Western Hunter

Ralph and Vicki have been producing some of the best video hunting content since before outdoor TV even existed! Not only are they absolute pioneers in the business they are two of the most sincere and authentic ambassadors in the hunting industry.

No offense to any of my previous guest but this was the most enjoyable podcast I have recorded in our short history. Though I had been dying to know how they met, I waited until I turned on the recorder to ask…and it was as entertaining has I had hoped. We also talk about Ralph's Russian brown bear hunt only months after the fall of the Soviet Union and Vicki's experiences being one of the first women ever on outdoor TV. We spent some quality time discussing the past, present and future of the hunting lifestyle and each of our roles in its preservation.

You can catch "America's favorite hunting couple" and mine on the Outdoor Channel and MOTV. The have two shows, "Archers Choice" and "The Choice".

@ralphandvicki on Instagram

www.archerschoicemedia.com

Bob Lacher was born and raised in Alaska. As a child he hunted with his dad to feed the family, not for trophies. The adventure bug bit him hard! He started flying a bush plane at an early age and has been exploring and hunting the far reaches of Alaska every since.

I first got to know Bob through his book "Alaska Raw", which is available at www.westernhunter.net. This book is filled with some of those adventures. His engaging and honest reflection of these hunt is absolutely captivating. So on a recent trip to Alaska Bob and I found the time to sit down and record a conversation.

I am always amazed by the fortitude and self-reliance of Alaskan bush pilots and hunters. It is the stuff that most of us dream about! I can assure you that this will not be the only podcast I do with Bob, there are just too many insights and stories to call this the end.

Native Alaskan Heather Kelly was tired of the limited food options available to backcountry travelers. So she did what nobody thought was possible and created her own foods, which lead to the creation of Heather's Choice. Her dehydrated (not freeze dried) meals were the first pre-packaged options with real meat that were not overly processed. She literally started the trend and now has the biggest companies in the business paying attention.

I sat down with Heather and her boyfriend/business partner/operations manager/personal comedian Brad Hurd at the kitchen in Anchorage to talk about their history. They lead a fascinating life and have tremendous insights regarding backcountry nutrition.

After you listen to this podcast, do yourself a favor and buy some of their foods as fast of possible. We also have a limited inventory but growing inventory of Heather's Choice available at www.westernhunter.net

www.heatherschoice.com

In 2016 Steve killed the largest bull elk ever taken with a bow. At almost 430" it is my opinion this record may never be broken. I met Steve while on business in Montana. Fortunately I had the recording equipment with me and he had to time to sit down. We talked about the hunt and how his thoughts have changed in the years since that crazy day in Montana.

If they were looking for a new "Most Interesting Man in the World" I would nominate George Bettas. He has worked with the Boone & Crockett Club, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and was one of the founders of the Mule Deer Foundation, most of which was after he retired from a career at Washington State! He is the author of the regular column "The Hunting Horseman" in Western Hunter Magazine and has packed thousands of miles in the wilderness areas of the Northern Rockies.

In this episode we talk about his passion for conservation and hunting from horseback. We also get into a new Master Hunter initiative that he has worked on for several years now, which I think will revolutionize the relationship between hunters and private landowners.

http://mtmasterhunter.com/

Wayne Carlton is truly a legend in our industry. He pioneered the art of calling elk with diaphragm calls. Back in the 80's his elk calling seminars were epic, and folks would drive hundreds of miles for the privilege of listening to his educational, inspirational and always entertaining talk. Though slowed down by Parkinson's disease, this 76 year old giant still captures my imagination with every story.

In this episode I sat down with Wayne and his son Marc. We talked about the old days, how things have changed, and their new call company Native by Carlton. They are making the most innovative elk and turkey calls in the market.

I don't use the word "legend" lightly, Wayne as earned this.

https://www.nativebycarlton.com/

Last fall Justin Gordon killed the largest mule deer ever taken with a bow. In this episode Justin and I talk about his buck, but being one of the most introspective hunters I have ever met, our conversation goes much deeper than just inches of antler. From mental and physical preparation to the plight of mule deer, we cover it all. The Gordon buck will in all likelihood be the highest scoring deer ever taken in my life. This is the full story of this remarkable deer and the remarkable man who was blessed to harvest it.

The Gordon buck is the cover story in the May/June issue Western Hunter Magazine. You can purchase a copy here https://shop.westernhunter.net/collections/single-issues

Mike Duplan is one of best mule deer hunters I have ever met. He has taken huge bucks in some of the most heavily hunted areas in Colorado…and I mean huge. He co-authored "The Edge, The Complete Approach to Hunting Mountain Mule Deer", which is regarded as the finest book ever written on the subject. But Mike is far more than an mule deer hunter, he is and adventure hunter. He has taken a grand slam of sheep, some huge elk and hunts with a persistence and patience that I envy. Mike has been a field editor and confidant to me at Western Hunter Magazine from the very start and it was an honor to sit down and have this discussion.

You can purchase Mike's book at https://shop.westernhunter.net/collections/books-journals/products/the-edge-by-david-long-mike-duplan

Subscribe to Western Hunter Magazine at https://shop.westernhunter.net/collections/frontpage

As the sun set on our last night in an Arizona Coues deer hunt I sat down with Mark Denham and The Western Hunter videographer Matt Neddermeyer to talk about the realities of hunting the grey ghost. The sun was setting as we built a big fire and started the conversation. It was almost a shame that we did not film this episode, I highly doubt anyone has recorded a podcast in a more beautiful setting. We cover a wide range of topics like footwear, pack requirements, optics tripods, glassing techniques and attitude. Of course we filmed this hunt so keep your eyes open for this episode in the Fall of 2019.

In this episode I sat down with Western Hunter shooting editor Colton Bagnoli at his home in Kalispell Montana. He is one of the most talented and hard working people I have ever known. He is an accomplished gunsmith, taxidermist, trapper, bow mechanic as well as being police officer and sniper for their tactical team.

This episode was brought to by Browning, The Best There Is. Check out the full line of Browning products at browning.com