Filtrer par genre
Backcountry Hunting Podcast
- 516 - WINNING! With Traditional Muzzleloaders: Prep, Tuning, Shooting, & Scoring.
How do you win with a traditional blackpowder longrifle? How do you tune a muzzleloader to kill elk precisely and profoundly? You get good equipment that's properly suited to the task, and then you work it out. Our family has two premium blackpowder elk permits in our pockets, and in this episode we sit down to talk through the fun we've been having getting tuned up to hunt. HINT: It includes shooting at Fort Bridger, Wyoming and winning two superb custom longrifles.
Ever wanted to learn more about shooting, competing, and hunting with classic traditional blackpowder muzzleloaders? This episode may help... ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only topics include .280 Ackley VS. 7mm Backcountry, Preparing to Hunt the Scottish Highlands, and Best Custom Barrels and Muzzle Brakes and "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as ponderings on .30-06 High-BC Bullet performance. Check 'em out!
Email us podcast-related questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
Email hunt inquiries here: info@globalhuntingadventure.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.ponchooutdoors.com
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 25 Sep 2026 - 1h 01min - 515 - Best Rifle Scopes for Backcountry Hunting: American Made & Tougher Than The Rest!
How do you choose a riflescope that won't let you down in the backcountry? Pick from a proven brand, with a track record of performance and reliablity.
In this epside we sit down with a Leupold engineer and discuss what makes a scope tough, clear, reliable, and predictable, as well has how the best optics maximize light gathering and minimize sun refraction and glare. We talk through internal mechanisms and lens coatings and magnification ranges and recoil testing and so much more. What an inspiring conversation! ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only topics include .280 Ackley VS. 7mm Backcountry, Preparing to Hunt the Scottish Highlands, and Best Custom Barrels and Muzzle Brakes and "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as ponderings on .30-06 High-BC Bullet performance. Check 'em out!
Email us podcast-related questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
Email hunt inquiries here: info@globalhuntingadventure.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.ponchooutdoors.com
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 18 Sep 2026 - 1h 05min - 514 - Hunting Red Stags, Fallow Deer, & Alpine Game in New Zealand: Planning & Prep
If you've dreamed of hunting New Zealand for giant Red Stags, Fallow deer, Himalyan Tahr, or Chamois, this episode is for you! We got on the phone with a professional guide and asked questions. Best routes to travel to NZ, how to bring a rifle to NZ, what the best hunting seasons are, free-range vs. estate/private land, how to choose a rifle, cartridge, and bullet for New Zealand big game species, necessary gear, and more.
ALSO! We're about to open our two podcast-hosted hunts with our premier outfitter on the northern tip of the South Island. One week is a traditional lever-action/classic rifle hunt for big red stags in early June, 2027. The other is a learning-type experience in early August, during which we'll teach rifle setup, field shooting, shot placement, and fieldcraft such as reading terrain, glassing, field judging, planning a stalk, playing the wind, blood tracking, field dressing, packing meat, and even how to cut and wrap venison and cook it like a professional chef--plus you'll take those skills to the field and hunt a red stag and a management/meat deer.
Those hunts will open first on www.patreon.com/backcountry , which enables our loyal long-time listeners and supporters first chance to book. Join us there if you'd like to share a campfire in one of New Zealand's finest hunting areas!
For more details on these and other hunts through the Backcountry Hunting Podcasts' sister company Global Hunting Adventures, email info@globalhuntingadventures.com and let us know what you dream of hunting. We'll help you turn those dreams into plans, and then into fantastic memories afield!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only topics include .280 Ackley VS. 7mm Backcountry, Preparing to Hunt the Scottish Highlands, and Best Custom Barrels and Muzzle Brakes and "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as ponderings on .30-06 High-BC Bullet performance. Check 'em out!
Email us podcast-related questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
Email hunt inquiries here: info@globalhuntingadventure.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.ponchooutdoors.com
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 11 Sep 2026 - 1h 22min - 513 - BEST CARTRIDGE for EVERYTHING, with Ron Spomer
We're attacking the old debate, folks: If you had to pick just ONE CARTRIDGE to hunt ANYTHING you want, what would it be? I suspect our choices may surprise many of you. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only topics include "Preparing to Hunt the Scottish Highlands" and "Best Custom Barrels and Muzzle Brakes" and "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as brief audio episodes on "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), and ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance." Check 'em out!
Email us podcast-related questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
Email hunt inquiries here: info@globalhuntingadventure.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.ponchooutdoors.com
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 04 Sep 2026 - 1h 15min - 512 - Are Suppressors Deregulated Now?
Can you now just walk into a gun store, buy a suppressor, and walk out with it? Recent legal rulings have upset the NFA's apple cart, leaving a frenzy of good and bad info scattered across cyberspace. In this episode we welcome Brandon Maddox, suppressor mastermind behind Silencer Central, to help clarify what we know, what we don't know, and what to expect in coming months. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only topics include "Best Custom Barrels and Muzzle Brakes" and "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as brief audio episodes on "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), and ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.ponchooutdoors.com
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 28 Aug 2026 - 1h 01min - 511 - Hunting Spanish Roebucks, Vineyards, & Monasteries
No European country offers more spectacular hunting than Spain. Four species of ibex, chamois, red deer, roe deer, mouflon, wild boar, fallow deer, and even barbary sheep can be hunted across the rolling terraces and amongst the ancient mountain ruins. Archetecture, food, and history is unparalleled. And it's not expensive! In this episide, we sit down with outfitter Oscar Colomina and take a deep dive into just how special Spain is. And of course, hunting stories occur! ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only topics include "Best Custom Barrels and Muzzle Brakes" and "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as brief audio episodes on "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 21 Aug 2026 - 50min - 510 - Small Cartridges for Big Game, continued: Does RECOIL Make You A Worse Shooter?
The "small cartridges for big game" debate continues. Does stout recoil REALLY prevent you from making accurate shots in the field? If so, what's the reason: Is it rifle dynamics? Shooter technique? Lack of discipline? Or... could large-caliber rifles actually be fundamentally less accurate? In this episode we take a deep dive into whether hunters actually should be better shooters with small cartridges. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only topics include "Hunting Monster Aoudad in Mexico," "Best Mauser Rifle Ever" and "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as brief audio episodes on "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 14 Aug 2026 - 1h 32min - 509 - Elk Hunters' Best Friend
In the backcountry, dog ain't mans best friend. Nope: a good horse is. We take this episode out into the pasture with Audrey von Benedikt (the horsewoman of the family) and talk through how to get the most out of your horse and yourself on an elk hunt. We compare the pros and cons of horses versus ATVs, discuss best ways to carry a rifle on a horse, specific training (for the horse and for you) prior to heading into elk country, and more. Plus, we introduce a new member of the family: a little blue roan filly that just might turn into the ultimate elk-hunting horse. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only topics include "Best Mauser Rifle Ever" and "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as brief audio episodes on "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 07 Aug 2026 - 39min - 508 - Best Hunting Cartridges for Mule Deer, with Colton Heward
Great cartridges for hunting mule deer tend to be good for most western big game species... But what if you singularly, passionately want one ultimate mule deer cartridge? In this episode, we sit down with Colton Heward, managing editor of Petersen's Hunting magazine, and talk out what makes a perfect cartridge for hunting mule deer. Heward is a big game guide with decades of experience, and loves to hunt big mule deer over all else. He shares his personal favorite cartridges, and tells the story of three incredible bucks he's had the priviledge of hunting. ENJOY!
Check out Colton Heward's work at www.petersenshunting.com
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only topics include "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as brief audio episodes on "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 31 Jul 2026 - 1h 14min - 507 - Hunting Kudu, Cats, & Zulu Cattle in Africa
What is it about hunting Africa that sinks a hook so deep into your soul that you can never stop dreaming of going back? Smoky orange sunsets, majestic kudu bulls drifting through thornbrush, and the taste of fresh meat over Acacia-wood coals are part of it... In this episode with Austin Brown and Crusader Safari's Shawn Higgs, we swap stories and insights during the final days of a two-week adventure in Africa's Eastern Cape country. Big kudu bulls, cape buffalo, wildcats, and a charge by a wounded bull made for an exciting adventure. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only topics include "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as brief audio episodes on "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 24 Jul 2026 - 1h 13min - 506 - .35 Whelen in North Idaho's Wild Country
How good is the .35 Whelen for western big game hunting? This episode tells five hunting stories, all told by a veteran fighter pilot, that showcase just how wonderful this mild-kicking, wallop-packing medium-bore cartridge is. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only topics include "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as brief audio episodes on "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 17 Jul 2026 - 41min - 505 - Best New Hunting Rifles on the Market, with Colton Heward
What are the best modern hunting rifles available today? In this episode, we sit down with Colton Heward, managing editor of Petersen's Hunting magazine, and talk through top choices in several price categories ranging from $500 up to $2,500. We compare the pros and cons of detachable box magazines versus hinged floorplates, and explore the advantages and disadvantages of chassis-type stocks compared to traditional stocks.
Naturally, the discussion is generously sprinkled with hunting stories that illustrate these recommended rifles. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 10 Jul 2026 - 1h 16min - 504 - SHOT PLACEMENT on Big Game: American vs. African
What's the best place to aim on a big game animal? That depends on what you're hunting. Antlered game in America is built differently than most antelope species in Africa—as well as Cape Buffalo (a.k.a. Black Death).
Knowing where to aim makes for faster, more ethical kills and shorter blood trails. And in the case of dangerous game, can prevent a life-threatening situation. In this episode, we break down how the vitals are situation on various popular species, particularly antlered game such as deer, caribou, elk, and moose compared to horned game such as kudu, oryx, and aoudad. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 - 1h 01min - 503 - 7mm SAW Cartridge: An Improved 7mm-08?
This episode takes a close look at the 7mm SAW — a wildcat that just might be the ultimate efficient short-action 7mm. Designed by Clayton Smith, owner of West Texas Ordnance, it's sort of an improved 7mm-08 with a better shoulder angle, faster rifling twist, and greater head height. It just might be the cartridge that the 7mm-08 always wanted to be. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 - 1h 05min - 502 - Is it Good or Bad to be a Long Range Deer Sniper? With Ron Spomer
Detractors of modern long-range hunting methods call such hunters "deer snipers." But is long-range shooting at game bad? Or good? We're joined by Ron Spomer in this episode, and we hash out the various facets—virtuous and evil alike—of shooting long on big game. Plus, of course, we regularly get off track and swap great hunting stories and tales of our favorite rifles. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 19 Jun 2026 - 58min - 501 - Hunting Forest Ghosts Across Transylvania, Spain, Macedonia, & Serbia
This episode follows host Joseph von Benedikt on a wild roebuck hunt across ancient terraces in Spain, to remote mountains in Transylvania, to deep forests of Serbia, and into the spectacular alpine mountains of Macedonia. We talk cartridges (we used seven different rifles chambered in seven different cartridges) and bullets (used Berger VLD Hunting, Sierra Tipped GameKing, Federal Fusion, Sellior & Bellot, and Hornady SSTs and unpack other aspects ranging from travel, to safety, to wildlife management abroad.
Some very interesting trends emerged, particularly with the .308. This was an incredible experience and super fun to record and re-live... ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 12 Jun 2026 - 1h 15min - 500 - NEW 6.5 BACKCOUNTRY! (6.5 Creedmoor +PEAK)
BIG NEWS! Federal has just announced the new "6.5 BACKCOUNTRY" cartridge... or put more correctly, the 6.5 Creedmoor with "+ PEAK" alloy technology. We tested the inagural 130-grain Terminal Ascent load in three different rifles with barrels of 24, 20, and 17 inches to see if the new load deserves the hype. Listen in—this is a very cool new development! ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "Bullet Peformance Across Europe," ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 05 Jun 2026 - 46min - 499 - Most Versatile Cartridge: 300 PRC?
Scenario: You can choose between .280 Ackley, 7mm PRC, .300 Win Mag, and .300 PRC to hunt everything on the North American continent for the rest of you life. What's it going to be?
Folks, this brief episode will be followed in a few hours by a major new-product announcement (embargoed until 9am Mountain Time, June 6th). Check it out! It's really, really big news.
ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "Bullet Peformance Across Europe," ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a "First Kill Shots with the New Swift Zephyr," video, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 05 Jun 2026 - 08min - 498 - Live Q&A: Hunting New Zealand. Also: Huge Announcement Coming Friday!
Join us TONIGHT for a LIVE Q&A with our friends in New Zealand. We'll talk all things hunting NZ. A Zoom link will be provided on the free page at www.patreon.com/backcountry so come click in and talk with us!
Also, news from Swift: The new Zephyr bullet is up on the website and Swift is taking orders! Super cool intel: Estimated arrival date of .277-diameter (6.8 Western) Zephyr bullet.
Last but not least, a HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT coming Friday morning in the standard podcast, which will drop at 9am Mountain Time. Tune in—it's a darned cool development.
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Wed, 03 Jun 2026 - 05min - 497 - Do You Need Fancy Gear and a New Rifle to Hunt Elk?
Do you really need a new rifle to hunt elk? Probably not! Although cutting-edge is helpful, you just might be better off spending your extra money on practice ammo and honing your skills with Grandpa's old rifle.
In this episode, we sit down with professional elk guide Tate Bradfield and talk about the gear that's NECESSARY for successfully hunting and shooting elk. The results might surprise you... ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "Bullet Peformance Across Europe," ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a "First Kill Shots with the New Swift Zephyr," video, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 29 May 2026 - 1h 04min - 496 - Hunt Audio Journal: Red Stag, Tahr, & Fallow in New Zealand with My Daughter Audrey
This episode brings you the late-night and early morning audio-journal recordings from our recent hunt in New Zealand. Audrey and I re-cap our hunts for my massive red stag, our bowhunts for red stag and arapawa ram, Audrey's fallow deer, and her exceptional Himalayan Tahr. Plus we detail the rifles, optics, ammo, and archery gear we used. This was an incredible safari to the Land of the Long White Cloud... we hope you enjoy it!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a "First Kill Shots with the New Swift Zephyr," video, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 22 May 2026 - 1h 25min - 495 - Best .30-Caliber Hunting Cartridges, with Ron Spomer
We've ignored the legendary All-American .30-caliber cartridges for too long! This episode, we sit down with Ron Spomer and swap stories about our favorite .30-caliber cartridges. We propose which are the most proven, the best designed, the most popular, and the most likely to survive. And yes, of course we discuss and recommend the one .30-caliber "Best All-Around" cartridge! Listen in and we'll tell you what it is. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "Bow vs. Rifle," a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 15 May 2026 - 1h 13min - 494 - Among Ancient Ruins: Hunting Spain's Mountain Sheep the Hard Way, with Austin Brown
Recorded live in the field—audio-journal style—this episode takes us into Spain's rugged Pyranese Mountains, where our great pal Austin Brown and his buddy Grant Gingerich hunt wily mountain-dwelling roedeer and cagy old mouflon rams. All free range, earned the right way by putting in the hard yards in very steep, rough country. Austin puts his beloved .280 Ackley to work, and Grant carried his 6.5 Creedmoor. Some great insight on the comparative performance of those two rounds coming in a future episode!
From the terrain, to the food, to this ancient historic archetecture, to the outstanding hunting, this trip to Spain was incredible. Ping us on Patreon or through our backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com account, or via the Global Hunting Adventures website and we'll email you info on the outfitters we used.
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "Bow vs. Rifle," a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 08 May 2026 - 1h 31min - 493 - 6.5 Creedmoor vs. 6.5 Swede(moor)
Which is better: 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.5x55 "Swede?" Ever since it was first introduced, savvy shooters have been commenting that the 6.5 Creedmoor doesn't do anything better than their classic 6.5x55. Is this true? Could the 6.5x55 even be (GASP!) better than the 6.5 Creedmoor? Or do the modern characteristics of the 6.5 Creedmoor provide additional performance that's launched the 6.5mm cartridge to stardom?
In this episode, we take a candid look at both cartridges, and consider the pros and cons of each within it's respective performance zone. Take a listen, and then YOU decide which is better. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "Bow vs. Rifle," a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 01 May 2026 - 58min - 492 - Spartan Precision Equipment: Best Shooting Rests for Hunters
This episode, we're joined by legendary British hunter and mountaineer Rob Gearing. Nicknamed "Lord G" by none other than Craig Boddington, Gearing designed the Javelin bipod, which I believe is the finest bipod for backcountry hunting that's ever been made. We talk through Spartan's various shooting rests, and tell plenty of stories that examplify just how crucial it is to have the right gear. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting Africa." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 24 Apr 2026 - 39min - 491 - Hunting Giant Red Stags in New Zealand
This episode comes at you raw, recorded beside a late-night fire in New Zealand's incredible mountain country.
New Zealand is known for red stags of prehistoric size, mountain game that are incredibly unique, and the spectacular country that Lord Of The Rings was filmed in. In a hunters world, NZ is mostly special for the red stags. Here, we talk about why, and outfitter Darren Clifford and his staff share insight into the back story that goes into creating a place and an operation that consistently produces challenging, rewarding hunts and world-class animals. Plus, several hunters around the campfire share the stories of their hunts.
Naturally, the gear-head in us comes out and we talk through the rifles, cartridges, bullets, and optics we're all using and a few lessons learned along the way. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting Africa." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Fri, 17 Apr 2026 - 1h 11min - 490 - Gear & Hacks for Hunting Success, with Ron Spomer
Good gear is important, but dollars don't always buy success or survival. With a little old-fashioned ingenuity you can fix gear, make gear, or buy used gear that'll serve just fine. In this episode, we sit down with Ron Spomer, a great hunter with more than a half-century of experience around the world, and he shares some of his favorite gear and hacks for success. Ron is a serious backcountry and solo, DIY hunter, and offers wisdom born of years in the school of hard knocks. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting Africa." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 10 Apr 2026 - 1h 08min - 489 - Gear List for Hunting Africa: Crucial items you'll need.
We frequently get asked "What gear do I need to take on my hunt in Africa?" In this episode we hash out what's really crucial and what you can (and should) leave home. Optics, clothing, boots, packs, emergency gear, cartridge carriers, shooting sticks, and more are all detailed... and supported by entertaining experiences that happened while on safari in the wilds of Africa. Austin Brown joins as an African-hunting subject-matter expert, and savvy U.S. backcountry hunter Landon Michaels joins to ask the questions that every first-time safari planner wants to know. ENJOY!
NOTE: We will publish an itemized version of this gear list on www.patreon.com/backcountry and the transcript of the episode as well. If you're not already a member, please join to access this and all our other bonus material!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 03 Apr 2026 - 2h 14min - 488 - 257 Roberts Ackley Improved (Improved), with Seth Swerczek and Preston LentferFri, 27 Mar 2026 - 1h 05min
- 487 - Best Aoudad Hunt of my Life: Mexico Delivers!
We love wild sheep hunting... but we can only afford to hunt Aoudad; aka Barbary Sheep; aka the "poor man's Desert Bighorn." This awesome episode was recorded raw and live in the field deep in the mountains of Mexico, and gives a blow-by-blow account of three experienced aoudad hunters all taking the biggest, oldest rams of their life. ENJOY!
Contact Process Based Hunter to sign up for Tate Bradfield's hunting courses and mentored hunts.
Watch future issues of Petersen's Hunting magazine and Shooting Times magazine for articles on the hunt and equipment.
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "How To Make Your Ruger More Reliable" and "Best Cartridge for Moose & Woodland Bison." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Fri, 20 Mar 2026 - 1h 43min - 486 - How To Bring Big Game Trophies Home
After a successful hunt to Africa, New Zealand, or Europe, is it hard to bring your animals home? It doesn't have to be. In this episode Wyatt Fetner of Safari Specialty Importers talks through the process of bringing horns, antlers, skulls, and hides back to the states.
Wyatt is a fellow gun nut, and in addition to discussing how to import animal parts, he tells the fascinating story of an extraordinary vintage double-barreled dangerous-game rifle he found in England. ENJOY!
https://safarispecialtyimporters.com
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "How to Set Up A 7mm PRC for Sucess" and "Best Cartridge for Moose & Woodland Bison." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Fri, 13 Mar 2026 - 34min - 485 - Best Hunting Rifles for the Backcountry, with Ron Spomer
What makes a terrific mountain rifle? In this episode, we interview hunting legend Ron Spomer about his favorite wild sheep hunting rifles (which are excellent for elk and alpine mule deer and black bear as well).
Ron takes us through the rifle characteristics and features he considers crucial to a capable backcountry hunting rifle. Naturally, his opinions are liberally laced with true tale tales of wild hunting in wild places. This one was a ton of fun, folks! ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "How to Set Up A 7mm PRC for Sucess" and "Best Cartridge for Moose & Woodland Bison." Check 'em out!
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 06 Mar 2026 - 53min - 484 - Most Capable Rangefinding Binocular EVER? First Look at Leupold's New BX-6 Range HD
In this episode we get the inside scoop on Leupold's brand-new BX-6 Range HD binocular, which has optical quality that competes with the big Germanic brands, a 6,000-yard rangefinder, on-board atmospheric sensors, and the most capable ballistic brain on the market. Oh—and it pairs with onX Maps and several other popular GPS mapping apps and projects waypoints way out there... up to a couple of miles!
Many thanks to Leupold's Tim Lesser, who sat down with us and shared the inside story on this incredibly capable new optic... plus great insight on the new VX-4HD line of hunting scopes. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Fri, 27 Feb 2026 - 50min - 483 - .25 Weatherby RPM and .25 Creedmoor Exposed, with Colton Heward
Trying to decide between Hornady's new .25 Creedmoor and Weatherby's new .25 RPM cartridge? Or are you unconvinced that they are any better than your reliable old .25-06 or .257 Weatherby Magnum? We're here to help! Or rather, we've got professional help... We're joined this episode by Colton Heward; professional big game guide and Managing Editor of Peterson's Hunting. He's a quarter-bore savant from way back, and has already hunted New Zealand and Old Mexico with these new .25-caliber hot-rods.
We talk through the various characteristics and strengths of each, and Colton supports his opinions with awesome stories about hunting Himalyan Tahr in giant mountains, Red Stags in hell-holes, and Coues Deer in vast deserts... ENJOY!
Northern Shrike Drop Warning! Contact Siembida Custom Knives: (740) 270-9057
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
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Fri, 20 Feb 2026 - 1h 07min - 482 - How To Maximize Rifle Accuracy, with Ray Saft
Achieving top-notch accuracy with your hunting rifle requires attention to the smallest details. Here, we're joined by Ray Saft, owner of Saft Custom Gunsmithing in Anchorage, Alaska, to discuss the hidden but essential elements of putting together a precision hunting rifle. We talk best actions, barrels, stocks, and of course, cartridges. Tune in—you'll want to hear Ray's opinion on the .300 Win Mag and the 6.8 Western! ENJOY!
Contact Ray Saft Custom Gunsmithing: (907) 830-8874
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
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Fri, 13 Feb 2026 - 1h 22min - 481 - BEST HUNTING KNIFE: A Blue-Collar Northern Shrike
It's been six years since the Northern Shrike custom hunting knife was conceived. Incredibly, there's no corner of the (legally huntable) world remaining where it hasn't been carried by intrepid hunters. This episode takes a look at why it's so extraordinary, and gives a sneak peek at what our Spring 2026 "Blue Collar" edition is going to be like. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 06 Feb 2026 - 38min - 480 - Find Your Ultimate Rifle & Hunt at the DSC Show!
Friends, I'll be at the Dallas Safari Club in early February. We'll be holding meet-and-greet visits at booth 3216 Friday and Saturday 10-to-noon, and 3-5pm. Use code JOSEPH26 to get 25% off your entry tickets, and come swap hunting dreams and make plans with us!
We'll also have Rob Gearing, owner of Spartan Precision Equipment, and Neal Lane, proprietor of Lane Firearms & Appraisals, visiting and answering questions with us.
See you all there!
Mon, 02 Feb 2026 - 30min - 479 - Best Cartridges for Kids & New Hunters
What is the best cartridge for a kid or beginning hunter to start with? In this episode William (a.k.a. the Backcountry Apprentice) and host Joseph von Benedikt sit down and debate the merits of 14 different cartridge candidates for the title of "Best Kid Cartridge." By process of elimination, we boil it down to just one. Our top pick may surprise you... This episode was great fun, folks. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 30 Jan 2026 - 1h 13min - 478 - New Guns, Ammo, Optics, & Shooting Gear of SHOT Show 2026, with Ron Spomer
SHOT Show 2026 is drawing to a close, and a ton of great new rifles, shotguns, handguns, scopes, binoculars, cartridges, bullets, and other gear has just been introduced. In this episode, we sit down with gunwriting and YouTube legend Ron Spomer and talk about the coolest new products we saw at the show. There some great stuff coming down the pipeline. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Fri, 23 Jan 2026 - 39min - 477 - 270 Winchester vs. 30-06 Springfield, with The Backcountry Apprentice
WHICH IS BEST: .270 Winchester or .30-06 Springfield? In this episode I sit down with the William vB—the "Backcountry Apprentice" himself, and we hash out the pros and cons of each cartridge, discussing:
Cartridge versatility Bullet weight ranges Modern bullets available Best factory loads Best bullets for handloading Which is more optimal for whitetails and other deer-size game Which is better for elk and for hunting AfricaThis one was a ton of fun, folks... We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making it!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Fri, 16 Jan 2026 - 52min - 476 - Best Survival Guns, with Ron SpomerFri, 09 Jan 2026 - 53min
- 475 - Q&A: Best Bullets for Vintage Rifles, Best Moose Cartridge, First Guns for Kids, Barrel Cleaning, Kill Kit Contents, and More!
Q&A: Best Bullets for Vintage Rifles, Best Moose Cartridge, First Guns for Kids, Barrel Cleaning, Kill Kit Contents, and More!
In this episode we answer great questions on a variety of topics, including:
Best bullets for classic (vintage) rifles NAS3 high-pressure cartridge cases Velocity expansion thresholds for monometal bullets Best boots for stalking in Africa Ultimate moose rifle and cartridge Best first rifle for kids Barrel cleaning and accuracy degradation Kill Kit contents: most crucial gear Best carbon-fiber rifle stocks Affordable Cape Buffalo hunts Hosted Hunts with the podcastENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 02 Jan 2026 - 1h 04min - 474 - Legendary Gunmakers: Rigby of London
Rigby of London is debatably the most famous maker of fine double-barrel rifles and (bolt-action) magazine rifles in history. Jim Corbett used a .275 Rigby to hunt many of the maneating tigers and leopards he killed. Harry Selby carried a .416 Rigby while guiding Robert Ruark. The Rigby Rising Bite double rifle is considered by many savants to be the finest of its type ever made. And so forth.
In this extraordinary episode, we're joined by Rigby of London CEO Marc Newton, who walks us through the company's 250-year history, the design and manufacturing ethos behind Rigby's outstanding bolt-action and double rifles, and the future of the company. We talk about top cartridge choices for everything from red stag to elephant, and Marc shares the stories of his favorite hunts. This episode is special, folks. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Fri, 26 Dec 2025 - 1h 06min - 473 - Pack Rafts: Pipeline to The Backcountry
"When you don't have a pack raft, a river or body of water is a barrier. When you do have a raft, that water becomes a highway."
This episode we're joined with Alpacka Raft founder Thor Tingey. Thor grew up in Alaska, adventure-rafting, hunting, and fishing across most of the state. Alpacka packable rafts are the culmination of decades worth of experience and wisdom. Incredible though it sounds, a moose-capable raft weighs just 15 pounds and rolls up as small as a backpacking tent. These boats are game-changers, folks. Listen in and learn just how effective they are and in how many creative ways they can be used. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Fri, 19 Dec 2025 - 49min - 472 - .270 Win vs. 6.5 RPM: Are New Cartridges Better Than Old Cartridges?
Lots of hunters and shooters complain about new cartridges. "My .270 will do anything that stupid new (insert cartridge name here) can do!"
Is that a fact.
In this episode, we explore whether cutting-edge new cartridges actually have an advantage over proven classic cartridges. To showcase the concept, we pit the legendary .270 Winchester against the racy new 6.5 WBY RPM, but we include a ton of other classic and new cartridges in the discussion too. This was a fun one and is sure to ruffle some feathers and turn the crank on a lot of hunters and shooters. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
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Fri, 12 Dec 2025 - 1h 09min - 471 - Best Charge-Stopper: Double Rifle vs. Bolt Action
If you had to face a charging cape buffalo, elephant, or grizzly bear, would you want a big-bore bolt-action or a double rifle?
This episode was recorded in Mozambique, where we had the opportunity to sit down with two dangerous-game professional hunters and guides who have opposing views: one prefers a double rifle; the other likes a bolt action. We swapped stories and debated the virtues and weaknesses of each rifle type. This one was a ton of fun folks. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
Check out our new "recommended outfitters" hunt booking agency! We're super excited about this venture that allows us to share our favorite destinations around the world with our loyal listeners. We'll also be doing hosted hunts each year, which will be available first to our loyal listeners on Patreon.
VISIT ALL OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 05 Dec 2025 - 34min - 470 - Raw From The Field: Hunting Dangerous Game in Mozambique
We're live in the tropical forests of Mozambique, in one of the most remote safari camps in the world. This episode was recorded right after hunting two magnificent old dagga boy cape buffalo bulls in the floodplains of the Zambeze River delta, while the experience was still fresh and raw.
One buffalo was taken with a 125-year-old Westley Richards double rifle in .450/400 Nitro; the other with a Winchester Model 70 .375 H&H. Early November heat combined with unseasonal rains combined to make it both humid and torrid... a proper tropical experience. We waded waist-deep through crocodile-infested swamps, bled on the head-high sawgrass, and walked miles across broken, crusted mud flats. It was an experience we'll remember for a lifetime, and here we share the stories. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
Check out our new "recommended outfitters" hunt booking agency! We're super excited about this venture that allows us to share our favorite destinations around the world with our loyal listeners. We'll also be doing hosted hunts each year, which will be available first to our loyal listeners on Patreon.
VISIT ALL OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 28 Nov 2025 - 53min - 469 - How to Kill Your First Bull Elk: My Son's First Bulls and Marksmanship Notes from the Field
Shooting skill can be crucial at the moment of truth, especially on elk. Good opportunities are often hard-earned, particularly when hunting DIY, on public land, with an over-the-counter tag.
This episode details two very special hunts, when my sons each shot their first bull. Both were in challenging scenarios, and both boys did everything right. There are a lot of proud father moments in this episode! Analyzing the rapidly evolving situations these boys encountered as well as the marksmanship demands on them as hunters reveals a lot about how to effectively kill elk—even when the odds are stacked against you. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
Check out our new "recommended outfitters" hunt booking agency! We're super excited about this venture that allows us to share our favorite destinations around the world with our loyal listeners. We'll also be doing hosted hunts each year, which will be available first to our loyal listeners on Patreon.
We have a new advertising partner! Check out Swift Bullets, known and trusted as the best of the best by most African Dangerous Game specialists.
VISIT ALL OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Fri, 21 Nov 2025 - 1h 04min - 468 - Q&A: Grizzly Guns, Elk Bullets, Straight Wall Cartridges, 7PRC in Africa, & More
Hunting season is in full swing, and the stories, questions, and reports are pouring in! This episode we dive deep into concerns and questions from our loyal listeners, addressing everything from how to set up a guide rifle for grizzlies to picking a whitetail cartridge to choosing a bullet for Africa. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
Check out our new "recommended outfitters" hunt booking agency! We're super excited about this venture that allows us to share our favorite destinations around the world with our loyal listeners. We'll also be doing hosted hunts each year, which will be available first to our loyal listeners on Patreon.
We have a new advertising partner! Check out Swift Bullets, known and trusted as the best of the best by most African Dangerous Game specialists.
VISIT ALL OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 14 Nov 2025 - 55min - 467 - Ruger's New M77 Alaskan Bush Rifle in .35 Whelen and 9.3x62
This just might be the coolest new rifle introduction of the year! Lipsey's and Ruger have teamed up to create this quick-handling, hard-hitting bush rifle chambered in two of history's coolest powerhouse cartridges. These rifles are available now, through your Lipsey's-associated local dealer. Links are below. ENJOY!
Ruger M77 Alaskan Bush Rifle in .35 Whelen
Ruger M77 Alaskan Bush Rifle in 9.3x62
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
Check out our new "recommended outfitters" hunt booking agency! We're super excited about this venture that allows us to share our favorite destinations around the world with our loyal listeners. We'll also be doing hosted hunts each year, which will be available first to our loyal listeners on Patreon.
We have a new advertising partner! Check out Swift Bullets, known and trusted as the best of the best by most African Dangerous Game specialists.
VISIT ALL OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 07 Nov 2025 - 1h 05min - 466 - Cartridges & Bullets for Moose: Observations of an Elk Guide
Want to shoot, process, and pack out 5 mature bull moose in 3.5 days? Me neither, but that's what professional elk guide Tate Bradfield and his group did last month. This episode, Tate tells us about the rifles, cartridges, and bullets the five hunters choose for their special trip (which included the taking of a Boone & Crockett bull!) and shares his observations on the various results. He also has some sage advice about shooting moose in thigh-deep water, as well as useful suggestions on how to pack moose quarters on the bone. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
Visit Tate Bradfield's guiding, learning, and tag application services.
Check out our new "recommended outfitters" hunt booking agency! We're super excited about this venture that allows us to share our favorite destinations around the world with our loyal listeners. We'll also be doing hosted hunts each year, which will be available first to our loyal listeners on Patreon.
We have a new advertising partner! Check out Swift Bullets, known and trusted as the best of the best by most African Dangerous Game specialists.
VISIT ALL OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 31 Oct 2025 - 1h 06min - 465 - A Knife For Life: Evan Siembida and the Best Hunting Knives in the World
If you had to own and use just one hunting knife for the rest of your life, what would it be? This episode we go over blade characteristics, types of steel, handle shapes and material, edge geometry, field sharpening, and more. Custom knifemaker Evan Siembida lends his expertise and walks through the process of designing and building a truely capable hunting knife. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
Check out our new "recommended outfitters" hunt booking agency! We're super excited about this venture that allows us to share our favorite destinations around the world with our loyal listeners. We'll also be doing hosted hunts each year, which will be available first to our loyal listeners on Patreon.
We have a new advertising partner! Check out Swift Bullets, known and trusted as the best of the best by most African Dangerous Game specialists.
VISIT ALL OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 24 Oct 2025 - 1h 22min - 464 - Hunt Recap: 2025 Red Stag Hunt in Scotland
By a crackling fireplace in a 200-year-old Victorian hunting lodge in Scotland, we sit down and record a hunt recap. Red stag, sika stag, and salmon fishing are on the topic list, and we hash out crucial gear, hunt methods, stalking and shooting expectations, and more as we tell great success stories. ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
Check out our new "recommended outfitters" hunt booking agency! We're super excited about this venture that allows us to share our favorite destinations around the world with our loyal listeners. We'll also be doing hosted hunts each year, which will be available first to our loyal listeners on Patreon.
We have a new advertising partner! Check out Swift Bullets, known and trusted as the best of the best by most African Dangerous Game specialists.
VISIT ALL OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 17 Oct 2025 - 59min - 463 - Rut Hunting Big Bull Elk: New Mexico Audio Journal
This episode was recorded in the field while hunting rut-crazed big bull elk in New Mexico's high country with the 7mm Backcountry cartridge and a super-accurate ultralight hunting rifle. The hunt was a struggle, but several big gnarly bulls hit the ground and filled our freezers. We add gear notes, seasonal tips, and what did and didn't work... ENJOY!
FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry
Check out our new "recommended outfitters" hunt booking agency! We're super excited about this venture that allows us to share our favorite destinations around the world with our loyal listeners. We'll also be doing hosted hunts each year, which will be available first to our loyal listeners on Patreon.
We have a new advertising partner! Check out Swift Bullets, known and trusted as the best of the best by most African Dangerous Game specialists.
VISIT ALL OUR SPONSORS HERE:
https://www.portersfirearms.com/
Fri, 10 Oct 2025 - 49min - 462 - Transporting Rifles Damage Free
SHOW NOTES
How to transport a rifle without damage
How to improvise and correct damage to scopes and rifles
Q&A and listener's comments
.280 Rem vs. .280 Ackley 7mm-08 as a backcountry cartridge Deep-penetrating elk bullets for the .30-06Appropriate hard cases for transporting firearms
How to pack a rifle properly
How to prevent damage from impacts
How to prevent damage from abrasion
Protecting the bore in rusty or dusty environments
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Fri, 19 Jun 2020 - 57min - 461 - .375 H&H: All-Around Cartridge Champ
SHOW NOTES
• World's All-Around Hunting Cartridge Champ: .375 H&H
• .375 H&H vs. .375 Ruger
Cartridge Characteristics Adequate for anything Inherently accurate Mellow recoil Readily available rifles & ammo Bullet choices For Pachyderms For Cape buffalo and big bears For Moose & Bison down to deer Rifle options Controlled feed vs. push feed actions Wood vs. composite stocks Stainless vs. blued steel Backup sights Recoil characteristics & control Known for "slow" kick Don't fear the .375 How to get the best out of your .375 Pick a tough-ish, high-BC bullet Choose a versatile scope Zero it for 200 yards and work it out to 500SUPPORT THE PODCAST! https://www.patreon.com/backcountry
https://www.instagram.com/josephvonbenedikt/
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Fri, 12 Jun 2020 - 59min - 460 - It's NOT all about shot placement
SHOW NOTES
INTRO: A girl, a minimal cartridge, a perfect shot, and a lost bear
MAIN TOPIC: It's all about shot placement: Fact or Fiction?
LISTENER'S QUESTION: Barnes's .30-cal. 212-gr. LRX
• Difference between kinetic energy, momentum, and TKO
• On-impact visible authority, or "wallop"
CRITICAL FACTORS OF BULLET CHOICE:
- Diameter Construction Weight
CRITICAL FACTORS OF CARTRIDGE CHOICE
- Adequate reach (defined by velocity & BC) Adequate launch platform for appropriate bullets
Tales of success & failure, and the lessons learned
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Backcountry Hunting Podcast Facebook page
Fri, 05 Jun 2020 - 1h 16min - 459 - Backcountry Hunting Q&A
SHOW NOTES
• Migration to Idaho
• Draw tags and lucky hunters
• Q&A on a vast spectrum of backcountry hunting topics:
- .375 H&H for black bears Terminal Ascent vs. ELD-X bullets Best barrel mfgs for custom rifle builds Configurable stocks for backcountry rifles Stetson's crushable Crosstrail hat Bullet questions from Australia Kid rifles Straight-line bullet penetration Packing a pistol while bowhunting What barrel length & twist rate for .280 Ackley? Wool apparel: what company makes good stuff? Moose bullets for the .338 Win. Mag.
Wed, 27 May 2020 - 1h 11min - 458 - Top Backcountry Navigation Tools
SHOW NOTES
Late November, extreme cold, a foot and a half of snow, and pitch dark in Montana's Bitterroot is a bad time to be lost... Observation, experience, and a sense of direction Paper topographical maps and compass GPS and backcountry communication devices Smartphones and map programs Strengths and weaknesses of each systemFor the ultimate in backcountry navigating ability, combine cutting-edge tech with traditional know-how.
Tue, 12 May 2020 - 35min - 457 - Advanced Mule Deer Tactics with Robby Denning
SHOW NOTES
Guest: Robby Denning, mule deer hunting savant
Book: Hunting Big Mule Deer: How to take the biggest buck of your life
• Why mule deer hunting is so compelling that Denning abandoned all other game in order to focus on mule deer
• Ultimate Challenge: DIY, public-land mule deer
• The behavioral differences between old mule deer bucks--and all the other mule deer
• Mule deer management and the future of the hunting the species
• Common mistakes to avoid
• Tracking: A critical art and science for hunting mule deer
• Denning's rifle, cartridge, and bullet preferences
• wescout4u.com scouting service
Fri, 01 May 2020 - 1h 54min - 456 - Camo: What, How, & When
SHOW NOTES
Intro: The Hunter's Cloak of Invisibility
When—if ever—is camo NOT appropriate? When camo is a critical asset Color-capable game When hunter discretion is important Blending with habitat and terrain Contrast, color & patterns Camo brands and brand loyalty Mixing & matching Type of clothing (for example cold-weather vs. technical) Clothing quality Suitability of patterns Personal favorites and go-to clothing Camo Non-camoThe Backcountry Hunting Podcast is moving! More elbow room, more game, less hunter pressure, OTC tags, and generous seasons. Listen to learn where.
RESOURCES
SUPPORT THE PODCAST at www.Patreon.com/backcountry
Sat, 25 Apr 2020 - 32min - 455 - Bullets & Meat Damage
SHOW NOTES
What type of bullets allow you to "eat right up to the hole?"
Listeners questions and comments
MEAT DAMAGE: TWO SOURCES
Extreme impact velocity Hydraulic shock High-velocity cartridges Light-for-caliber bullets, pushed extremely fast Extreme-BC bullets, pushed fast Animal matter's effect on bullets Low-velocity impact dynamics Extreme-expansion bullets What stresses a bullet during impact Fragmenting on impact increases shock transfer "Soft" bullets rupture and fragment. Maximum meat damage results Tough, controlled-expansion bullets hold together and penetrate. Less meat damage results Bullet placement for minimal meat damage The behind-the-shoulder shot The on-the-shoulder shot Species-dependent preferences How to field-dress and process around bloodshot meat Is bullet-related meat damage ok? When it results in a faster, more humane kill When the bullet that causes it makes you a more capable hunterENJOY! (AND PLEASE SUBSCRIBE!)
Fri, 17 Apr 2020 - 1h 07min - 454 - .338 Debate: The Big-Bore Backcountry Cartridge Shootout
SHOW NOTES
Why the .338? As listener @Alaskanexile1 said, "If I'm carrying my .338, I never have the 'wrong' rifle." Inherently superior ballistic coefficient to the 8mm's, .35's, and .375's. Excellent sectional density (a measure of penetrating ability) Heavy but controllable recoil A lot more terminal performance than the .30 calibers The significance of the .338's frontal diameter How does it compare to the .375's for big bears?SPECIFIC .338 CARTRIDGES
.338-06 .338 Win. Mag. 33 Nosler .340 Weatherby .338 Rem. Ultra Mag .338 Lapua .338-378 WeatherbyWhich one's right for you?
RESOURCES
RIfle's Inc. (custom gunsmith)
Sat, 11 Apr 2020 - 1h 05min - 453 - Backcountry Book List
SHOW NOTES
Books: How to cultivate the patience necessary to weather those numbing periods of inactivity between explosions of hunting action.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW AT www.patreon.com/backcountry
Ways to "consume" books, and the pros & cons of each:
Traditional paper Tablets AudiobooksTypes of books:
How-to resources Factual and fictional Pure knowledge, & pure entertainmentNo. 1: Bear Hunting in Alaska, by Tony Russ
No. 2: Sheep Hunting in Alaska, by Tony Russ
No. 3: Haunted Mesa, by Louis L'Amour
No. 4: Alaska Yukon Trophies Won And Lost, by G.O. Young
No. 5: Death in the Long Grass, by Peter Hathaway Capstick
No. 6: The Last Stand of Fox Company, by Bob Drury & Tom Clavin
No. 7: Man-Eaters of Kumaon, by Jim Corbett (Oxford Omnibus)
No. 8: The Shooting of Dan McGrew & Other Poems, by Robert Service
No. 9: Where the Lion Feeds, by Wilbur Smith
No. 10: Horn of the Hunter, by Robert Ruark
COMING UP: .338-caliber cartridges, ranging from the .338-06 to the magnum powerhouses.
Enjoy!
Fri, 03 Apr 2020 - 42min - 452 - ARs for Hunting & Defense
SHOW NOTES
Intro: The longest shot on a coyote
AR-type rifles: Do they serve adequately for backcountry hunting? Semiautos and accuracy: The AR's advantage Current social and economic conditions and skyrocketing sales Personal Protection crossoverAR's FOR BACKCOUNTRY HUNTING
Pros & Cons Receiver sizes Applicable, capable cartridges (and how to choose) Keeping it light Making it accurate Choosing an optic Choosing ammo Setting up for maximum effectiveness Working it out (KNOW YOUR RIFLE!)WRAP: Trust in the Lord, but Keep Your Powder Dry!
Fri, 27 Mar 2020 - 1h 04min - 451 - Keep Calm & Carry OnFri, 20 Mar 2020 - 08min
- 450 - Backcountry Cartridge Shootout: 280 Ackley vs. 7mm Rem Mag
SHOW NOTES:
Intro: Western hunting and shooting situations vary widely. Consider these scenarios... (listen)
It behooves hunters to have a rifle and cartridge suitable for any task. These cartridges are two of the best for all-around work on the broad spectrum of Western big game.
.280 Ackley Improved vs. 7mm Remington Magnum
HISTORY
7mm Rem Mag .280 Ackley ImprovedWHY IS THE 7MM/.284 CALIBER SO SIGNIFICANT?
Best in class ballistics at acceptable recoil levels Just inside the cusp of what is really capable for almost all North American big game, including elk, moose, and the biggest black bears Adequate projectile weight Adequate frontal diameter Outstanding aerodynamics Popular 7mm's range from 7mm-08 to 28 NoslerPROS & CONS of the .280 Ackley vs. the "Seven-Mag"
7MM REMINGTON MAGNUM
Advantages Disadvantages.280 ACKLEY IMPROVED
Advantages DisadvantagesSegment: MAKING THE SHOT, brought to you by Browning
SO, WHICH CARTRIDGE IS BETTER?
SUPPORT THE PODCAST AT WWW.PATREON.COM/BACKCOUNTRY
Contact and follow Backcountry Hunting Podcast on Instagram
Follow host Joseph von Benedikt on Instagram
Contact us via email
Fri, 13 Mar 2020 - 49min - 449 - Top Backcountry Rifles, Part 4: Walnut & Blued Steel
SHOW NOTES
Walnut & Blued Steel rifles: Can they provide top performance in the backcountry?
Follow-up on episode 61 and wound treatment: Quick-Clot Gauze better than Quick-Clot powder
• Ruger's M77 Hawkeye African: A top backcountry hunting rifle
- Ultimate, classic configuration Lipsey's Special Stock configuration Iron sights Controlled-feed Mauser-type action Cool cartridges (6.5x55, .275 Rigby, .300 Win. Mag.)
• Working the rifle into fighting condition
- Accuracy testing Honing and polishing the action Trigger work and glass bedding Working up a Hornady 129-grain InterBond handload A half-MOA walnut & blued steel backcountry rifle Hunting with the Ruger M77 Hawkeye African
• Backcountry Scouting & Navigating: Glass from a tripod
• Leupold's new best-in-class mountain-hunting scopes
- Best-anywhere dial-up CDZ-ZL turrets Ultra light weight Superb glass Useful magnifications: 13-oz. 3.5-10x 40mm and 15.6-oz. 4.5-14x 40mm
• Backcountry Apprentice: Be better hydrated to be a better hunter—carry a LifeStraw
Teaser: Federal's new Terminal Ascent bullets
PLEASE SUPPORT THE BACKCOUNTRY HUNTING PODCAST at www.patreon.com/backcountry
Fri, 06 Mar 2020 - 54min - 448 - Wild Meat & Adventure with Garrett Wales
SHOW NOTES
Garett Wales: Entrepreneur, Beer-brewer, Organic fast-food guru, and passionate backcountry hunter.
Nosler man Kryptek pro staffer Life & Time restaraunteur Wild Game chefRoots of the clean-living, clean-eating passion
Motivation and fueling obsessions
Desert bighorn sheep hunting
Creating organic, free-range, chemical-free fast food
NEW SEGMENT: Making The Shot
Garrett's hunting addition, and where it started
Culinary tips:
Favorite season salts & steak rubs Prepping and seasoning cast iron Wild game cooking vs. beef Favorite backcountry foods and fuelsTop game animal and favorite hunting experiences
Can't-hunt-without gear items
Kids—the most exciting hunting partners of all
RESOURCES:
Fri, 28 Feb 2020 - 1h 09min - 447 - Backcountry Foot Care & other Q&A
SHOW NOTES
• Issues with your feet and/or boots can ruin a hunt
• How to choose ideal boots for your foot type & terrain
• Foot health maintenance & pain management
• Injury prevention & treatment
• NEW SEGMENT: Backcountry Scouting & Navigating
• Questions & Answers:
Bear guns & bullets Eyewear for hunting Mild-recoiling classic cartridges for deer More• How to order Backcountry Hunting Podcast Tee Shirts
• Support the Backcountry Hunting Podcast on Patreon
Fri, 14 Feb 2020 - 1h 06min - 446 - .300 Win Mag vs. .300 PRC: Which is best?
SHOW NOTES
• Scenario: You've got hunts ranging from coues deer to mountain grizzly and moose—and have to use just one rifle. What cartridge do you pick?
• What trends show most folks pick
• SHOT Show trends and hot cartridges
• Comparison between the legendary .300 Win Mag and the trendy new .300 PRC
• Candid discussion about podcast survivability
• .300 Win Mag: America's all-around champ's Pros & Cons
• .300 PRC: Touted as the best fast .30 ever designed, Pros & Cons
CONCLUSION: Which is best?
RESOURCES:
Support the Backcountry Hunting Podcast at https://www.patreon.com/backcountry
Fri, 07 Feb 2020 - 53min - 445 - Backcountry Bipods & Tripods with Spartan Precision
SHOW NOTES
NEW "BACKCOUNTRY APPRENTICE" SEGMENT! Listen for this 2-minute skills and how-to section presented by the host's favorite hunting partner (age 9).
• Interview with Spartan Precision's founder Rob Gearing
• Spartan 5-oz. bipods and why they work so well
• Mountaineering tripods, trekking poles, and ultralight tents
• Construction: Machined aluminum & carbon fiber
• Made in the U.K.
• Bow stabilizers and backcountry tool kits
• Longbows & the tremendous ability of Great Britain's yeomen
• Why we hunt the backcountry
RESOURCES
Spartan bipod/tripod rifle mount adaptors
Fri, 31 Jan 2020 - 1h 07min - 444 - Utah Draw Challenges
SHOW NOTES
• Hunting Utah:
Guest Colton Heward, big game guide Challenges of drawing a Utah tag "Point creep" —is it unresolvable? Youth and future opportunities: Can today's kids ever draw a good Utah tag? Opportunities in Wyoming, Idaho and other surrounding states A draw hunt in Idaho—tough conditions, few deer, many hunters, and the persistence and techniques that resulted in a professional guide's biggest buck ever. Stalking close and shooting long How to make the most of Utah's opportunities Extended Archery areas Desert Bighorn Sheep and a grandfather's dreamResources:
Fri, 24 Jan 2020 - 1h 23min - 443 - Timney Triggers for Backcountry Hunting
SHOW NOTES
• Squeezing the trigger: the final act in pursuing an animal
• The critical importance of having a good trigger in a backcountry hunting rifle
• Introducing Chris Ellis, owner of Ellis Communications, who reps Timney Triggers
• Pronghorns in the fog: hunting tales and great triggers
• Defining trigger performance:
Crisp (like an icicle breaking) Creep-free Light Consistant Overtravel (what's that?)• Replacing factory production triggers:
Fairly easy to do Cost spectrum? Timney's classic, legendary model Timney's cutting-edge flagship model• Tuning a Timney to perfection
• Timney's outstanding lifetime warrantee and customer service
• Heavy triggers and lost opportunities at elk
• Listen to the end for exiting news—and a discount code to get 15 percent off any one Timney trigger!
RESOURCES:
Fri, 17 Jan 2020 - 1h 00min - 442 - A Sub-$400 Mountain Rifle
SHOW NOTES
Review time! Savage's Axis II budget rifle in .280 Ackley Improved
• Listener lever-action questions & comments
• Mid-bore cartridges such as the .338-06 and .35 Whelen for backcountry hunting
• A six-pound, six-ounce, sub-$400 mountain rifle
• Discussing the Axis II action
• Barrel length, rifling twist rate, and type
• Axis II stock: Well-designed but flexible
• Mounting a bipod: Do or don't?
• Accuracy: Will the Axis II .280 Ackley shoot sub-MOA?
• Reliability and feeding smoothness
• Ergonomics: Feel, balance, and responsiveness
• Picking the right scope for the Axis II
RESOURCES:
Email the host joseph@backcountrypodcast.com
Follow/submit questions on Instagram @backcountryhuntingpodcast
Follow on Facebook: BackcountryHuntingPodcast
Fri, 10 Jan 2020 - 44min - 441 - Backcountry Hunting Questions, Comments, & Rude Remarks
SHOW NOTES
This episode addresses several interesting questions and comments submitted by listeners.
• Browning BLR correction
• Takedown rifles and scope mounting
• Swedish hunters and the Backcountry Hunting Podcast
• Single-loading lever guns in dangerous situations
• Sierra bullets for hunting
• Dogs and deer hunting
• Lever-action Turnbull for bear in the Pacific Northwest
• Browning A-Bolt Ti
• .280 Ackley Improved vs. 7mm Rem Mag.
• 7mm STW for backcountry hunting
• Barnes TTSX bullets and AR-15 accuracy
Sat, 04 Jan 2020 - 58min - 440 - Lever Actions for Backcountry Hunting
SHOW NOTES
• Why hunt the backcountry with a lever action rifle?
• Advantages & disadvantages of lever actions
• Types of lever actions
• Characteristics of lever actions
- Browning BLR: Modern, capable powerhouse Savage 99: Vintage but capable Winchester 95: Vintage powerhouse Winchester 86: Classic western big bore Winchester 94: Classic western deer rifle Marlin 1895: All-around classic/capable champ Marlin 336: Accurate, versatile .30-30
• Lever-action takeaway notes
RESOURCES
Tue, 31 Dec 2019 - 1h 23min - 439 - Long-Range Hunting: Good, Bad, or Situational?
SHOW NOTES
• Scenario: Running game vs. long shot?
• Intro: Long-Range Hunting—an exploration of all the elements
• Listener questions & comments
• Defining long-range hunting
• The Ethical Argument against long-range hunting
• A skill-based argument for long-range hunting
• Potential issues with long-range hunting
- Potential for poor hits Insufficient projectile performance Difficulty recovering game Too many hunters don't practice
• Potential advantages of long-range skill
- More precise shots at common distances Making the most of backcountry opportunities Experience success more frequently Harvest bigger animals, more often
• ABC's of becoming a long-range hunter
• JvB's personal creed: Be the best hunter possible so long shots are rarely necessary; be the best rifleman possible so as to ethically make long shots when required.
Fri, 20 Dec 2019 - 1h 02min - 438 - Top Mountain Rifles, Part 3: Weatherby Backcountry
SHOW NOTES:
• 50th Episode gear giveaway results, LIVE!
• Adam Weatherby, and the superb new sub-5 pound Backcountry rifle
• How Wyoming has influenced Weatherby rifle design
• How Weatherby achieves sub-MOA accuracy in an ultralight rifle
• Action features and strength
• Barrel construction and quality
• Stock design and action bedding
• Weatherby's new 6.5 WBY RPM cartridge
• Tips to shooting an ultralight rifle accurately
• Where the Backcountry rifle line is headed
• The "Hunt Your Own State" dilemma
RESOURCES
Email the Backcountry Hunting Podcast here
Fri, 13 Dec 2019 - 1h 11min - 437 - Idaho Opportunities for Backcountry Hunters
SHOW NOTES
• New podcast email: joseph@backcountrypodcast.com
• Toby Boudreau: Biologist extraordinary of Alaska & Idaho
• Opportunities in the great state of Idaho
• Mule deer:
- Population health Where to find the biggest bucks Tag types and available opportunities Idaho's marvelous OTC permit
• Elk:
- Best OTC elk opportunity in Idaho Populations and trophy potential OTC Tag availability Season types and multiple-opportunity tags
• Once in a Lifetime hunts (bighorns, moose, Mtn. goats)
- How and when to apply Cost of license and applying Where to find draw odds
• Wolves
- Current population impacts How to buy multiple cheap non-resident wolf tags Ongoing management research studies
• Human population growth
- Fastest-growing Western state Future affect and opportunities
• Bonus material: Mr. Boudreau's top backcountry hunting cartridge
RESOURCES
Fri, 06 Dec 2019 - 1h 12min - 436 - Backcountry Riflescopes
SHOW NOTES
• The Critical parts of a capable backcountry riflescope
- Quality (optical & construction) A balanced magnification range A good dial-up turret with zero stop type mechanism Sub 20-ounce weight
• Dialing vs. holding over: How to get the best out of both methods—plus a couple of hunting horror stories that spotlight weaknesses.
• How to set up a dial-up turret
• How to calibrate your ammo/bullet system to a holdover reticle
• Bonus material: How to use a simple duplex reticle for extended ranges
TOP ALL-AROUND HUNTING SCOPES, REVIEWED:
- Leupold 3-15x44 VX-5HD and 3-18x44 VX-6HD SWAROVSKI Z5 3.5-18X44 BT with 4W reticle Nightforce NSX 2.5-10x42 Leupold VX-3i 2.5-8x36 with Boone & Crockett reticle
• Mounting a scope for trouble-free function
• Great bases & rings for backcountry rifles
Fri, 29 Nov 2019 - 1h 13min - 435 - Reviewed: Top Mountain Rifles, Part 2
SHOW NOTES
• Lex Webernick, America's master mountain-rifle builder
• Listener's questions and comments
• Customizing Remington 700 & Winchester M70 actions
• Sculpture-quality skeletonizing for ultralight action weight
• Premium barrels
• Recoil-taming, quiet(ish) muzzle brakes
• Building a 13-ounce composite stock
• Ultralight, ultra strong scope rings
• Commissioning a custom from Rifle's Inc.
• Accuracy of the author's .270 Win. and .375 H&H
• Upcoming mountain-rifle reviews:
- A sub-$400, mountain-weight .280 Ackley America's top precision mountain rifle Weatherby's innovative new Backcountry Ti
RESOURCES
Fri, 22 Nov 2019 - 59min - 434 - .270 vs. .30-06 for Backcountry Hunting
SHOW NOTES
• .30-06 & .270 at crunch time
• Revisiting the old argument: Which is better?
• More to the point, how do you get the best out of each?
Cartridge comparison:
- .30-06 is more versatile--and here's why .270 is more forgiving in some ways--and here's why Downsides of the .30-06 Downsides of the .270
How to get the best out of the .30-06
- History: America's Warhorse Bullet choice Handloading for ultimate performance Matching hunting bullets to intended species Bringing the .30-06 up to modern performance
How to get the best out of the .270 Win.
- History: O'Conner's favorite Find high-BC bullets Tune for accuracy Pick tough bullets for tough game Set your rifle up for ultimate performance
Excellent modern rifles chambered in .30-06 & .270
Browning X-Bolt Hells Canyon Speed
Fri, 15 Nov 2019 - 1h 05min - 433 - Wild Meat: field care, prep, and grilling ultimately tasty venison
SHOW NOTES
Wild game meat should be incredibly good—not dry, gamey, and tough to eat.
Field care for clean-tasting meat "Ice Aging" meat for tenderness and mild flavor Pre-cooking prep for roasts and steaks Grilling techniques for the perfect steak or roastProfessional meat processors: A good way to get your wild game meat ruined
Even old, rut-worn bulls are tender and great-tasting if aged properly, prepped correctly, and grilled skillfully.
Searing in Olive oil: a magic recipe for juicy, tender meat
Steak seasoning
Steps to aging perfectly
Proper pre-grilling prep
Grilling and resting
Cardinal Sin: Overcooking wild game meat
A challenge for listeners
Sat, 09 Nov 2019 - 48min - 432 - Late-Season Elk: Strategies & Challenges
SHOW NOTES
Challenges of late-season elk hunting
Bulls are solitary and hard to find Antlers are often broken Extreme cold can be a major factor Elk are pressured and spooky Wintering grounds often present public/private land conflicts Shooting in extreme cold is always difficultTechniques that work:
Glassing. How to find the best vantage points, how to choose optics Hunting elk mentally. Think like a wise, exhausted old bull. Tracking in snow. Methods for big herds vs. solitary old bulls Ambushing. Patterning, setting up, and moving on late-season elkFri, 01 Nov 2019 - 1h 06min - 431 - Work Sharp: An interview with knife-sharpening expert Josh Warren
SHOW NOTES
• Work Sharp Tools: the Genesis
• Edge technology and what makes "sharp"
• Most common sharpening mistakes, and how to correct them
• Edge angle: What's best for a hunting knife? And how do you control it?
• Under the microscope: What creates sharpness
• Different knife steels, and how to address them
• Keeping a razor edge, almost effortlessly
• Ultralight Work Sharp tools for backcountry hunting
RESOURCES
Victorinox Swiss Paring Knife (a taxidermist's favorite)
Siembida Custom Knives (on instagram)
Fri, 25 Oct 2019 - 1h 00min - 430 - Handloading Hunting Ammo
SHOW NOTES
Why reload:
Pick your bullet Tune your accuracy Create premium ammo for budget-ammo costGetting started:
Instruction sections in reloading manuals ABC's of assembling a cartridge The Three "B's" of accuracy Choosing cartridge cases Prepping cases for accuracy Choosing a gunpowder Working up a propellant charge Choosing a projectile (toughness, aerodynamics, accuracy) Tuning seating depth for accuracyReasonable accuracy expectations
Rifle quality Shooter skill Handload qualityTesting handloads for reliable chambering prior to hunting
Wrap: A question for listeners... check it out, and let me know!
Federal Gold Medal Match primers
Fri, 18 Oct 2019 - 49min - 429 - Hunting Knives with Custom Knifesmith Evan Siembida
SHOW NOTES
Host introduction: Evan Siembida of Siembida Custom Knives Hunting knife design evolution and performance characteristics Handle materials and practical advantages How size, blade shape, and edge geometry affects use Bushcraft and fire starting "Spa Treatment" knife restoration service Micarta handle material: linen, canvas, paper, and boutique burlap Sharpen-ability and edge-holding characteristics of stainless steel vs. non-stainless Specific types of steel optimum for knives Carbides and the microscopic edge Different degrees of "stainlessness," i.e. rust resistanceSHARPENING
Sharpening correctly—and using a Strop Recommended sharpening stones The drawbacks of "V" type pull-through sharpeners Choosing and using the right blade for backcountry huntingRESOURCES
• Siembida Custom Knives Instagram
• SiembidaCustomKnives@gmail.com
• EZE-LAP pocket diamond stone
Fri, 11 Oct 2019 - 1h 17min - 428 - Elk Cartridges for Backcountry Hunting
SHOW NOTES
• Follow-up on episode No. 40's discussion on worst elk wounders
• Characteristics that make ideal elk cartridges
AUTHORITY
- Bullet weight Frontal diameter Bullet construction Velocity
REACH
- Velocity Aerodynamic bullet
• List of great elk cartridges
• LIst of great elk bullets
RESOURCES:
Web link to stock pack detailed in episode No. 40: SPEC-OPS BRAND Accu-Pack
Sun, 06 Oct 2019 - 1h 22min - 427 - Making The Shot: Split-second decisions, & practice drills for success
SHOW NOTES
Making The Shot intro: After all your planning, prep, and hard hunting, everything comes down to one moment where you've got to succeed or fail in taking your quarry.
• Two real-life scenarios with heartbreaking consequences, and how they could have been avoided
• Correcting the mistakes before they occur: Pre-hunt shooting prep and in-the-moment decision-making
• Pre-hunt shooting prep: 5 practice steps to success
• In-the-moment decision-making: This one is harder. You can't practice, you can only conceptualize.
- Moving animals Shooting in desperation Fleeting opportunities at whopper bucks, bulls & rams
BONUS MATERIAL
• 6.5 PRC: Is it an elk cartridge? Exit holes, blood trails, the "knock-down power" myth, and slowing big-bodied, tough bulls down.
Fri, 27 Sep 2019 - 1h 06min - 426 - Backcountry Hunting Gear List
SHOW NOTES
Backcountry Gear Challenge: fit 10 days worth of gear into 55 pounds
Top-of-the-list item: Tag/Hunting license!
• Sleep systems: Sleeping bag, pad, & tent
• Backpacks: Types and recommendations
• Raingear: Jackets & pants, pack covers, drybags for camera & electronics
• Clothing & footwear: From skin to shell. Underwear, base layer, pants, shirts, the annoyance of layering, puffy coats & pants, neck gaiters and warm hats, appropriate boots, Crocs and manliness, crampons, and more.
• Cooking systems: backpacking stoves, fire starters, water filters, water containers, and the critical Life Straw
• Optics: Rangefinding binoculars, Badlands bino harnesses, spotting scopes,
• Communication: inReach Mini, Midland handheld radios, lithium batteries, solar chargers, battery reservoirs, smartphone headphones, headlamps, and compasses.
• Camera: Smart phone vs. compact lightweight DSLR, plus Phone Skope
• Tripod favorites: Outdoorsman Medium and Spartan Precision Sentinel
• Rifle, Ammo, & Accessories: sling, Galco ammo carrier, Spartan bipod, Otis cleaning cable, electrical tape (yellow!), ballistic chart, wind checker, and handgun if applicable
• Knives & Accessories: Leatherman Tool, fixed-blade hunting knife by Browning, Arno Bernard, or Siembida Custom Knives; Outdoor Edge or Havalon, compact EZE-Lapp diamond stone, Outdoor Edge folding saw, Gransfors Bruks Hunter's Axe, Kuiu or Caribou Gear game bags, contractor-grade garbage bags
• Health & Hygiene: compact deodorant, hand soap, toothbrush & paste, floss, Airborne tablets, Zip Fizz, MTN OPS, Ibuprophen, Mucinex D, NyQuil, Blister kit, sunscreen, chapstick, vaseline, sunglasses, wipes, bug spray, bug net, knee braces, TETRA ear pro, notebook
• Food: Mountain House and other freeze-dried brands, snacks, gum, hard candy, energy supplements, Montreal Stake Seasoning, coffee or tea
RESOURCES:
Mountain Hardwear sleeping bags
Spartan Precision Carbonlite Tent
Barney's Sports Chalet "freighter pack"
Sitka Mountain Hauler 6200 pack
Sitka Gear Stormfront raingear
https://kryptek.com/catalog/category/rain-gear/
LifeStraw portable water filters
Leica Geovid rangefinding binos
Zeiss Victory RF rangefinding binos
Swarovski ATS 65 spotting scope
Leupold 12-40 x 60mm Gold Ring spotting scope
Spartan Precision Sentinel Tripod
Spartan Precision Javelin Bipod
Galco Gunleather "Stalker" ammo carrier
Otis cleaning kits with flexible cable
Arno Bernard Dagga Boy drop point knife
Siembida Custom Knives Instagram page
Outdoor Edge Razorlite exchangeable blade knife
Havalon exchangeable blade knife
Mountain OPS energy suppliments
TETRA hearing enhancement/protection
Mountain House freeze-dried meals
Fri, 20 Sep 2019 - 1h 37min - 425 - Remington's 700: Customized for Backcountry Hunting Rifle Magic
SHOW NOTES:
• Intro: Remington's M700, episode recording, guest Carlos Martinez,
• Listener questions & comments
• Remington's Custom Shop (also covers Marlin & Dakota)
• Why the Model 700 has such accuracy potential
• How the Custom Shop maximizes performance
• How you can order any configuration you want
• Dakota Arms: The ultimate in controlled-feed rifles
• Marlin Custom-Shop lever-actions: Best value on the market
RESOURCES:
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE!
Fri, 13 Sep 2019 - 1h 10min - 424 - Hunting for Hearing Protection with TETRA Hunt
SHOW NOTES:
• Hearing protection: Loss-incurring damage never heals. Protecting hearing is paramount.
• The dangerous game conundrum (gotta be able to hear) and TETRA Hunt's superb solution
• TETRA's tuned-frequency hearing enhancement/protection, and dedicated profiles for elk, turkey, geese, waterfowl, and the new Dangerous Game profile
• How the ear gathers sound
• How we pinpoint direction
• How TETRA not only maintains directional hearing, it enhances it
• Cost: Can you afford NOT to protect your ears?
• Hearing loss as an indicator of potential early onset Dementia and Alzheimers
• Why hearing loss accelerates Dementia and Alzheimers, and how to reverse it
RESOURCES:
Test your hearing here
Fri, 06 Sep 2019 - 1h 10min - 423 - DIY Hunting New Zealand on Public Land
SHOW NOTES:
• New Zealand: The Shangri La of modern backcountry hunting
• Bag limits? What bag limits?
• Gnarly, steep, challenging, beautiful country
• What island to hunt, and how to find and access a good spot
• Game types, habitat, and taxonomy, and how to hunt them
• Logistics of traveling to New Zealand and accessing the backcountry
• Importing a hunting rifle and ammo to New Zealand
• Critical gear & planning time
• Recommended rifles, optics, and ammo
• Do it now: Laws will never be better, and you'll never be younger
ENJOY! Please subscribe, rate, and review!
Fri, 30 Aug 2019 - 1h 19min - 422 - Picking a Muzzleloader for Backcountry Hunting
SHOW NOTES:
• From Tradition to Technology: Picking a muzzleloader for backcountry hunting
• Exploding boundaries
• From the beginning: Traditional muzzleloaders, common inline muzzleloaders, and uncommonly accurate long-range muzzleloaders
• Traditional muzzleloaders: Why to hunt with them, and how to get the best out of them. What they shoot (blackpowder and patched round balls), caliber restrictions, barrel length, sight-in and effective range determination.
• World record flintlock elk: a first-hand account of the hunt
• Common inline muzzleloaders: Why to hunt with them, and how to get the best out of them. Hunting history. What they shoot (blackpowder substitutes and saboted or belted conical bullets), configurations, and how to work up a great load. Determining maximum lethal range. Cleaning and maintaining.
• Long-range precision muzzleloaders: a burgeoning trend. Why to hunt with them, and how they are different. What they shoot (Blackhorn 209 blackpowder substitute, Parker bullets), how to set up a rifle, pick a long-range-capable scope, and maximize effectiveness with Remington's M700 Ultimate Muzzleloader. Ethics of shooting long: wind, time of flight, terminal performance, and more. How to determine maximum effective fully-lethal range.
• First-hand account of a big New Mexico bull elk taken at 407 yards.
• Attacking the ethical question: What's right, what's conditionally right, and how to deal with hunters that do things we oppose. Recognizing and accepting personal choices, and learning from other hunters.
• An old man, an alpine buck, and a clean, one-shot 631-yard kill.
• Questions, comments, & opinions: Please share on Instagram on the @backcountryhuntingpodcast profile--but be clean and respectful.
RESOURCES:
Fine custom traditional longrifles: Tennessee Valley Manufacturing
Inline muzzleloaders by Traditions
Inline muzzleloaders by Thompson Center
Inline muzzleloaders by CVA
Long-range Remington 700 Ultimate Muzzleloader
Long-range Gunwerks Muzzleloader
Blackhorn 209 blackpowder substitute
Parker long-range muzzleloader bullets
Fri, 23 Aug 2019 - 1h 36min - 421 - Early Season Tactics for Elk and Mule Deer Hunting
SHOW NOTES
• Prep, planning, and gear
• Tyce Erickson: master dog trainer and high-country big-game hunting genius
• Hot off the BBQ: Shiras moose, elk, musk ox, black bear, deer, and more
• September bulls: Tactics for finding, calling, and stalking rutting elk
• Holding it together under pressure: Stories of jubilance and heartbreak on monster bulls
• Alpine mule deer: Locating, patterning, stalking, and arrowing big early-season bucks
• After the shot: What to expect in the high country
• Erickson's favorite broadhead
• BONUS MATERIAL: Best dog breed for everything from packing and hunting big game to upland and waterfowl hunting
RESOURCES
Follow Tyce on Instagram: @lichenoutdoors, @utahbirddogtraining
Fri, 16 Aug 2019 - 1h 20min - 420 - PTSD: Hunting to Heal, an interview with national bestselling author Cork Graham
SHOW NOTES:
• Guest Cork Graham: International best-selling author, Discovery Channel personality, combat veteran, PTSD counselor, and Alaskan subsistence hunter.
• How hunting rebuilds those suffering with PTSD
• Graham's personal experience recognizing and recovering from PTSD
• Steps to recovery (that resulted in 89 percent success in Graham's patients)
• Hunter, Warrior, Healer: the three vital characteristics that enable humankind to provide, protect, and heal.
BONUS MATERIAL: the .338-06 Graham believes may be the ultimate cartridge for all-around use in Alaska.
Resources:
International bestseller The Bamboo Chest: An Adventure in Healing the Trauma of War
Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 1h 40min - 419 - Packing Methods: Backpacks, Horses, Llamas, and More for Backcountry Hunting
SHOW NOTES:
• The older you get, the less you like to carry—yet the more you appreciate remote backcountry.
— Condors & lead bullet correlation update: The science behind it. Please listen to Randy Newberg's Episode No. 87 of Hunt Talk Radio. Here's a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzBbxm2cFhw
BACKPACKS vs. PACK ANIMALS
- Backpacking favors daily adaptability. Live out of your pack. Hunt extreme terrain where horses can't go. Pack animals favor major shifts in location, and eliminates restrictions on how deep you can hunt for big-bodied game. Both methods have advantages and limitations
Limitations:
• How deep can you hunt? How much food and gear can you carry in? How much meat can you carry out?
• Heat and distance: meat's primary enemies when backpacking
• Maintaining and caring for pack animals while hunting
• Weight and distance are limited when backpacking, particularly when hunting big-bodied animals such as elk.
• On-the-fly adaptability is limited when horse packing.
Advantages:
• Backpacking enables extreme simplicity & flexibility.
• Pack animals enable you to transport meat much more easily.
• Pack animals allow a more comfortable camp, better food, and longer stays in the backcountry.
Types of backpack:
• External frame packs and their pros & cons
• Internal frame packs and their pros & cons
• Hybrid crossover packs--and why they're a bad idea
Types of pack animal and the advantages and disadvantages of each:
• Horses: Strong, friendly, capable. The quintessential pack animal. Need lots of care. Expensive. Potentially dangerous.
• Mules: Just like horses, but different.
• Burros: There's a reason prospectors and expectant mothers love them.
• Llamas: Sinister-looking but oh so capable.
• Goats: Yes, really.
Fri, 02 Aug 2019 - 1h 05min - 418 - Monometal vs. Lead-core Hunting Bullets
SHOW NOTES:
• Are monometal bullets as good a traditional lead-core bullets?
• Rights & Freedoms, Laws & Regulations
• Top manufacturers of non-toxic monometal bullets
• Monometal vs. Lead-core bullets: THE DIFFERENCES
1. Behavior in the bore
2. Behavior in flight
3. Behavior on impact
4. Trauma & terminal performance
5. Exit wounds & blood trails
6. Non-ideal shot angles
7. Bullet failures & anomalies
8. How to pick a monometal bullet
• Accuracy, Design, & Weight
• Factory ammo and various loads
RESOURCES
Fri, 26 Jul 2019 - 1h 11min - 417 - Maintenance & First Aid for Hunting Optics
SHOW NOTES
• The backcountry is hard on optics
• All brands and types of optic can and occasionally will fail
• User-induced failures
• Properly mounting riflescopes for ultimate toughness
• How scopes get knocked off, and how to re-zero them
• Protecting lenses against grit, grime, water, and ice
• Sideways impacts to scopes, and related weaknesses
• When you fall on your scope
• Something you need in the backcountry: Enough ammo to re-zero a scope
• Iron sights can save a hunt
• Fogged lenses, and how to avoid them
• Snow clogs and snap shots
• Scope covers, and how to pick one
• When binoculars go south
• Cleaning lenses without causing damage
• BONUS MATERIAL: Ammunition corrosion and reliability issues
Fri, 19 Jul 2019 - 56min
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