The Mediocre Alaskan Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Mediocre Alaskan Podcast
No one is born an expert hunter, angler, writer, photographer or filmmaker. This podcast explores the journey. www.TheMediocreAlaskan.com
David Coggins is the author of The Optimist and The Believer, two books about fly fishing I absolutely recommend. In this episode we discuss destination angling, expectations, changes in media, social media and audiobooks.
Triston Chaney is a commercial fisherman and fly fishing guide in Dillingham. In this episode we talk about his childhood in Dillingham, how he got into guiding, the Bristol Bay Fly Fishing & Guide Academy, his favorite flies and how unpopular and destructive Pebble Mine would be.
David Dance is a fly fishing guide and avid steelhead angler. In this episode we talk about his steelhead season, guiding in Bristol Bay, why Pebble Mine is a bad idea and catastrophic toxic spills in California and Colorado.
Hannah Moody is a 2022 graduate of Ketchikan High School and charter captain. In this episode we talk about fishing for kings, getting her captain's license, why she chose a 2-year rather than 4-year university for college, people skills, docking and how clients react to a young female guide.
Cory Hansen from Alaska Fly Fishing Goods (Juneau) and I talk steelhead, trout, Dolly Varden, steelhead set ups, flies, water depth, temperature and all things fly fishing.
In this episode Mary Glaves, Ryan Schuman and I discuss the latest proposals involving a second bridge from Juneau to Douglas Island through the Mendenhall Wetlands, the road to Ambler, our favorite hunts and the goals of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.
In this solo episode I breakdown my favorite places to eat in Southeast Alaska as well as Anchorage. I also recommend the top sights to see for those on vacation. This is kind of a feeler episode and if it hits then I will go into more depth or do a follow-up.
Casey McConnell is a Hoonah resident and in this episode we talk about spring activities such as steelhead fishing, grouse hunting, assessing the snowpack and preparing for the tourism season. His family owns Glacier Wind Charters and he guides whale watching and wildlife viewing tours.
Travis Boughton is a filmmaker and father of four. In this episode we recap his recently released Stone Glacier film Ursidae, calling in black bear, how to stay adventurous after becoming a father, and dealing with hunting pressure.
Kelly Reynolds is a pilot, photographer and hunter from Fairbanks. In this episode we talk about women hunters, what happens when someone is at the airstrip you intended to hunt, ethics, her 1949 Piper PA-14 and how to photograph the northern lights.
Ty Hewitt grew up in Ketchikan then spent time in New York pursuing a career in theater. In this episode we talk about leaving home, New York City, quality of life, the journey of the 20s, coming back to Ketchikan, AI and the film The Ladder, a film shot locally in which he plays the protagonist's son.
Abby and I discuss steelhead variables such as flow, flies and picky fish. We also get into plant growth, slug management, pollination and the satisfaction of growing your own produce to go with your game meat.
Ross Dorendorf is a wildlife biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. In this episode we talk about all things mountain goat including habitat, management, predation, tendencies, locally introduced populations and a little about Dall sheep.
Marian Giannulis is the communications and engagement director for Trout Unlimited Alaska. In this episode we talk about the importance of spawning habitat for fish, restoration projects and the current situation with the Eklutna dam which blocks returning fish from what was once important spawning habitat for all five species of Pacific salmon.
Longtime friends Melissa Castle and Nani Weimer recap their fly-in (Melissa did the flying) mountain goat hunt last fall.
This episode is an audio version of Part I of my book Beyond the Hunt read by me because the cost of professional studios and readers is way too much for a small budget guy like me.
Part II (Mentors) and Part III (Life) are available for download at OnStepAlaska.com.
Part IV (Tags) and Part V (The Industry) will be available soon.
Jamie Hollingsworth is a faculty member at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and an avid cyclist. In 2023, he biked the Iditarod Trail (1000 miles) on a fat tire bike with a few others. In this episode we talk about cold weather biking, gear, logistics and details of the trip.
Max Ludwigsen is a pilot in Ketchikan and graduate of Ketchikan High School. In this episode we talk about his aviation career path, his family's aviation history, Ketchikan history, hunting and the trusty 7-iron.
Phil Wight is an assistant professor of history and northern students at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. In this episode we talk about the Gold Rush in the interior, origins of Fairbanks, con artists, the pipeline and Dalton Highway.
Harrison Gottschling and I talk about winter caribou hunts, dealing with the cold, sheep hunting and blowing up spots.
Rick Collins is a retired teacher, lifetime fisherman and owner of Explore Alaska Charters in Ketchikan. In this episode we talk about his commercial fishing days, getting started in the charter fishing industry, technology, boats and Humpy Stew.
Christine Cunningham and Steve Meyer are outdoor writers who have written for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska and other publications. In this episode we talk about hunting in Alaska, writing, compiling a book, hunting dogs and the future. Their book The Land We Share: A love affair told in hunting stories, was published last summer.
Danny Lehr is the co-founder of Caffeine and Kilos, Excel Health and Fitness (Manteca, CA) and The Lifting Fix (Youtube). In this episode we talk about his new book writing project, nutrition, exercise and goal setting.
Heather Kelly is the founder of Heather's Choice and makes lightweight packable meals for adventures. In this episode we recap her appearance on Shark Tank (episode aired Jan. 12) and dive into the reality of entrepreneurship.
Isaac Updike is a 2010 graduate of Ketchikan High School who finished 3rd in the steeplechase at the United States Track and Field Championships in July. In this episode we talk about his high school running days, nutrition, shoes, injuries, and his journey to becoming a pro.
Abby and I kick off 2024 with a brief recap of our trip to Tucson. We discuss resolutions and the the importance of adventures in a world more and more consumed by social media and also discuss Scarcity Brain a book by Michael Easter that we listened to while we killed a 6-hour layover in Seattle.
Abby and I recap 2023. We talk about finishing the house, building the greenhouse, planting seeds, fishing, hunting, gear and what we're looking forward to in 2024.
In this episode I look back at the best stuff from 2023 - gear, podcasts, packs, books and films.
Harrison Gottschling and I discuss trapping, mining, sustainability and the Alaska draw which closes Dec. 15.
Jen Loofbourrow is founder of Alpine Fit, a gear brand based in Anchorage. In this episode we talk about the technology behind (and development of) good gear, kayak adventures, skiing and the importance of finding active groups to make winter fun.
Originally aired Feb 6, 2023
Jayleen Bydlon is the owner of Jayleen's Alaska which provides private whale watching tours in Juneau, Alaska. Jayleen is a lifelong resident of Juneau and started the business when she was 22-years old. In this episode we talk about business models, marketing, the tourism industry, whale attitudes and how to make it through winter.
Originally aired Oct 17, 2022
DJ Hansen is a life-long resident of Craig, Alaska, and owner of DJ's Alaska Adventure Rentals. In this episode we talk about growing up on Prince of Wales Island, coaching basketball, the importance of a tight-knit community and how economic opportunities have changed since we were in high school.
Originally aired Jun 27, 2022
Chris Alderman is co-owner (along with his wife) of Screaming Eagle Archery in Wasilla and Fairbanks. In this episode we talk about what you need to get started in archery, upgrades, and details about hunting moose with a bow. We also discuss caribou archery hunts and the need to be able to mentally adjust to Plans C-Z.
Originally aired June 22, 2022
Meta Mesdag is a photographer turned oyster farmer (Salty Lady Seafoods) in Juneau. In this episode we talk about her career transition, the entrepreneurship scene in Southeast Alaska, challenges brought on by Covid and bad weather, the science behind the life cycle and growing conditions or oysters.
Originally aired March 7, 2022
Alaska Fly Fishing Goods owner Brad Elfers joins me to talk all things fly fishing in Alaska. We discuss fishing opportunities in Juneau, dissect the Kenai and Kasilof rivers, fishing with mouse patterns, steelhead flies, regionally effective flies and industry improvements in rods, reels and waders.
Originally aired Dec 15, 2021
Road bike or urban bike? Mountain bike with full suspension or a hard tail? In this episode I talk with Cycle Alaska co-owner John McConnochie about the biking culture in Juneau, owning a shop, his favorite trails, selecting the style of bike that best fits your lifestyle, and how to then choose the bike that's right for you.
Originally aired Aug 11, 2021
In this episode I discuss being an ambassador for the state, fishing etiquette, "necessary toys" for Alaska living and the importance of being part of, and improving the quality of, your community with Daniel Buitrago. Daniel is the owner of Anchor Town Dogs and co-founder of the Alaska Wild Project.
Originally aired July 14, 2021
In this episode I talk about fly fishing for king salmon, whether or not sockeye bite flies, moose camp, float hunts, starting a business, brewing colonial dry cider, recapturing carbon and promoting sustainability with Jack Lau. Jack is a co-founder of Alaska Wild Project, co-owner of Double Shovel Cider Company.
Originally aired July 7, 2021
"I wanted to put quality food in people's packs." In this episode I talk with Heather's Choice owner Heather Kelly. Heather was born and raised in Alaska and owns a dehydrated food company based in Anchorage. We talk why Alaska is worth coming back to, why nutrition is important and combatting entrepreneurial obstacles.
Originally aired Dec 19, 2019
John Peterka runs Sagebrush Dry in Kake, Alaska. Not exactly the hub of outdoor gear, so in this episode John and I talk business dynamics and small town life in southeast Alaska. We talk about how he arrived in Kake, how he became accepted by the community, why his latest float plane flight got turned around and of course, what makes Sagebrush Dry so special.
Originally aired 12/4/19.
Travis and Mark are co-founders of Uncharted Alaska Distillery in Ketchikan. In this episode we talk about opening a business during COVID, creating a welcoming environment, making quality products, their new location and the importance of being part of the community to make it through winter.
Abby and I recap the blacktail rut season so far. We tell the stories of our three bucks, break down some tactics and review our hunting pants and hot tent.
Tyler Freel is a staff writer for Outdoor Life and hosts the Tundra Talk podcast. In this episode we discuss why you may or may not need to upgrade your rifle, choosing a quality cartridge, shooting groups, moose camp, getting through winter and podcast merchandise.
Jessica Rostad was born and raised in Fairbanks and now is an owner of Big Ray's, the family business that opened in 1947. We talk about the history of the store, challenges that come with running a business in Alaska, competing with online websites, the tenacity that comes with growing up in Alaska, 30-inch rainbow trout and the upcoming Black Friday specials at the Big Ray's stores.
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One of the most popular podcasts I've done was how to call blacktail deer with the Drop Shot Calls guys at their place in Craig. So here it is, everything you want to know about making calls and calling deer in Southeast Alaska.
Episode 68 (Nov. 25, 2018) - I visited the Drop Shot Calls workbench to talk about how they got started, what makes a good call, when you should call, how long you should wait and what works for them. We also talk about the right tools for the job, rut tactics, and the future of the resource.
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Jen Loofbourrow is back to talk more about her award-winning, Alaska-owned business Alpine Fit. We discuss outdoor technology, entrepreneurial issues involving obtaining start-up money, outdoor recreation pairings, the importance of living the lifestyle rather than just running a business, why it's important to stay Alaskan rather than move to an industry hub and upcoming events.
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Emily Thompson recaps her grizzly bear and elk hunts. We also discuss getting started in hunting, mentorship, the Alaska lifestyle and pushing yourself.
Emily lives in Anchorage and is a member of the Anchorage Fire Department.
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Kyle Wilkinson and I recap his summer guiding season in the Mat-Su Valley. We discuss reading rivers, fishing effectively, losing flies and reading clients. Then we recap his moose hunt that had him counting brow tines at 30 yards.
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Brandon Fifield tells the story of his last minute moose opportunity. Brandon is a member of Alaska Wild Project and a resident of Anchorage.
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Casey McConnell and I recap his sheep and moose hunt. We also talk about blacktail plans, pre-rut, rut, dates, tactics and observations from previous seasons. Casey is a resident of Hoonah and probably the most intense e-scouter I know.
Purchase my book Beyond the Hunt at OnStepAlaska.com or on Amazon.
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Abby and I talk about our favorite game and fish meals - from mountain goat tenderloin and blacktail heart tacos to Vietnamese mule deer sausage, halibut tacos to miso and sesame garlic salmon.
Purchase my latest book Beyond the Hunt at OnStepAlaska.com or on Amazon.
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Ryan, Abby and I recap last week's caribou hunt. We tell the story, talk gear, weather, caribou habits, hunting pace, adhering to shooting caps and shuttling meat.
Purchase my latest book Beyond the Hunt at OnStepAlaska.com or on Amazon.
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Abby, Ryan and I talk food, calories per ounce, gear, weather and field judging caribou as we preview the caribou hunt we will be on when this episode releases. Purchase my latest book Beyond the Hunt at OnStepAlaska.com or on Amazon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jake Rodgers and Ryan John recap their memorably miserable pack out after taking two big blacktail bucks in mid-August. We discuss best time of day to find bucks, how Jake keeps finding big bucks, the willingness to return to brutal areas and hitting weather windows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Casey McConnell and I recap the first weeks of blacktail season and preview his sheep hunt. We discuss deer tactics, gear and how they are similar and dissimilar in a sheep hunting program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, Andrew McKean and I discuss a survey that found worrisome trends regarding public approval of hunting. We also discuss mentorship, influence and how a shift in hunting terminology from "trophy hunting" to "organic meat procurement" has not really had the expected effect on public approval. McKean is the hunting and conservation editor at Outdoor Life. His article about the survey is available at Outdoorlife.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After a week of rain, it was so nice to see the mountains again and I tore off up one to hunt. It was a short weather window but I had a few chances. In this episode I recap two encounters with bucks and some simple things that help me cope when hunts turn miserable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Brian Barney is the host of Eastmans' Elevated and the co-host of Life of a Bowhunter. In this episode we talk about breaking in bows, practice, pairing arrows, learning from mistakes, hunting a variety of species, and the all important mindset. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Danny and I recap his first ever deer hunt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Danny Lehr is co-founder of Caffeine and Kilos a weightlifting/coffee lifestyle brand. In this episode we preview his first ever deer hunt. Danny and I have been friends since we taught high school together in California before I moved back to Alaska. This is his fourth trip to Alaska, but first hunt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Luke Dusenbury is an outdoor filmmaker who has worked with GoHunt, Leupold and others. In this episode we talk about the importance of growth, seeds of inspiration, music selection and how he almost became a teacher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ketchikan high school graduates Brayden (2019) and Degan (2022) Linne talk about growing up in Ketchikan, their first deer hunts, tennis shoes in the alpine, upgrading packs, figuring out deer habitat and habits, missed opportunities and shooting big bucks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ryan John and I do an initial preview of our caribou hunt this September. We talk gear, expectations, weight, hot tents, picking up other tags (moose and sheep) just incase and me attempting my first hunting film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Abby and I talk about our gear fixes, needs and considerations as we recap our first deer scouting trip of the summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Harrison Gottschling and I talk about hunt opportunities in Alaska, talking to biologists, hunting mindset, building homes and preview his sheep hunt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Abby and I talk about the food, camping and fishing during our trip to Anchorage/Mat-Su Valley/Denali last week. Huge thanks to everyone who came out to the book release party at Double Shovel Cider Co. in Anchorage and to Double Shovel for hosting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nathan Endicott is back to talk about muskegs, habitat, habits, hypothermia, making films, adjusting to hunting pressure, hunting new spots and how he defines his contribution to the hunting creative community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this solo episode I recap my last hunt of the season and what I believe it was that made the difference. I have been hunting a high-traffic, close to town area and had to figure out a way to put myself in a position to have success since there was sign, rubs and a few bucks every few days on my game cameras. Saturday it came together and I took my second blacktail of the season on the second to the last day I could hunt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hoonah resident Casey McConnell and I talk about gear, terrain differences between the Brooks Range and Southeast Alaska, judging sheep, hunting blacktail, Wyoming elk and hunting pressure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Paisley Wortman and Tyler Bennett recap their Oregon elk success. Paisley grew up in Craig, Alaska, and her bull was her first with her bow. Tyler is a resident of Oregon and has been hunting elk since he was young. In this episode we break down the hunt and discuss lessons learned, the value of persistence, taking good shots and the importance of practice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Abby and I recap the successful hunt on Saturday. We talk about getting to less pressured locations, Plan A vs. Plan B, Western hunting vs. Alaska hunting, terrain and tips for people looking to DIY. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Skagway resident Adam Smith and I discuss hunting mountain goats in Southeast Alaska, proposals to prevent population decline, blowing up spots, social media use and sewing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kris Millgate is CEO of Tight Line Media, author of My Place Among Men, My Place Among Fish and was nominated for an Emmy for her film about the 850-mile salmon migration from the ocean to Idaho. In this episode we talk about her path from shyness to successful storyteller, the difference between uncomfortable and unsafe, overcoming challenges and the editing process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jayleen Bydlon is the owner of Jayleen's Alaska which provides private whale watching tours in Juneau, Alaska. Jayleen is a lifelong resident of Juneau and started the business when she was 22-years old. In this episode we talk about business models, marketing, the tourism industry, whale attitudes and how to make it through winter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jaden Bales is back to talk about his newest entrepreneurial endeavor and recap his hunting season so far. We talk about helping people make the most out of opportunities, mindset on familiar and new hunts and hunting with our significant others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Abby and I talk about the upcoming Sitka blacktail deer rut season. We discuss tactics, observations, contradictions, when to call, having confidence and being patient. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Alaska Wild Project's Daniel Buitrago and I discuss dialing in hunts, moose floats, caribou herd shifts, collecting sheds and mentoring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Abby and I recap the weekend mountain goat hunt. We discuss hunting mentalities, favorite foods, mentors and impressionable hunts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
John Abernathey is the man behind the Destination Elk camera. Fresh off filming Corey Jacobsen and Donnie Drake's elk hunt in Alaska, John and I talk angles, gear, editing, software and tips for filming hunts. We discuss GoPro audio, DSLRs, filming in the rain, and what happens when Corey goes into predator mode. This episode originally aired last September, but it's one of the most popular and since it's filming season, I'm re-releasing this excellent episode with John. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From the crow's nest in Larry Jackson's Ketchikan cabin, we talk about the evolution/history of charter fishing, technology, methods, coho and king salmon populations, boats and the time a boat he was on capsized. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Alaska Wild Project's Brandon Fifield is back to talk about his latest sheep trip and upcoming moose hunt. We discuss sacrificing hunt time to help others, mindset going into difficult hunts, tantrums, minimalist mountain hunts vs. heavy gear low elevation hunts and how ranking hunts is impossible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode Abby and I recap her first ever Sitka blacktail deer success. We discuss hunting pressure, ethics, hunting in the heat and food cravings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Though I am not going sheep hunting this year, I do love a good sheep story. So in honor of the start of sheep season 2022, here's an episode from the archives.
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Will Collins is back to recap his 8-day canoe trip on a Canadian section of the Yukon River. We talk about logistics, hospitality, mindset and pairing literature with adventure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Abby and I talk about hunting weather windows, terrain, habitat, deer food, food made from deer and our plan for hunting. We also talk a little more about my caribou hunt and why I don't want to share too much about where I'm going. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I almost changed the name of the podcast because contemporary society's obsession with the removal of challenges and acceptance of underachieving. I reject the sentiment that a life free of physical and mental challenges is what we should strive for and that seeking them is toxic masculinity. When I used "mediocre" the intent was to resonate with those who have worked through, or who are currently battling to improve. No one starts out an expert. This podcasts is for the grinders, the workers and the doers who are honest about the lows and struggles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ryan John and I preview our caribou hunt in the Brooks Range. We discuss expectations,, gear and how hunts differ around the state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ketchikan resident Ryan John and I go through our gear for Southeast Alaska blacktail, most of which we will be using on our caribou trip next week. We talk bows, optics, trekking pole, the whole works. Most of the popular brands are quality so decisions like packs are completely personal. Just because I use Stone Glacier or replaced my Sitka rain pants with Black Diamond, doesn't mean that is the way to go. If you're in the market for gear, try on what you can, ask around, read and listen to people who use certain items. Unless you are sponsored, it might take a few years to put together your set up through trial and error or just thanks to sheer expense. My sleeping bag is 17 years old and my cold, wet weather rut hunting gear is Cabela's circa 2008. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I talk with Matthew Clark who is leaving GoHUNT to become a high school English teacher. I field a couple questions about teaching and we discuss how often people in the outdoor content industry talk about unfortunate educational experiences. We talk about the importance of rejuvenating hobbies like fishing and hunting to prime people for the work week and give them something to look forward to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fairbanks resident Harrison Gottschling is back to talk about his cabin building project and early season caribou hunting. We discuss food, gear, overthinking, and other caribou hunting considerations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Alaskan Erika Smith is back to talk influencing people vs. being, or trying to be an "influencer," brown bear encounters, the importance of practicing bear defense devices (10mm and bear spray), salmon burger recipes and the difference between writing stress and content making stress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Abby and I recap our time on Prince of Wales before heading back to the big city of Ketchikan. We talk about the highlights of the last month, king salmon fishing, forest service cabins and the benefits of being rural. Note: My family moved to Prince of Wales in 1986. In June, mom sold the house and thus ended our time on POW. Abby and I will still visit friends from our home in Ketchikan, but it is the end of an era for sure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jaden Bales has spent years understanding, explaining and navigating Lower 48 point systems as a Wyoming resident. In this episode we talk about the pros and cons of draws, points and other ways states regulate hunting opportunities. We also talk about coping with cold during hunts, being in shape and hot tents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
GoHunt's Chris Neville talks about his 2021 Alaska caribou hunt (a hunt no longer available to non-federally qualified hunters), travel ethics, gear and the impact of content and social media on hunting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I recap the spring bear season, a few tips about gear, tactics and look forward to fall bear, with caribou and blacktail in-between. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
DJ Hansen is a life-long resident of Craig, Alaska, and owner of DJ's Alaska Adventure Rentals. In this episode we talk about growing up on Prince of Wales Island, coaching basketball, the importance of a tight-knit community and how economic opportunities have changed since we were in high school. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chris Alderman is co-owner of Screaming Eagle Archery in Wasilla and Fairbanks. In this episode we talk about what you need to get started in archery, upgrades, and details about hunting moose with a bow. We also discuss caribou archery hunts and the need to be able to mentally adjust to Plans C-Z. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Danny Lehr is co-founder of Caffeine and Kilos lifestyle brand and is the friend everyone needs. He's a doer who pushes himself and encourages others, but not in a cheesy or Ponzi-scheme sort of way. In this episode we talk about trying new things, taking risks and staying honest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The first Father's Day without Dad was a tough one, but they get easier over the years. In this episode I talk about my first year without him and how things have changed since he passed in 2009. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Emory Wanger is an outdoor writer, blogger and photographer. In this episode we talk about writing about about the right mindset for backpacking, helping others and our favorite gear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Larry Jackson is the owner of Bare Boat Alaska. He has been a commercial fisherman, charter fisherman, teacher, entrepreneur and now rents boats and his maintains his rental cabin. In this episode we talk about the beauty of Alaska on your own terms and what's changed in all his years as a resident. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kody Malouf is a product of Ketchikan through and through. He is finishing college at Northern Arizona University. In this episode we talk about growing up in the tourism business, the good and bad of growing up in a small town on an island in Southeast Alaska and pursuing a journalism career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nick Roberts is editor of Bonefish & Tarpon Journal and is the Director of Marketing and Communications for Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. In this episode we talk about sight fishing for redfish, tarpon and bonefish. We also get into the need to think about sustainability, responsibility and the inability for anglers and hunters to be on the sidelines as political and environmental issues become more important. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I don't trust canoes. Well, I don't trust myself in canoes. Will Collins trusts himself enough to have canoed the Yukon, Grand Canyon and Mississippi. In this episode I talk with him about canoeing, adventuring, his podcast and the the best part of long trips down big rivers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This episode was spawned by an email from a visitor to our website. There were questions about sustainability, salmon populations, small town BS, and general health. So Abby and I answer the questions and attempt to provide a little more context to living in Ketchikan and Southeast Alaska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Brad Brooks is founder of Argali, a small (but expanding), deliberate company that makes game bags, knives, belts and now tents. In this episode we talk about diligence and patience when creating products, sunk costs, taking risks, whether or not modern hunters are too caught up with needless suffering and what hunting icons would think of our modern technology. Make sure to check out the latest films from Brad's hunts in Alaska on Argali's YouTube channel.
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Trent Fisher is co-founder of Born and Raised Outdoors. In this episode we talk about going all-in on an entrepreneurial endeavor, avoiding pitfalls, making the math work, mentoring, why creators should help other creators rather than see them as competition and of course, elk and bear hunting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The guys over at Alaska Wild Project are celebrating one year as a podcast, so I had them on to talk about what they've learned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this special episode, Brandon Purcell previews Stone Glacier's film "Tide Swing" which drops April 20. We talk about hunting in Alaska, expectations, preparation, the guide life and of course black bear hunting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I talk with Kyle Wilkinson from The Young Guides Podcast. We discuss the early season trout opportunities outside of Anchorage, then get into fishing methods for fishing trout and salmon along the Parks Highway north of Anchorage. Kyle shares what it's been like to start guiding, effective rigs, the best flies and Western rivers that are on his list. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dylan Tomine is the author of Closer to the Ground, a through-the-seasons look at fishing and foraging in Washington. In this episode we talk about protecting resources, shifting baselines, having difficult conversations, the threats caused by polarization, steelhead and legendary fly fishing authors. Tomine's new book Headwaters is available for pre-order and will be released later in April. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Robby Denning is a co-owner of Rokslide, the comprehensive hunting website. In this episode we talk about the purpose of Rokslide, filling the needs of hunters, the current state of hunting, turning non-hunters into pro-hunters rather than anti-hunters, the value of conservation groups like RMEF and even a little fishing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Minnesota resident Dan Platta is the host of the Bookkeeping, Beers and BS podcast. In his show he talks about being successful in business, but he also loves hunting whitetail and ice fishing. In this episode we talk about the balance of getting what you need vs. buying a bunch of stuff. We also talk about new experiences, mentoring others and the balance of being willing to get after it, but also not be an idiot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Rich Krupa grew up in North Pole Alaska, played college basketball at Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, met his wife, and never left. His daughter played at Sitka High School while he was an assistant coach and she went on to play at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In this episode we talk about college basketball in Alaska, the college basketball recruiting scene, the downside of trying to "be seen", recruiting services, and adjusting to team dynamics as a coach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Rob Casperson is the head coach of the Juneau-Douglas boys basketball team. He grew up in Juneau and played for the team that lost to future NBA player Trajan Langdon's East Anchorage team in the state finals, and was later a teammate of Alaska's next NBA player - Carlos Boozer. In this episode we talk about adapting a system to match players, Alaska's talent pool, recruiting, dramatic finishes and how 4a basketball has changed around the state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kelly Smith grew up on Prince of Wales Island and played basketball for Thorne Bay and Craig in the mid-1990s. He is now the head coach of the Ketchikan High School girls basketball team which as won the Region V title eight out of the last nine years. In this episode we talk about the transition to coaching girls, building a program and island life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Meta Mesdag is a photographer turned oyster farmer (Salty Lady Seafoods) in Juneau. In this episode we talk about her career transition, the entrepreneurship scene in Southeast Alaska, challenges brought on by Covid and bad weather, the science behind the life cycle and growing conditions or oysters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Pete Kaple is the man behind The Skiff Wanderer on Instagram and Youtube. He is an avid angler and budding filmmaker in Texas. In this episode we talk about how the first fish you catch is often the fish you chase for the rest of your life. We also discuss branching out to pursue other species, the skiff live in Alaska vs. the skiff life in Texas and considerations when building a brand. Also, there is NOT ONE "Alaska is bigger than Texas" joke. See, we can all get along. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Caleb Jacques runs guided grizzly bear photography adventures in Katmai. In this episode we talk about his family lodge transitioning from a fishing lodge to a photography safari lodge. We discuss bear skills, photography skills and food cravings after being in rural country for extended periods of time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kayhi graduate and entrepreneur Isaiah Navales and I talk about lessons from commercial fishing, favorite ways to eat fish, the value in leaving home and coming back on your own terms, basketball memories and the strength of Alaskan communities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ketchikan Mayor Dave Kiffer and I talk Southeast Alaska history from Parnassus Books in downtown Ketchikan. We start off with agriculture and gold rush then move to the great Region V basketball rivalries. If you want to know what life is like in Southeast Alaska, this is a quality glimpse. If you live here, it'll bring back memories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this solo episode I expand on some of the things I wrote about in my blog post about being on the other end of an entrepreneur's quest to make money. I talk about what used to work on me and why it doesn't anymore. I talk about how Meateater's proliferation has made me lose interest in the brand even though I love the show, how brands exploit the enthusiasm of users and how something as simple as a social media post can be the tie-breaker when choosing between brands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
T.K. Coleman is an entrepreneur with incredible insight about education, entrepreneurship and personal growth. In this episode we talk about developing professional skills, finding space in saturated markets, being a multi-dimensional thinker, how to approach the pursuit of lofty goals and unique opportunities after high school that don't involve college, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I talk to the 2018 Ketchikan High School Valedictorian, Largim Zhuta, about leaving a small town on an island in Alaska, to pursue a mechanical engineering degree at Santa Clara University. We talk about what happens when you're surrounded by Valedictorians, paying for college, energy production and storage, and the difference between working on solutions for problems and working on ways to make money off people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Larry Jackson and I talk about winters in Ketchikan and custom home building from the wheelhouse in his custom home. Larry used repurposed wood from around town, rocks from local beaches along with other local inspiration to building his home. He and I talk about the dynamics of designing and building a home, as well as the stress of having a dock during a winter storm, especially a storm took out the ramp and pier last year. (Photo is from the summer before that disaster) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Erika Smith is known in the social media world as AlaskaOutDoorGirl. In this episode we talk about skiing, fishing, the dating scene in Alaska, coping with winter, growing your community and how long we'd last on Alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
To close out the year, I found two of the best from dozens of great episodes with great guests. In this episode Outdoor Life writer and Tundra Talk host Tyler Freel and I talk about grizzly bear hunting, processing black bear, archery, protecting public land and how some hunts never get old. This podcast was first released in April. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
To close out the year, I found two of the best from dozens of great episodes with great guests. In this episode I talk to fellow product of Prince of Wales, Melissa Castle, who took a bison in interior Alaska. We talk about her upbringing in Craig, the best parts of living in Anchorage and the details of her hunt. This episode was released in April. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Alaska Fly Fishing Goods owner Brad Elfers joins me to talk all things fly fishing in Alaska. We discuss fishing opportunities in Juneau, dissect the Kenai and Kasilof rivers, fishing with mouse patterns, steelhead flies, regionally effective flies and industry improvements in rods, reels and waders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode Abby and I recap our top fishing, hunting and camping moments of the year. We also discuss making moves on mountain goats in the fog, rainbow trout on the Kenai, Wyoming mule deer, boat camping, hunting pressure, hunting strategies and home building. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tongass Talk co-host Adam Krick went from teacher in Alaska to big game guide in Alaska. In this episode we talk about if teaching is like guiding, similarities between hunting Alaska and hunting the Lower 48, how to hunt crowded areas, the benefits of being on the road system and plans for 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jason Holliday joins me to talk about finding public land to hang your stand back east. We also discuss outdoor entrepreneurs that sound like used-car salesmen, the value of authenticity and maintaining consistency when doing a podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this solo episode I recap lessons learned from my caribou, brown bear, elk, mule deer and blacktail deer hunts in 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I talk to Geoff and Jessica Jans who own Ketchikan Ever Greens, a hydroponic farm in Ketchikan. We talk about how they got started, why they got started, the benefits of hydroponics and why real fresh garden greens are more healthy than greens picked early to be shipped "fresh". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Argali founder Brad Brooks is back to recap his 6-week Alaskan adventure where he attempted to take a blacktail deer, caribou and moose with his bow. We talk about stalking blacktail vs. stalking mule deer, lessons learned and being alone with your thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Clint Whitley is an archery hunting fanatic and the host of Western Hunting Hub. He and I talk about what happens when people lose their minds on social media forums, creating advocates, not enemies, hunting whitetail and our favorite recipes for wild game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode Abby and I break down our success over the weekend. We talk about hunting muskegs, calling, the difference in deer response in high traffic areas and low traffic areas, difficulties in filming hunts, plans for this weekend and a new venison recipe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode Daniel Buitrago and I talk about the world before podcasts, social media and the Internet, the defining attributes of people we looked up to growing up, the value being outside brings to our lives, the importance of sharing that with the next generation, the impact of climate change, the future of populations, draw hunt strategies and what hunts we hope we draw in 2022. Daniel is a co-founder of Alaska Wild Project and owner of Anchor Town Dogs in Anchorage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode Abby and I talk about different ways to cook wild game meat, salmon chowder, the housing market in Ketchikan and the plan for hunting this weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Juneau resident Dallin Hanchett is back to recap his Kodiak mountain goat hunt we previewed in Episode 233. We discuss the weather, elevation, brown bears, how to get mentally prepared each morning when everything is wet and cold, the helpful attitude of rural residents, savoring game meat to make it last and where this hunt ranks on his all-time list. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Abby and I discuss the first big weekend of Sitka Blacktail rut in the Ketchikan area. We talk about our unsuccessful weekend, beach hunting, setting anchors, hunting forums, how to feel when it seems like everyone else in Southeast Alaska called in a buck over the weekend, and what the plan is for this weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ian Hudson and I discuss calling styles including grunts, rattling and bleats for Sitka blacktail deer, hunting high-traffic areas, and whether or not bigfoot exists. If it did, it would be here, but is it? Ian is a co-host of the Tongass Talk podcast and a resident of Metlakatla, Alaska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jack Lau (Alaska Wild Project and Double Shovel Cider Co.) is back to break down his moose camp. We talk about luxuries vs. necessities, expected daily mileage while hunting moose, what to look for when scouting a spot, archery set ups, fall fly fishing and promoting healthy eating habits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Newly minted Outdoor Life staff writer Tyler Freel joins me to talk about podcast analytics, his late summer and fall hunting trips, fly-in sheep hunts, getting weathered in, how to handle getting corked by entitled hunters, finding new friends on a Haul Road archery hunt, having a "portfolio of spots" and what makes good hunting shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
My wife and I recap her elk and mule deer hunts from last month. We talk about our summer scouting, her encounters while solo archery hunting before I arrived, what happens when the elk go silent and opening day rifle season mule deer success as a consolation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I talk with Jaden Bales about the progression of a hunter. We discuss fine-tuning gear decisions, hunting in shorts (not in Alaska), turning information learned inside into success outside, luck and going with your gut. We also talk about the dynamics of trying to break into the content world as podcast hosts and writers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Alaska Wild Project's Brandon Fifield recaps his moose hunt. We also talk about having intense experiences vs. tempting dangerous situations, meat care in bear territory, peppered game bags, urine-laced caribou livers, finding spots, respecting someone else's spot and looking out for each other. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As host of a successful podcast, Chad Ryker from Backcountry Rookies has talked to many hunters about many different types of hunts so we break down what is most important when telling a story, the type of guests we like having on, the ability of some big names to stay honest and humble after they get big and, of course, our hunting plans for the rest of the fall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this replay from 2019, I talk about approaching muskegs quietly, using creeks as cover and expecting deer bedded in the transition. On this hunt, I was moving slow enough that I saw a deer bedded in brush well before the edge of a muskeg. He bumped, but I didn't rush after him. I gave a few quiet calls after a few minutes, then slowly moved toward the muskeg. He had only bumped to the edge of the muskeg. It was a quick and easy shot. Then as I waited for my buddies, a boat came in and dropped off a hunter in the same cove where we were anchored. Madness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In part 2 of how to hunt Sitka blacktail deer in Southeast Alaska, I replay one of my earliest episodes. The guys behind Drop Shot Calls invited me over to talk hunting, calling and all things Prince of Wales living. The recording is done at their bench as they are working on their calls so there is authentic background noise and examples of how they call to bring in the big bucks they are known for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In part 1 of how to hunt Sitka blacktail deer in Southeast Alaska, I go back to episode 117 for a discussion with my buddy Ryan John. We talk scouting muskegs, what Google Earth can't show you, the importance of hunting the entire way to the muskeg not just the muskeg itself, how long to stay, being quiet, and when to eat snacks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Harrison Gottschling is back to recap the Alaska caribou hunt we previewed in episode 224. We talk about coping with the snow, changing plans, stalking caribou success, holding out for big animals in tough-to-draw units and the soundtrack of a long pack out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I talk with Juneau resident Dallin Hanchett about his Kodiak mountain goat hunt next month. We discuss expectations, gear, goat populations, conditioning, dream hunts and guilty pleasure Lower 48 food. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
John Abernathey is the man behind the Destination Elk camera. Fresh off filming Corey Jacobsen and Donnie Drake's elk hunt in Alaska, John and I talk angles, gear, editing, software and tips for filming hunts. We discuss GoPro audio, DSLRs, filming in the rain, and what happens when Corey goes into predator mode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hike up a mountain with a tent and stove? Yeah. Kevin Timm is the owner of Seek Outside, the manufacturer of the hot tent in which I spent the majority of what would have been a rainy, foggy, miserable alpine hunt in September had it not been for my buddy who owned one of these tents. I do not own one, but I wanted to track down Kevin and talk about the technology behind the tents, what makes them dependable and perform well in all Alaskan conditions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Brandon Fifield is back to talk about his Dall sheep success. We discuss the importance of a positive mental attitude, the reality of hunts everyone wants to do, the state of sheep populations, the gear and strategies for moose hunting and the sadness of lumping physical challenges in with toxic masculinity, because engaging in challenges create self esteem more than comfort. Brandon is a co-founder of the Alaska Wild Project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jaden Bales is back to talk about his archery antelope hunt, but we mostly end up talking about things we don't understand like how a bear can just appear and elk can disappear. We also talk about lessons learned in sports that translate to hunting, what happens when a hunt is filmed, the value of a good wall map and the importance of supporting wildlife organizations in different states - especially if you plan to hunt them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Paul Atkins moved to Kotzebue nearly three decades ago. In this episode we talk about life in the Arctic including the strength of rural communities, real Alaskan winters, the local vs. non-local debates regarding hunting, the writing process and what he will miss most now that he is back in Oklahoma. His book Atkins' Alaska is available on Amazon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mark Boardman from Vortex Optics joins me to talk about applying a college education in a career, the fundamentals of a positive growth culture at a gear company, the importance of customer relations, quality products, his next hunt and when to pour gas on a good idea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Craig Van Arsdale and I talk about his archery caribou hunt on the Haul Road, his first summer as an Alaskan, hunting outside of the United States, conservation, regulations and the future of hunting in the Lower 48. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I talk with the co-host of the show Saltwater Experience and founder of WaypointTV Tom Rowland. We discuss good ideas, bad ones, how to stand out in a saturated industry, the role of fitness in a productive life, goals and the future of fishing as a resource and sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode Fairbanks resident Harrison Gottschling and I talk about his upcoming caribou hunt in a coveted area. We talk about the best ways to get information, what to look for when e-scouting, mileage expectations, logistical concerns when flying in and floating, meals that get your mind right and why he has 42 chickens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Abby and I recap our week on Prince of Wales Island. We recap our blacktail deer hunt, the deer population on POW, discuss the pros and cons of different rafts and fishing for salmon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode my wife Abby and I talk about fog, rain and eventually blacktail success. We covered 26 miles over three days and I took my biggest buck to date. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Argali founder Brad Brooks and I preview his 6-week hunting trip to Alaska. His plan is to archery hunt deer, caribou and moose in the coming weeks. We discuss fly-out logistics, concerns, counting ounces, the importance of reputation and camping food. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Road bike or urban bike? Mountain bike with full suspension or a hard tail? In this episode I talk with Cycle Alaska co-owner John McConnochie about the biking culture in Juneau, owning a shop, his favorite trails, selecting the style of bike that best fits your lifestyle, and how to then choose the bike that's right for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I talk with outdoor enthusiast and entrepreneur Mike Merrill outdoor technology, living the hashtags, resilience building confidence, advice for outdoor content/product makers and his first fishing trip to Alaska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Rain. Cold. Buck down. Bear. In this excited, maybe frantic I-just-got-home-episode, I recap my first buck of the year. It was cold and rainy, then there was a buck, then there was waiting, then finally a chance to shoot the buck. Then there was a bear. Thankfully the bear was not a brown or grizzly (none on the island I hunted) and hadn't claimed my buck before I did. Still, I quartered, and boned out the rest of the required meat with AC/DC playing on my phone in the rain. I also sent a few inReach messages just incase. I have a bear tag but the season doesn't open until Sept. 1. With the amount of blueberries in the area, it probably tasted delicious so I'll have to go back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I talk with Corey Jacobsen about the value of research, educating hunters, confidence and the importance of being authentic in a world loaded with egos. Corey is the man behind Elk101, The University of Elk Hunting online course and Destination Elk on Youtube
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this solo episode I break down the different season start dates for blacktail deer in Unit 2 (Prince of Wales) because it always seems like some non-resident is surprised upon hearing the season opens Aug. 1, but that they can't hunt federal land until Aug. 16. I recap the last three season openers, the impact of heat and dry spells on deer activity, finding a honey hole and changes to TheMediocreAlaskan.com including a section devoted to issues concerning hunters and anglers in Alaska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
My wife has a Wyoming whitetail deer tag, so in this episode we talk with our good friend and Wyoming resident Jaden Bales about scouting, tactics as well as more about our September elk program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I talk about having gear, borrowing gear, hunting programs, the Alaska housing market, upgrading Alaska Toys and what it means to be "Alaska Rich" with Alaska Wild Project's Brandon Fifield. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode Turner Rowland and I talk about fires in the West, fishing, hunting, the importance of having or being a mentor for someone else, whether or not it's the Golden Age of outdoor content, or the Wild West and what that means for hunters and anglers going forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I discuss being an ambassador for the state, fishing etiquette, "necessary toys" for Alaska living and the importance of being part of, and improving the quality of, your community with Daniel Buitrago. Daniel is the owner of Anchor Town Dogs and co-founder of the Alaska Wild Project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dale Luginbill is approaching 200 episodes of his FullScale Outdoors Podcast. In this episode we discuss the time needed to produce video, written, or audio content, overcoming the self-doubt, how to get started, how to continue and some of the pitfalls we have encountered along the way. Though this podcast does talk about podcasts and the outdoor industry, the themes are universal. People have dreams or ideas and of those people, few follow through. Of those few, even fewer see it totally through. That doesn't mean if you do follow through you will become the next Steve Rinella, Tom Rowland or Patrick McManus, but you'll never know unless sit down and start writing or hit record. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I talk about fly fishing for king salmon, whether or not sockeye bite flies, moose camp, float hunts, starting a business, brewing colonial dry cider, recapturing carbon and promoting sustainability with Jack Lau. Jack is a co-founder of Alaska Wild Project, co-owner of Double Shovel Cider Company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this solo episode I talk about some of the difficult aspects of podcasting such as lining up guests and some of the most important things to keep in mind, like doing research and finding unique angles so you're not having a person tell the same story they did last week on a podcast (unless it truly is incredible). Anytime you are creating anything, it comes down to audience and purpose. What are you creating, who are you creating for, and why? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
My wife and I are back from our honeymoon on the Kenai Peninsula. In this episode we talk about expectations vs. reality, the best way to catch fish, some great places to eat, a really poor place to stay, why travel reviews are often flawed, and our great day in Anchorage to close out the trip. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Lyle Hebel is the marketing director at Stone Glacier. In this episode we talk about the creative process, where to get inspiration, the role of gear, how to grow a company without losing identity and the good and bad of feedback. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Kenai Peninsula is Alaska's Playground, so it was an obvious choice for our Honeymoon. In this episode Abby and I talk about pre-wedding stress, expectations for fishing the Kasilof and Kenai Rivers, Airbnb rentals, fly selections and how much planning should go into a road trip. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Harrison Gottschling is back to talk about his recent interior Alaska black bear hunt. We talk about that hunt, his 10-year old dog, finding sheep, and what's going to happen when he goes on a fly-out hunt this fall with our buddy Steve - both armed with sheep, caribou and moose tags. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Along the Keel host Zach Rollins and I talk about creating value as an entrepreneur or content maker, authenticity, travel and docking boats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I overuse the words "excited" and "opportunity" to describe being asked to join the Waypoint Collective. Joining a collective is the latest in a lifetime of things I thought I'd never do: I'd never be a teacher, I'd never move back to Alaska, I'd never have a podcast that was bigger than a small, ad-less ramble. I close with a memory of being in 29 Palms for my brother's return from a deployment in Iraq. There were a few signs in memory of the men who were killed. Every Memorial Day the image of those posters comes back up in my memory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
At some point in late May, the gas is hit and things start flying. Steelhead overlaps with bear season which overlaps with king salmon season once June starts. It is an absolutely overwhelming time of year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"If you know, you know" is a pretty lame, overused expression, but it does encapsulate the feelings during a hunt. Writers and podcasters always try to put words to experiences, and we always fail. But we can connect people to their own memories and maybe in that light, the storytelling is successful. In this solo episode, I fumble to find words to recount the 26-hour brown bear hunt I was invited on over the weekend which culminated with me taking my first brown bear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dallin Hanchett recounts his brown bear hunt and we discuss big game photography, personal trophies and the impossibility of holding onto the moment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Guy Duplantier is the creator of Western Contours and an avid hunter currently obsessed with elk. In this dual released episode, he and I talk about finding value, archery caribou, bull elk screaming at night, the future of hunting and the importance of finding, "whatever your screaming bull is." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode Jaden Bales and I talk about recovering black bears, ammunition shortages, bipods and a Cameron Hanes running shoe NFT? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode Lyn Hoffman (thehoffmanlife.com) joins me to talk about guiding spring brown bear hunts, sheep hunts, massive expanses of land like the Brooks Range, hunting ethics in crowded areas like New Mexico and how to make it through the winter in Alaska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A bill proposed by Gov. Dunleavy has me conflicted. While I love the thought of me getting 10 acres of land for a "recreational cabin" preferably to hunt moose or something in the interior, will I be able to afford good land? Will I be able to afford to get to it? What are the unintended consequences of putting public hands into private hands? And yes, there is a nice swamp by Skwentna. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Outdoor Life writer and Tundra Talk host Tyler Freel and I talk about grizzly bear hunting, processing black bear, archery, protecting public land and how some hunts never get old. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Spring showed up all of a sudden, so there is more than enough to do. The black bears will start to emerge, grouse season will be peaking and of course, spring steelhead will be hot. For those who don't live here, it's these shoulder months that make this place absolutely irresistible. No one is going to come up here for hooter season, unless you're filming a show, but if you're local, it's just one of the many things that make the cold, dark winters worth it. Also, buy my book and keep this podcast free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I talk to fellow product of Prince of Wales, Melissa Castle, who took a bison last month in interior Alaska. We talk about her upbringing in Craig, the best parts of living in Anchorage and the details of her hunt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Harrison and I finally got around to the ice fishing recap from my trip up there two weeks ago. We talk navigating rivers, choosing spots and the messy break up. We also talk about the keys to raising kids in such a cold, harsh environment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ordered some new podcasting stuff and of course, it "may be lost" according to Amazon. So in this episode I talk about the mail, old school mail, and other Alaskan podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Telling the Alaska story is a multi-million dollar industry, but often it's "produced" by people who don't live here year long. I love Alaska shows, books, and hunting trips filmed by people who live in the Lower 48, but there is a lot that's missed. That's why I started this podcast in 2017 and why I wrote my book. Pre-order the Kindle version of my book A Miserable Paradise on Amazon. Paperbacks will be released April 8, the same day the Kindle version will upload to your devise. This is the hardest I've worked on anything and my best work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The caribou sausage is in the oven, so while I wait, I talk about improving products, savoring the moment, and why its impossible to rank hunts or fishing experiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Harrison Gottschling and I recap the caribou hunt from his place in Fairbanks. We talk about the Fortymile Herd, caribou hunting and living in Fairbanks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I am aiming for a mid-April release for my book A Miserable Paradise. In this episode I talk about how important it is to consider audience and purpose (as well as making sense) when creating content. I also talk about what I found in author forums regarding negative comments, getting people to give honest feedback, when questions just beget more questions and being comfortable with that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Putting the finishing touches on my book A Miserable Paradise which will be released next month. In this solo episode I talk about the editing process, an outline of the book itself and pondering the stupidest way someone could read something. Also check out the winter issue of The Drake and look for the piece I wrote about steelhead fishing. I also wrote a feature-length basketball piece for the Juneau Empire which was fun since my first journalism pieces were about sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Caleb Martin from the Alaska Outdoor Council is back to talk about the importance of the use of science in maintaining sustainable yield populations in Alaska and protecting public use. He talks about the devastating effects of choosing predators over prey in areas that used to be rich in Dall sheep and moose. We also talk about the importance of education as many people have their hearts in the right place, but just don't have access to the reality of Alaskan ecosystems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Alaska draws are out and again I drew nothing, but it really doesn't matter. Draw time is the time to get upset at non-residents for drawing the tag locals like and that is an absolute waste of time. In this episode I talk about how insane it is to go out of our way to be upset at people who make the hunts we want to happen, happen themselves. I also talk about how terrified I am of losing the wonder and excitement of a hunting experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Been neck deep in editing my book (hoping for an April release) and starting another writing project about basketball in southeast Alaska. So I've tricked myself into believing that I don't have time to do a podcast which is an absolute lie. I talk about this in a short solo episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After the positive rejection I received regarding my book manuscript, I have decided to self-publish my book A Miserable Paradise and see what happens. I felt like there was a stigma that was something like self-publishing was for authors who weren't good enough to get a book deal. But after talking to some authors and seeing how difficult it is to get a deal and how little you make in royalties, I've decided to go for it. In the latest round of edits I have felt both like I have a solid grasp on expression and that I am a total hack that couldn't write a coloring book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tongass Talk host Adam Krick (Colorado resident, formerly of Metlakatla) is back to talk about travel hunting, guiding elk in New Mexico, how that compares to hunting elk on Afognak, why Etolin elk hunting might be the most difficult hunt in Alaska, the problem with too much hunting content, how to be successful even when hunting well-known places, plus universal tactics for hunting and starting something new. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
So my manuscript was rejected by a publisher, but it's just part of the process. In this episode I talk about the positive rejection email I received and two groups of people I don't understand: 1. people who selfishly choose the worst possible way to read or hear a comment 2. people who thing that by saying you had a good 2020, you are oblivious and hateful. How are we supposed to help people get back to feeling joy, if we only permit anger and misery? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's tag hunting season for non-residents, so Jaden Bales (the Wyoming Correspondent) and I talk about off-season podcast listening habits, ice fishing, cow elk hunts, cow caribou hunts, the decrease of non-resident tag allotment in some states, why increasing population and improving habitat is important and what happens if you can afford the tag but not the hunt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Danny Lehr is the co-founder of Caffeine and Kilos, Excel Health and Fitness in Manteca, California, and the good friend who recommended I start a website and podcast. In this episode we talk about how pacing in stupid, growing a business, positive influences, throwing up, flipping dollar bills, and being on a king salmon derby leaderboard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Caribou has always been on the list, but winter caribou seems like the type of Alaskan hunt I need to experience. In this solo episode I blame my Fairbanks buddies for my lack of self-control when it comes to seeking out Alaskan experiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fairbanks resident Harrison Gottschling is back to talk all things ice fishing including tips, gear and recipes for pike. We also talk fox hats, Arctic gear, the On Deck Freezer, owning chickens and making it through the cold dark winter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For some, the outdoors are an escape from an existence void of the type of purpose and excitement that make them feel happy to be alive. They are dependent on a hunt or hike or fishing trip that will make the dark cloud go away, but unless reality is fulfilling, the dark cloud will return. In this episode I talk about how hunting and fishing can't solve our problems and how the better we are at work and home, the more epic our experiences outdoors will be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Juneau resident Dallin Hanchett is back to talk about his trip to Cold Bay earlier this month for emperor geese. In this episode we talk conservation, a brief history of the emperor goose hunt and tips for diver ducks and puddle ducks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
With the deadline for draw applications in Alaska looming, I was feeling the crowd putting in for the tags that I want and wondered if tag-finding services were turning travel hunting into a rich person's game. I texted my buddy Jaden who provided some interesting insight. I talk about Jaden behind his back in this episode about perception vs. reality, tag-finding services and the value of having an outdoor buddy who can provide depth to a subject so you're not berating something you don't really understand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Brad Elfers is the owner of Alaska Fly Fishing Goods in Juneau. In this episode he and I talk about whether or not guiding and shop owning are all they are cracked up to be, how the internet has changed the business and steelhead tactics in southeast Alaska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tongass Talk's Ian Hudson and I talk about cultural richness, the different Alaskas, hunting the rut, why enduring terrible winter storms is worth it to live in Alaska and what's on the radar for 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Taylor Balkom is a talented, award-winning freelance photojournalist who used to work for the Ketchikan Daily News. In this episode we talk about getting started in the freelance world, the importance of being able to write as well as shoot, imposter's syndrome, honing the craft and how giving away good content for free undermines the value of good words and photos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After missing with my bow on Nov. 1, I haven't had another shot at a buck, though I have seen at least one every weekend. This is madness. There are only a few days left in the season so I will admit I'm feeling a bit of urgency. In this episode I talk about my two hunts this weekend, why I bow hunt, why I watch Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee and make a reference to 1984 because my students are finishing it for class so its on the brain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I grew up watching Lower 48ers take Alaskan salmon back to their homes and in October I took a Wyoming mule deer back to mine. Traveling to someone else's spot to live out a dream can be a complex issue and one that often leads to debate. For every local angry about meat leaving the state, there's a slice of the local economy dependent upon it. We're all Public Land Owners, but what sort of ethics should a hunter or angler travel with? Jess Johnson, Jaden Bales (both of the Wyoming Wildlife Federation) and I talk about this and how to pack for a road trip in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fairbanks resident Steve Shannon is back to talk about the highs and the low from the year. Though plans changed, we both scratched out pretty good years hunting. We also discuss e-bikes, tipi tents, and recipes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The first weekend of Peak Rut is behind us and I went 0/2 on shots (both clean misses) with my bow, but I was seeing deer and giving myself a chance. In this episode I talk about what has worked for me as far as hunting muskegs in high traffic area. I explain the importance of running a program you trust because that is the key. People have different ideas about how to hunt during the rut and it all can work. My program is to focus on transition areas rather than bust through brush to make it to a muskeg and use a deer call as a magic wand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On Day 1, I was hoping for a 3 or maybe a 4-point buck because we had scouted an area and seen big bucks. By Day 4 I was ready to shoot a spike we called Chopstick. So much happened during the 6-day hunt in Wyoming it was difficult to get the days straight, but in this episode I attempt to. Jaden Bales joins me to talk about the difference between reading or watching videos about hunting, and actually hunting. It's the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is knowing tactics. Wisdom is knowing what tactic to use during the actual hunt. Days 1-3 were uneventful which brought on desperation and frustration, but there was no question every morning we were excited to get back out there and run a good program. Then, after blowing a stalk (Day 4) and missing a forkie (Day 5), maybe Abby and I got things right, or maybe we just happened to get lucky. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Telling a story is easy. Telling a good story isn't. You're trying to convey an experience to someone who wasn't there and a lot of times they end up being dry and detail lacking, too big on trying to make it epic or over-the top ego strokes. In this solo episode I talk about what I like about podcasts, articles and other story-telling content. That's not to say I am right, but I am an expert in what I like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
All of a sudden it's October and almost time for Wyoming mule deer. In this solo episode I talk about how fast things move, solo hunts, hoping I don't chalk my mule deer hunt as a "learning experience", prepping for the blacktail rut here in Alaska, duck hunting and why it's important to have some fun when the world is on fire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Stumbled upon the Backcountry Rookies podcast and tracked down host Chad Ryker for an episode. We talk about morning routines, figuring out the important details that make hunts successful, starting podcasts, the importance of the honest angle when making content and bringing value to people rather than just looking for revenue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Wyoming correspondent Jaden Bales and I talk about our latest hunts, expectation vs. reality, saying the right thing and finding that sweet spot between overconfident and unsure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Juneau resident Dallin Hanchett is back to talk about duck hunting. In this episode we talk best loads for different ducks, indispensable gear, cooking sea ducks, watching the tides and what to look for when hunting waterfowl in southeast Alaska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Heading up another mountain this weekend to look for a mountain goat or maybe even a deer. In this episode I talk about the importance of your social media bubble, how late deer are in the alpine and why it's important that someone has a little fun in 2020 so there's some positivity left. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Brad Brooks is the founder of Argali Outdoors, maker of top-tier hunting content and gear. In this episode he and I talk about his recent trip to Kodiak, how to be a good hunting guest, entrepreneurship, making good content and keeping your ego in check. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nick Jans is author of the best-selling books The Grizzly Maze and A Wolf Called Romeo. He is one of the best-known Alaskan writers and we talk about the process it took to get to that point. We talk about developing voice, confidence, editing and the importance of clarity and cadence in writing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There's a silver salmon derby this weekend, but I'll be up on a mountain looking for a goat or buck. In this episode I talk personal preference when it comes to trolling up salmon, seeing alpine terrain for the first time, and all the chores around the house - dehydrating salmon, cooking venison leftovers, bleaching antlers and packing for a trip into the mountains. It's hard to be an Alaskan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jaden Bales (the Wyoming correspondent) and I talk the benefits of technology and how technology has also ruined hunts. Without it I wouldn't have made it through the fog and up the mountain to the alpine where I shot my second buck of the year and proposed to my girlfriend Abby. But technology has also made us more dependent, prone to distraction and even changed how rescuers respond to missing hunters and hikers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Well it's August, which means all previous routines have been disrupted by the delightful cycle of fishing and hunting trips. But that can make it difficult to keep up with previous positive habits when new habits are formed. Habits like bringing Cheetos as a snack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I talk with Liz Thomsen the co-owner (along with Jill May) of Fish and Chicks food truck in Craig. We talk about turning the idea into a reality, business challenges, salmon recipes and the supportive culture of Prince of Wales Island. The truck is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"Keep Hammering" is the battle cry for those embracing a tough hunt. However, sometimes I hear, "Get a burger" because I'm mentally weak or the miles and failing stalks are adding up. In this episode I discuss three mistakes from my opening day hunting trip. I didn't miss out on a huge buck or do anything egregious and the weather conditions were not idea, but I could have prepared better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dallin Hanchett moved up from Utah 10 months ago to be the hunting manager at Sportsman's Warehouse in Juneau. We talk about adjusting to Alaska, how to choose a bow, buying gear, brand loyalty and of course, the need to buy a boat in order to make the most of living in Southeast Alaska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I talk about why stagnancy sucks, the process of getting better and how bad the weather looks for the deer opener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
My buddy Ryan John and I both have plans to chase mountain goats on over the counter tags in August. In this episode we talk our strategies, what he’s learned, how goat hunting is different than alpine deer, why he no longer weighs his pack during training hikes, and the considerations that come with hunting goats with a bow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We're back! I didn't make time to podcast the last two weeks because I was outside hiking, camping and looking for fish. In this episode I talk about social activities outside, masks as a guard against Covid and the government, and pressure cooking salmon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is it better to fish new water with only a vague idea of what might work and what's possible, or after having seen a YouTube video of the best the water has to offer? I ponder this with my buddy Kurt Johnson is a firefighter in Lodi, California. We talk about evaluating content online, his latest trip to the Truckee River in California and my trip to the North Tongue in Wyoming. We close up with thoughts on the importance of a hobby that helps you unwind and take a break from the mental strains of living in out weird times. As a firefighter, his stress levels can be off the charts, but when he comes home, he has his wife, his dog and his hobby of fly fishing to keep him not only sane, but happy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mule deer results are out for Wyoming and this guy was lucky enough to draw one. In this quick episode I talk about my lack of luck drawing cool tags, finding new opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, the importance of the reset in times like these, and the dangers of recreational anger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I e-scouted three spots for a potential mule deer hunt in Wyoming and had Wyoming Wildlife Federation's marketing director Jaden Bales evaluate my spots. Without giving the specific areas away, I breakdown why I chose them, and Jaden evaluates my work. We discuss vegetation, land texture, how long to let a pocket rest if other boots have been in there, elk vs. mule deer territory and chronic wasting disease. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I extended my range by buying a 2008 North River in November. Since then I've been learning as I go and sharing what limited knowledge I have about shopping, boats and the fears of catastrophe with friends who are in the market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
When I enter my e-scouting bubble, nothing much exists outside of mule deer, terrain, and hunting with my girlfriend in the fall. When I exit my bubble and am reminded of the volume of suffering, anger and divisiveness in the world, it's difficult to know what to say. Would it just be some gross, self-congratulatory, "look at how virtuous I am" post which would detract from the point? Or is it better to just like or retweet a post from someone who really knows what they are talking about? It's not that you ignore or don't care. Good people have existed long before social media liked them, and finding positive things that will make my interactions with people in my community more unifying is probably more important than the perfect post when things are bad. This is maybe my most incoherent ramble, but I think it reflects the inability of many to know what to say in light of Covid-19 and the death of George Floyd. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tomorrow (May 21) is a big day. Not the big day, but a big day. Results for the Wyoming elk draw will be released and I will find out if the call practicing I've been doing will be put to use for a September archery hunt for cow elk. In this solo episode I talk about preference points, why I may never draw a bull elk tag and why my podcast introductions are weak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jaden Bales works for the Wyoming Wildlife Federation and hosts Muley Monday for the Rich Outdoors Podcast. He and I talk mentorship, identity, what your Instagram post can and can't say about you. We also talk about hunting bears. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hunting spring black bears with a bow is a program my buddy Jesse Knock has figured out pretty well. In this episode he and I talk where to find big boars, staying calm, judging size and the best archery moments which don't always end in a notched tag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Adam Krick and I last talked about Afognak Elk, this time we discuss learning the spring black bear game. We talk the key elements of learning how to find, stalk and track black bear, and how quality bacon is the key ingredient for bear breakfast sausage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"Weird" "strange" and "crazy" are some of the most used words these days. This is because there really isn't anything else to describe what's going on and using a thesaurus to find a synonym doesn't really make anything better. I escaped my pandemic-induced lethargic week of distance teaching with a weekend in the woods chasing grouse, setting up game cameras and setting shrimp pots. It was another reminder of how important it is to have something to recharge the batteries. Some might call it "self care" others might call it "getting away" or "just being Alaskan." No matter what the preferred phrase, the point is the act of unplugging. I also talk about my favorite way to eat grouse - in popper form. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Before his role in Netflix's teen drama Outer Banks, Ketchikan High School graduate ('16) Rudy Pankow was washing dishes from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Cheesecake Factory to make ends meet while pursuing his dream in Hollywood. I talk to my former student about the struggles, seeing through the fake, staying focused, and how the thought of not letting his home town down motivated him through the dry periods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fairbanks resident Steven Shannon and I talk about his spring caribou, the future of the 2020 Alaska hunting season and teaching in this weird time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ketchikan resident Larry Jackson and I discuss charter fishing, the economic impact of Covid-19 on education, political divisiveness, being informed, where we go from here, and what the summer will look like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Yesterday I finished my 14-day travel quarantine so now I am allowed to move about the city to buy my own necessities. In this episode I talk about my new freedom, the reconstructing my personal history to remember a particular brown trout and how tragic events proved to be motivators which made me live with more purpose. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Alex Ramirez and Dave Schonzeit are the hosts of the Beer, Fly Fishing and Food podcast out of California. I fished the Yuba River with Alex last week so the three of us talk dry fly fishing, why striper fishing is maybe their current favorite, fly fishing icons, history, technology and of course, a little food and beer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A lot changed while I was in California trout fishing this past week, but I am home now, a half day into my 14-day quarantine. My buddy Dean returned from a school trip in Portugal a week ago, so I get tips from him about coping with the isolation. We talk about being ethical, hindsight, appreciating friends willing to grocery shop, what we miss about March and the importance of wearing shoes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fly fishing for steelhead is one of my all-time favorite things. In this episode I talk about the latest trip to the river, what I use, why I use it, and why what I use shouldn't necessarily dictate what you do. Casting style and individual taste should drive what you end up buying but I do offer some advice regarding southeast Alaska set ups for steelhead and why I bought a 6-weight for trout fishing. As far as flies go, what I can't tie myself I get from Alaska Fly Fishing Goods in Juneau. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
According to yesterday's weather, spring is getting close and with it the chance to catch steelhead, camp, hike and hunt bear and grouse. According to the Internet, however, we are doomed. President Trump or socialism, or authoritarian governments, or climate change, or coronavirus, or guns, or not having guns will lead to our demise if we don't act now. So there is something to be said for living in a place with enough to distract you from the miserable world portrayed by miserable people online. It's not that those things don't matter, it's that with only so many hours and so much energy, it's not a sin to have a little fun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Caleb Martin runs xplorealaska.org and is a hunting fanatic. He and I talk about the draw results, why it's fair, what to do if you didn't draw, the best types of meat, the need to justify and how important it is to represent your lifestyle well since there are plenty of people with political power who see hunters as cruel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this quick, solo episode I talk about why it's stupid to try to show off in front of guides or experts, why someone taking you to see where they trap is an exercise in extreme trust and the idiocy of pot stirring posts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Adam Krick has wasted no time becoming an Alaskan. Since moving to Metlakatla four years ago he has taken an elk on Afognak, a caribou in the interior and bear and deer in southeast. He and I talk about his elk trip to Afognak, making the most of the lifestyle here, steelhead fishing, deer populations and what it's like to be an athletic director in Alaska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Cody Rich says buy experiences not gear. I've been taking his advice (for the most part) and saving money for new experiences. However, that doesn't mean buying a Wyoming bull elk tag when I don't know what I'm doing. In this episode I talk about why elk keep me up at night, focusing on disciplined spending so I can have more fun not more gear and why I'd one day like to go to one of those properties advertised at the sportsman's expos...as long as it's locally owned and operated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jaden Bales from Backcountry Fuel Box is back on for the second time to talk about eating tags, living the brochure, quality of life, purpose, self-reliance, elk hunting, wolves and handling feedback. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
When I was in elementary school my brother, dad and I trapped mink and marten and wanted to get enough to make some mittens and a hat for my grandpa. Grandpa died before we had enough material but I still have the furs. So I decided to get back into trapping a bit to finish the job. In this episode I share my earliest trapping memories and recap when I tagged along with a couple buddies who were checking their wolf traps in 2013. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Cody Rich (Backcountry Fuel Box and The Rich Outdoors) and I talk entrepreneurship, how to not become self-absorbed, when DIY is not DIY and our dream hunts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I don't really have goals for 2020, just my eye on a couple focus words to keep me from being one of those types whose only purposes are killing, catching and posting. I do all three, but that can't be it, because there aren't enough steelhead, a big enough buck or enough likes to compensate for a lack of purpose. So I'm going to continue to focus on having fun at work, creating mediocre content after being an okay Alaskan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"I wanted to put quality food in people's packs." In this episode I talk with Heather's Choice owner Heather Kelly. Heather was born and raised in Alaska and owns a dehydrated food company based in Anchorage. We talk why Alaska is worth coming back to, why nutrition is important and combatting entrepreneurial obstacles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Paranoia is part of new boat ownership, right? And it eventually goes away? Please say yes. In this episode I talk about the joys of owning a real boat and the 2 a.m. storm worries. I also talk about failed stalks during duck hunts, learning new things and release some of the darkness that comes from teaching 1984 in my Science Fiction Literature class. Not just from the surveillance perspective, but the aims of the High, Middle and Low classes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
John Peterka runs Sagebrush Dry Goods in Kake, Alaska. Not exactly the hub of outdoor gear so in this episode John and I talk business dynamics and small town life in southeast Alaska. We talk about how he arrived in Kake, how he became accepted by the community, why his latest float plane flight got turned around and of course, what makes Sagebrush Dry Goods so special. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is the time of year that New Year's Resolutions fail because it's eating season. From late October to the end of December it's trashy Starbucks drinks, candy, pie, treats, and food in socially acceptable over-eating. After 70 days of terrible eating, no wonder people only last a week in January. Anyway, I talk about the end of deer season, the beginning of coping with those dark cold Alaska days on the river chasing steelhead or trapping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Two straight weeks I took a buck, so I was looking to get my 4th and final blacktail, this time with my bow. I talk about what I've learned, the importance of reflection to improve rather than running the same program, and what happened with that buck at 14 yards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's rut season up here in Southeast Alaska so Ryan John and I talk about hunting muskegs. We talk scouting muskegs, what Google Earth can't show you, the importance of hunting the entire way to the muskeg not just the muskeg itself, how long to stay, being quiet, and when to eat snacks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I talk with Juneau resident Kayla Roys about the Roadless Rule. Kayla was born and raised in Juneau and works for Trout Unlimited. We talk features of the Tongass, the impact of logging, and how saving the forest does impact the economy of the region as logging is a way of life for many families who can't simply go out and find another job. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Inspired by the dude who dropped off another dude into the cove in which we were anchored, I podcast from a secluded beach after taking a buck. I punched the tag at 8:45, so by the time I was back to the beach, I had four hours to kill before my buddies returned from their muskegs and we headed back. Shout to Dave for picking the spot and supplying the boat and tender. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
So halfway through another unsuccessful day hunting blacktail in the rut, I got a message and a picture from my girlfriend of her and her first ever big game animal, a 5x5 Wyoming elk. I also read part of an email I got from a listener and how perspective changes with success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After a day chasing ducks and deer (both unsuccessful) I recap the learning curve, attitude, and why realizing that no one really cares is the best medicine for stress management when things don't go as planned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
First time hunting mule deer, antelope and lower 48 elk for my girlfriend Abby and me. Trekked 64.7 miles in the hills, mountains and on the prairie. Had some great stalks, a couple good chances but couldn’t get one down. Probably did a lot of stuff wrong but it was still some of the most fun I’ve ever had hunting. Thanks to Jaden Bales from Backcountry Fuel Box for providing some insight and direction during the hunt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jaden Bales from Backcountry Fuel Box and I talk about the risks in the entrepreneurship game, the loaded outdoor field, betting on yourself, favorite hunts and of course, food. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I'm afraid that we will be totally aware, and not get anything done. Soundbites suck. The global climate strike on Friday was 4-million people deep. Awesome. People care, and there are millions of people who didn't strike Friday who also care about earth. So now what? The "how" is the most important part of this and just because someone thinks the Green New Deal is outlandish doesn't mean he or she is a denier. A hunter does not participate in the meat industry, so should hunting be encouraged rather than seen as an obsolete skill? Are our energy needs beyond that which wind and solar can provide? If so, then well nuclear has to be part of the discussion. The problem is some of the issues we face require a depth of discussion we aren't always willing to endure. It would be nice if we could create a utopia, but humankind has never been able to solve the problem of the human flaw. People throw plastic in the ocean. People throw trash out of their windows. People start fires. People break laws. But we aren't hopeless. It's just not going to be as perfect as what we might design on paper. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ryan and I were glassing for black bears and two dudes appeared. I went over to them, introduced myself and asked what their plan was so we wouldn't be in the way of each other. They said they were heading to a different peak. We told them we were hunting the bowl in front of us. An hour later, we haven't seen them moving across the flat between peaks. We do see a bear 300 yards beneath us. Then the two hunters walk past us, about 20 yards to the left, down the ridge, cut in front, and shoot the bear. This episode is recorded in three parts: as we are glassing, after the corking, and after the wolf encounter. Turn up the volume for the first two sections and decide whether this is fair game, or black bear theft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Human history is filled with heart-felt good and unfathomable evil. Unfortunately, that will continue. As a whole, we will do evil to others and evil to ourselves. However, individually we can find ways to fight it. Plenty of people have found ways to live healthy, fulfilling lives. It is not impossible to be healthy and happy. People everywhere are holding themselves to those standards. Know these people, spend time with these people - people who do real things and refuse to give in to the negativity or are manipulated into thinking other people can do it for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After seeing Harrison Gottschling's Dall Sheep hunt on The Heart of Hunting, I had more questions, so I talked with Harrison and Steve Frith, who filmed the hunt. We talk about staying positive and motivated to keep hiking after rams blow out, are shot by other hunters or are on the opposite side of the valley. We also talk about the authentic reactions that can't be staged, how to keep that perspective fresh and universal hunting principles that apply for mule deer in the Lower 48 and blacktail in Alaska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I call it Episode 105, but it's really 106. Anyway, I'm selling my 15-foot Boston Whaler with a 70 hp Yamaha (200 hours) and looking at upgrading to a mid-level boat to extend my range. I am primarily looking for a boat from which to hunt, camp and set pots, with fishing coming a close second. With that in mind, I've been overwhelmed with the questions that are really unanswerable because the perfect boat doesn't exist. Fiberglass? Heavy-grade aluminum? Regular aluminum? New? Used? Get the right boat and upgrade the motor or buy a great motor and get a boat that will work? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How does a student from Ketchikan High School measure up against students from the Lower 48? Pretty well. I talk with 2018 Ketchikan High School Valedictorian Largim Zhuta. As a senior Largim was part of the 2018 High School Academic Decathlon Division III National Championship team and just finished his freshman year at Santa Clara University. We talk academic transition, Alaska stereotypes, social media's impact on being homesick, learning from failure and starting to figure out the meaning of success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I've always liked reading and listening to hunters and anglers who tell stories with their audience, not their ego, in mind. A good hunting story is about a little bit of suffering, a little honesty and just the right embellishment. With blacktail deer season 11 days old, hunters have some great stories that I love hearing, and others with simple, chest thumping tales that tell you more about their need for validation than their skill as hunter. This happens a lot in podcasts and outdoor writing and I hope I don't fall into that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Opening Day in the alpine did not disappoint, but it didn't exactly go as planned for Fairbanks resident Steve Shannon and myself. We recap our hunt, but thanks to a lack of specifics and more closing thoughts, I recorded a preface which comes before the recap. In that preamble I talk about why doing hard things is step one for self-confidence and the hypothetical that acts as justification for choosing a 4-point over a forkie rarely happens (never for me) and if someone just wants to shoot 4-points, he or she should just say it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Steve Frith from The Heart of Hunting and I talk filming hunts, how to get started, the importance of a good eye rather than expensive gear and the importance of a solid, safe hunting program. Steve recently released the short film of Harrison Gottschling's Dall sheep hunt. Harrison told the story of his hunt on Episode 58 of this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After fishing 7 rivers in 4 states over the last 15 days, Trout Fest 2019 is over and it's time to get into the alpine for blacktail bucks. In this short episode I talk about the importance of always having something to look forward to, and why it's impossible to say one is better than the other. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
My buddy Danny Lehr went from high school teacher and CrossFit gym owner to full-time business owner as co-founder of Caffeine and Kilos. We talk about some of the keys for individual and business growth, the importance of mindset and practice, as well as the need to grow as life changes otherwise one is doomed to stagnancy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Though we identify as hunters and anglers, we are hunting and fishing only a fraction of our lives. We have to make sure we take care of ourselves in the off season too. If we are lucky enough to be outdoors 100 days out of the year, that's less than a third of our annual days. What are we doing with the rest of our lives? And if we are totally at the mercy of success so we can tell other people how awesome we are as anglers or hunters, we run the risk of being too dependent on success for fulfillment. The better shape we are in emotionally and physically for our hunt or trip, the better the experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the last three weeks I've been able to camp on the banks of some excellent rivers in Wyoming and Colorado. I talk about my favorite trout flies, why catching "the fish" each river isn't always a good thing and why meeting locals makes the experience better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tanner Harms was one win from becoming an All-American, but lost to his nemesis at the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. Now he's adjusting to a new identity that doesn't involve wrestling. We all move on from who we were in high school, college and even as adults. For some, finding an identity can be difficult because they've been known as ____________ for so long. I talk to Tanner about lessons learned from sports, chasing a fulfilling lifestyle, and not living off old memories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What happens when outdoor companies and personalities get huge? Does quality, content or customer service suffer? Should politics play a role in a company you support? Fairbanks resident Harrison Gottschling and I discuss brands, products and outdoor companies we like to support as your average run-of-the-mill outdoorsmen. Harrison and I discussed his Dall sheep hunt in Episode 58. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Gym owner Chuy Medina (Resident CrossFit, Modesto, CA) and I talk about the importance of being self-aware, the difference between being who you are and just wanting other people to think you are something morally or otherwise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From a tiny town on an island in Southeast Alaska to graduating from Medical School from the University of Washington, my buddy Stephen Ellison had every excuse at his disposal. However, he refused to listen to any of them. He weekend warrior hunts Dall Sheep, moose and took me to his special blacktail deer place where I took my first 4-point buck. We talk the easiest solutions to addressing health, living quotes, hunting food and prepping for our moose hunt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Who knows enough to really be able to give good advice? We're all just fumbling around trying to figure stuff out and if we listened to advice we shouldn't then make the same mistakes someone told us to avoid, right? Life is weird, but entertaining. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I recently checked my social media and podcast motives...am I in this for likes and money? If so, I need to check myself because if I need likes or sponsors to feel validated, I'm screwed. I also continue to try and put word to the need to the idea of making it easier for hunter and anglers to travel to other states. They have every right, but what local wants more pressure? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
“If I had one night left, what am I going to go eat, what am I going to go drink and who do I need to go talk to?” That's Matt Hamilton's motto and in this episode we talk about being a good guest, good local, and the real value of being a widely known artist. Hint: it's not money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
While glassing for black bear, I ponder arrogant story tellers, expectations, societal norms, home ownership and putting words to lifestyles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The idea of escaping reality is a tricky one because not only do you have to define escape but also reality. I touch on those as well as being alone on hunts and the coming invasion of summer tourists, of which I will be one myself this summer, so I can't be judgmental. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Great points are often lost thanks to stupidity and anger. From the ethics of hunting contests to committing crimes in the name of human rights, there are always examples of extreme lengths some go when they believe they are wronged. The result, often times, is a loss of point validity and patience for others to listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I lost a steelhead and a crab pot yesterday, so I talk about that as well as the importance of being present and not so caught up in the result. I also talk about why I don't trust gear reviews by customers, but I do trust podcast reviews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Derek Meister has been punching his Alaska card since he moved to Ketchikan 7 years ago. In addition to all the typical camping, hiking, kayaking locals do, he has worked on commercial fishing boats. He is the school psychologist at Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District, so we talk the benefits of a community like Ketchikan for student growth, why people choose to come back to Ketchikan, mentoring opportunities, and mindfulness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For the past few months I've been listening to the Right to Roam Podcast by four guys from Wyoming. It's not your typical hunting podcast as these guys have biology backgrounds so there's science and facts, not just anecdote, when they get into things. We talk about being good guests, hunting ethics, social norms, earning local status and figuring out the hunting regulations in different states. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You know when people like quotes because it represents a lifestyle they wish they led, and then you think, 'Wait a minute...is that me?' and you immediately head to the woods or river? In this episode I talk about distraction vs. happiness, getting a specific adventure spot dialed in vs. seeing new territory and personal development. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I hadn't been on skis since I was a freshman in high school, but my first backcountry touring adventure in Wyomings Medicine Bow National Forest was a success. I learned that it's nothing like anything I've done before, that I'm pretty bad at it, but I got better and really had a good time. I also talk about the best places to offer and the worst. Something like a misery index. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There's nothing wrong with asking yourself questions...think about why someone might hate hunting, why fly fishing is cruel or why the Alaska Marine Highway is just a luxury. When you digest those points of view you come out with a better understanding of what you believe, you change your world view, or end up really overwhelmed with the level of complexity of the issues. And that the Alaska Marine Highway is vital to Southeast Alaska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What makes an expert, and the insanity of the Region V Basketball Tournament. I talk about some of the more notable aspects of athletic travel in southeast Alaska - circling rural airports, malfunctioning runway lights, 2-week trips, diverted flights to Seattle and game socks after six road games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the last two years I have paid much more attention to what it means to "love the outdoors" and the debates surrounding how that should best be done. In this episode I talk about social pressure for the government to regulate rather than preserve freedom, the freedom to define happiness, and the freedom to decide how much I want negativity to impact my mood and how I treat others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode I talk with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers board member Steve Shannon about the importance of making the most out of your voice since most politicians don’t read your Facebook feed to find out about important issues. We also talk about drawing tags, sharing information, and how best to represent our lifestyle as hunters and anglers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Inspired by Mark Kurlansky's Cod, I wonder what the future holds for our fishing stocks. The book is about the history of cod and how the destructive efficiency of the commercial fishing industry (trawlers) has devastated populations of cod. I talk about king salmon in California, salmon in southeast Alaska, and amplifying your voice beyond Facebook posts by joining organizations that are attempting to do what's best going forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Going sports for this one since the local high school is playing the rival Friday and Saturday, much of earth is cheering against the Patriots on Sunday, someone to beat the UConn women and why I detest the full-send isolation of James Harden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Last week of January coming up, I can almost smell the spring black bear... but hold on, patience is necessary. The last two years southeast Alaska has had crazy snow storms in March and even into April, so as excited as I am for spring steelhead and spring bear, I have to resist the temptation to get too stoke. Instead, more time in the gym getting into shape and more time shooting the bow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For this episode I'm a total sucker because I'm promoting an article by reacting to it. Anyway, there's a list of 7 obsolete man skills that the 21st Century Man should abandon "if you’re at all interested in being ahead of the curve" that I think embodies the disjointed, unclear message regarding who men are and who they should be. Allowing societal norms or relying on societal approval to dictate a lifestyle might not be the best way to achieve individual or societal happiness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dry spells happen. My current dry spell is something unlike any dry spell I have experienced as a hunter and angler. Unfortunately it has coincided with two visits from my girlfriend. I hope she doesn't think I'm a bad Alaskan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A week’s worth of thoughts about the responsibility I have as a hunter and angler, the books and podcasts I have consumed and have positively influenced me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I know very little about skiing and snowboarding, but have done a little. I wanted to know what the backcountry skiing scene was like in Ketchikan so I talked to my buddies Shawn, Chad and Ian about it. The three of them talk about how to get back to the mountain, gauge snow safety, then shredding fresh, backcountry snow with not a lift in sight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matt Burbank is the new owner of Knudson Cove Marina in Ketchikan. We talk about the behind the scenes, his adjustment to the career change, first impressions of the Ketchikan community and mule deer hunting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Part 1: Bawden Street Brewing Co. owner Sean Heismann talks about his first summer and winter seasons in Ketchikan. He talks about how he got started, what he loves about the science of brewing and how welcomed he and his wife have been by Ketchikan. Part 2: Sean takes us through a tasting of the beers he currently has available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Trish from Fish from Trish talks her favorite seafood, where she gets hers, how long frozen fish lasts in the freezer and why people should buy local and not farmed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I visited the Drop Shot Calls workbench to talk about how they got started, what makes a good call, when you should call, how long you should wait and what works for them. We also talk about the right tools for the job, rut tactics, and the future of the resource. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You know when you were in 5th grade and all amped up for the tip off your basketball game, and the tip went to you, but you were on the left side of the court and had to dribble with your left and try to shoot with your left when you’re right handed? That’s how Rut 2018 has felt. Anticipation and excitement followed by disaster. I discuss this, what I’ve learned and the appreciation for resources on my final rut hunt in Unit 1A. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ketchikan resident Larry Jackson and I talk about custom homes, Ketchikan history, biomass energy and how wood or pellets can be an effective alternative for schools, businesses and residential homes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Last year on Nov. 4 I shot a beautiful 3x4 buck. This year, nothing. I've camped the last three weekends and have only seen three does. Meanwhile, people are taking massive bucks in the same area. So I talk about that, why I bow hunt and give a last word on Prop. 1. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After three hours in the woods with my bow, I record a podcast about Prop 1. I was, at first glance, a clear "Yes." Then I tried to persuade myself to "No," just to make sure I was a "Yes" for sure. But I understood the concerns from the "No" crowd, so now I'm in the middle. The best decisions are made from a place of understanding. Better to be conflicted thanks to research than manipulated by slogans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After a few days in DC for my cousin's wedding and to gain perspective, I am glad to be back in Ketchikan. I explain why it's good to get perspective, why the idea of a place like Alaska appeals so much to those deprived of real wild and I make a call for those with input on Prop 1. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From Instagram to inReach there's a lot out there to help us scout and share, but it's not always a good thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ketchikan resident Ryan John talks about the lead up to his first bow hunt success - a blacktail buck in the alpine. We talk gear, when alpine season ends, and the value of research all with the gentle sounds of fall behind us... sea gulls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bear at 10 yards, I nock an arrow and go through my checklist of what to do, not from experience because I've only taken 1 deer with my bow, but from research. I made the right call. On the drive back in from the hunt, I talk about the importance of practice and getting through all those early unsuccessful trips because that's the only way to get better. I'm a long way from where I want to be, but each trip gives me the chance to improve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I'm now 0-2 hunting with my buddy Evan, so we will likely not be "hunting buddies" until we have some success. Anyway, after we failed to take a buck in the alpine (him) or down low (me) I wonder at what point the alpine season really ends. I discuss that and how my first camp out using a hammock instead of a tent went. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fairbanks resident Harrison Gottschling talks about his over the counter Dall Sheep hunt that did not go as planned, but he ended up with a dream result. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Labor Day fishing bonanza at Gilpin Lake outside of Steamboat Springs, CO, was ruined thanks to me forgetting the flies in my girlfriend's car. Good work. However, I do talk about the trail, flies that were recommended and the evening hatch in this short camping review podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
At a river near Ketchikan, I talk black bears, putting up fish and deer for the winter, conservation and the start of another school year with my buddy Zack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Disconcerting days for locals regarding two resources - salmon and deer. I talk about the recent reduction of deer for non-qualified hunters in Unit 2 (Federal land only) and the time change of the salmon derby in Ketchikan because of poor Chinook returns. Concerns over the deer population in Unit 2 lead to the change from 4 bucks to 2, (effective Aug. 16) which some interpret as pointing blame specifically at non-residents (some read Ketchikan specifically) for the dip in blacktail population on Prince of Wales. It's a bit of a mess, and if hunters are divided and pointing blame at each other, we lose the ability to be united to protect the resource. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Heading down the mountain from a solo hunting trip in the alpine, I talk things I've learned about gear, hunting in heat, food and more insight from one of my favorite books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Three buddies from California and I recap their hunting trip to the Ketchikan area for Unit 1 Sitka Blacktail. Cody and I took bucks with two minutes of each other in the same bowl on a mountain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Near a campfire I talk kayaking Glacier Bay, hiking the iconic Chilkoot Trail and Prince of Wales Island with four first-time visitors to Alaska (Abby Hoffman, Ian Hall, Jordan Kiler and Tanner Harms) and Klawock resident Tonya Busse. We cover trip planning, necessary gear and the importance of good people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Klawock resident and local hunting legend Don Busse and I talk about fishing, hunting, mentors, learning, missed deer, deer populations, whether or not people hunt where they say they do and gear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Four buddies from California and I talk about the importance of experiences like camping in Alaska to reboot and help them become better fathers, husbands and men. All of this while waiting for our dinner to cook after a long day of fishing on Prince of Wales Island. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fogged in during a mountain scout, Jesse Knock and I talk about bowhunting in the alpine, how to more effectively use Google Earth and expressing something like the heavy hunting experience through videography, photography, writing or even social media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
High school and middle school Native Art teacher Ronnie Fairbanks talks teaching Native Art, the value it brings to a community and individual creativity within a traditional art form. Also, how do you bend wood to make a box? Ronnie knows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Klawock resident Travis Peterson talks about why he got into fish taxidermy, how to prepare your fish mounting and recaps his musk ox bow hunt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A podcast months in the making with the Creative Hustler himself Matt Hamilton. Great stuff about finding inspiration, work ethic, tenacity and some Ketchikan history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On the way back down from scouting some deer territory, I talk bear protection on hikes, why it's important to not totally rely on Google Earth and the best trails in the Ketchikan area. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's normally called a "foul hook" but in some areas of Alaska, it is legal to snag salmon. It's crazy, it's exciting and it's frowned upon by those who haven't done it but it's an efficient way to harvest meat from fish that won't spawn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Four things to consider for your Southeast Alaska alpine deer hunt: crampons, trekking poles, water, stabilizers! Short episode about the things you might not think about for your blacktail hunt in August. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Developed Recreation Manager Brad Schumaker and I talk about the Forest Service Cabins in the Ketchikan Area. We talk use, popularity, and the impact funding has had on upkeep of the cabins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I tell the maybe confusing story of taking a black bear on Saturday then dive into a rant about how suffocating life is without frequent adventure and how it's important to do things that make you feel alive, even if you're not good at first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Recorded a conservation rant on my way to hunt bear this morning on how to survive wolf attacks, not actual wolves, people attacking those who hunt what hunts their food, then recapped the weekend of bear hunting near Ketchikan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fly fishing guide Jack Carson and I talk about the accident that postponed college, how it feels to be a 19-year old guide, whether or not growing up on an island in Alaska was a detriment and how to get through the winters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Troy Sharp and I discuss Juneau in summer, where to hike, where to have a beach bonfire, mountain goat hunting and a new inflatable jet boat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
My thoughts on quitting while in the forest by a stream on an yet another unsuccessful grouse hunt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Steve Shannon returned from the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Rendezvous and we talk epic stories, protecting resources, access, and getting involved so decisions made which impact us, are done with us in mind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's spring black bear season in Southeast Alaska. In this solo episode I talk about locating, tracking and cooking black bear in Units 1 and 2. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kayla Roys from Alaska Fly Fishing Goods talks fly fishing around Juneau, rod and reel preference and of course, steelhead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I talk do it yourself moose hunting in south central Alaska with my buddy Stephen Ellison. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Talked with my buddy Brett Fera (Director of Student Media at the University of Arizona) about Arizona basketball, the reaction to the loss to Buffalo, the Max Game Upset Special phenomenon, due process and journalism ethics. Such an interesting and maybe frustrating time to cover college basketball in an era of be-first-journalism. in an epic sports journalism episode. But yes, I was able to work hunting and veganism in there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
My buddy Rob Buckingham and I try to identify the state in which colleges like Lipscomb and Bucknell are located, talk boats, boat fires and the distant memories of our own March Madness as high school basketball players. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Part one about getting excited for steelhead fishing. I'll tell you the rod, reel and flies I use, how long I'll hit a spot, but not where I go. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Do it yourself bowhunting for caribou along the Haul Road north of Fairbanks, Alaska with Steve Shannon and Tim Murphrey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Prince of Wales Island resident Corby Wehymiller talks rural education opportunities, growing up before the internet, why trying to Win on Facebook is stupid, and how to get through the winter in a small town on a big island. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Anna and Amanda preview the summer retreat they are hosting, talk the value of community, the dangers of mob psychology and why it's important to challenge your own thinking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Another solo episode in which I look at my focus words for 2018 (prioritize, create) and briefly check my progress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Thirteen hours in airplanes and airports to arrive 2 and a half hours late to play a basketball game...excuses? Nah. Just returned from a basketball trip to Juneau that was successful but a little chaotic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Steve Shannon talks packs, bows, losing bows, Alaskan rites of passage, the primal urge that gets us outside and why experiencing real things are the only way to real happiness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Cody Lee and Zac Gann talk about their coues whitetail deer hunt in Arizona and educating anti-hunters rather than being combative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Salt water guide Howie Daggs talks guiding for king salmon, sea lions, what makes the perfect client, why wives out fish their husbands and the Alaska life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fairbanks resident Steve Shannon talks hunting in interior Alaska, being in shape for big hunts, being confident in the woods and the dangers of outsourcing our entertainment and attention. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kelsey Sheehan, Chuy Medina and Brennan Koeller talk focus words for 2018, resolutions, helping people optimize their health, embarrassing moments and the importance of positive influences when trying to get the most out of life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The LMT crew discusses resolutions, accountability, handling setbacks, implementing goals and the value of escaping chaos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jesse Knock talks about the state of the deer population on Prince of Wales Island and the benefits of buying good gear once rather than cheap stuff multiple times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Caffeine and Kilos co-founder Danny Lehr talks freeway coffee in Jersey, why counting down to retirement sucks, doing something with plans rather than just making them and the best of his Alaskan adventures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Yeah, we do play sports in Alaska, what is travel like when you can't take a bus? Planes, boats, weather, delays, staying in the home of a rival player. I talk about a 2-week road trip for 6 games I took in high school and ending up in Seattle last year as a coach because turbulence was too bad for our Alaska Airlines jet to land in Ketchikan. Just part of being an athlete or coach in Southeast Alaska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feeding Happiness founder Anna Ulmer talks about the school she started in Costa Rica, the importance of wellness education, contemplates her social media existence and her first winter in Ketchikan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sadie Case talks her relationship with food, relationship with Alaskan winters and how to be fit and happy by paying attention to fitness and diet rather than looking for pills or medication. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Corby Weyhmiller and I talk rural education, traditional values that have endured specifically with regard to Native culture, and the serious threat substance abuse has brought to our home island. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ketchikan CrossFit owner Kevin Manabat talks trust in the gym, how to take and give criticism rather than "shame" or enable, whether or not mental toughness can be learned and how to be happy and feel good. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Brennan Koeller talks about Crossfit filling the athletic void after high school sports, his influences and his life as a competitive lifter, coach and college student. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What do four Alaskans talk about in a garage around a hanging deer? - calling in deer - what to do when wolves visit - how to gauge black bear size - the best of the 2017 hunting season - the worst of the 2017 hunting season Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Willie Herrera talks staying true to foundational principles not only while building an athletic program but as a husband and father. Willie coaches football at East Union High School in Manteca, California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kurt Johnson talks about fly fishing for striper in the famous California Delta, the dynamics of figuring out new water and why Montana is so overwhelming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Amanda Davidshofer talks about her 5-month 6-day Pacific Crest Trail hike, kayaking to Alaska from Washington, settling into Ketchikan and starting the Strength and Empowerment Program which promotes healthy living. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I discuss an... unorthodox method to bring in deer, the upcoming Alaska permit hunts and the predator/prey dynamics on Prince of Wales Island. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Resident CrossFit (Modesto, CA) owner Chuy Medina talks perceived potential vs. actual potential, finding true wellness rather than just physical fitness and of course, the best parts of Alaska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Weekend hunting recap, why hunts are so engaging, how describing the experience is impossible and why we should change the definition of "average." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From Prince of Wales to the Pentagon, my buddy Jeremy Howell talks about having two jobs to pay rent his senior year so he could graduate from Klawock High School, then rise to working for the second most powerful man in Navy medicine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Zack Trudeau talks working through the frustration of early-career hunting, how he ended up in Ketchikan from Philadelphia, and the lasting impressions made by a serious childhood illness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jeff Lund is a teacher and writer in Ketchikan, Alaska. This podcast is going to be a chance to hear Alaskans talk about Alaska, and give listeners a look at what it is like to live here year-round. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices