Epic Outdoors Podcast

In this episode we call Andrew Wankier and Chuck Lawrence, who hunted some of Utah’s best limited entry units for Mule deer and elk last year. Andrew had one of the longest streaks of bad luck during his Mule deer hunt, but stayed positive and was able to make it happen on a 200” buck. Chuck hunted a long hard archery elk hunt, and after 22 days straight, was able to down a 380” giant.

In this episode, we talk about getting ready for the hunting season to kick off. As we move into mid-August, we discuss gear and strategies to consider as we try to finish the last weeks of scouting strong, and begin archery season. We also talk about wildfires that are occurring in Utah, Arizona and Colorado and what the potential effects could be on both big game and hunters.

In this episode we are joined by Dallas Lewis and Jason and Trish Taylor who tell us story after story of elk hunts for giant bulls, including a few from last year that were featured in recent editions of the Epic Outdoors magazine. Over the course of this episode you will pick up essential knowledge of what it takes to harvest truly big bulls.

In this episode we call Travis Taylor who hunted Nevada Mule deer last year with his wife Erika. They were both able to harvest awesome bucks that came in over 30 inches wide, which is a rare occurrence these days. We also talk about general antler growth trends we are seeing for both elk and deer here in the West.

In this episode we give some updates on our summer scouting and running trail cameras. We also talk about some of the gear we’ve purchased and would recommend purchasing for the upcoming season. From pants to optics, now is the time to get stocked up on everything you need for the fall!

In this episode we call Tyler Bee, who harvested a 245” Mule deer with his bow last year. Rarely is an archery hunt easy and this was no exception. Tyler hunted long and hard and was able to make it happen on an incredible buck. We also talk about some of our trail camera strategies that can save you from missing animals when it matters most.

In this episode the entire crew takes us through their individual optics setups, what pieces of gear they use and what situations they change their gear for. We also talk about some of the application strategies you may not be considering.

In this episode the crew is getting excited over the upcoming Nevada draw results, and other scouting plans, now that summer has rolled in. We also talk about a new service here at Epic Outdoors, where we will build you the perfect long range rifle, sight it in and send you ammo and a programmed rangefinder! If you want an out of the box, ready to hunt rifle, give us a call at 435-263-0777.

In this episode we get Chris Dunkin, head of Stealth Cam Cellular Products, on the phone to discuss trail camera strategies for 2025 and what we can expect to see this year from Stealth Cam. We are huge fans and avid users of all things Stealth Cam, and the innovation in their cameras never stops impressing us.

In this episode the crew is joined by Will Morgan of Outdoor Edge Knives, who just recently launched their new line of replaceable blade knives. We have used Outdoor Edge knives for years and these new additions are some of the best we’ve seen. Check out outdooredge.com to view their new products and order yours now.

In this episode the crew discusses a couple of different topics that have been on the mind of our listeners. Would we choose a 200” typical or larger nontypical Mule deer? How do you know how many tags are too many in one year? And how has the unpredictable moisture pattern affected our big game populations for the 2025 season?

In this episode we sit down with three Nevada Department of Wildlife Biologists, Shawn Espinosa, Joe Bennett and Scott Roberts, to talk Nevada Big Game. We focus especially on what hunters can expect to see this year and how Nevada manages their wildlife in such extreme conditions. If you live in, or ever plan to hunt Nevada, this podcast is for you!

In this episode we call one of the winners of this year’s Copper State Tag drawing, proving that someone really does win those hunts. The crew also answers a few more questions that were submitted to us by our listeners on Instagram. We answer several questions about what to expect when you book a Western guided hunt, choosing the right guide, shooting expectations and more.

In this episode we are joined by Hunter Hansen with Zeiss Optics to announce their new products. We have been blown away by the quality and build of the newest SFL binoculars from Zeiss. They stand up to the very best in the optics industry, while maintaining affordability.

In this episode the crew takes a look at our home state, which has been getting a lot of buzz lately, due to application and license fee changes. We take a look at what nonresidents can really be expecting to pay if they want to hunt in Utah. We also take a look at other states with application deadlines in April and give our advice on those.

In this episode, Jason and Adam discuss Colorado and Montana big game application strategies for 2025. They offer insight into how the Epic Outdoors Hunting Science works, and how you can maximize your potential in these states for the upcoming application deadlines.