In this special episode, Jaden sits down with Jeff Lund—Alaska teacher, seasoned blacktail hunter, and host of the On Step Podcast—for a deep dive into gear, strategy, and expectations for their upcoming DIY blacktail deer hunt in Southeast Alaska. They break down layering systems, managing moisture, alpine glassing techniques, and why hunting local-style is sometimes better than going big. Whether you're a first-time blacktail hunter or a seasoned mule deer guy looking to branch out, there's a ton of real-world insight packed into this one.

Give Jeff’s show, the On Step Podcast, a listen—especially if you enjoy thoughtful storytelling and raw, unfiltered talk from Alaska's public lands.

🔗 Find Jeff's podcast here: On Step Podcast on Apple

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You can now get help on your hunts without booking a call! The Virtual Hunt Mentor is up and running and ready to help you get your plans in order—24/7, no scheduling required.

It’s trained on everything I’ve said or written about western hunts in the last 6 years. If you’re trying to build a gear list, pick a week to hunt, or figure out where to put your glass on opening morning, this tool can help.

It doesn't cost a dime to give it a whirl and it's always available even when I'm not.

👉 Try the Virtual Hunt Mentor at Huntwestplanning.com >>

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Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

Learn about Hunt West planning services >> 

Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>

Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.

In this special crossover episode, Jaden Bales joins Brian Lueddeke on the Twilight Hunter's Podcast for a deep-dive into Western tag systems, drawing strategies, and how to secure hunting opportunities every year—especially if you’re getting started later in life.

From preference points and random draws to budgeting for multi-state hunts, Jaden and Brian break down practical tips for hunters who don’t want to sit on the sidelines. They also swap stories from their own hunting journeys—including the time Jaden and his brother doubled on bucks in Wyoming—and talk through the value of going on meaningful hunts with family.

We hope you enjoy the show and that it helps create some organization in all the western hunting tag game chaos. 

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You can now get help on your hunts without booking a call! The Virtual Hunt Mentor is up and running and ready to help you get your plans in order—24/7, no scheduling required.

It’s trained on everything I’ve said or written about western hunts in the last 6 years. If you’re trying to build a gear list, pick a week to hunt, or figure out where to put your glass on opening morning, this tool can help.

It doesn't cost a dime to give it a whirl and it's always available even when I'm not.

👉 Try the Virtual Hunt Mentor at Huntwestplanning.com >>

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Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

Learn about Hunt West planning services >> 

Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>

Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.

On this episode of the Hunt West Podcast, Jaden sits down with longtime buddy and seasoned sufferer Hayden Richins to talk about all the times things didn’t go according to plan in the field. From frozen rifles and “yard sale” fire-starting to saltwater-induced butt bombs and three-arrow tree slaps, this one’s a backcountry blooper reel with some hard-earned lessons baked in.

If you've ever missed a shot, lost your cool, or packed out meat with a broken spirit (and a broken water filter), this episode will hit home and probably make you laugh out loud.

Follow Hayden on Instagram at @wynotwild

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You can now can tap into my brain without booking a full consulting call. The Virtual Hunt Buddy is up and running and ready to help you get your plans in order—24/7, no scheduling required.

It’s trained on everything I’ve said or written about western hunts in the last 6 years. If you’re trying to build a gear list, pick a week to hunt, or figure out where to put your glass on opening morning, this tool can help.

It doesn't cost a dime to give it a whirl.

👉 Try the Hunt Buddy Here >>

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Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

Learn about Hunt West planning services >> 

Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>

Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.

In this solo round, Jaden breaks down the fundamentals of boots-on-the-ground scouting for mule deer and elk. Whether you're heading to the high country, the desert lowlands, or planning a rut hunt in between, this episode serves as a crash course in when, where, and how to scout. From picking glassing knobs to understanding deer and elk behavior by season, it’s a no-BS overview fueled by listener questions that’ll help you get more out of your time afield. Perfect for first-timers or anyone looking to level up their pre-season prep.

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You can now can tap into my brain without booking a full consulting call. The Virtual Hunt Buddy is up and running and ready to help you get your plans in order—24/7, no scheduling required.

It’s trained on everything I’ve said or written about western hunts in the last 6 years. If you’re trying to build a gear list, pick a week to hunt, or figure out where to put your glass on opening morning, this tool can help.

It doesn't cost a dime to give it a whirl.

👉 Try the Hunt Buddy Here >>

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Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

Learn about Hunt West planning services >> 

Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>

Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.

If you've ever thought, “I want to hunt elk out West, but I don’t know where to start,” this episode is your launchpad. Today’s show is a special crossover—Weston Homa from the Run the Rack podcast flips the mic and interviews Jaden about how Eastern whitetail hunters can realistically break into Western hunting.

From over-the-counter tags and reissue strategies to what gear actually matters and how to build a multi-year hunt plan, this one’s packed tighter than your elk packout dreams.

We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you like this podcast not only share it with a friend, but go check out more of Weston's work at Run the Rack Outdoors, too. 

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You can now can tap into my brain without booking a full consulting call. The Virtual Hunt Buddy is up and running and ready to help you get your plans in order—24/7, no scheduling required.

It’s trained on everything I’ve said or written about western hunts in the last 6 years. If you’re trying to build a gear list, pick a week to hunt, or figure out where to put your glass on opening morning, this tool can help.

It doesn't cost a dime to give it a whirl.

👉 Try the Hunt Buddy Here >>

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Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

Learn about Hunt West planning services >> 

Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>

If you want to go to Argentina in 2026 THERE ARE ONLY TWO SPOTS LEFT! Contact Jaden at [email protected] to learn more.

Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.

If you've ever wondered what it really takes to hunt deep in the backcountry—and make it back out in one piece—you’ll want to listen to this one.

Jaden sits down with Brad Brooks, founder of Argali, to talk all things backpack hunting logistics. From elk vs. mule deer strategies, to hauling meat solo, to common gear mistakes—this conversation is full of hard-earned lessons and straight-shooting wisdom.

Brad shares personal stories (including a 7.5-mile elk packout with a camera guy), breaks down his “spoke-and-wheel” base camp method, and dishes on why quilts are overrated and your boots probably suck (unless you found the right ones for you).

We hope you enjoy the episode.

Watch and Subscribe to Argali's YouTube here >>

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You can now can tap into my brain without booking a full consulting call. The Virtual Hunt Buddy is up and running and ready to help you get your plans in order—24/7, no scheduling required.

It’s trained on everything I’ve said or written about western hunts in the last 6 years. If you’re trying to build a gear list, pick a week to hunt, or figure out where to put your glass on opening morning, this tool can help.

It doesn't cost a dime to give it a whirl.

👉 Try the Hunt Buddy Here >>

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Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

Learn about Hunt West planning services >> 

Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>

If you want to go to Argentina in 2026 THERE ARE ONLY TWO SPOTS LEFT! Contact Jaden at [email protected] to learn more.

Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.

In this episode, Jaden takes you along on a midday glassing session from a real knob in Montana, where he breaks down how to effectively find—and use—glassing points to locate game. This isn’t about “killing spots,” it’s about how and where to find animals before you can make a move. Whether you’re e-scouting this summer or mid-hunt and struggling to find critters, Jaden lays out a practical, detailed framework to help you locate game from glassing knobs using real hunting scenarios and terrain examples.

• How to e-scout for effective glassing knobs

• Terrain features that make great glassing knobs (e.g. logging roads, elevation benches, and steep draws)

• Pros and cons of glassing from roads, knobs, and highway pullouts

• When to prioritize elevation vs. accessibility

• How thermals, wind, and sun exposure affect animal behavior—and how to glass accordingly

• Gear tips: simple optics setups and gridding methods for scanning terrain

• Real stories of successful deer and elk hunts built around strategic glassing (including a double buck harvest with his brother)

We hope you enjoy this show!

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You can now can tap into my brain without booking a full consulting call. The Virtual Hunt Buddy is up and running and ready to help you get your plans in order—24/7, no scheduling required.

It’s trained on everything I’ve said or written about western hunts in the last 6 years. If you’re trying to build a gear list, pick a week to hunt, or figure out where to put your glass on opening morning, this tool can help.

You get 3 free messages to try it. After that, it’s just $10.

👉 Try the Hunt Buddy Here >>

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Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

Learn about Hunt West planning services >> 

Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>

If you want to go to Argentina in 2026 THERE ARE ONLY TWO SPOTS LEFT! Contact Jaden at [email protected] to learn more.

Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.

What does it take to be a top-tier sheep guide in modern-day Wyoming? Jimmy Owens of Lost Creek Outfitters gives us the behind-the-scenes look at a sheep hunt—logistics, expectations, glassing strategies, and the high-pressure stakes of once-in-a-lifetime tags. Learn why mules matter, how shooting trumps stamina, and what it's really like chasing rams in grizzly country. For hunters who dream of drawing a tag or just want to know what it takes, this one is a dang good one. 

Please note: we recorded these live at the Wild Sheep Expo in Casper and while audio quality may not be crystal clear, the content is awesome!

If you want to support Wyoming Wild Sheep AND have a chance at a 2025 Wyoming Commissioner License, be sure to enter the Last Chance Commissioner Tag Raffle here >>

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Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

Learn about Hunt West planning services >> 

Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>

If you want to go to Argentina in 2026 THERE ARE ONLY TWO SPOTS LEFT! Contact Jaden at [email protected] to learn more.

Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show. His new single, "Any Old Reason" is out now!

In his wild ride through decades of conservation work, Kevin Hurley—Vice President for Conservation Emeritus at the Wild Sheep Foundation—shares the untold tales of bighorn sheep research from the 1980s to today. From TWO plane crashes to backpacking solo into Wyoming’s most remote basins looking for bighorns, Kevin’s lived experience paints a picture of how modern sheep management was built on grit, passion, and the occasional ram-shaped miracle. This episode is part history lesson, part survival story, and all heart for the wild sheep of the West.

Please note: we recorded these live at the Wild Sheep Expo in Casper and while audio quality may not be crystal clear, the content is awesome!

We hope you enjoy this episode.

If you want to support Wyoming Wild Sheep AND have a chance at a 2025 Wyoming Commissioner License, be sure to enter the Last Chance Commissioner Tag Raffle here >>

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Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

Learn about Hunt West planning services >> 

Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>

If you want to go to Argentina in 2026 THERE ARE ONLY TWO SPOTS LEFT! Contact Jaden at [email protected] to learn more.

Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show. His new single, "Any Old Reason" is out now!

If you care about the future of wild sheep in Wyoming and across the West, this episode is for you. Executive Director of the Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation, Katie Cheesbrough, walks us through the behind-the-scenes work that keeps bighorns on the mountain—from prescribed burns and cheatgrass battles to science-informed transplants and working across private lands. It's a boots-on-the-ground conversation about what is actual conservation looks like, and how every tag, dollar, and decision plays a role in the bigger picture.

We hope you enjoy this episode.

Please note: we recorded these live at the Wild Sheep Expo in Casper and while audio quality may not be crystal clear, the content is awesome!

If you want to support Wyoming Wild Sheep AND have a chance at a 2025 Wyoming Commissioner License, be sure to enter the Last Chance Commissioner Tag Raffle here >>

_____

Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

Learn about Hunt West planning services >> 

Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>

If you want to go to Argentina in 2026 THERE ARE ONLY TWO SPOTS LEFT! Contact Jaden at [email protected] to learn more.

Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show. His new single, "Any Old Reason" is out now!