My name is John McAdams and I created The Big Game Hunting Podcast to assist hunters like you in preparing for the big game hunting adventures you’ve always dreamed about.
Are you a hunter who has imagined getting outside your comfort zone and going on some sort of adventure? Maybe you want to hunt kudu, impala, or even cape buffalo in Africa or chamois, Himalayan tahr, and red stag in New Zealand. Perhaps you want to go black bear, caribou, elk, moose, pronghorn, or mule deer hunting in states like Alaska, Colorado, or Wyoming or even up in Canadian Provinces like Alberta and British Columbia.
If those are the sort of hunts that fill your dreams at night, then you’ve come to the right place to learn about turning those dreams into reality.
This isn’t your typical deer hunting podcast or hunting show. The Big Game Hunting Podcast will cover a wide range of topics like where you need to go to hunt various species, effective hunting strategies, how to find an honest hunting outfitter, entertaining and inspiring hunting stories, the ins and outs of public land hunting, interviews with leaders in the hunting industry, how to choose the best rifle, cartridge, and ammunition and other gear for a particular hunt, and much more.
Feel free to send me a message at [email protected] with any feedback you have on the show as well as topic requests for future episodes.
New episodes of The Big Game Hunting Podcast release every Thursday.
Select your favorite podcast service below and hit the “subscribe” or “follow” button to get future episodes downloaded directly to your computer, phone, or tablet.
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350: Whitetail Hunting Secrets With Larry Weishuhn
Larry Weishuhn, also known as “Mr. Whitetail”, joins me on the show today to talk about some of the finer points of whitetail deer hunting. I’ve always wanted to sit down with an accomplished deer hunter and wildlife biologist Larry and pepper him with specific questions about how to take my deer hunting game to the next level. Well, that’s what we do today and we discuss all sorts of burning questions I’ve had about deer hunting like whether or not it’s really a good idea to urinate on deer scrapes, how to determine the exact day that’s best for tagging a mature buck during the rut, what exactly is going on during the October lull, and much more.
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349: The ugly truth about bullet failures
Today, we’re going to talk about bullet failures. Bullet failures are a hot topic, especially when they involve certain, very polarizing bullets and/or cartridges. I absolutely believe they do occur, but I think they get blamed unfairly for a lot of wounded and lost game. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve had tell me they made a perfect shot, but the bullet “blew up on the shoulder” and the animal ran off, never to be seen again. Like I said, bullet failures do occur though and I’ve compiled a giant list of those sorts of stories to share with you in this episode.
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348: 223 Remington vs 22 ARC Cartridge Comparison
Today we’re going to talk about 2 22 caliber cartridges designed for use in America’s favorite gun in the AR-15 platform: the 223 Remington and the 22 ARC. As always, we’ll discuss the overall design characteristics and performance specs of each round, then compare how they stack up next to each other. I’ll also cover how they each perform in some ballistic gel tests and discuss some interesting aspects of how they each performed at the range.
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347: Ultimate Guide To The Other 30 Caliber Cartridges
Today, I discuss all of the other .30 caliber cartridges I didn’t cover in episode 286. None of these rounds use a .308″ bullet, but all are still .30 caliber cartridges and most fill a similar niche as the .308 Winchester and 30-06 Springfield in various parts of the world. As always, I’ll talk about their history, design characteristics, performance specs, their strengths and weaknesses, and their recommended uses in detail. Where appropriate, I’ll also share some personal anecdotes involving these rounds as well as some observations involving various cartridges by noteworthy gun writers as well.
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346: Listen For A Special Announcement!
Join me at the Dallas Safari Club Convention in Atlanta, Georgia 9-12 January 2025. I will be attending the show with 2 of my African PHs (Johan and Kobus) and we’d love to meet you in person if you’ll be at the show. We will be hosting an event for podcast listeners and past/future safari hunters Friday or Saturday (10 or 11 January). Stay tuned for more details!
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345: 7mm Cartridges-The Ultimate Guide
I discuss all of the 7mm CIP and SAAMI standardized cartridges (plus a couple of other noteworthy rounds) in this episode. As always, I’ll talk about their history, design characteristics, performance specs, their strengths and weaknesses, and their recommended uses in detail. Where appropriate, I’ll also share some personal anecdotes involving these rounds as well as some observations involving various cartridges by noteworthy gun writers as well.
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344: Moose Hunting With A 22 ARC?!
Tyler Freel is back on the show today to talk about a recent moose hunt where he cleanly killed a nice bull with the new 22 Advanced Rifle Cartridge using his AR-15. I Feel like I owe it to my audience to give them the best and most accurate information possible and sometimes that involves challenging previously held beliefs about what people think you “need” to hunt certain animals. This is one of those episodes. So was one of Tyler’s previous appearances on the show with me in ep 282 where he talks about killing a grizzly bear with the 6.5 Creedmoor.
You are of course welcome to disagree with us, all I ask is that you keep an open mind as Tyler and I discuss this hunt in detail. As you’ll discover shortly, the little 22 ARC delivered surprisingly good terminal performance on a big Alaskan bull moose and we discuss why that was the case in great detail today.
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343: Have you ever had a bullet fail on a hunt?
I have request for your assistance with an upcoming project. I’m planning an episode on December where I discuss so called “bullet failures.” I have a couple of examples I have experienced myself I’ll share with you in that episode, but I’d also like to do some crowd sourcing on this topic as well and share some noteworthy examples from the audience.
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342: How Nosler Bullets Perform Afield With Cable Smith
Cable Smith joins me on the show again as we talk about some of his recent experiences hunting with the legendary Nosler Partition and AccuBond along with the Solid Base bullet from their new Whitetail Country line.
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341: Last Chance To Help Me Test Some Ammo!
Today is the last chance to throw your name in the hat to potentially receive some free Nosler Whitetail Country ammunition to test out this fall.
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340: The Best New Rifle Of 2024?
Sometimes you just find a rifle that just flat out works: it fits you well, it’s not excessively large or heavy, has a nice trigger, it’s easy to shoot accurately, it’s not finicky and doesn’t require an extensive break-in process, and seems like it loves all the ammo you feed it. Well, Bergara’s new Wilderness Sierra rifle checks all of those boxes for me. I used that rifle on my recent moose hunt and I’m thrilled with how it performed. Here’s a detailed break-down of everything you need to know about this new rifle!
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339: Want to help me test some ammo?
Nosler just sent me a bunch of their new Whitetail Country line of ammunition and I need some help testing and evaluating how it performs afield this fall. Here’s how you can help me out and potentially receive some free ammo in the process!
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338: The Ultimate Guide To 338 Caliber Cartridges
I discuss all of the 33 caliber CIP and SAAMI standardized cartridges (plus a couple of other noteworthy rounds) in this episode and discuss their history, legacy, their strengths and weaknesses, and their recommended uses in detail.
Cartridges covered: 33 WCF, 333 Jeffery, 338-06 A-Square, 338 Winchester Magnum, 338 Lapua Magnum, 338 Blaser, 8.6 Blackout, 338 Federal, 338 Weatherby RPM, 338 Ruger Compact Magnum, 338 Marlin, 338 Norma, 338 Remington Ultra Magnum, 33 Nosler, 340 Weatherby Magnum, 338-378 Weatherby Magnum, 8.5×55 Blaser, 338 ARC.
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337: I just punched my moose tag!
I just made it home from an outstanding moose hunt in Colorado with my son! We had an amazing trip and I successfully took a cow Shiras Moose, which was a species I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to hunt because those tags are just so darn hard to obtain. Not only did I manage to pull a tag, but successfully punched it! Today’s episode is a detailed recap of our hunt, evaluations of some gear we used, and some of the lessons we learned along the way.
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336: Best Cartridge For Hunting Darn Near Anything With Ron Spomer
Ron Spomer is back on the show and we discuss a subject I know you’ll enjoy: our favorite cartridges for hunting virtually any species of big game. We’re play little game where Ron and I each list our favorite cartridge and bullet for hunting specific species of game ranging from coues whitetail all the way up to thick skinned species of African game like cape buffalo and elephant and almost everything in between like mule deer, elk, black bear, etc. The catch is we cannot reuse a cartridge for multiple species. Even so, our discussion provides an interesting glimpse into the thought process he and I each use for selecting cartridges and bullets for hunting different species of game.
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335: Thompson/Center Is Back! | Gregg Ritz Talks About Getting The Band Back Together!
Like the mythical Phoenix, Thompson/Center has risen from the ashes. Owner Gregg Ritz joins me on the show today to discuss the rise and fall of the company and the story of how he is currently in the process of resurrecting this legendary American firearms institution and what we can expect from T/C moving forward.
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334: 22 ARC-A Profile Of Hornady’s Hot Little Rifle Cartridge
Today, we’re talking about Hornady’s new 22 Advanced Rifle Cartridge (22 ARC), which purports to deliver 22-250 level performance out of an AR-15 platform. In this episode I discuss whether or not Hornady delivers on that promise, what this cartridge is best suited for, and whether or not you should purchase one.
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333: About That Buffalo Roy Weatherby Shot With A 257 Weatherby…
As I promised you a couple of weeks ago, we’re going to talk about the details I’ve been able to dig up regarding the often repeated story where Roy Weatherby supposedly killed a cape buffalo with the 257 Weatherby Magnum today. Buckle up folks, because this is going to be a good one!
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332: Hunting Africa With A 6.5 Creedmoor With WHO_TEE_WHO
Adam Wies (better known as WHO_TEE_WHO on YouTube) is up next in my ongoing Africa hunting mini-series. We actually just hosted Adam on a plains game hunt with us in Africa and yes, he did hunt with a 6.5 Creedmoor. As you’ll learn here shortly, Adam had an outstanding trip. None of those 6.5 Creedmoor bullets bounced off any game and he actually had a couple of very impressive kills with it. I joined Adam on a YouTube live session on his channel where he and I discussed things with his trip in detail. This is the audio from that discussion.
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331: A Hair Raising Leopard Hunt In Zimbabwe
Joe Thompson is up next in my ongoing Africa hunting mini-series to talk about his hair raising leopard hunt in Zimbabwe last year. As you’ll learn here shortly, there was a lot of drama associated with this hunt, especially at the beginning. As Ferris Bueller once said, life comes at you pretty fast and that’s exactly what happened to Joe on this leopard hunt.
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330: Nyala & Bushbuck Hunting With Mike Arnold
Mike Arnold is up next in my ongoing Africa hunting mini-series to talk about bushbuck and nyala. These two species of spiral horned antelope are both magnificent creatures that, as different as they may appear at first glance, also share a few surprising similarities. In fact, they also live in some of the same areas and even compete with each other for food (to the detriment of one of them). Mike and I discuss these two species in detail: where they live, what they look like, how they behave, how they’re commonly hunted, and how these antelope species are similar and different from each other, and some of the ongoing observations scientists and PHs are making regarding how one of these species is often coming out on the losing end of how they are competing with each other in certain areas.
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329: .50, .60, & .70 Caliber Big Bore Safari Cartridges With Kevin Robertson
Kevin Robertson and I cover the most popular really big bore safari cartridges .50 caliber and larger and discuss their history, legacy, their strengths and weaknesses, and their recommended uses in detail. We discuss almost everything from the 500 Nitro all the way up to the 700 Nitro Express in this episode (to include some real retina detaching and clavicle breaking offerings like the 577 T-Rex and the 600 Overkill).
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328: .25 Caliber Cartridges: The Ultimate Guide
The “quarter bore” section of the ballistics world doesn’t get a lot of love, certainly not when compared to the smaller 6mm, or larger 6.5mm, 270 cal, 7mm, or 30 cal bore diameters. Even so, the various 25 caliber cartridges have a very rich history and there some very interesting stories associated with them. In this episode, I hit the highlights of all of the 25 caliber SAAMI certified cartridges (plus a couple of other noteworthy rounds) and discuss their history, legacy, their strengths and weaknesses, and their recommended uses in detail.
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327: Taking The 7mm PRC Out Past 1 Mile At The Bergara Academy
I just made it back home from a fantastic couple of days at the Bergara Academy at Queen Mountain Ranch near Evanston, Wyoming. This episode is a short “campfire style” discussion of the highlights of our time up there I did with Collin Russell from Bergara and 4 other media guys from the industry who joined me up there. All told, we talk about what we did at the Bergara Academy, the guns we shot up there, what the course was like, and what our favorite part of the week was.
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326: An Introduction To Handloading With Zak May
Zak May from Reloading Quest is on the show with us today to talk about handloading. We talk about why people should handload, cartridges that are easy to reload for, cartridges that are difficult to reload for, common mistakes people make while handloading, and how Zak recommends getting started.
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325: Ozonics Hunting-Are They The Real Deal?
Cole Tanner from Ozonics Hunting joins me on the show today to talk about the ozone devices they manufacture and sell to hunters as a way to minimize the chances of game smelling them afield. I know, it sounds too good to be true, but I’ve used an Ozonics unit for a long time myself now and I’ve seen firsthand how beneficial they can be afield. In fact, I’m certain it helped me take a couple of animals under conditions where there’s no way I would have been successful without an ozonics unit. Well, Cole is going to tell us all about the how and why these Ozonics units work, the situations they’re best suited for, how to get the most out of them afield, and a little about their current product.
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324: 300 Blackout vs 7.62×39 Caliber Comparison
I have another cartridge comparison for you today where we the 300 Blackout and the 7.62x39mm. These two cartridges are remarkably similar in performance at first glance, but if you dig deeper, you’ll see there are some substantial differences in some other key areas that lurk just below the surface. We’ll explore all of those things in more detail here in this episode.
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323: Rescued From An Iceberg In The Arctic Ocean On A Polar Bear Hunt
It has been awhile since I’ve had someone on the show to talk about a truly wild and crazy hunt. To that end, I have a guest on the podcast today with me with a hair raising tale to share with you. When I first started attending church after I moved to town, people there started asking me what I do. Without exception, every single person I met told me I needed to talk to Terry Morgan about a hunt he went on up in Canada many years ago where a crazy set of circumstances resulted in him being adrift on an ice burg floating out into the open ocean one morning. Well, Terry is going to tell us the whole story of that hunt today.
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322: 223/5.56 vs 7.62×39 Caliber Comparison
This episode releases on the 4th of July, so I thought it was fitting to not only do a cartridge comparison, but focus on two cartridges that have played prominent roles in US military conflicts over the past half century: the 223 Remington and 5.56 NATO on one side vs the 7.62x39mm on the other. The 5.56 vs 7.62x39mm debate kicked off right after military forces using those cartridges first met in the jungles of Vietnam during the 1960s and has never really ended as shooters continue to intensely argue the strengths and weaknesses of each cartridge in sporting goods shops, gun magazines, online forums, and shooting ranges across the country. In this episode, I do my best to sort through the 223/5.56 vs 7.62x39mm debate in an even handed manner in order to help you make an informed decision on which one is right for you.
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321: Handgun Hunting With Ryan Hoover
Ryan Hoover of Handgun Hunters International is on the show with us today to talk about hunting with a handgun. We discuss one of his more memorable handgun hunts, reasons why people enjoy hunting with a handgun, why handgun hunting is more challenging than hunting with a rifle in some ways, popular handgun models for hunters, and of course, practical ballistics and caliber selection for handgun hunters.
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320: Master Alaska Guide Phil Shoemaker Talks Brown Bear Hunting
Master Alaskan guide Phil Shoemaker joins me in this episode to talk about brown bear hunting in Alaska. We discuss how he got started in this business, practical ballistics, caliber selection, and bullet selection as it relates to bear hunting, some of the other, less discussed, though still important aspects of bear hunting, and a couple of noteworthy stories from his long hunting career up in Alaska (including his famous incident from 2016 where he killed an aggressive brown bear with his 9mm handgun).
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319: John Stallone on fighting anti-hunting attacks
John Stallone from HOWL for Wildlife is on the show with us to talk about a couple of serious threats to hunting he and his organization are fighting against. John is also a hunting outfitter and has hosted a hunting TV show. He also talks a little bit about what it was like to have a hunting TV show and gives us a small peek behind the curtain into that world. John and I discuss what’s going on with these additional, ongoing attacks on hunting in detail, what they mean for hunters all over North America, and how you can get involved in the fight against these anti-hunting initiatives.
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318: How you can help in the fight to save hunting
Dan Gates from Coloradans For Responsible Wildlife Management is on the show with us to talk about a couple of very serious threats to hunting he and his organization are fighting against. As you’ll learn here shortly, these are issues that affect hunters from all over the USA, not just those in Colorado. In this episode, Dan and I discuss these issues in detail, what they mean for hunters in Colorado and elsewhere in North America, and how you can get involved in the fight against these anti-hunting initiatives.
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317: Bear Hunting In Alaska With Tyler Kuhn
Sticking with the “Alaska Theme” we started last week with my discussion with Tyler Freel on Dall Sheep, we have Tyler Kuhn from A-Team Outfitting on the show to talk to us about bear hunting in Alaska. In this episode we talk about hunting both black and brown bear: the time of year they do those hunts, how they’re alike and different, spot and stalk vs baited hunts, etc.
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316: Dall Sheep Hunting With Tyler Freel
Tyler Freel is back on the show today to talk about Dall Sheep hunting. Tyler has lived in Alaska for a long time and has done a lot of sheep hunting over the years. In this episode, we talk about everything Dall sheep: how and where to hunt sheep, descriptions of what constitutes a legal ram, how a sheep hunt often goes, what time of year they’re hunted, how they taste, and of course, what cartridges and bullets are best suited for and most commonly used for hunting Dall sheep.
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315: Best Cartridge For Hunting Darn Near Anything With JvB
Today Joseph von Benedikt is back on the show and we discuss a subject I know you’ll enjoy: our favorite cartridges for hunting virtually any species of big game. We’re play little game here today where Joseph and I each list our favorite cartridge and bullet for hunting specific species of game ranging from coues whitetail all the way up to thick skinned species of African game like cape buffalo and elephant and almost everything in between like mule deer, elk, black bear, etc. The catch is that we cannot reuse a cartridge for multiple species. Even so, our discussion provides an interesting glimpse into the thought process he and I each use for selecting cartridges and bullets for hunting different species of game. This is a great episode I really enjoyed recording it and I’m sure you’ll enjoy listening to it as well.
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314: Listener Q&A And 5 Year Anniversary Giveaway
I released that very first episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast just over 5 years ago all the way back in 2019. My goodness it has been quite a ride! I’ve learned a lot, connected with some fantastic people, and enjoyed some amazing experiences along the way. Thank you for your support over these past 5 years! This particular episode is a Q&A session where I’ll go through a number of listener submitted questions I’ve received over the past few weeks. I do this show specifically for my audience and I can’t think of a better way to help celebrate my 5 year anniversary than focusing on answering user submitted questions.
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313: Leupold’s New Gamechanging Rangefinder
I feel like the term “game changer” get’s thrown around way too often in this industry. However, I think Leupold’s new Rx5000 rangefinder does actually deserve the title of a truly game changing device. Tim Lesser from Leupold is back on the show to talk about that new rangefinder what what makes it so special. We also talk about a couple of their other new products for 2024 along with the highlights of their spotting scope and rangefinder product lines.
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312: The Ugly Truth About The 7mm PRC
Rumors have been swirling about Hornady Precision Hunter factory ammo for the 7mm PRC failing to deliver advertised velocities and a lot of hunters and shooters are understandably upset about the situation. I did some extensive testing at the range last week with multiple 7mm PRC factory loads from both Federal and Hornady. In this episode I share what I learned along with some recommendations for how other hunters can get the most out of the cartridge in light of these issues.
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311: Black Bear Hunting In Birkenstocks With Johnny Mack
Johnny Mack from the Soul Seekers Podcast is on the show with us to talk about black bear hunting. As you’ll learn here shortly, Johnny is an adult onset hunter who cut his teeth bear hunting in the PNW because that was the only thing he could hunt at the time due to schedule conflicts with work. He has since developed a great system for finding bears and has experienced a lot of success afield hunting black bears in multiple states. With that in mind, he’s going to share a few things he has learned along the way with us in this episode.
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310: 7mm PRC: The Good, Bad, & Ugly After 1 Year
Hornady unveiled the 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge in October or 2022 and that cartridge has taken the hunting world by storm since then. I’ve hunted with and shot the 7mm PRC pretty extensively over the past year. While I really like the cartridge and have been pleased with how it has performed overall, the 7mm PRC is not perfect and some disturbing issues have cropped up with it recently. Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly about the 7mm PRC after just over one year on the market.
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309: 2024 Updates From Spartan Precision With Rob Gearing
Rob Gearing is back on the show with me again today to talk about the latest stuff from Spartan Precision. We talk about the new Springbok bipod and quad system, the possibility of a less expensive bipod from Spartan Precision coming soon, and some other new developments in the industry that have occurred since he was last on the show.
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308: Hog Hunting With A 300 Blackout: Good Idea or Bad Idea?
Is the 300 Blackout good for hog hunting? The story I share in this episode does a great job of illustrating the pros and cons of hunting with the 300 Blackout as well as some best practices for getting the most out of this cartridge.
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307: 2024 Silencer Updates With Brandon Maddox
Brandon Maddox is back on the show with me again today to talk about the latest stuff from Silencer Central. We talk about the new Buck 30 by Banish, their new Speed K suppressor, and some other new developments in the industry that have occurred since he was last on the show in 2023.
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306: 5 Year Podcast Giveaway Celebration!
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but we’re coming up on the 5 year anniversary for the Big Game Hunting Podcast! To celebrate, I’ve organized an enormous giveaway of amazing prizes (to include a free hunt in Africa) for listeners. Have a listen to learn the details!
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305: 22-250 vs 223 Remington Cartridge Comparison
I have another cartridge comparison for you today where we compare two very popular 22 caliber rounds that both bear the Remington name: the 223 Remington and the 22-250 Remington. That’s not surprising and those two cartridges can be incredibly effective on coyotes (and other predators and varmints) and both have accounted for literally truckloads of coyotes over the years. While the 223 and 22-250 are both very popular coyote cartridges, and while there is a good amount of overlap in their performance and ideal use cases, there are some significant differences between the 22-250 vs 223 Remington. With those things in mind, I investigate the 22-250 vs 223 Remington in detail in this episode in order to provide some insight into which rifle cartridge is ideally suited for your specific hunting situation.
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304: The Highs And Lows Of Elk Hunting Out West!
Justin Townsend and Casey Nordine from the Harvesting Nature crew joined me on this episode to talk about some of the highs and lows of elk hunting out west. Both had very different hunting experiences, but there were also some important similarities in their hunts as well. Both guys hunted elk in 2023 in some areas where tags weren’t especially difficult to obtain. And both guys actually got into elk while they were out there too. And both guys dealt with adversity of varying kinds out there afield.
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303: 300 Win Mag vs 300 WSM Cartridge Comparison
I have another cartridge comparison for you today where we compare two very popular 30 caliber magnum rounds: the 300 Winchester Magnum and the 300 Winchester Short Magnum. Both are very popular rifle cartridges and there is a lot of overlap in their performance and ideal use cases, but there are some significant differences between the 300 WSM vs 300 Win Mag. Well, that’s we’ll discuss in this episode where I investigate the pros and cons of the 300 Win Mag and 300 WSM in detail so you can make an informed decision on which one will work best for your individual needs.
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302: 300 Win Mag vs 7mm PRC Cartridge Comparison
I have a cartridge comparison for you today where we compare two very popular rounds: the tried and true 300 Winchester Magnum and the newest kid on the block with the 7mm PRC. Which one is the better choice for you? Well, that’s we’ll discuss in this episode where I investigate the pros and cons of the 300 Win Mag and 7mm PRC in detail so you can make an informed decision on which one will work best for your individual needs.
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301: Rigby Dagga Boy Award With Marc Newton
John Rigby & Co Managing Director Marc Newton joined me on this episode of The Big Game Hunting podcast to discuss the history of John Rigby & Co, some of their current rifle and shotgun offerings, and the 2025 Rigby Dagga Boy Award.
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300: 40 Caliber Safari Cartridges With Kevin Robertson
In this episode, Kevin Robertson and I cover the most popular .40 caliber safari cartridges and discuss their history, legacy, their strengths and weaknesses, and their recommended uses in detail. We discuss almost everything from the 450/400 all the way up to the 470 Nitro Express in this episode (to include some more obscure offerings like the 500/416 and the 416 Taylor as well as old standbys like the 416 Rigby and 458 Win Mag).
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299: Namibia’s New Age Related Scoring System
Next up in our ongoing Africa hunting mini-series is an interview Axel Kramer, the President of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (or NAPHA). Axel was kind enough to take a break from his busy schedule to discuss NAPHAs new Age Related Trophy Measuring system they recently implemented in order to incentivize hunters to harvest older animals. We’ll discuss why they implemented this new measuring system, the benefits they hope to see from this new system down the line, and we’ll also get a little bit into the “nuts and bolts” of the new Age Related Trophy Measuring system and what it means for visiting hunters.
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298: Non-Traditional Taxidermy & Taxidermy Alternatives
In this episode, I go over a few novel taxidermy ideas as well as some other alternatives to taxidermy that can serve some of the same purposes as traditional taxidermy without as many as the downsides of taxidermy. Taxidermy is often a big part of an African safari hunt, so I’m including this episode in my ongoing Africa mini-series. However, a lot of the stuff I talk about in this episode can also apply to hunts elsewhere in the world too.
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297: Your Ultimate Guide To 9.3mm & 375 Caliber Cartridges
In this episode, I cover the most popular 9.3mm and 375 caliber CIP and/or SAAMI certified cartridges and discuss their history, legacy, their strengths and weaknesses, and their recommended uses in detail. Most of those cartridges are very popular for hunting Africa, but as you’ll learn here shortly, that’s not the case with all of them. Indeed, a couple are uniquely American or European hunting cartridges and a couple of others aren’t even hunting cartridges at all!
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296: 404 Jeffery-Africa’s Underrated Workhorse
Though it is well over a century old, does not possess eye popping ballistics, the 404 Jeffery was massively popular among the most serious African big game hunters for much of the 20th Century and still maintains an almost cult-like following among a certain segments of the hunting community to this day. I’ll tell you exactly why that’s the case in this episode where I discuss the history as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the 404 Jeffery in detail. I also provide some information on how the 404 Jeffery compares to two other popular and capable dangerous game rifles cartridges in the 375 H&H Magnum and the 416 Rigby to give you an idea of what sort of performance you can expect from the cartridge and so you can decide if it best fits your needs as a hunter.
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I’m back home from a quick trip up to Las Vegas for the 2024 SHOT show and put together a quick bonus episode for you that will hit some of the highlights of the show along with some of the more notable new products as well as updates and/or expansions to existing product lines announced there. Not a lot of earth shattering news this year, but there were still a couple of pretty cool developments that came out of the show.
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294: First African Safari With Scott Spanton
Scott Spanton is a long-time podcast listener from Australia and he has hunted in South Africa Big Game Hunting Adventures twice: once in April of 2022 and once in October of 2023. For that reason, Scott has a unique perspective on what it’s like hunting very early in the hunting season vs very late in the hunting season. Plus, he used rifles in 7mm Rem Mag and 300 WSM on these hunts and can share some personal experiences on how those two cartridges worked over there. We also talk about a few lessons Scott learned along the way and share some of the more memorable aspects of each hunt.
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293: Leopard Hunting With Phil Massaro In Zimbabwe
We’re kicking off our 2024 Africa mini-series this week and we have the perfect guest to do just that: Phil Massaro is back on the show with us today to talk about an intense leopard hunt he did back in 2023 with Tanya Blake Safaris in Zimbabwe.
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292: Cactus Buck Hunting With Adam Wies (WHO_TEE_WHO)
We have a special guest on the show with us today: Adam Wies, better known as WHO-TEE_ WHO on YouTube. Adam is back on the show to talk with us about his busy 2023 hunting season, the very unique deer he took on a hunt in Utah, the guns and ammo he used on those hunts, and what the future is looking like for him.
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291: 270 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide
While the United States is indeed a country where 30 caliber cartridges reign supreme, the 270 bore diameter can really give the 30 caliber a run for it’s money. Indeed, the 270 could even be described as a uniquely American bore diameter. In this episode, I hit the highlights of all of the 270 caliber SAAMI certified cartridges and discuss their history, legacy, their strengths and weaknesses, and their recommended uses in detail.
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290: 2023 Recap, 2024 Preview, & A Special Guest
As 2023 draws to a close, I wanted to do a quick recap of the year with you, cover a couple of interesting events that didn’t make it into their own podcast episodes, and give you a preview of what’s to come in 2024. Plus, we’ll be joined by a special guest at the end of this episode!
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289: Dall Sheep Hunting In Alaska With Mark Huelsing
Today Mark Huelsing from Exo Mountain Gear and the Hunt Backcountry Podcast is on the show with us to talk about his recent Dall Sheep hunt up in Alaska. As you’ll learn here shortly, that hunt was quite the adventure with lots of emotional ups and downs along the way. He eventually got it done and tagged a great looking sheep on his hunt, but that whole experience seemed like a giant roller coaster ride and sounds like it really tested the limits of human endurance as well.
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288: The World Changing 7x57mm Mauser
Today I’m going to share the story of a cartridge that could very well be described as “world changing.” It’s not the 6.5 Creedmoor. No, this particular cartridge came on the scene well over 100 years ago and made a very profound effect on the hunting and shooting worlds. And to top it all off, it’s still around and remains in somewhat common use to this day. What cartridge am I teasing? It’s the 7mm Mauser. Also known as the 7×57 or the 275 Rigby, the 7mm Mauser is a remarkable cartridge that has a legacy few other cartridges can compare to.
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287: 6.8 Western vs 7mm PRC: Battle of the New Kids on the Block
I have another cartridge comparison for you today where we compare two of the newest centerfire rifle cartridges to hit the market: the 6.8 Western and the 7mm PRC. Especially since they’re both so new and seem to fit into a similar performance category, it’s only natural that many hunters would be curious about how the 6.8 Western stacks up against the 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge. Well, that’s what I do in this episode where I investigate the 6.8 Western vs 7mm PRC debate in detail and provide some insight into which cartridge is better suited for common hunting situations so you can make an informed decision on which one will work best for your individual needs.
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286: Your Ultimate Guide To 30 Caliber Cartridges
The United States is a country where 30 caliber cartridges reign supreme. Don’t get me wrong: other bore diameters are plenty popular too, but none can hold a candle to the .308 in terms of popularity or variety though. In fact, if there were an “official” rifle cartridge of the United States, I’m sure it would be a 30 caliber cartridge of some sort. In this episode, I hit the highlights of some popular (and not so popular) 30 caliber cartridges and discuss their history, legacy, their strengths and weaknesses, and their recommended uses in detail.
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285: Hunting With Banish Suppressors: The Good, Bad, & Ugly
Today we’re going to talk about hunting with suppressors in detail. I first jumped on the silencer bandwagon back in 2021 when I purchased a Banish 30 from Silencer Central. I now possess 5 different suppressors and I’ve accumulated a lot of experience at the range and afield with them over the past 2 years. I hit highlights of all 5 suppressors I own in this episode (along with the pros, cons, and recommended uses for each one). Plus I also share some lessons I’ve learned over the past couple of years about using and caring for a suppressor, explain what the process of buying a suppressor is like, and give you some specific recommendations on which suppressor models are best suited for the sort of hunting you do.
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284: How A Blind Hunter Goes Deer Hunting
A podcast listener named John Fritz joined me on the show today to talk about whitetail deer hunting. This isn’t a run of the mill episode about deer hunting though. No, John is completely blind, yet he still goes deer hunting every year and often fills one or more tags. Indeed, he actually cleanly harvested a buck at 295 yards with a single shot this year. In this episode we talk a little bit about John’s background, what spurred him to start hunting, the various systems he has used over the years to allow him to safely and cleanly harvest deer, some special practical and legal considerations he has to keep in mind as a blind hunter, and what his future hunting goals are.
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283: My 2023 New Mexico Mule Deer Hunt With My Son!
I just made it home from an outstanding mule deer hunt in New Mexico with my son. I’m not exaggerating when I say that hunt was one of the most fun hunts I’ve ever been on. We dealt with some wild conditions, had a lot of fun, and ultimately were successful in tagging a buck. Today’s episode is a detailed recap of that hunt, evaluations of some gear we used, and some of the lessons we learned along the way.
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282: Grizzly Bear Hunting With A 6.5 Creedmoor?!?
Virtually all hunters and shooters probably agree that the 6.5 Creedmoor is a great target shooting cartridge. Most hunters would say it’s great for hunting deer sized game too. A smaller number would even classify it as adequate for bigger game like elk. However, the vast majority of hunters would say that using the 6.5 Creedmoor for hunting grizzly bear is a foolish stunt. Well, Outdoor Life staff writer Tyler Freel would disagree with that assessment and used his 6.5 Creedmoor to kill a really nice grizzly during the spring of 2023.
Well, Tyler was kind enough to come on the show with me today to discuss this hunt in detail: why he decided to hunt that bear with a 6.5 Creedmoor, what previous experience he had both hunting grizzly with other methods of take and what other animals he’d taken with the 6.5 Creedmoor and how those situations informed his decision to go ahead with this hunt, what rifle and ammunition he used, and the situations where he would NOT use a 6.5 Creedmoor on a big bear.
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281: Gary Morgan on Bobcat Hunting
Gary Morgan is back on the show with me again today to talk about another subject I know next to nothing about: bobcat hunting. These feline predators are a whole different ball of wax when compared to hunting other predators, like coyote. Gary does a lot of hunting up in Michigan for a number of species, to include bobcat and that’s what we’re going to talk about today.
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280: 7mm PRC vs 7mm Rem Mag vs 28 Nosler Cartridge Comparison
I have another cartridge comparison for you today where we compare the 7mm PRC, 28 Nosler, and 7mm Remington Magnum cartridges. It’s only natural that many hunters would be curious about how the brand new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge stacks up against the tried and true 7mm Remington Magnum and the hot rod 28 Nosler. Well, that’s what I do in this episode where I investigate the 28 Nosler vs 7mm PRC vs 7mm Rem Mag debate in detail and provide some insight into which cartridge is better suited for common hunting situations so you can make an informed decision on which one will work best for your individual needs.
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279: James Bradley On Stalking Roe & “Vampire Deer” In The United Kingdom
A podcast listener named James Bradley joined me on the show today to talk about deer stalking in the United Kingdom. While hunters commonly pursue 6 different species of deer in the UK (red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, sika deer, Chinese water deer, and muntjac deer), James and I focused our discussion today on the 3 smaller species from that group: Roe, Muntjac, and Chinese Water Deer. Those last two species are especially unique looking creatures that are sometimes referred to as vampire deer. If you’ve never seen one before, you’ll learn why that’s the case during our discussion today.
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278: Bergara Rifles With Collin Russell
I’ve received a couple of listener requests for an interview with a representative from Bergara to talk about their hunting rifle offerings. I’ve hunted with a couple of Bergara rifles over the past couple of years and I’ve really liked them. Plus, they have also recently introduced some really cool new models in the last year as well. With that in mind, Collin Russel is joining us on the show today to talk about all things Bergara. We discuss the entire line of Bergara’s centerfire rifle line in detail along with a special focus on some of their newer models, especially their new offerings in 7mm PRC.
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277: Deer Hunting With Hounds With Austin Tomlin
Some hunters view deer hunting with hounds as a cherished and long standing hunting tradition. At the same time, other hunters look upon that way of hunting deer as an unethical and almost barbaric practice. Austin Tomlin is a deer hunter from Virginia who has hunted deer with hounds since he was a boy and recently even wrote a book on the subject. Well, Austin was kind enough to join me on the podcast today to talk about this controversial subject in some more detail and to help clear up some confusion about the practice. As you’ll learn here shortly, there’s a whole lot more to hunting deer with hounds than most people might first think.
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276: 35 Whelen Cartridge Profile
I have another cartridge profile for you today where we dive into the specifics of the 35 Whelen and how it stacks up against other popular centerfire rifle cartridges like the 30-06 Springfield, 9.3x62mm Mauser, and 375 H&H Magnum. In this episode I talk about the development of the 35 Whelen, how it compares to those other cartridges, the strengths and weaknesses of the 35 Whelen, and who would be best served by the advantages the 35 Whelen offers.
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275: Ammo Status Update September 2023
It sounds crazy when I say it here in September of 2023, but we’re now well into year 3 of the great ammo shortage that’s been ongoing since 2020. Today, I’m going to provide an update on where things stand with regards to ammo and reloading component supply in order to address the questions I’m constantly receiving from listeners: why is ammo still so hard to find, why is stuff still so expensive, and when will things return to normal. I share your concerns and frustrations and I think about this stuff all the time too. For that reason, I’m doing a detailed dive into the subject in this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast.
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Nosler recently added the new Nosler M21 rifle line to their rifle lineup. This rifle isn’t cheap, but they make some big promises on how it performs afield. Is the M21 worth the cash? Or are you better off with something else? Well, I had the chance to evaluate a new M21 rifle chambered in 27 Nosler pretty extensively at the range and afield in 2022. Here’s what I think about it.
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273: Jim Harmer (aka Backfire on YouTube) on the 6.5 Creedmoor and more
We have a special guest on the show with us today: Jim Harmer, better known as Backfire on YouTube. I’ve followed Jim’s YouTube channel for a while now and it was great to finally get a chance to talk to him. Today we talk about how he got started in this business, hunting Africa with the 6.5 Creedmoor, the pros and cons of hunting with match bullets, his favorite cartridge and bullet, what the future holds for him, etc.
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272: Roe Deer & Chamois Hunting In Spain With Austin Brown & JVB
Long-time podcast listener Austin Brown joined me on the show today to talk about his recent roe deer and chamois hunt with Joseph von Benedikt in Spain. As you’ll learn here shortly, they had an incredible adventure hunting two iconic species of European game in some absolutely stunning country. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows though and they had to deal with some unexpected challenges and adversity on that hunt.
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271: Ryan Muckenhirn on Vortex Scopes & Binoculars
Ryan Muckenhirn from Vortex joined me on The Big Game Hunting Podcast to talk about their hunting scope and binocular lines. Specifically, we talk about the history of Vortex Optics, what makes their products special, and the details of each individual line of scopes and binoculars. We also discuss the details of the Vortex VIP warranty.
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270: Muzzleloader Updates For 2023 With Darren Binder
Darren Binder from Muzzle-Loaders.com joins me in episode to talk about some of the new developments in the muzzleloader world for 2023. We talk about a couple of important updates to the muzzleloader world, some of which are good, but some of which are disappointing. On one hand, supplies of certain muzzleloader components have greatly improved in recent months. On the other hand, CVA’s (hopefully temporary) suspension of production of their Paramount series of muzzleloaders is concerning. Listen to this episode to learn all the details.
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269: Aaron Minkus Returns to Africa!
Aaron Minkus is back on the show today to talk about his return trip to Africa in 2023. He previously hunted Africa back in 2021 as one of the first Americans to make it back to South Africa after the country opened back up after the COVID shut downs (which we talked about in episode 209). He was bitten by the Africa hunting bug on that trip and returned for another fantastic safari this year. In this episode, we talk about how he prepared for his hunt, how things went over there, and some things he wished he knew prior to that trip.
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268: Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT Review
Christensen Arms recently upgraded their Ridgeline rifle line to include some new offerings utilizing what they call Flash Forged Technology (FFT). Are the new Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT and FFT Titanium offerings worth the cash? Or are you better off with something else? Well, I took a new Ridgeline FFT chambered in 7mm PRC to Africa this year, where I got a chance to thoroughly test this new rifle out. Here’s what I think about it.
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267: 9.3x62mm Mauser Cartridge Profile
I have another cartridge comparison for you today where we dive into the specifics of the 9.3x62mm Mauser and how it stacks up against other popular dangerous game cartridges like the 375 H&H Magnum. In this episode I talk about the development of the 9.3x62mm Mauser, how it compares to the 375 H&H, the 416 Rigby, and the 458 Win Mag, the strengths and weaknesses of the 9.3×62, and who would be best served by the advantages the 9.3x62mm Mauser offers.
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266: 6.5 Grendel vs 300 Blackout Cartridge Comparison
I have another cartridge comparison for you today where we’ll compare the 6.5 Grendel and 300 Blackout. Both are effective and popular cartridges, especially among those who like to hunt or shoot with the AR-15 platform. Though there’s some overlap in their capabilities, you’ll learn here shortly that there’s a pretty significant divergence in what they’re best suited for. In this episode, I investigate the 6.5 Grendel vs 300 Blackout debate in detail and provide some insight into which cartridge is better suited for common hunting situations so you can make an informed decision on which one will work best for your individual needs.
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265: 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge Profile
Better buckle up because today’s episode is the one you’ve been looking for: a detailed analysis of the new 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge from Hornady. In this episode I talk about the development of the 7mm PRC, how it stacks up against the 6.5 PRC and the 300 PRC, and who would be best served by the advantages the 7mm PRC offers.
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264: Logistics of Hunting Africa Part 2 (Taxidermy)
I unfortunately ran out of time to really do justice to the taxidermy side of things back in episode 254 where I discussed the logistics of hunting Africa, so that’s what we’re going to talk about today: an overview of how you get my trophies home after your hunt, some common problems I hear a lot of people having, and a little bit of inside baseball about the ugly side of the taxidermy industry in Africa.
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263: Africa Podcast Hunt Recap Part 2
As promised, I have a more comprehensive recap of my recent African safari hunt with several podcast listeners for you today. I’ll talk about that hunt in more detail today and provide some reflections on how my equipment, especially my new 7mm PRC rifle, performed.
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262: AXIL XCOR Ear Bud Launch With Weston Harris
The folks at AXIL sent me a set of the new XCOR ear buds just in time for me to take them on my recent hunt in Africa. I wore them every day over there and holy cow am I impressed with their performance. I still like the GS Extreme ear buds, but I think the new XCOR ear buds are a big step up in quality and fix a lot of the issues people didn’t like about the GS Extreme. In that vein, Weston Harris is back on the show with us today to talk about the new XCOR ear buds, what makes them special, how they’re different from the GS Extreme, and what the future holds for AXIL.
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Join me, the two podcast listeners who I hunted with in Africa, and 2 of our PHs for an informal “campfire style” discussion of the highlights of our safari in South Africa’s Limpopo Province!
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260: 22 Hornet Cartridge Profile
I have another cartridge profile for you today where we’ll dive into the details of the 22 Hornet and see how it compares to the 22 Long Rifle, the 22 Magnum, and the 223 Remington. I think you’ll agree with me that, at first glance anyway, it makes a whole lot more sense to use more modern cartridges like the .223 Remington or the .220 Swift instead of the .22 Hornet for small game and varmint hunting. However, even though the cartridge has been around for almost a century, and even though it can’t come anywhere close to the performance of those newer cartridges on paper, the .22 Hornet is still a very useful varmint hunting cartridge. Well, that’s what I’m going to talk about in this episode as I break down the 22 Hornet in detail and give you the information you need to determine if it’s well suited for your individual needs.
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259: 270 vs 7mm Rem Mag Cartridge Comparison
I have another cartridge comparison for you today where we’ll compare the 270 Winchester and the 7mm Remington Magnum. Both are effective and useful cartridges with dedicated fan bases, and there’s some overlap in their capabilities, but you’ll learn here shortly that there’s a divergence in what they’re best suited for. In this episode, I investigate the 270 vs 7mm Rem Mag debate in detail and provide some insight into which cartridge is better suited for common hunting situations so you can make an informed decision on which one will work best for your individual needs.
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258: 25-06 vs 30-06 Cartridge Comparison
I have another cartridge comparison for you today where we’ll compare the 25-06 Remington and the 30-06 Springfield. I think most hunters would agree the legendary 30-06 Springfield is an excellent all-around hunting cartridge. While it does indeed offer many advantages to hunters, it’s not perfect. Indeed, cartridges like the 25-06 Remington handily outperform the old 30-06 in some areas. But on the other hand, the 30-06 is a significantly better choice than the 25-06 for other uses. So which one is best for you?
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257: Mark Huelsing On EXO’s New K4 Pack
Mark Huelsing from EXO Mountain Gear is back with us on the podcast today to talk about their new K4 hunting pack. I got the chance to test that pack out on my Arizona elk hunt last year before it was released to the general public. I love it and think it’s a great pack and you’ll learn why here today.
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256: Tim Lesser On Leupold Rifle Scopes & Binoculars
Amazingly, I’ve never had anyone from Leupold on the show to this point. Well, I fixed that issue this week: Tim Lesser from Leupold is joining us on the big game hunting podcast. Today, we’re going to talk about the history of Leupold, their hunting scope lineup, and their hunting binoculars. We talk a little about the history of Leuopld, what makes their products special, and the details of each individual line of scopes and binoculars. We also discuss the details of their Leupold lifetime guarantee and even a couple of more interesting warranty claims.
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255: Hog Hunting With Knives And Hounds With Evan Siembida
Evan Siembida from Siembida custom knives is back with us on the podcast today to talk about hunting with hounds and knives (yes, you heard that right). He recently designed a new type of knife specifically for pig sticking and he went on a couple of pretty exciting hog hunts down here in Texas to test that knife out.
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254: The Logistics Of Hunting Africa Part 1
I get emails all the time from people asking me questions about the logistics of hunting Africa: what’s the best airline, how do I take my rifle with me, what vaccinations do I need, how do I pay for my hunt, how much should I tip, what’s the deal with taxidermy, how do I get my trophies home after the hunt, etc. Those are all good questions, especially for someone who has never been to Africa before. Fortunately for you, we’re going to discuss that in detail today.
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253: Hunting In Cameroon With Mike Arnold
Mike Arnold is back on the show again today to talk to us about his recent trip to the west African country of Cameroon. We’ll discuss how his trip went, what the hunting is like there, and also discuss another few examples of the benefits of well-regulated hunting for both the local population and wildlife in general.
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252: How To Become A Professional Hunter With Kevin Robertson
Kevin Robertson is back on the show again today and gives us a glimpse behind the curtain when it comes to how to become a Professional Hunter (PH) in Zimbabwe, what the training is like to get that certification, and a look at the practical and business side of being a professional hunter and an outfitter in Africa.
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251: Lonnie Cribb From Superior Ammunition
Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a company that would produce ammunition specifically designed for optimum performance in your rifle? Or a company that could provide ammunition in a wide range of cartridges (to include some obsolete cartridges no longer in production with most companies) that’s also available loaded with a bunch of different premium hunting bullets? Well, that company exists: its name is Superior Ammunition and their President, Lonnie Cribb, is on the podcast to talk to us today.
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250: Africa Hunting Trackers 101 With Kevin Robertson
Kevin Robertson is back on the show again today to kick off our latest series on hunting in Africa with a talk about African trackers. Trackers are an incredibly important part of a safari and are probably the single most valuable member of the team that assists a PH while out hunting. The best trackers seem to have almost magical abilities in the bush and Kevin was blessed to work with an incredible tracker during the majority of his PH career in Zimbabwe. As always, he has some great stories to share with us about that and, in that same vein, Kevin also shares the stories of 2 very interesting buffalo charges he had to deal with as well.
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249: Silencer Updates With Brandon Maddox
Brandon Maddox from Silencer Central is back on the show with me again today to talk about the new Banish Backcountry, the Banish 46, a couple of their other suppressors, and how to legally travel to a different country with a suppressor. We also discuss a recent dust-up with the ATF regarding possession of suppressors and how that was resolved.
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248: Gregg Sloan & Mitchell Kukson From Barnes Bullets
Gregg Sloan and Mitchell Kukson from Barnes Bullets join me on the show today. Gregg manages the Barnes Ballistics lab and R&D department and Mitchell is the lead R&D engineer at Barnes, so they both know a whole lot about Barnes bullets and ammunition. Today we talk about the history of Barnes, the details of the various bullets they offer, the ins and outs of their factory ammunition offerings, and some of their new products for 2023.
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247: Joel Hodgdon From Remington Ammunition
Amazingly, I’ve never had anyone from Remington on the show to this point. Well, I fixed that issue this week: Joel Hodgdon from Remington ammunition is joining us on this episode of the Big Game Hunting Podcast. Today, we discuss the history of Remington, the meat of their hunting ammo lineup, and some of their new offerings for 2023.
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246: The Listener I Crossed Pasths With In Arizona
A podcast listener named Brent Varriale joins us on the Big Game Hunting Podcast today to talk about his recent Arizona elk hunt. As it turns out, he and I had the same elk tag this past year and our paths likely crossed out there on our hunt. Here’s the story of how it all went down.
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245: Linda Powell On Mossberg Updates For 2023
Linda Powell from Mossberg is up next in my ongoing series on new products and updates from rifle and ammunition manufacturers for 2023 to tell us about what’s new with Mossberg this year.
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244: Rafe Nielsen On Browning Updates For 2023
Rafe Nielsen from Browning is up next in my ongoing series on new products and updates from rifle and ammunition manufacturers for 2023 to tell us about what’s new on the firearms side of things with Browning.
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243: Jeff Bradley From Christensen Arms
I’ve received a lot of requests from listeners to bring someone on from Christensen Arms who can tell us more about this well respected American rifle company. Well, I have good news for those who have been waiting for this episode: Jeff Bradley from Christensen Arms is joining us on the Big Game Hunting Podcast to do just that. Today we’re going to talk about the meat of Christensen Arms’ hunting rifle lineup as well as some of their new offerings for 2023, like some new rifles chambered in 6.8 Western and the 7mm PRC.
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242: Browning and Winchester Ammo Updates For 2023
Ben Frank from Browning and Winchester ammunition is up next in my ongoing series on new products and updates from rifle and ammunition manufacturers for 2023.
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Seth Swerzek from Hornady is up next in my ongoing series on new products and updates from rifle and ammunition manufacturers for 2023.
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240: Federal Premium Updates For 2023
I’m focusing the next few episodes here in January and February 2023 on new products and updates from rifle and ammunition manufacturers. This is the time of year when companies in the sporting good community unveil their new products and I think this is a great opportunity to talk about some of this new stuff in detail Eric Miller is first out of the gate for 2023 to talk about what’s new with Federal Premium.
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239: 2023 Sandhill Crane Podcast Hunt Part 2
As promised, I have a more comprehensive recap of my west Texas sandhill crane hunt with several podcast listeners. Unlike the previous episode, it’s just me in this one and I’ll talk about my experience in more detail, to include some reflections on how my equipment performed.
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238: 2023 Sandhill Crane Podcast Hunt Part 1
I just made it home from a fantastic hunt over in west Texas for sandhill crane with several podcast listeners. Today’s episode is a short “campfire style” discussion of the highlights of day 1 of the hunt from everyone who joined me there. I’m about to record a more detailed recap of the hunt that you’ll receive in a few days, but I wanted to get this out to you as soon as possible because I know a lot of listeners have been very excited to hear how our hunt went.
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237: RJ Contorno From Savage Arms
It’s been awhile since we’ve done a rifle company profile. With that in mind, RJ Contorno is joining us on the show today to talk about Savage Arms. We’re going to talk about the entire line of Savage’s centerfire rifles from the Axis to the 110 and everything in between. I learned a few things about Savage myself during this interview, and I’m sure you will too.
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236: Chris Neville On The 2023 Hunting Application Season
Chris Neville from goHunt is on the show today to talk about some changes certain states have made to the draw system in 2023, some new developments from goHunt this year, and the basics how to draw a deer, elk, or antelope tag out west in the near future.
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235: 6mm Creedmoor – Your Ultimate Guide
I have another cartridge profile/cartridge comparison today. Specifically, this episode covers the 6mm Creedmoor in detail along with how it compares to the 243 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor cartridges. As you’ll learn here in a few minutes, This is another VERY interesting cartridge that I absolutely think is worth considering for North American hunters these days.
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234: 223/5.56 vs 300 Blackout vs 308 Cartridge Comparison
It’s time for another cartridge comparison and today’s episode compares the 5.56 NATO/223 Remington, 300 Blackout, and 308 Winchester cartridges. While all three are very popular with modern sporting rifles, the cartridges represent three distinct ways of thinking: smaller, lighter, and faster for the .223/5.56 vs bigger, heavier, and slower for the .308 vs a middle of the road compromise with the .300 Blackout. As you can imagine, this is definitely a case where each is better suited to certain tasks and that’s what we’re going to talk about in this episode where I investigate the 223 vs 300 Blackout vs 308 debate in detail and provide some insight into which cartridge is better suited for common hunting situations so you can make an informed decision on which one will work best for your individual needs as a hunter or shooter.
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233: Adam Wies (aka WHO TEE WHO)
We have a special guest on the show with us today: Adam Wies, better known as WHO_TEE_WHO on YouTube. Adam and I met and became friends on our Colorado antelope and bison hunt back on October. He also made a brief appearance in episode 220, but this is the first time I’ve had him on the show in a one on one interview to talk about how he first got started in this business, some of his more unique hunting goals, etc.
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I’m back from my elk hunt in Arizona and I wanted to let you know how things went down there! We’re going to talk about how I planned this trip, the story of the hunt, some lessons I learned along the way, and what the future holds for me.
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231: Upcoming Live Q&A Session and Silencer Central Sale
Join Ron Spomer, Joseph von Benedikt, and I for a special live Q&A session for Patreon supporters on Tuesday, 7 December at 9am Mountain Time (now rescheduled to 14 December at 9am Mountain Time). If you have any burning questions you’ve been dying to ask Ron, Joseph, or me about stuff like backcountry hunting, ballistics, rifles, etc., then this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.
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230: 243 vs 270 Cartridge Comparison
Today’s episode compares the 243 Winchester and 270 Winchester cartridges. As is the case with the 7mm-08 and 270, there’s some overlap in the capabilities and best uses of the 243 and 270. However, the gap between 243 and 270 is much bigger than is the case with the 7mm-08 and the 270 and this is definitely a case where each is better suited to certain tasks.
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229: 7mm-08 vs 270 Cartridge Comparison
I’ve got another cartridge comparison for you today: the 7mm-08 Remington vs the 270 Winchester. Both are popular and effective centerfire rifle cartridges with dedicated fan bases, but important details about their performance unfortunately get overlooked or simply lost in the shuffle. In fact, despite their big differences in outward appearance, the two cartridges are almost shockingly similar in performance in some areas.
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228: Fred Bohm on Mountain Goat Hunting
Fred Bohm is back on the show with us again today. He’s a pretty lucky guy and he not only drew a mountain goat tag up in Colorado this year, but he also harvested a nice goat with his bow and was kind enough to take some time out of his schedule to tell us all about that hunt.
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227: 450 Bushmaster vs 45-70 Cartridge Comparison
It’s time for another cartridge comparison and today’s episode compares the 450 Bushmaster and 45-70 Government cartridges. While the 450 Bushmaster and 45-70 are both fantastic .45 caliber cartridges for certain situations and there is definitely some overlap in their capabilities, there are some major differences between the 450 Bushmaster vs 45-70 cartridges you should be aware of depending on your hunting style and what you’re after. Here’s what you need to know.
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226: Dan Roland On Musk Ox Hunting
Dan Roland is back on the show with us again today. We can always count on Dan for some accounts of hunting some of the more exotic species of North American game (episode 84 to talk about grizzly bear hunting and episode 92 to talking about Dall Sheep hunting). Well, he’s back today to talk about his recent musk ox hunt up in the Northwest Territory.
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225: The New 7mm PRC From Hornady With Seth Swerzek
Well, it finally happened: Hornady has released the new 7mm PRC cartridge. I received a bunch of questions about it after the cartridge received official SAAMI approval over the summer, but there wasn’t much other hard information about the cartridge out there until now. We have Seth Swerzek from Hornady back on the show again today to tell us all about the new 7 PRC cartridge, what it’s best suited for, how it stacks up against the 6.5 and 300 PRC, how it compares to other 7mm Cartridges, and what rifles and ammo are going to be available from the get go.
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224: Special Announcement And Giveaway LAST Reminder!
This is your LAST reminder to join my email list AND confirm your email address to ensure you’re entered in the giveaway I’m doing for a $50 Cabela’s gift card. If you haven’t joined me list or confirmed your email address yet, NOW is the time to do so. I’m sending out another wave of confirmation emails today, so be on the lookout for one in your inbox.
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223: 28 Nosler vs 300 Win Mag Comparison
It’s time for another cartridge comparison and today’s episode compares the 28 Nosler to the 300 Winchester Magnum cartridge. While the 300 Winchester Magnum and 28 Nosler are both fantastic cartridges for certain situations and there is definitely some overlap in their capabilities, there are some major differences between the 28 Nosler vs 300 Win Mag cartridges you should be aware of. Here’s what you need to know.
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222: Pronghorn and Bison In Colorado Part 2
As promised, today I have a more comprehensive recap of my recent Colorado trip where we were after pronghorn and bison. I’ll talk about my experience in more detail, to include some reflections on how my equipment performed and how things didn’t go as expected with the bison.
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221: Special Announcement & Giveaway!
This is a short, but very important episode with a special announcement combined with a giveaway of a $50 Cabela’s gift card that’s good at any Cabela’s or Bass Pro location. Listen to this episode to learn all the details on why I’m doing this and what you need to do to enter the giveaway.
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220: Pronghorn and Bison In Colorado Part 1
I just made it home from a FANTASTIC hunt up in Colorado for pronghorn antelope and American Bison. Today’s episode is a short “campfire style” discussion of the highlights of the hunt from everyone who was up there: Adam Wies (WHO TEE WHO), Steve Behnke (Mr Big Kid), Collin Russell, Freddy Harteis, Jake Harris, and Weston Harris. I’m about to record a more detailed recap of my hunt that you’ll receive in a few days, but I wanted to get this out to you as soon as possible because I know a lot of listeners have been very excited to hear hour our hunt went.
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219: Initial Suppressor Impressions & 2022 Hunting Season Update
It’s just me on the show today and this will be a quick episode talking about what my upcoming hunting season is looking like along with my initial impressions of the Banish 30 suppressor I received from Silencer Central a few months ago.
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218: Layton Norwood On Auodad Hunting
A podcast listener named Layton Norwood joins us on the big game hunting podcast today to talk about his recent aoudad hunt out in west Texas. As you’ll learn here shortly, he a hunt that was ultimately successful, but there were a lot of ups and downs along the way.
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217: Seth Swerzek On The Hornady ELD-X, ELD Match, 6.5 PRC, & 300 PRC
Seth Swerzek from Hornady is back on the show again today to talk about a couple of interesting innovations from Hornady ammunition. Specifically, we talk about the story of the Hornady Precision Hunter and Match lines of ammunition along with the 6.5 PRC and 300 PRC cartridges the company has released in the last couple of years. Those are interesting stories that show just how much bullet and cartridge design has advanced in the last 5-10 years, plus this podcast will set the stage for Seth to come back on the show in a couple of months to talk about the new cartridge that Hornady will release this year..
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216: Rob Gearing From Spartan Precision (2022)
Rob Gearing from Spartan Precision is back on the show with me today to talk about some of the new developments from Spartan Precision since we last heard from him in 2021. Among other things, we talk a little bit about Rob’s recent hunt in Namibia (with Joseph von Benedikt, Adam Weatherby, and Austin Brown) and the benefits Spartan Precision tripods can offer for hunters all over the world, to include in Africa.
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215: Chris Parish and Leland Brown On Hunting With Lead-Free Ammo
I have Chris Parish and Leland Brown from the North American Non-Lead Partnership on the show with me today to talk about hunting with non-lead ammunition. I’m a big advocate of hunting with certain non-lead bullets because they work so darn well. That said, I realize this is something of a sticky subject. To be clear, Chris and Leland are proponents of educating and incentivizing hunters to use non-lead ammunition (NOT requiring it). So, I’d like you to approach this interview with an open mind and listen to what they have to say about why this is a good idea.
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214: Seth Swerzek On Hornady Ammunition and Bullets
Seth Swerzek from Hornady joined me on this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast. We talked about the story of how Hornady first got started, the different bullets and ammunition lines Hornady currently manufactures, the various situations those ammo lines are best used for, etc. This show covers the whole rifle hunting ammunition lineup from Hornady: Varmint Express, Superformance Varmint, Black, Subsonic, Custom, Custom Lite, Custom International, Superformance, American Whitetail, Precision Hunter, LEVERevolution, and Dangerous game.
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213: Africa’s Most Dramatic Conservation Success Story With Mike Arnold
Sportsmen talk a lot about the conservation benefits of hunting and our monetary contributions have helped preserve a lot of valuable habitat and assisted in the recovery of threatened or endangered species all over the world. While there are indeed many good success stories, the story of Coutada 11 in Mozambique may be the most stunning. Mike Arnold details that story in his new book Bringing Back The Lions and I’m thrilled to have him on the podcast today to talk about it.
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212: Gary Morgan on Osceola Turkey Hunting
Today we’re joined by turkey hunting outfitter Gary Morgan to talk about Osceola Turkey hunting in Florida. Osceola Turkey are one of 5 sub-species of wild turkey that live in the USA (along with Eastern Turkey, Rio Grande Turkey, Merriam’s Turkey, and Gould’s Turkey). As you’ll learn here shortly, Osceola turkey only live in Florida and, while they are similar to other turkey in some ways, they’re still a cool and somewhat unique turkey sub-species in other ways.
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211: Alyssa Nitschelm On Her Idaho Mule Deer Hunt
Today we’re joined by Alyssa Nitchelm again. She was last on the podcast way back in Episode 48 to talk about her mountain goat hunt in Oregon during 2019. That goat was the first animal she’d ever hunted, but she had the good fortune to tag a mule deer in 2021 and she’ll be sharing the details of that hunt with us here today on The Big Game Hunting Podcast.
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210: New Muzzleloader Products For 2022 With Darren Binder
Darren Binder from Muzzle-Loaders.com joins me on this special Monday morning episode to talk about some of the new developments in muzzleloaders for 2022. Specifically, CVA released a new version of their Wolf muzzleloader that’s an outstanding option for children and small framed adults and Traditions is jumping on board the high BC muzzleloader bullet train with some new muzzleloader offerings that can use some of the great bullets CVA has released in recent years.
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209: First Africa Hunting Safari In The Age of COVID With Aaron Minkus
Today, we have Aaron Minkus on the show today to talk about a his 2021 Africa hunting safari. Like many people, COVID turned Aaron’s world upside down and he had to postpone his hunt, which was originally scheduled for May of 2020, for over a year. However, he was one of the first Americans to make it over to South Africa in 2021 after things opened back up. We talk about how he prepared for his hunt, how things went over there, and some things he wished he knew prior to that trip.
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208: What You Know About Hunting Africa May Be Wrong With Sue Tidwell
There are LOTS of misconceptions about hunting in Africa. For instance, I get lots of comments from people that go something along the lines of: “I’m not a trophy hunter. I only hunt for meat and I don’t see the point of hunting in Africa. That seems like just killing for fun.” Unfortunately, that’s an all too common viewpoint about hunting Africa with lots of negative consequences. Well, we have Cries of the Savanna author Sue Tidwell on the show with us today to help set the record straight.
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207: Hyenas: What You Know Is Probably Wrong
Kevin Robertson is back on the Big Game Hunting Podcast today to talk about hyena hunting. Hyenas are a very misunderstood creature and let’s be frank here: everything (or at least most) of what you think you know about hyenas is wrong. As you’ll learn here shortly, they are literally the complete opposite of the stupid, dirty, mangey, cowardly, scavengers they’re made out to be in media.
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206: Classic Africa Hunting Cartridges With Kevin Robertson
Kevin Robertson is back again to talk about the “classic” Africa hunting cartridges today. We cover the pros, cons, and recommended uses for almost everything from the 243 Winchester all the way up to the 600 and 700 Nitro Express in this episode. Among other things, we talk about how hunting in Africa is different from hunting in north America, the unique characteristics of some of the most popular species of game in Africa, and how those things dictate ideal ballistic performance for the situation.
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205: Lever-Action Rifles For Hunting Africa With Kevin Robertson
Kevin Robertson is back again to talk about hunting Africa with lever action rifles. While lever-action rifles are great for some applications, they’re not great for others and, for various reasons, they’ve never really caught on with the general hunting community in Africa. We talk about why that’s the case, the pros and cons of lever action rifles, the situations they’re best suited for, and which cartridges meet the minimum requirements for hunting plains and dangerous game in Africa.
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204: Wild Game Meat Care And Cooking With Justin Townsend
Now, we talk at length on this show about things you can do to set yourself up for success on a hunt. That’s all very important, but in many ways, the work is really only just beginning once you get an animal on the ground. With that in mind, we have Justin Townsend from Harvesting Nature and the Wild Fish and Game Podcast on the show today to talk about wild game meat care and cooking. Among other things, we talk about some things you should NEVER do to meat, how to deal with “gamey” tasting meat, and a few
203: 6.8 Western vs 270 WSM vs 6.5 Creedmoor
Today’s episode compares the 6.8 Western to the 6.5 Creedmoor and 270 Winchester Short Magnum Cartridges. I’ve received a lot of requests to do a show comparing the 270 WSM in particular to the new 6.8 Western because the 2 cartridges are so similar. Let’s just say the results are very intriguing.
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202: Hunting Knives 101 With Evan Siembida
We have Evan Siembida from Siembida Custom knives with us on the podcast today to talk about everything knife related: the difference between a custom knife and a mass produced knife, what makes his knife special, the ins and outs of sharpening knives, blade and handle materials, etc. We also talk about a few things you should NEVER do to a hunting knife, especially a high end knife.
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201: Sheep Hunting 101 With Ron Spomer
Ron Spomer is back on the podcast today to talk about sheep hunting. Ron actually has a pretty good amount of sheep hunting experience pursuing bighorn, dall, and stone sheep in Idaho, Alaska, and Canada. Fortunately, he was generous enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to come on The Big Game Hunting Podcast today and talk to us about some of those hunting experiences and some insights based on those hunts. As usual, we talk a lot about rifles, cartridges, and bullets as well as a lot of the other stuff that
200: 200th Episode Celebration: Giveaway, Special Announcement, & How We Got Here!
Can you believe this is episode 200?!? In this episode, I tell the story of how we got here, provide some specific episode recommendations, announce the winner of the autographed copy of The Perfect Shot II I’m giving away, the details of ANOTHER awesome giveaway I’m doing in celebration of this episode, and details on 2 really excellent upcoming podcast hunting opportunities you can join me on.
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199: 6.5 Grendel vs 6.5 Creedmoor Comparison
The 6.5 Grendel and 6.5 Creedmoor are both very popular 6.5mm centerfire rifle cartridges. While their names are very similar, these cartridges were designed to fill very different needs and perform differently afield. With that in mind, today’s episode compares and contrasts the 6.5 Grendel and 6.5 Creedmoor in order to provide some insight into which cartridge is best suited for different situations.
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198: 204 Ruger vs 223 Remington vs 22-250 Remington vs 220 Swift Comparison
The 223 Remington, 204 Ruger, 22-250 Remington, and 220 Swift are all very effective and popular cartridges among varmint hunters. Which one is right for you though? With that in mind, today’s episode compares and contrasts the 204 Ruger, 223 Remington, 22-250 Remington, and 220 Swift in order to provide some insight into which cartridge really is the “best” of the 4 high velocity cartridges.
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197: 260 Remington vs 6.5 Creedmoor vs 6.5×55 Swede
It’s a fact: talk about the 6.5 Creedmoor long enough in a public forum and someone will bring up the 260 Remington and/or 6.5×55 Swede and tell everyone why they think those other cartridges are better. With that in mind, today’s episode compares and contrasts the 6.5 Creedmoor with the 260 Remington and the 6.5×55 Swede in order to provide some insight into which cartridge really is the “best” of the 3.
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196: Mossberg 940 Pro Field Semi-Auto Shotgun
Most shotgunners will probably agree that, as good as many modern semi-automatic shotguns are, it’s still really tough to compete with the reliability of a solid pump-action shotgun like the Mossberg 500 or the Remington 870. Things changed when I got the chance to hunt with the new Mossberg 940 Pro Field semi-automatic shotgun last year though. This episode is an in-depth Mossberg 940 Pro Field Review where I go over the pros and cons of the shotgun in detail so you can make an informed decision regarding whether or not it make sense for you to pick one up for yourself.
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195: Giveaway And Special Announcements!
I’m doing a special giveaway for the upcoming 200th episode of the Big Game Hunting Podcast. Listen for details on how to enter as well as information on my upcoming meet and greet with Kevin Robertson at Conroe Taxidermy on 7 May 2022. The event is FREE to attend, but please RSVP and vote for the topic you’d like Kevin to talk about.
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194: Charging Electronics Afield-What You Need To Know
Today, I’m going to address one of those things that’s really important, but often overlooked by hunters: charging your electronics out in the backcountry. I’ve used all sorts of portable power chargers over the years with varying degrees of success. With that in mind, I want to talk about the ins and outs of portable battery chargers and one of the best battery pack options you should definitely consider.
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193: 224 Valkyrie Cartridge Profile
Today I have another cartridge profile and cartridge comparison for you. Specifically, we’re going to be talking about the 224 Valkyrie and how it compares to the 223 Remington and the 22 Nosler.
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192: Wyoming Pronghorn Antelope Hunt Recap
I hope you enjoyed my podcast last week about my New Mexico mule deer hunt. Today, we’ll talk about my Wyoming pronghorn antelope hunt. Once again, that was that a very fun and ultimately successful hunt that also has a lot of lessons for a person who has never been hunting out west and/or who has never hunted pronghorn before.
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191: Join My Live Podcast Event & Meet Kevin Robertson In Person!
Join Kevin Robertson and I at The Big Game Hunting Podcast meet and greet at Conroe Taxidermy on 7 May 2022. The event is FREE to attend, but please RSVP first and vote for the topic you’d like Kevin to talk about.
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190: New Mexico Mule Deer Hunt Recap
I wanted to take this opportunity talk about a couple of my memorable hunts from out west that occurred before I started the podcast, but are especially interesting and contain some valuable lessons learned. Today, we’ll talk about my New Mexico mule deer hunt. Not only was that a very fun and ultimately successful hunt, but the story of that particular hunt also has a lot of good lessons for a person who has never been hunting out west can learn from.
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189: 6.5 Grendel vs 308 Winchester Comparison
Continuing down the same general line of thought from last week’s comparison of the 223 vs 308, I realize some people want something that offers a step up in performance compared to the 223/5.56 without going all the way up to the 308. For that reason, a number of other cartridges have been developed over the years that improve on the 223 in many ways, but still function in a standard AR-15 platform. Well, the 6.5 Grendel is likely the most popular cartridge from that family at this instant. With all that in mind, today’s episode compares and contrasts the 6.5 Grendel and the 308 Winchester in order to provide some insight into which cartridge is better suited for various situations.
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188: 223 Remington vs 308 Winchester Comparison
We’ve lived through a pretty crazy few years. Recent events have led to a surge in interest in firearms with those who want to be better prepared and equipped to take care of themselves in a crisis. With that in mind, today’s episode compares and contrasts 2 of the most popular cartridges used for those tasks: the 223 Remington and the 308 Winchester. In this episode, I investigate the 223 vs 308 debate in detail in order to provide some insight into which one is best for you.
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187: 243 Winchester vs 223 Remington
I’ve got another cartridge comparison episode for you today. In this episode we’re going to talk about the243 Winchester and the 223 Remington. While there is a lot of overlap in their capabilities, there are some significant differences between the 243 vs 223 cartridges you should be aware off. In today’s episode, I’m going to discuss the pros and cons of the 243 Winchester and the 223 Remington so you can make an informed decision on which one is best for you.
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186: 6.8 Western vs 7mm Rem Mag vs 28 Nosler
I’ve got another cartridge comparison episode for you today. In this episode we’re going to talk about the 6.8 Western, the 7mm Remington Magnum, and the 28 Nosler. All offer certain advantages to hunters, but there are some significant differences between the 6.8 Western vs 7mm Rem Mag vs 28 Nosler cartridges you should be aware of. In today’s episode, I’m going to discuss the pros and cons of the 6.8 Western, the 7mm Remington Magnum, and the 28 Nosler so you can make an informed decision on which one is best for you.
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Bonus 15: New Products From Hornady 2022
This is the latest episode in my bonus mini-series on new offerings for 2022 from some of the gun and ammo manufacturers in the USA. We recently heard from Jeff Sipe from Nosler in Bonus Episode #9, Ben Frank from Winchester Ammunition in Bonus Episode #10, Rafe Nielsen from Browning and Winchester Repeating Arms in Bonus Episode #11, Linda Powell from Mossberg in Bonus Episode #12, and Eric Miller from Federal in Bonus Episode #14. Well, today we’re joined by Seth Swerzek to talk about what’s new with Hornady in 2022.
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185: Sandhill Crane Hunting 101 With Austin Petree
Austin Petree from Western Wing Outfitters is joining me on the show today to talk about sandhill crane hunting. If you recall, I went crane hunting back in December (detailed in episode 173). That was a really cool experience unlike anything I’ve ever done before. So, I decided to bring Austin on the show today to talk about sandhill crane hunting in more detail.
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184: First Africa Hunting Safari With Brant Benoit
Brant Benoit is a long-time podcast listener from Georgia and he contacted me in 2020 about booking a hunt in South Africa through my company Big Game Hunting Adventures. He hunted in August-September of 2021, had a great safari, and has some excellent stories and lessons learned to share with you guys. We talk about the process from start to finish from that initial email enquiry, to booking flights, preparing mentally and physically for the hunt, doing rifle import paperwork, to the hunt itself. We also talk about a few lessons Brant learned along the way and some things he wished he knew before he went over there.
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183: How To Hunt Deer, Elk, & Pronghorn In The Next 5 Years
Do you want to hunt mule deer, elk, and/or pronghorn out west, but don’t know where to start? This episode will answer your questions. Trail Kreitzer from goHunt is back on the show today to talk about how to draw a deer, elk, or antelope tag out west in the near future. Trail drops some serious knowledge bombs in this show and this is a must listen for anyone who wants to go hunting out west but just doesn’t know where to start. Additionally, he even makes me realize that I’m in a sticky situation myself regarding my point situation in a certain state. So, be sure to listen to this episode to learn the mistake I made so you can avoid it in the future.
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Bonus 14: New Products From Federal Premium 2022
This is the latest episode in my bonus mini-series on new offerings for 2022 from some of the gun and ammo manufacturers in the USA. We recently heard from Jeff Sipe from Nosler in Bonus Episode #9, Ben Frank from Winchester Ammunition in Bonus Episode #10, Rafe Nielsen from Browning and Winchester Repeating Arms in Bonus Episode #11, and Linda Powell from Mossberg in Bonus Episode #12 and they told us about what’s new with with their companies this year. Today, we’re joined by Eric Miller to talk about what’s new with Federal Premium in 2022.
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182: Suppressors 101 With Silencer Central CEO Brandon Maddox
Brandon Maddox, the owner and CEO of Silencer Central, joined me on this episode to talk about the ins and outs of silencers. We talk about the pros and cons of hunting with a silencer, how to get one, and how Silencer Central has revolutionized the process of obtaining a silencer to make the process as easy and as fast as possible. As I like to do, we dig deep into the details of both the legal side of suppressor ownership (to include traveling with one), the logistics of silencers like barrel threading, silencer maintenance, and the new E-Forms the ATF just started accepting that should make the process much faster than it used to be.
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Bonus 13: Firearm Security Rethought
It’s very important to store your firearms in a manner that prevents unauthorized people ranging from little children to professional thieves from accessing them. Well, I was joined by Tom Kubinec of SecureIt Gun Storage in this episode and we had a great discussion on gun storage, how we might be looking at things the wrong way, and how SecureIt does things a little differently.
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Bonus 12: New Firearms From Mossberg 2022
This is the latest episode in my bonus mini-series on new offerings for 2022 from some of the gun and ammo manufacturers in the USA. We recently heard from Jeff Sipe from Nosler in Bonus Episode #9, Ben Frank from Winchester Ammunition in Bonus Episode #10, and Rafe Nielsen from Browning and Winchester Repeating Arms in Bonus Episode 11 and they told us about what’s new with with their companies this year. Today, we’re joined by Linda Powell to talk about what’s new with Mossberg in 2022.
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181: Bushpig and Caracal Hunting Using Hounds With Gavin Lipjes
Gavin Lipjes is back on the show to do another episode on hunting with hounds. Specifically, we talked about caracal and Bushpig hunting with hounds today. We talk briefly about just what caracal and Bushpig are, how they’re commonly hunted, and how hunting them with hounds is both unique for each species and similar to each other.
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Bonus 11: New Firearms From Browning & Winchester 2022
This is the time of year when lots of companies in the sporting goods community unveil their new products. We recently heard from Jeff Sipe in Bonus Episode #9 and Ben Frank in Bonus Episode #10 to learn about what’s new with Nosler and Winchester Ammunition this year. Today, we’re joined by Rafe Neilson and he has some cool announcements to share with us about the new rifle and shotgun models from Browning and Winchester in 2022.
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180: Double Rifles With Phil Massaro
Phil Massaro is back again today to talk about the ins and outs of double rifles. We’ll talk briefly about their history, how double rifles became so associated with hunting in Africa, the pros and cons of hunting with a double rifle, many of the different cartridges used in them, what makes and models are most common these days, and how much they cost. So, this is a great episode on the fundamentals of doubles that you’ll really enjoy and will learn a lot from.
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Bonus 10: New Products From Winchester 2022
This is the time of year when lots of companies in the sporting goods community unveil their new products. We recently heard from Jeff Sipe in Bonus Episode #9 to learn about what’s new with Nosler this year. Today, we’re joined by Ben Frank from Winchester Ammunition and he has some cool announcements to share with us about what’s new with them for 2022.
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179: Hippopotamus Hunting 101 With Kevin Robertson
Kevin Robertson is back again to talk about hippopotamus hunting. As always, he has some great hippo stories from his many years in Africa. We also really get into the nuts and bolts of hippo hunting: where to go, how to evaluate a big hippo, what their anatomy is like, where to shoot them, and how things can go wrong on a hippo hunt. We talk a lot about cartridge and bullet selection as well as terminal ballistics as they relate to hippopotamus hunting.
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178: Crocodile Hunting 101 With Kevin Robertson
Kevin Robertson is back again to talk about crocodile hunting. As always, he has some absolutely hair raising tales of hunting crocodile in Africa. We also really get into the nuts and bolts of crocodile hunting: where to go, how to evaluate a big crocodile, what their anatomy is like, where to shoot them, and how things can go wrong on a crocodile hunt. We talk a lot about cartridge and bullet selection as well as terminal ballistics as they relate to crocodile hunting.
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Bonus 9: New Products From Nosler 2022
I am recording this on the first day of the 2022 SHOT show. As you probably know, lots of companies in the sporting goods community unveil their new products at the SHOT show. Due to some scheduling conflicts, I was not able to make it to the SHOT show this year. However, reps from several firearms and ammunition companies were kind enough to do an interview on their new products and you’ll be hearing those interviews over the next couple of weeks. Today, we’re joined by Jeff Sipe from Nosler and he has some cool announcements to share with us about what’s new with them.
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177: Elephant Hunting 101 With Kevin Robertson
Kevin Robertson is back again today to follow our discussion from last week up with a more detailed conversation on elephant hunting. As always, he has some great stories to share with us I’m sure you’ll learn a lot from today’s podcast, even if you’re not ever planning on going elephant hunting yourself. I know you’ll also appreciate our discussion on ballistics specifically as they relate to elephant hunting.
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176: Elephant Conservation With Kevin Robertson
Kevin Robertson is back on the again to talk with us about elephant conservation. As always, he has some great stories to share with us and we dive deep into another touchy subject when it comes to elephants. You’re going to learn what the real deal is about elephant populations in Africa and what the future holds for us if we keep going down the path we’re on now.
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175: Happy New Year & My 2022 Hunting Goals
As usual, I’d like to recap how things went in 2021 and then set some goals for 2022. So, I’m going to go over those new goals with you right now, give you a brief overview of how I plan on accomplishing them, and give you a preview of what 2022 will look like with the Big Game Hunting Podcast. In that vein, I’m also looking for some feedback and listener suggestions for future episodes.
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174: Bighorn Sheep Hunting With Joseph von Benedikt
Joseph von Benedikt is back is on the show with us for our second successful bighorn sheep hunt recap in as many months today. We’re going to talk about how Joseph got this opportunity, the importance of maintaining good physical fitness and of taking care of your gear in the off season, the story of his hunt, some lessons he learned along the way, and what the future holds for him.
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173: Sandhill Crane Hunting, Steve Rinella, And Me
I just got back from my sandhill crane hunt out in west Texas and I’m happy to report that I had a great trip. In addition to telling the story of this hunt, I’ll share some insights into what crane taste like and the potential reason why they taste so darn good in this episode. You’ll also learn how it all got started with a chance encounter I had with Steve Rinella many years ago.
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172: Elk Hunting With A 6.5 Creedmoor vs 300 Win Mag With Mark Floyd
We have long time podcast listener Mark Floyd on the show with us today to talk about some of his recent elk hunting experiences out in Wyoming. We’ll talk more in detail about his background shortly, but Mark is from Georgia and has only really gotten into hunting during the past few years. We’re going to talk about how Mark ended up going on those elk hunts, the story of each trip, what he thought about hunting elk with the 6.5 Creedmoor vs the 300 Win Mag, some lessons he learned along the way, and what the future holds for him.
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171: 2021 Alberta Moose Hunt Recap
I’m back from my moose hunt up in Canada and I wanted to let you know how things went up there! We’re going to talk about how I got this moose hunting opportunity on such short notice, the story of the hunt, some lessons I learned along the way, and what the future holds for me.
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170: Winchester Waterfowl Hunting Ammo
Today, we have Jimmy Wilson from Winchester Ammunition with us on the show and he’s going to talk to us about waterfowl hunting ammunition. Specifically, we’re going to discuss the complications of using lead free shot in waterfowl ammo, what sort of performance you ideally want from your waterfowl loads for hunting ducks, geese, and crane, and what sort of offerings Winchester manufacturers for waterfowl hunters.
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169: Federal Waterfowl Hunting Ammo
Today, we have Dan Compton from Federal Premium Ammunition with us on the show and he’s going to talk to us about waterfowl hunting ammunition. Specifically, we’re going to discuss the complications of using lead free shot in waterfowl ammo, what sort of performance you ideally want from your waterfowl loads for hunting ducks, geese, and crane, and what sort of offerings Federal manufacturers for waterfowl hunters.
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168: Bighorn Sheep Hunting With Steve Speck
Steve Speck from Exo Mountain Gear is on the show today to talk to us about his recent bighorn sheep hunt in Idaho. That hunt was quite the adventure and really tested the limits of human endurance, but he got it done and tagged a great looking sheep on his hunt. In this episode, we’re going to talk about how Steve drew that tag, the story of his hunt, some lessons he learned along the way, and what the future holds for him.
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Bonus 7: 2021 Texas Deer Season Opener Recap
Well, I just got back from deer camp and I’m happy to report that my 2021 hunting season is off to a great start! This past weekend was the general season deer opener in this part of Texas and I went hunting with my brother in law and my 5 year old son. The goal was to help my brother in law get his first deer and, if there was time, get a deer for myself. We were successful on both counts and I wanted to take a few minutes to update you on how things went.
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Bonus 6: Muzzleloader Hunting With PNWild
Jeff Roberts from the PNWild podcast drew a muzzleloader elk hunt in Idaho this fall and invited me on his show to talk about the ins and outs of muzzleloader hunting. While we do talk a lot about the muzzleloader regulations for hunting in Idaho, we talk at length about the benefits of hunting with a muzzleloader, gear recommendations in general, some tips and tactics I’ve developed over the years, and how things can go wrong with a muzzleloader (and what you can do to avoid those situations).
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Bonus 5: 2021 Hunting Season Update
Things have been crazy busy for me lately, but I wanted to take a minute and check in with you on a personal level before my hunting season really gets started. Here’s what I’ll be up to this fall. I have some VERY exciting news that I will share with you in this episode about an upcoming hunt.
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167: Hunting Stories And Updates From Sportsman’s Box
It’s November now and deer season is about to start here in the part of Texas where I live and hunt. With that in mind, I have Adam Whitehead and Nic Wilson from Sportsman’s Box on the show with me. This is actually the 3rd time Adam has been on the show to talk about Sportsman’s Box. As you’ll earn here shortly, they have made some MAJOR updates to their already great products that I think you’ll enjoy just in time for the peak of hunting season.
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166: 450 Bushmaster vs 458 SOCOM vs 50 Beowulf Comparison
In this episode we’re going to talk about the 450 Bushmaster, 458 SOCOM, and 50 Beowulf. Those are the three most popular choices for those looking for a big bore cartridge to use in an AR-15. All are capable performers, but there are some situations where it really makes sense to use certain ones in particular. In today’s episode, I’m going to discuss the pros and cons of the 450 Bushmaster vs 458 SOCOM vs 50 Beowulf so you can make an informed decision on which one is best for you.
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Bonus 4: Weston Harris From AXIL On Ear Protection
Today we’re going to talk more about ear protection and I have the founder and CEO of AXIL Weston Harris on the show today. We’re going to go into a little more detail on the history of the company, how electronic hearing protection works, and what makes their products special.
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165: 270 vs 280 vs 280 AI vs 7mm Rem Mag Comparison
I’ve got another cartridge comparison episode for you today. In this episode we’re going to talk about the 270 Winchester, the 280 Remington, the 280 Ackley Improved, and the 7mm Remington Magnum. All of those cartridges are very capable performers, though the 270 and 7mm Rem Mag are much more well known and widely used than the other two. In today’s episode, I’m going to discuss the pros and cons of the 270 vs 280 Remington vs 280 Ackley Improved vs 7mm Remington Magnum so you can make an informed decision on which one is best for you.
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164: 6.8 Western – The Ultimate Guide
Today I have another cartridge profile and cartridge comparison for you. In this episode, I’m going to discuss the history as well as the strengths, weaknesses, and hidden benefits (like rifle and ammo availability) of the new 6.8 Western cartridge in detail. I’ll also provide some information on how the 6.8 Western compares to the 6.5 PRC and .270 Winchester to give you an idea of what sort of performance you can expect from the cartridge and so you can decide if it best fits your needs as a hunter.
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Today we’re talking about the basics of javelina hunting: what they are, where they live, why you should hunt them, and how to actually go about hunting them. Just like the title says, this episode covers all the basics of hunting javelina for those who don’t quite know where to start hunting these creatures. Reminder: the Arizona javelina application deadline is coming up on 12 October 2021.
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162: Moose Hunting 101 With Joseph von Benedikt
Joseph von Benedikt is back on the show again today to talk about moose hunting. As always, Joseph does a great job of telling some very interesting and detailed stories of some really cool hunts. In this episode, he shares the story of 2 moose hunts in Canada as well as a moose hunt in Alaska he went on with Neal Emery a few years ago. Of course, we talk about moose hunting cartridges and rifles as well as less often discussed, but still very important topics like meat handling and the logistics of these hunts.
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161: 350 Legend- Everything You Need To Know
Today I have another cartridge profile and cartridge comparison for you. In this episode, I’m going to discuss the history as well as the strengths, weaknesses, and hidden benefits (like ammo availability) of the .350 Legend in detail. I’ll also provide some information on how the .350 Legend compares to the .223 Remington and .450 Bushmaster cartridges to give you an idea of what sort of performance you can expect from the cartridge and so you can decide if it best fits your needs as a hunter.
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160: Jeff Roberts On Fall Bear Hunting In Washington
Jeff Roberts from PNWild is back on for this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast to talk about spot and stalk fall bear hunting in Washington. We discuss why Washington is such a great destination for black bear hunting, what habitat black bears prefer in the fall, what resources he uses to find good places to hunt black bears, what sort of gear he uses, and what he thinks about black bear meat.
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Bonus 2: Ammo Status Update September 2021
Today’s I’m going to address the thing that’s on EVERYBODY’S mind: what the heck is going on with ammo these days and when will things return to normal. Trust me, I’m concerned about this too. So, that’s what we’re going to talk about today: the roots of the current situation, what has happened in the past year and a half, and when we might see things get back to normal.
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Ep 159: Philip Churchill On Black Bear Hunting With Hounds
It’s September now and that means that fall is right around the corner. Hunting seasons are starting to open, so I want to shift gears a bit and talk about hunting bear in the fall this week and next week. Today we have Phil Churchill on the show with us we’re going to talk about black bear hunting with hounds in the northeast states of New Hampshire and Maine.
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Ep 158: Gavin Lipjes On Leopard Hunting With Hounds
Gavin Lipjes is joining us to talk about leopard hunting with hounds on this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast. We discuss how Gavin first got into this business, the advantages and disadvantages of hunting leopard with hounds, how to evaluate a trophy leopard on a hound hunt, what sort of and how many dogs he uses, cartridge and bullet selection for leopard hunting with hounds, an overview of how things work on a hound hunt (finding a track, how long they normally trail a leopard, and how things end), and what sort of things can happen on these hunts.
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Ep 157: Africa Hunting Expectations Part 2 With Phil Massaro
Today’s episode is the second installment of my mini-series on having appropriate expectations when hunting in Africa. I talked about my personal experiences back in episode 156 and Phil Massaro is on the show today to talk about his hunts in the Makuti Safari Area and Chirisa Safari Area in Zimbabwe, the Zambezi Delta in Mozambique, the Luangwa Valley in Zambia, and the Selous Reserve in Tanzania.
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Ep 156: Africa Hunting Expectations
Today’s episode continues the Africa hunting series and I’m going to talk about having appropriate expectations when hunting in Africa. A podcast listener reached out to me to talk about what the hunting is like in different parts of Africa and how a person who doesn’t know any better can get into trouble if they have unrealistic expectations. So that’s what I’m going to talk about today: what the hunting is like in South Africa vs Namibia vs Mozambique vs Zimbabwe, how it’s different hunting government concessions vs private land, fenced vs free range, and cape buffalo vs plains game.
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Ep 155: Lion Hunting 101 With Kevin Robertson
Today’s episode continues the latest series on hunting in Africa. Kevin Robertson back on The Big Game Hunting Podcast again today to talk to us about lion hunting. As always, he has some great stories to share with us and we also discuss the ins and outs of lion hunting today: how to evaluate a trophy lion, cartridge and bullet selection for lion hunting , shot placement (and how it’s different for the cats compared to plains game and buffalo), what can happen if your shot placement is not good, etc. We also touch on a couple of hot potato topics at the very end of the show today: the Cecil the Lion scandal from 2015 and the controversial practice of captive bred lion hunting.
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Ep 154: Leopard Hunting 101 With Kevin Robertson
Today’s episode continues the latest series on hunting in Africa. Kevin Robertson back on The Big Game Hunting Podcast again today to talk to us about leopard hunting. We’re going to discuss things like bait location and set-up, how to evaluate a trophy leopard, cartridge and bullet selection for leopard hunting, shot placement (and how it’s different for the cats compared to plains game and buffalo), what can happen if your shot placement is not good on a leopard, and much, much more!
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Ep 153: Africa Hunting Ammo 101
Today’s episode is about factory hunting ammo recommendations for hunting in Africa. I know this is something that we discuss a little here and there in individual episodes. However, I wanted to do a single episode dedicated to the topic specifically for those of you who have a hunt coming up or who are just dreaming about hunting in Africa one day.
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Ep 152: Leupold VX-5HD Rifle Scope Review
Today’s episode is a review of my experiences with the Leupold VX-5HD rifle scope over the past three years. I share my thoughts on the pros and cons of the scope, what specific models of the VX-5HD are best suited for various hunting situations, and whether or not I think you should purchase one for yourself.
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Ep 151: Rob Gearing From Spartan Precision On Bipods And Tripods
Rob Gearing from Spartan Precision is joining me on the podcast today to talk about some of their bipod and tripod options. I’ve been curious about their products lately and it seems like a lot of other people I know in this space (like Joseph von Benedikt, Mark from Exo Mountain Gear, and the PNWild Guys) have made the switch over to Spartan Precision equipment. So, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and you’re going to take the journey with me today as we learn all about Spartan Precision and Javelin Bipods.
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Ep 150: Jeff Roberts On The High Buck Hunt In Washington
I used to live in Washington State up at Fort Lewis back when I was in the Army. I did a lot of hunting up there and I remember discovering something called “The High Buck Hunt” in the Washington hunting regulations. While I never did a high buck hunt myself, I was always fascinated by it and was very curious about just what the heck the deal was with that hunt. With that in mind, we have a special guest on the show today to talk about the high buck hunt and what makes it special: Jeff Roberts from Pacific North Wild.
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Ep 149: 300 RUM vs 300 Win Mag Comparison
I’ve got another cartridge profile episode for you today. In this episode, we’re going to talk about the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum (also known as the 300 Ultra Mag or 300 RUM) and discuss how it compares to the .300 Win Mag. You’ll learn the advantages and disadvantages of the .300 Ultra Magnum and we’ll discuss the pros and cons of the 300 RUM vs 300 Win Mag so you can make an informed decision on which one is best for you.
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Ep 148: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 30-06 Comparison
I’ve got another cartridge comparison episode for you today. In this episode we’re going to talk about the 6.5 Creedmoor and how it compares to the .30-06 Springfield. Both offer certain advantages to hunters, but there are some significant differences between the two cartridges you should be aware of. In today’s episode, I’m going to discuss the pros and cons of the 6.5 Creedmoor vs 30-06 so you can make an informed decision on which one is best for you.
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Ep 147: 270 vs 308 Winchester Comparison
I’ve got another cartridge comparison episode for you today. In this episode we’re going to talk about the .270 Winchester and how it compares to the .308 Winchester. While there is a big overlap in their capabilities, each cartridge offers certain benefits to hunters. In today’s episode, I’m going to discuss the pros and cons of the 270 vs 308 so you can make an informed decision on which one is best for you.
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Ep 146: 5.56/223 vs 6.5 Grendel Comparison
Are you up for another cartridge comparison show? In this episode, we’re going to talk about the .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO and how they compare to the 6.5 Grendel. While they are all extremely popular with hunters and shooters who like the AR-platform, they have vastly different strengths and weaknesses. With that in mind, I’m going to discuss the pros and cons of the 5.56/223 vs 6.5 Grendel in this episode so you can make an informed decision on which one is best for you.
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Ep 145: Moose Hunting 101 With Ron Spomer
Moose are the primary focus of my long term hunting goals right now and I know that many listeners of this podcast feel the same way. Well, just like I’ve done with some of my previous guests on the show, I like to interview other hunters who have a lot of knowledge on the sort of hunting I plan on doing in the future. With that in mind, we have a special guest on the show today who has a lot of experience moose hunting: Ron Spomer. Ron will share some of his moose hunting experiences, give us an overview of how people usually hunt moose, and finish off with some recommendations and some valuable lessons he learned along the way.
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Ep 144: 30-30 vs 45-70 Government Comparison
I’ve got another cartridge comparison episode for you today. In this episode we’re going to talk about the .30-30 Winchester and how it compares to the .45-70 Government. I think most hunters would agree that they’re each fantastic lever-action cartridges for hunting all sorts of big game. Both offer certain advantages to hunters, but there are some significant differences between the 30-30 vs 45-70 cartridges you should be aware of.
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Ep 143: Muzzleloader Hunting: Why You Should Give It A Shot
Today I want to talk about an often overlooked way you can improve your odds of getting access to some great hunting opportunities like that: hunting with a muzzleloader. I first tried out muzzleloader hunting about 10 years ago and doing so has opened up a lot of doors for me over the years. Especially with all the people that are either picking up hunting for the first time or returning to the sport after a prolonged absence, 2021 is a great year to start hunting with a muzzleloader as a way of getting away from crowds.
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Ep 142: Free Range Sambar Deer Hunting In Texas With Greg Wells
Today, I wanted to do an episode on a somewhat unusual and not very well known hunting opportunity: free range sambar deer hunting in Texas. We have a special guest for this episode: Greg Wells. Greg is going to share the story of his sambar deer hunt on the Powderhorn Ranch in Texas, share some lessons he learned along the way, and give a couple of pointers to those who are interested in going sambar deer hunting themselves at some point in the future.
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Bonus 1: Stephen Gutowski On The Reload
Today we’re going to hear from Stephen Gutowski about his new publication The Reload in this special Bonus Episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast. Stephen is an experienced reporter who specializes in gun related issues. In his words, he recently created The Reload to be an independent, subscriber-supported publication dedicated to accurate reporting that details the nuances of big gun stories as well as sheds light on under-reported aspects of gun ownership in America.
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Ep 141: 7mm Rem Mag vs 30-06 Springfield Comparison
I’ve got another cartridge comparison episode for you today. In this episode we’re going to talk about the 7mm Remington Magnum and how it compares to the .30-06 Springfield. I think most hunters would agree that they’re each fantastic cartridges for hunting a wide variety of big game. Both offer certain advantages to hunters, but there are some significant differences between the 7mm Rem Mag vs 30-06 cartridges you should be aware of.
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Ep 140: 2021 New Mexico Merriam’s Turkey Hunt Recap
Well, I just got back from my that turkey hunt I’ve been telling you about for the past couple of months. Unfortunately, I did not get a turkey. Even so, I had a lot of fun, learned a ton about turkey hunting, and had an adventure out there that I didn’t initially bargain for. With all that in mind, I have quite the story to share with you and I think you’ll enjoy this episode. Today, I’m going to tell you how the hunt went, a couple of lessons I learned, and share a few recommendations for you to keep in mind if you want to go Merriam’s Turkey hunting in the future.
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Ep 139: Rio Grande Turkey Hunting 101 With Cable Smith
Cable Smith is back on the show to talk about Rio Grande Turkey hunting with us. Rio Grande Turkey are a pretty widespread sub-species of turkey in the state of Texas (as well as a couple of other states) and are a lot of fun to hunt. Like we discussed last week with Jay Scott, a lot of the things that apply to hunting Eastern and Merriam’s Turkey definitely apply to hunting Rio Grande turkey as well, but they are a unique sub-species of turkey though and there are some unique twists involved with hunting them. Cable has done a lot of hunting for Rio Grande turkey over the years, so pay close attention to what he has to say because they share some VERY useful information that will set you up for success if you ever decide to hunt Rio Grande turkey in the future.
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Ep 138: Gould’s Turkey Hunting 101 With Jay Scott
Jay Scott is back on the show to talk about Gould’s Turkey hunting with us. As you’ll learn here shortly, Gould’s Turkey are a somewhat lesser known sub-species of turkey, but live in some really cool areas and are a lot of fun to hunt. Fortunately, Jay Scott is has a lot of experience hunting Gould’s Turkey. So, regardless of how much you know about turkey hunting in general, pay close attention to what Jay has to say because he shares some very useful information that will set you up for success if you ever decide to hunt Gould’s turkey in the future.
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Ep 137: Turkey Hunting 101 With Ray Eye And Mark Strand
Today we have two very special guests who are going to give us a great rundown on the basics of turkey hunting: Ray Eye and Mark Strand. They have forgotten more about turkey hunting than I’ll probably ever know and they were very generous in taking some time out of their busy schedules to come on the show and share some of that knowledge with us. So, regardless of how much you know about turkey hunting, pay close attention to what these guys have to say because they share some very useful information on how to hunt turkey over the next hour.
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Ep 136: How To Pattern A Turkey Hunting Shotgun
Today we’re going to talk about how to find out which turkey hunting ammunition is best for your shotgun. Just like with rifles and centerfire ammunition, it’s important to see what turkey hunting ammo shoots best in your shotgun. That process is called “patterning” and in this episode I’m going to explains what shotgun patterning is and how to pattern your turkey hunting shotgun.
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Ep 135: Federal Premium Turkey Hunting Ammo
This is the second episode in my ongoing series on turkey hunting. Today, we have Dan Compton from Federal Premium Ammunition with us on the show and he’s going to talk to us about turkey hunting ammunition. Specifically, we’re going to discuss why purpose built turkey ammo is nice to have, what sort of performance you ideally want from your turkey loads, and what sort of offerings Winchester manufacturers for turkey hunters.
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Ep 134: Winchester Turkey Hunting Ammo
This is the first episode in a series on turkey hunting. To kick things off, we have Jimmy Wilson from Winchester Ammunition with us on the show and he’s going to talk to us about turkey hunting ammunition. Specifically, we’re going to discuss why purpose built turkey ammo is nice to have, what sort of performance you ideally want from your turkey loads, and what sort of offerings Winchester manufacturers for turkey hunters.
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Ep 133: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 300 Win Mag Comparison
I’ve got another cartridge comparison episode for you today. In this episode we’re going to talk about the 6.5 Creedmoor and how it compares to the 300 Winchester Magnum. Both are super popular hunting cartridges these days and it’s important to understand what they each have to offer hunters. As you’ll learn here shortly, there are some significant differences between the 6.5 Creedmoor and .300 Win Mag cartridges that you should be aware of.
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Ep 132: Listen To This Episode Before You Go Javelina Hunting With A Muzzleloader
Have you considered going javelina hunting with a muzzleloader, handgun, or archery equipment? I just got back from my that muzzleloader javelina hunt I’ve been telling you about for the past couple of months and I have good news: I punched my javelina tag! Today, I’m going to tell you how my New Mexico javelina hunt went, a couple of lessons I learned, and share a few recommendations for you to keep in mind if you want to go javelina hunting in the future.
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Ep 131: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 7mm-08 Remington Comparison
I’ve got another cartridge comparison episode for you today. In this episode, we’re going to talk about the 6.5 Creedmoor and how it compares to the 7mm-08 Remington. There’s a big overlap in their capabilities and both cartridges are marketed for a lot of the same hunting uses these days. However, as you’ll learn here shortly, there are some significant differences between the 6.5 Creedmoor vs 7mm-08 cartridges that you should be aware of.
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Ep 130: Listen To This Hair Raising Tale Before You Go Caribou Hunting In Alaska
Though caribou hunting isn’t normally considered extremely dangerous, things can get scary in a hurry in the Alaska backcountry if you’re unprepared. Joseph von Benedikt is back on the show again today to share the story of his successful 2020 Alaska solo backcountry caribou hunt. Though he tagged a beautiful caribou bull on the hunt, he also dealt with some pretty harrowing conditions. In this episode, he shares the story of his hunt with us along with some valuable lessons he learned along the way.
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Ep 129: Josh Wilcox On Mountain Lion Hunting In Colorado
We have a special guest for this episode: Josh Wilcox is a long time listener of The Big Game Hunting Podcast who tagged a mountain lion on a hunt with hounds in Colorado back in December. Josh is going to share the story of his hunt, share some lessons he learned along the way, and give a couple of pointers to those who are interested in going on a mountain lion hunt with hounds themselves at some point in the future.
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Ep 128: 9.3x62mm vs .375 H&H vs .375 Ruger Comparison
Following along the same trend as the past few episodes, we’re going to step down a little bit in caliber again today and discuss a few slightly smaller, but still really effective and popular dangerous game cartridges today in the 9.3x62mm Mauser, the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum, and the .375 Ruger. In this episode, I’m going to do a detailed comparison of the 9.3×62 vs .375 H&H vs .375 Ruger and discuss the pros and cons of each one so you can make an informed decision regarding which one will work best for you.
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Ep 127: .416 Rigby vs .416 Remington Magnum vs .416 Ruger Comparison
We’re doing another cartridge comparison episode today along the same lines as the past few episodes where we’ve talked a lot about cape buffalo hunting. However, we’ll step down a little bit in caliber and discuss a few slightly smaller, but still really hard hitting dangerous game cartridges. In this episode, I’m going to do a detailed comparison of the .416 Rigby vs .416 Remington Magnum vs .416 Ruger and discuss the pros and cons of each one so you can make an informed decision regarding which one will work best for you.
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Ep 126: .458 Win Mag vs .458 Lott Comparison
I’ve got another cartridge comparison episode for you today. Since we’ve been talking a lot about cape buffalo lately, I think this is a good opportunity to discuss the .458 Winchester Magnum and how it compares to the .458 Lott. In this episode, I’m going to do a detailed comparison of the 458 Win Mag vs 458 Lott and discuss the pros and cons of each one so you can make an informed decision regarding which one will work best for you.
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Here’s how to prepare for the cape buffalo hunting safari you’ve been dreaming of. As promised, Kevin Robertson is back on the show again today. We’re going to have an in depth discussion on how to prepare for a cape buffalo hunt. Kevin provides some excellent advice to prospective cape buffalo hunters in this episode. Pay attention to what he has to say on how to prepare physically, how to practice shooting under realistic conditions, what you should bring with you on your hunt, and much more.
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This is the episode you’ve been looking for if you want to learn more about cape buffalo hunting. Kevin Robertson back on The Big Game Hunting Podcast again to kick off 2021! In this episode, Kevin provides a general overview of Cape buffalo: where they live, an overview of cape buffalo anatomy, why cape buffalo are so darn mean and tough, and how to evaluate a cape buffalo trophy, and much more.
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Ep 123: Happy New Year & My 2021 Hunting Goals
I recently discussed the importance of goal setting with you. Like I mentioned, I set some ambitious goals when I moved to El Paso a few years ago and I finally accomplished them this past fall. Well, that means it’s time to set new goals. So, I’m going to go over those new goals with you right now, give you a brief overview of how I plan on accomplishing them, and give you a preview of what 2021 will look like with the Big Game Hunting Podcast.
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Ep 122: Merry Christmas & 2020 Lessons Learned
This has been a crazy year, but it’s finally coming to an end. Since today is Christmas Eve, this will be a fairly short episode, but I want to make it worth your while. With that in mind, I’m doing a brief overview of some of the lessons I learned over the course of 2020 and how you can take advantage of those lessons for yourself.
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Ep 121: 6.5 Creedmoor vs .243 Winchester Comparison
I’ve got another cartridge comparison episode for you today where we’ll be discussing two of the really popular sweet shooting and light recoiling hunting cartridges these days. Specifically, this show is a detailed comparison of the 6.5 Creedmoor and .243 Winchester where I’ll parse out the differences between those three cartridges so you can make an informed decision regarding which one will work best for you.
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Ep 120: Exo Mountain Gear K3 4800 Review
Today, I’ll be talking to you about the Exo Mountain Gear K3 4800 pack I used on my elk hunt I told you about back in episode 114. The pack worked really well for me on that hunt I wanted to discuss that backpack, what I liked about it, and why you should consider buying one in a little more detail with you.
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Ep 119: Matt Drury On Hunting With A Muzzleloader
Like I mentioned last week, we have a special guest on today’s show: Matt Drury from Drury Outdoors. Like me, Matt Drury likes to hunt with a muzzleloader as a means of expanding his hunting opportunities. The bottom line is that Matt and the rest of the guys at Drury Outdoors do quite a bit of hunting with a muzzleloader and I wanted to have this discussion with Matt as a way of showing you some of the other benefits and opportunities associated with hunting with a muzzleloader.
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Ep 118: Happy Thanksgiving (Plus A Special Announcement)
2020 has been a CRAZY year and we’ve all had to deal with lots of varying kinds of adversity during these past few months. Even so, I still have many things to be thankful for this year. I also have a SPECIAL announcement to share with you today.
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Ep 117: 300 PRC vs 300 Win Mag Comparison
Today’s show is another cartridge comparison episode and we’ll be discussing two of the really popular .30 caliber magnum cartridges these days. Specifically, this show is a detailed comparison of the 300 Precision Rifle Cartridge (300 PRC) and the .300 Winchester Magnum where I’ll parse out the differences between those three cartridges so you can make an informed decision regarding which one will work best for you.
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Ep 116: 6.5 PRC vs 6.5 Creedmoor Comparison
Today’s show is another cartridge comparison episode and we’ll be discussing two of the really popular 6.5mm cartridges these days. Specifically, this show is a detailed comparison of the 6.5 Precision Rifle Cartridge (6.5 PRC) and the 6.5 Creedmoor where I’ll parse out the differences between those three cartridges so you can make an informed decision regarding which one will work best for you.
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Ep 115: Adam Whitehead On What’s New With The Sportsman’s Box
It’s November now and that means Christmas is just around the corner, so it’s time to start thinking about Christmas presents. Shopping for hunters is always a really difficult task, especially if the person doing the shopping doesn’t hunt themselves. Everything going on with COVID this year has further complicated the situation. Fortunately, Adam Whitehead from The Sportsman’s Box is back on the show to give an update on what’s new with them and why they’re a cool and useful way to shop for gear.
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Ep 114: New Mexico Elk Hunt Recap: Success!
Well, I just got back from the only big hunt I had planned for 2020 and I have good news: I punched my elk tag up in New Mexico! Today, I’m going to tell you how the hunt went, a couple of lessons I learned, and share a few recommendations for you to keep in mind if you want to go elk hunting in the future.
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Ep 113: Chris Dorsey On Introducing Wolves To Colorado (Proposition 114)
Chris Dorsey is back on the show again today and, in addition to his work as a hunting TV show host and producer, Chris is also a resident of Colorado. If you haven’t heard, there’s actually an initiative on the ballot in Colorado this year regarding the potential introduction of wolves to the state. Well, Chris is concerned about the implications of this ballot initiative, both in Colorado and elsewhere in the country. Today, Chris and I are going to talk about this potential for introducing wolves to the state and why he thinks this is a bad idea.
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Ep 112: My 2020 Hunting Gear List
At this very moment I’m up in New Mexico on my elk hunt. So with that in mind, I thought I’d talk about some of the hunting gear I’m using this hunting season. I’ll discuss my hunting rifle, scope, ammunition, binoculars, hunting pack, and a new shooting aid I’ll be using on this hunt.
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Ep 111: 2020 Hunting Season Update
Today I wanted to take a few minutes to give you a brief update on what my hunting season will look like this year. It’s hard to believe, but it’s October already and that means we’re ¾ the way through 2020. The good news though is that we’re finally getting to my favorite time of the year. With that in mind, I wanted to take a few minutes to give you a brief update on what my hunting season will look like this year.
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Ep 110: 300 Win Mag vs 338 Win Mag vs 338 Lapua Comparison
Today’s show is another cartridge comparison episode and we’ll be discussing some real heavy hitters. Specifically, this show is a detailed comparison of the .300 Winchester Magnum, .338 Winchester Magnum, and .338 Lapua Magnum where I’ll parse out the differences between those three cartridges so you can make an informed decision regarding which one will work best for you.
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Have you ever wondered how 40” gemsbok, a 42” cape buffalo or a 54” kudu became the benchmarks many hunters are looking for on hunts in Africa? Today, I’ll answer that question and I’m going to tell you all about the two hunting record books that deal with hunts in Africa: Rowland Ward’s Record Of Big Game and the Safari Club International record book. I’ll also briefly cover the medal system run by the Namibia Professional Hunting Association.
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Ep 108: What You Need To Know About North American Hunting Record Books
Ever wonder what somebody’s talking about when they refer to “the record books” or a “Booner”? Or have you wondered why a 160” whitetail or a 360” elk are the benchmarks many hunters are looking for? Today, I’m going to answer those questions and more. I’ll tell you all about the various North American hunting record books maintained by the Boone & Crockett Club, the Pope & Young Club, the Longhunter Society, and Safari Club International. Plus, we’re also going to talk about the pros and cons of entering qualifying animals into one or more of the record books.
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Ep 107: Taxidermy Tips And Best Practices
I won’t say that I’ve seen it all, but I’ve seen a lot when it comes to taxidermy. I’ve also learned a lot of lessons the hard way. Well, today I’m going to share some taxidermy lessons I’ve learned over the years (on both domestic and international hunts) to help you avoid similar issues in the future and help ensure you can memorialize your dream hunt with good quality taxidermy products at a reasonable price.
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Ep 106: Brittany Boddington On Training Female Hunters
The unfortunate fact is that the hunting community is suffering a severe long term decline in hunter numbers. The bad news is that this is related to some demographic challenges that will probably get worse if we don’t do something about it. However, the good news is that there are some great programs out there to help combat and hopefully, reverse this decline in hunter numbers. In that vein, we have Brittany Boddington on the show today and she’s going to talk to us about her new She Hunts Skills Camps where she recruits and trains new female hunters.
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Ep 105: Chris Dorsey On Bongo And Mountain Nyala Hunting
Chris Dorsey joined me on the show today. Chris is a long-time hunting TV show host and producer whose career has taken him all over the world. This means he has gotten the opportunity to participate in some hunts that most other people can only dream of and to document those adventures in a manner that very few other people can. Well, bongo and mountain nyala are both great examples of those adventures and that’s what we’re talking about today.
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Ep 104: Joseph von Benedikt On Elk Hunting Rifles
Today, we’re talking elk rifles. Some elk hunts take place under really demanding conditions, so you’ll want to make sure you’re using a rifle that’s up to the task. Fortunately, Joseph von Benedikt was kind enough to join us again for an in-depth discussion on elk hunting rifles and what sort of characteristics you need to keep in mind when choosing a rifle.
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Ep 103: These Are The Africa Hunting Rifles You Should Take On Safari According To Kevin Robertson
I’m pleased have Dr. Kevin Robertson back on the show today to talk about Africa hunting rifles, especially rifles well suited for hunting thick-skinned dangerous game like cape buffalo. When hunting buffalo, you need a rifle that’s accurate, sufficiently powerful, and unfailingly reliable under the most demanding conditions. Believe it or not, finding a rifle that satisfies all of these requirements is easier said that done. Fortunately Kevin has lots of real world experience afield in Africa and he literally wrote the book on this stuff and he shares some very valuable information.
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Ep 102: Jeff Sipe On Nosler Rifles
Jeff Sipe from Nosler joined me on this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast. We talked about the history of the firearms side of Nosler, the various different rifles they currently produce, and what sort of situations they’re best used for.
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Ep 101: Shaundi Campbell On Winchester Repeating Arms & Contest Winner Announced!
Shaundi Campbell from Winchester Repeating Arms joined me on this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast. We talked about the history of Winchester, the different rifles, shotguns, handguns, and ammunition they offer, and what sort of situations they’re best used for. Finally, I announce the winner of the giveaway I announced during Episode 100!
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Ep 100: Common Caliber, 100th Episode Giveaway, & A Special Announcement!
Can you believe that this is Episode 100?!?! I’ve got a great show for you today with some of recommendations on my favorite episodes that you should go back and listen to, a discussion on cartridge availability, what we can learn from the ongoing ammo shortage, a SPECIAL announcement, and an AWESOME giveaway I’m doing in honor of this being Episode 100!
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Ep 99: Linda Powell On Mossberg Firearms
Linda Powell from O.F. Mossberg and Sons joined me on this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast. We talked about the history of Mossberg, the various different rifles, shotguns, and handguns they currently produce, and what sort of situations they’re best used for.
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Ep 98: Rafe Nielsen On Browning Firearms and Ammunition
Rafe Nielsen from Browning joined me on this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast. We talked about the history of Browning, the different rifles, shotguns, handguns, and ammunition they offer, and what sort of situations they’re best used for.
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Ep 97: These Are The Africa Hunting Bullets You Should Take On Safari According To Kevin Robertson
We’re joined by Dr. Kevin Robertson in this episode and he’s going to share his thoughts on some of the best bullets for hunting in Africa for plains game, lion, leopard, and cape buffalo. Africa is a very large and diverse continent with a wide variety of game to match. Well, the various species of game quite often require very difference performance characteristics from a bullet. However, Kevin has lots of real world experience afield in Africa and he literally wrote the book on shot placement and bullet selection on African game. So, make sure you pay attention because he’s about to share some very important information.
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Ep 96: Joseph von Benedikt On Elk Hunting Bullets
While we’ve talked in pretty general terms about bullets and ammunition in these past few episodes, today we’re going to dive into more detail on the subject. Specifically, we’re joined by Joseph von Benedikt in this episode and he’s going to share his thoughts on some of the best bullets for hunting elk. As you’ll learn here shortly, it’s a pretty big jump moving up from deer and pronghorn to elk. They’re bigger, tougher, and elk hunts just simply often require a whole lot more out of a bullet than deer hunts.
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Ep 95: Eric Miller On Federal Premium Ammunition, The .224 Valkyrie, And The .338 Federal
Eric Miller from Federal Premium joined me on this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast. We talked about the history of Federal Premium, the different types of bullets and big game ammo lines Federal Premium currently manufactures, the various situations that ammo is best used for, and the story of the .338 Federal and .224 Valkyrie cartridges and what advantages they offer to hunters.
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Ep 94: How To Pick The Right Hunting Scope
Today, we’re talking about rifle scopes. Specifically, I’ll be answering some common listener questions I’ve received lately about choosing the right scope with the right features for typical hunting situations. So, stay tuned to learn about first focal plane vs second focal plane scopes, the pros and cons of different ballistic turrets, and what scope magnifications are best.
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Ep 93: How Barrel Length and Barrel Contour Affect Rifle Performance
Are longer barrels more accurate? What is barrel contour and how does it affect performance in a hunting rifle? In this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast, I talk in detail on the effects of changing barrel contour and barrel length as they pertain to the performance of a hunting rifle. I discuss why they’re important and the pros and cons of different barrel lengths and barrel contours.
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Ep 92: Dan Roland On Dall Sheep Hunting In Alaska And Canada
Today, Dan Roland is back for another great hunting discussion on the Big Game Hunting Podcast. You may remember him from episode 84 when we talked about hunting brown and grizzly bear up in Alaska. Well, Dan has also been on a couple of Dall Sheep hunts in Alaska and the Yukon and we really get into the nitty gritty details of those hunts in this episode. So, if you’ve always dreamed about a sheep hunting adventure, then you’ll love today’s show.
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Ep 91: Ben Frank On Winchester Ammunition and the .350 Legend Cartridge
Ben Frank from Winchester joined me on this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast. We talked about the history of Winchester, the different big game ammo lines Winchester currently manufactures, the various situations those bullets are best used for, and the story of the brand new .350 Legend cartridge and what advantage it offers to hunters.
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Ep 90: Zach Waterman On Nosler Ammunition and Cartridges
Zach Waterman from Nosler joined me on this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast. We talked about the story of how Nosler first got started, the different bullets Nosler currently manufactures, the various situations those bullets are best used for, and the story of the various Nosler cartridges and what advantages they offer hunters.
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This show is the first in a new series about choosing the right bullet for hunting various species of big game. I have interviews lined up in the future with some of the big ammo manufacturers and we’re going to discuss the pros and cons of their really popular bullets used for big game hunting. However, before we get into that, I wanted to talk to you about the actual mechanics of how bullets kill big game animals. Basically, I’m going to provide a good base of understanding of how bullets perform under different conditions and an overview of the two most prominent schools of thought regarding optimum terminal bullet performance.
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Regardless of what some people would have you believe, the AR-15 platform can be an outstanding choice for hunting all manner of game. In this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast, I give an overview of some of the most popular cartridges used in the AR-15 along with the pros and cons of using each one for hunting various species of game. Specifically, I cover the .223 Remington, 5.56 NATO, .224 Valkyrie, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC, .300 Blackout, .450 Bushmaster, .458 SOCOM, and .50 Beowulf.
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Ep 87: Kendall Jones On Overcoming Adversity
Today, we have a special guest on the show who has a little experience in making lemonade out of an unexpected gift of lemons from the world: Kendall Jones. You may have heard of her: she was the Texas Tech cheerleader that became the famous target of anti-hunter harassment as the result of an African safari back in 2014. As you’ll learn here shortly, she suffered through some other very painful times in the years following that famous hunt in Africa that weren’t as nearly widely known. We talked about how she persevered through those struggles and what she’s up to today.
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Ep 86: Mark Huelsing On How To Choose A Hunting Backpack
Mark Huelsing from Exo Mountain Gear joined me again on this episode of the Big Game Hunting Podcast and we had a great discussion on how to choose the right backpack for your hunting needs. We talked about how to evaluate your backpack needs as a hunter, the capabilities a good pack offers, the right way to pack your backpack when hauling a heavy load, and specific recommendations on which Exo Mountain Gear packs are best for various hunting situations.
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In this episode of the Big Game Hunting Podcast, Phil Massaro and I had a great discussion on hunting plains game. We talked about some of the ins and outs of hunting plains game: how tough they are, proper shot placement, choosing the right, bullet and cartridge, some underrated species of plains game and some other things you should keep in mind when preparing for a hunt for in Africa. today.
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Ep 84: Dan Roland On Bear Hunting In Alaska
Spring is here and that means bear seasons all over the country will be opening soon. If you’re not one of the lucky hunters who with a spring bear hunt on your calendar, talking about going bear hunting might be the next best thing. Today, we’re joined by Dan Roland who is a veteran of many hunts in Alaska, both for coastal brown bear and grizzly bear. Well, Dan and I are going to get into the nitty gritty details of bear hunting in Alaska. So, if you’ve always dreamed about one of those hunts, you’re gonna love the show today.
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Ep 83: How To Get Cheap Airline Tickets
Long haul international flights are not cheap in the best of times and they can really have a wide variation in prices. Fortunately, I’ve discovered a couple of strategies to save some serious money on airline tickets. Listen to today’s episode to learn some great tips on how to save money when booking big international trips to Africa, South America, New Zealand, Europe, etc.
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Ep 82: Cable Smith On Moose Hunting
Are you dreaming of going moose hunting, but aren’t sure how you’ll be able to afford a hunt in Alaska or the Yukon? The good news is that there are some places in Canada that also offer some really awesome moose hunts that cost a fraction of what you’ll pay for a moose hunt in Alaska. Cable Smith from the Lone Star Outdoor Show is back today and he shared the story of his moose hunt in Newfoundland last year and why those hunts are a great option for many people.
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Ep 81: Ryan Cleckner On Improving Your Shooting Skills
Former special operations sniper team leader Ryan Cleckner of GunUniversity.com was kind enough to join us on this episode of the Big Game Hunting Podcast to discuss some tangible things YOU can do to improve YOUR shooting ability when it actually matters while afield. Make sure you pay attention to this discussion because Ryan drops some serious knowledge that can really help you take your shooting game to the next level.
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Ep 80: Slade Johnson On Trips 4 Trade
What would you say if I told you there were a way to work out a trade with another hunter somewhere else in the world where you guys exchange hunts? Maybe you take a hunter from Colorado deer, hog, or turkey hunting in your next of the woods, and in exchange, that same person takes you elk or mule deer hunting in Colorado? Would that sort of deal interest you? Well, we have Slade Johnson on the show today and he’s the founder of Trips 4 Trade, which is a company that can help you do just that.
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Ep 79: Cable Smith On Nilgai Hunting
Today, we’re going to shift gears a little bit and talk about another cool hunting opportunity that you DON’T need to draw a tag for, can be hunted in the USA outside of the normal hunting season window in the fall and winter, AND doesn’t cost a bunch of money to hunt: nilgai. Today, we’re joined by Cable Smith from the Lone Star Outdoor Show. He actually went on a nilgai hunt in south Texas last year and is going to tell us all about this little known species and the cool opportunities that are available to hunt them in the great state of Texas.
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Ep 78: Trail Kreitzer Talks Colorado, Nevada, Idaho Wyoming, and Hunting Draws
We have Trail Kreitzer from goHunt back on the Big Game Hunting Podcast today and we’re going to go into detail about the second group of western big game application options. Specifically, we’re going to be talking about the Colorado, Nevada, and Idaho draws for all species, the Wyoming deer/antelope draw, and the Arizona deer draw. We’ll briefly cover the overall prospects for each draw in order to give you an idea if each individual draw is something that’s worth investigating in more detail.
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Ep 77: Mark Huelsing On Self-Guided Archery Elk Hunting In Colorado
Mark Huelsing from Exo Mountain Gear joined me on this episode of the Big Game Hunting Podcast and shared the story of his initial attempts at archery elk hunting out in Colorado. He grew up whitetail hunting in Missouri, but decided to take the plunge into elk hunting a few years ago. Here’s the story of how it went, what he learned, and how you can make your elk hunting dreams turn into a reality.
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Ep 76: Why You Should Consider Hunting In New Zealand
It’s unfortunate, but few people realize the full extent of the hunting opportunities available in New Zealand and it’s often overshadowed by Africa. New Zealand has beautiful scenery, friendly people, and a good variety of unique big game species that may be hunted. So in this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast, we’re going to talk about some of the different species you can hunt in New Zealand as well as where to go in the country for the best hunting!
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Ep 75: You’ll Never Guess How My Javelina Hunting Trip In New Mexico Ended!
You never know what will happen when you go javelina hunting, so it’s a good idea to be flexible if you run into the unexpected. I actually just got back from a javelina hunt in New Mexico and I have good news: I punched my javelina tag! Today, I’m going to tell you how the hunt went, a couple of lessons I learned, and share a few recommendations for you to keep in mind if you want to go javelina hunting in the future.
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Ep 74: Phil Massaro On Big Bore Rifles And Hunting Dangerous Game
Today, we have a special guest on the show: gun writer and big bore rifle enthusiast Phil Massaro. We’re going to talk about choosing the right rifle, cartridge, and ammunition for hunting dangerous game (most notably cape buffalo). The advice commonly given about hunting dangerous game is to “bring the most powerful rifle that you can shoot accurately.” That’s not bad advice, but it really leaves a lot of room for interpretation and is a subject that deserves a pretty in-depth discussion.Well, that’s exactly what Phil and I provide in this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast!
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January is the peak time of year for booking guided hunts overseas, most notably in Africa. For that reason, I’m going to talk about some of the opportunities that are available for hunting in Africa as well as some tips on how to choose the right hunting outfitter for you in this episode of the Big Game Hunting Podcast.
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Ep 72: Trail Kreitzer Talks Wyoming, Arizona, Utah, Montana, and New Mexico Hunting Draw
We have Trail Kreitzer from goHunt back on the Big Game Hunting Podcast today and we’re going to go into detail about the first group of western big game application options. Specifically, we’re going to be talking about the Wyoming elk draw, the Arizona elk/pronghorn draw, the Utah draw for all species, the Montana deer/elk draw, and the New Mexico draw for all species. We’ll briefly cover the overall prospects for each draw in order to give you an idea if each individual draw is something that’s worth investigating in more detail.
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Ep 71: What Are Your 2020 Hunting Goals? Plus A Big Announcement!
What are your hunting goals for 2020? In this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast, I discuss the importance of setting goals, what my hunting goals are for the new year, some changes to the podcast for 2020, an awesome deal available for an Alberta black bear hunt this spring, and another special announcement!
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Ep 70: Arizona Coues Deer Hunt Recap: Success!
Like I mentioned a couple of times in previous episodes, I had a coues deer hunt scheduled for a week before Christmas. Well, I have good news: I punched my coues deer tag over in Arizona! On this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast, I’m going to tell you how my Arizona coues deer hunt went, recap a couple of lessons I learned, and share a few recommendations for you to keep in mind if you want to go coues deer hunting in the future.
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Similar to Thanksgiving, I really associate deer hunting with the Christmas holiday. Like many people, growing up I’d quite often go deer hunting during the Christmas break from school. This was actually when I shot my very first deer.Today is December 26 and that is the exact date I shot my first deer many years ago. For that reason, today I’m going to share the story of that particular hunt with you on this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast.
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Ep 68: Should You Wear Camouflage While Hunting?
Today, I want to give a big shout out to Josh, who recently made a couple of great suggestions for future episodes. One of those suggestions was about the evolution of hunting attire and the utility of wearing camouflage. He made the great point that wearing camo is a relatively new fashion trend in the hunting world and if you go back and look at pictures of hunters from the 1940s and 50s, really any time prior to about the 1990s, hunters didn’t wear camo. So, the question is, does wearing camouflage actually increase your odds of success afield? Or is that just a marketing scheme? Well, that’s what we’re going to talk about on this episode of the Big Game Hunting Podcast.
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Ep 67: Handgun Hunting Overview
Today, I want to give a shout out to Josneym from Ecuador. Josneym recently contacted me requesting an episode giving a general overview of hunting with a handgun. So, that’s what we’re going to talk about in this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast.
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Ep 66: Hunting Gift Recommendations Plus Contest Winner Announcement!
In this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast, I announce the winner of the Maven binocular giveaway. Additionally, I also figured I’d give you guys a couple of different gift ideas for any hunters on your shopping list that you haven’t gotten stuff for yet. Most of these items will also work really well for YOU to give as an answer to a friend or family member asking what YOU want for Christmas.
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Ep 65: Push Feed vs Controlled Round Feed Rifle Pros And Cons For Hunting
Today, I want to give a shout out to Andrew from Minnesota. Andrew recently contacted me requesting an episode on push feed vs controlled feed rifles from a hunting perspective. So, that’s what we’re going to talk about in this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast.
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Ep 64: 338 Federal vs 308 Winchester vs 358 Winchester For Big Game Hunting
Today, I want to give a shout out to Steve. Steve was one of the very first guys to make a topic request for the Big Game Hunting Podcast. He emailed me a couple of months ago with a request for an episode about the .358 Winchester and what its suitable for hunting. So today, I’m going to do a detailed comparison of the 338 Federal vs 308 Winchester vs 358 Winchester in order parse out the differences between those three cartridges so you can make an informed decision regarding which one will work best for you.
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Ep 63: Clay Newcomb on Brown Bear and Grizzly Bear Hunting
Clay Newcomb from Bear Hunting Magazine joins us for this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast and he’s going to help us sort out things in the brown and grizzly bear hunting world. Today, we’re going to talk much more specifically about grizzly bear and brown bear hunting: what they are, the difference between brown and grizzly bear, where they live, where the best places are to hunt them, and about how much one of those hunts will cost.
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Ep 62: What You Need To Know About The Winchester Short Magnum Cartridges
In this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast, I’m going to do a detailed analysis of the 270, 7mm, 300, and 325 Winchester Short Magnum cartridges and compare them to the .270 Winchester, the 7mm Remington Magnum, the .300 Winchester Magnum, and the .338 Winchester Magnum in an effort to answer the above questions and parse out the their true strengths and weaknesses so you can make an informed decision regarding which one will work best for you.
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Ep 61: My Biggest Whitetail Buck
Happy Thanksgiving! I don’t know about you, but deer hunting and Thanksgiving always seem to go together perfectly for me. For that reason, today I’m going to share the story of my biggest whitetail deer ever, which I shot many, many years ago on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
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Ep 60: Hunting Travel Logistics Simplified
Today, I want to give a shout out to Matt from Tennessee. He emailed me a couple of months ago with a request for an episode about the logistics of doing a self-guided hunt out west. So, that’s what we’re going to be talking about today. We all have work and family obligations, so you can only realistically plan on taking so much time off for a hunt and every day that you’re traveling is a day that you’re away from your other obligations, but not actually hunting. So like Matt requested, we’re going to talk about a couple of different options hunters have to maximize their hunting time while they’re actually away from home and work.
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Ep 59: Adam Whitehead On The Sportsman’s Box
Well, Christmas is just around the corner and that means it’s time to start thinking about Christmas presents. Shopping for hunters is always a really difficult task, especially if the person doing the shopping doesn’t hunt themselves. For the most part, I’m really particular about the gear I use and I just buy what I want/need myself. I’ll be a lot of you are in that same boat too. What would you think if I told you there was another way to get high quality hunting gear vetted by experienced hunters at a reasonable price? In this episode of the Big Game Hunting Podcast I interview Adam Whitehead from The Sportsman’s Box who will give us a glimpse into a potential alternative.
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Ep 58: Trail Kreitzer On goHUNT
Unfortunately, for the most part, getting a good tag isn’t as simple as buying a hunting license in many western states. Instead, many states issue the majority of their elk, deer, and pronghorn tags through a random draw. While there are exceptions, this applies to guided as well as self-guided hunts in many places as well. Trail Kreitzer from goHunt joins us for this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast and he’ll give us an overview of goHunt, the information they offer to hunters, why that information is important, and some good tips on how you can use goHunt to find some awesome hunting opportunities that you probably never would have known about otherwise.
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Ep 57: Jay Scott On Coues Deer Hunting
Like I’ve mentioned a couple of times in previous episodes, I have an Arizona coues deer hunt coming up in late December. So with that in mind, today I’ll be interviewing Jay Scott of Jay Scott Outdoors who knows a whole lot more about coues deer hunting than I do. Now my Friend Fred Bohm and I talked about coues deer hunting all the way back in Episode 9. That episode provides a good overview of what coues deer are, where they live, and generally how to hunt them. Today, Jay and I are going to go into a whole lot more detail on the finer points of Coues Deer hunting and exactly how to go about hunting these wiley desert whitetails.
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Ep 56: Foot Care Tips For Hunters
Today is Veteran’s Day and as any veteran will tell you, it’s extremely important to take care of your feet, especially when you’re doing a bunch of hiking or rucking as is common on many big game hunting adventures. Bottom line: torn up feet are a recipe for a seriously NOT fun hunt and nobody wants to get laid up due to preventable foot problems during a hunt you’ve spent a lot of time and money planning.
So with all that in mind, I’m going to share a few things I’ve learned over the years about how to take care of your feet so you can focus on enjoying yourself while you’re hunting.
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Ep 55: My Favorite Hunting Books
Now I don’t know about you, but I love to read and I love to hunt. The good news is that there are a bunch of really good hunting books out there. Some of them provide useful information and are a great way to improve your skills as a hunter. Others contain some delicious wild game recipes that can help you take your game in the kitchen to the next level. And of course, many others are just entertaining and are filled with funny or exciting stories from hunts all over the world.
A book can help you pass the time when you’re sitting in a deer stand on a slow morning, when you’re on an air plane, or it can help you get your hunting fix during those dog days of summer when hunting season seems so far away. So with all that in mind, I decided to share a list of some of my favorite hunting books with you in this episode of the Big Game Hunting Podcast.
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Ep 54: Jake Downs On Hunting In Alaska
Today we’re going to dip our toe into some of the incredible hunting opportunities that are available in Alaska and hopefully provide a little insight into how to get started planning a hunt up there. We’re joined again by Jake Downs who has also done a bit of hunting up in Alaska, both with an outfitter and on self-guided hunts.
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Ep 53: Keith Beam On Hunting From Ground Blinds And Children’s Hunting Books
Today’s guest is going to share some interesting thoughts with us on another piece of gear that is really popular for some whitetail and turkey hunters, but also actually has a lot of applications for hunts out west: ground blinds. Keith has really been around the block a time or two when it comes to hunting out of ground blinds today he’s going to share a BUNCH of tips and tricks with you guys on how to get the absolute most out of your ground blind regardless of whether you’re hunting whitetail deer, turkey, mule deer, pronghorn, or even elk.
Also, make sure you stick around at the end of the show because Keith and I are also going to talk about a couple of really cool hunting books he specifically designed for kids that should really be interesting to those of you who are parents or grandparents to small children and want to introduce them to hunting at an early age.
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Ep 52: New Mexico Mule Deer Hunt Recap
Well, I just got back from my second hunt of 2019 and, unfortunately, my New Mexico mule deer hunt did not go as well as my hunt up in Colorado at the beginning of October. Even so, I still had a nice trip, saw a lot of wildlife, and I learned some more valuable lessons that I’m happy to share with you.
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Ep 51: Hank Forester Talks About QDMA’s Field To Fork Program
I don’t know if you heard or not, but the hunting community is facing some serious problems associated with a severe long term decline in hunter numbers. The bad news is that this is related to some demographic challenges that will very likley get worse if we don’t do something about it. However, the good news is that there are some great programs out there to help combat and hopefully, reverse this decline in hunter numbers. In that vein, we have Hank Forester from the Quality Deer Management Association and he’s going to talk about QDMA’s Field to Fork program for recruiting new adult hunters.
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Ep 50: My 2019 Hunting Gear List
At this very moment I’m up in New Mexico on a mule deer hunt. So with that in mind, I thought I’d talk about some of the hunting gear I’m using this hunting season. I’ll discuss my muzzleloader, hunting rifle, ammunition, rifle scopes, binoculars, as well as a couple of important services I use to get set up for success on my western hunting trips.
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Ep 49: 5 Tips To Prepare For Hunting Season
Today’s show is a short one because, as you’re listening to this, I’m heading up to New Mexico for my muzzleloader mule deer hunt. So with that in mind, I wanted to go over some things YOU should do before hunting season starts.
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Ep 48: Alyssa Nitschelm On Her Oregon Mountain Goat Hunt!
Today we’ll be sharing a successful first hunt story of a woman from Oregon. Alyssa Nitschelm decided to start hunting this year and applied for the usual things in Oregon’s hunting draw like deer, elk, and pronghorn. However, she didn’t draw any of those species and instead hit the jackpot by drawing a rocky mountain goat tag this year instead. Here’s the story of her successful Oregon mountain goat hunt.
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Ep 47: Colorado Pronghorn Hunt Recap: Success!
Well, I just got back from my first hunt of 2019 and I have good news: I punched my pronghorn tag up in Colorado! In this episode of the Big Game Hunting Podcast, I’m going to tell you how the hunt went, a couple of lessons I learned, and share a few recommendations for you to keep in mind if you want to go pronghorn hunting in the future.
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Ep 46: How To Glass For Mule Deer, Elk, And Pronghorn
With the start of hunting season, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about how to glass for game. This is an important hunting tactic for spotting game all over the world. After all, you can’t shoot game that you can’t see. Proper glassing techniques will help you on virtually any big game hunt, but this is an especially important skill on the pronghorn, mule deer, and coues deer hunts I’ll be on this year. So, today I’m going to share a few tips and techniques you can do to take your glassing game to the next level.
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Ep 45: Dylan Dowson On onX Hunt
Finding a spot to hunt can be really tough, but fortunately, there are some good products out there that can help you find a productive hunting spot on public land. With all that in mind, today we’re joined by Dylan Dowson from onX Hunt, who is going to give us an overview of onX Hunt, the improvements they’ve made to the product in recent years, and some good tips on how you can use onX Hunt to find a place to hunt and help you fulfill your hunting dreams.
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Ep 44: CVA Paramount: What You Need To Know
The CVA Paramount is one of the hottest new muzzleloaders on the market. Advertised as suitable for hunting situations in excess of 300 yards, the Paramount incorporates a bunch of interesting and unique new features that set it apart from other muzzleloaders. I’ll be hunting with a CVA Paramount this fall and here’s what I think about this new muzzleloader so far.
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Ep 43: Best Hog Hunting Guns
This is the last episode (for right now anyway) in my series on hunting feral hogs and we’re going to talk about what sort of guns are best suited for hog hunting. Glenn and I did talk about this a little bit in our interviews, but I wanted to cover it in more detail on my own today. So, we’ll discuss the best guns for hunting hogs over bait, calling hogs, hunting hogs with hounds, still hunting hogs, and hunting hogs with thermal sights.
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Ep 42: Glenn Guess On How To Call Mature Boars
I’m joined by Glenn Guess of Hog Zombies again in the episode. In the last couple of episodes, we’ve talked about how to hunt hogs in general and a basic primer on calling hogs. Today, Glenn and I are going to talk about how to call in mature boars in particular. Today, he’s going to give us an overview of how to call dominant boars: how he defines a mature boar, dominant boar behavior, how hunting mature boars are different from other hogs, what call sequences to use when hunting mature boars, and a few other things you can do to increase your odds of success (and have more fun) on a hog hunt. If you want to learn more about hog hunting, be sure to listen to this episode!
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Ep 41: Glenn Guess On How To Call Hogs
We’re back for another episode about hunting hogs today and once again, I’m joined by Glenn Guess of Hog Zombies. In the last episode we talked about how to hunt hogs in general. Today, Glenn and I are going to talk about a lesser known way of hunting hogs: by calling them. Glenn pretty much wrote the book on hog calling and he’s going to give us an overview of how to call hogs: how to pick a spot to call, what sort of gear you’ll need, and a few other things you can do to increase your odds of success (and have more fun) on a hog hunt. If you want to learn more about hog hunting, be sure to listen to this episode! Keep Reading »
Ep 40: Listen To What This Feral Hog Expert Has To Say And You’ll Take Your Hog Hunting Game To The Next Level Do you want to learn more about hog hunting? This episode is the perfect place to start. Glenn Guess of Hog Zombies joins me in this episode where we talk about some of the finer points how to hunt hogs. Specifically, he gives us a good overview of how to identify good feral hog habitat, how to identify hog sign, how to pick a spot to hunt, what sort of gear you’ll need to hunt hogs, and a few tactics that can be especially useful for hunting hogs. If you want to learn more about hog hunting, then hit play!Keep Reading »
Ep 39: Introduction To Hog Hunting Today we’re going to start by doing a general overview of feral hogs. We’ll discuss what feral hogs look like, the difference between Russian Boar, feral swine, feral hogs, wild pigs, and Razorbacks, what habitats wild hogs prefer, what states have the best hog hunting opportunities, a few different methods of hunting feral hogs, and hog much a guided hog hunt costs. Ever wondered if you can eat the meat from wild hogs? I’ll answer that question as well.
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Ep 38: 2019 New Mexico Pronghorn Hunt Recap Today, I’m joined by my friend Tyler Ball in this episode of the Big Game Hunting Podcast as we recap his first venture into the hunting world: a 2019 New Mexico pronghorn hunt. Tyler is a brand new hunter and we’ll talk about why he decided to start hunting in the first place, how he prepared for this hunt, how the hunt went, a couple of things we plan on doing differently in the future, and why you should consider an antelope hunt out west.
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Ep 37: Jake Downs On Moose Hunting And Elk Hunting
Today we’ll be talking about two of the largest and most impressive species of North American big game: elk and moose. For many of American hunters in the USA, getting the chance to harvest these two species represents the pinnacle of their hunting dreams. Fortunately, while I wouldn’t say that elk or moose are easy to hunt, getting the chance to harvest both species is indeed within reach of most hunters who want it badly enough and are willing to put in the time and energy necessary to do so.
With that in mind, we have a guy here with us today that has been there and done that: Jake Downs. Heck, not only has he successfully taken both elk and moose, but he did so with traditional archery gear. He’s going to give us an overview of how he went about hunting elk and moose on his quest to complete the Super 10 and hopefully offer some insight into how you can make your dreams of hunting moose and elk a reality.
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Ep 36: 25-06 Remington vs 6.5 Creedmoor vs 270 Winchester: Which One Should You Use?
The .25-06 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .270 Winchester are all relatively flat shooting cartridges that are good choices for hunting a variety of big game. While each of the three cartridges offer certain benefits to hunters, there are a lot of misunderstandings regarding their capabilities and it’s incredibly easy to get confused when trying to understand their true strengths and weaknesses. Here’s what you need to know about these three cartridges when it comes to picking the right one for a big game hunt!
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Ep 35: Remington Ammo Recommendations
Though it was originally introduced in the early 1900s, the .35 Remington remains a solid big game hunting cartridge under the right conditions. However, there aren’t many choices for factory loaded .35 Remington ammo these days.
Fortunately, the different varieties of factory loaded .35 Remington ammo currently available from Federal, Hornady, Remington, and Winchester are all designed for hunting big game. So, while there aren’t many loads to choose from, you still have really good odds of finding some rifle ammo that will work for you. That’s what we’re going to discuss in today’s episode.
In Episodes 29 and 30 I talked about the .45-70 government, which is a cartridge that, while very popular among certain hunters, doesn’t get much mainstream attention. Well, today’s episode is about another cartridge that fits that description: the 35 Remington.
Like the .45-70, the 35 Remington is a pretty old cartridge that’s still quite capable under certain conditions. It’s still hanging around, but I’d say that the 35 Remington is one of the most under-rated brush cartridges in North America today. Well today, we’re going to talk about why that’s the case.
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Ep 33: Kevin Paulson On Elk And Mule Deer Hunting
Today we’ll be talking about two species of North American big game that are near and dear to the hearts of many hunters: mule deer and elk. For a lot of hunters in the USA, these two species are the ones they dream about hunting one day. Fortunately, we have Kevin Paulson, who used to own an outfitting service offering guided hunts for both mule deer and elk, with us today. He’s going to give us an overview of hunting elk and mule deer, how you can make your dreams of hunting them a reality, and a few things you can do to increase your odds of success (and have more fun) on an elk or mule deer hunt.
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Ep 32: 2019 Hunting Season Preview
Today I wanted to take a few minutes to give you a brief update on what my hunting season will look like this year. Now, we’re still in the dog days of summer down in Texas, but I’ve gotten all the draw results back from every state I put in for this year, so my hunting schedule for this fall and winter is pretty well set and I’ve been starting more detailed preparations for hunting season.
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Ep 31: Mark Norquist On Best Practices For Caring For And Cooking Wild Game Meat
In this episode, we’ll be talking about a subject that’s really important for all hunters, but doesn’t always get the attention it deserves: taking care of wild game meat. Now, the things that go into taking care of the meat from an animal you killed can vary widely depending on the exact animal as well as where the hunt took place. Regardless of the animal or circumstances of the hunt though, there are a few steps you can take to ensure that you get as much meat from the animal in question as possible and that you’re able to prepare healthy and delicious meals from it when you return home.
With all that in mind, today we’re joined by Mark Norquist, who is going to give us an overview of some easy steps that hunters can take to take care of the meat from wild game at the site of the kill, how to transport it back home, and a few easy to make (but still delicious) wild game recipes that will all help you more fully enjoy that aspect of the hunt.
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Ep 30: Best 45-70 Hunting Ammo Recommendations
Due to advances in powder and bullet technology, ammo for the .45-70 Government is now even more effective for hunting than it ever has been. Known for its bone crushing power and excellent terminal performance on virtually every species of North American big game at short to medium range, hunters all over the United States still utilize the .45-70 for deer hunting in thick conditions and it’s also quite effective on black bear, feral hogs, moose, and grizzly bears. Today, I’m going to talk about a couple of different ammunition options by companies like Hornady, Buffalo Bore, Barnes, and Remington for the 45-70 that are great choices for hunting a variety of big game.
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Today I’ll be discussing a cartridge that, while extremely popular in certain circles, does not get a lot of mainstream attention these days: .45-70 Government. So, while the .45-70 is as American as apple pie and other cartridges like the .30-30 Winchester, the .30-06 Springfield, and the .45 Colt, only a relatively small percentage of dedicated hunters and shooters use it these days. That’s really too bad because the .45-70 Govt has a very interesting history and remains a very capable big game hunting cartridge. Today, we’re going to discuss why this is the case.
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Ep 28: Best Shooting Positions Ever Hunter Should Master
Many hunters do the vast majority of their shooting from a bench rest, but this is not the best way to practice your marksmanship under typical hunting conditions. Now I don’t know about you, but I’ve never taken a shot at a deer, or any other big game species for that matter, from a bench rest. For this reason, it’s very important that hunters learn to shoot from positions they are more likely to use when hunting. So in this episode, I’m going to describe what are (in my experience) the 5 best shooting positions for hunters and describe the pros and cons of each one.
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Ep 27: Tim Kjellesvik On How To Improve Hunting Fitness
In this episode, we’ll be talking about a subject that’s really important for all hunters, but usually doesn’t get the attention it deserves: physical fitness. Now, this is obviously much more important on some hunts (like hunting elk, tahr, or mountain goat in the high country) than others (like hunting whitetail from a tree stand). Regardless of the hunt though, you’ll probably enjoy the experience a whole lot more and improve your odds of success if you’re in better physical shape. With all that in mind, today we’re joined by Tim Kjellesvik. He’ll give us an overview of some easy steps that hunters can take to improve their overall hunting fitness that will provide tangible results afield.
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Ep 26: How To Fly With A Gun On An AirlineWhile the hassle involved with airline travel seems to be getting worse and worse each day, flying with a gun actually isn’t as complicated as you would think. There is a right and a wrong way to do it though.
Today I’m going to talk about how to fly with a gun on an airline without breaking the law or otherwise getting into trouble. I’ll also cover some different things you’ll need to keep in mind depending on whether your final destination is within the United States or if you’ll be traveling to another country.
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I think we can all agree that we’d love to keep our sense of hearing for our entire life. After all, I’m sure you know someone who has a tough time hearing and can barely carry on a conversation. It’s even worse for those who have severe tinnitus, which is an absolutely miserable (and incurable) condition for a lot of people. There are many different things that can damage your ears, but if you do a lot of hunting with firearms, there’s one simple thing you can do to avoid hearing loss and make sure you don’t have to wear hearing aids later in life: wear ear protection while you’re hunting. With all that in mind, in this episode, I’m going go over some of the best hunting ear protection products that you should be wearing afield to safeguard your precious hearing.
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Ep 24: How Trophy Hunting In Africa Supports Wildlife Conservation
Trophy hunting is a very misunderstood topic these days, even among hunters. The many misconceptions and myths that surround trophy hunting have helped turn it into a very controversial subject.
With all that in mind, my goal for today’s show is to clear up some of the misconceptions about trophy hunting in Africa and help set the record straight. I’m also going to go into detail on the tangible benefits that trophy hunting has for wildlife conservation all over the world, but specifically in Africa.
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Ep 23: How To Make The Most Out Of A Guided Hunt In AfricaToday I’m going to talk a couple things that you as the client can do to make the most out of a guided hunt in Africa. Just like in the last episode, some of the things I’ll be talking about in this episode are specific to hunting in Africa, but there’s also a lot of good advice for guided hunting in general, regardless of where you’ll be hunting. So even if you’re not considering booking a hunt in Africa, you should still pay attention because you might learn something useful.
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Ep 22: How To Choose A Hunting Outfitter For An African SafariThere are lots of hunting outfitters in Africa to choose from. While many are very good, there are some really bad apples that you’ll really want to avoid. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to help separate the good from the bad and choose the right outfitter for your dream Africa hunting safari.
Ep 21: Best Cape Buffalo Hunting Calibers And Bullets
In the last episode, I really tried to emphasize the toughness, disagreeable temperament, and sheer size of the cape buffalo. I’m not trying to scare you, but I do want to highlight the importance of taking things seriously when hunting buffalo. Fortunately, If you use a powerful enough cartridge, loaded with premium quality bullets, and place your shot where it needs to go, then even the biggest, toughest, and meanest cape buffalo won’t go very far. However, if you mess up in any of those areas, things can go sideways in a hurry. In this episode, I discuss the best cape buffalo hunting calibers and bullets that you should strongly consider using on a cape buffalo hunt.
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Ep 20: Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Safe And Be Successful When Cape Buffalo Hunting
Also known as Nyati, mbogo, or simply the “black death” Cape buffalo are right up there with kudu in terms of animals that hunters dream of pursuing in Africa. This is for a variety of reasons, but chief among them is the unique feeling of matching wits with a truly dangerous animal on his own turf. After all, there’s a reason why cape buffalo are worthy of their inclusion on the list of the Big Five species of dangerous game. Today, I’m going to talk about what countries have good cape buffalo hunting, what makes cape buffalo special, and how they’re different from water buffalo.
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When they close their eyes and try to imagine a deer rifle that best represents classic Americana, many hunters likely picture a lever-action chambered in .30-30 Winchester. That shouldn’t be surprising because after all, the .30-30 Winchester has been around for well over a century and has arguably taken more deer in United States than any other cartridge.In honor of the 4th of July, I’m taking a one episode break from the series on hunting in Africa to discuss one of the most American cartridges out there: the .30-30 Winchester.
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Ep 18: How To Prepare For An African Safari Hunt
In this episode, I discuss how to prepare for an African hunting safari, some underrated hunting gear that a lot of hunters forget and really regret not having (like a basic gun cleaning kit), and some tips on shot placement on African game.
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Ep 17: Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Hunting African Plains Game
In this episode, I discuss some of the most commonly hunted species of African plains game, especially for those on their first African safari hunt: warthog, impala, blue wildebeest, zebra, and kudu. I also talk briefly about the cartridges and ammunition that are best suited for hunting those species of African plains game.
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Ep 16: Africa Hunting Safaris: What You Know May Be Wrong
Hunting in Africa was one of my dreams for many years until I made that fantasy come true back in 2006 on a hunt in Namibia with my dad. I’ve been back to Africa a number of times since then with safaris in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique where I’ve hunted many species of plains and dangerous game. During the course of all those hunts, I’ve learned a great deal about hunting in Africa (often the hard way) and this episode is the first in a series about hunting in Africa where I’m going to share a lot of those lessons with you.
So, if you’ve always wanted to hunt in Africa (regardless of whether you want to go plains game or cape buffalo hunting), you’re going to love this series. Additionally, even if you don’t plan on going on safari in the near future, you’ll probably still enjoy these shows because I’m going to clear up a lot of myths and misconceptions about African safari hunts.
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Ep 15: Muzzleloader Hunting Tips & Tricks
Hunting big game with a muzzleloader can be an extremely fulfilling experience and as a result, muzzleloader hunting is becoming more and more popular among hunters these days. However, hunting with a muzzleloader can also be extremely challenging and frustrating. This is especially true with late season muzzleloader hunting where hunters may have to deal with extremely cold and/or wet conditions. For those who are planning on taking the old front stuffer out into the woods this year for black bear, elk, or deer hunting, here are a few muzzleloader hunting tips that I’ve learned the hard way.
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Ep 14: CVA Optima Muzzleloader
In this episode, I’m going to talk about one of the most popular muzzleloaders in the United States and why it’s such an awesome choice for hunters: the CVA Optima. I’m also going to discuss some of my hunting experiences with it and the specific bullets I’ve had the most success with in the CVA Optima.
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Ep 13: Best Muzzleloader Scopes & Muzzleloader Sights
Choosing the best sighting system for your muzzleloader really depends on what conditions you hunt in, what you’re trying to accomplish, and what the regulations are where you’re hunting. In this episode, I share my picks of the best muzzleloader scopes and sights for hunters and what situations each different sight is best in.
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Ep 12: Best Muzzleloader Powder & Muzzleloader Primers
Especially if you’re new to the muzzleloader world, I think you’ll agree with me when I say that choosing the right propellant and best primer for your muzzleloader can be an overwhelming experience due to the sheer number of options available. I struggled with the same problem when I first got started hunting with a muzzleloader many years ago. Since then I’ve tried lots of different load combinations. Some worked better for me than others, but I’ve also gained a lot of insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the various propellants, primers, and bullets under different conditions.
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Ep 11: Brad Watts On Why You Need To Hunt With A Muzzleloader
I first started hunting with a muzzleloader back in 2013 in an effort to take advantage of the great muzzleloader hunting opportunities available in Washington. Though there was certainly a learning curve involved with making that transition, I enjoyed some great hunting opportunities that would not have otherwise been open to me if I’d stuck with a centerfire rifle. I interviewed Brad Watts of Muzzle-Loaders.com and we discussed hunting with a muzzleloader in detail. We discussed the different types of muzzleloaders, the capabilities and limitations of modern muzzleloaders, the advantages of hunting with a muzzleloader, some specific muzzleloader equipment recommendations (to include the best muzzleloaders and best muzzleloader bullets for hunting), and what states offer particularly good muzzleloader hunting opportunities.
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Ep 10: 243 vs 308 vs 7mm-08: Which One Should You Use?
The .308 Winchester is an excellent cartridge, but that hasn’t stopped wildcatters from attempting to improve upon it over the years in various ways. The .243 Winchester and 7mm-08 Remington are the two most common examples of cartridges developed by necking down the .308 Winchester to shoot smaller diameter bullets and are especially popular with deer hunters. While each of the three cartridges offer certain benefits to hunters, it’s still easy to get confused when trying to understand their true strengths and weaknesses. Here’s what you need to know about 243 vs 7mm-08 vs 308 when it comes to picking the right one for a big game hunt.
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Ep 9: Fred Bohm On Why You Need To Hunt Coues Deer
Coues deer aren’t very large animals and they don’t have gigantic antlers when compared to the other deer species that most people are more familiar with. However, Coues deer are an extremely challenging and fulfilling animal to hunt. For that reason, Coues deer have an almost cult-like following among hunters who have tried to match wits with them. Going after Coues deer is far from your typical whitetail hunting trip. Today, I’ll be interviewing Fred Bohm, who is a bow hunter that has been bitten by the Coues Deer bug and routinely heads down to the Sonoran Desert each year to go bow hunting for these wily desert whitetails with hopes of tagging a big buck during the rut. He shares some of his Coues deer hunting stories and will also be covering where you need to go to hunt Coues Deer, some of the best practices on how to hunt them, and why they are such a darn addictive animal to pursue.
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Ep 8: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Winchester – Which One Is Best For You
I think most shooters agree that the .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor are both fantastic cartridges for competition shooting. While the .308 Winchester has been around for a long time and also has a well-deserved reputation as an effective cartridge for hunting a variety of game, many hunters are skeptical of the capabilities of the comparatively new 6.5 Creedmoor as a hunting cartridge.
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Ep 7: Ryan Lisson Of Zero To Hunt On How To Scout A New Hunting Area
We were fortunate to interview Ryan Lisson of Zero to Hunt on this episode and he provided a bunch of great tips and tricks on how to find a place to hunt on public land, how to scout a new area without leaving home, and then what sort of things you should be looking for when scouting an area in person. So, regardless of whether you’re a whitetail hunter in the midwest, going turkey hunting down south, trying to prepare for a diy hunt in Montana, or even an angler in the southwest, if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed and just didn’t know where to begin when looking for a place to hunt on public land, this podcast contains lots of helpful information you should be able to put to use immediately.
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Ep 6: 270 vs 30-06: Which One Is Best For You?
Most hunters and shooters probably agree that the .270 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield are both quite versatile and effective cartridges. After all, there is a reason why they are the two most popular centerfire rifle cartridges used by hunters in the United States. While there is an overlap in their capabilities, the two cartridges are best suited to different tasks and represent two different ways of thinking. This is part of the reason why each cartridge has such a dedicated and loyal following and why the 270 vs 30-06 debate continues to rage on after so many years.
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Ep 5: Shotgun Gauges: Everything You Need To Know
While many hunters know a little bit about shotgun gauges, I think that most people would likely agree the subject can be really confusing. That’s perfectly understandable because the way shotgun gauges are classified is counterintuitive at first glance. It’s also based on an old, outdated measuring system that has gradually evolved over the years. For that reason, I’m going to discuss the ins and outs of shotgun gauges in detail in this episode.
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Ep 4: 7mm Rem Mag vs 300 Win Mag
Both the 7mm Rem Mag and the 300 Win Mag probably are among the first cartridges that spring to mind for sportsmen thinking about buying a new rifle for a serious hunt they think they’ll need a real heavy hitter on. They’re both excellent cartridges and are similar in many ways, but they’re also different in a few key areas and each is best suited for particular situations. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the history, strengths, and weaknesses of each cartridge as well as recommendations on which one you should be use for specific hunting conditions.
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Ep 3: 308 Winchester vs 30-06 Springfield vs 300 Win Mag
The .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, and .300 Winchester Magnum are all outstanding big game hunting cartridges. Though they’re similar in many ways, they are different in a few key areas and each is best suited for particular situations. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the history, strengths, and weaknesses of the 308 vs 30-06 vs 300 Win Mag as well as recommendations on which one you should be use for specific hunting conditions.
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Ep 2: Interview With Clay Newcomb Of Bear Hunting Magazine
We were fortunate to interview noted bear conservationist and backcountry hunter Clay Newcomb of Bear Hunting Magazine on this episode of the Big Game Hunting Podcast and he provided a great overview of some of the awesome bear hunting opportunities available in North America. Even though they are one of the most widely distributed game species on the continent, black bears are still something of an enigma to most hunters.
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Ep 1: Introduction To The Big Game Hunting Podcast
Hi, I’m John McAdams, and I want to thank you for joining me on the very first episode of the Big Game Hunting Podcast. If you’ve always dreamed about going on some sort of hunting adventure, this podcast is the perfect resource for you to turn those dreams into reality.
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