The Origins Foundation Podcast
Episode 630: Hannah Mabbott || Challenging Stereotypes In Oregon
Date: March 17, 2026
Episode Overview
In this episode, The Origins Foundation welcomes Hannah Mabbott, Hunt Operations Manager at Hunt Oregon, to discuss her journey as a young woman leading a major hunting operation on private land in eastern Oregon. The conversation challenges stereotypes about women in the hunting industry and delves deeply into the nuanced realities of hunting, wildlife management, and conservation in Oregon. Key topics include elk and mule deer population dynamics, predator management, habitat challenges, and the evolving role of private and public land hunters.
Key Topics & Insights
1. Introduction to Hannah and Her Role
- Hannah Mabbott is a 6'2" former college athlete who, at age 24, became Hunt Operations Manager at a 100,000-acre ranch in eastern Oregon.
- She manages all aspects: guiding, property maintenance, scouting, booking, and advertising.
- The ranch operates across four hunting units, with broken-up land parcels.
Quote:
"I was actually working on my master's degree in public health and... the stars aligned for that one because being in public health during COVID would have been a nightmare." – Hannah (21:00)
2. Elk Overpopulation and Management (02:28–12:52)
- Elk populations in certain zones (e.g., D elk emphasis zones) have surged, with private ag lands overwhelmed by elk—up to 2,500 seen in a day (03:00).
- Elk stay on private land for security and abundant food; predators (wolves, lions, bears) rarely enter ag areas (06:04).
- Depredation tags are issued both for agricultural damage and to reduce elk numbers.
- Efforts like hazing with helicopters and coordinated landowner pushes don’t relocate elk to underpopulated public lands.
Quote:
"We actually haze them year round with helicopters, drones, side by sides... and they just follow us right back." – Hannah (05:07)
- Attempts to pitch state or NGO-supported elk translocation have been rejected as too costly/logistically difficult (11:28).
- Local elk herds are healthy and high-retention, but balancing population with neighboring, underpopulated zones is a challenge.
3. Stereotypes and Barriers for Women in Hunting (29:02–33:14)
- Hannah often faces initial skepticism from male clients based on her age, gender, and appearance.
- Early experiences involved cyberbullying and doubts about her skills.
- She proved herself through work ethic and capability, including physically outpacing clients who doubted her.
Quote:
"I hiked him 17 miles. He did not like that... He sat in a tree stand the entire day after that because he was, he stoved up and I was fine." – Hannah (32:00)
- Now, her reputation precedes her, and past doubts quickly disappear in the field.
4. Mule Deer Challenges and Management (34:15–56:35)
- Most Oregon units are below objective for mule deer populations due to:
- Predation: High bear and lion numbers post-repeal of hound hunting/baiting (35:40).
- Poor habitat: Dense timber, lack of food after logging/prescribed fire has declined (40:11).
- Non-selective harvest: Too many tags, taking young deer/breeding stock (48:12).
- Hannah and her ranch practice highly selective harvest, focusing on mature trophy bucks, not taking does, and minimizing harvest numbers.
Quote:
"A renewable resource is only renewable if you allow it to be." – Hannah (47:19)
- Active collaboration with neighboring landowners for sustainable populations.
- Advocates for tag reductions and possibly antler restrictions, seeing greater benefit to the overall deer herd.
- Candid discussion about the ethics of shooting young or breeding animals versus focusing on predator control or selective harvest.
5. Predator Management & Hunting Opportunities (35:40–62:13)
- Oregon has a high density of bears and lions; spring bear is by draw, but fall tags are over-the-counter and affordable ($16, even for non-residents).
- Advocacy for predator management as core to ungulate recovery; encourages hunters to help by harvesting predators, as hunting only deer/elk removes prey but not pressure on survivors.
- Unique discussion of how different landscapes and management practices affect predator and game animal distribution.
6. Habitat Management & Public vs Private Land Issues (40:11–47:19)
- Private lands often see active thinning and habitat work, benefiting wildlife.
- Public lands suffer from lack of funding, neglected active management (fire, thinning), overgrown forests, and development pressures.
- Discussion on American public land privilege versus countries like South Africa, where public hunting land doesn’t exist (46:25).
- The need for better reinvestment in public lands and funding for effective management.
Quote:
"A resource is only renewable if you allow it to be... they were still issuing thousands of tags for this area. There's probably not a thousand deer in that unit." – Hannah (48:12, 48:50)
7. The Realities of Guiding and Client Experience (25:38–28:13)
- Hunt Oregon guides for a full range of species: spring/fall turkey and bear, archery/rifle elk, deer, and more.
- Emphasizes physicality of hunts, need for realistic client expectations, and 100% shot opportunity does not mean “easy”—it’s work.
Quote:
"We're not baiting them. These are wild animals. We're still working hard... it's a very physical hunt." – Hannah (28:26)
- Returns are high (75%+ clients return), due to consistently clear communication, high standards, and honesty about what the hunt entails.
8. Advice for Hunting Oregon & Further Opportunities (61:34–65:43)
- Over-the-counter opportunities exist for blacktail deer, Roosevelt elk, turkey, bear, and lion primarily on the west side.
- Hunt Oregon booking is competitive; cow hunts and some birds are available, but bull and buck hunts are booked out years in advance.
- Hannah is open to helping any hunter with logistics and advice, even if not booking through her operation.
- Emphasizes affordable tag prices and approachable regulations for newcomers.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On gender perceptions in guiding:
"The second I'm, like, gutting their animal out, it's gone. That's not a problem anymore, is it?" – Hannah (30:18)
-
On habitat fire management:
"You need these clear cuts... Clear cuts, the breaks between different age classes of forest systems, always hold animals, always hold wildlife." – Host (42:00)
-
On US public lands:
"That's what makes America magical and what makes our wildlife management model magical. However... we do need resources and funding to be able to manage the resource that we have." – Host (46:40)
-
On ethics of deer harvest:
"You're maybe getting 30, 40 pounds of meat, so you're not filling your freezer. You just removed a breeder from the landscape." – Hannah (55:25)
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On the challenge of bear hunting:
"If you're going deer hunting and elk hunting, buy a $16 bear tag, put it in your back pocket...the more things you can hunt, the better." – Host (59:26)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:00–02:28: Introduction of Hannah Mabbott and her background
- 02:28–12:52: Elk overpopulation, private/public land issues, unsuccessful state interventions
- 13:18–18:44: Overview of Hunt Oregon’s operations and land management
- 20:11–26:11: Hannah’s personal journey and transition from public health to hunting
- 29:02–33:14: Stereotypes, cyberbullying, and proving herself in a male-dominated field
- 34:15–37:35: Mule deer issues: predation, habitats, and population declines
- 40:11–44:55: Habitat management, logging, fire, public land funding
- 47:19–56:35: Tag management, ethical harvest, collaborative efforts for sustainability
- 61:34–65:43: How to hunt Oregon, over-the-counter vs. guided/private opportunities, Hunt Oregon booking
Conclusion
This episode exposes the complex interplay of land management, predator control, hunting ethics, and social perceptions in Oregon’s hunting landscape. Hannah Mabbott stands out as not just a barrier-breaking woman in hunting, but also as someone deeply engaged in on-the-ground conservation, sustainable harvest, and the hard choices required to maintain wildlife for future generations. The discussion is candid, informative, and sharply relevant to anyone concerned with the future of hunting and game management.
Find more about Hunt Oregon: huntoregonllc.com, or email hunoregonllc@mail.com.
"A renewable resource is only renewable if you allow it to be." – Hannah Mabbott (47:19)
