On Step Alaska

Episode 174 - Tags, Points And Draws

With the deadline for draw applications in Alaska looming, I was feeling the crowd putting in for the tags that I want and wondered if tag-finding services were turning travel hunting into a rich person's game. I texted my buddy Jaden who provided some interesting insight. I talk about Jaden behind his back in this episode about perception vs. reality, tag-finding services and the value of having an outdoor buddy who can provide depth to a subject so you're not berating something you don't really understand.

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Episode 173 - Alaska Fly Fishing Goods

Brad Elfers is the owner of Alaska Fly Fishing Goods in Juneau. In this episode he and I talk about whether or not guiding and shop owning are all they are cracked up to be, how the internet has changed the business and steelhead tactics in southeast Alaska.

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Episode 172 - Cultural Richness And Hunting Rut

Tongass Talk's Ian Hudson and I talk about cultural richness, the different Alaskas, hunting the rut, why enduring terrible winter storms is worth it to live in Alaska and what's on the radar for 2021.

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Episode 171 - The Freelance Life

Taylor Balkom is a talented, award-winning freelance photojournalist who used to work for the Ketchikan Daily News. In this episode we talk about getting started in the freelance world, the importance of being able to write as well as shoot, imposter's syndrome, honing the craft and how giving away good content for free undermines the value of good words and photos.

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Episode 170 - Bowhunting Recap

After missing with my bow on Nov. 1, I haven't had another shot at a buck, though I have seen at least one every weekend. This is madness. There are only a few days left in the season so I will admit I'm feeling a bit of urgency. In this episode I talk about my two hunts this weekend, why I bow hunt, why I watch Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee and make a reference to 1984 because my students are finishing it for class so its on the brain.

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Episode 169 - Travel Hunting And Local Issues

I grew up watching Lower 48ers take Alaskan salmon back to their homes and in October I took a Wyoming mule deer back to mine. Traveling to someone else's spot to live out a dream can be a complex issue and one that often leads to debate. For every local angry about meat leaving the state, there's a slice of the local economy dependent upon it. We're all Public Land Owners, but what sort of ethics should a hunter or angler travel with? Jess Johnson, Jaden Bales (both of the Wyoming Wildlife Federation) and I talk about this and how to pack for a road trip in this episode.

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Episode 168 - Recipes And Recaps

Fairbanks resident Steve Shannon is back to talk about the highs and the low from the year. Though plans changed, we both scratched out pretty good years hunting. We also discuss e-bikes, tipi tents, and recipes.

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Episode 167 - Rut Part 1

The first weekend of Peak Rut is behind us and I went 0/2 on shots (both clean misses) with my bow, but I was seeing deer and giving myself a chance. In this episode I talk about what has worked for me as far as hunting muskegs in high traffic area. I explain the importance of running a program you trust because that is the key. People have different ideas about how to hunt during the rut and it all can work. My program is to focus on transition areas rather than bust through brush to make it to a muskeg and use a deer call as a magic wand.

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