September means velvet bucks, blown stalks, and long days behind the glass. In this episode, Jaden sits down with Hayden Richins (@wynotwild) to talk all things September mule deer hunting.

The two swap stories from past hunts, break down archery and rifle strategies, and get honest about the mistakes (and lessons) that come with chasing deer in September. From velvet to hard horn, ambush setups to full-send stalks, this one is packed with practical insights and plenty of laughs.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why September deer hunting is special (and brutal)

• Lessons learned from blown stalks (and why practice stalks matter)

• Ambush vs. spot-and-stalk strategies in early season

• How to work with (not against) landowners when recovering deer

• Rifle hunting September bucks in the high country

• Picking your trophy expectations depending on the weapon in hand

• Why time and pressure still make the best hunting “diamonds”

Whether you’re a die-hard mule deer hunter or just gearing up for your first archery season, this episode will leave you with tactics you can use on your next September hunt.

👉 Follow Hayden on Instagram: @wynotwild

Do you have more questions about your hunt related to this topic? Ask the AI Hunt Mentor things like:

• How do you plan a stalk for a buck on a northeast slope? 
• What should my day look like for an archery September mule deer hunt?

It's now FREE so use the AI Hunt Mentor here to find out what you should do >>

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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.

Every hunt you go on has two stories: the one you’re living in the moment, and the one that quietly sets up your future seasons.

In this bonus episode of the Hunt West Podcast, Jaden lays out how you can use your 2025 hunts to build momentum into 2026 and beyond. Whether you’re driving through prime elk country, eyeing a future mule deer unit, or keeping a finger on application deadlines, the key is to hunt with your eyes open—not just for what’s in your crosshairs, but for what’s coming next.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How pulling over to glass on your way to this year’s tag can bank you a scouting trip for 2026.

• The power of “swap seasons, swap species”—using intel from elk hunts to plan deer hunts (and vice versa).

• Why the application calendar doesn’t wait—and how to stay ahead of Idaho, Wyoming, and Arizona draws.

• Practical tips for logging notes, dropping OnX pins, and creating your personal library of hunting intel.

Special Offer: Book a Hunt West Session before Sept. 1st and get a bonus mini-application strategy to help you maximize your time afield this fall and set yourself up for future success. All you need to do is send a quick email to [email protected] to get started.

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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.

In this solo episode of the Hunt West Podcast, Jaden fires up the mic to deliver the pep talk every hunter needs before stepping into the mountains this fall. Too often, hunters head into a season weighed down by excuses, negative chatter, and unrealistic expectations. Jaden pushes back hard on that mindset with a no-excuses, stay-positive approach that will help you make the most of whatever your hunt throws at you.

From wildfires and winter kills to snowstorms, hunting pressure, and quiet elk, Jaden shares real-world stories and lessons learned from years in the field—proving that backup plans, grit, and adaptability are what separate those who go home early from those who notch tags and create lasting memories.

You’ll learn:

• How to shut out the naysayers and trust your own preparation.

• Why every hunt will go “wrong”—and why that’s part of the magic.

• How to build backup plans for fire closures, snowstorms, and hunting pressure.

• The right way to handle burnout, setbacks, and unexpected challenges.

• Why positivity and grit matter more than gear or even the tag in your pocket.

If you’ve ever doubted whether it’s worth the trip, or felt like the odds are stacked against you, this is the mindset reset to listen to before hunting season kicks off.

Do you have more questions about your hunt related to this topic? Ask the AI Hunt Mentor things like:

• How do I plan for a wildfire in my September elk hunt?
• What do I do if I see a major snowstorm coming in the forecast on my deer hunt?

Use the AI Hunt Mentor here to find out what you should do >>

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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.

This week on the Hunt West Podcast, I sit down with one of the most unique hunters you’ll ever meet — Cade Cole. If Jeremiah Johnson and a backcountry rifleman had a kid who grew up in blue jeans, it’d be Cade. He’s a young guy with an old soul, a no-nonsense attitude, and the kind of woodsmanship that doesn’t come from gadgets — it comes from time in the mountains.

We get into:

• Why Cade hunts with simple, old-school gear, and still gets it done year after year

• The story behind his “primitive” elk hunt with no food, no water, no modern comforts, just a trad bow and his pony

• Real rifle proficiency vs. long-range obsession

• Still-hunting tactics that actually work on elk and mule deer

• How mental toughness often beats physical fitness in the mountains

...And so much more. If you want to sharpen your shooting, toughen up your mindset, and maybe ditch a few “high-speed” crutches along the way, this episode is a masterclass in keeping it simple and hunting hard.

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Watch Cade Cole's Elk Hunt Video Here >>

Learn about Hunt West planning services >> 

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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 solo round, Hunt West host Jaden Bales dives deep into one of the most important — yet often overlooked — aspects of hunting: what happens after the shot. Fresh back from a successful Alaska blacktail trip, Jaden breaks down his years of trial-and-error experience building a streamlined kill kit and a field processing system that works whether you’re backpacking miles from the truck or hunting private ground.

You’ll learn:

• How to choose and use the right game bags for your style of hunting

• Knife choices — replaceable blade vs. fixed blade — and when to use each

• How to pack meat efficiently for a safe, comfortable pack-out

Whether you’re heading out for antelope on the plains or elk in steep timber, this episode will help you fine-tune your post-shot plan so you bring home the best possible meat and make the pack-out safer, cleaner, and faster.

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Listen to the On Step Alaska here >>

Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

Learn about Hunt West planning services >> 

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

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.