Backcountry Hunting Podcast

SHOW NOTES:  Aoudad hunting: Cost Methods Areas Rifles, Cartridges, & Bullets Shot placement and distances Fitness preparation Realistic expectations Finding a good outfitter and guide When to go (NOW!)   FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on   www.patreon.com/backcountry Contribute via   PayPal   using   joseph@backcountrypodcast.com Contribute via  ...

SHOW NOTES Story: An old mule deer, a big bullet, and a perplexing kill.  Big game physiology : deer, antelope, elk, bear, moose, and more Terminal performance , and how bullets handle various impact challenges Low-resistance impacts deer-size game broadside lungs only no ribs High-resistance impacts Elk-size game Quartering angles Heavy shoulder bone Massive shoulder muscle Ribs Dense internal or...

SHOW NOTES Topic: Sleeping bag temp ratings and insulation characteristics Guest-in-absence: an email from firefighter "Ben" details the nitty-gritty tech-specs of sleeping bags and test protocols.  How temp ratings are generated Differences between men and women Comfort vs. survival ratings Reading between the lines to get a bag that will keep you warm Pads and pad systems that work Synthetic ins...

SHOW NOTES Topic: Backcountry Hunting Gear that can make the difference between surviving or becoming a statistic.  Guest: podcast "Scouting & Navigating" contributor Colton Heward.  Upcoming adventures that prompted Colton to perform a serious gear examination: Packing for a dall sheep outfitter Hunting arctic grizzly & caribou  Hunting Kodiak Island for Sitka Blacktail & sea ducks Big-Ticket ite...

SHOW NOTES DIY JAVELINA HUNTING Guest: John McAdams, host of the Big Game Hunting Podcast Javelina as a species: Taxonomy Habits and habitat States where you can hunt javelina Scouting and hunting methods Field dressing and cooking javelina Appropriate rifles and muzzleloaders High wind and hunting stories ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on  ...

SHOW NOTES Listener's request: Dream Big, and Create The Ultimate Elk Rifle Pre-show: Another listener's favorite book list: Recommended reading for all backcountry hunters.  Picking apart the characteristics of an ultimate elk rifle Authoritative Accurate Reliable Corrosion resistant metal Tough, rigid, stable stock A scope good for close up to far shots Ideal scope mounts Fine-tuning details Spe...

SHOW NOTES Intro: Unique connecting elements of a hunter and his game Rifle, optic, and cartridge: the launching pad The trigger: what controls the launch sequence.  Timney Triggers' 75th Anniversary TIMNEY TRIGGER GIVAWAY! Winner picks any Timney trigger of their choice. Enter to win at www.timneytriggers.com/backcountry THE BACKCOUNTRY APPRENTICE'S FIRST DEER Host William Von Benedikt (age 10) t...

SHOW NOTES Listener's question: Are Vortex and Burris scopes as good as Leupold?  Optic failures: Even the best can go south. Stories and examples.  Setting The Bar: Leupold's awesome backcountry hunting scopes Vortex's excellent 3-15x 42mm Razor HD LHT Burris's innovative 3-12x 44mm Eliminator III   FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on   www.patreon....

SHOW NOTES Topic: Bear Baiting from A to Z Guest: Tyler Freel, bear specialist and host of Tundra Talk podcast.  (Notably, Tyler Freel is probably the only man alive that's taken black bear AND GRIZZLY with a stone arrowhead and hand-made arrows!) Bear baiting step-by-step:  Selecting a bait site Setting up a ground blind or treestand Advantages of bear hunting over bait Jumpstarting your bait Mai...

SHOW NOTES Episode topic: Rifle barrel break-in: How to do it, and does it help?   Up Front Q&A A European perspective on rifle cost Taping muzzles during bad weather, and the long-range effect Sharpening knives in a survival situation Straight-wall cartridges comparison: .350 Legend vs. .450 Bushmaster Researching & choosing outfitters Binocular magnification: 8x, 10x, 12x, 15x, or a combination?...

SHOW NOTES Announcing the Northern Shrike 2nd Edition!  Siembida Custom Knives is making 25 of Edition 2. We go over the type of steel chosen, handle material and creation, new scabbards, and more. One is shown in the cover photo for this episode.  If you want one of these superb ultralight backcountry hunting knives, call Evan Siembida at (740) 270-9057. They'll go fast--we've had listeners askin...

SHOW NOTES So you want a suppressor? Here's the most pain-free method to get one.  Guest: Silencer Central's CEO and owner Brandon Maddox.  One-stop shopping: In addition to manufacturing one of the best backcountry hunting suppressors available (the all-titanium 10-ounce, 7 inch Banish 30 ), Silencer Central takes care of all paperwork, fingerprints and photographs, and transfer processes remotel...

SHOW NOTES Topic: High-quality production rifles for Backcountry Hunting Characteristics of high-end production-grade hunting rifles Individual models Browning Christensen Arms Kimber Ruger Remington Sako Savage Tikka Winchester SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Subscribe at www.patreon.com/backcountry VENMO: @Joseph-vonBenedikt PayPal: joseph@backcountrypodcast.com

SHOW NOTES Intro: Trusting your equipment at crunch time Topic: Rifles that work great but cost little Characteristics of "Budget Rifles" Featured rifle models:  Browning AB3 Mossberg Patriot Ruger American Savage Axis II Thompson/Center Compass II Winchester XPR Concluding thought: In the final analysis, how well your rifle performs in the field depends on you, the hunter.  JOIN the BACKCOUNTRY H...

SHOW NOTES Of all the species in North America, wild sheep are the most exclusive and coveted—and opportunities are uncommon.  Guests: Gary & Colton Heward (Colton hosts our Scouting & Navigating segment) Gary's application strategies Best-laid plans: Fitness, scouting, and crippling injuries Planning and building the ultimate light-weight precision sheep rifle, cartridge, and handloads Hunt time!...

SHOW NOTES Sometimes, hunting with a bow and arrows is simply the most effective way to go. And sometimes, it's absolutely the most enjoyable.  Guest: Logan White, passionate bowhunter and Mathews Top 20 dealer for 10 years running.  Subjects:  Trends and recent evolution among bowhunters Arrows and increased capability Broadheads for whitetails and the West Bow types, trends, and capability 2021'...

SHOW NOTES Do your part to minimize predation on the West's suffering mule deer population—and have a great adventure—by hunting mountain lions.  This episode is all about cougars, and how to hunt them.  First, an answer to multiple listener questions after the recent episode on Browning's addition of the 6.8 Western and .280 Ackley to the X-Bolt line of rifles: "Which should I pick?"  Advantages...

SHOW NOTES Meet the 6.8 Western: Browning's new high-performance, high-efficiency .270 magnum.  This is the cartridge that host JvB used for a solo, drop-camp Alaska caribou hunt during September 2020.  1:7.5 rifling twist rate Engineered for efficiency and consistency True short-action magnum cartridge Optimized for heavy, high-BC bullets (165- & 175-grain factory loads from Browning & Winchester...

SHOW NOTES WELCOME to the 101st Episode! As the title suggests, this fun discussion addresses two topics; big deer & compact gear.  Must-read book: Ryan Hatfield's "Idaho's Greatest Mule Deer." Glory Day Story: Doyle Mooseman and the 48," 8x8 buck.  Big buck statistics: An entertaining (and eye-opening) look at your chances of shooting a monster mule deer (and how you can maximize your opportuniti...

SHOW NOTES Intro: 100 episodes!  Topic: How to get kids started right in the wonderful world of hunting.  Notes on past episode: Tikka considerations KIDS, HUNTING, and TEACHING a PASSION FOR THE SPORT Generating interest First guns Field prep Gear quality (for kids) Binoculars & scopes Early experiences (designed to grow the passion) Introducing significant challenges Firearm handling & safety Ac...

SHOW NOTES Intro scenario: What not to do during a bear charge.  Topics: How-to episode on:  How best to carry a bear-protection sidearm in the backcountry. How to DIY customize your hunting rifle to make it shoot like a custom rifle. Bear-gun carry methods:  Packs and interference Holsters and positions Bino harnesses and chest holsters Badlands Bino Carrier Galco Gunleather's Phoenix holster DIY...

SHOW NOTES Intro: Ibex hunting in New Mexico Guest: Landon Michaels of Gunwerks The lure of Ibex & mountain country New Mexico's free-range, public-land ibex hunts Hunt types (rifle, muzzleloader, archery) Applying, dates, draw odds Prep: Physical, mental, research, scouting Technical mountain terrain Equipment Hunt narrative Application service & outfitter PODCAST SPONSORS www.browning.com www.ti...

SHOW NOTES:  Intro: Big changes coming to non-resident Idaho hunters Brief summary of how the changes effect Idaho residents Public service announcement: Outdoor show and conventions schedules and cancellations IDAHO HUNT CHANGES Idaho's website operating system: All new and hugely capable Elk zones & non-resident restrictions Tags on sale at 10am MST, Dec. 1 The "Waiting Room" purchase system for...

SHOW NOTES Intro: This episode may ruffle some feathers.  Physiology of a big bull elk 6.5mm related elements The Great 6.5mm Deception Various classes of 6.5mm cartridges, and which are suitable for elk "It's the bullets fault." In this case, there's something to this claim  Getting the best elk-killing capability out of your 6.5mm cartridge Exorcising the one-example "deadly killer" claims Myth-...

SHOW NOTES Gear notes & failure potential Tents for solo hunting Sleeping bags for wet, dangerous country Emergency communication devices Devices, power, & entertainment Planning for extreme weather Backup camp spots Emergency communication Walking out The Mental Game Unexpected challenges of hunting solo Staying occupied while waiting for a bush pilot Books, movies, & campfires Don't go in blind...