Twilight Hunter's Podcast

Tonight I had the pleasure of catching up with Jaden Bales at HuntWest.com. We discussed his 2025 season, got caught up on the new programs being offered by Hunt West and a look forward into new ventures and hunt planning for 2026. Jaden has been a friend of the show as well a great personal friend, so grab your phone and some earbuds and have a listen!!Jaden can be found on:Instagram: @jadenbales & @huntwestplanningco RokSlide: Jaden BalesYou can also contact Jaden directly on his website: www.huntwestplanning.comor his email: jaden@huntwest.netI hope you enjoy the podcast! Please like, subscribe and leave a review....I do this for fun, but these help get the show out to a larger audience.Instagram: @thetwilighthunter X: @bitterrootreapr YouTube: @the_twilighthunterSpecial thanks to @HawkenHorseBand for permission to use their music!

This episode is part one, in a two part series. I was on location, in West Central Idaho, on a late muzzleloader elk hunt with my oldest hunting partner, Sean Moore. Sean was on Season 1, Episode 9, 'Sleep Deprived'. We sat down in my pickup, out of the rain, and discussed this hunt up to this point, in the midst of a historic storm that seriously impacted the Pacific Northwest. With that in mind, I wanted to take a moment to pray for the victims of the 100 year floods currently inundating Washington State as this episode drops. We have friends, family and other hunters that have been flooded out of their homes and businesses; the totality of the destruction not yet known. If you can, send a donation or hit the Red Cross and give some blood, these folks are going to need it. Lastly, I hope you enjoy the podcast! Please like, subscribe and leave a review....it broadens our reach and gets the show out to more hunters in the USA & Canada. Instagram: @thetwilighthunter X: @bitterrootreapr YouTube: @the_twilighthunterSpecial thanks to @HawkenHorseBand for permission to use their music!

This episode was recorded on the mountain in Virginia following our last evening hunt of the last full day of hunting for me. I sat down at a campfire with Jacob Porter and Andrew Fisher, aka "Squatch", to recap the week of hunting. We shared a bottle of Horse Soldier while the stories were told. This was a unique experience for a Western hunter to fly to the east coast to hunt in their mountains. This was a fun, episode to record...however, be advised we shared a microphone due to some equipment constraints, so there will be some minor audio quality issues as a result.Jacob Porter can be found on:Instagram: @tritontraining Facebook: Jacob PorterI hope you enjoy the podcast! Please like, subscribe and leave a review....Instagram: @thetwilighthunter X: @bitterrootreapr YouTube: @the_twilighthunterSpecial thanks to @HawkenHorseBand for permission to use their music!

This episode signifies the start of Season Two. Life took some interesting turns this past spring and summer, so the hiatus between Season One and Two was, unfortunately, extended. For this show, I gave a brief monolog on our past few months, and then I dive into a season recap with my son-in-law, who brought his six-year-old son hunting for the first time. Colton can be found on:Instagram: @cocogarner12 Facebook: Colton GarnerI hope you enjoy the podcast! Please like, subscribe and leave a review....Instagram: @thetwilighthunter X: @bitterrootreapr YouTube: @the_twilighthunterSpecial thanks to @HawkenHorseBand for permission to use their music!

Part two of a two part series: I was honored to talk with Jaden Bales of Hunt West Planning in Wyoming. As hunting planner and advisor, Jaden and I discussed hunters in the later stages of life who have not previously participated in non-resident applications and point systems. Jaden goes over random draw and point systems, how to start applying, point creep, tips on Western States to research, and suggestions on how to obtain a non-resident tag every year and have a great adventure. See Hunt West Podcast: "How to Get Started Out West" from July 5th, w/ Weston Homa (Run the Rack Podcast)Jaden is widely recognized for his work with Eastman's Hunting and the Hunt West Podcast. He can be found at:email: jaden@huntwest.net Instagram: @huntwestplanningco & @jadenbales I hope you enjoy the podcast! Please like, subscribe and leave a review....Instagram: @thetwilighthunter X: @bitterrootreapr YouTube: @the_twilighthunterSpecial thanks to @HawkenHorseBand for permission to use their music!

On this episode, I sat down with two good LEO's and hunting buddies, SGT Mark Coon (Stevens CSO) and SGT Sean Moore (Yuba CSO). We discussed the rigors of police work from crazy schedules, to sleep deprivation, to hormone deficiencies; and how we cope these issues and still manage our professional/personal lives and hunting addictions.I hope you enjoy the podcast! Please like, subscribe and leave a review....Instagram: @thetwilighthunter X: @bitterrootreapr YouTube: @the_twilighthunterSpecial thanks to @HawkenHorseBand for permission to use their music!

Part one of a two part series: I sat down, in studio, with Larry Ashton, of Great Rates Brokerage, here in Idaho. As a broker and financial advisor, Larry and I discussed how to invest and save for the expense of hunting. With a split focus on younger hunters and how to invest for the expense of adventure hunts later in life, to how older hunters can save for application and license fees on an annual basis. Part two will feature a special guest with extensive knowledge of application strategies, point systems and how older hunters can obtain a tag every year. email: grtr8s2aol.com & larryashtonii@remax.netI hope you enjoy the podcast! Please like, subscribe and leave a review....Instagram: @thetwilighthunter X: @bitterrootreapr YouTube: @the_twilighthunterSpecial thanks to @HawkenHorseBand for permission to use their music!

On this episode I sit down with Jacob Porter of Max Meadows, Virginia. Jacob and I go back to 2020, when he did some armorer training for my previous agency here in Idaho. We developed a long lasting friendship forged out of our love of muzzleloaders and muzzleloader hunting. As a gunsmith, Jacob is well versed in building muzzleloaders of all shapes and sizes. If you're interested in building a muzzleloader or muzzleloader hunting, reach out to Jacob.Instagram: @tritontraining Facebook: https://facebook.com/jacob.porter.1690 & https://facebook.com/tritontrainingLE email: jporter@tritontraininggroup.comI hope you enjoy the podcast! Please like, subscribe and leave a review....Instagram: @thetwilighthunter X: @bitterrootreapr YouTube: @the_twilighthunterSpecial thanks to @HawkenHorseBand for permission to use their music!

On this episode I am solo and discuss the relationships we forge in the hunting community, what those relationships should mean to us as hunters and humans. This episode is short, but deep, and appropriate given the fact that fate dropped a friend and mentor into my City this past week. This gave us the opportunity to deepen the forge between us and plan a hunt for 2026.I hope you enjoy the podcast! Please like, subscribe and leave a review....Instagram: @thetwilighthunter X: @bitterrootreapr YouTube: @the_twilighthunterSpecial thanks to @HawkenHorseBand for permission to use their music!

On this episode I had the honor to talk with Chief Petty Officer, David 'Alaska Dave' Bergman, United States Coast Guard (ret.).Dave and I discuss his quest to complete his North American sheep slam, with a Rocky Mountain Big Horn in the Lower 48 in 2026. Dave talks about his previous sheep hunts; plus, the plan and preparation at 41 years old, and the equipment he will be using for the last hunt of the slam.Instagram: @thetwilighthunter X: @bitterrootreapr YouTube: @the_twilighthunterSpecial thanks to @HawkenHorseBand for permission to use their music!

On this episode I brought on my friend, and fellow LEO, Hilary Naleway. Hillary is an adult-onset hunter, that happens to be female. We take a dive into hunting as a female and the challenges that come with it. Hillary discusses stereotypes, gear, fitness, & preparation, hormones, and hunting partners.Hilary shared a list of the gear that she is using on her hunts, see below for the details!Crispi *Altitudes size 7Summits*SkarvenSitka*Timberline pants Size 28*Cadence pants Size 28Stone Glacier*De Havilland Lite Pants Small*M7 Jacket SmallKuiu*Peloton 240 Full Zip Hoodie MediumInitial Ascent pack Rifle is a Savage Ultralight 6.5 PRC with a custom load Bow is a Mathews VXR, draw length is 26” draw weight 62 lbs I believe last I checked. Arrows are Black Eagle X Impacts with the focus system with the Muzzy Trocars broadheads Instagram: @thetwilighthunter X: @bitterrootreapr YouTube: @the_twilighthunterHilary Naleway can be found on Instagram: @bugles_barbells_eventingSpecial thanks to @HawkenHorseBand for permission to use their music!

On this episode I got the opportunity to talk with David Heath, pro-staff for PSE Archery and co-host of the Whitetail Advantage Podcast. Dave and I have a deep conversation about our why....why we hunt, the meaningfulness of hunting, how it has united our families, and passing the love of hunting on to our children and grandchildren. Instagram: @thetwilighthunter X: @bitterrootreapr YouTube: @the_twilighthunterDave Heath can be found on Instagram: @psemobilehunter; @whitetailadvantage and YouTube: @whitetailadvantageSpecial thanks to @HawkenHorseBand for permission to use their music!

On tonight's show, I sat down with my wife of 30 years, Charlene, and discussed her take on hunting, her hunting history, and how her role has evolved in three decades. This is an interesting conversation and made some unexpected revelations.Instagram: @bitterroot_reaper X: @bitterrootreapr YouTube: @bitterroot_reaperCharlene can be found on Instagram: @lueddeke_c and Facebook: Charlene Cooper LueddekeSpecial thanks to @HawkenHorseBand for permission to use their music!

This is the inaugural episode of THP. This week I invited Jarod Gonzales, of Meridian Idaho, to discuss fitness and motivation for middle age hunters. Jarod is a licensed CSCS, sports training manager for Rock & Armor Physical Therapy, and a western hunter.Jarod can be found on:Instagram: @jrdgonzo.......or at https://www.rockandarmor.com/THP can be found onInstagram: @bitterroot_reapersX: @bitterrootreaprYouTube: @bitterroot_reaperSpecial thanks to the Hawken Horse Band for the use of their music. The band can be found on:Instagram: @hawkenhorsebandYouTube: @hawkenhorse

Welcome to the Twilight Hunter's Podcast. I created this show to focus on the Gen-Xer's in the hunting community and take a look at the issues and challenges we face as we age in this pastime.