Skip to main content

Joe Rogan on First-Time Hunt: "I Don't Think it's Cruel at All"

Joe Rogan on First-Time Hunt: "I Don't Think it's Cruel at All"

After a couple decades in the spotlight, there's not a lot Joe Rogan hasn't done.

He's hosted his own TV show (Fear Factor), starred on a popular NBC sitcom (NewsRadio) and he currently has one of the most popular podcasts on the planet (The Joe Rogan Experience). When he's not providing color commentary for UFC fights, he's also a stand-up comedian, holds black belts in Taekwondo and Jiu-Jitsu, and is a full-time cannabis supporter. You heard right.

But one thing Rogan hasn't done at least not until recently is go hunting. That all changed when Steve Rinella, host of the Sportsman Channel's MeatEater, invited Rogan and his friend, fellow comedian and actor Bryan Callen, for a five-day excursion into the Montana wilderness.


The two-part episode begins with the premier of part one this Sunday, April 28 at 9 pm ET/PT and concludes with the premiere of part two on Sunday, May 5 at 9 pm ET/PT, exclusively on Sportsman Channel.

"I had always wanted to hunt. I felt like, my whole life I've eaten meat and I'd never taken part in actually killing the animals," Rogan said. "I always knew that was a big disconnect and so I'd wanted to hunt for a long time."

Once he got used to the isolation and cold of the vast Montana landscape, Rogan said felt right at home.


"Being away, completely away from all the noise of society and cell phones and Wi-Fi, and to be completely away from all that stuff was kind of refreshing. I don't want to live like that but I wouldn't mind taking breaks like that. You know I think living like that would suck. If we had to go to the way people lived before electricity I don't think that would be that fun, but to take little breaks and go camping and to be really out there and really immersed in nature was really fascinating and exhilarating."

"I really enjoyed it very much. I think it gives you an experience that's unlike any other kind of camping or even any other kind of nature experience because you're doing something incredibly primal with your time. You're not just in nature. You're in nature and you're actually doing the things people used to do, you know, back in the caveman days."


With Rinella as his guide, Rogan said he was surprised how much work goes into hunting. At the same time, he said it was eye opening to finally bridge the gap between field and table.

"You can put yourself into a situation where you're going and acquiring your own meat in a nature environment like that, like going down to Montana, and I think if you're going to be a meat eater it's the ethical way to do it. It's the right way to do it. I don't think it's cruel at all," Rogan said.

"I think it's probably the opposite of cruelty because you're allowing this animal to live a completely, totally free life and then going out and finding it. You go out and get it and in an instant, it's over. That animal has lived exactly as it would without you ever interfering in its existence and then you're eating it. That to me is, by far, the least cruel way to eat meat."

Recommended


After a missed opportunity at a deer, Rogan finally connected. He was amazed how much work was involved from start to finish of the process.

"It was a pretty wild experience. We began the cleaning, the butchering of the deer. The gutting of the deer, first, that was the first thing we did and we opened it up and Steve took me step by step through all of the different parts of how to open it, how to get the organs out," Rogan said.

"It was a really powerful experience and I think that if I could, I would like to do this several times a year and get a lot of the meat that I eat in this way. It just seems to me to be the healthiest, and well first of all, it's fun."

Current Magazine Cover

Don't Miss

The Essentials Gear Box.

Our editors have hand-picked these essential pieces of gear to make you a more successful hunter when you hit the game trails this season.

Learn More

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line ...
Hunting

A Boy's First Whitetail Hunt

Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line ...
Gear

Steiner Optics Predator Series

Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line ...
Gear

Introducing the Burris Veracity PH

Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line ...
Gear

Taurus Raging Hunter

Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line ...
Gear

Streamlight Pro Tac 2.0

Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line ...
Gear

Streamlight Bear Trap

Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line ...
Gear

Beretta A300 Ultima Turkey

Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line ...
Gear

Ascendant from Rock River Arms

Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line ...
Gear

HEVI-Shot Turkey Loads

Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line ...
Gear

CZ 600 Series Trail Rifle

Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line ...
Gear

Burris Veracity PH Riflescope

Kali Parmley of Gun Dog Magazine talks to George Thompson from Benelli USA about the new features from the Benelli line ...
Gear

Benelli Montefeltro Shotgun

Petersen's Hunting Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save.

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Petersen's Hunting App

Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Petersen's Hunting subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now