In this episode of the Drawn West podcast, I’m joined by Kurt Belding of Western Obsessions TV — and we dive into a story that honestly feels too wild to be real. Kurt just got back from a spring grizzly hunt deep in Alaska’s Chugach Range, and the trip had everything you’d expect from interior bear country: endless daylight, brutal weather swings, days and days behind the glass, bush planes, moose paddles, and country so vast it makes Colorado feel like a county park.
But the part that’ll stick with you long after this episode?
Kurt and his team get charged by not one, but TWO interior grizzlies at the same time.
Not a bluff. Not a slow trot.
A full-on brush-breaking sprint from 30 yards that comes down to 17 chaotic, heart-stopping seconds.
We break down the whole sequence — from spotting bears after 70+ hours of glassing, to the debate over bow vs. rifle, to the exact moment his guide handed Kurt the .338 because the bow setup had gotten way too dangerous. Kurt walks through the shots, the confusion, the adrenaline, and the moment he locked eyes with the sow at 15 yards while she decided whether to kill them or keep running.
We also go deep on mental toughness, the Misogi mindset, how to prepare for true backcountry suffering, and what Alaska teaches you about yourself the moment your comfort zone disappears.
Plus:
• how shed hunting for moose paddles became the “victory lap” after the shot
• how guides actually think about bears in coastal vs interior country
• why most lower-48 hunters have no idea how big, wild, or remote Alaska truly is
• what it takes to afford bucket-list hunts without being wealthy
• and why your first Western hunt probably shouldn't be a 14-day solo OTC elk mission from YouTube University
This is easily one of the most intense and entertaining conversations we’ve had on Drawn West, and it’s packed with wisdom for anyone dreaming of Alaska or trying to level up their Western hunts.
If you want to actually see the moment those two grizzlies break through the brush and come straight at Kurt’s crew, go watch the full film on Kurt’s channel, Western Obsessions TV. The footage is raw, real, and absolutely insane — and hearing the story here is one thing, but seeing the chaos unfold on camera is on a different level.
Watch the Full Film on Western Obsessions YouTube
Or Search “Alaska and Grizzly – Western Obsessions TV” on YouTube
and give it a watch. It deserves every view it gets.
And as always, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram so you don’t miss the next adventure.
FREE Gear Checklist:
https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear
FREE Drawn West Application Calendar
www.getdrawnwest.com/freeproducts
Connect with Brian Krebs
https://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest
Have Questions orComments? Send an email to [email protected]!
Sponsorsand Discounts:
GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST
https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4
GOHUNT Gear Shop –10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4u
Save10% on MaverickHunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest
RTIC Coolers – KeepYour Meat Cold!
https://bit.ly/RTICCoolers
Okuma Fishing – Rodsand Reels for Serious Anglers!
https://alnk.to/31sVDzF
First Month FREE atMTNTOUGH Fitness with code ROOKIE https://bit.ly/MTNTOUGH_ROOKIE
Save $150 onSteelhead Outdoors Gun Safes with code WESTERNROOKIE https://tr.ee/fbNvbFXX6Q
Save 10% on OllinDigiscoping Adapters with code TWOBUCKS
https://tr.ee/ZE1XcQ-fbb
00:00 – Intro + Kurt’s Background
09:45 – Mental Toughness & The Misogi Mindset
18:55 – Alaska Grizzly Hunt Setup
32:00 – The 17-Second Double Grizzly Charge
47:25 – Bears, Danger, and Lessons Learned
01:02:50 – Alaska’s Wild Scale & Moose Shed Story
01:13:20 – How to Start Hunting Alaska
01:24:50 – Building a Hunting Life & Outro
