Kim Angel Outdoors

09/06/2024

Thankful for the opportunity to help people harvest meat to feed their families with all-natural, organic wild game. Know where your food comes from!

08/11/2024

I have to share this with y’all.

Yesterday, I rode out to check a trail because we recently had storms come through and I have to pack in gear for one of the Forest Service trail crews tomorrow. I didn’t want to clear trail with 7 loaded mules on steep terrain.

I was riding a newer mustang, Buck, that is still pretty green, because Shiloh had a stone bruise and the other horses need shoes, so he was my only option.

I was a mile out of camp when I rode up on the first tree. I knew if there was already a tree down, there would be many more scattered throughout the nine miles of trail. I pulled the chainsaw out of the mule’s pack. I looked at the tree to assess where I needed to make my first cut. I looked down at the chainsaw and took a deep breath. I said, “Lord, I’m four hours from the nearest hospital, and I’m all alone back here. Please keep me safe.” I’ve ran a saw, but never alone.

I started the saw, cut the limbs, and easily bucked the tree. I threw the stump and limbs off the trail and got back on Buck.

Another half mile up the trail, Buck got the pack mule’s lead rope under his tail on a switchback and jumped down the steep bank about 15 feet. In the commotion, I came off and landed on my back right in front of him on a soft, flat, sandy spot, holding onto the reins.

The area where I guide is steep and rocky. If it had been anywhere else, things could have been bad, but because I asked God to keep me safe, He did.

I made it another five miles down the trail without any trees down (or any ropes under Buck’s tail). I crossed the river and headed up to an old burn where I knew there would be a lot of trees across the trail.

I noticed a set of fresh horse tracks. Obviously there were a couple of horses and at least three or four mules. I rarely see tracks on this trail.

I rode another mile and saw where a tree had fallen, but someone sawed it out. I passed tree after tree that they had sawed out.

God had kept me safe again AND saved me a ton of work. On the nine mile ride back to camp, I couldn’t help but thank Him for the opportunity I have to live this life.

So, I say all that to say this, God does hear our prayers and I owe it to Him to share this story with y’all.

07/27/2024

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life. -Richard Bach

I’ve built a very special bond with these two mustangs and six mules, living in the backcountry for months out of the year. Sure, we are coworkers, but it’s much deeper than that. The mutual respect we have for each other is incredible. I depend on them and they depend on me. To them, I am the leader of their herd. To me, they are like the brothers and sisters I never had. We are a family, even though we are not of the same species.

Perhaps the most incredible part is that there are no fences here. Each night, I turn them out, and each morning, they return on their own free will. They graze around my tent in the late evening and early morning hours. They give me so much peace and comfort during hunting season in the spring and in the summer while I am all alone with them in the backcountry. So thankful for them. 🤎

Thank you for some of these photos . 🤎

07/26/2024

I still can’t believe I got to see this with my own eyes. The video just doesn’t do it justice. Good dog, Speck. 🤎

07/19/2024

Hi everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve posted because I’ve been in the backcountry without service for most of the spring and summer. I just thought I would give everyone an update on how things are going around here and share a few clips of some of my adventures since the satellite internet is working good and I am back in main camp for a few days. Spring bear season went great and I got to spend most of my time guiding out of the backcountry camp. sent me one of their ultrasonic game calls and I got to use it with some of my bear and wolf hunters and I am loving it so far (more on this later)!

It may be winter when I’m in the leather shop before I get to post the majority of my stories, photos and videos from this season, but for now, enjoy this little reel with some packing clips and ride every chance you get!

Also, shout out to for helping keep me, the horses, and mules groomed in the backcountry and to for keeping me geared up with saddlebags and scabbards this season!

What’s your favorite adventure that you’ve been on so far this year? Drop me a comment below! ⬇️

05/19/2024

“Think about controlling the feet and shifting the weight. If you get the horse to move his weight, he’s got to shift his feet - but I bet he doesn’t move his feet first. He shifts his weight, then moves his feet. He prepares his position and then there’s a transition. Don’t try to get the horse to go without getting it ready.” - Ray Hunt

05/08/2024

"Horses, mules, rivers, and trails flow through my mind"

The cover story of this month's Idaho Magazine is by Levi Armichardy, son of Moose Creek District packer Pete Armichardy. In this lyrically written article, Levi describes his lifetime of experience (beginning while still practically a baby) travelling by foot and horse into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Levi beautifully captures his family's experiences in the wilderness, the skills he learned from his father, and why this part of our Forests mean so much to so many people.

Check out the article here: https://www.idahomagazine.com/article/two-horses-seven-mules-idaho/

04/24/2024

Buck's clinic in Kalispell at Majestic Valley Arena is only a few months away! The H1 morning class has only two spaces left; the afternoon H1.5 class has a handful left. Send in your forms & payment ASAP if you plan on participating. Spectators are unlimited and welcome to send in form/payment early or the day of the clinic. We can't wait to see you there!
www.buckbrannamankalispell.com

04/23/2024

For ranchers Gabby and Cole Thoreson, their timing couldn’t have been better. They went to check on their horses just in time to see one of their mares engaged in a tense standoff with a wolf that was apparently trying to kill her young foal.

04/19/2024

Planning to Forage for Mushrooms This Weekend?

Mushroom harvesting is a popular activity on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, especially this time of year. Here are some important things to know to help you have a safe, sustainable harvest 🍄

Mushroom hunters are permitted to harvest mushrooms for personal use on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests by obtaining a Personal Use Mushroom Permit. Your permit allows you to harvest up to five gallons of mushrooms per day and 20 gallons per calendar year. These permits are free of charge and available at any Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests office. Click here for contact information for our offices: https://www.fs.usda.gov/.../nezperce.../about-forest/offices

There are NO authorized Commercial Mushroom Harvest areas on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests in 2022. Mushrooms harvested under a Personal Use Mushroom Permit cannot be sold.
You can help sustain this popular activity into the future by practicing sustainable mushroom harvesting practices. Reduce impacts to the fungi by taking care not to disturb the soil where mushrooms are growing. Do not dig, rake, or otherwise disturb the earth around the mushrooms; cut or break them off at ground level when harvesting. Only collect as many mushrooms as you need, and spread out your harvest across different locations rather than collecting all of the mushrooms growing in one place.

Other public lands best practices apply to mushroom harvesting, too. Remember to abide by all travel management laws in place for motorized access to certain locations. Take care to pack out any garbage or personal items that you bring into the forest. Finally, bring a forest map with you, and understand jurisdictional boundaries – your Personal Use Mushroom Permit authorizes harvest only on Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests lands.
For more information about mushroom harvesting, contact your local ranger station and pick up one of our Personal Use Mushroom Guide brochures. You can also view the brochure online athttps://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5415600.pdf

Do you have any pictures of mushrooms you've found on our forests?
Share them in the comment! Let's see your beautiful fungi!

04/17/2024

We had the opportunity to tour the company in St. Louis, MO today and we were super impressed! I really cannot say enough good things about this company to begin with after using their products in the leather shop over the past couple of years, but after being there today, I have even more reasons to love them. The quality and craftsmanship of the leather they produce is second to none.

We are a very small business. We’ve kept track of the number of hides we’ve bought since we first started and we’re up to around forty now, which is a very small number compared to most other companies. They treated us like we were one of their top buyers from the time we stepped out of the truck. The employees were super friendly and helpful.

We learned about the entire tanning process (start to finish), the grading system, and all the different finishes that can be done to skirting and strap leather to turn them into English bridle, tooling leather, harness leather, Latigo, and my new favorite Heritage (more on this later). Very little has changed since the tannery was first built in 1881. The process is consistent and quality control is high on their list of priorities. The entire process is all-natural, meaning that no harmful chemicals are used during any part of the process. The business has been in the family for four generations and the fifth generation is currently partners and will take over soon.

We discovered a new type of veg-tanned leather while we were touring the factory called “Heritage”. We have decided to use this type of leather for our custom chaps and chinks now because of its incredible weatherproof qualities! Typically chrome or oil tanned leather is used. While the heritage leather is more expensive, the quality is obviously superior and we want the gear we make to serve our customers for a lifetime.

Everything about the Hermann Oak company screams quality and we are proud to support this American owned and operated business by using it in all our leather projects. 🇺🇸

04/17/2024

I had so much fun helping my friend, Sara get her first turkey this weekend. She made a perfect shot on this longbeard! Congratulations, Sara. I’m glad I got to be there for your first turkey! I’ll never forget this hunt. It was so much fun to spend time with you. 🦃

04/16/2024

04/11/2024

Packing in the Bob Marshall Wilderness is the most beautiful place I’ve ever been!

Follow me for more hunting and horse packing content. 🤎

04/09/2024

https://www.wideopenspaces.com/desperate-wolf-pack-attacks-grizzly-bear-with-cubs/

Watch as a pack of wolves surrounds and attacks a mother grizzly and her cubs. The situation is desperate, for both the wolves and the bears.

04/09/2024

04/09/2024

Why do you think hunting is conservation when you’re taking an animal’s life?

I’ll explain below, but first, give me a follow if you enjoy the hunting and packing thing. 🏔️

Here are just three reasons why I think hunting is conservation.

1️⃣ By law, 100% of all hunting and fishing license fees goes straight to conservation and restoration (over 1 billion dollars in 2023)

2️⃣ There is a 10-11% Federal Excise Tax on the sale of all fi****ms, ammunition, and hunting equipment/gear that goes directly to conservation and restoration ($944,007,497 in 2023)

3️⃣ Hunters play a crucial role in helping biologists manage the size of certain animal populations. Biologists determine the appropriate management level of a population and issue a certain number of tags for each region or unit based off data they collect. This helps not only control overpopulation, but also disease and habitat destruction caused by overpopulation. Ethical hunting is important now more than ever because of habitat loss due to urbanization and development.

So…if you love wildlife, then you should be in support of hunters. Even if you are someone who has never been hunting and don’t personally want to hunt, your vote and voice in favor of hunting can help protect wildlife and habitat for future generations. Not to mention, a lot of people feed their families with wild game. 🤎

Be sure to share this post to help spread the truth about hunting and conservation. Hunting rights are under attack now more than any other time in history. I think it is because a lot of people are misinformed or don’t understand because they never grew up doing it. As hunters, we have the power to change this. Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments on why you feel that hunting is conservation. 🤎

04/08/2024

04/04/2024

We should all be a little more like Speck! She tries so hard. 🥰🤎

04/04/2024

My riding horse, Shiloh, has packed me all over the mountains. He’s a 13.3 hand mustang from Pancake, NV. I’ve ridden bigger horses, but I prefer a stocky horse around 14 hands. What size horse do you prefer to ride?

04/03/2024

Sharing my happy place with you so you can be happy too. 🤎

Share this with someone who needs a little pick me up today and give me a follow if you enjoy the packing and hunting thing.

-packing

04/03/2024

Love this definition of a cowboy from Chris Cox.

Chris Cox is a world-renowned horseman who's first experiences of being a cowboy came from working on thousands of acres in Australia.

04/02/2024

Send this to someone to brighten their day because who doesn’t love to watch a moose read a sign?

I love being in the backcountry with moose. They are quite entertaining. 🫎☀️