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Trail cameras can be addictive for the photos, but the real payoff is what those clips reveal about animal behavior and repeatable movement patterns. We’re joined again by John Nicholson from Trail Camera Adventures to get practical about turning trail cams into a true scouting system, especially for hunters who feel like they’re “doing everything right” but still can’t make the data translate into daylight encounters. If you’ve ever pulled a card, seen a mature buck once, and then watched him vanish, we dig into why that happens and how to respond without burning the spot.

We get specific on gear and setup: what makes a camera “good” depends on your application, from high-resolution footage for editing to reliable detection for hunting intel. John shares why certain tiny micro mini cameras have been consistent letdowns, why default settings are a beginner’s best friend, and how SD card choices can either streamline your season or create constant frustration. We also talk video vs photo mode and why video captures the small details that change decisions, like approach routes, body language, and what other animals are trailing behind.

Blacktail hunting is a major focus, including how sensitive mature blacktail bucks can be to flash, LEDs, and subtle camera cues, and why blackout or no-glow trail cameras matter. From there we connect trail camera strategy to core-area discipline: home range realities, perimeter hunting, rut “racetrack” loops, and how wind and thermals can influence the direction a buck chooses. We close with unforgettable trail cam stories, from buck fights to bobcats to bears, plus a cougar moment that reshaped how we think about predator behavior.

If you enjoy this kind of deep-dive scouting talk, subscribe, share the episode with a hunting buddy, and leave a review so more blacktail hunters can find the show. What trail camera question do you want us to tackle next?

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Trail cameras feel simple until you realize how many animals can walk right past them without ever showing up on your card. We sit down again with John Nicholson from Trail Camera Adventures and get into the details that separate “random luck” from consistent trail camera success, whether you’re chasing blacktail and elk or just trying to capture better wildlife video.

We talk honestly about mounting height and why “put it high so it won’t get stolen” can quietly cost you photos, especially of smaller animals and sleek moving cats. John explains why he often prefers a lower, more natural eye-level perspective for better footage, while we compare that with the practical six to seven foot setups many hunters use. We also cover the unglamorous stuff that ruins otherwise perfect locations, like ferns and branches growing into the frame months later, plus why sun direction rules can matter a lot less in cloudy Pacific Northwest conditions.

Then we get technical in the best way: PIR sensors, heat plus motion, and why the classic mistake of aiming straight down the trail can lead to tracks everywhere and zero captures. We break down smarter angles, field of view, trigger behavior, sleep mode delays, and how time-lapse scouting can help you map animal movement across clearcuts when normal triggering can’t reach. If you’ve ever had a “runaway” camera fill a card with rain photos, you’ll feel seen.

Subscribe for the next part, share this with a hunting buddy who keeps missing deer on camera, and leave a review with your go-to trail camera setup or your biggest trail cam fail.

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A trail camera can feel like a simple tool until you’ve watched an elk beat it up, a bear pry it open, or winter condensation turn every clip into a blurry mess. We’re joined by John Nicholson from Trail Camera Adventures, who’s spent years running a huge network of cams around Mount St. Helens and worked inside the outdoor industry during the early wave of modern trail camera development. He shares what changed as cameras went from clunky “toasters” to compact units hunters could actually trust, plus the real story behind a feature packed trail cam idea that failed for one brutal reason: price.

We also get practical about keeping trail cameras alive in the Pacific Northwest. John explains why water and fogging kill more cameras than people expect, why a tiny weep hole can extend winter survivability, and how different animals react to cameras once they’re discovered. If you’ve ever wondered why some spots eat gear, or why your setup works great in summer then falls apart in cold weather, this conversation will save you time and money.

From there we dig into the everyday decisions that matter most for wildlife scouting: non-cellular versus cellular trail cameras in low service areas, battery strategies that scale when you run multiple cameras, and when solar panels help versus when they just create another target. We finish with SD card guidance and John’s argument for video mode over still photos, because animal behavior, approach routes, and follow-up movement are the details that make you a better hunter.

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We’re recording live from the Cascade Mountain Man Muzzle Loading Arms and Pioneer Craft Show, and the background noise is the point, because this world is alive. I sit down with Mike Moran and Steve Cole from the Washington State Muzzle Loaders Association to talk about the people behind traditional muzzleloading in Washington and why the “mountain man” scene is bigger than just rifles. If you’ve ever been curious about black powder, period-correct gear, or how rendezvous culture still brings folks together, this conversation gives you a clear starting map.

We unpack what a fur trade rendezvous really was, how trappers and fur companies turned remote summer meeting places into a moving supply chain, and why beaver pelts became the king of the market thanks to felt hats. From there, we connect history to modern outdoor life: trapping regulations in Washington, the trapper education class, and the way bushcraft skills like fire building, camp cooking, shelters, and foraging naturally overlap with traditional hunting trips.

We also get practical about muzzleloading gear and terminology. We talk flintlock, percussion sidelock, and inline ignition, what “black powder” can mean in different contexts, and why more powder doesn’t automatically mean better performance. If you’re new and worried you’ll get judged, don’t be. The best path is simple: use the association’s club list and monthly shoot info, reach out, and let experienced shooters walk you through safe basics. Find them at www.wa muzzle loaders.com.

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A 13-year-old sits in a stand for six hours, her phone dead, nerves climbing, and then a black bear finally steps out. A senior in high school buys a deer tag just days before late buck season, practices with a 12 gauge slug, and ends up doing the whole hunt and the entire breakdown himself. Those are the kinds of first-year big game hunting stories you do not forget, and they are exactly what we dig into with teen hunters Kinley and Josiah.

We talk about what pushes a young person to start hunting, from family influence to friends who keep saying “you’ve got deer in your yard, you have to try.” Kinley walks through the full black bear hunt near the beach, from the fear and blanking-out moment to recovery, tagging, photos, and skinning in the dark. Along the way, we hit a critical reminder for youth hunting and tree stand safety: wear a safety harness and make coming home the priority.

Then Josiah breaks down his DIY approach to deer hunting: scouting a clear “highway” trail, choosing a spot with enough visibility, confirming an ethical range, and handling the emotional weight of the shot. We also get real about the social side of hunting. What do you say when friends claim you “murdered an animal”? We lay out the ethics of fair chase, clean kills, respect for the animal, and why taking responsibility for your own meat hits different than buying it wrapped in plastic.

If you care about teen hunting, hunter safety, ethical hunting, black bear hunting, blacktail deer hunting, and raising confident new hunters, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a parent or new hunter, leave a review, and tell us: what was the hardest part of your first big game season?

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Coyotes don’t read gear reviews, and they don’t slow down when they hit your call. We’re closing out our coyote hunting series with Cody Sanchez by getting brutally practical about what consistently puts fur on the ground in real Pacific Northwest terrain. If you’ve ever wondered why a rifle setup feels “right” but still loses fast-moving coyotes in brush and timber, we break down when a shotgun is the smarter tool, what loads we trust, and how to think about range, recovery, and ethics before you ever step into a stand.

Next we get into the details that separate random luck from repeatable success: where to place an electronic caller so coyotes commit inside shotgun range, how elevation and road positioning can tilt the odds, and what to look for in an e-caller beyond flashy features. Cody explains why volume and clarity matter, how sound libraries differ between brands, and what a realistic entry-level budget looks like if you want to avoid wasting money. Prefer hand calls? We talk diaphragms, open reed vs closed reed calls, and the single “buy this first” option that gives new hunters the most versatility.

We also dig into coyote senses and common rookie mistakes. Coyotes may not see perfectly, but their nose is a serious problem, and wind discipline can make or break a stand. We share a few field stories that reframe “noise,” plus practical advice on locating coyotes and sticking with the learning curve. Finally, we cover what to do after the shot, how to work with landowners respectfully, and where to go for solid learning resources.

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Coyotes feel random until you zoom in on what they repeat. Aaron sits down with Cody Sanchez for week two of coyote hunting and gets specific about what “range” looks like in real timber country: tight home cores for established breeding pairs, big moves for transients, and why a single square mile can hold an entirely different group. If you have ever seen one coyote once and then lost the trail, this conversation helps explain what was probably happening on the landscape.

We also dig into coyote habitat and scouting without the fluff. On uniform timber company ground, “good-looking cover” is everywhere, so Cody leans on what is measurable: scat in the road, fresh tracks on muddy stretches, and the fastest shortcut of all, locating coyotes with howling. We talk about when coyotes get vocal, when they shut down, and why judging howl distance in steep, timbered terrain is harder than most hunters admit. A small change like gaining elevation and working top-down can make your locating way more accurate.

From there we move into predator calling strategy and how to structure a hunt day. Rabbit distress still kills, but we explain why pup fights, group howls, and other coyote vocalizations can flip a switch on a bored or hung-up animal, plus how coyotes get “educated” when one escapes. We finish with a practical take on run-and-gun, stand spacing, and why proximity kills more coyotes than perfect sounds ever will.

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Coyotes don’t play by daytime rules, and that’s exactly why so many hunters are turning to night stands and thermal optics. We sit down with Cody Sanchez of Thermal Dispatch to unpack what really changes after dark—why coyotes move more, respond harder to calls, and force you to rethink setups in Western Washington’s tight timber and mixed-use ground. If you’ve only seen wide-open prairie hunts online, this conversation reframes the game for ferns, logging roads, and urban edges where coyotes thrive but rarely show themselves.

We get practical about the tech curve—spotlights to red lights to night vision to thermal—and what each step taught us about pressured coyotes. Cody breaks down thermal palettes, detection versus identification, and why removing visible light prevents educating pairs that slip away and never forget. We also get clear about the law: where thermal is allowed for predators, where it’s banned for big game, how daytime heat affects performance, and why some states are rethinking rules as adoption grows. The throughline is simple—use the tool responsibly or risk losing it, because predator management needs effective methods.

From seasonal rhythms to pelt quality, timing is everything. Late summer into fall brings dispersal and the highest dog counts of the year; late October to mid-February offers the best fur; March denning can make responses slow and quiet. Along the way, we swap stories about striking color phases and tough-luck survivors that still answer a call. It’s a grounded, field-tested view of coyote behavior, ethics, and policy that respects fair chase while recognizing the real impact coyotes have on fawn survival and working lands.

If you care about calling, conservation, and keeping opportunity open, this one belongs in your queue. Tap follow, share it with a hunting partner, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show.

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