Elk Talk
Sports
About
All elk, all the time, and only elk. Hunting elk is the aspirational pinnacle for most American hunters. Corey Jacobsen, 10-time World Elk Calling Champion, and Randy Newberg, long-time public land hunting advocate, have combined to lower the hurdles for aspiring elk hunters and provide insight from their combined decades of elk hunting mistakes that will give useful information to elk hunters of all experience levels. Brought to you by Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and partners GOHUNT, MTN OPS, MTNTOUGH, Yeti, and OutdoorClass.
Episodes
- Elk Talk Q&A Mailbox | Episode 164
In episode 164, Randy and Corey discuss the effects of increased nonresident tag demand and state responses. They also address listener questions submitted to the Elk Talk mailbox.
- Wildlife Commissions and Point Systems | Episode 163
Randy and Corey discuss elk hunting strategy, application systems, and wildlife management. They cover frustrations with draw systems in Montana, Utah, and Nevada, and express concerns about political influence on wildlife commissions pote…
- Thoughts on Western Draw Systems | Episode 162
This episode of Elk Talk covers elk hunting logistics, focusing on tag application systems in Colorado and Montana. Hosts Randy and Corey discuss upcoming changes to preference point systems, increased demand, land access, hunter pressure,…
- Navigating the Western Application Season | Episode 161
Elk Talk Podcast hosts Randy and Corey explore the complexities of western hunting applications, examining how state legislatures influence hunting systems. They discuss specific rules like Montana's 'one-point sandwich' and New Mexico's 0…
- Corey and Randy "in the ditch" | Episode 160
In episode 160 of Elk Talk, hosts Randy and Corey discuss the challenges of tag applications and fitness for aging hunters. They also cover the threat of Oregon's IP 28 initiative and share a story about a young fan.
- Elk Talking with Marcus Hockett | Episode 159
In this episode of Elk Talk Podcast, Randy asks Marcus Hockett to fill in while Corey is on the road. Topics covered include the Raghorn Express, where elk hunting passion comes from, benefits of kids in elk camp, Cow Party, offseason is e…
- 2025 Wrap Up - The One That Got Away | Episode 158
In this episode of the Elk Talk Podcast Corey and Randy wrap up their thoughts on the 2025 season and start planning ahead for the new opportunities that might come in 2026. Topics covered include the Wyoming and Arizona non-resident elk d…
- New Idaho Nonresident Draw System | Episode 157
On this episode of Elk Talk, Corey Jacobsen and Randy Newberg dive deep into Idaho's brand-new nonresident draw system for general deer and elk tags. They break down the critical December 5th-15th application window, explain the new party…
- Late-Season Elk Strategies | Episode 156
On this episode of Elk Talk Podcast, Randy and Corey take a practical deep dive into late-season elk hunting. They break down why November and December can be one of the most effective times to fill a tag, shifting the focus from the post-…
- Post-Rut Elk Strategies; October 15-30 | Episode 155
In this episode of the Elk Talk Podcast, Randy Newberg and Corey Jacobsen dive deep into one of the most challenging phases of the season: the post-rut rifle hunt. They break down exactly how mature bull behavior changes after the peak rut…
- Peak Estrus Elk Strategies; September 22-30 | Episode 154
In this episode of Elk Talk Podcast, Randy interviews Corey to cover the most effective tactics for the 2025 archery season. This podcast covers September 22-30, what we define as the Peak Estrus Season that is a continuation of the Peak R…
- Peak Rut Elk Strategies; September 15-21 | Episode 153
In this episode of Elk Talk Podcast, Randy interviews Corey to cover the most effective tactics for the 2025 archery season. This podcast covers September 15-21, what we define as the start of the Peak Rut Season, accounting for moon phase…
- Pre-rut Elk Strategies; September 8-14 | Episode 152
In this episode of Elk Talk Podcast, Randy interviews Corey to cover the most effective tactics for the 2025 archery season. This podcast covers September 8-14, what we define as the Pre-rut period, accounting for moon Learn more about you…
- Early Season Elk Strategies; September 1-7 | Episode 151
In this episode of Elk Talk Podcast, Randy interviews Corey to cover the most effective tactics for the 2025 archery season. This podcast covers September 1-7, what we define as the Early Season, accounting for moon phase (full moon), hunt…
- Pre-season Preparation 2025 | Episode 150
Corey and Randy take a few listener questions and talk about what they are doing to get ready for the upcoming elk season. Archery practice, broadhead selection, equipment tuning, scouting with maps and boots on the ground, getting things…
- RMEF's Mission - Elk, Other Wildlife, Their Habitat, and Hunting Heritage | Episode 149
Corey and Randy are joined by Steve Decker, Chief Revenue Officer at RMEF. Topics covered include the mission priorities of RMEF, how such mission work is accomplished on the ground, and how it is funded. Insight to the expectations member…
- Public Lands with Congressman Mike Simpson | Episode 148
In this episode of the Elk Talk Podcast, Corey and Randy go through the latest updates on the public land sales proposed by Senator Mike Lee. Midway through they are joined by Congressman Mike Simpson of Idaho, a person known for taking st…
- Elk Hunter Civics | Episode 147
Corey and Randy go into a deep dive of how Legislative and Congressional actions impact elk hunting and public access. Corey cues up questions for Randy related to recent budget amendments to sell public land and other efforts to make elk…
- Elk Hunting, Technology, and the Future | Episode 146
In this episode (#146) of the Elk Talk Podcast, Corey and Randy are joined by Brice Bishop and David Brinker of PEAX Equipment. A lengthy discussion covers how technology has impacted elk hunting, elk seasons, elk distribution, and the man…
- Elk Tough; Mental and Physical Strength | Episode 145
In this episode of Elk Talk Podcast, Corey and Randy are joined by Dustin Diefenderfer of MTN TOUGH. Three elk hunters tell some stories, give some ideas of their physical and mental challenges with elk hunting, and offer ideas of how to e…
- Utah, Nevada & Washington DC | Episode 144
Corey and Randy cover the many issues related to deadlines and applications in Utah and Nevada. Corey also asks Randy for an update from a week in DC lobbying on public land issues. Other topics (stories) Randy and Forrest Gump, Val Kilmer…
- Elasticity of Non-Resident Elk Pricing? | Episode 143
Corey and Randy are looking forward to spring and the final half of application season. Topics covered include huge fee increases in Utah, pushing market pricing of non-residents, pressing for resident fee increases, the point system falla…
- Tag Apps and Creating Public Access | Episode 142
Corey and Randy talk about upcoming applications in Montana and Colorado, complexity of regulations, grizzly bear delisting possible, history of wolf delisting, Great American Outdoor Act, Congress shirking their duties, funding new access…
- Winter Conditions, Elk Populations, and Rabbit Holes | Episode 141
In this episode of the Elk Talk Podcast, Randy and Corey catch up to discuss their application strategies, Arizona draw results, the current winter conditions in elk country, problems of thawing and freezing snow, some viewer questions, Co…
- Planning your 2025 Elk Season | Episode 140
Corey and Randy talk about changes to elk hunting seasons in 2025, deadlines for tags drawings, Colorado changing their draw in 2028, moisture patterns and antler growth in arid states, moon phases, burning points in years with the best co…
- Elk Hunting in 2025 | Episode 139
In this episode (#139) of Elk Talk Podcast, Corey and Randy welcome in the new year with a discussion about migration hunts, putting more elk on the mountain, what do we mean when we say "access to elk" and how can we do that, better habit…
- A 2024 Post-season Wrap | Episode 138
Corey and Randy happen to be recording a few hours after the Idaho non-resident tag circus. Topics covered include the Idaho non-resident tag purchase system, the effectiveness of "scarcity marketing," the benefits of resident OTC opportun…
- Access to Elk; Complications Abound | Episode 137
Corey and Randy talk about the complications of inaccessible elk, for whatever reasons it happens. What makes elk less accessible, or more accessible? Complications of public hunting pressure and elk displacement to private land, too many…
- Rifle Elk Season Recap | Episode 136
In this episode (#136) of the Elk Talk Podcast Corey and Randy are talking about plans for 2025, some stories of Corey's Idaho rifle hunting, some tidbits on Randy's trip to help with a Nevada elk hunt, and a lot of talk about habitat, con…
- Difficulties of Post-Rut Elk Hunting | Episode 135
Randy and Corey talk through the struggles of post rut hunts. Randy recaps his most recent trip in Idaho with the RMEF sweepstakes "win a hunt" winner and a string of llamas. Randy and Corey discuss the tradeoffs between managing for oppor…
- RMEF on Conservation, Access, and Advocacy | Episode 134
In this Episode (#134) Randy sits down with Kyle Weaver, President and CEO of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. In addition to a call to action on Colorado's I-127 ballot initiative, topics are many, covering how RMEF does it's work, prio…
- Mid Season Elk Stories and Surprises | Episode 133
In this episode (#133) of Elk Talk Podcast Corey and Randy overcome some scheduling difficulties to share each other's stories of the season, including some new lessons learned, some mistakes made, some big surprises, overcoming hot temps…
- Early Season Listener Q&A | Episode 132
In this episode of Elk Talk Podcast, Corey and Randy sort through the many listener emails that relate to early season elk hunting. Topics covered include an update on the season so far, balancing age/health/conditions/desires, gutless met…
- Elk, Voting, Finances, and Other Listener Questions | Episode 131
Corey and Randy are getting ready for elk season. A variety of listener questions are discussed, including elk walking through your camp, calling in a grizzly bear, invisible and abundant mountain lions, Colorado ballot initiative, every h…
- Getting Ready for Elk Season 2024 | Episode 130
In this episode (#130) of the Elk Talk Podcast, Corey and Randy are together in Bozeman and talking about the upcoming elk season, and few legislative proposals that might impact elk hunting. Topics include making Idaho general tags a draw…
- Listener Questions on Hunting Failures | Episode 129
In this episode (#129) of Elk Talk Podcast Randy and Corey are taking a lot of viewer questions. Topics covered include their season plans for 2024, solo elk calling challenge, set-up mistakes, Randy's elk hunting E-Guide, two basics of el…
- Elk Calling, Elk Advocacy & Other Elk Topics | Episode 128
Corey and Randy are at the Total Archery Challenge in Big Sky Montana. Corey and the best elk callers in the world are there for RMEF's world elk calling championship. Topics covered include elk calling, Colorado change to OTC archery elk…
- Mentally Tough Elk Hunters with MTN TOUGH | Episode 127
Corey and Randy host Dustin Diefenderfer of MTN TOUGH. Topics covered include Dustin's hunting passions, archery elk hunting, the "packout from hell," cardio versus strength, and the obvious benefits of physical preparation for elk hunting…
- Working For More Elk, Habitat, and Access | Episode 126
In this episode (#126) of Elk Talk Podcast, Corey and Randy are taking up the discussion after a weekend with 600 of RMEF's volunteers. Topics include shed antler seasons and issues, winter ranges off-limits, access to elk, growing private…
- RMEF Co-Founder Charlie Decker, American Treasure | Episode 125
Corey and Randy share the mic with Charlie Decker, one of four co-founders of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Recorded at the 40th Anniversary of RMEF, the topics covered include how it all started, the early failures, rough times, near…
- Our Crystal Ball Projections for Elk Hunting | Episode 124
Corey and Randy explore many off-season topics related to elk hunting information, various state deadlines, money generated by point schemes, deflating your points, the future of OTC tags, changes to point systems and point creep, slanting…
- Are Wildlife Trustees Qualified? Or Not? | Episode 123
Randy and Corey follow up on a listener email where a Colorado Wildlife Commissioner claimed that State Trusteeship of Wildlife is legal fiction. In addition to updates on the deadlines for MT, CO, and UT, topics covered include qualificat…
- Our Five Elk Hunting Mistakes | Episode 122
Corey and Randy discuss a variety of topics to include Randy's Top Five Elk Hunting Mistakes, scientific selection of a hunting unit versus choosing an area that fits your hunting style, what criteria to use for selecting a unit, hunter de…
- Elk, Applications, Policy, Gear, and Fitness | Episode 121
In this episode (#121) of Elk Talk Podcast, Corey has recovered from his trade show virus and joins Randy to solve a lot of elk hunting issues. Topics covered include upcoming draws in New Mexico, Montana, and Colorado, updates on some leg…
- Listener Q&A and Arizona Deadlines | Episode 120
In this episode (#120) of Elk Talk Podcast, Randy and Corey take a lot of listener questions and try to answer them by category. Also touched is a reminder of the Arizona draw deadline. Other topics are western state population increases,…
- Wanna Hunt Elk in 2024; Listen Up! | Episode 119
In this Episode (#119) Corey and Randy come back from the Holiday break to discuss big changes to the elk application process, specifically big changes in Wyoming. Also covered is the huge threat to hunting from a Colorado Ballot Initiativ…
- Transition From Hunting Season To Tag Season | Episode 118
In this episode of Elk Talk Podcast, Corey and Randy cover the transition from hunting season to planning season. Topics covered include draw seasons, Alaska elk, Wyoming fee increases, Randy's problem with floor jacks, trends in Idaho elk…
- The Most Brutal Packout Ever – “Reaching Your Peak” Episode 10
In this Episode of the "Reaching Your Peak" mini-series, (Episode #10), we have another story/lesson from Corey Jacobsen. Randy joins Corey once again in this episode, as Corey shares the story of an tough archery elk hunt in Oregon from 2…
- Singing The Post Rut Blues | Episode 117
In this episode (#117) of Elk Talk Podcast, Corey and Randy talk about their post-rut rifle hunts and the common observations. Topics covered include why the post-rut is so difficult, the many forms of sanctuary, technology and success rat…
- Transition From Archery To Rifle Season Tactics | Episode 116
In this episode (#116) of Elk Talk Podcast, Corey and Randy finally match calendars and give updates about Kentucky, Idaho, and some other trips. Topics focus on the transition to rifle seasons of the post-rut and late season. A few tangen…