Drawn West

Drawn West with Brian Krebs
  • 5.0 (263)
  • WILDERNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Drawn West is for the hunters who load the truck each fall — chasing bugles, big country, and something deeper than just filling a tag. Host Brian Krebs dives into tag strategies, gear prep, and real-world advice to help non-resident hunters make the most of limited time out West. Each episode features expert guests and gritty stories from hunters you’ve never heard of — the kind who get it done with one week, one tag, and no excuses.

  1. New Mexico Application Strategy

    3D AGO

    New Mexico Application Strategy

    In this GOHUNT Bonus Episode of the Drawn West Podcast, Brian breaks down the full strategy for applying in New Mexico’s big game draw, one of the most unique systems in the West. Unlike most states, New Mexico has no point system, meaning every applicant has the same odds each year. Brian walks through how the three-choice draw system works, how to structure your hunt choices, and why New Mexico can be a great “swing for the fences” state—especially for elk hunters chasing giant bulls. He also explains the resident vs non-resident tag allocations, the cost structure for applications, and how the New Mexico deadline lines up with other states like Wyoming. Finally, Brian breaks down each major species—elk, mule deer, pronghorn, sheep, ibex, and oryx—and shares when it might make sense to apply and when it might not. If you’re building a western hunting application strategy, New Mexico might be the wildcard tag that changes your season. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If you enjoyed this, leave a 5-star rating and share the show with a friend. Looking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latestarticle!HowTo Draw a Tag in the West   FREE Gear Checklist: https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear Connect with Brian Krebshttps://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest Have Questions or Comments? Send an email to Brian@getdrawnwest.com!Sponsorsand Discounts:GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4GOHUNT GearShop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4uSave10% onMaverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest 0:00 – Intro & Maven Sponsor2:05 – New Mexico Application Deadlines3:20 – How the New Mexico Draw System Works5:00 – Using Your Three Hunt Choices Strategically7:00 – Non-Resident Tag Allocation Explained9:20 – Costs and Application Fees12:15 – Elk Strategy & Trophy Units17:30 – Mule Deer Opportunities in New Mexico21:15 – Pronghorn Draw Odds and Access Challenges24:50 – Sheep, Ibex, and Exotic Species28:30 – Is New Mexico Worth Adding to Your Strategy?

    31 min
  2. When To Change Units

    4D AGO

    When To Change Units

    In this episode of the Drawn West Podcast, Brian Krebs breaks down one of the most common dilemmas Western hunters face: when should you keep hunting the same unit—and when should you move on and try somewhere new? After a recent ice-fishing trip to Devils Lake, Brian reflects on a conversation with friends about choosing between several Montana elk units. From thick black-timber grizzly country to open terrain better suited for spot-and-stalk, each unit has strengths and weaknesses. Brian walks through the exact criteria his group uses to evaluate hunts over time. He explains why elk encounters, terrain, travel distance, hunting style compatibility, and public access all matter when deciding whether a unit deserves another chance. He also shares real examples from hunts in Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, and antelope country—highlighting both successes and lessons learned. If you’re building a long-term Western hunting strategy or trying to find your own “cornerstone” unit, this episode will help you evaluate hunts more objectively and make smarter decisions year after year. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If you enjoyed this, leave a 5-star rating and share the show with a friend. Looking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latestarticle!How to GoElk Hunting for $1500   FREE Gear Checklist: https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear Connect with Brian Krebshttps://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest HaveQuestions or Comments? Send an email to Brian@getdrawnwest.com!Sponsorsand Discounts:GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4GOHUNTGear Shop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4uSave10%on Maverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest

    39 min
  3. How Far Should You Shoot?

    MAR 3

    How Far Should You Shoot?

    Imagine this: Wyoming. Antelope tag in your pocket. Tough hunt. Then a giant buck steps out at 400 yards. You’re seated. Bipod down. Crosshairs steady. And you’re asking yourself one question: Do I take the shot? Last week we talked long range. Today we’re talking about the part nobody really wants to admit — just because you can hit steel at 400… doesn’t mean you should shoot that buck at 400. Brian breaks down the Shot Decision Triangle — the three variables that actually determine your effective range: • Your caliber and bullet construction (energy, velocity thresholds, expansion windows) • Your personal shooting ability and practice standard • The real-time scenario (wind, animal movement, angle, stability, time of flight) He walks through minimum energy benchmarks for common western species, explains how different bullet types behave at varying impact velocities, and lays out a practical field rule: cut the animal’s vital zone in half during practice to establish your real effective range. The episode then transitions into archery — fixed vs expandable broadheads, penetration vs cut width, pass-through priorities, deer ducking strings, and how to honestly evaluate your range with a bow. This isn’t about giving you a magic number. It’s about building a system so the answer becomes obvious when the moment arrives. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If this episode sharpened your thinking, leave a 5-star rating and share it with a buddy who needs to hear it. Looking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latestarticle!https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/how-to-draw-a-tag-in-the-west   FREE Gear Checklist: https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear Connect with Brian Krebshttps://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest Have Questions or Comments? Send an email to Brian@getdrawnwest.com!Sponsorsand Discounts:GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4GOHUNT GearShop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4uSave10% onMaverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest 00:00–08:45 — The 400-Yard PronghornDecision08:45–24:30 — Bullet Construction, Energy & Velocity Explained24:30–34:45 — The Practice Standard: Cut the Kill Zone in Half34:45–44:30 — Wind, Angles, Stability & Time of Flight44:30–56:45 — Archery: Broadheads, Penetration & Range Limits

    59 min
  4. Long Range Ethics

    FEB 24

    Long Range Ethics

    How far is too far when it comes to rifle shots on big game? In this episode, I sit down with Jayden Miller of West Elk Precision to break down what actually determines an ethical shot in the field — and it’s not just a number. We dive into zeroing properly, shooting positions, wind, cartridge selection, bullet performance, and how your real-world skill level changes everything. We talk about the difference between shooting paper and shooting animals, how to test your true limits before season, and why ego ruins more hunts than bad equipment. Jayden also shares real-world examples from this season — including a 760-yard bull — and we unpack what went into that decision. If you’ve ever wondered, “Should I take this shot?” — this episode gives you a framework to answer it yourself. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If you enjoyed this, leave a 5-star rating and share the show with a friend. Looking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latest article!https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/elk-hunting-knives FREE Gear Checklist: https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear Connect with Brian Krebshttps://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest Have Questions or Comments? Send an email to Brian@getdrawnwest.com!Sponsorsand Discounts:GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4GOHUNT GearShop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4uSave10% onMaverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest   0:00 – How Far Is Too Far?0:19 – Meet Jayden Miller (West Elk Precision)3:00 – What Counts as Long Range?10:45 – The Importance of a True Zero18:00 – Shooting Positions & Real-World Data29:30 – Wind, Environment & Confidence41:45 – Caliber & Bullet Performance Explained58:00 – Breaking Down the 760-Yard Elk1:12:00 – Ego vs Ethics in the Field1:22:00 – Final Thoughts on Ethical Distance

    1h 41m
  5. How to Hunt the West Every Year

    FEB 17

    How to Hunt the West Every Year

    You don’t need 20 points, a decade of waiting, or a once-in-a-lifetime tag to hunt the West consistently. If you’re willing to think strategically, you can build a system that gets you out there every single year. In this episode, we break down exactly how to hunt elk, mule deer, or pronghorn every season by rotating states, stacking applications, and using Idaho and Colorado as strategic anchors. We dig into point creep, how to build preference points without wasting years, when to swing for the fences in places like Arizona or New Mexico, and how to structure a 5–10 year plan that actually compounds instead of resets. If you’ve been wondering whether to build points or burn them, this episode gives you the framework to decide — before deadlines close. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If you enjoyed this, leave a 5-star rating and share the show with a friend. Looking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latest article:How To Draw a Tag in the West FREE Gear Checklist: https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear Connect with Brian Krebshttps://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest Have Questions or Comments? Send an email to Brian@getdrawnwest.com!Sponsorsand Discounts:GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4GOHUNT GearShop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4uSave10% onMaverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest 0:00 – Why You Need a Multi-Year Strategy3:15 – Understanding Point Creep7:02 – Rotating States & Species11:30 – Pronghorn Annual Plan16:14 – Mule Deer Rotation Explained18:41 – Why Idaho Is a Strategic Anchor23:20 – Mixing in Arizona & New Mexico25:30 – Elk Every Year Strategy28:41 – Wyoming & Montana Reality Check32:57 – What Happens If Colorado Goes to a Draw35:18 – Final Takeaways & Next Steps

    39 min
  6. How to Draw Tags - Western Application Systems Explained

    FEB 10

    How to Draw Tags - Western Application Systems Explained

    If you want to hunt the West, drawing a tag isn’t a detail—it’s the entire game. Western tags aren’t “grab one on the way to deer camp” — they’re a 6–12 month planning game, and this episode breaks the whole thing down in plain English. You’ll hear a listener question from Josh (Tennessee) who’s trying to get himself and his son out West this fall for mule deer or antelope with zero points, and we use his situation to walk through what’s actually realistic (and what’s just internet noise). From there, we lay out the four core draw systems (OTC, random/no-points, preference points, bonus points), why “easy to draw” often means “hard hunt,” and how point creep can quietly bury your long-term plan. Then we turn it into an actual strategy: short-term vs mid-term vs long-term rotations, plus a simple “application stacking” method to swing at multiple states in the same year without ending up with overlapping tags. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If you enjoyed this, leave a 5-star rating and share the show with a friend. Looking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latest article: https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/getting-into-trapping FREE Gear Checklist: https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear Connect with Brian Krebshttps://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest Have Questions or Comments? Send an email to Brian@getdrawnwest.com!Sponsorsand Discounts:GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4GOHUNT GearShop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4uSave10% onMaverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwestRTIC Coolers– Keep Your Meat Cold!https://bit.ly/RTICCoolers00:00 – Why “draw a tag” is step one

    58 min
  7. Why Hunters Eventually Get Into Trapping

    FEB 3

    Why Hunters Eventually Get Into Trapping

    If you’ve ever been curious about trapping but felt like it was confusing, intimidating, or just “not for people like me,” this episode is for you. I sit down with Zach from Okayest Trapper to talk through what getting started actually looks like when you didn’t grow up trapping. The mistakes, the learning curve, the frozen ground, the gear decisions, and why most people underestimate how much work (and problem-solving) is involved. We cover how trapper education works in different states, how trapping changes the way you think about animals and habitat, and why so many hunters eventually get drawn into it — even if they never planned to. We also talk honestly about fur, conservation, and whether trapping is something that stays a hobby or can turn into something more over time. If you hunt, own land, or just want to understand another side of the outdoor world without the gatekeeping, this conversation will give you a clear picture of what trapping really is — and whether it’s something you’d ever want to try. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If this helped you see trapping differently, leave a 5-star rating and share it with someone who’s been curious but unsure where to start. Check out our latest article: https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/elk-hunting-knives FREE Gear Checklist: https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear Connect with Brian Krebshttps://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest HaveQuestions or Comments? Send an email to Brian@getdrawnwest.com!Sponsorsand Discounts:GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4GOHUNTGear Shop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4uSave10%on Maverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwestRTICCoolers – Keep Your Meat Cold!https://bit.ly/RTICCoolersOkumaFishing – Rods and Reels for Serious Anglers!https://alnk.to/31sVDzFFirstMonth FREE at MTNTOUGH Fitness with code ROOKIE https://bit.ly/MTNTOUGH_ROOKIESave$150 on Steelhead Outdoors Gun Safes with code WESTERNROOKIE https://tr.ee/fbNvbFXX6QSave10% on Ollin Digiscoping Adapters with code TWOBUCKS https://tr.ee/ZE1XcQ-fbb00:00 – Collab kickoff + trapping bug 01:45 – How Idaho vs Minnesota trapping education works 06:15 – Early exposure to trapping culture (and what changed) 09:45 – “Why am I doing this?” — the addiction to challenge 14:10 – Trap prep debate: boil, rust, dye, wax… or just run them 18:10 – Anchors vs drags + frozen ground problems 23:00 – Cable restraints: lighter, faster, more scalable 26:10 – Collector mode: species goals (fox, coon, coyote, fisher, bobcat) 31:45 – Fur boom talk + could markets ever come back? 41:15 – Alternative markets: squirrels, gophers, skulls, and making it pencil

    56 min
  8. Arizona Elk and Antelope – Is It Worth It?

    FEB 2

    Arizona Elk and Antelope – Is It Worth It?

    Is it worth applying for Elk and Antelope in Arizona? Lets dive into it! In this GOHUNT Bonus Episode of the Drawn West Podcast, Brian breaks down exactly what non-resident hunters need to know before deciding whether Arizona deserves a spot in their Western application strategy. From deadlines and costs to draw mechanics and realistic hunt expectations, this episode is built to help you avoid common mistakes and spend your application dollars smarter. You’ll learn how to legally cut Arizona application costs nearly in half using the license timing strategy, how loyalty and Hunter Ed bonus points actually impact your odds, and why Arizona’s modified bonus point system is confusing—but still gives every applicant a chance. Brian also explains why group applications can quietly destroy your odds, especially in units limited by the 5% non-resident cap. On the hunting side, this episode takes an honest look at where Arizona elk stands today. While it’s no longer the king of 400-inch bulls, Arizona still offers some of the best mid-range elk opportunities in the West if you’re willing to hunt late archery or late rifle seasons. Brian lays out realistic timelines for different hunt types and explains where Arizona fits compared to states like Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana. Finally, Brian addresses Arizona antelope head-on—why it’s largely overvalued for non-residents, when it might still make sense to apply, and why most hunters are better off treating it as a cheap lottery ticket rather than a long-term points investment. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If this helped clarify your application strategy, leave a 5-star rating and share the episode with a buddy who’s still on the fence about Arizona. FREE Gear Checklist: https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear FREE Drawn West Application Calendar www.getdrawnwest.com/freeproducts Connect with Brian Krebshttps://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest Have Questions or Comments? Send an email to Brian@getdrawnwest.com!Sponsorsand Discounts:GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4GOHUNT GearShop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4uSave10% onMaverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwestRTIC Coolers– Keep Your Meat Cold!https://bit.ly/RTICCoolersOkuma Fishing– Rods and Reels for Serious Anglers!https://alnk.to/31sVDzFFirst MonthFREE at MTNTOUGH Fitness with code ROOKIE https://bit.ly/MTNTOUGH_ROOKIESave $150 onSteelhead Outdoors Gun Safes with code WESTERNROOKIE https://tr.ee/fbNvbFXX6QSave 10% onOllin Digiscoping Adapters with code TWOBUCKS https://tr.ee/ZE1XcQ-fbb 01:45 Arizona License & Application Costs 03:10 The Every-Other-Year License Strategy 05:00 Arizona Weather, Drought, and Herd Health 06:45 Arizona’s Modified Bonus Point Draw 09:10 Group Applications & Non-Resident Caps 11:40 How Good Is Arizona Elk Hunting Today? 14:00 Arizona as a Mid-Range Elk Strategy 18:00 Arizona Antelope Reality Check 21:30 Final Verdict & Application Advice

    22 min
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About

Drawn West is for the hunters who load the truck each fall — chasing bugles, big country, and something deeper than just filling a tag. Host Brian Krebs dives into tag strategies, gear prep, and real-world advice to help non-resident hunters make the most of limited time out West. Each episode features expert guests and gritty stories from hunters you’ve never heard of — the kind who get it done with one week, one tag, and no excuses.

Information

  • Creator
    Drawn West with Brian Krebs
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Drawn West with Brian Krebs
  • Show Website
    Drawn West

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