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This was a very popular episode we decided to re-run this week. If you're a hunter trying to juggle work, family, and the pursuit of the mountains — or just someone looking to live with more intention — this episode hits home.

In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, Dennis and Chris sit down for a real, candid conversation about balancing hunting, family, faith, and the demanding pace of everyday life. After two back-to-back episodes with Kyle Kamp of Valley 2 Peak Nutrition, the guys shift gears and recap their own hunting seasons — the highs, the lessons learned, and the encounters that shaped them this fall.

Dennis walks through a jam-packed few months that included an unforgettable elk rut experience, a Wyoming antelope tag on sprawling private ground, and a successful trip to Missouri chasing whitetails from the stand. Chris shares why this year looked a little different for him, how buying a home and running a business forced him to reprioritize, and what he learned about being intentional with the time he does have.

The heart of this episode centers on priorities — how to hunt hard without letting life at home fall apart, how to be present instead of simply being physically there, and why both men have learned (sometimes the hard way) that faith and family have to come before tags and timelines. They talk schedules, boundaries, burnout, and the simple habits that keep them grounded during the busiest seasons of the year.

As the podcast moves into winter, Dennis and Chris lay out their vision for helping listeners prepare physically, mentally, and spiritually for next season. They also share updates on upcoming guests, including Dan Staton of ElkShape, and remind listeners about the ongoing giveaway for a Pyro Putty Kit for those who leave a five-star review.

Sign up for a chance to win $9,000 of premium backcountry hunting gear at www.initialascent.com. Giveaway ends November 14th!

Subscribe and join the journey. New episodes dropping weekly.
#MountainDudePodcast #FaithGritGear #BackcountryLife #ChristianOutdoorsmen #HuntingPodcast
https://initialascent.com/

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One bad shot nearly made Matt Clark walk away from bowhunting forever. A year later, he found himself back in the elk woods with an opportunity to rewrite the story.

On this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, presented by Initial Ascent, Chris Young and Dennis Stokes sit down with Matt Clark to talk about the highs and lows of archery elk hunting, overcoming failure, and finding strength through faith, family, and perseverance.

After a heartbreaking encounter with a big bull elk the previous season, Matt questioned whether he wanted to pick up his bow again. The experience weighed heavily on him, but with encouragement from his wife, prayer, and a renewed commitment to becoming a better hunter, he decided to keep going.

Fast forward to September 2026. Hunting unfamiliar Idaho terrain, battling intense thunderstorms, and navigating the challenges of public land elk hunting, Matt found himself face-to-face with another bull. This time, everything came together.

Beyond the hunt, Matt shares his experience as a competitive precision rifle shooter, the importance of knowing your equipment, and how discipline and mental toughness translate into hunting, fatherhood, business, and everyday life.

**In this episode:**
- The elk encounter that almost ended Matt's bowhunting journey
- Overcoming the emotional weight of losing an animal
- Finding redemption during the 2026 Idaho archery elk season
- Public land elk hunting tactics and calling strategies
- Hunting through severe weather and challenging conditions
- Building confidence through archery practice and preparation
- Lessons from competitive precision rifle shooting
- The importance of faith, family, friendship, and perseverance
- Why failure can become one of life's greatest teachers



At Initial Ascent, we believe the mountains demand a lot from us, and your equipment should help you rise to the challenge. Our modular hunting pack systems are designed to carry heavy loads more comfortably, with simplicity, durability, and performance at the forefront.

Explore Initial Ascent Pack Systems:
https://initialascent.com

Subscribe to the Mountain Dude Podcast for conversations about western hunting, faith, family, personal growth, and the lessons learned along the way.

#MountainDudePodcast #ElkHunting #Bowhunting #ArcheryElkHunting #PublicLandHunting #InitialAscent #IdahoElkHunting

Sign up for a chance to win $9,000 of premium backcountry hunting gear at www.initialascent.com. Giveaway ends November 14th!

Subscribe and join the journey. New episodes dropping weekly.
#MountainDudePodcast #FaithGritGear #BackcountryLife #ChristianOutdoorsmen #HuntingPodcast
https://initialascent.com/

Want to watch the episode on YouTube:

Click here.

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Got questions? Send us a text!

What would you do if you stopped waiting for the perfect moment and finally chased your dream?

On this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, presented by Initial Ascent, we sit down with western hunter, ultramarathon runner, and Run the Rack Outdoors Podcast host Weston Homa to talk about faith, discipline, mental toughness, and what it takes to build a life around the things you love.

Weston grew up hunting whitetails, turkeys, and bears in Pennsylvania, but his passion for western hunting eventually led him to make a life-changing decision. He sold his house, packed up everything he owned, and moved across the country to Idaho without family or much of a support system waiting for him.

What started as a dream of chasing elk in the mountains became a lifestyle built around hunting, personal growth, and pushing his physical and mental limits.

Weston shares how he went from struggling to run a single mile to completing ultramarathons, including a 100-mile race, and running the Boston Marathon. He explains why embracing discomfort, building daily discipline, and learning from failure have helped him find success both in the mountains and in life.

We also dive into his approach to western hunting, backpacking preparation, nutrition, endurance training, and an unforgettable Idaho mule deer hunt with his father.

And before the episode ends, Weston inspires Initial Ascent co-founder Dennis Stokes to make a commitment of his own: run a marathon by May 31, 2027.

In this episode:

Why Weston left Pennsylvania to pursue western hunting in Idaho

Overcoming fear and taking the leap to chase your dreams

How to shorten the learning curve in western big game hunting

Building mental toughness through running and endurance training

Going from running one mile to completing a 100-mile ultramarathon

Daily discipline, faith, and creating productive habits

Nutrition, recovery, and physical preparation for backcountry hunting

An unforgettable Idaho mule deer hunt with his father

Why failure and discomfort are necessary for personal growth

Dennis commits to running his first marathon

Whether you're preparing for your first western elk hunt, training for a physical challenge, or trying to find the courage to pursue something bigger, this conversation is a reminder that you don't have to have everything figured out to get started.

FOLLOW WESTON HOMA

YouTube: Search Weston Homa

Podcast: Run the Rack Outdoors Podcast, available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts

Instagram: Search Weston Homa

ABOUT INITIAL ASCENT

The Mountain Dude Podcast is presented by Initial Ascent, a hunting pack company focused on helping hunters carry heavy loads more comfortably.

Whether you're headed deep into the backcountry for an extended elk hunt or packing out your hard-earned harvest, Initial Ascent pack systems are built around comfort, simplicity, and modularity.

Explore Initial Ascent packs and gear:
https://initialascent.com

Subscribe to the Mountain Dude Podcast for conversations about western hunting, backcountry adventures, faith, fitness, personal growth, and the lessons learned through doing hard things.

Subscribe and join the journey. New episodes dropping weekly.
#MountainDudePodcast #FaithGritGear #BackcountryLife #ChristianOutdoorsmen #HuntingPodcast
https://initialascent.com/

Want to watch the episode on YouTube:

Click here.

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