Wolverine and the Warthog

Wolverine & The Warthog Podcast | Episode #023 – Slingin' Arrows

Archery season is finally here, and that means life gets busy.

This week, Andy joins us after a successful spot-and-stalk South Dakota antelope hunt, following up his successful Nevada spot-and-stalk pronghorn earlier this season. We recap both hunts, discuss what made them successful, and look ahead to what's next.

We also break down Andy and Nigel's game plan for their upcoming New Mexico archery black bear hunt, while Connor prepares to kick off his own Colorado archery mule deer season next week.

As hunting season ramps up, we know getting everyone in the studio every week isn't always possible. That's why we're introducing a brand-new recurring segment: Slingin' Arrows.

Whenever schedules get hectic, we'll head to Connor's backyard 3D range, shoot bows, catch up on the latest hunts, talk gear, and bring you conversations straight from the range. It's hunting camp conversation with arrows flying.

• Andy's successful South Dakota spot-and-stalk antelope hunt

• Planning the upcoming New Mexico archery black bear hunt
• Connor's Colorado archery mule deer opener
• A look ahead at everyone's fall hunting schedule
• Introducing our new recurring segment: Slingin' Arrows
• Shooting Connor's home 3D course while talking all things hunting

If you enjoyed the episode, be sure to Like, Subscribe, and Comment. Let us know what topics you'd like us to cover during future Slingin' Arrows episodes.

Presented by:
• Traders Rendezvous – Gunnison, Colorado
• Gene Taylor's Sporting Goods
• Warthog Blades

#bowhunting #archery #pronghorn #antelopehunting #blackbear #muledeer #westernhunting #huntingpodcast #wolverineandthewarthog #slinginarrows

EPISODE 22 — SAGE HOULE
The first tag of the season is officially punched! Andy is fresh off a successful Nevada hunt with a great antelope buck on the ground, and now we’re back in the studio for Episode 22.
This week, we finally got our good friend Sage Houle behind the mic.
Sage and Connor grew up together right here in Gunnison—from running around as kids, through high school and college, and into their adult years. Nearly 30 years later, they’re still hunting, fishing, and spending time in the mountains together.
Sage, owner of Pie-Zans Pizzeria in Gunnison, is one of those guys who has built his life around the outdoors. He isn’t just an elk hunter or a fisherman—he’s the kind of outdoorsman who wants to understand and experience all of it.
From chasing big game across the West and Alaska, to bird hunting, catching giant lake trout, or picking apart a small mountain stream with a fly rod, Sage can do it all. He’s constantly pushing himself physically and mentally, learning new country, studying animals, refining his skills, and finding another reason to get outside.
With September right around the corner, we brought Sage on as part of our SEPTEMBER IS COMING series to talk elk—and there was no shortage of stories.
We dive into some incredible bulls, memorable hunts, lessons learned the hard way, and the experiences that have shaped Sage into the elk hunter he is today. We also get into some of the adventures that have taken him well beyond the Colorado mountains, including trips to Alaska chasing moose, caribou, Sitka blacktail, and brown bears.
But what makes this episode special isn’t just the animals. It’s almost three decades of friendship, hunting stories, mistakes, successes, close calls, and a lifetime spent learning the outdoors.
These are the kinds of conversations we started Wolverine & The Warthog for—sitting down with people who live this lifestyle, hearing the stories behind the animals, and hopefully picking up a few things along the way that make all of us better hunters.
We’ve been waiting to get Sage on the podcast for a long time, and Episode 22 was worth the wait.
Elk season is getting close.
The bows are tuned.
The mountains are calling.
And SEPTEMBER IS COMING.
 EPISODE 22 — SAGE HOULE
WOLVERINE & THE WARTHOG
Watch or listen now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.
If you’re enjoying what we’re doing, help us keep building this thing—LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT, and share the episode with a hunting buddy.

Episode #021 | High Country Mule Deer with Traditional Bowhunter Scott Hargrove
September is Coming Series | Mule Deer #3

The September is Coming series rolls on with our third mule deer installment, and this one is a special conversation with a true western Colorado legend.

Some hunters chase trophies. Others spend a lifetime chasing the perfect stalk.

At 72 years young, Scott Hargrove is still climbing into Colorado's high country every fall with a Stalker Stick recurve in hand, proving that age is no match for passion, determination, and decades of hard-earned experience. Around western Colorado, Scott is a legend—not because of the bucks he's killed, but because of the way he's hunted them.

For many compound bowhunters, reaching 50 yards means it's almost time to shoot. For Scott, 50 yards is where the real hunt begins.

In this episode of Wolverine & the Warthog, we sit down with Scott to trace his incredible journey—from growing up in Southern California to building a successful career and eventually becoming one of western Colorado's most respected traditional bowhunters.

Along the way, Scott shares invaluable lessons on:

• How to stalk high-country mule deer effectively.
• Knowing when not to make a stalk.
• Reading terrain, wind, thermals, and deer behavior.
• Why certain tactics consistently fail while others succeed.
• Closing the final few yards with traditional equipment.
• The mindset required to hunt with a recurve in today's world.

As always, the stories are just as good as the lessons. Scott has spent decades learning from success, failure, and countless encounters with mature mule deer, and he generously shares that wisdom throughout this conversation.

Whether you're a traditional archer, a compound hunter looking to become a better stalker, or simply someone who appreciates old-school hunting knowledge, there's something here for you.

We hope you enjoy this third mule deer episode of the September is Coming series as much as we enjoyed sitting down with Scott.

If you enjoy the episode:

• Subscribe so you don't miss the rest of the September is Coming series.
• Like the video and leave a comment with your favorite lesson from Scott.
• Share it with a hunting partner who's addicted to chasing velvet mule deer.

#MuleDeer #TraditionalArchery #RecurveBow #Bowhunting #HighCountryMuleDeer #SpotAndStalk #ColoradoHunting #StalkerStick #TraditionalBowhunting #SeptemberIsComing #WolverineAndTheWarthog

Episode #020 – Elk Calling w/ Hunter Enloe

Elk #2 of the September Is Coming Series

There are hunters who use elk calls simply to locate bulls, and then there are hunters like Hunter Enloe, who truly believe elk can be communicated with. Hunter has dedicated countless hours to understanding elk vocalizations, body language, and the subtle conversations that happen between bulls and cows throughout September. While some hunters argue that aggressive calling isn’t always the most productive way to kill mature elk, Hunter’s consistent success tells a different story.

In this episode of Wolverine & The Warthog, we dive deep into the art and science of elk calling. We put Gene Taylor’s new Riven Calls to the test, discuss the sounds that matter most, and break down real-world hunting scenarios you’ll encounter in the mountains. From locating bulls and closing the distance to reading their mood, knowing when to challenge them, when to stay quiet, and the mistakes that can end an encounter before it ever begins, this conversation is packed with practical, field-tested knowledge.

Whether you’re a first-time elk hunter or someone who has spent years chasing bugles every September, you’ll come away from this episode with a better understanding of how elk communicate—and how to communicate back.

September is coming. Start preparing now.

⸻

Presented by:

Traders Rendezvous – Gunnison, Colorado

Gene Taylor’s Sporting Goods

Warthog Blades

🎙️ Wolverine & The Warthog

Two hunters from opposite ends of the earth. United by instinct. Driven by the wild.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a comment letting us know what elk calling topic you’d like us to cover next. Good luck this season, and we’ll see you in the mountains.

#ElkCalling #ElkHunting #SeptemberIsComing #HunterEnloe #GeneTaylors #RivenCalls #Bowhunting #PublicLandElk #ColoradoElk #BuglingBulls #WolverineAndTheWarthog

Wolverine & the Warthog Podcast – Episode #019September is Coming Series | Elk Hunting #1Guest: Brad PhelpsLocation: 7 Triangle RanchThe September is Coming series continues with Elk Hunting #1, featuring legendary Gunnison rancher, guide, conservationist, and storyteller Brad Phelps.Brad is a fourth-generation Gunnison cattle rancher who has spent a lifetime chasing elk across the American West. From trying to rope elk on horseback as a young cowboy, to calling screaming bulls into bow range, to harvesting a legendary 373” Colorado bull, Brad has experienced nearly every chapter of elk hunting imaginable.Over the years, Brad has served on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, spent his life in the cattle industry, guided hunters throughout Alaska and across Colorado, and continues to guide elk hunters today. He is a cowboy, rancher, conservationist, biologist, animal lover, and one of the finest ambassadors for wildlife and western heritage you’ll ever meet.In this episode, we dive deep into the incredible history of elk in the Gunnison Basin—from the day 11 elk were unloaded from a train at the Iola stockyards in the early 1900s, to the growth of Colorado’s elk herd, the evolution of elk hunting, current challenges, and what the future may hold.If you’ve never had the privilege of listening to Brad Phelps tell a story, it's time to dig in.Topics include:• The history of elk in the Gunnison Basin• Colorado’s early elk restoration efforts• Ranching and wildlife conservation• Elk behavior and habitat• Guiding in Alaska and Colorado• Colorado’s changing elk management• Lessons from a lifetime in the mountainsIf you enjoyed the episode, be sure to Like, Subscribe, and Share. New episodes of the September is Coming series release every week as we count down to elk season.#ElkHunting #ColoradoElk #Bowhunting #SeptemberIsComing #WolverineAndTheWarthog #GunnisonColorado #Elk #WesternHunting #Conservation #Ranching #BradPhelps

Ep. #018 – Cody Dyce: Highcountry Mule Deer Part 2 | September Is Coming Series

Few hunters have dedicated as much of their life to mule deer as Cody Dyce. From the river breaks and prairie country of South Dakota to the alpine basins above 13,000 feet in Colorado, Cody has spent a lifetime chasing mule deer and learning the lessons they teach. With more than 20 years of guiding experience and countless days spent behind big bucks, his knowledge of mule deer hunting runs deep.

In Part 2 of our September Is Coming series, Cody joins the Wolverine and the Warthog to dive into the past, present, and future of mule deer hunting in the West. We discuss the rich history of mule deer hunting in Western Colorado, the challenges facing today’s deer herds, and what the future may hold for one of the most iconic big game animals in North America.

We also cover practical mule deer hunting tips, hard-earned lessons from decades in the field, and why success isn’t always measured by inches of antler. More importantly, we talk about how to truly value the experience, the country, and the pursuit itself.

In This Episode:

Cody Dyce’s hunting and guiding background

The history of mule deer hunting in Western Colorado

Current challenges facing mule deer populations

What the future may hold for mule deer hunters

High-country mule deer tactics and lessons learned

The importance of enjoying the entire hunting experience

Why mule deer continue to captivate generations of hunters

Whether you’re counting down the days until September or simply obsessed with mule deer, this episode is packed with stories, perspective, and decades of experience from one of the most passionate mule deer hunters you’ll meet.

#WolverineAndTheWarthog #SeptemberIsComing #MuleDeer #HighCountryMuleDeer #ArcheryMuleDeer #WesternHunting #ColoradoMuleDeer #PublicLandHunting #BackcountryHunting #BigBuck #HuntingPodcast #CodyDyce

Ep. 017 | Highcountry Mule Deer: Part 1 | September is Coming Series

September is coming.

In the first mule deer installment of our new September is Coming series, Connor and Andy sit down to talk all things high-country archery mule deer. From locating bachelor groups in remote alpine basins to breaking down the realities of public-land pressure, we dive into what it takes to consistently get opportunities on mature mountain bucks.

This episode covers:

• High-country scouting and glassing strategies

• Stalking tactics for velvet mule deer

• Public land competition and hunter pressure

• How to evaluate and calculate low-odds stalk opportunities

• Common mistakes hunters make on mature bucks

• Personal experiences chasing old mountain mule deer in rugged country

• Why some bucks seem to survive year after year

• The anticipation of September with a tag burning a hole in the Wolverine’s pocket

The September is Coming series will feature multiple episodes dedicated to both mule deer and elk hunting, along with experienced guides, outfitters, callers, and accomplished hunters sharing their knowledge on everything from stalking giant mule deer to locating and calling elk during the rut.

If September has been on your mind since the day last season ended, this series is for you.

🎙️ Wolverine & The Warthog Podcast

🏹 Western Hunting • Conservation • Adventure • Stories from the Wild

Subscribe and follow along as we count down to archery season.

#MuleDeer #HighCountryMuleDeer #Bowhunting #ArcheryHunting #PublicLand #VelvetBuck #WesternHunting #ElkHunting #SeptemberIsComing #WolverineAndTheWarthog #BackcountryHunting #DIYHunting #ColoradoHunting #MuleDeerHunting

WOLVERINE & THE WARTHOG PODCAST | EPISODE #016 | DAREN GLOVER

This week we’re joined by Gunnison native Daren Glover, the NEW owner of Gene Taylor’s Sporting Goods, longtime Swarovski Optik ambassador, gear fanatic, hunter, family man, and businessman.

Filmed right at the gun counter inside Gene Taylor’s, this episode is a deep dive into the latest and greatest gear hitting the outdoor industry. Daren gives us an inside look at Swarovski’s new AT/ST Balance Spotting Scope, the newest optics in their lineup, and some of the most exciting products coming for 2026.

We also talk new rifles, flagship bows, hunting gear, backpacking equipment, camping essentials, and what it takes to run one of Colorado’s most iconic outdoor stores. From the fly shop to the ski department, archery pro shop, firearms counter, apparel, and everything in between, Gene Taylor’s truly has something for every outdoor enthusiast.

Whether you’re a hardcore hunter, backcountry addict, gear junkie, or simply love the outdoors, this episode is packed with insight, product knowledge, and behind-the-scenes stories from one of the most respected names in the industry.

🎯 Topics Covered:

Swarovski’s new Balanced Spotting Scope

New Swarovski optics and innovations

2026 hunting and outdoor gear

New rifles and flagship bows

Backpacking and camping equipment

Running Gene Taylor’s Sporting Goods

The outdoor industry and retail business

Hunting, family, and life in Gunnison, Colorado

Subscribe for more conversations with hunters, guides, conservationists, and outdoor personalities from around the world.

The Wolverine & The Warthog

Two hunters from opposite ends of the world brought together by a passion for wild places, adventure, and conservation.

#SwarovskiOptik #GeneTaylors #HuntingGear #OutdoorGear #Archery #BackcountryHunting #SpottingScope #MuleDeer #ElkHunting #GunnisonColorado #WolverineAndTheWarthog #HuntingPodcast #GearJunkie #Swarovski #HuntingOptics

Welcome back to another episode of Wolverine & The Warthog — Episode #015.

In this one, Connor and Andy dive deep into everything happening right now in the hunting world. From the madness of Jackson Hole Elk Fest and the current state of 2026 shed hunting, to a full 2026 turkey season recap, this episode covers a ton of ground.

The guys also break down their 2026 Colorado draw results, discuss upcoming hunts on the calendar, and talk strategy, expectations, and where they’ll be headed this fall.

On the current events side, they tackle some of the biggest topics in western hunting right now:

• Corner crossing battles in Wyoming & Montana

• CPW Commission decisions and controversy

• The changing landscape of Colorado hunting

🎙️ Wolverine & The Warthog

Real conversations from the hunting world.

#huntingpodcast #elkhunting #muledeer #shedhunting #turkeyhunting #coloradohunting 

From record-setting wild sheep to once-in-a-lifetime hunts across the globe, Episode #014 takes us inside the legendary gallery and workshop of Jason House — founder of Bighorn Replicas and Creations in Antler in Pinedale, Wyoming. Recorded on location surrounded by world-class replicas and western art, Jason shares the stories behind some of the most iconic rams ever recreated, including the jaw-dropping “$1.3 Million Ram” and the brand new South Dakota State Record ram, both of 2025.

A native Wyoming outdoorsman and world traveler, Jason dives deep into the art of preserving legendary animals through replicas and the stories behind the trophies themselves. We also get into some wild international hunting adventures — including brutal mountain hunts for Marco Polo sheep and ibex in Kyrgyzstan. Riding tiny mountain horses through steep, unforgiving terrain, spike camping in the snow, battling brutal wind, negative temperatures, and high-altitude conditions, Jason paints a picture of what true mountain suffering and adventure really looks like.

From African predator hunts to sheep conservation, replica craftsmanship, and life in the mountains, this episode is loaded with hunting stories, western culture, and hard-earned perspective from a man who has seen some of the wildest country on earth.