Western Optics 101

Animal rights extremists are mounting a political effort to ban Colorado mountain lion hunting via a voter referendum on the November ballot. The measure — strongly opposed by sportsman and state wildlife biologists — could have a serious impact on Colorado's deer and elk populations and set a dangerous precedent for hunting opportunities across the nation. Dan Gates from Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management joins us to discuss this issue and explain how bowhunters from across America can help. 

The 4th of July is nearly upon us, and for most serious bowhunters, that means it's time to deploy scouting cameras in the field. Cuddeback's Dan Schultz joins us to discuss summertime trail-cam strategies as well as the latest high-tech offerings from this iconic trail-camera manufacturer.

Bowhunter Contributor Eddie Claypool has been chasing Coues deer for more than three decades and took his best buck to date last winter in Arizona. Eddie explains his passion for hunting these diminutive desert whitetails and shares bowhunting insights gained over 31 years of pursuing them across the Southwest.

It is difficult to be a consistently successful Western bowhunter without owning quality optics — and knowing how to use them! Swarovski's Dean Capuano explains how to choose the right binocular, rangefinder and spotting scope for your Western adventures and how to use them as strong allies in the field.

Imagine safely scaling trees of all shapes and sizes in just 90 seconds — without ladders, sticks or other conventional climbing aids. Scott Kurtenbach and Joe Delabarrera from newyorksaddlehunter.com join us to discuss the innovative Halfline 2.0 climbing system that can make you lighter, faster and more deadly in the field!

Steven Rinella is the face of Meat Eater, a multimedia brand that promotes the carnivore lifestyle to hunters and non-hunters alike. Rinella joins us to discuss topics that include his current bowhunting setup, Meat Eater's brand new, best-selling wild game cookbook and the upcoming election's political implications for those who value hunting and wildlife conservation.

This week, "Hunting Whitetails" columnist and noted deer biologist CJ Winand joins us to discuss some of the most useful bowhunting insights to come out of deer research, including how to deal with "string jumping," the best time of day to tag trophy bucks and more.

Beth Edwards of Missouri hunted hard for the entire archery season and was down to her last sit, one she’d hired a babysitter for so she could get out. On a frigid, snowy January day — with only hours to go in her season — the buck of a lifetime walked out!

Realtree's David Blanton is a living hunting legend. As one of the pioneers of outdoor television, Blanton was instrumental in exposing deer hunting to millions of Americans via wildly popular series such as Realtree Outdoors, Monster Bucks and Realtree Road Trips. In this week's episode, Blanton joins us to discuss three decades of incredible bowhunting success, the current state of the hunting world and how his perspective has changed over the years.

Diehard bowhunters know there’s no off-season, and one way to extend your hunting is international travel. Tim Herald and Roger Jorgensen of Worldwide Trophy Adventures join us to discuss bowhunting opportunities around the globe. From South Africa and South America to emerging destinations in Europe, they cover the ins and outs of selecting your next adventure.