
The Wallow Bull, the Grizzly Sow, and the Pack of Wolves — Stories From the Backcountry with Brandon Schmitz
From Elk Hunt by Cody Rich
June 5, 2026 · 1h 22m · Season 1
About this episode
Brandon Schmitz shares his raw and unfiltered experiences in elk hunting, discussing challenges and encounters in the backcountry.
Alright, if you want a raw, unfiltered elk hunting conversation from a guy who is absolutely obsessed with the game — this is your episode. Brandon Schmitz out of North Idaho joins the show for his very first podcast appearance, and let me tell you, this dude brings it. No fluff, no highlight reel — just honest elk hunting from a guy who has spent the last six years grinding through some of the most demanding country in the West. Brandon didn't grow up with a silver spoon handed to him in the elk woods. His dad lost the fire for hunting after wolves moved into North Idaho and wrecked what used to be some of the best big game hunting in the country. So Brandon had to figure it out himself, and that journey is exactly what makes this conversation so good. From his very first elk hunt — where his cousin smoked a bull that basically walked up to a truck parked in the middle of the road — to going toe-to-toe with grizzly bears, packs of wolves, and rutting bull moose in the same drainage, this guy has seen it all. Six-plus years in, Brandon still hasn't notched his tag, but don't let that fool you. This dude is FINDING elk — like, legitimately locating 20-plus bulls in a single…
People in this episode
Host: Cody Rich
Guest: Brandon Schmitz
Topics covered
- elk hunting
- backcountry stories
- wildlife encounters
- DIY hunting
- mental challenges
- hunting experiences
Keywords
- elk hunting
- Brandon Schmitz
- North Idaho
- grizzly bears
- wolves
- hunting stories
- DIY hunters
- mental side of hunting
Mentioned in this episode
Places: North Idaho, West
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