Joe Rogan’s interest in hunting is much deeper than owning expensive gear. Over years of JRE conversations, he has described bowhunting as a mix of food sourcing, discipline, physical challenge, conservation and time in wild places.
That context is important because searches for “Joe Rogan hunting” often lead to lists of products without explaining why he hunts, who taught him, or how much skill and preparation are involved.
Quick answer: Rogan is best known as a bowhunter, particularly for elk. Cameron Hanes, John Dudley and Steven Rinella have all been major influences in his hunting conversations. He has used high-end archery gear, but his repeated message is that hunting requires practice, fitness, patience and respect for the animal — not simply buying the same bow.
Why Joe Rogan hunts
Rogan frequently frames hunting around knowing where food comes from. Rather than separating meat from the animal that produced it, hunting forces the hunter to participate directly in the process.
He has also spoken about the difficulty of elk hunting in particular: covering steep terrain, calling animals, getting within archery range, making an ethical shot and then packing hundreds of pounds of meat out of the backcountry.
That physical difficulty is a major reason hunting overlaps so much with Rogan’s interests in fitness, endurance and mental toughness.
The hunters who influenced Rogan
Cameron Hanes
Hanes is probably the hunting guest most closely associated with Rogan. He is known for combining bowhunting with extremely high-volume endurance training. Their conversations frequently cover elk hunting, running, discipline, archery practice and public-land hunting.
John Dudley
Dudley is a professional archer and the founder of Nock On Archery. He has helped Rogan with bow setup, shooting mechanics and technical archery. If Hanes represents the endurance side of hunting, Dudley represents much of the precision and equipment side.
Steven Rinella
Rinella, founder of MeatEater, brings a broader perspective on hunting, wildlife, cooking, conservation and the history of humans as hunters. His JRE appearances often move beyond gear into questions about ethics, public lands and wildlife management.
Adam Greentree and other JRE hunting guests
Rogan has also hosted Adam Greentree and numerous guides, biologists, outdoorsmen and conservation voices. You can browse more recurring personalities in our JRE podcast guest guide.
Does Joe Rogan hunt elk?
Yes. Elk is the animal most strongly associated with Rogan’s hunting life. He regularly talks about the difficulty of elk hunting and the amount of high-quality meat a successful hunt can provide.
We have a separate Joe Rogan elk guide covering the meat, cooking and nutrition side in more depth.
Does Joe Rogan bowhunt?
Yes. Rogan is especially associated with compound-bow hunting rather than primarily rifle hunting. Bowhunting requires getting significantly closer to an animal and demands consistent archery practice.
That is one reason his conversations with John Dudley focus so heavily on repeatable shooting mechanics, bow tuning and accuracy.
What bow does Joe Rogan use?
Rogan’s exact setup has changed over the years, so it is more accurate to talk about documented setups than to claim one bow is permanently “Joe Rogan’s bow.”
He has publicly used custom compound bows connected with John Dudley and Nock On, including PSE setups. Components such as sights, rests, arrows and releases can also change as equipment evolves.
If you want to start bowhunting, copying a celebrity’s draw weight or exact setup is usually a bad idea. Bow fit depends on your:
- draw length
- comfortable draw weight
- dominant eye
- intended game
- arrow setup
- shooting form
A reputable archery shop can fit and tune a bow to you, which matters more than matching Rogan’s gear list.
Joe Rogan’s hunting gear: what actually matters
The most useful way to think about hunting gear is by function.
| Category | What matters most |
|---|---|
| Bow | Correct fit, tuning and reliable accuracy |
| Arrows/broadheads | Compatible setup and consistent flight |
| Sight/rest/release | Repeatability and confidence |
| Boots | Fit, traction and terrain suitability |
| Clothing | Layering, weather protection and quiet movement |
| Optics | Enough quality to identify and evaluate animals responsibly |
| Pack | Comfortable under heavy loads |
| Navigation | Offline maps/GPS plus backup navigation |
| Field-processing gear | Sharp knives, game bags and a plan for meat care |
Rogan can afford elite equipment, but field competence is the larger advantage.
How Rogan trains for hunting
Rogan’s general training mix includes strength work, martial arts, cardio, mobility and recovery. For mountain hunts, the most directly transferable qualities are leg endurance, aerobic capacity, balance and the ability to carry weight over uneven terrain.
Kettlebells fit naturally into that style of training; see our Joe Rogan kettlebell guide.
Hunting ethics in Rogan’s conversations
One recurring theme is that hunters have an obligation to minimize suffering and make use of the animal. In practical terms, that means:
- becoming proficient before taking a shot
- respecting legal seasons and regulations
- knowing your effective shooting distance
- tracking wounded animals responsibly
- preserving the meat quickly
- avoiding shots you are not confident you can make
Hunting laws and tag systems vary by state and species. Always use the current regulations from the wildlife agency where you will actually hunt.
Does hunting help conservation?
In the United States, hunting licenses and excise taxes on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment contribute to wildlife-management funding. Regulated hunting is also used by state agencies as one tool for managing certain wildlife populations.
That does not mean every conservation question has a simple pro-hunting answer. Habitat, migration corridors, predators, disease, drought, development and public-land policy all affect wildlife populations. The more interesting JRE hunting conversations tend to acknowledge that complexity.
How to start hunting if Rogan got you interested
The best first step is not buying a $2,000 bow. A more useful order is:
- Take your state’s hunter-education course.
- Read the current regulations for the species you are interested in.
- Learn how tags and draws work in your state.
- Visit an archery range or local pro shop.
- Learn basic field safety and navigation.
- Practice consistently before hunting season.
- If possible, go with an experienced and responsible hunter.
- Learn meat-care and field-processing basics before you need them.
That path gets you much closer to the reality of hunting than assembling a Rogan-inspired shopping cart.
Frequently asked questions
Does Joe Rogan hunt with Cameron Hanes?
Yes. Hanes and Rogan have hunted together and have discussed their hunts extensively on JRE.
Does Joe Rogan hunt with a rifle?
He is most strongly associated with bowhunting, although his broader hunting conversations include many types of hunting and hunters.
What animals does Joe Rogan hunt?
Elk is the most prominent, but he has discussed and participated in hunting for other big game as well.
Why does Joe Rogan eat so much wild game?
He has said he values knowing where the meat came from, the quality of the food and the connection between hunting and eating the animal.
Is bowhunting harder than rifle hunting?
They involve different skills, but bowhunters generally need to get much closer to game and must manage a more demanding shot process. That is part of what Rogan says attracts him to it.
