Episodes
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In this episode, Jaden has on his friend Jordan Budd after she took a stud of a Wyoming black bear spot and stalk style. They recap the hunt, what they were looking for, the kinds of conditions that came together for this bear to show himself, and all the different pieces of gear that made this an absolutely textbook western big game hunt.
If you like good hunting stories and are a gear nerd like us, this podcast is going to be right up your alley. We hope you enjoy it!
Find Jordan Budd on Instagram or via her outfitting website runningwaterhunting.com
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If you want to go to Argentina, or have other questions about western hunting, contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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In this episode, you're getting a front-row seat to a real Hunt West e-scouting session. Jaden sits down with two Colorado elk hunters and walks through the exact process he uses to break down a unit — from figuring out elk behavior in September to identifying terrain features that hold animals, and how to build flexible game plans based on wind, access, pressure, and feed.
This is way more than just picking waypoints — it's a deep dive into the Hunt West framework that teaches you how to think about a hunt, not just where to go. Whether you're planning your first western elk hunt or looking to sharpen your e-scouting game, this episode is packed with the goods. We hope you enjoy it!
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If you want to go to Argentina, or have other questions about western hunting, contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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Missing episodes?
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While old school deer tactics is in the name, this podcast with Robby Denning holds a lot more gems than that. From remembering Robby's father's impact on his hunting passion, to ways guys hunted deer more often "back in the day" and how to use those tools today, Jaden and Robby cover a whole host of topics in this podcast. They also discuss what it takes to find a big, special mule deer and take him home in today's hunting environment, aging mule deer bucks, and so much more.
This episode is packed full of great stories, lessons learned, and actionable tips for people hunting mule deer today. We hope you enjoy it half as much as we enjoyed recording it for you.
Referenced in the Show:
Hunting Big Mule Deer - A Rokslide.com Original >>Hunting Mule Deer with Robby and Travis >>
Robby Denning's Books on Mule Deer Hunting >>
Breaking 200" - A Rokslide Blog >>
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If you want to go to Argentina, or have other questions about western hunting, contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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If you want to hear good stories of progressing as a western hunter, this podcast with Matt Emerson is great. Not only that, but today's podcast includes his incredible story of catching high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and how to recognize signs of it before you have to call in a helicopter to the backcountry as he did. I spend a lot of time with Matt, and I even was sucked in by this interview. I am so excited to bring you this podcast with Matt Emerson, and hope you enjoy it, too!
_____Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>
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If you want to go to Argentina, or have other questions about western hunting, contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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In this episode of the Hunt West Podcast, Jaden picks the brain of his friend Chad Eidson about western hunting with muzzleloaders. Chad shared what he knows about the regulations and technology allowed in different states, and they discussed the evolution of muzzleloader technology, and the limitations of sighting systems. The guys also cover overall advantages and disadvantages of using muzzleloaders for hunting with some good old stories sprinkled in there.
For anyone who has wanted to unlock better drawing odds or interesting season dates with a muzzleloader in the west, this podcast will get you pointed in the right direction.
We hope you enjoy it!
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Contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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In this episode, Jaden sits down with coues deer fanatic, and avid western DIY hunter, Jason Scott to cover a ton of topics, and tell a few hunting stories along the way.
First, they dive into Jason's coues deer hunting style and tactics that work for him over the years. The guys also talk about elk hunting strategies in Arizona, dive into Jason's Region G mule deer hunt, what it means to be on an adventure and having fun on western hunts, a few cold weather tips, and so much more.This is just a classic conversation between two fellas who love getting out and spending time in the mountains. We hope you enjoy it!
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Contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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In this solo episode, Jaden Jaden gives you actionable "meat and potatoes" type information to better plan your hunt by breaking down his process for getting started e-scouting and mapping out a hunt for which you drew a tag and don't have a set game plan for yet. He breaks down four steps in detail for getting started:
Set Your Goals Fly Around the Unit Hit the Googlizer Reach Out To PeopleA good hunt plan makes your week-long vacation much less stressful as you adapt to every obstacle, hiccup, and audible call along the way. Heck, getting out and enjoying your hunt is at the baseline of why we all do it anyway, so why not take all the steps you can to make sure your next hunt is a good one.
We hope you enjoy today's podcast!
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Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>
Learn about Hunt West planning services >>
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Contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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Back in 2024, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife adopted a brand-spanking-new mule deer plan using a ton of new data collected from mule deer studies. Today, Josh Smith, the ODFW Mule Deer Coordinator, joins the show to tell us what the proposed changes look like, and for Oregon mule deer hunters, they are going to overhaul how you apply. In the least, it's possible your favorite unit's boundaries won't change much, but the codes and names for hunts you apply for will. At most, your hunt area maybe has three different mule deer herds using it, and that will upend how you apply.
In today's day and age of difficult tag draws and tough mule deer population numbers, it's refreshing to hear Oregon is putting the latest science to work and making changes that will ideally result in hunters being involved in the continued conservation of the species.
Thanks to Josh for taking the time to be on this podcast. We really appreciate you listening in and hope you enjoy this show!Want to see the proposed changes for yourself? Click here >>
If you want to plan your 2025 or 2026 Oregon mule deer hunt, be sure to reach out to [email protected] to get started.
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Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>
Learn about Hunt West planning services >>
Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>
Contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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In this episode of the Hunt West Podcast, we have Jared Oakleaf from Lander, WY on the show to nerd out about mule deer and their management. Jared is a die-hard big deer hunter who spends as much time learning about mule deer and working to conserve them as he does chasing them.
The guys touch on a ton of controversial topics, including antler point restrictions, ideal buck-to-doe ratios, the effects (or lack thereof) of limited quota seasons, and so much more. They also break down what may just be the secret to timing your hunting plans to maximize mature buck numbers and quality on your next hunt.
They reference a ton of work from the Monteith Shop, which you can read by clicking here >>
We'd love it if you supported their work on the website, as well. Click around in there, there's a lot to find on the website.
We sincerely hope you enjoy the show!
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Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>
Learn about Hunt West planning services >>
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Contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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This could be an episode of the Hunt South Podcast, as friends Hayden and Jaden talk about their month hunting, translating, and guiding in Argentina. They discuss what the roar is all about with red stags, how black buck are South America's speedgoats, what it's like bringing down a water buffalo, and the tactics it takes to get a good wild boar on the barbecue. They share stories from the trip and also give advice for those looking to make the trip down one day.
If you have ever thought, “what if I could have two fall hunting seasons?” You can with a little planning and some airline miles to burn. The guys cover it all in this podcast.
We hope you enjoy the show.
Reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions about booking a trip to Argentina!
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Learn more about Terra Pampa and hunting Argentina >>
Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>
Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>
Learn about Hunt West planning services >>
Contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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In this episode, Jaden sits down to talk the messy Montana deer and elk draw, while giving people a sense of tactics to make sure you draw when you anticipate drawing in Montana. In particular, Montana has a split point system using preference points for general elk and deer combo tags, while maintaining a bonus point system for the permitted tags there. The guys also talk about different approaches to using the general seasons to prepare for an upcoming permit tag.
We hope you come out of this podcast with a clearer approach to drawing Montana tags ahead of the April 1st deadline.
Reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions ahead of the draw!
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Learn about Hunt West planning services >>
Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>
Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>
Listen to the Elk Hunt Podcast Here >>
Contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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If you've ever wanted to know about the logistics of hunting Argentina, this episode with Terra Pampa's Remi Donnelly is for you! Remi and Jaden talk about what makes a good outfitter in general in South America, the history of Terra Pampa, free-range hunting in Argentina, how to get heads and hides back to the States, and much more.
If someone doesn't have international hunting on their bucket list, I think they should. It's reasonably priced for an incredible experience, world class accommodations, and a REAL hunt for free-ranging stags and other species.
For more information, shoot me an email [email protected]
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Learn about Hunt West planning services >>
Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>
Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>
Listen to the Elk Hunt Podcast Here >>
Contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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In this episode, we have Cody Rich from The Rich Outdoors and Elk Hunt Podcast back on the show to talk Montana deer and elk. The boys discuss where Montana sits in someone's applications and the strategies that are effective for getting a nice bull or buck in the Big Sky state. The guys also compare Montana to Colorado as guys consider which of the two states they should invest in with their short-term hunting plans. Cody's experience and stories in Montana and around the West are super helpful for anyone considering putting Montana in their plans.
We hope you enjoy the show!
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Learn about Hunt West planning services >>
Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>
Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>
Listen to the Elk Hunt Podcast Here >>
Contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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In this episode, Jaden sits down with his good buddy and Colorado resident, Garrison Kinsel. In Garrison's words, he's married to the whitetail game with a love affair with Colorado mule deer. But what he doesn't also mention is that he's been on multiple successful opportunity elk hunts and recently took a great old Colorado bull elk by pounding the timber on a late-season rifle hunt.
Hope you enjoy this episode and get some ideas for approaching your next Colorado mule deer or elk hunt in 2025.
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Learn about Hunt West planning services >>
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Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>
Listen to the Elk Hunt Podcast Here >>
Contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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In this episode of the HuntWest podcast, Jaden dives into the upcoming changes to Colorado’s deer and elk hunting seasons for 2025. He talks about the elimination of the non-resident over-the-counter archery season and explains how to navigate these shifts, offering strategies to maximize your hunting opportunities, from understanding application processes to selecting optimal tags. Jaden also discusses season structures for both deer and elk, providing key dates and ways to think about various seasons, terrain types, and hunting methods for hunting rocky mountain high. Tune in for a data-nerd's take on how to use the resources at your finger tips to make set you up for a successful 2025 hunting season in Colorado. You can find CPW's new statistics and management web pages here: Mule Deer Web Page >> Elk Web Page >> _____ SHOW NOTES: 01:39 Strategies for Navigating the New Elk Hunting System 05:38 Detailed Breakdown of Rifle Seasons 13:38 Late Season Elk Hunting Tips 18:06 Introduction to Mule Deer Hunting in Colorado 19:17 Analyzing Mule Deer Data and Strategies 33:48 Upcoming Changes in 2028 and Final Thoughts 39:45 Conclusion and Upcoming Content
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Learn about Hunt West planning services >>
Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>
Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>
Listen to the Elk Hunt Podcast Here >>
Contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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Welcome to another episode of the Hunt West Podcast! This one with Bo DePeña kicks off a series of Colorado conversations to help you know what you're getting into when you hunt this popular elk and mule deer destination state. Bo and Jaden start by talking about how fatherhood has changed how he hunts, and what he learned from guiding hunters in Colorado. Then, they dive into some stories of Bo's elk and mule deer hunts in 2024.
This one is a good conversation with friends with good nuggets to get better as a western hunter baked into it. We hope you enjoy the show!
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Find Bo DePeña's music here >>
Learn about Hunt West planning services >>
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Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>
Listen to the Elk Hunt Podcast Here >>
Contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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In this solo episode, Jaden repurposed a video recording to help you learn what to look for on your spot and stalk spring bear hunts. It's a shorter podcast that is just chalk full of meat and potatoes information to help you plan spring bear hunts. It's a great opportunity to get out, especially with multiple states still offering great spring bear hunting over the counter. Plus, it's an incredible way to test gear, hone skills, and bring home some tasty meat for the freezer.
We hope you enjoy this quick hitting spot and stalk spring bear hunting solo episode.
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Learn about Hunt West planning services >>
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Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>
Listen to the Elk Hunt Podcast Here >>
Contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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Today on the Hunt West Podcast, Jaden brings on Tyler Bales, an off-roading and at-home vehicle project guru who has a wealth of information to bring to the table. From always working on multiple of his hunting-offroad vehicles to his time spent upgrading tires and suspensions at a tire store, he's amassed some great technical information for hunters to know about their rigs.
But first, don't forget to get ahead of the game by planning your western hunts with Hunt West services, which will be largely offline for the month of March. The website is revamped, so if you want to learn more about services that can help you make the most of your time, money, and vacation days on your hunts, then check it out at huntwest.net
Once you get through the boring house-cleaning items, Jaden and Tyler nerd out on tire selection for hunters, recovery gear for hunting, and even tell some stories of big "oopsies" while on hunts. It's a great podcast for vets and rookies alike as you think about making upgrades to make your vehicle more western hunting-friendly. We hope you enjoy the show!Follow Tyler on Instagram @tyler_bales8 if you want to talk with him about vehicle stuff.
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Listen to the Elk Hunt Podcast Here >>
Contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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On this episode of the Hunt West Podcast, Jaden Bales tackles the big question: 'Did I shoot a baby giant in 2024?' Jaden dives deep into various studies and personal anecdotes to bust myths about deer ages and antler sizes. He discusses data from the Utah long-term study on mule deer and an interesting Texas Apache Ranch study, sharing insights on how environmental factors affect antler growth. Tune in for a detailed analysis of mule deer data, hunting strategies, and the significance of understanding deer aging in the quest for that big buck. Check out these studies and resources to come to your own mule deer antler-age conclusions: The Utah Study: Long-Lasting Effects of Maternal Condition on Free-Ranging Cervids Antlers by the Numbers: The Apache Ranch Study Study shows mule deer antlers peak earlier than thought The Wyoming Maternal Effects Study Wyoming Tooth Age Data ____ 01:57 Understanding Deer Aging and Antler Size 02:48 Key Studies on Deer Antler Size 06:59 Texas Apache Ranch Study Insights 10:22 Analyzing Personal Hunting Data 15:35 Wyoming Deer Data Analysis 20:20 Regional Comparisons and Insights 27:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts ____
Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>
Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>
Listen to the Elk Hunt Podcast Here >>
Contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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In this episode of the Hunt West Podcast, we introduce Jeff Lund, an experienced hunter and writer based in Alaska. Lund discusses his history in the hunting space, his experiences hunting blacktail deer, and the challenges posed by the local terrain and weather conditions. The conversation delves into the detailed planning required for a successful blacktail deer hunt, including the importance of scouting, understanding predator impacts, managing habitat for deer populations, and the gear necessary for navigating the rugged Alaskan landscape. Jeff also shares specific stories about his hunting adventures and provides practical advice for listeners planning their own trips. Check out Jeff's website onstepalaska.com or follow him @alaskalund You can request to follow Tyler Bales on IG @tyler_bales8 ___ 01:16 Jeff's Journey to Alaska and Hunting Beginnings 03:50 Challenges and Changes in Blacktail Deer Hunting 09:07 Comparing Blacktail and Mule Deer Hunting 12:23 Preparing for the Hunt: Strategies and Expectations 22:39 Weather Challenges and Hunting in the Rain 36:24 Navigating Steep Timber with Ropes 37:24 Challenges of Hunting in Rocky Terrain 40:08 Strategies for Spotting and Shooting Deer 54:20 Dealing with Predators and Safety Concerns 01:00:01 Managing Hunting Pressure and Remote Locations 01:08:37 Final Thoughts and Reflections ___
Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>
Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>
Listen to the Elk Hunt Podcast Here >>
Contact Jaden at [email protected]
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.
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