It’s a holiday-season edition of Just the Tip Tuesday, and Mike and Ryan squeeze in a morning recording to talk food, hunting gear, and a little life balance before Christmas chaos takes over.

This episode starts in the kitchen, where Mike throws down a bold culinary challenge: elk tartar. From raw backstrap done right to the exact crackers that make it shine, Mike breaks down why this appetizer has become a Christmas showstopper—even winning over skeptical in-laws. Ryan shares his own wild-game comfort food favorites (yes, ranch is involved), and the guys talk about how food has become a bigger part of hunting culture than ever before.

From there, the conversation shifts to the field. With the new year coming up, Mike and Ryan each name two things they’ll never hunt without again—from good boots and real meals to comfortable camp chairs and why a standard-length truck bed might matter more than you think. It’s practical, honest gear talk rooted in real hunts, real mistakes, and lessons learned the hard way.

They wrap things up talking holiday breaks, motivation cycles, and setting intentions for the coming season—before signing off and gearing up for a short Christmas pause.

Whether you’re planning Christmas appetizers, upgrading gear, or just dreaming about next season, this one’s packed with laughs, insight, and a few ideas you might actually steal.

In this special Christmas edition of Just the Tip Tuesday, Mike and Ryan unwrap their ultimate hunter’s holiday gift guide—from budget-friendly gear to big-ticket upgrades that will change your season. The guys cover everything from the legendary Kinko mittens and “No Snow” leather treatment to Sitka layers, Tricer bino adapters, SheepFeet insoles, and even the game-changing SIG stabilized binoculars.
You’ll hear steak-cooking stories, hunting-partner ribbing, and one traumatic neck-gaiter emergency involving field-expedient toilet paper. Whether you're shopping for a hunter, a gear junkie, or yourself, this is the episode full of ideas you didn’t know you needed.

Welcome back to Just the Tip Tuesday, the weekly (mostly 😏) collaboration between GameTech and CutRite where Mike and Ryan talk about the stuff we’re not experts in… we just have enough experience to be dangerous.

This week, we’re fired up about one thing: taking care of your wild game after the shot. Mike shares some jaw-dropping stories from recent butcher jobs—including a garage that smelled so bad he knew the meat was toast the second the door opened. From there, the guys dive into hunter responsibility, reverence for the animal, and why “I didn’t plan on killing anything” is a terrible excuse.

You’ll hear:

• Why every hunter should own a $75 garage fridge
• The four tiers of keeping meat cool: walk-in, Wild Meat Gear setup, garage fridge, and cooler
• How to age meat safely in a fridge (Mike’s gone 3+ weeks on elk)
• Pros and cons of aging in a cooler—and how to do it right if that’s your only option
• Why bad meat is almost always a planning problem, not “bad luck”

Plus, the guys drop a Black Friday bomb:
🎁 The CutRite mobile app is FREE for one year on Black Friday only when you use code BLACKFRIDAY (all caps) in the app store checkout. One day, 100% off.

If you care about your meat, your freezer, and the animals you hunt, this episode is for you.

In this episode of the Game Tech University “Just the Tip Tuesday” podcast, Ryan Smith sits down with Game Tech co-founder Tayler Tibbitts to break down an elk hunt that had just about everything: big summer expectations, painful misses, dad duty on the mountain, and a last-day bull that finally came together in the snow and fog.

Tayler shares how a carefully scouted “plan A” fell apart when rifle season hit and the elk weren’t where he’d found them all summer. He talks through:

• Missing the same bull twice—once long, once at 40 yards
• A 7-hour solo track job with no pack, no water, and rabdo in the back of his mind
• Three big 10-mile days hunting with his 12-year-old son and balancing “hard hunts” with “fun hunts”
• A basin absolutely lit up with rutting elk, cows contact-buzzing, and silhouetted bulls bugling in the dark
• Rebuilding confidence by re-checking his rifle mid-hunt and finally making a perfect 300-yard shot on a unique 5-point herd bull on the very last day

Along the way, Ryan and Tayler dig into lessons on scouting for the right season, always having a backup plan, spending enough time behind your gun, hunting with kids the right way, and staying mentally in it—right up until the final evening light.

On this Just the Tip Tuesday, Mike and co-host Ryan Smith welcome Tayler Tibbets for a no-BS breakdown of what an elk really yields and why so many hunters think they got shorted. We dig into realistic hind/front quarter weights, how aging changes flavor and reduces weight, the 30% trim + rind loss many folks forget, and when it makes sense to grind early vs. age big cuts. We also hit rib meat (love it or leave it), cold-room setups (temp & humidity matter), and a couple spicy butcher stories about expectations vs. reality. If you’ve ever believed every elk is “200 pounds of meat,” this episode is your reality check—and your roadmap to tastier meals and fewer arguments with your processor.

Whether it’s a small cut or something more serious, being prepared in the wild matters. Ryan Smith goes solo this week to talk about first aid in the field — what to pack, what to skip, and how to be ready for the unexpected. Hear practical advice from medical pros and get tips on lightweight gear that keeps you safe without weighing you down.

On this week’s Just the Tip Tuesday, Mike and Ryan reunite to dig into one of the hottest topics in the hunting community — game waste and Fish & Game crackdowns. From Idaho’s latest enforcement push to the viral stories of hunters leaving tenderloins behind, the duo breaks down what it really means to show respect for your harvest.

We’re bringing back one of our most popular episodes! In this rerun, Ryan and Mike go all out as they each share their top 3 must-haves in their kill kits. These aren’t your typical items like knives or game bags — we’re talking about the underrated, often-overlooked gear that can make a real difference in the field.

In this rapid-fire Q&A session, Mike Edgehouse and Ryan Smith from GameTech and Cutrite Mobile tackle your most-asked butchering questions — no fluff, just sharp talk.

From the #1 rule of butchering to Mike’s top 3 steaks you’re probably grinding by mistake, the guys dive into the cuts, tools, and techniques that make or break your wild game experience. 

Whether you’re a first-time DIY butcher or a seasoned elk slayer, this episode packs 20 minutes of straight-cut wisdom — and a few laughs along the way.

🎧 Listen now and level up your butchering game.
Download the Cutrite Mobile App to follow along with video guides and pro tips from the field.

In this week’s episode of Game Tech and Cut Rite, Mike and Ryan reflect on another elk season—one filled with highs, lows, and lessons that will carry them into next year. From missed shots and bruised arms to the importance of remembering your “ABCs” in the heat of the moment, they dig into the hard-earned wisdom that only comes from time in the mountains.

Mike shares how practicing “purposeful patience” led him straight into a bugle fest, while Ryan opens up about a missed opportunity that taught him the balance between instinct and fundamentals. The two also debate calling versus sneaking, trade stories of close encounters, and remind us why success isn’t only about filling the freezer—it’s about learning, growing, and experiencing wild places that few ever see.

Whether you’re a bowhunter gearing up for next year, a rifle hunter about to hit the peak rut, or just someone who loves the hunt, this episode will leave you with laughs, takeaways, and plenty to think about before your next trip into the elk woods.