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Hunt West Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Jaden Bales
The Hunt West Podcast is for hunters who'd rather wear out a pair of boots than a YouTube playlist.Most hunting podcasts give you campfire stories, gear hype, or endless tag talk. Hunt West is different. This is applied hunting wisdom — the stuff that actually helps you find critters and fill tags in the wild country west of the 100th meridian.Hosted by Jaden Bales — hunt consultant, mule deer junkie, and professional tag nerd — the show mixes solo riffs, guest conversations, and hard-earned lessons from real hunts. You'll get strategies for e-scouting, application hacks, mindset shifts, and the kind of woodsmanship that still matters when the Wi-Fi goes dark.If you're the kind of hunter who loves general seasons, sharp steel, glassing knobs, and planning three tags ahead — welcome home.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 6 days ago30 min
Where Are the Big Bucks? What We're Seeing Ahead of the November Rut
November is here, and mule deer hunting is about to get interesting! After spending two weeks chasing mule deer in October, Jaden shares what he's seeing as bachelor groups break up, younger bucks start checking does, and mature bucks begin showing up around doe groups. He recounts a hunt where a big mule deer buck appeared near a group of does at first light, slipped into cover, and eventually disappeared despite a carefully planned stalk. We also dig into how hunting pressure changes where you should look for mature bucks, why secure doe groups are worth finding, and what to expect as the November rut progresses. Plus, congratulations to some successful Hunt West hunters, upcoming 2027 Complete Hunt Plans, the November 24 Idaho webinar, and the 2028 Argentina red stag hunt. Learn more at huntwestplanning.com. Show Links: Email Jaden at Jaden@huntwest.net 2027 Complete Hunt Plans: Reserve your spot >> Upcoming state-specific hunting webinars >> Sign Up for the Hunt West Digest Email >>
- 2 weeks ago2h 2m
Hunting Season Grab Bag: Desert Elk, Rutting Mule Deer, Ammo & Good Stories with Ryan Burnett
We're covering a little bit of everything on this week's Hunt West Podcast! First, I'm checking in from the middle of Wyoming hunting season with some great success stories from Hunt West hunters, an opening-day elk hunt that ended with a mature bull at just 36 yards, and some thoughts on why we need to pay more attention to tracks. Plus, we're talking about how to adjust your mule deer tactics as mature bucks start transitioning toward the rut. Then Ryan Burnett of Pattern Pros joins me to talk about finding the right ammunition for sighting in your rifle, building confidence behind the trigger, and making shooting and hunting something the whole family can enjoy. We also get into some pretty entertaining hunting stories involving ducks, turkeys, and a particularly angry beaver. It's a little bit of everything this week, but there's plenty here to help you become a better hunter. Show Links: Find Ryan and Pattern Pros at patternprosusa.com 2027 Complete Hunt Plans: Reserve your spot >> Upcoming state-specific hunting webinars >> Sign Up for the Hunt West Digest Email >>
- 3 weeks ago1h 17m
Guide Life, Success on Late-Season Rifle Hunts and More with Drew Crain
Late-season rifle elk hunting is a grind. The bulls have been pressured, the weather can be brutal, and you might only get one good opportunity all week. Montana horseback hunting guide Drew Crain joins me to talk about finding and killing elk in late October and November on public land. We cover where elk move after opening day, hunting thick timber and small feeding areas, deciding when to glass versus cover ground, and why fresh snow can change your entire hunt. Drew also shares stories from guiding wilderness elk and mule deer hunters, including a hard lesson about passing up a bull and the story of his own successful backcountry rifle elk hunt. Plus, we get into staying warm, keeping your rifle ready, and the mindset it takes to keep hunting when things get tough. If you've got a late-season rifle tag, this one's for you. Show Links: Follow Drew on Instagram @Drewcrain 2027 Complete Hunt Plans: Reserve your spot >> Upcoming state-specific hunting webinars >> Sign Up for the Hunt West Digest Email >>
- 4 weeks ago58 min
Why I Hate Opening Day: A Wyoming Rifle Elk Hunt Recap
Opening day of rifle elk season can be your best opportunity to kill a bull. But once the shooting starts, things can fall apart in a hurry. This week, I'm recapping a five-day guided rifle elk hunt in Wyoming with my hunter, Chance. We had plenty of opportunities, watched hunting pressure completely change elk behavior, and spent four days grinding before finally putting a great six-point bull on the ground on the last morning. Along the way, I'm sharing some lessons on adapting to hunting pressure, making smart decisions around private land boundaries, and knowing when to switch from trying to kill an elk RIGHT NOW to setting yourself up for success later in the hunt. Plus, I'll explain why, despite our success, this isn't the type of elk hunt I'd personally spend my preference points on, and why matching your hunting style to the right unit matters more than you might think. Links: 2027 Complete Hunt Plans: Reserve your spot >> Upcoming state-specific hunting webinars >> Sign Up for the Hunt West Digest Email >>
- Oct 7, 202654 min
Go Shoot Your Rifle: Lessons From an Oregon Pronghorn Hunt
Jaden finally filled his Oregon Premium Pronghorn tag, but it definitely didn't happen the way he expected. On the drive back to the airport, Jaden sits down with his brother Tyler to recap the hunt, including how different this low-density Oregon pronghorn hunt was from chasing antelope in Wyoming or Montana, why local knowledge mattered so much, and how timing completely changed where the antelope were living. Then they get into the part that every rifle hunter should hear before season. Jaden borrowed Tyler's rifle, got an opportunity at a good buck, and proceeded to shoot over him multiple times before finally getting the job done at much closer range. That leads into a conversation about knowing your rifle, getting an accurate range, understanding your rangefinder, practicing with the actual system you'll hunt with, and knowing when you need to move fast versus when you absolutely need to slow down. They also talk about why a "premium" tag doesn't necessarily mean a premium hunt, how expectations can make or break an experience, and why this particular hunt ended up being valuable for reasons that had very little to do with antelope score. If you've got a rifle deer or elk hunt coming this fall, consider this your reminder: Go shoot your rifle. Show links: Reserve 2027 Complete Hunt Plans >> Hunt West Application Webinars >> Get the Hunt West Digest Sunday Email Learn About the Hunt West Argentina Red Stag Trip Need help with a last-minute hunting problem? Email Jaden at jaden@huntwest.net Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro music for the show.
- Sep 26, 20261h 2m
Do Honey Holes Exist? Stories of Testing the Theory...
Everybody wants a honey hole, but how big is one? A single wallow, a particular hillside, or an entire drainage? And can you really pass one along to another hunter? On a quick Montana elk hunt with my buddy Drew, I test out a "honey hole" that was passed along to me. We checked out a proven elk spot, found bulls in some nasty country, and learned a few lessons about finding elk and making the most of your opportunities with a short amount of time. I also talk about testing an old pronghorn honey hole in Oregon and what October mule deer hunters can learn from all of this talk of "honey holes." Sure, honey holes might exist, but they come and go. Timing, hunting pressure, and changing conditions can make yesterday's killer spot a complete bust. The real trick is learning why animals use certain places and how to adjust when they don't. And that's what we talk about while telling some good old hunting stories in this week's episode of the Hunt West Podcast. Hope you enjoy! Show Notes: Reserve 2027 Complete Hunt Plans >> Hunt West Application Webinars >> Get the Hunt West Digest Sunday Email Learn About the Hunt West Argentina Red Stag Trip Need help with a last-minute hunting problem? Email Jaden at jaden@huntwest.net Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro music for the show.
- Sep 19, 202654 min
Late-September Elk: Silent Bulls, Satellite Tactics & a 15-Hour Recovery
We're into the final stretch of September, and this episode comes straight from a Wyoming archery elk hunt full of silent bulls, changing elk movement and rut activity, close calls, and one satellite six-point that followed our cow calls into 24 yards. We also break down the recovery after the shot, including why we started a timer, backed out overnight, and brought in a tracking dog before recovering the bull 15 hours later. Then we look ahead at late-September elk tactics, including why satellite bulls may come in silently, why herd bulls can be tough to pull off cows, and how we're approaching the final push of archery season. Enjoy this episode of the Hunt West Podcast! Show Notes: Reserve 2027 Complete Hunt Plans >> Hunt West Application Webinars >> Get the Hunt West Digest Sunday Email Learn About the Hunt West Argentina Red Stag Trip Need help with a last-minute hunting problem? Email Jaden at jaden@huntwest.net Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro music for the show.
- Sep 12, 202647 min
Kill This Season, Today, or Right Now? Opening Week Hunting Lessons
Opening week is where an entire summer of scouting finally gets tested against reality. Jaden heads into Montana's archery opener with seven mule deer bucks scouted, several he would gladly shoot, and a plan to hunt aggressively. Four days later, he has found five completely different bucks, made two legitimate stalks, gotten inside archery range, and somehow never laid eyes on any of the deer he spent the summer scouting. In this solo episode, Jaden breaks down those opening-week hunts and the decisions behind them. He explains his framework of hunting to "kill this season, kill today, or kill right now," why he changed tactics after a dead opening morning, and how impatience ruined an opportunity after he had already slipped within bow range. He also shares a second stalk on a high-country four-point that simply disappeared after bedding, plus what both failed opportunities taught him about thermals, aggression, patience, and using current information instead of becoming married to scouting history. The conversation then shifts to elk. Despite cool weather, rain, and plenty of reasons to expect an early start to the rut, Jaden heard zero bugles during his first four days in the mountains. Other hunters were finding hot pockets of activity, however, including Hunt West clients Ben and Tucker in Idaho. Jaden lays out what he expects from the September 11-20 window and why elk hunters should be prepared to glass, call, hunt water, locate herds from a distance, and change tactics rather than relying entirely on covering miles and ripping bugles. Finally, Jaden previews the Wyoming archery elk hunt he is guiding next. Instead of trying to out-hike the elk, the plan is to use distant glassing, water, private-land access, midday stalks, and several contingency plans to adapt the hunt to both the country and the hunter. It is another real-time example of the central theme of Hunt West: build a good plan, bring plenty of tools, and expect the animals to change it. Show Links: Reserve 2027 Complete Hunt Plans >> Hunt West Application Webinars >> Get the Hunt West Digest Sunday Email Learn About the Hunt West Argentina Red Stag Trip Need help with a last-minute hunting problem? Email Jaden at jaden@huntwest.net Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro music for the show.
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About Hunt West Podcast
The Hunt West Podcast is for hunters who'd rather wear out a pair of boots than a YouTube playlist.Most hunting podcasts give you campfire stories, gear hype, or endless tag talk. Hunt West is different. This is applied hunting wisdom — the stuff that actually helps you find critters and fill tags in the wild country west of the 100th meridian.Hosted by Jaden Bales — hunt consultant, mule deer junkie, and professional tag nerd — the show mixes solo riffs, guest conversations, and hard-earned lessons from real hunts. You'll get strategies for e-scouting, application hacks, mindset shifts, and the kind of woodsmanship that still matters when the Wi-Fi goes dark.If you're the kind of hunter who loves general seasons, sharp steel, glassing knobs, and planning three tags ahead — welcome home.
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