6 Ranch Podcast

This week, with help from my friend and fellow hunter, Erica Gilliland, we answer listener questions about all things hunting. We discuss thermals, optics, what we keep in our hunting packs, what is the most cost effective rifle, how to avoid bears, the best method for calling elk, and our opinions on urine. 

Good leadership, especially on a backcountry expedition, is often overlooked and understated. But having strong leadership can be the difference between failure and success on your next outdoor adventure. My guest this week is leadership expert Gary Thompson. Gary has been teaching leadership principles for NOLS and the University of Idaho for the past 20 years. He helped develop the McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS), has instructed leadership expeditions in the Yukon and Patagonia, is a river and ski guide, and owns his own leadership consulting firm Redfish | Bluefish. Gary and I discuss what it takes to be a good leader and how active followership can make or break your next expedition. 

I need your help sharing this episode. I recently and briefly met a gentleman who was among the first Navy SEALs who was struggling to catch kokanee, and didn't get his name. I recorded this episode solo explaining in depth how to catch kokanee so he could have a resource to refer to in order to improve his experience on the water. Hopefully this reaches him, and is helpful to you. I hope you will share this episode to improve the odds of it reaching this war hero, and thank you for your help.

John Hollister is the foremost expert on designing and explaining silencers after a 35 year career with them. There is no part of a firearm that is more often misunderstood than the humble and baffled can. From the history of the man who invented them to the the wild laws and regulations surrounding their use-- we get into it all. And then we explain how to get one for yourself. Learn more at https://www.sigsauer.com/products/suppressors/

You'll know you have tied into a truly big fish if you start talking to yourself part way through the fight. If you want that fish to be a trout on a fly, you need to turn your eye towards still water. Trout in lakes outgrow trout in rivers for two reasons: firstly they don't have to work as hard as trout in rivers who have to maintain their position in the current. Secondly, they have more food available. This episode is about the food they eat and the flies, lines and techniques you can employ to bring one of these fish to hand. My guest is Kyle Bratcher of Sickfoot Flies. Enjoy the show.

Impacting the lauded 1,000 yard target with modern and ancient firearms, whether to shoot an elk that's already been hit, and how to know the difference between your capabilities on the range and in the field with my friends Cody Rich and Ben Guttormson. I encourage you to check out Cody's podcast The Rich Outdoors as well as https://backcountryfuelbox.com/ for all your snacking needs. Enjoy the show!

This week, I sit down with Oregon State Representative, Mark Owens, and Wallowa County Commissioner, and my father, Todd Nash. We discuss agriculture, rural values, land and resource management, and leadership. I respect these men a great deal and appreciate their attitudes and dedication to public service. 

On this week's installment of Fishcast Friday, we dive into the life history of the stonefly, an insect that every good fly fisherman should know and love. I'm joined by Kyle Bratcher of Sickfoot Flies and Paul Pagano of Flyside Angling to discuss fly fishing and tying tactics that will help you the next time you're stalking trout during stonefly season. This episode was recorded on the lake while kokanee fishing with my two good buddies, so inevitably, shenanigans ensued. 

Have you ever spent a fortune on dehydrated food for your back country trips? Or wanted to become healthier but can't find the time? My guest this week, Kristin Retterath, will show you that gardening, hunting, and preparing your own meals can be simple and rewarding. Through her blog, Gathering Health, Kristin shares her expertise on preparing unprocessed healthy meals, both fresh and dehydrated using wild game and vegetables from her garden. You can find Kristin’s recipes, health tips, and stories of her outdoor adventures at https://blog.gatheringhealth.com/

Welcome to Fishcast Friday. The second bug fly fishermen need to know about is the caddis. Their life cycle differs greatly from mayflies and stoneflies and their behavior makes them especially important to new anglers. Kyle Bratcher of Sickfoot Flies joins to help us get to the gritty details of this impressive insect.