Silently Stalking a Giant Public Land Bull | 100% WILD Podcast Ep. 477

Silently Stalking a Giant Public Land Bull | 100% WILD Podcast Ep. 477

In this episode of the 100% WILD Podcast, Matt Drury and Tim Kjellesvik sit down with special in-studio guest Jake Arvold from 1st Phorm Outdoors (host of The Experience More Podcast) to break down Western big game prep and backcountry land management. Jake shares his unique background growing up on a northern Wisconsin elk ranch before detailing how he built the 1st Phorm Outdoors brand to connect fitness, nutrition, and hunting. He delivers a masterclass on e-scouting DIY public land elk hunts across states like Colorado and Idaho, demonstrating how to use digital mapping apps to pinpoint steep topography, hog's backs, hidden benches, and water runoffs where mature bulls evade human pressure. The crew dives deep into Western thermals, explaining why mountain wind consistently pulls toward cool water sources and how hunters can move silently through tight contour lines without getting busted.

Jake's discusses his harrowing solo DIY elk hunt in the Colorado wilderness. After his wife Tina and 10-month-old daughter Aurora dropped him off at a steep trailhead, Jake silently stalked a massive herd bull, pinwheeling it four times between 28 and 60 yards. He details the terrifying aftermath of an 187-pound pack-out in total darkness, where slipping off a deadfall log threw him eight feet down a slope, leaving him injured until fellow hunters stepped in to help. Rounding out the show, the hosts explore the 1st Phorm App's custom backcountry fitness protocols (Mountain Proof 2.0 and Camp Protocol), VO2 max metrics for longevity, Missouri's upcoming bear tag season, and a rapid-fire "This or That" round on early-season whitetail tactics.

00:00:00 – Summer Recap: Welcoming Jake from 1st Phorm Outdoors

00:01:06 – Road Warrior Life: Total Archery Challenge (TAC) & Outdoor Events

00:03:42 – Building 1st Phorm Outdoors: Supplement Tools for Backcountry Athletes

00:07:16 – Growing Up on a Wisconsin Elk Ranch: Raising World-Class Bulls

00:09:40 – Western Big Game Mindset: Over-The-Counter (OTC) vs. State Draw Systems

00:17:03 – E-Scouting Blueprint: Locating Hog's Backs, Pockets & Steep Topo Benches

00:22:12 – Thermals & Wind Science: Why Mountain Air Always Pulls to Cool Water

00:24:41 – Elk vs. Whitetail Tactics: Sound, Vision, and Moving Through Heavy Cover

00:28:50 – The Solo Colorado Elk Hunt: Family Trailhead Drop-Offs with a 10-Month-Old