EP 652: Gibson Butler | Archery, Elk, Moose, Goat

This week, I’m joined by Gibson Butler, who shares his incredible journey of recovery, resilience, and success in the mountains.

After a lifetime of knee troubles, Gibson suffered a major blow while chukar hunting in Idaho, sidelining him from his true passion: elk hunting. Frustrated by years of failed attempts with internet rehab programs, he finally found an expert who understood athletes like him. Gibson’s dedication to rebuilding his knee paid off, giving him newfound confidence in his body and his abilities.

But Gibson’s challenges didn’t end there. Just weeks before the season, his trusty bow—the one he’d shot since he was 17—started showing signs of failing limbs. Forced to upgrade, he discovered how critical proper bow fit is for accuracy and confidence. The results? Gibson was shooting better than ever.

With his body and gear dialed in, Gibson entered the season with a whole new mindset. In this episode, we talk about the importance of confidence—not just in your gear, but in yourself—and how that mindset can transform your hunts.

Gibson had a spectacular season, taking an antelope, a moose, and a fantastic bull elk that came down to the wire when he almost called it quits.

This is an inspiring story of perseverance, recovery, and success. Don’t miss it—enjoy!

Check out Gibson’s recent blog article on Elk Hunt: Bow-Fit Matters

Maven Optics: Elevate your hunting game with high-quality optics designed for the serious hunter. Check out their incredible gear at MavenBuilt.com.

OnX Maps: Never get lost in the wilderness again! With OnX Maps, you’ll have the most trusted mapping system at your fingertips. Start your journey today at onxmaps.com.

Tricer Tripods: If you’re looking for lightweight and durable tripods that are made by hunters for hunters, look no further. Discover their innovative products at TricerUSA.com and take your outdoor photography to the next level!

EP 651: Brandon Purcell aka Durango Boone

This week, I’m joined by none other than Brandon Purcell, aka Durango Boone, who just wrapped up an absolutely epic hunting season. Brandon is no stranger to the podcast or to success in the field—he’s one of the most consistent rifle elk hunters out there. But even for him, this season was one for the books.

We dive into Brandon’s wild string of hunts, ranging from fast one-day tag-outs to those grueling, grind-it-out adventures that push you to the limit. He shares key tips, strategies, and insights that contribute to his incredible success year after year.

One of the most jaw-dropping moments we discuss is a rare, adrenaline-pumping encounter Brandon had with a wolf while hunting for a buck in Montana—a story that very few hunters ever experience.

To top it all off, Brandon recounts his most recent hunt, where he took an outstanding general rifle bull elk in Montana—a hunt that almost didn’t happen. With heavy snow and few elk in sight, Brandon nearly called it quits for the season. But perseverance paid off, and the result is a story you won’t want to miss.

If you’re an elk hunter or just love hearing incredible hunting tales, this episode is packed with inspiration, hard-won lessons, and edge-of-your-seat moments.

Tune in now and get ready to be inspired!

If you want to hunt with Brandon: brandon [email protected]

Maven Optics: Elevate your hunting game with high-quality optics designed for the serious hunter. Check out their incredible gear at MavenBuilt.com.

OnX Maps: Never get lost in the wilderness again! With OnX Maps, you’ll have the most trusted mapping system at your fingertips. Start your journey today at onxmaps.com.

Tricer Tripods: If you’re looking for lightweight and durable tripods that are made by hunters for hunters, look no further. Discover their innovative products at TricerUSA.com and take your outdoor photography to the next level!

EP 660: Winning with the Wild Life: Brian Stephens’ Toughest Hunt

We also explore how Brian’s hundreds of hunting experiences have shaped his personal and professional life, discussing goal-setting, hunting as a lifestyle, and how he built a business that allows him to live the life he loves. This episode is packed with powerful insights and life lessons you won’t want to miss.

Brian’s New Book Winning with the Wild Life.

More 2 the Hunt Youtube Channel 

The book Cody Forgot: Happy Money

OnX Maps: Never get lost in the wilderness again! With OnX Maps, you’ll have the most trusted mapping system at your fingertips. Start your journey today at onxmaps.com.

Tricer Tripods: If you’re looking for lightweight and durable tripods that are made by hunters for hunters, look no further. Discover their innovative products at TricerUSA.com and take your outdoor photography to the next level!

EP 659: Mike Herne

We dive into Mike’s journey of self-discovery, discussing how he’s navigating this transition and figuring out what he wants to be when he grows up. Mike possesses the rare humility and ability to start at the bottom, and it’s this quality that’s helped him build meaningful connections in the outdoor industry. He’s truly living the dream and on a path to great things, and his story is a testament to hard work, passion, and continuous growth.

OnX Maps: Never get lost in the wilderness again! With OnX Maps, you’ll have the most trusted mapping system at your fingertips. Start your journey today at onxmaps.com.

Tricer Tripods: If you’re looking for lightweight and durable tripods that are made by hunters for hunters, look no further. Discover their innovative products at TricerUSA.com and take your outdoor photography to the next level!

This week on the podcast, I’m joined by my good friend Dustin and Nick from MTN Tough Fitness to dive deep into mental toughness and personal agency. While we often discuss mental toughness in the context of exercise, this episode takes a different angle, focusing on personal agency—the power to take control of your life and choices.

We explore how having strong personal agency can enhance your mental resilience, and how it applies to both fitness and life. Dustin also shares his incredible experience hunting the iconic Ibex, an animal he’s always considered the toughest on the mountain. Dustin chose the Ibex as the logo for MTN Tough because of its reputation for toughness, and this year, he finally had the chance to chase it down in the wild.

Check out MTN Tough’s new Post Season 2.0 for FREE

Maven Optics: Elevate your hunting game with high-quality optics designed for the serious hunter. Check out their incredible gear at MavenBuilt.com.

OnX Maps: Never get lost in the wilderness again! With OnX Maps, you’ll have the most trusted mapping system at your fingertips. Start your journey today at onxmaps.com.

Tricer Tripods: If you’re looking for lightweight and durable tripods that are made by hunters for hunters, look no further. Discover their innovative products at TricerUSA.com and take your outdoor photography to the next level!

EP 657: Jarret Johnson Alaskan Caribou 

Jarret discusses the physical challenges he faced during his hunt, emphasizing how even being in great shape couldn’t fully prepare him for the steep mountains of Alaska. He shares the intense experience of carrying half a caribou on his back and the valuable lessons learned from being pushed out of his comfort zone. Join us for an inspiring conversation about the trials and triumphs of hunting in the wild!

Maven Optics: Elevate your hunting game with high-quality optics designed for the serious hunter. Check out their incredible gear at MavenBuilt.com.

OnX Maps: Never get lost in the wilderness again! With OnX Maps, you’ll have the most trusted mapping system at your fingertips. Start your journey today at onxmaps.com.

Tricer Tripods: If you’re looking for lightweight and durable tripods that are made by hunters for hunters, look no further. Discover their innovative products at TricerUSA.com and take your outdoor photography to the next level!

This week on the podcast, we take a deep dive into elk season with one of our most intriguing guests yet—Nick Papsadora. A prior Marine Corps officer, Nick has immersed himself in the world of archery elk hunting, and his after-action review from this season is nothing short of impressive.

In our conversation, Nick shares his valuable insights, lessons learned, and candid breakdowns of both his mistakes and successes in the field. His journey provides a unique perspective that will resonate with both seasoned and novice elk hunters alike.

Beyond hunting, Nick serves as the Operations Manager for The Station Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting special operators, their families, and gold star families. Join us for an enlightening discussion that blends the challenges of elk hunting with the mission of giving back to the community.

Maven Optics: Elevate your hunting game with high-quality optics designed for the serious hunter. Check out their incredible gear at MavenBuilt.com.

OnX Maps: Never get lost in the wilderness again! With OnX Maps, you’ll have the most trusted mapping system at your fingertips. Start your journey today at onxmaps.com.

Tricer Tripods: If you’re looking for lightweight and durable tripods that are made by hunters for hunters, look no further. Discover their innovative products at TricerUSA.com and take your outdoor photography to the next level!

EP 655 Matthew Every on story telling, tracking deer with Hal Blood, and more.

This week on the podcast, I’m joined by Matthew Every, an editor at Field & Stream Magazine, who brings a wealth of experience and captivating stories from his time in the outdoor writing world. We kick things off by discussing his fascinating tour of Teddy Roosevelt’s house, a historical gem for any outdoor enthusiast.

Matthew also shares insights on dangerous game guns and recounts his experience learning to track deer from the renowned Hal Blood. As we dive deeper into the art of storytelling, we explore the evolution of narrative in outdoor media—from the great writers of the past to the modern-day influencers on YouTube and other platforms. Join us for an engaging conversation filled with rich experiences and thought-provoking insights into the world of hunting and storytelling.

This episode is brought to you by our amazing sponsors who support your hunting adventures!

Maven Optics: Elevate your hunting game with high-quality optics designed for the serious hunter. Check out their incredible gear at MavenBuilt.com.

OnX Maps: Never get lost in the wilderness again! With OnX Maps, you’ll have the most trusted mapping system at your fingertips. Start your journey today at onxmaps.com.

Tricer Tripods: If you’re looking for lightweight and durable tripods that are made by hunters for hunters, look no further. Discover their innovative products at TricerUSA.com and take your outdoor photography to the next level!

EP 654: Craig Van Arsdale | Moose Hunting Adventures

We reminisce about the struggles of DIY moose hunting, including the challenge of escaping the crowds. After 47 days of hard work, Craig finally got the monkey off his back and harvested a magnificent moose. Join us for lessons learned, thrilling hunting stories, and an in-depth look at the realities of DIY moose hunting in Alaska.

Today’s podcast is sponsored by ON X HUNT, the unrivaled standard for hunting maps. On X is launch in features and upgrading their app faster than I can keep up. there are so many amazing tools that will improve your hunting experience this fall. On X is a must have for me. If you aren’t an elite on x hunt member yet you need to upgrade the elite tier has so much to offer. From elite only mapping features to major discounts on partner brands you are probably paying for anyway. upgrade your account and check out all the amazing features that make ON X HUNT the best mapping system for hunter. TRO to save 20%.

This podcast is brought to you by Tricer, innovators in fast, light, and simple gear for hunters. Tricer is hands down the most innovative company on the market when it comes to tri pods and glassing stabilization.

Explore Tricer’s range of gear and tripods designed for stability and durability in any terrain. Visit Tricer.com to learn more and upgrade your outdoor gear today. Use code TRO at checkout to save 10% on your order.

Today’s podcast is brought to you by Maven Optics. I love my Maven’s and they are such a great group of dude’s. Maven optics is the first direct to consumer optics brand. This little Wyoming optics company is flipping the optics world on its head. Hands down the best bang for your buck and you support local. This year I’m running the  B6 in 12×50 this year and I am blown away at out good those things are for what they cost. Check em out at Mavenbuilt.com and use the code TRO and checkout for your extra gift.

EP 653: Jarret Johnson 

In addition to his football journey, Jarret and I explore their shared love for audiobooks, discussing some of their favorites, including adventure tales like Shackleton’s incredible expeditions and the insights from John Krakauer’s works. Jarret also shares his excitement for adventure hunts, including his upcoming trip to Alaska to hunt caribou. Join us for an engaging conversation about resilience, adventure, and the lessons that come from both the gridiron and the great outdoors.

Books: 

The Comfort Crisis 

Endurance | Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage

Today’s podcast is sponsored by ON X HUNT, the unrivaled standard for hunting maps. On X is launch in features and upgrading their app faster than I can keep up. there are so many amazing tools that will improve your hunting experience this fall. On X is a must have for me. If you aren’t an elite on x hunt member yet you need to upgrade the elite tier has so much to offer. From elite only mapping features to major discounts on partner brands you are probably paying for anyway. upgrade your account and check out all the amazing features that make ON X HUNT the best mapping system for hunter. TRO to save 20%.

This podcast is brought to you by Tricer, innovators in fast, light, and simple gear for hunters. Tricer is hands down the most innovative company on the market when it comes to tri pods and glassing stabilization.

Explore Tricer’s range of gear and tripods designed for stability and durability in any terrain. Visit Tricer.com to learn more and upgrade your outdoor gear today. Use code TRO at checkout to save 10% on your order.

Today’s podcast is brought to you by Maven Optics. I love my Maven’s and they are such a great group of dude’s. Maven optics is the first direct to consumer optics brand. This little Wyoming optics company is flipping the optics world on its head. Hands down the best bang for your buck and you support local. This year I’m running the  B6 in 12×50 this year and I am blown away at out good those things are for what they cost. Check em out at Mavenbuilt.com and use the code TRO and checkout for your extra gift.