Show Notes:

Both sectional density and ballistic coefficient are bullet specifications that matter for hunters but one matters a lot more for new hunters. On this episode I break down the need to know fundamentals of each so you can make better ammunition decisions.

Sectional Density:

  • Is one of the most obscure pieces of information printed on a box of ammo.
  • Is a complicated math calculation that you will likely never need to preform.
  • Is something you can understand quickly and easily and can help you from today onward.
  • Is a very important number for telling the ideal use of a bullet if you want to make decisions based on more than marketing.
  • To best understand the meaning of sectional density you need to understand what makes bullets effective on whitetail deer, elk, moose, and other big game.
  • All of this and more is covered in the episode.

Ballistic Coefficient:

  • Is one of the more popular peieces of bullet marketing.
  • Involves more math than is even worth mentioning.
  • Matters a lot for a small number of hunters.
  • Is easy to understand but less easy to apply.
  • Can make the difference between a terrible bullet and a great bullet at certain ranges.
  • All of this and more is covered in the episode.

 

Show Notes:

Every man is created with a thirst for adventure. Deep on the inside, we come alive when we pursue those things that fan that flame. On this episode I talk about the soul of a hunter and how this passion can quite literally change lives.

Take Aways:

  • We were not created to live routine, predicable, and tame lives.
  • We are not wired to live life just yielding to the suggestions of others.
  • We will not find complete fulfillment in just meeting societies expectations in a neat and orderly way.
  • Most of your life exists in a framework that is ruled by opinions, positions, feelings, and fictions.
  • Something about getting outside connects us to something real, something solid and grounded.
  • Wild deer and turkeys have minds of their own, they do not behave according to people’s opinions, feelings, and political positions.
  • When we spend time in the wilderness we are cutting through the noise and clutter of our culture and society.
  • When we walk into the woods, we are getting alone with the creation, the creator, and with our own heart. Something rarely done anymore, and perhaps one of the reasons so few live truly fulfilled anymore.
  • Listen to this episode to hear what makes the soul of a hunter.

 

Show Notes:

How to break in a new gun or a new barrel is one of the most hotly debated topics on the internet. Fortunately, for those willing to venture off the internet, there are real answers to this question. On this episode I give practical, rational, evidence based advice for how to break in a new gun.

Take Aways:

  • Whether it is a new rifle, shotgun, or pistol, there is a wide range of break in protocols that people debate and implement. But which is the best and what is right for you?
  • New hunters do have different needs than some firearms users, but science is science and a proper break in procedure should be universal for all guns.
  • I gathered feedback on this question from multiple gunsmiths who each have 40-50 years of experience making and repairing guns. Hear their insights in the episode.
  • I contacted two of the largest and most reputable firearms manufactures in the country and asked them about this question, to see the break in procedures they recommend for their guns. I share their answers in the episode.
  • Download and listen to the whole episode to hear how to break in a new gun.

 

Show Notes:

Every gun needs cleaned, but how do you know when you should clean them? On this episode I give practical, realistic tips for when you should clean your firearms.

Take Aways:

  • Guns are tools that server the hunter. The hunter does not serve the tools.
  • Taking care of your tools and treating your tools better than people are very different things.
  • Guns are not magical or unpredictable, they do not need random unprovoked cleanings from time to time.
  • You should not need to clean a gun every time you use it, unless certain things happen.
  • Listen to the episode to hear the 3 times you should clean your guns.

Show Notes:

Wild turkey is a culinary treat, but many have had poor experiences cooking it because they try to cook it like something else. On this episode I talk about the unique aspects of wild turkey meat and how you need adjust your cooking methods to bring out the best. 

Take Aways:

  • Most people try to cook wild turkey like store bought chicken without realizing it. That doesn’t work.
  • Lots of people try to roast a gobbler just like they would a store bought turkey and that doesn’t usually work well either.
  • Wild turkey needs different cooking methods for the breasts and the legs. To get the most out of these birds you have to cook them differently than anything else you know how to cook.
  • You cannot just nonchalantly grill turkey breasts and expect great results. You need to know what to do.
  • You absolutely cannot grill turkey legs and expect good results. But there are GREAT ways to cook them.
  • Learn the basics by listening to this episode.

Again and again, I am blown away by how well you can cook wild turkey, particularly the legs. I have known long time turkey hunters to just leave the legs on the carcass and discard them. They claim the legs are not good to eat, but they are trying to cook them like chicken and not getting the same results.

You are not going to get great results if you pluck a whole turkey and try to roast it like a chicken or store-bought turkey. The bird is going to try out. The legs will become jerky before the breasts are cooked through. These are not farm raised birds that spend their lives being groomed for the dinner table. 

The truth is, wild turkey is its own meat and cannot be cooked like any other bird. Turkey legs can be amazing, but they need a low, slow, and moist cooking method to be at their best. I have found great success making BBQ pulled turkey legs into sandwiches and tacos, or just eating it with a fork. You can also cook the legs until tender and pull them apart to make an excellent turkey soup from them.

The bottom line is that wild turkeys need to be treated for what they are, a completely unique game animal with excellent potential just waiting to be unlocked by the right cooking method.

Listen to the podcast episode to hear the rest!