In May 2024 I was able to spend nearly 3 weeks in New Zealand chasing Tahr and Chamois on my own. This is from my first hunt which was up the Copland River on the west coast. The recordings are done in the field and after the hunt so the audio is reflective of my surroundings. Spoiler alert - I didn't get any animals on the ground but I did see a couple of beautiful Tahr bulls. I wanted to be able to pass on my learnings along the way to help you get over to NZ for a backcountry hunt as...

With the potential ban on lead core projectiles being a hot topic at the moment, I speak with Nathan & Steph Morris from 'Terminal Ballistics Research' and pick his bran stemming from their extensive research. Nathan is considered a world leading expert in ballistics and published an article on his website titled "Homogenous copper bullets can be inhumane". Nathan and Steph have an extensive knowledge base on their website and I'd strongly encourage you to visit it for for this topic and...

Mental health and firearm ownership is a complex topic to navigate and on this episode I chat with Glen who went through a mental health issue and lost his access to firearms. As a result, Glen made it a personal mission to change how the government treated people in this situation. I'm thankful for people like Glen and his team from Mental Hunts for bringing the focus on this topic in such a measured approach. While they are based in NZ it's still inspiring to hear what they are achieving in...

The topic for this episode is backcountry communication and safety. I talk with Reiny from the Satphone Shop about all things to do with remote communication devices and options. What Reiny doesn't know I'm sure isn't worth knowing and we dive deep into satellite comms. The Satphone shop in Mulgrave, Victoria has a great range of products and supports our hunting community so reach out to them if you're needing something or want to upgrade. @satphoneshop https://satphoneshop.com This...

A Dall's sheep is a dream pinnacle hunt for many hunters. Well, Cait and Tonia from Alaska made it happen. Being residents of Alaska has advantages and in this case Cait drew a coveted tag and Tonia volunteered to go along and help out. The video is available on the YouTube channel of 'Semi Wild Alaska' and I strongly suggest you watch that after listening to the podcast - as well as some of the other amazing hunting and Alaskan adventures they get up to. Follow along with @semiwildalaska...

Rick is a NSW based Sambar hunter but had not undertaken a multi-day backpack hunt - until now. Rick and I chatted about gear and prep before the hunt and then caught up after the hunt to break down what worked and what he might change for the next one. Rick is also prepping for a NZ trip later this year. Rick is also heavily involved in mental health first aid in his workplace and we chat a bit about the benefits of hunting and 'greenspace' to our mental health. Rick also runs a Facebook...

Lucy and Ben are a unique backcountry hunting duo being father and daughter hunters. Based in New Zealand, they go on some amazing hunting adventures together and Lucy captures a lot of this for her YouTube channel. Lucy and Ben were in the planning for a Fiordland trip when we recorded this and they would have just returned at the time this episode was released. Follow along at Instagram @lucynilson or YouTube @lucynilson In the Friends of the Podcast segment, I speak with Lawson from...

I talk with Josh from Alpine Accuracy around long range shooting and shooting deer from distance - specifically Sambar deer in Vic Alpine Park. Josh is a keen backpack hunter but also produces some lightweight products for the long range hunters. Contact him via Instagram if you're interested in knowing more or getting hold of some gear; @alpine_accuracy In the Friends of the Podcast segment, I meet Nick from Bigham Forge. Nick is a firefighter, power lifter and finds times to make custom...

This episode is a chat with James Lathrop around the services that Lathrop and Sons offer to customise your hunting boots. If you suffer pain with your feet, boot related problems, not sure what boots to get or want something more suited to your hunting then this may be of interest to you. Lathrop and Sons have their own range of boots but also access to many other reliable brands. Check them out on Instagram @lathropandsonsboots or https://lathropandsons.com/ In the Friends of the Podcast...

Backcountry fitness and food tips with Ben from 'The Game Dietitian'. Ben is a hunter, fisher and academic with a keen interest in seeing people achieve their best in the backcountry. Check out his programmes on offer; ⁠https://www.thegamedietitian.com.au/ or on Instagram; @thegamedietitian In the Friends of the Podcast segment, I chat with Mick from 'The Deer School' about the courses he runs to assist anyone in successful deer hunting. Check them out @deerschool_melbourne and on Facebook...

On this episode I speak with Luke, dedicated bow hunter, firefighter and part-owner of Braken Wear about the business and the clothing that had been designed and adapted for hunting conditions. Check out what they have to offer; https://brakenwear.com/ or on Instagram; @brakenwear In the Friends of the Podcast segment, I answer some questions about On Track Meals products and break down some of the weights in comparison to popular freeze-dried meals. I would also ask you to support the...

Chris Boon has been backpack hunting for many years and details his learnings, experiences and some personal challenges that he overcame to get back into the Vic high country in 2023. For those of you old enough to remember having to read hunting magazines to get your content fix, Chris wrote a number of articles and is probably best remembered for hunts with his infant son in his backpack. Chris has successfully hunted all 6 species of deer in Australia but, like alot of us, is addicted to...

Jason @liquidantler and I sit down and run through our gear from our backpack hunt to Victoria in May 2023. As it does, life got in the way of recording this episode and that's why it's taken this long to get it published. We break down everything we took with weights and discuss what may not be coming on the next one and what new gear we are considering.   Please continue to support my past 'Friends of the Podcast' and brand guests as they continue to support us; Skeleton Optics...

On this episode I sit down with Sam from @alton_goods at his Brisbane warehouse so we can discuss some of the outdoor based products that Alton brings to the market. Sam has found a niche in the outdoor industry and keeps bringing innovation, quality and cost effective products to the consumer.  The crossover between outdoor and hiking products to the hunting population is evident and Sam does not shy away from identifying with hunters as part of his customer base. Jump into their social or...

Chris Burns @chrisburns.photography is an avid hunter and professional photographer/videographer and we discuss the crossover of the two for Chris. We cover some of the issues around capturing content while hunting, camera gear, tips and tricks and gear for backcountry hunts. If you have thought about having a hunt documented professionally rather then just iPhone selfies, then Chris (and his awesome moustache) may just be the man for the job. https://www.chrisburns.photography/ Chris also...

In this episode I connect with Drew from TRICER @tricerusa all the way over in California, USA. Tricer's statement is; "To help hunters go deeper into the backcountry, we manufacture products that are fast, light, and simple." Drew is the owner of Tricer (and an awesome moustache) and designs a number of lightweight products for the backcountry hunter including their most recent additions, a super-light fluid tripod head and carbon fiber tripods. I have personally been using the TRICER-LP for...

Zeb, Thane and Lowa are all names that will probably mean something to you - if they don't then you should listen to this one. Lowa boots produce a range of footwear with some that is specifically aimed at the needs of hunters. On this episode we discuss the journey that took Zeb and Thane to being ambassadors for Lowa, what it is that makes a good 'hunting boot', foot care, boot care and the importance of wearing quality boots for backcountry hunting. Zeb and Thane share some stories about...

On this episode I get to connect with Eric from On Track Meals who highlights a business success story to come out of being an end-user need and business survival through the dirty C word from the last few years. Eric and his team at On Track Expeditions identified how to make some packable, nutritious and delicious meals that they were happy to take on the Kokoda Track and can be kept safely for many years.  The members of On Track Meals are veterans and have eaten more than their fair...

Matt from MTNGEAR joins me for a great chat about his products which include the 'Stick' -which I have personally used for a number of years, the amazing ultra-light mountain hunting bipods and lessons/tips from his hunting experiences in New Zealand. Matt is obviously pretty handy as he has designed all of the products himself and makes them at his home in New Zealand, as well as creating some personal hunting gear. MTNGEAR products are able to be shipped all over the world and can be seen...

On this episode I'm joined by Thane Young - better known as @rogee.productions and Neil Sutherland from Tightlines NZ to discuss Tatonka Packs, Hydrapak hydration products, Domex sleeping bags and more - despite Thane accidentally hanging up on us during the video chat. Thane is a brand ambassador for all these products (and more) and speaks of his personal experience through hard use of the products. Thane has had alot of input into the design of new packs and does not tolerate products...

Part 2 of the first episode with Jason from @LiquidAntler, which I recorded in the car as we drove back from our hunt in the Victorian highfields. We discuss some highlights from our backpacking experience, the gear we had and some of the lessons we took away as learnings for next time. We know it was a good trip, eventhough we didn't shoot any deer, because we are already planning the next one and what gear changes we need. Many thanks also to the featured 'Friend of the Podcast' - Ross...

Part 1 of the first podcast episode which was recorded in our backcountry camp up in the Victorian highfields while I was chasing Sambar deer with Jason from @LiquidAntler. Huddled under a small tarp while the rain and then snow came down, we discuss some highlights from the Deer Expo, some of the gear we have and some of the mistakes we made as I blow the cobwebs from the backpacking knowledge base. Feel free to reach out to me @australian_hunting_backcountry or email;...