Ep. 18: The Hunter Q&A

This week, we’re switching things up with a listener Q&A episode. Francis returns to The Evolving Hunter to help me tackle questions sent in by hunters from across the country. We get into everything from the practical to the philosophical: what new hunters spend too much time worrying about, the skills they should actually be developing, ethical shot decisions, hunting the wind, turkey calling, choosing a rifle, moon phases, Western hunting, and what it really means to move beyond being a “beginner.” We also dig into some bigger questions surrounding hunting and conservation, including what declining hunter participation could mean for wildlife funding, why Hunter Education doesn’t necessarily teach you how to hunt, and the challenge of helping someone move from completing Hunter Ed to actually feeling confident in the field. Along the way, we talk about bad gear purchases, lessons learned the hard way, hunting mistakes we still make, backpacks and boots, DIY elk hunts, wilderness skills, mentorship, and why sometimes the best thing a new hunter can do is stop watching YouTube and start connecting with real people. This one is less interview and more two hunters sitting down and working through the questions a lot of us have probably asked at one point or another. Have a question you’d like us to tackle in a future episode? Send it to [email protected]. Thank you to our partners at CertifiedHunter! Hunter Education is a critical (and often required) part of starting your hunting journey. CertifiedHunter has created an online course that will help you get started on the right foot and meet your state requirements to purchase your hunting license. Visit certifiedhunter.com/evolvinghunter to get started! Follow The Evolving Hunter Podcast on Instagram and YouTube, and if you enjoy the episode, share it with someone you’d like to get into the woods with.