EP 234: Family Hunting Opportunities

What do you want? Lots of big bucks. Day one, I scratched my truck a lot and went through lots of lava. Day two, lots more lava and a few bucks. I had a special tag and I'm just going to hold out for a special buck or eat my tag. Anything to do with Western Big Game.

Welcome to the Epic Outdoors podcast, powered by Under Armour. Hey everybody, Jason Carter, Adam Bronson, Chris Peterson. We're in the podcast room here at Epic Outdoors. Of course, you know, I like this room and I like this side of the office and I just can't figure out, Bronson, why you and I are on this side. And Chris, how you got over here. It's nice and quiet. He's surrounded by all of his animals, mounts. It's nice. I'm jealous. Do you have an answer? Swap us out. I don't care. No, I don't like moving. No, I'm not. That's what I thought. In their defense, they built it nice over here. Well, and it was also the last office. We started with one, went to two, went to three. The third one's the end. And it was pre-built with the conference room. So they like, ours, our side's a sweatshop. We got office after office and no fun, right? Just nothing but windows and offices.

OSHA would have a heyday looking at our layout. Right. And this is nice. It's nice to come over here once in a while. And then I store some stuff over here once in a while, huh, Chris? Do you? Yeah. A whole pile of sheds. Sheds. Yeah, why is that, Carter? Buckles and bowls. You're giving me a hard time last week. Why did you have to bring your shed pile here?

Really? You're going to bring that up? Well, I just wonder why they all... I need a place for my water storage. There we go. There we go. I'm glad we're on the same page. It reminded me of some sheds that I haven't got to enjoy for many, many years. And so now we all get to enjoy them. Right, Chris? That's right. Watch your step.

So anyway, yeah, here we are. It's raining outside. I can't believe it. Another few days of rain, which just seems like it just kind of keeps trickling in. We need it. Yeah. Yeah. We're perking things up. It got record-setting warm here in southern Utah this last week. Mid-70s here, upper 80s in St. George. It was shattering records all over Utah. Now we're snowing again. Crazy, isn't it? Yeah. Pretty awesome. Well, we're watching the radar. We watched the radars. And then now I've even got bookmarks for the cameras. Usually people use them for the traffic jams. I'm using it to see if there's rain in Vegas. If there's rain in Vegas, there's rain everywhere. Yeah, that's true. Right? Yeah. Oh, yeah. There's certain places, you know, when it's raining hard, it's going to be really hard in other places. Chia Pet. We have not used that word in a long time. Feels like a former life guy.

Is this going to be a Chia Pet year? No. I know. No. It doesn't feel like it. But it doesn't feel terrible. Compared to last year, it might. All right. It's going to feel like a. It's going to feel like a rainforest. Yeah. It's going to feel. Last year was brutal. Chia Pet's going to have a few sprigs. Let's just put it that way. Yeah. You know, when we're looking at the moisture, we're kind of checking out the time frame from October 1st till now. And when I look at that, it makes me happy. Yeah. When I look at January 1st till now, less than perfect. Yeah. You know. But we did go in way better here in northern Arizona, southern Utah, southern Nevada. We went into the fall with a heavy monsoon, good fall moisture. Hopefully that got, you know, and it did green up. It was green in the desert this year, which was not for the prior two years. That's right. Ended up going into winter.

So Saturday got me fired up. I'm out there fencing, which I don't like. I don't like to do it. I'd rather be out scouting. But what got me fired up was the nice weather and reminding me that scouting's around the corner. And it reminded me that, you know, while a lot of these states are kind of changing or reviewing their, you know, technology rules, cameras, trail cameras, things like that, we're going to start putting up some cameras not too long. And we can still run cameras to scout here in Utah and Nevada and whatnot. Of course, you can't do it in Arizona. But I'm kind of excited to run these stealth cams. Well, and it's, you know, we went through it a few years ago in Nevada when they went to the July 31st cutoff, nothing more after that. And it almost spurs you to have to go harder for a shorter period of time because that's all you got.

You got to tend your cameras a little bit more in between visits because if one gets kicked over by a cow and is face down for 30 days, and you go there the day that you're supposed to gather them on July 31st or 30th, and it hadn't been taking pictures for three weeks, you're an obvious starter. You're ticked. You're ticked. So, anyway, yeah, if you're needing something, why don't you tell them about it? Yeah. Well, I think we've got a lot of cameras here in the office. We're also made another huge order. We sell them here in our optics store. So, if anybody's interested in grabbing on to some more stealth cams, give us a holler. We have kind of what we feel like are the best models. We have a lower-end model. It's a very inexpensive model as well as, you know, some of the best and the best prices out there. So, anyway, you might go on to stealthcam.com, check them out.

You can also call us here at Epic Outdoors, 435-263-0777, 435-263-0777. Or you can hit us with an email, adam at epicoutdoors.com. We'd love to take care of all your optics needs and maybe even do a Bronson bundle with the Stealth Cam. What do you think, Bronson? You going to do a Bronson bundle? Well, there's going to have to be some other purchases before you just start throwing $100 cameras in with stuff. But, yes, I'm willing to talk. Well, we've got a lot of inventory here at Epic Outdoors. You know, it's right before tax season and right during tax season, people, a little apprehensive. And then right after, you know, the tax deadline, of course, the sales start ramping up. And I think it's just a little relief. If everybody's about April 15th-ish, 17th-ish, they can see light at the end of the tunnel.

Of course, we can see light at the end of the tunnel because the bulk of our research publications have at least gone to John's desk as far as the research side of things and getting ready to get published for the last couple of publications, the May and June. And so we're getting ready to scout. Everybody's getting ready to scout. And that's when we're glad we got some inventory here to take care of some people. Well, it's also the time we're starting to get some draw results back from a few states. And nothing like a good tag or a good notification of a good tag to put you over the edge on whether you need to upgrade something or not, whether it be a rifle scope for your rifle setup, whether it be for a new spotter, new pair of binos, new pair of rangefinder binos, or a new rangefinder, smart rangefinder. Dope up your load, whatever you're looking for. Give us a call.

We've been super aggressive. COVID's taught us a few things. You know, we started optics the year COVID started. Not ever diving into that. And we had some major supply chain issues disrupt our normal, I guess, learn-as-you-go ordering pattern. But we've way overcompensated for that. And we're ready. We've got lots of stuff on the shelf for this spring and summer when you're going to need it. So keep that in mind. Give us a call. We've got great prices. Remember pricing that not going to be beat. So keep some mind for all that. Pretty awesome. Bronson, as you were talking, you mentioned, you know, some draw results and deadlines and whatnot. We've got a lot coming down the pipe right now. You know, we've done a lot with Montana. Even Montana Deer. Now, did you get your outfit? I did. For the first time in several. Me too. I mean, mainly been point gathering.

But I did have a preference point. And I do have five or six bonus points. So we'll see. Quite a bit of change in Montana with adding on the outfitter point. And, you know, if you add on that outfitter point, you're also adding on a regular point. You can go into the draw. If you've never even applied in Montana before, you can go into the draw with two points. It's a preference. And they give you those points prior to running the draw. On the preference point for the general, they do. It's one of the – we get a lot of myths. A lot of people think that you get your point in every state going into the draw. That's not the case in the other states. But in Montana, regarding the general deer and elk combos, it is. You buy it, and it counts going into that draw. So you can – if you're going to hunt with an outfitter, you go from zero to two, and then they run the draw.

The first year you apply. But on bonus points for the special limited entry units, they give it after. Like – I want to say everything else. A normal state. Almost every other state. Let's call it a normal state. Yeah. You don't get it until you're unsuccessful. A normal state. No. Huh? Now, the two-step process of getting the general and the specials are tricky. But, yeah, we're in. Are you in? Yeah. I am. Yeah. I'm looking forward to it, actually. Well, hey. You know what it is? Ashley's going to be hunting in Montana. I went home and told her. So it's happening. Well, yeah, because they've got a youth deal that if you get a tag yourself, she can buy one over the counter. Yeah, I should get one over the counter. But I applied her, and the only reason why – and it did cost more to do it that way. But I want her in for the limited entry. Yeah.

She can build some points for the bonus points. I'd just like to see her smash. I'd do it on her nature. But, hey, and she would, too. She's on it. She's on it. So, by the way, I did find a little clean Ford Ranger. She's already, if you can believe it, she's already going to have her learner's permit here in about 30 days. And that gave me an excuse to do what? To shop for a truck. To actually not shop for a truck. To pull the trigger. Hey. Because you shop 24-7, 365. Tell me you're not proud of me. When was the last time I bought a vehicle? Yeah, it's been maybe a year. Yeah, a year and some months. Maybe. It was December. That's probably. When I got a 2021 model, which I've told are rare because of COVID, I think I've got something there. I think I've got a special rare vehicle that's going to be worth a lot of money someday. Could be.

But a lot of people are running from the COVID years. Where's it at right now? Well, I mean, it's the dealership. Why did you have to bring that up? Well, I've just said, it's the awesomest truck going to be worth a lot of money someday. It is. And it seems like just barely I heard that you're sick of having to call your wife to get a ride around town. And, hey, can you come get me from home from work? Come get me. What's interesting. So, very rarely do. I just am not a diesel guy. Part of it is, I love the power. I love the gas mileage. But part of it is, it's just one of those things. They're generally heavier in the front end and you get stuck a lot. And I can't go everywhere in the world. Colorado, four foot of snow, three, two foot of mud, whatever. I just feel it's better with a gasser. Okay. So, I do end up with a little diesel. Chevy ZR2 diesel. I think it's 2.8 liter.

But what's interesting, when you pop the hood, like, let's just say it quit running. What would I do? I'm going to call, like, AAA or. Call somebody. Yeah. I'm going to phone a friend. Yeah. Okay. There's no other option, is there? There is no other option. Yeah. On a gasser, you think fuel or fire. I'm going to, you know, plug and play with a, you know, spark. I don't know. Something, right? Maybe, maybe. I don't know. I could get it to start, right? I had an old Jeep that our distributor cap would rattle off on the Jeep. And that was 80% of the time. That was a fix. And I felt like, I got it. I got it. Yeah. And you know how to mechanic on them, right?

Nowadays, let's say your ZR2 quit. What would you do? Mine's a gasser. But you feel better that it's a gasser, right? Because we've been trained that we can work on those. But could you really work on yours? No, I don't. You would pop the hood and go what? Bah! I wouldn't call 911, but 912. I don't know what the number of them is. That's my point. So why not run a diesel? I know it's just part of it. Heavier getting stuck. Okay, heavier getting stuck. The other thing for me. But it's not on these ZR2s. It's really not. And when I go way out in the hills for two weeks at a time, and I have side-by-sides and generators and everything, part of it for me is to have one kind of fuel. And I know that's stupid. It is because of the gas mileage and the gates. You don't have to gas up as much. I'm telling you, I get 450 miles to a tank. No, I'm talking when I am two hours from any gas pump. Deep.

And I got to take... Now I only got so many gas containers. But you could take... Half of them can be diesel now and half of them can be... Have you ever put more than... Okay, not ever. Do you very often, once a year, put more than two fibers before you go to a gas pump? No, but there's always the grinder. There's always that hunt. Hey, the diesels. And you could put a diesel can in. But the diesels get so much better gas mileage, you never need to put a fire up. Back to... So... All right. So, Bronson, back to... It is at the dealership. It is at the dealership. Okay, good. Well, it's just for a minor emissions warning. But it is... No, yeah. A little check engine light. Come on. Has yours ever come on? Once. Okay. Yeah, I had a problem. Mine's come on once now. And it's a little O2 sensor, whatever. I guess it came out, and I was getting fumes inside the truck. But anyway, whatever.

It's awesome. It's the best truck I've ever... So... Never heard that before. All right. So, anyway, Ashley now has a little Ford Ranger. That's good. And we're applying her for Montana. That's good. Part of these, let's talk about the kids a little bit. Bronson. We've been applying our kids. I'm running out of kids in terms of under 18 kids. You've only got one and a half, two, maybe. I got two. I got two. But they're... We're getting old. Our kids are no longer kids. They're adults. Two out of my three are adults. Yeah. I got one turning 15, one turning 17. And then the other two are just old. Yeah. Yeah. Single. Old, single dudes. But it does factor in. Even though some of our kids are adult kids now. Yeah. I took a couple of mine to Colorado last year. Had a good time. I got to do a different one this year to Colorado. I mean, we're balancing a lot.

And, of course, they all want dad's time. We're trying to get husband of the year award. We're trying to get dad of the year award. And we're trying to kill 200 inchers on our own. And different species. I've got a daughter. I'm trying to get an elk tag. And that's hard to do. I don't want to do an over-the-counter. Just don't ask me why. I don't. I don't want to go waste my time. I don't want to do that. That takes a lot of time. Waste your time. Well, I don't want her to want to quit hunting. There's been some big bulls in taking Colorado on over-the-counter. Okay. Where should I go? Let me get... Well, I have a feeling about where you should go. Okay. Well, I'm not doing that because I'm going to be hunting deer with a rifle this year. Because somebody talked me in last year to go on muzzleloader. And I had a great time. You did. You got paid five bones for it.

My schedule this year is third season's wide open. All right. And that's where I'm going to go. So you could do a unit for hunting over-the-counter elk while hunting deer. And I could do a first or second season with her. We will see. But, yeah. Let's go through them all real quick. Well, like we... For the states that we've all... And these kids, we're talking about them being old now. Well, we've got kids now. I've got some of my kids with 14 points. It is awesome. And same with Sean. He got that archery elk tag down in Arizona. Now, he wasn't guaranteed to draw it in Arizona. But he had more names in the hat. He drew randomly. That's right. Well, when you start putting them in there at 10. And then they get a loyalty. Then they do the hunter-ed. So that's 12 years. You know, you're 22 or something. They got 14 points. Yeah. You could draw a significant archery tag.

And that's the thing. You know, before they changed this, it was a little bit of a... Well, it was a little... This was like Montana. Montana is now. If you have a pulse and a social, you can get an ALS and start building points for your kids in Montana. That's right. Arizona used to be that way. Until what? Until an unnamed man from Southern Utah. Well, I mean... And others. My kids are in diapers getting points. And what was frustrating is, so then they stopped it. So I had to stop. They had to be 10. Colton was five. And it gives you five years and they purge. He was nine and a half and they purged his points. They purged him. I mean, it was such a waste. But hey, I funded the state, right? I mean, slightly. Because the youth license, I mean, it's cheap. It's cheap to do. So anyway... Well, let's go through the current. Maybe it's the current stuff.

Well, so we were just talking about that. Definitely do Arizona. You got to be 10 by the start of the hunt to apply. Of course, you could get points, but you'd have to be 10 by the app deadline. So we're always looking at things like, there's some late seasons down there. If your kid doesn't turn 10 until whatever, December, late Couss or something like that, sheep doesn't start until December 1st and they have split application periods, biggest kicker for kids, what, five bucks for a hunting license, right? Yeah, that's right. The other thing, Bronson, and we shouldn't say it on air, but let's say it. If you have a kid that just doesn't hunt, right? Maybe the kid, like, you wanted them to hunt, you've got them some points, and then they're like, Dad, I just, you know, it's not my thing. And you're like, oh, no problem. I'm going to keep getting you points and you can point boost Dad.

Well, you haven't... As a kid there, a lot of our 10-year-olds, we're not trying to get them drawn for a tag as a 10-year-old in too many places. And by the time they're 18 or so and they become an adult, you've accrued 10 points. That's right. You know, 8 or 10 points for them. And you don't know a clear picture of how much they want to hunt and all that, but if they don't, that maybe is a little investment and you could let them split their points once with you and go on a coos deer hunt or something. You're not going to draw any lead. Or twice with point guard. Yeah, you could do something like that. Well, it's not something... But our point is it's such a minimal investment. Such a minimal... Get them their... Grab them a point and maybe... If they're a hunter, get them a point now. Even the non-hunting kids are kids that don't enjoy it as much as others, which is just normal.

It's just part of the kid. They could be in the same environment and just turn out a little bit different, have different wants and desires and aspirations. And that just happens. But anyway, grab them points. Maybe they'll go once every other year with you on something or whatever. Give you a little time with your kid, a little one-on-one. So anyway, Colorado, you know, 12. Basically, the magic number is 12 in most of these states. A lot of these states, the magic number is 12. And so, you know, there's always a little idiosyncrasies with each one of them. Maybe it's 12 by the end of the hunting season. Maybe it's 12 by the calendar year. It just depends. Colorado, 12 by the end of the hunting season. You apply 12 by the calendar year. Is there a reason you skipped California? Yeah. Well, I mean, I don't know. Do they even allow hunting anymore? No. Anyway, it is also 12 by July, right?

Yeah. July 1st. Idaho is another 10. Idaho is a lot like Arizona. You've got to be 10 years old by the start of the hunt. They changed that, I want to say, three or four years ago. I don't know exactly. But they also don't have a point system up there. They do have a youth price license. It isn't dirt cheap like it used to be, but it's still significantly cheaper for non-resident youth to be able to buy their license and apply. If you want to apply them as a 10-year-old or if you want to sit them out until they get a little bit older, Idaho's a 10-year-old. But I love Idaho. Bronson, you've drawn youth tags up there. Even on the second draw, it seems like your son drew. Yeah, he killed a great buck. On a buck on a tag that was returned. Yeah, he was 12 years old. Well, it actually wasn't. Nobody ever bought it in the first draw, so they draw it.

And he drew it in the second draw and killed probably his best buck so far right there with it on a youth hunt when he turned 12 that year. Ashley killed her first buck up there. Justin killed his first buck up there. I mean, it's just, you know, we're a huge fan of Idaho. No point system, but just a great opportunity to get the kids up there and affordable to do. So, Kansas, no minimum age. Of course, to be in the field, you must be, you know, accompanied by an adult if you're under 12. So, anyway, yeah, of course, generally these states do require hunter education. So, even if there's no minimum. We're kind of blowing through that part. Realizing it's kind of an understanding. Some people up back east, they get caught off guard on that because some states, you know, Texas or something, if you're old enough to slap the trigger, they let you. Texas is great. I like Texas.

It makes me smile every time I think about it. But, anyway, where are we at? I guess that brings us to Montana. You must be 12 before or during this season you apply for. But no age limit to get points, just like what you talked about, Bronson. If basically you're breathing, your dad or mom can grab you an ALS number. So, kids in diaper, holler at mom and dad, get you a point there, Montana, if you want. Nevada is another 12-year-old state. Right. One thing you've got to be prepared for in Nevada if you're going to start, whether you're an adult or you're a kid, they have to first, you have to submit a copy, upload it to one of your, on your online account of your hunter safety card if you're born after 1960. How old are you? That's 62-year-olds. They're still having to submit that. And I know that sounds ridiculous. It's not as bad as Colorado, 1949. It never changes.

The goalpost stays the same. That's right. So, don't get caught off guard whether you're an adult or a kid trying to apply in Nevada for the first time. They're going to want to see a physical copy of your hunter safety card from your state. But it is 12 years old before the commencement of each season that you're applying for. I do want to mention, Nevada has a great online system for grabbing a hunter ed card. I've got one of my kids grabbed, you know, had his girlfriend take their online course. Grabbed a hunter ed card. Yeah, it takes four or five hours out of your life if you crank on it. But having said that, you don't have to go do an infield day, whatever. You've got a card that's valid for all the states. Not a big deal. We've had a lot of our members call in. We're like, yeah, just take an online course. Because some guys, you know, back east. Older guys don't need it.

Don't need it. But a 61 or 2-year-old guy, you're going to need it. And that 1949 in Colorado, how old is that guy? Jeez. 72 or 3? 73. You still got to have one. Sir, I want to see your hunter ed card. You ever handled a firearm? That guy's going to talk to you like John Wayne. He invented the firearm. You know what I mean? So anyway, yeah, you do need to grab a hunter ed card. Just grab one. Makes it easy. And then you have options. Just gives you options. Nevada, Texas has an online course. Pretty easy to do. Meaning compared to coming out or even in your home state and going and shooting a 22 at a target or whatever. But hey, some of these states with COVID has lifted that in-person restriction. They have. Anyway, New Mexico, great state. No minimum age to hunt. You do need a hunter ed. Colton killed his first buck at 9 years old. Yeah, I took my boy at 9 too. Both of our couple.

My only boy and Jason's oldest killed their first buck there at 9. Yeah. Just because they're itching to shoot something besides a squirrel. Was that that Unit 23 hunt? Yeah. That was a grinder. Man, it was a grinder. And the first thing we saw was a coyote. He killed a coyote first. And now I think he's more excited about the coyote than the buck. Because he's 9. Remember the restriction is FAD. Forked antler deer. Okay. We saw some spikes. And we saw a forked by spike. And I was like, I don't know. I don't know if it has to be forked on both sides. But just let them live. I mean, there's something about it. We didn't kill anything. Yeah. I mean, and you guys smashed a forky. Forky. Oh, yeah. He wasn't going to be stopped. I wasn't holding him back. After three days of driving around and he shot one coyote. I think your kids maybe winged some bullets at coyotes too. Possibly.

It was rough. It was a rough hunt. Yeah. But having said that, Bronson, I mean, your kid's grown up to be quite a hunter. So. So are yours. I mean, you've got to start them somewhere. You've got to give them a taste of the glory. Taste of the glory. It's true. And it's funny to listen to these kids talk about it. See what it tastes like. But anyway, I guess we'll, you know, Oregon, you know, 12 by the start of the hunt. Again, you know, you can start getting them points there at nine years old. So anyway, something to consider. They do have a youth license reduction for non-residents too. There's some incredible youth hunts. It's changed a little bit. They've kind of done away with a couple of the different seasons that were just incredible there in Oregon. But having said that, they do have some youth-only seasons. So that's a great opportunity.

Oregon also has a mentored hunter program where resident and non-resident youth may participate in the program without passing a hunter education program. So kind of interesting. Nine to 15-year-olds may participate. A supervising adult must be 21 years of age or older and possess a valid license and tag for the dates, area, and species being hunted. So anyway, any wildlife harvested by the mentored youth hunter shall count toward the supervising hunter's bag limit. So just another opportunity there in Oregon. Utah, you know, 12 is the magical age. You can apply and obtain a tag at 11, but you actually can't hunt until you turn 12. So anyway, good opportunity there. Washington is a little bit like Nevada in that they do require to send proof of their hunter ed to, but there's no minimum age to hunt.

And good thing about Washington is like for their sheep, moose, and goat, which is $110 per species for an adult. It's only like $3.30-something cents for them. So while the odds are slim, I mean, I applied to my kids until they were 16. Once they're 16-plus, I just dropped it. Yeah, not worth the money. I mean, it's not probably worth $110 per species for them. Most states identify youth as under 18. You know, once you're 18, you're an adult. Washington is a little different. So anyway, Wyoming, you know, 12 years old. You must be 12 by the start of the hunt. 14 for bison by September 15th for bison. And, of course, hunter eds required anybody born after 1966. Cheap point, at least for deer elk and antelope, $10 per species there. It's a lot cheaper than adults. So deer elk and antelope, grab a point for $10 each. But let's talk about what on the front burner.

Wyoming bison, you mentioned that just a minute ago. It's due this week, 31st. Yeah, I know. And with the changes as far as non-resident tag allocations, this is one of those times that a guy might consider. You feel these hunting opportunities slipping out of your hands, although not necessarily the case. Other changes have, you know, gained us an opportunity here and there, whatever.

Can't think of many of those. No, I know. But it does feel like things are slipping away. Well, this is going to be, there are going to be much fewer non-resident permits next year. The only issue to remember is you do have to front $4,400 on your credit card for the bull hunts. And so it's not cheap to just apply. But I'll apply again just because I want a free-range bison someday and have not been able to draw one anywhere else. I just dusted mine off. Yeah. Killed one when I was 15. You showed one at 15 years old. And there again, that, you know how John says you need to be 44 years old before you can really draw once in a lifetime? You know what I mean? And the once in a lifetime we're talking, let's say it's the big species like sheep, goat, moose, bison, whatever.

He's kind of right a little bit. I was 15. I remember the hunt. I do remember it. But I don't know that I really cherished it like I would today. No. It's true. But you take a tag when you can get it. That's right. They just don't give them out. You know what I mean? So let's do this week. Also Montana. We've talked about that. Deer and I don't do the first. And then Colorado do April 5th. That's probably as far as we need to really go on the calendar, isn't it? Yeah. I mean, you've got Idaho sheep, goat, moose, April 30th. I mean, there's just a few things coming down the pipe. But, of course, we've got Montana sheep, goat, moose, bison by May 1st. So this next month, Adam's pretty aggressive. You know what I mean? And not really due for any drought results out until what? Well, I guess mid-April we'll get some Montana deer and elk back.

And then the very last week in April we'll get New Mexico, right? Yep. And then generally after that. May is giant. May. Yeah. Toward the end of May and then June. You know, and so it gets fun. This is kind of another. Another. I'm looking forward to this next section of the year. Yeah. Speaking of. What do we have to look. What are you looking forward to? I mean, let's talk about our own schedules. That's what I think. That's off the table. No, it's not. Well, plans change every day. Fully on the table. Okay. Let's talk about wants and wishes then. What are you hoping it to look like? Lots of big bucks. Okay. Wow. That's detailed. Well, it's true. A very detailed response. Six or seven deer tags already. Really? Yeah. Let's list them. No. This is the state. Well, I mean, I think I've got a great chance. Let's just say Utah. I'm going to get it. Well, you have. I've got plans.

I've got plans. You did buy a. Plans and projects. You did buy an Idaho general. I did. Yeah. I got an Idaho general. You got big plans for that? You know why? You can get a percentage refund. Last year, I finally got my refund check. I think it was like a 50 percenter. Anyway, they. Probably held it. That's not a real. It's an interesting system. They don't really want you to know that you can give it back. They don't really want to give it back. But. Maybe that was held in the same escrow account as your tax refund. It's still gone. It's still out there. Really? Okay. Biden's plugging and playing with it. But anyway, with that, you know, it does give you options. That's just. I think that's the biggest thing is. We like. Yeah. I like the kill too. Right. You were looking to make a kill today. The kill. Was I? Yeah. You were. You're going to apply for bison. You were looking at.

Well, that's not a kill. There's conservation tags that may come up that are affordable or whatever. You're just always on the prowl. Well, I'm always aware of some things. Aware. But in Idaho. Yeah. Your kill was waiting in line with a queue of 18,000 people wanting to kick down. And once you got your chance to do it, you were not going to say, I'll pass. Well, I mean. You're going to buy whatever is on the table. I was in front of Pollock. That's all that mattered. He was like number 12,000 something. I was 11,000 something. I'm like, well, let's just see what happens. And when you start looking at it, you're like, there's no way. 11,000 people. Well, they don't all want what you want. It could have been. It's worth waiting. I'll bet a doe antelope tag could have been the only tag left after you're waiting. You'd have bought it. I might have.

Hey, I've heard from Archibald that antelope's the best meat. No, man. And he came to work today talking about the last package of that antelope is gone. So he did say that this morning. So anyway. I don't know. I know how to make that guy happy. I know what Jana thinks of antelope. And I've had both spectrums. Let's put it that way. Really? Yeah. Have you had one that you've enjoyed? It was awesome. My last one in Wyoming was awesome. Oh, yeah? How about the 14 prior to that? I haven't killed 14. I've killed. Becky's no longer a meat eater? She is. We eat a lot of meat. But it'd make you laugh how many antelope I've shot in my life. Well, you probably shot as many as me. How many? Three? Let me count. Four? Three. I don't know. Three. I've shot them. Exactly three. I've shot a few. But I mean. I mean, hardly any. And that goes back to one of them when I was 15 years old. Really? Yeah.

Where? San Juan Hatch Point. In between Monticell and Moab. I shoved it. That was back in the gutting days instead of quartering method. Okay. And you know your dad? Shoved a knife blade in its guts? No. No. No. But. Best antelope you ever tasted? No. It smelled. But my dad, you know, he's. This is your chance. All right. Here's. I killed a deer or two.

And it's your time. Hey. Spread it lay. Start gutting it. I reached up there and I grabbed the windpipe and diaphragm and shoved a shard of a rib bone up under my fingernail that felt like it went to my elbow. I mean, it was like. When was this? 1953? I was 15. 53? How old am I? I was about 14 or 15. It's interesting how you can remember. Think about that. It's so vivid because if you've ever done that. That's like 27 years ago or something. I don't know. It's longer than that. Wow. 30? Wow. 30 something. Anyway. But I still remember it. So that's what I remember. And that's the last antelope I've ever gutted that way. When was that in comparison to when you learned how your love for apples? Well, apples was probably. I was eight or 10 years old. You might as well tell that story, I guess. I've already told. Have you on a podcast? Oh, you did? Yeah. And I don't want to remember.

Make you green? Green apples make you green? I don't eat apples. I don't like even looking at a raw apple. And if I hear somebody bite into one, I get queasy. Anyway. Well, all right. Sounds good. So where are we at? Well, personal schedule. So there's two. You said Utah because Jason has a lifetime license. I'm going to have to look at the list of the states because I've got some plans. Utah, Idaho, you said six. I think you do have a Nevada landowner tag that you're wondering how the moisture is going to look out. Nevada, I've got. I'm settled in on. So there's three. There's three. Colorado, I'm definitely going to hunt. No question. I'm always in Colorado. Okay. So you're counting that as a tag. But I haven't applied yet. But I did grab a second choice tag last year. I turned it back. Got my refund. Still gained a point. But all that second choice tag did was just give me an option.

Okay. I know it's dumb. There's four. I knew I wasn't even going to keep it. There's four. I'm missing two. Oh. Well, I'll let you say them. I thought of one. I think I might get something in Arizona. Okay. Possibly. I applied for Montana. I'm going to get it no matter what. Oh, yeah. There is six. And we're not even counting your three whitetail states. What do you mean? So let's just say Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah. How many is that, Bronson? That was six. Okay. For muleys. I could do Wyoming if I want. Okay. That's seven. Wow. And I've been thinking about it again. So I hunted the high country and it wasn't. I did hunt 10,000, 11,000 feet. Well, not specific to Wyoming, but after last year when you had about this same number of deer tags. Oh, I was never going to do it again. That's what I thought.

But part of the kill is getting the opportunity to make some decisions. Okay. And I can turn some of these back. All right. So let's talk about that. Let's talk about the turn back options. People want to know that. So we've covered the kids real quick. Well, real quick, and then I want to go in on your schedule. And by the way, I've got some applications on places for sheep, goat, moose, elk. I'm going to definitely, I've got to figure out how to, I want to hunt an elk. Yeah, let's finish you. Something I do want to do. And then I've got antelope of epic proportions. I don't know. Well, let's finish your schedule. Because this is interesting. I'm learning as I go. What do you mean? I've got New Mexico coos deer. Okay. Yeah, that's interesting. I applied aggressively there. You did. You still laugh about it. And then you're going to hunt white tills in two states?

There's coos deer that people haven't ever even seen in New Mexico. Yeah. But, okay. And there's certain reservations that welcome you on, and they never, ever, I can't buy my way onto one. Well. Huh? I'll take it anytime I can get it. Okay. But I don't have any control. I'm not doing anything different than you are. No, that's true. I tell you the same deadline on how to play, and I call the same person as you. It's true. It's true. They just look at my name and go, no. He's not coming here. I don't know why. I've been good to them. They probably want to keep some of their big bucks themselves. So coos deer, maybe a couple other exotics. Iowa? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I've got an Iowa tag. No. Okay. Not doing that. One right. Okay. Doing Iowa. You mentioned elk. What are you doing to try to get an elk? I'm not sure. I've applied aggressively. In what state? I've got right now.

I don't know if I believe that. Right now. I don't believe that. So this is what's cool about Wyoming. So right now, I'm going to get a Wyoming elk tag. But I would need to go on and make the change. And I love that amend process. I can go on and make the change and either withdraw or apply for 120. January 31st is just get your name in the hat. And you can't switch from regular to special. You're in that pool. But you can switch units for free of charge up until what? May? I want to say 9th. But don't quote me. It's the first week. It is. About the 9th. It is. For elk, we're talking. Yeah. For elk. And so the cool thing is, is just get in. I did the special draw. And then now I'm looking at something I could easily draw with the cheaper tag. And I'm just sick about throwing money down the drain. But whatever. It also gives you a better eye.

Generally, a special is going to give you a better shot. It does. And I didn't know what unit I'd settle on. And that's what's cool about Wyoming is you can see, you can even do a little more research for a few months. And maybe you learn something else or whatever. And you can go on and amend. Nothing. Or see how your schedule's tightened up and gotten worse. And now you need to put in for something that, or pull it out altogether. Pull it out or switch something hard. But you sure you're, what other aggressive? That is one. I did not know the word aggressive in you and elk happened this year. Well, I'd like to kill an absolute giant. And you just keep your ear to the ground. It's hard. Elk are really hard. I think. I mean, it's tougher. We get, look at all these deer tags we're talking about. Go try to get, grab six elk tags. Like I told you. Better for 350 bulls.

I've got a daughter that just, we just want to kill six point bulls. All right. And I've told you, I don't really have a lot of time in our schedule to just go show up and not a general. So I've been trying to draw her something in Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho. No. And I can't do it. And she's letting me know I'm failing it. If she hired me for my own app service, she'd probably fire me because I haven't got her an elk tag. She thinks that, dad, you do this for a living. How can't you just give me an elk tag? Justin's the same way. He wants to know. Oh, yeah. Now I got my boy. He wants to come with a bow. So, and I'm like, want anything else? What else would you like? Would you like? Would you like a sheep? You want two sheep in one year? What do you want? Hey, that's going to happen. A desert and rocky? Bronson, you got plans. Well, I mean.

But you guys have been planning on this. Oh, for 14 years. No, like 18. But yeah. I won't blow up. But anyway, pretty cool opportunities. I think that's also where the Wyoming general comes into play with these kids. Like the Wyoming general elk is a great opportunity. I should have done it before now. That is a different one than I'm. When I say over the counter, I think of my Utah. We live in Utah. Yeah. She doesn't want to choose. I'm not going to let her go spike hunting. No. Our general bulls are kind of a joke. But did you apply her for the general youth? Which at least gives them rut season dates. I did. But she's 18 now. This is the first year I couldn't put her in for that. That's right. So that one's gone. She's a full grown lady. Yeah. Full grown lady. And there you are. Yeah. You're on the full price. And she's demanding. She's the full price. So, yeah.

You give them a little bit of success. They want more. Yeah. Well, so, yeah. We'll see. Time will tell how the rest of it plays out. And then about the turnbacks, of course, Arizona, you can point guard, dish it back. Colorado, you can dish it back. You can gain all your points that you originally had but not gain one for this year. Or a refund. Can't do both. Got to do it 30 days before the season in Colorado. Arizona, you can do it right up until the time. And you can only do it one time. Yeah. If you do it one time, the next time you draw a tag for that species, you got to use it. Yeah. You got to use it. So, anyway, Idaho, you can either not purchase it if it's a limited draw or return a general if there's enough time. And they reallocate the generals once a month starting in April. Pro-rated like 75% up to the state. 50% up to the state. 50% up to that. There's no point.

So, there's really no reason to. If you draw an Idaho tag, you just don't buy the tag. And Idaho had such a tough year last year. It's hard to believe it's going to be incredible. But whatever. I've got an option. And a lot of the big bucks come out of some of these general areas. And they rut later. You know, meaning October 20th to the 31st. In units like 45, 44, whatever. So, anyway, you just never know. Some of these are really good options. Or have been. Last year, again, kicked everybody's butt. Yeah. You know, as far as Nevada, you can turn those back. They've got the first come, first serve program. And crank them back. We've heard there may be some changes coming to that this year. But we'll wait to announce those until they actually are ratified and happen and come out in print. But, yeah. Still be able to get tags. Yeah.

You can turn your tag up until a couple days before the hunt. And gain a point. And gain a point. Now, though, anybody that turns a tag in within 14 days of the start of the season, they don't feel like they have enough time. This started last year. Don't feel like they have enough time to reallocate that to the alternate list. So, anybody that does that two weeks before the start of any season, they've got a website. Just keep checking it, refreshing, watching, and pounce on something if you see something you like. That's right. Montana, you're out the money. New Mexico, you're out the money. You can't. Nothing you're doing there. Nothing. Utah, you can give it back. Yeah. 30 days. They adopted that a year or so ago, much like Colorado. It's got to be 30 days. And you do not get a – it's just like Colorado. You do not get a point for the year. You're going to lose. Kind of stings.

When you fall one point behind on an elite deer elk tag, it could add years to a weight, especially as a non-resident. Yeah. Wyoming's pretty final. That's right. So, no options. Yep. You've got to have major – and there are several of these states that have major military or major medical issue exemptions, but we're not going into them. All right, Bronson. Let's get personal. Where are you at, boss? Loaded. So, you're going north. I think I've said all year long. I've had a couple trips. They were not supposed to plan up like this. COVID's brought a couple adventures that are now lined up into the same year, which has really done a number on my August and September for archery deer and archery elk plans that have really been blown up. So, you have a need for another doll sheep, right? Burning desire. Well, I like hunting sheep.

But, hey, Alaska's got this rule that if you go up as a non-resident and you harvest a ram, you can't even come back for four years. So, the last time I was up there, which is hard to believe, that's been four years. That was 2018. It's been four years. So, when I left last time, I said, I'll see you in four years and figured that I'll save the money and hopefully have legs and mind under my – and go do it. So, we're going to do that again. And you're doing it. Okay. You're doing that one. And then you've got one you planned with your kid. Yeah. I'm going to do – I'm going to the UConn. Back to back. I feel really spoiled. Back to back. Really spoiled. Really. But, again, these were supposed to be saved not the same year either. And payment programs or what. It's not like you're just here you go, right? No. You've been planning it. Oh, yeah. Long time.

But having said that, that changes everything in the lower 48. My whole year, and I alluded to it in one of my application strategy articles, and I know it's kind of like, oh, poor you, Adam. But I've had to stay away from a lot. Archery elk is off limits. So much so that I've already got two states I've burned my points next year. Which has created opportunity for me because I've got you really cheering me on to make these kills. Yeah. Any good elk tag that comes up or something, Carter's there to jump on it. Yeah. Hey, I'll take that one. Or, you know, whatever. Apply for it or whatever. Yeah. My September's really, really bad because of that. I'm going to go later into Alaska this year. Just decide to do something different. And so it's blowing up my September. And then you come home. And then my wife, probably, kind of like Jason. Jason took his wife to Colorado last year.

Time to use. Our wives both have 20-something points in some states. And he took her to Colorado. I'm going to take mine to Utah this year. Take mine. I mean, we live here, but we're going to burn them. And she should draw her muzzleloader tag, which is the end of September. So I have, like, nothing. And maybe the first five days, seven days in September, I could do something. So you've got your wife and children. Yeah. Yourself. Yeah. Your business. You're going to be guiding some sheep hunters, potentially. I'm just wondering how this is going to play out. What's left? That's what you're saying is what's left? So you're going to do deer in Colorado. Of course, you're not going to take me up on the $500 anymore. No. Going back to. I can't do August or September. I knew this last year. And I knew this was pending to happen in 2022. Thought I'd throw it out there.

So, no, I'm going with a rifle this year. And I'm going to take myself and I. Okay. And? You've got a daughter. Maybe a daughter on a different season than mine. And you're trying to figure out on a different season. So you're going to do like I did. And I'm going to. You'll end up all three seasons. Huh? Second, third, and fourth. Maybe one of them is an elk. I don't know. You know what's funny? Should we tell the meat wagon story? I mean. Oh, yeah. So I. Well. Okay. So Thanksgiving is a time of what? Bountiful harvest? Well, yeah. And family. And friends. Right? And so this is when you get together as a family. And I'm like, yeah. It's nothing better than spending it in Colorado for season. Right? There's elk tags to be had. Deer tags. If you line it up just right. Kids got two or three points. Kids are out of school. Yeah. Kids are out of school. We do an Airbnb. We go over there.

And I'm like. We're going to kill elk and deer of epic proportions. We're going to load 14 freezers. Two or three deer tags and two or three elk tags. Because a couple of your kids could get leftover four season elk tags, which would draw. But they're easy and they're like a hundred bucks. So why not? Why not? Right? Yeah. Yeah. Youth tags are cheap. Did you have your trailer modified before you went over to tall meat? No. But I mean, I thought about it. Because I wanted to have meat hanging in it. Right? This is an ATV side by side, 16 footer enclosed. And I threw a bike in there. Four-wheeler meaning. Threw a four-wheeler in there. Ramps. I'm thinking, yeah, I'll stand the ramps up on end. Hang meat from the ramps. I mean, I don't know. I'm thinking. I mean, you got to think about these things. It's not like there's a meat processor right there. Right? So anyway.

And I got kids that are wanting to kill. They're killers. But they've all killed a bit. On the way over there, we start talking and I start realizing these kids are trophy hunters. Like it's like Bronson. It's like night and day from the year prior. And I'm like, okay, so they're trophy hunters. Okay. And we've got trucks and ability and glass. I got glass coming out my ears. Because every kid needs their own binos. You know, vehicles need their own spotters. They got backpacks. These kids are geared up like none other. And they're also. I mean, they've had a lifetime of them. They're all getting a little bit older. So nobody's the. There's no Ashley. Little Ashley. She'll shoot the cleanups. She'll clean up our junk bucks now. Yeah, she'll actually clean up. Well, Ashley's killed more bucks than any of the boys. Yeah, she's like 14 or 15 now. Yeah.

And they're all competitive and they're all talking about what they're going to pass and what they're not going to kill. Oh, yeah. And it was a tough season, right? Remember that? Remember it was a tough season? What'd you kill? Nothing. And guess what? They were happy about it. Like we stayed and we saw bucks. Hey, there's a four-pointer. Yeah. Not as good as this one. Not as good eye guards. Not as good eye guards. Not as good as my Wyoming buck. Right. That doesn't beat. It's right. My Idaho buck had a kicker. It's right. I'm sitting there going, what? I brought the meat wagon. There's no meat in the meat wagon. You guys could have drove over your car. Yeah, we could have taken our car. Saved a lot of money in gas. Yes. And it's just, and I'm like, okay, this is serious. So no more. Like, I don't mind, like the family gathering was awesome. It was awesome. It was a great experience.

It was awesome. But it was hard on old dad. Because I'm watching bucks come and go, and I'm thinking, let's get some more bucks and bulls under the belt. And they're like, nah, that one's just not quite good enough. And I'm thinking, you don't realize how tough a season has been. Fourth, they started coming out of the woodwork in this particular area. And so, yeah, meat wagon came home. Guess what was in it? The original bike I put in it, and that's it. Crazy. Bunch of game bags. Yeah, but it wasn't for lack of opportunity. No. They all could have killed. It just, anyway, fun stuff, fun stuff. But I guess watching our kids grow up, I mean, it's gratifying as a dad. It's fun to experience all that. And it's fun to, they're all capable. They all have their own guns. They all have optics. And a lot of this, of course, is birthdays and Christmases and some of their own money.

But, you know, it's just been many, many years in the making. And now here they are. And it's like hunting for me on every hunt. It's a grind. So this year, it's a little different. Oh, yeah. When you go, you've got to make it about one of them. Well, yeah, you do. And then now you've got boys, all three of your boys are driving and can go and don't really need you at all. No, they don't need me. Okay. My boy, starting last year, he was the same way. We've already talked about this on a podcast. He killed stuff without you around, meaning helping his friends or whatever. And I'll come home from work and my muzzleloader's gone. What happened? He took it. So he's out with a buddy. I know. And they crush a buck. And I can't even go hunt. How far? Like 260 yards. That's what blows me away. Kids are shooting bucks with muzzleloaders. Dial. Dial. One shot. Kill a nice 22, 3-inch fork.

Hey, Daddy, we just dialed it up about 10 in my way. One shot. One shot and drilled it. And I'm like, okay, fun. Bring it home so I can hunt tomorrow. And I've gotten reliant upon my muzzleloader with a scope because we can use them here in Utah. And I had two others, one of which I just brought back from Colorado. But they're open site. You know, why do I want to use that? Yeah. So, yeah. Anyway, it's a good problem. And it's a wonderful time in the hills. Look forward to it. My boy's fired up. I know Jason's kids are too because, I don't know, they want to try to improve upon what they've already done or do something they haven't done. My boy's got a big goal to break a 180 buck. That's his big goal. And he wants to kill an elk with a bow, which then again, how do you get him an archery elk tag? It's worth it. I mean, I may end up hunting the general. Just the tag alone.

But then knock down a 180. You start going, geez. Well, that or a five or six point bull with a bow. I'm not talking a cow or a spike. He wants to show a branch out there, both a bull. We will be hunting the general this year in Utah if that doesn't happen because I don't know what else I'm going to do. I've applied him aggressively, as Jason says, for some archery elk tags. And we'll see what happens. Yeah. Well, so about your schedule. So you're doing Colorado deer. Yes. What are we at? Montana? I've got Utah. I applied for Montana. I have a chance to get a special elk tag only because, you know, five or six points is, you know, maybe where you might expect to get one. But we'll see. We'll know in a few weeks on that. But Nevada, like you, I've kind of got a landowner tag held now. But it gives me an option. It gives me an option of whether I want to use that and evaluate.

I forgot that you've got that tag reserved. Yeah. You've got one, too. So same thing. But if I draw something. I can't wait to sell it. I love the kill. Well, you like to grab a tag and then you like to get rid of it. Catch and release. I love it. I love it. So I've got that as an option. But, I mean, depending on what I draw, I'm very top heavy on points in Arizona, which that's not. I've really stood clear of that the last couple dry drought years for the most part. But I don't think this year is going to be that. So maybe if I drew in Arizona or something elite, I would wipe my schedule out. Well, that affects my schedule. So there's a couple of tags that are pretty, pretty important. And that would change my life, too. So Idaho, I mean, I'll probably apply for deer and elk up there. How can you not?

I think it's, well, I know it's been a much better snow year in most of those years up there. Precip, I think, should be better. Range conditions won't be as bad. Where else we're at? Utah, I'm not. They're still dealing with, you know, trying to come back from the 2016, 2017 winter. But having said that, it can't be worse than last year. It's got to be better. That's right. Utah, I'm not expecting anything except for my wife's tag. It's a big enough tag, 20-plus points for deer. We're going to try to make that happen, and I'm optimistic it's going to be a good year. Wyoming's kind of one of those. I've got enough antelope points I could use if I want to, if I have something to fill the gap. I'll wait until the last few days of May to decide on the deer and the deer and the antelope there. I don't know if we want to jump into mentoring for the kids. Yeah. We've had guys do it in Arizona.

Yeah. There's a couple states that you can do it. Well, Arizona's been probably the first and the longest established that you can do that. What parent or grandparent draws a tag, you can mentor that to your youth. They actually basically sign the whole tag over. It is their tag now. And it's just a pretty simple process to do that. And so if you draw a tag, you want to mentor it to your child or grandchild, you can call Game and Fish down there and work through that process. I like Utah's program. You can mentor it and you can both go hunting. Yeah. Utah's a little bit different. Utah, if you draw the tag, now this applies to the resident youth. Yeah, the youth has to be a resident, a Utah resident. It's kind of a weird quirk. If you're a non-resident and you draw a tag, you can't mentor it to your non-resident kid. But you could mentor it to a resident. Yeah.

So if one of you draws a tag and you want to give it to one of Jason and I's kids, we'd love to work with you on that.

Just teasing. They got their shirt tags. Just a shout out. But Utah, yeah, your tag remains yours. You sign up your youth as a mentor. You technically can both actually carry a gun. You can only punch a tag on one animal. But it's a little bit different. So let's say your kid can hunt opening weekend because of school and you don't see anything. It's not like, hey, that tag's wasted. You can hunt yourself the rest of the hunt for yourself. You both, it's still your tag. Your youth just can hunt with you. Has to be right there with you at all times. The person that actually transfers the tag to the youth has to be president. That is different than Arizona. That's right. In Utah, if your wife or your grandma or something like that transfer it, they've got to be right there with the youth on the hunt. They don't just sign it over to them and they go hunt. That's right.

Idaho has a similar thing. You can mentor it to your kids except they excluded the once-in-a-lifetime species up there a few years ago. Too many people. Which makes sense. Yeah. So just for deer elk and antelope, you can mentor a tag to youth in Idaho as well. And I think that's it. I'm going completely off the cuff from memory, but I think that's it. A couple shout-outs I want to give then since I am preparing. I do have, or I maybe mentioned before, Red Rock Precision. Kurt and the guys there have been partners from us from day one here at Epic Outdoors. We appreciate their support of us. They build awesome guns. We've all bought one and use them every single year. I've got another one, a 6.5 PRC, and being built right now, mainly because my brother doesn't share the one we already have together very well. He has that gun, and I want one. We went in.

When you go on Halvesies on something like that with your brother, it sounds good on paper until you don't live in the same town or whatnot. And he's, I shot it at a shooting school, one of Curt's shooting schools, and it was awesome. Lend it to him, and I haven't seen it since. So I said, hey, we need to go Halvesies on another gun so I can have one. So looking forward to it. But check them out at redrockprecision.com. They, you know, whether you're after a sheep gun like I'm specifically looking for a lightweight sheep gun to hunt sheep with or mountain game or even, I'm using it for deer and everything like that, or kids, it's just a great all-around gun, or you're after something that's more of an all-around, you know, .28, .30 caliber, they can do it. So give Curt a call or check them out on redrockprecision.com. We got some pretty cool don't want to let the cat out of the bag.

Oh, yeah. But there is maybe something brewing in the firearms department. Firearms department with Epic Outdoors. All right. We'll leave it at that. We'll leave it at that. But anyway, a little shout-out, Triple S Polaris, Colton Francis and the boys down there at Triple S. Super good people selling side-by-sides. Jeez, they sell generators side-by-sides, electric bikes now, four-wheelers, three-wheel Polaris, you know. The ones we all used to drive. No, I'm talking about the two wheels up front. A car. The spider. Yeah. Can he get those in, Chris? I mean, just crazy. He does about it. I believe so. Trust me. If you want it done, Colton will take care of you. They'll serve us about anything. So even if it's not a Polaris, they'll serve us pretty much whatever you got. Good people. Give them a holler. They're 435-865-0100. You can check them out. Triple S Polaris. We appreciate them.

Their support here at Epic Outdoors. Another one, Bronson. If you didn't video it, it didn't happen. That's right. You know, it goes along with our optics plug that we did a little bit ago. If you've got a spotting scope or a new spotting scope or a new phone or just have a need to upgrade your digiscoping mechanism, check out the folks at PhoneScope. You know, get your new phone case or new adapter that fits either your vinyls, your BTX, your spotting scope eyepiece, whatever it is. Check them out at PhoneScope, P-H-O-N-E-S-K-O-P-E.com. And be ready to go before scouting starts because, I mean, I don't know. We can't live without these now.

It's just simply the way things are done now in terms of scouting, being able to photo and video, you know, what you're seeing and whether you've got a client with you or whether it's just you and you want to share and get your buddies fired up to give a spot for you to kill the giant that you just found. So you might need to entice them. If you just tell them, it's not going to be the same as showing them. That's right. Well, Bronson, I want to change it up.

A lot of times when we get done with the advertisement, everybody thinks it's done, and I want to change that. So I want to save the best for last. I want the hunting story off of your Idaho 200-incher. And this way we can keep this podcast going and maybe even hear how you smashed a giant in the worst year we've seen in a long time. Well, I guess, yeah, for all you people that tuned out once the ads started being read, you're going to miss this story. A little bonus item. So where do you want to start? Well, I would say you went. Do you want me to go day by day because that takes about 25 days? No, I don't because it went like this. Day one, I scratched my truck a lot and went through lots of lava. Day two, lots more lava and a few bucks. Day three, small bucks, more lava, more scratching. Day four, orange paint everywhere left in the state of Idaho.

Day five, went back to the motel, licked my winds, watched some sports. Day six, went back, enjoyed more lava. Go ahead. Take it from there. From there to about day 22, it was the same.

You saw bulls. Oh, I saw bull, buck, game. And I did see a lot of deer. But, you know, had a special tag and was just going to hold out for a special buck or eat my tag. It's one of those that, you know, if you draw an elite tag somewhere, just the type of tag you don't need just punch to punch because, you know, you're hunting it for the potential. And if it went away and I didn't get it, then that's what it was. You drew a super tag. Yeah. So that allows you to hunt, not like a governor tag, that's any open season, right? Yeah. It's just the open season. With the appropriate weapon. So, I mean, I did go up in archery season. It was more of a glorified scouting trip in August, you know, mid to late August. I can't remember exactly when it was. Archery was open in a couple of units and I had a bow with me, but I was really just learning units

because, yeah, when you're able to, you know, you had to narrow your search a little bit, even though you can hunt statewide, you're going to hunt where it's most likely. And the writing was on the wall by mid to late summer. Idaho had a super dry summer. It was droughty, big time drought. And they were also, yeah, like we talked about. Lots of young bucks. Recovering from a heavy winter four or five years prior to that. Yeah. Whatever it had been. So, you know, sometimes you get gifts and they come out of nowhere and you make something of them, even though, you know, the stars aren't perfectly aligned. So, I hunted my guts out, like you alluded, in a lot of, in the core desert country of Idaho where it has, you know, archery and muzzleloader and rifle seasons that go through late August, September, and until the end of October. And your boy had an elk tag also.

Yeah, he drew a limited controlled elk tag for one of those units in October. He's lucky up there. I'm not going to lie. No, he has. I apply my kids like crazy. He's drawing like crazy. Yeah, he's drawing a couple good tags. And so, he was able to come up there. Unfortunately, I didn't have to come home and get him. I was getting my butt kicked. Did he get to drive the big jacked up power wagon? He did bring that up. Yeah. He did bring it because that's when he brought up my side by side. Imagine being a kid in high school with a truck with 30 seconds. You and a buddy. You and your buddy with a gas card, with a power wagon, with the. That's the best thing ever. With the side by side, heading out of state. I mean. Jeez. And I was nervous other than. Was he pulling the trailer? Oh, yeah. Jeez. I would. He brought it up. I haven't let my kids do that. He brought it up. Wow.

But anyway, it was. And then when he had it up there, then I was going to let him drive the empty power wagon back home because I had the ZR2. I love those little trucks. And they got an air conditioner when it's hot. Okay. And they got a really good heater when it's cold. Okay. But they also do get around incredibly well. But anyway, yeah, he came up mid-October. It was like a four-day weekend. And it hadn't rained or stormed in a long time. And it was like a literal, like, flood. Well, you kept calling and saying, where are the elk? Where are the elk? I haven't seen. It is hot. And it was like, I don't know what to say. Hot, dry. They were here, here, here, here, here. They are not. They had no snow. Even other people, locals, had collaborated. And. It was a tough year. Yeah. Hot, hot, dry, dusty year. Yeah. And then, here he is, a four-day weekend. He's able to come up there.

The first day and a half to two days looked okay. Then it was going to be an unbelievable storm for about two to three days of rain. And I said, we really only got about two days. So, we crushed him a nice six-point bull in two days. On the second evening, right as it was getting rainy, we got back to the truck, cut loose. The next day, he decided to stay. He's going to stay up with me and hunt deer for a couple days, look around. And I sent him home on Sunday because I'm like, this is, it was a deluge of wetness. It was incredible. But we had a great time. Killed a nice six-point bull. We found a moose shed. I think he was more excited about the moose shed walking to his dead bull than he was the bull. I didn't even remember that. Yeah. He found his moose shed walking up. A good one? Literally. Yeah. Nice bull. Jeez. Yeah. Walking literally like 100 yards from his dead bull.

I didn't even know that. Okay. So, it was pretty fun. So, that was a good trip. But then I had about the last week of October on my own. And this is the time of year, too, that everybody else is busy. You know, everybody's hunting Utah General. They've got kids. Colorado was brewing at this time. I got done to the end of October. Still didn't punch a tag. And so, then you're left with November. And with a few exceptions, you've got 22 and 40 and a few units that have November rifle seasons. But you also then have most of, in central or eastern Idaho, general season units that close the end of October. But then they drop five to ten total tags in November. Yeah. And so, I could hunt them. But once again. Kind of like down here on our late muzzles. Yeah. For here in Utah. Yeah. They do go much later up there, but it's the same principle. They just got being done hunting.

And down here, our general's not over the counter, but it's managed similarly. Yeah. They get hunted the crap out of them hard. And then all of a sudden, okay, here's five guys or ten guys that get hunted them in November. And now you can cream the cream. Yeah. So, what I really did at that point is I realized, you know, let things, you know, build. I just hunted the best units until the end of October. At some point, you can't make it happen. Yeah. So, I went home. I took my kid and one of my daughters, both, to Colorado, second and third season. And knowing you have an incredible tag up there, you're feeling anxiety. I'm anxious. You're trying to win, like you said, dad of the year. Well, and they'd burn points. And, you know, I'm not going to turn them back because this is their hunt. Well, my daughter, especially that one, you know, it's like her one hunt with me for the year.

I'm not going to back out of that. And you got bucks rutting and breeding in Idaho. Yeah. And luckily, I had bucks rutting and breeding in Colorado. And we hunted about 15 minutes. That's perfect. And came home. Smashed her a nice buck. Yeah. Shot her a nice buck. She's happy. And anyway, had a good time on both those hunts. But this is also the time that all of you guys are second and third season. You're all there. It's just the time of year that, you know, most of my whole year in Idaho was all by myself. I had a couple times with my boy. But everybody's busy. Some locals I ran into. Yeah. And that ran out when the October season ran out. So now I'm literally about on my own. So it's about what, Carter? I want to say 14th, 15th. I'm done with Colorado. When did it open last year? The 13th. We killed her a buck the 13th. And we literally drove home that night. I probably regrouped.

And I headed for Idaho the next day. So 14th, 15th, I'm back up there. And I've got about 10 days before Thanksgiving. And my mom had a family reunion for Thanksgiving that if I missed, I would be out of the family. That's right. So pressure's building. Yeah. But, hey, I'm hunting bucks in the rut. So I went up there and immediately started seeing a lot. I went to a new area I'd never been before, seeing a lot of deer, saw three or four wolves that first full morning there and about killed one of those. I didn't really actually get on the gun, but I thought I had them dead to rights in this canyon. They'd run over this ridge chasing after a coyote. And I thought, this thing's toast. I'd run up to the ridge and I'd never see them again because, you know, wolves can cover the ground. Oh, geez. Yeah, I never saw them again. But that was exciting.

But then just bit by bit, just, you know, chipping away at stuff, inventorying bucks and found this buck probably on the 17th or 18th, something like that in November. And I first saw it. I'm like, dude, this is it. And then I saw the one side. He's got a big single G2 in the back, but he's got a couple cheaters off it, two or three cheaters coming off it. And he's got a tripod off his front fork on that side. But he still didn't have a normal G3. The other side had a big four-point side with a couple cheaters. And I'm thinking, I don't know. I just, he had a big frame. He was as big as deer as I'd seen. I figured he was high 190s, something like that. But it just wasn't, it just bugged me that he had a three-point frame on the one side, despite having a picture for it in the front and three cheaters on the single G2 side. So I just took some video of him.

Anyway, that night at home, I think I shared you all some video and sent it all to everybody. And I remember a couple of you. It was also at the time, some of you guys had just done hunting. Here's a video that was sent November 18. I just found it. So some of you guys had been hunting Nevada, namely like Archibald and Pollock, and then went to Colorado. Of course, Colorado, Chris and Josh had crushed bucks. You know, they're great bucks. But everybody else was in Colorado. We just got done with third season. And it wasn't incredible. You just got done. Seen a couple good bucks. Decided not to shoot them. Then it got tough. Archibald, Chris, you went with Archibald and Wyatt. It was a tough hunt with them. So a couple of them were crapping when I sent this video and said I hadn't shot the buck. And I'm like, you know, I just... I told you, look at those bases.

There's something, there's more going on than we can see. Yeah, and I had other footage that I'd taken that I didn't send you that actually showed more down on the hairline into the black. I'm like, he's got crap down there. I don't know what it is. Well, I still was learning an area. And it's also deep. It's November. And there's not a lot of snow. And it's a three by four frame. Yeah. And it just bothered me. So there's all these things. All these things. That bothered me. But then realizing the year is what it is. Yeah. So then I just kept looking for that whole next day and the remainder of that day and then the whole next day. And then I was like, all right, about midday that day, I'm thinking, maybe I need to go get a better look. Because that day was probably a good mile. I told you. A long ways away. That look, too.

That video footage was on 70 power stretched with my phone scope as far as it can stretch. So that's all I could give. So I went back. The next day and got closer. And I'm like, okay. My first time, I'm like, oh, he looked bigger. And he was probably only 1,200 yards. And he went away, bedded down doing a draw. And I couldn't see him anymore. And I'm like, I'm all by myself again. And I'm like, I hate doing this. But you're going to have to leave. You're going to be blind for a couple of hours. Getting off here, driving around, hiking up in the canyon. And I hadn't decided 100% that I'd kill him. But I'm like, I definitely need to get in his wheelhouse and see what he does for me. Which usually means for me, I'm going to kill him. Because I usually. Well, usually when you set off to go get a closer look, it's dying. Yeah. Because you're writing off the rest of the day.

You're writing off the rest of whatever you're doing that day and investing, getting close. And as long as he doesn't underwhelm you when you get there, as long as he's as good as what you've already determined in your mind. And by then, I'd seen basal points. I'd seen them. This deer is dead and doesn't even know him. Yeah. I get down there. And I crest the ridge when he should be in the draw before me. And I look up on the open face at about 600 yards. And I see two deer walking. And I pull up my binals. And I'm huffing and puffing. And I can see a doe with a big buck trailing her. And that's exactly what it was. He was trailing a doe when I left her. And he's 700, 800 yards from where I left him. And he's about to go around a ridge. So now I'm ripping out my scope because I just got to see any distinguishing point. I need to see the tripod or whatever. And I get that scope on him.

And I can tell it's him. I throw down. I bipods out. I range it. It's dead on 600 yards. I had my 6.5 PRC. Different one. So I'm dead on 600 yards. Dead on. I'm proned out. Just a perfect setup. No wind. And I shoot. And he just drops in his tracks. And it was, I mean, he literally just dropped like a ton of crap. Wow. And so then, and I just, I think, told my brother, hey, I'm going to go look at this buck. And, you know, we'll see. And I walked up to the buck. And this is probably two hours later. And I said, dead buck. And he's like, whoa, I thought you were going to look at it. I says, I did. I looked at him. He looked good. So very steep hill. Walked up to him. Had a bunch more basal characteristic points. It was just really, really cool. Put him a little over 200 inches, like 203 and change as he is. And he had about four to five inches of broken points.

So very happy with the way he turned out. I'm glad I shot it because it was a rough year in Idaho. It was. It was a, it was a great buck. Well, he was like an old deer. No, he was. He was an old. Ancient. He was a big deer. He was an old deer. All he was maybe going to be, all he could definitely eke out last year was exactly what he had. But it was, it was cool. Ended well. Packed him off the mountain that night. You were static. Got home late, late and spent the night and drove home the next day. That's awesome. So anyway. All right. A little bit of, let's call it bonus footage. A little something on the end for everybody. Maybe we'll do that a little more often. All right. Well, that's about it. Should we go out and see how the rain's doing out there? Sipping up puddles yet. Puddles mean big bust. At Epic Outdoors, we help you reach your hunting dreams.

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