Ryan Holm is the new Director of Marketing for Leica’s Sport Optics division. While Ryan is new to the high-performance optics industry, he is no stranger to the hunting market. I first met Ryan when he was in a similar position with the pack company, Mystery Ranch. I still give him major credit for building that brand into the category leader.   

Revitalizing an optics company in the hunting, birding and outdoor recreation industries simultaneously is tricky business, they all have their own biases, and he has to be sensitive to all of them.  Ryan and I talk about how 20 years of experience will help him to accomplish just that. It was great catching up with him, but I more excited to see what he can do with a legacy brand like Leica.  

In this episode, I sit down with Exo Mtn Gear owner and founder Steve Speck. My son Mark Denham and I had just completed a tour of their innovative manufacturing facility, which was remarkable. Steve and I explore the fundamentals of not just making a pack but also building a business and customer base that will sustain a company.   

In my opinion, Exo Mtn Gear has one of the best podcasts for western hunters called “Hunt Backcountry.” In our conversation I referenced a few episodes in which they discuss the efficacy of small caliber rifles for big game hunting. Those are episodes 479 and 498. These are fascinating conversations and confirmed many of my personal thoughts on the topic.  

Chris and Kevin were recently invited to tour the Leupold factory and visit the Leupold Optics Academy in Oregon for some long-range and NRL training. During a break, they sat down with CEO Bruce Pettet and Shooting Sports Marketing Manager Nic Kytlica to talk legacy, optics, rifles, and Leupold's bright future in American manufacturing.

Western Hunter Magazine introduced a western bird hunting section starting with the September 2024 issue. Kevin Guillen and Chris Denham explain many of the reasons the editorial staff decided to offer this new content.  

On the March/April cover of Western Hunter Magazine we have a spectacular image of Casey Richmond with his Idaho bull. When I first saw the picture, I knew there had to be a crazy story behind it. Casey works for Eberlestock so while we were at the Wild Sheep Foundation show we took the time to record this podcast. Greg Williams also with Eberlestock joined the conversation. Of course, we talked about the hunt, but we also discussed the history of Eberlestock and the future of this dynamic company.   

 Casey’s hunt was filmed by Limitless Outdoors and is available on YouTube, Click HERE to watch. 

The Western Hunter crew just returned from a blacktail deer hunt on Kodiak Island, Alaska.  This was a boat-based hunt meaning we lived, ate, and slept on the boat. Each morning one of the two boat captains would run us to shore in a zodiac type small boat to hunt and pick us up each night. The captains do this every single day from early October until the middle of December. The life they lead is a crazy one, so I decided to sit down with boat captain and owner Ross Hodek and talk a little about the year in the life of a Alaskan boat captain.  By the way, if you are interested in booking a Kodiak Island blacktail hunt on The Spirit you need to reserve your spot soon! It is the dollar-for-dollar value for Alaskan hunting adventure. You can book through Alaska Coastal Adventures 907-262-4359. Tell them Western Hunter sent you.

I have hunted blacktail deer on Kodiak Island in Alaska and believe the experience offers the most adventure for the dollar in all North America.  This year our crew included three guys who had never hunted in Alaska; Mark Denham, Levi Sopeland, and Kevin Guillen (who had never been to Alaska prior). We sat down to capture their emotions and thoughts, there enthusiasm and awe reminded me of my first trips to the state.  After you listen to this show, you will want to book your own adventure.  If the boat-based trip interests you call Alaska Coastal Marine at 907-262-4359

OnX Maps pioneered the hunting GPS industry and has become the gold standard for western hunters. In this episode I sit down with Dylan Dowson from OnX to discuss the past, present and future of this technology. 

onxmaps.com

2021 was a heck of a year for The Western Hunter.  Nate Simmons and I sit down and talk about the lessons learned and what we will do differently heading into the 2022 hunting season.

My guest today is Jordan Jonas the winner of the hit TV show Alone season 6.  Jordan is a hunter and his hunting skills contributed directly to his ability to survive in the Arctic for 77 days.  We talked about behind-the-scenes stuff, dreams, family, hunting and mental preparation.  He is a character, if you have watched the show then you know what I mean.  It is obvious that the guy you saw on TV is the same guy I am talking to…fame hasn’t changed him at all.  Jordan offers survival schools in the Montana backcountry which I just might have to attend.  You can learn more about Jonas from his website jordanjonas.com.