Days In The Wild - Big game Hunting podcast

Jordan Sillars of Meateater

 Inside the Campaign to Divorce Hunters from Wildlife Policy with Jordan Sillars
Show Notes:
 
Jordan Sillars is a writer and managing editor for MeatEater. He covers firearms and conservation as well as American literature and hunting stories. Jordan started freelancing in 2020 and started working full-time for MeatEater last April. He didn’t grow up doing a lot of hunting but got into it later in life. Jordan’s currently living in east Texas, and he loves to hunt whitetail, hawk, and squirrel. He also goes after white and hybrid bass. 
 
I recently read one of Jordan’s articles and was intrigued because it’s in line with what we’re trying to do with Howl for Wildlife. The article’s called “Inside the Campaign to Divorce Hunters from Wildlife Policy” and it couldn’t be more spot on. Jordan gives us a background of why he decided to write the article and we get into all the details. The topic came under his radar last year with the Wildlife Society Conference, where they gave a group called Wildlife for All a panel discussion. The more he looked into it, the more Jordan realized how big of a campaign it was and how long it’s been going on.
 
Anti-hunting groups are wising up to what we hunters have been doing to stop their initiatives. Jordan and I discuss the tactics anti-hunting initiatives use and how they often have an advantage, especially when it comes to propaganda. What we can do is to humanize hunting a little better and show what it means to us. Jordan and I talk about things hunters can do to make a difference, the impact of elections and politics, and how the public trust doctrine is used to get hunters on board with anti-hunting policies.
What’s Inside:
 
All about Jordan’s new article about anti-hunting campaigns.
The strategies anti-hunting groups use to pass legislation.
What hunters can do to make a difference.
 
Mentioned in this episode
Days In The Wild Podcast
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
Article – Inside the Campaign to Divorce Hunters from Wildlife Policy
Jordan on Instagram
MeatEater.com
 
Short Description:
Jordan Sillars is a writer and managing editor for MeatEater. He recently wrote an article all about anti-hunting campaigns. Jordan and I discuss the tactics anti-hunting initiatives use and how they often have an advantage, especially when it comes to propaganda. We also talk about things hunters can do to make a difference, the impact of elections and politics, and how the public trust doctrine is used to get hunters on board with anti-hunting policies.
 
Tags
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, MeatEater, hunting advocacy, hunting policy, anti-hunting groups, hunting legislation, Wildlife for All

Brice Hensley shotguns, chokes, and ammo loads

Brice Hensley shotguns, chokes, and ammo loads:
 
This is a live episode we did on Instagram where Brice and I talk about shotguns, TSS ammo, choke tubes, coyote and turkey hunting.
 
check out Brice at Brice Hensley (@foxtrotammo) • Instagram photos and videos
and Check out Fox trot ammo

Ryan Lampers live at hunt Expo

Title:   Ryan Lampers
Show Notes:
 
I had the chance to catch up with Ryan Lampers at Hunt Expo. I love the expo since it fits in perfectly with my Javelina season plans. Ryan and I start our conversation by talking about Coues deer and I recap my Megatron buck story from back in December. We get into chasing Javelina and Coues and trying to see them in the grass and Ryan talks about his trip south of the border. The last time I was in Mexico, I cut my hand trying to cross a fence and it was a pretty tough hunt. I did get a buck and also saw a jaguar!
 
Ryan’s hunted in Arizona for a number of years, but he’s fairly new to Mexico. He doesn’t do a ton of border hopping since it can be pretty intimidating, especially when you’re carrying rifles. This past January, Ryan went down to a ranch, and he says he saw way more Coues deer in Arizona. They felt lucky to turn up a couple of bucks a day and there were very few does. He was high in the mountains, and it wasn’t as open. Even though it was tough at times, Ryan and his crew had a great time and they did wind up with some good ones. 
 
Ryan and I talk about rifle hunting and chasing mule deer and the challenges that come up. Sometimes the challenge is more with dealing with the weather and elements and locating deer than the actual shot itself. To put more of a challenge on the hunt in Mexico, Ryan put limitations on which kind of deer he was after. We chat about the tag system and different units and how desperation can result in wounded deer.  We also talk about getting “the moment of truth” right, getting the perfect range right before taking a shot, and Ryan’s current bow setup.
What’s Inside:
 
Hunting stories from Mexico
The challenges of rifle hunting 
A chat about tags, units, and wounded deer 
Ryan’s current bow setup
 
Mentioned in this episode
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
StealthyHunter.com
 
Short Description:
I had the chance to catch up with Ryan Lampers at Hunt Expo. Ryan shares stories from a January hunting trip down in Mexico. We chatted about rifle hunting, chasing mule deer, getting the perfect shot, and Ryan’s current bow setup. 
 
Tags
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, hunt expo, Coues deer, Mexico, rifle hunting, bow hunting, mule deer

Securing Montana’s Hunting Heritage

HB419 and the Hunting Heritage Amendment in Montana with Everett Headley
Show Notes:
 
Everett Headley works for us at Howl for Wildlife as one of our content writers and researchers. I’m talking to him about a couple of bills we currently have up on the action center. Some of the main ones are HB419 and a constitutional amendment, which is out of Montana. Even if you don’t live in Montana, these bills set precedents for hunting everywhere and make it easier for us to do the same thing in other states. I’m working on similar legislation in Arizona and we might see the same things come up next session. We’re all in this shit together!
 
We start by talking about the hunting heritage amendment in Montana. The amendment currently protects hunting and fishing and we’re looking to enhance that protection to protect the hunting heritage, which means current means of take, like trapping and how we trap. One of the plays from anti-hunters is to first go after trapping and then go after other activities. Everett talks about similar bills in Oregon and protecting the right to food. 
 
Everett and I chat about how hunting legislation impacts non-hunters. Community and society at large benefit from hunter actions and hunter dollars, even if they don’t realize it. We then get into HB419, which Everett calls the Montana bond bill, which requires anti-hunting groups to put up a minimum bond of $50,000 if they want to sue. One of the anti-hunting strategies is to litigate and delay, and even if they don’t win, they could completely ruin a hunting season. When money is on the table, those who suffered losses like guides, local hotels, and outfitters can recoup funds from the bond.
What’s Inside:
 
How the bills in Montana impact hunting nationwide.
Info on HB419 and the hunting heritage amendment.
How hunting legislation impacts non-hunters.
 
Mentioned in this episode
Days In The Wild Podcast
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
Everett Headley on Instagram
 
Short Description:
Everett Headley works for us at Howl for Wildlife as one of our content writers and researchers. I’m talking to him about a couple of bills we currently have up on the action center: the hunting heritage amendment and HB419 in Montana. We get into the details of each bill and how they impact not only hunters nationwide, but non-hunters and society at large.
Tags
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, hunting advocacy, howl for wildlife, anti-hunting, trapping, hunting heritage, Montana, conservation, HB419

Javelina Camp 2023 Armando Martinez

 Javelina Camp 2023
Show Notes:
 
We’re in the midst of javelina season and HAM hunt, which is handgun, archery, and muzzleloader. I’m with Armando Martinez, Mr. Bow Hitch himself and we’re sitting here in camp, freezing our nards off. It’s snowing and we’ve got some pretty crazy wind gusts, not exactly ideal javelina conditions, but it’s a beautiful country. I first came down with my son and we were helping out Shane with one of my clients. Then Joe and my nephew Anthony came down and we hunted for another couple of days. Now, I drove down and met Armando, who brought the weather with him.
 
With my client, we got in on three different herds, but things kept falling apart for us. Late in the afternoon, we spotted another herd. Anthony was the number two shot and Shane and Joe were on the radios. We got in tight about 70 yards and then Anthony got in a great shot with a muzzleloader. We almost doubled up, but my gun misfired, and my hunter went home empty-handed. 
 
Armando and I recap our hunt together and we didn’t turn up anything at first. The wind was blowing us over so bad, Shane said we could trust fall in it. We worked our way out to the leeward side and glassed up a group. The rocks were brutal, and our legs were pretty chewed up. I recap some stories from the rest of the hunt and what I’d do differently. Armando recaps his experience using his bow in some pretty interesting terrain. We talk about the Bow Hitch and how Armando and I first got connected. I also tell some stories from a recent trip with my wife, and we get into some of the worries I’ve had over hunting and what the future could hold in terms of rules and policies.
What’s Inside:
 
Stories from our recent javelina hunt.
Recap of a recent trip with my wife.
Worries about the state of hunting and what’s next.
 
Mentioned in this episode
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
 
Short Description:
We’re in the midst of javelina season and I’m with Armando Martinez, Mr. Bow Hitch himself. We recap our hunt, talk about the Bow Hitch, and how Armando and I first got connected. I also tell some stories from a recent trip with my wife, and we get into some of the worries I’ve had over hunting and what the future could hold in terms of rules and policies.
 
Tags
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, javelina, HAM hunt, muzzle loader, archery, hunting policies, stress, howl for wildlife, bow hitch

Why its so important

We are not that far away from losing all hunting as we know it...... If we continue to go down the road we are taking and refuse to lock arms with our fellow hunters the aforementioned statement can and will become a reality

Frontal Shots with Joel Turner

The Controversial Frontal Shot with Joel Turner
Check out the article I wrote on frontal shots that goes along with this podcast
Also if you want to learn how to be in control of your shot check out Joel's program 

Buck Hunting Adventures with Stieg Phillips

Buck Hunting Adventures and the Canati Tripod with Stieg Phillips
Show Notes:
 
I’m picking Stieg Phillips’ brain a bit about some hunting adventures. We also talk about some of the products he’s developed, one of which I use. Stieg is based out of southern Nevada, and we start our conversation about past Nevada hunts. He likes to hunt out in Ely, where I’ve been before and had a pretty poor performance there a while ago. I like unique-looking animals with interesting racks and we get into how character trumps size and score in a lot of cases. Stieg went out with some friends from northern Utah and shares a story about getting some decent-sized mule deer.
 
Stieg and I also talk about misjudging buck size and getting surprised after shooting and walking closer. Sometimes it works out in your favor, especially when you can focus properly. You’re less likely to wound the animal and it’s a win-win. Next, we talk about the Canati tripod, which Stieg helped develop. He always wanted a nice tripod, but they were always really expensive. Stieg found a way to make a high-quality tripod at an affordable price. I’ve owned expensive tripods and the Canati is my favorite by far. 
 
The Pro Backpacker tripod is an inch or two shorter than the standard one, collapses down to 18 inches, and weighs three pounds, perfect if you’re moving around a lot. We talk about how I like to use the Canati tripod and some adjustments I’ve made to customize the experience.  If you’re not comfortable while you’re glassing, you’re not going to spot anything or want to spend the time it takes. Stieg walks through some of the Canati tripod’s features to help people get the most out of their hunts. He also shares some of the newer gear he’s come out with.
What’s Inside:
 
Hunting stories from Nevada and Utah
Misjudging buck size
All about the Canati tripod
How the Canati stacks up against other tripods
Info on new gear
 
Mentioned in this episode
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
Canati Tripods – Muley Maniacs
 
Short Description:
Stieg Phillips developed the Canati tripod and here, I pick his brain about some hunting adventures and the gear he’s developed.  We talk about how I like to use the Canati tripod and some adjustments I’ve made to customize the experience. Stieg walks through some of the tripod’s features to help people get the most out of their hunts. He also shares some of the newer gear he’s come out with.
Tags
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, mule deer, Nevada, archery, buck size, score, tripod, Canati tripod, Muley Maniacs

Catching Up with Jordan Budd at Hunt Expo

Catching Up with Jordan Budd at Hunt Expo
Show Notes:
 
I’m live at the Hunt Expo in Utah and I’m catching up with Jordan Budd. Jordan’s originally from northwest Nebraska and grew up on a cattle ranch where she hunted deer and elk. She later got into videography and started working for a TV show doing production and editing. Jordan also did some writing for Rokslide. She now has an outfit in Nebraska called Running Water Hunting where she does hunts throughout November and December. Today, she co-hosts the Gear Talk Podcast on MeatEater and is also working with her own sponsors and partners.
 
So many people want to be famous in the hunting world, and Jordan’s a great example of someone who’s dedicated and seeing great success. Here, we recap Jordan’s hunting season, and we start with her experience in Idaho, where she’s currently living. She dove into archery and found a buck that someone else wound up getting. She eventually found another buck before the rifle opener and ended up shooting him opening afternoon. From there, Jordan went to Wyoming where she had a pretty rough hunt and we talk about unit-specific tags there.
 
Jordan’s going to dive more into elk this year. We chat about hunting deer in the desert, late archery tags, and the challenges that come up. Jordan also shares her most memorable hunt as well as experiences that changed the way she hunts today.
What’s Inside:
 
Jordan’s backstory and how she built her hunting career.
A recap of Jordan’s current hunting season.
Jordan’s most memorable hunting stories.
 
Mentioned in this episode
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
Jordan Budd on Instagram
Running Water Hunting
MeatEater Gear Talk Podcast
 
Short Description:
I’m catching up with Jordan Budd at the Hunt Expo in Utah. Here, we recap Jordan’s current hunting season, starting with her experience in Idaho, where she’s currently living. Jordan also shares her most memorable hunt as well as experiences that changed the way she hunts today.
 
Tags
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, elk hunting, deer hunting, sheep hunting, Wyoming, archery, bow hunting

Talking Turkey with Jace Bauserman

 Talking Turkey with Jace Bauserman
Show Notes:
 
I’m talking turkey with Jace Bauserman. What drew me to Jace was a clip I saw where he used a predator decoy on his bow. He’s got a bit of a different approach and turkey season is right around the corner. I was never excited about turkey, but I got excited about it a few years ago and look forward to it. I learned how to call better, and I started viewing it the same way as elk hunting. Jace has hunted turkey in over 20 states and he’s going back to Florida in March. He’s taken four of the major subspecies and Springtime is his favorite time of the year. 
 
Jace and I talk about the differences in the birds and how they react between different habitats and species. We start with one of the most common types Jace sees out west: the Merriam. The Merriam subspecies is popular with hunters, and they have white-tipped tails. They’re found as high as 10,000 feet in mountain areas. Jace says they’re nomadic and very callable birds and are used to traveling long distances to find a hen. The Eastern wild turkey is Jace’s favorite because of the gobble. They’re more reluctant to come into decoys, so you have to be on your A-game with calling. 
 
Jace talks about the importance of knowing the subspecies of turkeys you’re hunting and being aware of how they move in their surroundings. He also gives tips on how to locate birds and where to start hunting. We walk through a typical morning of a Merriam bird hunt on public land and Jace shares his wisdom of how to make it a success. We also talk about how close you want to get to a bird, how to use a bow-mounted decoy, and the most important turkey sounds to master. 
What’s Inside:
The subspecies of turkey and their characteristics.
How to locate birds in a new area.
Walkthrough of a typical Merriam turkey hunt.
How to use a bow-mounted decoy.
The most important turkey sounds to master.
 
Mentioned in this episode
Phoenix Shooting Bags save 20% with code johnstallone
Howl for Wildlife: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/
GoHunt: https://www.gohunt.com/
 
Short Description:
I’m talking turkey with Jace Bauserman. Jace and I talk about the differences in the birds and how they react between different habitats and species. We walk through a typical morning of a Merriam bird hunt on public land and Jace shares his wisdom on how to make it a success. We also talk about how close you want to get to a bird, how to use a bow-mounted decoy, and more.
 
Tags:
big game hunting, hunting tips, hunting guide, buck hunting, hunting stories, turkey, turkey hunting, bow hunting, decoy, turkey calls