PODCAST · sports
The Game Trail
by GOHUNT- Trail Kreitzer
The Game Trail is Trail Kreitzer’s biweekly deep dive into gear, hunting, and whatever else comes to his mind. Trail has over two decades of western big game hunting experience and is a professed gear junkie and constant tinkerer. Join him and a variety of experienced guests as they discuss everything from boots to backpacks, bows to baselayers, tents, tripods, tuning, tactics and everything in between.
Episodes
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Why Bowhunters Miss: Paige Pearce on Mental Mastery & Shot Execution | The Game Trail, Ep. 46
World champion archer and bowhunter Paige Pearce joins The Game Trail Podcast to break down what actually separates great shooters from elite ones. We dive deep into her new mental performance program, Insight, and how archers can build a repeatable shot under pressure. From shot execution and...
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Bow Buying 101 | The Game Trail, Ep. 45
Most bow buying mistakes happen before you ever draw the string. In this solo episode, Trail walks through how to prepare for the pro shop experience and how to avoid buying the wrong bow for the wrong reasons. He covers realistic budgets, fit over hype, how to test bows properly, and why…
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Ep. 44 | Epic Archery Elk Hunt & New Year Hustle w/ Dave Brinker
This week on The Game Trail Podcast, Trail sits down with Dave Brinker to relive his epic elk hunting story from last fall. They also dive into the new year mindset—discussing goal setting, building strong habits, and creating systems to get healthier and stay disciplined. Whether you’re chasing...
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Ep 43. | Setting Kids Up to Hunt: Western Application Strategy for Youth Hunters
Application season is here. Brady and Trail break down how they’re approaching the 2026 Western draws—where points still make sense, where opportunity outweighs odds, and how point creep and tag changes are shaping real-world decisions. From elk and deer priorities to risk tolerance and...
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Ep. 42 | Trail’s Approach to Points, Picks & Plans: 2026 Application Strategy
In this solo episode, Trail walks listeners through his full 2026 application playbook — species priorities, state-by-state reasoning, risk tiers, backup plans, and how he balances premium long-term goals with hunts he wants to draw now. If you’re looking to refine your own strategy for 2026…
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Ep. 41 | Unpunched Tags: Lessons from Hunts That Didn’t Go as Planned
In this solo episode, Trail reflects on the unsuccessful hunts — the hunts that didn’t end with a filled freezer or a grip-and-grin photo. He digs into what those experiences taught him about preparation, decision-making, patience, and what really matters in the field. From missed opportunities…
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Ep. 40 | Through Trail’s Eyes: Building the Perfect Optics System
Trail takes a deep dive into his personal optics system — from binos to spotters and tripods. He breaks down why he chose each piece, what he prioritizes in the field, and how to find the right balance between cost, weight, and performance. A must-listen for anyone obsessed with glassing and gear...
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Ep. 39 | Matt Tillotson’s Mule Deer Mindset
Trail talks with Matt Tillotson about the craft of spot-and-stalk mule deer hunting and the stories that come from time on the mountain. From tips and tactics on stalking mule deer to capturing once-in-a-lifetime moments on camera, Matt shares how he balances the hunt, filming, and the memories...
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Ep. 38 | Inside the Draw: Montana, Idaho, and an Utah Elk Hunt with Dave Barnett
GOHUNT’s Dave Barnett joins Trail to talk through the ins and outs of Montana's draw system and the changes to Idaho’s nonresident general elk and deer system for 2026. From preference points, bonus points, and the new random draw for nonresident general elk and deer in Idaho, they cover how to...
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Ep. 37 | Backcountry Food: What I Pack, What It Weighs, and What It Costs
On this episode of The Game Trail Podcast, Trail dives into backcountry fuel—what he actually packs for food on a backpack elk hunt. From daily calories to pack weight and cost per day, he breaks down his system meal by meal. Whether you’re planning your first multi-day hunt or fine-tuning your…
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Ep. 36 | You’re Not Ready… But Here’s How to Fix It
You think you’re ready, but you’re not, and neither is Trail. On this week's episode, Trail breaks down the most common ways hunters show up unprepared and what you can do right now to fix it. From overlooked gear checks and mental readiness, this is your no-BS guide to making sure your next hunt...
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Ep. 35 | Archery Antelope 101
In this episode of The Game Trail, Trail is talking archery antelope. He breaks down ground blind setups on waterholes, spot-and-stalk plays, decoying techniques, and shares hard-earned lessons from the field. Whether you're gearing up for your first antelope hunt or looking to sharpen your edge...
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Ep. 34 | The Only Way to Build an Archery Sight Tape w/ Tristan Litke from Precision Cut Archery
We all want confidence in our pins, especially when the shot matters most. Tristan from Precision Cut Archery jumps on The Game Trail podcast to walk us through their smart, easy-to-use online sight tape builder. No more guessing or swapping tape after tape—this tool helps bowhunters cut straight...
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Ep. 33 | Bowhunting Stabilizer Breakdown w/ Earl Stroh of Cutter Stabilizers
In this episode of The Game Trail Podcast, Trail sits down with Earl Stroh from Cutter Stabilizers to dive into the topic of bow stabilization. Cutter stabilizers are hand built in Colorado from materials sourced and machined in the USA. Earl discussed set-up strategy, stabilizer lengths for...
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Ep. 32 | From the Workbench to the Backcountry: Trail’s Bow Tuning Process
In this episode of The Game Trail, Trail walks through his personal process for tuning a compound bow—from bare bow to hunt-ready. He breaks down how he sets up his rest, camp timing, how he paper tunes, the importance of d-loop location, arrow spine, and why broadhead tuning can’t be skipped....
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Ep. 31 | Backpacks & Big Bucks w/ Kifaru’s Kenneth Thrall
On this episode of The Game Trail, Kenneth Thrall joins the podcast. Kenneth works for Kifaru, but when he isn’t in the office, he is pounding the hills, scouting and hunting for mule deer, bears, elk, and antelope. The guys dive into the topic of mule deer hunting before getting to the meat and...
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Ep. 30 | Bullseyes & Big Mistakes: Chris Neville on Archery & the Vegas 2025 Shoot
Trail is joined by his friend and hunting partner, Chris Neville, to recap their experience at the 2025 Vegas Indoor Archery Shoot. They discuss equipment, practice and preparation, expectations, as well as what went well and what didn’t. They talk about identifying holes in their archery game…
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Ep. 29 | Broadheads & Bowhunting Talk w/ KC Davies from Sevr
On this week’s episode, KC Davies from Sevr broadheads joins Trail to talk broadheads and bowhunting. KC talks about his experiences working in an archery pro shop before diving into the details of Sevr's mechanical broadhead design, materials, and function. The guys talk about accuracy and...
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Ep. 28 | Hunting Roots: w/ My Brother, Tyler Kreitzer
On this week’s episode, Trail’s older brother, Tyler Kreitzer, joins the podcast. They talk about their roots growing up in rural southern Utah. They discuss the role that hunting and the outdoors played in their upbringing. They dive into the topic of hunting in grizzly country and how Tyler…
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Ep. 27 | Hit the Mark; Archery Tips & Gear You Need
On this week’s episode of The Game Trail podcast, Trail spends time diving into his archery goals for this year and some tips and tricks that are making a difference. He talks about grip, tuning, setting your peep height, and several other tips and tricks. He wraps up the episode with an overview...
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Ep. 26 | Antlers and Adventure: Rise & Shed w/ Weston McArthur
On this week’s episode of The Game Trail, Trail chats with Weston McArthur. Weston has a unique story, leaving his full-time job to pursue his passion for the outdoors and build the Rise and Shed brand. Rise and Shed focuses on content creation and merchandise, with a desire to inspire and...
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Ep. 25 | The ElkShape Evolution w/ Dan Staton
Dan Staton joins Trail in this week’s Game Trail episode. Dan is a die-hard bowhunter who brings a blend of physical and mental motivation to the archery hunting community. He’s also a technical gear tinkerer when it comes to tuning and selecting his setup each year. Dan talks with Trail about…
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Ep. 24 | Colorado Archery Hunting Insights w/ Henry Ferguson
On this episode of The Game Trail podcast, Trail talks with Colorado Bowhunters Association chairman Henry Ferguson. They discuss the recent conversion of all nonresident elk units in Colorado to a draw system and what it might mean for both residents and nonresidents. The conversation then moves...
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Ep. 23 | Once in a Lifetime, Moose, Sheep, Goat and Bison Application Breakdown
Per request, on this episode of the Game Trail, Trail breaks down the draw options for moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and bison tags in the west. The odds of drawing these tags are tough, but for many applicants, the dream is to one day draw one of these highly coveted tags. Trail talks...
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Ep. 22 | Quick Catchup and My Gear of the Year
Trail is back with a Game Trail Podcast! This week he sits down for a solo episode to talk about his thoughts on the outcome of Prop 127. He also discusses the recent film, “One Good Chance.” Specifically, what it’s like to hit and lose an animal and what he is working on to try to eliminate…
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Ep. 21 | Back Again with a Question and Answer Episode
It’s been a while since Trail was at the mic, but he’s back with a postseason Game Trail podcast. This week, he focuses on answering your questions, including several that focus on obtaining permits for next year and, where you should be applying, and buying points. He talks about buying OTC tags...
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Ep. 20 | The story of a giant whitetail and archery insights w/ Chris Neville.
On this week’s episode, Trail catches up with Chris Neville, where Chris recaps the wild hunting story for a giant Iowa whitetail. They also talk about their summer preparation for the upcoming mule deer and elk season and offer archery insights on form, shot execution, and equipment in their…
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Ep. 19 | The right sleep system for your hunt; bags, pads, and shelter
This week I go down the rabbit hole of sleep systems for hunting. I discuss sleeping pads, sleeping bags, and shelters and offer ideas on why picking the right gear is important for your success. I discuss the pros and cons of down and synthetic bags, what does Power Fill rating really mean, and...
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Ep. 18 | Jason Wittwer, archery mule deer and elk tips and tactics
Jason Wittwer is a Nevada born and raised firefighter, bowhunter, and guide who continually has success across the west on great bucks and bulls. On this weeks episode Jason joins me to talk tips and tactics for scouting, stalking mule deer, archery practice and what it takes to make the shot…
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Ep. 17 | Time for a New Bow Sight?
On this week’s episode of The Game Trail podcast, I tackle the topic of buying and setting up a new bow sight. I discuss what I like in a sight, the number of pins, pin sizes, and if you should buy a slider sight. I also talk about peep sight sizes and alignment. I work through the process of...
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Ep. 16 | Random questions about hunting w/Brady Miller
On this episode of The Game Trail, I sit down and spend time talking with GOHUNT’s Brady Miller. I’ve known Brady for a number of year’s but we rarely get a chance to have a long conversation. I ask him some random questions to get to know him better and a bunch of hunting related questions to...
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Ep. 15 | All about arrows
Arrow selection and build process are among the most commonly asked questions we receive, so for today's Game Trail podcast, Trail talks at length about all things arrows. He discusses arrow spine, arrow straightness, total arrow weight, and FOC and offers opinions on brands and components. Trail...
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Ep. 14 | Experience is the ultimate teacher w/ Sam Davis
Sam Davis joins Trail on this week's episode of The Game Trail podcast. There’s a saying that 10% of all hunters fill 90% of the tags each year. Sam is in the 10% club. He has the experience, attitude, and determination to fill permits every single year. He talks about gaining experience and his...
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Ep. 13 | Archery lessons from the pros
On this week's episode of The Game Trail podcast, Trail talks about attending the Super Bowl of archery and the lessons he learned from watching the pros. He talks about form, release selection, shot activation, and several other factors that can help you be more consistent with a bow and arrow....
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Ep. 12 | The StHealthy Hunter, Ryan Lampers
The StHealthy Hunter, Ryan Lampers, joins The Game Trail podcast to chat with Trail this week. Ryan talks about recently testing his mental and physical abilities with his diet choices and what he has learned. He also discusses using pack animals and other strategies to ensure he can continue...
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Ep. 11 | It's application season, here's how I prepare
Like most things, the key to opportunity in hunting is in how well you prepare and the first piece of the puzzle is how you obtain a permit. The western states primarily allocate hunting permits through state lotteries or selling permits over the counter. Trail breaks down his planning process to...
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Ep. 10 | The Glassing Guru, Cody Nelson
Cody Nelson is our optics manager at GOHUNT. He has probably forgotten more about optics than most will ever know. If you have a question about optics Cody has an answer. Trail and Cody talk about optics selection, glassing techniques, and Coddy offers feedback on some of the industry's most…
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Ep. 9 | Lessons Learned on a Colorado Elk Hunt
Even with close to thirty years of hunting, there are still lessons to learn. Trail does a recap of his recent Colorado OTC archery elk hunt and ties in some tips and tricks that aided in his success. He also shares some of his favorite gear pieces from this fall and talks about why he made those...
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Ep. 8 | Backpacks, layering systems and shelters w/ Stone Glacier’s Andrew Whitney
Andrew Whitney of Stone Glacier sits down to chat about picking a backpack, what layering systems to use for early and late season hunts and his favorite shelter choices. More specifically, Trail and Andrew talk about the difference between Stone Glaicer’s Krux and XCurve frames and why he…
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Ep. 7 | You take the shot, now what?
September is synonymous with archery elk hunting. On this week’s episode Trail recaps a couple archery elk hunts and lessons he’s learned about what to do after the arrow is released. He offers tips and tricks that will help you find your bull, including what the reaction of the bull at the shot...
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Ep. 6 | Spot and Stalk Mule Deer with Jared Knighton
As archery hunts are opening up across the west, Jared Knighton joins Trail to discuss high country spot and stalk mule deer hunting. Jared has found success consistently over the past several years on great bucks and offers some tips in tricks to both find bucks and how to close the distance.…
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Ep. 5 | Trail’s Preseason checklist
On this weeks episode, Trail runs solo to cover his preseason checklist. He covers arrow selection, broadhead tuning, and discusses some tips to make sure your bow stays dialed throughout your hunt. He also covers his checklist of “to do’s” before hunting season kicks off. Hunting season is just…
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Ep. 4 | The Bugler, Dirk Durham
Dirk Durham of Phelps Game Calls sits down to talk elk calling strategies and selecting calls. Dirk offers a wealth of knowledge that can help any level of elk hunter fill their tag this fall. Give this episode a listen, break out the calls, and get ready because it’s almost elk season!Follow...
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Ep. 3 | Everything you ever wanted to know about bowstrings with Austin Kincaid
Austin Kincaid owns High Voltage bowstrings. His obsession began in a two-car garage several years ago where he researched what equipment was necessary to build bow strings, what fibers and supplies are required and he started building strings. Austin built strings over and over and over again...
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Ep. 2 | BeeReal with Chris Bee
Chis Bee joins Trail on the second episode of the Game Trail Podcast. Chris is an avid bowhunter, content creator, Mathews Archery Team Shooter, accomplished archer, and heavily involved in product design and direction at Ultraview Archery. Trail picks Chris’s brain on practicing, shot process,...
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Ep. 1 | GOHUNT’s Chris Neville, Man, Myth, Legend
The Game Trail Podcast is officially live! In the first episode, the host Trail Kreitzer of GOHUNT, catches up with good friend Chris Neville. Chris is the video content specialist at GOHUNT and has produced many of the GOHUNT Original Films for several years. Chris and Trail have shared several...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Game Trail is Trail Kreitzer’s biweekly deep dive into gear, hunting, and whatever else comes to his mind. Trail has over two decades of western big game hunting experience and is a professed gear junkie and constant tinkerer. Join him and a variety of experienced guests as they discuss everything from boots to backpacks, bows to baselayers, tents, tripods, tuning, tactics and everything in between.
HOSTED BY
GOHUNT- Trail Kreitzer
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Game Trail have?
The Game Trail currently has 46 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Game Trail about?
The Game Trail is Trail Kreitzer’s biweekly deep dive into gear, hunting, and whatever else comes to his mind. Trail has over two decades of western big game hunting experience and is a professed gear junkie and constant tinkerer. Join him and a variety of experienced guests as they discuss...
How often does The Game Trail release new episodes?
The Game Trail has 46 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Game Trail?
You can listen to The Game Trail on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Game Trail?
The Game Trail is created and hosted by GOHUNT- Trail Kreitzer.
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