EP 677 Josh Smith – MKC

What’s up! This week on the Rich Outdoors Podcast, I’m sitting down with Josh Smith—founder of Montana Knife Company and honestly one of the most inspiring entrepreneurs in the outdoor space right now. This is a podcast I’ve been wanting to do for a long time, and we did not disappoint.

Josh went from being a lineman for the power company, making knives on the side in a 200 square foot shop in his horse pasture, to building one of the most beloved brands in the hunting industry from the ground up. No investors, no conglomerates, no selling out. Just a guy who refused to quit and built something that hunters actually care about.

We talk about the origin story of MKC, why he saw a massive hole in the hunting knife market, and how he quietly infiltrated the hunting community like a Green Beret special ops team before anyone even knew he was there. We get into the Benchmade lawsuit and why his entire team cheered when they found out they were getting sued. We dive deep into building company culture at scale, hiring the right people, why listening to your customer beats watching your competitor every single time, and why most people have no idea how many hunters have never even heard of a brand they think everyone knows about.

But this one goes way beyond knives. We talk about Bridger Watch, building a product in a category dominated by giants, the parallels between what Josh built and what we’re trying to build, and the advice he gave me that I’m going to be thinking about for a long time. We also talk about legacy—knives that get passed down, stories behind the blades, and why sometimes the most important tool isn’t the most impressive one, it’s the one that means something.

This is one of those conversations that reminds you why you started. Whether you’re a hunter, an entrepreneur, or both—this episode is for you. Let’s get into it.

Interested in the Bridger Watch?

If you heard us talk about the smartwatch we’re building for hunters and want to be the first to know what we’re up to—head over to bridgerwatch.com and get on the list. Three years in the making and we’re just getting started. Go check it out.

Episode Sponsors

Tricer Tripods – They make gear that’s fast, light, and simple, from amazing tripods to bino mounts, panhead truck mounts, and now even bipods. Trier just dropped their new updated AD and BC tripods, and I got to test the new Tritech technology this year. The center post is now a T-post, which makes it pack down smaller and cleaner—Drew is a mad scientist and he just keeps innovating. If you want to use code TRO, it’ll save you 10% at checkout. Go support a great company. Head over to tricer.com.

Stone Glacier – If you’re in the market for a new pack, I ran the Sky Archer 6400 this year and packed out a lot of animals with it including a couple of elk. What I love about Stone Glacier packs is they work great whether you’re on a 10-day backpacking trip or day hunting from the side-by-side. Minimalist, tough, and they work. You don’t need to own multiple packs—this thing does it all. Check it out at stoneglacier.com and use code TRO for a discount.

Chapter Timestamps

• 0:00 – Intro & Sponsors
• 3:45 – Welcome Josh Smith: Driving Across Montana for a Podcast
• 6:30 – Why Josh Started Montana Knife Company
• 10:15 – Seeing the Gap: What Was Missing in the Hunting Knife Market
• 14:00 – Authenticity from Day One: Building Community Without Money
• 18:30 – Sending Knives Out with No Ask: How Word Spread
• 22:00 – From the Horse Pasture to 11 Employees: The Growth Timeline
• 26:15 – The Green Beret Strategy: Quietly Taking Over the Hunting Space
• 30:00 – Getting Sued by Benchmade (And Why the Team Cheered)
• 34:30 – Don’t Watch Your Competitor, Listen to Your Customer
• 38:15 – Scaling Fast Without Losing Culture
• 42:00 – Hiring Doers: What Josh Looks for in Employees
• 46:30 – The Pizza Rule: Why You Can’t Manage Too Many People
• 50:15 – How MKC Uses Transparency to Build Employee Buy-In
• 54:00 – Taking on Giants: Parallels Between MKC and Bridger Watch
• 58:30 – Most Hunters Have Never Heard of You (And Why That’s Exciting)
• 1:02:15 – The Legacy of a Knife: Stories Behind the Blades
• 1:07:00 – Building a Family Heirloom vs. Building a Gadget
• 1:11:30 – Josh’s Advice for Bridger Watch
• 1:15:00 – Don’t Quit Your Day Job Yet: How to Chase a Dream Responsibly
• 1:18:30 – The People You Surround Yourself With Matter Everything
• 1:21:00 – Final Thoughts & What Josh is Most Excited About

Three Key Takeaways

1. Listen to Your Customer, Not Your Competitor – One of Josh’s most powerful pieces of advice: don’t open your competitor’s website every day and react to what they’re doing. Your product roadmap should be driven entirely by what your customer is telling you they need—not by what the big brand is doing. By the time you react to a competitor, you’re already behind. The companies that win are the ones so locked into their customer’s needs that by the time the big guy realizes what happened, it’s too late.
2. Most People Don’t Know You Exist—And That’s the Opportunity – MKC ran surveys recently and the percentage of hunters who had heard of them was shockingly low. Most companies would find that depressing. Josh and Brandon found it energizing. If you’ve built something great and most of your target market still doesn’t know you exist, you have an enormous runway in front of you. Stop assuming everyone knows your story. Tell it again. Tell it to the 3,000 people in that gymnasium down the road who’ve never heard it.
3. Culture Is Built Intentionally or It Isn’t Built at All – From bringing employees to trade shows as a reward, to reading the Attaboy box out loud at company meetings, to bringing in bankers and health insurance reps to teach employees about life—Josh has built a company where people feel cared about. That doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intentional decisions every single day to treat your people the way you’d want your own kids to be treated. And when people feel that, they go the extra mile and they keep the culture alive even when you can’t be in every room.

EP 676 Heart Rate, VO2 Max, and Hunt Readiness with MTNtough

What’s up! This week on the Rich Outdoors Podcast, I’m sitting down with Jason and Nick from MTN Tough Fitness to talk about something we’ve been geeking out on for a while—health metrics, performance tracking, and what “hunt readiness” actually means for backcountry hunters.

As we’re building the Bridger Watch (yeah, the smartwatch for hunters), we’ve been having deep conversations with the MTN Tough crew about what metrics actually matter when you’re training for elk season. Because here’s the thing: most fitness wearables are built for runners, cyclists, and gym rats—not for hunters humping 60 pounds on their back through deadfall at 9,000 feet.

Nick is a MTN Tough coach and physical therapist who programs their daily workouts, and Jason is one of their athletes who’s joining the Bridger team. These guys know what it takes to train for the mountains, and more importantly, they understand the difference between sustained Zone 2 cardio and getting absolutely crushed by a 42-minute Mountain Tough workout that leaves you laying on the floor.

We dive into what a “hunt readiness score” could look like, how to measure work capacity beyond just heart rate, why rucking strain is completely different than cardiovascular strain, and how we can use wearables to help hunters stay in that 80-90% efficiency zone all day long. We also talk about the mental side of fitness—how to make better decisions under fatigue, why discipline in the gym translates to discipline in the mountains, and what happens when you’re on day two of a hunt with frozen boots and a broken water filter.

This episode is part fitness science, part backcountry hunting strategy, and part startup talk about building products that actually solve problems hunters face. Whether you’re training for September or just trying to figure out how to not get your butt kicked on your next western hunt, there’s a lot of good stuff in here. Let’s get into it.

Tricer Tripods – They make gear that’s fast, light, and simple, from amazing tripods to bino mounts, panhead truck mounts, and now even bipods. Tricer makes gear that’s fast, light, and simple. I love their gear, and if you’re looking for a new system for better glassing, check out Tricer. Head over to the website tricer.com. They make great products and it’s just a great company. Awesome dudes. Been using the heck out of the bipod—killed a lot of critters with it. Use the code TRO and you’ll save yourself 10% at checkout.

Stone Glacier – I’ve packed out a lot of animals with my Stone Glacier pack this year. The Sky Archer 6400 has been with me to Alaska, British Columbia, Wyoming, Montana, and I love the thing. Whether it’s a 10-day backpack hunt or you’re day hunting from the side-by-side, that’s what I love about Stone Glacier—it’s minimalist, it’s lightweight. You can use it day hunting or for an alpine backpack hunt. Stone Glacier makes an entire suite of hardcore mountain hunting gear. If you’re in the market, head over to stoneglacier.com. Use the code TRO and you’ll save yourself a discount and get some great gear.

Chapter Timestamps

• 0:00 – Intro: Fresh Off a MTN Tough Workout
• 3:15 – Meet Nick: MTN Tough Coach & Physical Therapist
• 6:30 – Jason Joins Bridger: Startup Life with a Kid on the Way
• 9:00 – Why We’re Talking About Health Metrics for Hunters
• 12:45 – The Backcountry Boondoggle: Testing Fitness in the Field
• 16:30 – How Many Miles? Average Archery Season Days
• 19:45 – Have You Ever Bonked on a Hunt?
• 23:15 – The Hunt Readiness Score: What Would It Look Like?
• 27:30 – Heart Rate Efficiency & Staying in the 80-90% Zone
• 31:00 – VO2 Max vs. Work Capacity: What Really Matters?
• 35:15 – The Rucking Problem: Muscular + Neurological Strain
• 38:45 – Measuring Strength Load vs. Cardio Load
• 41:30 – Subjective Scores & Mental Toughness Training
• 44:15 – Decision Making Under Fatigue
• 47:00 – Discipline in the Gym = Discipline in the Mountains
• 50:30 – Baby #2, Hunt Plans & Balancing Family Life

Three Key Takeaways

1. Heart Rate Monitoring Can Keep You in Your Efficiency Zone All Day – Most hunters blow themselves out on day one by pushing too hard when camp isn’t where they thought, or the trail is longer than expected. A wearable that monitors your heart rate and keeps you in an 80-90% efficiency zone (based on your current fitness level) could be the difference between being smoked for three days versus being able to hunt hard every single day. It’s not about going slow—it’s about understanding what pace your body can sustain without bonking.
2. Rucking Strain is Completely Different Than Cardiovascular Strain – Carrying 60-70 pounds on your back for 8 hours isn’t primarily a cardio challenge—it’s muscular, skeletal, and neurological strain. Most fitness wearables only measure cardiovascular load based on sustained heart rate, but they can’t quantify what it feels like to have weight on your frame all day. Building a “hunt readiness score” means figuring out how to measure both the cardio AND the strength components of backcountry hunting, which is why Mountain Tough’s blend of strength and conditioning is so effective.
3. Mental Toughness is Trainable Through Exposure to Hard Situations – The more you put yourself in challenging situations—whether that’s finishing brutal workouts when you want to quit, or waking up to frozen boots and pushing through anyway—the more you build the self-awareness and discipline to make good decisions under fatigue. It’s not about never wanting to quit; it’s about recognizing that thought, acknowledging it’s normal, and then choosing to push through. The fitness side removes one major stressor, so when other factors pop up (weather, wind, gear failure), you’re not also dealing with being physically smoked.

EP 675: Cal Arnold 
Alright, so this episode is one I’ve been looking forward to for a while. Cal Arnold is the real deal—a guy who’s built an incredible business, survived a plane crash that should’ve killed him, and came out the other side with a perspective that’ll make you rethink everything. We dive deep into entrepreneurship, the trades, building BTI Log Home Care from nothing, and what it actually takes to become your best self. Cal’s story is wild—from buying his first business for $35k with no money, to crashing his plane into a power line and spending months in a wheelchair, to building a multi-million dollar company while learning to walk again. But this isn’t just another success story. We get into the hard stuff: gratitude when life kicks your teeth in, why busy is lazy, the difference between speed and velocity, and how to actually focus when everything’s pulling you in different directions. If you’re an entrepreneur, a DIY hunter, or just someone trying to figure out how to live life on your terms, this one’s for you. Cal doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and honestly, I needed to hear a lot of what he shared this week. Let’s get into it.

OnX Hunt – The ultimate tool for elk hunters and the app I absolutely won’t go into the field without. Whether you’re e-scouting from the couch or actually hunting elk, OnX gives you detailed maps, property boundaries, and over 50 layers of mapping data including satellite imagery, offline maps, and waypoints. It helps you make smarter decisions no matter where you hunt. Save time, avoid mistakes, and stay connected to your crew. If you’re not an Elite member yet, you’re missing out on a whole other level of tools. Head over to onxmaps.com and use code TRO to save 20% off your membership.

Tricer – These guys make gear that’s fast, light, and simple. From bomber tripods to spotting scope mounts, panheads, truck mounts, and now even bipods—Tricer makes gear that just works. I’ve been running their bipod hard this season and it’s been rock solid. If you’re looking to upgrade your glassing system, check out Tricer. Head over to tricer.com, use code TRO at checkout, and save yourself 10%.

TIMESTAMPS

• 0:00 – Intro & Bridger Watch Announcement
• 6:15 – Meeting Cal Arnold & First Impressions
• 8:30 – Were You Always an Entrepreneur?
• 12:45 – The First Car & Learning to Hustle
• 16:20 – College Dropout to Ski Bum
• 19:40 – Buying the Soda Blasting Business
• 24:10 – Pawn Shop Financing & Early Struggles
• 28:35 – The Big Break & Building BTI Log Home Care
• 33:20 – The “Aha Moment” in Business
• 36:50 – The Contractor Doom Loop
• 41:15 – Why Most Tradespeople Shouldn’t Start Businesses
• 45:30 – Falling in Love with Business, Not the Trade
• 48:00 – COVID as a Dragon to Slay
• 51:45 – The Plane Crash Story Begins
• 56:20 – January 2nd, 2019 – The Day Everything Changed
• 1:01:30 – Waking Up in the Hospital
• 1:04:15 – The Power of Gratitude in the Wheelchair
• 1:08:40 – Choosing to Amputate & Keeping Your Foot
• 1:11:25 – Would You Go Back and Change It?
• 1:14:50 – Seasons of Life & Hunting Philosophy
• 1:19:30 – The Gratitude Muscle & Journaling
• 1:26:45 – Recognizing Gain vs. Chasing the Gap
• 1:31:20 – Removing Resistance & What Focus Really Means
• 1:38:15 – Busy is Lazy
• 1:42:30 – Speed vs. Velocity
• 1:46:50 – Efficiency vs. Effectiveness
• 1:50:00 – Writing a Book Someday?
• 1:52:15 – Outro

THREE KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Gratitude is a Muscle You Must Exercise – Cal’s plane crash forced him into a wheelchair for months, but instead of falling into victimhood, he committed to writing down three things he was grateful for every day. This simple practice became the foundation for his recovery and business growth. You don’t need a wheelchair to start practicing gratitude—just 10 minutes and a journal. The discipline of recognizing what you have, rather than obsessing over what you don’t, is what separates those who thrive from those who survive.
2. Focus Means Saying No, Not Thinking Harder – We hear “focus” all the time, but Cal breaks down what it actually means: saying no to everything that doesn’t serve your one primary goal. It’s not about grinding harder or being “busy”—busy is lazy. It’s about ruthlessly eliminating distractions and resistance. Most of us are driving with the gas and brake pedal pressed at the same time. Real progress happens when you take your foot off the brake by cutting out the things that don’t matter, even if they feel productive.
3. Fall in Love with the Process, Not the Destination – If your only measure of success is the end result—whether that’s a dead bull, a business milestone, or a bank account number—you’ll miss 99% of your life. Cal built BTI over 20 years by showing up every day and doing the work, not by hitting some magical finish line. The same applies to hunting: if you only win when there’s an animal on the ground, you’re robbing yourself of the experience. Success is loving the daily grind, not reaching some arbitrary destination.

EP 674 Founding a New Tech Company
Alright, welcome to the show. This is a special episode—dawn of a new era, if you will. We’re doing something a little different today. I’m sitting at the table in our new podcast studio with my co-founders, and we’re finally pulling back the curtain on a project we’ve been working on in secret for almost three years.

Yeah, you heard that right. THREE YEARS. And we haven’t said much about it until now because, honestly, once you go long enough without saying anything, it’s like… where do you even start?

So today, we’re talking about the backstory of Bridger—how we went from a frustrating Turkey hunt where I kept pulling out my phone to check maps, to building an entirely new smartwatch company from the ground up. This is the full origin story: the late nights, the engineering challenges, the AI-generated designs, the battles over battery life, and why we decided to build our own operating system instead of taking the easy route.

I’m joined by David, our product genius who’s lived overseas building IoT devices and somehow ended up designing watches with a bunch of rednecks in Montana. And Travis, our CFO/COO who ran FP&A for public companies and decided a hunting watch startup sounded like a great idea.

This episode is raw, real, and honestly, we almost didn’t release it. But we figured, you know what? You’ve been with us on this podcast journey for years—you deserve to know what we’ve been building.

Let’s get into it.

Upcoming Dates: 
Kickoff Party @ Schnees in Downtown Bozeman Friday Dec 5th at 5:30
Pre-sales open Tuesday Dec 9th at 10 am
Watches will ship February of 2026 (not in time for Christmas)
Join the Watch List Here

Maven Optics – Today’s show is also proudly supported by Maven Optics—direct-to-you, world-class glass with zero middleman markup. Binoculars, riflescopes, spotting scopes—they build it all in Wyoming with premium components at unreal prices. Host has rocked Maven for years and stands behind the quality and the people. Need new optics? Head to mavenbuilt.com, check out with code TRO, and score a free gift at checkout. Tell ‘em TRO sent you. www.mavenoptics.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

Tricer Tripods – Fast, light, and simple—that’s what Tricer is all about. From amazing tripods to bino mounts and their new bipods, Tricer makes gear that just works. I’ve been using the heck out of their bipod and it’s helped me kill a lot of critters. Head over to triceroutdoor.com and use code TRO to save 10% at checkout.

Chapter Timestamps

• 0:00 – Intro & Sponsor Ads
• 1:46 – Welcome to the New Era: Bridger Watch Revealed
• 4:33 – Meet David: From Decathlon to IoT Product Design
• 10:15 – The Bar Company That Started It All
• 12:45 – The Turkey Hunt That Changed Everything
• 15:30 – The Bear Hunt with Travis: Phones, Maps & Frustration
• 18:00 – Raising Money for a Feasibility Study
• 20:45 – “You’ll Have to Build Your Own Operating System”
• 23:30 – Battery Life: The North Star We Wouldn’t Compromise On
• 26:15 – AI Creates Our Design: The Dolly Experiment
• 29:00 – Nine Designers Later: The Battle for “Hell Yes”
• 32:30 – “Have You Ever Seen a Round Map?”
• 35:00 – Winning the iF Design Award
• 37:15 – Software Deep Dive: Maps, Battery Life & Performance
• 40:00 – Lost in Arizona: Why We NEED Maps on Our Wrist
• 43:30 – Vision: Hunters, Warfighters, Firefighters
• 46:00 – Beta Program Announcement & Timeline
• 48:30 – Final Thoughts from the Co-Founders

Mapping Technology: Q&A and Clarification

How does mapping work on the Bridger Reckon?

We built Reckon and the Bridger OS to run any map as well as our own proprietary wearable-optimized mapping system. We have not officially signed with onX to integrate, but that has been the goal from the beginning and we are hopeful that technology is very close.

With that said, we knew if we wanted to be the best watch for hunters, that meant creating a wearable-native mapping experience that worked whether you use onX or anyone else. What we knew we had to have is the ability to bring in your waypoints, markups, routes, and saved information—because without your waypoints, your maps are pretty useless.

This is mapping built by hunters, for hunters. Not an afterthought, but the entire reason this watch exists.

Three Cool Features About the Bridger Reckon

1. Multi-Day Battery Life Without Compromise – From day one, we refused to build a watch that dies in 3 days. The Reckon is engineered to last an entire backcountry hunt. We built our own operating system specifically to achieve the battery life that serious hunters actually need, not what’s convenient for engineers to build. This goal allowed us to build one of the longest battery lifes of any wearable on the market.
2. Wearable-Optimized Mapping with Your Data – Maps you can actual use! The Reckon is designed to import YOUR waypoints, routes, and markups from whatever mapping platform you use. We built the Bridger OS from scratch to handle real mapping functionality on your wrist. We build wearable first mapping that allows you to navigate the mountains from your smartwatch.
3. AI-Designed Hardware That Won an International Award – We used AI (Dolly) to generate our initial watch design concept, then spent months refining it with industrial designers until it was absolutely perfect. The result? We won the prestigious iF Design Award—proving that a couple of rednecks in Montana can out-design the establishment when they refuse to compromise on what hunters actually need.

EP 673: Adam Callinan From Cubicle to Mountains
What’s up everyone! This week I sat down with Adam Callinan, entrepreneur and founder of Bottle Keeper (which sold over $60 million worth of product), and now the creator of Pentane, a tech platform for e-commerce brands. Adam and I dive deep into what it really takes to build a business that gives you the freedom to live the life you want, whether that’s hunting 100 days a year or just having more time with your kids.

We get into the nitty-gritty of entrepreneurship: the hospital-worthy panic attacks on launch day, the strategic patience required to make it through those critical first inflection points, and why most people completely screw up their pricing strategy. Adam breaks down how he and his cousin turned a hacksawed water bottle prototype into a multi-million dollar company with ZERO employees for years, and how you can actually test product ideas today without spending a fortune.

But this isn’t just a business podcast, we also talk about the parallels between building companies and hunting in the backcountry, the importance of doing hard things, and why getting comfortable being uncomfortable might be the most valuable skill you can develop. If you’re trying to build something that funds your passion for the outdoors, this episode is packed with real, actionable wisdom.

OnX Hunt – The ultimate hunting app just keeps getting better. Their new weather feature is a game-changer—tap anywhere on the map and get hyperlocal weather data that actually takes topography into account. No more guessing based on the nearest town. See wind variations across different parts of your hunting area and plan accordingly. Become an Elite member and get all the premium features. Head to onxmaps.com and use code TRO to save 20%.

Maven Optics – Direct-to-consumer optics out of Wyoming that punch way above their price point. From binos to rangefinders to rifle scopes, Maven delivers exceptional quality without the big box store markup. When people finally try them, the response is always the same: “Oh man, these are actually really good.” Check them out at mavenbuilt.com and use code TRO for a special gift at checkout.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro
03:15 – Moving to Montana and the COVID exodus
08:20 – Getting into entrepreneurship and the path away from medicine
14:45 – The birth of Bottle Keeper and testing product ideas
22:30 – Crowdfunding, the Gizmodo article, and the name change
26:10 – Landing in the emergency room on launch day
30:45 – Building durability and getting comfortable being uncomfortable
35:20 – Perspective, hard things, and learning from people like Cal Arnold
41:00 – The importance of mentorship (and anti-mentorship)
46:30 – When to trust your gut vs. seeking outside advice
51:15 – Product development and pricing strategy mistakes
57:40 – The Facebook video inflection point and scaling to $30M
1:02:20 – Building a lifestyle business vs. unicorn hunting
1:05:50 – Strategic patience in hunting and business
1:08:00 – Closing thoughts

Three Key Takeaways

1. Test Before You Invest – Don’t quit your day job and go all-in on an unproven idea. Use tools like crowdfunding, 3D printing, and AI mockups to validate that strangers (not just family) will actually pay real money for your product at a profitable price point before spending significant time or capital.
2. Price Testing Changes Everything – Most entrepreneurs underprice their products based on what feels “fair” rather than what customers will actually pay. Adam tested Bottle Keeper from $20 to $40 over two years—that extra $20 margin was pure profit and enabled the company to scale even as advertising costs increased.
3. Durability Beats Talent – Businesses fail because people quit, not because the business itself fails. Building mental and emotional durability through perspective, doing hard things, and learning to be less reactive is more valuable than having the perfect idea or strategy. Those who can weather the storms long enough to reach their first major inflection point are the ones who succeed.

EP 672: Dallas Hemeyer

In this episode, international hunting videographer Dallas Hemeyer returns to share how a simple camera transformed his life—from filming local Utah hunts to jet-setting across the globe for epic adventures in Africa, New Zealand, Asia, and beyond. Dallas dives into the power of networking, saying “yes” to risky leaps, and building genuine relationships that open unexpected doors (like running marketing for a major company while still chasing hunts). He breaks down his unreal 2024 archery elk season—tagging two bulls in one week, including a heart-pounding chaos stock amid clashing herds in Oregon’s burn-scarred mountains. Fresh off a Southeast Alaska brown bear boat hunt (now a 45-min film on his YouTube), Dallas ranks his top bucket-list adventures and reflects on high-fence hunting, reps in the field, and why rut-crazed elk remain his ultimate obsession. Packed with raw stories, mindset shifts, and pro tips for hunters ready to level up.

 This episode is brought to you by OnX Hunt—the ultimate mapping tool for serious hunters. Their new hyper-local weather feature lets you tap any waypoint or random spot on the map for pinpoint forecasts, pulling from multiple stations and factoring in topo, elevation, and micro-wind shifts. No more guessing with the nearest town’s weather; see exactly what’s hitting that ridge or draw. White-tail fanatics know how fast wind flips in tight terrain—OnX nails it. Upgrade to Elite for full access and use code TRO at onxmaps.com/hunt to save 20%. Link in bio.

Today’s show is also proudly supported by Maven Optics—direct-to-you, world-class glass with zero middleman markup. Binoculars, riflescopes, spotting scopes—they build it all in Wyoming with premium components at unreal prices. Host has rocked Maven for years and stands behind the quality and the people. Need new optics? Head to mavenbuilt.com, check out with code TRO, and score a free gift at checkout. Tell ‘em TRO sent you. www.mavenoptics.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

This episode is brought to you by Tricer, they make gear that is fast light and simple. From amazing Tri-pods, to Bino mounts, Pan Head, Truck window mounts, and now Bipods. Tricer makes gear that is fast light and simple. If you are looking for a new system for better glassing check out Tricer. They make great products and are a great company. Use the Code TRO and save your self 10%.

Timestamp Chapters

00:00 – Intro & OnX Hunt Ad
02:15 – Catching Up with Dallas: 15 Trips to Tanzania & Life as an International Hunting Videographer
06:40 – How a $100/Day Sheep Hunt Flipped the Switch from Hobby to Career
10:30 – Networking = Life-Changing Doors (Africa → New Zealand → Corporate Gig)
14:20 – Maven Optics Ad 15:45 – The “Yes Man” Mindset: Leaps of Faith & Rolling with New Chapters
22:10 – 2024 Archery Elk Season Kickoff: High-Fence Oklahoma Bull
28:00 – High-Fence Debate: Opportunity, Ethics, & Batting-Practice Reps
32:45 – Oregon Super-Herd Chaos: Bump-and-Run into a Double Bull Fight & 55-Yard Kill
41:30 – Trier Gear Ad
43:00 – Alaska Brown Bear Boat Hunt: 4-for-4 with Guide Mutz Decker (Film Out Now)
49:20 – Dallas’s Top 5 Bucket-List Adventures (Elk Rut, NZ Alps, Asia Ibex, Spain Monte, Alaska)
54:30 – Wrap-Up: Arizona Strip Tag & YouTube Plug (Dallas Meyer)
57:30 – Outro

Three Key Takeaways

1. Networking > Money-Chasing: Focus on delivering value and building real relationships; the camera (or podcast, or any passion project) becomes a golden ticket when you prioritize people over paychecks—doors open in ways you can’t script.
2. Say Yes & Adapt Fast: Comfort kills opportunity. Dallas’s career exploded from one unpaid sheep hunt because he stayed open to pivots; in the field, the same rule applies—know when to back out, when to sprint, and when to shut up.
3. Reps Beat Theory: You can’t practice clutch shots on paper. High-opportunity hunts (OTC, high-fence, or DIY) are the batting cages that turn target panic into instinct—especially when public-land tags are lottery-tough.

10 Possible Titles

1. From $100 Sheep Hunts to Global Safaris: Dallas Meyer’s Camera-Fueled Life
2. Two Bulls in 7 Days + Alaska Brown Bear Film Drop | Dallas Meyer
3. Networking, Risk, & Rut Chaos: How a Videographer Conquered the World
4. Super-Herd Mayhem: Inside a 55-Yard Elk Fight Stock w/ Dallas Meyer
5. Bucket-List Hunts Ranked: Elk Rut, NZ Alps, Asian Ibex & More
6. High-Fence Truth + Oregon Double-Bull Chaos | Dallas Meyer Returns
7. The Yes-Man Blueprint: Turning Hobby Hunts into a Dream Career
8. Brown Bears at 40 Yards & Elk at 55: Dallas Meyer’s Epic 2024
9. Why Relationships > Revenue: Lessons from 15 Tanzania Trips
10. Adapt or Die: Elk Fights, Bear Charges & Life Leaps w/ Dallas Meyer

EP 672: Tyler Turco
Man, if you’re anything like me, that bittersweet sting of archery season wrapping up hits hard—like, one minute you’re deep in the timber chasing bugles, and the next you’re eyeing the rifle rack, wondering where the hell the summer went. That’s exactly where we kick off this episode of The Rich Outdoors with my buddy Tyler Turco, a legit pro saddle bronc rider who’s traded spurs for calls and scopes more times than I can count. Tyler’s the real deal: grew up dreaming of being a cowboy, rodeoed his way through college (hell, it even paid the bills), and now he’s out there solo-packing bulls and bucks like it’s just another Tuesday. We dive into everything from his wild path from wrestling mats to bronc chutes, why individual sports like rodeo and hunting build that unbreakable grit, and the straight-up chaos of late-season hunts—think equipment snapping mid-stalk, snowstorms trapping you for days with nothing but two shovels and a prayer, and glassing for that one ghost bull who’s smarter than the whole damn outfit.

Tyler’s got stories that’ll have you laughing one second (like busting trail through four miles of powder just to not call in a chopper) and nodding hard the next (on why solo hunting’s a superpower for life, not just the woods). We geek out on targeting mature bulls in off-the-map pockets, the grind of Colorado’s point creep and hybrid draw shake-up, and how shed hunting’s your cheat code to unlocking a unit’s secrets. Whether you’re a bow junkie mourning the close or a rifle slinger geared up for the rut frenzy, this one’s packed with raw, no-BS wisdom that’ll light a fire under your next hunt. Pour a coffee, crank it up, and let’s chase that horizon together—because out here, it’s all about stacking those micro-wins into something legendary.

Oh, and before you bolt for the woods: Gear up right with our sponsors. Hit OnX Hunt for that elite weather overlay—pin your exact hunt spot and never guess the forecast again. Upgrade to Elite at onxmaps.com and use code TRO for 20% off. (Pro tip: It’s a game-changer for dodging those late-season curveballs.)

Craving crystal-clear glass without the gouge? Maven Optics ships direct—no BS middlemen, just Wyoming-tough binos and scopes that punch way above their weight. I’ve been running ’em for years; the people behind ’em are salt-of-the-earth good. Snag yours at mavenoptics.com and drop code TRO at checkout for a free swag surprise. Tell ’em Cody sent ya.

What’s your wildest packout story? Drop it below—let’s swap war tales. #TheRichOutdoors #ElkHuntPodcast #HuntHarder #LateSeasonGrind”

Timestamp Chapters

00:00 – Intro & Sponsor Shoutouts: OnX weather magic and Maven’s no-markup optics love (with those TRO codes that’ll save your wallet).
02:15 – Archery Hangover to Rifle Hype: That end-of-season blues and why picking up the rifle feels like revenge.
05:45 – Tyler’s Rodeo Roots: From kid-cowboy dreams to college scholarships on broncs—plus why he ditched wrestling for the circuit life.
12:30 – Mentorship & Mindset Shift: School of hard knocks in pro rodeo, and how hunting mirrors that competitive edge.
18:20 – Early Bow Hunts & Individual Sports: Solo superpower unlocked—why wrestling and rodeo prep you for stalking bucks and bulls alone.
25:10 – Toughest Hunts & Gear Nightmares: Mule deer releases snapping mid-stalk, antelope bows that humble you, and the grind of it all.
32:45 – Epic Packout Saga: Snowstorm traps three dudes for three days—shoveling four miles by hand, no chains, pure grit. 40:15 – Targeting Ghost Bulls: Scouting weird pockets, late-season rifle chess with raghorn gangs, and why it’s like hunting mature muleys.
47:00 – Shed Hunting Hacks & Colorado Chaos: Winter-to-fall elk trails, point creep fixes, and burning points before the hybrid draw hits.
51:30 – Season Wrap & Future Chases: Mule deer camps with buds, Arizona strip filming, and that itch for target animals—plus Tyler’s IG/YouTube plugs.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Solo Hunting Builds Life-Proof Grit: Like rodeo or wrestling, going alone in the woods forces those micro-decisions that stack into real confidence—it’s not just about tags, it’s a superpower for business, family, whatever curveballs life throws. Tyler nails it: everything’s on you, and that’s where the magic (and the growth) happens.
2. Target Animals Turn Hunts into Stories: Skip the random shots—scout sheds, map winter patterns, and chase that one bull in the off-grid pocket. It’s twice the reward, like building a relationship with the land and the ghost you’re after. Pro move: Think backward from sheds to fall haunts, and you’ll crack units wide open.
3. Prep Beats Panic in Late Season: Chains, extra food, sleeping bags, and an inReach aren’t optional—they’re your lifeline when storms hit and roads vanish. Tyler’s three-day dig-out epic? Pure lesson: Hunt smart, pack for the worst, and remember, calling for help’s no shame if it’s not life-or-death… but damn, that self-reliance rush is everything.

EP 671: Chad Lubinski 

Hey folks, Cody Rich here from The Rich Outdoors podcast. Man, what a killer episode this one turned out to be! I sat down with my buddy Chad Lubinski, who’s gone from Midwest whitetail hunting to crushing it out West with backpack hunts, ultra-running, mountaineering, and now dialing in on elk and antelope in Wyoming. We dive deep into his wild journey – think getting whooped by Hell’s Canyon on his first archery tag, building insane mental toughness through 100-mile hikes and jiu-jitsu, and how all that endurance grit translates straight to the hunt. Chad shares epic fails like turning around 0.2 miles from a 14er summit, dialing back risk after losing a friend in the mountains, and strategies for packing out solo without losing your mind. We geek out on elk psychology, turning boredom into big plays during midday lulls, and why stacking hard experiences is the real key to unlocking confidence in the backcountry. If you’re chasing that next level in hunting or just love stories of pushing limits, this one’s gonna fire you up. Let’s get after it!

Sponsored by OnX Hunt Today’s episode is brought to you by OnX Hunt, and I wanna tell you about a really cool feature that I use a lot – sharing waypoints and hunt plans with your buddies. My good friend Jaden and I were dialed in this year; drop all your glassing spots, tracks, and routes into a folder, share it, and boom – you’re both on the same page. If you didn’t know, now you know! Upgrade to Elite with code TRO and level up your game. Check it out at onxmaps.com.

Sponsored by Stone Glacier This episode is also brought to you by Stone Glacier. I’ve been hauling with their packs for years, and this season I’m running the new Archer 6400 – big enough for a 10-day backcountry grind but streamlined for day hunts too. Love the minimalist, lightweight design; I pack enough gear without the bag adding extra weight. From day packs to expedition beasts, they’ve got you covered. Head over to stoneglacier.com and gear up.

Show Notes

• 0:00 – Intro and Sponsors Kicking things off with shoutouts to OnX Hunt and Stone Glacier, plus a quick teaser on the episode’s vibe.
• 3:15 – Chad’s Backstory and Move West Chad shares his Midwest roots, early whitetail days, and why he headed to Oregon for backpack hunting – only to get humbled hard by Hell’s Canyon.
• 10:45 – Shift to Mountaineering and Endurance Diving into how Chad pivoted to through-hiking, ultra-running, and peak bagging after hunting felt too tough, and how it built his wilderness confidence.
• 18:30 – Mental Toughness from Hard Activities Discussing resilience from 100-milers, turn-back moments, and applying an endurance mindset to hunting – plus Cliff Gray’s tips on prime-time glassing.
• 27:00 – Building Evidence Through Challenges Chad’s advice on stair-stepping hard things: start with a 100-mile hike, add altitude like the John Muir Trail, try ultras, and mix in jiu-jitsu for persistence.
• 35:15 – Lessons from Failure and Integrity Chad’s story of turning around on Snowmass Mountain just shy of the summit, then crushing it on a day-hike redo – emphasizing integrity over shortcuts.
• 42:50 – Evolving Risk Tolerance How losing a friend on Mt. St. Helens and dodging rockfall lowered Chad’s risk appetite, plus quotes from Krakauer on ambition vs. survival.
• 50:20 – Pushing Limits and New Skills Chad on transitioning from ultras to bike-packing and hunting, stacking outdoor skills, and dreaming of primitive hunts or splitboard elk harvests.
• 57:40 – Solo Pack-Out Strategies Swapping epic pack-out tales, including Cody’s 60+ mile solo bull shuttle and tips for breaking it into manageable chunks.
• 1:04:10 – Elk Behavior and Hunting Psychology Deep dive on manipulating elk temperament, midday boredom hacks, and turning low-probability scenarios into kills by playing the long game.
• 1:10:45 – Wrapping Up and Future Plans Chad’s upcoming 14ers, Teton Crest Trail, and hunts; where to follow him; final thoughts on appreciating the landscape through hunting.

Key Takeaways

1. Build Mental Toughness Through Progressive Challenges: Start small with hikes or ultras to stack “evidence” of what you can handle – it translates directly to persevering through tough hunts when nothing’s happening.
2. Focus on Strategy Over Brute Force: Whether packing out solo or glassing elk, break big tasks into manageable chunks and play percentages – like guarding mornings/evenings while using midday for recovery or scouting.
3. Embrace Failure and Adjust Risk Wisely: Turning back from a peak or dialing down ambition after close calls builds integrity and longevity in the outdoors, reminding us that survival is mandatory while summits (or kills) are optional.

EP 670: Brierley’s Battle: From African Trails to Unbreakable Spirit

Cody Rich here, do we have a wild episode of The Rich Outdoors Podcast for you! I’m sitting down with my longtime friend Brierley, who’s lived one heck of a life—think walking with elephants in the African bush, then facing a life-changing spinal injury that hit outta nowhere. Brierley takes us through the insane moment a rare autoimmune condition paralyzed her while working as a trails guide in South Africa, the mental grind of recovery, and her unstoppable drive to keep chasing her dreams, wheelchair or not. Plus, we dive into her passion for anti-poaching with Global Conservation Force, protecting rhinos and changing lives through community-driven conservation. This episode’s raw, inspiring, and packed with lessons on grit, adaptability, and why you gotta get out there and live big. Tune in, get stoked, and let’s dive in!

Show Sponsors

• onX Hunt: Your ultimate backcountry tool. onX Hunt delivers killer offline maps, property lines, and elite features like Terrain X to scout and navigate like a pro. Use code TRO for 20% off at onxmaps.com and kick off with a free 7-day trial. Don’t head out without it!

• Maven Optics: Glass the backcountry with Maven’s top-notch binoculars and scopes, built for hunters who demand clarity and durability. From the B6 binos to the new S3 spotting scope, Maven’s direct-to-consumer model saves you cash without skimping on quality. Check out mavenbuilt.com and use code TRO for exclusive deals.

Show Notes with Timestamps

• 00:00 – 03:00: Cody’s Bottle Cap Story and Intro

  • Cody kicks off with a hilarious tale of mistaking a broken toe for a bottle cap in his shoe during a backcountry mishap, then introduces Brierley and their years-long connection.

• 03:00 – 08:00: Brierley’s Background and Connection with Cody

  • Brierley shares how she connected with Cody after loving his podcast with Micah Fink, their shared history, and a never-released episode about her first Africa trip.

• 08:00 – 20:00: The Traumatic Spinal Injury in Africa

  • Brierley recounts the life-altering moment in February 2025 when a rare autoimmune condition caused spinal lesions to rupture at T7, paralyzing her while working as a trails guide in South Africa.

• 20:00 – 35:00: Navigating Recovery and the Mental Game

  • Brierley and Cody get real about the emotional and physical toll of spinal injuries, frustrations with medical systems, and the mental toughness needed to push through rehab and doubt.

• 35:00 – 45:00: Adapting to Life and Accessibility Challenges

  • Brierley discusses adjusting to wheelchair life, tackling societal perceptions (like the “golf clap” incident), and the need for accessible outdoor spaces for healing and adventure.

• 45:00 – 55:00: Anti-Poaching and Conservation in Africa

  • Brierley dives into her work with Global Conservation Force, addressing the rhino poaching crisis, community-driven anti-poaching efforts, and their broader impact on local communities.

• 55:00 – 60:00: Looking Ahead and Call to Action

  • Brierley shares her plans to return to Africa, adapt old passions like wake surfing, and urges listeners to support conservation and live fully by visiting globalconservationforce.org.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Resilience is Everything: Brierley’s refusal to let a paralyzing injury define her life shows the power of mental toughness and adaptability in overcoming massive setbacks.

2. Conservation is Community: Her work with Global Conservation Force highlights how anti-poaching efforts protect wildlife like rhinos while uplifting local communities through jobs and empowerment.

3. Live Now, Not Later: Brierley’s story underscores the importance of chasing your passions today, whether it’s eco-tours or outdoor adventures, and contributing to the protection of wild places.

Connect with Brierley

• Instagram: Follow Brierley’s journey and conservation work at @brierleygrace.

• Global Conservation Force: Support anti-poaching efforts and learn more at globalconservationforce.org.

EP 669 Walt Miller’s Backyard Banter
Join host Cody Rich for a nostalgic and action-packed episode with Brinker, a seasoned elk hunter with one of Oregon’s best public land elk tags. Recorded in Walts back yard, we dive into the chaos of hunt season prep, balancing life, kids, and epic tags. Brinker shares his evolution from a one-trick caller to a versatile hunter, recounting misses, triumphs, and the grind of outsmarting elk and hunters on crowded public land. From Roosevelt tactics to late-season rifle strategies, this episode is loaded with insights on adapting, staying open-minded, and finding elk in tough units. Whether you’re chasing antelope or a trophy bull, Brinker’s stories will get you pumped for the hunt!

Timestamp Chapters

• 00:00 – Intro and Catching Up: Cody and Brinker reminisce about their first podcast seven years ago, joking about seltzer water and Liquid Death’s billion-dollar hustle.

• 03:15 – Antelope Hunt Prep: Brinker talks testing blinds for his upcoming antelope hunt, dealing with wind, and picking the right setup for him and his camera guy.

• 06:30 – Elk Tag Excitement: Brinker shares his Zen approach to a top-tier Oregon elk tag, plus plans for Alaska and a Montana rifle hunt.

• 09:45 – Self-Improvement in Hunting: Brinker reflects on becoming a better hunter by opening his mind to new strategies after humbling experiences in Montana.

• 14:20 – Learning from Mistakes: Stories of missing a giant Roosevelt due to rushed shots and heavy arrows, and tweaking gear for flatter trajectories.

• 20:00 – The One That Got Away: Brinker recounts chasing a legendary Roosevelt up Rick Rail, blowing it with friends, and never seeing it again.

• 25:30 – Adapting to Crowded Units: Navigating Oregon’s high-pressure public land, outsmarting hunters, and finding elk in overlooked, “shitty” pockets.

• 32:00 – Rifle vs. Archery Mindset: Brinker’s love for late-season rifle hunts, chasing lone bulls in rugged country, and why it’s a mental grind.

• 38:45 – Crossbows and Ethics: Debating crossbows, their accuracy, and the “injured card” loophole, while sticking to legal and ethical hunting.

• 44:10 – Helping a Cousin Hunt: Brinker’s stoked to guide his cousin Seth, an elk magnet, to his first bull in a unit known for giants.

• 49:00 – Oregon’s Trophy Units: The rarity of Oregon’s big bull tags, requiring a lifetime of points, and why Brinker’s Wallowa tag is a dream hunt.

• 54:30 – Wrap-Up and Season Hype: Cody and Brinker wish each other luck for antelope, elk, and blacktail, excited for a killer season.

Brought to You by OnX Hunt
Hunt smarter with OnX Hunt, the go-to tool for navigating crowded public land and finding those hidden elk pockets Brinker swears by. With Elite Membership, you get nationwide land ownership maps, Huntin’ Fool’s e-Magazine, Terrain X, and research tools to scout like a pro. Head to www.onxmaps.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss and use code TRO to save 20% on your Elite Membership. Find your bull this season!

Powered by Maven Optics
Glass smarter with Maven Optics, a Wyoming-based, direct-to-consumer brand built for hunters like Brinker who need to spot elk in tough terrain. Their B Series binoculars and RS.3.2 rifle scope deliver premium clarity without the markup. Check out Maven at www.mavenbuilt.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss and use code TRO for exclusive gift. See the big bulls others miss!

Three Key Takeaways

1. Stay Open to New Strategies: Brinker’s biggest growth came from ditching a one-dimensional calling approach for a full quiver of tactics—ambushing, spot-and-stalk, or waiting out silent bulls. Embracing flexibility makes you a better hunter in high-pressure units.

2. Outsmart Hunters, Not Just Elk: In crowded OTC units, success hinges on finding overlooked pockets that don’t scream “elk habitat.” Brinker’s tactic of targeting “shitty” areas with low hunter traffic can lead to big bulls where others don’t look.

3. Learn from Every Miss: Bonehead shots, like Brinker’s misses through limbs, teach critical lessons. Tweaking gear (like switching to a heavier bow for flatter arrows) and staying calm under pressure turn failures into future kills.

EP 668: Bo Depeña – Old Bull Winter

Join host Cody Rich for a killer conversation with Bo DePeña, a country-Americana musician, elk hunter, and all-around passionate dude. Bo shares his journey from the stage to the mountains, diving into how hunting and music fuel his drive to live authentically. We cover chasing elk in tough units, the mental shift from bloodlust to wisdom, and how tools like AI are changing the game for hunters and creatives alike. Plus, we dig into Bo’s new single, Old Bull Winter, a cinematic track inspired by Hemingway and the pursuit of self-discovery through hunting. Whether you’re scouting for elk or chasing your own dreams, this episode will fire you up to lean into the grind and embrace the journey.

Timestamp Chapters

• 00:00 – Intro and Setting the Scene: Cody kicks things off, quoting Steve Jobs on following your intuition and diving into Bo’s elk hunting story—a 55-yard shot that drops a gnarly old bull.

• 01:30 – Music and Metal Vocals: Bo and Cody nerd out over vocal talent, from Slipknot covers to Mac Glocky’s detailed breakdowns, and how real skill stands out in a world of AI.

• 05:45 – AI in Hunting and Music: Bo explores how Cody uses AI to clone his hunting knowledge for fans, while discussing AI’s limits in songwriting and its potential to free creatives for live performances.

• 12:20 – Balancing Nostalgia and New Spots: The guys reflect on the hunt quiet movement, the loss of secret spots, and finding joy in exploring new hunting grounds versus chasing sentimental favorites.

• 19:50 – Dream Elk Hunts and Pressure: Bo shares his dream hunt on Utah’s San Juan unit, while Cody talks about the pressure of premium tags and the thrill of carving out big bulls in tough, over-the-counter areas.

• 27:30 – Old Bull Winter and Storytelling: Bo breaks down his new single Old Bull Winter, inspired by Hemingway’s minimalism and a life-changing hunt after an early snow, weaving a tale of self-actualization.

• 34:15 – Epic Rut Fest Memories: Cody and Bo swap stories of insane elk rut moments, like a 2020 snowstorm that sparked a Tuesday of bugling madness across the Rockies.

• 40:00 – Music Genres and Live Performances: Bo explains the roots of country-Americana, from Texas grit to Nashville polish, and how venue size shapes his setlists for maximum impact.

• 48:25 – Bo’s Music Journey and Goals: Bo opens up about his shift to a power trio, his wife’s push to chase rockstar dreams, and how Marcus King inspires his genre-blending style.

• 55:10 – Injuries and Hunting Prep: Bo shares his struggle with De Quervain’s tenosynovitis (aka “mommy’s thumb”), PRP treatments, and helping his wife Amy prep for an axis deer archery hunt.

• 1:02:00 – Argentina Hunt Plans: Cody and Bo get stoked for their 2027 Argentina red stag trip, comparing it to “miniature elk hunting” and teasing wing shooting with their families.

• 1:08:30 – Hunting Smarts vs. Miles: The guys discuss hiking smarter, not harder, with glassing, mobility workouts, and toggling between “full throttle” and “trolling motor” mindsets.

• 1:16:45 – Upcoming Shows and Wrap-Up: Bo plugs his September and October gigs at the Livingston Songwriter Festival and beyond, with a final shoutout to Old Bull Winter.

Brought to You by OnX Hunt
Don’t just hunt—hunt smarter with OnX Hunt. More than a mapping app, OnX is your ultimate hunt planning system. With Elite Membership, you get access to nationwide land ownership maps, Huntin’ Fool’s e-Magazine, Terrain X, and research tools to plan better hunts and find more elk. Cody and Eric rely on OnX to scout high vantage points and navigate tough units. Head to www.onxmaps.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss and use code TRO to save 20% on your Elite Membership. Elevate your elk game today!

Powered by Maven Optics
When it’s time to glass that dream bull, trust Maven Optics, a Wyoming-based, direct-to-consumer brand delivering unmatched clarity and durability. Eric swears by the B6 binoculars and RS.3.2 rifle scope for spotting giants in the high country. No middleman, no markups—just premium optics at the best value. Check out the B Series at www.mavenbuilt.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss and use code TRO for exclusive savings. Spot what others miss with Maven.

About the Guest: Bo DePeña

Bo DePeña is a country-Americana musician whose raw, heartfelt songwriting and electrifying live performances are carving out a name in the music world. Hailing from Texas, Bo’s music blends the gritty edge of Texas country with blues, folk, and rock influences, creating a sound that’s both soulful and anthemic. A passionate elk hunter, Bo draws parallels between the pursuit of big bulls and his drive to live authentically, balancing fatherhood, music, and the outdoors. With a killer trio featuring Ronnie Allen on bass and Damon Scott on drums, Bo’s shows are high-energy, venue-tailored experiences that leave audiences buzzing. His latest single, Old Bull Winter, is a cinematic ode to hunting and self-discovery, inspired by Hemingway and a life-changing elk hunt. When he’s not on stage, Bo’s chasing elk, scheming adventures with his wife Amy, or raising their two kids with a love for the wild.

Plug for Old Bull Winter

Get fired up for elk season with Bo DePeña’s new single, Old Bull Winter, out now on Spotify, Apple Music, and everywhere you stream! This cinematic track tells the story of a grizzled hunter facing down a legendary bull after an early snow, weaving a tale of grit, wisdom, and self-discovery inspired by Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea. Recorded live at Yellow Dog in San Marcos, the song features a haunting dobro intro and a raw, full-band energy that hits hard—perfect for your pre-hunt playlist. Check out the live studio video on YouTube and catch Bo’s upcoming shows at the Livingston Songwriter Festival to hear it in person. Grab it now at bodepenamusic.com and let Old Bull Winter fuel your next adventure!

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