GOHUNT’s Dave Barnett joins Trail to talk through the ins and outs of Montana's draw system and the changes to Idaho’s nonresident general elk and deer system for 2026. From preference points, bonus points, and the new random draw for nonresident general elk and deer in Idaho, they cover how to approach these states for upcoming seasons. Dave also gives a full recap of his latest Utah archery elk hunt—what went right, what went wrong, and what he learned along the way.

On this episode of The Game Trail Podcast, Trail dives into backcountry fuel—what he actually packs for food on a backpack elk hunt. From daily calories to pack weight and cost per day, he breaks down his system meal by meal. Whether you’re planning your first multi-day hunt or fine-tuning your own food kit, this episode will give you real-world insight into the food he takes, weight, and budget in the elk woods.

You think you’re ready, but you’re not, and neither is Trail. On this week's episode, Trail breaks down the most common ways hunters show up unprepared and what you can do right now to fix it. From overlooked gear checks and mental readiness, this is your no-BS guide to making sure your next hunt doesn’t end in regret. Don't get blindsided by reality—gear failures, poor physical prep, or just plain lack of time in your boots. Whether you’re chasing elk in September or deer in November, you’ve still got time—if you start today.

In this episode of The Game Trail, Trail is talking archery antelope. He breaks down ground blind setups on waterholes, spot-and-stalk plays, decoying techniques, and shares hard-earned lessons from the field. Whether you're gearing up for your first antelope hunt or looking to sharpen your edge for the next tag, this episode is packed with insight to help you close the distance and make the shot count.

We all want confidence in our pins, especially when the shot matters most. Tristan from Precision Cut Archery jumps on The Game Trail podcast to walk us through their smart, easy-to-use online sight tape builder. No more guessing or swapping tape after tape—this tool helps bowhunters cut straight to the best match for their setup. Tristan and Trail also talk wind drift, shot angle compensation, kinetic energy, and why factory sight tapes are likely an inferior option if you want the most accurate sight tape. Listen to learn how it works and why it’s becoming a must-have.

In this episode of The Game Trail Podcast, Trail sits down with Earl Stroh from Cutter Stabilizers to dive into the topic of bow stabilization. Cutter stabilizers are hand built in Colorado from materials sourced and machined in the USA. Earl discussed set-up strategy, stabilizer lengths for hunting, weight distribution, and how stabilizers can improve your hold. He also talks about using a backbar for hunting and why he thinks every bowhunter would benefit from using one. This is a technical conversation with practical takeaways for every western bowhunter.

In this episode of The Game Trail, Trail walks through his personal process for tuning a compound bow—from bare bow to hunt-ready. He breaks down how he sets up his rest, camp timing, how he paper tunes, the importance of d-loop location, arrow spine, and why broadhead tuning can’t be skipped. Whether you're building out a brand-new setup, replacing strings for the upcoming season or just trying to get the most out of your current rig, Trail shares the real-world steps he takes to make sure his bow is dialed in.

On this episode of The Game Trail, Kenneth Thrall joins the podcast. Kenneth works for Kifaru, but when he isn’t in the office, he is pounding the hills, scouting and hunting for mule deer, bears, elk, and antelope. The guys dive into the topic of mule deer hunting before getting to the meat and potatoes of the episode, Kifaru packs. Kenneth outlines what he’s looking for in a hunting pack before sharing tips on getting your pack to fit and ride comfortably. He also talks about his favorite packs and accessories and shares ideas on the size of pack you might choose for any given style of hunt. Kenneth is a die-hard hunter, loves the outdoors and adventure, and always has a positive outlook. This is a great episode if you are gearing up for the season!

Trail is joined by his friend and hunting partner, Chris Neville, to recap their experience at the 2025 Vegas Indoor Archery Shoot. They discuss equipment, practice and preparation, expectations, as well as what went well and what didn’t. They talk about identifying holes in their archery game, and how they will approach it in the future. The guys also discuss how the pressure and anxiety of competition archery relates to bowhunting and what lessons they learned that will translate to hunts later this fall.

On this week’s episode, KC Davies from Sevr broadheads joins Trail to talk broadheads and bowhunting. KC talks about his experiences working in an archery pro shop before diving into the details of Sevr's mechanical broadhead design, materials, and function. The guys talk about accuracy and penetration and whether one is more important or if you can have both. They also discuss arrow builds, including weights, spine, and FOC.