Jason and Dirk get back together again after a busy spring and shoot the breeze about their bear hunts. Jason and close friend Tyson, hunt bears in Idaho. Dirk hunted black bears in the great state of Alaska on an invite from Christensen Arms. They discuss the highs and lows of bear hunting and throw in a few bear hunting tips.

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In the spirit of Father's Day, Jason and Dirk enjoy comparing their Father's personalities and atributes. They discuss their dad's backgrounds, and reminiscing about their first times hunting with them.  

Learn more at https://www.treelineacademy.net/

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In this episode, Jason Phelps takes on 10 of the toughest elk hunting questions every serious hunter should ask. From calling strategies and terrain tactics to handling hung-up bulls and the mental grind, Jason breaks down exactly how he approaches each scenario in the elk woods. With decades of experience and countless bulls called in, he shares hard-earned insight into what works, what doesn’t, and why. Whether you're a new hunter or a seasoned vet, this episode delivers real-world advice without the fluff. Tune in for a no-nonsense look at the mindset, methods, and moments that define elk hunting at the highest level.

Learn more at https://www.treelineacademy.net/

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Backwoods University explores wildlife biology and the people who dedicate their lives to studying animals and their habitats. Guided by host Lake Pickle’s curiosity, you’ll hear insights from wildlife biologists and outdoorsmen, while gaining an intimate perspective on North American wildlife, habitat, and the impact humans have had on them. You’ll learn from the experts how to understand the wild. After all, you can’t love what you don’t understand.

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't miss episode one coming out June 9th!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIQv7voZWHy7_axb5Zc-zEsUaKo20oniK
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MLEAslFa9CxTE3Gd5OX3E?si=qyD7Pe3USgC2KGTbY_jt3g 
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bear-grease/id1559983625
iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-bear-grease-80440754/

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With a few minutes left on the time clock in some states this spring to bear hunt, Dirks talks baiting statagies with Mark Livesay from Treeline Academy. They touch on escouting and dig in deep on Mark's favorite baiting tricks. If you have a little time left to hunt and were pondering if it's worth setting up a bait this late in the game, give this a listen and head out with bait in hand!

Learn more at https://www.treelineacademy.net/

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This week's guest, Jimmy Gruenwald, aka Jimmy Kits, talks about getting the right items in your backpack's first aid kit. We talk tourniquets, quick clot, and more. Don't skip this episode - your life may depend on it!

Lean more at https://www.instagram.com/orionmedconsulting

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Inspired by Mother's Day, Dirk reflects on how his mom was there to support his elk hunting and deer hunting endeavors from the beginning.

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In this episode, I sit down with NWTF biologist Chuck Carpenter to talk turkeys in the Pacific Northwest. From tough mountain hunts to population trends and harvest models, we cover what it takes to sustain healthy turkey numbers—and how understanding their biology can make you a better hunter. We also dive into hunting during the “henned up” phase, calling strategies, and how pressure affects gobbling and decoy effectiveness. If you like mixing science with strategy, you’ll enjoy this one.

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In this episode, Jason steps away from just talking calls and hunting tactics to share a more personal side of the journey. Building Phelps Game Calls, chasing bulls every fall, being a dad and husband, and trying to juggle it all—it’s not always as clean or easy as it might look from the outside. He talks about burnout, learning lessons the hard way, what success really means to him now, and how his priorities have shifted over time. It’s a real conversation about the pressure, the passion, and trying to build something that lasts beyond the next bugle.

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New from the MeatEater Podcast Network: Long-time western author Dan Flores presents a big picture history of an American West you've never encountered. Covering a vast time span in a western America whose landscapes and wild animals drew people from around the world, this podcast tells a new story of our most fascinating region.

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't miss episode one coming out May 6th!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIQv7voZWHy4X3UFECqr3ggFIj9uQJT2O
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0wrs79YL0Jw2AjQrCBKUUu
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-american-west/id1811365050
iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1248-the-american-west-273702538/
Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/the-american-west/PC:1001101272
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/17657fa8-7388-4983-8b26-c1d5505ed2e5/the-american-west

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Check out more MeatEater's American History audio originals "The Long Hunters" and "Mountain Men"

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