Episode 49 of The Slanted Attic Experience features this week’s guest, Rob, formally known as Robert Taylor III, a backcountry hunting guide working deep in Idaho’s Selway Bitterroot Wilderness. Born and raised in Lebanon County, PA, Rob grew up in Palmyra with a deep-rooted passion for the outdoors, a passion that eventually pushed him west to pursue guiding full time. Today, he spends his seasons sleeping under wall tents, riding horseback out of camp, and leading hunters through some of the most remote terrain in the lower 48.
Meet the Guest:
Rob: A backcountry hunting guide for Boulder Creek Outfitters, Idaho’s longest continuously running outfitter, Rob spends his year guiding hunts for elk, mule deer, whitetails, black bears, and turkeys. Since beginning his journey in 2022, he has built a life defined by long rides into the backcountry, crisp mornings in the timber, and the kind of adventures you only find when you trade pavement for mountains. His Pennsylvania roots still run deep, and the connection between those early days outdoors and his work in Idaho threads naturally through his story.
Topics Covered (in chronological order):
- Intro, how Rob and Tyler first met
• The influence of the outdoors on lifestyle and career
• How Rob got into guiding and the transition west
• Seasonal hunts including elk, mule deer, whitetails, bear, and turkey
• Recurve and compound bows in modern hunting
• Wolf reintroduction in Idaho and its impact on elk and predation
• The recent Colorado wolf release and ecological implications
• Guided hunts, horseback travel, camp setups, timing, and terrain
• Bear grease and its uses
• Shooting techniques for different distances and conditions
• Raw, close quarter elk encounters with bow setups
• Rob’s annual hunting guide schedule
• The role of dogs in tracking and hunting
• Idaho hunts influenced by Rob’s Pennsylvania background
• Whitetail versus mule deer, habitat competition and conservation
• Access to land and how terrain shapes opportunity
• Strange wildlife encounters in the backcountry
• Idaho’s fishing culture and techniques for locating fish using Fishbrain
• The state’s natural ecosystem and its balance
• Outdoor gear and tools used during hunts including Garmin, onX, and Grayl
• A short detour into old baseball bats and teenage memories
• Gratitude for time outdoors and meaningful moments in nature
• Final hunting stories, standout experiences, and reflections
• Outro
This episode offers an immersive look into western backcountry guiding, the realities of large animal hunting, conservation challenges, and the deep satisfaction of a life spent outdoors.New episodes release bi-weekly at 10:30 AM EST, with surprise drops occasionally added in.
Explore Rob’s world at Boulder Creek Outfitters and the tools referenced throughout the episode including Garmin, onX Maps, Fishbrain, and Grayl.
Links:
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/
https://www.onxmaps.com/
https://fishbrain.com/
https://grayl.com/
https://bouldercreekoutfitters.com/
