Backcountry Hunting Podcast

Hunt Audio Journal: Red Stag, Tahr, & Fallow in New Zealand with My Daughter Audrey May 22, 2026

Show notes

This episode brings you the late-night and early morning audio-journal recordings from our recent hunt in New Zealand. Audrey and I re-cap our hunts for my massive red stag, our bowhunts for red stag and arapawa ram, Audrey's fallow deer, and her exceptional Himalayan Tahr. Plus we detail the rifles, optics, ammo, and archery gear we used. This was an incredible safari to the Land of the Long White Cloud... we hope you enjoy it!

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Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a "First Kill Shots with the New Swift Zephyr," video, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!

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Best .30-Caliber Hunting Cartridges, with Ron Spomer May 15, 2026

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We've ignored the legendary All-American .30-caliber cartridges for too long! This episode, we sit down with Ron Spomer and swap stories about our favorite .30-caliber cartridges. We propose which are the most proven, the best designed, the most popular, and the most likely to survive. And yes, of course we discuss and recommend the one .30-caliber "Best All-Around" cartridge! Listen in and we'll tell you what it is. ENJOY!

FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!

Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "Bow vs. Rifle," a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out!

Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com

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Among Ancient Ruins: Hunting Spain's Mountain Sheep the Hard Way, with Austin Brown May 08, 2026

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Recorded live in the field—audio-journal style—this episode takes us into Spain's rugged Pyranese Mountains, where our great pal Austin Brown and his buddy Grant Gingerich hunt wily mountain-dwelling roedeer and cagy old mouflon rams. All free range, earned the right way by putting in the hard yards in very steep, rough country. Austin puts his beloved .280 Ackley to work, and Grant carried his 6.5 Creedmoor. Some great insight on the comparative performance of those two rounds coming in a future episode!

From the terrain, to the food, to this ancient historic archetecture, to the outstanding hunting, this trip to Spain was incredible. Ping us on Patreon or through our backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com account, or via the Global Hunting Adventures website and we'll email you info on the outfitters we used.

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6.5 Creedmoor vs. 6.5 Swede(moor) May 01, 2026

Show notes

Which is better: 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.5x55 "Swede?" Ever since it was first introduced, savvy shooters have been commenting that the 6.5 Creedmoor doesn't do anything better than their classic 6.5x55. Is this true? Could the 6.5x55 even be (GASP!) better than the 6.5 Creedmoor? Or do the modern characteristics of the 6.5 Creedmoor provide additional performance that's launched the 6.5mm cartridge to stardom?

In this episode, we take a candid look at both cartridges, and consider the pros and cons of each within it's respective performance zone. Take a listen, and then YOU decide which is better. ENJOY!

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Spartan Precision Equipment: Best Shooting Rests for Hunters Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

This episode, we're joined by legendary British hunter and mountaineer Rob Gearing. Nicknamed "Lord G" by none other than Craig Boddington, Gearing designed the Javelin bipod, which I believe is the finest bipod for backcountry hunting that's ever been made. We talk through Spartan's various shooting rests, and tell plenty of stories that examplify just how crucial it is to have the right gear. ENJOY!

FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!

Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting Africa." Check 'em out!

Email us questions here: backcountryhuntingpodcast@gmail.com

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Hunting Giant Red Stags in New Zealand Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

This episode comes at you raw, recorded beside a late-night fire in New Zealand's incredible mountain country.

New Zealand is known for red stags of prehistoric size, mountain game that are incredibly unique, and the spectacular country that Lord Of The Rings was filmed in. In a hunters world, NZ is mostly special for the red stags. Here, we talk about why, and outfitter Darren Clifford and his staff share insight into the back story that goes into creating a place and an operation that consistently produces challenging, rewarding hunts and world-class animals. Plus, several hunters around the campfire share the stories of their hunts.

Naturally, the gear-head in us comes out and we talk through the rifles, cartridges, bullets, and optics we're all using and a few lessons learned along the way. ENJOY!

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Gear & Hacks for Hunting Success, with Ron Spomer Apr 10, 2026

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Good gear is important, but dollars don't always buy success or survival. With a little old-fashioned ingenuity you can fix gear, make gear, or buy used gear that'll serve just fine. In this episode, we sit down with Ron Spomer, a great hunter with more than a half-century of experience around the world, and he shares some of his favorite gear and hacks for success. Ron is a serious backcountry and solo, DIY hunter, and offers wisdom born of years in the school of hard knocks. ENJOY!

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Gear List for Hunting Africa: Crucial items you'll need. Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

We frequently get asked "What gear do I need to take on my hunt in Africa?" In this episode we hash out what's really crucial and what you can (and should) leave home. Optics, clothing, boots, packs, emergency gear, cartridge carriers, shooting sticks, and more are all detailed... and supported by entertaining experiences that happened while on safari in the wilds of Africa. Austin Brown joins as an African-hunting subject-matter expert, and savvy U.S. backcountry hunter Landon Michaels joins to ask the questions that every first-time safari planner wants to know. ENJOY!

NOTE: We will publish an itemized version of this gear list on www.patreon.com/backcountry and the transcript of the episode as well. If you're not already a member, please join to access this and all our other bonus material!

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