Backcountry Hunting Podcast

True backcountry hunting can be dangerous and challenging. Packing the right gear optimizes success, and may ensure survival. Choose wisely.  This list is a comprehensive selection of gear that will cover nearly any backcountry hunting adventure, compiled after 35 years of experience in the West and the far North's wilderness. But gear lists are boring, right? Not this time. We don't just itemize,...

Ever dreamed about hunting Red Stags? One of the most coveted, magical, historic Red Stag destinations in the world is the highlands of Scotland. This episode was recorded in the field, in a stone hunting lodge built during the Victorian era, and we tell the story of our good fortune and successful hunt for a big, old royal stag.  Head gamekeeper Sam Thompson and Spartan Precision's Rob Gearing si...

Ever wonder how to fine-tune your scope for best results? This episode addresses the ABC's of sighting in, as well as advanced tuning, field shooting positions for maximum consistency, trajectory validation, and practice techniques to master long shots in the West's wide-open country.  Plus, we myth-bust the old maximum-point-blank-range concept, discuss minimizing complexity when shooting extende...

Recorded live in the field from an ancient hunting lodge in Scotland's far northern Highlands, this episode brings listeners a look into the grand tradition of stalking red stags in The Olde Countrie--as well as current opportunities.  If you're a serious elk hunter, you've likely dreamed of hunting red stags. New Zealand, Argentina, and the European continent all have allure, but the most excitin...

Dog trainer and breeder extraordinair and passionate backcountry hunter Tyce Erickson joins us to discuss dog breeds that excel in the backcountry. We talk through the advantages of companionship, protection, blood trailing, shed antler hunting, packing, and more... Tyce defines the various charateristics of several breeds, including retrievers and pointers, and offers guidance on how to pick one...

When hunting something that can kill you, what's the ultimate rifle? And cartridge? Veteran dangerous-game hunter Ron Spomer and host Joseph von Benedikt continue our discussion of bolt-actions vs. double rifles and ideal cartridges. Plus, we throw lever-actions and single-shots into the mix, along with top-performing cartridges for those.  Ron shares his mixed results using the .375 H&H—lots of h...

Having the right tools to pursue dangerous game can literally mean the difference between living and dying. This episode, I'm joined by friend, mentor, and veteran dangerous game hunter Ron Spomer, of Ron Spomer Outdoors. We explore just what dangerous game is, the difference between a dangerous game hunting cartridge and a stopping cartridge, and various types of dangerous game rifles.  Plus, of...

Archery and bowhunting holds a mistique unmatched by any other predatorial pursuit we humans take part in. The arching flight of a well-made arrow toward the center of a distant target is a joy known to all who draw a bowstring... this episode is all about how to choose and set up exactly the right arrow and broadhead.  We're joined by 30-year Easton veteran and head marketing director Gary Cornum...

Is America's trendiest, most controversial cartridge adequate for hunting America's most dangerous game? Most would say no. Tyler Freel, an Alaskan wild man who's taken many grizzlies with recurve bows, blackpowder rifles, and even stone arrowheads, recently killed a big griz with a 6.5 Creedmoor.  This episode details his story.  Freel, an accomplished backcountry hunter and Outdoor Life field ed...

This campfire episode we're in west central Idaho, in bear camp. Mike Painter and host Joseph von Benedikt headed afield with Barnes's new Pioneer line of lever-action and revolver ammo. Mike's rifle is a yet-to-be-announced new model in .44 Magnum, and Joseph's is Marlin's terrific new Model 1895 Guide Gun in .45-70.  Both, as it turned out, are particularly good at taking bears.  There are many...

Your rifle's stock is your primary contact point with the launch platform that kills your quarry. Choose wisely. Here's how. Wood & Laminate wood stocks Proven, aesthetic, easy to work with & accurize Susceptible to changes in moisture Injection-molded composites Cheap plastic Better quality "glass-filled nylon" Overly flexible Hard to glass bed & accurize Susceptible to extremes in temperature Hi...

Want a career in the hunting and shooting industry? It's tough to break into, but if you've got the desire, the passion, the knowledge, and the stubborness, it's possible.  Here, von Benedikt goes through the skills, talents, and experience vital to being a successful writer, outlines how to get started, and tells his back story to highlight one path to success.  ENJOY!    FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT...

"Only accurate rifles are interesting." Said the legendary Col. Townsend Whelen. In the realm of backcountry hunting rifles, he's right.  It takes an accurate barrel to make an accurate rifle. This episode, we take a deep dive into the characteristics of great barrels—both production and custom—and how to choose just the right one for your tasks.  Manufacturing methods Rifling techniques Types of...

This episode, I'm back on the line with Brandon Maddox, the world's smartest suppressor man, to swap hunting stories. Brandon recently returned from Africa, where an unprovoked dagga bull Cape buffalo mauled three of Brandon's friends—on two consecutive days! Needless to say, in the end the bull lost.  Brandon relates that story, plus we tell tales about hunting wildcats at night, stalking the sec...

Controversial, capable, unpredictable... The 6.5 Creedmoor is one of those cartridges that generates a lot of love and hate. Even though we usually recommend bigger cartridges for elk, there are times and situations where the 6.5 Creedmoor is the best choice.  In this episode, we take a candid look at the 6.5 Creedmoor's capability, consider ballistic data, and compare it to legendary cartridges s...

Ever had your hunting rifle malfunction at the moment of truth? It's a confidence-shaking thing, and can lose you an opportunity at a buck or bull of a lifetime. On dangerous game? Possibly your life.  This episode digs into the pros and cons of various types of bolt-action designs. We dissect the mechanics of push-feed actions compared to controlled-feed actions, and evaluate their various advant...

This episode details the second half of an incredible hunt in Spain. von Benedikt and hunting partner Austin Brown drive halfway across the country, visiting castle ruins and ancient churches and cathedrals and staying in half-millennium-old inns, to hunt giant roebucks.  From botched shots and success on a world-class roebuck, to exploring 2,000-year-old Roman aqueducts and Moorish architecture a...

Raw from the field, this episode details the first half of a hunting adventure high in Spain's remote, extremely rugged Pyrenees Mountains. My long-time hunting partner Austin Brown was intent on taking an indigenous, free-range chamois the hard way—by climbing above timberline, glassing up an old male, and climbing within range.  In a surprise bonus, we got to visit a 1,000-year-old church unfath...

Leupold's long-awaited ranging bino is about to hit your local dealers! It's an awesome optic called the BX-4HD Range, and is initially available in 10x42 for $1,600.  In this episode, I'm joined by friends and hunting partners Skipper and Colton, who both have experience with the new BX-4HD Range, and we hash out the advantages of a combined binocular and rangefinder. Why deal with 2 items, extra...

In this episode, we pit the legendary .30-06 against the cutting-edge new 7mm PRC. This may seem like an odd pairing, but considering the fact that one is the all-American standard by which all others are measured, and the other is the hunting world's most popular up-and-comer, it makes good sense.  Plus, there's a surprising amount of give and take in advantages. Even just outlining this episode...

Extraordinary elk hunts provide extraordinary memories—and provide valuable lessons. In this episode, Joseph von Benedikt tells the stories of his 5 top elk hunts, and unpacks the seasonal conditions, hunt methods, gear (rifle, optic, cartridge, & bullet), and other dynamics that led to success.  Deep analysis after each tale provides insight into make-or-break tactics and techniques, as well as g...

Tipi-type shelters are both ancient and modern; traditional and trendy. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the pros and cons of flourless, tipi-type modern tents for backcountry hunting. Ryan Sapena of Seek Outside details how they're superior in high winds, lighter and faster to set up, and offer stove-compatibility and all the benefits that accompany that. (Dry your clothes, stay warm, co...

This episode takes a deep dive into the mechanics of various types of hunting bullets. We define: On-impact performance characteristics Shot angles, and what it takes to successfully destroy vitals Broadside Quartering to Quartering away Facing straight on "Texas heart shots" (facing away) Bullet types Cup-and-lead-core Bonded-lead core, partition, and hybrid Monometal Big game sizes and bullet re...

Straight from the experts... Mark and Steve of EXO MTN Gear detail how to pick, fit, and load a backpack. Whether you're a fast-and-light overnight solo hunter or heading out on an expedition-level hunt, these tips will make your pack in and load out easier.  Also, we get a first look at EXO's terrific new K4 pack system. I used a final-stage prototype on my DIY, drop-camp Alaska moose hunt last f...