In this episode, Rob from Athena Spatial walks us through how he built, planned and budgeted a week-long New Zealand hunting adventure at a price point most people wouldn’t believe.

We break down every stage of the trip: return flights, accommodation options, car hire, fuel, food, and the full list of legal requirements for hunting in NZ. Rob explains how to navigate permits, firearm processes, transport rules and what to expect when moving through airports with hunting gear.

We also discuss the difference in public land access between Australia and New Zealand, how to structure a hunting week without blowing out costs, and the small planning decisions that make a massive difference to the final price—especially when travelling with two people, where the total drops to under $1,500 each. Rob shares tips on choosing locations, reading terrain, building a realistic budget, and avoiding common mistakes that travellers make on their first international hunt. It’s a practical, detailed episode for anyone who has dreamed about hunting New Zealand but thought it was too expensive or too complicated.

For the latest information, news, giveaways and anything mentioned on the show, you can find all the links here. If you have a question, topic, gear review suggestion or a guest you’d like to hear on the show, get in touch via our socials.

Disclaimer: Content shared on this podcast is for general information and entertainment purposes only. For the full disclaimer, click on this link.

Matt is joined by Robert Borsak Junior from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party covering conservation reform, hunting and fishing, politics, national park access, NZ comparisons, and First Nations perspectives.

In this episode, we sit down with Robert Borsak Junior to unpack a wide-ranging discussion that blends policy, culture, and life in the outdoors. We talk about the current conservation and hunting bill and what it means for hunters, farmers, landholders and regional communities. The conversation moves through hunting and fishing stories, the realities of managing wildlife in modern Australia, and the political challenges surrounding access, regulation and public land use.

We also explore national park access and how different models—particularly New Zealand’s approach—offer insights into what could work here. Robert shares his view on balancing opportunity, safety, conservation and public interest. The conversation then turns to First Nations culture, looking at traditional land management, connection to Country, and how modern hunting can learn from long-standing practices. It’s an episode that spans policy, heritage, and the passion that drives both recreational and conservation-minded hunting.

For the latest information, news, giveaways and anything mentioned on the show, you can find all the links here. If you have a question, topic, gear review suggestion or a guest you’d like to hear on the show, get in touch via our socials.

Disclaimer: Content shared on this podcast is for general information and entertainment purposes only. For the full disclaimer, click on this link.

In this episode, Matt is joined by Joe from Ridgewalker Expeditions who shares stories from a range of international hunts, each with its own challenges, landscapes, and traditions. From stalking game in the mountains of Sweden to the unique experiences in Africa, and the fascinating access rules in Italy that involve moats and highly regulated land rights, Joe brings first-hand insights into what it’s like to hunt across continents. We talk about the different perspectives on land access, how hunting culture shifts depending on the country, and what Australian hunters can learn from these approaches. It’s an open and eye-opening conversation about opportunity, tradition, and responsibility in hunting across the globe.

For the latest information, news, giveaways and anything mentioned on the show, you can find all the links here. If you have a question, topic, gear review suggestion or a guest you’d like to hear on the show, get in touch via our socials.

Disclaimer: Content shared on this podcast is for general information and entertainment purposes only. For the full disclaimer, click on this link.

In this episode, Matt is joined by Gary, an ex-pat from Ireland. The boys dive into night operations on Australian farms: reading wind and paddock layouts, running buggies in the crops, and using thermal optics to identify heat signatures, confirm species, and make clean, ethical shots in the dark.

We talk through teamwork, how to approach mobs without blowing the whole field and maximising effectiveness in reducing numbers. We also cover gear setups—thermal scopes and handheld scanners, handheld lights and the practical realities of crop protection: respecting landholders, stock, and neighbours while keeping pressure on pigs that hammer grain and silage.

Gary then compares it with hunting in Ireland—how culture, permissions, and club/community expectations shape a very different experience. We discuss contrasts in access, landowner relationships, seasons and game management, and how equipment choices and local laws influence what’s practical in the field. It’s a candid chat about ethics, safety, and doing things the right way on both sides of the world.

For the latest information, news, giveaways and anything mentioned on the show, you can find all the links here. If you have a question, topic, gear review suggestion or a guest you’d like to hear on the show, get in touch via our socials.

Disclaimer: Content shared on this podcast is for general information and entertainment purposes only. For the full disclaimer, click on this link.

In this episode, Matt is joined by his Irish mate Gary and they share the story of an unforgettable hunt, where three deer were taken cleanly one after another in less than a minute, providing plenty of quality meat to go around. We also talk about chasing goats with the bow and pigs on foot, pushing our skills and stamina in some rugged terrain, and spending time glassing and watching plenty of deer in breath-taking country.

We cover the new rules for booking state forests in NSW, explaining what hunters need to know and how these changes affect planning trips. To wrap it up, we discuss how Zerotech scopes glass performed in the fading light and why it made such a difference when visibility mattered most.

Whether you’re tuning in for hunting stories, gear talk, or updates on access to NSW forests, this episode has something for everyone who values ethical hunting and the great outdoors.

For the latest information, news, giveaways and anything mentioned on the show find all the links here.

If you have a question, topic, gear review suggestion or a guest that you'd like to hear on the show, shoot an email to [email protected] or via our socials.

Disclaimer

Matt is joined by Felix to have a chat about a big Rusa x Sambar he is chasing and the SFFP.

Want to support the show? Then checkout our shop and buy me a coffee. Alternatively, if you love coffee then check out Final Press and use the code AHBPODCAST to get 10% off and support the podcast at the same time!!

For the latest information, news, giveaways and anything mentioned on the show head over to our Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter) or website with all the links here.

If you have a question, topic, gear review suggestion or a guest that you'd like to hear on the show, shoot an email to [email protected] or via our socials.

Disclaimer

Matt is joined by Joe, who despite terrible conditions was able to call in a Sambar Stag and drop him. They also talk about Mental Health and why hunting could be the perfect fix!

For the latest information, news, giveaways and anything mentioned on the show head over to our Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter) or website with all the links here.

If you have a question, topic, gear review suggestion or a guest that you'd like to hear on the show, shoot an email to [email protected] or via our socials.

Disclaimer

Matt is joined by Rob aka The Obsessed Sambar Man and this one is interesting and controversial to boot. Trophy or Meat and does it matter?

For the latest information, news, giveaways and anything mentioned on the show find all the links here.

If you have a question, topic, gear review suggestion or a guest that you'd like to hear on the show, shoot an email to [email protected] or via our socials.

Disclaimer

Join us this episode for Matt's favourite and funniest episode. For the latest information, news, giveaways and anything mentioned on the show find all the links here.

If you have a question, topic, gear review suggestion or a guest that you'd like to hear on the show, shoot an email to [email protected] or via our socials. 

Disclaimer

Matt is joined by Doctor David Jenkins who has spent his life studying parasites in various animals including fallow deer, sheep and cows. He has published his research and whilst retired is still lecturing at university on the subject. He discusses the minimal risk in consuming wild deer meat or venison, what to look for and plenty more!

For the latest information, news, giveaways and anything mentioned on the show find all the links here.

If you have a question, topic, gear review suggestion or a guest that you'd like to hear on the show, shoot an email to [email protected] or via our socials.

Disclaimer