Advertise on podcast: Backcountry Hunting Podcast

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!    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: [email protected]   VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.swiftbullets.com www.timneytriggers.com www.browning.com www.leupold.com www.siembidacustomknives.com www.onxmaps.com www.silencercentral.com https://www.portersfirearms.com/ https://javelinbipod.com  

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!    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: [email protected]   VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.swiftbullets.com www.timneytriggers.com www.browning.com www.leupold.com www.siembidacustomknives.com www.onxmaps.com www.silencercentral.com https://www.portersfirearms.com/ https://javelinbipod.com

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!  Email us questions here: [email protected]   VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.swiftbullets.com www.timneytriggers.com www.browning.com www.leupold.com www.siembidacustomknives.com www.onxmaps.com www.silencercentral.com https://www.portersfirearms.com/ https://javelinbipod.com  

We love wild sheep hunting... but we can only afford to hunt Aoudad; aka Barbary Sheep; aka the "poor man's Desert Bighorn." This awesome episode was recorded raw and live in the field deep in the mountains of Mexico, and gives a blow-by-blow account of three experienced aoudad hunters all taking the biggest, oldest rams of their life. ENJOY!  Contact Process Based Hunter to sign up for Tate Bradfield's hunting courses and mentored hunts.  Watch future issues of Petersen's Hunting magazine and Shooting Times magazine for articles on the hunt and equipment.    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 "How To Make Your Ruger More Reliable" and "Best Cartridge for Moose & Woodland Bison." Check 'em out!  Email us questions here: [email protected]   VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.swiftbullets.com www.timneytriggers.com www.browning.com www.leupold.com www.siembidacustomknives.com www.onxmaps.com www.silencercentral.com https://www.portersfirearms.com/ https://javelinbipod.com  

After a successful hunt to Africa, New Zealand, or Europe, is it hard to bring your animals home? It doesn't have to be. In this episode Wyatt Fetner of Safari Specialty Importers talks through the process of bringing horns, antlers, skulls, and hides back to the states.  Wyatt is a fellow gun nut, and in addition to discussing how to import animal parts, he tells the fascinating story of an extraordinary vintage double-barreled dangerous-game rifle he found in England. ENJOY! https://safarispecialtyimporters.com   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 "How to Set Up A 7mm PRC for Sucess" and "Best Cartridge for Moose & Woodland Bison." Check 'em out!  Email us questions here: [email protected]   VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.swiftbullets.com www.timneytriggers.com www.browning.com www.leupold.com www.siembidacustomknives.com www.onxmaps.com www.silencercentral.com https://www.portersfirearms.com/ https://javelinbipod.com  

What makes a terrific mountain rifle? In this episode, we interview hunting legend Ron Spomer about his favorite wild sheep hunting rifles (which are excellent for elk and alpine mule deer and black bear as well).  Ron takes us through the rifle characteristics and features he considers crucial to a capable backcountry hunting rifle. Naturally, his opinions are liberally laced with true tale tales of wild hunting in wild places. This one was a ton of fun, folks! 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 "How to Set Up A 7mm PRC for Sucess" and "Best Cartridge for Moose & Woodland Bison." Check 'em out!  Email us questions here: [email protected]   VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.swiftbullets.com www.timneytriggers.com www.browning.com www.leupold.com www.siembidacustomknives.com www.onxmaps.com www.silencercentral.com https://www.portersfirearms.com/ https://javelinbipod.com  

In this episode we get the inside scoop on Leupold's brand-new BX-6 Range HD binocular, which has optical quality that competes with the big Germanic brands, a 6,000-yard rangefinder, on-board atmospheric sensors, and the most capable ballistic brain on the market. Oh—and it pairs with onX Maps and several other popular GPS mapping apps and projects waypoints way out there... up to a couple of miles!  Many thanks to Leupold's Tim Lesser, who sat down with us and shared the inside story on this incredibly capable new optic... plus great insight on the new VX-4HD line of hunting scopes. 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 Email us questions here: [email protected]   VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.swiftbullets.com www.timneytriggers.com www.browning.com www.leupold.com www.siembidacustomknives.com www.onxmaps.com www.silencercentral.com https://www.portersfirearms.com/ https://javelinbipod.com  

Trying to decide between Hornady's new .25 Creedmoor and Weatherby's new .25 RPM cartridge? Or are you unconvinced that they are any better than your reliable old .25-06 or .257 Weatherby Magnum? We're here to help! Or rather, we've got professional help... We're joined this episode by Colton Heward; professional big game guide and Managing Editor of Peterson's Hunting. He's a quarter-bore savant from way back, and has already hunted New Zealand and Old Mexico with these new .25-caliber hot-rods.  We talk through the various characteristics and strengths of each, and Colton supports his opinions with awesome stories about hunting Himalyan Tahr in giant mountains, Red Stags in hell-holes, and Coues Deer in vast deserts... ENJOY!    Northern Shrike Drop Warning! Contact Siembida Custom Knives: (740) 270-9057   FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Email us questions here: [email protected]   VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.timneytriggers.com www.browning.com www.leupold.com www.siembidacustomknives.com www.onxmaps.com www.silencercentral.com https://www.portersfirearms.com/ https://javelinbipod.com www.swiftbullets.com

Achieving top-notch accuracy with your hunting rifle requires attention to the smallest details. Here, we're joined by Ray Saft, owner of Saft Custom Gunsmithing in Anchorage, Alaska, to discuss the hidden but essential elements of putting together a precision hunting rifle. We talk best actions, barrels, stocks, and of course, cartridges. Tune in—you'll want to hear Ray's opinion on the .300 Win Mag and the 6.8 Western! ENJOY!    Contact Ray Saft Custom Gunsmithing: (907) 830-8874   FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Email us questions here: [email protected]   VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.timneytriggers.com www.browning.com www.leupold.com www.siembidacustomknives.com www.onxmaps.com www.silencercentral.com https://www.portersfirearms.com/ https://javelinbipod.com www.swiftbullets.com

It's been six years since the Northern Shrike custom hunting knife was conceived. Incredibly, there's no corner of the (legally huntable) world remaining where it hasn't been carried by intrepid hunters. This episode takes a look at why it's so extraordinary, and gives a sneak peek at what our Spring 2026 "Blue Collar" edition is going to be like. 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 Email us questions here: [email protected]   VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.timneytriggers.com www.browning.com www.leupold.com www.siembidacustomknives.com www.onxmaps.com www.silencercentral.com https://www.portersfirearms.com/ https://javelinbipod.com www.swiftbullets.com

Friends, I'll be at the Dallas Safari Club in early February. We'll be holding meet-and-greet visits at booth 3216 Friday and Saturday 10-to-noon, and 3-5pm. Use code JOSEPH26 to get 25% off your entry tickets, and come swap hunting dreams and make plans with us!  We'll also have Rob Gearing, owner of Spartan Precision Equipment, and Neal Lane, proprietor of Lane Firearms & Appraisals, visiting and answering questions with us.  See you all there! 

What is the best cartridge for a kid or beginning hunter to start with? In this episode William (a.k.a. the Backcountry Apprentice) and host Joseph von Benedikt sit down and debate the merits of 14 different cartridge candidates for the title of "Best Kid Cartridge." By process of elimination, we boil it down to just one. Our top pick may surprise you... This episode was great fun, folks. 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 Email us questions here: [email protected]   VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.timneytriggers.com www.browning.com www.leupold.com www.siembidacustomknives.com www.onxmaps.com www.silencercentral.com https://www.portersfirearms.com/ https://javelinbipod.com www.swiftbullets.com

SHOT Show 2026 is drawing to a close, and a ton of great new rifles, shotguns, handguns, scopes, binoculars, cartridges, bullets, and other gear has just been introduced. In this episode, we sit down with gunwriting and YouTube legend Ron Spomer and talk about the coolest new products we saw at the show. There some great stuff coming down the pipeline. 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 Email us questions here: [email protected]   VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.timneytriggers.com www.browning.com www.leupold.com www.siembidacustomknives.com www.onxmaps.com www.silencercentral.com https://www.portersfirearms.com/ https://javelinbipod.com www.swiftbullets.com

WHICH IS BEST: .270 Winchester or .30-06 Springfield? In this episode I sit down with the William vB—the "Backcountry Apprentice" himself, and we hash out the pros and cons of each cartridge, discussing:  Cartridge versatility Bullet weight ranges Modern bullets available Best factory loads Best bullets for handloading Which is more optimal for whitetails and other deer-size game Which is better for elk and for hunting Africa This one was a ton of fun, folks... We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making it!    FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!  Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry Email us questions here: [email protected]   VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:  www.timneytriggers.com www.browning.com www.leupold.com www.siembidacustomknives.com www.onxmaps.com www.silencercentral.com https://www.portersfirearms.com/ https://javelinbipod.com www.swiftbullets.com