Today Dan sits down with longtime friend Dan Watts — the guy who was wrenching on his bows way back in the early 2000s. Watts lives and breathes archery, spending most of his life working in bow shops and constantly tinkering with gear.Now a journeyman electrician by trade, he shares how he scores quality bows on a budget, what to look for when buying used, and why you don’t need the newest flagship to shoot lights out. Along the way, the guys dive into real life, dad life, hard work, and the brotherhood that keeps them grounded.Just two bowhunters talking shop, saving money, and chasing a better life.

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Today we’re sitting down with Ty from North Idaho — a framer and carpenter by trade and a full-time wildland firefighter who knows a thing or two about grit, hard work, and showing up when it counts. With several seasons of bowhunting experience under his belt, Ty joins Dan to break down how he can level up his elk hunting through smarter preparation, better systems, and sharper in-the-field tactics.Beyond the hunt, the conversation digs deeper into faith, family, fitness, and the mindset it takes to build strength that lasts both in the mountains and at home. Real talk, real strategy, and real ElkShape growth.

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Today we’re dissecting mountain whitetail bucks on public land with Troy Pottenger—a legendary whitetail subject-matter expert with decades of hard-earned experience. Troy breaks down how he prospects for big, cagey mountain bucks, the role trail cameras actually play in his system, and how he identifies and hunts community scrapes in rugged terrain.We dive deep into the topography he looks for, how mature bucks travel through mountainous country, and how to read the landscape to stay one step ahead. Troy also shares an incredible story that highlights just how tough whitetails truly are, along with practical shot-placement advice—how to avoid deflection, where to aim based on stand height, and why he chooses not to use a rangefinder.This episode is packed with real-world mountain whitetail tactics you won’t hear anywhere else.

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Dan jumps on the mic for a quick bonus episode with a timely reminder you don’t want to miss.Elk draw deadlines are creeping up fast, and if you’re serious about hunting elk every year, you need more than luck — you need a system.Dan breaks down how to track deadlines, plan your states, and stack the odds in your favor so you’re not sitting on the sidelines each fall wondering what went wrong.Then the conversation shifts.He dives into the world of “influencing”… how ElkShape got started, what this platform has grown into, and what he actually hopes to influence people to do with their lives.Spoiler:It’s not buying gear.It’s becoming stronger men.Better dads.More prepared hunters.Living with intention and building a legacy that lasts.

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Live from deer camp in South Texas, the fellas break down real-world observations after putting multiple flagship broadheads through a dozen bucks over the course of the week. What worked, what surprised them, and what matters when it counts. As a bonus, Dan puts his buddy Cody in the hot seat to uncover how a Texas resident somehow manages to have an elk tag in his pocket year after year.

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Join Dan of ElkShape and MFJJ of Podium Archer as they break down all the details for the 2026 Elk Immersion.This annual event is built for hunters who want to dedicate multiple days to sharpening their archery skills and elevating their elk-hunting craft. The fellas dive into what makes Elk Immersion different—live elk butchering, Joel Turner’s ShotIQ course, and Mark Livesay of Treeline Academy teaching the skills and art of e-scouting—plus much more.

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Join Dan as he breaks down next-level strategies for planning your first elk hunt. From how to properly vet outfitters—and separate the good ones from the bad—to cutting through the noise and confusion that overwhelms most first-timers, this episode gives you clear, practical guidance so you can plan with confidence and hunt with purpose.

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Join Dan on today’s episode as he announces several big updates heading into 2026.

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Today, Dan sits down with fellow passionate bowhunter Zach from western Oregon to break down his pursuit of a high-country public-land blacktail. The conversation goes beyond tactics and terrain, diving into the often unspoken reality of hunting as a selfish pursuit—and how it can evolve into something deeper and more spiritual. Together, they unpack the balance between work, family, and time in the mountains, and challenge listeners to examine the why behind their hunt. This episode is an honest reflection on purpose, discipline, and what the pursuit truly gives back.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-crimson-way/id1864973650

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Dan sits down with Cody Rich, founder of Bridger Watch, and puts him on the hot seat. They dive straight into the hard questions—when this watch will actually be ready for market, what separates it from every other smartwatch on the shelf, and why it matters for serious backcountry users.Cody breaks down what Bridger Watch can do for fitness, from performance tracking to real-world durability, and how it’s being built with hunters and mountain athletes in mind—not office desks. They also get into mapping and navigation in the backcountry, including how the watch is designed to function when you’re off-grid and miles from help.A no-fluff conversation about timelines, technology, and whether Bridger Watch can live up to the expectations of people who depend on their gear when failure isn’t an option.

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