In this episode, Jason steps away from just talking calls and hunting tactics to share a more personal side of the journey. Building Phelps Game Calls, chasing bulls every fall, being a dad and husband, and trying to juggle it all—it’s not always as clean or easy as it might look from the outside. He talks about burnout, learning lessons the hard way, what success really means to him now, and how his priorities have shifted over time. It’s a real conversation about the pressure, the passion, and trying to build something that lasts beyond the next bugle.

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New from the MeatEater Podcast Network: Long-time western author Dan Flores presents a big picture history of an American West you've never encountered. Covering a vast time span in a western America whose landscapes and wild animals drew people from around the world, this podcast tells a new story of our most fascinating region.

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't miss episode one coming out May 6th!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIQv7voZWHy4X3UFECqr3ggFIj9uQJT2O
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Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-american-west/id1811365050
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Check out more MeatEater's American History audio originals "The Long Hunters" and "Mountain Men"

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Jason sits down with Joe Elliston and Dennis Stokes of Initial Ascent to dive into the story behind their hunting pack company. They talk about what inspired them to start the brand, the hands-on prototyping process, and the rigorous testing their packs endured before ever hitting the market. The conversation highlights the innovation that sets their pack system apart, as well as where they're headed next in the world of high-performance backcountry gear.

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Gear reviews and elk hunting go hand in hand. This week Dirk and Gabe Gerrish of Backwoods Pursuit talk about behind the scenes of his recent elk hunting film, "Chasing Tradition," and also the ins and outs of reviewing hunting gear.

Link to Gabe's website: https://backwoodspursuit.com/

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Everyday, hunters and sportsmen look at moving to the country and building a sustainable simple life. Dirk talks with long time friend Mark Bonnalie, aka "Modern Rural Civilian," about his origin story and the inspiration to sell everything and move to rural acreage and begin building their homestead.

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I'm back in nerd mode looking into bullet construction—how they perform at different distances, their accuracy, consistency, and what happens on impact. Instead of going down the rabbit hole alone, I’m joined by Madi Woodward from Nosler to break down “purpose-built” bullets and what to consider when selecting the right one. Plus, we’ll discuss Nosler’s line of suppressors and their impact on hunting and shooting performance. Tune in for an insightful conversation!

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Dirk gets to talk with one of his favorite podcasters - Brent Reaves. Brent hosts "This Country Life" on the Bear Grease podcast and is an avid sportsman and advocate for hunting. They talk about Brent's upbringing and his take on hunting turkeys.

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Ever wonder what it's like having a "Shed Antler" dog? Dirk and Idaho hunting guide and outfitter Chris Cabral talk about Chris' labs and what it's like shed hunting with a dog. They also take a deep dive into bear baiting, and talk hunting mountain lions and elk in Idaho's rugged back country.

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Jason sits down with Bryant Sentman and Cory Toombs of Tall Timber productions. They talk about their most memorable day in the field, who they would hunt with if they had a chance, amongst a bunch of others. They then dive into the elk obsession project , how it originated and where it's going from here.

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Dirk and Ryan Carter from DC Outfitters discuss guiding and scouting limited entry units in Utah. They cover trail camera seasons, shed antler hunting seasons, and the new requirement for Idaho non-resident shed hunters to purchase an Idaho hunting license.

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