The Huntsman Podcast

If you tuned in for the season finale of our New Zealand adventure, you already caught a glimpse of what’s coming next. For the first time in the history of The Huntsman, we’ve managed to roll straight from one season into the next without a break. It’s a testament to the incredible dedication of our production team that we can pull off back-to-back seasons, and I am thrilled to officially announce that Season 5 of The Huntsman premieres on Sunday, July 26th.

Tune into this podcast to learn more from Chris Waters about the season.

These trips are physically and emotionally taxing; they demand immense planning, resources, and time. I want to extend a massive thank you to our team for their tireless work in bringing these stories to life.

We have 10 thirty minute long episodes planned for this season, which will be released on a monthly schedule. Episodes will premiere on the last Sunday of every month at 6:00 p.m. AEST, beginning July 26th.

We will continue our tradition of live YouTube premieres. I’ll be in the live chat for every episode, along with members of the cast and crew. It’s a great way for us to watch together with you, answer your questions, and celebrate these stories in real-time.

We are running a massive giveaway series throughout Season 5, featuring:

Full details on how to enter can be found in the video description of each episode.

If you want the latest news, behind-the-scenes info, and early updates, make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter at huntsman.show/newsletter. Our newsletter subscribers were the first to know about this announcement, and it remains the best place to get exclusive content.

Thank you for your continued support, your comments, your likes, and your subscriptions. It is a privilege to contribute to a positive, ethical Australian hunting culture alongside you all.

I can’t wait to see you at Season 5 premiere!

- Chris Waters

Season 3 is officially in the books—and Season 4 is only days away!

After a month of grinding in the Victorian High Country, exploring fresh faces of public land and helping others realize their Sambar dreams, it all came down to a single solo mission. In the Season 3 finale, Chris heads back into the rugged, rocky terrain to fill the freezer for himself, pushing into previously wind-bound country for one final, dramatic encounter with the mountain.

Watch the Season 3 Finale here: https://youtu.be/hSMdwQeUsHc

In this sit-down, Chris offers an honest, behind-the-scenes reflection on the reality of filming a hunting series on public land. It’s not just about the shot; it’s about the mental and physical toll of managing production while staying locked into the hunt.

We dive into:

The High Country Grind: The highs and lows of navigating brand-new public land spots in Victoria.

Production vs. Performance: The unique challenges of producing The Huntsman while maintaining the integrity of the hunt.

The Hunter’s Mindset: A look at the universal struggles we all face when hunting pressured public land.

To wrap things up, we’re looking toward the horizon. Chris shares exclusive insights into what’s coming in Season 4, which takes the team across the ditch for an incredible New Zealand adventure.

Season 4, Episode 1 premieres this Sunday, May 3rd at 4:00 PM AEST.

Join the live chat and watch the premiere with us here: https://youtu.be/wMTDWHpt7Nc

Pack your bags and check your zero—The Huntsman is headed across the ditch.

In this podcast exclusive, Chris breaks down the master plan for his upcoming departure to the South Island of New Zealand. From touching down in Nelson to the moment the rotors spin up with Helicopters Nelson, he dives deep into the logistics, the nerves, and the raw excitement of a trip that has been months in the making.

This isn’t just a casual hunt; it’s a two-stage tactical insertion into some crazy terrain. Chris walks us through the strategy of splitting time between the high-octane action of a private station—targeting Fallow Bucks, Red Stags, Goats, and Pigs—and the grit of a public land ridge-top camp in pursuit of the elusive Chamois.

In this episode, Chris discusses:

The Kit: A detailed breakdown of the gear he’s trusting to survive the unpredictable NZ elements.

The Approach: How he plans to tackle two vastly different landscapes and the physical reality of mountain hunting.

The Logistics: Navigating remote locations and the "heli-hopping" strategy required to get deep into the backcountry.

The Production: Insights into the filming process, how many episodes are in the works, and when the footage is expected to drop.

While Chris admits he has no idea exactly what the mountains have in store, he’s ready for a hell of an adventure.

Make sure to listen right to the finish—Chris drops a sneaky, exclusive preview regarding a massive project currently in the works for 2027 that you won't hear anywhere else.

Every December I come back to this same spot in the state forest to take a breath, look back on the year, and talk openly about what’s coming next. 2025 was massive for The Huntsman — we launched huntingcourses.com.au, Australia’s new online hunting education platform, and we filmed (and started rolling out) Season 3. And we’re only just getting warmed up. In this video I share what’s ahead for 2026 and what you can expect from The Huntsman as we move into another big year. 2026 is going to be HUGE!

In this episode, Chris Waters reflects on a recent hunt where he recognised that he didn’t follow best practice as closely as he should have—specifically around the use of binoculars and the importance of identifying game. Using this as a learning opportunity also Chris unpacks the legal requirements around safe and ethical hunting in Australia, and why correct identification is non-negotiable.

The discussion also touches on a recent article in a hunting magazine highlighting a serious incident where a firearm was pointed at another hunter, thankfully without tragic consequences. Finally, Chris explores the importance of accountability in the hunting community, and how hunters can support one another in maintaining both high community and high standards of safety, responsibility, and respect in the field.

In this episode of Hunt Stories, Chris Waters from The Huntsman sits down with professional hunting guide Linda Johnson from Havago Australia — one of the country’s premier hunting outfitters. Linda shares how she came to hunting later in life, the intense story of her first hunt (which didn’t go to plan), and how that moment became the turning point that pushed her to grow into the skilled and passionate hunter she is today. This is a story of grit, learning through failure, and finding purpose in the outdoors. It’s also a reminder of the real opportunities for women in Australia’s hunting community — with Linda standing out as a role model for what’s possible.

The following is a conversation with Matty Wright, renowned hunting dog breeder, hunting guide, one of the most beloved personalities in the Australian Hunting community, and good friend of mine.

• go in the draw to win monthly hunting product gear giveaways

Join Chris Waters on a scenic drive to Mildura as he reflects on key milestones achieved by The Huntsman brand. Along the way, Chris discusses why it's crucial for hunters to control the narrative around hunting in Australia by addressing tough topics publicly and online. He also delves into the concept of a 'mountain top experience' and its significance. Plus, enjoy an exclusive sneak peek at what's coming in 2025.

AUSTRALIAN HUNTERS CLUB: Support yourself and this podcast by joining the Australian Hunters Club!

www.australianhunters.com.au

We are a diverse and authentic community of like minded & passionate Aussie hunters who care about hunting & the life and fullness it provides. New hunters & veterans, deer, waterfowl, pig, fox, rabbit, large game hunters, all hunters are welcome in our community.

Through our hunting club membership you can get access to free member hosted hunts, events as well as:

• go in the draw to win monthly hunting product gear giveaways

Benefits aside, ultimately people join our hunting club because they share our passion and enthusiasm for hunting in Australia and want to connect with like minded people and share life together.

In this episode, I (Chris Waters) clear up some misconceptions about both public and private land hunting in Australia, and discusses the unique benefits each offers.

Many of you have voiced your concerns about the amount of private land hunting you've seen me doing recently in Season 2 of The Huntsman.  

Given my almost exclusive background in public land hunting I think the assumption people have at the moment is that I've changed, and now all I'm doing is private land hunting???

The good news is that I've hitting the public state forests more then ever in between filming episodes for the show... You're just not been seeing these hunts in my videos.

Why? Well this is because I've set aside this time just for me. It's my personal hunting time, something sacred I can retreat into without the pressure of 'producing' something. Just me, my rifle and the wild places and animals. Nothing else.

This is how I've been protecting my love of hunting, whilst still getting out there and producing quality hunting content.

The good news is that there is plenty of public land hunting coming up in the second half of Season 2. So I hope that those of you who enjoy public land hunting (like me) get something out of it.

Given peoples concerns I have been thinking about the topic quite a lot. And in true The Huntsman style I've recorded a video tackling this prickly topic.

Is one better then the other? Is private land hunting even hunting???? What about 'high fence' hunting? Tune in to hear my thoughts.

WATCH EPISODE AS A VIDEO: https://youtu.be/XOYoZPdNvt4. Or simply search 'The Australian Huntsman' in YouTube and find the podcast playlist on the channel to watch all podcast videos.

AUSTRALIAN HUNTERS CLUB: Support yourself and this podcast by joining the Australian Hunters Club!

www.australianhunters.com.au

We are a diverse and authentic community of like minded & passionate Aussie hunters who care about hunting & the life and fullness it provides. New hunters & veterans, deer, waterfowl, pig, fox, rabbit, large game hunters, all hunters are welcome in our community.

Through our hunting club membership you can get access to free member hosted hunts, events as well as:

• go in the draw to win monthly hunting product gear giveaways

Benefits aside, ultimately people join our hunting club because they share our passion and enthusiasm for hunting in Australia and want to connect with like minded people and share life together.

In this episode, I (Chris Waters) tell some crazy stories from the trips where we filmed episodes 1 and 2 of The Huntsman season 2, as well as reflect on some of the challenges we encountered when filming. I also speak a little bit about what makes producing this Australian hunting TV show both difficult and ultimately rewarding.

WATCH EPISODE AS A VIDEO: Rather watch this episode as a video? Simply search 'The Australian Huntsman' in YouTube or check out this playlist on the channel.

AUSTRALIAN HUNTERS CLUB: Support yourself and this podcast by joining the Australian Hunters Club!

www.australianhunters.com.au

We are a diverse and authentic community of like minded & passionate Aussie hunters who care about hunting & the life and fullness it provides. New hunters & veterans, deer, waterfowl, pig, fox, rabbit, large game hunters, all hunters are welcome in our community.

Through our hunting club membership you can get access to free member hosted hunts, events as well as:

• go in the draw to win monthly hunting product gear giveaways

Benefits aside, ultimately people join our hunting club because they share our passion and enthusiasm for hunting in Australia and want to connect with like minded people and share life together.