The BEST episodes written by Steven Rinella
#1 - Gila Monster: New Mexico Bull Elk
MeatEater - Season 4 - Episode 15
After four years of waiting, Steven Rinella draws a coveted, limited-entry public land elk tag and heads into New Mexico’s Gila National Forest on a solo backpack hunt. His biggest challenge here is the vast expanse of hills covered in enough timber to hide an army – demanding lots of glassing and even more hiking. Here, even just one missed opportunity could result in an empty freezer at home.
#2 - Alaska Bear Hunt (2)
MeatEater - Season 4 - Episode 18
The Alaskan backcountry hunt continues as Steven Rinella and Rorke Denver manage to maneuver their way through the thicket and find themselves hot on some bears. Their luck holds out and the hunt is successful, but Rorke soon learns that the hunt is only half the battle. After a lesson in field butchering, Rorke and Steve head back to camp to do a little fishing and foraging to round out their bear feast.
Watch Now:Amazon
#3 - Alaska Bear Hunt (1)
MeatEater - Season 4 - Episode 17
Masters of their respective fields, Steven Rinella will take Navy Seal Rorke Denver deep into the Alaskan backcountry to hunt black bears in the mighty Alaska Range. After several flights and a long climb up the ridge, the men will trade secrets and look into the differences and similarities between the hunter and the warrior. The bears are out and hungry, but they’re fast and in dense cover, forcing the men to work hard for their mountain meal.
Watch Now:Amazon
#4 - Lobster of the Prairie: Wyoming Antelope
MeatEater - Season 6 - Episode 3
Steve is fed up with the disrespect the antelope receives. Bad hunting protocol, poor meat quality, it’s all a wives’ tale. Through this week's hunt, Steve aims to make antelope lovers out of everyone and give the antelope the respect it deserves.
Watch Now:Amazon
#5 - Unconventional: Alaska Sooty Grouse, Part 2
MeatEater - Season 5 - Episode 14
In Part One, we saw the difficulty of hunting the Sooty grouse of Ketchikan, Alaska. We rejoin Steven Rinella and Barbara in Juneau, AK as they continue to pursue "hooters." Tromping through Southeast Alaska rainforest, Steve and Barbara discover a mutual fondness for an unconventional hunt. Barbara concludes the week of hunting cooking fettuccine a la grouse.
Watch Now:Amazon#6 - Cooking Special: Recipes from "The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering and Cooking Wild Game"
MeatEater - Season 5 - Episode 15
Steve teams up with long time friend and Seattle based chef Andrew Radzialowski for a summertime gathering featuring recipes from Steve's latest book "The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game, Vol. 1: Big Game." The two do a little foraging in the coastal forest to compliment the meal and then host their favorite Seattle peoples to sample the feast.
#7 - Land of the Giants: Idaho Mule Deer Part 1
MeatEater - Season 6 - Episode 4
Steve’s quest for a giant mule deer buck continues in central Idaho. To help Steve in his journey, First Lite's Ryan Callaghan has offered up one of his best spots as well as his keen spotting skills. The duo pack into some of the West’s steepest and prettiest mountains seeking a creature of mythological reputation: the colossal buck of Steve’s dreams.
Watch Now:Amazon
#8 - Welcome to the Jungle: Adventures in Bolivia (2)
MeatEater - Season 5 - Episode 6
After battling with a few of the river's wild inhabitants, Steve is excited to head into the jungle at night. A successful hunt puts Steve face to face with a threshold he vowed never to cross. This menu will test anyone's beliefs about what it means to hunt your own food.
Watch Now:Amazon
#9 - Surf N Turk: Wisconsin Turkey and Carp
MeatEater - Season 4 - Episode 13
Steven Rinella scratches his spring turkey itch this year as he visits Southeast Wisconsin to call in some big eastern Toms with his buddy Jerod Fink. The guys plan to do some serious cooking, and have plans to serve and enjoy a real Midwest turkey and fish fry.
#10 - Land of the Giants: Idaho Mule Deer Part 2
MeatEater - Season 6 - Episode 5
Steve’s quest for a giant mule deer buck continues in central Idaho. To help Steve in his journey, Ryan Callaghan has offered up one of his best spots as well as his keen spotting skills. The duo backpack hunt in some of the West’s steepest and prettiest mountains seeking a creature of mythological reputation: the colossal buck of Steve’s dreams. In part two Steve finally connects with a buck that can be classified as giant. The dream is realized; Steve and Ryan feast on a slow cooked roast.
Watch Now:Amazon
#11 - The Coldest Hunt: Nunivak Island Muskox
MeatEater - Season 5 - Episode 11
Lightning strikes twice: Steven Rinella has somehow beaten the odds and drawn a second Muskox tag after having to forfeit his first one four years ago due to unforeseen circumstances. Steve’s only regret in life was passing up his opportunity to hunt Muskox. With another tag in his pocket, nothing will stop this adventure. We learn about the history and culture of Nunivak Island as Steve tries to stay warm while chasing Muskox 30 miles offshore in the Bering Sea. The muskox is delicious but the tomcod dipped in seal oil is fit for the hippest Brooklyn restaurant.
Watch Now:Amazon
#13 - Mountain Meditation: British Columbia Grizzly Bear
MeatEater - Season 6 - Episode 2
Ryan Callaghan and Aaron Evans join Steve on an epic adventure in British Columbia’s Rockies to pursue grizzly bears. Steve has set specific means of take, guided by personal ethics, for his grizzly bear hunt. The hunt is dampened by weather but Steve finds a way to fix a tasty meal.
Watch Now:Amazon
#14 - Gobbling: California Turkeys with Joe Rogan and Bryan Callen
MeatEater - Season 5 - Episode 12
Last time Joe Rogan and Bryan Callen went out with Steven Rinella they were soaked head to toe and came home meatless. To remedy their meat crisis while keeping them dry, Steve sets up a springtime wild turkey hunt in sunny California. Steve gives Joe and Bryan the A to Z on hunting, butchering, and cooking the wild turkey. Steve caps off the introductory lesson by preparing his favorite turkey recipe: Schnitzel.
Watch Now:Amazon
#16 - About Time: Helen and Brittany Elk Hunt in Montana
MeatEater - Season 5 - Episode 8
Brittany and Helen have put more work in on MeatEater than just about anyone else. For two years these adventurous ladies have built up an intense desire to learn how to hunt, and it’s about time they get out there. Steve secures a cow elk tag apiece for them and takes them through the process from beginning to end. They need to get their hunters safety, learn to shoot, train for the woods, and get geared up. When November comes they're ready to go, and they strike out into the mountains of northern Montana for the adventure of their lives. First Lite’s Ryan Callaghan comes along to lend a helping hand, and they all head into the Sweetgrass Hills with high hopes of eating a traditional first-hunters’ meal of fresh elk heart.
Watch Now:Amazon
#17 - Yukon Giants: Northern Alaska Moose (1)
MeatEater - Season 5 - Episode 1
Dumped lakeside on the south side of Alaska’s Brooks Range, Steven Rinella and wildlife biologist Brandt Meixell have ten days of hunting before the plane returns. Big-antlered Yukon moose are the primary objective but Rinella’s lifelong quest for a mature male grizzly could come to an end as well. The two also discuss what makes a hunter a biologist, and a biologist a hunter.
Watch Now:Amazon
#19 - Duren Deer Camp: Helen and Brittany Wisconsin Whitetail Part 2
MeatEater - Season 6 - Episode 8
Helen Cho and Brittany Brothers, integral parts of the MeatEater production team, are back for a double episode. This time around they’re hunting whitetail deer in Wisconsin on the famed Duren farm with Doug Duren and Steve as their guides. In part two both Helen and Brittany get their chance at Duren farm bucks. Hobo dinners over the campfire make it deer camp.
Watch Now:Amazon
#20 - Welcome to the Jungle: Adventures in Bolivia (3)
MeatEater - Season 5 - Episode 7
On the final installment of the MeatEater Bolivia trilogy, Steve uses his bow to assist the Tsimane in gathering some venison and explores a small tributary to acquire fish with his bow. The Tsimane hunting, butchering and cooking methods have evolved in a hot and humid environment; Steve's time tested notions of meat care are flipped on their head. This mind bending adventure is capped off with a celebratory banquet comprised of truly wild game.
Watch Now:Amazon#21 - Duren Deer Camp: Helen and Brittany Wisconsin Whitetail Part 1
MeatEater - Season 6 - Episode 7
Helen Cho and Brittany Brothers, integral parts of the MeatEater production team, are back for a double episode. This time around they’re hunting whitetail deer in Wisconsin on the famed Duren farm with Doug Duren and Steve as their guides. Arriving a few days early to scout and tune up their shooting with some squirrel hunting, the ladies enter the next chapter of their hunting careers.
Watch Now:Amazon#22 - Ribeye of the Sky: Sandhill Cranes in West Texas
MeatEater - Season 5 - Episode 10
Steve and fellow bird hunting aficionado Ronny Boehme join up with Wildlife Biologist Ed Arnett in Lubbock, Texas to hunt Sandhill cranes. Though not many people have actually eaten them, the Sandhill crane carries the nickname "rib eye of the sky" because of its supposed similarities to a handsome cut of beef. It’s fast action and plenty of laughs as Steve, Ronny, and Ed dispel any culinary myths about these birds with a Texas style "Crane Cookout."
#23 - Up at the Cabin: Prince of Wales Island Black Bear with Paul Neess
MeatEater - Season 5 - Episode 16
Last spring, Steve decided to pass up an opportunity to kill a black bear in favor of an extended up close and personal experience. This year, Steve heads back to his shack on Prince of Wales Island and he’s brought Vortex Optics’ Paul Neess along to share the rush of using a canoe to slip in close to these giant black bears.
#24 - Southern Traditions: Virginia Doves
MeatEater - Season 6 - Episode 1
All across America hunters kick off the fall hunting season with a weekend of doves, friends, and food. MeatEater regular Ronnie Boehme has invited Steve out to his digs in Virginia for the dove opener. To prep for opening day, Steve and Ron spend a day brushing up on their shotgun technique on a sporting clays course followed by a pigeon hunt. Steve shares simple cooking methods for doves and pigeons on the grill.
#25 - Sky Island Solitare: Backpack Hunting Coues Deer in Arizona
MeatEater - Season 5 - Episode 9
Steve returns to southern Arizona to stalk one of his favorite quarry the elusive Coues deer. Unaccompanied, Steve immerses himself in the quiet southwest desert and gets intimate with one of the most wary animals in the west. Giant felines threaten the story but Steve stays on course and articulates why solo time in trophy country is good for the soul.
#26 - Deer the Hard Way: Prince of Wales Island
MeatEater - Season 5 - Episode 3
Comedians Joe Rogan and Bryan Callen take a stab at their third species of North American deer as they join Steve on a blacktail hunt on Prince of Wales Island.