I Went to the Woods

Alaska Wild Project's Brandon Fifield recaps his moose hunt. We also talk about having intense experiences vs. tempting dangerous situations, meat care in bear territory, peppered game bags, urine-laced caribou livers, finding spots, respecting someone else's spot and looking out for each other.

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As host of a successful podcast, Chad Ryker from Backcountry Rookies has talked to many hunters about many different types of hunts so we break down what is most important when telling a story, the type of guests we like having on, the ability of some big names to stay honest and humble after they get big and, of course, our hunting plans for the rest of the fall.

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In this replay from 2019, I talk about approaching muskegs quietly, using creeks as cover and expecting deer bedded in the transition. On this hunt, I was moving slow enough that I saw a deer bedded in brush well before the edge of a muskeg. He bumped, but I didn't rush after him. I gave a few quiet calls after a few minutes, then slowly moved toward the muskeg. He had only bumped to the edge of the muskeg. It was a quick and easy shot. Then as I waited for my buddies, a boat came in and dropped off a hunter in the same cove where we were anchored. Madness.

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In part 2 of how to hunt Sitka blacktail deer in Southeast Alaska, I replay one of my earliest episodes. The guys behind Drop Shot Calls invited me over to talk hunting, calling and all things Prince of Wales living. The recording is done at their bench as they are working on their calls so there is authentic background noise and examples of how they call to bring in the big bucks they are known for.

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In part 1 of how to hunt Sitka blacktail deer in Southeast Alaska, I go back to episode 117 for a discussion with my buddy Ryan John. We talk scouting muskegs, what Google Earth can't show you, the importance of hunting the entire way to the muskeg not just the muskeg itself, how long to stay, being quiet, and when to eat snacks.

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Harrison Gottschling is back to recap the Alaska caribou hunt we previewed in episode 224. We talk about coping with the snow, changing plans, stalking caribou success, holding out for big animals in tough-to-draw units and the soundtrack of a long pack out.

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In this episode I talk with Juneau resident Dallin Hanchett about his Kodiak mountain goat hunt next month. We discuss expectations, gear, goat populations, conditioning, dream hunts and guilty pleasure Lower 48 food.

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John Abernathey is the man behind the Destination Elk camera. Fresh off filming Corey Jacobsen and Donnie Drake's elk hunt in Alaska, John and I talk angles, gear, editing, software and tips for filming hunts. We discuss GoPro audio, DSLRs, filming in the rain, and what happens when Corey goes into predator mode.

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Hike up a mountain with a tent and stove? Yeah. Kevin Timm is the owner of Seek Outside, the manufacturer of the hot tent in which I spent the majority of what would have been a rainy, foggy, miserable alpine hunt in September had it not been for my buddy who owned one of these tents. I do not own one, but I wanted to track down Kevin and talk about the technology behind the tents, what makes them dependable and perform well in all Alaskan conditions.

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Brandon Fifield is back to talk about his Dall sheep success. We discuss the importance of a positive mental attitude, the reality of hunts everyone wants to do, the state of sheep populations, the gear and strategies for moose hunting and the sadness of lumping physical challenges in with toxic masculinity, because engaging in challenges create self esteem more than comfort.

Brandon is a co-founder of the Alaska Wild Project.

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