Vortex Nation Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 88 | Is Midwestern Hunting Easier than Hunting the West? Aug 12, 2019

Show notes

Episode 88 of the Vortex Nation Podcast goes against the grain – rather than explaining the challenges hunters face when heading west for the first time, we dive into the intricacies western hunters encounter when coming to the Midwest for the first time. Small properties with limited space to roam, lots of hunters, and vastly different tactics can make bagging Midwestern critters a daunting task. Mark and Erik join Jimmy to explain some of these tactics, the gear you need, and proven tactics that’ll stack the odds in your favor.

As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation podcast by asking us on any one of our social media platforms and using #VortexNationPodcast.

Already listened, but want the show notes for reference afterwards? You can find them here: https://vortexoptics.com/vortex-nation-podcast

#10MinuteTalk - A Very Mini Camp Stove Aug 06, 2019

Show notes

Jimmy and Mark join Ryan Muckenhirn for 10 minutes to talk about his ultra-mini camp stove, the Optimus Crux. When hunting in the backcountry, one needs a way to boil water, cook food and even warm a blind or a tent at times. Ryan, always a fan of tiny little tools, carries this incredibly small kit including his stove, fuel, cup and lighter with him on all his adventures. Hear how he chose this one, how he uses it, how quickly it can boil water and some of the other options out there that may be of interest to you!

Ep. 87 | Learn, gear up, and hunt for free – WDNR Learn to Hunt Aug 05, 2019

Show notes

If the idea of stocking your freezer full of free-range wild game and trying hunting for yourself is something you’ve been debating, a Learn to Hunt event is a great place to start! Emily Ihel, R3 Coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources joins us on episode 87 to explain what a Learn to Hunt event is and why they’re a great resource to try hunting for first time hunters, especially those without prior experience or gear. Since we’re losing hunters faster than we can recruit them, these unconventional educational opportunities are shaping the future of introducing newcomers to the hunting lifestyle. In a matter of weeks, these hybrid courses combine classroom and field work to take newbies throughout the entire process, concluding with a hunt accompanied by a mentor.

Already listened, but want the show notes for reference afterwards? You can find them here: https://vortexoptics.com/vortex-nation-podcast

#10MinuteTalk - Are Red Dots Truly Parallax Free Jul 30, 2019

Show notes

You’ve seen it discussed in marketing material, forum conversations and asked about in comments sections all over social media but it’s still kinda confusing. What is “Parallax Free” when it comes to red dots and holographic sights, why is it important, how does it work and is it truly actually “Parallax Free”? Rob Morell, director of Vortex product development, joins Jimmy and Mark to discuss the engineering and physics behind that phrase and even some of the common misconceptions revolving around it.

Ep. 86 | First Gun Stories – Vortex Edition Jul 29, 2019

Show notes

You’ll never forget your first. BB guns to shotguns – we dive into a quintet of first guns and the stories behind them. From sentimental to downright silly – every gun has a tale worth telling. What’s yours?

#10MinuteTalk - Wild Game Cooking Fails Jul 23, 2019

Show notes

Wild game is a prized commodity for hunters, which creates anxiety for many over simply not screwing it up when it comes time to cooking for yourself and the family. Rest assured, we’ve all made mistakes in the kitchen when it comes to our quarry. Mark, Jimmy and Erik discuss some of their biggest fails in the kitchen in 10 minutes to hopefully relieve some of the pressure you’re putting on yourself to always be a perfect chef, and perhaps, to help you avoid the same mistakes they made in these stories as well. What’s your biggest wild game cooking fail if you care to share?

Ep. 85 | Venison Burger Cook-off 2019 Jul 22, 2019

Show notes

It’s grilling season and that means time to break out those packs of frozen grind, thaw them up and pound out some patties for family and friends. Mark, Erik and new guest Colin, armed with ground moose, whitetail and elk, respectively, entered into a burger battle to see who had the best recipe, grilling skills and overall execution with yet another new guest, Rebecca, judging their creations to some pretty high standards. Jimmy begs the question – is it sacrilege to make venison in any way other than salt, pepper and fire? The three competitors breakdown their full recipes and cooking methods, and Rebecca takes us through the evaluation of foods through culinary and sensory methods she learned over her professional food packaging career. Tune in to find out who won this epic cook-off and why! Have your own amazing burger recipes with wild game? We’d love to hear them.

Already listened, but want the show notes for reference afterwards? You can find them here: https://vortexoptics.com/vortex-nation-podcast

#10MinuteTalk – Jimmy’s First AR Jul 16, 2019

Show notes

Jimmy and Mark mull over Jimmy’s first AR. They laugh to themselves about how a gun that had every state of the art part from 6 years ago can now seem outdated or generally less exciting in many regards at this point in time, and ponder the question – what will the next “AR-15” be? The AR platform as we know it, or at least the bones by which is has evolved around has remained largely unchanged for decades and “New” firearms continually base their structure and functionality on the AR’s modularity and compatibility with its many parts. Will an 18 year old kid in 30 years still be idolizing the idea of building an AR-15 like Jimmy did, or will they be looking at a totally different platform we’ve never even dreamed of by that point? Mark suspects ray guns – how about you?

Ep. 84 | Binoculars: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know Jul 15, 2019

Show notes

Mike McDowell, our in-house binocular expert and collector, sits down with Jimmy and Mark to discuss the topic of binoculars. What are they, how do they work, what are the tradeoffs as you move between configurations, which one is the right one for any given user and how can you even tell the difference between different models at different price points? We also get the chance to pick his brain about the new Razor UHD’s and their comparison to the current Razor HD’s, as well as the newly upgraded Crossfire HD’s and Diamondback HD binoculars. If you ever have any questions about binoculars, give us a call and ask for Mike! He’s one of our fantastic technical support staff who has been with the company for the last 30 years and is a wealth of optical knowledge.

#10MinuteTalk – MOA vs MRAD Jul 09, 2019

Show notes

Up North we love the card game of Euchre and no challenge is greater than “Going alone” without your partner across the table. In this episode, Jimmy takes a chance and “Goes alone” with Mark out of the office to discuss MOA vs. MRAD for beginners in 10 minutes. If you’ve been looking for your first optic or even have been shooting for quite some time but are caught up by modern scopes and all the extra choices to make between MOA and MRAD, give this podcast a listen to get your bearings. Bottom line – don’t make it more complicated than it is. In the end, regardless of what you choose, they’re both going to be doing the same thing and it really just comes down to your own personal preference of which form of angular measurement you want to live with. Got more thoughts on MOA vs. MRAD you’d like us to devote more time to? Let us know!

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