Send us a text This week I'm recording in Soldotna, Alaska, where I recently took a tour over this rugged landscape in a Cessna 185, piloted by Dustin Moore. Dustin works in the oil and gas industry, and is a bush pilot on the side. Alaska is enormous, 663,300 square miles, much of which is fairly untouched. With his float plane, Dustin has the opportunity to explore, hunt, and fish some incredible and remote places. In this episode we get into what it takes to become a bush pilot, the pros and ...
Aug 16, 2021•55 min•Season 2Ep. 71
Send us a text A good knife is probably the most useful and versatile tool you can have. In fact, humans were using knives to cut meat before they were cooking that meat over a fire. Mike Rowley has been interested in knife making since he was a child. A high school teacher in my hometown, Mike is self taught and has been honing his forging skills for the past 8 years. He competed on the History Channel’s show “Forged in Fire,” winning first place with a beautiful pair of tomahawks. Mike and I d...
Aug 09, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Season 2Ep. 70
Send us a text For the past 22 years, Rachel Ahtila has been working in hunting camps and guiding for pretty much every major game species in the Pacific Northwest. As a fellow guide, I know how important it is to go hunting yourself, and I also know that it can be difficult to take the time to do so. This year, Rachel is doing just that, with an upcoming stone sheep hunt, and hopes of later harvesting a Canadian moose, mountain goat, caribou, and elk. In this episode we discuss what it means to...
Aug 02, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 69
Send us a text Chad Dotson has devoted A LOT of time to observing game animals, in Africa and right here in Northeast Oregon. He's spent a couple of stints in Namibia trading work on a large game ranch for room and board. There, he had the opportunity to harvest an incredible kudu, amongst other species. Since 2013, he has guided for elk on the Zumwalt Prairie, an enormous grassland here in Wallowa County. During that time, Chad has recorded information on every animal harvested to understand ho...
Jul 26, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Season 2Ep. 68
Send us a text There's no one in this world that I respect more than Jack Ramson. He currently serves as a USMC First Sergeant with the NWSS Unit for the Air Wing. I first met Jack at tank school in Fort Knox, Kentucky where he was one of my instructors. After deploying in Afghanistan as a Tank Platoon Commander, Jack eventually joined my platoon serving his last combat deployment as my wingman. Words cannot describe what this man means to me, or how grateful I am to have served with him. In thi...
Jul 19, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Season 2Ep. 67
Send us a text Laura Zerra is the real deal. She's a primitive survivalist, hunter, and nomad who has competed 5 separate times on the Discovery Channel show “Naked and Afraid", living a total of 156 days in full survival mode. As a former vegan turned hunter, Laura's relationship to hunting is both fascinating and relatable. Through hunting, Laura has connected with animals and the land in a deeper way than ever before. Laura has the mental toughness, skill set, and knowledge to push through di...
Jul 12, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 66
Send us a text Buckle in folks, because this episode is packed with information. Pat Valkenburg is a retired wildlife biologist who spent most of his career studying moose and caribou for Alaska Department of Fish and Game. He now owns a flying business where he specializes in wildlife surveys. With my upcoming moose hunt this fall, I wanted to sit down with an expert, and learn everything I can about this animal; their biology, behavior, evolution, and physiology. We also get into bears, caribo...
Jul 05, 2021•1 hr 33 min•Season 2Ep. 65
Send us a text Tom Bonamici is a craftsman. With a background in product design and architecture, he has produced bags and clothing for several companies including his own. He's a custom wood worker specializing in furniture and timber framing construction with all wood joinery. Tom also happens to be the best person to have on a hunting trip if you forget your titanium spork. In this episode, Tom gives us some really solid advice on how to whittle useful items in the backcountry. What tools to ...
Jun 28, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 64
Send us a text We just wrapped up the first ever SIG Sauer Hunter Games at the Queen Mountain Guest Ranch in Evanston, Wyoming. This competition was meant to challenge each hunter's shooting, glassing, and physical abilities with realistic hunting scenarios. At the Hunter Games, Dustin Parent served as the range safety officer for Team Wolverine and is the perfect person to go over this competition with. Dustin has served as a law enforcement officer for the past 19 years and is the commander of...
Jun 21, 2021•54 min•Season 2Ep. 63
Send us a text What do you get when you ask two people with no hunting experience listener submitted hunting questions? Turns out, some surprisingly good advice. This week, I'm at the Queen Mountain Ranch in Evanston, Wyoming getting ready for the SIG Sauer Hunter Games, where celebrity and SIG elite guide hunters will compete for the crown. But before the competition starts, I had the chance to sit down with Aisling Meehan & Caitlin Ferdyn, event planners at SIG Sauer. I get their take on l...
Jun 14, 2021•49 min•Season 2Ep. 62
Send us a text The best word I can use to describe Kirk Skovlin is tenacious. He's the hardest worker I've ever met, and is something of a local legend here in Northeast Oregon, known for his grit and determination in everything he does. Kirk is an excellent bow hunter and artist. He's been packing horses and mules into the wilderness for decades and has some crazy backcountry stories to tell. I learn a lot about hunting every time I talk to Kirk, and our conversation in this episode is no diffe...
Jun 07, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 61
Send us a text Jim Akenson has led a full and adventurous life. He and his wife, Holly, spent over two decades living in the extremely remote Frank Church Wilderness where they served as caretakers for University of Idaho's Taylor Research Station. While at Taylor, Jim and Holly studied bighorn sheep, cougars, bobcats, wolves, and made countless contributions to our understanding of wildlife biology. For the past 5 years, Jim was the Conservation Director for Oregon Hunters Association, and rece...
May 31, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Season 2Ep. 60
Send us a text Lorenzo Sartini has wanted to work in the hunting industry since he was a kid. An avid hunter himself, Lorenzo saw a need for convenience in the way western hunters research and plan for hunts with filterable data to accommodate their personal goals. In 2013, he founded goHUNT, the premier and full suite of western hunting products. A goHUNT Insider membership helps you research applications, maximize tag opportunities, and build your multi-state hunt calendar as full as you want ...
May 24, 2021•54 min•Season 2Ep. 59
Send us a text It can be intimidating for people new to hunting and fishing to get into these sports. Women, in particular, often have to deal with the added barrier of being the only female at the range or fly shop. My guests today, Christi Holmes and Jill LaPlante, are two avid outdoorsman doing the work to break down those barriers and mentor women interested in hunting and fishing. Both engineers, Jill and Christi each started women's Northeast hunting groups to promote and empower women to ...
May 17, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 58
Send us a text Only 11 people live year-round in the 2.3 million acres of the Frank Church Wilderness, and Aubrey Barton is one of them. Aubrey is the caretaker at Indian Creek Ranch, where she homesteads alone through long cold winters and blistering hot summers. With only 2 weekend trips a year into town, Aubrey is as capable and self sufficient as they come. She grows and harvests hay, packs horses, hunts bear and wolves, runs a trap line and is all around kicking ass in the largest continuou...
May 10, 2021•44 min•Season 2Ep. 57
Send us a text My little sister, Adele Schott, is tough. She's raising kids and cows all at the same time. With her sons, 2 month old Ira and 2 year old Hank in tow, Adele and her husband have recently started a ranch of their own. Mother's Day is just around the corner, and in this episode, we cover what it was like growing up on a ranch, how to raise the next generation of good land stewards, and the best way to cook a burger. Adele on Instagram...
May 03, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Season 2Ep. 56
Send us a text One year ago, I recorded the first ever episode of the 6 Ranch Podcast on the wild and scenic Snake River with Bruce Wassom, founder of Rogue Jet Boatworks. It seems only fitting that I chat with Bruce a year later after running jets up the Salmon through the Frank Church Wilderness. And this time we're also joined by Bruce's good friend, Pat Juhl. Pat's passion is mule deer, having served both as the CEO and chairman of the board of the National Mule Deer Foundation. Bruce and Pa...
Apr 26, 2021•58 min•Season 2Ep. 55
Send us a text True Pearce wears many hats. He's a practicing attorney, the editor of Guns America and Hunt 365, a competitive shooter, firearms instructor, Cabela’s Pro Staff, and avid hunter. He’s a sponsored 3 gun shooter but has also competed in other disciplines including long range F Class, USPSA, and IDPA. With a new president in office and a national ammo shortage, these are scary times for responsible gun owners and advocates. In this episode, True and I tackle the question of how we ca...
Apr 19, 2021•54 min•Season 2Ep. 54
Send us a text Lars Skovlin just got off his first season crab fishing in the Bering Sea aboard the Lady Alaska. If you've ever watched the Deadliest Catch, you know how dangerous this work can be. Sometimes out for 30 days straight, crab fisherman work long, hard hours where it's easy to get in trouble if you're not on your A-game at all times. As a greenhorn, Lars experienced and learned a lot in a short time. From steering the ship in 30 ft swells to baiting pots and sorting crab, he's excite...
Apr 12, 2021•45 min•Season 2Ep. 53
Send us a text Today, I'm joined by the CEO of Nautilus Reels, Kristen Mustad. Nautilus' mission is to make the world’s best fly reel, and through years of persistence and innovation, they have created a truly excellent product. Kristen's family has been in the fishing industry since the 1830's, and his vast knowledge and life experience have lead Nautilus Reels to be the industry standard. In this episode we discuss how Nautilus stands apart, tips for saltwater fly fishing, and the best fishing...
Apr 05, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 52
Send us a text This week, we're recording from south Texas, fresh off two incredible hunts for axis deer and feral hogs. I'm joined by my hunting guide, Brandon Blanch of El Sapo Guide Service. Brandon's breadth of knowledge is unreal. He guides for an insane amount of species, from trophy Texas whitetails to an array of trophy exotics, covering over 50,000 acres of land. When folks think of Texas hunting, there are a lot of misconceptions and negative feelings. But Brandon does it right. He put...
Mar 29, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Season 2Ep. 51
Send us a text Week two of the Sig Sauer Elite Hunter Training Forum has just been incredible. The opportunity to be surrounded by so many talented and dedicated hunters is unreal. My guests on this episode are all experts in their field, but hunt for very different animals. Jake Herak tracks mountain lions and is featured on the History channel's show Mountain Men. Brian Sanders of Oregon Backcountry Outfitting is the best Elk guide in the state. And Mike Kimmel, the Python Cowboy, removes gian...
Mar 22, 2021•1 hr 27 min•Season 2Ep. 50
Send us a text This week, Bam Marshall and I are recording from the incredible Grey Cliffs Ranch, west of Bozeman Montana, for the Sig Sauer Elite Hunter Training Forum. We're testing new products, honing our skills, and learning from some of the best hunters and shooters in the world. Bam works for Kryptek, is a Sig elite hunter, a guide, and a USMC veteran. We discuss our favorite hunting tech, the best game meat, innovation in hunting companies, and what it means to serve your country. Bam on...
Mar 15, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Season 2Ep. 49
Send us a text Hunting is an intimidating sport to get into if you're starting from square one. How can you become effective if you don't know anyone who hunts? Where do you even start? Finn Both grew up in the suburbs of Seattle, and is now a college student at Boise State University. Neither of his parents hunt, but he decided at the age of 11 that he was going to learn. Finn taught himself how to archery and rifle hunt watching youtube videos, reading forums, and listening to podcasts. Many p...
Mar 08, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 48
Send us a text When it comes to flying the Eagle Cap Wilderness and Hells Canyon, Joe Spence is a local legend. Joe knew he wanted to be a pilot since he was 5 years old, and in 1978, he joined the Joseph Flyers Club and started training. Over the course of his career, he has logged about 20,000 flight hours. This man has literally spent over two years of his life in the air. Operating a Cessna 206 and a Piper Cub, Joe has done countless game census flights, trained a lot of pilots, and saved nu...
Feb 22, 2021•57 min•Season 2Ep. 46
Send us a text No animal in the U.S. has faced as much persecution or been as controversial as the gray wolf. As settlers moved out west and began farming and ranching, they came into direct competition with this predator. By the early 20th century, hunting and government sponsored wolf bounties had brought this animal to near extinction in the lower 48. But that all changed when wolves were reintroduced, first to Yellowstone and Idaho, and then eventually to Oregon. Today, I'm joined by a very ...
Feb 15, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 45
Send us a text The future is coming whether you like it or not. Why not prepare for it as best as you can? Today, I'm joined by Cody Rich of The Rich Outdoors podcast, to talk about the futurology of hunting. What will hunting and hunting technology be like in 50 years? What will the state of our deer and elk populations be? Will people even really hunt, or will it all be virtual reality? Now, Cody and I don't claim to be academic futurologists, but this is something we've given a lot of thought...
Feb 08, 2021•1 hr 25 min•Season 2Ep. 47
Send us a text Ben Winner and I go way back to our wildland fire rappeller days, fighting fires in Northeast Oregon. Ben is a total badass. After jumping out of helicopters for a living, he learned to fly them. Ben served as a Blackhawk pilot in the army, spending a decade flying missions in the Middle East. He now works as a contractor and owns his own company, Tier 1 Kinetics, that specializes in curating gear for the tier 1 community, from sunglasses and apparel to guns and ammunition. Ben is...
Feb 08, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 44
Send us a text After a cold week of ice fishing in Montana on Fort Peck Lake, I'm joined by my good friend, the Iceman himself, Josh VanWoert. I met Josh on my first day of college, 17 years ago, where he got his degree in wildlife biology. Josh works for Anderson & Platt Fly Fishing Outfitters out of Dillon, MT. He's an amazing angler and fly tyer with his own patented fly: Josh's Cosmic Crane. Josh is so passionate about ice fishing, that he takes two months off every year just to pursue t...
Feb 01, 2021•54 min•Season 2Ep. 43
Send us a text Today, I'm joined by sniper and survival expert, Mark D'Ambrosio. Mark is a USMC veteran with close to ten years experience conducting Reconnaissance and Scout Sniper operations. While in uniform, Mark was hand selected to serve as the chief instructor for the Marine Corps' exceedingly challenging Mountain Scout Sniper and Mountain Survival Courses. After his time in the military, Mark started his own business (International Mountain Survival) to teach shooting and survival skills...
Jan 25, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 42
