Backcountry Hunting Podcast

Hunting Scotland's Rugged Highlands Aug 04, 2023

Show notes

Recorded live in the field from an ancient hunting lodge in Scotland's far northern Highlands, this episode brings listeners a look into the grand tradition of stalking red stags in The Olde Countrie--as well as current opportunities.

If you're a serious elk hunter, you've likely dreamed of hunting red stags. New Zealand, Argentina, and the European continent all have allure, but the most exciting and historic of all red stag hunting is in Scotland, where Victorian nobles built castle-like stone lodges and climbed the gnarly highland mountains in pursuit of old stags.

Spartan's Rob Gearing, host Joseph von Benedikt, and estate manager Sam Thompson sit down by the crackling fireplace and talk through modern-day stag stalking in the highlands. What to expect, appropriate rifles and cartridges, conservation and estate management, and actual shooting and stalking scenarios. Plus, we bring you the first word of a terrific new flexible bipod—the Spartan Springbuck. It's arguably the most versitile all-purpose shooting rest for lowland and mild backcountry hunting made.

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Dogs for Backcountry Hunting Jul 28, 2023

Show notes

Dog trainer and breeder extraordinair and passionate backcountry hunter Tyce Erickson joins us to discuss dog breeds that excel in the backcountry. We talk through the advantages of companionship, protection, blood trailing, shed antler hunting, packing, and more... Tyce defines the various charateristics of several breeds, including retrievers and pointers, and offers guidance on how to pick one that best fits your needs, personality, and capabilities. Plus, Tyce liberally sprinkles the conversation with training tips.

We also get to hear the stories of Tyce's big spot-and-stalk, DIY, public-land spring bear, and the big public-land DIY mule deer buck that he arrowed after a long and painstaking stalk last fall. Tyce is a top-notch shooter and fellow gearhead, and walks us through the rifle, cartridge and bullet used on the bear, and his new state-of-the-art bow, arrow, and broadhead setup he shot the buck with. Spoiler alert: He doesn't like new-fangled bow sights.

This was a terrific conversation... ENJOY!

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Cartridges & Rifles for Dangerous Game, Part 2 Jul 21, 2023

Show notes

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

Ron shares his mixed results using the .375 H&H—lots of hair-raising hunt stories here, folks—and explains why it still ranks number 1 most versatile in his book. We swap upcoming hunt plans, and mull over African vs. Alaskan rifle and cartridge needs. What a tremendous conversation... ENJOY!

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Cartridges for Dangerous Game Jul 14, 2023

Show notes

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

Plus, of course, there's a copious amount of story-swapping and tale-telling. Cape buffalo, hippo, lion, leopard, rhinos, and elephants... This was a really fun one, folks. ENJOY!

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How Arrows Kill: Shaft & Broadhead evolution, design, and setup. Jul 07, 2023

Show notes

Archery and bowhunting holds a mistique unmatched by any other predatorial pursuit we humans take part in. The arching flight of a well-made arrow toward the center of a distant target is a joy known to all who draw a bowstring... this episode is all about how to choose and set up exactly the right arrow and broadhead.

We're joined by 30-year Easton veteran and head marketing director Gary Cornum, who shares his experience and insights on the evolution of arrow shafts, fletching, broadheads, and more.

Gary leads us through the concepts of small-diameter arrows, the FOC (forward-of-center) weight trend, arrow spine strength and how it's measured, and the always-controversial topic of fixed-blade vs. mechanical broadheads.

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Killing Grizzly Bear with the 6.5 Creedmoor Jun 30, 2023

Show notes

Is America's trendiest, most controversial cartridge adequate for hunting America's most dangerous game? Most would say no. Tyler Freel, an Alaskan wild man who's taken many grizzlies with recurve bows, blackpowder rifles, and even stone arrowheads, recently killed a big griz with a 6.5 Creedmoor.

This episode details his story.

Freel, an accomplished backcountry hunter and Outdoor Life field editor, tells why he shot the bear with a 6.5 Creedmoor, goes into the specific rifle, ammo, and shot conditions, and shares his views on why it worked. He also outlines grizzly hunting situations in which he'd NOT want to be equipped with a 6.5 Creedmoor.

This is a practical look at what can be done with the cartridge, free of any hype, paranoia, or verbal lather. To Freel, the 6.5 Creedmoor is just a cartridge that pushes a 140-grain bullet at 2,700 fps, not the "6.5 Needmoor," not the "6.5 Wasting Disease," and not history's greatest gift to hunters.

In fact, Freel has the audacity to compare the 6.5 Creedmoor to the legendary .30-06. This was a fun one, folks. ENJOY!

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Bears, Hounds, & Lever Guns Jun 23, 2023

Show notes

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

Both, as it turned out, are particularly good at taking bears.

There are many methods of hunting black bears—spot and stalk, over bait, calling with predator calls, and hunting with hounds. Most of this incredible adventure we spent hunting behind Table Mountain Outfitter's outstanding bear dogs. The bond between a hound man and his dogs is an unanticipated, beautiful thing to most folks, and should be experienced by anyone that loves dogs.

We discuss the pros and cons of hunting with hounds, and address the ethics and the many misconceptions centered on the activity.

Before wrapping up, outfitters Scott and Angie Denny touch on recommended bear guns and cartridges, and offer advice for first-time bear hunters and first-time western hunters. This, my friends, was an awesome discussion. ENJOY!

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Choosing The Best Hunting Rifle Stock (plus chassis vs. stock) Jun 16, 2023

Show notes

Your rifle's stock is your primary contact point with the launch platform that kills your quarry. Choose wisely. Here's how.

Wood & Laminate wood stocks
- Proven, aesthetic, easy to work with & accurize
- Susceptible to changes in moisture
Injection-molded composites
- Cheap plastic
- Better quality "glass-filled nylon"
- Overly flexible
- Hard to glass bed & accurize
- Susceptible to extremes in temperature
High-end carbon-fiber stocks
- Carbon fiber lightest & most rigid
- Easy to glass bed & accurize
- Extremely strong
- Lightest material available
- Impervious to both moisture and temperature shifts
- Expensive
Chassis-type stocks
- Ultimately configurable
- Many can be folded for easy packing
- Heavy, cold to the touch
- Snaggy in brush
- Noisy when bumped
- Best for hunting are new magnesium/carbon fiber
- Keep screws tight
- Expensive

PLUS:

Stock shapes for ergonomics & performance
How to get the best from your stock in real-world use
How to pick a replacement stock for a production rifle
How to select a stock for a custom rifle build

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So You Want To Be A Gunwriter Jun 09, 2023

Show notes

Want a career in the hunting and shooting industry? It's tough to break into, but if you've got the desire, the passion, the knowledge, and the stubborness, it's possible.

Here, von Benedikt goes through the skills, talents, and experience vital to being a successful writer, outlines how to get started, and tells his back story to highlight one path to success.

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