In this GOHUNT Bonus Episode of the Drawn West Podcast, Brian breaks down the full strategy for applying in New Mexico’s big game draw, one of the most unique systems in the West.

Unlike most states, New Mexico has no point system, meaning every applicant has the same odds each year. Brian walks through how the three-choice draw system works, how to structure your hunt choices, and why New Mexico can be a great “swing for the fences” state—especially for elk hunters chasing giant bulls.

He also explains the resident vs non-resident tag allocations, the cost structure for applications, and how the New Mexico deadline lines up with other states like Wyoming. Finally, Brian breaks down each major species—elk, mule deer, pronghorn, sheep, ibex, and oryx—and shares when it might make sense to apply and when it might not.

If you’re building a western hunting application strategy, New Mexico might be the wildcard tag that changes your season.

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.

Looking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latestarticle!
HowTo Draw a Tag in the West

FREE Gear Checklist:

https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear

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

0:00 – Intro & Maven Sponsor2:05 – New Mexico Application Deadlines3:20 – How the New Mexico Draw System Works5:00 – Using Your Three Hunt Choices Strategically7:00 – Non-Resident Tag Allocation Explained9:20 – Costs and Application Fees12:15 – Elk Strategy & Trophy Units17:30 – Mule Deer Opportunities in New Mexico21:15 – Pronghorn Draw Odds and Access Challenges24:50 – Sheep, Ibex, and Exotic Species28:30 – Is New Mexico Worth Adding to Your Strategy?

In this episode of the Drawn West Podcast, Brian Krebs breaks down one of the most common dilemmas Western hunters face: when should you keep hunting the same unit—and when should you move on and try somewhere new?

After a recent ice-fishing trip to Devils Lake, Brian reflects on a conversation with friends about choosing between several Montana elk units. From thick black-timber grizzly country to open terrain better suited for spot-and-stalk, each unit has strengths and weaknesses. Brian walks through the exact criteria his group uses to evaluate hunts over time.

He explains why elk encounters, terrain, travel distance, hunting style compatibility, and public access all matter when deciding whether a unit deserves another chance. He also shares real examples from hunts in Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, and antelope country—highlighting both successes and lessons learned.

If you’re building a long-term Western hunting strategy or trying to find your own “cornerstone” unit, this episode will help you evaluate hunts more objectively and make smarter decisions year after year.

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.

Looking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latestarticle!
How to GoElk Hunting for $1500

FREE Gear Checklist:

https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear

Connect with Brian Krebs
https://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest

HaveQuestions or Comments? Send an email to Brian@getdrawnwest.com!
Sponsorsand Discounts:
GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST
https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4
GOHUNTGear Shop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4u
Save10%on Maverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest

Imagine this: Wyoming. Antelope tag in your pocket. Tough hunt. Then a giant buck steps out at 400 yards. You’re seated. Bipod down. Crosshairs steady. And you’re asking yourself one question: Do I take the shot?

Last week we talked long range. Today we’re talking about the part nobody really wants to admit — just because you can hit steel at 400… doesn’t mean you should shoot that buck at 400.

Brian breaks down the Shot Decision Triangle — the three variables that actually determine your effective range:

• Your caliber and bullet construction (energy, velocity thresholds, expansion windows)

• Your personal shooting ability and practice standard

• The real-time scenario (wind, animal movement, angle, stability, time of flight)

He walks through minimum energy benchmarks for common western species, explains how different bullet types behave at varying impact velocities, and lays out a practical field rule: cut the animal’s vital zone in half during practice to establish your real effective range.

The episode then transitions into archery — fixed vs expandable broadheads, penetration vs cut width, pass-through priorities, deer ducking strings, and how to honestly evaluate your range with a bow.

This isn’t about giving you a magic number. It’s about building a system so the answer becomes obvious when the moment arrives.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If this episode sharpened your thinking, leave a 5-star rating and share it with a buddy who needs to hear it.

Looking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latestarticle!
https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/how-to-draw-a-tag-in-the-west

FREE Gear Checklist:

https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear

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

00:00–08:45 — The 400-Yard PronghornDecision
08:45–24:30 — Bullet Construction, Energy & Velocity Explained
24:30–34:45 — The Practice Standard: Cut the Kill Zone in Half
34:45–44:30 — Wind, Angles, Stability & Time of Flight
44:30–56:45 — Archery: Broadheads, Penetration & Range Limits

How far is too far when it comes to rifle shots on big game?

In this episode, I sit down with Jayden Miller of West Elk Precision to break down what actually determines an ethical shot in the field — and it’s not just a number. We dive into zeroing properly, shooting positions, wind, cartridge selection, bullet performance, and how your real-world skill level changes everything.

We talk about the difference between shooting paper and shooting animals, how to test your true limits before season, and why ego ruins more hunts than bad equipment. Jayden also shares real-world examples from this season — including a 760-yard bull — and we unpack what went into that decision.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Should I take this shot?” — this episode gives you a framework to answer it yourself.

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.

Looking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latest article!
https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/elk-hunting-knives

FREE Gear Checklist:

https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear

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

0:00 – How Far Is Too Far?
0:19 – Meet Jayden Miller (West Elk Precision)
3:00 – What Counts as Long Range?
10:45 – The Importance of a True Zero
18:00 – Shooting Positions & Real-World Data
29:30 – Wind, Environment & Confidence
41:45 – Caliber & Bullet Performance Explained
58:00 – Breaking Down the 760-Yard Elk
1:12:00 – Ego vs Ethics in the Field
1:22:00 – Final Thoughts on Ethical Distance

You don’t need 20 points, a decade of waiting, or a once-in-a-lifetime tag to hunt the West consistently. If you’re willing to think strategically, you can build a system that gets you out there every single year.

In this episode, we break down exactly how to hunt elk, mule deer, or pronghorn every season by rotating states, stacking applications, and using Idaho and Colorado as strategic anchors. We dig into point creep, how to build preference points without wasting years, when to swing for the fences in places like Arizona or New Mexico, and how to structure a 5–10 year plan that actually compounds instead of resets.

If you’ve been wondering whether to build points or burn them, this episode gives you the framework to decide — before deadlines close.

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.

Looking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latest article:
How To Draw a Tag in the West

FREE Gear Checklist:

https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear

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

0:00 – Why You Need a Multi-Year Strategy
3:15 – Understanding Point Creep
7:02 – Rotating States & Species
11:30 – Pronghorn Annual Plan
16:14 – Mule Deer Rotation Explained
18:41 – Why Idaho Is a Strategic Anchor
23:20 – Mixing in Arizona & New Mexico
25:30 – Elk Every Year Strategy
28:41 – Wyoming & Montana Reality Check
32:57 – What Happens If Colorado Goes to a Draw
35:18 – Final Takeaways & Next Steps

If you want to hunt the West, drawing a tag isn’t a detail—it’s the entire game.

Western tags aren’t “grab one on the way to deer camp” — they’re a 6–12 month planning game, and this episode breaks the whole thing down in plain English. You’ll hear a listener question from Josh (Tennessee) who’s trying to get himself and his son out West this fall for mule deer or antelope with zero points, and we use his situation to walk through what’s actually realistic (and what’s just internet noise). From there, we lay out the four core draw systems (OTC, random/no-points, preference points, bonus points), why “easy to draw” often means “hard hunt,” and how point creep can quietly bury your long-term plan. Then we turn it into an actual strategy: short-term vs mid-term vs long-term rotations, plus a simple “application stacking” method to swing at multiple states in the same year without ending up with overlapping tags.

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.

Looking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latest article: https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/getting-into-trapping

FREE Gear Checklist:

https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear

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
00:00 – Why “draw a tag” is step one

If you’ve ever been curious about trapping but felt like it was confusing, intimidating, or just “not for people like me,” this episode is for you.

I sit down with Zach from Okayest Trapper to talk through what getting started actually looks like when you didn’t grow up trapping. The mistakes, the learning curve, the frozen ground, the gear decisions, and why most people underestimate how much work (and problem-solving) is involved.

We cover how trapper education works in different states, how trapping changes the way you think about animals and habitat, and why so many hunters eventually get drawn into it — even if they never planned to. We also talk honestly about fur, conservation, and whether trapping is something that stays a hobby or can turn into something more over time.

If you hunt, own land, or just want to understand another side of the outdoor world without the gatekeeping, this conversation will give you a clear picture of what trapping really is — and whether it’s something you’d ever want to try.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If this helped you see trapping differently, leave a 5-star rating and share it with someone who’s been curious but unsure where to start.

Check out our latest article:

https://www.getdrawnwest.com/articles/elk-hunting-knives

FREE Gear Checklist:

https://www.getdrawnwest.com/gear

Connect with Brian Krebs
https://linktr.ee/getdrawnwest

HaveQuestions or Comments? Send an email to Brian@getdrawnwest.com!
Sponsorsand Discounts:
GOHUNTInsider - $50 Gear Shop Credit with code DRAWNWEST
https://alnk.to/g3aa8L4
GOHUNTGear Shop – 10% off most items with code DRAWNWEST https://alnk.to/e75Pm4u
Save10%on Maverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest
RTICCoolers – Keep Your Meat Cold!
https://bit.ly/RTICCoolers
OkumaFishing – Rods and Reels for Serious Anglers!
https://alnk.to/31sVDzF
FirstMonth FREE at MTNTOUGH Fitness with code ROOKIE https://bit.ly/MTNTOUGH_ROOKIE
Save$150 on Steelhead Outdoors Gun Safes with code WESTERNROOKIE https://tr.ee/fbNvbFXX6Q
Save10% on Ollin Digiscoping Adapters with code TWOBUCKS
https://tr.ee/ZE1XcQ-fbb00:00 – Collab kickoff + trapping bug

01:45 – How Idaho vs Minnesota trapping education works

06:15 – Early exposure to trapping culture (and what changed)

09:45 – “Why am I doing this?” — the addiction to challenge

14:10 – Trap prep debate: boil, rust, dye, wax… or just run them

18:10 – Anchors vs drags + frozen ground problems

23:00 – Cable restraints: lighter, faster, more scalable

26:10 – Collector mode: species goals (fox, coon, coyote, fisher, bobcat)

31:45 – Fur boom talk + could markets ever come back?

41:15 – Alternative markets: squirrels, gophers, skulls, and making it pencil

Is it worth applying for Elk and Antelope in Arizona? Lets dive into it!

In this GOHUNT Bonus Episode of the Drawn West Podcast, Brian breaks down exactly what non-resident hunters need to know before deciding whether Arizona deserves a spot in their Western application strategy. From deadlines and costs to draw mechanics and realistic hunt expectations, this episode is built to help you avoid common mistakes and spend your application dollars smarter.

You’ll learn how to legally cut Arizona application costs nearly in half using the license timing strategy, how loyalty and Hunter Ed bonus points actually impact your odds, and why Arizona’s modified bonus point system is confusing—but still gives every applicant a chance. Brian also explains why group applications can quietly destroy your odds, especially in units limited by the 5% non-resident cap.

On the hunting side, this episode takes an honest look at where Arizona elk stands today. While it’s no longer the king of 400-inch bulls, Arizona still offers some of the best mid-range elk opportunities in the West if you’re willing to hunt late archery or late rifle seasons. Brian lays out realistic timelines for different hunt types and explains where Arizona fits compared to states like Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana.

Finally, Brian addresses Arizona antelope head-on—why it’s largely overvalued for non-residents, when it might still make sense to apply, and why most hunters are better off treating it as a cheap lottery ticket rather than a long-term points investment.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram.

If this helped clarify your application strategy, leave a 5-star rating and share the episode with a buddy who’s still on the fence about Arizona.

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

01:45 Arizona License & Application Costs

03:10 The Every-Other-Year License Strategy

05:00 Arizona Weather, Drought, and Herd Health

06:45 Arizona’s Modified Bonus Point Draw

09:10 Group Applications & Non-Resident Caps

11:40 How Good Is Arizona Elk Hunting Today?

14:00 Arizona as a Mid-Range Elk Strategy

18:00 Arizona Antelope Reality Check

21:30 Final Verdict & Application Advice