Addicted Hunting Podcast

From a Toyota Camry to the PERFECT Hunting Rig | Ep. 10

From stuffing deer into the trunk of a Toyota Camry to building fully dialed hunting rigs, this episode of the Addicted Hunting Podcast is all about the trucks, side-by-sides, upgrades, and gear that make hunting better. Marlin and Jonathan break down their favorite hunting rigs, debate Tacoma vs diesel trucks, talk tires, lifts, winches, lighting, reliability, and all the little details that separate a good hunting rig from a great one.

Whether you’re driving a beat-up budget rig or a brand-new truck, this episode is packed with real-world experience from years of hunting the Pacific Northwest and beyond. From emergency gear and recovery setups to side-by-sides and long road trips, this is the ultimate conversation for hunters who are obsessed with building the perfect hunting setup.

 

Topics Covered

• Best hunting trucks
• Toyota Tacoma vs full-size diesel trucks
• Best tire setups for hunting
• Lift kits and suspension
• Hunting truck accessories
• Winches, bumpers, and recovery gear
• Side-by-side setups
• Budget hunting rigs
• Emergency gear for hunters
• Hunting truck lighting upgrades
• Tacoma build ideas
• Hunting rig organization
• Backcountry truck essentials
• Favorite hunting mods
• Pacific Northwest hunting rigs

Most Duck Hunters Get This Completely Wrong | Ep 9

What separates successful duck hunters from everyone else? According to waterfowl guide Brandon Powers, it isn't expensive gear, fancy calls, or massive decoy spreads. It's understanding bird behavior, scouting effectively, and knowing when to let the ducks tell you what they want.

In this episode of the Addicted Hunting Podcast, we dive deep into duck hunting strategy, waterfowl migration, calling techniques, decoy setups, hunting stories, and conservation. Brandon shares what he's learned after years of guiding hunters and why some of the most common advice in duck hunting can actually hurt your success in the field.

Topics Covered

• Waterfowl hunting fundamentals
• Reading duck body language
• How much calling is too much?
• Choosing the right shotgun and ammo
• Best decoys for ducks and geese
• Scouting strategies that produce results
• Hunting pressured birds
• Why weather changes everything
• Guide life and tough hunting seasons
• Duck hunting stories and lessons learned
• Waterfowl conservation
• Getting new hunters into the sport

Five Years of Failure Before His First Buck | Ep 8

What happens when it takes five years to finally punch your first tag? In this episode of the Addicted Hunting podcast, the crew shares stories about failure, persistence, and the moment everything finally comes together. They discuss the emotional rollercoaster of hunting, the close calls that still haunt them, and why success means more after years of grinding it out.

This episode is full of honest hunting stories, blacktail hunting talk, mountain memories, and conversations about why hunters willingly endure miserable weather, exhaustion, and failure just for a chance at one unforgettable moment. If you’ve ever questioned whether it’s worth sticking with hunting after tough seasons, this one will hit home.

Topics Covered

• Five-year journey to a first buck
• Hunting perseverance
• Public land hunting struggles
• Blacktail hunting stories
• Why hunters embrace failure
• Mental toughness in hunting
• Memorable deer encounters
• Hunting camp conversations
• Lessons from missed opportunities
• The addiction to the hunt

We Talked Pros and Cons of Every Weapon… Then It Got Heated | EP 7

This week on the Addicted Hunting Podcast, we’re diving headfirst into one of the biggest debates in hunting: rifle vs muzzleloader vs archery. The guys break down the pros, cons, frustrations, advantages, and unforgettable experiences that come with every weapon choice — and things definitely get heated along the way.

From screaming elk during archery season, to muzzleloader misfires, to long-range rifle setups and shotgun stories from the old days, this episode is packed with real hunting experiences, hard lessons, and plenty of laughs. Whether you’re a hardcore bowhunter, a rifle addict, or somewhere in between, this episode will probably make you defend your favorite setup in the comments.

Topics Covered

• Archery hunting pros and cons
• Why elk bugling changes everything
• Rifle hunting advantages and pressure
• Muzzleloader hunting stories and failures
• Ethical shot placement discussion
• Long-range shooting setups
• Crossbow and shotgun hunting talk
• Hunting pressure on public land
• Washington hunting seasons
• Why hunters argue about weapon choices
• Favorite hunting setups
• Lessons learned from missed shots
• Hunting mistakes that still hurt
• Why every weapon has tradeoffs

We Waited All Week for One Shot… Then This Happened | Ep 6

After days of freezing sits, long hours in the stand, and barely any movement, it all came down to a single moment. One opportunity. One shot. The kind of chance every whitetail hunter waits all season for—and sometimes only gets once.

What happened next is the reality of hunting mature bucks. Even when everything finally comes together, it only takes one small mistake to change the outcome. This episode breaks down the full story, from the grind of the hunt to the split-second decision that made all the difference.

Topics Covered:

• Long sits and mental toughness
• Hunting slow conditions
• Capitalizing on rare opportunities
• Shot execution under pressure
• Buck behavior during rut phases
• Stand discipline
• Missed shot breakdown
• Close encounter storytelling
• Lessons from high-pressure moments
• Staying focused after mistakes

We Taught the World to Hunt… Then Lost Our Spots | Ep 5

We taught the world how to hunt… but did it come with a cost? In this episode, we sit down and have an honest conversation about how hunting has evolved over the last decade—and how things like social media, technology, and online education have completely reshaped the landscape. On one hand, it’s never been easier to get into hunting.

On the other, it’s never felt more competitive. We talk about losing spots, gaining opportunity, and the tension between growing the sport and protecting what made it special in the first place.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Is hunting getting better, worse, or just different?

• How social media changed hunting forever

• The explosion of public land hunting

• Digital tools like maps and scouting apps

• The shift from tradition to online learning

• Ethics vs entertainment in hunting content

• The pressure of filming hunts

• Out-of-state hunting and tag demand

• Predator populations and wildlife management

• How hunters can protect the future of the sport

We Knew Where the Elk Were… And Still Messed It Up | Ep 4

We were in elk… like really in elk—and still couldn’t seal the deal. This episode of the Addicted Hunting Podcast is a rollercoaster of close calls, tough decisions, and straight-up hunting frustration. From a herd of 27 elk to bulls screaming just out of reach, we had opportunity after opportunity… and couldn’t capitalize.

If you’ve ever had a hunt where everything should’ve come together but didn’t, this is that story. We break down what went wrong, what we learned, and why sometimes the hardest part of hunting isn’t finding animals—it’s making the right call when it matters most.

In this episode:

• In-season elk hunt recap (Washington)

• Getting within 70 yards of elk

•The decision that changed everything

• Bulls bugling and disappearing

• Missed opportunities and hard lessons

• Shot placement, distance, and ethics

• Hunting pressure and changing elk behavior

• “Expect the unexpected” moments

We Got Skunked… Then Built the Ultimate Hunting Season | Ep 3

The 2025 hunting season didn’t exactly start the way we hoped… we got completely skunked in the draw. No tags, no luck, nothing. But instead of sitting the season out, we decided to go all-in and build a plan that turned into what might be our most ambitious hunting season yet.

In this episode of the Addicted Hunting Podcast, we break down everything we’ve got coming—from Washington muzzleloader elk camp to mule deer, antelope, and an insane Ohio whitetail hunt on one of the wildest properties we’ve ever seen. We also swap some real hunting stories, including close calls, missed opportunities, and lessons learned the hard way. If you’ve ever had to pivot after a bad draw, this one’s for you.

In this episode:

• Getting skunked in the Washington tag draw

• How we pivoted and built a full hunting season

• Multi-season tags and maximizing opportunity

• Muzzleloader elk hunting plans and strategies

• Elk camp with the crew and hunting private timber land

• Mule deer hunting goals and target bucks

• Antelope hunting plans and preparation

• Ohio whitetail hunt and historic hunting property

• Shot placement, tracking, and hard lessons learned

• Why hunting with friends is what it’s all about

This Predator Hunt Almost Ended Bad… Head On Collision | Ep. 2

We almost went head on with a drunk driver on the way to go predator hunting… and it happened fast. That was just the start of a 2024 season full of close calls, missed shots, and hard lessons in the field.

Episode 2 of the Addicted Hunting Podcast dives into our full hunting season, covering the highs, the lows, and the reality of what it actually takes to find success.We kick things off with a predator hunting trip that nearly went sideways in a split second. A moment that puts everything into perspective before the hunt even begins.

From there, we get into:

Predator hunting and calling coyotes

Spring turkey struggles and what finally worked

Archery elk hunting in Idaho and the challenges that come with it

Tracking and recovering elk and the reality behind tough situations

Mule deer and blacktail seasons, including missed opportunities

Upland bird hunting and why it’s one of the most underrated hunts

Ohio whitetail hunting and first time experiences in the rut

This episode is about real hunting. Not just success, but mistakes, lessons, and the moments you don’t forget. If you’re into coyote hunting, elk hunting, deer hunting, and honest hunting conversations, this one’s for you.

Drop a comment and let us know how your season went.

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We Brought It Back… Addicted Hunting Podcast Returns | Ep. 1

Welcome to Episode 1 of the Addicted Hunting Podcast.

After years of talking about bringing this back, it is finally here. In this first episode, Marlin, John, and Cliff sit down to introduce the Addicted Hunting Podcast, share how they all got started in hunting, talk about the types of hunting they are most passionate about, and give everyone a look at what is coming next for the Addicted Hunting brand. From mule deer and elk to upland birds, coyotes, shed hunting, whitetails, and everything in between, this podcast is built for hunters who live and breathe the outdoors.

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In this episode, we cover:

• How Addicted Hunting got started

• The original podcast and why it ended

• Why we decided to bring it back

• Our backgrounds in hunting

• Favorite species and hunting styles

• Trophy hunting vs hunting for meat

• Shed hunting, predator hunting, and future plans

• What you can expect from future podcast episodes and hunts

This is just the beginning. We have a lot planned for Addicted Hunting, including future podcast episodes, filmed hunts, stories from the field, gear talk, strategy, and plenty of real conversations around what it means to be obsessed with hunting.

Be sure to subscribe, drop a comment, and let us know what kind of hunting content and podcast topics you want to see next. Welcome to Addicted Hunting.

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