Hunt West Podcast

Jaden Bales
  • 4.9 (30)
  • Wilderness
  • Updated Weekly

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 lessons from real hunts. You'll get strategies for e-scouting, application hacks, mindset shifts, and the kind of woodsmanship that still matters when the Wi-Fi goes dark. If you're the kind of hunter who loves general seasons, sharp steel, glassing knobs, and planning three tags ahead — welcome home.

  1. 4d ago

    The Craft of Backcountry Bowhunting with Adam Foss

    This week, Adam Foss joins me to talk about the craft of backcountry bowhunting and the lessons that only come from spending years in the mountains. We get into how modern gear, mapping apps, and satellite communication have made hunters more capable, but also why none of it replaces real experience, sound judgment, and basic backcountry skills. Adam also breaks down the archery gear he carries on long hunts, why he brings a lightweight target into the field, and how shooting his bow during a mountain goat hunt helped him catch a problem before it cost him an opportunity. We talk about target panic, letting down instead of forcing a shot, building confidence under pressure, and the story behind Migrate Gear, a new company focused on solving practical problems for traveling bowhunters. Enjoy this week's episode of the Hunt West Podcast! Watch Adam Stalking a Mountain Goat on Instagram >> Check out Adam's new company migrate-gear.com Adam's Creative Work at Foss Media >> Show Links:  Use code Huntwest at Lee Hemp Co. for all your recovery needs >> Check out the Guide Air Fleece at Argalioutdoors.com >> Hunt West Digest Sunday Email >> Hunt West Planning Services >> Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.

    The Craft of Backcountry Bowhunting with Adam Foss

  2. Jul 5

    Building a Hunting Season After Draws with Hayden Richins & Tyler Bales

    This week's episode is a little different. I sat down with two of the people I spend the most time planning hunts with: my brother Tyler and my good friend Hayden. We pulled back the curtain on exactly what our own fall planning conversations sound like after draw results come out. The tags we expected to draw didn't happen. Backup plans became Plan C, then Plan D, and eventually Plan E. Rather than throwing in the towel, we talk through how we evaluate new opportunities, why over-the-counter hunts still deserve serious consideration, and how flexibility often leads to some of the most memorable adventures you'll ever have. Along the way we dive into Oregon preference points, California blacktails, Wyoming elk, leftover tags, and an incredibly lucky Oregon pronghorn draw that changed our August plans. We also spend plenty of time talking about the old Ford farm truck our grandfather taught us to drive, which we're bringing back to life for this year's antelope hunt. Somehow that pickup became a perfect reminder that the best hunting stories usually have very little to do with inches of antler. If you've ever stared at disappointing draw results, wondered whether to burn your points, or simply enjoy listening to hunters map out an entire season over a conversation, I think you'll enjoy this one.

    Building a Hunting Season After Draws with Hayden Richins & Tyler Bales

  3. Jun 27

    New Muzzleloaders, Mountain Miles & Taking Chances with Tyler Grethen

    This week, Weatherby Marketing Manager Tyler Grethen joins the Hunt West Podcast from Weatherby's headquarters in Sheridan, Wyoming. Tyler shares his journey from growing up in Missouri and working as a commodities trader to building a career in the outdoor industry and eventually landing at one of the most iconic rifle companies in hunting. Along the way, we swap stories from DIY Alaska adventures, dive into lightweight rifle setups and suppressor-ready hunting systems, and discuss how trail running and mountain fitness can completely change the way you approach western hunting. Tyler also shares the story of his unforgettable Wyoming general season bull elk and Colorado muzzleloader mule deer hunts. We also pull back the curtain on Weatherby's new muzzleloader platform and why the company believes it can create more hunting opportunities for western hunters willing to learn a new weapon system. Enjoy this week's episode of the Hunt West Podcast! Follow Tyler at @tygrethen Check out Weatherby's new muzzleloader at Weatherby.com Show Links:  Use code Huntwest at Lee Hemp Co. for your recovery needs >> Check out my favorite sharpener/belt at Argalioutdoors.com >> Hunt West Digest Sunday Email >> Hunt West Planning Services >> Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.

    New Muzzleloaders, Mountain Miles & Taking Chances with Tyler Grethen

  4. Jun 20

    Inside the Life of a Wyoming Game Warden with Scott Werbelow

    Few people have spent more time around hunters, wildlife, and the wild places of Wyoming than retired game warden Scott Werbelow. Scott spent 33 years with the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, working everywhere from elk feedgrounds in the Pinedale country to supervising game wardens across northwest Wyoming. Along the way, he investigated poaching cases, responded to grizzly bear conflicts, checked hunters from sheep country to sagebrush flats, and accumulated enough stories to fill five books. In this conversation, Scott shares how growing up on a sheep ranch, trapping as a kid, and spending time around both ethical hunters and poachers shaped his path into wildlife law enforcement. We dive into the changes he's witnessed in hunting culture, the role of ethics in modern hunting, lessons learned from decades of interacting with sportsmen, and what today's hunters can learn from the old-school generation. Whether you're interested in hunting, conservation, wildlife law enforcement, or just good stories from the mountains, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom and good stories from someone who's led an awesome life outdoors. We hope you enjoy it! Check out Scott's "Son of a Poacher" series at Scottwerbelow.com LINKS:  Argali Trekking Poles & More >> Lee Hemp's Magic Pain Relief Cream >>  Support the Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation Raffles >> Hunt West Digest Sunday Email >> Hunt West Planning Services >> Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.

    Inside the Life of a Wyoming Game Warden with Scott Werbelow

  5. Jun 13

    Jim Zumbo: Lessons from a Western Hunting Legend

    Jim Zumbo has spent more than six decades chasing adventure across the American West. From writing thousands of hunting articles and more than 20 books to following in the footsteps of Jack O'Connor at Outdoor Life, few people have witnessed the evolution of western hunting quite like Jim. In this episode, Jim shares stories from the golden age of mule deer hunting, horseback elk camps, and some unforgettable sheep hunts, including a desert bighorn hunt that featured a grizzly attack story assignment, a truck burned to the ground, and a ram that got away. Along the way, we dive into what hunting was like before GPS, rangefinders, trail cameras, and social media changed the landscape. We also discuss the challenges facing modern hunters, the value of traditional skills like still-hunting and tracking, how technology has changed the way we hunt, and why planning and realistic expectations are still some of the most important tools a western hunter can carry. Whether you're dreaming about your first western hunt or looking back on decades in the mountains, this episode is packed with stories, wisdom, and perspective from one of hunting's most recognizable storytellers. We hope you enjoy it half as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. You can learn more about Jim Zumbo's collection of books at JimZumbo.com Show Links:  Additional Links: Gear Geek: Argali Clothing and Gear >> Lee Hemp CBD Lotions & More >> Hunt West Digest Sunday Email >> Hunt West Planning Services >> Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.

    Jim Zumbo: Lessons from a Western Hunting Legend

  6. Jun 6

    Optics Basics for Western Hunting | Solo Round

    Most optics conversations eventually turn into a competition over who owns the most expensive glass. This one goes a different direction. In this solo episode, Jaden breaks down the craft of glassing and why finding more animals has far more to do with patience, technique, and time behind your optics than it does with owning the latest and greatest gear. From mule deer to elk to pronghorn, he explains how successful hunters use binoculars, tripods, spotting scopes, and terrain to systematically pick apart country and uncover animals that most hunters walk right past. Along the way, Jaden shares his own optics evolution, from bargain-bin binos to more advanced setups, and discusses where hunters should actually spend their money. If you're wondering whether you need premium glass, image-stabilized binoculars, a spotting scope, or just more reps behind the tripod, this episode will help you build a practical optics system while avoiding the trap of thinking gear alone creates success. The message is simple: learn to glass first, then worry about upgrading equipment. Additional Links: Gear Geek: Argali Clothing and Gear >> Lee Hemp CBD Lotions & More >> Hunt West Digest Sunday Email >> Hunt West Planning Services >> Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.

    Optics Basics for Western Hunting | Solo Round

  7. May 31

    Solo Elk Packouts, Wolves, Big Deer, and New Gear Hunters Need | Beau Pullin of Cervara Gear

    This week on the Hunt West Podcast, I sit down with Beau Pullin of Cervara Gear to talk about solo elk hunting, brutal packouts, scouting for mule deer, predator encounters, and the ultralight pulley system he created after learning the hard way just how difficult meat care can be deep in the backcountry. Beau shares the story that sparked the idea for Cervara Gear after killing his first backpack elk solo in Idaho and spending sleepless nights listening to wolves circle his meat pile in the dark. From trying to hang heavy elk quarters with paracord to dealing with heat, bears, and long packouts, this episode dives deep into the reality of what happens after the shot. We also get into: Why meat care is often the most overlooked part of hunt planning Solo elk hunting lessons learned the hard way Predator encounters around downed game Knife injuries and safety while processing game Using lightweight pulley systems for hanging meat and handling animals Beau's transition from elk addict to serious mule deer hunter This is a fun one packed with real hunting stories, practical backcountry problem-solving, and a look at a piece of gear that actually solves a legit issue for western hunters. Check out Beau and Cervara Gear here: Instagram: @cervaragear Website: CervaraGear.com Additional Links: Eastman's Elite Membership & Reserach Sections >> Hunt West Digest Sunday Email >> Hunt West Planning Services >> Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.

    Solo Elk Packouts, Wolves, Big Deer, and New Gear Hunters Need | Beau Pullin of Cervara Gear

  8. May 24

    The 3 Phases of Scouting For September Elk Hunts

    Most hunters think scouting means hiking around and hoping to stumble into elk. In this episode, Jaden breaks down the actual system I use to scout elk hunts before season ever opens. From e-scouting to boots-on-the-ground work, we talk about the three phases of scouting that help you stay in elk and avoid wasting precious hunting days figuring things out on the fly. The Three Phases Jaden Dives into are:  Getting a Lay of the Land Developing an Area Actually Scouting He also shares real examples from past hunts, including what worked during his 2019 breakthrough archery elk season and what burned him on a more recent limited-entry hunt when he skipped important scouting steps. If you're staring at a fresh elk tag and wondering where to start, this episode will help you build a better plan before September gets here. LINKS: Hunt West Planning Services >> Hunt West Digest Sunday Email >> Bridger Reckon Watch >>  Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.

    The 3 Phases of Scouting For September Elk Hunts
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4.9
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

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 lessons from real hunts. You'll get strategies for e-scouting, application hacks, mindset shifts, and the kind of woodsmanship that still matters when the Wi-Fi goes dark. If you're the kind of hunter who loves general seasons, sharp steel, glassing knobs, and planning three tags ahead — welcome home.

Information

  • Creator
    Jaden Bales
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    Hunt West Podcast

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