Backcountry Hunting Podcast

What is the ultimate all-around bear gun? Is there a gun and cartridge that will handle all bears, in all situations? Whether hunting cross-canyon blacks in Montana or baited bruisers in Alberta, or coastal brown bears or interior grizzlies in Alaska? How about personal protection while hiking or fishing in bear-infested country? We think there is such a rifle, and it's even sorta affordable. Ruge...

Ever wanted to plan and execute a DIY mule deer hunt on public land? Here's how to do it folks, as showcased by Hunter McWaters. Hunter is the host of The Hunter's Quest TV show, podcast , and YouTube channel .  Hunter talks us through getting a tag, the e-scouting process, creating hunt plans A, B, and C, planning and arranging gear, and finally putting boots on the ground and your hunting plans...

Inspired by all the interest in Federal's ground-breaking new 7mm Backcountry cartridge, we recently held a live Q&A with our Patreon members. Here are the great questions we fielded and discussed:  Is the 7mm Backcountry, with it's 80,000 PSI chamber pressure, safe in traditional bolt-action designs?  I wanted a .280 Ackley. Should I switch and get a 7mm Backcountry instead?  Are 7mm Backcountry...

This episode takes us far out into the Aleutian Islands off the west coast of Alaska's mainland, to hunt wild bison. Recorded audio-journal style, we're bringing it to you raw and unedited.  Hunting by invitation with Jack Jaeger, who is designated to hunt buffalo for the tribal elders, we circumnavigate the island on a small fishing boat, landing in a skiff and hunting up from the coast when buff...

Leupold just launched a new flagship hunting scope, called the VX-6HD Gen 2.  Friends, I didn't think the first-generation VX-6HD could get any better. But by golly, Leupold has successfully improved my favorite riflescope. The new Gen 2 version has an improved, tool-less turret, a built-in throw lever on the power ring, and most importantly, it's now got the same internal guts and gears as Leupol...

In this episide, Alaskan custom gunsmith Ray Saft and I dig deep into the various characteristics of actions, stocks, barrels, cartridges, and special chambers appropriate for a backcountry rifle build.  To showcase the process of discussing and commissioning a custom rifle, we use a pair of in-process 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser mountain rifles, one with a titanium action and carbon-fiber barrel; the o...

Really good iron sights are surprisingly capable—and according to Utah's new restricted unit regulations, are required. Five historically great mule deer units are now iron-sights only, even for centerfire hunting rifles.  So: What's the best iron-sight setup for hunting Western open country?  In this episode, we're joined by legendary hunter, writer, and YouTube host Ron Spomer to discuss what ty...

Ever wonder why you get unexplained fliers when shooting otherwise tiny groups with your ammo? You may be shocked at the common culprit discussed in this episide—as well as how easy it is to prevent. This episode we're joined by Chris Hoffstetter of Nosler, and we talk through the crucial aspects of ammo that provide accuracy and clean-killing effectiveness. ENJOY!    FRIENDS! We're at a crucial t...

Outfitter Tate Bradfield and his crew took 56 American Buffalo with clients in 2024. This episode, we sit down and discuss the cartridges, bullets, and shot placement that kills Bison most effectively and efficiently. Tate tells tall tales (say that three times fast) of Buffalo getting shot with everything from .243 Winchester to .45-70 Gov't—and has some emphatic advice to share with prospective...

When killing is crucial, not just convenient... Choose the right tool for the task.  Folks, I resisted addressing this trendy topic of using small calibers on big game for a long time. But I've had so many requests to do so, I can no longer take the easy road. Here's my blunt, fact- and science-based opinion on the practice of using small calibers loaded with target-type bullets on big game.  ENJO...

This episode, Weatherby's COO Luke Thorkildsen joins us to talk about backcountry fitness and how the Carnivore diet has revolutionized his backcountry hunting capability. We discuss how to successfully combat middle-age "spare tire" weight gain and increase focus and energy.  Plus, of course, we take a dive into Luke's personal favorite Weatherby cartridges and specific bullets loaded for them, a...

This episode takes us back to Kodiak Island, Alaska, where Austin Brown and several of his friends hunt Sitka Blacktail deer, predators, and sea ducks. It's all DIY, and it's the first time in Alaska for several of these hunters.  Host and transporter is our long-time favorite: Alaska Premier Sportfishing 's good boat Venturess and her captain Travis Larson and crew.  I asked Austin to run with an...

This episode we talk through several new suppressor models and the innovative manufacturing techniques that make them special. We also discuss various materials such as Inconel and Titanium, outlining their pros and cons.  And how about the speed of the current e-form process? Suppressor dealers are even seeing same-day approvals in some cases, and even the "long" approvals are only a few weeks. S...

Gnarly questions make us dig deep for good answers... In this episode, we unpack a bunch of awesome questions and stories from listeners, including the following:  .308 Win. vs. 6.5 RPM for elk .475 Turnbull and 9.3x62 for Cape Buffalo 6mm ARC as a deer cartridge Short vs. long barrels on .308 Handloads for 20" 7mm PRC barrels Is .280 Rem. to .280 Ackley conversion worth the squeeze?  Characterist...

How does putting a suppressor on your hunting rifle affect accuracy? Good? Bad? Ugly? This episode details what normally happens—which is an increase in precision and a decrease in recoil.  We give several real-life examples and explore why accuracy increases. Plus we detail several of our favorite suppressor makes and models that nearly always provide a significant increase accuracy, discussing w...

Are hotrod .22 centerfire cartridges adequate for hunting big game? In this episode Seth Swerczek from Hornady joins us to discuss the small-caliber for big-game trend. Recently returned from a safari in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, Seth details what worked—and what didn't—while using the .22 ARC and .22 Creedmoor on African game ranging from warthogs to kudu. The results may surprise you. We...

What's it like to hunt along ancient hedgerows and stone fences older than America? This episode fellow writer Phil Massaro and I share stories about hunting wild, free-range Fallow deer, Roe Deer, and Muntjac through medieval forests in England.  In the UK on assignment with Savage Arms, we had the opportunity to hunt with and share meals with legendary hunter, wild game chef and restaraunteur Mi...

This episide we sit down with custom gunsmith Justin Linenbach, of Kinport Peak Rifles. Justin outlines what he consideres the three most important elements to achieving accuracy: Barrel quality Chamber quality Action bedding We take a deep dive into each of those characteristics, and then discuss the cartridges that Justin recommends for three categories of shooters and hunters:  Factory ammo onl...

Is there a cartridge that will reliably knock a deer or elk or bear over? Not unless it's named Ford, Chevy, or Dodge. Or maybe Freight Train. This episode takes a candid look at the idea of "knock-down power," mythbusting the notion and detailing how to determine a cartridge with real authority.  We define and explore kinetic energy, the TKO formula, momentum, and of course compare the numbers ge...

How good is the .30-06 for use on elk? This episode takes a deep dive into the grand old cartridge's ballistics, characteristics, and real-world performance on elk. We tell stories of a bunch of bulls killed with various .30-06s, and talk through several excellent .30-06 rifle models that we wholeheartedly recommend, as well as list three top factory ammo types ideal for elk. ENJOY!    FRIENDS, PL...

This episode we take a deep dive into how to properly set up a kid rifle. We address appropriate cartridges, good rifles, and capable scopes, then discuss how to put the setup together so it really works. Some specific points we cover:  Reliability Kid-friendly ergonomics Accuracy Quality trigger Crucial scope features Packable weight Necessary accessories Bare muzzles, muzzle brakes, & suppressor...

This fun episode we dig in and answer a buck of listener's questions... Topics are elk cartridges, bear defense guns, .280 Ackley rifles, best first Western hunts, .270 Win. for moose, best predator rifles, copper bullets for deer, best .308 hunting load, and tons more. ENJOY!      FRIENDS! We're at a crucial time in the growth of the show, and need all the support we can get to take it to the nex...