If you're hunting multiple states this fall, this episode is a must-listen.

In this solo episode, I break down the most common ways hunters get into trouble across the West and how to avoid them. From access and road navigation issues to hunter orange requirements and post-kill procedures, we cover the real-world mistakes that cost hunters time, money, and sometimes their entire hunt. The big takeaway is simple. Regulations are your bible. If you're relying only on apps or memory, you're taking a risk.

We dive into why tools like OnX are helpful but not perfect, and why you still need to verify roads using Forest Service maps, BLM data, and even county records. I also break down hunter orange requirements state by state, including Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming, plus what to do in states that don't require it. We cover what needs to happen immediately after the shot, including tagging, evidence of sex, and transport rules that vary more than most people realize.

I also share a personal story from a Wyoming bighorn sheep hunt where I made a mistake on a unit boundary and what happened after I called it in. That experience reinforced one of the most important lessons in this episode. When in doubt, call a game warden. They would rather answer your question than write you a ticket.

If you're building a multi-state hunting strategy, this episode will help you stay legal, stay confident, and avoid the kind of mistakes that can ruin a season.

Show Links:

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Learn about Hunt West Planning Services >>

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

Josh Jenni joins the Hunt West Podcast to swap bowhunting stories from the last few seasons. We dive into encounters with big mule deer during both early and late season archery hunts, including close calls on some stomper bucks, tough stalking conditions, and the lessons that come from opportunities that almost came together. Josh also shares the story of a hard-earned New Mexico archery elk that finally came together after a very good, but tough hunt.

This episode is perfect for hunters who enjoy the storytelling side of bowhunting while also picking up practical lessons about patience, stalk decisions, shot distance, and adapting when hunts don't go according to plan. If you like hearing real experiences chasing big game with a bow, this one's for you.

Show Links:

Learn about Eastman's Elite Membership >>

Check out Kifaru Gear >>

Sign up for Hunt West Planning Services >>

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

Western hunting only exists because the land and wildlife exist first. In this episode, I sit down with Zach Lentsch and Chris Allen of Protect Wyoming to talk about why hunters need to start paying attention to the political side of public lands, wildlife policy, and scientific management.

We dig into the growing push in Wyoming to transfer federal public lands, the ongoing fight around landowner tags and wildlife privatization, and why organizations like Protect Wyoming are stepping into the political arena to defend the North American model of wildlife conservation. Zach and Chris also explain how Senate Joint Resolution 9 recently passed in Wyoming and why it sends an important message about keeping public lands in public hands.

If you get nothing else from this episode, it should be to get out and vote during the primaries this election season. But for those who love a good conversation about the intersection of politics and what we love to do as hunters, this episode has a whole lot more.

Show Links: Protect Wyoming – protectwyoming.org

Instagram & Facebook – @ProtectWyoming

Sign up for the Montana Deer & Elk Webinar [March 10, 2026] >>

Learn about Eastman's Elite Membership >>

Check out Kifaru Gear >>

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

Western hunting is harder than you think. Not impossible. Not unattainable. Just harder than most people expect when they're looking at a grip-and-grin photo on Instagram. In this solo episode, I walk back through my first archery elk in 2019 that took seven seasons to seal the deal, nearly 200 mountain miles in one September, blown opportunities on opening morning, and a full send on the final weekend. I also revisit my 2022 180-inch mule deer that required 18 days hunting one basin. The point is simple. You only see the tip of the iceberg. You rarely see what's underwater.

We talk about the trade-offs that define Western hunting. Time. Physical effort. Money. Access. Fitness. Gear. Experience. You don't get to skip the cost. You only choose where you pay it.

Whether that means grinding miles, investing in scouting trips, paying for trespass access, bringing in help to shorten the learning curve, or even going guided, the effort shows up somewhere. And if your goal is simply to reset, hunt with buddies, and enjoy the mountains, that matters too. Just be honest about your expectations. Western hunting will demand something from you.

The question is what you're willing to trade for the level of success you're chasing.

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LINKS:

LandTrust (Montana Hunting Access) >>

Infinite Outdoors (Colorado & Wyoming Hunting Access) >>

Learn about the Bridger Reckon Presale at Bridgerwatch.com >>

Hunt West Webinar Series >>

Hunt West Planning Services >>

Six years ago, Kenneth Thrall cold-emailed me asking what would happen if he moved to Wyoming. Then, he bought a house in Riverton and believed if he went full send, he'd figure it out. Fast forward to today and he's a key part of Kifaru International, grinding behind the scenes and in the mountains. In this episode, we talk about what it really looks like to bet on yourself, start at the bottom, and go all in, whether it's in hunting or life. On the hunting side, we go deep into the chess match with a 9.5-year-old mule deer, the patience it takes to hunt mature bucks under pressure, and why sometimes fewer tags lead to better seasons. On the gear side, we dig into the new clothing launch from Kifaru, including innovative mid-layers, updated late-season systems, and what's coming down the pipeline for packs like the Hoodlum and 44 Mag. If you care about in-depth good hunting stories and a mindset that keep you more successful in the mountains, this one's for you.

LINKS:

Follow Kenneth @kenneththrall on IG >>

Check Out Kifaru's Gear at Kifaru.net >> Learn about Eastman's Elite at eastmans.com/elite >>

Hunt West Webinar Series >>

This week we're doing something a little different. We're rewinding back to a 2020 Muley Monday episode with former Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff member, J.T. Romantzke to talk mule deer management, buck ratios, season structures, crowding, and chronic wasting disease. At the time, Colorado was entering a new five-year season structure and beginning to lean harder into CWD management. A lot of big decisions were being made. A lot of theories were being tested.

Fast forward six years. Some things look similar. Some things look very different.

At the end of the episode, I break down where Colorado stands right now and why it's still one of the most important opportunity states in the West. If you're applying for mule deer or elk this year, this episode will help you understand what's changed, what hasn't, and how to think more critically about where you burn your points. Did this age well? I'll let you decide. In the end, I hope you gain valuable information about how mule deer are managed in Colorado and across the West with this throwback episode.

LINKS:

Check Out Kifaru's Gear at Kifaru.net >> Learn about the Bridger Reckon Presale at Bridgerwatch.com >>

Hunt West Webinar Series >>

Nothing is a guarantee when you're hunting out west, so this episode is all about building contingencies that keep you in the game no matter what. Jaden and his buddy Hayden Richins break down how they plan archery mule deer seasons when draw odds are shaky, wildfires are a real threat, and Plan A rarely survives first contact.

Using their own multi-state strategy as an example, they walk through smart backup planning across Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and even over-the-counter options, plus how to pivot once you're on the ground when glassing, terrain, or animal movement isn't working. If you've ever missed a draw, been burned by wildfire, or wasted days sticking to a bad plan, this episode will help you hunt more seasons and adapt faster when things go sideways.

____ Links:

Hayden Richins on Instagram @wynotwild >>

Hayden's Photography & Prints - wynotwild.com

Check Out Kifaru's Gear at Kifaru.net >> Sign Up for Eastmans' Elite Membership >>

Hunt West Webinar Series >>

What happens when everything goes right… and wrong… in the same hunting season? In this episode, Jaden sits down with Wyoming native Alex Aguirre to unpack what might be the most unhinged fall any hunter has ever lived through. We're talking mountain goat, moose, multiple elk, a giant mule deer, a commissioner's tag, lost horses (plural), grizzly bears on carcasses, night pack-outs, and a season that simply refused to slow down.

Alex walks through the full timeline, from tags "falling out of the sky" to grinding through early mornings, brutal weather, and back-to-back once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Along the way, he shares hard-earned lessons on horse packing, dealing with pressure, and why helping others kill animals often makes you a better hunter yourself. It's a masterclass in grit and staying in the game when plans blow up.

This episode is a long one, but absolutely worth it. If you've ever wondered what it really takes to maximize opportunity in the West, push through adversity, and keep showing up when things go sideways, this one will hit home. Grab a coffee, settle in, and enjoy one hell of a hunting story. ____ Links:

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership >>

Alex Aguirre on Instagram @adventurousalex22 >> Sign Up for Eastmans' Elite Membership >> Learn about the Bridger Reckon Presale >>

Hunt West Webinar Series >>

In this episode of the Hunt West Podcast, I sit down with my buddy Garrison Kinsel for a deep dive into what it actually takes to be successful on low-point and "easy draw" Western hunts. We cover Colorado elk strategy, the realities of the reissue list, OTC pressure, and why point creep is a trap so many hunters fall into. Garrison breaks down how elk behavior changes under pressure, how to find animals living in the cracks, and why hunting the same units repeatedly can teach you more than burning points on a so-called premium tag.

We also get into mule deer obsession in a big way. Summer scouting, early archery vs muzzleloader hunts, desert bucks that migrate miles overnight, and the mental grind of staying on a master glassing knob when everything in you wants to move. Garrison tells the full story of killing his wide Nevada buck after days of doubt, missed timing, and doing things the hard way instead of the easy way. If you're a hunter trying to level up without waiting a decade on points, this episode is packed with real-world lessons, hard-earned mistakes, and strategies you can actually use this season.

We hope you enjoy this episode.

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LINKS:

Find Garrison on Instagram @garrison_kinsel

If you want to learn more about what this means for your Colorado applications, whether it's elk or deer, be sure to check out the upcoming Hunt West Limited Webinars here >>

Learn more about the Bridger Watch Pre-Sale at Bridgerwatch.com

Sign up for the FREE Hunt West Digest Email >> Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.

In this solo episode of the Hunt West Podcast, Jaden breaks down his real-world gear evolution as a Western big game hunter. This episode walks through how boots, backpacks, optics, and tripods actually fit into a smart hunting strategy over time. From trail shoes and bargain boots to purpose-built mountain footwear, from budget packs to serious load-hauling frames, Jaden shares what worked, what failed, and what he'd do differently if he were starting over today.

This episode is built for hunters on a budget who want better hunts, not just better-looking gear. You'll hear practical advice on buying used gear, matching equipment to your hunt style, avoiding common gear mistakes, and investing in experiences over equipment. If you've ever wondered where to spend money first, where you can cut corners, and how to slowly build a dependable kit without blowing your tag budget, this episode lays out a clear, no-BS roadmap. We hope you enjoy!

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Links:

Learn about the Bridger Reckon Watch >>

Hunt West Tag Application Webinar Series >>

Sign up for the FREE Hunt West Digest Email >>