Dogs running deer, a 200-yard muzzleloader shot, a misfire on the follow up, and an 8-point that somehow stood there forever… this one was chaos in the best (and worst) way.

Brian kicks off with two quick updates: the 2025 Colorado mule deer full film is live on YouTube, and a listener question from Joe that turns into a solid breakdown on picking your anchor elk state as a solo hunter. He talks rifle vs archery realities, why repetition matters more than “perfect” tags, and how he’d rotate Montana/Colorado (and maybe Idaho) to stack reps without waiting 10–15 years.

Then we get into Minnesota muzzleloader season: a herd gets pushed by two pet dogs, a big buck pauses at 200, the shot breaks, and the follow-up turns into click… click… click. Next morning: blood, pines, and a fast recovery—plus what this long-range muzzleloader setup has changed for his CRP farm hunts.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If you enjoyed this, leave a 5-star rating and share the show with a friend.

Watch the full Colorado Mule Deer Film:
https://youtu.be/sIqJk35O7Bs

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00:00 Colorado mule deer full filmannouncement

02:08 Listener question: solo elkstruggles + point situation

04:35 What makes an “anchor elk state”

06:00 Rifle vs archery elk when you huntsolo

08:04 Why Wyoming general isn’t a truecornerstone state

10:24 Colorado as a cornerstone (pressure+ future changes)

12:43 Montana general strategy and the“point weirdness”

14:30 A practical rotation plan for elkhunting more often

16:49 Minnesota muzzleloader: whylong-range matters

23:08 Dogs push deer + the 200-yard shot+ misfire chaos

34:17 Blood trail, fast recovery, andseason wrap

An 11-day winter road trip, four Airbnbs, overloaded trucks, and some of the most remote ice fishing in the Lower 48.

In this episode of the Drawn West Podcast, Brian sits down with Matt Waldron to break down an 11-day western ice fishing road trip across Montana and Wyoming—what went right, what went sideways, and why destination ice fishing deserves way more attention from hunters and anglers alike.

Matt walks through the logistics of hauling machines, gear overload, rotating Airbnbs, and filming a full multi-episode series for Crappie Chronicles. They dig into the mental shift between hunting and fishing trips, why ice fishing feels more relaxed, and how preparation, flexibility, and experience keep trips like this from falling apart.

The conversation covers everything from remote lake trout fishing on Fort Peck Reservoir, destination walleye fisheries like Devils Lake, and why western fisheries offer a completely different experience than pressured Midwest lakes. Along the way, they get into gear systems, truck builds, safety in remote country, filming realities, and why nothing ever goes exactly as planned on long trips.

This episode is part trip recap, part strategy session, and part encouragement to think bigger—whether that’s ice fishing out west, planning destination trips, or simply getting more intentional about how you travel and prepare.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, leave a 5-star rating, and share the show on social media to help Drawn West keep growing.

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GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST
https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4
GOHUNTGear Shop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4u
Save10%on Maverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest
RTICCoolers – Keep Your Meat Cold!
https://bit.ly/RTICCoolers
OkumaFishing – Rods and Reels for Serious Anglers!
https://alnk.to/31sVDzF
FirstMonth FREE at MTNTOUGH Fitness with code ROOKIE https://bit.ly/MTNTOUGH_ROOKIE
Save$150 on Steelhead Outdoors Gun Safes with code WESTERNROOKIE https://tr.ee/fbNvbFXX6Q
Save10% on Ollin Digiscoping Adapters with code TWOBUCKS
https://tr.ee/ZE1XcQ-fbb

Brian and Abby are rolling home from Colorado (in the truck, somewhere around Iowa) wrapping Part 3 of their Colorado mule deer trip—and how the last stretch of the hunt actually played out. They break down a “mid-hunt sanity hack” (a rec center day pass for a legit shower), why they stayed committed to the same productive spot instead of gambling on new ground, and the one mistake that made the day feel way harder than it needed to be: forgetting the bino harness with all the critical little stuff in it.

The back half is the real meat—spotting two shooter bucks transitioning near private, making a 400-yard play on a solid public-land 3x3, and what happened after the first miss: follow-up shots, closing distance, and making sure the finish was quick and ethical. They wrap with pack-out lessons, why good packs matter, and the bigger takeaway: sometimes whitetail patience is the best mule deer strategy when deer are filtering off private.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If you enjoyed this, leave a 5-star rating and share the show with a friend.

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Have Questions or Comments? Send an email to Brian@getdrawnwest.com!
Sponsorsand Discounts:
GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST
https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4
GOHUNT GearShop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4u
Save10% onMaverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest
RTIC Coolers– Keep Your Meat Cold!
https://bit.ly/RTICCoolers
Okuma Fishing– Rods and Reels for Serious Anglers!
https://alnk.to/31sVDzF
First MonthFREE at MTNTOUGH Fitness with code ROOKIE https://bit.ly/MTNTOUGH_ROOKIE
Save $150 onSteelhead Outdoors Gun Safes with code WESTERNROOKIE https://tr.ee/fbNvbFXX6Q
Save 10% onOllin Digiscoping Adapters with code TWOBUCKS
https://tr.ee/ZE1XcQ-fbb

00:00 Drawn West intro + headed home

00:41 Part 3 context + Minnesota season overlap

01:50 Day 5 reset + the rec center shower hack

03:12 Staying with the same spot vs gambling new ground|

04:38 Forgot bino harness + why it mattered

08:21 Spotting shooters + the public-land 3x3 appears

12:04 Decision time: shoot now or wait for bigger

13:23 Shot sequence, follow-ups, and ethics

19:26 Pack-out realities + why good packs matter

23:55 Biggest takeaways: whitetail patience + tripod shift

33:22 Final wrap: heading home + “stay drawn”

Abbey's Tagged Out!

This episode picks up on Day 2 of our Colorado mule deer trip, where the pressure ramps up fast. We roll into our “close to private” ridge in the dark and find trucks, four-wheelers, and guys stacked on every knob. Instead of joining the circus, we bail back to our opening-morning spot, watch a solid three-by-three feed at 325–250 yards, and talk through why Abby decides to pass and keep building confidence.

Sunday turns into a bonus scouting day on the far side of the unit, where we find almost no people, a pile of deer sign, and even glass a mega three-by-three in somebody’s backyard—then decide to ride or die on our original ridge. By Day 4 the nerves are real, a buck walks past at 20 yards, Abby’s rifle misfires, and we have to troubleshoot sand in the bolt before the next chance.

When a big fork steps out on the pipeline at 325 yards, Abby settles in, holds high, and absolutely drills her biggest buck yet, followed by her first real pack-out.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If you enjoyed this, leave a 5-star rating and share the show with a friend.

FREE Gear Checklist:

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Sponsorsand Discounts:
GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST
https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4
GOHUNT GearShop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4u
Save10% onMaverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest
RTIC Coolers– Keep Your Meat Cold!
https://bit.ly/RTICCoolers
Okuma Fishing– Rods and Reels for Serious Anglers!
https://alnk.to/31sVDzF
First MonthFREE at MTNTOUGH Fitness with code ROOKIE https://bit.ly/MTNTOUGH_ROOKIE
Save $150 onSteelhead Outdoors Gun Safes with code WESTERNROOKIE https://tr.ee/fbNvbFXX6Q
Save 10% onOllin Digiscoping Adapters with code TWOBUCKS
https://tr.ee/ZE1XcQ-fbb

0:00– One Tag, One Week: Part Two Setup
0:42 – Day 2: Weekend Pressure and a Crowded Ridge
2:16 – Passing the First Real 3x3 Buck at 325 Yards
5:05 – Saddles, Private Fields, and Realizing He Was Bigger
7:10 – Sunday Scouting: New Country and a Backyard Giant
9:30 – Ride-or-Die on the Favorite Spot for Day 3
11:50 – Camp Routine, Hiking Faster, and Meeting Jake from Arizona
14:40 – Day 4 Mindset: “Any Buck I Can Make Happen”
16:20 – Misfire at 20 Yards and Fixing the Rifle
18:50 – Pipeline Fork at 325 Yards: Abby’s Shot
25:20 – Heart Shot, Photos, and Abby’s First Pack-Out
28:35 – Abby Tagged Out, Weather Worries, and Brian’s Turn

In this GOHUNT Bonus Episode of the Drawn West Podcast, Brian breaks down Idaho’s big move for 2026 as one of the last “over-the-counter” western states shifts non-resident general deer and elk tags to a full draw system. He walks through what’s actually changing, key deadlines (applications due December 15 at 11:59 p.m. MT), the new five-choice application rules, and how group applications work so your whole crew can still hunt together.

Brian also explains why this isn’t the end of the world for traveling hunters, why Idaho’s early-January results are still clutch for multi-state strategies, and how to think about your first and second choices under a random draw with no points. Then he dives into GoHunt’s Insider tools — Filtering 2.0, unit profiles, and trophy/harvest stats — and shows how to sort Idaho elk and mule deer units by success rate, public land, and trophy potential so you’re swinging for the fences smartly.

If you’re eyeing Idaho for 2026, this episode is your blueprint — plus a reminder that code DRAWNWEST gets you $50 in gear credit and 10% off most full-price gear in the GOHUNT Gear Shop when you join Insider.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If you enjoyed this, leave a 5-star rating and share the show with a friend.

GOHUNT Insider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWESThttps://alnk.to/g3aa8L4

FREE Gear Checklist:

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Connect with Brian Krebs
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Have Questions or Comments? Send an email to Brian@getdrawnwest.com!
Sponsorsand Discounts:
GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST
https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4
GOHUNT GearShop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4u
Save10% onMaverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest
RTIC Coolers– Keep Your Meat Cold!
https://bit.ly/RTICCoolers
Okuma Fishing– Rods and Reels for Serious Anglers!
https://alnk.to/31sVDzF
First MonthFREE at MTNTOUGH Fitness with code ROOKIE https://bit.ly/MTNTOUGH_ROOKIE
Save $150 onSteelhead Outdoors Gun Safes with code WESTERNROOKIE https://tr.ee/fbNvbFXX6Q
Save 10% onOllin Digiscoping Adapters with code TWOBUCKS
https://tr.ee/ZE1XcQ-fbb

0:00 – Idaho Apps Season Kickoff with GOHUNT

1:05 – Idaho OTC “Over the Counter” Myth

3:10 – 2026 Change: General Deer & Elk Goto Draw

5:20 – Deadlines, Time Zones, and LicenseRequirements

7:10 – Why Early January Results Matter forMulti-State Plans

9:30 – Non-Resident Caps, Quotas, andResident Priority

12:00 – Group Applications: Keeping YourHunting Crew Together

15:30 – How the Random Draw & FiveChoices Really Work

19:30 – Building Your Idaho Strategy: DreamUnits vs Realistic Picks

23:50 – Using GOHUNT Insider & Filtering2.0 for Idaho Elk

27:10 – Idaho Mule Deer Potential and SuccessRates

30:30 – Tag Prices, Travel Reality, and WhereIdaho Fits in Your Season

33:30 – Final Thoughts: Swing Big, Do theResearch, Stay Drawn

Abbey and I are recording this one straight from Colorado deer camp at the end of day one, and it already feels like we’ve been here a week. We walk through the whole road trip out from home, grabbing a Cruise America camper in Denver, rolling into camp at 11 p.m., then scouting all day Friday and hunting hard today.

We break down what we’re seeing so far: ridiculous deer numbers, a crazy buck-to-doe ratio, and more 4x4s and “shooter” bucks than I’ve seen on all my other mule deer hunts combined—just not quite on the public line… yet. We talk through the game plan for hunting public on the edge of big ag, waiting for the rut to really crack open and pull those giants up into the hills.

There’s plenty of campfire story stuff too: Abbey almost getting “eaten” by a fox she never saw, punching a tarantula-sized spider off her hand on a steep ridge, and why renting a cheap little camper might be the ultimate mid-November deer camp hack.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If you enjoyed this, leave a 5-star rating and share the show with a friend.

FREE Gear Checklist:

https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear

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Connect with Brian Krebs
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Have Questions or Comments? Send an email to Brian@getdrawnwest.com!
Sponsorsand Discounts:
GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST
https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4
GOHUNT GearShop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4u
Save10% onMaverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest
RTIC Coolers– Keep Your Meat Cold!
https://bit.ly/RTICCoolers
Okuma Fishing– Rods and Reels for Serious Anglers!
https://alnk.to/31sVDzF
First MonthFREE at MTNTOUGH Fitness with code ROOKIE https://bit.ly/MTNTOUGH_ROOKIE
Save $150 onSteelhead Outdoors Gun Safes with code WESTERNROOKIE https://tr.ee/fbNvbFXX6Q
Save 10% onOllin Digiscoping Adapters with code TWOBUCKS
https://tr.ee/ZE1XcQ-fbb

0:00 – Live from Colorado Deer Camp
2:10 – Scouting Friday and Opening Day Expectations
3:30 – 500–1,000 Deer and a Ton of Bucks|
5:05 – Public vs Private and Rut Game Plan
7:40 – Low Hunting Pressure and Camp Neighbors
9:20 – Fox at 10 Feet and Midday Doe Action
11:30 – Bear Sign, Elk Tracks and Friendly Hunters
14:30 – Camper Setup, Heat, and Better Sleep
17:00 – Cold Mornings, Layers and Comfort Over Suffering
18:30 – Why This Might Be Brian’s Favorite Mule Deer Hunt Yet
20:20 – Mini-Series Plan and Day One Sign-Off

Is the new Mathews ARC actually a game-changer, or just another flagship with fresh paint? In this episode of the Drawn West Podcast, I sit down with Daniel Parker from Mathews to dig into what’s really different about the ARC 30 and ARC 34. We break down the new limb geometry, the updated SWX2 cam with that perimeter-weight “flywheel” feel, and why this bow stays faster and quieter once you bolt real hunting gear to the string. Daniel brings the behind-the-scenes engineering insight, and I bring the “600-grain elk arrow that once welded itself into a steel plate” perspective. We also nerd out on hinge and resistance releases, target-archery lessons you can steal for hunting season, Kodiak Brown vs Green Ambush, and how to actually choose between the 30" and 34" ARC based on how and where you hunt.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If you enjoyed this, leave a 5-star rating and share the show with a friend.

Check out the all new Mathews ARChttps://mathewsinc.com/pages/arc

FREE Gear Checklist:

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Connect with Brian Krebs
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Have Questions or Comments? Send an email to Brian@getdrawnwest.com!
Sponsorsand Discounts:
GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST
https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4
GOHUNT GearShop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4u
Save10% onMaverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest
RTIC Coolers– Keep Your Meat Cold!
https://bit.ly/RTICCoolers
Okuma Fishing– Rods and Reels for Serious Anglers!
https://alnk.to/31sVDzF
First MonthFREE at MTNTOUGH Fitness with code ROOKIE https://bit.ly/MTNTOUGH_ROOKIE
Save $150 onSteelhead Outdoors Gun Safes with code WESTERNROOKIE https://tr.ee/fbNvbFXX6Q
Save 10% onOllin Digiscoping Adapters with code TWOBUCKS
https://tr.ee/ZE1XcQ-fbb

00:00 – 06:32 Intro, Mathews Partnership& New Bow Day Surprise

06:32 – 14:58 Lift vs ARC: Noise, Speed,Energy, and Why It Matters

14:58 – 22:24 Parallel vs Vertical LimbTravel & The New SWX2 Cam

22:24 – 33:01 Riser Updates, IntegratedAccessories & Real-World Setup Talk

33:01 – 44:32 Axle-to-Axle Choices: 30 vs34, Who Should Shoot What

44:32 – 58:03 Releases: Hinge,Resistance, Thumb, and the Shot Execution Conversation

58:03 – 1:10:06 Arrow Builds, FletchingSetups & String Customization

1:10:06 – Color Options, Kodiak Brown,Closing Thoughts & Season Plans