On Step Alaska

I extended my range by buying a 2008 North River in November. Since then I've been learning as I go and sharing what limited knowledge I have about shopping, boats and the fears of catastrophe with friends who are in the market.

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When I enter my e-scouting bubble, nothing much exists outside of mule deer, terrain, and hunting with my girlfriend in the fall. When I exit my bubble and am reminded of the volume of suffering, anger and divisiveness in the world, it's difficult to know what to say. Would it just be some gross, self-congratulatory, "look at how virtuous I am" post which would detract from the point? Or is it better to just like or retweet a post from someone who really knows what they are talking about? It's not that you ignore or don't care. Good people have existed long before social media liked them, and finding positive things that will make my interactions with people in my community more unifying is probably more important than the perfect post when things are bad. This is maybe my most incoherent ramble, but I think it reflects the inability of many to know what to say in light of Covid-19 and the death of George Floyd.

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Tomorrow (May 21) is a big day. Not the big day, but a big day. Results for the Wyoming elk draw will be released and I will find out if the call practicing I've been doing will be put to use for a September archery hunt for cow elk. In this solo episode I talk about preference points, why I may never draw a bull elk tag and why my podcast introductions are weak.

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Jaden Bales works for the Wyoming Wildlife Federation and hosts Muley Monday for the Rich Outdoors Podcast. He and I talk mentorship, identity, what your Instagram post can and can't say about you. We also talk about hunting bears.

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Hunting spring black bears with a bow is a program my buddy Jesse Knock has figured out pretty well. In this episode he and I talk where to find big boars, staying calm, judging size and the best archery moments which don't always end in a notched tag.

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Adam Krick and I last talked about Afognak Elk, this time we discuss learning the spring black bear game. We talk the key elements of learning how to find, stalk and track black bear, and how quality bacon is the key ingredient for bear breakfast sausage.

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"Weird" "strange" and "crazy" are some of the most used words these days. This is because there really isn't anything else to describe what's going on and using a thesaurus to find a synonym doesn't really make anything better. I escaped my pandemic-induced lethargic week of distance teaching with a weekend in the woods chasing grouse, setting up game cameras and setting shrimp pots. It was another reminder of how important it is to have something to recharge the batteries. Some might call it "self care" others might call it "getting away" or "just being Alaskan." No matter what the preferred phrase, the point is the act of unplugging. I also talk about my favorite way to eat grouse - in popper form.

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Before his role in Netflix's teen drama Outer Banks, Ketchikan High School graduate ('16) Rudy Pankow was washing dishes from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Cheesecake Factory to make ends meet while pursuing his dream in Hollywood. I talk to my former student about the struggles, seeing through the fake, staying focused, and how the thought of not letting his home town down motivated him through the dry periods.