Aaron recaps his Idaho archery elk hunt, and all the struggles that entailed. From quiet bulls to ever changing weather. No flat tires or illnesses, but needless to say Idaho whipped their butt in terms of elk hunting. Enjoy!

Michigan grouse opener pod! This week we’re joined by Ryan Potter, a dedicated dog man and ruffed grouse hunter, as we dive into what he looks for in grouse covers, what he wants in a dog, and just good chatter about all things bird hunting. This was a fun episode with a lot of good nuggets of info and a few fun stories as well. Download, subscribe, and enjoy!

Travis Mather and Aaron have known each other for roughly 20 years, and hunted together for just as long. In 2020, he became a landowner for the first time. This week we dive in to property management, and what his plans are for his new acreage. We talk about the steps he’s taken so far, changing his plans when he added a lease, and what he wants to accomplish with this property for both deer hunting and family enjoyment. There’s also a few nuggets that any deer hunter, public or private lands, will gain from this episode.

In this week’s episode we’re joined by Jake Jourdonnais of Fish Hunt Fight Gear to talk about hunting with grizzlies, and how to best protect yourself. Jake is a Montana resident and native, hunting amongst grizzly bears his entire life in multiple settings and states. Jake is also both a pistol and rifle instructor, with a wide range of defense pistol courses that include bear defense. We talk about how to treat different types of bear encounters, the use of spray or pistol, instinctual shooting, how to prepare, and even dive into the type of pistol and caliber. This is one where we both learned a lot, and are better prepared to hunting among grizzly bears.

Helpful Links:

Fish Hunt Fight Gear: www.fhfgear.com

JJ Outdoors: www.jjoutdoorsmt.com

Bear Defense Video: https://youtu.be/FDGM7QgxuWw

This week we had a great conversation with Michigan’s Deer, Elk, and Moose Management Specialist, Chad Stewart. Chad is a Pennsylvania native and loves to hunt and fish as much as the next Michigander. We talked about his hunting and biology background, antler point restrictions (APRs), a statewide look at the health of the deer herd, chronic wasting disease, and how to be effective in making your voice heard as a Michigan hunter.

We’re both back this week along with Amber Casey! Amber is from Michigan, but her mind is always out west. We talk with Amber about her 2020 Montana elk hunt, the emotions that accompanied that hunt, and the article she wrote for Eastman’s Hunting Journal. You can also find the article on Allen Crater’s blog on allenoutside.com. We wrap up the podcast going over her bow setup, what we’re all doing to get ready for this year’s hunts, and her bourbon of choice. Enjoy!

Helpful Links:

My Why article: https://www.allenoutside.com/post/my-why

This week we were fortunate to sit down with Jeff Ford, better known as "The Wolverine Guy". After a wolverine was ran by coyote hunters in Michigan's Thumb on February 24th, 2004, he set out with Steve Noble to locate the wolverine himself. Once they cut the wolverine's track soon after, Ford would embark on a six year journey documenting the wolverine. We discussed his passion for wolverines, the importance of his support system during his mission, and theories about where the wolverine originated from. We also relive his lone encounter with the wolverine at his research site. This is a unique story you won't want to miss!

This week we have Heather Shaw and Sarah Topp joining us to talk about their paths, progress, and ascension as leading women in the outdoors and conservation spaces. We discuss their work in conservation and in advocacy, tell some stories, and what we can do to help progress further as a community and as individuals.