On this episode of the Guide Sessions Podcast, Jim Aiken of @theguidesessions is joined by Niel Bekker of Red Sand Safari Lodge @redsandsafarilodge .  Niel is a lifetime hunter of the African and lives to share hunts with clients. Niel has been constantly working on his Lodge and property to make it become one of African’s top safaris in the Limpopo province.  Red Sand Safari’s is spread out over a wide variety of landscapes across 55,000 acres.  In this episode we discuss difficulties starting an outfitter in Africa, predator encounters, stalking the variety of game, tips for a successful hunt and much more! Streaming on @carbontvmedia

Topics:

What it takes to start an outfitter in Africa

Predators throughout the landscape

How safe is Africa to hunt

Kudu hunting

Warthog hunting

Stay in the game and suck it up

Bumping into other game

Weapon strategy

Best practices for successful shots

Resources:

Instagram:

@theguidesessions @redsandsafarilodge

Facebook:

The Guide Sessions, RedSand Safaris

Website:

www.theguidesessions.com

www.redsandsafaris.com

On this episode of the Guide Sessions Podcast, Jim Aiken of @theguidesessions is joined by Jason Matzinger @jasonmatzingeroffical.  Jason is a lifetime resident of Montana and grew up chasing most of the animals the state has to offer. Most people know Jason from this TV show ‘Into High Country’, but what isn’t well known is that Jason originally started his career in the outdoor industry as a hunting guide.  So we cover his journey from being a hunting guide to a TV producer. We talk about how Jason knew he wanted a career in the outdoors, how he made the jump into TV, bear hunting, food supply for the year, journaling through video, non-traditional hunting strategies and much more! Streaming on @carbontvmedia

Topics:

Capturing what others don’t see 

Trying to film while guiding

Self filming vs not

Telling stories through film

Breaking down bear hunts

Cross referencing data

Hunting turkeys in open ground

Patience in the elk woods

Selective hunting

Clothing systems

Gear

Battery systems

Resources:

Instagram:

@theguidesessions @jasonmatzingerofficial

Facebook:

The Guide Sessions, Jason Matzinger Official

Website

www.theguidesessions.com

www.intohighcountry.com

On this episode of the Guide Sessions Podcast, Jim Aiken of @theguidesessions is joined by Jimmy Oswald and Evan Koster with Flat Tops Wilderness Guides @flattopswildernessguides.  Flat Tops has been around for many years.  Jimmy and Evan have followed in the same footsteps of the previous owners, which is one of the reasons Flat Tops is still a premier outfitter in Colorado. Whether it's hunting or fishing, there is an adventure year round with the team at Flat Tops Wilderness Guides.  We talk about learning how to stay organized with scheduling hunts, setting up comfortable drop camps, importance of scouting in the off season, deadly archery tactics, starting calm in the moment, bear numbers, hungry trout and much more! Streaming on @carbontvmedia

Topics:

Pay could be better

Don’t fix it if its not broken

Drop camps

Jail break horses

Previous years of knowledge

When move in on elk

The emotional environment

Mule Deer

Black Bears

Catching cuttys

Resources:

Instagram:

@theguidesessions @flattopswildernessguides

Facebook:

The Guide Sessions, Flat Tops Wilderness Guides

Website

www.theguidesessions.com

www.flattopswildernessguides.com

On this episode of the Guide Sessions Podcast, Jim Aiken of @theguidesessions is joined by Rob Taylor @robtaylor.guide with Boulder Creek Outfitters @bouldercreekoutfitters. Rob is fresh off his first year of guiding big game in Idaho and I was able to grab him before he heads back out west for spring bear season. Even though he only has been guiding for one season, he has already had experiences that he has learned from and is eager to share his journey becoming a guide. In this episode we cover Rob attending guide school, learning how to handle stock in the backcountry, entertaining clients, staying patient in adversity, glassing for long periods of time, taking chances and much more!  Streaming on @carbontvmedia

Topics:

Pursue your dreams

Attending guide school

Staying calm when things go wrong

Importance of the providing an experience

Elk, whitetails and bears

The waiting game

Gear that lasts an entire season

Going for it

Resources:

Instagram:

@theguidesessions @robtaylor.guide @bouldercreekoutfitters

Facebook:

The Guide Sessions, Boulder Creek Outfitters

Website

www.theguidesessions.com

www.bouldercreekoutfitters.com

On this episode of the Guide Sessions Podcast, Jim Aiken of @theguidesessions is joined by Shawn Lytle @whiterockoutfitters with White Rock Outfitters.  White Rock Outfitters is one of the prime destinations in Nevada for  elk and mule deer. Shawn is a 6th generation cattle rancher who lives and breathes the outdoors.  Shawn takes his life long knowledge of the land to produce a top quality experience in one of the most sought after hunting destinations.  We talk about learning what it takes to grow big animals in Nevada, working the land for generations, what traits separate professional guides from average guides, worrying about controlling what you can control, backup bows, stalking tactics, and much more! Streaming on @carbontvmedia

Topics:

NV Draw system

The North American Outback

Problems hunting public land

Professional standards for a guide

Own your decisions

Being honest with you hunters

Importance of of having spare parts

Practice multiple scenarios

Sneaking in the desert

Resources:

Instagram:

@theguidesessions @whiterockoutfitters

Facebook:

The Guide Sessions, White Rock Outfitters

Website

www.theguidesessions.com

www.whiterockoutfittersnv.com

On this episode of the Guide Sessions Podcast, Jim Aiken of @theguidesessions is joined by Dan Collins @hardway_outdoors with Hardway Outdoors. Dan hunts and fishes across the nation, however, he calls Pennsylvania home. He has taken his passion for outsmarting trout and guides people on waters throughout the state. In this episode we learn about art of teaching fishing, electro-shock studies, learning to tight line, rowing a boat, Bob Marshall Wilderness, flow matters, stripping streamers and much more! Streaming on @carbontvmedia

Topics:

Teaching fishing

Benefits of being on the water

Be mobile

Ditch the spit shot

Tippet rings

Drift boat

Western back country drifting

Streamer techniques

Dry-Dropper

Resources:

Instagram:

@theguidesessions @hardway_outdoors

Facebook:

The Guide Sessions

Hardway Outdoors

Website

www.theguidesessions.com

On this episode of the Guide Sessions Podcast, Jim Aiken of @theguidesessions is joined by Court Gordon with Live Wild Outfitters @live_wild_outfitters. Court is a lifelong resident of Oregon and has hunted the back country since grade school. He took his experience and passion for hunting the backcountry and started an outfitting business. Live Wild Outfitters focuses on providing an adventure chasing black tails and black bears. On this episode we talk about elk hunting, audad adventures, black tails, black bears and much more! Streaming on @carbontvmedia

Topics:

Growing up in the back country

Focus on what you can control

Challenges in starting a business

Scaling cliffs for audad

Bear encounters

Blacktail strategies

Resources:

Instagram:

@theguidesessions @live_wild_outfitters

Facebook:

The Guide Sessions

Website

www.theguidesessions.com

www.livewildoutfitters.com

On this episode of the Guide Sessions Podcast, Jim Aiken of @theguidesessions is joined by Bob Terwilliger @bobt756 with Budge’s Wilderness Lodge @budgeslodge. Bob has made the best of his “second career” as a back country elk and fly-fishing guide and shows no sign of slowing down despite being in his mid-60’s. He is a wealth of knowledge and has been built by sweat and grit in the Colorado mountains. We talk about benefits of being open to learn new things, hunting elk through the seasons, horses and mules, snow tactics, mid-day tactics, using the competition, fly-fishing for mountain trout and much more!

Topics:

Being a sponge

Elk hunting in the snow

Hunting with stock

Escape route

Easy way in/out

Sure-footer mules

Staying physically fit

Mountain Trout

Resources:

Instagram:

@theguidesessions @bobt756 @budgeslodge

Facebook:

The Guide Sessions, Bob Terwilliger

Website

www.theguidesessions.com

On this episode of the Guide Sessions Podcast, Jim Aiken of @theguidesessions is joined by Andrew Marlin of The Dry Ground Podcast. Andrew is a life-long resident of Arizona who is just getting his start in his guiding career. He is gearing up for his first Javelina season this coming January. In this episode we cover everything from Javelina to doves. We will learn about tactics for javelina, mule deer, coues deer, gear to survive the desert, and much more!

Topics:

Calling javelina

Mule and coues deer tatics

Cat claws

Trusting your guide

Long distance archery

Resources:

Instagram:

@theguidesessions @the_dry_ground_podcast @andrew_marlin

Facebook:

The Guide Sessions

Website

www.theguidesessions.com

On this episode of the Guide Sessions Podcast, Jim Aiken of @theguidesessions is joined by Josh Miller @joshpgh with Trout Yeah guide service @troutyeahguideservice. Josh has traveled the world fishing with Fly Fishing team USA and coaching the Youth Fly Fishing team USA. Our schedules finally crossed and we were able to connect for this episode. Josh is not only passionate about trout, he is passionate about helping others catch more fish. We talk about finding your confidence techniques, fishing another man’s game, how trout are trout wherever you go, first cast theory and much more! Streaming on @carbontvmedia

Topics:

Finding a technique that works for 365 days a yeah

Mathematics of fly fishing

Clear water tactics

First cast fish

Paying attention to temperature

10 second rule

Bite detection

Resources:

Instagram:

@theguidesessions @joshpgh @troutyeahguideservice

Facebook:

The Guide Sessions, Trout Yeah Guide Service

Website

www.theguidesessions.com www.troutyeah.com