Ike Eastman sits down with longtime friend and elite western guide Johnny Hamilton for a genuine conversation about a pursuit that gets in your blood and doesn't let go: sheep hunting. Johnny walks through his stone sheep hunt in the same northern country Ike's grandfather once hunted, reflects on his dall ram and Rocky, and talks about what's next — a desert sheep hunt with Clay Lancaster down in Mexico that would complete his Grand Slam. Along the way the two get into 25 years of guiding elk in southern Colorado, Johnny's recent New Zealand tahr and chamois trip, and why, for the guys who catch the sheep bug, it becomes the pinnacle of a hunting life.

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The grizzly bear recovery is one of the greatest conservation success stories in American history — so why won't anyone celebrate it? Ike sits down with filmmaker and Sportsman Channel host Jason Matzinger to talk about his upcoming documentary Walking With Grizzlies, a film that sets out to tell the full, honest story of where grizzly bears actually stand today. Jason traces the idea back to a 2017 event in Bozeman where he watched bear biologists — people who had dedicated their careers to recovering the grizzly — sit in a room looking defeated, their life's work accomplished but unacknowledged. From there, the conversation covers what the science actually says about grizzly populations (hint: the recovery zones don't tell the whole story), why keeping them on the Endangered Species List may be the worst thing for the bears themselves, the 71 bears already killed this year in Wyoming alone, and why politicizing the process is demoralizing an entire generation of wildlife biologists. Jason also previews the film's July 17th premiere at the Wilma Theater in Missoula — the same night as Eastmans' elk documentary — as part of the RMEF Big Game Days event.

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Some guys learn to hunt. Sam Davis was born into it. In this episode of the Eastmans' Journal Podcast, Ike sits down with Sheridan, Wyoming native and newly minted Eastmans' staff writer Sam Davis — a lifelong guide, ranch hand, and western big game obsessive who's spent 100+ days a year in the field for the better part of two decades. From packing kids on horseback at age five and sneaking up on mule deer with a 35mm film camera as a kid, to a wild mountain lion encounter in eighth grade on the edge of town, Sam's hunting roots run deep. The conversation covers what 20 years of living on a working ranch does for your understanding of animal behavior, how he built a loyal social media following by just being himself, his relationship with Stone Glacier and the product development world, and what it means to finally be writing for the magazine he's been reading since childhood. Sam also talks about the balance of guiding life versus fatherhood, raising a daughter who's a serious athlete, and what it looks like to chase elk and mule deer in Wyoming's best general country year after year without having to go anywhere else.

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What nearly wiped out the American elk — and how did we bring them back? In this episode of the Eastmans' Journal Podcast, Ike Eastman sits down with Eastmans' own Brandon Mason to pull back the curtain on their new documentary, American Elk: A Comeback Story. From 10 million elk across nearly every state, to just 42,000 at the turn of the 20th century — including only 500 in all of Colorado — the near-extinction of the American elk is one of the most dramatic wildlife stories on the continent. Ike and Brandon walk through what the film uncovered: the science-based relocation efforts, the role of Yellowstone as the last stronghold, how Kentucky became a seed population for the entire eastern U.S., and the unsung pioneers who made it all possible. They also get into the bigger picture — predator management, the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, Pittman-Robertson funding, and why hunters foot the bill for far more than just the species they pursue. The film premieres July 17th at the Wilma Theater in Missoula at the RMEF Big Game Days event, and drops on YouTube that Saturday morning.

Learn more about our new film here - https://eastmans.com/thecomeback/

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Ike sits down with Steve Decker, Chief Revenue Officer of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, for a wide-ranging conversation about conservation, hunting heritage, and the future of one of America's most impactful wildlife organizations. Steve grew up in Libby, Montana — son of RMEF founding member Charlie Decker — and has spent his life woven into the fabric of elk conservation, from working in the visitor center as a college student to leading the organization's outward-facing operations today. They cover the RMEF's evolving mission to serve all of America's big game, the fight to protect public land access (including a 26-point ballot swing in Colorado), the launch of Outdoor Class as a next-level online hunting education platform, and what's ahead with Big Game Days in Missoula. If you care about keeping wild places wild and elk in the hills, this one's for you.

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What does it mean to win a hunt of a lifetime — and walk away with a friendship you didn't expect? In this special episode of the Eastman's Journals Podcast, guest host Brandon Mason sits down with 2025 Eastman's Mule Deer Hunt winner Randy Bianchi, a retired Air Force veteran and 15-year Eastman's member from Utah, along with his son-in-law Zach Vigil — a former NFL linebacker who played for the Dolphins and Redskins — to relive their Montana mule deer adventure. From the suspense of Ike's voicemail to the chaos of getting to camp, battling wind and tough conditions for five days straight, to the last-minute, bonus-morning shot that brought it all together — this one has it all. But what really shines through is the brotherhood that formed between hunters who were strangers just days before. The conversation goes deep on reading deer country, the mental parallels between football and hunting, the power of time spent with good people in wild places, and why some of the most meaningful conversations men will ever have happen tailgate-side in the middle of nowhere.

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Your money, your rights, your data — are they really safe? In this episode of the Eastman's Journals Podcast, Ike Eastman sits down with Ronnie Brown, CFO and lead investor at Precision Pay, a payment platform built specifically for the firearms, hunting, and outdoor industry. Ronnie shares the origin story of Precision Pay — sparked when a veteran-owned tripod company had a six-figure balance seized by PayPal simply for having a firearm mounted in a product photo — and explains why the 2A community needs its own financial ecosystem. The conversation covers the real dangers of debanking, how your purchase data is being harvested and sold by major platforms, and how Precision Pay is building a secure, values-aligned alternative for hunters, manufacturers, and guides alike. Ronnie also shares his passion project, the Alabama Veterans Resource Center, a first-of-its-kind public-private initiative connecting veterans with the services they've earned. This one hits on freedom, finances, and what it really means to protect your rights from every angle.

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What does it take to truly be ready when the moment counts? In this episode of the Eastmans Journals Podcast, guest host Dan Pickar sits down with Angelo DiCicco of Mayhem Hunt — a fitness-first platform built specifically for hunters — to break down the physical and mental demands of hunting the West. Angelo shares how he went from Tennessee whitetail hunter to full-time fitness coach for Western hunters, working alongside Rich Froning (10-time CrossFit Games champion) to build programs that translate directly to the mountains. The conversation covers everything from functional fitness and injury prevention to the mental game of close encounters, knowing your limits in the backcountry, and why the pack-out is where the real hunt begins. Whether you're a seasoned elk hunter or just getting started, this episode will challenge you to think about how you're preparing your body and mind long before you ever set foot in the field.

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Ike Eastman sits down with Mark Drury for a deep dive into a lifetime in the hunting industry—where it started, how it evolved, and what still drives the fire today. From growing up in the timber along the Mississippi River to building one of the most recognized brands in hunting media, Mark shares the real story behind the success, the struggles, and the relentless pursuit of getting better.

This episode goes beyond tactics. It's about family, mentorship, and the responsibility of passing hunting on to the next generation. Mark breaks down the mindset behind DEERCAST, how they built it, and why understanding "why animals move" matters more than ever. They also get into turkey season grind, evolving with media, and what it means to live a life in the outdoors. If you care about hunting, legacy, and doing it the right way—this one hits.

(And yeah… those three questions get answered.)

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Ike Eastman sits down with Dirk Durham of Phelps Game Calls for a deep dive into elk calling, hunting strategy, and what it really takes to get close to bulls in the West.

Dirk breaks down real-world calling scenarios, common mistakes hunters make, and how to think like an elk when the pressure is on. From early season setups to high-intensity rut encounters, this conversation is packed with practical insight you can take straight to the mountain.

If you want to become more confident with a call in your mouth and more lethal when it matters, this one's worth your time.

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