6 Ranch Podcast

Heston Russell and I served together on a difficult mission in Afghanistan.  I was a tank platoon commander and he was the commander of an Aussie commando platoon. We didn't know that fact until I asked him to be a guest on this podcast. Heston retired as a Major after 16 years in the military and over 100 combat missions serving within Aussie Special Forces. He's a fierce advocate for veterans, and finding better pathways from service to everyday life. Heston founded Voice of a Veteran (now Veteran Support Force) after his own experiences leaving the military and struggling through life after service. Years after our mission, I'm grateful to be able to connect with Heston and have this important and healing conversation, because these are the types of conversations we need to be having.

Heston Russell on Instagram

Hestonrussell.com

Veterans Support Force
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Listen to Heston Russell's Podcast

Letter to the ABC

I've spent a fair amount of time on this show talking about archery elk hunting. But now it's rifle season, and I want you to be successful this year, however you define it. Rifle elk hunting is an entirely different beast than archery. As we roll into Oregon's second rifle season, Chad Dotson and I are preparing to take a client out to hunt branch bulls. Chad is a biologist and wildlife manager who studies elk on the Zumwalt Prairie. He's guided elk hunts for the past 8 years and knows this country, and these animals like the back of his hand. In this episode we discuss the steps every hunter should take to prepare for a rifle elk hunt, from testing your weapon to actually finding bulls once you're out there.

Chad on Instagram 

Eli Crane is a leader. He doesn't follow the status quo, he leads with heart and integrity. He's a combat vet who served five war time deployments with SEAL Team 3. After his military service, Eli started a company, Bottle Breacher, selling hand crafted 50 caliber bottle openers made by active duty service members and veterans. Now Eli is running for congress in Arizona's House District 1. Eli isn't naive. He knows that effecting change in this country will be challenging. And he knows that being a congressman will be tough on him and his family. Eli chooses to lead because he understands that it's not about him. And that sort of unselfish viewpoint and sacrifice is exactly who we need to lead us. 

Eli Crane for Congress

Eli on Instagram

Bottle Breacher

Bottle Breacher on Instagram 

Adam Bagerski has hiked 10,000 miles and lived for over a year in the wilderness. He's a thru-hiker who has completed the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Appalachian Trail, with more long hikes on his bucket list. These trails take months to complete and the people who do them often find a real sense of community with their fellow hikers. Adam and I discuss what it's like to walk across the country, both from a physical and mental perspective. We cover the gear he loves and the gear he got rid of, as well as tips for cutting weight. If you've ever wanted to do something big or meaningful, I hope this episode is the push you need.

Ask Adam your hiking questions at [email protected]

And check out my favorite new product, the Stanley Titanium Travel Mug. Use discount code 6ranch for 25% off anything you purchase from Stanley1913.com

After my moose hunt in Alaska, I went back and checked my Fitbit. When I took the shot, my heart rate was in the 160s. I felt perfectly calm in that moment, but I also know that once my heart rate gets above 130, I will skip portions of my process unless I take a mental pause. My guest today, Ryan Maid, is a psychologist and expert on stress and performance in high stress environments. I met Ryan after I was wounded in Afghanistan while he was serving as a Navy Psychologist for the Sixth Marine Regiment. Later, Ryan moved on to be the Command Psychologist for Naval Special Warfare Training Command. After retiring from the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander, he became a sports psychologist for the Atlanta Braves and now the Kansas City Royals. In this episode, Ryan and I discuss the ins and outs of stress. What is is chemically happening in your body when you experience stress, and how can you overcome that stress to achieve peak performance? 

Ryan's Book Recommendations

• Nerve: Poise Under Pressure, Serenity Under Stress, and the Brave New Science of Fear and Cool by Taylor Clark
• The Psychology of Enhancing Human Performance: The Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment Approach by Moore and Gardner

Dennis Sheehy is a Wallowa County cowboy, rancher, veteran, and scientist. He holds no less than two bachelors degrees, a masters degree, and a PhD, and has studied rangeland and large herbivore ecology in regards to ungulates in the county since the 80s. As both a rancher and ecologist, Dennis has a unique and incredibly valuable insight into issues that plague natural resource managers and cattle ranchers alike. This week, we discuss the balancing act of maintaining a healthy population of elk while minimizing the damage they cause to farmers and private land owners. 

My Grandma, Janie Tippett, has 88 years of wisdom and experience under her belt. All her life she's lived off the land by ranching, hunting and gardening. Before I could even walk, she was taking me outside, teaching me to run a trap line, hunt, and fish. She raised 4 children, has 19 grandchildren, and over 40 great grandkids. My grandma is also a talented writer, with a published book and a newspaper column that she contributed to for 31 years, chronicling the lives of cattle ranchers and hay farmers in rural NE Oregon. This woman has stories. Stories of her childhood in the 30s and 40s, stories of month-long backcountry pack trips with 4 little kids, and stories of hunting and cooking real food all her life. It's important to listen to these stories, and I'm glad I could sit down with my Grandma Janie and record a few. 


Order Janie's Book - Four Lines a Day - The Life and Times of an Imnaha Ranch Woman

Pre-order Janie's Journal
Volume 1: 1984-1987
Volume 2: 1988-1991
Volume 3: 1992-1996
Volume 4: 1997-2004
Volume 5: 2005-2009
Volume 6: 2010-2015

Hunting in Alaska is an adventure. The country is spectacularly rugged and remote, the animals are huge and often dangerous, and the weather alone can ground you for days. My Alaskan moose hunt was definitely an adventure, and I was able to share it with my talented guide, Cole Kramer and incredibly hard working packer, Luke Gerig. Both Cole and Luke grew up in flatter parts of the lower 48, but shared a desire from an early age to become an Alaskan Guide. Cole first came up to Alaska in 2002 and became a fully registered guide in 2006 with his business Kramer's Kodiak Guide Service. Luke is just starting out in his career as a packer, the first step to becoming a guide, and with his talent and work ethic, I expect he'll do great things. We sat down after a successful hunt and discussed what it really takes to be a guide in Alaska. Guiding in this country is no easy task. The knowledge and skills that you need are extensive, but not unattainable with some determination. According to these guys, no matter what age you are, if you’ve ever wanted to live this life, just go for it.

On Instagram
Cole Kramer
Luke Gerig

Book a Hunt with Cole

This is it folk. The peak of the rut and the most exciting week of elk hunting. Cows are going into estrus, bulls are bugling like crazy, and it's make it or break it time. With all that calling activity, how can you distinguish yourself from other satellite bulls? Michael Batease, founder of Elk Calling Academy is here to help you get it done. Michael has been archery hunting since he was 15 and has worked in the hunting industry for the past 20 years. He founded Elk Calling Academy to help people shorten that calling and hunting learning curve. A membership with Elk Calling Academy is more than just calling lessons. Michael will walk you through every step of the archery process so that you can find success next season. There's a lot more to calling than just repeating what you hear. Michael's incredible understanding of the meaning of these calls and how to use them is something that everyone could benefit from learning.  

Join the Elk Calling Academy

Elk Calling Academy on
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The best hunting week of the entire year has finally arrived. I am most confident in my abilities to harvest an elk from September 13th to the 20th, just as the rut's about to hit its peak. And what better person to share some elk hunting tips and strategies, than 10-Time World Champion Elk Caller, Corey Jacobsen. Corey created, and is a pro staff member at Elk 101, and has become one of the most sought-after resources on elk calling and hunting in the nation. With over 30 years of experience, Corey's advice on minimizing scent, where and when to hunt, and his extensive knowledge on elk behavior are invaluable. You can't afford to miss this one folks.

Elk101.com

Elk 101 on Youtube
Instagram
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And check out Corey's University of Elk Hunting Online Course
As a professional hunter who specializes in elk, I have taken this course 3 times and can't recommend it enough. Seriously.