Wilderness Fitness Podcast with Dr. Rob Minturn PT, CSCS · Dr. Rob Minturn PT, CSCS

Ep 70: Kids, Hunting, Tag Applications w/ Alex Gruin of East 2 West Hunts

·1 hr 3 min·3 clips

Rob opens by introducing Alex Gruen and explaining why he wanted him on the show. Alex has been helping people plan hunts, do mapping with them, and lay out the blueprint for a more successful hunt. Rob says he wants to use the conversation to talk about kids first, then hunt planning for adults. The two also touch on Michigan and ask what someone absolutely needs to do there. Alex answers in the same straightforward way the rest of the talk runs, without making any of this sound mysterious. When Rob asks what really matters for getting kids into hunting, Alex says not to overcomplicate it. He keeps coming back to early exposure, natural progression, and making sure the kid is having a good time. He says kids should be outdoors and should be part of the lifestyle, not dragged through a miserable first hunt. That part matters because he has seen what happens when a first outing goes badly. A bad memory can shut the whole thing down for a long time. A good one can make a kid eager to get back out next year. Rob pushes on what fun really means, and the answer gets more practical. It is not about turning everything into a performance. It is about keeping pressure low, avoiding anger when a kid makes a mistake, and remembering that most kids want to be around their parents. Alex says they also want to make their parents happy, which is part of why the experience sticks when it goes well. He frames hunting as something that can become a lifelong shared thing if adults do not ruin it with too much tension. The episode keeps returning to that theme of simple habits and steady support. At the end, Alex mentions a set of lessons he has built and says people can use them whether they want to do it on their own or want some help. Rob closes by telling listeners to check the links and get access to Alex’s resources.

As heard by us

A grounded talk on hunt planning, tag applications, and keeping kids interested in hunting.

Dr. Rob Mintern and Alex Gruen keep the discussion grounded in hunt planning, tag applications, and the practical work of bringing kids into hunting without draining the fun from it.

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Why you'd press play

Press play if you need a simpler way to plan hunts with kids.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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