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We're back! Thank you for your patience. In this episode, Brody, Joe, and Levi review the responses from our latest reader survey, which related to emergency/survival situations in the field. We were flooded with fascinating answers to the questions and stories of worst-case-scenarios, so we sat down to review them and share a few. This survey and podcast were inspired by the theme of 2026 - Issue 2 of Western Hunter Magazine. To see the full breakdown of the results, subscribe here: https://westernhunter.net/shop/subscriptions-2/western-hunter-subscription/ This issue will feature articles and stories from some of the most qualified names in the business, such as Remi Warren, Nate Simmons, and John Barklow. Thank you for listening! Drop us a comment on Spotify, save the podcast, and rate/like/share it on whatever platform you use.

On this episode, Kevin sits down with Tom Hinski, Brennon Fisher, and Summer Fisher to discuss hunting late-season elk hunting in Montana.  For more info on hunting with Montana Outwest Outfitters, visit https://www.montanaoutwest.com/ If you enjoy the podcast, give us a rating, a thumbs up, or a review on whatever platform you listen on! Got a topic you'd like us to cover or a guest you'd like us to feature? Send an email to [email protected]. Thank you for listening, and please bookmark, subscribe, or save the Western Hunter Podcast to be notified of future episodes!

In this episode, Kevin and Brody sat down to swap stories with Wilderness Athlete's own Katelyn O'Brien (also known as KOB). Katelyn is an adventurer, and her spooky near-death-ghost-encounter tale is one for the ages. Kevin also shares a story about assisting another hunter with a dislocated shoulder miles from the trailhead, and Brody tells of his first encounter with a sow and cubs in Wyoming. Thank you for listening. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review or rating! Subscribe to Western Hunter Magazine to get stories like this and more in your mailbox, but with pictures! Subscribe: https://westernhunter.net/shop/subscriptions-2/western-hunter-subscription/  Wilderness Athlete: https://wildernessathlete.com/   

In this episode, Brody, Kevin, Tom, and Levi gathered up to officially recap Kevin's archery elk hunt in Montana. They discussed each day of the hunt, interactions with other hunters, tactics, clothing, gear, and even Brody's (loose) connection to Steve Irwin's daughter, Bindi. If you enjoy the podcast, please take a second to rate it on whatever platform you use! If you really enjoy the podcast, send some topic ideas to [email protected], subscribe to Western Hunter Magazine, or just tell your friends about us. Thank you for listening! Magazine TV Show Western Hunter Blog  

Brody and Chris discuss the all-new Swarovski AT/ST Balance spotting scopes and their application, industry implications, field use, ergonomics, and more. Chris's in-field review video: https://youtu.be/N20GjdthwFA Check it out at Outdoorsmans.com: https://outdoorsmans.com/collections/swarovski-stabilized-spotting-scopes If you enjoy the podcast, give us a rating, a thumbs up, or a review on whatever platform you listen on! Got a topic you'd like us to cover or a guest you'd like us to feature? Send an email to [email protected]. Thank you for listening, and please bookmark, subscribe, or save the Western Hunter Podcast to be notified of future episodes!

In this episode, Kevin sits down with Brennon Fisher, owner of Montana Outwest Outfitters, to discuss Kevin's elk hunt, the guide business, and Brennon's background and experiences hunting the Bitterroot Valley. For more info on hunting with Montana Outwest Outfitters, visit https://www.montanaoutwest.com/ If you enjoy the podcast, give us a rating, a thumbs up, or a review on whatever platform you listen on! Got a topic you'd like us to cover or a guest you'd like us to feature? Send an email to [email protected]. Thank you for listening, and please bookmark, subscribe, or save the Western Hunter Podcast to be notified of future episodes!  

In this episode, Kevin and Brody sit down with Eric Stecker of both Defiance Machine and McMillan Stocks–two of the most reputable and precise rifle component manufacturers in the country. Eric shares some of his personal history with each company, the origins of their extraordinary products, and a little about what might be in store in the future for both. It was an honor to have him in the studio, and we're grateful for his time. We're also very grateful for your support of Western Hunter and the show, and we hope you enjoy! This episode is also available with video on the Western Hunter YouTube channel. Save this podcast to be notified of episodes (almost) every Tuesday and subscribe to Western Hunter Magazine for a tangible version of this type of content!

In this episode of the Western Hunter Podcast, Brody talks to Kevin and Tom before Kevin's Montana early archery elk hunt. They plan to create a film for Wilderness Athlete about the hunt. Topics include preparation, gear, camera gear, the dynamics of hunting with a cameraman, and more. Stay tuned for a follow-up de-brief episode after they return! If you enjoy this podcast, please consider subscribing to Western Hunter Magazine. One reader described it as, "The most beautiful magazine ever created." https://westernhunter.net/shop/subscriptions-2/western-hunter-subscription/  Follow Western Hunter on Instagram @westernhuntermagazine and @thewesternhunter. Your reviews are the best way for us to spread the word about this podcast! If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on whatever platform you are on. We'd really appreciate it.

In this episode, Brody and Levi (mostly Brody) flip the script and interview Chris Denham regarding his health and fitness routine as an extremely busy, extremely durable hunter over 60.  Chris explains his daily workout and supplement regimen as well as his strategy for staying fit and fueled during his 5+ month hunting season. Chris drives over 30,000 miles each season to film episodes for The Western Hunter, and his determination to continue is extraordinary. If you have any questions, comments, or ideas for future topics or guests, please email them to [email protected]. Thank you for listening!

This episode features Brody Layher and Levi Sopeland. Brody is our human gear library. He's also a die-hard hunter who moved to Arizona after experiencing the mountain West for the first time. Levi is a videographer/photographer for The Western Hunter as well as our family of companies. He's also the primary copyeditor and a member of the creative team for Western Hunter Magazine. In this episode, they discuss a project they've been working on that they call "The Workin' Man's Custom Rifle." Their idea is to see just how good you can make a "cheap" rifle with modifications and how the result would compare to a fully custom rifle that could cost more than five times as much. They also discuss the current trend toward lightweight, low-recoiling rifles and how the 6mm Creedmoor is becoming a standout caliber for hunters. Thank you for your patience as we progress in our podcasting skills! We hope you enjoy. If you have any questions, suggestions, or other feedback, don't hesitate to send them to [email protected].

Welcome to a new type of Western Hunter Podcast. We've got a lot of interesting characters working in the background at Western Hunter Magazine, Updated Media, Outdoorsmans, and Wilderness Athlete (WHUMODWA). Moving forward, we plan to create more and more episodes for you to learn about the inner workings, their experiences, and their areas of expertise (or lack thereof), and offer perspectives from a wide variety of backgrounds. We will still be talking about hunting the West, but we will be doing it more frequently. Nothing about Chris' podcast that you've come to love will change. We only wish to bring you more content to enjoy. We've affectionately called it The Auxiliary Podcast. This episode features Brody Layher and Tom Hinski. Brody is a die-hard hunter who moved to Arizona after experiencing the mountain West for the first time. Tom Hinski is one of our in-house videographers, a total Coues deer fanatic, and a hunter who is wise beyond his years at just 24. Brody recently embarked on his first trip to Alaska to pack for a Dall sheep outfitter, and Tom sat down with him for a recap. We hope you enjoy!  If you have any questions, suggestions, or other feedback, don't hesitate to send them to [email protected].

Ryan Holm is the new Director of Marketing for Leica's Sport Optics division. While Ryan is new to the high-performance optics industry, he is no stranger to the hunting market. I first met Ryan when he was in a similar position with the pack company, Mystery Ranch. I still give him major credit for building that brand into the category leader.    Revitalizing an optics company in the hunting, birding and outdoor recreation industries simultaneously is tricky business, they all have their own biases, and he has to be sensitive to all of them.  Ryan and I talk about how 20 years of experience will help him to accomplish just that. It was great catching up with him, but I more excited to see what he can do with a legacy brand like Leica.  

In this episode, I sit down with Exo Mtn Gear owner and founder Steve Speck. My son Mark Denham and I had just completed a tour of their innovative manufacturing facility, which was remarkable. Steve and I explore the fundamentals of not just making a pack but also building a business and customer base that will sustain a company.    In my opinion, Exo Mtn Gear has one of the best podcasts for western hunters called "Hunt Backcountry." In our conversation I referenced a few episodes in which they discuss the efficacy of small caliber rifles for big game hunting. Those are episodes 479 and 498. These are fascinating conversations and confirmed many of my personal thoughts on the topic.  

Chris and Kevin were recently invited to tour the Leupold factory and visit the Leupold Optics Academy in Oregon for some long-range and NRL training. During a break, they sat down with CEO Bruce Pettet and Shooting Sports Marketing Manager Nic Kytlica to talk legacy, optics, rifles, and Leupold's bright future in American manufacturing.

Western Hunter Magazine introduced a western bird hunting section starting with the September 2024 issue. Kevin Guillen and Chris Denham explain many of the reasons the editorial staff decided to offer this new content.