Episodes

In this final installment of School of September for this season, I offer up a summary of all the SOS episodes of 2026, key takeaways, and remind us all of the three key things that must happen to put a bull on the ground this year. With all the episodes we do around archery elk hunting, it’s easy to get lost in some of the more technical hunting strategies. Simplify your process, focus on the fundamentals, and remember there's more than one way to skin a cat! Good luck out there this September!...

Here we are! September has arrived!! I thought it quite fitting to bring on my friend, Tony Gilbertson, for this installment of School of September. Tony is two-time RMEF Elk Calling champ, Husband, Father, Christian, and serves on the Phelps Game Calls Pro Team. In this episode, Tony shares his key strategies for locating bulls, determining their temperament, and how to call in different bulls with different attitudes to within bow range. It’s an excellent conversation and Tony gets right to t...

Joel Turner is a former law enforcement officer, sniper, family man, and founder of Shot IQ and Mountain Whisper (MTNWISPR). He’s also one heck of an elk caller! Joel returns to the show with a vengeance, bringing some serious archery shot strategy and calling techniques. He shares a calf in distress call he used to call in 67 bulls last season and it’s one we all need in our back pocket. Joel is a solid American, excellent trainer, and a dude that I’m proud to call my friend. Do not, I repeat,...

I came across Austin’s Instagram a while back and hit the follow button. He kept posting interesting, thought provoking, or just flat out entertaining stuff so I decided to invite him on the show. This is often how I end up with guests, sometimes it’s good, sometimes not so much. In this case, I’m sure glad I did! Austin is a guide, hunter, Husband, Father, and downright great dude. This episode kind of bounces all over multiple topics from mule deer management to non-resident hunters to rifle ...

Back to the show is Jason Phelps, founder of Phelps Game Calls and one of the planet’s best elk callers. For this School of September, I wanted Jason to talk to us about some fundamentals around getting initial responses to elk calls, and he did just that! Jason walks us through his time-tested calls that he has generated the most elk encounters. He talks about his strategy upon leaving the truck in the morning, locating elk, using sign, cow calls, locate bugles, and some out-of-the-box calling...

July’s installment of the Hunt & Tag Planner is a bit late, but better late than never! Jordan Christensen with The Draw is back to get us up to speed on tags, draws, bonus and preference point opportunities, and more. Stay on top of your long and short term tag game! Everything you need in one place, click here. Show Sponsors! Phelps Game Calls - The game call company of The Western Huntsman! Whether looking for bugle tubes, deer calls, predator calls, reeds, anything, Phelps Game Calls is ...

Logan Erdman is a Wyoming hunter, horseman, knifemaker, husband, and much more. He returns to the show after coming on over five years ago! In this episode, Logan and I discuss hunting with horses, grizzly management, hunting in grizzly country, living in the rural American West, and hunters’ behaviour on social media. It’s a robust discussion between two passionate hunters who have concerns about our future. Logan shares some experience with horses and how being in the saddle offers some advan...

Zach Bowhay is a lifelong hunter, husband, father, outdoors writer, and return guest on the School of September! In this installment, we cover some season prep items, common elk calling/hunting mistakes, not blowing your shot when a bull is within bow range, calling strategies, and overall hunting tactics with some great elk stories in there! It’s exactly the kind of content I strive to record for these elk hunting episodes and it’s not one you’ll want to miss. Zach is highly credible and knowle...

Jermaine Hodge is a return guest for School of September and he doesn’t disappoint! In this episode, we discuss calling strategies, season prep items, snacks to pack on the mountain, cow calls versus bugling, physical preparedness, and his upcoming sheep hunt. Jermaine is a lifelong athlete and sponsored Phelps Game Calls hunter and this episode is loaded with gold nuggets every elk hunter will benefit from! Jermaine on Instagram Show Sponsors! Phelps Game Calls - The game call company of The...

Steve Johnson is an old friend and a returning guest… This time for the School of September! In this installment, Steve and I focus on two critical September elk hunting topics; hunting wallows, and calling. Hunting wallows and intuitive calling skills can greatly improve your odds at killing a bull elk this archery season. We talk about the to-do’s and the what not-to-do’s when hunting over wallows. Then, Steve, who just so happens to be one of the most effective elk callers I’ve hunted with, ...

Lamar Skinner is an honest man. He is unafraid to publicly be vulnerable about his past and is on a mission to help other men. He’s also a fantastic Couse deer hunter in Arizona! He started a movement called Rebuild the Man and joins me this week to discuss it. In this episode, Lamar and I discuss deer hunting, specifically the differences between Couse, Whitetail, and Mule deer hunting as well as some of the differences in hunting various terrain features. We dive into the distortion that happ...

This week, Tate Bradfield with Process Based Hunter joins me. I came across Tate on an Instagram reel in which he was explaining why he thinks hunters spend way too much money on wasted gear items, leaving them often without the critical tags to use it. I couldn’t agree more. We discuss this topic in detail. Quit wasting money on gear that you probably don’t need. Experience comes from having tags, time in the field, encounters with animals, and sometimes, hardship from subpar gear while you bu...

The new Hunt & Tag Planner Series with Jordan Christensen is designed to keep listeners up with the latest news, deadlines, and information to increase your odds at drawing a great tag! We always focus on protecting the future of hunting or shortening the learning curve for your next hunt, but why not how to actually get tags?? It’s a component that too many hunters struggle with, but not anymore. Jordan Christensen from The Draw is teaming up with The Western Huntsman and Eastmans to bring you...

Matt Schoeller returns to the show to talk bowhunting! As a return guest, I wanted to get Matt back on to tell us about his recent trip to New Zealand to hunt Tahr and Fallow Deer. We covered a lot about scouting for deer and elk, some key bowhunting strategies, getting within striking distance with a bow, taking your hunting adventure to far away lands, and much more! Matt is an awesome guy the type of bowhunter we can all aspire to be. Check him out on Instagram! Show Sponsors! Phelps Game C...

The legend himself is back! School of September for your June installment features the most requested guest, Dirk Durham, AKA The Bugler! In this episode, we go a little deeper than past episodes with reading terrain features likely to hold elk, calling sequences that work, what to do once a bull responds to you, some cow call strategies, and much more. Dirk is the most seasoned guest on School of September and is someone that consistently kills elk each year. Meaning, you’ll want to make sure ...

Jaden Bales returns to the show, and this time, for a School of September! Jaden always packs a punch when coming on the show, and he brings some fresh ideas for this one. In this episode, Jaden and I discuss an often overlooked topic; how to scout for your upcoming elk season. He breaks down how he approaches his scouting opportunities into a three part process that pays dividends once elk season starts. We discuss scouting some high country, low country, and safety spots, of which all three p...

Kevin Estela returns! It’s always a great time getting Kevin on the show to discuss a wide berth of topics. We talk bear hunting, aoudad hunting, deer hunting, fishing trips, tipping culture, government overreach, and much more. Kevin discusses some pistol and bear defense stuff and his involvement with Jason the Butcher TV. Kevin is a good friend so having him on the show is always a solid, authentic conversation. Don’t miss this one… Kevin on Instagram Show Sponsors! Phelps Game Calls - Th...

Ryan Gascon is the founder of High Timber Dreams, a non-profit organization that helps disabled vets, first responders, and youth hunters realize their elk hunting dreams out of Elgin, Oregon. In this episode, Ryan and I discuss a ton of elk strategies. From early archery season to late November bulls, he offers up some calling tips and shares tons of experiences to help sharpen the iron for any elk hunter! Don’t miss it! Ryan on Instagram Show Sponsors! Phelps Game Calls - The game call com...

In this solo episode, I dig into mountain thermals and everything hunters should know about them. Too many times I’ve seen hunters blow a stalk or bust a herd of elk out unknowingly because of assumptions of what thermals are. Here, I break down what creates thermals, how elk and other animals use them, what to be mindful of, and how to use thermals to your advantage on the mountain! Show Sponsors! Phelps Game Calls - The game call company of The Western Huntsman! Whether looking for bugle tub...

It’s been a while since I’ve had on the show! Michael was a fan favorite in the first couple years of this podcast and the way this episode went, he will be again! We discuss everything from what’s going on at Elk Calling Academy to...

Matt Hartsky is the man behind Backbone Unlimited, an elk hunting platform that provides training and elk education. He’s a hunter, strength and conditioning coach, and nutrition expert and he brings all that value and knowledge to this installment of School of September! In this episode, we really hammer some physical fitness concepts and how they apply to hunting elk in the mountains of the West. Then we switch into talking strategy; locating elk, closing in on elk, and getting a shot. We wra...

Chris Cabral is an outfitter out of St. Maries, ID. He owns Russell Pond Outfitters, it’s a great operation focusing on bear hunting, elk hunting, and lions in the Winter months. Chris joins me for a discussion offering up some bear hunting tips, we get into some elk hunting stuff as usual! Check out Chris’s website below, you’re going to like this one! Russell Pond Outfitters Chris on Instagram Show Sponsors! Phelps Game Calls - The game call company of The Western Huntsman! Whether lookin...

Melinda Anakalea and her husband, Adam, own and operate The Harlow Bison Ranch in Thompson Falls, MT. The Harlow is a special place in which I’ve had the opportunity to spend some time on over the last few years, and getting to know Adam and Melinda has been such a pleasure. Especially because these are people who truly care about the land they manage, the animals that live there, and how it all works in conjunction with nature. Melinda joins me to discuss their ranch operation, the regenerativ...

Quick Shots with Jim this week is my list of twelve things that consistently successful elk hunters have in common, and why they matter to you! jim.huntsman@eastmans.com Show Sponsors! Phelps Game Calls - The game call company of The Western Huntsman! Whether looking for bugle tubes, deer calls, predator calls, reeds, anything, Phelps Game Calls is a one stop shop of quality, American made game calls. Use promo code Huntsman10 for 10% off at checkout. Visit Phelpsgamecalls.com Leupold Optics-...