Living Country In The City

Larry Weishuhn, wildlife biologist, hunter and conservationist, joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to have a good ol’ fashioned campfire-style chat about hunting, conservation and storytelling. Take a seat and enjoy as Larry and Sam discuss the whitetail hunting revolution, why you should never carry a long blade, hunting storytelling, enjoying the journey and releasing grizzlies in Los Angeles. Larry also reflects on some of his favorite stories from the field. See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/170. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Erik Myhre, founder of Basin+Bend, joins Sam on the Wild Initiative to talk about the wonderful outdoor opportunities afforded to us. Erik and Sam go on to talk about their “three-day weekend Colorado trout slam”, how refreshing it is to hunt pronghorn and how “extinct” trout have made a comeback. They later discuss why sharing food from your harvest is such an integral part of the hunting experience. See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/169. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amberley Snyder, paraplegic champion barrel racer, joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to talk about overcoming life-changing situations. In this episode, they discuss Amberley’s youth as a barrel racer, cameos in Yellowstone and the incident that changed her life forever. They also go into the trial and error process of getting back to barrel racing, her hunting experiences and how you should make the memories rather than waiting for them to happen. See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/168. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Stallone of Days in The Wild joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to Sam’s 2020 season and his very first elk harvest. In this episode, they start with a seemingly impossible draw for Arizona and then go on to discuss the successful stalk in potentially one of the worst ruts in recent history. They also talk about the events that led up to fulfilling that defining first tag. See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/167. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Kress, veteran and avid Alaskan hunter joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to talk about The Last Frontier. In this episode, they discuss their archery shot routine, Drew’s close call with a Kodiak bear, and how hunting in Alaska separates the men from the boys. Drew also talks about utilizing a U-Haul hack for your Kodiak Island hunt, how to get started hunting in the great wilderness of Alaska, and why taking opportunities when you get the chance is so important.  See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/166. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angler and army vet, Rebecca Lentz joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to share her journey into the world of fly fishing. In this episode, Rebecca talks about the stigmas of “intruding” on other people’s fishing trips, how to decide on switching spots or switching flies and why you must absolutely wash your line after taking it home from the store. They also discuss how to properly handle the species of fish you catch and how every angler starts as a beginner. See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/165. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sidney Smith, double amputee, Iron Man and OG Living Country in the City podcast guest joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to discuss achieving your goals in the face of overwhelming adversity. In this episode, they discuss the literal puddles of blood that went into Sidney’s grueling Iron Man, why the mindset of having a “Plan B” is not an option and how we love to obsess over mature muleys. They also talk about their bow setups for the season, how Sidney developed his “hunting legs” and the mission behind Disabled Outdoorsmen USA. See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/164. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Joy and Nadra Decker join Sam on The Wild Initiative to discuss everything you need to know about getting started with waterfowl hunting. In this episode, Sam, Sarah, and Nadra dig into all the basics that a newbie would need to know when it comes to waterfowling, including how to practice, critical gear and decoy usage. They also discuss hunting Sika (not Sitka) deer in Maryland, why bowfishing is so much fun, what the hell body bootin’ is and how ethical hunters actually feel when an animal is wounded. See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/163. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lydia Smith, backcountry hunter, horse trainer, and wildlife artist joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to share the struggles and achievements of her hunting journey. In this episode, Lydia explains how, while she went out trapping squirrels with her dad, growing up, she was never taught to hunt. She examines the struggles of being a self-taught hunter, navigating and learning all the extensive hunting regs, and developing her archery skill while discovering her passion for bowhunting. Lydia also breaks down her pronghorn hunt and provides several tips and tricks for stalking them in the summer heat as well as discusses her passion for wildlife art and hunting from horseback. See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/162. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jana Waller of Skullbound Chronicles on Carbon TV joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to talk about deep-rooted traditions of hunting and conservation. In this episode, they talk about Jana’s final Wisconsin rifle hunt with her father ending with an amazing animal, deer camp heritage, hunting out of sketchy treestands, the difference in experience between hunting versus hiking, and how soft we have become in today’s society. They also discuss how hunters contribute to the wildlife through conservation efforts and how hunters are beginning to be portrayed well in the media. See more on the show notes page at thewildinititative.com/161. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Remi Warren, guide, writer, TV and podcast host, and one of the most knowledgeable and obsessive hunters out there, joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to talk about the blood, sweat, and tears that went into creating who he is today. In this episode, Remi fields several mule deer and related hunting questions submitted by listeners. He covers searching out, in any hunt area, the rare resource that deer need, gaining an edge by identifying patterns, learning to trust your gut, and using your mind and attitude to create your own hunting reality. Remi and Sam also discuss the tactics and methods of hunting that fit them best based on their strengths, being self-aware enough to recognize the holes in your knowledge and why you should go completely pack-less on multi-day backcountry hunts. See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/160. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Nash, Cpt. USMC Ret., of 6 Ranch Outfitters joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to share highlights from a lifetime of elk hunting knowledge. In this episode, James looks back at his childhood being raised on a six-generation ranch, building knowledge of wildlife conservation and gaining insight on elk by observing the unique behavior of Corriente cattle. They discuss important tactics needed for locating elk in your hunt area, types of elk calls, getting personally offended at his treatment by cow elk, common hunter mistakes, adopting hipsters each year, and the importance of being prepared to handle equipment issues in the field. James also touches on the importance of hunting to military veterans and the real reason we, as a community, should place emphasis on assisting veterans. See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiaitive.com/159. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

True Pearce, competitive shooter, attorney and editor at Guns America, joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to talk firearms and hunting. In this episode, they discuss True’s youth journeying deep into the backcountry with his father, the world of competitive shooting and how it translates to hunting, the degradation of our wild places, his best advice for new shooters, why you should never ever listen to Joe Biden’s home-defense advice, and the best firearms to use for self-defense. See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/158. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arlando Chiles (a.k.a. Buck da Black Hunter) of Campfire Evolution joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to talk about his life-changing “huntervention”. In this episode, they talk about how alcoholism and depression steered him onto the path of hunting, discovering Randy Newberg while watching YouTube rap videos, advice for archery newbies, starting your hunt at the trailhead rather than the destination and Arlando’s authentic goofy self. See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/157. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Corey Piersol of Burch Barrel and Chris Ollis, San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Detective, join Sam on The Wild Initiative over a few Montana beers to recap a weekend at Western Hunting Summit and talk hunting. In this episode, they talk about a little bit of everything including filling your freezer with wild game, growing up anti-hunting, a recap of the 2020 Mule Deer Summit, mental toughness, grilling experiences with Burch Barrel and what native Montanans “really” think about Californians. Learn more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/156. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Ensch, hunter, angler, music festival producer and old friend, joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to catch up and chat about the outdoors. In this episode they discuss immersing yourself in the outdoors in any way possible, crazy characters in the music industry, learning to love the process rather than the results, the similarities between hunting and surfing, the restorative power of nature, upland game hunting with his GSP Mr. Mustache, taking city-boys out hunting for the first time and the importance of the yearly hunting camp tradition. Learn more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/155. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Livesay of Treeline Pursuits joins Sam on The Wild Initiative for an in-depth exploration of the art and science of scouting for elk. With decades of backcountry hunting experience under his belt, Mark has honed his skills and developed a unique, groundbreaking system for locating prime hunting areas. From paper topo maps to cutting-edge digital tools like Google Earth, Mark shares his best tips and strategies for crafting the ultimate hunt plan. Discover the secrets of scouting, the importance of mobility and adaptability, and the power of having a solid written hunting plan. In this episode, Mark breaks down the significance of studying hunt areas, identifying zones of pressure, and knowing access points and campgrounds like the back of your hand. His expertise extends to understanding the impact of beetle kills and burns on elk habitats, providing you with a holistic view of the terrain. He dives deep into the features of various mapping applications, revealing the pros and cons of each platform at di

Cable Smith, host of the Lonestar Outdoor Show, joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to catch up and just shoot the sh*t for a while about hunting. In this episode, they discuss road trips and living like a transient gypsy, whiskey and cigars and how open and welcoming the hunting community can be. They cover a little bit of everything: how COVID has affected the hunting community and African wildlife, gun safety, waterfowl and upland game hunting, beer and guns, mountain lion hunting, high fence vs public land and where our desire to hunt big game stems from. Learn more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/153. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bert Sorin, CEO of Sorinex, joins Sam on The Wild Initiative to talk about preparation for your next hunt. On this podcast, they discuss the concept of fitness versus strength and how it fits into the outdoors, what it means to go “deep-water” on your passions, the intense preparation of getting a once-in-a-lifetime animal, discovering where you need to hunt and his definition of success. See more on the show notes page at thewildinitiative.com/152. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Primitive survivalist Laura Zerra joins Sam on The Wild Initiative about building your ideal lifestyle and outdoor experience. In this episode, Laura reminisces about growing up as the “weird kid” whose closest friends were a pack of coyotes. She walks us through her journey into veganism and her transition back into eating meat as well as many of the various delicacies outside of traditional wild game. They also cover the concept of self-reliance in everything you do, facing near-death experiences in the wilderness, learning from our many hunting mistakes and her catastrophic near-disaster of an elk hunt. See more at thewildinitiative.com/151. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices