Boone and Crockett's Heritage Of The Hunt Podcast

A raw, unfiltered look at bear hunting that challenges everything you thought you knew.

What drives a hunter to pursue one of North America’s most powerful predators? This conversation digs into the emotional, philosophical, and deeply personal realities behind bear hunting, moving far beyond surface-level debates around conservation or sustenance.

Filmmaker and lifelong hunter Jack Evans and his father Mike, chair of the Boone and Crockett Club’s communications committee, share the story behind The Bear Hunter, a documentary born from years of backcountry hunting, global journalism, and time spent immersed in wild ecosystems from the Yukon to Africa. What unfolds is an honest exploration of the tension every hunter feels—the balance between reverence for wildlife and the act of taking a life.

You’ll hear how Fair Chase ethics, wildlife conservation, and personal responsibility intersect in the field, especially during high-stakes pursuits like grizzly bear hunting. The discussion also pulls back the curtain on the spiritual side of hunting—those quiet, often unspoken moments that shape a hunter’s values far more than the harvest itself.

This isn’t about justifying hunting. It’s about confronting the hardest questions head-on. What makes a hunt ethical? Why pursue animals we don’t need to survive? And how can storytelling through film reshape how non-hunters view the role of hunters in conservation?

For hunters, anglers, and anyone who values wild places, this is a rare look into the mindset that defines a life spent outdoors.

Follow the show for more weekly hunting and conservation conversations.

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New hunters find confidence, purpose, and connection through hands-on wild game and field experience.

A new generation of hunters is being shaped in the field, not just the classroom. At the University of Montana’s Wild Sustenance course, students step into hunting culture through hands-on experience that blends conservation, ethics, and real-world skill building.

From firearm safety and time on the rifle range to field dressing and wild game processing, this conversation digs into what it actually takes to move from curious outsider to confident participant. You’ll hear how first-time hunters navigate common barriers like access, gear, and mentorship, and why structured education can accelerate that learning curve.

There’s a strong focus on practical takeaways. Listeners will pick up insights on choosing versatile calibers like the .30-06 for big game hunting, understanding the realities of Western hunting versus Midwest whitetail traditions, and building confidence behind the trigger. The discussion also explores the deeper motivations behind hunting, from sourcing your own meat to rejecting industrial food systems in favor of wild game.

Equally important is the cultural side. Community, shared meals, and respect for the animal all come through as central themes. Whether it’s elk burger, bone broth, or tacos made from a successful harvest, food becomes the bridge that connects conservation to everyday life.

This is a grounded look at how hunting skills are taught, learned, and passed on.

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From first rifle shots to butchering elk quarters, new hunters learn the realities of wild food.

For many aspiring hunters, the hardest part isn’t pulling the trigger. It’s knowing where to start.

At the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch in Montana, a group of University of Montana students stepped into the world of hunting through the Wild Sustenance field course, a hands-on weekend built around the fundamentals of ethical hunting, wild game processing, and conservation science. By the end of the course, students who had never hunted before were learning to field dress elk and whitetail deer, practicing archery and rifle shooting, and cooking fresh venison straight from the grill.

This conversation digs into what that experience actually looks like. Graduate student Dylan White shares what it’s like entering the hunting world with zero background, and why programs like this matter for recruiting the next generation of hunters. Wildlife researcher Chris Hanson explains how long-term trail camera research reveals migration patterns, habitat use, and the daily movement of animals like elk, mule deer, and whitetails across Montana’s landscapes.

Along the way the discussion moves through the deeper questions behind modern hunting. Fair chase ethics, wildlife management, and the role science plays in conservation all come into focus. From bear safety and firearm training to packing out meat and understanding complex hunting regulations, the Wild Sustenance course offers a full field-to-table introduction to hunting in the American West.

For newcomers and seasoned hunters alike, it’s a reminder that hunting is about far more than tags and trophies. It’s about learning the land, understanding wildlife, and earning your place in the tradition.

Follow the show for more weekly hunting, fishing, and conservation conversations.

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From duck blinds to boardrooms, a lifelong hunter shapes the future of conservation.

Mary Webster’s path into hunting and conservation started the way it does for many upland and waterfowl hunters, in a family rooted in the outdoors. Growing up in Minnesota around bird hunting, duck camps, and working dogs, she developed an early appreciation for wildlife that would eventually evolve into a career at the intersection of conservation policy, environmental law, and sustainable resource use.

That foundation carried west, where time spent hiking, fishing, and studying wildlife in Colorado sharpened her understanding of how landscapes, wildlife biology, and human use all collide. Her work as an environmental attorney and oil and gas commissioner brought real-world experience in balancing development, habitat conservation, and long-term ecosystem health.

Now serving as the first female president of the Boone and Crockett Club, Webster offers a clear-eyed perspective on the future of hunting. She breaks down the critical difference between conservation and preservation, explains why fair chase ethics remain central to modern hunting, and outlines how policy, science, and hunter education must work together to protect wildlife.

Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of wildlife conservation policy, the North American Model, and how today’s hunters play a role in shaping the future of big game hunting, habitat management, and ethical outdoor traditions.

Follow the show for more weekly hunting and conservation conversations.

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Seven women stepped beyond comfort zones to claim confidence in Montana’s backcountry.

At the foot of the Rocky Mountain Front, the first Boone and Crockett Club Outdoors Women Skills Retreat brought together a small group ready to work. Over three days at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch, participants tackled hands-on outdoor education built for real-world confidence.

They split firewood, built backcountry fires, and talked campsite setup and bear safety, including an inert bear spray demonstration. Fly tying sessions covered matching the hatch, fish identification, and macroinvertebrates critical to successful fly fishing in Montana rivers. When wind kept rods off the water, the learning continued indoors with practical trout ID and fisheries conversation.

On the range, women with little to no experience gained confidence through structured firearm safety, .22 rifle fundamentals, and 9mm pistol shooting. Conversations around women’s shooting groups, range etiquette, and choosing the right firearm made the instruction practical and accessible. Archery basics, power tool demonstrations, and even sunrise hikes and yoga rounded out a weekend focused on building independent outdoor skills.

What emerged was more than instruction. It was mentorship, camaraderie, and proof that hunting, shooting sports, and backcountry skills are learned by doing. For women curious about elk camps, waterfowl blinds, or simply handling tools with confidence, this conversation lays out the pathway: show up, try, learn, repeat.

Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations.

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Two recent announcements from B&C’s Records Program are big news for the Club’s big game conservation data.

A set of antlers hanging in the barn or a weathered skull passed down through generations carries more meaning than most hunters realize. Measured and recorded, those animals become part of a data set that has quietly shaped North American big game management for decades. This conversation digs into why the Boone and Crockett Club’s records program matters to hunters, wildlife biologists, and the future of wild, free-ranging big game.

With entry processing fees temporarily waived, thanks to the generosity of a conservation benefactor and B&C Lifetime Associate member, a long-standing barrier has been removed, opening the door for more hunters to contribute to a database now exceeding 64,000 entries. Those measurements from elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, bison, moose, pronghorn, bears, and more help researchers evaluate habitat quality, population trends, and long-term conservation outcomes across the continent. More entries mean better science and clearer insight into what healthy wildlife management really looks like.

The discussion also reinforces why Boone and Crockett draws a firm line around wild, free-ranging animals and fair chase hunting. Records are not about manufactured size or controlled environments. They reflect good genetics, habitat, management, and the skill it takes to hunt mature animals that have survived predators, winters, and pressure in the wild over many years. That standard protects the integrity of the data and the hunting heritage behind it.

For hunters who care about conservation, legacy, and the truth of native, free-ranging wildlife on the land, this is a reminder to take advantage of the waiver of the processing fee and get your animals scored.

Follow the show for more weekly hunting and conservation conversations.

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A legendary conservationist reveals the behind-the-scenes battles that protected America’s wildlife heritage.

In his last interview before passing away at the age of 85 on November 21, Lowell provides a perspective on the past that can provide guidance to face the conservation challenges ahead. Raised on an Indiana farm with a life built around hunting, fishing, and the outdoors, Baier shares how early experiences, from waterfowl hunting blinds to becoming a congressional page, set the foundation for a remarkable career.

Listeners will hear the untold story behind Baier’s fight to save the National Collection of Heads and Horns, including the near loss of the world-famous Chadwick Ram. It’s an insider account of wildlife history that every hunter should know, offering a clearer understanding of how today’s big-game conservation landscape came to be.

Baier also breaks down the messy, often misunderstood evolution of conservation policy in Washington, from the rise of sportsmen’s organizations in the 1960s to the modern debates shaping the Endangered Species Act, private lands habitat work, and the challenges facing species recovery today. Whether you care about elk conservation, sheep management, or the future of American wildlife, this episode delivers invaluable context straight from someone who helped shape the system.

Finally, Baier previews his forthcoming books exploring biodiversity, climate impacts on wildlife, and the tough truths surrounding agribusiness and habitat loss. issues every outdoorsman should understand as we look ahead.

Follow the show for more weekly hunting and conservation conversations.

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Discover how a world record mountain goat hunt reshaped Justin Kallusky’s life, faith, and conservation journey.

In this episode of Boone And Crockett’s Heritage Of The Hunt, world record mountain goat hunter Justin Kallusky shares the story of a once-in-a-lifetime hunt that went far beyond the score sheet. From the rugged preparation leading up to the hunt, to moments of deep clarity on the mountain, Justin reflects on how hunting has transformed his life both spiritually and emotionally.

He dives into the personal challenges of mountain hunting, the healing power of the outdoors, and why conservation remains central to his story. Listeners will hear how a single hunt sparked poetry, renewal, and a profound connection to nature—reminding us that hunting and fishing are about much more than the harvest.

If you’re passionate about big game hunting, mountain adventures, wildlife conservation, and the spiritual side of the outdoors, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Key Takeaways:

This episode is a must-listen for hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts who care about preserving America’s rich outdoor traditions.

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A rugged week on the Rocky Mountain Front challenges new interns and inspires the next generation outdoors.

Week one of Outdoor Adventure Camp is in the books, and the crew at the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch has stories worth telling. In this episode, Luke Coccoli sits down with summer interns Kyler Rominger and Anna Davis, the conservation interns working at the Rasmuson Wildlife Conservation Center and Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch, alongside conservation programs manager Madison Todd, to unpack a whirlwind start to the season. From teaching kids how to fly fish to hiking the rugged edges of the Rocky Mountain Front, this insider conversation brings listeners into the heart of hands-on conservation work.

You’ll hear how these interns—one from Michigan, one from Arizona—are learning the rhythms of ranch life, sharpening their outdoor education skills, and picking up practical backcountry know-how. They share early lessons from working with youth in the field, from introducing campers to shooting sports and fly fishing to navigating Montana’s unpredictable weather. Along the way, the team talks about wildlife conservation, ethical hunting foundations, habitat awareness, and the importance of giving kids real outdoor experiences far from screens.

Listeners will gain a deeper appreciation for what place-based conservation looks like on working landscapes, how young professionals develop their skills in real time, and why Montana’s unique mix of mountains, prairie, wildlife, and wind leaves a lasting mark on anyone who steps into it.

Follow the show for more weekly hunting, fishing, and outdoor conservation conversations.

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Go behind the score sheets with Boone and Crockett’s official measurers and discover how data - and your grassroots membership - drives conservation.

What really happens when a Boone and Crockett official measurer scores your deer, elk, or sheep? In this episode of Heritage of the Hunt, host Jodi Stemler sits down with three seasoned measurers Jayson Arnold, Brett Ross, and Bucky Ihlenfeldt for a deep dive into the real purpose behind the record books. Far from being a brag board, Boone and Crockett’s measuring system is one of the most powerful wildlife management tools in North America.

Listeners will learn how scoring provides decades of critical data for elk hunting conservation, whitetail management, and big game policy from federal decisions to local herd health. The crew breaks down the misunderstood concept of “trophy hunting,” shares how official measurers collect data, and explains why every score sheet helps protect our outdoor heritage - and how joining the Boone and Crockett Club as a grassroots member helps to achieve wildlife conservation success. 

You’ll also hear personal stories from the field like a father and son discovering math through antler measurements, and a wheelchair-bound hunter whose final deer became a legacy of friendship and stewardship.

This is a rare insider look at the men and women writing the last chapter of every successful hunt.

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