Big Game Hunting Podcast - Hunting Africa, North America, & More!

Today's episode continues the latest series on hunting in Africa. Kevin Robertson back on The Big Game Hunting Podcast again today to talk to us about lion hunting. We discuss the ins and outs of lion hunting today: how to evaluate a trophy lion, cartridge and bullet selection for lion hunting , shot placement, what can happen if your shot placement is not good, etc. We also touch on the Cecil the Lion scandal from 2015 and the controversial practice of captive bred lion hunting at the end of the show.

Show sponsor: I highly recommend purchasing a copy of The Perfect Shot II if you think you might want to hunt in Africa one day. If you have an upcoming hunt or if you just want to learn more about game in Africa and want a great "all in one" reference, you will not be disappointed with The Perfect Shot II.

1) Story of what can happen with poor shot placement on a lion.

2) A brief overview of lion: what they are, where they live, how big they get, and their natural history.

3) Overview of what life is like for a lion and how they often die miserable deaths.

4) Description on some of the most popular ways to hunt lion.

5) Description of lion shot placement and why shot placement is so different on these cats from almost any other species of game in Africa.

6) What cartridges and bullets Kevin recommends for lion hunting.

7) Kevin's take on the ideal lion rifle set-up.

8) The basics of lion trophy evaluation.

9) Kevin's take on the Cecil the Lion Scandal.

10) Concluding thoughts on hunting captive bred lions.

I highly recommend purchasing a copy of Kevin Robertson's book The Perfect Shot II if you think you might want to hunt in Africa one day for almost any species of game, to include leopard. This was a revolutionary book when Kevin first published it back in the late 1990s. It's still an incredibly useful resource, especially the updated edition that's currently in print.

If you have an upcoming hunt in Africa or if you're just dreaming about hunting in Africa one day, then you NEED to buy this book and carefully study what he has to say. The information inside it is invaluable and reflects Kevin's decades of hard earned experience as a professional hunter in Africa. If you pay attention to what he has to say and use the book as a guide to prepare for your hunt, you will increase your odds of success, reduce the chances of something going wrong, and have more fun over there.

Plus, the book is just really interesting and entertaining. You'll learn all about hunting the most popular species of game in Africa; buffalo, leopard, lion, elephant, hippo, crocodile, and most of the really popular species of plains game from southern Africa like kudu, impala, wildebeest, etc.

The Perfect Shot II is available anywhere books are sold. You can just click here to buy your copy from Amazon and help support The Big Game Hunting Podcast in the process.

Today's episode continues the latest series on hunting in Africa. Kevin Robertson back on The Big Game Hunting Podcast again today to talk to us about leopard hunting. We're going to discuss things like bait location and set-up, how to evaluate a trophy leopard, cartridge and bullet selection for leopard hunting, shot placement (and how it's different for the cats compared to plains game and buffalo), what can happen if your shot placement is not good on a leopard, and much, much more!

Show sponsor: I highly recommend purchasing a copy of The Perfect Shot II if you think you might want to hunt in Africa one day. If you have an upcoming hunt or if you just want to learn more about game in Africa and want a great "all in one" reference, you will not be disappointed with The Perfect Shot II.

1) How Kevin first got interested in hunting leopard.

2) A brief overview of leopard: what they are, where they live, how big they get, and their natural history.

3) What Kevin thinks are the biggest challenges associated with hunting leopard and why a successful leopard hunt requires such careful planning and execution.

4) How to set up a leopard bait.

5) Description of leopard shot placement and why shot placement is so different on these cats from almost any other species of game in Africa.

6) What cartridges and bullets Kevin recommends fo leopard hunting.

7) Kevin's take on the ideal leopard rifle set-up.

8) Leopard trophy evaluation.

I highly recommend purchasing a copy of Kevin Robertson's book The Perfect Shot II if you think you might want to hunt in Africa one day for almost any species of game, to include leopard. This was a revolutionary book when Kevin first published it back in the late 1990s. It's still an incredibly useful resource, especially the updated edition that's currently in print.

If you have an upcoming hunt in Africa or if you're just dreaming about hunting in Africa one day, then you NEED to buy this book and carefully study what he has to say. The information inside it is invaluable and reflects Kevin's decades of hard earned experience as a professional hunter in Africa. If you pay attention to what he has to say and use the book as a guide to prepare for your hunt, you will increase your odds of success, reduce the chances of something going wrong, and have more fun over there.

Plus, the book is just really interesting and entertaining. You'll learn all about hunting the most popular species of game in Africa; buffalo, leopard, lion, elephant, hippo, crocodile, and most of the really popular species of plains game from southern Africa like kudu, impala, wildebeest, etc.

The Perfect Shot II is available anywhere books are sold. You can just click here to buy your copy from Amazon and help support The Big Game Hunting Podcast in the process.

Today's episode is about factory hunting ammo recommendations for hunting in Africa. I know this is something that we discuss a little here and there in individual episodes. However, I wanted to do a single episode dedicated to the topic specifically for those of you who have a hunt coming up or who are just dreaming about hunting in Africa one day.

Show Notes: https://thebiggamehuntingblog.com/podcast/africahuntingammo101/

Show Sponsor: Big Game Hunting Adventures: We have one opening remaining for a hunt in South Africa in November of 2021. The conditions should be fantastic for the hunt of a lifetime then, so contact me for details on how to take advantage of this unique opportunity! Say you heard about Big Game Hunting Adventures through The Big Game Hunting Podcast for special pricing on your hunt!

1) Update on the current hunting situation in Africa.

2) Similarities between what makes a good elk hunting bullet and what's good for hunting plains game in Africa.

3) Best calibers for hunting plains game in Africa.

4) Best bullets for hunting plains game in Africa.

5) Best calibers for hunting cape buffalo in Africa.

6) Best bullets for hunting cape buffalo in Africa.

7) Best calibers for hunting lion and leopard in Africa.

8) Best bullets for hunting lion and leopard in Africa.

We have one opening remaining for a hunt in Africa in 2021 in early November. Believe me when I say this is a once in a lifetime opportunity: hopefully, we'll never again shut down hunting for a whole year like that. Fortunately, we got a lot of rain over there this past year, so game populations in general and the numbers and quality of trophy bulls in particular swelled past anything we've ever seen in the past. THIS is the year to come over if you want a BIG buffalo, wildebeest, waterbuck, impala, or kudu.

Every hunt so far in 2021 has been outstanding and it normally gets better and better until the dry season ends in late November. So, whoever books for early November should have the hunt of a lifetime. We can do plains game, buffalo, or a buffalo/plains game combo hunt in November.

As always, I'm offering a special bonus to podcast listeners who book a hunt with me. Contact me directly for details at john at thebiggamehuntingblog.com or visit bestsafarihunt.com to check out our hunting packages. Somebody's going to have a great hunt this November and it might as well be you!

Other podcast episodes referenced in this podcast:

Episode 124- Cape Buffalo Hunting: Learn From PH Kevin Robertson

Episode 97- Africa Hunting Bullets 101 With Renowned PH Kevin Robertson

Episode 96- Joseph von Benedikt on Elk Hunting Bullets

Today's episode is a review of my experiences with the Leupold VX-5HD rifle scope over the past three years. I share my thoughts on the pros and cons of the scope, what specific models of the VX-5HD are best suited for various hunting situations, and whether or not I think you should purchase one for yourself.

Article Referenced In Show: 9 Reasons The Leupold VX-5HD Is A Great Hunting Scope

Best Rifle Scopes For Hunting – Article referenced in podcast

Best Scopes For Deer Hunting

Show Notes: https://thebiggamehuntingblog.com/podcast/leupoldvx5hd/

Show Sponsor: Support The Big Game Hunting Podcast by purchasing a Leupold VX-5HD rifle scope for yourself via my affiliate link here.

1) Comments on Leupold VX-5HD glass quality.

2) Brief overview of the Custom Dial System Zero Lock (CDS-ZL2).

3) Example of the durability of the scope.

4) Pros and cons of some of the popular reticle choices for the Leupold VX-5HD.

5) What VX-5HD reticles I recommend.

6) Should you buy a Leupold VX-5HD scope?

Support The Big Game Hunting Podcast by purchasing a Leupold VX-5HD rifle scope for yourself via one of my affiliate links below.

Buy A Leupold VX-5HD From Cabela's

Buy A Leupold VX-5HD From Sportsman's Warehouse

Buy A Leupold VX-5HD From Amazon

Buy A Leupold VX-5HD From Optics Planet

Buy A Leupold VX-5HD From EuroOptic

Rob Gearing from Spartan Precision is joining me on the podcast today to talk about their bipod and tripod options. I've been curious about their products lately and it seems like a lot of other people I know in this space (like Joseph von Benedikt, Mark from Exo Mountain Gear, and the PNWild Guys) have made the switch to Spartan Precision equipment. So, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and you're going to take the journey with me as we learn all about Spartan Precision and Javelin Bipods.

Learn more about the Best Hunting Rifle Bipods here (a Javelin Bipod tops the list)

Show Notes:

https://thebiggamehuntingblog.com/podcast/robgearingspartanprecision/

Show Sponsor: My goHunt INSIDER membership is one of the best investments I've ever made that's helped me experience some incredible adventures for deer, pronghorn, and elk hunting out west. If those are the sort of hunts that you've been dreaming about yourself, then you need to sign up for an INSIDER membership today and start the planning process to make those dreams come true. Head over to goHunt.com to sign up and use promo code BIGGAMEHUNTER when you do to get $50 in store credit at their gear shop.

1) How things first got started with Spartan Precision.

2) Brief overview of their bipods and tripods.

3) What a davros is and why you might want one.

4) What sets Spartan Precision equipment apart from the competition.

5) Example of a situation where the use of Spartan Precision equipment was the difference between success and failure.

6) How you can learn more about Spartan Precision.

While all the big deadlines have passed for 2021, it's not too late to start preparing for the 2022 hunting draws and you can STILL purchase points in both Montana and Wyoming right now. So, even if you're just now getting started with this stuff, you can go buy points in both states and use them in the upcoming 2022 draws. I'll be doing that myself for deer, elk, and pronghorn in both states and you should too, if nothing else, buy a pronghorn point in Wyoming and a deer point in Montana.

I'm planning on heading out to both states to hunt in the next few years and I'll be using goHunt as my primary tool to help with the research and planning process. My goHunt INSIDER membership is one of the best investments I've ever made that's helped me experience some incredible adventures for deer, pronghorn, and elk hunting out west.

If those are the sort of hunts that you've been dreaming about yourself, then you need to sign up for an INSIDER membership today and start the planning process to make those dreams come true. Head over to goHunt.com to sign up and use promo code BIGGAMEHUNTER when you do to get $50 in store credit at their gear shop. It's the perfect thing to do in the dog days of summer right now to set yourself up for success in the future.

1) Visit the Spartan Precision web site to learn more about their products.

2) You can also purchase Javelin Bipods on Amazon via this link.

I used to live in Washington State up at Fort Lewis when I was in the Army. I did a lot of hunting up there and I remember discovering something called "The High Buck Hunt" in the hunting regulations. While I never did a high buck hunt myself, I was always fascinated by it and was very curious about just what the heck the deal was with that hunt. With that in mind, we have a special guest on the show today to talk about the high buck hunt and what makes it special: Jeff Roberts from Pacific North Wild.

Check out the show notes page below to see a photo of Jeff with a buck he recently took on the high buck hunt:

https://thebiggamehuntingblog.com/podcast/jeffrobertshighbuck/

Show Sponsor: My goHunt INSIDER membership is one of the best investments I've ever made that's helped me experience some incredible adventures for deer, pronghorn, and elk hunting out west. If those are the sort of hunts that you've been dreaming about yourself, then you need to sign up for an INSIDER membership today and start the planning process to make those dreams come true. Head over to goHunt.com to sign up and use promo code BIGGAMEHUNTER when you do to get $50 in store credit at their gear shop.

1) Jeff shares the story of one of his more memorable High Buck Hunts.

2) Brief overview of the High Buck Hunt: dates, weapons, location, etc.

3) How physically demanding these hunts are and what success rates are like.

4) What makes the High Buck Hunt so special.

5) What things to look for when E-Scouting for a High Buck Hunt.

6) What resources Jeff recommends for gathering information on the High Buck Hunt before hitting the woods.

7) What methods and tactics Jeff and the rest of the PNWild crew likes to use on the High Buck Hunt.

8) What rifle, cartridge, and ammunition he's used on the High Buck Hunt hunt.

9) Other pieces of gear he recommends.

While all the big deadlines have passed for 2021, it's not too late to start preparing for the 2022 hunting draws and you can STILL purchase points in both Montana and Wyoming right now. So, even if you're just now getting started with this stuff, you can go buy points in both states and use them in the upcoming 2022 draws. I'll be doing that myself for deer, elk, and pronghorn in both states and you should too, if nothing else, buy a pronghorn point in Wyoming and a deer point in Montana.

I'm planning on heading out to both states to hunt in the next few years and I'll be using goHunt as my primary tool to help with the research and planning process. My goHunt INSIDER membership is one of the best investments I've ever made that's helped me experience some incredible adventures for deer, pronghorn, and elk hunting out west.

If those are the sort of hunts that you've been dreaming about yourself, then you need to sign up for an INSIDER membership today and start the planning process to make those dreams come true. Head over to goHunt.com to sign up and use promo code BIGGAMEHUNTER when you do to get $50 in store credit at their gear shop. It's the perfect thing to do in the dog days of summer right now to set yourself up for success in the future.

1) Watch the video of the PNWild crew's high buck hunt "Seeing It Through" Here

2) Check out the PNWild Podcast on Apple Podcasts

3) Follow PNWild on Instagram

4) Visit the PNWild Web Page Here

I've got another cartridge profile episode for you today. In this episode, we're going to talk about the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum (also known as the 300 Ultra Mag or 300 RUM) and discuss how it compares to the .300 Win Mag. You'll learn the advantages and disadvantages of the .300 Ultra Magnum and we'll discuss the pros and cons of the 300 RUM vs 30Win Mag so you can make an informed decision on which one is best for you.

Article Referenced In Show: 300 Ultra Mag (300 RUM): Your Complete Guide

Best 300 Win Mag Ammo– 300 Win Mag Hunting Ammo Recommendations

Best 300 Win Mag Rifles – 300 Win Mag Hunting Rifle Recommendations

Show Notes: https://thebiggamehuntingblog.com/podcast/300rumvs300winmag/

Show Sponsor: Improve your odds of success afield on your future hunts by purchasing the Hunting Guns 101 training at huntingguns101.com/order. That training will take your practical knowledge of firearms, cartridges, sighting systems, and ammunition to the next level and will give you the tools to ensure you're properly outfitted for all of your future hunts.

1) History of the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum cartridge.

2) How the .300 Ultra Mag compares to the .300 Win Mag in terms of external dimensions, trajectory, recoil, and accuracy.

3) Compare ammo and rifle choices in each cartridge.

4) Pros and cons of hunting with each cartridge.

Using the wrong rifle set-up can dramatically lower your odds of success on a hunt. That's why you need to sign up for the Hunting Guns 101 online training, which is your playbook for choosing the best rifle, cartridge, sighting system, and ammunition for your dream hunt.

In the training, I'll show you my proven method for determining what sort of performance you need from your hunting rifle on a particular hunt and I'll show you how to sort through all the confusing techno-babble and marketing jargon out there to prioritize the correct rifle, sighting system, and ammunition characteristics that will work in concert with each other to deliver that performance you're looking for.

That training will take your practical knowledge of firearms, cartridges, sighting systems, and ammunition to the next level and will give you the tools to ensure you're properly outfitted for all of your future hunts. The end result is that you'll be using the absolute best tool for your upcoming hunts, which will increase your odds of success afield. Purchase the Hunting Guns 101 training at huntingguns101.com/order.

I've got another cartridge comparison episode for you today. In this episode we're going to talk about the 6.5 Creedmoor and how it compares to the .30-06 Springfield. Both offer certain advantages to hunters, but there are some significant differences between the two cartridges you should be aware of. In today's episode, I'm going to discuss the pros and cons of the 6.5 Creedmoor vs 30-06 so you can make an informed decision on which one is best for you.

Article Referenced In Show: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 30-06 Springfield: Review And Comparison – Blog article referenced in podcast

Best 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo – 6.5 Creedmoor Hunting Ammo Recommendations

Best 6.5 Creedmoor Rifles– 6.5 Creedmoor Hunting Rifle Recommendations

Best 30-06 Springfield Ammo – 30-06 Springfield Hunting Ammo Recommendations

Best Hunting Rifle Slings - Hunting Rifle Sling Recommendations

Show Notes: https://thebiggamehuntingblog.com/podcast/65creedmoorvs3006springfield/

Show Sponsor: Improve your odds of success afield on your future hunts by purchasing the Hunting Guns 101 training at huntingguns101.com/order. That training will take your practical knowledge of firearms, cartridges, sighting systems, and ammunition to the next level and will give you the tools to ensure you're properly outfitted for all of your future hunts.

1) History of the 6.5 Creedmoor and .30-06 Springfield cartridges.

2) How the cartridges compare to each other in terms of external dimensions, trajectory, recoil, and accuracy.

3) Compare ammo and rifle choices in each cartridge.

4) Pros and cons of hunting with each cartridge.

Using the wrong rifle set-up can dramatically lower your odds of success on a hunt. That's why you need to sign up for the Hunting Guns 101 online training, which is your playbook for choosing the best rifle, cartridge, sighting system, and ammunition for your dream hunt.

In the training, I'll show you my proven method for determining what sort of performance you need from your hunting rifle on a particular hunt and I'll show you how to sort through all the confusing techno-babble and marketing jargon out there to prioritize the correct rifle, sighting system, and ammunition characteristics that will work in concert with each other to deliver that performance you're looking for.

That training will take your practical knowledge of firearms, cartridges, sighting systems, and ammunition to the next level and will give you the tools to ensure you're properly outfitted for all of your future hunts. The end result is that you'll be using the absolute best tool for your upcoming hunts, which will increase your odds of success afield. Purchase the Hunting Guns 101 training at huntingguns101.com/order.

I've got another cartridge comparison episode for you today. In this episode we're going to talk about the .270 Winchester and how it compares to the .308 Winchester. While there is a big overlap in their capabilities, each cartridge offers certain benefits to hunters. in today's episode, I'm going to discuss the pros and cons of the 270 vs 308 so you can make an informed decision on which one is best for you.

Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!

Sponsor: Go to HuntingGuns101.com 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 (along with my weekly ammo supply updates).

Article Referenced In Show: 270-308: Which One Should You Hunt With? – Blog article referenced in podcast

Best .270 Ammo - 270 Winchester Hunting Ammo Recommendations

Best 270 Rifles– 270 Hunting Rifle Recommendations

Best .308 Ammo - 308 Winchester Hunting Ammo Recommendations

Show Notes: https://thebiggamehuntingblog.com/podcast/270vs308/

Show Sponsor: Improve your odds of success afield on your future hunts by purchasing the Hunting Guns 101 training at huntingguns101.com/order. That training will take your practical knowledge of firearms, cartridges, sighting systems, and ammunition to the next level and will give you the tools to ensure you're properly outfitted for all of your future hunts.

1) History of the .270 Winchester and .308 Winchester cartridges.

2) How the cartridges compare to each other in terms of external dimensions, trajectory, recoil, and accuracy.

3) Compare ammo and rifle choices in each cartridge.

4) Pros and cons of hunting with each cartridge.

Using the wrong rifle set-up can dramatically lower your odds of success on a hunt. That's why you need to sign up for the Hunting Guns 101 online training, which is your playbook for choosing the best rifle, cartridge, sighting system, and ammunition for your dream hunt.

In the training, I'll show you my proven method for determining what sort of performance you need from your hunting rifle on a particular hunt and I'll show you how to sort through all the confusing techno-babble and marketing jargon out there to prioritize the correct rifle, sighting system, and ammunition characteristics that will work in concert with each other to deliver that performance you're looking for.

That training will take your practical knowledge of firearms, cartridges, sighting systems, and ammunition to the next level and will give you the tools to ensure you're properly outfitted for all of your future hunts. The end result is that you'll be using the absolute best tool for your upcoming hunts, which will increase your odds of success afield. Purchase the Hunting Guns 101 training at huntingguns101.com/order.

Are you up for another cartridge comparison show? In this episode, we're going to talk about the .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO and how they compare to the 6.5 Grendel. While they are all extremely popular with hunters and shooters who like the AR-platform, they have vastly different strengths and weaknesses. With that in mind, I'm going to discuss the pros and cons of the 5.56/223 vs 6.5 Grendel in this episode so you can make an informed decision on which one is best for you.

Article Referenced In Show: 6.5 Grendel vs 5.56/223 Review & Comparison – Blog article referenced in podcast

Show Notes: https://thebiggamehuntingblog.com/podcast/556223vs65grendel

Show Sponsor: Improve your odds of success afield on your future hunts by purchasing the Hunting Guns 101 training at huntingguns101.com/order. That training will take your practical knowledge of firearms, cartridges, sighting systems, and ammunition to the next level and will give you the tools to ensure you're properly outfitted for all of your future hunts.

1) History of the .223 Remington, 5.56x45mm NATO, and 6.5 Grendel cartridges.

2) How the cartridges compare to each other in terms of external dimensions, trajectory, recoil, and accuracy.

3) Compare ammo and rifle choices in each cartridge.

4) Pros and cons of hunting with each cartridge.

Using the wrong rifle set-up can dramatically lower your odds of success on a hunt. That's why you need to sign up for the Hunting Guns 101 online training, which is your playbook for choosing the best rifle, cartridge, sighting system, and ammunition for your dream hunt.

In the training, I'll show you my proven method for determining what sort of performance you need from your hunting rifle on a particular hunt and I'll show you how to sort through all the confusing techno-babble and marketing jargon out there to prioritize the correct rifle, sighting system, and ammunition characteristics that will work in concert with each other to deliver that performance you're looking for.

That training will take your practical knowledge of firearms, cartridges, sighting systems, and ammunition to the next level and will give you the tools to ensure you're properly outfitted for all of your future hunts. The end result is that you'll be using the absolute best tool for your upcoming hunts, which will increase your odds of success afield. Purchase the Hunting Guns 101 training at huntingguns101.com/order.