Fresh off a late-season Wyoming cow elk hunt, Jaden breaks down one of the most rewarding—and educational—hunts he's guided in years. What started as a freezer-filling family hunt turned into a masterclass on elk behavior, patience, wind discipline, and why cow elk tags deserve more respect in every Western hunter's long-term strategy.

Hunting with a family crew of three tag holders and two observers, this episode walks through three days of hard-earned success in wide-open sage flats and steep mountain terrain. From glassing massive winter herds miles away, navigating public-private boundaries, waiting out bad wind, and executing close-range rifle stalks, this hunt proved that cow elk hunting is freaking awesome.

Along the way, Jaden highlights why late-season cow hunts are incredible teachers: learning terrain, understanding herd movement, adapting when honey holes go dry, and getting real reps that translate directly to future bull hunts. With three cows down in three days—and plenty of laughs, cactus needles, and lessons learned—this episode makes the case that cow elk hunts are one of the best ways to stay sharp while building points and planning future seasons.

If you're thinking about elk hunting in 2026, this episode will challenge how you view cow tags—and might convince you they belong front and center in your Western hunting plan.

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• Check out the Wyoming Elk Webinar >>
• Support Wyoming Wild Sheep & Hunt Stags with Me >>
• Sign up for: The Argali Clothing Project >>

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 Wyoming hunter Derik Henderson—a guy who quietly stacks big elk and old mule deer without chasing trends or spot-burning country. Derik isn't a guide by trade, but for one special hunt, he's stepping into that role to raise money for the family of his late best friend.

The conversation covers far more than just antlers. This episode dives deep into what it actually takes to consistently hunt the top percent of animals on the landscape in a time when elk pressure is heavy and mule deer hunting feels harder than ever.

Derik breaks down how he hunts migration-based elk and mule deer, why glassing miles of country beats pounding boot leather, and how many of his biggest animals were killed shockingly close to roads—simply because nobody was looking in the right direction. He explains why patience, timing, and understanding animal behavior matter more than chasing the newest gear or walking endlessly without a plan.

The episode also outlines an auctioned Wyoming guided hunt that closes January 2nd, with proceeds going directly to support a widow and two young boys. The hunt offers the chance to pursue a rifle bull elk—and potentially a mule deer—in one of the same areas where Derik has killed multiple 350–370 class bulls over the years.

This is an honest, boots-on-the-ground conversation about modern western hunting—where success comes from observation, restraint, and showing up year after year, even when conditions aren't perfect.

If you're serious about rifle hunting elk and mule deer at a high level this episode is worth your time.

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• Follow Derik Henderson on Instagram: @backcountrymulies

• Auction details: Available via Derik's social channels (bidding closes January 2nd)

• Support Wyoming Wild Sheep & Hunt Stags with Me >>

• Sign up for: The Argali Clothing Project >>

• Check out the Wyoming Elk Webinar >>

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

Wisconsin elk nut Bryon Thompson joins Jaden on this episode to break down his back-to-back Wyoming elk hunts — one on a general tag, one on a limited quota — and what a decade of DIY elk hunting has really taught him. From early mistakes in Colorado OTC to learning how to find elk instead of just bumbling around, Bryon shares hard-earned insights, wild stories, and why good partners (like his buddy Benny) matter more than any gear list. If you're planning a Wyoming elk hunt or just trying to level up as an elk hunter, this episode is pure gold.

Hunt West Resources:

• Sign up for the Wyoming Nonresident Elk Webinar >>
• Hunt planning services & booking for 2026 >>
• Learn about the Argali Clothing Project >>

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

In this episode, Jaden pulls the curtain back on the guide life; how he stumbled into guiding, the wild hunts that shaped him, and the extremes of what really happens when you mix hunters, high expectations, and Mother Nature. He shares the story that launched his guiding career, the absolute worst guided hunt he ever had (yes, it involves shooting the wrong bull), and the hunts that remind him why guiding is still one of the most meaningful things he does.

If you're considering going guided, Jaden also breaks down the questions you should be asking, how to set realistic expectations, how far you need to be able to shoot, tipping guides, picking the right outfitter, and the honest reality of what guides wish hunters knew before showing up in camp.

A must-listen if you've ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes in elk and deer camps. Hope you enjoy this episode!

The Outfits Mentioned:

Extreme Outfitters (BG #249)

Backcountry Hunting Logistics (BG #272)

Hunt West Resources:

• Sign up for the Wyoming Nonresident Elk Webinar >>
• Hunt planning services & booking for 2026 >>
• Learn about the Argali Clothing Project >>

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

This week, Jaden breaks down his Western Hunting Love/Hate List—a stolen model from the Fantasy Football world that provides an honest take at which states actually match some common hunter archetypes heading into 2026. Whether you're a burnt-points elk guy trying to stay in the game, a grey-ghost fanatic obsessed with big mule deer, or a brand-new hunter stepping into the arena for the first time, this episode maps out where you should be looking—and where you might want to stay away from.

He also tackles one of the biggest problems in Western hunting today: relying on "honey holes." Jaden lays out why nothing in the West stays the same—wildfire, winterkill, pressure spikes, road changes, predators, development, drought—and why the only thing that actually works is a system you can repeat anywhere, any year.

If you want a clearer, smarter way to plan your hunts (without chasing rumor mills or getting smoked by tag systems), this episode is for you.

Hunt West Resources:

• Sign up for the Wyoming Nonresident Elk Webinar >>
• Hunt planning services & booking for 2026 >>
• Learn about the Argali Clothing Project at Argalioutdoors.com >>

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

https://www.instagram.com/wifiphysio/In this one, I bring on my buddy Dr. Rob Minturn, founder of the Wilderness Fitness Institute, to answer the burning question every hunter has right about now: "How do I recover from hunting season without turning into a busted can of biscuits?" We dig into fixing tight hips, rebuilding strength the right way, why your feet feel like hamburger, when to stretch (and when not to), why foam rolling your IT band is a lie, and how to transition from full-send hunting season to sitting at a desk without wrecking your body.

Rob also shares his go-to glute workout, his upcoming mobility guide for scouters and desk workers, and why every hunter should (apparently) get a pedicure.

Dr. Rob's Links Mentioned:

• Dr. Rob on Instagram >>

• Wilderness Fitness Institute >>

• The Wilderness Fitness Podcast >>

• The Mountain Readiness Quiz >>

Hunt West Resources:

• Red Stag Raffle For Wyoming Wild Sheep >>
• Hunt planning services & booking for 2026: Huntwestplanning.com >>
• Learn about the Argali Clothing Project at Argalioutdoors.com >>

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

The mule deer rut is rolling, and in this episode Jaden breaks down what he's seeing across Wyoming and Montana—early rutting in the desert, slower action in the mountains, and how weather is dictating daylight movement right now. He walks through a wild multi-mile stalk on a big Wyoming buck, a one-day Montana strike mission, and why the rut is really a bell curve you have to hunt pocket by pocket. If you're chasing November mule deer, this episode gives you the playbook: how to glass smarter, how to adjust for heat or storms, how to handle pressure, and how to keep your head straight when the plan blows up.

Thanks for listening! And if you like this show, be sure to share it with a friend.

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• Hunt planning services & booking for 2026: Huntwestplanning.com >>

• Learn about the Argali Clothing Project at Argalioutdoors.com >>

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

Whether you're cleaning up bloody gear or eating tag soup, this is the time of year when every hunter starts thinking ahead. In this solo episode, Jaden breaks down his 5-step system for planning next year's Western hunts — from setting your goals to getting yourself and your gear ready to execute.

He covers how to define what kind of hunt you actually want, research tags that fit your goals, truth your ideas on the map, build a realistic game plan, and start prepping now so you're not scrambling next fall.

It's equal parts mindset and mechanics — the same planning framework Jaden uses for his own hunts and for Hunt West clients every year.

You can download this checklist here >>

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• Hunt planning services & booking for 2026: Huntwestplanning.com >>

• Learn about the Argali Clothing Project at Argalioutdoors.com >>

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

In this week's episode, I sit down with my brother, Tyler Bales, to talk about his wife's upcoming late-season Oregon elk hunt: a classic roaded-country challenge where finding unpressured elk takes creativity, patience, and a little local knowledge.

We dive into how he scouted a heavily roaded unit with a fresh burn, what he's learning about elk using edges between timber, burns, and private land, and how to hunt smart when you've got family (and a baby) along for the ride.

You'll hear us talk through everything from reading sign and choosing glassing knobs, to camping logistics, and how to build an elk plan that balances real-life constraints with solid hunting strategy.

If you've ever hunted late-season elk in places where "road access" doesn't necessarily mean "easy elk," this one's for you. ___

• Hunt planning services & booking for 2026: Huntwestplanning.com >>

• Learn about the Argali Clothing Project at Argalioutdoors.com >>

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

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 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.