The MeatEater Podcast – Ep. 765: Chain Reaction Roadkill, the Elk Rut, and Harsh Truths | MeatEater Radio Live!

Date: September 19, 2025
Host: Brody Henderson (with Caleb Putnam, Randall Williams, special guests including Brian D. Bolt and Chris Hill)

Episode Overview

The MeatEater crew—Brody, Cal, and Randall—come to you live from headquarters in Bozeman, Montana with a packed episode diving into several deep-dish topics at the heart of conservation and hunting. This show explores a unique “chain reaction” roadkill incident with a Wyoming bear expert, delivers multiple first-hand elk rut reports from the field, confronts the thorny conservation battle over America's roadless lands, and serves up a roundtable of “harsh truths” about hunting ethics and outdoor culture. Add in plenty of humor, listener Q&As, and a preview of new MeatEater products and events, and you have a classic, engaging snapshot of the wild world outside.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter & Live Show Announcement (03:01–04:09)

• The hosts celebrate the arrival of hunting season, share their own early-season plans, and riff about upcoming MeatEater Live Christmas tour dates in new cities across the South.
• Quote (Randall Williams, 04:27):
  “I'd like to actually use this opportunity to invest in a real Santa suit at this company. Well, I feel like we have the resources.”

2. Seasonal Hunts & Gear Mishaps (05:25–09:53)

• Randall recounts an early rifle hunt in Montana—seeing elk and deer, discovering faulty gear before serious cold hits.
• Cal details a high-stakes brown bear bow hunt on the Alaska Peninsula, with logistical chaos and last-minute preparations.
• The group jokes about the perils of aging hips, leaky air mattresses, and how conservation work can crowd out personal hunting time.
• Quote (Caleb Putnam, 09:19):
  “This is the furthest I have ever in my entire life been into any legal hunting season without hunting a single day...I have got to get done and wrap.”

3. Interview: Brian D. Bolt—Chain Reaction Roadkill (10:15–28:38)

Brian D. Bolt, Wyoming Game & Fish, Large Carnivore Conflict Coordinator

The Incident:

• Multiple black bears (a sow and two cubs, then an additional bear) were killed in a "chain reaction" near a roadkill elk on South Pass, a major Wyoming highway.
• Bears (in hyperphagia) were drawn to the elk carcass and struck by vehicles in the same spot over two days.
• Brian explains agency protocol on roadkill—usually handled by Department of Transportation unless a live animal is involved.

Insights & Preventative Measures:

• This cluster of bear deaths is unprecedented for Brian in 26 years (“biggest one I’ve seen”—19:42).
• Wyoming’s new roadkill salvage law: general public may now pick up deer, elk, and antelope via the 511 app—but not bears or lions.
• Wildlife overpasses in Wyoming—costly but highly effective in reducing roadkill at choke points.
• Public is urged to report roadkill via the app, even if not salvaging, for quick removal and to prevent further chain reactions.

The Human Element:

• Bear habituation at roadsides is exacerbated by people—often unintentionally—feeding bears (even for photos), increasing risk for both bears and humans.
• Quote (Brian D. Bolt, 25:59):
  “When people are actively feeding these bears and, oftentimes, just to get a photograph...they don’t realize how they’re habituating these bears to the roadside and increasing that opportunity for them to get struck and killed.”
• Quote (Caleb Putnam, 27:18):
  “It’s not the bear’s fault it’s eating your bird seed. It’s your fault for leaving the bird seed out to get ate. So put it away.”

4. Elk Rut Field Reports—from the Ground (32:41–39:14)

First-hand “rut reports” from several western states:

• Montana:
  • Slow rut start; elk vocal only at night; inconsistent weather. “Hoping things pick up...only two and a half more days on this little journey.” (Corey Calkins, 32:52)
• Idaho/Oregon:
  • Full moon, hot weather; rut slow to start, picks up after September 10th. (Dirk Durham)
• Colorado:
  • Elk bugling increases with cooler weather and snow; “nice time to be out.” (Unnamed hunter, 35:52)
• Prognosis:
  • All agree the days around the fall equinox (Sept. 22) are peak rut; “the next week and a half, two weeks, and there's going to be some big bulls hitting the dirt.” (Dirk Durham, 34:21)
  • “If you've got a hunting trip planned, you're in for a good [time].” (Logan, 37:16)

Hosts debate the value of rut reports versus just getting out there and hunting, and stress that right now, conditions are heating up across the range.

• Quote (Caleb Putnam, 39:46):
  “You just gotta go hunting.”

5. Listener Q&A: Ethics, Attitude, and Camp Stories (40:40–48:27)

Notable Segments:

• Ethical dilemmas: Shooting an injured cow elk with a calf? “I don't think there's a right or wrong answer for that...If it makes you feel good to kill her, kill her. If not, like, go fill your tag with another animal.” (Brody Henderson, 43:43)
• “Camp Cancer”: The worst trips have bad attitudes, not necessarily bad weather, gear, or hunts. “I would rather be on a bad trip with great attitudes than a great trip with bad attitudes.” (Caleb Putnam, 46:02)
• Who would you hunt with for elk, whitetail, bear? Mark Kenyon, Jason Phelps, and Corey Calkins top the list.

6. Interview: Chris Hill, Conservation Lands Foundation—Public Lands at Stake (50:11–63:24)

Chris Hill, CEO, Conservation Lands Foundation

Topics:

• CLF’s mission: Advocate for 38 million acres of national conservation lands managed by BLM.
• Current big issues:
  • Congressional efforts to repeal public lands management plans, threaten land privatization
  • Proposed drilling in the Western Arctic and threats to the Roadless Rule (esp. Tongass National Forest)
• Community-level advocacy is vital—local engagement and public comments do move the needle.
• Quote (Chris Hill, 54:44):
  “The idea that we want to privatize these places is still an incredibly unpopular opinion in the communities.”
• Quote (Chris Hill, 61:41):
  “It's those comments that make a difference...creates that record to show that either the public is for or against an issue. And...when we band together...things happen and things change.”

Take Action:

• Submit comments on conservation issues (e.g., via Trout Unlimited, Wilderness Society, BHA, or OnX maps).
• Find CLF at conservationlands.org and through local nonprofits.

7. Segment: “Three Harsh Truths” About Hunting & Outdoor Life (65:24–77:36)

A panel roundtable of uncomfortable (but necessary) realities:

• Caleb Putnam:
  Buying a hunting/fishing license alone is not enough—hunters must actively engage in management: show up for meetings, comment periods, write to officials. “It makes a huge difference.” (66:31)
• Randall Williams:
  Social media isn’t just affecting hunting—it’s warping all hobbies and communities. “If you have any hobby, it’s being ruined by social media.” (68:16)
• Brody Henderson:
  Novice hunters shouldn't be encouraged to take long shots at game—even if technically proficient, real hunting happens up close. Setting yardage limits for new hunters builds true skills and ethics.
  “Even if a new hunter is practiced...shooting at animals like in the heat of the moment is just way different than shooting at paper targets.” (71:07)

The dialogue touches on cultural changes, technology, population pressures, and the difference between marksmanship and woodsmanship.

8. Late-Show Listener Feedback & Lightning Q&A (77:37–85:59)

• Questions about grizzly bear hunting logistics, contacts vs. glasses for outdoor folks, and advice for young or new hunters ("You just gotta make it happen and don’t let stuff hold you back." - Caleb Putnam).
• Quote (Caleb Putnam, 85:18): “If you're interested in it, you just gotta make it happen and don't let stuff hold you back.”

9. Announcements & Wrap-Up (86:07–91:19)

• New MeatEater retail store opens in Milwaukee, WI, plus new jerky products and the long-awaited “Effed Up Old Trucks” calendar (proceeds support BHA).
• Promotions for new video content (“Our Way of Life”), upcoming TV season, and the next Movie Club topic: “Elephant in the Living Room.”
• Episode closes with advice: “Be kind, be courteous, be safe out there, enjoy your season, be cool.”

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “It's an unfortunate opportunity that these critters get struck—whether it's a coyote...or a bear—scavenging these carcasses.”
  — Brian D. Bolt, 18:30

• "The reason you always hear, but just as important. Long range shooting at animals is not how you learn to be a good hunter."
  — Brody Henderson, 71:07

• “You act differently when people are paying attention to you?...Our representatives and our senators can darn sure act differently when they know a lot of people are paying attention to them.”
  — Caleb Putnam, 62:16

Key Segments with Timestamps

• Live Show Tour Announcement – 03:01
• Gear Mishaps/Personal Hunt Prep – 05:25
• Interview: Brian D. Bolt, Wyoming Chain Reaction Roadkill – 10:15
• Elk Rut Reports – 32:41 & 38:18
• Listener Q&A (Ethics & Camp Stories) – 40:40
• Interview: Chris Hill, Public Lands/BLM Conservation Issues – 50:11
• “Three Harsh Truths” Panel – 65:24
• Late Listener Questions & Feedback – 77:37
• Milwaukee Store/Content Announcements – 86:07
• Outro & Final Plugs – 91:18

Summary Tone

The MeatEater crew brings a mix of irreverence, lived experience, ethical candor, and deep conservation expertise. Their conversations straddle friendly jokes (“I would love to sit in a tree, stand over bait with Clay just to see him watch bears.” – Randall Williams, 48:07), hard-won advice, and encouragement for active engagement in the wild and on the issues.

For Newcomers

This episode is packed—ideal for anyone looking to understand the real dilemmas and joys of modern conservation and hunting in the West. Whether you want practical insight, to laugh, or to get activated on public lands, you’ll find something here. Recommended listening for all who care about wild places and the future of hunting.