Live To Hunt And Fish Podcast

On this episode I talk to Troy Fowler, also known as the Ranch Fairy.  He has a Youtube channel where he shoots pigs, catches fish, and has a lot of fun.  In that fun there is serious analysis happening.  He works on improving his arrow system to make it more lethal on the tough wild pigs that have taken over much of Texas.  He shoots some huge broadheads and heavy arrows with super light bows.  Crazy setups by current archery standards but he proves them on live animals and examines everything.  Lots of great information presented in a realistic and entertaining way.  In an increasingly fake and misrepresented outdoor industry the Ranch Fairy is as real as it gets.  Showing real hunts, kills, and examinations of how the arrow performed. Check out his channel on Youtube and follow him on Instagram.  

Recently I was able to go back to Alaska to hunt Black Bear on Prince of Wales Island.  This podcast is a solo episode where I recap the hunts and give you my perspective on why we were successful on our trip.  For this hunt a good friend and I each drew nonresident spring Black Bear tags.  This was a return trip for us since we have each done this hunt a few times.  Having previous experience hunting the island and where to hunt helped shorten the learning curve.  In the podcast I cover what areas we were looking for and why some areas will hold bears and some will not.  There is no better way to hunt these spring giants than spot and stalk, and for me that is with a bow in my hand.  Enjoy the podcast.

Sitka Blacktailed Deer are not as well known as some of the other species of deer, but they are just as magnificent.  They are native to the dense rainforests of Southeast Alaska and Northern BC.  I was first introduced to them when I spent time on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska.  After some research I heard about Jim Baichtal.  Jim has spent a lot of years pursuing these magnificent deer as a hunter but he has also been involved in researching them as a scientist.  Very few people know more about Sitka Blacktailed Deer than Jim.  He shares some of that knowledge with us on this podcast.  

Today we talk to Steven Dahn about his experience chasing big Black Bears in SW Oregon.  Steven lives in an area that has a strong population of bears.  The steep landscape and thick forest makes for a tough hunt, but also very rewarding.  Black Bear are a unique and fun species to hunt.  Keeping their numbers down protects deer/elk numbers as well as provides great hunting opportunity during times of the year where there may not be many other options. Plus they make great bear tacos!

This is Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Ed Ashby and Garrett Schlief of Grizzly Stik.  Dr. Ashby is a wealth of knowledge on terminal ballistics of arrows and bullets.  We continue talking about his life as he left Africa and moved on to Australia to continue his research.  I do have to say my audio has a hard echo which makes me sound like a robot.  I wasn't going to release this podcast but there is just too much good information and Dr. Ashby's time is too valuable to not publish it.  Hopefully the echo isn't too annoying for you and you are able to get some of the great information he reveals as we talk. 

Dr Ed Ashby has dedicated his life to researching terminal arrow performance. If you have done any research on arrow performance you have likely come across some of his work. His extensive research on the terminal performance of archery equipment has helped define lethal arrow systems.  He breaks downs what factors make an arrow most effective.  Structural integrity, broadhead shape, broadhead bevel, broadhead tip design, arrow shaft profile, arrow mass, and FOC are some of those factors.  His research is extensive, thorough, and by shear volume….impressive.  Dr Ashby also spent 4 years researching the terminal performance of the Barnes X bullet during its' development.  He knows what it takes to make an ethical shot on any animal.

On this episode we talk to David Johnson and Ty Wyatt about our NW fisheries, Salmon and Steelhead primarily. We talk about where our Chinook Salmon go when they leave local rivers and where they are being caught during the years they spend in the ocean.  We talk fisheries management policy and some of the politics involved we well.  Of course we go down a few tangents but all of this podcast has good information.  

Bead fishing....it almost seems too simple.  Yet there are some nuances that can make a big difference in your success rate.  Today we talk to guides David Johnson and Ty Wyatt about how they approach this popular technique.  We cover bead and hook size, rod/reel setup, and color.......kind of. Some secrets are still held close to the vest.   

Alaska is an unforgiving place to hunt.  Sheep hunting is one of the most extreme hunts available in North America.  Combine the two and you have a hunting experience that breaks many men and creates fanatics out of others.  In 2017 Ed drew the coveted Tok Management Area Dall Sheep tag and tackled it head on.  He tells us how he pushed himself to get back into a the most remote part he could access.  Crossing streams and climbing rocky hillsides he pushed himself further than he ever had before.  With months of preparation, miles carrying a heavy pack, thousands of feet of elevation gained and lost, it can all come down to one moment.  Ed tells us what happened when the moment came and his chance at a trophy Dall Sheep presented itself.  

Captain James Nash and I talk about predator hunting and how important it is for him as a cattle rancher/outfitter, but also important for all us who want deer and elk available to hunt. We talk about how the hunting landscape is changing with the reintroduction of wolves.  The magnitude of that change is something most people haven't realized yet. Predator and game management will forever be changed when wolves arrive in your hunting area. Coyotes, Black Bear, and Cougars are all predator species we are very familiar with. With all of that we now have wolves expanding their range and pushing into areas that haven't seen a wolf in over 70 years.  James and I have a frank discussion on predators, hunters, and where that leaves the deer and elk populations. 

On today's episode we talk about hunting Kodiak Island for Sitka Blacktail Deer.  Heath Segeberg hunted Kodiak Island for the the first time this year and did well.  Many of us have wanted to do this hunt so I was excited to hear his stories.  We also compare Kodiak to Prince of Wales Island, which I am very familiar. We talk about logistics of getting to the island.  We talk about how they used a transporter to get around the island. Taking advantage of the rugged public land that has little access.   

On today's episode we talk EXO Packs, Death Hikes, and Toe Socks with Mark Huelsing of EXO Mountain Gear. Mark has been with EXO from the beginning and he also hosts their Hunt Backcountry Podcast.  He is a dedicated backcountry hunter and a fellow gear junky so this podcast was a lot of fun for me.  We talk about his favorite EXO Pack, pack weight, assorted gear, and the origin of the Death Hike.

Each year we as anglers are confronted with changing regulations to manage our fisheries. Dwindling runs and reduced harvest seem to be the norm.  We are always willing to do what is needed to maintain healthy fish runs but sometimes we feel shorted by those regulations or policies which don't seem to make sense to us. These topics can be a major hot button for people on both sides. If we could put agendas aside we all want to do what is right for our fish runs. No one has all the answers but part of why I wanted to do this podcast is to continue that discussion.  My belief is that if we all had the same information we would more likely come to a similar conclusion.  Today we talk with David Johnson and Ty Wyatt who are very involved in what is happening in our fisheries.  They have first hand experience in the hatchery world and decades of time on the rivers themselves.  This podcast was recorded while also doing a live feed on NW Steelhead Junkies.  Nothing has been removed or edited from that original reco

On today's episode we talk Elk Hunting with Capt James Nash of 6 Ranch Outfitters. For this podcast, and in life, I always take time to listen to someone who has more experience doing something than I have.  A hunting guide gets to see decades worth of hunts in just a few years.  They see all the things that go right, and what can go wrong, and they learn a lot in less time than the average hunter.  I have also found that people who are good at their craft are critical of their own methods and gear.  Constantly looking to improve over last season and last year.  James Nash is definitely one of those people. Using his guiding experience to improve his methods and gear, James has some good recommendation to help his clients, and you, become better hunters. We talk about rifle caliber, archery setups, and lots more. Enjoy the podcast.  

When hunting in the backcountry having stock animals to carry the load of camp or game meat is a huge advantage.  As I get older I appreciate the assistance these animals offer.  For several hunts I have had the opportunity to pack in using Llamas and I can say I was surprised how easy they are to handle.  They are surprisingly trail worthy, low maintenance, and mild mannered.  Yes they can be crotchety at times but in general they are a great option for packing in gear.  Really all you do is walk holding the lead rope and they follow you all over the mountains.  It is quite impressive.  Today we go over the basics of using llamas and tell a few lessons learned stories as well. 

When you get that trophy of a lifetime you want to make sure you take good care of the hide, cape, and antlers.  Your taxidermist can fix a lot of mistakes but if you do a good job in the field your mount will look better when it is finished.  Today I talk to Cory Wright of Cory Wright Taxidermy about how to cape out and skin your trophy properly.  When to salt and when not to.  How to best ship your trophy if you are hunting out of state or out of the country.  There is a lot of assorted advice out there but listen to your taxidermist.

My favorite way to catch Fall Chinook is from a driftboat floating the coastal streams.  Smaller water and being direct to the bite are some of the things that make fishing from a driftboat so much fun.  Any salmon fisherman knows that backbouncing bait directly to a big Fall Chinook is hard to beat.  Along with backbouncing there are several other methods that are common on our coastal streams.  We talk about all those techniques and how to use them on this episode with guide Chris Vertopoulos.  

In September Coho Salmon enter rivers all along the Pacific Coast.  Coho are known for their aggressive takes and being powerful fighters.  There are a lot of ways to catch Coho in the rivers.  Throwing spinners, twitching jigs, bobber and bait, or bobber dogging are all effective.  Today we talk to Josiah Darr about his preferred methods and how he applies them so his clients can catch more fish.

On todays episode we talk about Deschutes River Steelhead on the fly with Rob Crandall of Watertime Outfitters. The Deschutes river draws anglers from all over the world seeking to catch Summer Steelhead on a swung fly.  The river is also known for fish that can be taken at or near the surface on most days so a spey rod and floating line can be very effective.  Add to that the variety of fish that make their way up the river and you have an ideal destination for catching Summer Steelhead.  Today we talk to one of the top guides for that fishery, Rob Crandall.  He took time out of his busy schedule to talk about techniques, flies, sun angle, and those little intangibles that make us all better anglers.   He share some great knowledge that will help you catch more Deschutes Summer Steelhead.

In almost all of the western states the archery elk opening week is warm and the rut has not gotten into full swing.  Mike Jenkins has spent time in the NW, Alaska, and the SW states of NV and AZ.  His experience in the SW states fine tuned his expertise for locating elk in warm weather.  Many people wait until later in the season to chase elk when the weather cools and the rut is in full swing.  He has found that you if you choose to do that you may miss a time when the elk are concentrated in smaller areas due to the warm weather.  That makes them easier to locate and many have not been pressured yet so they are still going about their relaxed daily routine.  Mike spends a lot time working to locate these areas and then closes in on the elk when the season starts.  We talk about his tactics to consistently harvest elk in the tough conditions so you can hunt regardless of what the weather is at the start of the season.