Drawn West

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Your broadhead might work great when everything goes right. But what happens when an elk turns, your arrow catches a shoulder, or the blood trail disappears?

I sit down with Dr. Ed Ashby to talk arrow penetration, single-bevel broadheads, and building a hunting arrow for more than a perfect broadside shot. I’ve followed his research since I started changing my...

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First focal plane vs. second focal plane scopes does not need to be complicated. The right choice comes down to how you hunt, how far you shoot, and whether you want a simple point-and-shoot setup or more options for dialing and precision.

I break down how FFP and SFP reticles work, what changes as you adjust magnification, and how that affects holdovers, wind holds, and elevation a...

Most hunting merch is a logo slapped on a shirt nobody actually wants to wear. I didn't want to do that. After months of sketching, the first Drawn West apparel line is live: eight shirts and hoodies built around real hunting stories, inside jokes, and a few statement pieces meant to start a conversation at the airport, at deer camp, or at the trailhead.

I go piece by piece through the launch lineup. That includes the OG Hoodie and OG Tee, the Classic Hoodie, the One Country topo shirt with a bugling bull set into the map...

Shopping for a new box blind and wondering if the upgrades are worth it? I sat down with Kile from Maverick Hunting Blinds inside their brand-new XLV to get an unfiltered first look at what changed this year — nearly double-sized windows, fully pre-assembled panels, and a patent-pending 7-bolt system that builds the whole blind in about 20 minutes.

What we cover in this episode:

·         What's new on the XLV: bigger windows, pre-assembled panels, and a redesigned insulated door with full overlap.

·         The patent-pending 7-bolt assembly system and how it locks together in about 20 minutes.

·         How s...

GIVEAWAY: $4000 Mathews Arc Pacakge! Enter Now: https://www.getdrawnwest.com/giveaways

Ever wonder why almost nobody in bowhunting content talks about bare shaft tuning — even though it might matter more than any broadhead you'll ever buy? I sat down with Troy Fowler, better known as Ranch Fairy, who's been in on hundreds of archery kills on hogs and whitetail and has helped test broadhead terminal ballistics on Cape Buffalo. We get into why bare shaft tuning gets skipped by almost everyone, why mechanical broadheads lose their cutting edge on impact, and why mass — not speed — is wha...

Win our $4000 Mathews ARC Package:
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In this episode, Brian sits down with Brandon Maddox, founder of Silencer Central and creator of the Banish suppressor line, to unpack why 2026 is being called "the year of suppressors." Brandon has been in the industry since 2005 and breaks down what's actually driving the surge, how to judge suppressor quality when brands are popping up overnight, and why trusts still matter even after the tax stamp changed. He also gets into the real differences between titanium and aluminum cans, and what changes for hunters once they...

Ever pick up a pair of binoculars and feel like you're fighting it — a focus dial that's stuck or floppy, glass that gives you a headache after an hour? That's the opposite of what I noticed the first time I looked through a pair of Mavens. Everything just feels like it's in the right spot doing the job it was meant to do. So I got Craig and Jordan from Maven Built Optics on the podcast to explain why.

We get into the engineering and the "secret sauce" — the magnesium chassis, the knurling, why the focus dial is s...

Want to know if the new Mathews ARC is actually worth the upgrade over the Lift X? I shot both, carried both in the field, and I'm breaking down exactly what changed — the good, the small, and the stuff that probably isn't worth buying a new bow for. Plus, I'm giving away a fully custom Mathews ARC and over $4,000 in accessories in the biggest giveaway Drawn West has ever run.

I walk through my full 2026 bow build on the ARC 34, from the SWX Z comfort mods and integrated Silent Connect System to my stabilizer setup. Then I ge...

Ever wonder what it actually takes to pull a big bear into bow range, or how a guy with an old TV and a pull-up bar racked up 17 million views? This episode answers both. I sit down with Jared Lewis, the archer behind that viral saddle-hunting stunt, to break down his content approach and then dig deep into real bear baiting tactics ahead of fall season.

We cover how Jared built a following posting hilarious, high-risk archery content, then shift into the meat of the episode: scent strategy for pulling bears into a bait site, barrel setup...

You've bought the ammo everyone swears are "the best," and they still didn't work in your gun. Ryan Burnett from Pattern Pro USA joins me to break down why that keeps happening, and why his company's brand new rifle ammunition variety packs are about to save western hunters a lot of money and a lot of frustration this season.

Ryan and I go all the way back to the origin story: how patterning a shotgun shell actually works, why his company started with a simple variety pack of shells, and how that idea is...

It's July, your buddy's been talking points for years, and you still don't have a fall tag. Before you write off the season, there's a real list of over-the-counter and leftover tag options still on the table — and some of them are better hunts than people give them credit for.

Brian sits down with GoHunt's Dave Barnett to break down exactly where OTC opportunity still exists this late in the year, from Colorado's second and third rifle elk to Utah's OTC spike bull tags, plus Idaho's return tag sale and Nevada's first-come-first-served leftover tags. Th...

Ever thrown your bow in the backseat only to find your fletchings crushed, your sight bumped, or fresh scratches on your door frame? That annoying, expensive problem is exactly what pushed two Utah hunting buddies to design one of the coolest truck bow mounts on the market.

In this episode, Logan Cornwall and Dave Hansen of Anchor Point break down how a bumpy elk hunt turned into a universal bow-storage system that sold out its first batch overnight. They cover the messy prototyping process, why grabbing the bow by the grip (upside down) solved...

The 6.5 Creedmoor has always taken heat for being underpowered on elk — until now. Federal's engineers sit down to explain how their new Peak Alloy case technology closes that gap by packing 300 extra feet per second into the exact same cartridge millions of hunters already own.

Federal design engineers Ben Carlson and Brad Abramowski, along with product line manager Josh Vickers, break down how a U.S. Army next-generation weapons program in 2018 led directly to Peak Alloy, a case material designed to beat the pressure limits of brass. From there, the conversation covers why they picked th...

If you've been daydreaming about real deer camp adventure but feel stuck by time, money, or gear, this conversation will feel relevant. Tom LaLond from XOP joins me to break down attainable whitetail trips on realistic budgets, the culture behind XOP's gear labs, and how building one dialed-in kit frees up money to hunt more states.

We walk through what attainable adventure actually looks like in states like Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, and the Appalachians — where a $2,500 trip is the real constraint, not a marketing line. Then we get into mobile stand setups, packing systems, an...

You've probably looked at sheep tag odds and thought — that's never happening. The numbers are brutal. Most states are handing out a handful of tags to thousands of applicants, and the herds aren't exactly booming. But there's a population in the Black Canyon of Colorado that just got its first hunt tag in over 80 years, and a wildlife researcher who's been tracking every sheep in that canyon for the last two years using 71 trail cameras. The results are pretty interesting.

Cody Hinkley is wrapping up his master's research at Western Colorado University, and his th...

If you’ve ever tried to glass all day on a steep hillside and felt your lower back lock up, this episode is going to hit home. I sit down with Steven Giles from DRT Hunting to talk about the Recon Lounger—a rifle cover that turns into a legit glassing chair—and how one well designed piece of gear can keep you comfortable, protect your optic, and replace two or three other items in your pack. We dig into the engineering behind it, the real world use cases, and how a multi use mindset changes the way you hunt o...

It can be hard for women to find a mentor in the hunting world. Taylor Gutierrez is changing that.

Taylor grew up in Colorado where grabbing an elk tag on a free weekend was just... a thing people do. She didn't realize how rare that was until she started teaching women who are brand-new to hunting and have no idea where to start. This conversation is part draw system deep-dive, part honest guide to how women can get into Western hunting without it being weird or unsafe.

We get into Colorado's point...

If you’ve ever daydreamed about drawing a Maine moose tag, chasing bugling bulls in Colorado, or finally taking turkey season seriously, this episode is for you!

Brian sits down with Maine-based hunter and filmmaker Jacob Haskell to talk about what it actually takes to draw these tags, how the odds and bonus points really play out, and why these hunts are more realistic than most people assume. Along the way they break down real pack-outs, close calls, missed opportunities, and the kind of strategy that turns “someday” hunts into actual dates on the calend...

Want to find more sheds each season? This is the episode for you!

I sat down with Alex Kunkel from Minnesota Shed Hunters, one of the most active shed hunting community pages in the Midwest. Alex has been doing this long enough to figure out what actually works — and a lot of what he shared challenged some of the "common wisdom" you hear thrown around, like walking fence lines (spoiler: neither of us has ever found a shed on one).

We cover the full strategy side of shed hunting — from how winter seve...

2026 Wyoming Mule Deer Application Guide

Tired of how confusing Wyoming's mule deer draw is? We cover how it works and the best mule deer units in the state!

Wyoming's application system is one of the most complicated in the West, the June 1st deadline is coming fast, and 2026 is the last year to buy preference points at the current price before they jump to $75 across the board. If you've been putting Wyoming off, this is the episode that changes that.

I break down the full Wyoming mule deer draw — how the splits work, wh...

Want to go Antelope hunting this year? THIS is the episode for you!

Wyoming is coming out of one of the worst winters in recent memory, and the antelope herd has responded. Tag allocations are going up almost across the board, units that were off-limits without 15+ points are becoming more accessible, and there's never been a better time to get serious about your Wyoming antelope application.

The problem most hunters run into isn't a lack of options — it's knowing where to start. Wyoming has more units than almost any other state, and th...

Already applying in Oregon wondering if you should add antelope, sheep, or goats to your application? We breakdown everything you need to know to decide!

Oregon isn't known for massive antelope numbers, but what it does have is consistent trophy quality, high harvest success rates, and one of the most cost-efficient point systems in the West. For sheep and goats, it's a fully random draw — no points, no guarantees — but if you're already buying the license, $10 is a pretty cheap lottery ticket.

We break down exactly when it makes financial sense to add...

Oregon has 130,000 elk. That's not a rumor — it's one of the largest herds in the country. But most non-residents either overlook it or misunderstand what it actually offers. If you're building a Western elk strategy, this is the episode that puts Oregon in the right place.

We break down both sides of the state — Roosevelt elk on the west side of the Cascades, Rocky Mountain elk to the east — and walk through exactly what the draw looks like depending on how many points you're carrying. From zero-point opportunities all the way into the 20-plus-point elite units, Oregon has mo...

Looking for another option for a deer tag this fall? Oregon might be the perfect fit!

The state just renamed and restructured every deer unit in the eastern half of Oregon — which means nobody has clean odds data, and for once, experience and points alone won't tell the whole story.

Oregon doesn't get talked about much — and that's part of why it's worth a closer look right now. The combination of new units, zero historical odds, and a 25% random draw makes this a year where even someone with a hand...

Fourteen dollars. That's the cost to add a desert bighorn, mountain goat, or moose application to your Nevada big game submission — and for the right hunter, it might be the best $14 you spend all year.

This is part four of the Nevada Application Series, the final installment covering the big three: moose, sheep, and goats. If you haven't listened to parts one through three covering mule deer and antelope, start there — those are where your real drawing opportunities live as a nonresident. This episode is about the long game, the lottery ticket add-ons, and why a few of t...

Want to hunt 400” bulls? Me too.

Somewhere in Nevada, there are bulls pushing 400 inches on public land that almost no one will ever hunt. The draw odds are that bad. But if your name comes up, it's probably the best elk hunt you'll ever go on.

This is part three of the Nevada application series, focused entirely on elk. Nevada doesn't have the numbers Utah has, but unit for unit, the top public land tags in the state compete with anything in the West — Colorado, Utah, Montana's Missouri Breaks, Ariz...

Nevada might be the most overlooked antelope state in the West — and the hunters who know about it are already building points.

Statewide, Nevada produces a higher percentage of mature, oversized bucks than any other state. In peak years, a third of all antelope harvested were 15 inches or taller. Even in down years, about a quarter of the harvest hits that mark. No other state comes close to those averages across the board.

And the tag is $300 for non-residents — one of the best values in Western hunting when you fact...

Is Nevada mule deer even worth putting in for as a non-resident? That depends almost entirely on where you're at in your strategy, and this episode breaks down exactly how to think about Nevada Mule Deer.

Nevada doesn't hand out a lot of non-resident tags, but the trophy potential is as high as anywhere in the West. Twenty units with 180-inch-plus potential. A minimum 140-inch floor across the entire state. Tags that cost non-residents $240. And a draw system built around giving every applicant multiple real chances — because Nevada checks all five of your hunt ch...

How many points do you actually need before you can hunt elk in Colorado? If you've been watching that number climb and telling yourself "maybe in five more years" — you might be sitting on a play you haven't tried yet.

Brian sits down with Dwayne Jones — sales manager for Novick's Outdoors, co-founder of Dream Dirt, and the man behind Shed Season — to talk through his journey from lifelong whitetail hunter to first-time Western elk applicant. Dwayne has never been west of Kansas, but thanks to a tip straight from a Colorado Parks and Wildlife employ...

Did you know there are over-the-counter Bighorn Sheep tags in the lower 48? We dive in to that and more in this episode!

Montana runs a squared bonus point system, which means you always have a chance no matter how many points you have — but the odds climb very differently depending on the species. Moose points actually build toward something real. Sheep is closer to a lifetime lottery ticket. Goat and bison sit somewhere in between. Before you decide whether to apply, you need to know which of these is actually worth your time and mo...

Would you pay $6000 to apply for a Bison tag?

This episode we dive into the Wyoming Moose, Goat, Sheep & Bison applications for 2026.

Moose, bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain goat, and free-range bison are all on the table, but the draw odds, the point system, and the upfront costs are a completely different game than anything else in the West. Before you write that check, you need to know what you're actually getting into.

This episode breaks down each species individually — who has a realistic shot, which units non-residents sh...

Someone bid $290,000 for a Utah Rocky Mountain bighorn tag at this year's Hunt Expo. You can enter the same draw for $21.

That's the whole argument for applying for Utah's once in a lifetime species — and it's a strong one. These aren't tags you build toward with a realistic finish line. The point creep is real, the permits are scarce, and you're probably never going to hit 100% draw odds. But if you're already buying a Utah hunting license to apply for elk, deer, or antelope, adding sheep, moose, or bison to your application is just a lottery ticket on...

Is Utah Antelope worth it?

A lot of people skip Utah antelope entirely. That might be exactly why you should be building points right now.

If you're already applying for elk or mule deer in Utah, adding an antelope point only costs you $— and some of the best pronghorn tags in the state are starting to come within reach. Utah doesn't carry the same reputation as Wyoming or Nevada, but the herds are recovering, the trophy quality is climbing back, and the hunting pressure on antelope is almost nothing compared to what you see on de...

Want a shot at hunting some of the biggest public land elk in the country?

In this episode, we break down what Utah elk tags cost, how the draw works for nonresidents, and where both limited entry and OTC tags fit into a long range elk strategy.

We walk through the nonresident math on the 365 day hunting license, general, spike only, any bull, and limited entry tag prices, and why Utah’s cheap bonus points become a bargain once you’re already buying the license. Then I break down Utah...

Want to chase some of the biggest mule deer in the country?

In this episode, I break down what Utah really costs, how the draw works, and which units are actually worth your points so you can decide if it belongs in your long range strategy.

We walk through the nonresident math on the 365 day license, general and limited entry tag costs, and why Utah’s cheap points become a bargain once you’re already in the system. Then I break down Utah’s bonus point system for limited entry, the true preference points for genera...

Ever walk through the woods thinking “Elk don’t exist” ? I’ve had a few of those days myself – On this episode we have the host of the Elk Don’t Exist podcast himself, comedian and hunter Dillon Deitz.

We covered shed hunting and hunting stories stories, but it turned into a really solid conversation about getting into hunting and why it feels harder than it should.

Dillon’s working on a series called Rookie Season where he’s taking guys with zero hunting background and helping them go through their fi...

A Colorado moose, sheep, or goat tag is one of the hardest tags in the lower 48 to draw, but it may be worth applying for and we breakdown why!

In this GOHUNT Bonus Episode of the Drawn West Podcast, Brian breaks down how Colorado’s moose, sheep, and goat system actually works, what makes it different from the straight preference draws for deer, elk, and antelope, and why these tags are still one of the more realistic long-game plays if you want a shot at a once-in-a-lifetime hunt. He covers the $2,823 nonresident tag cost, th...

If you’re already applying in Colorado… you might be missing one of the easiest hunts you can add.

In this Colorado Antelope breakdown, Brian walks through exactly how to approach the 2026 application—what it costs, what kind of hunt you can expect, and how to actually pick a unit based on your point level.

With the April 7 deadline looming, this episode focuses on strategy—especially for hunters already in the Colorado system. Antelope might not be the flashiest tag in the West, but it can be one of the most efficient ways to add a hunt t...

Thinking of an elk hunt this year? Colorado needs to be on your radar!

In this GOHUNT Bonus Episode of the Drawn West Podcast, we dig into Colorado elk—what’s changing, what’s coming next, and where the real opportunity still lives depending on your point level.

Colorado is still the center of the elk hunting world, but it’s evolving. OTC archery has shifted, rifle tags could follow, and a major draw system change in 2028 is starting to reshape how people think about points. At the same time, th...

Colorado is the king of Mule Deer States – and this episode we breakdown why!

Big country, a pile of public land, and more opportunity than just about anywhere else in the West—it’s one of the few states where you can still put a plan together and actually go hunt.

This episode kicks off the Colorado series with mule deer, and we start with what makes it so good. From early high-country hunts to late-season rut hunts, Colorado gives you options—and that’s really the story here.

We get into h...