Sep 10, 2026 · 1h 58m
A Wyoming elk hunt exposes the cost of boundary mistakes
Ep. 930: The Helicopter Elk Hunt Debacle
The episode connects a disputed public-land hunt to broader questions about access, accountability, wildlife economics, and the future of public agencies.
- 1A helicopter-assisted elk hunt ended in a trespassing conviction after the bull was shot from private land.
- 2The hosts argue that aircraft access can erode the remoteness, trust, and protections central to big-game hunting.
- 3Sam Forsteg links public-land stewardship to better-paid workers, practical wildfire policy, and rebuilt government capacity.
Don't miss
The Wyoming hunt’s apparent access solution collapses when the party discovers the elk was shot from private land, leading to a trespassing conviction.
The brief
A new market segment compares store-bought, market, and home-caught seafood, then asks whether hunting and processing your own meat still offers a meaningful economic advantage.
The central case is a Wyoming elk hunt that used a helicopter to reach landlocked public land, only to end with a trespassing conviction after the bull was shot from private property.
The hosts debate responsibility, access costs, and the risks of aircraft-assisted hunting, arguing that technical access can undermine the remoteness and trust that define big-game culture.
Etsy’s restrictions on real fur become another fight over inconsistent rules, as the hosts question why common fly-tying materials face scrutiny alongside leather and felt.
Montana congressional candidate and smokejumper Sam Forsteg makes the case for staffed public agencies, practical wildfire work, and public-land policy rooted in working people’s experience.