Drawn West

What happens when whitetail tactics collide with world-class elk country? Bennett Bradford of DC Outfitters joins Brian to break down how they target once-in-a-lifetime Utah bulls using tree stands, trail cams, and early-season patterning. From running 200+ cameras to setting stands 40 feet high in quaking aspens, Bennett explains how a whitetail mindset can unlock opportunities most elk hunters never see.

The conversation dives...

Buying and selling bows has always been a mess—used racks with slim pickings, eBay fees that eat your profit, and Facebook meetups that feel sketchy at best. Enter Bow Tackle, a brand-new platform built by archery shop owners and hunters for the people who live this stuff every day. Dan Ellyson from A1 Archery and Perry Bowers join the show to talk about how they’re reshaping the archery marketplace, why pro shops need a way to mov...

This is the episode everyone’s been waiting for — the official draw of the Mathews Lift X giveaway. What started as a goal to get 70 listeners turned into over 1,800 signups, 2,500 emails, and more than 53,000 total entries. Along the way came stories that hit harder than expected — dads who sold their bows to cover medical bills, hunters chasing a dream bow they’ve waited 20 years for, and families entering to give someone else a ...

From fish houses to four-season hunting rigs, Team Lodge has been reinventing what “camp” looks like for outdoorsmen. Brian sits down with Tanner Thompson-Moad to talk about how the company evolved from plywood shanties in 2003 to some of the most versatile hunting and fishing trailers on the road today.

They cover the full story — from solving pain points like cramped trailers and freezing nights to building furniture systems like ...

Getting your bow tuned doesn’t have to be complicated. In this Bridge Lock Bonus episode, Brian walks through how to set your left/right zero—starting with a five-foot rest alignment shot, then backing out to 20 yards to fine-tune your sight. He breaks down how to chase or correct arrow groups, when to trust a group vs. a single arrow, and how to make micro-adjustments without overcorrecting.

Whether you’re shooting broadheads befor...

From pheasant country in the Midwest to prairie chickens on the grasslands, this episode dives deep into the world of upland hunting with Tim Brown — better known as The Bearded Uplander. Brian and Tim swap stories about growing up in bird camps, the bond between hunters and their dogs, and the unique obsession that keeps upland hunters chasing feathers across state lines.

They cover everything from managing CRP and cattail habitat,...

Hunting and golf might look like worlds apart, but when it comes to gear, costs, and obsession, hunters know they’ve got the upper hand. Brian and Dan dive into why hunters spend far more than golfers, the never-ending rabbit hole of gear, and the unique stories that keep hunters talking long after the hunt is over. They swap tales from Alaska moose hunts gone sideways, the dream of drone pack-outs, and the grind of traveling hunts...

Leveling your bow isn’t just a detail — it’s the foundation for consistent, accurate shooting. In this Bridge Lock Bonus Episode, Brian walks through how to set your arrow rest height, dial in your second and third sight axis, and avoid the mistakes that can throw your shot off in the field. From using a Baker Archery bow vise at home to checking for micro arrow rest changes with drop-away rests and outserts, this is a practical, s...

Rack Hub just dropped one of the slickest euro mount systems I’ve ever laid eyes on — and it’s built to handle everything from your first whitetail to a moose that barely fits through the door. I sat down with Keegan Bruner to talk about the brand-new RHE mount, why it’s “wife-approved,” and how it solves the headaches we’ve all dealt with when trying to get a trophy on the wall.

We dig into the design secrets that make this mount ...

Think you need five grand and a closet full of Sitka to chase elk out West? Think again.

In this GOHUNT Bonus Episode, I break down exactly how to plan a real elk hunt for under $1,500—without cutting corners or eating freeze-dried meals all week. We’re talking real numbers: tag costs in Idaho, Colorado, and New Mexico, how to split up gas costs with your buddies, where to camp (or crash), and how to avoid spending thousands on gear...

Matt Waldron is a master at finding giant crappies through the ice, but today he talks about another one of his passions - western big game hunting. While Matt is best recognized for his work on the Crappie Chronicles, he opens up about his growing obsession with elk and mule deer, his first western hunting trip to South Dakota, and how his drive to chase big crappies mirrors the ambition many hunters feel when heading west for the...

Stieg Phillips is the man behind the famous Muley Maniacs brand and is on the podcast today sharing one of the wildest hunting stories you’ll ever hear. Stieg opens up about his 2023 Nevada elk hunt — a dream tag he waited nine years to draw — that took an unbelievable turn when a landowner and his friends allegedly started shooting in Stieg’s direction to prevent him from harvesting a giant 380-class bull on public land. From deal...

Welcome to the first episode of the Bridge-Lock Bonus Series brought to you by Mathews Archery and Drawn West. In this kickoff episode, Brian unboxes his complete 2025 bow setup—including the Lift X 33 in shale fade to black—and walks through every piece of gear he’ll be running this season. From sight to stabilizers, quiver to rest, you’ll get a full behind-the-scenes look at his complete build and the strategy behind every compon...

Brian and Abbey sit down around a bonfire at their Back 40 farm to talk about Abbey's first western hunt, what it’s like preparing for out-of-state hunts, and the difference between hunting from your backyard stand versus hitting the road for a big trip. The two share stories from past hunts, discuss how they’re preparing for a Colorado mule deer hunt this fall, and break down the added pressure that comes with limited time and...

Drawn West is a Podcast for hunters who load up the truck, burn vacation days, and hit the road chasing the kinds of adventure you can't find close to home.

Brian shares the origin of the new brand, how it evolved from his time hosting The Western Rookie, and why this podcast is laser-focused on the unique challenges and rewards of travel-based, out-of-state hunting. Whether you're a Midwest whitetail hunter heading west, or just t...