Backcountry Hunting Podcast

You've just shot an elk. Now what?  This episode covers it all, from blood tracking and locating your elk, to navigating cross-canyon recoveries, to taking good photographs, to meat processing, care, and packing. What a terrific conversation, recorded with extremely savvy, experienced elk hunters! ENJOY!    FRIENDS! We're at a crucial time in the growth of the show, and need all the support we can...

What's the best, most practical deer-hunting cartridge of them all? We're joined by our friend Ron Spomer—who is consistently the show's most popular guest—to try our hand at picking one cartridge to rule them all.  Because it's fun, we also take a deep dive into our personal favorite deer-hunting cartridges—practicality thrown out the window—and share just why those particular rounds are so speci...

This episode covers the ABC's of flying with guns. From what type of case is best, to how to pack your firearms and ammo, to how to check in with your airline, we detail the process.  We cover domestic flights compared to international travel, discuss the legality of flying with a suppressor, suggest research and prep documentation, and so forth.  Flying with a firearm is quite a simple process, b...

Ever wonder which of the new PRC cartridges to pick for your new hunting rifle? The 6.5 PRC, 7mm PRC, and .300 PRC each have their strengths... and few weaknesses. So how do you know which will fit your needs best?  Hornady engineer and cartridge savant Seth Swerczek guest stars on this episode, and we talk through the various characteristics of each cartridge. Of course we regularly get sidetrack...

Remember that old saying, "One Shot, One Kill?" How about eight shots, eight kills! This episode we're joined by Shaundi Campbell, senior marketing manager at Browning, who recently took her bucket-list animal in Africa (and seven others) with a single shot each using her favorite 6.8 Western.  Shaundi tells a little of the 6.8 Western's back story, shares her significant hunting successes using i...

This episode explains how knowing fundamental ballistics help us make clean, ethical kills in the field. Jayden Quinlan (ballistic mastermind at Hornady) shines the light on how to compensate for steep angles, for wind, and for bullet drop in various air density and temperatures. We talk hunting bullets and the evolution of projectiles and how to choose the right modern hunting bullet for your hun...

What's the BEST elk cartridge? Or should we ask, what's your FAVORITE elk cartridge? This fun episode with Ron Spomer and Tate Bradfield takes a humorous and deep dive into most practical elk cartridges and favorite elk cartridges—and how they're rarely the same! Plus, we talk one-shot drops on elk, marginal cartridges versus marginal shots, how to master heavy recoil, and more. ENJOY!    FRIENDS!...

Few men know whether they'll have the courage to stand their ground and fight an irate Kodiak brown bear—or whether their defense gun will be adequate. Backcountry hunter Tyce Erickson knows the answer to both, having recently proven himself when a wounded bear his group was tracking attacked at close quarters in thick alder brush.  In this episode, Tyce joins the podcast to tell his story. He giv...

In one of the most exciting product announcements of the year, Springfield recently brought out a long-action version of it's superb Model 2020 Waypoint precision hunting rifle.  Previously only available in short-action cartridges, it's now available in 7mm PRC, 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .300 PRC, .270 Win, and .30-06! What a star-studded lineup of long-action cartridges. Now, if I can just conv...

Cape Kudu are slightly smaller, more colorful, and "better dressed" than their Southern Greater cousins—and are enchanting and addictive to hunt. This episode, we sit down by a midnight acacia-wood fire in the Eastern Cape area of South Africa with PH Ed Everton of Rosedale Safaris, to share hunting stories and discuss the incredible Cape Kudu. We talk through Cape Kudu characteristics, hunting me...

Is your rifle fully set up and ready for hunting season? That's a question all too many hunters don't ask until it's nearly go-time. This episide addresses rifle choice and scope selection, how to mount your scope for best performance, crucial accessories like an anti-cant scope level, rifle sling, and bipod, and how to set the complete system up properly. ENJOY!   FRIENDS! We're at a crucial time...

What causes some cold-bore shots to go astray? And can a good rifleman eliminate them? This episode discusses bore condition, barrel quality, clean-bore shots, and the human element, debunking myths and providing practical solutions to overcome unexplained first-shot misses. ENJOY!    FRIENDS! We're at a crucial time in the growth of the show, and need all the support we can get.   Please join the...

Folks, I've fielded a lot of questions about this rifle—so here's a 15-minute bonus rifle review for you. This is the build project I did last year to create my ultimate .280 Ackley Improved custom mountain rifle. It was built by my old friend Steve Pratt of Elk Meadow Performance, using the following components:  Defiance Anti-X action Proof Research 22" 1:8-twist Sendero profile carbon-fiber bar...

Recorded raw in the field off coastal Alaska, this episode takes place hunting from the Venturess, a fishing/hunting boat operated by Alaska Premier Sportfishing. Even though we experienced constant rain, wind, and cold, our group of 7 hunters managed to take 4 great bears, plus our limit of halibut, rockfish, king salmon, and several yelloweye.  My daughter Sophie turned 12 on the boat, right aft...

How do you pick the right hunting mentor? And how do you distil what gear you really down to a practical setup? This episode is all about being a practical hunter with solid (but not expensive) gear, and about learning from real-deal hunters rather than popular, trendy influencers. Guest is Tate Bradfield, owner of Process Based Hunter . He's a young but savvy hunter with a world of experience. EN...

RIFLE REVIEW! For the first time ever, Weatherby's excellent new Model 307 action is available with a carbon-fiber stock and a carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel. It's called the Alpine CT, and is a wonderful lightweight hunting rifle.  I took one chambered in 7mm PRC to New Zealand this spring, and was real impressed. It's reliable, accurate, ergonomic, and has all the features I like in a backcountry h...

How good are modern monometal hunting bullets? All-copper and copper-alloy designs have undergone a lot of evolution in the past couple decades, and are becoming more and more popular. This episode takes a deep dive into the primary performance characteristics of the type, focusing on:  Killing effectiveness Accuracy potential Different expansion mechanisms Long-range capability Barrel fouling and...

Are the .308 and .30-06 similar in performance? Or are they actually quite different? This episode takes a deep dive into the performance and characteristics of each cartridge, in an effort to determine which is the better hunting cartridge. 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 next level.   Please join the Back...

Browning's new X-Bolt 2 Speed SR may be the best hunting rifle on the market in it's price bracket. This video takes a deep dive into just why that is. Showcased is a 6.8 Western version, along with the factory ammo it shoots best. 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 next level.   Please join the Backcountry Hun...

This episode covers the gear we take for spring bear hunting on Alaska's rugged coastlines, and details exactly why each specific item is chosen. From game bags to rifles, we cover it all!  We filmed as we discussed each item in the pile of gear, so if you want to put eyeballs on them, head on over to our new  Backcountry Hunting Podcast YouTube channel and give us a like and subscribe!  ENJOY!  ...

Recorded LIVE with our loyal listeners on Patreon! This Q&A is full of great info... Rifle setup, cartridge selection, pre-hunt shooting practice, how to build a stable field position, best bullets for elk, NRL Hunter competitions as a training tool, thermal scopes and how to use them, and a whole bunch more! ENJOY!  Join the next Live Q&A by becoming a member on  www.patreon.com/backcountry  

Here's the second half of our recent adventure in New Zealand... DIY on public land, in pursuit of chamois in the Southern Alps. Steep country, incessant rain, and low visiblity all were against us but hard hunting paid off and we each brought home a great chamois buck.  Recorded on a small portable mic, hunkered in or beside a tent in alpine country, this episode is about as raw and real as they...

Leupold's new RX-5000 rangefinder ranges to FIVE THOUSAND yards (or even a tad more!) and has the ability to project waypoints to onX Maps! This interview with Leupold's Eric Overstreet details the features and characteristics of this awesome new optic. ENJOY! For those of you that would like to see the new rangefinder in hand, check out the video of this episode on YouTube. Here's a link: https:/...

Kiwi Country! This episode we're in the field in New Zealand, hunting with Adam and Brenda Weatherby and their cameraman Koby Owens. Outfitter is Same Caley, who specializes in authentic, free-range hunts. Halfway through our hunt we paused to dry out, do laundry, and record a podcast about the two bull Tahr and Fallow deer we'd taken so far.  Plus, our group experienced a mountain-hunting acciden...