Episodes

This week, meet Jordan Christensen from The Draw. We discuss the complexities of western tag applications, noting the constantly evolving process with year-round deadlines and various state changes, which necessitates services like "the draw" to help manage applications and prevent costly mistakes. Jordan detailed the draw's mission to help people hunt out west as often as they desire by leveraging application processes and offering two plan options: the non-floated plan with a service fee per a...

Jason Wilson is a hunter with insane amounts of bowhunting experience for rutting whitetail. He's a business guy, political influencer, and all around big personality, I really liked getting to know him! In this episode, we dive into rutted whitetail and bowhunting. Jason drops some fantastic hunting tips and shooting techniques to help us all do better in the field. He brings his Georgia whitetail and international bowhunting experience to the table, it makes for a great episode. Can't wait to...

I just got home from hunting mule deer in Wyoming with Fonzy Haskell of Four Horse Outfitters and Brandon Mason of Eastmans. What a heck of a hunt! We sat down to record a great episode, it’s a good one… In this episode, we discuss Fonzy’s appointment to the Wyoming Fish & Game Commission, and what he hopes to achieve. We talk mule deer management. Brandon, as always, brings his A-game and perspective to some tougher topics. We share some laughs about our recent hunt together and have an all ar...

Kurt Stick and I have been buddies for a while, mostly on the dot coms. I’ve always known he was a solid hunter, and this year he proved it again with an over 320” solo bull! In this episode, Kurt tells the story of how he worked his way into archery range on a great bull this season. There are plenty of lessons to be had in this one, Kurt is a one of kind personality and I know you guys are going to like him as much as I do! Show Sponsors! Phelps Game Calls - The game call company of The Wes...

Return guest, Tyler Oaks from Timber Cruisers Outdoors joins me to share his successful hunt this September on a 300” plus bull! Tyler shares the calling strategy that worked in this bull on September 3rd, how he moved in closer to get the bull within range, and the final steps to sending his arrow 35 yards into the bull for a lethal shot. We also discuss some rifle elk hunting tips for the upcoming October hunts. Locating bulls, some calling, and even a bit of wallow hunting strategy. Don’t mi...

Return guest, Zach Hanson, has a new book out, The Trade Gap. His new book covers a topic that I’m super passionate about, and it’s a page turner! In The Trade Gap, Zach stresses the importance of getting people involved in the trades. He learned this lesson well when he lost his white collar job and had to depend on taxidermy and welding to make ends meet. A perfect fallback! Zach is an excellent writer, hunter, trapper, and impressively smart guy. I’m super happy he’s a friend, you guys are g...

Blake and Justin are with HornScore, an app that estimates scores on antlers from images or video you take in the field. In this episode, they tell us about the app and how it works. It’s a sweet product, I’ve been taking trail camera images and scoring them in the app. This is not only useful information for me to know, but it’s incredibly entertaining! Justin and Blake share the details and the why behind the app and go into everything the app can do. Definitely be sure to check it out, every...

Jordan Breshears is a hunter, writer and content creator for Eastmans, and a nuclear electrical wizard of great proportion. He’s a fantastic archery elk hunter, and joins me this week to kick us off into the first episode released during season! Jordan and I discuss some last minute gear and preparation stuff. He brings up some great strategies for locating lone bulls and quiet elk. We discuss some major mistakes that cost hunters notched tags, it’s a great School of September! Don’t miss it! ...

In this episode, there is no guest… It’s just me bringing in a last minute episode as a bonus for this month. I break down mountain thermals, answer some various gear questions, and share some stories from past hunts that highlight the exact “failure point” that cost me a notched tag. It’s my hope that those tough lessons I learned will prevent you from having to learn the same one. Let me know what you think of this episode at jim.huntsman@eastmans.com Show Sponsors! Phelps Game Calls - The ...

Rod Paschke is a rancher, outfitter, hunter, and conservationist. He owns Sizzlin’ S Outfitters in Montana and is part of an advisory group for mule deer management changes. In this episode, Rod and I discuss the challenges with mule deer management, specifically in Montana. The advisory group has developed some key changes to help improve muley numbers throughout the state. Rod walks us through the whats and the whys. We also talk about mule hunting strategy. Rod offers up some important tips...

Return guest, Dan Pickar, joins me for a short but action packed School of September! Dan is a writer, editor, and video producer at Eastmans as well as a co-host of the Life of a Bowhunter Podcast. In this episode, Dan and I key in on some elk locating tactics, stalking techniques, calling, killing pressured bulls, and tons more. Dan is the perfect guy for the School of September! I always leave with a ton of new knowledge after recording with him and you guys are going to love this one! Dan ...

Josh Caple is a friend, hunter, and member of the Conservation Coalition of Washington. He’s also a return guest and we dive into some of the latest happenings of the Washington fish and game commission. We talk about bear hunting, issues facing hunters, challenges with some of the language being used coming into the next legislative sessions, and the attempt to do a nationwide ban on bear baiting. Josh and I have a great conversation, it’s important to keep our eyes on the animal activists even...

James Nash is a return guest on the show. He’s the host of the 6 Ranch Podcast, an outfitter, a Marine veteran, generational rancher, writer, and without a doubt, one of the most intellectually well-rounded humans I’ve ever met. I knew James would be a great School of September guest, but I didn’t know how great until I hit the record button. In this episode, James discusses some deeper elk behavioral and biological topics that blow my dang mind! We talk some strategy as well, and pick on hunte...

I promised you guys I would find some unique School of September guests that offer some fresh perspective… Meet my buddy, Bob Capka, AKA Bugling Bob! Bob is one of the longest serving guides at Elk Creek Outfitters, and without question, the most successful guide in the history of the outfitter for archery elk hunting. He is an archery expert at Archers Afield in Tigard, OR when he’s not guiding. Bugling Bob isn’t just a wildly talented elk caller, he also slays the guitar as an international to...

Tamie Fitchett is one of the owners of Elk Creek Outfitting, she runs the Big Sky Packer and Guide School where her passion is. She's a former game warden, hunter, and competes as a Mounted Shooter throughout the Northwest. In short, she's one helluva great person! Tamie and I get into details about the Big Sky Packer and Guide School. Anyone interested in getting into making a living in the hunting space, this is the fastest and most consistent way to earn a living in it. We talk about what th...

This installment of the School of September features Rob Yoder. Join us for a conversation that will have you counting the days to September 1.

As luck would have it, I met Bobby Collins on a plane ride to Maui. I was on a family vacation, Bobby was heading home. I'm so glad we crossed trails! Bobby shares his background as firefighter, growing up in Oregon, moving to Maui over a decade ago, and the hunt life he lives within the Hawaiian Islands. He is a survivor of the Lahaina wildfire, the most devastating wildfire in Maui history. He shares the story, and it's a heartbreaker, about how he and his friends narrowly escaped the fast-mov...

This installment of the School of September features Jon Gabrio. Jon is someone I knew several years ago was going to make a huge impact on the hunting space, and he definetely has! In this episode, Jon and I dicsuss his process for locating elk. From eScouting to boots on the ground, you can't kill what you can't find. We also dive into different strategies for different types of terrain; hunting elk in arid desert country to high-mountain stuff. This is a must-listen episode! I can always coun...

Editor in Chief at Eastmans, Todd Helms, joins me this week to offer some insight as to what's at stake in this recent public land disposal bill. This is basically something being added to the so-called "Big, Beautiful Bill" by Utah Senator Mike Lee, a familiar proponent of public land thievery and in my book, someone who needs to be removed from public office because of it. Todd and I delve into the recent article on the Eastmans Blog, written by David Willms. David saves us the drama and offe...

Thank you all for bearing with me the last few weeks. I haven't put out an episode due to a health issue that popped up out of the blue and almost took my life. This episode tells the story, and I hope it provides some insight as to how you can avoid the same issue. I should be back to 100% soon, and I'm officially back in the saddle as of now. I am blessed, and very thankful to all of you who tune in and tolerate me every week. Let's get back to talking hunting! Show Sponsors! Phelps Game C...

We’ve got another special episode of the Western Huntsman podcast this week! Guest hosts Todd Helms and Scott Reekers from Eastmans’ sit down to tackle some of the hottest current topics impacting hunters today while Jim is out. From grizzly bear management to potential public land sell-offs, they dive into the issues that matter. Tune in and stay informed—this is one you won’t want to miss! Show Sponsors Phelps Game Calls - The game call company of The Western Huntsman! https://bit.ly/Ph...

Today’s episode of The Western Huntsman is a special one! In a unique twist, the tables are turned as Ike Eastman, host of the Eastmans' Journal Podcast Edition , takes over the mic to interview our very own Jim Huntsman. Recently, Jim faced some unexpected health challenges — but the great news is, he’s on the mend and doing well. This heartfelt conversation dives into the origin of the podcast, what inspired Jim to start it, and what keeps him going. From his personal passions to his dai...

Dirk returns as requested for an in-depth discussion on September archery elk! We talk about some new calling strategies, lessons learned from last season, we cover early, mid, and late September elk sounds/strategies. As always, nobody delivers like Dirk Durham of Phelps Game Calls!!! Phelps Game Calls - Use promo code Huntsman10 Dirk on Instagram Show Sponsors Phelps Game Calls - The game call company of The Western Huntsman! https://bit.ly/PhelpsGameCalls-Eastmans -Use Promo Code “Hun...

Kevin Hardman is the Treasurer of the Idaho Panhandle Chapter for NWTF, a new chapter for the renowned National Wild Turkey Federation. He brings a lot to the table as we have a great conversation about his goal to hunt and kill something all twelve...