Hunt Quietly: Recent Episodes
Matt Rinella
The future of hunting is imperiled. More and more hunters are competing for limited numbers of licenses. Public land hunting is overcrowded, and private land hunting is increasingly unavailable to those unable or unwilling to pay for it. These are the dominant problems facing hunters today, and nobody in the hunting industry and hunting entertainment is talking about them. That is because they cause and even benefit from these problems, as do some hunting nonprofits. Join Matt Rinella and his guests as they rethink the future of hunting and implement steps to save our cherished pastime. Visit huntquietly.org to learn more.
Matt Rinella talks with parents Jill Grenon, Jim Durkin, and Ken Witt about raising the next generation of hunters.
Matt Rinella talks with New Mexico Wildlife Federation Executive Director Jesse Deubel and hunting advocate Brandon Wynn about wildlife privatization.
Hunt Quietly contributors Jim Durkin, Ben Loss, and Matt Rinella discuss the hunting competition-based television program Hunt Warz. To financially support Hunt Quietly, go to https://gofund.me/5adc6daa. To volunteer or financially support Hunters for access, go to huntersforaccess.org.
Jim Durkin is joined by Sgt. Matt Kramer of the Pennsylvania Game Commission to discuss the PA Hunter Access Program. Topics covered in their talk include the 88-year history of the program, landowner habitat improvements, and how the program has helped hunters and landowners alike.
Matt Rinella and Jim Durkin are joined by VP of Programming of the Outdoor Channel, Mitch Petrie. In this episode, Mitch shares his background in the outdoor television industry and talks about his experience producing the hit show "Wardens". He also dives into how Hunting TV has changed over the years during his tenure. Of course, there is also lots of banter between Matt and Mitch regarding the damage hunting TV has done to traditional, non-paid hunting.
Matt Rinella and Christopher Stanley discuss a large suite of topics with no ultimate purpose in mind.
Hunting entertainment is generally dishonest. Game is routinely wounded on camera, but that footage almost never makes the final cut. Important details are routinely omitted, including the eye-popping sums spent on access, and who looses access as a result. In this episode, John Kuntz and Matt Rinella make the case that hunting luminaries Lee and Tiffany Lakosky, like so many others, peddle in half-truths and destroy hunting access.
Matt Rinella and Adam Miller discuss Adan's Reddit survey about motivations for hunting.
Matt Feinhauer recently categorized topics covered by hunting influencers in their social media posts. In this episode, he, Matt Rinella, and Omar Markhieh discuss the findings. But first, Omar gives an update on notorious hunting celebrity poacher Erik Van Woerkom (Muley Freak) and the companies that support him.
Alex Leone and Haley Sir are with Public Land Access Association. PLWA is a nonprofit devoted to fighting illegal blocking of access to public lands and waters. Check them out a plwa.org!
In this episode, HQ members Matt, Jim, Chris, and Alex continue responding to podcasts that bring up the HQ message - faithfully represented or not. There's a few days left for the Hunters For Access raffle - it ends June 1'st. Go support a great cause and enter for a chance to win some sweet prizes. Huntersforaccess.org
On this week’s episode, Matt, Jim, and Jill discuss the growing popularity of shed hunting. But first, Jim beats a “live” horse with BHA and R3. Jill then gives us a brief history of Shed hunting in Wyoming with some insight to the people who’ve made a name for themselves selling and collecting shed antlers. Hunters for Access raffle is open until June 1, 2024. If you care about winning free stuff and high-quality, publicly accessible, non-pay hunting, please, please, please go to Huntersforaccess.org and buy some raffle tickets!
Matt Rinella talks with two New Mexicans, Brandon Wynn and Jesse Buebel, that are fighting perhaps even harder than he is for the future of high-quality, publicly accessible, nonpay hunting. Oh, hey, speaking of that, you should head over to huntersforaccess.org and pick up some raffle tickets. 100% of the proceeds will go to promoting public access.
Ohmar, Jim, and Matt discuss all the sweet, dope-ass, fly stuff the hunting industry donated for the Hunters for Access raffle. Go to huntersforaccess.org to get in on the action!
Matt talks with outdoor writers Christine Cunningham and Steve Meyer about their recent book, The Land We Share. Hunters for Access is nearing the halfway mark on our raffle. If you care about winning free stuff and high-quality, publicly accessible, non-pay hunting, please, please, please go to Huntersforaccess.org and buy some raffle tickets!
Matt and JIm categorize Backcountry Hunters & Anglers work based on the organization’s own reporting. Spoiler alert: Even though hunter numbers are at near historic highs, draw odds have dwindled, and crowding has become a major deterrent to hunter satisfaction, BHA is overwhelmingly an R3-focused organization.For the sake of hunting, go to huntersforaccess.org and buy a whole bunch of tickets. All proceeds will facilitate public hunting access on private lands.
Matt, Jim, and fellow HQ contributor Alex Vieira rip on other podcasts that have been discussing Hunt Quietly. Of utmost critically important essential urgency, the Hunters for Access raffle is LIVE!!! For the sake of hunting, go to huntersforaccess.org and buy a whole bunch of tickets. All proceeds will facilitate public hunting access on private lands.
Matt Rinella talks with North Dakota hunter safety instructor Adam Miller just before making him some truely bitchin deer burgers. If you appreciate what we do and want to help pay our expenses, please consider giving a donation at:https://gofund.me/5adc6daa
HQ contributor Omar Markhieh continues to present his research on hunting celebrity poaching cases. On the lighter side, Matt Rinella tries out some new jokes.
HQ contributor Omar Markhieh places some unfortunate facts about the intersection of hunting celebrity and poaching at the feet of Matt Rinella and Jim Durkin.
Hunt Quietly contributors Jim Durkin and Chris Orndof get their balls busted by Matt Rinella as the three discuss the newly released U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. If you appreciate what we do and want to help pay our expenses, please consider giving a donation here: https://gofund.me/5adc6daa
Matt Rinella was invited to speak at the Montana Chapter of The Wildlife Society's 2024 annual conference. The theme of this conference was, "Cultivating Respect for Nature without Destroying What We Seek". This is bootleg recording of his lecture.
Matt and Jim discuss growing concerns over the company LandTrust and its impact on private and public land hunting. Other topics include Hunter for Access and yes, a Go Fund Me request….Ssssssssoooooooorrrrreeeeeee (fonzy). https://Gofund.me/e647148d
Jim Durkin talks with Dustin Wittwer - an avid mule deer hunter, host of the Finding Backcounty podcast, and owner of Backpack Logistics. Topics discussed include: llamas, mule deer, backcountry food, the state of the hunting industry at large, hunting influencers, and every person's ability to have an affect on hunting by choosing when they take an animal.
Matt, Jim, and Alex Lindsay discuss how Eric Siegfried, founder of the popular hunting map company onX, quietly started outfitting landlocked public land while loudly positioning himself as a champion for opening access to these lands. Alex gives a rundown of Gaia GPS, a less expensive alternative to onX with the same basic functionality.
In this episode, Jim talks with HG contributors Evan Curtin and Omar Markhieh about guns, shooting, and the rising cost of ammo.
Matt talks with Ken Ilgunas, author of 'This Land is Our Land' and 'Trespassihg Across America.'
Hunt Quietly contributors Matt Rinella and Matt Feinauer talk with Brad Luttrell, founder of GoWild, a social media community and gear platform for outdoor enthusiasts.
Matt Rinella listens in awe as Hunt Quietly contributor Omar Markhieh and gun manufacturer Jamie Dodson of Wolf Precision geek out about guns.
Matt talks with Hunt Quietly contributor, Matt Feinhauer and with Bryan Christensen of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources about the state's Hunter Access program.
Matt talks hound hunting with houndsman, Ross Ellwangler. Ruff, ruff, ruff. Damn those things are loud!
Matt talks with Andrew Walter, owner-operator of Wild Edge Inc., Manufacturer of mobile hunting equipment.
In this episode, Jim talks with Dan Rinella about rising stream temperatures in Alaska and its impact on the King Salmon fishery.
Matt and Jim speak with renowned author and conservationist, Shane Mahoney. Shane is the President of Conservation Visions and the Founder of the Wild Harvest Initiative. Shane is recognized as an international conservationist and wildlife advocate and is considered the foremost expert on the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.
Matt talks philosophy and Malthusian demography with aspiring philosopher Wyatt Verlen.
Jim Durkin and Matt Feinauer talk with North Carolina hunter Owen Hunt. Owen is concerned about the NC state-funded leasing program and how it's using public land for profit to the highest bidder.
David sits down to talk about Hunting Mentorship with Christian Hagen of South Dakota Youth Hunting Adventures.
Matt talks with journalist Mike Koshmrl about overpopulated elk herds and proposals for addressing them.
Matt talks with regular Hunt Quietly contributors Omar Markhein, Jill Grenon, and David Blas about surveys they conducted to gauge threats to the future of hunting.
Matt somehow finds common ground with Joey Nowicky, a man who kills ridiculous numbers of deer.
Matt and Jim are joined by Whit Fosburgh. Whit is the president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. They discuss the new Farm Bill and the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP).
Matt and HQ contributor Evan Curtin talk shop a bit and then discuss podcast listener questions for Matt.
This past spring, Matt was asked to give a talk at the Pope and Young annual banquet. Matt's lecture covers the Hunt Quietly movement and the major problems that face traditional hunters today. The video version of Matt's lecture can be found on YouTube.
Matt and John Kuntz talk with the folks from the Wisconsin Public Access Programs - Rj Wickham, Ann Reis, Ethan Graves, Nick Holmes, and Jeremiah Goin.
Jim talks about the state of mule deer hunting with the boys from Epic Outdoors, Jason Carter and Adam Bronson. This is the final episode in our mule deer series.
Matt and David talk with Hal Herring who is an award-winning journalist and contributing editor at Field and Stream magazine. For the past two years, Hal has been the host of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Podcast.
Matt talks with outdoor writer and activist David Stalling. David lives in Montana and has worked for multiple wildlife conservation organizations fighting to protect wildlife and wild places.
"The good old days were yesterday". Matt and Matt F. talk with Brandon Cerecke of Boss Shotshells.
Jim talks with Rob Shaul about the perils of mule deer and mule deer hunting in Wyoming in part 2 of the mule deer series.
Matt talks with Hunter Safety Instructors Caleb Bollman, Jeff Facosh, and Christopher Tongel. Their discussions focus on how they approach teaching the next generation of hunters.
Matt, Jim, David, and Chris discuss the Outdoor Steward of Conservation Foundation 2023 Survey: Americans' Attitudes Towards Legal, Regulated Fishing, Target/Sport Shooting, Hunting, and Trapping.
In this episode, Matt talks about the hunting non-profits with Mace Hack, Alex Littlejohn, and Robert Manes.
Matt talks with Iowa Habitat and Access Program contributors Nick Baumgarten and Zach Jones.
Jim talks mule deer hunting with Brian Latturner of MonsterMuleys.com. Brian is a lifelong mule deer hunter that has seen the decline of population and opportunities in the areas he hunts throughout the West.
In this week's episode, Matt talks with Laura Groesbeck. Laura is a lifetime hunter and social media influencer. You can find her on Instagram at laurasoutdoorlife.
Matt Rinella and Matt Feinhauer discuss the Ju''hoansi tribe of the Kalahari Desert and their radically humble approach to hunting.
Matt talks with Jeff Hancock and Wes Sowards about the Kansas Walk-in Hunter Access Program and a new Kansas chapter of Hunters for Access designed to support that program. Reach out to Jeff to get involved and make a difference for the future of hunting access in Kansas ozwildlife@gmail.com.
On this episode, Matt and Jim shoot the shit and talk about catching and filleting pan fish, grilling wild game, podcasting, and the NSSF hunter survey data.
Matt talks with David Fontenot, Omar Markheih, and Jim Durkin to recap some of the feedback from the first Sitka episode discussion.
The article "Hunting is Having a Moment. Will it Last?" was recently featured in Outside Magazine. Matt, Jim, and Brian discuss the article as it highlights Sitka Gear's attempt to attract snowboarders into hunting through social media and influencers.
Bryan Broderick is the CEO Day Six Gear, a company specializing in high-quality, American-made arrows and broadheads. Day Six is a Hunt Quietly-friendly brand. Buy from them!
On this week's episode, Jim talks to his old buddy Larry Bartlett. Larry is an outdoor writer and entrepreneur and has recently developed his own lightweight backcountry supplement, Minimus Nutrition. They also discuss some hot topics about hunting in Alaska, including high watermark access on federal land, the impacts of hunt planners (Huntin’ Fool), hunt closures, proper meat care, and the Ambler Road mining proposal.
Cameron Weddington is as passionate as he is concerned about the future of turkey hunting.
On this week's episode, Jim and Matt chat with Jim Shockey. Jim needs no introduction and has been one of the top Hunting tv personalities over the last 30 years. But these days, he’s more into writing and wildlife conservation philanthropy. Jim discusses his new book release and what he sees as the biggest threat to hunting.
Scott Fitzwilliams is the forest supervisor for Colorado's most-visited national forest.
On this week's episode, Jim chats with Troy Fowler, AKA "Ranch Fairy". They discuss the ethics of long-range shooting with a bow, and why imitating the hunting celebrities who celebrate long-range shots is a bad idea. Troy also takes a deep dive into arrow weight, bow setup, and broadhead style and why this makes a difference in an ethical kill.
Matt speaks with hunting writer, podcaster, and TV personality Daniel Schmidt about trends in hunt quality, hunting leases, and motivations for hunting.
Jim Durkin talks with Canadian hunter, Mark Hall. Mark is the founder of The Hunter Conservationist. Mark believes that hunters are losing control of the hunting narrative and that social media is being used to contribute to our demise.
David Fontenot talks to photographer Phil Kahnke about the state of hunting and hunting social media and Phil’s approach to being a hunting influencer.
Matt and fellow Hunt Quietly contributor Jill Grenon talk with Todd Wilkinson about Mountain Journal, an on-line publication devoted to preserving the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Evan Trebilcock and Andy Tomaszewski run the hunting mentorship nonprofit Opportunity Outdoors.
David Fontenot talks to forester and pot call maker Jacob Whitfield. You can find Jacob on Instagram @jsw_woodworks.
Matt talks with David Blas and Michael Miller about their willingness to share their land with fellow hunters.
Until recently being disabled by Instagram, Hanging Tree Redacted was an account that critiqued hunting influencers.
Until recently being disabled by Instagram, Hanging Tree Redacted was an account that critiqued hunting influencers.
In this week's episode, Jim talks with Pa Game Commission Elk Biologist Jeremy Banfield. Their discussion topics include the elk restoration program's history, its success, and drawing a coveted bull elk tag. They also discuss access issues for hunters and the roadblocks to expanding elk populations in the East.
Matt and David Fontenot speak with Justin Broughton, president of South Dakota Bowhunters Inc., about decreasing hunt quality and Justin's ideas for addressing it.
Matt discusses legislative issues facing resident and nonresident Montana hunters with friend, hunting issue sparing partner, and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers employee Kevin Farron.
Matt talks about the impacts of turkey hunting promotion with southeastern U.S. wildlife biologist Nathan Anonymous.
Adam Eichenwald is a Ph.D. candidate at Tufts University. He completed his undergraduate degree at Bowdoin College and received a master’s degree in Environmental Science from Yale University. Jim Durkin and Adam discuss his research paper "US imperiled species are most vulnerable to habitat loss on private lands", and how this potentially relates to big game species.
Matt talks with dear friend and Montana Hunters for Access president John Kuntz, head Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks warden Todd Anderson, and rancher Brendon Jerky about hunter behavior and improving public access to private land.
Matt talks with Jeremiah Goin about Jeremiah's involvement with the industry and how it impacted the enjoyment he derives from hunting.
In this week’s episode, Jim talks with the folks from HOWL For Wildlife, Charles Whitwam, and Mike Costello. HOWL is a nonprofit corporation with the mission to give people the tools to act on hunting, fishing, and conservation issues. Their discussion includes a variety of anti-hunting legislation that various states have faced, more recently, the bear hunting ban in Washington State.
In this week's episode, Jim talks with Joseph von Benedikt. JVB is a writer and field editor for various magazines and the host of the Backcountry Hunting Podcast. They discuss the ethics behind long-range hunting, why the 6.5 Creedmoor is not a wise choice for elk, and a little gun and shooting history.
Scott Heidebrink, the Director of Bison Restoration with the American Prairie, and Rangeland Wildlife Biologist Kent Undlin are on the podcast this week talking about rangeland ecology. This topic is of the utmost importance to Matt since he works as a Rangeland Plant Ecologist.
Skyler Watkins is an outfitter who has started 4Progeny, a nascent non-profit attempting to crowd-source fund the purchase of land for public hunting. Check them out at 4PROGENY.ORG.
Matt and Jim talk Block Management with Matt's better half and ranch owner, Juanita Vero, MFWP Access Bureau Chief Jason Kool, and podcast regular and public land advocate John Kuntz. With this group, every perspective is covered in the conversation.
Matt and Aron practice the lost art of agreeably disagreeing and discover a surprising amount of common ground.
Fellow hunter Adam Nelson joins the podcast to discuss a project he's working on. His project involves purchasing private property in hopes of making it it publicly accessible hunting land. Adam shares what he's learned from this experience as well as some of the roadblocks he's faced. Jim and Adam also chat about other topics like bird dogs and bird hunting, farm subsidies, and corn production in southern Minnesota.
Matt talks with Hunt Quietly architect Baxter Byrd and concerned citizen Chase Kokojan.
Jim Durkin is flying solo on this podcast episode with the boys from Hunters United for Sunday Hunting (HUSH). Kevin Askew and Doug Lapp discuss antiquated blue laws in Pennsylvania that severely restrict Sunday hunting and how HUSH is fighting those outdated laws.
Matt is joined by Brian Tindall, Pixar animator and owner/operator of the hunting clothing company Gulch Gear. Gulch Gear manufactures high-quality hunting apparel right here in the good ole U.S. of A. What's more, they don't use dead wildlife as marketing instruments! If you want to lavish your loved ones with bad-ass camo this holiday season without feeding the f***ing beast, screw Sitka, Kuiu, and Kifaru. Buy Gulch Gear!
Matt talks turkey (and many other topics) with Jimmy Ditraglia and David Strickland of the Carolina Wildlife Syndicate.
Matt is joined by renowned outdoor writer and TV personality, Ron Spomer along with Jim Durkin. They cover a variety of different topics from conservation, hunting TV, and media, to rewriting the hunting "rule book."
Hunt Quietly podcast regulars John Kuntz and Jim Durkin talk with airline captain Rico Latone about hunting celebrities blowing up people's spots.
David and Bradley, two fans of the podcast, happen to come through Matt's neighborhood on the same evening. They hit record and have a fascinating conversation about impacts of hunting media.
David and Matt talk east coast duck hunting, fist-fighting people that shoot big game at 1000 yards on TV, the potential for taking Hunt Quietly on to social media, and many other topics.
Jim Durkin and Matt talk with sociologist Lee James McGuigan about his 2019 research article entitled This kill shot is brought to you by...:An analysis of hunting television in the United States.
Matt and Bob discuss the potential for improving hunting through traditional archery units and seasons.
Matt talks mental health and hunting social media with therapist and hunter Matt Feinauer.
Matt talks with lifelong hunter and Bureau of Land Management outdoor recreation planner Jared Oakleaf.
In this episode, Matt talks with Tyler Kath of T & K Hunting Gear. If you're sick of the hype and gross commodification of our pastime, support this veteran-owned company! They make quality hunting products without all the b.s. right here in the good ole U.S. of A. No sponsored hunting heroes, no hunting TV advertising. https://tandkhunting.com/
Keiran Bangs is a commercial fisherman that splits his time between Alaska and Norway. Keiran and Matt discuss hunting in Norway.
Matt is joined in conversation with friend and Montana game warden Todd Anderson to talk hunter behavior and a range of related topics.
Matt talks with Danielle Nagle, State University of New York professor, about her article "Conservation dressed in camouflage: Neoliberal environmentality and the hunting industry" which was published in the May 2022 issue of the journal Geoforum.
Matt Discusses the R3 movement to recruit, retain, and reactivate hunters with Trey Curtis and Tim Brass from Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.
Johnny Sain is a naturalist, hunter, outdoor writer, and editor. He's also quite obviously one of the more thoughtful hunters in America today.
Matt speaks with his new friend Jim Durkin about hunting TV and the push by the hunting industry and nonprofits to lease you out of your hunting grounds. The threats are real!
Matt continues exploring moral conduct in hunting media with Alaska Pacific University ethicist Dr. Alex Lee.
Matt believes hunting media and leasing hunting lands to exclude others is clearly lacking in taste, selfish, and rude. But are these things downright unethical? In the first of a two-part series exploring what's right and wrong about how hunters treat other hunters, Matt quizzes University of Montana ethicist Christopher Preston and Missoula, Montana county commissioner David Strohmaier.
In this episode, Matt and Mark Norquist work toward resurrecting the lost art of agreeably disagreeing. Mark is the founder of Modern Carnivore, a company focused on drawing more people into hunting, which is the LAST thing Matt wants. That said, if the hunters Mark brings into the fold are half as delightful as he is, it'll be hard to be too terribly upset about it...As long as they hunt far, far away from Matt.
Matt talks with outfitter Rod Paschke and friend John Kuntz about something Matt hates (hunting leases) and something they all hate (poor hunter behavior).
Matt Talks with Rob Shaul, founder of Mountain Pursuit. Mountain Pursuit is devoted to combating all the b.s. in hunting. It's Matt's favorite non-profit.
In this introductory episode Matt describes the themes underpinning the Hunt Quietly podcast.