Live Wild with Remi Warren

Episode 215: Looking Back – A Year in Review

Release Date: December 25, 2025

Overview

In this candid, reflective episode, Remi Warren takes listeners through his personal and professional journey during 2025, framing the year as one of major change, reprioritization, and persistent effort both in the field and in life. Remi reviews the highs and lows from his hunting seasons, discusses the transition from a lifelong guiding career to new business ventures, and shares memorable stories and key lessons from a year that forced him back to the basics—family, health, roots, and, as always, hunting with heart.

“2025 for me was definitely a year of change and also a year of reprioritization.” (Remi, 06:05)

Remi promises this is part one of his year in review. In next week’s episode, he’ll dive deeper into takeaways, tactics, and lessons learned.

Major Themes & Discussion Points

1. Change, Reprioritization & Business Transitions

(06:05 – 18:00)

• Remi reflects on turning 40, stepping away from guiding/outfitting to purchase and run Day Six Arrow Company, and the sense of starting over after decades spent in the field.
• The business shift involved risk, anxiety, and excitement as he moved into American manufacturing connected to his hunting passions.
• Personal note: The transition allowed more family time and personal hunts, changing his seasonal routine, and giving him space to get “back to the basics.”

“For the majority of my adult life I worked as a guide and outfitter... Kind of stepping away from that role and stepping into purchasing and taking over Day Six Arrow company... For myself and my family, that’s a big change.” (Remi, 09:00)

2. Persistence & Last-Day Successes

(18:00 – 29:00)

• 2025 was marked by persistence—many hunts went to the very last day, a sharp contrast to the “first-day luck” of the year before.
• Remi emphasizes that even when things come down to the wire, hard work and staying out there often pay off.
• Through last-minute wins, he reconnects with family and friends on hunts, which reminiscent of his early years.

“A big theme for me this year was just persistence, that grinding it out. It doesn’t matter how much you know or how good you are... sometimes it just goes to the bitter end.” (Remi, 19:22)

3. Health, Wellness & Family Focus

(29:00 – 39:00)

• Inspired by being sick often last year, Remi and his wife focused on health and wellness as their New Year’s resolution.
• He describes the changes: cleaner eating, regular Mountain Tough workouts, running a marathon together.
• That focus on health made a noticeable difference on tough backpack hunts and elevated his preparedness.
• Having a family (and kids bringing home every virus) shifted his health priorities and forced him to rethink habits.

“I really dove into health and wellness stuff and really just making it more of a priority... I’ve never felt better, to be honest.” (Remi, 35:01)

4. The Adventure: Memorable Hunts & Notable Stories

a. Dream Mountain Caribou Bow Hunt

(39:00 – 47:00)

• Remi accomplished a longtime dream: harvesting his final caribou subspecies with a bow in the Mackenzie Mountains.
• The adventure was nearly derailed by airline mishaps—his bow went missing, but was recovered last-minute.
• In a harrowing moment, he nicked his bowstring with a broadhead just before a stock, risking catastrophic failure. Despite this, he persevered and succeeded.

“I was millimeters away from... that would’ve been it for the dream hunt.” (Remi, 44:02)

b. Wife’s Mountain Goat Hunt

(47:00 – 51:00)

• Remi’s wife drew a mountain goat tag, resulting in an epic joint backpack hunt.
• The experience gave both a new perspective: she saw the physical and mental toll of these adventures; Remi reflected on the toughness of such pursuits.
• The real reward: shared understanding and appreciation between them.

“It kind of brought some more clarity... It was cool for us to experience that and for her to understand what some of these hunts really take.” (Remi, 50:02)

c. Global Adventure: Spain Ibex & Hawaii Axis Deer

(51:00 – 54:30)

• Remi hunted ibex in Spain with long-time friend Pedro, experiencing the thrill of international hunting and local culture (including comedic moments at a bullfight).
• For his 40th birthday, hunted axis deer with his brother in Maui, capping the day with a family feast.

d. September Elk and Guiding Successes

(54:30 – 1:04:00)

• Remi details a September filled with intense archery elk action, heavy bugling, and calling experiences.
• Ironically, despite incredible calling, his personal success came from spot-and-stalk tactics—reinforcing that adaptation trumps stubbornness.
• Missed shots and passes serve as reminders of the unpredictable, humbling aspects of bowhunting.
• Many of his and his guided hunters’ successes came on the literal last day.

e. Family Hunts—Back to Basics

(1:04:00 – 1:15:00)

• The shift away from guiding opened time for hunts with his dad, father-in-law, brother, and especially taking the kids.
• Slow, easy hunts for meat with family became as valuable as high-octane adventures.
• The joy of sharing time with family and watching his kids embrace the hunting life stood out as a true highlight.

“It’s fun to experience hunts in different ways... even just driving around with the kids and wife, going on short walks. Those are just as fun, if not more so.” (Remi, 22:10)

5. Perspective: Meaning, Slow Down, Enjoyment

(1:15:00 – 1:23:00)

• Remi urges listeners to hunt for themselves, savor the experience, and avoid making it about others’ expectations.
• Hunts that were toughest in the moment—grinds, failures, or family-centric meat hunts—are now the most memorable.
• One of the “greatest travesties” is to let others dictate what makes a good hunt.

“Go out, do the hunt you want to do... When it’s about that, you’re gonna have a good time and love the experience.” (Remi, 1:20:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On learning from mistakes:

  “When I thought I knew a lot, I hardly knew anything... It’s those mistakes and those experiences that got me to where I am today.” (07:30)

• On persistence:

  “Some years, what can go wrong will go wrong. You just gotta work through it... This year happened to be a lot of last-day success.” (19:13)

• On family-focused hunting:

  “Getting back to the basics... It just grounds you back in the things that you love.” (21:47)

• On health:

  “I used to just eat whatever I wanted whenever, because I was burning so many calories all the time... slowing down a little bit and not paying attention kind of caught up.” (31:42)

• On the "adventure" aspect:

  “That’s the beauty of hunting—it’s not just one thing, but a lot of things.” (1:23:31)

Key Timestamps

• Intro/Main theme – 00:00 – 06:05
• Turning 40 & business transitions – 06:05 – 18:00
• Persistence & last-day theme – 18:00 – 29:00
• Health, wellness, and marathon training – 29:00 – 39:00
• Mountain caribou dream hunt – 39:00 – 47:00
• Mountain goat hunt with wife – 47:00 – 51:00
• Spain ibex & Hawaii axis deer – 51:00 – 54:30
• September elk and guiding stories – 54:30 – 1:04:00
• Back to basics & family hunting – 1:04:00 – 1:15:00
• Meaning, slow down, and hunting for yourself – 1:15:00 – 1:23:00
• Preview of next episode/wrap-up – 1:23:00 – End

Looking Ahead

Remi previews next week’s episode, which will focus on actionable tips and tactics learned through 2025’s trials—his “top 10 takeaways” for hunters planning upcoming seasons.

“Set those intentions, reflect now, and then move into next year with those goals in mind.” (Remi, 1:23:50)

For product mentions and supporter shout-outs, see the Mountain Tough app, Yeti, and Vortex Optics, all referenced for supporting the hunting lifestyle.

Final Thought

Remi’s 2025 in review is an engaging, honest account of a year defined by adaptation, hard-earned success, and renewed appreciation for family and foundational experiences. Listeners are encouraged to reflect, savor life’s changes, and keep pushing for their own definition of a meaningful hunt.

“Catch you guys next year!” (Remi, 1:27:57)