In this solo round, Jaden breaks down the fundamentals of boots-on-the-ground scouting for mule deer and elk. Whether you're heading to the high country, the desert lowlands, or planning a rut hunt in between, this episode serves as a crash course in when, where, and how to scout. From picking glassing knobs to understanding deer and elk behavior by season, it’s a no-BS overview fueled by listener questions that’ll help you get more out of your time afield. Perfect for first-timers or anyone looking to level up their pre-season prep.

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You can now can tap into my brain without booking a full consulting call. The Virtual Hunt Buddy is up and running and ready to help you get your plans in order—24/7, no scheduling required.

It’s trained on everything I’ve said or written about western hunts in the last 6 years. If you’re trying to build a gear list, pick a week to hunt, or figure out where to put your glass on opening morning, this tool can help.

It doesn't cost a dime to give it a whirl.

👉 Try the Hunt Buddy Here >>

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Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

Learn about Hunt West planning services >>

Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>

Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.

If you've ever wondered what it really takes to hunt deep in the backcountry—and make it back out in one piece—you’ll want to listen to this one.

Jaden sits down with Brad Brooks, founder of Argali, to talk all things backpack hunting logistics. From elk vs. mule deer strategies, to hauling meat solo, to common gear mistakes—this conversation is full of hard-earned lessons and straight-shooting wisdom.

Brad shares personal stories (including a 7.5-mile elk packout with a camera guy), breaks down his “spoke-and-wheel” base camp method, and dishes on why quilts are overrated and your boots probably suck (unless you found the right ones for you).

We hope you enjoy the episode.

Watch and Subscribe to Argali's YouTube here >>

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You can now can tap into my brain without booking a full consulting call. The Virtual Hunt Buddy is up and running and ready to help you get your plans in order—24/7, no scheduling required.

It’s trained on everything I’ve said or written about western hunts in the last 6 years. If you’re trying to build a gear list, pick a week to hunt, or figure out where to put your glass on opening morning, this tool can help.

It doesn't cost a dime to give it a whirl.

👉 Try the Hunt Buddy Here >>

_____

Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

Learn about Hunt West planning services >>

Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>

If you want to go to Argentina in 2026 THERE ARE ONLY TWO SPOTS LEFT! Contact Jaden at Jaden@huntwest.net to learn more.

Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.

In this episode, Jaden takes you along on a midday glassing session from a real knob in Montana, where he breaks down how to effectively find—and use—glassing points to locate game. This isn’t about “killing spots,” it’s about how and where to find animals before you can make a move. Whether you’re e-scouting this summer or mid-hunt and struggling to find critters, Jaden lays out a practical, detailed framework to help you locate game from glassing knobs using real hunting scenarios and terrain examples.

• How to e-scout for effective glassing knobs

• Terrain features that make great glassing knobs (e.g. logging roads, elevation benches, and steep draws)

• Pros and cons of glassing from roads, knobs, and highway pullouts

• When to prioritize elevation vs. accessibility

• How thermals, wind, and sun exposure affect animal behavior—and how to glass accordingly

• Gear tips: simple optics setups and gridding methods for scanning terrain

• Real stories of successful deer and elk hunts built around strategic glassing (including a double buck harvest with his brother)

We hope you enjoy this show!

_____

You can now can tap into my brain without booking a full consulting call. The Virtual Hunt Buddy is up and running and ready to help you get your plans in order—24/7, no scheduling required.

It’s trained on everything I’ve said or written about western hunts in the last 6 years. If you’re trying to build a gear list, pick a week to hunt, or figure out where to put your glass on opening morning, this tool can help.

You get 3 free messages to try it. After that, it’s just $10.

👉 Try the Hunt Buddy Here >>

_____

Subscribe to the Hunt West Weekly Email Here >>

Learn about Hunt West planning services >>

Follow Hunt West on Instagram >>

If you want to go to Argentina in 2026 THERE ARE ONLY TWO SPOTS LEFT! Contact Jaden at Jaden@huntwest.net to learn more.

Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.