Drawn West

If you've been daydreaming about real deer camp adventure but feel stuck by time, money, or gear, this conversation will feel relevant. Tom LaLond from XOP joins me to break down attainable whitetail trips on realistic budgets, the culture behind XOP's gear labs, and how building one dialed-in kit frees up money to hunt more states.We walk through what attainable adventure actually looks like in states like Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, and the Appalachians — where a $2,500 trip is the real constraint, not a marketing line. Then we get into mobile stand setups, packing systems, and why smarter clothing choices matter more than adding another layer to the pile.00:00:00 – Introducing Tom LaLond and the XOP deer camp world00:01:30 – How deer camp culture and camaraderie became the core of XOP gear labs00:03:20 – Attainable adventure: $2,500 trip budgets and hunting everyday states00:07:20 – Nebraska gear lab: cheap tents, shared gear, and what made it memorable00:35:40 – Packing a mobile whitetail kit: skinny packs, layer order, and tree efficiency00:37:50 – One kit, more tags: spending less on gear to hunt more states00:39:45 – Bluff country clothing: hiking cold, managing sweat, and building a puffy systemTopics Covered:• What XOP's deer camp gear labs are and why serious hunters keep choosing them• How to frame and plan a $2,500 attainable adventure trip in almost any state• Packing a mobile whitetail kit efficiently from bag to tree• Why one complete setup beats five halfway-finished ones — and frees up tag money• Puffy vs bib layering systems for cold, steep, sweat-inducing terrainIf this episode sparks a few ideas for your own deer camps or mobile setups, share it with someone you'd want in camp and hit follow so you don't miss the next one.Stay Ahead of Hunting Season with the Drawn West Newsletter.Get practical emails on deadlines, draw strategy, new episodes, and giveawayupdates.Join Here: https://www.getdrawnwest.com/newsletterLooking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latestarticle!https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/best-elk-calls-for-beginnersFREE Gear Checklist:https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gearConnect with Brian Krebshttps://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest HaveQuestions or Comments? Send an email to [email protected]!Sponsorsand Discounts:GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4GOHUNTGear Shop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4uSave10% on Maverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest

You've probably looked at sheep tag odds and thought — that's never happening. The numbers are brutal. Most states are handing out a handful of tags to thousands of applicants, and the herds aren't exactly booming. But there's a population in the Black Canyon of Colorado that just got its first hunt tag in over 80 years, and a wildlife researcher who's been tracking every sheep in that canyon for the last two years using 71 trail cameras. The results are pretty interesting.Cody Hinkley is wrapping up his master's research at Western Colorado University, and his thesis asks a simple but important question: can trail cameras replace expensive, dangerous helicopter surveys to monitor bighorn sheep populations? If the answer is yes, it changes how wildlife managers across the West track herds — and potentially how tags get allocated.In this episode, we break down how the mark-resight method works, what the population data actually shows for this herd, and what the disease threatening sheep herds nationwide would take to solve. We also get into the honest reality of what it would take — population-wise — for a non-resident to have a realistic shot at drawing a tag in their lifetime.Highlights:• How trail cameras can be used to estimate wildlife population size and sex ratios — and why it matters for tag allocation• Why this Colorado Black Canyon herd is an anomaly — growing when most sheep herds are struggling• The preliminary data: ~80 sheep, and more rams than ewes, with implications for future tag numbers• Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (MOVI) — the disease from domestic sheep that is the #1 management threat to bighorn herds nationwide• What "full curl" means, when rams reach maturity, and how wildlife managers think about harvestable surplus• Realistic advice for hunters who want a sheep tag someday — including which states to watch and why Colorado is worth a closer look• Why whitetail hunters can actually run a mini population survey on their own property using the same scienceIf you want to follow Cody's research when it's published, keep an eye on his work coming out of Western Colorado University — he's planning to make it publicly accessible. And if you haven't already, subscribe to the Drawn West podcast so you don't miss episodes like this one.https://www.instagram.com/codymhinkley/Stay Ahead of Hunting Season with the Drawn West Newsletter.Get practical emails on deadlines, draw strategy, new episodes, and giveawayupdates.Join Here: https://www.getdrawnwest.com/newsletterLooking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latestarticle!https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/best-elk-calls-for-beginners  FREE Gear Checklist:https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gearConnect with Brian Krebshttps://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest HaveQuestions or Comments? Send an email to [email protected]!Sponsorsand Discounts:GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4GOHUNTGear Shop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4uSave10%on Maverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest

If you’ve ever tried to glass all day on a steep hillside and felt your lower back lock up, this episode is going to hit home. I sit down with Steven Giles from DRT Hunting to talk about the Recon Lounger—a rifle cover that turns into a legit glassing chair—and how one well designed piece of gear can keep you comfortable, protect your optic, and replace two or three other items in your pack. We dig into the engineering behind it, the real world use cases, and how a multi use mindset changes the way you hunt out West.Steven is a manufacturing engineer and co founder of DRT Hunting, and he built the Recon Lounger out of his own frustration with sore backs, sap covered jackets, and expensive optics getting beat up in rough country. The result is a thousand denier, carbon reinforced rifle cover that unfolds into a stadium style chair, doubles as a shooting support, and even pulls duty in your sleep system—all without adding another bulky, single use item to your pack.We talk through why comfort actually keeps you “in the game” longer behind the glass, how Western residents and non residents think differently about glassing, and why multi use gear matters more as hunts get more remote and expensive. If you’re the kind of hunter who tinkers with homemade scope covers, hates traditional slings, and loves figuring out new ways to use the gear you already carry, this conversation will give you a bunch of practical ideas to test on your next mule deer, elk, antelope, or coyote hunt.Highlights• The Dirt/DRT origin story, “dead right there” name, and bison logo.• How the Recon Lounger works as a rifle cover, scope shield, and glassing chair.• Why comfort behind the glass matters for long Western hunts.• Multi use field applications from rifle cover to chair, pad, and camp utility.• Real hunt use cases from long glassing sessions to packing out birds or sheds.• Manufacturing lessons from prototyping to over building and show season inventory.• Using knowledge and creativity to carry less gear and solve more problems afield.If this episode gives you ideas for making your pack lighter and your glassing more comfortable, hit follow on the podcast and share this one with a hunting buddy who’s always tweaking their gear setup. You can check out the Recon Lounger and follow Steven’s crew at dirthunting.com and @drt_hunting on Instagram—links are in the show noteshttps://www.instagram.com/drt_hunting/https://www.drthunting.com/  Stay Ahead of Hunting Season with the Drawn West Newsletter.Get practical emails on deadlines, draw strategy, new episodes, and giveawayupdates.Join Here: https://www.getdrawnwest.com/newsletterLooking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latestarticle!https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/best-elk-calls-for-beginnersFREE Gear Checklist:https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gearConnect with Brian Krebshttps://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest HaveQuestions or Comments? Send an email to [email protected]!Sponsorsand Discounts:GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4GOHUNTGear Shop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4uSave10%on Maverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest

It can be hard for women to find a mentor in the hunting world. Taylor Gutierrez is changing that. Taylor grew up in Colorado where grabbing an elk tag on a free weekend was just... a thing people do. She didn't realize how rare that was until she started teaching women who are brand-new to hunting and have no idea where to start. This conversation is part draw system deep-dive, part honest guide to how women can get into Western hunting without it being weird or unsafe.We get into Colorado's point system—elk, pronghorn, the big three—and what the 2028 OTC and Northwest corner changes actually mean for hunters at different point levels. From there Taylor talks through her work with Uncharted Outdoors Women and why education-first programs are in such high demand from women who want to learn but don't know who to trust.What we cover:• Why Colorado residents still have serious OTC and leftover opportunity—and how to use it• Point creep in the Northwest corner and what the 2028 changes mean for 30+ point elk holders• The pronghorn trap: a perfect starter hunt, but good rifle tags now take 5+ points• How Taylor got a 14-point pronghorn tag off the leftover list and tagged out in 27 minutes• Why solo elk hunting is a bad idea—and how to find the right hunting partners as a woman• What women's elk camp actually looks like and why it sells out fastIf this one was useful, hit follow so you don't miss the next one—and share it with someone who's been saying "I want to go out West someday."Stay Ahead of Hunting Season with the Drawn West Newsletter.Get practical emails on deadlines, draw strategy, new episodes, and giveawayupdates.Join Here: https://www.getdrawnwest.com/newsletterLooking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latestarticle!https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/best-elk-calls-for-beginners FREE Gear Checklist:https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gearConnect with Brian Krebshttps://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest HaveQuestions or Comments? Send an email to [email protected]!Sponsorsand Discounts:GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4GOHUNTGear Shop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4uSave10%on Maverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest

If you’ve ever daydreamed about drawing a Maine moose tag, chasing bugling bulls in Colorado, or finally taking turkey season seriously, this episode is for you!Brian sits down with Maine-based hunter and filmmaker Jacob Haskell to talk about what it actually takes to draw these tags, how the odds and bonus points really play out, and why these hunts are more realistic than most people assume. Along the way they break down real pack-outs, close calls, missed opportunities, and the kind of strategy that turns “someday” hunts into actual dates on the calendar.Jacob walks through the Maine moose lottery from his own experience—what the nonresident odds look like, how Maine’s bonus point system behaves more like a raffle than a true preference system, and why he still calls it a once-in-a-lifetime hunt. He explains how the hunt actually feels in northern Maine: logging roads, clearcuts, bogs, calling bulls into bow range, and why success is still high if you do things right, even with tick issues and shifting populations.From there, Brian and Jacob compare Maine moose to Western elk, including Colorado’s brutal moose odds, over-the-counter elk experiences, and what realistic expectations look like when you’re playing long odds across multiple states. The back half of the episode dives into turkey hunting—reaping tactics, using full-fan decoys, bow vs shotgun setups, and why turkey season might be the best way to get new hunters hooked on calling, movement, and decision-making in the field.Highlights• How Maine’s bonus point system and extra entries actually work for nonresidents, and why long-time applicants can still get leapfrogged by newer hunters.• What a modern Maine moose hunt looks like on the ground—pressure from roads, using calls in September vs October, and how to make the most of a one-week season.• Real-world pack-out stories comparing a Maine bull moose to a giant North Dakota elk, including meat yields, quarter weights, and the mental side of multiple trips.• Why Maine moose success can still be high despite tick issues, and how biologists and outfitters are adapting to keep the hunt meaningful.• How Jacob’s first Colorado archery elk hunt went down—close encounters, setup mistakes, and the decision to pass a risky shot at less than 20 yards.• Practical turkey tactics: full-fan Tom decoys with real fans, using reaping safely, roost scouting, and calling sequences that pull gobblers off the limb.• How Jacob built his “The Pursuit Hunt” brand, films hunts across the Northeast and West, and uses YouTube to share these stories.If this episode helps you see Maine moose, Colorado elk, or serious turkey hunts as actually possible, subscribe to the Drawn West podcast and drop a rating or review so more hunters can find it. Then go check out Jacob’s “The Pursuit Hunt” on YouTube and thepursuithunt.com—his Maine moose film alone is worth the watch!https://www.instagram.com/thepursuithunt/https://www.youtube.com/@thepursuithunt  Stay Ahead of Hunting Season with the Drawn West Newsletter.Get practical emails on deadlines, draw strategy, new episodes, and giveawayupdates.Join Here: https://www.getdrawnwest.com/newsletterFREE Gear Checklist:https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gearConnect with Brian Krebshttps://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest HaveQuestions or Comments? Send an email to [email protected]!Sponsorsand Discounts:GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4GOHUNTGear Shop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4uSave10%on Maverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest