Texas Hill Country Insider

Ryan Rendon and Steven Butcher sit down with Tom Gromus and Brock Carroll to relive their 2025 Colorado elk hunt, from the planning and gear prep to the long hikes, cold mornings, and lessons learned in the mountains.What starts as a hunting story turns into a conversation about family, friendship, public land ethics, mental toughness, faith, and why the right crew matters when the trip gets hard.Spotify Link:https://open.spotify.com/episode/1KjDSzkGhnTwRwPHaaZ9XB?si=K9WckeRPRUi-xGtwVVppJAApple Music Link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/texas-hill-country-insider/id1890186700Chapters00:00 Welcome to Episode 600:52 Meet Tom Gromus and Brock Carroll04:24 Brock's move from Michigan to Texas08:59 Kids, family, and changing priorities10:17 First hunting memories16:46 Tom's hunting background22:07 Getting back into hunting26:12 Planning the Colorado elk hunt28:05 Rifles, gear, and long-range prep31:17 Setting camp in Colorado38:02 First day in the mountains39:06 Hunting, solitude, and self-reflection42:48 Opening day and public land pressure54:58 Camp life, cold nights, and gear lessons57:15 Day two on the mountain01:07:12 Pushing into a new spot01:22:42 Ryan's elk01:25:08 Steven's rifle misfire moment01:27:17 Finding and packing out the elk01:37:48 Hard pack-outs and hunting toughness01:44:44 Day six and the mule deer01:52:09 Learning from gear mistakes01:58:25 The rifle under the tire story02:00:04 Final takeaways from the hunt02:03:41 Camaraderie, mindset, and closing thoughtsResources and links:Support us at : https://linktr.ee/texashillcountryinsiderSteven ButcherWebsite: https://www.butcherbehrens.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/butcher_behren_signature_homes/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-butcher-8678841b5/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ButcherBehrensTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@butcherbehrensighomesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ButcherBehrensSignatureHomes/shortsPhone: +1 210-636-5387Ryan RendonWebsite: https://www.ryanrendon.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_rendon_realtorFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanRendonRealtorYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ryanrendon-RealEstatePhone: +1 830-890-1943MentionsTom GromusBrock CarrollColorado elk huntWestern huntingPublic land huntingMeeker, ColoradoKerrvilleFredericksburgRocky Mountain Elk FoundationRokslideElkShapeNew MexicoWyomingMontanaFollow Texas Hill Country Insider for more conversations on local business, real estate, growth, and life across the Texas Hill Country.

Justin Hagendorf joins Texas Hill Country Insider for a faith-filled conversation about Fredericksburg, youth ministry, family, and the deeper pull of the Texas Hill Country.Ryan and Justin talk through Justin’s path from East Texas to Fredericksburg, his move from parks and recreation to teaching and ministry, the role of faith during hard seasons, and why slowing down, listening well, and staying rooted in Jesus matters in everyday life.Apple Music Link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/texas-hill-country-insider/id1890186700Chapters00:00 Welcome to Episode 502:23 Opening prayer03:51 Meet Justin Hagendorf05:18 East Texas roots and Fredericksburg10:13 Family, listening, and encouragement13:14 July 4th floods and local community15:20 What the Hill Country means to Justin21:24 From teaching to youth ministry27:46 Justin’s faith story37:19 A life-changing wake-up call43:13 Trials, grace, and trusting Jesus47:16 Distractions, idols, and priorities50:10 Family, work, and buying back time55:30 Becoming a modern day Barnabas01:01:02 Hill Country Church and youth ministry01:07:24 Church growth, renovations, and mission trips01:12:55 Pastors, humility, and trusting God over man01:19:39 Walking through hard questions01:27:07 God’s timing and a final goodbye01:35:11 Scripture as a light to the path01:37:08 The narrow gate and daily surrender01:44:39 Bringing prayer into work01:48:06 Being ready for Jesus01:52:45 Slowing down, silence, and solitude01:59:09 Closing reflectionsResources and links:Support us at : https://linktr.ee/texashillcountryinsiderJustin HagendorfInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinhagendorf/Steven ButcherWebsite: https://www.butcherbehrens.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/butcher_behren_signature_homes/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-butcher-8678841b5/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ButcherBehrensTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@butcherbehrensighomesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ButcherBehrensSignatureHomes/shortsPhone: +1 210-636-5387Ryan RendonWebsite: https://www.ryanrendon.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_rendon_realtorFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanRendonRealtorYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ryanrendon-RealEstatePhone: +1 830-890-1943MentionsHill Country ChurchFredericksburg, TexasKerrvilleBlancoNew BraunfelsEnchanted RockGuadalupe RiverFrio RiverGarner State ParkFredericksburg ElementaryFCANorthern Ireland mission tripRuthless Elimination of HurryWild at HeartThe ChosenDallas Theological SeminaryFollow Texas Hill Country Insider for more conversations on local business, real estate, growth, and life across the Texas Hill Country.