In this GOHUNT Bonus Episode of the Drawn West Podcast, Brian breaks down Idaho’s big move for 2026 as one of the last “over-the-counter” western states shifts non-resident general deer and elk tags to a full draw system. He walks through what’s actually changing, key deadlines (applications due December 15 at 11:59 p.m. MT), the new five-choice application rules, and how group applications work so your whole crew can still hunt together.

Brian also explains why this isn’t the end of the world for traveling hunters, why Idaho’s early-January results are still clutch for multi-state strategies, and how to think about your first and second choices under a random draw with no points. Then he dives into GoHunt’s Insider tools — Filtering 2.0, unit profiles, and trophy/harvest stats — and shows how to sort Idaho elk and mule deer units by success rate, public land, and trophy potential so you’re swinging for the fences smartly.

If you’re eyeing Idaho for 2026, this episode is your blueprint — plus a reminder that code DRAWNWEST gets you $50 in gear credit and 10% off most full-price gear in the GOHUNT Gear Shop when you join Insider.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If you enjoyed this, leave a 5-star rating and share the show with a friend.

GOHUNT Insider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWESThttps://alnk.to/g3aa8L4

FREE Gear Checklist:

https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear

FREE Drawn West Application Calendar

www.getdrawnwest.com/freeproducts
Connect with Brian Krebs
https://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest

Have Questions or Comments? Send an email to Brian@getdrawnwest.com!
Sponsorsand Discounts:
GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST
https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4
GOHUNT GearShop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4u
Save10% onMaverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest
RTIC Coolers– Keep Your Meat Cold!
https://bit.ly/RTICCoolers
Okuma Fishing– Rods and Reels for Serious Anglers!
https://alnk.to/31sVDzF
First MonthFREE at MTNTOUGH Fitness with code ROOKIE https://bit.ly/MTNTOUGH_ROOKIE
Save $150 onSteelhead Outdoors Gun Safes with code WESTERNROOKIE https://tr.ee/fbNvbFXX6Q
Save 10% onOllin Digiscoping Adapters with code TWOBUCKS
https://tr.ee/ZE1XcQ-fbb

0:00 – Idaho Apps Season Kickoff with GOHUNT

1:05 – Idaho OTC “Over the Counter” Myth

3:10 – 2026 Change: General Deer & Elk Goto Draw

5:20 – Deadlines, Time Zones, and LicenseRequirements

7:10 – Why Early January Results Matter forMulti-State Plans

9:30 – Non-Resident Caps, Quotas, andResident Priority

12:00 – Group Applications: Keeping YourHunting Crew Together

15:30 – How the Random Draw & FiveChoices Really Work

19:30 – Building Your Idaho Strategy: DreamUnits vs Realistic Picks

23:50 – Using GOHUNT Insider & Filtering2.0 for Idaho Elk

27:10 – Idaho Mule Deer Potential and SuccessRates

30:30 – Tag Prices, Travel Reality, and WhereIdaho Fits in Your Season

33:30 – Final Thoughts: Swing Big, Do theResearch, Stay Drawn

Abbey and I are recording this one straight from Colorado deer camp at the end of day one, and it already feels like we’ve been here a week. We walk through the whole road trip out from home, grabbing a Cruise America camper in Denver, rolling into camp at 11 p.m., then scouting all day Friday and hunting hard today.

We break down what we’re seeing so far: ridiculous deer numbers, a crazy buck-to-doe ratio, and more 4x4s and “shooter” bucks than I’ve seen on all my other mule deer hunts combined—just not quite on the public line… yet. We talk through the game plan for hunting public on the edge of big ag, waiting for the rut to really crack open and pull those giants up into the hills.

There’s plenty of campfire story stuff too: Abbey almost getting “eaten” by a fox she never saw, punching a tarantula-sized spider off her hand on a steep ridge, and why renting a cheap little camper might be the ultimate mid-November deer camp hack.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If you enjoyed this, leave a 5-star rating and share the show with a friend.

FREE Gear Checklist:

https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear

FREE Drawn West Application Calendar

www.getdrawnwest.com/freeproducts
Connect with Brian Krebs
https://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest

Have Questions or Comments? Send an email to Brian@getdrawnwest.com!
Sponsorsand Discounts:
GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST
https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4
GOHUNT GearShop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4u
Save10% onMaverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest
RTIC Coolers– Keep Your Meat Cold!
https://bit.ly/RTICCoolers
Okuma Fishing– Rods and Reels for Serious Anglers!
https://alnk.to/31sVDzF
First MonthFREE at MTNTOUGH Fitness with code ROOKIE https://bit.ly/MTNTOUGH_ROOKIE
Save $150 onSteelhead Outdoors Gun Safes with code WESTERNROOKIE https://tr.ee/fbNvbFXX6Q
Save 10% onOllin Digiscoping Adapters with code TWOBUCKS
https://tr.ee/ZE1XcQ-fbb

0:00 – Live from Colorado Deer Camp
2:10 – Scouting Friday and Opening Day Expectations
3:30 – 500–1,000 Deer and a Ton of Bucks|
5:05 – Public vs Private and Rut Game Plan
7:40 – Low Hunting Pressure and Camp Neighbors
9:20 – Fox at 10 Feet and Midday Doe Action
11:30 – Bear Sign, Elk Tracks and Friendly Hunters
14:30 – Camper Setup, Heat, and Better Sleep
17:00 – Cold Mornings, Layers and Comfort Over Suffering
18:30 – Why This Might Be Brian’s Favorite Mule Deer Hunt Yet
20:20 – Mini-Series Plan and Day One Sign-Off

Is the new Mathews ARC actually a game-changer, or just another flagship with fresh paint? In this episode of the Drawn West Podcast, I sit down with Daniel Parker from Mathews to dig into what’s really different about the ARC 30 and ARC 34. We break down the new limb geometry, the updated SWX2 cam with that perimeter-weight “flywheel” feel, and why this bow stays faster and quieter once you bolt real hunting gear to the string. Daniel brings the behind-the-scenes engineering insight, and I bring the “600-grain elk arrow that once welded itself into a steel plate” perspective. We also nerd out on hinge and resistance releases, target-archery lessons you can steal for hunting season, Kodiak Brown vs Green Ambush, and how to actually choose between the 30" and 34" ARC based on how and where you hunt.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If you enjoyed this, leave a 5-star rating and share the show with a friend.

Check out the all new Mathews ARChttps://mathewsinc.com/pages/arc

FREE Gear Checklist:

https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear

FREE Drawn West Application Calendar

www.getdrawnwest.com/freeproducts
Connect with Brian Krebs
https://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest

Have Questions or Comments? Send an email to Brian@getdrawnwest.com!
Sponsorsand Discounts:
GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST
https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4
GOHUNT GearShop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4u
Save10% onMaverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest
RTIC Coolers– Keep Your Meat Cold!
https://bit.ly/RTICCoolers
Okuma Fishing– Rods and Reels for Serious Anglers!
https://alnk.to/31sVDzF
First MonthFREE at MTNTOUGH Fitness with code ROOKIE https://bit.ly/MTNTOUGH_ROOKIE
Save $150 onSteelhead Outdoors Gun Safes with code WESTERNROOKIE https://tr.ee/fbNvbFXX6Q
Save 10% onOllin Digiscoping Adapters with code TWOBUCKS
https://tr.ee/ZE1XcQ-fbb

00:00 – 06:32 Intro, Mathews Partnership& New Bow Day Surprise

06:32 – 14:58 Lift vs ARC: Noise, Speed,Energy, and Why It Matters

14:58 – 22:24 Parallel vs Vertical LimbTravel & The New SWX2 Cam

22:24 – 33:01 Riser Updates, IntegratedAccessories & Real-World Setup Talk

33:01 – 44:32 Axle-to-Axle Choices: 30 vs34, Who Should Shoot What

44:32 – 58:03 Releases: Hinge,Resistance, Thumb, and the Shot Execution Conversation

58:03 – 1:10:06 Arrow Builds, FletchingSetups & String Customization

1:10:06 – Color Options, Kodiak Brown,Closing Thoughts & Season Plans