The Joe Rogan Experience #2426 – Cameron Hanes & Adam Greentree

Release Date: December 16, 2025
Guests: Cameron Hanes (ultra-runner, bowhunter, author), Adam Greentree (Australian bowhunter, outdoorsman)
Host: Joe Rogan

Overview

This episode brings together hunting legends Cameron Hanes and Adam Greentree for an in-depth discussion with Joe Rogan about the wild realities of predator-prey dynamics, bowhunting ethics, wildlife management, and the pursuit of fulfillment through struggle and nature. The trio dive deep into stories of mountain lion encounters, global conservation challenges, and what the modern world is missing by being detached from nature. The episode is rich in jaw-dropping hunting tales, societal commentary, and practical insights for both hunters and city dwellers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Predator-Prey, Wild Encounters & Mountain Lion Stories

Timestamps: 00:12 – 16:30

• Adam relates a harrowing mountain lion hunt in Colorado where a lion killed livestock with shocking brutality:
  • "That cow was literally being eaten alive when we got there. The mountain lion was eating it from its rear—the cow couldn't move. Horrific scene." (01:00, Adam Greentree)
• Hunting Ethics & Regulations:
  • In Colorado, to hunt a mountain lion, you must determine sex and age; only certain lions are legal to take (00:58–01:34).
  • Compassion in Hunting:
    • "We're the only thing that has compassion in the wild—hunters and ranchers appreciate when to end suffering." (03:23, Wayne Tanner)
• Reality of Predator Cruelty:
  • Rogan and guests contrast nature's brutality (predators eating prey alive) to human management, challenging urban perceptions of “letting nature take its course.” (00:58–04:08)

2. The "War Zone" of Nature & Ecological Balance

Timestamps: 04:08 – 07:06

• Rogan muses:
  • “If you could see every predator-prey encounter on the planet at once, you’d think we’re at war—the natural world’s a constant war planet.” (05:42, Joe Rogan)
• Role of Feral Cats:
  • Feral and house cats kill billions of animals per year in North America—important for rodent control, illustrating the delicate balance of ecosystems.

3. Conservation Challenges & Global Perspectives

Timestamps: 07:06 – 15:42

• Bear Overpopulation in Japan:
  • Japan faces record brown bear attacks due to declining hunter numbers—requiring military intervention.
    • “The bears don’t fear humans, because they’ve never been hunted.” (07:44, Joe Rogan)
• Aging Out of Hunting:
  • “All the hunters are aging out in Japan. They’re deploying the military because the next generation isn’t hunting.” (14:04, Wayne Tanner)
• US States’ Predator Control:
  • Cats, bears, and wolves are managed differently across states (with quotas, legal frameworks).
  • California faces a paradox: banning mountain lion hunting hasn’t reduced lion deaths—depredation tags kill as many lions as legal hunting would, but without funding conservation.

4. Urban vs. Rural Policy & Disconnect

Timestamps: 23:25 – 44:41

• Voting & Wildlife Policy:
  • Decisions about predators are shaped by urban majorities who have little experience with wildlife, impacting rural lives:
    • “People in cities don’t know what’s going on in the wilderness. They vote from compassion, but out in the mountains, we’re dealing with this shit.” (25:59, Wayne Tanner)
  • BC’s ban on grizzly hunting as an urban, not rural decision (exacerbating human-wildlife conflict).

5. The Role of Hunters: Ethics, Regulations, and Biologists

Timestamps: 44:41 – 49:42

• Why “unfair” hunting methods (dogs for lions, bait for bear) are crucial for ethical, effective population management:
  • “There’s only one effective way to get these mountain lions: you gotta tree them with dogs, otherwise you just don’t find them.” (48:32, Joe Rogan)
• How these methods allow careful selection (sex and age), critical for healthy populations.

6. Respect, Struggle, and Fulfillment Through the Outdoors

Timestamps: 59:27 – 72:34

• Philosophical Discussion:
  • “Regular life here is fake. It’s not how humans are designed to live or survive. The wild is the real world.” (53:56, Wayne Tanner)
  • Happiness, contentment, and the mental health crisis are linked to being too removed from nature.
• The power of voluntary struggle:
  • “When you voluntarily struggle, you get a beautiful feeling when it’s over. If you don’t, you get a slow dose of poison—misery, anxiety, panic attacks for no reason.” (64:13, Joe Rogan)
• Culture of Respect:
  • Hunting's unique value: To men, “respect” means more than “love” (65:51, Wayne Tanner).

7. Hunting Stories: Community, Challenge & The Pinnacle of Experience

Timestamps: 66:32 – 99:12

• Epic Pack-Out Tale:
  • Cameron and Adam describe packing out elk from remote wilderness with friends, emphasizing bonding, struggle, and satisfaction:
    • “We did what we had to do, and we look forward to doing it again. The difficulty, the intensity, that's what's real.” (70:58, Wayne Tanner)
• Comparing Fulfillment:
  • The speech by Israel Adesanya after his win is played and Rogan contrasts it with the lasting happiness from completing a tough hunt. (73:31–80:13)
    • “Find your thing. Outdoor adventure is mine—get to your pinnacle. That’s happiness.” (80:24, Cam Canaday)

8. Hunting Technology & Ethics

Timestamps: 130:06 – 176:15

• Advancements in Equipment:
  • Discussion on the evolution of gear: rangefinders, release aids, sights, camo, thermal optics.
  • Concerns about thermal optics (“thermals”) making hunting too easy; many states banning their use for fair chase.
• Primitive vs. Modern Methods:
  • Trad (traditional) hunters’ perspectives, and ethical debates about maintaining hunting as a challenging, skill-intensive pursuit.
  • Riff on the invention of archery releases and the continual evolution of hunting technology.

9. Personal Development, Health, and Mindset

Timestamps: 183:12 – 191:14

• Physical & Mental Health Gains:
  • All three emphasize how modern techniques (nutrition, stem cells, peptides, altitude training, proper conditioning) have made them stronger, healthier, and more effective hunters—even as they age.
• Jelly Roll as a Role Model:
  • Discussion of the artist’s dramatic weight loss and positive mental transformation as an inspiration to millions.

10. Big Picture Reflection: Passing on Wisdom

Timestamps: 191:48 – end

• “What did you learn this hunting season?”

  • Rogan: The importance of leg conditioning and not overtraining (192:27).
  • Adam: Consistent self-improvement directly enhances fulfillment (194:13).
  • Cam (Hanes): Finds most meaning in sharing his experience and helping others succeed (198:28).

• Closing encouragement to listeners:

  • “Find your thing. Get on a path. Take the first step, then just keep going.” (123:12, Joe Rogan)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Joe Rogan:

  • “If you could see it all at once... You'd think, oh my God, we're at war. There's a war in the natural world.” (05:42)
  • “What people don't understand is, you're not gonna put a dent in [mountain lion] population. They're so sneaky.” (39:46)
  • “Voluntary struggling—if you do that, then the regular world is easier.” (65:05)

• Adam Greentree:

  • “I always say the real world is not this society—it's the wild.” (54:39)
  • “I've got no desire to hunt a mountain lion again. But as someone that's in the know... I wanted to educate myself prior to that hunt.” (45:17)

• Cameron Hanes:

  • “Even if they didn't require you to take the meat... still, they need to be killed. Just to make the deer and elk population work.” (46:12)
  • “I enjoy being part of the success of others and sharing what’s important to me. That drives me.” (198:28)

• Wildest Moment:

  • Taylor (Wayne’s brother) recounts being stalked by a mountain lion during an ultra-run, barely escaping:
    • “I took off running as hard as I could—it was right behind me... I almost thought, I'm just gonna lay down here and die, because I'm not gonna outrun this thing.” (32:52)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:58 – Adam’s mountain lion/livestock story
• 04:08 – Urban insulation from nature: “While you’re at Starbucks…”
• 07:44 – Japanese brown bear attacks surge
• 13:59 – All the hunters in Japan are aging out; military now involved
• 25:47 – City dwellers shape hunting policy in BC, results in grizzly attacks
• 39:46 – “People don’t understand; you’ll never put a dent in cat population”
• 44:41 – Why ethical hunting (with dogs, bait) is necessary for management
• 53:56 – “The real world is the wild; regular life is fake”
• 64:13 – “If you don’t struggle, you’re getting the poison in slow doses…”
• 70:58 – The epiphany of a hard-earned pack-out—“That was real.”
• 73:31 – Israel Adesanya’s epic post-fight happiness speech played & discussed
• 99:12 – Learning from every hunt, bowhunting’s lifelong curve
• 130:06 – Debate on optics, thermal technology, and fair chase ethics
• 183:12 – Health, stem cells, hormone optimization—hunting after 50
• 191:48 – “What did you learn this season?” reflections

Tone & Style

Consistently real, raw, and conversational. The group blends hunting wisdom, dark natural truths, comedy, and deep reflection. The tone is passionate and educational but always relatable, with many “look-you-in-the-eye” moments and frequent cursing for emphasis—the signature Rogan dirt-under-the-nails intensity.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the wild, hunting ethics, how modernity disconnects us from our roots, and how struggle is fundamentally linked to lasting fulfillment. Through thrilling stories and big-picture philosophy, Rogan, Hanes, and Greentree showcase the value of getting after real experiences and the importance of sharing that wisdom broadly.

For more info:

• Cameron Hanes: @cameronrhanes
• Adam Greentree: @adam.greentree
• joerogan.com for future show notes and links