, José Correa left his home in Mexico, and everything he'd ever known to come to the United States. He walked for ten straight days through the desert, with no food or water for the last three. I have to wonder, what situation could be so bad to make someone risk death just to come to America? In this episode, José shares the story of why he had to leave home, his love for this country, and how he learned to hunt just 10 years ago. Now a green card holder, he wants to become a U.S. citizen so that he can vote to protect gun and hunting rights. José might not have come to this country legally, but he deserves to be here. He's an incredibly hard worker and a good person who found a love for hunting and a better life here in the United States. 

This week's episode is a bit different than what you're used to. Instead of me asking all the questions, I'm going to be the one on the spot. My good friend and frequent guest on the show, Greg Jones, interviewed me in his stone house, armed with listener questions. This episode is less about giving advice, and more about just getting to know me. We discuss my love for my home, the 6 Ranch, my service as a Marine, my experiences guiding and hunting, and my current hunting obsession.

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6 Ranch Outfitters
6 Ranch Podcast 

I spent my summers during college fighting forest fires on a rappel crew. It was some of the toughest, most physically demanding work I've ever experienced, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for my fellow wildland firefighters. And as a rappeller, I also have a healthy rivalry with smokejumpers. My guest today, Ken Poole, was a smokejumper from 1977 to 1983. Over the course of his career, he made at least 117 fire jumps out of some of the best bases in the country. Fighting fire is a fun job, but it can also be incredibly dangerous. In this episode, Ken and I swap some of our craziest stories of jumping out of planes, landing in trees, carrying 150 pound packs, and fighting fire with the best of them. 

When it comes to archery lethality and shot placement, there are tons of common misconceptions out there. Here to bust some of those myths is the incredibly knowledgeable  Dr. Randy Greenshields. Randy has been a practicing veterinarian for the past 29 years and has been bow hunting for just as long. With his extensive knowledge of animal anatomy and personal archery experience, Randy is the perfect person to explain just what an arrow is doing when it hits an animal, and where exactly you should be placing that shot. I also have Randy go through my first aid kit while sharing tips on how to treat horses, mules, and dogs in the backcountry.

Randy on Instagram

Double Arrow Vet Clinic 

Spearfishing is my favorite thing that I'm bad at. I'm absolutely fascinated by it, and how similar it is to bow hunting. Today, we've got a double header for you, two interviews with two different spearfishing experts, Steph Schuldt and Kiley Umeda. Steph gave up the corporate life, sold all her belongings, bought a sailing catamaran, and now lives in the Bahamas where she's in the water at least 5 days a week. Steph is a freediving and spearfishing instructor, and happens to hold 7 world spearfishing records, including the all-time (for men and women) pole spear wahoo record. Kiley Umeda lives in Hawaii where she's been spearfishing for 23 years, and hunting since she was 10. Kiley is the owner of Aimrite International, a world renowned speargun manufacturing company, and spends much of her time building high quality spearguns. Spearfishing might be a totally foreign sport to some listeners out there, but trust me, you're going to want to try it after hearing from these badass women.

Steph Schuldt
Instagram
Website
YouTube
Watch Steph catch a world record wahoo

Kiley Umeda
Kiley's Instagram
Aimrite's Webite
Aimrite's Instagram 

It's a new year, which means states are rolling out new hunting regulations. Keeping up to date in your own state is enough of a challenge without also trying for nonresident tags. Luckily, you don't have to navigate the system alone. My guest today, Jared Brown of The Draw, consults with hunters to maximize their opportunities nationwide. Jared himself is an avid hunter and outdoorsman with a passion for long range rifle hunting, archery, and waterfowl. In this episode, we discuss new state regulations, where you should be going after spring bear, and what states you should be building vs burning points. 

The Draw
Website
Instagram
Phone: 575-222-1234

Most hunting stories you hear pick up just when things are going well. Even if there was struggle along the way, it always seems to work out in the end. But as hunters, we know that's often not the case, and things don't always go according to plan. In this episode, Casey Richmond, and I swap some of our unsuccessful hunting stories. Casey hunts, traps, and works for Eberlestock, a company that makes some of my favorite frame packs. Casey also shares some tips that will save your back on your next pack out. 

Casey on Instagram

Eberlestock
Website
Instagram
YouTube

If you want to be a more effective hunter, you need to up your glassing game. My guest today, Cliff Gray, is just the person to aid in any hunter's goals for improvement. Cliff has founded and operated some of largest and most remote wilderness outfitting businesses in North America and has personally guided for years. Recently, Cliff sold all his operating outfitting businesses and is now focused on sharing his knowledge with others through his YouTube channel and newsletter. I love Cliff's teaching style and have personally learned a ton from him. I know that if you take his glassing tips to heart, you'll quickly become a phenomenal hunter.
 
Cliff Gray
Website
YouTube
Instagram

Britt Marshall was a SoCal girl from Orange County. She had nothing against hunting growing up, but it wasn’t something her family ever did. Never in a million years did she think she would live a life filled with hunting trips and family meat processing nights. But then she met my good buddy Bam at a stoplight and the rest is history. Britt is married to a hunter, is now a hunter herself, and is raising two daughters to hunt with respect and mindfulness. Her tips to the wives out there: you don’t have to pull the trigger yourself but try to be a part of the process. Learn how to make bone broth and use tallow to fix everything. 

Britt on Instagram

Wishes for Warriors