Hunting Arete Podcast

Australian Dan Watson joins me to talk about all things to do with Guiding in British Columbia.

Public Lands Access; Its pivotal for ongoing hunting and fishing all round the world. What are the issues and how can we help improve the access situation? Hal Herring, Outdoor Writer and host of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Podcast talks with me about these issues, our understanding and where to from here.

Joel Turner joins me to talk about marksmanship and the state of mind leading to a effective and accurate shooting, be that with bow, rifle or pistol. With almost twenty years as a Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor in the US state of Oregon, and a history as a avid hunter, Joel  started ShotIQ to train hunters on the process to benefit all aspects of hunting. Can it help you?  

Hunting, our motivations, and what it adds to the Human Condition. Greig has long thought about these topics, and like his hunting, his thoughts continue to evolve.

Dave Brinker talks with me about his time with Sitka, his country music and hunting.  

Jimmy and I talk with Chris of C.R.Lewis Contracting about the intersection of Hunting, Shooting, Conservation and Pest Management.  

I talk with Joseph Peters, the owner of Hard Yards Hunting, a New Zealand Guiding Operation. Joseph gives a fair dinkum perspective on hunter attitudes, conservation, gear and making hunters voices count in the realm of policy makers in the South Pacific.  

Shannon and I discuss starting hunting young and coming back to it later in life. The challenges of finding people, places and gear to hunt with, as a woman. We jump into the benefits of Public Lands and her first big adventure hunting internationally.

Josh James, the Kiwi Bushman. What can I say other than thanks Josh and thanks to the listener that suggested talking with Josh. Josh is no holds barred when it came to the conversation. There was no brief for this one and it was a blast to spend time with Josh. His willingness to talk about his personal life and what he has learnt in becoming a better man is refreshing. All credit to you Josh and once again thanks mate.

Mountain Hunter Fitness is a mix of elements like no other activity. Loads increase with success in the bush. Endurance is required with heavy weight and long climbs. Speed, flexibility and agility combine to meet the requirements to ensure fast travel, without injury across rough terrain, at a moments notice when closing in. But that is just the physical side. If one cant match it with mental toughness then the game is over. I talk with Ara & Dustin from MTNTOUGH in Bozeman, Montana. But don't worry you can undertake their programs, fully supported, anywhere in the world. Are you MTNTOUGH?

I explore the real life as a NZ Government Culler in the Eighties with John Royle. John worked first with Forests NZ, and then onto New Zealand Dept of Conservation culling Goats, Pigs, Rabbits and Wild Cattle in wild and remote areas right across New Zealand. Far from the fun and romantic pursuit we think it might be John describes the challenges of terrain, weather and working with others. He also touches on the complex and often ideologically driven philosophies behind culling wild animals.

When it all goes south who is coming and how does it happen? Graeme Nickerson, 40 year Rescue Helicopter Air Crew veteran, puts us in the picture. Graeme tells us about his personal and professional experiences, the behind the scenes processes and the aircraft capabilities. I'd like to thank Westpac Rescue for their assistance in recording this podcast.

With thanks & utmost respect to all military personnel, I talk with Jeremy from TacMed Aust.  A ex-special forces medic who served in Afghanistan, a specialist in First Aid in Remote Environments were critical intervention is utmost. We discuss a few scenarios, skill and gear that can potentially stop even a minor incident going south in a major way.

This episode I am joined by Aussie Huntress Sarah Wynd, a passionate hunter from Victoria, Australia. In 2017 Sarah became the inaugural female winner of the Australian Deer Association's Arthur Bentley Trophy. The award for the best free range Sambar Stag hunted and scored in a calendar year. Like Boone & Crockett, Pope & Young, the AB Award comes from the scoring of heads to track the quality of wild deer across their range. Sarah and I chatted on the challenges for women in hunting and her love of the adventure.  

Randy Newberg, Hunter, talks with me about all things hunting. His passions and beliefs, where it comes from and why wildlife is important to him. We cover some sources of info and basics on planning a hunt after North American species, how to make it happen. Then what you might expect when you get there and who are good people to talk to. Thanks for listening.    

Flygal, April Vokey, & I dive down some rabbit holes on opinions, attitudes and honesty to one's self in the hunting and fishing realm. Having had the passion for fishing since childhood, April built a life around fishing, establishing a guiding business Flygal  and then expanding across into the world of podcasts with Anchored. April is a recent member of the exclusive club of motherhood and continues to fish and hunt with her daughter by her side. Just this year she joined Steve Rinella's Meateater Crew. This is her story, thoughts and experiences.

Cam Speedy, Kiwi Hunter & Biologist, discusses Game Management. A man with proven runs on the board in the hunting community having worked for the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation and the Sika Foundation. He talks about the dynamics of the rut/roar/bugle and how it varies with differing sex ratios. How good herd management improves trophy quality, entire herd quality and the environment for all native wildlife populations.

This is Anthony Campbell's story of growing up with his Father hunting, the lead up to and the tragic fall that resulted in Tony's death whilst they were hunting Bull Tahr on New Zealand's South Island west coast and the subsequent completion of a unfinished hunt by Anthony.

Traditional Bow Hunter, Jimmy Beehag, talks about all aspects of hunting with the gear of ages and his thoughts on how hunters are perceived regardless of our chosen path and how we might improve the image of Hunting to those that are not part of our community.

Roy Sloan, President FWF, talks about management of Non-native Game in a Wilderness Area. How it is important for Hunters to take the lead on these issues, use networking and professional multi-faceted approaches that prove performance to the government bodies we are trying to influence.