In this solo round, Jaden breaks down one of his favorite times of year—the pre-rut window when mule deer bucks start slipping out of their hidey holes and showing daylight movement, but haven't gone full rut yet. It's that sweet spot where weather, timing, and patience make or break a hunt.

Jaden shares what he's learned from hunting and guiding across the West, including:

• Premium Max-Point Migration Hunts — what true migration behavior looks like and why sitting tight beats hiking miles.

• General Tag Late-Season Observations — how pressure and terrain drive mature buck behavior even when rut activity ramps up.

• Colorado 2020 Pre-Rut Lessons — how one snowy, aspen-covered hunt taught the value of intentional movement and sticking it out.

• His Real-Time Game Plan — what he's looking for this week while guiding a Wyoming low country tag, from staging bucks to terrain funnels and weather windows.

From elevation bands to glassing hard, this episode is a tactical masterclass in hunting the edge between bachelor groups and the rut.

Mentioned:

• Idaho Tag Draw Webinar — Nov 5 @ 6 PM MT • $47 Seat → Click here for more info

• Hunt West Digest — Weekly Sunday email with tactics, tips, and stories.

CTA: If you're planning a hunt, book a Hunt West Session or Plan for 2026 now—spots are already filling. Visit huntwestplanning.com for details.

When you've been hunting with someone for over 25 years, you know the laughs, the screwups, and the grind are just part of the deal. In this episode, Jaden recaps a Wyoming pronghorn hunt with his lifelong friend Kain — a trip filled with highs, lows, and the kind of luck that only comes when you beat 7% odds in the tag draw.

Kain flew in from Oregon with a freezer to fill, and the duo went to work chasing antelope across windy plains, dealing with wild weather, wardens, and whitetail detours. Jaden dives into what went right (and wrong) with their tag applications, how the Wyoming pronghorn draw has changed fast, and what he learned from hunting a 14% public-land unit where success required equal parts patience and persistence.

From fried heart for lunch to last-minute meat-cooler math at the airport, this hunt was full of classic Hunt West moments — gritty, funny, and real.

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• Why pronghorn draw odds in Wyoming can surprise even experienced hunters

• How to build a smarter application strategy for 2026 and beyond

• The mental grind of hunting low-access units — and how to finally connect

• The white-flag trick for pronghorn…and what not to do

• A lesson in packing meat for flights that might save you a couple hundred bucks

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• Join the New Idaho OTC Elk and Deer Draw Webinar >>

• Check out the Argali Clothing Project >>

• Book your 2026 Hunt West Plan or Session >>

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

In this episode of the Hunt West Podcast, Jaden sits down with Hunt West client and now first-time archery elk killer, Anthony Ortiz, to unpack a four-year journey that went from missed chances and blown stalks to punching tags on a giant Colorado bull AND a Wyoming pronghorn—all this season.

Anthony opens up about what it really takes to go from hopeful to lethal:

• The mistakes that taught him more than success ever could (hint: wind and impatience were his biggest teachers)

• The shooting practice that actually matters—training in awkward, real-world positions

• How a smart approach to scouting, access, and persistence led to two incredible hunts in the same year

Jaden and Anthony also dig into the mental side of elk hunting—the adrenaline dump, the blackouts, the heartbreak, and the payoff when you finally get it right. If you're new to archery elk hunting or just grinding for that first bull, this episode will hit home.

Listen for:

• The moment Anthony realized he had finally done it

• Why slowing down and thinking for five seconds can change your hunt

• The best advice he'd give to anyone still chasing their first elk

• How preparation and planning pay off years down the line

Takeaway: Success in elk hunting isn't built in one season—it's the product of failure, reflection, and sticking with it long enough to connect the dots.

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• Hunt planning services & booking for 2026: Hunt West Planning Website >>

• Try the AI Hunt Buddy free this fall—get answers to your hunt questions, even when Jaden's off-grid.

• Want to hunt Red Stags in Argentina with me next year!? Buy a raffle ticket and support Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation while you're at it >>

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

This two-for-one podcast starts with a scouting report from a tent at 10,000 feet and 8 miles deep in the backcountry before Wyoming's general season rifle opener. This gives you a look into the mind of elk hunters the night before season and how to set yourself up for success on opening day.

What followed was the full execution of a big mountain elk hunting playbook — managing pressure, weather, mindset, and logistics to fill two tags on nice bulls.

From lightning storms and muddy pack-outs to navigating trailheads full of other hunters, this episode breaks down how we found elk in sheep country, and what it took to execute a plan that worked — twice.

Topics covered:

• Managing hunter pressure eight miles deep

• Why "checking off unknowns" matters in new areas

• When to walk past elk to find elk

• How to stay calm when people and weather test you

• Why mountain bull elk usually stay high, not in the valleys

We hope you enjoy this episode to get you stoked for any upcoming rifle elk seasons you may have! 

P.S. It is also available on the Elk Hunt Podcast by Cody Rich. 

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• Hunt planning services & booking for 2026: Hunt West Planning Website >>

• Try the AI Hunt Buddy free this fall—get answers to your hunt questions, even when Jaden's off-grid.

• Want to hunt Red Stags in Argentina with me next year!? Buy a raffle ticket and support Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation while you're at it >>

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

In this solo field report, Jaden breaks down the final days of September elk hunting and shares the full story from a recent guided hunt. From bumping into bugling bulls right out of the truck to finally calling in a heavy seven-point for his client Steve, this hunt was a crash course in late-rut elk behavior.

You'll hear how two mature bulls in the same unit played completely different games—one running a massive herd like a cage fighter, the other hanging timid on the sidelines after taking his lumps. Jaden walks through how they set up calling sequences, used wind thermals to their advantage, and why patience in the middle of the day can pay off.

This episode also looks ahead to the first rifle seasons of October:

• Why herd bulls and satellites behave differently as September winds down.

• How to adjust calling strategies for pressured, call-shy elk.

• What to expect from October storms for both elk and mule deer.

• Why staying high pays off, even after the first snows.

If you're closing out archery season or gearing up for rifle, this one is packed with real-world lessons to keep you in the game when it matters most.

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• Hunt planning services & booking for 2026: Hunt West Planning Website >>

• Try the AI Hunt Buddy free this fall—get answers to your hunt questions, even when Jaden's off-grid.

• Want to hunt Red Stags in Argentina with me next year!? Buy a raffle ticket and support Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation while you're at it >>

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

Some hunts you dream about forever. Others just come together in a way you'll never forget. This episode is one of those.

Gray and I headed into steep, gnarly mule deer country with a short window, a couple of backup plans, and low expectations. By the end of opening day, we were standing over not one, but two high-country bucks—mine a true giant, and his a gnarly, heavy buck that any hunter would be thrilled with.

In this episode, we relive every part of the hunt:

• The brutal climb in and the storm that almost broke camp.

• Spotting a bachelor group of bucks and working into range.

• The logistics of how we hauled two bucks and camp off the mountain.

• Why mule deer are such addicting animals—and how this hunt stacked up to elk and turkey seasons past.

It's not just a hunt recap—it's a story of two good ol' boys working together and chasing deer in country that feels more like sheep hunting than anything else.

If you've ever wondered why mule deer have such a hold on western hunters, this story says it all.

• Hunt planning services & booking for 2026: Hunt West Planning Website >>

• Try the AI Hunt Buddy free this fall—get answers to your hunt questions, even when Jaden's off-grid.

• Click here to apply for the Hunt West Unlimited Membership >>

Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

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

Most folks dream of chasing a screaming bull, but let's be honest—cow elk hunts are where the odds (and the freezers) are stacked in your favor. In this solo round, Jaden breaks down the Cow Elk Playbook—why cow hunts are one of the best opportunities in the West right now, and how to approach them through each phase of the elk's yearly cycle.

• Why cow elk tags are often the best entry point into elk hunting.

• Seasonal tactics:

  • Late September (rut): how to use bugles to find cow herds.

  • October: glassing, spotting & stalking, and focusing on security cover.

  • November: tracking herds with storms and hunting the public/private interface.

  • Winter range hunts (Dec–Jan): big herds, access challenges, and how to pull it off.

• The biggest mistakes hunters make when chasing cows (hint: it's not as easy as some say).

• Shot discipline when hunting big herds, and how to handle the pack-out.

Cow elk hunts aren't consolation prizes—they can be fun, skill-sharpening, meat-in-the-freezer adventures. Whether you're a new elk hunter looking to get "reps," or a seasoned veteran who just wants to hunt more, this episode gives you the playbook to make it happen.

• Hunt planning services & booking for 2026: Hunt West Planning Website >>

• Try the AI Hunt Buddy free this fall—get answers to your hunt questions, even when Jaden's off-grid.

Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

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

In this episode of the Hunt West Podcast, Jaden sits down with client and now good friend Chris Atkins to trace his rapid journey from adult-onset hunter to fulfilling a lifelong-level dream: an Alaska Dall sheep hunt.

Chris didn't grow up hunting. In fact, he didn't pick it up until his late 30s while working as an art curator in Minnesota. What started with pheasants and turkeys quickly expanded into Western big game — antelope and mule deer in Wyoming, a free-range aoudad hunt in Texas, and finally the big one: a Dall sheep hunt in Alaska for his 50th birthday.

You'll hear how Chris used each hunt as both practice and preparation for the mountains of Alaska — from learning body awareness crawling after pronghorn, to handling glassing and long-range shots on aoudad, to dialing in gear and fitness for the sheep mountains. Along the way, he shares the mindset, financial discipline, and community support it took to make the dream a reality.

This episode is packed with lessons for anyone chasing their own "someday hunt" — whether it's sheep, elk, or just a first trip out West.

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Learn about Hunt West Unlimited Membership here >> 

Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>

Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

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

In this bonus solo round, Jaden talks with you straight from the road with a fresh field update: a once-in-a-lifetime Wyoming cow moose hunt, the chaos and camaraderie of packing out 400 pounds of meat, and some bonus elk encounters that prove the rut is heating up in some places.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The wild story of arrowing the same moose twice (and why moose are tougher than nails)

• How a crew of friends turned the pack-out into a celebration

• First-hand elk rut action from the first week of September

• Practical tips for hunting elk around full moons, hot weather, and heavy pressure

If you're getting ready for your own hunt this fall, this field report will give you a clear picture of what's happening on the mountain right now—and how you can adjust your game plan for the future. 

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Learn about Hunt West planning services >> 

Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>

Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

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

Welcome to September — the month elk hunters live for. In this episode, I sit down with Cody Rich, longtime mentor and host of The Elk Hunt Podcast, to talk through the 201-level elk hunting playbook.

We dive into the real differences between a "101 hunter" who's just out walking the woods and a "201 hunter" who consistently finds and kills elk year after year. Cody breaks down what separates the average Joe from the top 10% of elk hunters — and how you can bridge that gap this season.

Inside this episode, you'll hear us cover:

• 🚫 How not to be "Average Joe" on opening weekend

• 🐂 Why finding people-free country often matters more than finding "perfect elk habitat"

• 📍 How Cody adapts tactics in pressured units vs. limited-entry hunts

• 🎯 Tools in the elk hunter's toolbox — when to rely on one skill vs. build new ones

• 🔥 Contingencies for wildfire, pressure, and weather changes mid-season

• 🗺️ Backpack hunting, wallows, glassing, and why "diesel sometimes kills more elk than boot leather"

• 🧠 The mindset shift from chasing opportunity to intentionally picking the skill you want to sharpen

Cody also shares stories from his own hunts — from missing bulls on opening day to glassing elk seven miles away with binos — and gives one clear assignment for anyone wanting to level up their elk hunting game this September.

We hope you enjoy the show!

Subscribe to the Elk Hunt Course at Elkhunt201.com >>

Listen to the Elk Hunt Podcast here >> 

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Learn about Hunt West planning services >> 

Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>

Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

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