Beyond the Kill

On this episode, Alaska resident and avid backcountry hunter, Paul Forward, shares some of the concerning conservation issues occurring in his home state, in particular in and around the world-famous Brooks Range.  The tension between economic development and opportunity and protecting the wild places and species that inhabit those wild places isn't new. The North American Model of Conservation proves we can find a compromise. But, as populations grow and resource independence becomes more and more important for both the US and Canada, what legacy will our generation of hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts leave for our children and grandchildren?  LEARN MORE & TAKE ACTION  NOTABLE QUOTES:  "There needs to be some limitation and pushback and protection in place, and that was the message that hunters brought to the world from North America. It started here and spread out to the rest of the planet."  @paulforward  ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has set the standard for premium optics. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and the new CRF MAX rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Don't miss out on Canada's best mountain hunting and conservation expo! The 2026 Wild Sheep Society of BC's Salute to Conservation Mountain Hunting Expo will sell out fast. Get your tickets now!  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  Go to Wild Sheep Society of BC to become a member, enter raffles, buy merch and support BC's wild sheep populations.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.   

On this episode, founder and owner of Frontiersmen Gear, Tanner Dannish is back to talk about some of his Northern BC adventures from the 2025 hunting season, including a boat-based moose and goat hunt story that is especially entertaining.  Big T also covers some of the gear that impressed him over this season's hunts, how he approaches gear decisions, and more importantly how he chooses what companies to support when it's time to upgrade or replace something in your kit.   NOTABLE QUOTES:  "I'm not a boat guy, but I've come to know that there are certain lakes in the north that just get windy, especially late in the season, and they blow up."  @frontiersmengear  ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has set the standard for premium optics. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and the new CRF MAX rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Don't miss out on Canada's best mountain hunting and conservation expo! The 2026 Wild Sheep Society of BC's Salute to Conservation Mountain Hunting Expo will sell out fast. Get your tickets now!  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  Go to Wild Sheep Society of BC to become a member, enter raffles, buy merch and support BC's wild sheep populations.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.   

On this episode, James Nash returns to do what he does better than just about anyone in this community, and that's bring his immense curiosity to bear on a variety of topics.  You'll hear a harrowing hunting story from his first trip to Africa, his lessons learned over his elk guiding career, that to date, has resulted in roughly 150 bull elk tags cut, his perspectives on the gear that really matters, and why when push comes to shove, the best thing you can do is just get started, whether that's in hunting or some other goal you've set your sights on.    NOTABLE QUOTES:  "My best guess is that 50% - 60% of elk that are hit with arrows are not recovered and it could be higher than that. When I talk to outfitters, their experience is about 50% and that's with professional guides who are going to be looking extremely hard for those animals."  @6ranchoutfitters   ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has set the standard for premium optics. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and the new CRF MAX rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Don't miss out on Canada's best mountain hunting and conservation expo! The 2026 Wild Sheep Society of BC's Salute to Conservation Mountain Hunting Expo will sell out fast. Get your tickets now!  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  Go to Wild Sheep Society of BC to become a member, enter raffles, buy merch and support BC's wild sheep populations.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.   

On this episode, repeat guest Colton Bagnoli is back to share his absolute obsession with hunting Africa after yet another trip to South Africa and to give his honest and raw opinion on whether the new cartridges that have hit the market lately are actually worth considering.  "Pap" as he's better known doesn't mince words when it comes to why Africa is worth considering, regardless of your budget, and the many reasons for making it a priority in your future hunting plans. And, as someone deeply involved in the shooting and firearms space, his takes on many of the newer cartridges that have been released is not to be missed.  NOTABLE QUOTES:  "If you just plink around, you have no business shooting an animal at 1,000 yards."  @papwinkle  CRUSADER SAFARIS  ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has set the standard for premium optics. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and the new CRF MAX rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Don't miss out on Canada's best mountain hunting and conservation expo! The 2026 Wild Sheep Society of BC's Salute to Conservation Mountain Hunting Expo will sell out fast. Get your tickets now!  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  Go to Wild Sheep Society of BC to become a member, enter raffles, buy merch and support BC's wild sheep populations.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.   

On this episode, Zack Boughton of Montana Wild returns to talk about the unique challenges of hunting antelope on the wide-open prairie, some of his recent elk hunting adventures, the current state of the influencer/ambassador/sponsored ecosystem, and why he thinks Leica has made the biggest leap in the premium glass market.  DUSTY TRAILS – MT ANTELOPE HUNT  @zackboughton  @montanawild   ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has set the standard for premium optics. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and the new CRF MAX rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Get FREE SHIPPING from Spartan Precision Equipment with code BTK25 and be sure to check out their new Springbok line of products.  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.   

This episode originally went live a little over a year ago and it's one that could make the difference between an animal recovered and a hunt you'll relive for years and wonder what you could have done differently.  As hunters, we do our best to make a clean kill, but if you spend enough time chasing critters in the mountains and backcountry, it's inevitable that one day you'll end up with a tracking scenario that tests every bit of fieldcraft you've earned. Enter blood tracking dogs.  Maybe you skipped this episode in the past. Maybe you're headed out on a hunt and needed a reminder about the resources available for a scenario no hunter wants to deal with...an animal you're struggling to recover. Either way, this is a really interesting episode with a deeply passionate dog owner that might just come in handy this fall. In the event you need to make a call you hoped you never would this season, links and resources are below.  @mattgagnonphoto  @rockymountainbiggamerec  www.rockymountainbiggamerecovery.org  www.unitedbloodtrackers.org   ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has set the standard for premium optics. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and the new CRF MAX rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Get FREE SHIPPING from Spartan Precision Equipment with code BTK25 and be sure to check out their new Springbok line of products.  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.   

Although it's prime time elk season for many of you, we know the muley fanatics have been getting after it as well.    If you haven't shifted focus to big mule deer bucks yet, that point in the season is fast approaching, and with that in mind, we're reposting a great discussion with a very successful BC-based mule deer hunter from roughly two years back.  If you haven't listened to this one, it' definitely worth it, and even if you did, it's probably worth listening to again as Jordan's tips, strategies and insights are timeless.  @bcbackcountry   ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has set the standard for premium optics. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and the new CRF MAX rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Get FREE SHIPPING from Spartan Precision Equipment with code BTK25 and be sure to check out their new Springbok line of products.  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.   

For 100 years Leica has been synonymous with premium glass. From sporting optics to cameras and camera lenses, the most discerning customers and end users have relied on Leica for a very, very long time.  On this episode, Ryan Holm, Leica's Director of Marketing for Sport Optics, covers the deep and rich history of Leica as a brand and the company's many innovations in the optics space.   He also shares the full details of the new Rangemaster CRF MAX rangefinder along with some of the other new and exciting products Leica is bringing to market, like their Calonox 2 clip-on thermal, and new Televid spotting scopes. Put simply, as impressive as their legacy is, as good as their glass is, they're just getting started.   CHECK OUT THE NEW RANGEMASTER CRF MAX  NOTABLE QUOTES:  "We know about stabilization. We invented auto-focus. We understand how optics work. Stabilization has been in our cameras forever."   @leicahunting  @leicahuntingusa  @ryan_holm  ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has set the standard for premium optics. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and the new CRF MAX rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Get FREE SHIPPING from Spartan Precision Equipment with code BTK25 and be sure to check out their new Springbok line of products.  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.   

On this episode, Travis Bader of Silvercore Outdoors shares his insights on the state of Canadian gun culture based on his many years of experience navigating all aspects of the Canadian firearms regulatory system.   From media to politics and the importance of process and procedure in leveraging misunderstood opportunities in the Canadian system, there's a ton of great info in this podcast if you care about the future of gun ownership. Travis also unpacks the way to lawfully carry a handgun in Canada, even after the recent handgun freeze legislation was passed.   Travis brings a wealth of knowledge to a topic that is at the heart of firearms rights in this country.  Wilderness Authorization to Carry (ATC) Guide  NOTABLE QUOTES:  "If we have conversation and that resonates with even just one other person, but they actually take that step forward and take action, I think that is where we start moving the needle."  @silvercoreoutdoors  ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has been the optics choice for the most discerning mountain hunters. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Get FREE SHIPPING from Spartan Precision Equipment with code BTK25 and be sure to check out their new Springbok line of products.  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.   

Mike Drury was originally on the show roughly 18 months ago, shortly after he founded Alpine Riflecraft and began building the kind of rifles he wanted to take into the mountains but couldn't find in any of the production models currently available.  Starting at just 4.5 pounds, these rifles are truly a mountain hunter's dream. They combine excellent balance and ergonomics in a package that seamlessly blends both modern and traditional features. If Jack O'Connor were to take a rifle into the mountains in 2025, he'd probably be carrying a Zenith.  Since his original appearance on BTK, he's expanded the available calibers, navigated cross border sales and shipping, and has numerous field reports from successful customers. There is no question that if you're a serious mountain hunter, these rifles should be on your radar.  NOTABLE QUOTES:  "Once you pick it up, you'll know."  @alpineriflecraft  ---------------------------  DEALS & PARTNERS:  For over 100 years Leica has been the optics choice for the most discerning mountain hunters. From spotting scopes to binoculars, rifle scopes and rangefinders, Leica is the choice for those who accept no compromises.  Get FREE SHIPPING from Spartan Precision Equipment with code BTK25 and be sure to check out their new Springbok line of products.  onX Hunt is the most powerful 3D mapping solution for hunters. Get your FREE trial today. If you're already a member, check out the exclusive offers and perks available when you upgrade to an Elite Member.   Tired of gut rotting instant coffee? Check out This Is Coffee and get yourself some great instant coffee for when you're in the backcountry or on the road.  ---------------------------  SUPPORT WILD SHEEP:  Go to Wild Sheep Foundation to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to wild sheep.  SUPPORT MOUNTAIN GOATS:  Go to Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance to find a membership option that suits your budget and commitment to conserving mountain goats and their habitat.