SHOT PLACEMENT on Big Game: American vs. African

July 03, 2026 12:59am 1:01

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).  Kn...

7mm SAW Cartridge: An Improved 7mm-08?

June 26, 2026 12:59am 1:05

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 West Texas Ordnance, it's sort of an improved 7mm-08 with a bette...

Is it Good or Bad to be a Long Range Deer Sniper? With Ron Spomer

June 19, 2026 12:59am 58 min

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 a...

Hunting Forest Ghosts Across Transylvania, Spain, Macedonia, & Serbia

June 12, 2026 12:59am 1:15

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 Macedoni...

NEW 6.5 BACKCOUNTRY! (6.5 Creedmoor +PEAK)

June 05, 2026 10:00am 46 min

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 differen...

Most Versatile Cartridge: 300 PRC?

June 05, 2026 12:59am 8 min

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 fol...

Live Q&A: Hunting New Zealand. Also: Huge Announcement Coming Friday!

June 03, 2026 4:00pm 5 min

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 www.patreon.com/backcountry so come click in and talk with us!  Also, new...

Do You Need Fancy Gear and a New Rifle to Hunt Elk?

May 29, 2026 12:59am 1:04

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 thi...

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

May 22, 2026 12:59am 1:25

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, Aud...

Best .30-Caliber Hunting Cartridges, with Ron Spomer

May 15, 2026 12:59am 1:13

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, th...

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

May 08, 2026 12:59am 1:31

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...

6.5 Creedmoor vs. 6.5 Swede(moor)

May 01, 2026 12:59am 58 min

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 ...

Spartan Precision Equipment: Best Shooting Rests for Hunters

April 24, 2026 12:59am 39 min

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 back...

Hunting Giant Red Stags in New Zealand

April 17, 2026 12:59am 1:11

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 sp...

Gear & Hacks for Hunting Success, with Ron Spomer

April 10, 2026 12:59am 1:08

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...

Gear List for Hunting Africa: Crucial items you'll need.

April 03, 2026 12:59am 2:14

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, cart...

257 Roberts Ackley Improved (Improved), with Seth Swerczek and Preston Lentfer

March 27, 2026 12:59am 1:05

Best Aoudad Hunt of my Life: Mexico Delivers!

March 20, 2026 12:59am 1:43

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, an...

How To Bring Big Game Trophies Home

March 13, 2026 12:59am 34 min

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 ho...

Best Hunting Rifles for the Backcountry, with Ron Spomer

March 06, 2026 12:09am 53 min

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 t...