The 17 Best Western Hunting Podcasts (2026)

Randy Newberg has been the loudest voice for public land hunters in the West for decades, and Hunt Talk Radio is where he lets it all hang out. Joined by co-host Marcus Hockett, the show pulls questions straight from the Hunt Talk web forum and turns them into sprawling, deeply informed conversations about everything from corner-crossing legal battles to the nitty-gritty of elk migration patterns. With over 300 episodes and a 4.9 rating from nearly 2,400 listeners, this one has earned its spot at the top of the western hunting world.

What makes this show stand apart is Newberg's refusal to stay in his lane. One episode might break down the politics behind a state wildlife commission vote, and the next will feature a sheep hunter describing a 14-day solo pack-in above 10,000 feet. Randy brings on the kind of guests you have never heard of but absolutely should have — retired biologists, backcountry packers, the guy who has hunted every open unit in Montana. The conversations run long, usually an hour to two hours, and they are better for it. No rushed soundbites here.

The show also does not shy away from controversy. Public lands transfer debates, predator management policy, access disputes — Newberg tackles them head-on with a mix of frustration and genuine optimism that keeps you engaged. If you only listen to one western hunting podcast, this is the safest bet. It is educational, opinionated, and grounded in a lifetime of dirt-under-the-fingernails hunting experience across the Mountain West.

Pairing a 10-time World Elk Calling Champion with one of the most recognized public land hunting advocates in America sounds almost unfair, and honestly, it kind of is. Corey Jacobsen and Randy Newberg built Elk Talk specifically to lower the bar for people who want to chase bulls but feel overwhelmed by the learning curve. The result is 169 episodes of focused, practical elk hunting instruction that holds up whether you are planning your first OTC Colorado hunt or your twentieth September in the Bitterroots.

Jacobsen is the calling and tactics brain. He breaks down bugling sequences, cow calling setups, and approach strategies with a precision that actually makes sense when you are standing in dark timber at 6 AM trying to remember what you learned. Newberg handles the bigger picture — draw systems, unit selection, public land access, and the conservation side of elk management. Together they cover the full arc from pre-season scouting through post-season analysis.

Episodes typically run 45 minutes to 90 minutes and follow a seasonal rhythm, picking up intensity as archery seasons approach and winding down into application strategy talk over winter. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation sponsors the show, and partners like GOHUNT and MTNTOUGH pop up regularly. With a 4.8 rating from over 1,500 reviews, this is the go-to resource for anyone serious about elk hunting on public ground. It is specific, actionable, and refreshingly free of fluff.

Steve Speck and Mark Huelsing have quietly built one of the most trusted resources in backcountry hunting, and the numbers back it up — 747 episodes, a 4.9 rating, nearly 3,000 reviews. The show runs completely ad-free and sponsor-free, which is rare in the hunting podcast space and immediately noticeable in the tone. There is no product shilling, no awkward transitions into promo codes. Just two experienced mountain hunters talking about what they know.

The scope is broader than you might expect from a backcountry-focused show. Yes, there is plenty of elk content, but they also cover mule deer, sheep, mountain goats, moose, bear, antelope, and caribou across multiple western states and Canadian provinces. Episodes range from quick 25-minute gear breakdowns to hour-plus deep conversations with guides, biologists, and everyday DIY hunters who send in their own stories.

Speck and Huelsing founded Exo Mtn Gear, so they know packs and load-out planning inside and out, but they keep the show educational rather than promotional. Practical topics like nutrition during 10-day pack trips, physical training protocols, calling techniques for different terrain types, and state-by-state regulation changes make up the bulk of the content. Their searchable archive on the Exo website is a bonus — you can filter by species, state, or topic to find exactly the episode you need before your next hunt.

Aron Snyder runs KIFARUCAST the same way Kifaru builds their packs — no shortcuts, no fluff, and a stubborn commitment to getting things right. With 547 episodes and a 4.9 rating from over 2,600 listeners, the show has become a staple for backcountry hunters who want honest, sometimes blunt assessments of gear, tactics, and the hunting industry at large.

The format is mostly long-form interviews, usually running an hour to well over two hours. Snyder brings on an eclectic mix of guests — professional guides, tournament archers, wildlife photographers, nutritionists, and plenty of regular hunters who happen to have incredible stories. One week you might hear a detailed breakdown of broadhead performance on elk at various angles, and the next could be a conversation about land navigation without GPS in grizzly country.

What keeps people coming back is Snyder's directness. He will tell you straight up if a piece of gear is overhyped, if a hunting tactic is outdated, or if a popular opinion in the community is just wrong. The show covers archery extensively — bow tuning, arrow building, shooting form — alongside rifle hunting, fishing, camping skills, and conservation topics. It is explicitly rated for a reason; the conversations are unfiltered and occasionally salty. If you appreciate a host who treats you like a hunting buddy rather than a customer, KIFARUCAST delivers that consistently.

Remi Warren has a perfect 5.0 rating from over 1,800 reviews, which is almost unheard of for a podcast with 223 episodes. That number reflects something real — listeners genuinely credit this show with helping them tag their first elk, improve their shooting, or finally understand how to glass a basin properly. Warren is a hunter, guide, and TV personality who spent years on Solo Hunter and Apex Predator before launching this podcast, and his teaching ability translates remarkably well to audio.

Each episode tends to focus on a single skill or concept. You will get a full breakdown of offhand rifle shooting mechanics, a detailed explanation of how to read thermals in canyon country, or a step-by-step approach to planning your application strategy across multiple western states. Warren does not rush through topics or pad them out with filler. The instruction is tight, practical, and designed so you can actually apply it in the field.

The show updates weekly and keeps a clean, focused tone. There are occasional guest episodes, but the core appeal is Warren himself walking you through his accumulated knowledge from thousands of days spent hunting across North America and beyond. He covers elk, mule deer, whitetail, and more, with a strong emphasis on spot-and-stalk methods and mountain hunting. For anyone trying to get better at western hunting — not just dreaming about it — this podcast is one of the most useful resources available.

Dan Staton built ElkShape around a simple idea that most hunting podcasts ignore: you cannot outrun a bad fitness plan in the backcountry. Now in its ninth year with 464 episodes, the show sits at the intersection of elk hunting and physical preparation in a way nobody else really does. Staton is a high school teacher from Washington state who got serious about bowhunting elk and realized his body was the limiting factor. That origin story shapes everything about the podcast.

The fitness content is genuinely useful, not the generic "get in shape for hunting season" advice you hear elsewhere. Staton talks specific training protocols — rucking programs, leg strength progressions, cardio benchmarks you should hit before a September pack-in. But the show is not a fitness podcast that happens to mention hunting. There is extensive archery content covering bow tuning, broadhead selection, arrow spine calculations, and shooting form. He also brings on experienced elk hunters to break down specific hunts, unit strategies, and calling approaches.

Staton is upfront about his faith and family life, which weaves through episodes naturally rather than feeling forced. The weekly format keeps content fresh, and his 4.8 rating from over 600 reviews reflects a dedicated audience that keeps showing up. If your September elk hunts have been limited by your legs giving out on day three or your shooting falling apart at full draw after a steep climb, this is the podcast that will actually fix those problems.

Joseph von Benedikt is a gun writer and outdoor journalist who has spent more nights in a tent above treeline than most people spend in hotels. His Backcountry Hunting Podcast leans hard into the DIY ethos — do your own research, build your own skills, carry your own weight. With 397 episodes and a 4.8 rating from over 1,100 reviews, the show has found a loyal audience among hunters who prefer learning to plan their own adventures rather than booking a guided trip.

The firearms and ballistics content here goes deeper than most hunting podcasts dare. Von Benedikt regularly compares cartridges with the kind of nuance that matters — not just .270 vs .30-06 arguments for clicks, but actual field performance data, barrel life considerations, and recoil management for mountain shooting positions. He also covers hunting knives, survival gear, pack rafting for remote access, and the practical side of multi-day wilderness trips.

Guest episodes bring in professional guides who share international hunting experiences alongside DIY hunters who pulled off impressive self-guided adventures. The show updates biweekly and keeps its content rating clean, making it approachable for newer hunters while still offering enough technical depth to keep experienced backcountry folks engaged. If you nerd out over rifle accuracy, enjoy debating cartridge selection around a campfire, and want practical deep-country preparation advice, this podcast hits all three marks.

Brian Barney talks hunting every single episode, and he has done it over 500 times now. Eastmans' Elevated is the podcast arm of the Eastmans' media empire — the same folks behind Eastmans' Hunting Journal and Eastmans' Bowhunting Journal, publications that have been guiding western big game hunters since the early 1990s. That institutional knowledge shows up in every conversation.

The format is interview-driven, with Barney bringing on a rotating cast of experienced hunters who share detailed accounts of specific hunts, the tactics that worked, and the ones that did not. Episodes typically run 50 minutes to over an hour, covering elk, mule deer, and occasionally sheep, moose, and antelope. You will hear detailed discussions about shot placement on steep angles, how to pack out a bull elk solo, and the mental game of sitting on a glassing point for eight hours straight.

Barney also gets into practical matters that other shows skip — photography and videography tips for self-filming hunts, late-season strategy adjustments when the weather turns nasty, and fitness advice tailored to week-long solo backpack hunts. The show carries a 4.7 rating from over 550 reviews. Some listeners wish the audio quality matched the content quality, but the substance is consistently strong. For hunters focused specifically on western big game species and the tactical side of pursuing them, this is one of the most dedicated shows in the space.

Epic Outdoors has been a trusted name in western hunting research and tag application consulting for years, and their podcast brings that same data-heavy approach to audio. Hosted by Jason Carter, Adam Bronson, and a rotating crew including Cache Lynn, the show drops episodes biweekly with a focus on state-by-state hunting intelligence that is hard to find anywhere else.

The real strength here is application strategy. The hosts break down draw odds, unit-by-unit quality assessments, and timing considerations for tags across Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, and New Mexico. If you are trying to figure out where to burn your preference points or which state gives a nonresident the best shot at a quality mule deer hunt, this is the show that has done the homework. They pull from their own consulting data and years of boots-on-the-ground experience.

With 381 episodes and a 4.8 rating from 640 reviews, the podcast has built a strong following. Fair warning though — the hosts enjoy their banter. Some episodes wander into extended tangents and inside jokes before circling back to the hunting content, which some listeners love and others find frustrating. But when they lock in on a topic — a detailed breakdown of Arizona strip mule deer units, for instance, or a Q&A segment about bonus point strategy — the information density is excellent. Think of it as the research department of western hunting podcasts.

Clint Whitley launched The Western Hunting Podcast in 2020 and has steadily grown it to 220 episodes with a 4.9 rating — quietly building one of the most consistent weekly shows in the western hunting space. The appeal is straightforward: Whitley covers the full spectrum of western species with equal enthusiasm, from bugling bull elk to belly-crawling through cactus after pronghorn to chasing rutting mule deer bucks.

The show leans practical. Episodes cover custom rifle builds, muzzleloader setups, bow tuning specifics, and the small details of gear selection that actually matter when you are eight miles from the trailhead. Whitley brings on a mix of guides, outfitters, custom rifle builders, and fellow DIY hunters, and the conversations tend to stay focused on actionable information rather than drifting into storytelling for its own sake.

One thing that sets this show apart is its attention to youth hunting and mentorship. Whitley regularly features episodes about introducing kids to western hunting, packing with horses and mules, and the logistics of family hunting trips in the backcountry. The Colorado-centric perspective provides a solid anchor, though coverage extends across the Mountain West. For hunters who want reliable, weekly content that covers both the tactical and traditional sides of western hunting without a lot of production polish getting in the way, Whitley delivers a show that feels like sitting around camp with someone who genuinely knows what they are talking about.

Brian Call is a predator hunting specialist and elk calling expert who turned his Gritty brand into one of the bigger names in western hunting media. With 946 episodes and a 4.7 rating from nearly 2,800 listeners, the podcast has been running for years and shows no signs of slowing down. Call's energy is infectious — he brings a gritty (yes, the name fits) enthusiasm to every episode that makes even a discussion about bear bait placement feel genuinely exciting.

The show covers a wide range of topics. There is heavy predator hunting content — coyote calling, bear hunting, mountain lion management — alongside elk hunting tactics, archery setup discussions, and wilderness survival skills. Call has also ventured into some unexpected territory, including a 26-part historical series on Daniel Boone called Dueling Pistols and extended conversations about the carnivore diet.

What keeps the audience engaged is Call's personality. He is loud, opinionated, and funny in a way that does not feel manufactured. Guest episodes feature hunters, outfitters, and outdoor industry figures, but the solo shows where Call riffs on a topic he is passionate about are often the best. The show runs on YouTube as well for those who prefer video. Some listeners note the audio quality varies between episodes, and the content can meander, but if you want a hunting podcast with real personality and an enormous back catalog to dig through, Gritty Podcast is hard to beat.

Cody Rich does something unusual in the hunting podcast world — he treats hunting and entrepreneurship as two sides of the same coin. The Rich Outdoors has 303 episodes and a 4.8 rating from nearly 1,500 reviews, built on conversations that bounce between backcountry elk tactics and startup business strategy without ever feeling forced.

Rich himself is an accomplished bowhunter and the founder of Elk Hunt (another podcast) and several outdoor businesses. He brings on guests who share that dual identity — people building knife companies, launching outdoor brands, or running guide services while still getting after it every fall. The business episodes are legitimately useful even if you have zero interest in entrepreneurship, because they reveal how top hunters think about goal-setting, preparation, and execution in ways that directly apply to planning a hunt.

The hunting content stands on its own too. Episodes cover scouting techniques, archery preparation, backcountry gear breakdowns, and detailed hunt recaps. Rich has a calm, thoughtful interview style that draws out longer answers and more nuanced perspectives than the typical rapid-fire hunting podcast. The show updates bimonthly and carries an explicit content rating. For hunters who also happen to be driven, ambitious people looking to build something beyond their day jobs, this podcast speaks directly to that overlap in a way nothing else in the space does.

Lorenzo Sartini, Brady Miller, and Trail Kreitzer are the hosts behind Big Hunt Guys, the podcast arm of GOHUNT — one of the most popular western hunting research platforms out there. The show dropped in 2022 and has already racked up 225 episodes with a 4.8 rating from over 400 reviews, growing fast on the strength of its easygoing three-host chemistry and GOHUNT's deep well of hunting data.

The format is conversational and leans into the friendship between the hosts. They argue about mule deer hunting strategy, debate which new ammunition technology actually matters, and share their own hunt experiences with the kind of honesty that includes the embarrassing misses and blown stalks. It is explicitly rated, and the banter can get loose, which gives the show a hunting-camp feel that more polished podcasts lack.

Behind the jokes, there is real substance. GOHUNT's platform is built on draw odds research, unit mapping, and species-specific data, and that analytical approach shows up in episodes about where to apply, how to evaluate units, and what gear actually performs versus what just looks good in marketing photos. They also cover gun dog training, predator management policy, and wildlife conservation issues. The weekly schedule keeps fresh content flowing, and the trio format means you get three different perspectives on every topic rather than one host's take presented as gospel.

Jay Scott is an Arizona-based western big game hunting guide who has turned his daily podcast into one of the largest shows in the hunting space — 900 episodes and counting, with a 4.8 rating from over 1,100 reviews. The daily release schedule alone sets this podcast apart. Most hunting shows drop episodes weekly or biweekly; Scott puts out new content almost every day, which means the back catalog is enormous and searchable by species, state, and topic.

Scott's specialty is optics and field judging. His breakdowns of glassing techniques, spotting scope comparisons, and binocular recommendations are some of the most detailed you will find in any hunting media format. He also covers application strategy for western states with a heavy Arizona emphasis, brings on outfitters and gear company representatives for product deep-dives, and discusses Coues deer and desert mule deer hunting with the authority of someone who has guided for them extensively.

The interview format keeps things moving. Guests include gear engineers, hunting guides from various states, and fellow podcasters in the outdoor space. Episodes tend to run 30 to 60 minutes, making them easy to fit into a commute or a morning workout. The sheer volume of content means quality varies episode to episode, but when Scott locks into a subject he knows deeply — optics, field judging, Arizona unit analysis — the information is genuinely top-tier. For western big game hunters, especially those interested in the Southwest, this is an invaluable daily resource.

Born And Raised Outdoors is one of the biggest names in hunting film and media, and their podcast brings the full crew — Trent Fisher, Kody Kellom, Steve Howard, Treavor Fisher, and Matt — together for unscripted conversations that feel like eavesdropping on a group of friends at elk camp. With 200 episodes and a 4.9 rating from over 760 reviews, the show has carved out a niche as the most personality-driven western hunting podcast available.

The content ranges from advanced elk hunting tactics and public vs. private land debates to faith, family, leadership, and the business side of running an outdoor media company. Live Q&A episodes let listeners drive the conversation, and behind-the-scenes segments pull back the curtain on what goes into producing the hunting films Born And Raised is known for. The multi-host format creates natural disagreements and different perspectives that keep episodes unpredictable.

This is not a tactics-first podcast. If you want pure how-to elk hunting instruction, other shows on this list will serve you better. But if you want to feel connected to a community of passionate western hunters who talk about the full picture — the relationships, the failures, the motivations, the culture — Born And Raised delivers that with an authenticity that is hard to manufacture. Their audience is deeply loyal, and the live campfire story episodes are genuinely entertaining. It is the western hunting podcast you listen to for the people, not just the information.

Chris Denham publishes Western Hunter Magazine and co-hosts The Western Hunter TV show, and his podcast carries that same editorial polish into audio form. With 48 episodes and a 4.9 rating from 152 reviews, this is a smaller catalog than most shows on this list, but the quality per episode is remarkably high. Denham describes his approach as "honest conversation with true experts" with nothing off the table, and the guest list backs that up.

Episodes range from quick 27-minute gear discussions to nearly two-hour deep conversations about hunting philosophy, outfitter experiences, and industry insider perspectives. The optics and gear content is particularly strong — Denham brings the eye of a publisher who has tested and reviewed equipment for decades. Binocular comparisons, spotting scope evaluations, rifle and pack recommendations all get treated with more nuance than the typical sponsored review you hear on other shows.

The biweekly schedule means each episode gets more preparation and thought than a show churning out daily or weekly content. Denham also touches on topics that other hunting podcasts rarely address, including field safety and emergency preparedness in remote areas, plus fitness and health considerations for hunters over 60. The slower release pace makes this an easy podcast to keep up with, and the shorter catalog means new listeners can work through the full archive in a few weeks. For experienced western hunters who value depth over volume, Western Hunter is worth every minute.

Hal Herring is one of the best outdoor journalists working today, and this podcast gives him the long-form format his reporting deserves. Produced by Backcountry Hunters & Anglers — the conservation organization that has become the political backbone of the public lands hunting movement — the show runs 225 episodes deep with a 4.8 rating from over 870 reviews. If you care about the future of hunting on public land in the American West, this is essential listening.

The format is almost entirely long-form interviews, typically running 90 minutes to over two hours. Herring sits down with conservation biologists, policy advocates, ranchers, Indigenous land stewards, outdoor writers, and working-class hunters to discuss the forces shaping access to wild places. Episodes tackle mining threats to wilderness watersheds, stream access legal battles, prescribed fire policy, pronghorn migration corridors, and the quiet political fights that determine whether your favorite hunting area stays open or gets developed.

This is not a tactics podcast. You will not learn how to call elk or set up a tree stand. Instead, you will understand why certain units produce fewer animals than they used to, why your hunting opportunity in a particular state changed, or why a piece of legislation matters more than it looks. Herring asks hard questions and lets his guests answer at length. The conversations are thoughtful, occasionally uncomfortable, and always grounded in genuine concern for wild country and the traditions that depend on it. For western hunters who want to understand the bigger picture, there is nothing else like it.