In this Episode (160) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy catches up with past guest, Clay Hayes.  Topics covered include Clay's appearance on Season 8 of the reality TV show ALONE. Also covered are building your own bow, getting as close as possible, defining your own mountain to climb, skills needed for intimate-distance hunting, mental conditioning, teaching your skills, survival when needed, grouse priorities, and a host of other topics that will entertain you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this shortened episode (159) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio Randy goes solo and gives some updates on podcast delays, makes a call for topics and guests to augment his own topic ideas, explains why policy and politics is a hunting topic, outlines content distribution plans being considered, updates on the 2021 hunt schedule, a quick overview of Arizona deer and sheep draw, and gives a Memorial Day tribute to a friend lost too soon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode (158) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares the mic with Andrew McKean.  Andrew's background as with Outdoor Life and his many years as a volunteer give a unique perspective to discuss the issues of our time.  Those topics include, politics hurting hunting, optimism in darkness, being uncomfortable, too much R3, it is all access, conservation matters, management of mismanagement, how much ground we have lost, crowding, the benefits of diversity, and tangents to put a smile on your face. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares the mic with Dave Willms and Nephi Cole, both avid elk hunters and former policy advisors for Wyoming Governor Matt Meade.  Topics covered include how the game works, an insider's perspective, what not to do, what to do, too much R3, lost access, conservation matters, managing hunters and hunting, elk hunting stories, and other great tangents from three passionate hunters who are concerned about wild places and wild things. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Bonus episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy gives the 2021 update on applying for deer and elk in Colorado.  Topics covered include deadlines, preference point system, over-the-counter tags, excellent dates for 2021 deer hunting, likely point creep, tag-teaming deer and elk hunts together, and all other things you need to know about Colorado applications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode (156) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy and Marcus are ice fishing, mostly fishing for answers to how hunters can better understand the political process and increase their advocacy.  Topics covered include trends in hunting topics becoming political, how the game works, why we might need new organizations to be effective, hunters must jump in the game, using your own network, solo or group, citizen legislators, paying dues is not advocacy, the detriments of being partisan, don't burn bridges, passion v. emotion, and other topics that give some insight to what likely is ahead for hunting and politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode (155) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy is joined by Steven Drake, passionate hunter and adventure photographer.  Topics covered include making your passion your business, hunting for adventure, avalanche mountain goats, photography through a different lens, avoiding the dead horse roll, ski racer goes hunting, learning on the job, forcing yourself to be uncomfortable, mountain discomforts, and many other topics from a guy who has traveled the world capturing hunting images. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy gives the 2021 highlights of the Utah application process prior to the March 4th deadline.  Topics covered include deadlines, how the system works, fees, upfront costs, and what species are available to non-residents.  Utah draw odds are really tough, but if you are lucky enough to draw, it is worth the price and worth the effort.  For more details, check out the INSIDER at goHUNT.com and use promo code RANDY to get a $50 gift card. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode (154) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio Randy shares the mic with Mac Minard, Executive Director of the Montana Outfitter and Guides Association.  The discussion revolves around MT Senate Bill 143 that would take 60% now 39% of the non-resident deer/elk tags and give preference to those non-residents using the services of an outfitter.  This is a contentious issue being debated in the Montana Legislature in 2021.  Topics covered will hopefully give the listener perspectives of how our wildlife resources are being readjusted by state legislatures rather than our historic manners of state fish & game commissions and show the importance of being involved and informed of how your hunting opportunities can be impacted by the political process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode (153) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy, Marcus, and Michael talk about Michael's Idaho elk hunt in a hard-to-draw unit.  In addition to that hunt, a season recap is provided, explaining how to make a story from the most difficult of hunts, working your plan, glory tags that aren't very glorious, when things don't go well, what a season looks like behind the scenes, things we do wrong more than once, taking good luck when it comes your way, planning for success and preparing for struggle, film permit intricacies, and a host of other highlights to our most challenging season 13 years of production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy is joined by Brandon Evans, Head of Research at goHUNT.com.  Though this episode focuses on Arizona, with Brandon the topics diverts to explanation of how draw odds are calculated in complicated states like Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico.  Brandon explains the Arizona system, how to use your choices, strategies to improve your odds, and how goHUNT simulates draws over hundreds of thousands of replications.  Also discussed are deadlines, how the AZ draw works, maximizing your investment, short/mid/long-term elk options in AZ, and a host of other timely topics to consideration with the approaching Arizona deadline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode (152) of Leupold's Hunt Talk radio, Randy hosts Dr. Matt Kauffman and Greg Nickerson of the Wyoming Migration Initiative.  Topics covered include migrations, emerging science, landscape challenges, new technology for wildlife tracking, prioritizing wildlife corridors, making science consumable, why migrate, risks or rewards in migration, how much we don't know, and a lot of cool topics about the emerging understanding of wildlife migrations and the importance to wildlife populations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy share the mic with Brady and Trail from goHUNT.com.  The topic starts with "point creep," where point creep comes from, and what to expect in the coming years.  Other topics include overview of each state, where value exists, how to hunt every year, short/mid/long-term plans, what information to consider, point buyers, systems of each state, and a host of other tidbits that will improve your odds of drawing a good tag each year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares a mic with seasonal guests Jim Heffelfinger and Johnathan O'Dell.  As scientists and biologists, they manage wildlife at the mercy of Mother Nature.  Topics covered include drought impacts, disease impacts on big and small game, hunting the Pleistocene, nutrition cycles, waterfowl diseases, too many quail, season setting, man made water sources, predation in drought years, desert adaptations, rabbit and hares, and many more topics about hunting and wildlife in the desert. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy covers all the details needed to understand the Wyoming elk tag application system for non-residents in 2021.  Topics covered include deadlines, how the system works, Special versus Regular draw, how the preference point system works, random tag opportunities, Type 9 tags, getting the most for your investment, short and long-term strategies, and some other tidbits that hopefully help you draw your Wyoming elk tag this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode (149) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy goes a bit unfiltered as he shares a COVID recovery day talking to Hal Herring about many issues of politics, conservation, easements, guns, nationalized elections, loss of local media outlets, competition for ideas, voting monopolies, crowded woods during COVID, the good 2A-conservation politician connecting single-issue 2A voting and anti-public landers, and a lot of other issues that try to explain how we end up with the policy positions we do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode (148) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy and Marcus give a recap of their week in Arizona chasing Coues deer and Gamble's quail.  Topics covered include warm climate hunting, opportunity hunts, being too selective, trusting your gut, mountain lions, full chokes for quail, hunting with family & friends, water and drought cycles, dime store hunts, filling freezers of filling memory bank, and many other topics that wrap up a weird season that was 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy gives a brief overview of how to hunt Alaska in 2021.  Topics covered include the draw system, species available, costs, deadlines, quirks and rules to use for your advantage.  Alaska is a hunter's dreamland, more possible than most think.  If Alaska is one of your hunting goals, now is the time to do it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode (147) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy gives his overview of the 2021 tag application season that starts with Alaska.  Every year some dreams of special places or species becomes reality when a prepared and informed hunter draws a dream tag.  To be one of those hunters, you first need a tag, which requires a plan and a budget.  This is a discussion of how to do that; getting value for your investment, prioritizes your hunting goals, making a short-term/mid-term/long-term plan, and knowing how the systems work to accomplish your hunting dreams.  Good luck in 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode (146) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio Randy and Marcus give a mid-season update. Topics covered include updates on Alaska moose and caribou, Wyoming deer, Colorado elk, Idaho elk, New Mexico elk, mistakes we've made, oversights, how to handle a mistake, transparency, read the regulations, complications of hunting multiple states, planning for 2021, southeast Alaska deer hunting, tents are overrated, Randy self-filming his elk hunt, and other ramblings half way through a long season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this short Bonus Episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy returns to discuss "Stamp It Forward," a creative conservation idea put together by Sam and Josh Soholt.  Topics covered include what Duck Stamps pay for, the history of the duck stamp, National Wildlife Refuge system, waterfowl hunting, how you can help, and other side notes that hopefully make you aware of how important the Duck Stamp program is for conservation of many species, not just waterfowl. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode (145) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares the mic with Brian Yablonski, CEO of Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), the founders and leading voices in Free Market Environmentalism.  Topics covered include wildlife migrations and conserving those corridors, public wildlife needing private land, conservation incentives on private land, Yellowstone elk, disease costs and liabilities, better public land management needed for wildlife, North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, conserving wild fish stocks,  and many other topics where public and wildlife benefit from working with conservation-minded private land stewards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode (144) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares a mic with long-time friend, hunter, conservation volunteer, and optometrist, Dr. Tom Sather.  Topics include all things vision-related to hunting and shooting, age and the eyes, eye disease, surgery or glasses or contacts, progressive lenses can be a disaster, alignment of the eye and the scope, how climate impacts the eye, dry eyes, sunglasses, shooting glasses to prevent injury, and some good old hunting stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode (143) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares a mic with long-time hunting friend and his foot doctor, Bill Wilshire.  Topics covered include foot myths, how much abuse your feet take, feet under heavy loads, prepping your feet, boot fit, blisters, foot mechanics, ankle issues, socks matter, foot ailments, bad toenails, orthotics, born with bad feet, foot care in the field, and a host of other topics to keep your feet hunting as hard as you do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode (142) Randy shares a mic with Arlando Chiles, founder of Campfire Evolution.  Topics covered include what events bring new hunters to the fold, what can be learned from new hunter experiences, challenges for urban-based hunters, becoming a hunting leader in your circle, being a hunter in a non-hunter setting, hunting as the common denominator, mentoring young people, negative image of hunting among urbanites, and a lot of other fun topics about new hunters coming from unexpected places. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode (141) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares the mic with Tyr Symank, a Green Beret Special Operations Combat Medic who specialized in triage field medicine for special forces.  Topics covered include amputation in a mud hut, chronic dehydration, altitude sickness, blood carries oxygen, stop the bleeding, med kits, basic live saving tips, airways, allergic reactions, bone breaks, internal injury, disease, puncture wounds, tourniquets, one is none and two is one, and other tangents from the unique world of a medic charged with keeping people alive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode (140) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares the mic with long-time friend and Canadian trapper, Richard Mellon. In addition to be a world-class trapper, Rich has an amazing sense of humor. Rich and his wife, Sandi, produce trapping content on Canadian TV.  Topics covered include trapping history, differences in Canada, owning a trap line, fur markets, walleye fishing, some marital advice, and a host of other fun topics that allow two trappers to talk about their passion for all outdoor pursuits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Episode 139 of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy talks with Karrson Koivisto of Gerber about the three years they spent building a set of elk hunting knives, specifically designed for elk hunters.  Topics covered include elk hunters need elk hunting tools, steps from concept to completion, starts with solving problems, building with intention, nothing by accident, prototype craziness, Randy is particular, will it be accepted, and a host of other topics to are encountered in three years working with an elk hunter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode (138) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy is coerced by his crew to tell the New Mexico elk hunting story where a big bowl of 5-Alarm Chili almost ends his hunting career.  It has all makings of a classic hunting story; camera man quits, two flat tires, good food, gastro-itis, run out of toilet paper, unable to walk, dream hunt down the crapper, and a lot of other highlights that likely fall under the category of "Too Much Information."   A dream hunt that never even made TV, thanks to Randy's Scandinavian stomach not able to handle authentic New Mexican cuisine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode (137) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares the mic with John Nosler, CEO of the famed Nosler family business that revolutionized high performance big game bullets with the 1948 version of the Nosler Partition.  Topics covered include how the business got started, trial & error, hunters at heart, sweeping the shop floor, employees as family and family as employees, expansion to ammo and rifles, hunting as a passion and profession, conservation, and a lot of other great hunting stories from a family that has lived hunting and shooting for over seventy years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Bonus Episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio Randy gives suggestions of over-the-counter (OTC) elk hunting options that are available after the drawings are done.  Colorado, Oregon, and Utah are explained in detail.  Point creep, preference point systems, and the complications that come with these systems is explained in great depth, as Randy hopes to give further understanding of what to expect when applying in states that allocate some of their tags on a preference-based system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode (136) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy discusses sustainable wild seafood harvest with Jon Wanderaas of the Wild Alaska Seafood Box. Jon's life experience is the wild seafood industry from his hometown of Petersburg Alaska.  Jon has started a business to connect small fisherman and select processors directly to consumers while working to sustain wild fish stocks.  Topics covered included wild populations, fish species susceptible to overharvest, connecting fisherman to customers, industry regulation, adaptive harvest management, commercial fishing, economics of small fishing businesses, and many other topics that impact wild fish harvest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode (135) Randy shares the mic with Mark Kenyon, author of "That Wild Country" and host of the Wired to Hunt Podcast.  Mark is a previous guest, known for his writing and advocacy of public lands.  Topics include telling stories in writing, public advocacy, making public land issues tangible and relatable, generational interest in conservation, being a father, black water camping disaster, midwestern view of western public land issues, Alaska caribou, lessons learned, conservation mentors, and a host of other topics that touch on the stories found in Mark's new book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy gives a quick summary of applying for elk, deer, and antelope controlled hunts in Idaho.  The deadline is June 5th, 2020, so don't delay. Topics covered include deadlines, fees, how the draw works, youth opportunities, non-resident allocations, how to get the most value from your investment, picking units to improve your draw odds, and other points that will get you started hunting in Idaho for 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode (133) Randy shares the mic with Gray Thornton & Keith Balfourd of the Wild Sheep Foundation to talk about how our conservation models will be impacted by the recent Corona Virus pandemic.  Topics covered include impacts on agencies, businesses, and organizations that are core elements of conservation, what we learn going forward, unforeseen risks, new funding models, baking a bigger pie, helping where we can, and other topics that expand the discussion of how hunting and conservation will be different. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode (132) of Leupold Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares the mic with Thor Tingey of Alpacka Raft.  Topics covered include the history of packrafts, adventure travel, ptarmigan passion, Dall sheep stories, solving problems with invention, seeking wild landscapes, floating and hunting, lands that shape us, owning a small business in COVID, local manufacturing, business support of conservation, R&D in the wild, Alaska the formative place, and a lot of stories about floating America's most wild places. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode (131) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio Randy invites John Barlow of Sitka Gear to do a remote podcast about new Sitka Gear, the technology and science behind their innovations, testing of new products, balancing costs, weight and performance, failure is not an option, proprietary fabrics and insulation, systems versus stand alone items, designs with purpose, nothing by accident, new lightweight down products, Sitka's new optics harness, modularity of accessories, attention to what people use, with a huge apology for a slow internet connection that compromised the sound quality of this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode (130) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares a mic with two statewide primary election candidates in his home state of Montana.  We all have felt at some time that we voted for the lesser of two bad choices.  This podcast is focused on how you can engage in the Primary Election to hopefully improve the candidates you get to choose from.  Tim Fox and Jon Knokey are running on a strong public land and conservation platform.  Yet, if they lose the primary, their outdoor policies will not move forward.  Point being, in many states, the outcome is decided in the Primary Election.  If you vote for hunting, fishing, and public access issues, get those candidates through the primaries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy gives a quick non-resident overview of Nevada.  Topics covered include deadlines, draw dates, point system, costs, how the draw works for non-residents, strategies to increase your odds, species available, rules unique to Nevada, and other tidbits that will help you before the May 4, 2020 deadline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode (129) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy shares the mic with Dean Krebs.  Dean and his fellow volunteers have started a program in his town of Alexandria, MN that has grown to be a huge one-day event to expose kids to the outdoors.  Youth Outdoor Activity Day has grown to over 2,000 attendees, supported by an entire community. Dean explains how it started, how it can be replicated, and offers his insight and perspective to how similar events can be pulled off, resulting in great opportunities to get kids interested in the outdoors.  Find Dean's even at YouthOutdoorActivityDay.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode (128) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio Randy shares the Pre-COVID mic with Tyler Sharp of Modern Huntsman. Topics covered include media platforms, new path for hunting print media, women leading hunting, being uncomfortable, worldwide perspectives in hunting, pushing boundaries, explaining hunting to non-hunters, learning by listening, common values make allies, food is the entry point, explaining why we hunt, reconciling the contrast, avoiding hypocrisy, leading is risky, valuing the experience, and many other topics related to hunting and media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy does a brief overview of applying for elk and deer tags in Colorado, the state with the largest elk population and the best mule deer hunting in the west.  Topics covered included deadlines, how the system works, preference points, strategy of how to use your points, season dates, planning for next year, over the counter options, youth opportunities, and all the other highlights that should get you started with your Colorado elk and deer applications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy spends a half hour to cover the basics of applying for elk and deer in Montana, one of the most complicated application processes of all western state.  Topics covered include deadlines, point systems, license types, season dates, non-resident limits, idea of how to find your general hunting areas, and other information that will get you started in applying in Montana. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode (127) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy and Marcus share the mic with James Cruickshank.  James was their guide on the British Columbia Mountain Caribou and Moose adventure last year.  While at the Wild Sheep Show, the topic covered include hunting year round, hunting as your livelihood, unique clients, when hunting gets to be a drag, no complaining, you better love your job, challenges, making the best of bad situations, finding joy in success of others and many more topics about the life of a backcountry mountain hunting guide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Bonus Episode of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy gives a very brief (20 minutes) overview of applying for big game tags in New Mexico.  With no point system, New Mexico is less complicated than other western states.  Topics covered include deadlines, using all three hunt code choices, season breakdowns, options for youth and mobility impaired, and a few other tidbits that apply to New Mexico. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode (126) returning guest, Jim Heffelfinger talks about the many deer species/subspecies in America.  Topics include evolution of deer, mule deer, whitetails, blacktails, Coues, isolation changes, true subspecies, adaptability, cross-breeding, competition among species, likelihood of expansion and contraction of native ranges, and many other topics that touch on the natural history of our most beloved ungulates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Episode (125) of Leupold's Hunt Talk Radio, Randy confesses his ineptitude and failures as a wild game cook while sharing the mic with past guests Hank Shaw and Johnathan O'Dell.  Topics covered include cooking insecurities, simplify game cooking, closing the wild harvest loop, kitchen confidence, good hunters can be terrible cooks, methods and techniques more important than recipes, can I trust that recipe, and a lot of other topics intended to help hunters get over the intimidation of experimenting with their wild game dishes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Bonus Episode, we cover all things related to applying for tags in Utah, mostly focused on non-resident applicants.  Topics covered include upfront costs, point systems, how the Utah system works, deadlines, bonus versus preference points, species available, order of the draw and how that affects your tag strategy, general buck deer compared to limited entry deer, allocating your application budget, returning tags, and other highlights to the drawing system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices