Today on Gritty, we talk about an insidious, silent killer; a life-sucking force that people naively and foolishly welcome into their lives. A life-wrecking force that the fast-changing modern age has thrust upon the modern human mind. This insidious killer is STRESS. Today, I’m joined by the deep-thinking, intense and amazing, Doctor Hillary Lampers. She explains stress in clinical and colloquial terms. She talks about how our bodies and brains are all that we really have and how we should treat them. Human beings have evolved to thrive under stress--we need stress. But today’s modern stress is different--it’s a different animal from the kind of stress human beings NEED. Find out the difference and more about how to live “better” on today’s episode. You can learn more from Doctor Hillary’s website at HuntHarvestHealth.com.
GRITTY BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:
The Millionaire Next Door, The Millionaire Mind by Thomas J. Stanley, The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat? by Peter Walsh, It's All Too Much by Peter Walsh, The 4-hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss, Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk, Why Zebra’s Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert Sapolsky, Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, Walden by Henry David Thoreau
Today on Gritty Bowmen we hang out with friend Donnie Vincent. I could sit an listen to Donnie tell stories for hours. He’s an explorer, biologist, conservationist, and sportsman. And a gifted weaver of adventurous tales in wild and remote places. When Donnie’s storytelling transcends the spoken word and comes to life in the form of cinematic film--it’s incredible. His films change hearts and minds. And films like, “Who We Are,” “The River’s Divide,” and “Terra Nova,” have permanently changed how I view the world and the hunt. So sit back and enjoy the show. And then, if you haven’t already, support Donnie by getting his film’s at www.donnievincent.com.
Those who know me, know that I love a good hunting story. And I’m no Donnie Vincent but Gritty Bowmen has its own brand of filmmaking--it’s kinda Gritty… it’s a bit unpolished, it usually has a few smart-aleck comments, some shaky footage, some adventure and it reminds you of the hunts you go on with your buddies.
So with that preamble, I have an announcement to make. On Thursday, February 8th at the Western Hunt Expo in Salt Lake City, I’ll be showing my latest Gritty film on the big screen. And it’s not just my film that’ll be showing, my good friend Cole Kramer will also be featuring his YETI film from Nepal that night as well. There will be Gritty Bingo, Prizes, Raffles, Giveaways and much more! My good friends at Sitka Gear, YETI, HOYT, MTN OPS, and Leupold Optics are helping to make this event a fun one! Raffle proceeds go to the Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance.
Please, if you want to support Gritty and you’re coming to the Western Hunt Expo, please go to www.mtnops.com/gritty and get tickets now.
Please spread the word--invite your friends and family, and come see what a Gritty Movie Night is all about.
Here’s a 30-second trailer for the film--check it out.
On this episode of Gritty Bowmen we sit down at the ATA show with Eva Shockey-Brent. Eva became a Mother about a year ago and we discuss the delicate balance of motherhood, hunting and marriage. What it's like to travel on an airplane with a baby and her new book "Taking Aim".
Hey friends! Today on Gritty I’m hanging with my good buddy Tim Burnett--the SOLO HNTR brand OG. We recorded this podcast at my house after returning from our Oklahoma Whitetail hunt. Tim is one of my favorite people to hang out with. He’s gonna have fun, but he’s not gonna talk your ear off--in fact, you kinda have to drag words out of him. So it was not a surprise to me when I found out that Tim created a podcast for the SOLO NATION with more than 15 recorded episodes and I didn’t know about it. I’m all about more SOLO HNTR. If you’re like me, go and subscribe to the SOLO HNTR podcast and get some!
So here it is… a final Oklahoma Whitetail podcast recording session with Mr. SOLO himself, before he road off into the sunset in the aged and crippled Solorado.
On today's podcast I sit down with Jason Price & Dallas Hemeyer of Hunt The Experience. The guys share some harrowing experiences flying on bush planes and more than one near death experience. They talk about their mission to share "The Experience" of hunting, rather than focusing on a hunter. They share how hunting all over the world has changed their perspective on life and how happiness doesn't come from having more stuff.
You can find them on social media here:
YouTube The Experience
Facebook The Experience
Instagram
@hunttheexperience
@DallasHemeyer
@mjasonprice
On this episode of Gritty Bowmen we sit down with my good friends from Born and Raised Outdoors; Trent & Trevor Fisher & Kody Kellom. In this interview we talk about their Land of the Free Elk Hunting Collaboration Project. The project consisted of a video series of 50 days hunting in 5 different states in collaboration with HUSH, ELK101, PURE ELEVATION, PHELPS GAME CALLS & RYAN CALLAGHAN.
They showcase public land hunting and issues surrounding land transfers across the Western US.
They talk about the success of the switch from DVD's to YouTube and how they became more connected with their fan base.
Today on Gritty, I give you part 2 of the Texas Whitetail hunt--first part is episode 297. A group of us were invited to Sloane’s family ranch in Texas; which includes John Barklow and Chris Derek from Sitka Gear. AND Sloane Brown from Backbone Media. AND my good friend, Casey Harbertson, partner and owner of MTN OPS.
On this episode we switch gears from survival and technical clothing systems to hunting whitetails in Texas. It’s just a group of buddies sitting around the hunting cabin talking about the week’s antics and adventures.
“There wouldn’t be no Alamo,
No Cowboys in the Superbowl…
No Lonsome Dove, no “Yellow Rose”,
If it wasn’t for Texas.
-George Strait
Well, today’s guests are the boys from Catchin’ Deers. AND TRUST ME, you don’t want to miss this one! These guys are the epitome of what I call “The Hunting Buddy Fraternity.” This podcast consists of a lot of heckling, camaraderie, trash talk, brotherhood, and laughter. My guests are Mike and Bud Fisher, and Austin Casselman.
We talk about how Catchin’ Deers got started--the many hours of work and in-depth planning that DID NOT go into creating this brand. We talk hockey. We talk hockey retirement; apparently Mike played hockey in the NHL for 17 years and he was kind of a big deal. Look him up--because that’s probably the only way you’re gonna hear about it because Mike doesn’t really talk. But that’s okay, his brother, Bud talks enough for both of them. Austin is currently suffering from Adult Onset Hunting Syndrome--in other words, he’s been newly inducted into the hunting fraternity. Ironically, he’s also the person who asked, “did ya’ll catch anything?” Which pretty much makes him the mastermind, genius behind the Catchin’ Deers brand--no matter what Mike and Bud tell you.
Enjoy this one! And if you like what you hear, get yourself a Catchin’ Deers hat and shirt. And follow’em on social media--and also, bombard them with useless new ideas for more awesome clothing ideas that’ll keep us laughing. Here’s Catchin’ Deers.
Have you ever jumped off a building? Have you been on the US Archery Team or competed in more than 120 professional archery events worldwide? Have you ever been shot at? For that matter, have you ever been shot. Today on Gritty I’m joined by two remarkable human beings. There are few people who can lay claim to the accomplishments that these men have achieved in their respective areas of expertise. My guests today are John Dudley, Professional Archer and passionate bowhunter, and Andy Stumpf, retired Navy Seal and the man who jumps off buildings.
John Dudley started shooting professionally in 1997 and has competed all over the world. John has 45 Career Top 3 Professional Finishes.
Here are just a few of Johns professional accomplishments:
APA Rookie of the Year
IBO National Champion (2x)
NABH National Champion
AZ International Gold Medalist
European Grand Prix Gold Medalist
World Field Championship Bronze
In short, John knows how to shoot a bow. And more than that, John has knack for teaching his craft to others.
Andy Stumpf executed hundreds of combat operations throughout the world over his 17-year career in the military. He was medically retired in June of 2013. His awards and decorations include 5 Bronze Star Medals (four with valor). The Purple Heart, The Joint Service Commnedation Medal. The Navy and Marine Corp Commendation Medal with Valor, Three Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medals, Two Combat Action Ribbons, and The Presidential Unit Citation.
In 2015 he set two world records after jumping from 36,500 feet and flying over 18 miles in a wingsuit in an effort to raise 1 million dollars for the Navy Seal Foundation.
Okay, there you have it folks—these two gentlemen are unique. Each have excelled in their chosen endeavors. They’re both able to govern their fear, manage their heart rate, and perform under extreme pressure. And we talk about this and much more on today’s podcast. It’s good stuff!
If you like what you hear, do me a favor and support each of these guys by following them on social media and subscribing to their respective podcasts, Nockon-Podcast and Cleared Hot. Enjoy the show!
Have you ever been charged by a bear? Have you ever been forced to use bear spray or a firearm in defense of your life? Well, my good friend Ryan Lampers was charged by a bear while tracking his archery bull elk through the bloody snow. This tale will get you thinking and could perhaps even save your life someday. After you finish this podcast, do me a favor and go follow Ryan in Instagram at sthealthyhunter. And subscribe to his excellent Hunt Harvest Health podcast! Without further ado, here’s Ryan’s story…
On this episode of Gritty Bowmen we talk with Cam Hanes and Adam Greentree at 2018 ATA Show.
Today on Gritty I am joined by my good friend Ryan Lampers, aka sthealthy hunter AND owner, host, and cohost of the Hunt Harvest Health Podcast. Ryan is a modest, quiet guy who kills mature old animals on public land hunts across the West. Today on Gritty, Ryan shares some of his tactics for elk hunting. I feel like Ryan is a treasure box of useful information just waiting to be opened. Today on Gritty we pluck a few gold nuggets out of his treasure box and the information is worth its weight in gold. I hope Ryan’s stories and tactics help you on your next elk hunt--I know I’ll be putting a few of his strategies to use next season.
On this episode of Gritty Bowmen we chat with my Uncle Kevin and business partner, John Adams of High Point Outfitters. We talk Arizona hunting opportunities, draw strategies, scouting packages, over-the-counter hunts, Randy Newberg, application deadlines, "sleeper" unit hunts and more. For more information visit highpointoutfitters.net or email my Uncle Kevin Call at shoot@highpointoutfitters.net
Previous Episodes with HPO:
EPISODE 40: What's So Cool About Arizona???
EPISODE 62: High Point Outfitters
EPISODE 209: Why You Should Hunt Arizona with High Point Outfitters
EPISODE 220: Choosing Deer Hunts in Arizona & Application Strategies with HPO
Today on Gritty, my guest is my good friend Phil Mendoza. I’ve been attending a few of his beginner bowhunter and bow tuning classes at his Denver archery shop--No Limits Archery. If you live in the area and you’re new to archery or just want to learn how to work on your own bow or build your own arrows, checkout Phil’s classes--they’re great. On today’s podcast, Phil and I discuss hunting mistakes--primarily, mistakes made in the final moments of a shot opportunity. Cody Eardley wrote a great article in the January 2018, Bugle Magazine (put out by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation--which you should become a member of if you aren’t already) and the article is titled, Situation Ethics. The article is a good one and it got Phil and I talking about ethics, shot selection and closing the deal in the final moments of a hunt. I enjoy talking to Phil because I always learn. Phil is an extremely talented hunter and archer. He’s a Train To Hunt champion. And he’s owner and mastermind of the Alpha Bowhunting Challenge. And as discussed on an earlier podcast, Phil wrote a mini book titled, “Targeting Buck Fever.” Train to Hunt and The Alpha Bowhunting Challenge are competitive events designed to help hunters hone the ability to make good decisions and good shots at the proverbial “moment of truth” while under extreme pressure. So join Phil and I for a frank and open discussion on mistakes we’ve made, things we’ve learned and our Situation Ethics. Big thanks to Cody Eardley and Bugle Magazine for providing relevant, educative, thought provoking articles like the one we discuss today.
Audio only podcast.
Today on Gritty, I am joined by Adam Janke, Editor in Chief, of the Journal of Mountain Hunting, resident of B.C. and the host of the Beyond the Kill podcast. We discuss the issues surrounding the Grizzly Hunting ban in British Columbia and we go deep on the topic. But before I launch into the conversation with Adam I feel it is important to set the stage for the discussion. The topic is not a sexy one--but it’s extremely important. So please hang on and slog your way through it because this stuff matters.
In August of this year, the left-leaning New Democratic government, propped up by the Green Party, took office in British Columbia in July after ousting the Liberals who had ruled the province for 16 years. A few weeks ago, Doug Donaldson, the province’s minister of forests and lands announced that (quote) “it is abundantly clear that the grizzly hunt is not in line with the public’s values.” Donaldson also said (in an interview with the CBC News) that the level of Grizzly Bear hunting in BC is sustainable. However, Donaldson says the decision to end trophy hunting is “not a matter of numbers, it’s a matter of society has come to the point in B.C. where they are no longer in favour of the grizzly bear trophy hunt.”
I can’t help but feel deeply disturbed by the government’s decision to ban Grizzly bear hunting and the justifications behind it.
Make no mistake about it, the Grizzly Bear Ban makes the following statement: “Hunting is immoral.” “You are an evil, dare I say “un-evolved” person if you hunt Grizzly Bears.” And “Hunting grizzly bears is morally reprehensible… we do not need to do this any longer…”
Please understand that their argument is not based on science or rationale. Their justification for banning Grizzly Bear hunting is solely based on moral reasoning. These people have argued and lost the health, science, and conservation argument. So they changed tactics and made this a debate about right and wrong--about morality. And the truth is, the hunting debate has and always will boil down to one thing… the morality of it. Is hunting moral?
The moral argument against hunting is that hunting kills animals unnecessarily. This claim depends on the existence of alternative activities that accomplish hunting’s effects with less or no animal killing. It is said that nutrition does not justify hunting because we have alternative sources of nutrition, namely agriculture and domestic animal production; which does not kill animals or only kills farm animals.
But the reality is that modern farming destroys natural habitat, hence causes starvation or disruption of reproduction. Farming uses pesticide and nitrogenous fertiliser that pollutes ground water on which animals and humans depend. Farming kills ground-nesting amphibians, reptiles, birds and small mammals. The reality is that vegetable nutrition is wrung from the earth by diesel-burning machinery and nitrogen and oil-based fertilisers, processed and refrigerated with power from river-altering, coal burning or nuclear-waste-producing plants, and driven thousands of miles over asphalt by fossil-fueled trucks.
But studies have shown that commercial agriculture production kills more animals than deer hunting per unit of nutrition, hence kills more animals for the same meal. And in terms of of animal suffering, it would be difficult to show that death from being maimed, crushed, cut to pieces, poisoned or starved is less painful than the average death by hunter.
It would be difficult to argue that an animal suffers more from hunting than from today’s animal husbandry. Thus, if we may eat domestic cattle, we may eat wild deer.
To the ideological anti-hunter and the B.C. Government, human caused animal death and suffering should be reduced as much as possible if not entirely eliminated. Based on this moral reasoning, in those cases where ethical hunts kill fewer animals for the same nutrition than do farming, ranching and/or vegetarianism, eating hunted meat would be not only morally justified but morally preferred.
It’s obvious to the rational mind that hunting is moral. So why is hunting so easily marginalized and so easily made to look immoral?
Hunting critics propose that it is bad when a hunter shoots a bear, but not bad when a bear mauls and eats a moose calf, because the bear needs to kill to survive. Today it can be difficult to explain that human hunting is strictly necessary in the same way that hunting moose is necessary for a bear. Broad public opinion is that hunting is morally permissible only if it is necessary for human survival. “Necessary” can refer to nutritional or ecological need, which provides moral cover for subsistence hunting and game management. But trophy hunting, by mainstream definition, cannot be defended this way.
Trophy hunting is vulnerable to the argument that an act is contemptible not only because of the harm it produces, but because of what it reveals about the character of the trophy hunter. Much of society finds the deriving of pleasure from hunting to be morally repugnant. And this is a problem, because hunting is enjoyable--but not in the sadistic, evil way that anti-hunters portray.
Actions are powerful. And so are words. And the words “trophy” and “sport” no longer carry the meaning they once did. The word “sport” used to mean “sporting chance” and it referred to the principle of fair chase as defined by the Boone and Crockett Club, as the ethical, sportsmanlike, and lawful pursuit and taking of any free-ranging wild, native North American big game animal in a manner that does not give the hunter an improper advantage over such animals--a fairly noble approach to hunting that encourages man to interact with nature on a deeper level. But today, the term “sport hunting” refers to intentionally killing wild animals for enjoyment. Likewise, the term “trophy hunting” no longer refers to anything noble--it simply means “the selective hunting of wild game for human recreation. The trophy is the animal or part of the animal kept, and usually displayed, to represent the success of the hunt.”
These terms have been hijacked and their definitions changed in mainstream media. The terms are consistently used against us to frame hunters as immoral and reprehensible human beings who should be removed from the planet. Meanwhile, hunters and hunting media continue to use these words to our own detriment.
As long as we are successfully made to look like people who kill animals for enjoyment and human recreation we will continue to lose on hunting and conservation issues even in the face of sound science and rational logic. Truth AND perception are everything.
And before I get a pile of angry emails from good farmers and ranchers just let me say that I
Thus, the anti-hunting view must take into account that agriculture kills animals too. The morality of hunting must be judged against the cost of the agricultural and cattle farming activity that would replace it. Where a type of hunting has a lower death to nutrition ratio than a type of farming, and where the pain of death by hunter is arguably no greater than death by farmer or rancher, the anti-hunter must morally prefer hunting to farming or ranching.
I apologize for the long introduction, and I promise it’s almost over. But before I close, I want to clarify a few things.
After hearing this introduction, some folks might get the idea that I’m anti-farming and anti-ranching. I am absolutely pro-farming and pro-ranching--done responsibly. Frankly, we do not have enough wild game to sustain a great part of the human population via hunting. Responsible farming and ranching practices should be a key element to an overall food supply plan. So it’s not my intention to vilify farming or ranching--only to point out that it’s not without its cost to animal life. And that there’s a big difference between deplorable factory farming done on a mass scale and local farming done by responsible, caring human beings. And in the same way, I am not claiming that hunters are some kind of noble lot who only go around doing good deeds. In fact, we have some real contemptible human beings among us.
So please don’t send me a bunch of emails about how wrong I am about farming or how hunters do bad things.
I recently listened to Jocko Podcast Episode 76. It’s a good one. I highly recommend that you take the time to listen to it. The guest on this episode is Vietnam POW survivor, Capt. Charlie Plumb. And he shares a harrowing tale of 6 years spent as a prisoner of war at the Hanoi Hilton in Vietnam. At one point in the podcast Charlie says something to the effect of, “people think they need to change the way others act, but the reality is you need to change yourself.”
Think about that as you listen to this podcast. I know I have a lot of work to do when it comes to the person, Brian Call. Let the work begin.
Today on Gritty, my guest is my good friend Phil Mendoza and our topic is Targeting Buck Fever. Phil is a stud. Period. Not just because he’s an incredible hunter, archer, Train To Hunt champion, owner of Alpha Bowhunting and the Alpha Bowhunting Challenge and not because he’s the owner of the biggest archery shop in Denver; although that resume pretty sick. No, Phil is a stud because of his character. “The best index to a person's character is how he treats people who can't do him any good, and how he treats people who can't fight back.”
― Abigail Van Buren
And that quote about sums up Phil and why I like him so much. He’s been a guest on the podcast before. Early on, when I started the Gritty Bowmen podcast, Phil and Aron Snyder went on an Epic Big Horn Sheep hunt and Aron tells the story on GB EPISODE 24 and 30. More recently, Phil was a guest on episode 255 where he and our friends from Fit 4 The Hunt talked about Physical Conditioning and The Mental Game--those have been popular episodes and if you’ve never listened them, I recommend you check them out.
Phil wrote a booklet, not too long ago, that he titles Targeting Buck Fever. Every hunter, every archer has struggled at one time or another with Buck Fever. The urban dictionary defines buck fever as, “nervousness felt by novice hunters when they first sight game.” Which is absolute rubbish because buck fever can affect both new and experienced hunters. When the stakes are high, when you’re on that once-in-a-lifetime hunt, when it’s the last hour of the last day, when the buck of your dreams presents a last second shot, buck fever can wreck you. So how do you rise to occasion, hold your mud, and crush that shot? Well, that’s the discussion that Phil and I have on today’s podcast. It’s good stuff. Take a listen and if you like what you hear, do me a favor and link up with Phil on his Alpha Bowhunting Instagram and Youtube Channels and checkout his book on Amazon. As always, thanks for tuning in to Gritty and making this show possible.
Today on Gritty, I’m on location in Oklahoma with Tim Burnett. We’re on a whitetail hunt in Oklahoma. And I’m trying to self-film my hunt. And… it’s not so easy. Tim shares his philosophy on self-filming. And we stray from the subject of self-filming hunts to the topic of so-called trophy hunting--and the propensity of weak people to fault-find and criticize others to make themselves feel better about their own lives. Because if you can hate on a post about a kid’s first bull elk, you’ve got problems and I’m not afraid to say, “grow-up” and “get a life.” Stop saying things that make you weak. And figure yourself out. Too many people assume the problems of the world are someone else's fault. A true person tries to change him or herself, which is more difficult and less grand. If we all focused on fixing ourselves instead of trying to fix everybody else the world would be a better place. And if you think you don’t have anything to fix--think again. Evil is the force that believes its knowledge is complete.
The reality is this:
•Everybody acts out a myth,
•but very few people know what their myth is.
•And you should know what your myth is,
•because it might be a tragedy.
• And maybe you don't want it to be.
Today on Gritty, I’m joined by John Barklow and Chris Derek. John is the Big Game Product Manager at Sitka Gear and Chris is the Whitetail Product Manager at Sitka. AND, I am joined by Sloane Brown from Backbone Media, a public relations, social media and content marketing agency for active lifestyle brands. AND I’m joined by my good friend, Casey Harbertson, partner and owner of MTN OPS.
The group of us were invited to Sloane’s family ranch in Texas to hunt whitetails. And although we talk whitetail hunting on an upcoming episode--this episode is more technical in nature--it’s about survival, it’s about managing moisture within your chosen clothing system. It’s about hunter responsibility. It’s about staying gritty in hostile and sometimes deadly conditions. By the end of this episode you should have a better understanding of clothing layering systems and when and why they matter. And, hopefully, as a result of this episode, you’ll be better prepared for surviving an extreme cold disaster. And after this podcast, if you’d like to learn more about A Navy SEAL Rewarming Drill, go to Sitkagear.com and search “Rewarming Drill.”
On this episode of Gritty Bowmen I sit down with SOLO HNTR, Tim Burnett. We talk about our Oklahoma Whitetail hunt, Public Lane Hunting vs. Guided Hunts and Tim shares his most meaningful hunt.
On this episode of Gritty Bowmen we are in Canada at Primitive Outfitting. We talk with guide, Ben Jackson and hunter, Clay Reinarz. Clay was fortunate enough to get one of the last Grizzly hunting tags before they closed Grizzly hunting in Canada. He shares the story of his Longbow Grizzly hunt and how things went a little sideways. Check it out. To learn more about the Canadian Grizzly Ban check out Episodes 282 and 278.
Today on Gritty, I am joined by Tim Burnett, aka SOLO HUNTER and we talk about branding, marketing and business. Tim and I are in the business of content creation and so our branding and marketing discussion leans that direction. I really like Tim--he’s got a “what you see is what you get” personality that I find refreshing. And he doesn’t over complicate things--words like, “don’t be a jackass” are pretty easy to comprehend. Nonetheless, in classic fashion, I ask him to elaborate on the “jackass” statement just to be sure I fully understand it.
I ask Tim how Solo started. What’s the biggest mistake people make when creating a brand name. We talk about our objectives when we create content. And we talk about the importance of good business partners and how you know whether you have a good one or not. We agree that media consumption habits differ greatly from platform to platform, for example., from TV to FB to Instagram to Youtube to Twitter--and people have preferred platforms. We discuss the differences between platforms and we share our thoughts on how our messaging differs from platform to platform.
This isn’t all we talk about, but this intro gives you a good idea of what this show is about. I hope you find this episode helpful. In today’s world, nearly everyone is a content creator of some sort. So I don’t believe this episode is just for those trying to build a brand per se. This episode can help those who are actively involved in promoting the hunting life, conservation and life values. Finally, please know that Tim and I are by no means experts in marketing or content creation--we just know what has worked for us and we share it on this podcast.
For those who want to learn more about these topics, I recommend that you read the following books:
1.The Thank You Economy, Crush It, and Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk.
2.And for those wanting to start a new career and chase a more meaningful job, check-out the book START, by Jon Acuff. In this book, “Jon Explores the five stages every life goes through on the path to awesome and looks at what it takes to punch fear in the face, escape average and do work that matters.”
On the episode of Gritty Bowmen we talk about missing the shot and reducing the “cone of variables”. Be sure to listen to the previous parts to this episode; Episodes 291 and 292. We are joined by Aron Snyder, Bryan Broderick of Lost Arrow Films, David Brinker of Sitka Gear in Alberta, Canada.
On the episode of Gritty Bowmen we are joined by Aron Snyder, Bryan Broderick of Lost Arrow Films, David Brinker of Sitka Gear in Alberta, Canada. We continue our discussion from the previous episode by talking about David’s recent change from traditional archery to a compound. David has struggled with target panic and since he switched to a hinge release and a compound and followed some of Joel Turner’s advice, he has found success.
On the episode of Gritty Bowmen we talk about our 2017 Mule Deer Hunt in Alberta, Canada. We are joined by Aron Snyder, Bryan Broderick of Lost Arrow Films, David Brinker of Sitka Gear. We begin this discussion by sharing our mule deer stalks and Aron talks Mechanical vs. Fixed Blade Broadheads and Bryan Broderick shares his success with the longbow.
On this episode of Gritty Bowmen I interview my Grandfather, Joe Lane. My Grandfather is nearly 90 years of age and his time on this earth is almost over. Every human being travels the road of life. And in my estimation, the best humans among us are the ones who travel their road with moral fortitude--the best among us are those who love the best they can. I know this might come across as fairytale-ish to some, but I truly believe this to be so.
My Grandpa Joe has never been a perfect man. But I can say with certainty that he has always loved; and although that love maybe imperfect, it’s always been at the heart of who he wants and strives to be and he has modeled well for me how a man should love and cherish his wife. And what higher endeavor can a man aspire to than to love and reduce suffering in the world? There are those in this world who honestly “TRY” to be a good person. And there are those who make no effort at all to be “good.” My grandfather is the former--and for that I am deeply grateful. My Grandpa has always been a prominent figure in my life. He’s always been a strong man. A man of grit and determination. He’s honestly one of the most physically tough human beings I’ve ever met. Growing up during the Great Depression and in a state of abject poverty he was hardened and forever shaped by the rigors of his youth and on this podcast, myself, my sister, Katie and her husband Bryce talk with my Grandfather about his interesting and diverse life. Things aren’t like they used to be. We’ve traded root cellars for refrigerators and horses for cars. We have smart phones and iPads. And very few of us are in danger of starving to death or dying from Scarlet Fever. So take a listen to this long conversation and then stop complaining about the traffic, or your job, or how things aren’t fair because they could be a whole lot worse. In the words of Jordan B. Peterson, “Pick up your damn suffering and bear it. And try to be a good person so you don’t make it worse.” Because, “Since Auschwitz we know what man is capable of. And since Hiroshima we know what is at stake.”
In other words, man is self-determining AND life has meaning. So act like it. Live a life that is intrinsically good and worth remembering.