Two Tags, Two Bulls, and Ten Years of Elk Lessons with Bryon Thompson
Release Date: 12/13/2025
Hunters, Habitat & State Politics: What Wyoming’s 2026 Legislative Session Means for You
Hunt West Podcast
In this episode, Jaden sits down with Wyoming Wildlife Federation leaders Craig Benjamin, Executive Director, and Jess Johnson, Government Affairs Director, to break down the Wyoming wildlife and hunting issues that actually matter heading into the 2026 legislative session. The conversation starts where it should—hunting stories from the past season—before pulling back the curtain on how wildlife decisions are really made in Wyoming, and why hunters (resident and nonresident alike) have more influence than they think. From landowner tag proposals and invasive grass mitigation to wildlife...
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2025 Wrapped & 2026 Loaded: What Worked, What’s Changing, and Where Hunt West Is Headed
Hunt West Podcast
In this bonus New Year episode of the Hunt West Podcast, Jaden Bales looks back on an unforgettable 2025—both personally and professionally—and breaks down what actually worked in the field. From helping plan over 50 DIY Western hunts to logging 108 days afield, Jaden shares real numbers, honest success rates, and why a 50% fill rate on mostly opportunity tags is something to be proud of. He dives into the idea of the “snowball effect” in Western hunting—how consistent effort, learning the same places, and stacking skills year after year leads to more opportunity, better animals,...
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No Bugles, No Problem: A Wyoming Cow Elk Story
Hunt West Podcast
Fresh off a late-season Wyoming cow elk hunt, Jaden breaks down one of the most rewarding—and educational—hunts he’s guided in years. What started as a freezer-filling family hunt turned into a masterclass on elk behavior, patience, wind discipline, and why cow elk tags deserve more respect in every Western hunter’s long-term strategy. Hunting with a family crew of three tag holders and two observers, this episode walks through three days of hard-earned success in wide-open sage flats and steep mountain terrain. From glassing massive winter herds miles away, navigating public-private...
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Walking With Your Eyes: Rifle Elk, Old Mule Deer, and Hunting With Purpose with Derik Henderson
Hunt West Podcast
In this episode of the Hunt West Podcast, Jaden sits down with Wyoming hunter Derik Henderson—a guy who quietly stacks big elk and old mule deer without chasing trends or spot-burning country. Derik isn’t a guide by trade, but for one special hunt, he’s stepping into that role to raise money for the family of his late best friend. The conversation covers far more than just antlers. This episode dives deep into what it actually takes to consistently hunt the top percent of animals on the landscape in a time when elk pressure is heavy and mule deer hunting feels harder than ever. Derik...
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Two Tags, Two Bulls, and Ten Years of Elk Lessons with Bryon Thompson
Hunt West Podcast
Wisconsin elk nut Bryon Thompson joins Jaden on this episode to break down his back-to-back Wyoming elk hunts — one on a general tag, one on a limited quota — and what a decade of DIY elk hunting has really taught him. From early mistakes in Colorado OTC to learning how to find elk instead of just bumbling around, Bryon shares hard-earned insights, wild stories, and why good partners (like his buddy Benny) matter more than any gear list. If you’re planning a Wyoming elk hunt or just trying to level up as an elk hunter, this episode is pure gold. Hunt West Resources: Thanks to...
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Inside Guide Life: Hunting Stories of the Good and the Bad
Hunt West Podcast
In this episode, Jaden pulls the curtain back on the guide life; how he stumbled into guiding, the wild hunts that shaped him, and the extremes of what really happens when you mix hunters, high expectations, and Mother Nature. He shares the story that launched his guiding career, the absolute worst guided hunt he ever had (yes, it involves shooting the wrong bull), and the hunts that remind him why guiding is still one of the most meaningful things he does. If you’re considering going guided, Jaden also breaks down the questions you should be asking, how to set realistic expectations, how...
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The 2026 Hunt Planning Love/Hate Episode (And Why Honey Holes Die)
Hunt West Podcast
This week, Jaden breaks down his Western Hunting Love/Hate List—a stolen model from the Fantasy Football world that provides an honest take at which states actually match some common hunter archetypes heading into 2026. Whether you’re a burnt-points elk guy trying to stay in the game, a grey-ghost fanatic obsessed with big mule deer, or a brand-new hunter stepping into the arena for the first time, this episode maps out where you should be looking—and where you might want to stay away from. He also tackles one of the biggest problems in Western hunting today: relying on “honey...
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Dad Bod Prevention & Post-Season Recovery with Dr. Rob
Hunt West Podcast
In this one, I bring on my buddy Dr. Rob Minturn, founder of the Wilderness Fitness Institute, to answer the burning question every hunter has right about now: “How do I recover from hunting season without turning into a busted can of biscuits?” We dig into fixing tight hips, rebuilding strength the right way, why your feet feel like hamburger, when to stretch (and when not to), why foam rolling your IT band is a lie, and how to transition from full-send hunting season to sitting at a desk without wrecking your body. Rob also shares his go-to glute workout, his upcoming mobility guide for...
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The November Muley Guide: Glassing, Weather, Rut Timing
Hunt West Podcast
The mule deer rut is rolling, and in this episode Jaden breaks down what he’s seeing across Wyoming and Montana—early rutting in the desert, slower action in the mountains, and how weather is dictating daylight movement right now. He walks through a wild multi-mile stalk on a big Wyoming buck, a one-day Montana strike mission, and why the rut is really a bell curve you have to hunt pocket by pocket. If you’re chasing November mule deer, this episode gives you the playbook: how to glass smarter, how to adjust for heat or storms, how to handle pressure, and how to keep your head straight...
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The 5-Step Playbook for Planning Next Year's Hunts
Hunt West Podcast
Whether you’re cleaning up bloody gear or eating tag soup, this is the time of year when every hunter starts thinking ahead. In this solo episode, Jaden breaks down his 5-step system for planning next year’s Western hunts — from setting your goals to getting yourself and your gear ready to execute. He covers how to define what kind of hunt you actually want, research tags that fit your goals, truth your ideas on the map, build a realistic game plan, and start prepping now so you’re not scrambling next fall. It’s equal parts mindset and mechanics — the same planning framework Jaden...
info_outlineWisconsin elk nut Bryon Thompson joins Jaden on this episode to break down his back-to-back Wyoming elk hunts — one on a general tag, one on a limited quota — and what a decade of DIY elk hunting has really taught him. From early mistakes in Colorado OTC to learning how to find elk instead of just bumbling around, Bryon shares hard-earned insights, wild stories, and why good partners (like his buddy Benny) matter more than any gear list. If you’re planning a Wyoming elk hunt or just trying to level up as an elk hunter, this episode is pure gold.
Hunt West Resources:
- Sign up for the Wyoming Nonresident Elk Webinar >>
- Hunt planning services & booking for 2026 >>
- Learn about the Argali Clothing Project >>
Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.