I Went to the Woods

My buddy Ryan John and I both have plans to chase mountain goats on over the counter tags in August. In this episode we talk our strategies, what he’s learned, how goat hunting is different than alpine deer, why he no longer weighs his pack during training hikes, and the considerations that come with hunting goats with a bow.

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We're back! I didn't make time to podcast the last two weeks because I was outside hiking, camping and looking for fish. In this episode I talk about social activities outside, masks as a guard against Covid and the government, and pressure cooking salmon.

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Is it better to fish new water with only a vague idea of what might work and what's possible, or after having seen a YouTube video of the best the water has to offer? I ponder this with my buddy Kurt Johnson is a firefighter in Lodi, California. We talk about evaluating content online, his latest trip to the Truckee River in California and my trip to the North Tongue in Wyoming. We close up with thoughts on the importance of a hobby that helps you unwind and take a break from the mental strains of living in out weird times. As a firefighter, his stress levels can be off the charts, but when he comes home, he has his wife, his dog and his hobby of fly fishing to keep him not only sane, but happy.

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Mule deer results are out for Wyoming and this guy was lucky enough to draw one. In this quick episode I talk about my lack of luck drawing cool tags, finding new opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, the importance of the reset in times like these, and the dangers of recreational anger.

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I e-scouted three spots for a potential mule deer hunt in Wyoming and had Wyoming Wildlife Federation's marketing director Jaden Bales evaluate my spots. Without giving the specific areas away, I breakdown why I chose them, and Jaden evaluates my work. We discuss vegetation, land texture, how long to let a pocket rest if other boots have been in there, elk vs. mule deer territory and chronic wasting disease.

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I extended my range by buying a 2008 North River in November. Since then I've been learning as I go and sharing what limited knowledge I have about shopping, boats and the fears of catastrophe with friends who are in the market.

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When I enter my e-scouting bubble, nothing much exists outside of mule deer, terrain, and hunting with my girlfriend in the fall. When I exit my bubble and am reminded of the volume of suffering, anger and divisiveness in the world, it's difficult to know what to say. Would it just be some gross, self-congratulatory, "look at how virtuous I am" post which would detract from the point? Or is it better to just like or retweet a post from someone who really knows what they are talking about? It's not that you ignore or don't care. Good people have existed long before social media liked them, and finding positive things that will make my interactions with people in my community more unifying is probably more important than the perfect post when things are bad. This is maybe my most incoherent ramble, but I think it reflects the inability of many to know what to say in light of Covid-19 and the death of George Floyd.

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Tomorrow (May 21) is a big day. Not the big day, but a big day. Results for the Wyoming elk draw will be released and I will find out if the call practicing I've been doing will be put to use for a September archery hunt for cow elk. In this solo episode I talk about preference points, why I may never draw a bull elk tag and why my podcast introductions are weak.

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Jaden Bales works for the Wyoming Wildlife Federation and hosts Muley Monday for the Rich Outdoors Podcast. He and I talk mentorship, identity, what your Instagram post can and can't say about you. We also talk about hunting bears.

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Hunting spring black bears with a bow is a program my buddy Jesse Knock has figured out pretty well. In this episode he and I talk where to find big boars, staying calm, judging size and the best archery moments which don't always end in a notched tag.

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