Backcountry Hunting Podcast

Cape Buffalo Mauling, Night Hunting for Wildcats, & Suppressor Savvy with Brandon Maddox May 26, 2023

Show notes

This episode, I'm back on the line with Brandon Maddox, the world's smartest suppressor man, to swap hunting stories. Brandon recently returned from Africa, where an unprovoked dagga bull Cape buffalo mauled three of Brandon's friends—on two consecutive days! Needless to say, in the end the bull lost.

Brandon relates that story, plus we tell tales about hunting wildcats at night, stalking the secretive bushbuck, stopping buffalo charges with lever guns, and of course nerd out on gear. Before closing out we get Brandon's take on selecting and setting up a suppressor for success.

Spoiler alert: Brandon used a .338 Lapua on his Cape buffalo (not the one that charged). Naturally, we discuss Cape buffalo minimum cartridges and talk through how the .338 worked.

Folks, this was one fun conversation. ENJOY!

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Reasons To Hunt Elk with a 6.5 Creedmoor (Really!) May 19, 2023

Show notes

Controversial, capable, unpredictable... The 6.5 Creedmoor is one of those cartridges that generates a lot of love and hate. Even though we usually recommend bigger cartridges for elk, there are times and situations where the 6.5 Creedmoor is the best choice.

In this episode, we take a candid look at the 6.5 Creedmoor's capability, consider ballistic data, and compare it to legendary cartridges such as the .270 Win. and .30-06 Springfield, and establish where we believe the "Creed's" comfort zone is for use on elk.

As bullet choice is more crucial than cartridge choice, we also detail optimal 6.5 projectiles for use on elk, and discuss shot distance, shot angle, and shot placement.

Anchoring the discussion, we detail several different solid reasons to choose the 6.5 Creedmoor for hunting elk.

ENJOY!

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Picking a Rifle Action: Push-Feed vs. Controlled-Feed Designs May 12, 2023

Show notes

Ever had your hunting rifle malfunction at the moment of truth? It's a confidence-shaking thing, and can lose you an opportunity at a buck or bull of a lifetime. On dangerous game? Possibly your life.

This episode digs into the pros and cons of various types of bolt-action designs. We dissect the mechanics of push-feed actions compared to controlled-feed actions, and evaluate their various advantages for mountain rifles, dangerous game rifles, super accurate rifles, and so on.

Just as importantly, we discuss which action types are easiest to malfunction, and which actions tend to reduce our human ability to screw them up.

Naturally, the discussion is sprinkled with real-life hunting stories and experiences that support the various points--and of course add some adventure and fun to the topic.

ENJOY!

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Castle Ruins, Botched Shots, & Big Roebucks May 05, 2023

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This episode details the second half of an incredible hunt in Spain. von Benedikt and hunting partner Austin Brown drive halfway across the country, visiting castle ruins and ancient churches and cathedrals and staying in half-millennium-old inns, to hunt giant roebucks.

From botched shots and success on a world-class roebuck, to exploring 2,000-year-old Roman aqueducts and Moorish architecture and gold-encrusted Royal armor, this was an adventure.

Wrapping up, we talk through the process of booking and planning a hunt to Spain, including scheduling travel, sorting out paperwork, and getting your Spanish hunting license and firearm permit. On a worldwide spectrum, Spain is surprisingly easy and very accommodating.

ENJOY!

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Backcountry Hunting in Spain's Remote Mountains Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

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

In a surprise bonus, we got to visit a 1,000-year-old church unfathomably deep in the mountains, where an 11th-century Crusader's skeleton is buried—but visible beneath glass.

Guide Juan Pedro "Juan-P" and cigarette-rolling, chain-smoking, mountain-scaling game keeper Oscar took us high above timberline, where we found bands of chamois feeding beneath the snowline. Big old males tend to be loners, but we eventually found just the right one.

This is his story, and Austin's. And it's a must-listen for anyone that's ever dreamed about hunting Europe's high country. After this experience, it's impossible to recommend it highly enough.

Enjoy!

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Leupold's New Rangefinding Binocular—and random bizarre hunting stories Apr 21, 2023

Show notes

Leupold's long-awaited ranging bino is about to hit your local dealers! It's an awesome optic called the BX-4HD Range, and is initially available in 10x42 for $1,600.

In this episode, I'm joined by friends and hunting partners Skipper and Colton, who both have experience with the new BX-4HD Range, and we hash out the advantages of a combined binocular and rangefinder. Why deal with 2 items, extra weight, extra movement, and the more time needed when using separate optics?

Skipper gives us the tech skinny on the BX-4HD Range, plus a look at the new hunting-appropriate, highly advanced 2-10x Leupold Mark 5 riflescope.

We also talk through spotting scope selection; using a spotter with a reticle to calculate antler width on moose in Alaska when a bull must be 50 inches wider to be legal; adequate magnification for long-range shooting, and more. This is just an awesome discussion on all things optical.

ENJOY!

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.30-06 vs. 7mm PRC: World Champ vs. Rookie of the Year Apr 14, 2023

Show notes

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

Plus, there's a surprising amount of give and take in advantages. Even just outlining this episode was a ton of fun. We address:

History
Practicality
Authority
Long-range capability
Inherent accuracy
Firepower
Recoil level
Versatility
Availability

And a whole bunch more. ENJOY!

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Top 5 Elk Hunts: Tips & Tricks that Led to Success Apr 07, 2023

Show notes

Extraordinary elk hunts provide extraordinary memories—and provide valuable lessons. In this episode, Joseph von Benedikt tells the stories of his 5 top elk hunts, and unpacks the seasonal conditions, hunt methods, gear (rifle, optic, cartridge, & bullet), and other dynamics that led to success.

Deep analysis after each tale provides insight into make-or-break tactics and techniques, as well as gear adaptability, hunter/shooter skills, weather influences, and more. We talk the importance of local knowledge, a well-tuned shooting setup, persistence and stubbornness, the ability to glass effectively, stalking skills, big-timber woodsman ship, and how to hold it together at the moment of truth.

ENJOY!

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Advantages of Ultralight Tipi-type Tents & Titanium Stoves, with Seek Outside Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

Tipi-type shelters are both ancient and modern; traditional and trendy. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the pros and cons of flourless, tipi-type modern tents for backcountry hunting.

Ryan Sapena of Seek Outside details how they're superior in high winds, lighter and faster to set up, and offer stove-compatibility and all the benefits that accompany that. (Dry your clothes, stay warm, cook without canister fuels, etc.) Naturally, we talk about bug and moisture control, venomous critters, and "embracing the dirt."

ENJOY!

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