Drawn West

It's July, your buddy's been talking points for years, and you still don't have a fall tag. Before you write off the season, there's a real list of over-the-counter and leftover tag options still on the table — and some of them are better hunts than people give them credit for.

Brian sits down with GoHunt's Dave Barnett to break down exactly where OTC opportunity still exists this late in the year, from Colorado's second and third rifle elk to Utah's OTC spike bull tags, plus Idaho's return tag sale and Nevada's first-come-first-served leftover tags. They also dig into GoHunt Insider Plus as a mid-season option for hunters who need a fast plan, and close out with an overrated/underrated tag debate covering Montana mule deer, Nevada return tags, and Utah spike elk.

Highlights:

• Where OTC elk tags still exist in Colorado, Utah, and Idaho after July 4th

• How Nevada's first-come-first-served return tag system actually works

• Why the Idaho OTC "DMV line" tag sale rewards solo hunters over groups

• What GoHunt Insider Plus actually includes and when it makes sense to sign up mid-season

• A strategy breakdown for hunting Utah's OTC spike bull tag

• Brian and Dave's overrated and underrated picks for backup tags, including Montana mule deer and Nevada return tags

• A caliber debate on sunsetting 30-06, 308, and 270 Win in favor of newer 7mm and 6.5 options

If this helped you find a plan for fall, subscribe to the show and check out GoHunt Insider Plus using code Drawn West for $50 gear shop credit!

Enter the Reveal Giveaway! One winner every month for therest of the year!
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00:00:00 — Intro and catching up with Dave Barnett

00:01:16 — Inside GoHunt's research content role and predictive draw odds accuracy

00:08:38 — Why state application systems feel outdated, and a dream fix

00:14:37 — What GoHunt Insider Plus actually includes

00:19:38 — Is Insider Plus worth it mid-season if you're scrambling for a tag

00:26:46 — Where the real OTC opportunity is right now (Nevada, Idaho)

00:32:00 — Colorado OTC elk, expectations vs reality

00:34:00 — Utah OTC spike elk strategy breakdown

00:37:33 — OTC options for mule deer and antelope

00:44:47 — Overrated vs underrated backup tags segment

00:53:33 — Rifle and caliber talk, sunsetting old cartridges

01:02:31 — Where to find Dave and closing GoHunt discount info

Ever thrown your bow in the backseat only to find your fletchings crushed, your sight bumped, or fresh scratches on your door frame? That annoying, expensive problem is exactly what pushed two Utah hunting buddies to design one of the coolest truck bow mounts on the market.

In this episode, Logan Cornwall and Dave Hansen of Anchor Point break down how a bumpy elk hunt turned into a universal bow-storage system that sold out its first batch overnight. They cover the messy prototyping process, why grabbing the bow by the grip (upside down) solved the fit problem across different bow models, and how they're bootstrapping production with a basement full of 3D printers while gearing up to scale into injection molding. The conversation also drifts into classic Western hunting talk — road hunting strategy, Utah's weapon-and-season draw restrictions, elk calling stories, and trail camera setups for summer scouting.

Highlights:

• The bumpy elk hunt that sparked the idea for a truck-mounted bow holder

• Why flipping the design upside down solved compatibility across bow brands and models

• How Anchor Point sold out 20 units overnight on launch night, before HuntExpo

• The tradeoffs between 3D printing and injection molding for a scaling hunting brand

• How to spot (and avoid) scam websites copying small outdoor brands' products

• Logan's solo, limited-entry Utah bull elk story and Dave's plans for next season

• Trail camera picks and cellular coverage tips for summer e-scouting

Check Out ANKR Point:

https://www.getankrpoint.com/

https://www.instagram.com/ankr.point/

If you enjoyed this one, subscribe to the podcast and follow along for more gear breakdowns and Western hunting strategy talk every week.

Enter our Reveal Cell Cam giveaway — sign up at https://www.getdrawnwest.com/revealto be entered to win. And stick around for the whole episode: there's a secretcode word in this conversation you'll need to get 20 extra entries, so don'tskip ahead.

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00:00:00 – Intro:welcoming Logan and Dave from Anchor Point
00:01:13 – Guest backgrounds: growing up hunting in Utah
00:03:16 – What is Anchor Point? The elevator pitch
00:04:05 – The bumpy elk hunt that sparked the idea
00:06:21 – The "flip it upside down" design breakthrough
00:08:04 – Launch story: sold out overnight before HuntExpo
00:12:26 – 3D printing now vs. injection molding for scale
00:15:29 – SLS printing and modern manufacturing options
00:19:45 – Why road hunting is underrated in the West
00:24:38 – Trail camera picks and cellular coverage for scouting
00:27:00 – Protecting your bow: dinged doors and busted sights
00:36:05 – Left vs. right handed setups and backseat fit
00:42:20 – Upcoming Utah tags and elk hunting plans
00:47:36 – Logan's solo limited-entry bull elk story
00:53:04 – Watch out for scam Anchor Point websites
00:56:19 – Where to buy and follow Anchor Point

The 6.5 Creedmoor has always taken heat for being underpowered on elk — until now. Federal's engineers sit down to explain how their new Peak Alloy case technology closes that gap by packing 300 extra feet per second into the exact same cartridge millions of hunters already own.

Federal design engineers Ben Carlson and Brad Abramowski, along with product line manager Josh Vickers, break down how a U.S. Army next-generation weapons program in 2018 led directly to Peak Alloy, a case material designed to beat the pressure limits of brass. From there, the conversation covers why they picked the 6.5 Creedmoor for this upgrade over more exotic calibers, how modern bullet technology like Terminal Ascent changes the terminal-performance math on smaller cartridges, and where the industry is headed with older rounds like the 30-06.

• How Peak Alloy case technology started inside the Army's Next Generation Squad Weapon program back in 2018

• Why Federal picked the 6.5 Creedmoor, not a magnum, as the first commercial cartridge to get the Peak Alloy treatment

• How Peak Alloy pushes 155-156 grain bullets in a 6.5 Creedmoor faster than stock 6.5 PRC velocities

• An engineer's honest take on whether 6.5 Creedmoor Plus Peak replaces a 300 Win Mag for elk

• Why bullet design (Terminal Ascent, bonded bullets) matters as much as raw velocity for clean, ethical kills

• Real hunting stories, including a mule deer taken at 15 feet, an elk shot with a 6mm Creedmoor at 700 yards, and doubling on whitetail does in the same food plot

• Whether classic cartridges like the 30-06 and 270 Winchester are ever likely to disappear

If you're rethinking your next big-game rifle setup, hit follow and share this one with your hunting crew — it might change what's in your safe this fall.

Check out more from Brad, Josh, and Ben on Instagram:

Ben: https://www.instagram.com/ben_carlson_/

Brad: https://www.instagram.com/real_gunnerdog/
Josh: https://www.instagram.com/vickers.josh/

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00:00:00— Meet the Federal team: Ben, Josh, and Brad

00:04:36— Backstory: the 7mm Backcountry launch

00:06:55— Why brass limits cartridge performance

00:09:15— Origin of Peak Alloy: the Army's next-gen weapon program

00:11:33— Beating the 7mm PRC: designing a better big-game cartridge

00:13:55— How the "Backcountry" name came to be

00:16:19— Announcing 6.5 Creedmoor Plus Peak

00:18:35— Making the 6.5 Creedmoor more versatile

00:20:53— Is 6.5 Creedmoor really an elk cartridge?

00:23:17— Terminal Ascent and choosing the right bullet

00:25:43— Ben's honest take: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 300 Win Mag for elk

00:32:41— Should older calibers get Peak Alloy too?

00:35:06— Will classics like the 30-06 ever sunset?

00:39:47— Choosing a first rifle for mule deer hunting

00:42:07— Suppressed rifles and the Peak Alloy advantage

00:44:26— Draw results and fall hunting plans

00:48:53— Minnesota whitetail stories and early doe season

00:53:34— Bear baiting tips and strategy00:55:56 — Elk hunting stories and hunting withfamily

If you've been daydreaming about real deer camp adventure but feel stuck by time, money, or gear, this conversation will feel relevant. Tom LaLond from XOP joins me to break down attainable whitetail trips on realistic budgets, the culture behind XOP's gear labs, and how building one dialed-in kit frees up money to hunt more states.

We walk through what attainable adventure actually looks like in states like Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, and the Appalachians — where a $2,500 trip is the real constraint, not a marketing line. Then we get into mobile stand setups, packing systems, and why smarter clothing choices matter more than adding another layer to the pile.

00:00:00 – Introducing Tom LaLond and the XOP deer camp world

00:01:30 – How deer camp culture and camaraderie became the core of XOP gear labs

00:03:20 – Attainable adventure: $2,500 trip budgets and hunting everyday states

00:07:20 – Nebraska gear lab: cheap tents, shared gear, and what made it memorable

00:35:40 – Packing a mobile whitetail kit: skinny packs, layer order, and tree efficiency

00:37:50 – One kit, more tags: spending less on gear to hunt more states

00:39:45 – Bluff country clothing: hiking cold, managing sweat, and building a puffy system

Topics Covered:

• What XOP's deer camp gear labs are and why serious hunters keep choosing them

• How to frame and plan a $2,500 attainable adventure trip in almost any state

• Packing a mobile whitetail kit efficiently from bag to tree

• Why one complete setup beats five halfway-finished ones — and frees up tag money

• Puffy vs bib layering systems for cold, steep, sweat-inducing terrain

If this episode sparks a few ideas for your own deer camps or mobile setups, share it with someone you'd want in camp and hit follow so you don't miss the next one.

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https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/best-elk-calls-for-beginners

FREE Gear Checklist:

https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear

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HaveQuestions or Comments? Send an email to [email protected]!
Sponsorsand Discounts:
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Save10% on Maverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest

You've probably looked at sheep tag odds and thought — that's never happening. The numbers are brutal. Most states are handing out a handful of tags to thousands of applicants, and the herds aren't exactly booming. But there's a population in the Black Canyon of Colorado that just got its first hunt tag in over 80 years, and a wildlife researcher who's been tracking every sheep in that canyon for the last two years using 71 trail cameras. The results are pretty interesting.

Cody Hinkley is wrapping up his master's research at Western Colorado University, and his thesis asks a simple but important question: can trail cameras replace expensive, dangerous helicopter surveys to monitor bighorn sheep populations? If the answer is yes, it changes how wildlife managers across the West track herds — and potentially how tags get allocated.

In this episode, we break down how the mark-resight method works, what the population data actually shows for this herd, and what the disease threatening sheep herds nationwide would take to solve. We also get into the honest reality of what it would take — population-wise — for a non-resident to have a realistic shot at drawing a tag in their lifetime.

Highlights:

• How trail cameras can be used to estimate wildlife population size and sex ratios — and why it matters for tag allocation

• Why this Colorado Black Canyon herd is an anomaly — growing when most sheep herds are struggling

• The preliminary data: ~80 sheep, and more rams than ewes, with implications for future tag numbers

• Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (MOVI) — the disease from domestic sheep that is the #1 management threat to bighorn herds nationwide

• What "full curl" means, when rams reach maturity, and how wildlife managers think about harvestable surplus

• Realistic advice for hunters who want a sheep tag someday — including which states to watch and why Colorado is worth a closer look

• Why whitetail hunters can actually run a mini population survey on their own property using the same science

If you want to follow Cody's research when it's published, keep an eye on his work coming out of Western Colorado University — he's planning to make it publicly accessible. And if you haven't already, subscribe to the Drawn West podcast so you don't miss episodes like this one.

https://www.instagram.com/codymhinkley/

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If you’ve ever tried to glass all day on a steep hillside and felt your lower back lock up, this episode is going to hit home. I sit down with Steven Giles from DRT Hunting to talk about the Recon Lounger—a rifle cover that turns into a legit glassing chair—and how one well designed piece of gear can keep you comfortable, protect your optic, and replace two or three other items in your pack. We dig into the engineering behind it, the real world use cases, and how a multi use mindset changes the way you hunt out West.

Steven is a manufacturing engineer and co founder of DRT Hunting, and he built the Recon Lounger out of his own frustration with sore backs, sap covered jackets, and expensive optics getting beat up in rough country. The result is a thousand denier, carbon reinforced rifle cover that unfolds into a stadium style chair, doubles as a shooting support, and even pulls duty in your sleep system—all without adding another bulky, single use item to your pack.

We talk through why comfort actually keeps you “in the game” longer behind the glass, how Western residents and non residents think differently about glassing, and why multi use gear matters more as hunts get more remote and expensive. If you’re the kind of hunter who tinkers with homemade scope covers, hates traditional slings, and loves figuring out new ways to use the gear you already carry, this conversation will give you a bunch of practical ideas to test on your next mule deer, elk, antelope, or coyote hunt.

Highlights

• The Dirt/DRT origin story, “dead right there” name, and bison logo.

• How the Recon Lounger works as a rifle cover, scope shield, and glassing chair.

• Why comfort behind the glass matters for long Western hunts.

• Multi use field applications from rifle cover to chair, pad, and camp utility.

• Real hunt use cases from long glassing sessions to packing out birds or sheds.

• Manufacturing lessons from prototyping to over building and show season inventory.

• Using knowledge and creativity to carry less gear and solve more problems afield.

If this episode gives you ideas for making your pack lighter and your glassing more comfortable, hit follow on the podcast and share this one with a hunting buddy who’s always tweaking their gear setup. You can check out the Recon Lounger and follow Steven’s crew at dirthunting.com and @drt_hunting on Instagram—links are in the show notes

https://www.instagram.com/drt_hunting/

https://www.drthunting.com/

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https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/best-elk-calls-for-beginners

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Save10%on Maverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest

It can be hard for women to find a mentor in the hunting world. Taylor Gutierrez is changing that.

Taylor grew up in Colorado where grabbing an elk tag on a free weekend was just... a thing people do. She didn't realize how rare that was until she started teaching women who are brand-new to hunting and have no idea where to start. This conversation is part draw system deep-dive, part honest guide to how women can get into Western hunting without it being weird or unsafe.

We get into Colorado's point system—elk, pronghorn, the big three—and what the 2028 OTC and Northwest corner changes actually mean for hunters at different point levels. From there Taylor talks through her work with Uncharted Outdoors Women and why education-first programs are in such high demand from women who want to learn but don't know who to trust.

What we cover:

• Why Colorado residents still have serious OTC and leftover opportunity—and how to use it

• Point creep in the Northwest corner and what the 2028 changes mean for 30+ point elk holders

• The pronghorn trap: a perfect starter hunt, but good rifle tags now take 5+ points

• How Taylor got a 14-point pronghorn tag off the leftover list and tagged out in 27 minutes

• Why solo elk hunting is a bad idea—and how to find the right hunting partners as a woman

• What women's elk camp actually looks like and why it sells out fast

If this one was useful, hit follow so you don't miss the next one—and share it with someone who's been saying "I want to go out West someday."

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https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/best-elk-calls-for-beginners

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https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear

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HaveQuestions or Comments? Send an email to [email protected]!
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If you’ve ever daydreamed about drawing a Maine moose tag, chasing bugling bulls in Colorado, or finally taking turkey season seriously, this episode is for you!

Brian sits down with Maine-based hunter and filmmaker Jacob Haskell to talk about what it actually takes to draw these tags, how the odds and bonus points really play out, and why these hunts are more realistic than most people assume. Along the way they break down real pack-outs, close calls, missed opportunities, and the kind of strategy that turns “someday” hunts into actual dates on the calendar.

Jacob walks through the Maine moose lottery from his own experience—what the nonresident odds look like, how Maine’s bonus point system behaves more like a raffle than a true preference system, and why he still calls it a once-in-a-lifetime hunt. He explains how the hunt actually feels in northern Maine: logging roads, clearcuts, bogs, calling bulls into bow range, and why success is still high if you do things right, even with tick issues and shifting populations.

From there, Brian and Jacob compare Maine moose to Western elk, including Colorado’s brutal moose odds, over-the-counter elk experiences, and what realistic expectations look like when you’re playing long odds across multiple states. The back half of the episode dives into turkey hunting—reaping tactics, using full-fan decoys, bow vs shotgun setups, and why turkey season might be the best way to get new hunters hooked on calling, movement, and decision-making in the field.

Highlights

• How Maine’s bonus point system and extra entries actually work for nonresidents, and why long-time applicants can still get leapfrogged by newer hunters.

• What a modern Maine moose hunt looks like on the ground—pressure from roads, using calls in September vs October, and how to make the most of a one-week season.

• Real-world pack-out stories comparing a Maine bull moose to a giant North Dakota elk, including meat yields, quarter weights, and the mental side of multiple trips.

• Why Maine moose success can still be high despite tick issues, and how biologists and outfitters are adapting to keep the hunt meaningful.

• How Jacob’s first Colorado archery elk hunt went down—close encounters, setup mistakes, and the decision to pass a risky shot at less than 20 yards.

• Practical turkey tactics: full-fan Tom decoys with real fans, using reaping safely, roost scouting, and calling sequences that pull gobblers off the limb.

• How Jacob built his “The Pursuit Hunt” brand, films hunts across the Northeast and West, and uses YouTube to share these stories.

If this episode helps you see Maine moose, Colorado elk, or serious turkey hunts as actually possible, subscribe to the Drawn West podcast and drop a rating or review so more hunters can find it. Then go check out Jacob’s “The Pursuit Hunt” on YouTube and thepursuithunt.com—his Maine moose film alone is worth the watch!

https://www.instagram.com/thepursuithunt/

https://www.youtube.com/@thepursuithunt

 Stay Ahead of Hunting Season with the Drawn West Newsletter.
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HaveQuestions or Comments? Send an email to [email protected]!
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Save10%on Maverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest

Want to find more sheds each season? This is the episode for you!

I sat down with Alex Kunkel from Minnesota Shed Hunters, one of the most active shed hunting community pages in the Midwest. Alex has been doing this long enough to figure out what actually works — and a lot of what he shared challenged some of the "common wisdom" you hear thrown around, like walking fence lines (spoiler: neither of us has ever found a shed on one).

We cover the full strategy side of shed hunting — from how winter severity changes where deer concentrate, to why timing is probably more important than location, to how to use apps like Scout to Hunt and GoHunt Maps to stop re-walking ground you've already covered. If you've ever spent a whole Saturday shed hunting and come home with nothing, this one's for you.

Episode Highlights:

• How to identify the "limiting factor" in your area — food or cover — and why the answer changes depending on where you live

• The exact window Alex targets every year: why late February to early March is his peak and how he thinks about going too early vs. too late

• Why public land shed hunting has gotten harder and what private access actually looks like in the Midwest

• The Scout to Hunt app breakdown — what it does, how the analytics work, and why the track-width gridding feature alone is worth the $30/year

• Why rivers and creek crossings knock sheds loose (and why fence lines are mostly a myth)

• How to use snowshoes to access areas that eliminate almost all competition on big public tracts

• Habitat projects that actually move the needle for your shed season, not just your hunting season

If this episode helped you think differently about where you spend your time this spring, it'd mean a lot if you left a rating or review — it helps more hunters find the show.

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Looking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latestarticle!
https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/how-comedy-can-help-save-hunting

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HaveQuestions or Comments? Send an email to [email protected]!
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Save10%on Maverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest

2026 Wyoming Mule Deer Application Guide

Tired of how confusing Wyoming's mule deer draw is? We cover how it works and the best mule deer units in the state!

Wyoming's application system is one of the most complicated in the West, the June 1st deadline is coming fast, and 2026 is the last year to buy preference points at the current price before they jump to $75 across the board. If you've been putting Wyoming off, this is the episode that changes that.

I break down the full Wyoming mule deer draw — how the splits work, what all those tag types actually mean, what the 2026 weather and snowpack means for your hunt, and which units are worth your points from zero all the way to 10+.

What we cover:

• Why 2026 is the last year to buy Wyoming points at the current price — and why that matters

• How the Wyoming draw actually works: resident/non-resident splits, regular vs. special, 75/25 point draw, and what the random draw means for you

• Every tag type (Type 1 through Type 0) explained in plain language so you know exactly what to apply for

• The 2026 snowpack situation and what low moisture years mean for antler growth and herd health

• Wilderness area restrictions for non-residents — the unit research step most hunters skip

• The second-choice trick: how to draw a tag and keep building points in the same year

• Unit recommendations at zero, five, and ten points for non-resident regular and special applicants

If this helped, subscribe so you don't miss the Wyoming Antelope episode dropping right after this one. And if you've got a hunting partner who's been on the fence about Wyoming, send this their way — it'll save them hours of digging.

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Save10%on Maverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest00:00:00 — Wyoming Mule Deer 2026: Why This State Belongs in Your Core Strategy

00:03:03 — Deadlines, Tag Fees, and the 2027 Preference Point Price Increase

00:05:12 — Tag Cost Breakdown: Regular, Special, Reduced, and Youth

00:07:31 — 2026 Weather and Snowpack — What Low Moisture Means for Your Hunt

00:08:30 — How Wyoming's Draw System Actually Works

00:11:00 — Hunt Choices, Second-Choice Strategy, and Retaining Your Points

00:11:45 — Every Tag Type Explained (Type 1 Through Type 0)

00:15:30 — Group Applications — How Averaging Works and Why Wyoming Over-Allocates

00:17:50 — Wyoming Mule Deer Herd Overview: Where It Stands in 2026

00:22:38 — Zero-Point Options: Regular and Special Draw Breakdown

00:27:30 — Ten-Point Range: Units Worth Targeting as Non-Resident Regular

00:29:05 — The Second-Choice Trick and Unit 15

00:31:17 — Five-Point Range: Units to Look At Right Now

00:34:42 — How to Use GoHunt Insider to Research Units Yourself