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© GOHUNT 2023
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The Game Trail is Trail Kreitzer’s biweekly deep dive into gear, hunting, and whatever else comes to his mind. Trail has over two decades of western big game hunting experience and is a professed gear junkie and constant tinkerer. Join him and a variety of experienced guests as they discuss everything from boots to backpacks, bows to baselayers, tents, tripods, tuning, tactics and everything in between.
44 Episodes
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This week on The Game Trail Podcast, Trail sits down with Dave Brinker to relive his epic elk hunting story from last fall. They also dive into the new year mindset—discussing goal setting, building strong habits, and creating systems to get healthier and stay disciplined. Whether you’re chasing big game or chasing personal growth, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and a few good laughs along the way.
Application season is here. Brady and Trail break down how they’re approaching the 2026 Western draws—where points still make sense, where opportunity outweighs odds, and how point creep and tag changes are shaping real-world decisions. From elk and deer priorities to risk tolerance and expectations, this episode lays out the mindset behind every application. If you’re trying to hunt more—and plan smarter—this one’s for you.
In this solo episode, Trail walks listeners through his full 2026 application playbook — species priorities, state-by-state reasoning, risk tiers, backup plans, and how he balances premium long-term goals with hunts he wants to draw now. If you’re looking to refine your own strategy for 2026, this is a blueprint worth copying.
In this solo episode, Trail reflects on the unsuccessful hunts — the hunts that didn’t end with a filled freezer or a grip-and-grin photo. He digs into what those experiences taught him about preparation, decision-making, patience, and what really matters in the field. From missed opportunities to hard-learned lessons, this is a real conversation about learning through failure and why sometimes the best takeaways come from the tags that stay uncut.
Trail takes a deep dive into his personal optics system — from binos to spotters and tripods. He breaks down why he chose each piece, what he prioritizes in the field, and how to find the right balance between cost, weight, and performance. A must-listen for anyone obsessed with glassing and gear refinement.
Trail talks with Matt Tillotson about the craft of spot-and-stalk mule deer hunting and the stories that come from time on the mountain. From tips and tactics on stalking mule deer to capturing once-in-a-lifetime moments on camera, Matt shares how he balances the hunt, filming, and the memories that keep him coming back. Matt later discusses mule deer conditions in western Wyoming and how they are rebounding from the tough winter of 22/23. You can check out Matt's YouTube channel to follow along with several of his hunts, highly recommended!
GOHUNT’s Dave Barnett joins Trail to talk through the ins and outs of Montana's draw system and the changes to Idaho’s nonresident general elk and deer system for 2026. From preference points, bonus points, and the new random draw for nonresident general elk and deer in Idaho, they cover how to approach these states for upcoming seasons. Dave also gives a full recap of his latest Utah archery elk hunt—what went right, what went wrong, and what he learned along the way.
On this episode of The Game Trail Podcast, Trail dives into backcountry fuel—what he actually packs for food on a backpack elk hunt. From daily calories to pack weight and cost per day, he breaks down his system meal by meal. Whether you’re planning your first multi-day hunt or fine-tuning your own food kit, this episode will give you real-world insight into the food he takes, weight, and budget in the elk woods.
You think you’re ready, but you’re not, and neither is Trail. On this week's episode, Trail breaks down the most common ways hunters show up unprepared and what you can do right now to fix it. From overlooked gear checks and mental readiness, this is your no-BS guide to making sure your next hunt doesn’t end in regret. Don't get blindsided by reality—gear failures, poor physical prep, or just plain lack of time in your boots. Whether you’re chasing elk in September or deer in November, you’ve still got time—if you start today.
In this episode of The Game Trail, Trail is talking archery antelope. He breaks down ground blind setups on waterholes, spot-and-stalk plays, decoying techniques, and shares hard-earned lessons from the field. Whether you're gearing up for your first antelope hunt or looking to sharpen your edge for the next tag, this episode is packed with insight to help you close the distance and make the shot count.
We all want confidence in our pins, especially when the shot matters most. Tristan from Precision Cut Archery jumps on The Game Trail podcast to walk us through their smart, easy-to-use online sight tape builder. No more guessing or swapping tape after tape—this tool helps bowhunters cut straight to the best match for their setup. Tristan and Trail also talk wind drift, shot angle compensation, kinetic energy, and why factory sight tapes are likely an inferior option if you want the most accurate sight tape. Listen to learn how it works and why it’s becoming a must-have.
In this episode of The Game Trail Podcast, Trail sits down with Earl Stroh from Cutter Stabilizers to dive into the topic of bow stabilization. Cutter stabilizers are hand built in Colorado from materials sourced and machined in the USA. Earl discussed set-up strategy, stabilizer lengths for hunting, weight distribution, and how stabilizers can improve your hold. He also talks about using a backbar for hunting and why he thinks every bowhunter would benefit from using one. This is a technical conversation with practical takeaways for every western bowhunter.
In this episode of The Game Trail, Trail walks through his personal process for tuning a compound bow—from bare bow to hunt-ready. He breaks down how he sets up his rest, camp timing, how he paper tunes, the importance of d-loop location, arrow spine, and why broadhead tuning can’t be skipped. Whether you're building out a brand-new setup, replacing strings for the upcoming season or just trying to get the most out of your current rig, Trail shares the real-world steps he takes to make sure his bow is dialed in.
On this episode of The Game Trail, Kenneth Thrall joins the podcast. Kenneth works for Kifaru, but when he isn’t in the office, he is pounding the hills, scouting and hunting for mule deer, bears, elk, and antelope. The guys dive into the topic of mule deer hunting before getting to the meat and potatoes of the episode, Kifaru packs. Kenneth outlines what he’s looking for in a hunting pack before sharing tips on getting your pack to fit and ride comfortably. He also talks about his favorite packs and accessories and shares ideas on the size of pack you might choose for any given style of hunt. Kenneth is a die-hard hunter, loves the outdoors and adventure, and always has a positive outlook. This is a great episode if you are gearing up for the season!
Trail is joined by his friend and hunting partner, Chris Neville, to recap their experience at the 2025 Vegas Indoor Archery Shoot. They discuss equipment, practice and preparation, expectations, as well as what went well and what didn’t. They talk about identifying holes in their archery game, and how they will approach it in the future. The guys also discuss how the pressure and anxiety of competition archery relates to bowhunting and what lessons they learned that will translate to hunts later this fall.
On this week’s episode, KC Davies from Sevr broadheads joins Trail to talk broadheads and bowhunting. KC talks about his experiences working in an archery pro shop before diving into the details of Sevr's mechanical broadhead design, materials, and function. The guys talk about accuracy and penetration and whether one is more important or if you can have both. They also discuss arrow builds, including weights, spine, and FOC.
On this week’s episode, Trail’s older brother, Tyler Kreitzer, joins the podcast. They talk about their roots growing up in rural southern Utah. They discuss the role that hunting and the outdoors played in their upbringing. They dive into the topic of hunting in grizzly country and how Tyler deals with the intimidation and fear that some feel when hunting big bear country. The guys also talk about antelope and bear hunting, two of Tyler’s favorites. They wrap up talking about meat care, and they recount a story of an archery elk hunt they shared.
On this week’s episode of The Game Trail podcast, Trail spends time diving into his archery goals for this year and some tips and tricks that are making a difference. He talks about grip, tuning, setting your peep height, and several other tips and tricks. He wraps up the episode with an overview of new gear you may want to look into from the recent Archery Trade Association show.
On this week’s episode of The Game Trail, Trail chats with Weston McArthur. Weston has a unique story, leaving his full-time job to pursue his passion for the outdoors and build the Rise and Shed brand. Rise and Shed focuses on content creation and merchandise, with a desire to inspire and encourage people to get outdoors and discover nature. Weston talks about his love of shed antler hunting and later recaps his 2024 archery elk and mule deer season.
Dan Staton joins Trail in this week’s Game Trail episode. Dan is a die-hard bowhunter who brings a blend of physical and mental motivation to the archery hunting community. He’s also a technical gear tinkerer when it comes to tuning and selecting his setup each year. Dan talks with Trail about his background in physical fitness and bowhunting and offers insight into his own personal diet and exercise routine. He also discusses mental focus and the process of picking and making a shot in the field. The guys conclude with a discussion on arrows and broadheads. Dan is a hardworking, disciplined guy worth listening to and emulating if you want to improve your own success each fall.
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Are you using bare shafts for the cut & tune method?