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PODCAST

Hunt West Podcast

The Hunt West Podcast is for hunters who"d rather wear out a pair of boots than a YouTube playlist. Most hunting podcasts give you campfire stories, gear hype, or endless tag talk. Hunt West is different. This is applied hunting wisdom — the stuff that actually helps you find critters and fill tags in the wild country west of the 100th meridian. Hosted by Jaden Bales — hunt consultant, mule deer junkie, and professional tag nerd — the show mixes solo riffs, guest conversations, and hard-earned

sports wilderness

All Episodes

47:38

How to Hunt Late-Season Elk in a Roaded Unit: Game...

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/11/01

In this week's episode, I sit down with my brother, Tyler Bales, to talk about his wife's upcoming late-season Oregon elk hunt: a classic roaded-country challenge where finding unpressured elk takes creativity, patience, and a little local knowledge. We dive into how he scouted a heavily roaded unit with a fresh burn, what he's learning about elk using edges between timber, burns, and private land, and how to hunt smart when you've got family (and a baby) along for the ride. You'll hear us talk

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48:29

The Pre-Rut Mule Deer Playbook | Solo Round

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/10/25

In this solo round, Jaden breaks down one of his favorite times of year—the pre-rut window when mule deer bucks start slipping out of their hidey holes and showing daylight movement, but haven’t gone full rut yet. It’s that sweet spot where weather, timing, and patience make or break a hunt. Jaden shares what he’s learned from hunting and guiding across the West, including: Premium Max-Point Migration Hunts — what true migration behavior looks like and why sitting tight beats hiking miles.

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01:02:53

Beat the Odds, Burn the Gas: Two Successful Pronghorn...

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/10/18

When you’ve been hunting with someone for over 25 years, you know the laughs, the screwups, and the grind are just part of the deal. In this episode, Jaden recaps a Wyoming pronghorn hunt with his lifelong friend Kain — a trip filled with highs, lows, and the kind of luck that only comes when you beat 7% odds in the tag draw. Kain flew in from Oregon with a freezer to fill, and the duo went to work chasing antelope across windy plains, dealing with wild weather, wardens, and whitetail detours. Jaden

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58:19

From Unfilled Tags to a Giant Bull: The Lessons That...

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/10/11

In this episode of the Hunt West Podcast, Jaden sits down with Hunt West client and now first-time archery elk killer, Anthony Ortiz, to unpack a four-year journey that went from missed chances and blown stalks to punching tags on a giant Colorado bull AND a Wyoming pronghorn—all this season. Anthony opens up about what it really takes to go from hopeful to lethal: The mistakes that taught him more than success ever could (hint: wind and impatience were his biggest teachers) The shooting

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01:23:00

"I Love it When a Plan Comes Together" | Wyoming Elk...

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/10/05

This two-for-one podcast starts with a scouting report from a tent at 10,000 feet and 8 miles deep in the backcountry before Wyoming’s general season rifle opener. This gives you a look into the mind of elk hunters the night before season and how to set yourself up for success on opening day. What followed was the full execution of a big mountain elk hunting playbook — managing pressure, weather, mindset, and logistics to fill two tags on nice bulls. From lightning storms and muddy pack-outs to

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41:23

Late Rutting Elk Hunting Success & Tips | HW Field...

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/09/26

In this solo field report, Jaden breaks down the final days of September elk hunting and shares the full story from a recent guided hunt. From bumping into bugling bulls right out of the truck to finally calling in a heavy seven-point for his client Steve, this hunt was a crash course in late-rut elk behavior. You’ll hear how two mature bulls in the same unit played completely different games—one running a massive herd like a cage fighter, the other hanging timid on the sidelines after taking his

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01:15:02

The Mule Deer Double Story: 400" of Antlers on...

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/09/23

Some hunts you dream about forever. Others just come together in a way you’ll never forget. This episode is one of those. Gray and I headed into steep, gnarly mule deer country with a short window, a couple of backup plans, and low expectations. By the end of opening day, we were standing over not one, but two high-country bucks—mine a true giant, and his a gnarly, heavy buck that any hunter would be thrilled with. In this episode, we relive every part of the hunt: The brutal climb in and the

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40:18

The Cow Elk Hunters' Playbook | Solo Round

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/09/20

Most folks dream of chasing a screaming bull, but let’s be honest—cow elk hunts are where the odds (and the freezers) are stacked in your favor. In this solo round, Jaden breaks down the Cow Elk Playbook—why cow hunts are one of the best opportunities in the West right now, and how to approach them through each phase of the elk’s yearly cycle. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why cow elk tags are often the best entry point into elk hunting. Seasonal tactics: Late September (rut): how to

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01:11:13

Die with Memories, Not Dreams with Chris Atkins

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/09/13

In this episode of the Hunt West Podcast, Jaden sits down with client and now good friend Chris Atkins to trace his rapid journey from adult-onset hunter to fulfilling a lifelong-level dream: an Alaska Dall sheep hunt. Chris didn’t grow up hunting. In fact, he didn’t pick it up until his late 30s while working as an art curator in Minnesota. What started with pheasants and turkeys quickly expanded into Western big game — antelope and mule deer in Wyoming, a free-range aoudad hunt in Texas, and

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54:44

Moose Madness & Opening Days of Elk Hunting | HW...

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/09/05

In this bonus solo round, Jaden talks with you straight from the road with a fresh field update: a once-in-a-lifetime Wyoming cow moose hunt, the chaos and camaraderie of packing out 400 pounds of meat, and some bonus elk encounters that prove the rut is heating up in some places. In this episode, you’ll hear: The wild story of arrowing the same moose twice (and why moose are tougher than nails) How a crew of friends turned the pack-out into a celebration First-hand elk rut action from the

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01:11:30

The Elk Hunting Playbook with Cody Rich

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/09/05

Welcome to September — the month elk hunters live for. In this episode, I sit down with Cody Rich, longtime mentor and host of The Elk Hunt Podcast, to talk through the 201-level elk hunting playbook. We dive into the real differences between a “101 hunter” who’s just out walking the woods and a “201 hunter” who consistently finds and kills elk year after year. Cody breaks down what separates the average Joe from the top 10% of elk hunters — and how you can bridge that gap this season. Inside this

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01:03:58

September Mule Deer Madness with Hayden Richins

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/08/30

September means velvet bucks, blown stalks, and long days behind the glass. In this episode, Jaden sits down with Hayden Richins (@wynotwild) to talk all things September mule deer hunting. The two swap stories from past hunts, break down archery and rifle strategies, and get honest about the mistakes (and lessons) that come with chasing deer in September. From velvet to hard horn, ambush setups to full-send stalks, this one is packed with practical insights and plenty of laughs. What you’ll hear in

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20:13

BONUS: Planning Future Hunts Like Someone With a...

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/08/24

Every hunt you go on has two stories: the one you’re living in the moment, and the one that quietly sets up your future seasons. In this bonus episode of the Hunt West Podcast, Jaden lays out how you can use your 2025 hunts to build momentum into 2026 and beyond. Whether you’re driving through prime elk country, eyeing a future mule deer unit, or keeping a finger on application deadlines, the key is to hunt with your eyes open—not just for what’s in your crosshairs, but for what’s coming next. What

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51:04

No Excuses Hunting: Beating Negativity and Finding...

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/08/23

In this solo episode of the Hunt West Podcast, Jaden fires up the mic to deliver the pep talk every hunter needs before stepping into the mountains this fall. Too often, hunters head into a season weighed down by excuses, negative chatter, and unrealistic expectations. Jaden pushes back hard on that mindset with a no-excuses, stay-positive approach that will help you make the most of whatever your hunt throws at you. From wildfires and winter kills to snowstorms, hunting pressure, and quiet elk,

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01:05:55

Old-School Skills & Modern-Day Mountain Hunting with...

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/08/16

This week on the Hunt West Podcast, I sit down with one of the most unique hunters you’ll ever meet — Cade Cole. If Jeremiah Johnson and a backcountry rifleman had a kid who grew up in blue jeans, it’d be Cade. He’s a young guy with an old soul, a no-nonsense attitude, and the kind of woodsmanship that doesn’t come from gadgets — it comes from time in the mountains. We get into: Why Cade hunts with simple, old-school gear, and still gets it done year after year The story behind his “primitive”

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53:52

Kill Kits & Field Processing: Field-Tested Systems...

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/08/10

In this solo round, Hunt West host Jaden Bales dives deep into one of the most important — yet often overlooked — aspects of hunting: what happens after the shot. Fresh back from a successful Alaska blacktail trip, Jaden breaks down his years of trial-and-error experience building a streamlined kill kit and a field processing system that works whether you’re backpacking miles from the truck or hunting private ground. You’ll learn: How to choose and use the right game bags for your style of hunting

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01:04:36

Hunting Blacktails the Local Way with Jeff Lund of...

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/08/02

In this special episode, Jaden sits down with Jeff Lund—Alaska teacher, seasoned blacktail hunter, and host of the On Step Podcast—for a deep dive into gear, strategy, and expectations for their upcoming DIY blacktail deer hunt in Southeast Alaska. They break down layering systems, managing moisture, alpine glassing techniques, and why hunting local-style is sometimes better than going big. Whether you're a first-time blacktail hunter or a seasoned mule deer guy looking to branch out, there's a ton

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01:01:38

How to Get A Tag Every Year with Brian Lueddeke of...

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/07/26

In this special crossover episode, Jaden Bales joins Brian Lueddeke on the Twilight Hunter's Podcast for a deep-dive into Western tag systems, drawing strategies, and how to secure hunting opportunities every year—especially if you’re getting started later in life. From preference points and random draws to budgeting for multi-state hunts, Jaden and Brian break down practical tips for hunters who don’t want to sit on the sidelines. They also swap stories from their own hunting journeys—including the

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01:19:24

When S**t Goes South with Hayden Richins

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/07/18

On this episode of the Hunt West Podcast, Jaden sits down with longtime buddy and seasoned sufferer Hayden Richins to talk about all the times things didn’t go according to plan in the field. From frozen rifles and “yard sale” fire-starting to saltwater-induced butt bombs and three-arrow tree slaps, this one’s a backcountry blooper reel with some hard-earned lessons baked in. If you've ever missed a shot, lost your cool, or packed out meat with a broken spirit (and a broken water filter), this

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01:12:08

The Fundamentals of Scouting For Mule Deer & Elk |...

Hunt West Podcast ·

2025/07/11

In this solo round, Jaden breaks down the fundamentals of boots-on-the-ground scouting for mule deer and elk. Whether you're heading to the high country, the desert lowlands, or planning a rut hunt in between, this episode serves as a crash course in when, where, and how to scout. From picking glassing knobs to understanding deer and elk behavior by season, it’s a no-BS overview fueled by listener questions that’ll help you get more out of your time afield. Perfect for first-timers or anyone looking

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