Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Becoming a Bowhunter

What do you really need to look for in a new bow?

In this episode, I sit down with Ian Summers to unpack the process of choosing a 2026 model hunting bow. 

We get real about the 2026 bows and their stats, and what actually matters when you’re out in the bush versus what’s just clever marketing.

Ian brings deep insight from years of archeryand bowhunting experience…  Plus many years of running Summers Archery Solutions, where he tunes bows daily and helps to coach bowhunters and archers through better shot mechanics.

We talk about the quirks and improvements of the 2026 flagship bows from top manufacturers, including Hoyt, Mathews, Bowtech, Elite, Bear, PSE, Expedition, Truth, Darton and more. 

We also explore some of the engineering changes, personal setup preferences, and why some bows feel better in hand than others even with the same specs on paper.

Whether you're upgrading your current rig or diving deep into your first major bow purchase, this episode offers grounded advice and real talk about what's worth your money… and what’s not.

🔍 What We Cover in This Episode:

• All Flagship bows on offer in 2026
• 
  
• How brace height, draw length, and axle-to-axle affect performance
• 
  
• Differences in cam design and let-off feel
• 
  
• Tuning quirks and 2026 bow setup tips
• 
  
• Advice for bowhunters with a 30” draw length
• 
  
• Why specs don’t always tell the whole story
• 
  
• Considerations around noise, vibration, and hand shock
• 
  

Find Our Guest:

Ian Summers

Instagram:

@summersarchery

@iansummersofficial

🎙 Follow Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

🎧 Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off

@dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off

@kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt

@venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off

@jabstickoutdoors

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty sits down with Dave Whiting, a highly respected traditional bowhunter with decades of experience hunting Australia’s small game species.

Today we’re diving deep into bowhunting the small game species Australia has to offer, specifically, rabbits, hares, foxes and cats.

Dave shares stories and lessons gathered over a lifetime with trad bows, covering everything from finding productive ground to learning how to move slowly, read sign, and wait for the right opportunity.

This is a practical, experience-driven episode that highlights how small game hunting builds better bowhunters.

After bowhunting for 55 years dave has had some incredible experiences in the bush and after we cover the small game species, Dave enlightens us with some of his fond memories and tales.

🔍 What We Cover:

• All things rabbits… where to find 'em and how to hunt them with a bow.
• How hares differ from rabbits and how you should hunt them with a bow.
• Dave’s new-found method for hunting cats
• Calling in foxes. 
• Trophy Takers Legend Award
• Wrestling with boars
• Stuck up a tree with a buffalo at your feet
• He almost lost his thumb to a boar's tusks 
• Being inducted into the International Traditional Bowhunting Hall Of Fame
• What a life of bowhunting has offered Dave

🏹 Supporting Dave Whiting:

Dave is currently being inducted into the International Traditional Bowhunting Hall Of Fame — a huge and well-earned honour.

There is an active GoFundMe to help support his travel to the USA for the induction ceremony. If you’d like to contribute or share support, you can do so here:

👉 https://www.gofundme.com/f/dave-whiting-travel-to-to-usa-for-hall-of-fame-induction

🔗 Find Our Guest:

Dave Whiting

Instagram: @whiting.dave

🎙 Follow Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

🎧 Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off

@dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off

@kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt

@venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off

@jabstickoutdoors

This week Matty sits down with Grant Rand, Benny Fensom, Brett Meldrum, and Ben Atherton. Given the time of year, the boys reflect on 2025 to share their highlights. Plus, share their goals they’ve each set for 2026. 

This episode is full of laughs, stories, and some pretty aspirational goals for the year ahead from 5 Aussie bowhunters.

If you haven’t already taken the time to reflect on your year of hunting in 2025 and set some goals for 2026, be sure to take a beat and write down some goals.

Podcast topics

• Almost $40K raised by the bowhunting community 
• The standout performance for the year goes to…
• Highlights of the year. 
• Picking up the trad bow. 
• Plans, goals and aspirations for 2026

Whether you’re preparing for an overseas hunting trip yourself or you just want to get in better physical shape for bowhunting in general, this is a great episode for you.

Connect with the Guests

Grant Rand

Instagram: @grant_randy_rand

Brett Meldrum

Instagram: @brettmeldrum085

Benny Fensom 

Instagram: @benny_fensom

Ben Atherton

Instagram: @ben_atho_hunts

Follow Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

🎧 Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off

@dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off

@kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt

@venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off

@jabstickoutdoors

🎧 Listen Now:

This is a 2-part podcast. Part 1 is a solo episode with Matty Turner explaining how he gained 12 kg over 3 months and then lost it in the following 6 months. He gives you the calculations and protocol for what he calls “The Lazy Man’s Carb Cycling.” This was the exact method Matty used to drop the 12 kgs over a 12-week period.

Part 2 is from an interview hosted by Andy Leonard from the Stalk Outdoors Podcast. Around July 2025, Andy interviewed Matty on his podcast to discuss all things nutrition and fitness for preparing for a backpack hunt in New Zealand.

They cover potential exercises to focus on, nutrition for the mountains, and potential weight gain in the lead-up to the trip.

Podcast topics

• Brett Meldrum’s Hunt Giveaway
• Boars for a Cause
• Terrorist attack in Bondi and what that potentially means for gun ownership in Australia.
• Gaining and losing 12kgs over a 6-month timeframe.
• How Andy’s own injuries reshaped his training philosophy
• Functionality over weight in exercise every day.
• Key movements for mobility, core strength, and joint stability for bowhunting
• Warmups in the field to mitigate shoulder injuries.
• Programming tips for busy hunters who can’t train 5 days a week
• The fitter you are, the more likely you’ll be successful in the bush

Whether you’re preparing for an overseas hunting trip yourself or you just want to get in better physical shape for bowhunting in general, this is a great episode for you.

Connect with the Guests

Andy Leonard (Stalk Outdoors)

• Instagram: @stalkoutdoors.podcast

Follow Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

🎧 Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off

@dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off

@kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt

@venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off

@jabstickoutdoors

🎧 In This Episode:

Dr. James Park brings a scientific lens to the world of archery. As a highly respected archer, Olympic coach, engineer, and researcher, James has authored numerous scientific papers on arrow life cycle performance and physics. In this episode, Matty and Dr. Park dive into:

• The complete lifecycle of an arrow — from release to impact
• How arrow drag, lift, and spine influence penetration
• Arrow shafts effect on drag
• Why vane profile matters
• What James would test more of and use if he were a hunter.
• Working with Olympians on shot process and mindset.
• What Technology upgrades are doing for the world of archery and bowhunting.

If you’ve ever been confused about tuning, arrow weight, or whether speed helps or hinders your hunt… this is the deep-dive you’ve been waiting for.

Find Our Guests:

Dr James L Park

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/James-Park-39

Follow Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

🎧 Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off

@dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off

@kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt

@venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off

@jabstickoutdoors

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty is joined by Brad Murphy and Ben Atherton for a deep dive into Australia’s most elusive and challenging deer species: Sambar.

Brad shares his decades of experience as a bowhunting coach, explaining how to pattern sambar behaviour, know where to find them and how to best set your expectations for hunting them. 

Ben has hunted Sambar deer his whole life… It’s only within the past few years he’s chased them with a bow, but in that time he’s successfully taken them with a stick bow and has a lot of incredibly useful knowledge on Sambar deer to share. 

We break this detailed overview into a few sections. Seasonal hunting, how to find them, habits of the deer, and how to best be successful on public land.

Whether you’re planning your first hunt or chasing your 20th, this is the most comprehensive and practical episodes we’ve ever recorded on hunting sambar deer with a bow.

🔍 What We Cover:

• How sambar differ from other deer (and why so many hunters get it wrong)
• What to look for when trying to locate Sambar deer in new locations
• Sambar deer are Browsers… Which means what exactly?
• Visiting preach tree’s year-round
• Sambar are creatures of habit like every other deer.
• How to plan a trip and hunt them on public land.

And a heck of a lot more.

Find Our Guests:

Brad Murphy

Instagram: @thebowhuntingcoach

Ben Atherton

Instagram: @ben_atho_hunts

Follow Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

🎧 Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off

@dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off

@kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt

@venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off

@jabstickoutdoors

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty sits down with a true icon in the world of archery, Fred Eichler. Known for being the first person to complete the North American Super Slam with a recurve, Fred is absolutely full of life and an amazing storyteller, but he’s also a hunter, outfitter, and steward of the bowhunting tradition.

In this episode, Fred recaps some of his favorite hunts of various species from the Super Slam. Fred opens up about the real-life highs and lows of being a bowhunter, including the grit it takes to hunt with traditional equipment and the mindset required to stay sharp.

This episode is packed with stories, strategies, laughs, and life lessons from one of the most respected voices in the game.

Podcast Topics:

• The Super Slam: What it is, how Fred accomplished it, and what it taught him
• 
  
• Recurve Realities: The extra challenge and satisfaction of hunting with traditional gear
• 
  
• Fred’s Favorite Game Meat: Listen to til the end to find out what it is.
• 
  
• Mindset Over Muscle: How mental preparation often trumps physical prowess in bowhunting
• 
  
• Hunting stories Fred shares stories of Muskox, Bison, Antelope, Dall Sheep, Rocky Mountain Goat, Grizzly Bear, Caribou, Moose, Elk & Deer. 
• 
  
• The real trophy is: Fred shares his absolute love for each hunt and being in the outdoors.
• 
  

Whether you're a die-hard trad bowhunter or just picking up a bow for the first time, this chat with Fred is a refreshing reminder of what bowhunting is all about: connection, challenge, and conservation.

Find Fred Eichler:

Instagram: @fredeichler

Website: www.fredeichler.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fredeichler

📲 Follow Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Host: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee – @dogandguncoffee

Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off.

Kayuga Broadheads – @kayuga_broadheads

Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off.

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – @venturehunting

Gear up for your next hunt.

Jab Stick Outdoors – @jabstickoutdoors

Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off.

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty sits down with Troy Fowler, better known as Ranch Fairy, to dive deep into the science, ethics, and gear setups behind repeatable bowhunting.

Troy’s known for testing gear, sharing data, and helping bowhunters take clean, lethal shots on animals. He works closely with the Ashby Foundation, and everything they do aims to use physics and numbers to speak for the results.

Whether you’re brand new to bowhunting or you’ve been flinging arrows for decades, this episode may challenge the way you think about arrow weight, broadheads, tuning, and arrow speed.

What you’ll hear about in this episode:

• Heart Vs. Lung shots
• 
  
• The different compartments of the lungs and how they function
• 
  
• Why bowhunters need to stop chasing speed and start chasing penetration
• 
  
•  Why bow tuning + arrow nock tuning should be the standard
• 
  
•  Kinetic energy vs Momentum and what this actually means
• 
  
• Arrow weight, mechanical vs fixed, and the real test: shoulder bones
• 
  
•  Troy’s journey into bowhunting and how Ranch Fairy was born from hard truths and experimentation
• 
  
•  Stories from the field: pigs, elk, shoulder shots, and what makes Troy trust his system
• 
  

This episode is a wake-up call. If you’ve ever hit an animal and wondered why it didn’t die… you need to hear what Ranch Fairy has to say.

 Follow Troy Fowler (Ranch Fairy)

Instagram: @ranchfairy

YouTube: Ranch Fairy Channel

Website & Resources: ranchfairy.com

https://www.ashbybowhunting.org/

 Follow Becoming a Bowhunter

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors

Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium blends. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off.

@dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Precision-engineered for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off.

@kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for serious hunts.

@venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – High-performance carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off.

@jabstickoutdoors

In this episode, Matty is joined by Kip Adams (@kipadams_nda), the Chief Conservation Officer for the National Deer Association (@deerassociation), to talk about all things whitetail, conservation, and the evolving role of hunters.

Kip brings over two decades of experience in wildlife biology and land management. In this conversation, we dig into deer behavior, nutrition, and management strategies, and how hunters can make better decisions in the field and in the off-season.

We also touch on the science behind antler growth, buck-to-doe ratios, and habitat improvement tips that the average hunter can apply.

If you want to become a better hunter, it starts with a deep understanding of your target. This episode takes the data collected over the past 23 years from the National Deer Association in America and compiles it in one place for you to learn all you need to know.

 Podcast Topics:

• How Kip got into deer conservation and his time with the NDA
• 
  
• Declining hunter numbers in the U.S.
• 
  
• Buck and doe movement in the rut and how it can help dictate your hunting outcomes
• 
  
• Antler size myths vs. science: what determines growth potential
• 
  
• Improving your hunting property for both habitat and herd health
• 
  
• Understanding “predator-prey balance” and what we can learn from it
• 
  
• Why hunter numbers matter and how recruitment efforts are changing
• 
  
• Kip’s take on Australia's bowhunting challenges and advocacy needs
• 
  

Find Our Guest:

Kips Adam - Instagram: @kipadams_nda

@deerassociation

🎙️ Follow Becoming a Bowhunter:

📸 Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

🎙️ Hosted by: @mattyafter

 Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off.

@dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off.

@kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt.

@venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off.

@jabstickoutdoors

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty is joined by Jamie Macintosh and Hayden Rylewski.

These two recently conducted a sound test on arrows, and what they found is pretty incredible.

Inside this episode, we go into all of the elements they tested and break down exactly what makes your arrows loud or quiet while they’re soaring through the air.

The boys then help to draw the lines between their data and what that means for us bowhunters.

Pretty much the sound of your arrow in flight could be the difference between an animal ducking the shot or not. 

Podcast Topics:

• Testing Methods: How they measure bow and arrow noise with chronographs, microphones, and a backyard DIY setup that actually works
• 
  
• Challenges in Testing: The impact of changing humidity, shifting light, and what it takes to get results that hold up in the field
• 
  
• Arrow Flight & Noise: How fletching, helical twist, and nock setup all change the sound of your shot
• 
  
• Broadhead Comparisons: Two blades versus three, long and pointy versus wide and stubby, vented versus solid, and what that means for noise
• 
  
• Real-World Impacts: Stories of animals jumping the string and how small sound changes can make a big difference
• 
  
• Future Gear & Testing Plans: What the boys have planned for further tests, plus where you can see the data and use this information for your arrow setup. 

Whether you’re a gear tinkerer or just want to make your setup as silent as possible, this is one of the most practical deep dives we’ve ever done.

Find Our Guests:

Hayden Rylewski - Instagram: @dos_bowhunting

Jamie Macintosh - Instagram: @archery_sound_lab

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

📸 Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

🎙️ Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off. @dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off. @kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt. @venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off. @jabstickoutdoors

Wild Deer Outdoors & Hunting Expo – 11th & 12th October 2025 Lardner Park, VIC - https://www.deerexpo.com.au/ @wilddeerexpo

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty sits down with Tom Clum Sr., a lifelong bowhunter and founder of RMS Gear, to talk all things traditional archery, effective shot execution, and making clean kills with a trad bow.

Tom has coached hundreds of archers through form issues, target panic, and inconsistent results. This episode cuts through the noise and gets straight to the stuff that actually makes you a better archer and bowhunter.

They talk about how to practice with purpose, what really matters in high-pressure moments, and how Tom uses coaching and failure as a platform for growth. Whether you shoot compound, trad, or something in between, you’ll walk away from this one with plenty to chew on.

Podcast Topic: 

• Bio-mechanics for repeatable and accurate shots with a trad bow
• The role of the central nervous system in executing a shot you can trust
• Why most hunters fail when the moment counts—and how to fix it
• Coaching through target panic, collapsing, and anticipation
• How shot mechanics translate to real-world hunting scenarios
• Why form is more than just physical
• How to train your subconscious for better consistency
• Plus some hunting stories from Tom

 Follow Tom:

 Instagram: @tom_clum_sr

Website: www.rmsgear.com

 Follow Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

• Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off.
• @dogandguncoffee
• 
  
• Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off.
• @kayuga_broadheads
• 
  
• Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt.
• @venturehunting
• 
  
• Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off.
• @jabstickoutdoors
• 
  
• Wild Deer Outdoors & Hunting Expo – 11th & 12th October 2025 Lardner Park, VIC - https://www.deerexpo.com.au/

@wilddeerexpo

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty is joined by Brian Johnson, also known as The Anatomy Hunter, for a deep dive into why understanding the anatomy of your target species can make or break your hunt.

Brian’s mission is simple: to help bowhunters take more ethical, effective shots by knowing exactly where to aim. From deer to elk, pigs to predators, we unpack how a little anatomical knowledge can dramatically improve your odds in the field.

We cover everything from broadside and quartering shot placement to 3D targets, bone structure, and why visualising the vitals before you draw is critical. Whether you’re new to bowhunting or a seasoned hunter, this conversation will make you think differently about your next shot.

Podcast topics:

• Why animal anatomy is a bowhunter’s best tool for success
• How to adjust your aiming point based on angle, species, and body position
• Common mistakes bowhunters make when picking a shot placement
• Using 3D targets and realistic visuals to train your shot process
• The mental game, visualising the kill zone before release
• Ethical hunting: reducing tracking time and lost animals through precise shooting
• How Brian built The Anatomy Hunter and what’s next for the platform

Follow Brian:

Instagram: @theanatomyhunter

Follow Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

• Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off.
• @dogandguncoffee
• 
  
• Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off.
• @kayuga_broadheads
• 
  
• Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt.
• @venturehunting
• 
  
• Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off.
• @jabstickoutdoors
• 
  
• Wild Deer Outdoors & Hunting Expo – 11th & 12th October 2025 Lardner Park, VIC - https://www.deerexpo.com.au/ @wilddeerexpo

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty sits down with Alesha Tomasi — a passionate hunter, cook, and content creator — to talk all things meat, mindset, and meaningful connection to the land.

From harvesting her first goat to launching a female-led hunting community, Alesha shares how she went from tagging along on hunts to being an advocate for sustainable meat, mental health, and women in the outdoors. This episode is equal parts inspirational, educational, and grounded in the reality of rural life.

Podcast topics:

• How & why Alesha started hunting
• The moment her social media mission began — and the powerful promise behind it
• What it's really like processing your own wild meat week after week
• Her go-to gluten- and dairy-free recipes using wild game and homegrown produce
• The rise of Daughters of the Wild — a growing community for female hunters
• The power of slow cooking, venison steak for breakfast, and making sausages from scratch
• How the outdoors helps with mental clarity, purpose, and well-being
• Pack training for Fiordland and the all-girls Wapiti trip that changed her perspective
• Gavin the pack goat. The story behind Gavin, how they’ve trained him to be their trusty sidekick and the gear issues they’ve had thus far.
• New Zealand’s got it all to offer, from crayfish dives to deer to chamois and tahr.

Whether you're a seasoned hunter, an aspiring provider, or just someone who wants to live a little closer to the land, this is a conversation that hits home.

Follow Alesha:

Instagram: @alesha_tomasi

Community: @daughters_of_the_wild

Follow Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

Wild Deer Hunting & Outdoor Expo – Live at Lardner Park in Victoria on the 11th & 12th of October. Get your tickets at https://www.deerexpo.com.au/

Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off.

@dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off.

@kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt.

@venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off.

@jabstickoutdoors

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty is joined once again by Ben Salleras, one of only a handful of hunters to ever complete the elusive South Pacific Slam. But what even is that? Ben unpacks the “South Pacific 15,” the challenges of defining a slam in our part of the world, and why the pursuit became such a personal obsession.

We dive deep into the last hunt that finished off his South Pacific Slam, the Wapiti from the intense terrain in Fiordland, NZ 

Podcast Topics:

• The South Pacific 15: What species make the list, what gets left out, and why the official slam isn’t quite official
• Fiordland Realities: Brutal terrain, vertical jungle, and one of the harder hunts Ben has ever done
• Catseye Block Breakdown: Choosing the right block and period for wapiti success
• Completing the Slam: The planning, prep, and long-range logistics that led to the final tick — the Fiordland wapiti
• Gotta Catch ’Em All: Why collecting species hits the same nerve as childhood card collecting
• Hybrid Bugles & Elk Behavior: Why most wapiti calls in Fiordland sound more like elk than red deer
• Mindset in the Mountains: Choosing the right hunting partner, dealing with weather windows, and staying cool under pressure
• This young bull wants to fight… The story of Ben nearly being attacked by an aggressive young Wapiti bull.
• I saw two possible locations for the tent in the 6 days we were there 
• From hunting pigs in Queensland to global adventures… Anything is possible when you set your mind to it. Ben shares future goals, trips planned and a reflection on just what he has achieved with a bow.

Whether you’ve dreamed of your own slam or just love hearing in-depth yarns about a hunt, this is a thoughtful and wild ride through Benny’s South Pacific’s bowhunting feat.

Find Ben Salleras:

Instagram: @bensalleras

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

• Dog and Gun Coffee – @dogandguncoffee
• Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off.
• Kayuga Broadheads – @kayuga_broadheads
• Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off.
• Venture Hunting & Outdoors – @venturehunting
• Gear up for your next hunt.
• Jab Stick Outdoors – @jabstickoutdoors
• Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off.

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty catches up with two stickbow hunters and top blokes — Benny Fensom and Jack Spinks — for a laugh-filled and brutally honest yarn about traditional archery, wild meat processing, serious health scares, and why red deer still haunt their dreams.

From hand-pumping 20 kilos of sausages to dodging disease from deer urine, this one covers all the messy, meaty, and memorable moments that come with hunting hard and living wild.

Podcast Topics:

• Rutting Chaos – Benny & Jack give some detailed recaps of their fallow rut together plus some yarns from previous rut experiences they’ve shared. 
• Red Deer Vs Fallow – Which deer is harder to hunt and why is it reds? 
• Stickbow Only – No wheels here. The boys break down why they’ve gone all-in on trad bows and what it takes to consistently get kills inside 10 meters.
• Sausage Shenanigans – Making 100kg of snags with a cement mixer, exploding cheese sticks, and the absolute art of tying off links without losing your mind.
• Q Fever & Lepto – Benny’s experience with leptospirosis, which had him bed-bound for a few weeks. The wild strain, not native to Australia that landed him in hospital for a week.
• Big Kev the Stag – The legendary red named Big Kev.  
• Stickbow Dropouts – Why many trad shooters burn out after 6 months, and how to stick with it when the compound itch creeps in.

This one’s got it all — equal parts funny, filthy, and full of hard-won bowhunting wisdom.

Find Benny & Jack:

Benny: @benny_fensom

Jack: @jackspinks_

Jabstick Outdoors: @jabstickoutdoors

https://jabstickoutdoors.au/

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

• Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast
• Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

• Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off. @dogandguncoffee
• Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off. @kayuga_broadheads
• Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt. @venturehunting
• Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off. @jabstickoutdoors

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty sits down with 21-year-old Logan Hawker — a young bowhunter who’s quickly earning his stripes through persistence, hard-earned lessons, and a deep respect for the hunt.

Logan first got into bowhunting thanks to a mad-keen neighbor, and even managed to pull his rifle-hunting dad over to the dark side (aka stick and string). These days, he’s putting in 20–30 km days chasing boars in the mountains. 

This one’s full of laughs, insight, and the kind of grounded stories every hunter can relate to.

Show topics:

• Big Buck Down: The play-by-play on Logan’s big 2025 fallow buck — a calculated stalk and clean kill after years of chasing deer.
• Chasing Big Mountain Boars: Logan’s approach to boar hunting during the rut, including the grind of long walks and thick country.
• Stick Bows: How a short stint with a Black Widow traditional bow sharpened his skills and made him a better all-round hunter.
• Surround Yourself with Good Hunting Buddies: Why learning from experienced hunters like Jas Ritchie has been a huge upgrade for Logan’s hunting success.
• The Unlucky Barbed Wire Roll: That one time low light, determination, and a very pig-like silhouette led to the most unforgettibly, hilarious story..

Find Logan Hawker:

@loganhawker

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

 Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

 Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off. @dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off. @kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt. @venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off. @jabstickoutdoors

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty sits down with Josh Forster, hunter, avid fisherman, YouTuber, and creator of the new outdoor connection platform Hooked Up.

From DIY arrows and NT buffalo chases to nearly getting cleaned up by a croc on the boat, Josh’s stories are wild. But this chat goes deeper — into what inspired him to build an app for Aussie hunters, fishos, and outdoor lovers who want real-world connection, not just another scroll hole.

Podcast Topics:

• Josh’s Origin Story: Bare-fingered bowhunting, pig stalks, and bush-raised beginnings
• Croc Close Calls: The 4-meter saltie that missed his mate’s neck by inches
• Northern Territory Buffalo Hunts: Long-range treks, frontal shot breakdowns, and hot-season gear lessons
• The Pig Rut & Moon Phase Theory: Tracking behavior and sow cycle times. Is there rhyme to this reason?
• Water Filtration Fails in The Heat: When it’s hot, you need to be aware of your water needs. Josh shares what didn’t work for them in the NT.
• Why Josh Built the Hooked Up App: The rise of an outdoor-only community platform for hunters, fishos, campers & doers (note* nothing to do with dating - everything to do with finding new mates in the outdoor world)
• Hooked On Life: Josh’s philosophy on getting off your phone and into the wild

Whether you’re in it for the pig stalks, the gear, or the mission behind Hooked Up, this one’s full of stories, insights, and inspiration for every modern-day bushman and woman.

Find Josh Forster:

• Instagram: @hookedonlife__
• YouTube: @hookedonlife__
• Hooked Up App: @hookedupapp

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

• Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off. [@dogandguncoffee]
• Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off. [@kayuga_broadheads]
• Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt. [@venturehunting]
• Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off. [@jabstickoutdoors]

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty sits down with Steve Dimitrakellis—chairman of Trophy Takers Australia—for a yarn that dives deep into traditional gear, bowhunting history, and why community is everything in this game.

Steve shares how he got started with a bow as a workaround for not being allowed a rifle, and how that decision sparked a lifelong obsession with bowhunting. From building wood arrows and tuning longbows to keeping the culture alive through Trophy Takers, this is a rich conversation full of wisdom, laughs, and bowhunting tradition.

What You’ll Hear About:

• Growing up with a strong bowhunting culture in Albury and Twin City Bowman
• How traditional gear shaped Steve’s hunting style and preferences
• Tips for tuning arrows, brace height, and reducing bow noise
• The appeal (and obsession) of longbows over compounds
• The story and mission behind Trophy Takers Australia
• The importance of community, mentorship, and passing on the passion
• Scoring systems: Douglas vs Pope & Young vs Boone & Crockett
• The evolution of bowhunting gear from plastic rests to precision carbons
• Why the Trophy Takers annual awards are more than just a trophy night

Whether you’re a trad bow shooter, new to bowhunting, or someone who’s been around long enough to remember wood arrows and score sheets by post, this episode is a celebration of everything that makes bowhunting special.

Find Steve Dimitrakellis

Instagram: @memosity48

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

• Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off. @dogandguncoffee
• Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off. @kayuga_broadheads
• Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt. @venturehunting
• Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. @jabstickoutdoors

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, we sit down with Roy Sloan—General Manager of the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation—for a deep dive into one of New Zealand’s most iconic herds and the conservation challenges they face.

Roy shares his decades of experience managing the only free-range wapiti (elk) herd outside of North America. From helicopter culling operations and habitat regeneration to the myth of the Fiordland moose, this episode is packed with insight, stories, and surprising facts about what it takes to protect a world-class hunting environment.

Topics Covered:

• The Origins of Fiordland Wapiti: How elk came to New Zealand—and why their survival is a miracle.
• Managing a Wild Herd: The 30-year evolution of the Wapiti Foundation’s work in conservation and herd control.
• Balancing Act: Why reducing red deer and maintaining ideal bull-to-cow ratios matters for both ecology and trophy quality.
• Moose in the Mist? The ongoing mystery of New Zealand’s lost moose population.
• Trophy Growth & Genetics: What Roy and his team have learned from collaring programs, bull management, and nutrition.
• Conservation = Better Hunting: Why lower deer numbers lead to bigger bulls and healthier landscapes.
• The Wapiti Ballot System: How you can apply for a chance to hunt one of the world’s most unique elk herds.
• Gear Tips & Tough Country: Packing, fitness, and the brutal beauty of the Fiordland terrain.
• Protein, Plants & the Perfect Bull: How environment and nutrition shape the wapiti more than anything else.

Whether you’re a bowhunter planning a ballot hunt or just love hearing about what goes into managing wild herds, this episode is a rare look behind the curtain of one of New Zealand’s most respected conservation efforts.

Find the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation:

Instagram: @fiordland_wapiti_foundation

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off. @dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off. @kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt. @venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. @jabstickoutdoors

In this full-send episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty returns from one of the most action-packed fallow rut seasons yet—and he's brought a truckload of stories with him.

From adrenaline-pumping close calls and wild stalks to busted bows and unexpected dog encounters, this one captures all the highs, lows, and bush-beaten realities of bowhunting in peak 2025 rut. You’ll hear from a solid crew of legends as they break down their hunts, share hard-earned lessons, and relive the moments that made this rut unforgettable.

We dive into:

- Bedded buck stalks, spike chaos, and a textbook 30-yard shot while shaking like a leaf

- Sprinting into a gully to arrow a big wild dog mid-howl—plus what happened when the pigs showed up

- Blown stalks, lucky arteries, and what happens when your bow gets knocked mid-hunt

- Arrow deflections, gear tune-ups, and the moment you realize a missed shot was never the deer’s fault

- Campfire banter, rums with jet fuel, and how the right crew makes every rut one for the books

- Fallow behavior insights, calling tactics, and what really happens when you hunt bucks on scrapes

Whether you’re reliving your own season or gearing up for the next one, this episode is a wild ride through the heart of the fallow rut—chock full of learnings, legends, and the kind of bush time we all dream about.

Find The Guests: 

Matty Moore - @mooreofmatt

Grant Rand - @grant_randy_rand

Cam Rand - @cameron_cambo_rand

Corey Seymonsbergen - @corey_seymo

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

• Dog and Gun Coffee: @dogandguncoffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off.
• Kayuga Broadheads: @kayuga_broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off.
• Venture Hunting & Outdoors: @venturehunting – Gear up for your next hunt.
• Jab Stick Outdoors: @jabstickoutdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off.

In this milestone episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, we’re flipping the script. Instead of the usual one-on-one chat, this episode features a powerful collection of real rut stories straight from the bowhunting community.

Host @MattyAfter put the call out for listeners to share their most memorable moments from the 2025 rut—and after some cat-herding and chasing down voice memos, eight legends stepped up to the plate. From misty mornings and busted gear to blood-trailing heartbreaks and first-stag triumphs, this episode is packed with raw, real, and sometimes hilarious tales from the bush.

You’ll hear:

• Matty’s soggy and fogged-up gear lessons from the Brisbane Valley
• 
  
• Hard-earned wins from hunters battling tough weather and tougher stags
• 
  
• Creative meat-saving tricks for rut-tainted venison
• 
  
• The highs, lows, and chaos of calling in reds and fellow in the thick stuff
• 
  
• Gear tips, meat care hacks, and calls that actually worked
• 
  

Whether you’re reminiscing on your own rut or looking for inspiration to keep grinding, this episode is a celebration of persistence, community, and the wild ride that is bowhunting in the rut.

🦌 Shoutout to all the contributors: Luke Samuels, Jason Wells, PJ Lindley, Jack O'Neil, Jed Davidson, Colin Gair, Kritstian Gerathy and Kenny Riddle.

🎧 Listen in for laughs, lessons, and that sweet sound of the rut echoing through the hills.

Story Contributors: 

@_lukesamuels

@mindfulbowhunter

@pjlindley94

@jacklewisoneill

@jeddavidson

@outlawcustombows

@followingabrokencompass

@keeny_riddle

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

• Dog and Gun Coffee: @dogandguncoffee - Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off. Dog and Gun Coffee
• Kayuga Broadheads: @kayuga_broadheads - Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off. Kayuga Broadheads
• Venture Hunting & Outdoors: @venturehunting - Gear up for your next hunt. Venture Hunting
•  Jab Stick Outdoors: @jabstickoutdoors - Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off Jab Stick Outdoors

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty sits down with Bailey Simmons (@_bailey_simmons_), a New England-based bowhunter who’s been slinging arrows since he was nine. From stalking big reds to chasing Billy goats through the hills, Bailey shares a real-deal look into the highs and lows of his 2024 rut season.

We dive into how a tight-knit crew of bowhunters from Armidale pushes each other forward, the lessons learned from missed shots and meat pack-outs, and Bailey’s deep knowledge of his local terrain, goat behavior, and scrape strategies. With multiple bucks already down and more to come, this one's full of stories, laughs, and gold for any bowhunter gearing up for the next hunt.

Podcast Topics:

• Red Deer & Fallow Rut Tactics: Bailey explains the 3 successful hunts from this years rut, showcasing how he’s successfully taken 2x Fallow Bucks and 1 x Red Stag 
• Assessing all possibilities: A raw look into how deer have a mind of their own (especially in the rut) and how you truly need to be prepared for every possible outcome.
• Stalking Billys Year-Round: Insights into goat behavior, bachelor group patterns, and hunting pressure.
• Gear Talk: Compound vs. recurve, Clicker systems, hinge vs. thumb releases, set up for a multi-day backpack hunt, and more.
• Access & Landowner Trust: Bailey’s experience securing new properties through relationships.
• Douglass Point Scoring System: Bailey wen’t and did his scoring course with the trophy takers crew earlier this year
• Meat, Mounts & More: Packing out heavy reds, cooking goat curry, and his passion for Euro mounts.

And heaps more.

Find Bailey Simmons:

Instagram: @_bailey_simmons_

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

• Dog and Gun Coffee: @dogandguncoffee - Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off. Dog and Gun Coffee
• Kayuga Broadheads: @kayuga_broadheads - Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off. Kayuga Broadheads
• Venture Hunting & Outdoors: @venturehunting - Gear up for your next hunt. Venture Hunting
•  Jab Stick Outdoors: jabstickoutdoors - Precision engineered carbon shafts. Jab Stick Outddos

In this episode of Become a Bowhunter, we sit down with George Ryals, a renowned archery coach and the founder of ImproveMyArchery.com. George shares his wealth of knowledge on how to build a solid foundation in archery and bowhunting, emphasizing the importance of precision, practice, and maintaining proper form. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned bowhunter, George provides valuable insights into improving your shooting accuracy and mental focus for consistent success.

Topics Covered:

• The Foundation of Archery: George's approach to teaching archery from the ground up, focusing on developing a consistent and repeatable shot process.
• Common Mistakes in Bowhunting: Key issues bowhunters face with form and technique, and how to correct them to ensure better accuracy in the field.
• Training for Consistency: How practicing target archery can improve your ability to handle the adrenaline of a real hunt and maintain focus under pressure.
• The Psychology of Shooting: George’s advice on managing anxiety and muscle tension during the shot process and how to overcome target panic.
• The Importance of Equipment Fit: How ensuring your bow fits you properly is crucial for avoiding injury and improving shooting accuracy.

Archery Coaching Secrets: George’s tried-and-tested methods for improving form and precision, including his "Big Four" process that has helped athletes elevate their performance.

Plus much, much more.

Find George Ryals: 

Instagram: @georgeryalsiv

Website: ImproveMyArchery.com

Find Becoming a Bowhunter: 

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee: @dogandguncoffee - Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off.

Kayuga Broadheads: @kayuga_broadheads - Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off.

Venture Hunting & Outdoors: @venturehunting - Gear up for your next hunt.

Jab Stick Outdoors: @jabstickoutdoors - Precision engineered carbon shafts.

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, we welcome back Harry Watson (@ihuntnfish) to unpack his detailed strategies for hunting red deer during the rut. Known for his incredible ability to get close to animals, Harry shares decades of knowledge and practical insights to help you make the most of this exciting hunting season.

We dive deep into:

• Red Deer Behaviour & Rut Timing: Understanding the full cycle of red deer from antler growth, velvet shedding, to rutting behavior.
• Early Season Tactics: Harry’s approach to hunting in mid-to-late March, including finding and stalking stags before they become vocal.
• Close Encounters: Closing the gap not only increases your chances of a successful hunt but also enhances your overall bowhunting experience.
• Advanced Calling Techniques: The importance of starting with hind calls, when to switch to roars, and specific calling scenarios to attract wary stags.
• Setting Up for Success: Proven tactics for positioning yourself to maximize shot opportunities, including Harry’s unique approach to using landscape and vegetation.
• Gear Essentials & Field Processing: Efficient methods for handling your deer after the harvest, including Harry’s preference for boning out in the field.
• Hunting Stories & Lessons Learned: Insightful anecdotes, successes, and lessons from Harry's personal hunts, including close calls and memorable stalks.

Whether you're preparing for your first red deer rut or seeking advanced techniques to refine your hunting style, this episode is loaded with practical tips and detailed strategies to help you become more successful this season.

Find Harry Watson:

Instagram: @ihuntnfish

Website: https://www.jackall.com.au/

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

• Dog and Gun Coffee: @dogandguncoffee - Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off. Dog and Gun Coffee
• Kayuga Broadheads: @kayuga_broadheads - Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off. Kayuga Broadheads
• Venture Hunting & Outdoors: @venturehunting - Gear up for your next hunt. Venture Hunting
•  Jab Stick Outdoors: jabstickoutdoors - Precision engineered carbon shafts. Jab Stick Outddos

In this episode of Become a Bowhunter, we sit down with Kristian Gerathy—an adventurer, gold prospector, and passionate bowhunter—to discuss his journey from searching for gold in Australian rivers to chasing deer in the bush.

Kristian shares his evolution from a casual shooter to a dedicated bowhunter, offering valuable insights into persistence, access challenges, and the mental game needed to succeed. From finding gold nuggets to landing his first hard-earned stag, his stories highlight the relentless determination that defines true hunting.

Topics Covered:

• From Prospecting to Bowhunting: Kristian’s transition from gold-digging rivers to chasing deer in dense bushland.
• The Struggle for Access: Hard-earned lessons on how to secure hunting spots and build relationships with landowners.
• Persistence Pays Off: The challenges and triumphs of solo hunting trips, including finding success in remote, unforgiving environments.
• The Mental Game: How setbacks, failed hunts, and personal grit contribute to hunting success.
• Gold Prospecting 101: A surprising crossover of hunting and prospecting—tips for finding gold in Australian rivers.
• Rutting Tales: Kristian’s most challenging and rewarding hunts during the rut season.

And loads more

Find Kristian Gerathy:

Instagram: @followingabrokencompass

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FollowingABrokenCompass

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

• Dog and Gun Coffee: @dogandguncoffee - Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off. Dog and Gun Coffee
• Kayuga Broadheads: @kayuga_broadheads - Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off. Kayuga Broadheads
• Venture Hunting & Outdoors: @venturehunting - Gear up for your next hunt. Venture Hunting
•  Jab Stick Outdoors: jabstickoutdoors - Precision engineered carbon shafts. Jab Stick Outddos

In this episode of Become A Bowhunter, we sit down with Jim McWilliam. We discuss his transition from hunting with dogs to bowhunting in the rugged Northern Territory.

Jim shares insights into hunting the massive boars of Darwin and its surroundings, the challenges of bows and living rurally, hunting in the heat, and much more. With a down-to-earth and humble perspective and a passion for continuous learning, Jim gives us a raw and unfiltered look at what it takes to become a better hunter.

Topics Covered:

• From Dogging to Bowhunting: The mindset shift and what drew Jim to archery.
• Pigs in the NT: Characteristics and habits Jim’s picked up on while hunting boars in the NT.
• Tuning & Equipment: Why Jim took bow tuning into his own hands and the importance of understanding your gear.
• Shot Placement on Bedded Boars: The nuances of finding the right angles for a clean kill.
• Shot Placement for Better and Faster Dispatch: Jim share how he changed his thinking on shot placement and the better outcomes the perspective has brought. 
• Buffalo & Banteng Encounters: The intensity of hunting these massive, powerful animals.
• Community & Clubs: The value of archery clubs and the benefits of competing in ABA shoots.

This episode is packed with knowledge for bowhunters of all experience levels, from those just starting out to seasoned hunters looking to refine their skills. Whether you're interested in tuning your own bow, understanding Northern Territory hunting dynamics, or just hearing some incredible hunting stories — this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Find Jim McWilliam:

Instagram: @topendoutdoors

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast 

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

• Dog and Gun Coffee: @dogandguncoffee - Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off. Dog and Gun Coffee
• Kayuga Broadheads: @kayuga_broadheads - Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off. Kayuga Broadheads
• Venture Hunting & Outdoors: @venturehunting - Gear up for your next hunt. Venture Hunting

In this episode we welcome back Graham Cahill, one of 2024’s fan favorites, for an insightful and entertaining conversation about his bowhunting journey and overcoming target panic. 

Known for his down-to-earth and highly positive personality, Graham shares the ups and downs of mastering the mental game of archery to overcome a multi-year battle with target panic.

We dive into topics such as:

• The Reality of Target Panic: Graham explains how it feels like "a weight pulling your arm down" and how he battled this challenge through methodical practice.
• Building Better Habits: From daily routines to tools like release trainers, Graham details his transformative six-week training regimen that made all the difference.
• Gear Insights: Graham discusses his transition to a Bowtech SR bow, the advantages of single-pin sights, and the game-changing impact of rangefinder binoculars.
• The Importance of Doing the Work: Practical advice from seasoned bowhunters, including daily exercises that helped Graham rebuild his form and confidence.
• Hilarious Anecdotes: From whistling at strippers to chewing wires in the bush, Graham doesn’t hold back on stories that make this episode as entertaining as it is informative.

Whether you're a seasoned bowhunter or just starting out, this episode offers invaluable advice for overcoming mental hurdles, refining your technique, and rediscovering the joy of hunting.

Find Graham Cahill:

Instagram: @ecomuseimages

Watch Graham on 4WD 24/7: https://www.youtube.com/user/4wdaction

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

• Dog and Gun Coffee: @dogandguncoffee Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off. Dog and Gun Coffee 
• Kayuga Broadheads: @kayuga_broadheads Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off. Kayuga Broadheads

• • Venture Hunting & Outdoors: @venturehunting Gear up for your next hunt. Venture Hunting

In this unique episode of Become A Bowhunter, we explore the fascinating and often overlooked world of camel hunting in Australia with Pete Griffiths. 

Known for their resilience and intelligence, Australia’s wild camel population poses distinct challenges for bowhunters.

Pete brings his wealth of experience to the table, sharing in-depth knowledge about these animals, their behavior, and how to successfully hunt them. 

From understanding their grazing habits to navigating the expansive Australian outback, this episode is packed with actionable insights and intriguing stories on camels.

And then the adventure begins when Pete starts to unleash some jaw-dropping stories of the most pain he’s ever suffered whilst bowhunting, multiple near misses with crocodiles, and much more.

Topics Covered:

- The history of Australia's wild camels and their unique purity as a species.

- Key behaviors of camels and how to use them to your advantage when hunting.

- Strategies for tracking camels, even in the vastness of the outback.

- The challenges of bowhunting camels include their sharp eyesight and tendency to roam.

- Fun and surprising facts about camels, like their rutting calls and the use of their fat in cooking.

- Stuff the Crocs — Donkeys are what you have to look out for

- Horses don’t attack, do they? Think again.

- Do you know those stingray barbs? Well, they’re sharp as hell and leave you in a lot of pain

- Look, hear me out — Crocodiles aren’t too bad

And much, much more

Find Pete Griffiths:

@ihunt_downunder

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee: Fuel your hunt with the best coffee for bowhunters. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next purchase. Visit Dog and Gun Coffee

Kayuga Broadheads: For precision, power, and reliability in every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off your next order. Visit Kayuga Broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors: Your one-stop-shop for hunting gear. Get ready for your next adventure with the best products. Visit Venture Hunting

In this episode of Become Your Bowhunter, we're joined by Ayden Doumtsis for a deep dive into Chital deer hunting strategies both in and out of the rut. 

Ayden shares his extensive experience in North Queensland, covering topics from rut behavior to the best hunting approaches in varying conditions. 

We discuss key signs of Chital activity during the rut to look for — such as rub trees and the significance they play in scouting and area. 

Some of the highlights from this episode include:

• Chital Rut Insights: Ayden explains how the rut can vary based on rainfall and the condition of the hinds.
• Patience Pays Off: Learn why taking your time is crucial when hunting Chital deer, especially when working with multiple stags and hinds.
• Hunting Tactics: Do you call them? Can you rattle them in? We discuss all possible methods to use when chasing these skittish animals, the importance of wind direction, and how to handle both lone stags and rutting mobs.
• Deer Behavior: Discover how Chital deer’s interaction with their environment and each other influences hunting tactics, including strategies for calling and stalking.
• Practical Tips: Ayden shares his process for assessing properties, understanding deer patterns, and maximizing the hunting experience.

Whether you're a seasoned hunter or new to Chital deer hunting, this episode offers valuable knowledge to help you make the most of your next hunt. 

Tune in and get ready for some incredible insights from one of the best in the game for Chital/Axis Deer.

Find Ayden Doumtsis:

@aydendoumtsisoutdoors

@twinelements

@spottedsafaris

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee: Fuel your hunt with the best coffee for bowhunters. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next purchase. Visit Dog and Gun Coffee

Kayuga Broadheads: For precision, power, and reliability in every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off your next order. Visit Kayuga Broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors: Your one-stop-shop for hunting gear. Get ready for your next adventure with the best products. Visit Venture Hunting

This episode is packed with experiences and lessons learned from a first-time bowhunter, Grant Muir, as he takes on his first-ever hunt. 

Joined by host Matty, Grant navigates through equipment setbacks, unexpected challenges, and the intense emotions of the hunt. 

From a cracked bow to the powerful moments of stalking animals, they discuss the trials and triumphs that come with the journey.

Topics Covered:

• The journey of a first-time bowhunter
• Equipment woes: From bow failure to upgrading setups
• The science behind bow setup, tuning, and arrows
• The adrenaline dump and the emotional rollercoaster of bowhunting
• Stalking techniques: Lessons learned in the field
• Ethics in bowhunting and respecting the animal
• The importance of preparation and gear: What worked and what didn’t
• Overcoming mistakes and the value of patience in the hunt
• The lessons learned about bow hunting after the first shot and the first animal
• Overcoming a bow malfunction on the eve of a big hunt
• Lessons on stalking and shot placement
• The emotional highs and lows of bowhunting for the first time
• Practical tips for first-time hunters on setting up their gear and expectations

Find Grant Muir:

@grantjmuir369

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee: Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off. Visit Dog and Gun Coffee

Kayuga Broadheads: For precision and reliability in your hunting gear. Use code BAB10 for 10% off. Visit Kayuga Broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors: For all your hunting gear needs. Visit Venture Hunting

This week, Matty is joined by Sean Chick, a dedicated hunter who shares the unique story of gaining access to a property with a struggling deer herd and taking steps to boost its numbers and quality.

Sean’s journey highlights the practical challenges and rewarding outcomes of managing deer populations while balancing ethical hunting practices.

If you, too, have deer numbers dwindling on your block, the information provided by Sean could be the information you need to completely turn the deer numbers around, just like Sean was able to do.

Despite being limited in his bowhunting due to a shoulder injury, Sean’s passion for the outdoors and commitment to herd improvement shines through.

Podcast Topics:

- Sean’s bowhunting origins and evolution

- The impact of wild dogs on deer herds

- Ethical and sustainable deer management practices

- Managing genetics: Why “mong heads” need to go

- Balancing the herd: The importance of mature does

- Strategies to create a thriving hunting block

- Wild dog trapping: Methods, tools, and insights

- Navigating the of herd dynamics year-round (when to shoot and not shoot what)

- Filming The Season

And much, much more.

Find Sean Chick:

@src_huntntrap

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Podcast Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee @dogandguncofee

Bloody great coffee ready for adventure - Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next purchase. Visit https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Kayuga Broadheads @kayuga_broadheads

For precision and reliability in your hunting gear use code BAB10 for 10% off your next order. Check out https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

Venture Hunting & Outdoors @venturehunting

For all of your hunting gear and needs head over to https://venturehunting.com.au/

This week Matty is joined by living legend Dr. Ed Ashby.

Dr. Ashby was the man who helped to reinstate bowhunting in South Africa.

The man documented over 630+ animals that he took with his bow and arrow.

Each time trialing different arrows, broadheads and total weight setups to come to a conclusion of best setups for bowhunters which is all documented and shared through “The Ashby Bowhunting Foundation.”

https://www.ashbybowhunting.org/

“The goal of every bowhunter should be to achieve the most penetration possible on an animal, with the intent of a full passthrough.” - Dr. Ed Ashby | Founder

Podcast topics:

- The Science of Bowhunting: Ethical Hunting Redefined

- Heavy Bone Thresholds and Their Impact on Success

- Stalking Skills: The Lost Art of Close-Range Hunting

- Lessons from 631 Animals: Dr. Ashby’s Bowhunting Insights

- Mechanical vs. Fixed Broadheads: The Ultimate Debate

- Conservation Through Bowhunting: A Hunter’s Role in Wildlife Management

- The Physics of Penetration: Why Momentum Matters Most

- The Future of Bowhunting: Innovations and Challenges Ahead

And much, much more…

Find Dr. Ed Ashby’s Work:

https://www.ashbybowhunting.org/

Make a donation to the foundation: https://www.ashbybowhunting.org/make-a-donation

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Podcast Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee @dogandguncofee

Bloody great coffee ready for adventure - Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next purchase. Visit https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Kayuga Broadheads @kayuga_broadheads

For precision and reliability in your hunting gear use code BAB10 for 10% off your next order. Check out https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

This week Matty is joined by Joel Turner from Shot IQ.

Joel has cracked the code to override the human instinct and safety mechanisms that we have in place can negatively affect your accuracy inside of shooting. 

Whether you’re shooting a gun or shooting your bow, this system is an easy-to-implement process that removes target panic and makes a repeatable process every time.

Podcast Topics: 

- The Australian paddy melons

- how did this all come to fruition

- The Science and psychology behind the shot process

- Open and closed loop systems

- Thoughts are not thinking

- How to override your thoughts and take back control

- Applying the system to each style of release aid 

- Compound Vs. Trad Shot

- An elk hunt to remember

- The trick to calling in Bull Elk and Red Stags

And much, much more.

Find Joel Turner:

@joelturneractual

https://www.turnermodel.com/

https://www.shotiq.com/home

https://www.mindiq.com/enroll

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Podcast Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee @dogandguncofee

Bloody great coffee ready for adventure - Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next purchase. Visit https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Kayuga Broadheads @kayuga_broadheads

For precision and reliability in your hunting gear use code BAB10 for 10% off your next order. Check out https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

This week is another solo episode in which Matty does his best to bring you a beginners' guide to bowhunting.

Inside this episode, Matty takes you through the A-Z of everything you’ll need to know to get started in bowhunting in 2024 and beyond.

Think of this episode as an open letter to anyone looking to get into bowhunting, new to bowhunting, or even someone still looking for their first success with the bow. 

Episode topics: 

• Buying a bow
• Accessories 
• Arrow weights and spines
• Broadheads
• Perfect practice - develop a repeatable process
• Gain access (paid, public or private)
• How to approach a new hunting block on your first visit
• The stalk
• Animal behaviour 
• Field dressing - different approaches
• Meat care
• Meat processing. 

Relevant Episodes:

#1 - Buying the perfect bow with Ian Summers 

#133 - Using Wilderness First-Aid To Save Your Life with Christie Pisani

#115 - Gaining Hunting Access w/ Matty Turner

#98 - Liam’s Rut Recap and Perfect Shot Placement with Liam Woods

#43 - Meat Safety When Hunting with Bevan Blacklock 

#97 - Cooking Wild Meat with Ross O'Meara

Videos Worth Watching: 

Home-made target:  https://youtu.be/uvy2-lWB9sI?si=GI9kcmhB0HGV1cnA

Shot placement for Australian Bowhunters with Liam Woods: https://youtu.be/nKSvR4_2RSU?si=2lmnTlHwTbeeh91o

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Podcast Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee @dogandguncofee

Bloody great coffee ready for adventure - Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next purchase. Visit https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Kayuga Broadheads @kayuga_broadheads

For precision and reliability in your hunting gear use code BAB10 for 10% off your next order. Check out https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

In this episode, Matty is joined by renowned traditional bowhunter Ben Maher. 

Ben has been pursuing his passion for traditional archery and bowhunting for decades.

But it hasn’t always come easily, which sent Ben on a pursuit of gaining coaching and becoming the best shooter he can be.

A lot of great tips and tricks were shared inside this one that helped Ben to overcome his target panic.

Ben is a very passionate lover of all things traditional bows and bowhunting and has been a helpful pillar of the traditional community for a long time.

Podcast Topics:

- Ben's early introduction to archery and bowhunting through his father

- Stuff your wheels, give me recurves & longbows

- Bowhunting turkeys in New Zealand

- Target panic: Overcoming mental hurdles and embracing a triggerless shot

- Many mentors make light work — unless you’re Ben Maher (or so Tom Clum, Rod Jenkins, and Joel Turner would say)

- Key lessons and takeaways from the best in the biz

- Bowhunting transforms lives

- Sometimes, the best hunts are the unsuccessful ones

- Promoting positive perceptions of bowhunting to the wider community

- The growing popularity of traditional archery and bowhunting in Australia

And much more...

Find Ben Maher:

@benmaher73

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Podcast Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee @dogandguncofee

Bloody great coffee ready for adventure - Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next purchase. Visit https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Kayuga Broadheads @kayuga_broadheads

In this episode, Matty is joined by Jordan De Jong and Adam Barter as they recap the hunt that was on their drive home.

This hunt was Jordan’s first-ever experience of bowhunting.

Matty and Adam made it their goal to help fast-track Jordy’s hunting abilities and get him his first animal with the bow.

They were successful; however, they didn’t come without challenges.

This recap gives great insights into what worked well, what didn’t work at all and what each member of the hunting party would have done differently to make good of the opportunities that weren’t fruitful.

Podcast Topics: 

- How’d we get here? 

- The excitement that new blocks bring

- Seeing your first critters in the wild

- The first stalk failed - Good!

- The second stalk failed - Good, what did you learn?

- What made the third stalk a charm?

- Pigs, & goats… Take your pick

- Wind

- Day 2

- Hello Mr Fox

- Check your gear, DUMMY.

- The mountaintop that keeps on giving.

- Biggest takeaways

- Bowhunting changes lives!

And much, much more.

Find our guest:

Jordan:

@Jordodejong

Adam:

@adam.j.barter

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Podcast Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee @dogandguncofee

Bloody great coffee ready for adventure — Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next purchase. Visit https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Kayuga Broadheads @kayuga_broadheads

For precision and reliability in your hunting gear use code BAB10 for 10% off your next order. Check out https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

This week, Matty is joined by Poldi, the man behind the YouTube channel Westcoast Adventures.

To keep the adventures alive, Poldi set himself the challenge of going stickbow only moving forward and has been trying to master his craft for the past year. 

What’s cool to see is with the system Poldi has adopted he has truly become a beast with the recurve, especially when it matters with a live animal in front of him.

Podcast topics: 

- Kayaking Norway

- The influence of Bruce Barns

- Getting the right start in the outdoors

- I sold my wheels to go on an adventure

- Push archery 

- Hunting is tough with a bad back

- Stewart Island

- Patterning the animals year-round.

- Springtime red deer

- Chamois can see

- Tahr love slips

And much more…

Find Poldi:

@poldi_wm

https://youtube.com/@westcoastadventures8877?si=-pmAiUl2sAvUQ8s3

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Podcast Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee @dogandguncofee

Bloody great coffee ready for adventure — Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next purchase. Visit https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Kayuga Broadheads @kayuga_broadheads

For precision and reliability in your hunting gear use code BAB10 for 10% off your next order. Check out https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

This week Matty is joined by Christie Pisani.

Christie has a background in both paramedics and bowhunting.

She now teaches wilderness first aid courses, sharing her knowledge and time in the bush to teach people how to save their lives if things go wrong.

Podcast topics: 

- Heart Of The Huntress

- Why do Bowhunters need to understand first-aid?

- Personal location beakers

- What’s in a good first-aid kit?

- Broadhead and knife wounds

- Gunshots

- Common farm injuries to be prepared for

- Rolls and breaks

- What to do if you’re bitten by a snake

And much, much more.

Find Christie Pisani:

@wildernessfirstaidconsultants

www.wfac.com.au

Heart Of The Huntress: https://youtu.be/mU--NjlNE70?si=dkr4SQNZVWKOlSJA

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Podcast Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee @dogandguncofee

Bloody great coffee ready for adventure — Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next purchase. Visit https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Kayuga Broadheads @kayuga_broadheads

For precision and reliability in your hunting gear use code BAB10 for 10% off your next order. Check out https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

This week Matty is joined by Colin Gair from Outlaw Custom Bows.

Colin recently created Matty’s daughters two absolutely stunning bows, to help them transition from toys to real bows.

Colin has a background in engineering that allows him to tinker and recreate traditional longbows and recurve bows.

Through applying basic maths, physics and what he learned through his structural engineering degree Colin has created many variations of specialised custom trad bows.

Podcast Topics:

- Kids bows

- What led to Colin making custom bows 

- The different types of low bows and recurve bows

- What goes into making a bow

- The Australian naming series

- Why do people question the speed of your bows?

- How are you able to make these bows so fast?

- The current lineup

- What to look for when buying a trad bow

- Bringing your kids into hunting

- Hunting stories with the trad bow

And much, much more.

Find our guest:

@outlawcustombows

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Podcast Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee @dogandguncofee

Bloody great coffee ready for adventure — Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next purchase. Visit https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Kayuga Broadheads @kayuga_broadheads

For precision and reliability in your hunting gear use code BAB10 for 10% off your next order. Check out https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

This week is Matty is in Deer Camp With Grant Rand, Corey Seymondsbergen, and four relatively new hunters.

It was very cool to go back to basics and help fast-track the learnings in the field within a few hunts.

Podcast Topics:

- Matty’s Buck

- Why it’s important to introduce others to good bowhunting practices

- Great questions

- Simple mistakes leading to stalks ending

- Be mindful of your movements

- You usually have more time than you think

- Danny’s Boar

- The penetration test

- Good mates = great camps

And much, much more.

Find our guest:

@corey_seymo

@grant_randy_rand

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Podcast Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee @dogandguncofee

Bloody great coffee ready for adventure — Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next purchase. Visit https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Kayuga Broadheads @kayuga_broadheads

For precision and reliability in your hunting gear use code BAB10 for 10% off your next order. Check out https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

This week host Matty is joined by Returning guest Corey.

If you listened to the marathon episode “Bowhunting Bulgaria’s Finest Fallow, Boars and Mouflon w/ Grant Rand — You’ll be somewhat familiar with this story as Corey was Grant’s travel buddy on this hunt.

Corey’s trip also included many ups and downs, trials and tribulations, and stepping outside of his comfort zone and boundaries.

Note that this episode is not to warn off of hunting abroad — In fact, the opposite, just to give you a full perspective of what can go right and wrong on any hunt.

Podcast Topics:

- Trying to speak without talking

- Doing the same old thing

- I want to hunt like I do at home

- Stalking unshootable critters

- Cliffs are mild inconveniences

- The Kieler: #1 human Killer

- In hindsight… Actually nah

- When push comes to shove

- Expectations will kill the outcome

Find Corey:

@corey_seymo

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Podcast Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee: Enhance your hunting morning with a rich cup from Dog and Gun Coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next purchase. Visit https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Kayuga Broadheads: For precision and reliability in your hunting gear, choose Kayuga Broadheads. Use code BAB10 for 10% off your next order. Check out https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

This week Matty is joined by returning guest Tobie Hynes.

Tobie recently went to Stewart Island, New Zealand, to hunt Whitetail Deer in one of the only places in the southern hemisphere where they can be hunted.

Stewart Island is an incredibly popular hunting destination and is booked out 365 days of the year.

Based on Tobie’s stories, you’ll start to understand why.

Podcast topics:

• The Whitetail deer herd
• Opportunities through the Hunters Club
• Logistics of the trip
• Declare EVERYTHING, and don’t buy a new pack of bullets
• Don’t get lost — Here’s how
• Gullies become a trip hazard at night
• Your best chance at hunting these deer is… 
• The sea life
• Policing and fisheries on the island
• Bringing hope your capes

And much more… 

Find Tobie:

@hunt_mountains

@thebighorndeercaller

https://www.youtube.com/@thynes2995

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Podcast Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee: Enhance your hunting morning with a rich cup from Dog and Gun Coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next purchase. Visit https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Kayuga Broadheads: For precision and reliability in your hunting gear, choose Kayuga Broadheads. Use code BAB10 for 10% off your next order. Check out https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

This week Matty is joined By William Platell from Riverleigh Taxidermy.

William has been tinkering with Taxidermy for the past 16 years. After suffering a nasty shoulder injury in the army, he decided to turn his passion into a full-time gig.

As you’ll see and feel throughout the episode will is an absolute lover of animals and obsessive with mastering his craft.

Will Loves the fact that he gets to preserve not only the animal… BUT also the adventure and story of the hunt for the hunter to hold onto for the rest of their days.

Podcast Topics Include:

• Hunting or taxidermy, what came first 
• Soulders, who needs them anyway?
• Picking the bow back up after many years
• Quick turnaround for big outcomes 
• Obsessed is an understatement 
• The one that got away 
• Bring me the boars baby!
• Full body mount Camel you say? 
• Next steps for Riverleigh

And much more.

Find William Platell :

@riverleigh_taxidermy

Where to Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Host: @mattyafter

Podcast sponsors:

@dogandguncoffee

https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Use checkout code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next order ✌️

@kayuga_broadheads

https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

Use checkout code BAB10 for 10% off your next order ✌️

This week Matty is joined By Mark Pitts from Marksman Quivers.

Mark grew up in The U.K. and lived on a farm managing game animals for harvesting each year.

With opportunities for hunting being much more prevalent overseas, he found himself moving to Australia.

Now, alongside his wife, he creates incredible gear for trad bowhunters at Marksman Quivers.

Podcast Topics Include:

• Growing up on a game farm in the U.K.
• WTF is a beater
• NZ is calling
• What do you mean you can hunt every day in Australia
• The pull to traditional bows
• The bonds and friendships bowhunting provides
• The forums of Australian Bowhunting
• Pick a crew with a great vibe
• The products at Marksman Quivers
• How to ACTUALLY use the finger tab
• Close encounters
• Upcoming hunts

And much more.

Find Mark Pitts:

@marksmanquivers

https://marksmanquivers.com/

Where to Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Host: @mattyafter

Podcast sponsors:

@dogandguncoffee

https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Use checkout code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next order ✌️

@kayuga_broadheads

https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

Use checkout code BAB10 for 10% off your next order ✌️

This week Matty sits down with Ashlee Strange, who shares her incredible story of resilience and determination. From literally being moments away rom dying to thriving in the world of hunting, Ashlee's journey is nothing short of inspiring. 

The conversation covers her health battle, her road to recovery, and her passion for hunting that was instilled in her from a young age by her father. 

Ashlee also talks about the challenges and rewards of being a female hunter and offers advice for women looking to get into the sport. Plus future ambitions with her own hunting and guiding endeavours.

Podcast Topics:

• Ashlee's health scare and recovery
• The impact of a life-threatening tumor
• Transitioning from rifle to bow hunting
• YTG in hunting
• Advice for new hunters, especially women
• Hunters ed. In NZ
• Hunting in New Zealand vs. Australia
• Conservation efforts and hunting regulations
• Ashlee's favourite hunting experiences
• Have you seen how big a Tahr Bull is?

And much more

Find Ashlee Strange:

Instagram: @ashlee.strange

Where to Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Host: @mattyafter

Podcast sponsors:

@dogandguncoffee

https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Use checkout code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next order ✌️

@kayuga_broadheads

https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

Use checkout code BAB10 for 10% off your next order ✌️

Join Matty as he interview bowhunting legend Brad Smith.

Brad has helped hundreds of bowhunter to up their game in the bush. Through years of guiding and filming he has studied every animal hunt able within Australia.

Today the boys do a deep dive into the Rust Deer Rut.

Walk away with in depth knowledge of how to attack your block at any stage of the upcoming rush rut. 

Where to Find Brad Smith:

Instagram: @bradsmith_bowhunt_downunder

Where to Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Host: @mattyafter

Podcast sponsors:

@dogandguncoffee

https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Use checkout code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next order ✌️

@kayuga_broadheads

https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

Use checkout code BAB10 for 10% off your next order ✌️

Join Matty as he dives into the wild with renowned hunter, filmmaker, and conservationist, Donnie Vincent. Known for his profound connection with nature and extensive experience as a wildlife biologist, Donnie shares insights that blend adventure with a deep reverence for the natural world.

Podcast Topics

• The transformative power of nature on our mindset.
• Insights into wildlife behaviour and ecosystem balance.
• The role of hunting in conservation and personal growth.
• Challenges and adversity build character
• Perspectives on wildlife management and environmental policy.
• The problem with social media is the lens
• What hunters could do better
• The constant fight that we have to show up for
• Was that a bear in your tent? 

And much, much more.

Where to Find Donnie Vincent:

Instagram: @donnie_vincent

Website: Donnie Vincent

Watch his films on https://www.youtube.com/@Donnie_Vincent

Where to Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Host: @mattyafter

Podcast sponsors:

@dogandguncoffee

https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Use checkout code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next order ✌️

@kayuga_broadheads

https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

Use checkout code BAB10 for 10% off your next order ✌️

Join Matty as he recaps his week of chasing red deer in the 2024 roar.

This week was full of explorations, learning and a lot of freaking effort — All of which was not a waste.

In typical hunting style, it came right down to the 111th hour to have success on this hunt. 

Podcast Topics:

• Slow afternoon into an exciting morning
• The damn wind
• The weird rut
• Why’s this happening
• Hello spikey
• Now we’re talking, and yes, I want you to come here. 
• Pick yourself up, the jobs not done yet
• What are you really hunting for? 
• The 11th hour

And much more… 

Find Matty and Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

@mattyafter

Podcast sponsors:

@dogandguncoffee

https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Use checkout code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next order ✌️

@kayuga_broadheads

https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

Use checkout code BAB10 for 10% off your next order ✌️

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty Turner dives into his recent pre-rut fallow deer hunting adventure, sharing thrilling stories, unexpected encounters ( and HUGE GIFT), PLUS valuable insights from the hunt.

While he didn’t capture the voices of the others in camp, he’s preserved what he can with his recap. 

Matty recounts the excitement, challenges, and unforgettable moments from the hunt.

Podcast Topics:

• The 5 year anniversary of BABH
• Surrounding yourself with incredible people makes camp so much fun. 
• Good or bad juju? 
• Too early?
• My first Croak , I’m a happy man.
• Insights into deer behavior during the pre-rut season
• Creep’n Bucks
• Grant’s immaculate deer dance

And much more… 

Find Matty and Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

@mattyafter

Podcast sponsors:

@dogandguncoffee

https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Use checkout code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next order ✌️

@kayuga_broadheads

https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

Use checkout code BAB10 for 10% off your next order ✌️

This week on Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty sits down with Benny Fensom in a unique on-the-hunt podcast episode. 

Benny is a mad keen stick bow hunter and often takes his kids out with him to call in critters.

 Benny shares his philosophy on family, the outdoors, and the importance of nurturing a love for nature from a young age.

In This Episode:

• Benny's approach to involving his children in hunting activities.
• The challenges and rewards of balancing personal hunting time with family time.
• Anecdotes from the hunt: A real-time hunting session with Benny and Matty, providing insights into their strategies, the excitement of the chase, and the occasional misfire.
• Reflections on how hunting strengthens family bonds and instills values of patience, responsibility, and respect for nature.
• The Stalker stick bow
• Boars busting out in real time
• The perfect amount of time to fox call

And much much more.

Find Benny Fensom:

@benny_fensom

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by Matty: @mattyafter

Podcast sponsors:

@dogandguncoffee

https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Use checkout code BOWHUNTER for $10 off your next order ✌️

@kayuga_broadheads

https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

Use checkout code BAB10 for 10% off your next order ✌️