About Liminal Outdoors Podcast: Master The Wild - Build Yourself
Liminal Outdoors is the podcast for the working outdoorsman — the guy balancing a 9-5, fatherhood, bills, and responsibilities, who still finds a way to get into the mountains.
Hosted by Ryan Johnson — professional fishing guide, professional archer, hunter education instructor, and elk guide with 30+ bow-harvested elk to his name — this isn't a hobbyist show. Ryan brings elite-level outdoor expertise and delivers it in a way that actually makes sense for real life.
Every episode covers the skills, tactics, and mindset that help you get more out of your time in the field — whether you've been hunting your whole life or you're just getting started.
Hunting. Fishing. Camping. And the inner peace that lives somewhere between all of it.
This is Liminal Outdoors. The space between civilization and the wild.
Ep 6: 3 Lake Trout Fishing Techniques That Actually Work — Jig, Bait, and Trolling #laketroutfishing
Three Lake trout. Three completely different methods. Three lessons I had to learn the hard way.In this episode, I walk you through three real fishing stories from Colorado's mountain lakes — one fish on a tube jig, one on a whole sucker, and one trolling. For each method, I break down exactly what I did, what worked, what didn't, and what you need to do differently so you skip the learning curve I went through.By the end, you'll have a solid game plan for all three styles of trout fishing — regardless of what gear you're running or how much time you have on the water.What you'll learn:-How to rig and use a tube jig for trout — what line, what size and weight and how to jig it-Why a whole sucker can work but needs extra precautions-Trolling basics for mountain lakes — speed, depth, and gear selectionThe mistakes I made learning each method so you don't have to repeat themWhether you're hitting a mountain lake for the first time or you've been fishing for years and hitting a wall, this episode is built to put more fish in your net.Liminal Outdoors — Master the Wild. Build Yourself.Chapters00:00 Intro1:22 Learning to Catch Lake Trout was Frustrating1:55 Vertical Jigging for Lake Trout10:35 The Controversy of Fishing Whole Suckers12:00 How to Fish For Lake Trout With Whole Suckers19:10 Trolling Shallow For Lake Trout
31 Mar 2026
EP 5 Life Happens : Balancing outdoors, family, money and life
In this episode, I'm sharing the real journey behind Liminal Outdoors: competitive archery, years guiding elk hunters in New Mexico, guiding lake trout and kokanee salmon on Colorado mountain lakes, and everything in between — sickness, marriage, kids, and learning to find myself in the wild when life got hard. From elk guide to lake trout fishing guide to raising a family in the Rocky Mountains — life in the outdoors isn't always clean. This is my story. If you're a working outdoorsman trying to balance hunting, fishing, and real life — this one's for you. ⬇️ Subscribe for western hunting tips, mountain fishing tactics, archery, camping, and woodsmanship built for the guy who still has to pay the bills AND fill the freezer. Liminal Outdoors — Master the Wild. Build Yourself. #LiminalOutdoors #HuntingLifestyle #ArcheryHunting #ElkHunting #WorkingOutdoorsman #Hunting #Fishing #Camping #OutdoorLife #RockyMountains
11 Mar 2026
EP 4: Choosing Between the Mountains and Home | Colorado Bighorn Sheep Hunt
On this episode of Liminal Outdoors Podcast, we share personal stories about balancing work, family, and the outdoors. My Colorado bighorn sheep hunt serves as a prime example, illustrating the journey of personal growth experienced in those liminal space moments. It's about building and becoming, drawing parallels between the hunt and life's transitions.Video Chapters00:00 Intro02:11 I Drew a Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Tag!04:16 Doubt Creeps In04:50 Let The Sheep Scouting Begin07:22 I Found Every Ram In The Unit07:57 I Almost Turned My Tag Back In09:40 I Scared My Ram The Day Before Season11:08 Bear at 8 Yards!11:42 The First Bighorn Sheep Stalk12:35 2nd Day14:30 I had a Bighorn Sheep at 15 Yards!17:44 I finally found the Rams20:05 No Lazy Stalks22:05 My Target Ram Finally Stands UpSubscribe and follow Liminal Outdoors for tips, techniques and tricks for the beginner and seasoned western outdoorsMaster the Wilde - Build Yourself#bighornsheephunting #archeryhunting #familyandtheoutdoors #liminaloutdoors
19 Feb 2026
EP 3: Don’t Need Premium Tags | 30” Buck Proof on Colorado Public Land
Hunting public land in Colorado isn't just about drawing the tag; it's about outlasting the pressure. In this episode of Liminal Outdoors, we breakdown our 2025 season where persistence paid off in a big way—resulting in a 30" Mule Deer buck and an OTC Elk harvest.We discuss how the season started slow, how my son found early success, and why "grinding it out" gave us the data we needed to capitalize on late-season opportunities. If you think you need a premium unit to kill big deer, this episode will change your mind.Timestamps:[00:00] Intro: The reality of Public Land hunting[00:00] Early Season: My son's buck & the pressure reality check[00:00] Mid-Season Lull: Learning the animal movement[00:00] The Pivot: Deciding to pick up an OTC Elk tag[00:00] The Elk Hunt: Capitalizing on opportunity[00:00] The 30" Buck: How persistence created luck[00:00] Late Season Strategy: Why time in the woods matters[00:00] Outro: Don't overlook "lesser" unitsResources:https://youtu.be/i94vVvggm4E Episode 1: OTC vs Premium Elk Tagshttps://youtu.be/utkKNfcVIzQ Episode 2: Draw Systems Explained#MuleDeerHunting #ColoradoHunting #PublicLand #ElkHunting #LiminalOutdoors
18 Feb 2026
EP 2: Western Hunting Draw: The Truth About Preference Points vs Bonus Points
Applying for Western big game tags can feel like you need a law degree just to understand the regulations. In this episode of Liminal Outdoors, we strip away the complexity and break down the Western Draw System into 8 simple, easy-to-understand points.If you are a working outdoorsman trying to plan your first Western hunt, you can't afford to get this wrong. We cover the difference between preference and bonus points, how resident quotas hurt (or help) you, and why "just going hunting" is the most important step of all.Timestamps:[00:00] Intro: Why the system is so complicated[00:52] 1. Why do draw systems even exist?[03:00] 2. When does the draw actually happen? (Key Dates)[03:36] 3. Can I still get a tag if I missed the deadline? (OTC options)[04:42] 4. Preference Points vs. Bonus Points: The Big Difference[06:51] 5. The real cost: How much to apply?[08:04] 6. The "Math" Problem: Resident vs. Non-Resident Quotas / Group Applicatoins[10:01] 7. Managing Expectations: Don't bank on a unicorn tag[12:17] 8. The Golden Rule: Tags don't guarantee success (Just go hunt!)Resources:https://cpw.state.co.us/ (Colorado)https://wildlife.utah.gov/ (Utah)https://www.azgfd.com/ (Arizona)https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/ (New Mexico)https://wgfd.wyo.gov/ (Wyoming)https://idfg.idaho.gov/ (Idaho)https://www.ndow.org/ (Nevada)#WesternHunting #ElkHunting #DeerHunting #HuntingTips #LiminalOutdoors
18 Feb 2026
EP 1: OTC vs. Premium Elk Tags: Why My General Tag Outperformed a Draw Unit
Can a general over-the-counter (OTC) elk tag actually produce better results than a premium limited-entry draw unit? In this episode of the Liminal Outdoors Podcast, I break down my 2025 archery elk season to prove why time in the field matters more than the tag in your pocket.I compare two very different hunts from the same year: a highly coveted Utah premium draw tag that ended in frustration, and a standard Colorado public land general tag that resulted in a mature 6-point bull elk.We discuss:The reality of "Premium" units: Why draw odds don't guarantee success.My strategy for the 2025 Colorado Public Land Archery season.Why "tag equity" (burning points) can sometimes hurt your hunting progression.How to maximize your time in the woods when you have a 9-5 job.0:00 - Intro: The Myth of the Premium Tag1:38 - My Utah Draw Tag "Bust"3:59 - The Colorado General Tag Strategy7:32 - The First Elk Bugle12:51 - Bugeling Elk Rut Fest17:01 - Busted By Bull Elk20:42 - Stalking the 6-Point Bull28:06 - Conclusion: Just Go Hunt
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