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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:
🧠 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
Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off
@dogandguncoffee
Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off
@kayuga_broadheads
Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt
@venturehunting
Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off
@jabstickoutdoors
This week Matty sits down with Jeff Helm, bowhunter, guide and owner of Arrowhead Bow Shop in McGregor, Texas.
Jeff's been bowhunting for around 40 years and chasing elk for more than 20 of those… and last season he managed to go four for four on elk across four different states.
We work through those hunts and how much the game changes as the season progresses. Calling bulls on public land, switching to spot and stalk when they shut up, reading terrain, predicting where an elk is heading instead of simply chasing it and learning to recognise those little signs that tell you you're suddenly right in the red zone.
But what I really liked about this conversation is Jeff's approach to hunting after doing it for so long. He'll be the first to tell you there's an exception to just about every rule. You can have a plan, but you've still got to listen to what the animals, wind and terrain are telling you and be willing to change it.
And sometimes you've just got to stay out there long enough to give yourself a chance. Jeff doesn't sleep in, doesn't head back to camp for lunch and doesn't quit when nothing's happening. After 20 or 30 days chasing elk, he reckons you might only get four to seven days where everything really fires… but those are the days you're out there waiting for.
🔍 What We Cover:
🧠 Key Takeaway
You can learn the rules, but elk haven't read the rulebook. The more time you spend hunting, the better you get at reading the little things... terrain, wind, behaviour and those tiny clues that tell you when it's time to stop following and start predicting.
🔗 Find Our Guest
Jeff Helm
@helm.yeah
Arrowhead Bow Shop – McGregor, Texas
🎙 Follow Becoming a Bowhunter
Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast
Hosted by: @mattyafter
🎧 Episode Sponsors
Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off
@dogandguncoffee
Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off
@kayuga_broadheads
Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt
@venturehunting
Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off
@jabstickoutdoors
This one's a little different. I was invited to speak at Hunt Fest, and my talk was all about two things that can make or break a hunt... stalking and shot placement.
I broke stalking down into a framework I've built from eight years of bowhunting, plenty of mistakes, and hundreds of conversations with hunters through the podcast. It's called STALK:
Spot the animal,
Test the wind,
Assess the approach,
Let the animal dictate your pace, and
Know your shot.
From there, I get into wind and thermals, reading animal behaviour, using terrain and shadows to close distance, and knowing when to move versus when to stay completely still. For me, the goal with a bow is always to get close. Ideally, I'm looking for 20 metres or under rather than stretching the shot just because I can.
Then we get into the other half of the Hunt Fest talk... shot placement. I use models of the heart and lungs to show where the vitals actually sit, why shot angle matters, and why I prefer aiming around the vital triangle rather than simply thinking "middle of the lungs." The whole idea is pretty simple: get closer, understand exactly where you're aiming, and give yourself the best chance of making a clean, ethical shot.
🔍 What We Cover:
🧠 Key Takeaway
A good stalk isn't about getting to an animal as quickly as possible. Watch first, understand the wind, build your approach and then let the animal tell you when you can move. The closer you can get while staying in control, the better opportunity you give yourself to make an ethical shot.
Follow Becoming a Bowhunter
Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast
Hosted by: @mattyafter
Episode Sponsors
Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off
@dogandguncoffee
Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off
@kayuga_broadheads
Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt
@venturehunting
Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off
@jabstickoutdoors
This week Matty sits down with Frank Megali and Rob Campbell, the creators of The Hunting App
For years, NSW public land hunters had access to a free mapping option that allowed them to load their maps, see exactly where they were and head into the bush. When that disappeared behind a subscription, Frank and Rob saw an opportunity to give hunters that functionality back.
The result is The Hunting App. An app designed by hunters, for hunters… with a free version that actually stays free.
You can load your maps, download areas for offline use, mark waypoints, build geofences, keep track of hunting locations and start building your own database of what you're seeing in the bush. Then there are paid tiers coming for hunters who want to take things further with e-scouting, weather, property boundaries, terrain analysis and a heap more.
But what I really liked about this conversation is the thinking behind it. These guys aren't trying to take something hunters already had for free and sell it back to them. They wanted to give the community a useful free tool first… then let the hunters themselves help shape where it goes from there.
What We Cover:
Key Takeaway:
Good mapping isn't just about knowing where you are. If you can combine scouting, wind, terrain, boundaries and years of your own hunting observations in one place, you can arrive at a new block with a plan instead of burning the first day figuring everything out.
🔗 Find Our Guest
Frank Megali & Rob Campbell
@the_hunting_app
The Hunting App
Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/the-hunting-app/id6763955844?utm_source=chatgpt.comGoogle
Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?hl=zh_HK&id=MAP+BASED+APPS+PTY+LTD&utm_source=chatgpt.com
🎙 Follow Becoming a Bowhunter
Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast
Hosted by: @mattyafter
🎧 Episode Sponsors
Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off
@dogandguncoffee
Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off
@kayuga_broadheads
Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt
@venturehunting
Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off
@jabstickoutdoors
In this episode, Matty sits down with Ned Makim, President of the Australian Pig Doggers & Hunters Association (APDHA).
What started as an obsession with hunting pigs has grown into one of the most influential hunting advocacy organisations in Australia. Through research, data collection and building relationships with the government, the APDHA has helped change the conversation around hunters from being seen as part of the problem to becoming part of the solution.
This isn't just a conversation about pig hunting. It's about how every hunter whether you chase pigs, deer, goats or any game, can help protect the future of hunting in Australia.
If you've ever wondered how hunters can earn credibility, influence government decisions and secure hunting opportunities for future generations, this is an episode you won't want to miss.
Podcast Topics
Key Takeaway
Hunters don't protect hunting through arguments they protect it through credibility. Every conversation, every social media post and every interaction with the public shapes how hunting is viewed. When hunters work together, present themselves professionally and back their position with real data, they earn a seat at the table where decisions are made.
Find Our GuestNed Makim
Instagram: @themakimmethod
Australian Pig Doggers & Hunters Association (APDHA)
Website: https://apdha.com.au
Instagram: @pigdoggers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APDHA
Follow Becoming a BowhunterInstagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast
Hosted by: @mattyafter
Episode SponsorsDog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off.
@dogandguncoffee
Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off.
@kayuga_broadheads
Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt.
@venturehunting
Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off.
@jabstickoutdoors
In this episode, Matty sits down with Dallas Hemeyer of 365 Pursuit.
Dallas has spent years filming hunts around the world through 365 Pursuit, from Tanzania and New Zealand to Mexico and across the US. Along the way he's survived a helicopter crash, a rifle exploding in his face, dangerous infections and more than a few situations where getting home wasn't guaranteed.
We talked about hunting some of the wildest places on earth, what it takes to prepare for the unexpected, and why hunters play such an important role in conservation across Africa.
This episode will have you sitting on the edge of your seat from word go.
Podcast topics:
🧠 Key Takeaway
The wilderness doesn't care how experienced you are. Preparation, good decision making and staying calm when things go wrong will save you long before any piece of gear does. Dallas' stories are a reminder that every hunt carries risk—and the people who come home are usually the ones who planned for it.
🔗 Find Our Guest
Dallas Hemeyer
Instagram: @dallashemeyer
365 Pursuit
Instagram: @365pursuit
YouTube: @365PURSUIT
One of the stories we discuss in this episode is featured in Dallas' film Taking a Bow to a Gun Fight follows Devin Leonard bowhunting elk during a Utah rifle season:
https://youtu.be/e9LvqgN9P0U?si=go-QXQg2NtySYjpK
🎙 Follow Becoming a Bowhunter
Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast
Hosted by: @mattyafter
🎧 Episode Sponsors
Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off
@dogandguncoffee
Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off
@kayuga_broadheads
Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt
@venturehunting
Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off
@jabstickoutdoors
Every now and then it's worth looking back at the gear you've bought and asking yourself... was it actually worth it? That's what this episode is. No sponsorship fluff. Just my honest thoughts after putting this gear through its paces over the last 12 months.
Some of it has been worth every cent. Other bits I'm still on the fence about. From cameras and boots through to wet weather gear, rangefinders, camping gear and vacuum sealers, I break down what I paid, why I bought it, and whether I'd spend the money again.
I also run through my brand new bow setup after finally pulling the trigger on the Darton TriTech. We talk through why I chose it, how it tuned, what it cost, and the first couple of hunts where it really surprised me.
One moment that still sticks with me was watching a group of hinds barely react after I missed a shot through a lantana bush. They moved, stopped about 60 metres away and just stood there. It was the first real indication of just how incredibly quiet this new bow actually is.
🔍 What We Cover:
🧠 Key Takeaway
The best gear isn't always the most expensive, it's the gear that genuinely solves a problem once you've used it in the real world. Putting equipment through hunts, bad weather and long days in the bush quickly shows what's worth keeping and what isn't.
🎙 Follow Becoming a Bowhunter
Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast
Hosted by: @mattyafter
🎧 Episode Sponsors
Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off
@dogandguncoffee
Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off
@kayuga_broadheads
Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt
@venturehunting
Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off
@jabstickoutdoors
Public land hunting in Australia gives hunters access to millions of acres of huntable country, but getting started can be confusing. Alex Proft from Aussie Bush Harvest breaks down the NSW public land hunting system, how the R Licence works, where you can hunt, and why public land remains one of the best ways to build hunting skills and experience.
The conversation also covers bowhunting, Sambar deer, public access, hunting culture, conservation, and the future of hunting opportunities in Australia. Alex shares stories from years of hunting public land and explains why learning a piece of country can be more valuable than constantly chasing new locations.
What You'll Learn
• How the NSW R Licence system works for rifle hunters, bowhunters, and pig doggers
• Where public land hunting is available in New South Wales
• Why public land hunting helped develop Alex's bowhunting skills
• The differences between public land and private property hunting
• How hunting pressure changes deer behaviour on public land
• Why Sambar deer thrive in remote public land country
• The challenges facing hunting access in Australia
• Why hunters, fishers, campers, and outdoor users need a stronger collective voice
About the Guest
Alex Proft is the creator of Aussie Bush Harvest and has spent years documenting hunting, fishing, bushcraft, and outdoor adventures across Australia. He's well known for his public land hunting content, thoughtful approach to hunting, and his passion for helping new hunters get started.
Find Our Guest
Alex Proft
Aussie Bush Harvest
Instagram: @aussiebushharvest
YouTube: Aussie Bush Harvest
Follow Becoming A Bowhunter:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becomingabowhunter.podcast/
Hosted by Matty Turner: https://www.instagram.com/mattyafter/
Episode Sponsors:
Dog and Gun Coffee – Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off | @dogandguncoffee
Kayuga Broadheads – Use code BAB10 for 10% off | @kayuga_broadheads
Venture Hunting & Outdoors | @venturehunting
Jab Stick Outdoors – Use code BAB10 for $10 off | @jabstickoutdoors
In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty is joined by Amon Woulfe to discuss one of the most overlooked aspects of hunting, sport, business and life... the mind.
After a missed opportunity on a mature stag during the red deer rut, Matty shares the story that led him to Amon's new book, Missing In Action: Master Your Mind in Moments That Matter.
Amon has spent years working with elite athletes, sporting teams, military personnel and business leaders, helping them understand what happens when pressure rises and performance falls away.
Together, Matty and Amon discuss target panic, pressure, fear, confidence, anxiety, resilience and the mental tools hunters can use when everything is on the line.
This episode isn't just about bowhunting. It's about understanding what happens when your mind leaves the moment and learning how to bring it back when it matters most.
🔍 What We Cover:
• Why the modern mind is under more pressure than ever before
• The connection between target panic and mental performance
• Why pressure is the gap between your mind and the moment
• How elite athletes train their minds for high-pressure situations
• The difference between physical resilience and mental resilience
• Why focusing on outcomes can sabotage performance
• The four low-performance mind states: agitated, anxious, critical and foggy
• Practical reset tools to regain control when pressure builds
• How breathwork affects performance and decision-making
• Why anxiety often comes from avoiding fear
• The role of self-belief and limiting beliefs in performance
• How these mental skills apply to hunting, business, parenting and everyday life
And a heck of a lot more.
🧠 Key Takeaway
The goal isn't to eliminate pressure. The goal is to stay present when pressure arrives. The moment your mind drifts into the future, the past, fear, outcomes or self-doubt, performance starts to suffer. Learning how to reset and return to the moment may be one of the most valuable skills you'll ever develop.
🔗 Find Our Guest
Amon Woulfe
Website: amonwoulfe.com
Human Performance Group: humanperformancegroup.co
Instagram: @amonwoulfe
🎙 Follow Becoming a Bowhunter
Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast
Hosted by: @mattyafter
🎧 Episode Sponsors
Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off
@dogandguncoffee
Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off
@kayuga_broadheads
Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt
@venturehunting
Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off
@jabstickoutdoors
In this episode, Matty sits down with New Zealand ecologist and Sika Foundation member Cam Speedy for a deep dive into Sika deer, deer ecology, habitat management, and the role hunters play in conservation.
Cam shares decades of experience working in wildlife management throughout New Zealand, including predator control, deer tracking studies, biodiversity work, and research around Sika deer populations in the Central North Island.
The conversation explores how deer density directly impacts habitat quality, breeding success, antler growth, and overall herd health. Cam explains why healthy hunting systems rely on balanced harvests, particularly around female deer, and how hunters themselves often act as the primary predator within modern deer systems.
There’s also a fascinating breakdown of Sika deer behaviour, including rut timing, scrape systems, home ranges, dispersal patterns, and why Sika have become such a sought-after species for bowhunters.
This is a grounded conversation that blends science, practical hunting knowledge, and conservation into one of the most detailed discussions we’ve had on deer ecology and management.
🔍 What We Cover:
👤 Find Our Guest:
Cam Speedy
Instagram: @SikaFoundation
🎙 Follow Becoming a Bowhunter
Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast
Hosted by: @mattyafter
🎧 Episode Sponsors:
Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off
@dogandguncoffee
Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off
@kayuga_broadheads
Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt
@venturehunting
Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off
@jabstickoutdoors
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