6 Ranch Podcast

Rawley Bigsby legally killed a wolf who was attacking his cattle in eastern Oregon. He’s a rancher and family man who is running for county commissioner to serve his community. We get into the politics of wolves, grizzlies, timber and the natural resource issues that rural Oregonians care about. This is your chance to get to know Rawley. Enjoy the episode.

Spring turkey hunting in the West is a completely different game than the hardwoods and farm country most hunters are used to. Big country, low bird density, steep terrain, wind, and pressure all change how you locate, call, and kill gobblers.In this episode of the 6 Ranch Podcast, we break down real-world tactics for hunting Merriam’s and Rio Grande turkeys in mountainous terrain—from first light locating to closing the deal on wary birds that have seen it all.We cover:How to find turkeys in vast Western landscapes (and avoid wasting days in dead country)The truth about roosting birds in steep terrainWhen to cover ground vs. sit and callWind, elevation, and thermals—how they impact gobbling and movementThe most effective calling strategies for pressured mountain gobblersHow to set up for success in broken terrain (and why most setups fail)Midday tactics that consistently produce birds in the WestGear considerations for run-and-gun hunting in steep countryThis isn’t theory—it’s built from years of guiding, hunting, and learning the hard way in the mountains of the American West.If you’re used to Eastern-style turkey hunting, this episode will completely change how you approach birds out West.western turkey hunting, spring turkey hunting tactics, mountain turkey hunting, Merriam’s turkey hunting, Rio Grande turkey hunting, how to hunt turkeys in mountains, turkey calling strategies, locating gobblers, run and gun turkey hunting, turkey hunting tips west, backcountry turkey hunting, public land turkey hunting

How does a bill navigate the state senate and house in Oregon? Does the Governor veto bills out of spite? What issues are facing wildlife and agriculture in Oregon? These are some of the questions we answer in this week’s episode with my dad as he just got home from his second legislative session as an Oregon State Senator.

The head guide at Avon Valley Safaris is none other than the legendary Kate Bryant. Kate guides stone sheep and moose in Canada during fall in the northern hemisphere and heads back to New Zealand to guide red deer, fallow, and sheep during their fall as well. I had such a good time hunting with her that I couldn’t help but sit down with her and Darren to talk about the unique challenges of guiding in New Zealand and internationally. This episode is really a behind the scenes look at what it takes to make a hunting operation world class.

I travelled 8,277 to make this podcast episode and to join Avon Valley on an adventure. I’m down here hosting a trip where the guests and myself have been hunting red stag, fallow deer, spearfishing and having an absolutely amazing time. In this episode we talk about how to hunt New Zealand and a bit of what to expect. Darren is a fantastic human being and we recorded this episode on his boat after a day of fishing and spearfishing following some hunting at the beginning of the trip. Stay tuned for more and make sure to reach out to these folks if you are interested in having a wonderful hunting experience in New Zealand.

My 93 year old grandma, who now has five great great grandchildren, is back to talk about writing, gardening, hunting and life. There’s a 0% chance this episode doesn’t warm your heart and put a smile on your face.

Chris Wittman, one of the founders of Captains for Clean Waters joins the show this week to talk about how they are fighting for free speech in Florida to stop a bill that would make it so that someone who calls out agricultural pollution could be sued without the opportunity of recompense. We talk about that, tarpon fishing, and the greater mission of Captains for Clean Waters. We need your help on this one, not just to listen, but for you to learn how a couple minutes of your efforts can benefit wildlife in Florida and around the world. Enjoy!

Brent Oliver was partially decapitated by a cable strung between two trees while riding his dirt bike. After someone passing by did CPR on him for two hours. He was without oxygen for over twenty minutes and died. And came back. His story of recovery from a quadriplegic to having a thriving career, a family, and becoming an elite off-road driver is among the most powerful narratives I’ve ever heard. He is an example of unrelenting courage and determination. You’ll never hear another story like this, because there are no other stories like this.

Rounded to a whole number the percentage of hunters who are successful with their cougar tags in Oregon is 0. Joe Lewis his cougar tags 9 out of the last ten years. He is in the elite minority of people who have cracked the code on cougar hunting without dogs, and this week’s episode we talk about how it’s been done in the past and how his tactics have evolved. You aren’t going to want to miss this one. If you are enjoying the show leave us a review. Check out more from Joe’s website where you can enroll in his class on the newest tactic.

Bill Ables is back talk about backcountry flying, chukar hunting and stories from his game warden days which he retired from 25 years ago.

The language of hunting matters. Policies that affect hunting, hunters and wildlife require the buy in of people who don’t hunt. This is a discussion between myself, Robbie Kroger from the Origins Foundation and Charles Whitwam from Howl For Wildlife. You will not find two people more dedicated to defending wildlife or hunting than these two men. Enjoy the conversation.

You worked your tail off to bring that meat home from your hunt, don’t mess it up. On this episode Adele Nash, who is a classically trained chef sits down to talk about the ways you can prepare, cook and present your harvested game in some ways that will honor that animal and impress the friends and family you are serving the meal to. And it’s way easier than you might think. Adele works as a private chef for families on vacation, at events, and at hunting camps/ and lodges. Enjoy!

Justin Russel is back to discuss the results of a study he helped conduct where he captured mountain lions, applied gps collars, and then would go back and find each of the cougar’s kill sites to see what they were preying on. The results are fascinating and made even more interesting when wolves showed up in the region. Consider this episode a blueprint to understanding what and where cougars are hunting throughout the year.

Justin Russel was a scout sniper in the Marine Corps with multiple combat deployments and is now an accomplished big game hunter. We talk about his path into becoming a sniper and what skills from that job have helped him be successful as a hunter.

From rural Maine to the Ok Theatre. Run in for some good old fashioned story telling from musician, theatre owner and home builder, Mt Darrell Brann.

Fellow guides Chad Dotson and Kevin Harlander recap their hunting and guiding seasons and we talk through the changes to the new deer hunting regulations and unit boundaries in Oregon. Oregon deer huntingOregon hunting regulationsOregon deer unit changes2025–2026 Oregon deer seasonOregon controlled huntsOregon hunting units explainedMule deer hunting OregonWhitetail hunting OregonOregon deer tag changesODFW deer regulationsOregon hunting season recapProfessional hunting guidesWestern hunting guidesOregon elk and deer reportBlue Mountains deer populationOregon mule deer declineOregon hunting managementOregon deer harvest dataBest Oregon hunting unitsDIY Oregon deer huntingDeer hunting strategies OregonPublic land hunting OregonOregon hunting opportunitiesSpot and stalk mule deerLate season deer huntingHigh desert hunting OregonTimber country hunting OregonPacific Northwest hunting podcast6 Ranch Podcast huntingHunting conservation OregonODFW proposed changesOregon tag allocation changesOregon wildlife managementDeer behavior and migration OregonOregon predator impactsPredator management Oregon

Amy got bucked off a horse and broke her neck. She refused surgery, healed through exercise and visualization, then left the high desert of Oregon to college. She was recruited for the rowing team where she quickly became the strongest person on the oar. Then she got in a boat wreck and broke her back. After recovering from that she tried out for National team and despite being rejected by the coach due to her height, she forced her way onto the boat by demonstrating she could pull harder than anyone else in the country. That pulled that oar all the way to the Sydney Olympics. Since then she’s travelled the world adventuring and hunting. She now runs Branded Rock Canyon, a premier lodge, hunting destination and shooting facility. You want a legendary story? Thoughtful insight into wildlife conservation? Check out this episode with Amy Shaffer and Rob Gearing from Spartan Precision. shooting sportslong range shootingprecision riflehunting ethicswildlife conservationhabitat managementelk conservationpredator managementsustainable huntingoutdoor lifestyleOlympic rowingelite athletic trainingendurance performancestrength and conditioningmental toughnesssports psychologyathlete mindset

In this special episode of the 6 Ranch Podcast, James connects with Rob Gearing and JT from Spartan Precision— from Branded Rock Canyon in Colorado. Rob shares the story behind the innovations, the challenges of building world-class ultralight hunting gear, and how decades of experience in the field shaped Spartan’s newest releases. From engineering insights to real-world application, this episode dives into what it takes to design equipment trusted on the toughest hunts around the world.We also discuss Land Rovers, Land Cruisers, the INEOS Grenadier, hunting in the British lowlands and Scottish highlands and share a bunch of laughs We also explore the philosophy behind ethical hunting, their shared belief in reducing failure points in the field, and how the right gear can shift the odds when the shot of a lifetime presents itself.Whether you’re a gear junkie, a mountain hunter, or someone who appreciates craftsmanship with purpose, this is a landmark episode you won’t want to miss.

Learn how to do an overland trip to Baja, find free camping locations, navigate the border and not get arrested at military check points in this informational episode following my 93 hour road trip. I also discuss the gear I used, how I used it, what worked well and what didn’t.

I drove 52 hours and 12 minutes to Baja, Mexico to freedive and spearfishing for Marlin. After day two of the trip I sat down with my guide, Angelo, from La Ventana Dive Center for part 1 of a two part episode. We talk Marlin, how I almost got arrested on the way here, the challenges of guiding spearfishermen, and how Angelo almost got eaten be a tiger shark.