Big Hunt Guys

Trail and Brady sit down to recap Trail’s September archery elk hunts on this episode of the Big Hunt Guys Podcast. They talk about the highs and lows of chasing elk with a bow, close encounters, tough days in the mountains, and the lessons Trail took away from the month. From bugling bulls and long days in the backcountry to the moments that almost came together, Trail and Brady break down what September elk hunting was really like and what it takes to keep grinding when the mountain doesn’t give you an easy opportunity. If you love archery elk hunting, mountain adventures, and the stories that come with chasing big bulls, this episode is for you.

Get $50 in GOHUNT Shop Credit for Insider by using promo code PODCAST:
https://www.gohunt.com/user/register?plan=insider&promo=podcast

Jess Laughter is back, and she brought a great hunt story with her. After drawing a tag in a state where she'd never hunted deer, Jess did everything she could to prepare.

Once the hunt started, the water she'd found while scouting was gone, two big bucks sort of gave her the slip, and she passed a lot of good deer while trying to find one of her target bucks. By day five, she was low on food and second-guessing everything. Finally, after pushing hard day after day and trusting her gut, it happened. Jess walks us through dry-firing on him, losing sight of the buck for an hour, and finally closing the deal at 180 yards on a crazy-cool buck, which is now her biggest buck ever. It only takes one.
Get $50 in GOHUNT Shop Credit for Insider by using promo code PODCAST:
https://www.gohunt.com/user/register?plan=insider&promo=podcast

Austin Folkman from our GOHUNT Insider+ team is back on the podcast! We talk big-buck stories to giant-buck stories, and much more. Brady kicks things off with a quick look at how Insider+ is helping members fill tags across the West, and why now is the time to start your 2027 plan with updated Draw Odds already live for a bunch of states.

Then it's mule deer talk. Austin grabbed a leftover archery tag days before the opener... after plenty of years without bowhunting, a scramble to find his bow, and just three arrows that didn't even match. Four stalks over nine days of weekend-warrior hunting to close the deal, including five straight hours spent sitting in range, waiting for the buck to stand, and it ended with one of his best bucks ever.

We wrap up with the story of a 216" velvet giant that Austin helped his best friend's dad take on a draw tag, and I share a few details (more to come) from my own recent muzzleloader deer hunt.

Get $50 in GOHUNT Shop Credit for Insider by using promo code PODCAST:
https://www.gohunt.com/user/register?plan=insider&promo=podcast

I've had the Leica Geovid Max binoculars in hand for a while now at the range, scouting, and an upcoming hunt with them, and I gotta say, throwing all bias aside, even though we sell a ton of optics here at GOHUNT... Leica knocked it out of the park with the new Geovid Max.

On this episode, I sit down with Hamilton Boykin, Leica's Product and Training Manager, to go deep in the weeds on what makes this rangefinding binocular special. The Geovid Max means max everything: max range, max optical clarity, max speed. We discuss Leica's customizable heads-up display and how you can add as much data as you'd ever want, or clean it up and just see the essentials, depending on how you want the optic to work for you. The Geovid Max is rated to 8,200 yards on reflective targets, 4,600 yards on rock faces and trees, and 2,900 yards on deer-sized targets.

Hamilton's been with Leica for 18 years and clearly lives this stuff, and I'd say he truly loves optics, just like me.

Check out Brady's full article review here: https://www.gohunt.com/browse/gear-lists-and-reviews/glassing/leica-geovid-max-a-rangefinding-binocular-that-truly-does-it-all

The Leica Geovid Max 10x42 binoculars are available now at the GOHUNT Gear Shop: https://shop.gohunt.com/products/leica-10x42-geovid-max

Trail is back from Idaho and joins Brady to recap his latest archery elk hunt. He breaks down the hunt from start to finish, including the conditions, finding elk, getting into bow range, and ultimately killing a young bull with his bow. Trail and Brady talk through the decisions that led to the shot, what went right, what went wrong, and the lessons Trail is taking into the rest of elk season.

Get $50 in GOHUNT Shop Credit for Insider by using promo code PODCAST:
https://www.gohunt.com/user/register?plan=insider&promo=podcast