Backcountry Hunting Podcast
Backcountry Hunting Podcast focuses on inspiring and teaching about deep-country hunting, with emphasis on DIY techniques, gear, prep and how-to. Lifelong wilderness hunter Joseph von Benedikt shares stories and tips for success.
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Hunting Red Stags, Fallow Deer, & Alpine Game in New Zealand: Planning & Prep
09/11/2026
Hunting Red Stags, Fallow Deer, & Alpine Game in New Zealand: Planning & Prep
If you've dreamed of hunting New Zealand for giant Red Stags, Fallow deer, Himalyan Tahr, or Chamois, this episode is for you! We got on the phone with a professional guide and asked questions. Best routes to travel to NZ, how to bring a rifle to NZ, what the best hunting seasons are, free-range vs. estate/private land, how to choose a rifle, cartridge, and bullet for New Zealand big game species, necessary gear, and more. ALSO! We're about to open our two podcast-hosted hunts with our premier outfitter on the northern tip of the South Island. One week is a traditional lever-action/classic rifle hunt for big red stags in early June, 2027. The other is a learning-type experience in early August, during which we'll teach rifle setup, field shooting, shot placement, and fieldcraft such as reading terrain, glassing, field judging, planning a stalk, playing the wind, blood tracking, field dressing, packing meat, and even how to cut and wrap venison and cook it like a professional chef--plus you'll take those skills to the field and hunt a red stag and a management/meat deer. Those hunts will open first on , which enables our loyal long-time listeners and supporters first chance to book. Join us there if you'd like to share a campfire in one of New Zealand's finest hunting areas! For more details on these and other hunts through the Backcountry Hunting Podcasts' sister company , email and let us know what you dream of hunting. We'll help you turn those dreams into plans, and then into fantastic memories afield! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on Recent brief Patreon-only topics include .280 Ackley VS. 7mm Backcountry, Preparing to Hunt the Scottish Highlands, and Best Custom Barrels and Muzzle Brakes and "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as ponderings on .30-06 High-BC Bullet performance. Check 'em out! Email us podcast-related questions here: Email hunt inquiries here: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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BEST CARTRIDGE for EVERYTHING, with Ron Spomer
09/04/2026
BEST CARTRIDGE for EVERYTHING, with Ron Spomer
We're attacking the old debate, folks: If you had to pick just ONE CARTRIDGE to hunt ANYTHING you want, what would it be? I suspect our choices may surprise many of you. ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on Recent brief Patreon-only topics include "Preparing to Hunt the Scottish Highlands" and "Best Custom Barrels and Muzzle Brakes" and "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as brief audio episodes on "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), and ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance." Check 'em out! Email us podcast-related questions here: Email hunt inquiries here: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Are Suppressors Deregulated Now?
08/28/2026
Are Suppressors Deregulated Now?
Can you now just walk into a gun store, buy a suppressor, and walk out with it? Recent legal rulings have upset the NFA's apple cart, leaving a frenzy of good and bad info scattered across cyberspace. In this episode we welcome Brandon Maddox, suppressor mastermind behind Silencer Central, to help clarify what we know, what we don't know, and what to expect in coming months. ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on Recent brief Patreon-only topics include "Best Custom Barrels and Muzzle Brakes" and "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as brief audio episodes on "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), and ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance." Check 'em out! Email us questions here: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Hunting Spanish Roebucks, Vineyards, & Monasteries
08/21/2026
Hunting Spanish Roebucks, Vineyards, & Monasteries
No European country offers more spectacular hunting than Spain. Four species of ibex, chamois, red deer, roe deer, mouflon, wild boar, fallow deer, and even barbary sheep can be hunted across the rolling terraces and amongst the ancient mountain ruins. Archetecture, food, and history is unparalleled. And it's not expensive! In this episide, we sit down with outfitter Oscar Colomina and take a deep dive into just how special Spain is. And of course, hunting stories occur! ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on Recent brief Patreon-only topics include "Best Custom Barrels and Muzzle Brakes" and "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as brief audio episodes on "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out! Email us questions here: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Small Cartridges for Big Game, continued: Does RECOIL Make You A Worse Shooter?
08/14/2026
Small Cartridges for Big Game, continued: Does RECOIL Make You A Worse Shooter?
The "small cartridges for big game" debate continues. Does stout recoil REALLY prevent you from making accurate shots in the field? If so, what's the reason: Is it rifle dynamics? Shooter technique? Lack of discipline? Or... could large-caliber rifles actually be fundamentally less accurate? In this episode we take a deep dive into whether hunters actually should be better shooters with small cartridges. ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on Recent brief Patreon-only topics include "Hunting Monster Aoudad in Mexico," "Best Mauser Rifle Ever" and "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as brief audio episodes on "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out! Email us questions here: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Elk Hunters' Best Friend
08/07/2026
Elk Hunters' Best Friend
In the backcountry, dog ain't mans best friend. Nope: a good horse is. We take this episode out into the pasture with Audrey von Benedikt (the horsewoman of the family) and talk through how to get the most out of your horse and yourself on an elk hunt. We compare the pros and cons of horses versus ATVs, discuss best ways to carry a rifle on a horse, specific training (for the horse and for you) prior to heading into elk country, and more. Plus, we introduce a new member of the family: a little blue roan filly that just might turn into the ultimate elk-hunting horse. ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on Recent brief Patreon-only topics include "Best Mauser Rifle Ever" and "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as brief audio episodes on "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out! Email us questions here: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Best Hunting Cartridges for Mule Deer, with Colton Heward
07/31/2026
Best Hunting Cartridges for Mule Deer, with Colton Heward
Great cartridges for hunting mule deer tend to be good for most western big game species... But what if you singularly, passionately want one ultimate mule deer cartridge? In this episode, we sit down with Colton Heward, managing editor of Petersen's Hunting magazine, and talk out what makes a perfect cartridge for hunting mule deer. Heward is a big game guide with decades of experience, and loves to hunt big mule deer over all else. He shares his personal favorite cartridges, and tells the story of three incredible bucks he's had the priviledge of hunting. ENJOY! Check out Colton Heward's work at FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on Recent brief Patreon-only topics include "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as brief audio episodes on "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out! Email us questions here: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Hunting Kudu, Cats, & Zulu Cattle in Africa
07/24/2026
Hunting Kudu, Cats, & Zulu Cattle in Africa
What is it about hunting Africa that sinks a hook so deep into your soul that you can never stop dreaming of going back? Smoky orange sunsets, majestic kudu bulls drifting through thornbrush, and the taste of fresh meat over Acacia-wood coals are part of it... In this episode with Austin Brown and Crusader Safari's Shawn Higgs, we swap stories and insights during the final days of a two-week adventure in Africa's Eastern Cape country. Big kudu bulls, cape buffalo, wildcats, and a charge by a wounded bull made for an exciting adventure. ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on Recent brief Patreon-only topics include "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as brief audio episodes on "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out! Email us questions here: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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.35 Whelen in North Idaho's Wild Country
07/17/2026
.35 Whelen in North Idaho's Wild Country
How good is the .35 Whelen for western big game hunting? This episode tells five hunting stories, all told by a veteran fighter pilot, that showcase just how wonderful this mild-kicking, wallop-packing medium-bore cartridge is. ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on Recent brief Patreon-only topics include "How Exit Wounds Affect Blood Trails," as well as brief audio episodes on "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out! Email us questions here: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Best New Hunting Rifles on the Market, with Colton Heward
07/10/2026
Best New Hunting Rifles on the Market, with Colton Heward
What are the best modern hunting rifles available today? In this episode, we sit down with Colton Heward, managing editor of Petersen's Hunting magazine, and talk through top choices in several price categories ranging from $500 up to $2,500. We compare the pros and cons of detachable box magazines versus hinged floorplates, and explore the advantages and disadvantages of chassis-type stocks compared to traditional stocks. Naturally, the discussion is generously sprinkled with hunting stories that illustrate these recommended rifles. ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out! Email us questions here: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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SHOT PLACEMENT on Big Game: American vs. African
07/03/2026
SHOT PLACEMENT on Big Game: American vs. African
What's the best place to aim on a big game animal? That depends on what you're hunting. Antlered game in America is built differently than most antelope species in Africa—as well as Cape Buffalo (a.k.a. Black Death). Knowing where to aim makes for faster, more ethical kills and shorter blood trails. And in the case of dangerous game, can prevent a life-threatening situation. In this episode, we break down how the vitals are situation on various popular species, particularly antlered game such as deer, caribou, elk, and moose compared to horned game such as kudu, oryx, and aoudad. ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out! Email us questions here: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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7mm SAW Cartridge: An Improved 7mm-08?
06/26/2026
7mm SAW Cartridge: An Improved 7mm-08?
This episode takes a close look at the 7mm SAW — a wildcat that just might be the ultimate efficient short-action 7mm. Designed by Clayton Smith, owner of , it's sort of an improved 7mm-08 with a better shoulder angle, faster rifling twist, and greater head height. It just might be the cartridge that the 7mm-08 always wanted to be. ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out! Email us questions here: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Is it Good or Bad to be a Long Range Deer Sniper? With Ron Spomer
06/19/2026
Is it Good or Bad to be a Long Range Deer Sniper? With Ron Spomer
Detractors of modern long-range hunting methods call such hunters "deer snipers." But is long-range shooting at game bad? Or good? We're joined by Ron Spomer in this episode, and we hash out the various facets—virtuous and evil alike—of shooting long on big game. Plus, of course, we regularly get off track and swap great hunting stories and tales of our favorite rifles. ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out! Email us questions here: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Hunting Forest Ghosts Across Transylvania, Spain, Macedonia, & Serbia
06/12/2026
Hunting Forest Ghosts Across Transylvania, Spain, Macedonia, & Serbia
This episode follows host Joseph von Benedikt on a wild roebuck hunt across ancient terraces in Spain, to remote mountains in Transylvania, to deep forests of Serbia, and into the spectacular alpine mountains of Macedonia. We talk cartridges (we used seven different rifles chambered in seven different cartridges) and bullets (used Berger VLD Hunting, Sierra Tipped GameKing, Federal Fusion, Sellior & Bellot, and Hornady SSTs and unpack other aspects ranging from travel, to safety, to wildlife management abroad. Some very interesting trends emerged, particularly with the .308. This was an incredible experience and super fun to record and re-live... ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "6.5 Backcountry" (6.5 Creedmoor +P), ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out! Email us questions here: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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NEW 6.5 BACKCOUNTRY! (6.5 Creedmoor +PEAK)
06/05/2026
NEW 6.5 BACKCOUNTRY! (6.5 Creedmoor +PEAK)
BIG NEWS! Federal has just announced the new "6.5 BACKCOUNTRY" cartridge... or put more correctly, the 6.5 Creedmoor with "+ PEAK" alloy technology. We tested the inagural 130-grain Terminal Ascent load in three different rifles with barrels of 24, 20, and 17 inches to see if the new load deserves the hype. Listen in—this is a very cool new development! ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "Bullet Peformance Across Europe," ponderings on ".30-06 High-BC Bullet performance," a first look at a new heavy-for-caliber 270-grain Solid .35 Whelen load, a "6.8 Western Survival Forecast" and "Gear List for Hunting." Check 'em out! Email us questions here: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Most Versatile Cartridge: 300 PRC?
06/05/2026
Most Versatile Cartridge: 300 PRC?
Scenario: You can choose between .280 Ackley, 7mm PRC, .300 Win Mag, and .300 PRC to hunt everything on the North American continent for the rest of you life. What's it going to be? Folks, this brief episode will be followed in a few hours by a major new-product announcement (embargoed until 9am Mountain Time, June 6th). Check it out! It's really, really big news. ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "Bullet Peformance Across Europe," ponderings on ".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! Email us questions here: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Live Q&A: Hunting New Zealand. Also: Huge Announcement Coming Friday!
06/03/2026
Live Q&A: Hunting New Zealand. Also: Huge Announcement Coming Friday!
Join us TONIGHT for a LIVE Q&A with our friends in New Zealand. We'll talk all things hunting NZ. A Zoom link will be provided on the free page at so come click in and talk with us! Also, news from Swift: The new Zephyr bullet is up on the website and Swift is taking orders! Super cool intel: Estimated arrival date of .277-diameter (6.8 Western) Zephyr bullet. Last but not least, a HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT coming Friday morning in the standard podcast, which will drop at 9am Mountain Time. Tune in—it's a darned cool development. VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Do You Need Fancy Gear and a New Rifle to Hunt Elk?
05/29/2026
Do You Need Fancy Gear and a New Rifle to Hunt Elk?
Do you really need a new rifle to hunt elk? Probably not! Although cutting-edge is helpful, you just might be better off spending your extra money on practice ammo and honing your skills with Grandpa's old rifle. In this episode, we sit down with professional elk guide Tate Bradfield and talk about the gear that's NECESSARY for successfully hunting and shooting elk. The results might surprise you... ENJOY! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on Recent brief Patreon-only audio topics include "Bullet Peformance Across Europe," ponderings on ".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! Email us questions here: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Hunt Audio Journal: Red Stag, Tahr, & Fallow in New Zealand with My Daughter Audrey
05/22/2026
Hunt Audio Journal: Red Stag, Tahr, & Fallow in New Zealand with My Daughter Audrey
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! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on 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! Email us questions here: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Best .30-Caliber Hunting Cartridges, with Ron Spomer
05/15/2026
Best .30-Caliber Hunting Cartridges, with Ron Spomer
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 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: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Among Ancient Ruins: Hunting Spain's Mountain Sheep the Hard Way, with Austin Brown
05/08/2026
Among Ancient Ruins: Hunting Spain's Mountain Sheep the Hard Way, with Austin Brown
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 account, or via the Global Hunting Adventures website and we'll email you info on the outfitters we used. FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on 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: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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6.5 Creedmoor vs. 6.5 Swede(moor)
05/01/2026
6.5 Creedmoor vs. 6.5 Swede(moor)
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! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on 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: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Spartan Precision Equipment: Best Shooting Rests for Hunters
04/24/2026
Spartan Precision Equipment: Best Shooting Rests for Hunters
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 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: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Hunting Giant Red Stags in New Zealand
04/17/2026
Hunting Giant Red Stags in New Zealand
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 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: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Gear & Hacks for Hunting Success, with Ron Spomer
04/10/2026
Gear & Hacks for Hunting Success, with Ron Spomer
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 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: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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Gear List for Hunting Africa: Crucial items you'll need.
04/03/2026
Gear List for Hunting Africa: Crucial items you'll need.
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 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: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
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257 Roberts Ackley Improved (Improved), with Seth Swerczek and Preston Lentfer
03/27/2026
257 Roberts Ackley Improved (Improved), with Seth Swerczek and Preston Lentfer
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Best Aoudad Hunt of my Life: Mexico Delivers!
03/20/2026
Best Aoudad Hunt of my Life: Mexico Delivers!
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 to sign up for Tate Bradfield's hunting courses and mentored hunts. Watch future issues of and 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 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: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
/episode/index/show/backcountryhunting/id/40516200
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How To Bring Big Game Trophies Home
03/13/2026
How To Bring Big Game Trophies Home
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! FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST! Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on 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: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
/episode/index/show/backcountryhunting/id/40395775
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Best Hunting Rifles for the Backcountry, with Ron Spomer
03/06/2026
Best Hunting Rifles for the Backcountry, with Ron Spomer
What makes a terrific mountain rifle? In this episode, we interview hunting legend 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 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: VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:
/episode/index/show/backcountryhunting/id/40287915