Sportsmen's Empire - Western Big Game Hunting

A final hunt with that certain hound can carry a strange weight. You may not realize you're experiencing the last time you'll walk that trail, sit against that tree, hear them strike and tree. At the time, it can feel like just another morning in the woods, just another hunt. But every once in a while, there's a hunt that becomes something bigger than the hunt itself. A good hound may only be with us for a short period of time, but the impression they leave can last a lifetime.

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Double U Hunting Supply: Get all your hound hunting gear at Double U. Products every hound hunter trusts to keep up with their pack. Double U Hunting Supply.com

We would like to thank those who support this podcast. Special thanks to Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode.
www.dusupply.com
https://www.youtube.com/@DoubleUHuntingSupply/podcasts

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Elk hunting is not about luck—it is about putting yourself in the right 200-yard bubble at the right time, with enough days left to make the moment count. Tim Kent breaks down nearly two decades of hard-earned lessons chasing elk from the East, including the mistakes that cost him bulls, the calling mistake that instantly blew up a setup, and why his biggest breakthrough came from learning where elk actually live instead of where he hoped they would.
Dan Johnson and Tim dig into the obsession that keeps eastern hunters driving west every year: the mountains, the pressure, the gear, the archery challenge, and the brutal reality that elk hunting is often more bowhiking than bowhunting. Tim shares how his approach evolved from flying out with a one-man tent and too much optimism to building hunts around mobility, terrain, thermals, and the kind of pre-hunt scouting that narrows a giant unit down to a few high-percentage pockets.
You’ll discover:
Why Tim now avoids bugling directly below a bull
How one wrong call can shut down an entire herd in seconds
Why two weeks is the sweet spot for serious DIY elk hunts
The biggest difference between early elk hunting and learning through modern online education
How to use your own past encounters to identify elevation bands and likely elk zones
Tim also opens up about the emotional side of elk hunting—the frustration of close calls, the adrenaline spike when a bull is coming, and the strange addiction of coming home empty-handed but fired up for next year. If you are an eastern hunter chasing western elk, or you are planning your first serious DIY hunt, this episode is packed with practical insight and a realistic look at what actually moves the needle.
Perfect for anyone preparing for elk season who wants fewer theory-based tips and more field-tested truth from a hunter who has lived the grind, learned the hard way, and is still out there doing it.

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What actually stays in your pack when it’s time to hunt whitetails? On this episode of the Hunting Gear Podcast, Dan and Bob do a complete gear dump for the fall season. From grunt tubes and scent control to bow ropes and screw-in steps, if it takes up space in their packs, it’s getting talked about.
Join the conversation on the Sportsmen's Empire Facebook and Instagram pages, or connect with Nine Finger Chronicles and Hybrid Outdoors. Let us know what gear never leaves your pack!

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Colorado just changed the elk hunting game—and the next round of regulations could reshape how residents and non-residents chase tags, points, and opportunity. If you hunt the West, this is the kind of episode that can save you years of confusion and help you make smarter decisions before the 2028 changes take effect.
Dan Johnson sits down with Colorado hunter Adam Parr to break down what is really happening with the state’s draw system, why archery tags went from over-the-counter to draw for non-residents, and how point creep has exploded in some units. Adam explains the new system’s biggest shifts, including the move toward a 50/50 split between preference-point tags and weighted lottery tags, plus the simplified point-buying process that could make Colorado easier to navigate and more fair.
You’ll discover:
What Colorado’s current over-the-counter options actually are for non-residents
Why some archery units jumped from a few points to double-digit point totals
How the new draw rules may change your odds and planning strategy
Why the state’s regulation updates could reduce complexity instead of adding to it
How residents and non-residents should think differently about long-term tag planning
Adam also shares how he approaches his own season as a resident hunter—from deciding when to burn points versus hunt over the counter, to scouting, glassing, trail cameras, and why he targets unpressured elk early in the season. He talks through the realities of hunting at 9,000 to 10,000 feet, how dry years push elk higher into timber, and the small details that separate a filled freezer from a long, exhausting grind.Then the conversation turns tactical.
Adam explains the strategies he uses to find elk, including location bugles in the dark, reading fresh sign, hunting natural pinch points, and using terrain and wind to his advantage. He also makes a strong case for hybrid broadheads on elk, especially when blood trailing and recovery matter most.If you are applying in Colorado, planning a Western hunt, or trying to stretch your points without wasting years, this episode gives you a real-world look at what is changing and how to adapt. It’s essential listening for Western hunters who want more than hype and fewer expensive mistakes.

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Every houndsman remembers his first.
Your first dog.
The first time you heard a hound open on a track.
The first time you followed that voice through the dark.
The first time you walked up to a tree with the game in it.
The first dog that really meant something to you.
But some of the best firsts come later.
The first time your son or daughter hears a hound open.
The first time they grab the lead.
The first time they walk into a tree and realize what this life is all about.
Those are the moments that stick with us.


IG - heathhyatt147
FB Heath Hyatt
Youtube - Heath Hyatt


Send your stories or questions to:
creeksidechroniclespodcast@gmail.com


Follow our Sponsors:
Inukshuk
Double U Hunting Supply
Muddy River Transport
Darkenergy
OnX


Inukshuk:
Inukshukpro.com
Corey.ca

Darkenergy: best-charging banks on market. Discount code is CODE4
darkenergy.com


Frontline Optics- Duty sunglasses
Polarized
No questions asked replacement
Charitable Donation with every pair
Free shipping
Frontline-Optics.com use promo code - CODE4
https://frontline-optics.com?sca_ref=5672409.03I05MEwyy

Subscribe to:
Full Cry Magazine
Bear Hunting Magazine
American Bear Foundation
Virginia Bear Hunters Association

For the best lights in the business
Check out: Cajunlights.com

Double U Hunting Supply: Get all your hound hunting gear at Double U. Products every hound hunter trusts to keep up with their pack. Double U Hunting Supply.com


We would like to thank those who support this podcast. Special thanks to Double U Hunting Supply for sponsoring this episode.
www.dusupply.com
https://www.youtube.com/@DoubleUHuntingSupply/podcasts

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.