The Western seasons are firing up, and if you’re not already prepping, you’re behind the curve.

On this episode of the Thrive Vodcast, I’m diving into how I’m prepping for back-to-back steep terrain, high-stakes hunts, while rehabbing from torn quad surgery and turning 60 along the way.

We review some killer gear upgrades, share a few strategy shifts, and review another juicy plot twist in Colorado’s wolf reintroduction fairy tale drama.

Strategy, gear, and the truth behind the headlines

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Additional Thrive Resources

⁠⁠⁠Treeline Academy Western Hunt Courses⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠(Use code THRIVE to save 20% on any Treeline course)⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Treeline Podcast Archive⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Treeline Thrive Vodcast Archive⁠

Tricer RP Bipod – Use Code Treeline To Save

Initial Ascent

GSI Microlite 1000

Five Rules To Save Your Elk Season

If you chase elk in the West long enough, you’re going to face Hunt Area Paralysis.

It happens when you pour all your effort and mental collateral into one so-called quote "money spot", only to pack in and find it stone cold. No fresh sign. No bugles. No Nothing.

But you end up staying anyway, because you can’t walk away from the mental investment you’ve made.

That’s the trap so many Western elk hunters find themselves in. They are anchored to a hunt area by emotion, not reality.

And while you’re stuck, the elk season clock is bleeding out.

The fix? Five Hunt Paralysis Rules that give you options, and options can quickly turn pending failure into success.

When plan A blows up, and it will! It’s not about where you want the elk to be, it’s where they actually are.

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Additional Thrive Resources

⁠⁠Treeline Academy Western Hunt Courses⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠(Use code THRIVE to save 20% on any Treeline course)⁠⁠

⁠⁠Treeline Podcast Archive⁠⁠

⁠⁠Treeline Thrive Vodcast Archive

Tricer Tripod – Use Code Treeline To Save

GOHUNT – Use Code Treeline To Save On Insider Membership

After every season, I hear the same thing: ‘Man, I wish I had prepared better.’ Lack of preparation probably leaves more tags unfilled than poor shooting ever will.

Today we’re fixing that. We’re diving into three elk-season preparations that can make or break your hunt, from mapping tech failures to motor-vehicle nightmares.

This isn’t the glamorous stuff people brag about on Instagram — but it’s the work that decides whether you notch a tag or go home empty.

These are the details that separate the 6% who punch tags from the 94% who don’t.

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Additional Thrive Resources

⁠⁠Treeline Academy Western Hunt Courses⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠(Use code THRIVE to save 20% on any Treeline course)⁠⁠

⁠⁠Treeline Podcast Archive⁠⁠

⁠⁠Treeline Thrive Vodcast Archive

Welcome to Peax Thrive Vodcast Episode 26! This is another Live On Location episode, and I’m joined by one of the most intensely dedicated elk hunters I know—Dan Staten, the founder of ElkShape.

Over the years, Dan and I have had some epic podcast conversations—and this one’s no different.

If you know Dan, you know he is intense and doesn’t cut corners. He’s hands down one of the most disciplined and committed elk hunters out there.

In this episode, we get into boots-on-the-ground scouting, elk nurseries, hidden water sources, rub lines, gear testing, and the evolving strategy behind early-season logistics.

This isn’t just another elk hunting episode—it’s packed with real-world takeaways you can apply this season.

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Additional Thrive Resources

⁠Treeline Academy Western Hunt Courses⁠ - ⁠(Use code THRIVE to save 20% on any Treeline course)⁠

⁠Treeline Podcast Archive⁠

⁠Treeline Thrive Vodcast Archive

Elk Shape Podcast – The Best Kept Secret In Elk Hunting

Bear Spray “versus” firearm is the question we are going to tackle on today’s Thrive Vodcast.

It’s a question of survival. If you spend time in grizzly country, you might only get one chance to get it right.

We’re not talking barstool debates or Instagram flexing. We’re talking about what works when the chips are down and a grizzly bear is closing the gap at 30 miles an hour.

When it comes to stopping a charging grizzly! Very few folks have done it, but plenty think they can and that they understand how extreme the situation will be! From what I have seen, the truth is that almost none actually do!

In this episode, we’re unpacking and evaluating it all—real-world experience, real stats, real solutions.

I’ve reached out to some experts for input, and this show might generate a few wake-up calls for backcountry hunters who might think they’re ready when the nightmare comes calling.

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Additional Thrive Resources

⁠⁠Treeline Academy Western Hunt Courses
(Use code THRIVE to save 20% on any Treeline course)⁠⁠

⁠⁠Treeline Podcast Archive⁠⁠

⁠⁠Treeline Thrive Vodcast Archive⁠

Essential Wilderness – Is Bear Spray Better Than Gun

Bear Spray vs Bullets: Which Offers Better Protection? by the US Fish and Wildlife Service

Bear Spray or Bullets, by Lynn Dickerson
Efficacy of Bear Deterrent Spray in Alaska, by Smith et al.

BioOne Digital Library - Grizzly bear and American black bear interactions with people in Yellowstone National Park

Montana Grizzly Bear Mortalities Report

Razco Holsters – Bozeman, Montana

Episode 514 – The Rich Outdoors Podcast - Hunting in Bear Country

Do you ever wonder why elk aren't where they're “supposed” to be? Everything looks perfect, but the elk are not there!

This is part two of my Live On Location Thrive Vodcast with Cody Rich from the Rich Outdoors.

Everyone has opinions, and you have heard them before: go high, go deep, go remote.

While those are generally solid suggestions, they only work with the right features and, more importantly, the right conditions!

In this Thrive episode, Cody and I continue our Live On Location conversation about high country pursuits and how to break down and understand moisture data in your hunt areas. This might be the elk locator you’ve been missing.

This episode is directly from the elk finding trenches.

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Additional Thrive Resources

⁠⁠Treeline Academy Western Hunt Courses – (Use code THRIVE to save 20% on any Treeline course)⁠⁠

⁠⁠Treeline Podcast Archive⁠⁠

⁠⁠Treeline Thrive Vodcast Archive⁠

Episode 563: How to Take September Off with Mark Livesay – Rich Outdoors Podcast

This episode kicks off a brand-new format of the Peax Thrive Vodcast: Thrive Live On Location, and we’re coming to you straight from the Total Archery Challenge in Red Lodge, Montana.

Fair warning: this episode hits a little differently.

I’m joined by Cody Rich — one of the prolific and sharpest E-Scouting minds in the elk finding game.

When we sat down, we swore we would not talk E-scouting… and then we couldn’t help ourselves, and it didn’t take long!

This is Part One of a two-part conversation packed with real-world elk hunting insight, hard-earned lessons, and serious backcountry tactics we have never talked about before.

Cody and I tend to give away too much, and this time is no exception.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to succeed on public land, or what the future of elk hunting in the West is shaping up to be, you’re in the right place.

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Additional Thrive Resources

⁠⁠Treeline Academy Western Hunt Courses – (Use code THRIVE to save 20% on any Treeline course)⁠⁠

⁠⁠Treeline Podcast Archive⁠⁠

⁠⁠Treeline Thrive Vodcast Archive⁠

Bearded Butchers Montana Hunt Film Part One & Two
Part One: https://youtu.be/6XjIqq8wwZo?si=NK8foBSxoQA23KIW
Part Two: https://youtu.be/r7I5MibV3w0?si=MX3lbes8FTTY1RQM

Welcome to the Peaks THRIVE Vodcast!

Join Mark Livesay as he redefines hunting podcasts for Western hunters. This unique show dives deep into essential strategies, tools, and tactics to elevate your hunting game. Expect insights on advanced e-scouting, hunt planning, DIY backcountry meals, gear reviews, and tech training—all tailored for success in the field.

Each episode features two formats: in-studio discussions on Western news and hands-on demonstrations, plus real-time field recordings during hunts, sharing what works and what doesn’t. With segments dedicated to pressing Western topics, this show is driven by your feedback and questions. Tune in for actionable advice and elevate your Western hunting experience!

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Additional Thrive Resources

⁠⁠Treeline Academy Western Hunt Courses
(Use code THRIVE to save 20% on any Treeline course)⁠⁠

⁠⁠Treeline Podcast Archive⁠⁠

⁠⁠Treeline Thrive Vodcast Archive⁠

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