Sportsmen's Empire - Western Big Game Hunting

Training season may be over, but the work doesn’t stop. In this episode, we talk about what comes next—getting young hounds in the woods, building confidence, working on fundamentals, and preparing for the next season. The off-season is where the foundation is built.

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Dan and Ken sit down to tackle the nuances of Alberta antelope hunting, from pre-hunt prep to field execution. After tagging out early this season, Ken shifts his focus to helping his niece harvest a buck. He shares insights from his trip—including setting up his SUV as a mobile base camp, using the iHunter app to scout and secure land permissions, and adjusting his size expectations on the ground. The pair also explore critical hunting tactics, including navigating the rut, understanding antelope vision, practicing long-range shooting, and building meaningful relationships with private landowners.

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On this episode of the Hunting Gear Podcast, Dan re-joins Jacob Coons for a candid look at "Made in the USA" hunting gear. Does where your gear is manufactured actually drive your purchasing decisions, or does it all come down to price tag and performance?

The guys unpack price points across major gear categories, test the durability argument, and confront common manufacturing stereotypes head-on. Plus, Dan and Jacob share their own personal philosophies on gear selection and discuss whether domestic production still carries real weight in their setups.

Highlights:

How does your hound know you're going hunting before you've even said a word?

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of hound intuition and the patterns dogs pick up from us every day. From the moment we turn the light on or not. My hounds recognize a familiar sequence of cues that tells them exactly what's coming next. 

We talk about aggression at the tree. Can it be fixed and trusted when you’re an hour out.

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This week on Huntavore, Nick welcomes back good friend Mitch Shirk of the Pennsylvania Woodsman Podcast to talk about an exciting upcoming adventure: Nick's first-ever black bear hunt. What started as a long-standing invitation from Mitch has finally come together, and the two break down what listeners can expect from a New Jersey bear hunting experience.

The conversation begins with plenty of campfire humor, including stories about hunting trophies, taxidermy negotiations with spouses, and the challenge of finding wall space for mounts. Nick shares the story behind his Michigan ten-point buck mount while Mitch recounts the unforgettable...

In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch is joined by Josh Craig of Western Hunter 101 to talk about taking the intimidation out of planning a western hunt. Growing up in the Midwest, Josh spent years dreaming about hunting elk and other western game but assumed those adventures required a guide, a pile of money, or knowledge he simply didn't have. Eventually, he realized the biggest thing holding him back was getting started. That experience ultimately led to Western Hunter 101 and a mission to help everyday hunters understand tags, planning, gear, preparation, and the steps necessary to turn a...

Sometimes the lessons that stick with us the longest are the ones we learn without realizing it.

As a kid, I spent weekends rebuilding a crosstie wall that was good enough in my eyes. At the time, it was just extra work that didn't need to be done—lifting, stacking, lining things up, and making sure each tie was where it needed to be. Looking back, though, that wall taught me something that applies just as much to hound training today.

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In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitch sits down with returning guest Jason Miller of JMiller Custom Calls to kick off another New Jersey black bear season. The conversation starts beneath the mount of Jason’s biggest bear yet—a massive bruin estimated around 600 pounds live weight and now in the Boone and Crockett record book. Jason tells the full story of a hunt he almost didn’t go on, from reluctantly climbing into a stand late in an extended season to watching the bear work toward him, the shots that followed, and finally walking up on an animal...

A final hunt with that certain hound can carry a strange weight. You may not realize you're experiencing the last time you'll walk that trail, sit against that tree, hear them strike and tree. At the time, it can feel like just another morning in the woods, just another hunt. But every once in a while, there's a hunt that becomes something bigger than the hunt itself. A good hound may only be with us for a short period of time, but the impression they leave can last a lifetime.

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Elk hunting is not about luck—it is about putting yourself in the right 200-yard bubble at the right time, with enough days left to make the moment count. Tim Kent breaks down nearly two decades of hard-earned lessons chasing elk from the East, including the mistakes that cost him bulls, the calling mistake that instantly blew up a setup, and why his biggest breakthrough came from learning where elk actually live instead of where he hoped they would.

Dan Johnson and Tim dig into the obsession that keeps eastern hunters driving west every year: the mountains, th...

What actually stays in your pack when it’s time to hunt whitetails? On this episode of the Hunting Gear Podcast, Dan and Bob do a complete gear dump for the fall season. From grunt tubes and scent control to bow ropes and screw-in steps, if it takes up space in their packs, it’s getting talked about.

Join the conversation on the Sportsmen's Empire Facebook and Instagram pages, or connect with Nine Finger Chronicles and Hybrid Outdoors. Let us know what gear never leaves your pack!

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Colorado just changed the elk hunting game—and the next round of regulations could reshape how residents and non-residents chase tags, points, and opportunity. If you hunt the West, this is the kind of episode that can save you years of confusion and help you make smarter decisions before the 2028 changes take effect.

Dan Johnson sits down with Colorado hunter Adam Parr to break down what is really happening with the state’s draw system, why archery tags went from over-the-counter to draw for non-residents, and how point creep has exploded in some units. Adam explains the new...

Every houndsman remembers his first.

Your first dog.

The first time you heard a hound open on a track.
The first time you followed that voice through the dark.
The first time you walked up to a tree with the game in it.
The first dog that really meant something to you.

But some of the best firsts come later.

The first time your son or daughter hears a hound open.
The first time they grab the lead.
The first time they walk into a tree...

In this episode of the Pennsylvania Woodsman, Mitchell is joined by Ryan Burnett of Pattern Pros to talk about one of the most overlooked pieces of hunting preparation—actually knowing how your gun and ammunition perform together. Ryan explains how Pattern Pros grew from a frustrating day of shotgun patterning into a way for hunters to test multiple loads without buying full boxes of ammunition that may not work well in their gun. The guys walk through the process of properly patterning a shotgun at different distances, understanding point of aim versus point of impact, evaluating pattern density, and de...

Episode DescriptionThe best mobile hunting systems do one thing - they disappear into the hunt. Nested Tree Stand Systems is built around that idea, and Gabe Denzine explains why this brand was designed from the ground up for hunters who pack in, climb once, and want every piece of gear to work together.

Gabe and Dan unpack how Nested grew out of a real problem: the clunky, cobbled-together setup so many hunters have been forced to live with. Instead of making another generic add-on to an existing line, the team built a true system - rails, stand...

Mule deer are still the vanishing icon of the West, and if you care about public land hunting, this conversation explains exactly why. Greg Sheehan, CEO of the Mule Deer Foundation, lays out the hard truth behind the decline, what changed after the mule deer heyday, and what hunters and conservation groups are doing right now to turn it around.

Greg brings a rare perspective to the problem. He’s spent decades on both sides of wildlife management, from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of La...

Nick opens with a personal update on the shift from summer chaos into early fall hunting season, then moves into two connected stories about wild game, generosity, and community. He reflects on being gifted Great Lakes salmon and lake trout, turning part of it into smoked jerky, and how that exchange strengthened a friendship. He also previews an upcoming New Jersey black bear hunt and a new venison donation project that uses hunters’ harvests to help feed others.

Key Topics

Sometimes a race doesn’t go according to plan—and sometimes it's an even bigger surprise at the end.

In this episode, we take a look back on a race when the hounds made a switch in mid-race, something we never knew about until just before dark when we corralled a giant in the rocks. 

It’s the kind of chase that reminds you why these moments stick with you: the chase, the instincts, the adrenaline, and the surprise waiting at the end. What started as one race quickly turned into a story worth telling—and a mem...

Western Kansas can make you a better hunter - or break your ego fast. Travis Glassman reveals how he consistently patterns mature whitetails and mule deer in one of the toughest, flattest, most overlooked deer countries in the West.

Dan Johnson and Travis catch up after years apart, and the conversation quickly turns into a sharp, practical breakdown of what it really takes to hunt a landscape where deer numbers are down, cover is limited, and every move matters. From chronic wasting disease and drought to shifting deer behavior, Travis explains why success out here depends less...

This episode is a high-energy college football and Cowboys roundtable, with the group arguing through Big 12 and SEC team projections, hot-seat coaches, Heisman/National Championship picks, and the Cowboys’ outlook for the season. The conversation is funny, opinionated, and heavily Texas-focused, with lots of rivalry banter and bold predictions.

Timestamps

(00:00) Hunters Extravaganza recap and the audio meltdown
(01:18) Introducing the panel and resetting after Jeff’s connection issues
(03:06) Why the Hunters Extravaganza felt more like a shopping mall than a hunting show
(06:14) Football season is here, and the show shifts to college previews
...

How do you know when it’s time to call it a day? After multiple dumps, long hours in the woods, and one blown track after another ending without success, every hound hunter eventually faces that decision.

In this episode, we talk about the reality of tough hunts—the frustration, the exhaustion, and the temptation to keep pushing when the woods just aren’t giving it up. Sometimes the best decision isn’t another drop; it’s loading the dogs, heading home, and living to hunt another night.

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Western hunts get a lot easier when your gear, sleep setup, and ammo are dialed in before you leave home. Dan Johnson sits down with Wisconsin hunter Nick Brewer to break down the real-world system he uses to chase mule deer and pronghorn in Montana and Wyoming without wasting time, money, or energy.

Nick has spent roughly 15 years hunting out West, and he shares the hard-earned details that only come from doing it over and over: how he chooses between a lightweight rifle and a heavier custom build, why he handloads his own 7mm-08 ammo, and what...

Antelope and mule deer don’t just test your shooting. They expose every mistake in your glassing, rangefinding, wind reading, patience, and ability to disappear into terrain without blowing the whole stalk.

Dan Johnson and Kurt Belding trade hard-earned stories from the field and break down what actually works when you’re chasing pronghorn and mule deer with a bow. From 80-yard antelope shot windows to the brutal reality of crawling across open country only to watch deer melt into the next drainage, this conversation is packed with the kind of details western hunters usually learn the hard...

This episode is all about the reality of trying to balance work, the summer heat, and the hunting season you’ve been looking forward to all year. Sometimes the grind doesn’t just make hunting harder—it takes opportunities completely off the table.

We talk about how work schedules and brutal heat can keep you out of the woods, the frustration that comes with missing opportunities, and why you have to make the most of the time you actually do get.

Then we shift gears to a little dog training. We talk about one of the mo...

Most elk hunters make one costly mistake: they move too much, call too much, and blow out the very bulls they’re trying to hunt. Kurt from Western Obsession breaks down the smarter, harder way to hunt elk, and why staying put, reading wind, and letting the glass do the work can change everything.

Returning guest Kurt joins Dan Johnson to unpack the exact mindset and field strategy behind successful western elk hunting, from archery season in the rut to late-season rifle hunts. He explains why the best hunters aren’t the loudest ones, why bugle tubes can...

This week on the podcast, we start with a hunt that manages to hit both a frustrating low and an exciting high in less than 30 minutes. What begins with frustration turns into a breakthrough—and serves as a good reminder that sometimes the best thing you can do in the woods is slow down, pay attention, and be patient.

We also dig into scenting conditions and some of the data I’ve collected over the past two years, looking at temperature, humidity, and how those conditions can influence what’s happening on a track. Rather than simply blamin...

The gear you trust in the woods matters more than the latest hype, and Dan Johnson lays out the exact products he actually hunts with, why they earned a permanent spot in his setup, and which upgrades are worth your money before the season opens.

If you want a no-fluff breakdown from someone who beats up his equipment and still expects it to work in mud, cold, heat, and last-minute chaos, this episode gives you the shortlist. Dan explains why he stays loyal to certain brands, how he evaluates gear by durability and real-world performance, and why...

Join us for a laid-back yet insightful conversation with Skeeter, Eric Beckman, a passionate

outdoorsman and wild game chef, as he shares his journey into hunting, foraging, and cooking

Michigan's wild bounty. Discover practical tips on field dressing, foraging secrets, and creative

ways to prepare wild protein, all while emphasizing conservation and mindfulness in nature.

● The benefits and techniques of rucking and outdoor training for hunting, including

packing fifty pounds regularly during summer for upcoming hunts.

● How to identify and forage local Michigan edible plants, mushrooms, and wild...

The first day of training sets the tone for everything that follows—and this episode is all about testing your patience. How we used other podcast to see the early warning signs of heat stress and the things you can do when in the field to help. Don't waste a precious time when you have limited days. Have a great season. 

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Unlock the secrets to hunting success with Joseph Jones, a dedicated bowhunter who chased a legendary buck for three years—until a game-changing revelation reshaped his gear strategy. From urban hunting tactics to the best gear for close-quarters, Joseph shares how adapting his equipment and mindset led to more effective hunts—and a deeper connection with his kids in the woods.

Discover how hunting in tight spaces in North Carolina influences stand choices, the importance of versatility in gear, and the innovative tricks Joseph uses to beat the trees — from DIY tree cover to the perfect climbing stand...

Show notes: Get ready for the August hound hunting season with practical preseason tips. In this episode, we cover:

A little preparation now can help you and your dogs have a safer, more successful start to the season. Good luck, and have a great season. 

Are you tired of unproductive hunts and wondering where the elk are hiding? Discover the game-changing strategies that seasoned elk hunter and expert scout Josh Sears uses to find elk year-round—no matter where you hunt, east or west. Whether you’re new to hunting or a seasoned pro, this episode reveals how to interpret maps, identify key terrain features, and use satellite imagery to pinpoint the best spots before you even leave home.

Josh Sears, founder of Boots on the Ground Services, shares his insider tips on e-scouting, including how to interpret topo lines, identify potential elk...

This week, I hit the road for a weekend hunting trip with my longtime friend, Bob Melville. We've shared a lot of miles and a lot of hunts over the years, so the conversation naturally goes beyond just the chase.

In this episode, we dive into the constant challenge of evaluating our hound packs—knowing when to be patient, when to make tough decisions, and why building a solid pack is never as simple as it looks from the outside.

We also have an honest discussion about the realities of raising hounds. From the time an...

Most mule deer hunters overlook one of the most critical aspects of success: understanding the prairie ecosystem like a local. In this episode, Dan Johnson shares raw, real-world insights from years of hunting mule deer across South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, and beyond—all on public lands and walk-in spots. Discover how cattle, water, terrain, and deer movement patterns influence every move you make in the field, without relying on fancy gadgets or guesswork.

Dan’s experience reveals the unspoken rules of prairie hunting that can make or break your hunt—like why cattle are more enemies than allies...

Most of us are overcomplicating meal prep — but the secret to fueling your body (and your hunting successes) is much simpler than you think. Tune in as Andrew Muntz, a seasoned CrossFitter and wild game enthusiast, reveals that it’s all about balance, quality, and baby steps. From hunting stories to nutrition hacks, this episode is your blueprint for transforming wild game into powerful, nourishing meals that energize your day and improve your health — without the overwhelm.

Andrew shares how his own journey from inconsistent eating to purposeful meal planning has skyrocketed his energy, strength, and hunting succes...

Discover how XOP’s philosophy of “attainable adventure” is shaping the future of mobile hunting gear — and why their innovations are perfect for serious hunters who demand safety, quality, and affordability. If you're tired of the industry’s inflated prices and want gear that’s built for real-world hunts, this episode is your insider pass to the brand challenging the status quo.

In this episode, Tom Lalonde, part of the XOP team and a utility worker by day, shares the behind-the-scenes process of designing gear that combines safety standards from climbing industries with innovative materials and smart functionalit...

On this episode of The Wisconsin Sportsman, Pierce is joined by Alaina Roth to dive into the world of hunting for Wisconsin black bears! Alaina is a Wisconsin-native and serves as the Wildlife Biologist for Vilas County. In this episode, Alaina shares her background studying bears, turkeys, and upland birds, what a year looks like for a black bear, and a black bear researcher in Wisconsin, how bears food sources change, and hibernation habits. After that she discusses pros and cons of hunting bears with dogs, over bait, or a combination of the two, how to care for the...

In this episode, we wrap up our unforgettable Alaska adventure by sharing the highlights from the final days of the trip, including an incredible salmon fishing experience and the memories we'll be talking about for years to come.

Then we shift gears and look ahead to hound training season, discussing the small but important preseason tasks that help set your hounds—and yourself—up for a successful season. From checking equipment to getting dogs back into condition, it's all about doing the little things now that make a big difference later.

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Most nurses spend their careers avoiding the emotional toll of death — but Aaron Hepler has a different perspective. After 17 years in intensive care, he’s witnessed the unfiltered reality of tragedy, miracles, and faith, revealing stories that will challenge your understanding of life and death.In this gripping episode of the Hunting Gear Podcast, Aaron shares raw, behind-the-scenes insights from the hospital that will change how you view resilience, faith, and the human spirit. From the chaos of family conflicts in ICU to the quiet moments that feel like miracles, his stories expose the true cost — and beauty — of caring f...

As summer draws to a close, many of us face the annual task of managing our freezers, especially if you have a stockpile of venison from last hunting season. If you’re wondering how to use that venison and make room for new stock, you’re in the right place. In this post, I’ll share five practical methods to utilize your venison effectively, helping you clear out your freezer while enjoying delicious meals.

## Why Use Your Venison?

Utilizing your venison is not just about clearing space; it’s about making the most of the hard wor...