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Twenty years ago, when Dan Adler told friends and family he was leaving the Air Force to become a hunting guide, they asked what he'd do for "real money." Today, as founder of North America's largest outfitting operation with 61 guides across 42 million acres, Dan has the last laugh—and the best stories.

Dan takes us from his earliest days as a fishing-obsessed kid working on boats at age 13 to becoming a first-generation hunter who built an empire from scratch. With entertaining candor, he shares two unforgettable "bathroom disaster" stories that had me laughing out loud: one involving a negative camper who received some karmic justice via a collapsed toilet seat, and another featuring a confused 10-year-old who misunderstood instructions about his canteen during a youth hunt.

The highlight comes when Dan reveals a technique called "shock bugling" that he reluctantly used with a Navy SEAL client who initially forbade bugling as a calling strategy. When the SEAL finally got his opportunity at a massive bull elk, he experienced what Dan calls "cheese melting"—a phenomenon where even the most disciplined individuals freeze up from pure excitement and physically cannot draw their bow.

Throughout our conversation, Dan offers invaluable perspective for hunters of all experience levels, particularly about trophy expectations. He notes that only 4% of harvested elk exceed 350 inches and less than 1% surpass 360 inches, reminding us that a 300-inch bull is still a remarkable achievement. His advice to hunters feeling the pressure of score expectations is refreshingly simple: enjoy the freedom, the outdoors, and the experience rather than fixating on antler measurements.

Ready to learn more from this hunting entrepreneur? Check out Dan's upcoming book "Suck Less at Hunting" or explore his innovative Zero Outfitter Fees program designed to make guided hunts more accessible. This episode is packed with laughs, wisdom, and the kind of authentic hunting stories that remind us why we love the outdoors.

Websites:

www.DiamondOutfitters.com

www.ZeroOutfitterFees.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/DiamondOutfittersZeroOutfitterFees

https://www.facebook.com/zerooutfitterfees

Insta:

@zerooutfitterfees

@diamondoutfitters_zof

@diamonddanadler

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When Weston Homa drove 33 hours from Pennsylvania to Idaho for his meticulously planned solo mule deer hunt, he never imagined wildfires would close nearly his entire hunting unit. Standing at the trailhead with his camp already six miles into the mountains, most hunters would have given up and headed home. Not Weston.

This episode chronicles an extraordinary journey of resilience as Weston transforms potential disaster into the adventure of a lifetime. Refusing to accept defeat, he reaches out to a hunting acquaintance in Colorado and pivots his entire plan - ultimately leading to his first archery elk harvest at 12,000 feet. Listeners will be captivated by his raw determination as he stalks herds of elk through high-country basins and ultimately processes and packs out an entire elk solo over three grueling days.

Beyond the hunting story itself, Weston shares profound insights about the mental fortitude required in western backcountry hunting. His philosophy of embracing challenges instead of surrendering to them resonates throughout the conversation, especially when he discusses how this mindset has transformed other areas of his life - from running ultra-marathons to building meaningful connections with fellow hunters.

The conversation takes a powerful turn when Weston delivers a moving message about pursuing your passions wholeheartedly: "We all get to live once... whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might." His journey reminds us that often our most memorable adventures come from adapting to circumstances beyond our control rather than being defeated by them.

Follow Weston's future hunting adventures on Instagram and YouTube @WestonHoma, and submit your own hunting stories to be featured on a future episode through the link in our show notes.

Weston's Links

Weston's Insta

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Christensen Arms makes the best hunting and long-range rifles in the world. Made in the USA.

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Guide Caleb Stillions takes us deep into the Alaskan wilderness where survival demands quick thinking, steely nerves, and sometimes a bit of luck. Having spent five to seven months each year guiding in Alaska's remote backcountry, Caleb has accumulated more hunting experience than most will gather in a lifetime.

Through vivid storytelling, Caleb recounts several heart-stopping encounters with brown bears – the coastal giants that can reach 10 feet in length and outweigh their inland grizzly cousins by hundreds of pounds. We're transported to Kodiak Island, where Caleb and his team battled both COVID and a mother bear with cubs in subzero temperatures, forcing them to make life-or-death decisions while physically miserable.

What makes these stories particularly compelling is Caleb's matter-of-fact delivery about situations most would find utterly terrifying. From a bear charging at full speed just yards away to waking up to find a bear three feet from his face while making morning coffee, his experiences reveal both the majestic beauty and unforgiving reality of Alaska's wilderness.

Beyond the bear encounters, Caleb shares equally terrifying moments at sea during violent storms and navigating through fog-bound mountain passes in small aircraft – situations where he admits feeling truly helpless. His surprising revelation that these scenarios frighten him more than bear encounters offers a fascinating glimpse into the mindset of someone who has repeatedly faced nature's most formidable challenges.

Whether you're a hunter seeking adventure or simply appreciate raw wilderness stories, Caleb's experiences showcase what happens when modern humans venture into truly wild places where nature still reigns supreme. Leave a review if you enjoyed these stories and share this episode with someone who appreciates tales of survival against extraordinary odds.

Outfitter Services

Rise Up with Caleb Stillians

Caleb on Youtube

🔭 Upgrade Your View with Vortex Optics! Experience unparalleled clarity and precision with our top-of-the-line binoculars, scopes, and more. Check out our full range at VortexOptics.com

Visit SummitBowstrings.com or call 210-701-7399 to gear up with the best. Summit Bowstrings – where excellence and innovation meet in every string.


USE CODE: HSP10

Christensen Arms
Christensen Arms makes the best hunting and long-range rifles in the world. Made in the USA.

Support the show

Hunting Stories Instagram

Have a story? Click here!