Adventure One

Well, folks, I got the monkey off my back and got my first whitetail down for the 2020 season. I know you probably shouldn't start the story with a spoiler like that, but I am excited that I got one down, and honestly, that is probably why y'all want to listen to this episode. In this one, I describe each sit of my opening weekend hunt. There were some frustrations, and some mistakes that I learned from, but ultimately It was a success. I was running my camera and will be putting the hunt on youtube, so keep an eye out for the video! And of course, whitetail deer season is now in full swing, so stay tuned for more deer hunting action!

Welcome to another episode of "Big Game Basics" where I discuss specific elements of big game hunting. The first BGB episode was about the moon; this episode "the wind" is critically important to the way big game hunters move and hunt. For as long as men have been hunting, understanding, and working with the wind has been a critical part of the potential for success. If you have a hunting buddy who is always screwing it up or doesn't really understand or pay much attention to the wind, share this podcast so we can all be better hunters. Hunting season is now upon us! stay tuned for more hunting and adventure stories, as well as other episodes of big game basics.

The Big Game Basics series is focused on short topical conversations relating to particular aspects of hunting deer and other large game animals. In each episode, I pick up a new topic that is often talked about in the hunting community and attempt to boil it down to a lesson that you can actually use. This series is great for new hunters, as well as experienced hunters just wanting to brush up on the basics. Some of these topics are very scientific and factual, while others are just my own opinions and preferences gathered through observation and experience. In this short episode I discuss how the moon phases can affect big game hunting. Is a full moon good or bad? Does the moon phases affect the rut?

A quick recap of Pliny's Montana elk hunt and some valuable lessons learned about gear and making the shot count. Unfortunately, I did not kill a bull and come home with loaded coolers. I was extremely close, and one little step that I forgot was the difference between elk steaks and tag soup.

Kyle and Pliny meet up to to enjoy some deer steaks and discuss how their hunting goals went last year: what we completed, what we failed to complete, and lots of short funny stories along the way. We set out goals for the upcoming 20-21 season. We were a bit ambitious, but it will help us stay motivated and stay on course throughout the year. Enjoy!

In this episode, Pliny and Nate hang out and go public with what they have been discussing behind the scenes for weeks—getting Nate into bowhunting. Nate discusses why we wanted to get into bowhunting, his bow set-up and his experience getting started. If you are getting into archery or bowhunting, or considering it in the future, give this a listen to hear about Nate's intro into this exciting sport.

Unfortunately, a lot of southern hunters proudly serve their friends and families deer meet that is tough, chewy, bitter, or even bloody and metallic tasting. It is not appreciated, and can turn people away from venison and deer hunting. Take proper care of your meat to ensure that it is delicious and tender. There are obvious many different methods, and some work better in different areas, and on different animals. In this episode, I describe my process of caring for meat and still letting it age and tenderize, even in the south where it is usually too warm to hang meat. When your meat is properly handled, aged, and stored the only challenge that remains is not overcooking it. Good luck this deer season!

Pliny and Kyle talk about a recent trip to do some work on a property prior to deer season, including setting up stands, feeders, and cameras. On this trip we also hammock camped, shot a steel barrel with a broadhead, caught some bass, broke a crossbow, and had a lot of fun!

Daniel and Pliny get together for some cold beer and pork tacos and tell stories from the recent hog hunt in central Texas. Shooting pigs is always fun, especially in the off-season when you have new gear to test out, new buddies to take hunting, and want some extra meat.

Daniel and I get together over a few beers to tell the stories of our weekend hunting adventure. We did some long range precision shooting, put down a hog, and got Daniel his first beautiful Axis buck. Trips like this are jam packed full of adventure and it is always fun to make memories and tell the stories.

Recorded spontaneously, while cooking up a mountain house meal on a campout, I discuss some new gear and the shared values of the two sides of the outdoor recreation community, uniting hunters and fishermen with hikers, climbers, and other enthusiasts.

In this impromptu episode I answer questions send to me by friends and listeners, covering everything from hiking gear, to concealed carry, to disaster preparedness

In this episode, I divert slightly from the normal topics of hunting, camping, hiking, and fishing, and talk about building a small home garden or "Victory garden". This is a fun project that can give you a new simple hobby (especially if you are stir-crazy at home right now), while bringing you healthy food. This can also lessen your demand on the supply chain and your susceptibility to the panic buying of others, giving you a constant and healthy food source, no matter the condition of the local grocery stores.

With the world freaking out about the COVID19 pandemic, I want to step back and look at basic emergency preparedness, and what we can do to keep a cool head and be prepared, in the face of a society motivated by fear.

It is almost turkey season! It is time to get your shotgun ready. Whether you are in the market for a new gun, just want the basics that will get your through the season, or want to turn an old gun into a dedicated turkey hunting rig, here are some tips that can turn a regular shotgun into a turkey killin' machine. If you want to watch a similar video on this subject, here is a rundown of my setup: https://youtu.be/LY32bFCyJAo

In this episode, I urge people to be more aware of (and more personally involved in) where the meat they consume actually comes from. If it is purchased in a store, it didn't come from the store - be aware of what it is, how it was cared for, and how it got there. I purchase fruit and vegetables and ingredients from the store, but I try to source as much of my meat personally as I can. To me, this is one of the biggest reasons why I hunt deer and hogs in Texas. I also advocate fishing, and trading. Any way you can be closer to the food source, with fewer factories and processing facilities involved is always good.

Another episode for rifle dorks. In this podcast episode I discuss the details of my long range precision rifle setup. With the goal of hitting small targets at significant distance, I wanted an extremely accurate rifle that is fun to shoot and doesn't break the bank. My goal wasn't to build a "budget" gun, but I wanted to keep the cost reasonable, and still get awesome results. I discuss everything from the ammo I use to to optic, the bipod, and even the sling. Give this episode a listen and join me in geeking out about accurate rifle gear. Whether you have been shooting rifles for a long time, or you are just getting into this exciting world, it is fun to consider the possibilities of long distance target shooting.

In this episode I am joined by Kyle and Mario who tell the story of their successful south Texas Axis Deer hunt. Axis are beautiful, jumpy, and delicious. They are an exotic so they have not season or limits. They are often found on high fence ranches, but are not free ranging in much of south-central Texas.

From bald eagles to bison, Jonathan tells the story of his adventure traveling through Yellowstone on snowmobiles with a group of friends. Want more than audio? This podcast is also available in video form:https://youtu.be/hL3_ZEb191k

Hey adventurers! it has been way too long since my last episode. A lot has happened, including a trip to south west Texas with Daniel where he was able to tag a great doe and I was able to shoot my buck. Unfortunately not all went as planned with my buck. This is the story of what went wrong and what I was able to recover from it.