Becoming a Bowhunter podcast

How to Become a Better Bowhunter with Every Stalk with Willie Waldrip

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This week Matty sits down with Willie Waldrip, a 21-year-old bowhunter from Texas who's already packed an unbelievable amount of hunting into his life.

Willie grew up in a hunting family, killed his first deer with a bow at seven and was hunting by himself at 10. Today he's balancing full-time college with guiding, filming and spending pretty much every spare day he can hunting.

We get into axis/chital, bison, sheep, a Kodiak brown bear at six or seven yards, and a wild Utah public land mule deer hunt that eventually ended with Willie taking a buck just shy of 197 inches.

But what really stood out was Willie's approach. Slow down when you get close. Learn something from every stalk. Stay present when the pressure builds. At only 21, he's already got a heap of experience… and a really interesting perspective on what it takes to keep getting better with a bow.

🔍 What We Cover:

  • Growing up in a family where holidays meant hunting trips
  • Killing his first bowhunted deer at seven and hunting solo by 10
  • Why networking and simply being a good person has opened hunting opportunities
  • Learning something from every stalk, failure and successful hunt
  • Why axis/chital are one of the toughest animals Willie has ever spot-and-stalked
  • Staying calm when a hunter starts losing their shot process in the final moments
  • Why the closer you get to an animal, the slower everything should become
  • Bowhunting a bison and why Willie kept sending arrows when given the opportunity
  • The chaotic Utah public land mule deer hunt that ended with a near-197-inch buck
  • Shooting a Kodiak brown bear from six or seven yards and the brutal pack-out afterwards
  • How sheep hunting taught Willie to take things one step at a time
  • Turning hunting, filming and YouTube into the life he wants to build after college
  • Why a five-pin slider has simplified Willie's shot process in fast hunting situations
  • How Willie changes broadheads and arrow setups depending on the animal he's hunting

🧠 Key Takeaway

Every hunt gives you something to learn if you're willing to look for it. Slow things down, control what you can control, and keep stacking those lessons… because that's how hunting starts becoming instinct rather than something you're constantly trying to figure out.

🔗 Find Our Guest

Willie Waldrip

Instagram: @williewaldrip_

Youtube: @WillieWaldrip

🎙 Follow Becoming a Bowhunter

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

🎧 Episode Sponsors

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

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Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt

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