On this episode of the Guide Sessions Podcast, Jim Aiken of @theguidesessions is joined by Heather Kelly @heathertheresakelly who is the Founder of Heather’s Choice – Meals for Adventuring @heatherschoice. What people may not know is that Heather used to be a river guide in Alaska and Colorado. We will learn about the different river types people guide on, understanding the safety aspect of each river, learning when to go all in and when to back out, how to pull off a classic practical joke and much more!

Topics:

Healthy food for adventuring

Entrepreneurship

Benefit of having mentors

Guide skills transfer to real life

Building rapport quickly

Physical demand on the body

Keep guiding fun

Always be challenged

Simply just Care

Resources:

Instagram:

@theguidesessions @heatherschoice @heathertheresakelly @mountainarcheryfest

Facebook:

Heathers Choice

Mountain Archery Fest

Websites:

Heather’s Choice: www.heatherschoice.com

Mountain Archery Fest: www.mountainarcheryfest.com

Founder Speaker Series: https://founderspeakerseries.mykajabi.com/a/2147509670/6jLsa28L

On this episode of the Guide Sessions Podcast, Jim Aiken of @theguidesessions is joined by Austin Atkinson @aaaoutdoors of Huntin’ Fool. In addition to being a hunt advisor, Austin takes time every fall to guide elk hunters in New Mexico and grizzlies and Dall sheep in Alaska. Over his years of guiding, he has acquired a wealth of experience and enjoys sharing them. Austin’s commitment to providing his clients with a memorable adventure is the foundation of what makes him such a great hunting guide. In this episode we will learn about what it takes to become a hunting guide in Alaska, how everything in Alaska seems to try and kill you, adapting the hunt to meet the clients need, fitness training, saving a hunter after falling in freezing water, and much more!

Topics:

Becoming a guide in Alaska

Balancing guiding and family

Hunting Grizzlies

Hunting Mt. Goats and Dall Sheep

Stresses of Sheep hunting

Hunting around Alaska residents

Importance of safety

Fitness for Alaska vs Western States

Dealing with Hyperthermia

Long Range Shots

Planning game recovery

Resources:

Instagram:

@theguidesessions @aaaoutdoors

Facebook:

Austin Atkinson

Website

www.aaaoutdoors.com

On this episode of the Guide Sessions Podcast, Jim Aiken of @theguidesessions is joined by one of Jim’s old friends Ray Smith. Ray has “retired” from guiding; however, he has spent many years guiding turkeys and whitetails from Pennsylvania to Texas. During the conversation, we will learn about the highs and lows of being a guide, importance of maintaining your gear, living in the moment and enjoying the adventure, living through a massive Texas brush fire and much more!

Topics:

Living the guide life

Networking with outfitters

Social media networking opportunities

Progression of new technology

Animals will always be wild

Pit falls of guiding

Dealing with/ preventing accidents

Connecting to the outdoors

Importance of focusing on the experience

Turkey hunting with dogs

Meeting the client’s needs

Gun maintenance

Kids sleeping on hunts

Brush fires

Prescribed burns

Resources:

Instagram:

@theguidesessions

On this episode of the Guide Sessions Podcast, Jim Aiken of @theguidesessions is joined by Sarah Turner of Triple Crown Outfitters (TCO). TCO specializes in whitetail deer in Kentucky and Tennessee. They also help hunters fulfill their wild turkey grand slam win Florida, Kentucky, Texas, and New Mexico. Sarah is passionate about her job as a guide, educating kids and being a positive impact in the hunting community. Her approach of building relationships with her clients before, during and after the hunt to help them have a legendary experience is what sets her apart. We will learn about calling all species of turkeys, trail cam tactics, deer management goals, using patience, importance of staying positive and much more!

Topics:

Giving Back to the youth

Participating in a Guide Challenge

Multi – State hunting

Grand Slam Turkey Hunting

Managing Trophy Whitetail

Trail Cam scouting Tactics

Guiding all in all types of weather

Grooming properties for mature deer

Importance of staying positive

Early vs Late Season strategies

Aging Deer

Resources:

Instagram:

@theguidesessions @triple_crown_outfitters_

Facebook:

Triple Crown Outfitters

Website

www.tripecrownoutfitters.net

On this episode of The Guide Sessions Podcast, Jim Aiken is joined by Jonathan Bush of Grouse Mesa Outfitters in New Mexico. Jonathan is the man who took a chance on an unexperienced elk hunter from Pennsylvania and gave him the chance of a lifetime to be a guide. Jonathan’s tells us his journey from being a cowboy chasing cattle to starting his own elk hunting outfitter. We will learn about what he looks for in a guide, horse pack out tactics, and his theory of “nomad” elk. We also dive into some stories of hunters being scared of the dark, horse mishaps, and much more!

Topics:

Capitalizing on opportunities

Private Land vs. Public Land Elk hunting

Roles of a guide

Horsemanship

Packing out elk with horses

“Nomad” elk

Importance of guide/client relationship

Fitness

Lessons learned

Ricocheting bullets

Elk hunting success

Resources:

Instagram:

@theguidesessions

Website

www.grousemesaoutfitters.com

Welcome to the Guide Sessions Podcast! In this episode I will be discussing how the Guide Sessions got started, who I am, the type of people I plan to have on, and what you can expect on future episodes.  Also, you will learn how an unexperienced elk hunter from Pennsylvania started guiding elk in New Mexico. Additionally, you will hear some hunting stories and a few tips and tricks.

Instagram:

@theguidesessions

Email:

[email protected]