2022 Top 20 Western Hunting Self-Promoters
By Mountain Pursuit
”Western-Hunting Self Promoter” = Any person or organization which produces glorified western hunting media (video, photos, podcasts, magazines, books), and or “Kills for Content” with the intention of monetizing it through advertising, product sales, sponsorships, subscriptions, memberships, donations, guided hunts, etc.
Western hunting self-promoters readily film and post video-taped kill shots, glorified grip and grin dead animal trophy pics, and related hunting gore, handing it over to the anti-hunters print-ready for placement in anti-hunting ads.
Self-promoting celebrity hunters glorify western big game hunting to increase hype and boost sales. This “Killing for content” means they kill many more times the meat they could possibly consume, taking far more than their share. To stay competitive with other self promoters they often hint at locational data, or outright divulge specifically where their photo was taken or YouTube movie filed. This results in increased hunting pressure on western-state public lands in general, and frequently at specific locations. This increased pressure results initially in overharvest, and eventually in poorer hunting, and fewer hunting opportunities.
Western-Hunting Self Promoters value money and attention from fawning nonresident hunters over maintaining uncrowded, quality hunting experiences for western-state resident hunters.
Hunting at its core is about seeing, not about being seen. Cameras, microphones and film crews violate this true spirit of hunting, increase hunting pressure thereby dropping significantly the hunting experience, turn non-hunters into anti-hunters, and threaten the future of western-state hunting.
Being on this list is not something to be proud of.
How These Rankings Were Calculated
The focus is primarily on social media popularity and the main input is the sum of Instagram and YouTube Subscribers. To make the official list, a self-promoter needed over 50,000 combined Instagram and YouTube subscribers.
Last year we included Facebook page likes, but this year, several of the Self-Promoters have dropped their Facebook pages - a sign that Facebook is on significant decline.
Next, we dropped two types of self-promoters: (1) Older “legacy” self promoters who’s popularity relies on cable television hunting shows; and (2) Heavily made-upped female “huntress”-type “influencers” whose social media was focused on body image and “lifestyle” with a little camo and hunting thrown in. For example, Eva Shockey was in our top 5 last year, but she’s been dropped from the list this year.
For those Self-Promoters who made the list for the second year in a row, we included the growth in their Instagram and YouTube Subscribers. Unfortunately, not one saw a decline in overall subscribers this past year - an sad indication that Killing for Content is still in demand in the social media space.
Changes from 2021
We cut the official list from 25 to 20 self promoters, but added a “Dishonorable Mention” category of “up and coming” self-promoters with fewer than 50,000 combined Instagram and YouTube subscribers. All the ”Dishonorable Mentions” were tied for "#20” on our list.
Also, this year, we created a new ranking of the western-hunting industry companies with either produce their own western-state hunting social media content, or sponsor several of the self-promoters on this list, or both.
20. Dishonorable Mentions - Tie - Peter Panda, PNWild, Brady Miller, Jason Seegmiller, Top Priority Hunting, Ryan Steward, Jordan Budd, Josh Kirchner
The following Western-State Hunting Self-Promoters did not reach the Instagram and YouTube subscription threshold to make the official list - but they have enough following to earn a “Dishonorable Mention.”
PETER PANDA
Location: Montana
Instagram Handle @petergpanda
Instagram Followers 46,100
Info: Some past relationship with Stone Glacier. His frontal kill shot on a mule deer buck is blocked for “sensitive content” by Instagram.
PNWILD - Jeff Roberts, Bobby Petit
Location: Washington State
Instagram Handle @pnwild_
Instagram Followers 26,800
YouTube Subscribers 13,700
Info: Robert and Petit made last year’s list, and their social media subscribers has increased slightly this year.
BRADY MILLER
Location: Nevada
Instagram Handle @brady_j_miller
Instagram Followers 32,800
Info: Digital content manager at gohunt.com, and now turning the camera on himself for instagram and go hunt.com and YouTube hunting videos. Positioning himself as an expert long range mule deer hunter.
JASON SEEGMILLER
Location: Unknown
Instagram Handle @outdoorseeg
Instagram Followers 32,541
Info: “Mule deer fanatic.”
TOP PRIORITY HUNTING - Justin Nelson, Jeremy Stairs, Garrett Bowen,
Location: Idaho
Instagram Handle @toppriorityhunting
Instagram Followers 11,000
YouTube Subscribers 16,000
Info: New hunting video group using the common “friends who like to hunt” theme. But already sponsored by OnX, Exo Mtn Gear, Vortex, Crispi, Phelps Game Calls, and Seek Outside
RYAN STEWART
Location: Utah
Instagram Handle @biggameutahn
Instagram Followers 26,900
Info: Utah hunting guide. Likes to post of videos of himself doing bicep curls to Instagram.
JORDAN BUDD
Location: Wyoming
Instagram Handle @Jordan.budd
Instagram Followers 18,100
YouTube Subscribers 2,000
Info: Podcaster for rokslide, has her own hunting media company. Sponsored by First Lite and Kifaru.
JOSH KIRCHNER
Location: Nevada
Instagram Handle @dialedinhunter
Instagram Followers 32,800
Info: Another gohunt.com staffer. Sponsored by Exo Mtn Gear and First Lite.
19. Ryan Lampers - YouTuber, Podcaster
Website: huntharvesthealth.com, westernhuntingsummit.com
What's He Selling? Rifle Cover, $1600 3-day 'Western Hunting Course', Food Dehydration Equipment, Cook Book, Health Supplements, "Hormone Counseling" / Testosterone Therapy
Instagram Handle @sthealthyhunter
Instagram Bio None
Instagram Followers 49.7K - up from 43.5K
Youtube Subscribers 3.7K - up from 3.16K
Sponsor: Seek Outside, Phelps Game Calls
Info: Ranked #21 last year
18. Dan Stanton - YouTuber
Website: elkshape.com
Location Washington
What's He Selling? Fitness plans, advertising, fitness courses, logo gear
Instagram Handle @elkshape
Instagram Followers 30K - up from 27.8K
Youtube Subscribers 52.7K - up from 31.9K
Sponsors Pnuma, Onx, Wildernes Athlete, Matthews Archery, Vortex, Kifaru, Black Rifle Company
Info: Ranked #22 last year
17. Levi Morgan - YouTuber, Instagrammer
Location Unkowm
What's He Selling? Advertising to sponsors
Instagram Handle @bowlife_levi
Instagram Followers 150K
Youtube Subscribers No personal channel
Sponsors First Lite, Matthews
Info: First time on the list. World Champion pro archer turned hunting self-promoter.
16. Brian Call - Podcaster/YouTuber
Website https://briancall.com
Location Washington
Selling Advertising, Sponsorships, Subscriptions, Logo Wear
Instagram Handle @brian_call
Instagram Followers 84K - up from 79.2K
YouTube Subscribers 82.7K - up from 61.5K
Podcast Gritty Bowman
Sponsors Sitka, Peax, MTN OPS, Seek Outside, Heather's Choice
Info: Ranked #17 last year too
15. Donnie Vincent - TV Personality
Website https://www.donnievincent.com
Location Washington
Selling Advertising, Sponsorships
Instagram Handle @donnie_vincent
Instagram Followers 132K
YouTube Subscribers 61.3K
Info: First time on the list
14. Corey Jacobsen - YouTuber
Website https://www.elk101.com
Location Idaho
Selling Sponsorships, Advertising, Hunting Course, Subscriptions, Game Calls
Instagram Handle @coreyjacobsen.elk101
Instagram Followers 89.1K - up from 79.5K
YouTube Subscribers 112K - up from 94.8K
Sponsors Sitka Gear, Rocky Mountain Elk Calls, Mtn Ops
Info: Ranked #16 Last Year
13. Tie between Rinella (Meateater) Career Sidekicks, (a) Janis Putelis, and; (b) Ryan Callaghan - YouTubers, Podcasters
Website themeateater.com
Location Montana
Selling Advertising, Clothing, Gear
Instagram Handle @janis_putelis, @ocal406
Putelis Instagram Followers 234K - up from 179K
Callaghan Instagram Followers 256K
YouTube Followers 1m (Meateater)
Podcast Meateater, Cal’s Week in Review
Sponsors First Lite, Phelps Game Calls, FHF Gear, ets
Info: Putellis Ranked #10 last year … Career Rinella sidekicks Putellis and Callaghan don’t shy away from their own self-promoting. Each has over 200K instagram subscribers.
12. Chris Bee - YouTuber
Location Michigan
Selling Sponsorships, logo wear, bow grips
Instagram Handle @chrisbeereal
Instagram Followers 96.1K
YouTube Subscribers 166K
Sponsors Sitka Gear, Matthers
Info: First time on the list. Pro archer who moved into white tail hunting and now western big game hunting.
11. Guy & Ike Eastman - Publishers, TV-Personalities, YouTubers, Podcasters
Website eastmans.com
Location Wyoming
Selling Subscriptions, Advertising, Logo Wear, Outfitted Hunts
Instagram Handle @eastmanshuntingjournals
Instagram Followers 134K - up from 106K
YouTube Subscribers 140K up from 73.5K
Podcast Eastmans' Elevated
Sponsors Sitka
Info Ranked #13 last year
10. Muley Freak - Aaron Van Woerkom, YouTuber
Website muleyfreak.com
Location Utah
Selling Advertising, Logowear, Bino Harnesses
Instagram Handle @muley_freak
Instagram Followers 251K
YouTube Subscribers 36.6K
Info First time on the list
9. Born and Raised Outdoors - Kody Kellom, Treavor Fisher, Trent Fisher, Steve Howard - YouTubers
Website www.bornandraisedoutdoors.com
Location Oregon
Selling Advertising, Sponsorships, Hunting Gear, Backpacks, Elk Calls, Logo Wear
Instagram Handle @bornandraisedoutdoors
Instagram Followers 126K - up from 116K
YouTube Subscribers 202K - up from 179K
Podcast Born and Raised Outdoors
Sponsors Exo Mountain Gear, First Lite, OnX
Info Ranked #12 last year.
8. Randy Newberg - TV Personality, Podcaster, YouTuber
Website randynewberg.com, hunttalk.com
Location Montana
Instagram Handle @randynewberghunter
Instagram Bio None
Instagram Followers 137K - up from 129K
YouTube Subscribers 219K up from 200K
Podcast Hunt Talk Radio, Elk Talk
Sponsors Sitka, Leupold, Gerber, RMEF, Mystery Ranch, Nosler, Kenetrek, Bowtech, Gohunt.com, Rocky Mountain Elk Calls
Info Ranked #11 last year.
7. Remi Warren - TV Personality, Podcaster, YouTuber
Website www.remiwarren.com
Location Montana
Selling Sponsorships, Podcast Advertising, TV Advertising
Instagram Handle @remiwarren
Instagram Bio "TV host, guide, writer, nomad. Living off wild meat. I take the pictures I am in, but I think of them as sophisticated selfies. #livewildhunthard"
Instagram Followers 356K - up from 330K
YouTube Subscribers 49.5K - Up from 18K
Podcast Live Wild With Remi Warren
Sponsors First Lite, G5 Outdoors, Wilderness Athlete, Vortex, MEAT!, Gerber, Onx, Yeti, Stone Glacier
Info Ranked #5 last year.
6. Get Hushin - Casey Lavere, Eric Chesser, Brian McElrea - YouTubers
Website gethushin.com
Location Utah
Selling Logo Wear, Advertising, Sponsorships, Outfitted Hunts
Instagram Handle @gethushin
Instagram Bio "All of our links are here ↙️ #Hushlife #HuntFishFood"
Instagram Followers 253K - up from 236K
YouTube Subscribers 389K - up from 369K
Podcast hushlife
Sponsors Onx, Stealth Cam, Phone Scope, MTN OPS, Delta McKenzie, First Lite, Weatherby, Yeti, Hoyt, Vortex, Camp Chef, Hanwag, Easton, Cam-Am, Exo, Exo Mtn Gear
Info Ranked #8 last year.
5. John Dudley - YouTuber, Podcaster
Website nockonarchery.com
Selling Pants, Releases, Sights, Stabillizers, Arrows, Rests, Targets, Logo Wear, Recipes, Fitness
Instagram Handle @nockontv
Instagram Bio "Professional Archery Athlete, Elite Level Coach, Passionate Cook, Bow Guru dedicated to teaching archery to the world!"
Instagram Followers 330K - up from 308K
YouTube Followers Not Listed
Podcast nockonpodcast
Sponsors Easton, Sitka, PSE, Carter
Info Ranked #7 last year.
4. The Hunting Public - Zach Ferenbaugh, Jake Heubschman, Aaron Warbritton, Greg Clements - YouTubers
Website thehuntingpublic.com
Selling Sponsorships, Advertising
Instagram Handle @thehuntingpublic
Instagram Followers 362K
YouTube Subscribers 459K
Sponsors VorTex, Traeger, First Lite, Gohunt.com, Filson, Rep Your Water, Victory Archery, Stanley, Stone Glacier, Weatherby
Info First time on the list. Whitetail hunters moving west and bringing their subscribers with them.
3. Chad Mendez - Instagrammer
Location California?
Selling Sponsorships, Advertising
Instagram Handle @chadmendes
Instagram Followers 883K
Sponsors Kuiu, Peak Refuel, Hoyt
Info First time on the list. MMA fighter who hunts and brings is considerable instagram following with him.
2. Cameron Hanes - YouTuber
Website www.cameronhanes.com
Selling Sponsorships, Health Supplements, Logowear
Instagram Handle @cameronrhanes
Instagram Bio "Athlete. Bowhunter. #keephammering."
Instagram Followers 1.2m - up from 1.1m
YouTube Subscribers 294K - up from 274K
Sponsors Under Armor, Ram Trucks, Hoyt, Easton, Spot Hogg, RMEF, Mtn Ops, Leupold, Big Agnes
Info Ranked #2 Last Year. Original weight room-meathead hunter.
1. Steven Rinella - TV Personality, Podcaster, YouTuber, Author
Website themeateater.com
Location Montana
Selling Subscriptions, TV/YouTube/Podcast Advertising, Hunting Clothing (First Lite), Hunting Gear (FHF), Game Calls (Phelps), Books (hunting, survival, cooking, etc.), “Outdoor Lifestyle”
Instagram Handle @stevenrinella
Instagram Bio "Avid outdoorsman, conservationist, writer, and founder @meateater. Get your hands on a FHF Bino Harness at the link below."
Instagram Followers 1m - up from 935K
Facebook Followers 665.5K
YouTube Subscribers 1m - up from 764K
Sponsors First Lite, Phelps Game Calls, Benchmade
Info Ranked #1 last year.