I got the chance to sit down with Hunter McWaters from The Hunter’s Quest in this episode. We discussed how he got interested in western hunting along with the story of a cool, horseback elk hunt he went on in Wyoming during 2024. Hunter lives in Virginia, so his tale may seem familiar to those of you who from that part of the country who are interested in breaking into the western hunting world.

Take the Big Game Hunting Podcast Listener Survey here (everyone who completes the survey will be entered in a drawing for a $50 Cabela’s gift card)

Sponsor: Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/Ebook and sign up to receive my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.

Follow Hunter McWaters on Instagram

Subscribe to Hunter's YouTube channel and check out the video of his New Mexico muzzleloader elk hunt

Episodes referenced:

Episode 162: Moose Hunting 101 With Joseph von Benedikt

Episode 130: Solo Caribou Hunting In Alaska With Joseph von Benedikt

Today we’re going to talk about two high octane 22 caliber centerfire cartridges: the 22-250 Remington and the 22 Creedmoor. We’ll discuss the overall design characteristics and performance specs of each round, then compare how they stack up next to each other. I’ll also cover how they each perform in some ballistic gel tests and discuss some interesting aspects of how they each performed at the range. 

Take the Big Game Hunting Podcast Listener Survey here (everyone who completes the survey by 23 March 2025 will be entered in a drawing for a $50 Cabela’s gift card)

Sponsor: Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/Ebook and sign up to receive my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.

22 Creedmoor vs 22-250 Remington: The Ultimate 22 Caliber Showdown – Blog article referenced in podcast

Best Hunting Ear Protection For Sportsmen – Ear protection recommendations

Best Rifle Scopes For Hunting - Rifle scope recommendations

Best Hunting Rifle Slings - Rifle sling recommendations

I have a few announcements to share with you on this unusual mid-week episode regarding our upcoming hunt for the military veteran we're conducting in June of 2025 and a special request for all listeners regarding future episodes.

See video of our previous veteran hunt here

Take the Big Game Hunting Podcast Listener Survey here (everyone who completes the survey will be entered in a drawing for a $50 Cabela's gift card)

Donate money for the veteran hunt via Venmo here (put "Matt" or "Veteran" in the memo section)

Donate money for the veteran hunt via PayPal here (put "Matt" or "Veteran" in the memo section)

I got the chance to sit down with Aaron Davidson from Gunwerks at the DSC convention in Atlanta and we discussed the ins and outs of bullet selection, external ballistics, and terminal performance. I felt like I was drinking from a firehose talking to Aaron, but he does a fantastic job of breaking down why he uses various bullets for certain situations, why he opts for certain shot placement with certain bullets, how various bullets behave differently with different impact velocities and shot placement, why Gunwerks offers certain bullets but not others in their ammo, what he thinks about the new 7mm Backcountry, and much more! And of course, he shares a couple of great stories to illustrate the points he makes as well.

Learn more about Gunwerks products on their web site, subscribe to their Long Range Pursuit Podcast, and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Sponsor: Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/Ebook and sign up for my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.

I discuss all of the 35 Caliber SAAMI standardized cartridges (plus a couple of other noteworthy rounds) in this episode. As always, I’ll talk about their history, design characteristics, performance specs, their strengths and weaknesses, and their recommended uses in detail. Where appropriate, I’ll also share some personal anecdotes involving these rounds as well as some observations involving various cartridges by noteworthy gun writers as well.

Cartridges covered: 348 Winchester, 357 Magnum, 35 WSL, 351 WSL, 35 Winchester, 350 Legend, 360 Buckhammer, 35 Remington, 356 Winchester, 358 Winchester, 350 Remington Magnum, 35 Whelen, 358 Norma Magnum, 350 Rigby, 35 Nosler

Sponsor: Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/Ebook and sign up for my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.

Join the Big Game Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material at www.patreon.com/biggamehunter 

Episode 286: 30 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast

Episode 291: 270 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast

Episode 297: 9.3mm and 375 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast

Episode 300: 40 Caliber Safari Cartridges With Kevin Robertson – Episode referenced in podcast

Episode 328: 25 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast

Episode 329: 50, 60, & 70 Caliber Safari Cartridges With Kevin Robertson – Episode referenced in podcast

Episode 338: 338 Caliber Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast

Episode 345: 7mm Cartridges-Your Ultimate Guide – Episode referenced in podcast

Today Buz Mills from the National Rifle Association joins me on the show to talk about the upcoming election for the NRA board of directors. In any case, I’m a life member of the NRA and I’m saddened and disappointed with what has happened with the organization in recent years. Well, Buz Mills is spearheading an effort at reforming the National Rifle Association and bringing the focus of the organization back to its original core values. That's what we discuss in detail in this episode.

Learn more about the "NRA 2.0" slate of endorsed candidates at ElectANewNRA.com

Kevin Robertson is back again today to talk about sable hunting. Just like we’ve done on the past we dive right into the details of sable: how big they get, where they live, why they’re different from other species of plains game, and how to hunt them. As always, we talk about cartridge and bullet selection as well as terminal ballistics. Kevin also shares two stories of extremely close calls he personally has had with sable over the years. 

Contact Kevin through his web site drkevinrobertson.com if you're interested in purchasing the original photographs and anatomy diagrams for The Perfect Shot II.

Sponsor: Get in touch with me to make your Africa hunting dreams come true at in South Africa’s Limpopo Province where we offer outstanding hunting safaris, simplified hunt logistics, assistance with many of the pain points associated with a hunt, and up front pricing with no extra fees. Visit bestsafarihunt.com or contact me directly at [email protected] to learn more. 

Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/Ebook and sign up for my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday.

I highly recommend purchasing a copy of Kevin Robertson's books It Shouldn’t Happen and The Perfect Shot II. You will not be disappointed with either book. Get copies of each one on Amazon here (affiliate link, commissions earned).

Pick up a copy of Death In The Long Grass by Peter Capstick to read the full story of how things turned out with the sable vs two lions I referenced in the episode (affiliate link, commissions earned).

Below are links to Kevin's previous appearances on the show:

Ep 97: Africa Hunting Bullets 101 With Kevin Robertson

Ep 103: Africa Hunting Rifles 101 With Kevin Robertson

Ep 124: Cape Buffalo Hunting 101 With Kevin Robertson

Ep 125: Cape Buffalo Hunting 101 Part 2 With Kevin Robertson

Ep 154: Leopard Hunting 101 With Kevin Robertson

Ep 155: Lion Hunting 101 With Kevin Robertson

Ep 176: Elephant Conservation With Kevin Robertson

Ep 177: Elephant Hunting 101 With Kevin Robertson

Ep 178: Crocodile Hunting 101 With Kevin Robertson

Ep 179: Hippopotamus Hunting 101 With Kevin Robertson

Ep 205: Hunting Africa With A Lever Action Rifle With Kevin Robertson

Ep 206: Classic Africa Hunting Cartridges With Kevin Robertson

Ep 207: Hyena Hunting 101 With Kevin Robertson

Ep 250: Africa Hunting Trackers 101 With Kevin Robertson

Ep 252: How To Become A Professional Hunter With Kevin Robertson

Ep 300: .40 Caliber Safari Cartridges With Kevin Robertson

Ep 329: .50, .60, & .70 Caliber Safari Cartridges With Kevin Robertson

I sat down with one of my South African Professional Hunters, Johan Seyffert, at the Dallas Safari Club convention and recorded a short interview about how he got started in this line of work and some funny and noteworthy experiences he has had over the years, like how he went from serving in the French Foreign Legion to floating in a rowboat surrounded by crocodiles. We also talk about misconceptions people have about hunting Africa, common mistakes visiting hunters make, and how to make the most out of a hunt in Africa.

Subscribe to The Big Game Hunting Podcast on YouTube here

Sponsor: Get in touch with me to make your Africa hunting dreams come true on a hunt with Johan or Kobus in South Africa. We offer outstanding hunting safaris, simplified hunt logistics, assistance with many of the pain points associated with a hunt, and up front pricing with no extra fees. We are full for 2025 and June/July 2026, but still have some openings remaining otherwise next year. Visit bestsafarihunt.com or email me at [email protected] to learn more. 

My ongoing Africa hunting mini-series continues this week with another special guest: Hancke Hudson. Hancke is a South African Professional Hunter who has spent the past 30 years hunting in the rainforests of Central Africa for animals like bongo, dwarf buffalo, sitatunga, and the numerous species of small antelope that live there. The rainforest is a special place and these hunts are like nothing anywhere else in the world. While these hunts are not for the faint of heart, those brave enough to take the plunge and hunt the rainforest will be rewarded with a unique adventure few others will ever get to experience.

Subscribe to The Big Game Hunting Podcast on YouTube here

Sponsor: Get in touch with Hancke Hudson to book that bongo hunt you've always dreamed of. He is a top notch Professional Hunter who has access to some of the best bongo hunting ares in all of Africa. Contact him via WhatsApp at +263 77 326 0977 or visit cheletsafaris.com to learn more. Be sure to tell him you heard about him from The Big Game Hunting Podcast and be sure to email me at [email protected] to tell me how your hunt went!

This is the first episode in my winter 2025 Africa hunting mini-series and I have a special guest on the show with me today: Tanya Blake. Depending on how long you’ve been listening to the show, you may recognize that name because she was Phil Massaro’s PH on the leopard hunt he and I discussed in episode 293. Tanya is a Zimbabwe based Professional Hunter who hunts a number of different species, but leopard are her specialty and we'll be talking all about hunting Mr. Spots in this episode.

Subscribe to The Big Game Hunting Podcast on YouTube here

Sponsor: Get in touch with Tanya Blake to book that leopard hunt in Zimbabwe you've always dreamed of. She is a top notch Professional Hunter who has access to some fantastic leopard hunting areas. Email her at [email protected] or call her at +263 77 326 0977 to learn more. Be sure to tell her you heard about her from The Big Game Hunting Podcast and be sure to email me at [email protected] and let me know how your hunt went!