This week I sat down with Cody Nelson, a man who has spent the better part of 12–13 years in elk and deer camps across Arizona and the West, helping legendary hunters like Jay Scott and Steve Chapa put tags on bulls by doing one thing better than just about anyone alive: finding game before the hunt ever starts.Cody just made a move over to Tricer as their Director of Innovation — and if you've been paying attention to what Drew has been building over there, this hire makes a whole lot of sense. Cody has been quietly consulting and pushing ideas on Drew for years, and now it's official. Big things are coming from that crew.But this episode isn't a gear ad. This is a masterclass. We dig deep into glassing as a genuine hunting skill — not just a tactic, but a discipline that separates average hunters from the ones who consistently find and kill mature animals. Cody breaks down why most hunters are simply in too much of a hurry, what his three pillars of effective glassing actually look like in the field, and why patience behind the glass is the single most underrated skill in the hunting community.We cover the binocular debate that never gets old — 10s vs. 12s vs. 15s — and actually give you a real answer that depends on where you hunt and what you're doing. We get into the stabilized binocular conversation, and Cody shares an honest take that goes beyond the hype. We talk tripods, the micro pan head, the weight-versus-stability trade-off, and why Cody would rather forget his rifle than forget his tripod.And then there's the story. The Unit 23 bull. A bull over 430 inches that Cody found by accident, locked onto for an entire day without breaking, and helped orchestrate one of the most incredible archery kills I've heard in a long time. If that story doesn't make you want to sit behind your glass longer, nothing will.We also talk about hunting for tomorrow — the concept of letting your glass do the work so your boots don't blow up your opportunity — and why the hunters who consistently win are the ones willing to look into the dark, nasty, quiet pockets that everyone else drives past.This one is worth a second listen. Lock it in.SponsorsThis episode is proudly brought to you by three brands that actually make a difference in the backcountry. These are products I use personally and trust — no exceptions.Tricer TripodsFast, light, and simple — Tricer builds the best tripod system in the hunting space. From backcountry-ready tripods and bino mounts to panhead truck mounts and bipods, every piece of Tricer gear is engineered to make you a more effective glasser in the field. If you're serious about finding more game, your glass needs a home. Tricer is that home. Discount Code: TRO — saves you 10% at checkout Stone Glacier GearI've had my Stone Glacier Sky Archer 6,400 in Alaska, British Columbia, Wyoming, and Montana this year alone. Whether you're on a 10-day alpine backpack hunt or running a side-by-side along a canyon edge, Stone Glacier's full suite of mountain hunting gear is built minimalist, built light, and built to last. This is hardcore mountain hunting gear — no fluff, no filler. Discount Code: TRO — saves you 10% at checkout onX MapsI don't go anywhere without onX. From e-scouting potential glassing knobs before the season to navigating unfamiliar units during the hunt, onX is the single most powerful scouting and navigation tool available to DIY hunters today. Hunt smarter. Know where to go. Discount Code: TRO — saves you 10% at checkoutTimestamp Chapters0:00 Intro & Cold Open — Cody Rich welcomes listeners and introduces the episode topic — glassing as a skill.2:15 Sponsor Read — Tricer Tripods — Fast, light, simple. Use code TRO for 10% off at tricer.com.4:30 Sponsor Read — Stone Glacier — The Sky Archer 6,400 and a full suite of mountain hunting gear. Use code TRO at stoneglacier.com.6:00 Welcome Cody Nelson / Two Cody's Walk Into a Podcast — Introductions, backstory on past phone calls, and how Cody Nelson ended up at Tricer.10:30 Cody Nelson's Background — Arizona, Jay Scott & 12 Years in Elk Camp — How glassing shaped Cody's entire hunting philosophy and career.15:00 Why Most Hunters Suck at Glassing — The #1 problem: people are simply in too big of a hurry. The three pillars of effective glassing introduced.20:45 Hunting for Tomorrow — The Philosophy — Find the elk today. Hunt them tomorrow. How patience and observation beat boots-on-the-ground every time.26:00 How to Choose the Right Glassing Spot — Reading terrain, using timing, understanding elk movement pre-rut vs. rut, and looking into the dark pockets everyone else ignores.33:30 The Randy Ulmer Lesson — Looking Into the Sun — How flipping conventional wisdom opened up new opportunities and why big country rewards unconventional thinking.38:00 10s vs 12s vs 15s — The Real Answer — Field of view, brightness, exit pupil, and why the honest answer always starts with: where are you hunting?44:30 Stabilized Binoculars — Honest Take — What they do brilliantly, where they fall short, field of view trade-offs, and the pet peeve Cody can't shake on a glassing knob.52:00 Stabilized Spotting Scopes & The Wind Factor — Why stabilization matters more for spotters than binos, cutting wind shimmer on long-range glassing, and the Epoch Outdoors app.57:30 What Makes a Great Glasser — Muscle memory, terrain familiarity, patience — and why there are no real shortcuts to building this skill.1:03:00 Tripod Philosophy — The Force Multiplier — Why any tripod beats no tripod. The micro pan head, the AD vs. BC, LP for backpacking, and Cody's 30+ tripod collection.1:10:30 Chair vs. Ground — And Not Skylining Yourself — Eye fatigue, hours in the glass, and how your setup affects how long you can actually hunt.1:16:00 THE STORY — The Unit 23 Bull Over 430 Inches — A flat tire, a spike road, one bull of a lifetime, and a full day locked onto a single tree. Michael Parks. Jay Scott. One of the greatest archery bulls ever killed in Arizona.1:22:00 Cody Nelson's New Role at Tricer — Director of Innovation, what he's been consulting on for years, and what's coming next from the Tricer team.1:24:00 Wrap-Up & Outro — Final thoughts, where to find Cody Nelson, free hunt planner link, and thanks for listening.3 Key Takeaways: 1. Patience Is the Most Underrated Glassing Skill — and It's Completely FreeCody Nelson has three pillars of effective glassing: buy quality glass, put it on a tripod, and slow down. The third one is the hardest and the most important. Most hunters are in a hurry — they crest a ridge, look for 14 seconds, and move on. The elk are often right there. A methodical, unhurried approach to covering a hillside will reveal animals that the speed-hikers will never see. You don't need the best glass in the world if you're willing to be the most patient person on the mountain. 2. Stop Looking for a Giant View — Start Looking Into the Dark PocketsThere's a common assumption that good glassing means finding the biggest vantage point you can and looking at the most country possible. The hunters who consistently find mature bulls do the opposite — they look for the small, ugly, nasty pockets that are hard to see into. Late season bulls especially want to be left alone in deep timber, on north-facing slopes, in spots where most hunters won't bother to look. The goal isn't to cover the most acres. It's to look where the animals actually are — and they're usually not standing on a skyline waiting for you. 3. Your Tripod Is More Important Than Your Rifle — SeriouslyCody made a statement at a seminar that stopped the room cold: he'd rather forget his rifle than forget his tripod. Why? Because without a rifle, you can still find game, watch patterns, and come back tomorrow without disturbing anything. Without your tripod, you're fighting eye fatigue from the first hour, you're missing animals in terrain that requires steady glass, and you're giving up precious hunting time every time your eyes give out. A tripod isn't a luxury accessory. It's the tool that multiplies every other piece of glass you own — including your $50 binoculars from the garage.
