In this episode of the Hunt West Podcast, host Jaden Bales helps you decide whether to wait to apply for a limited quota license or put in for a general license to elk hunt in Wyoming. Jaden shares personal experiences and advises hunters on making decisions with 4-10 preference points. The episode also features a guest, Logan Dix, who discusses his grandpa's limited quota hunt, as they compare various hunting situations and expectations.

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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 episode of the Hunt West Podcast, we explore the ins and outs of Wyoming's general elk hunting opportunities. From the rugged mountains of the West to the open landscapes of the East and the thick forests of the South, we break down each region's unique challenges and advantages.

Learn how to align your hunting goals with your skills and experience and pick the right region and areas within the region for you. We also discuss the dynamics of Wyoming's general tag system and how to make the most of this hunting opportunity.

Whether you're a resident or a non-resident planning your next hunt, this episode offers a comprehensive guide to help you strategize for success.

🎧 Tune in to sharpen your knowledge and gear up for the adventure!

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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 episode of the Hunt West podcast, host Jaden Bales provides a soup-to-nuts overview of mule deer hunting across various Western states, including Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Utah, Oregon, Wyoming, and Washington.

He discusses the current state of mule deer populations, various management strategies, and the best hunting opportunities available. Jaden also covers specific hunting regulations, season dates, and draws for different weapon types, offering tips for planning successful hunting trips in 2025 and beyond. The episode aims to educate hunters on how to create multi-state hunting plans while considering differences in terrain, buck ratios, and public land access.

SHOW NOTES & MANAGMENT PLANS

00:33 Mule Deer Population Decline 

01:08 Planning Your Mule Deer Hunt

04:24 Colorado: The Mule Deer State

Colorado Mule Deer Management Plan >>

11:35 Idaho: General Season Opportunities

Idaho Mule Deer Management Plan >>

15:53 Nevada: Low Density, High Quality

Nevada Mule Deer Management Plan >> 

20:37 Montana: General Season Abundance

Montana Mule Deer Management Plan >>

24:59 Utah: Conservative Management

Utah Mule Deer Management Plan >> 

28:37 Oregon: Emerging Opportunities

Oregon Mule Deer Management Plan >>

32:42 Wyoming: Diverse Management

Wyoming Management Plans/Reports >>

39:00 Washington: Over-the-Counter Hunts

Washington Mule Deer Management Plan >>  42:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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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 breaks down the gist of the Wyoming nonresident elk application process, which are due on January 31st! He also goes into the various point levels, starting at the bottom and discussing how you'd go about building points while still hunting often in Wyoming, all the way to what he would do with 10 or more preference points. Not to mention, he gives an overview of the different General Regions and whether or not he thinks the Game and Fish will increase or decrease tags in each of them during the season setting process in April. 

If you'd like to read the top areas assessment he talks about writing for Eastman's, you can do that here >> 

If you're looking for some direction as to where to go with your Wyoming elk applications, Jaden is offering FREE 15-minute consultations with folks until January 15th. Be sure to hit him up at [email protected] if you'd like to get on the phone and talk about what your application should look like. 

We hope you enjoy this episode and get a lot of value from it!

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Contact Jaden at [email protected]

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

In today's episode, Jaden tries to answer the question as to whether you should plan to get on the Idaho First-Come, First-Serve OTC tag system for elk, mule deer, and/or whitetails. Your mileage may vary and the answer as to whether you should spend the $185 to get a license and sit in the queue for a tag is certainly person-dependent. 

One way you can increase the opportunities for hunting across the West is getting creative with your weapon choices, though! Idaho is a great example where traditional muzzleloader seasons are available in the over-the-counter tags and someone who picks up a muzzle-stuffer can really unlock some fun season dates if they are willing to learn a new weapon system. 

Lastly, Jaden covers some housekeeping items before heading out on his last guided hunt of the year, including giving a breakdown of the Unlimited Membership service with Hunt West. New this year, Unlimited Members get a FREE $200 tax stamp from Silencer Central AND a FREE year-long membership with MTNTOUGH's online programing. 

Reach out at [email protected] if you'd like to learn more about Hunt West Services. 

HUNT WEST SERVICES WEB PAGE

50% OFF YEARLY MTNTOUGH PROGRAM

EASTMANS' BLACK FRIDAY SALE

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Contact Jaden at [email protected]

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, host Jaden Bales dives into a packed agenda designed to help you level up your Western hunting game. Jaden kicks off with essential housekeeping for 2025 planning, including key dates for Idaho tag pickups, Alaska draw deadlines, and Wyoming elk applications. He shares insights from his own Idaho mule deer hunt, recounting the challenges of winter kill, finding productive areas, and the lessons learned in snowy, rugged terrain.

You'll also get Jaden’s gear breakdown featuring his top 10 picks to make late-season hunts more comfortable—just in time for Black Friday deals! Plus, hear about his collaboration with Eastman’s, new articles on elk hunting expectations, and how to navigate Wyoming’s evolving draw system.

Whether you’re strategizing for next year’s hunts or looking for gear recommendations, this episode has something for every Western hunter. TIMESTAMPS: 

00:00 |  Introduction and Podcast Format Update 00:46 |  Planning for 2025 Hunts 02:06 |  Idaho First Come First Serve Tags 07:25 |  Alaska and Wyoming Draws 09:35 |  Eastman's Contributions and Membership 13:58 |  Idaho Mule Deer Hunt Begins 30:40 |  Whitetail Doe Hunt with a Bow 33:37 |  Reflecting on the Hunting Season 35:16 |  Upcoming Hunts and Tags 37:34 |  Essential Late Season Gear 55:52 |  Final Thoughts and Gear Recommendations

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

Welcome back to the show! In this solo episode, Jaden gives his take on the main differences between eastern and western hunting as he returns home from his Michigan whitetail hunt. Along the way, he tells the story of his 4-day foray into chasing midwestern whitetails, the set up for his hunt, and ways folks from both styles can learn from each other to become better hunters. 

We hope you like this solo round storytelling session and "lessons-learned" podcast. 

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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, THE Cody Rich joins the show. For many, he needs no intro, but Cody is the host of the nearly 10-year-old Rich Outdoors Podcast as well as the Elk Hunt Podcast. He's a serial entrepreneur and one of the most influential mentors in my life and hunting. To tell you the truth, the Hunt West Podcast and Services would not be possible without Cody opening a ton of doors for me, so it only felt right for the first guest to be Mr. Rich.

In this show, we talk about how his approach to hunting has changed since the early days of podcasting, how expectations change with the podcast, and what makes different hunts special. Cody gives us his thoughts on late-season elk and deer hunting right now, how he'd take different approaches for different expectations and more. 

Listen to the Elk Hunt Podcast Here >>

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

Last week saw October come to a close, ending many deer and elk hunting seasons in Idaho and Wyoming. That said, the kickoff of November means states like Montana and Colorado are just now getting rolling. Plus, most folks with whitetail tags and cow elk hunts across the West are still looking for ways to get afield.

If you have tags to hunt, it’s an exciting part of the fall with winter weather, rutting bucks, and snowy elk hunting inevitable in the coming weeks.

Here’s this week’s Field Report!

If you’re into mule deer, elk hunting, or even spring bear hunts, Hunt West delivers tactical know-how without the fluff. If you like what you hear today, hit that subscribe button, share it with your buddies, and get ready to plan smarter, hunt harder, and enjoy the great outdoors like never before.

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Contact Jaden at [email protected]

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

Welcome to another Hunt West Podcast episode! Today, we're packing for a mule deer migration hunt where temps are forecasted to drop with wind chill in the negatives. This podcast is dedicated to helping you have a more comfortable and safe hunt in the late season when snowy and cold conditions are just what you are looking for to get animals on their feet and visible. Jaden covers ways you can make your camp more comfortable for less, manage food and water needs when the temps drop, and have your hunting rig dialed for getting in and out of your spots. 

We hope you enjoy this quick hitting episode of the Hunt West Podcast! 

If you’re into mule deer, elk hunting, or even spring bear hunts, Hunt West delivers tactical know-how without the fluff. If you like what you hear today, hit that subscribe button, share it with your buddies, and get ready to plan smarter, hunt harder, and enjoy the great outdoors like never before.

Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

Listen to the Elk Hunt Podcast Here >>

Contact Jaden at [email protected]

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