Elk Junkie

Bill Ayer, CEO of Slayer Calls, joins us to share his story of how Slayer Calls got it's start, the innovation and inspiration behind the ArchAngel Bugle Tube, a CRAZY story of trotting...calling...hiding...shooting...and getting it done, simplifying elk and elk hunting, and much more.  This podcast has us amp'd up to get our hands on the ArchAngel Bugle Tube and a new call that is yet to be released. We know you will enjoy this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast.

Incredible story alert!!! In this episode of the Elk Junkie Podcast, we sit down with Ryan Carter, an extremely successful hunter and outfitter. We discuss many topics in this podcast such as trail camera regulations, shed hunting, and more, but our absolute favorite part of this podcast is Ryan sharing one of his most memorable elk hunts.  This story is one not to miss.  We hope you enjoy this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast.

In this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast, Lance and Dave discuss wildlife policy, particularly, Utah's recent trail camera policy.  They discuss the importance of understanding your states wildlife laws and staying engaged to influence policy.  In addition, they talk about their recent 3D archery shoot at the Hardware Ranch Classic and archery shoots in general.

In this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast, professional wildlife photographer Jason Loftus talks photography, hunting, wildlife and so much more. Jason is the owner of Untamed Images by JL and co-host of the Wild and Exposed podcast.  Jason found his passion for wildlife photography through his love of hunting. In this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast, we talk about trail camera regulations, hunting and being all about the meat, the most difficult animal to photograph, respecting wildlife while photographing and how to approach animals, how photography can make you a better hunter, bugling cows (Yep, cows bugle), what it takes to become a good photographer, shooting formats (RAW vs JPEG), and much more.   Checkout Jason and his work: www.untamedimagesbyjl.com www.wildandexposed.com on Instagram @untamedimagesbyjl  

We are super excited to share this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast with everyone.  We went through all of the podcast episodes in 2021 and pulled out some of our favorites nuggets of advice from our guests.  Our guests include Dirk "The Bugler" Durham, Travis Ball, Damon Stone, Nate Richards, Covy Jones, Rusty Robinson, Kyle Douglas, Lea Leggitt, Mia Anstine, KC Wall, and Brook Chappel. It's kinda like going down memory lane for us.  We think the advice collected in this podcast will surely help each of us be better hunters.  We hope you enjoy it. 

In this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast we share our thoughts on some of the signs to look for that the elk rut is in full swing.  From bulls wallowing in the mud to the pre-orbital gland secreting an aroma that only a cow elk could love, we share some of our observations and knowledge of the rut.  Thanks for listening to the Elk Junkie podcast.  If you have an elk related story you would like to share, send us an email at info@elkjunkie.com or send us a direct message on Instagram at @officialelkjunkie.

In this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast, we visit with Lydia Smith, a talented artist, successful hunter, hunting guide, owner of Ivory Peaks brand, and so much more. We cover many topics to include Lydia's successful 2021 archery elk hunt where she harvested a 6x7 bull she named Callisto. Lydia describes how she targeted Callisto and what an unusual bull he was with a blind eye and a sagging belly that would make a pig jealous. Lydia describes how it all played out, from a tree nearly smashing her tent to a cow elk that kept Lydia pinned down until the moment finally presented itself. We cover other topics such as Lydia's impressive art talent and her ability to use a ball-point pen from the dollar store to produce some amazing wildlife art. We also cover Lydia's love for two of her best friends, Kilchii, her mustang horse, and Sitka, her beautiful dog. Lydia shares some great advice such as the importance of listening and studying the elk you are chasing, how to create a elk herd sound sequence, and being willing to learn and grow from one's mistakes. We could go on and on, but why read this when you can listen to the podcast for yourself.  We think you will enjoy this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast as much as we did making it. Check out Lydia's brand at www.ivorypeaksbrand.com or specifically her art at www.lydiasmithart.com You can see Lydia's video titled The Callisto Bull - Solo Archery Elk Hunt on YouTube at https://youtu.be/O7p3KI2TOWA  

In this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast, we visit with Bill Vanderheyden, Co-Founder and Lead Engineer of Iron Will Outfitters, a company that specializes in premium arrow broadheads and hunting knives that are backed by an unbelievable warranty. Bill shares the story behind Iron Will Outfitters and the need for better broadheads and knives. We talk about the different styles of Iron Will Outfitters' broadheads and knives, how incredibly light the knives are, bone breaking impact provided by the broadheads, starting a business in today's industry, and much more.  We hope you enjoy this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast. 

In this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast, we share lessons learned from Lance's recent experience self-filming his limited entry archery elk hunt. Lance purchased a Sony Alpha A6600 digital SLR camera and attempted to video his own hunt.  We stress attempted...haha. We cover knowing your camera, having quick access to your camera, camera equipment, verifying settings, cleaning your lens, having extra batteries and memory cards, capturing plenty of footage, telling a story, capturing B-roll, practicing beforehand, and more.  Dave also shares a story where he punches himself in the face at the archery range.

In this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast, we visit with Brook Chappell. Brook shares his 2021 early season rifle elk hunt on the Fish Lake / Thousand Lakes Plateau unit in Utah. Brook waited 17 years to draw this limited-entry tag and he wasted no time closing the deal. Brook's story is full of captivating detail which really shows his love of hunting.  We cover setting up cameras (and we mean cameras in the most plural sense), 320/330-inch bull at 300 yards...Nah, MOOOO...that's my dad, making a choice (patient vs. aggressive), 75 yards with a rifle, using the gun you are comfortable with, what if I just shot a rag-horn, ground shrinkage, lessons learned from the hunt, and more.  Oh yeah, did we mention we had a visit from the beyond that messed with our studio lights during the podcast. Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoy this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast.

In this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast, we visit with KC Wall, an avid hunter that went all in with the 18 points he had built up for a chance to harvest a big bull.  This year, KC finally drew a tag and it was on one of the premium elk units in Utah...the Boulder Plateau.  KC shares his story from deciding to put in for the Boulder to putting down a giant 6x6 bull that unofficially scored in the mid 370's to low 380's.  We got a chance to put our hands on this bull and it took about two hands to wrap around the base of this animal's antlers.  As you'll hear, archery elk hunting was a new challenge for KC, one that he conquered and will never forget.  KC shares with us calling for the first time and sounding like a duck, what sounded like a dog barking, and other memorable experiences.  We hope you enjoy this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast.  

In this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast, Dirk Durham, or as many of us know him as "The Bugler", joins us for an incredible show.  If you think you have heard it all from Dirk, well trust us, you haven't.  Dirk shares life before "The Bugler", the new elk calls from Phelps Games Calls (Metal Bugle Tube, Mini AMP diaphragms, and Young'n Calf Call), the process of innovating and creating a new call, who won the elk diaphragm contest (Pink Phelps Signature call or the Red Maverick call), Dirks most memorable hunts (we loved his response), what it was like using a mouth tab for drawing back his bow and shooting a bull, plans for this fall, social media and the hunting industry, and Dirk's advice and lessons learned (and no, it's not about how to call elk, it's even more profound than that...more great responses). Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoy this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast.

Do you want to be inspired? Do you want to be a better hunting parent or mentor? Do you want to get pumped for this year's elk hunting season? If you said yes to any of these questions, then check out the latest Elk Junkie podcast with Lea Leggitt and Mia Anstine.  Lea shares her story of persevering through challenges brought on from a horseback riding accident to ultimately reaching her goal of harvesting her first bull elk.  Lea's mother, Mia Anstine, shares her perspective of Lea's story as a mother and hunting guide.  We can't say enough about both of these amazing ladies, they are truly incredible.  Even if you don't hunt, this podcast will inspire you.  Can you say...goose bumps? Find Lea on Instagram @legit.outdoors and @lea_huntress or on the web at www.legitoutdoors.com Find Mia Anstine on Instagram @miaanstine or on the web at www.miaanstine.com

In this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast, we hang out with professional archer, Kyle Douglas.  Kyle is the reigning back-to-back Vegas Open Pro Champion and Indoor National Champion.  The Vegas Open is the largest indoor archery tournament in the world, basically the Super Bowl of archery tournaments.  Kyle owns and operates Douglas Archery which is located in Ogden, Utah (who better to set up your bow).  Kyle is obviously an accomplished archer, but he is also an avid elk hunter who loves to hunt.  We cover many topics to include the importance of setting up your bow to your proper draw length, having a bull in camp and Kyle bringing it down, when to be aggressive, what makes Kyle's heart race more – elk hunting or archery competitions, Kyle's comfortable shooting range, playing Bingo and winning a 4K television, and much more.  Oh, did we mention Batman joins the podcast. Check out Douglas Archery at www.douglasarchery.com  

In this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast, Dave and Lance catch up on several topics including Lance's recent turkey hunt where he killed a tom on opening day, Lance drawing out for a 2021 Utah limited-entry archery elk hunt, drought conditions across the Western United States, remembering to bring your key, comparing backpacking deep into the mountains with Easter egg hunts, a drone that flew away on its own, Dave's recent purchase of a Luxe hot tent, Mormon Crickets (Gross!), Dave taking 3rd place in a recent archery shoot, and getting ready for the Total Archery Challenge (TAC) in Park City (foam is home and using Walmart arrows).

In this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast, we get the opportunity to hang out with Covy Jones, Big Game Coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), and Rusty Robinson, manager of the DWR Central Region.  Last year, Covy was lucky enough to draw a limited-entry archery elk tag on the Manti Unit in Utah and Rusty was there to help his buddy out.  Covy and Rusty share this experience with all of us.  In addition, they share some of their insights as biologists that we think everyone will find useful to becoming better elk hunters.  We cover many topics including “COCOMO” which means get there fast then take it slow, a bull the size of a Volkswagen, burned vegetation, geeky biologists, yelling “run at'em”, after 15 days the emotions are running high, no quit in Covy, hunter crowding is a function of effort, spending an hour and a half working the bull, an 80 yard army crawl, being grateful for the sacrifice of the animal, don't put your elk in your friends freezer, having a secret account, 1-2-3 shoot, making a meat satchel, oldest cow ever taken by Rusty (black meat and nubs for teeth), how many cows can you fit in a Toyota 4Runner, and of course Covy getting his bull.  And one of our favorites…where is Rusty going with this - comparing elk hunting to child birth.  We think he pulled through it nicely. You don't want to miss this podcast!

In this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast, we go on-site to the Weber County Archery Park - Bakcou Center and visit with Todd Ferrario, Weber County Parks and Recreation Division Director, and Mike Luna, Archery Park Manager.  We begin by discussing the history and vision for the park and the amazing partners (Utah Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, R.A.M.P, etc.) and sponsors (Bakcou, Hoyt Archery, Easton, Easton Foundation, Delta McKenzie Targets, etc.) that helped establish the venue and keep it progressing into the future.  We cover many topics including a “zoo” of 3D animal targets, past and future events such as Elk Shape and the Hill Archers tournament, the benefit of having national archery champion Kyle Douglas (winner of the 2020 and 2021 Vegas Archery Shoot) and his Douglas Archery shop on-site, lessons for kids and adults, providing something for everyone, creating opportunities for the next generation of archers, volunteering, and new projects like animated shooting for kids and holding movie premiers for hunters that film their own hunts.  Whew!  We covered a lot and it's definitely worth a listen. 

In this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast, we visit with Nate Richards, owner/operator of NR Peaks outfitting service in Central Utah.  We discuss many topics to include the benefits of hiring a guide, Nate guiding Dave's son's Utah limited-entry elk hunt on the Central Manti unit in 2020 (which ultimately led to an incredible 6x6 bull being taken from 685 yards), stupid bike seats, ebikes, Utah's recent baiting and trail camera regulations, running 70 cameras and the time to manage them, wire - the new duct tape, nothing but tuna to eat, SQUIRRRREL, and much more.  We hope you enjoy the latest episode of the Elk Junkie podcast. If you are interested in Nate guiding your hunt, checkout his website at www.nrpeaks.com

In this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast, we discuss a book titled Elk Tactics by Don Laubach and Mark Henckel.  We focus on specific areas of the book that resonated with us such as breaking bad habits, being ready for elk at any time and place, persistence and patience, calling to elk in the direction they are going, calling softly to start, looking for subtle signs of elk in dark timber, to hide or not to hide, and much more.  We hope you enjoy this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast.

In this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast, we visit with Damon Stone, a successful elk hunter who shares several stories with us including highs and lows.  Although Damon has tagged many bull elk, he still considers elk his nemesis.  Other topics we discuss include Elkapalooza, hunting with a recurve bow named "Precious", closer the better, helping other hunters is success, 4 yard shot on a 6x7 bull, measuring hunting success, managing expectations, best shot of my life...not, and repertoire of tools.  We hope you enjoy this episode of the Elk Junkie podcast.

In this episode, Lance Garner shares his experience shooting his first bull.  It took many painstaking years for Lance to harvest his first bull, but in 2016 he finally got it done on an over-the-counter archery elk hunt in Utah.  Dave Morris shares one of the best places to land a one pound giant of a hamburger at Big Jud's in Idaho.

In this episode, we introduce the Elk Junkie podcast and interview Travis Ball.  Travis is an avid elk hunter who shares his most recent Utah limited-entry elk hunt.