Vortex Nation Podcast

Open country archery mule deer hunting is a tough game — particularly when it’s your first time doing it. Samong Yang from Samong Outdoors teams up with the gang from YETI and Remi Warren for an exciting hunt in sage country. Tune in to hear all about it.

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Ryan Muckenhirn “swings through” to give his thoughts on the various forms of shotgun leads, what may work best, and when to use certain types. If you’re looking for practical advice to break clays and bring more birds to bag, this is the episode for you.

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Crossbows are incredibly effective when set up with the right optic. The Vortex Crossfire II Crossbow Scope is that optic. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn talk the merits of the crossbow platform, the simple process of sighting the Crossfire II Crossbow Scope in, and shooting the system to 100 yards.

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Kelly Birchmier tells the story of the giant velvet bull he shot with his bow. This was a hunt 12 years in the making, a hunt that almost didn’t happen, a hunt where all the stars aligned — a hunt that resulted in a world record? Tune in to find out.

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Gregg Sloan jumps on to talk through their new Barnes Reserve line of ammo, the “why” behind it, and what it offers hunters/shooters. This ammo comes from the factory with hand-loaded precision and features cartridges you’re not going to find on the shelf of your local shop — including .300 SUPER WSM. Tune in to hear about it and all the current offerings.

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Adventure is what and where you make it. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn chat through outside-the-box adventure hunts they have planned — to hopefully inspire you to plan yours. From multi-state/multi-species upland bird safaris to equipment-intensive back-40 does, this is a fun podcast you won’t want to miss.

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Zack Ellis from Pacific North Wild takes a break from fall bear hunting to give us a season update. He covers conditions and timing specific to this year, bear encounters thus far, tactics, and what to look for in the coming weeks. Tune in for some solid info and tips you can take to the field.

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The Vortex Crossfire® HD Riflescope series represents quality, economy and versatility. Boasting features and optics found on more expensive options, a deep lineup of configurations, and reticles to suit a wide range of hunters and shooters, they are truly the every-man’s riflescope series. Luke Roberts from Vortex’s product development team joins Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn to walk through these impressive riflescopes.

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Ecologist, guide, dog trainer, and taxidermist, Meadow Kouffeld, gives us a rundown on Ruffed Grouse biology and their habits. Knowing your quarry isn’t just interesting, it will make you a better hunter. Quit grousing around and tune in for some great grouse info.

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Meticulous, methodical, a stickler for consistency and precision, Erik Barber is serious about his hunting arrows. From component selection to tuning each complete arrow to perfection, he leaves no detail unturned. Tune in to hear what he’s using, why, and what he does to make each arrow hit behind the pin.

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Argali’s Brad Brooks drops by to drop some hard-earned elk hunting and backcountry gear knowledge. Years of chasing and consistently harvesting bulls makes his voice a good one to listen to. Weave some of Brad’s elk hunting advice into your tactics tool kit and you just might get your Argali game bags dirty this fall.

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Range with precision, minimize kit, save time, spot shots, and glass away — all with the Ranger® HD 3000 Laser Rangefinding Binocular. This 10x42 unit is a two-in-one solution for your observation and rangefinding needs. Tune in to hear all about its impressive features and why it may just be your next optic of choice.

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Dan Johnson from the Sportsmen’s Empire Podcast Network visits Vortex. He and Mark Boardman talk about the Sportsmen’s Empire platform, his personal podcasts, life, kids, time best spent, hunting and more. Tune in for a great conversation with a down-to-earth dude.

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The high-velocity .264 Winchester Magnum built its reputation around flat-shooting performance and its ability to flatten game. Making its commercial debut in 1959, it was soon overshadowed but the 7mm Remington Magnum. Tune in as Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn talk about this incredibly capable yet nearly forgotten cartridge.

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This round-table discussion takes place around a table loaded with a wide variety of rifle stocks and chassis. Models, features, total wight, and material composition abound. Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn and precision-rifle-shooter Mike Tassoul talk through what they like, where each is optimal, and what works best for them.

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Food Selection in the backcountry can make or break your hunt. From simply having to choke down what should be a reward at the end of a hard day, to hunt-ruining gastrointestinal issues, it’s good practice to know before you go. Just trust us here! Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn and new-to-the podcast, Rylan Benson, bring their favorites to share. Get some tips, stories, and the “why” behind their selection in this ultra-fun dish-to-pass episode.

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You asked, we answered. Light-hearted to technical, the gang is back answering listener questions. There’s a little bit of everything in this buffet of banter.

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Selecting a release for compound bowhunting is a big decision. Styles and opinions abound. Mark Boardman, Ryan Muckenhirn, and one of the most consistent whitetail whackers we know, Erik Barber, team up to give their thoughts.

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Ike Eastman and Brandon Mason from Wyoming-based Eastmans’ Hunting break down antelope tips and tactics that will have you breaking down your next big buck. On the surface, pursuing these critters may seem simple. That can be true, but when you dive into their biology, habitat, and unique behaviors, there’s more to antelope hunting than meets their big eyes.

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Up the performance of your Tikka with aftermarket accessories that don’t break the bank. Small, inexpensive, easy to implement changes can yield big results and options from a wide swath of reputable manufacturers abound. Mark Boardman, Erik Barber and Ryan Muckenhirn talk through several to consider.

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Take your muzzleloader hunting to the next level by taking a step back in time with a flintlock. Primitive weapon, hunting, and bushcraft expert, Clay Hayes, sits down with Mark Boardman to talk about flint-lock hunting. They cover what makes them fun, challenging, rewarding, specific hunts, and how they work.

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Vortex’s Ian Klemm, the “King of Collectable Firearms,” drops in with one made for a Prince. Tune in to hear all about this petite double rifle and the sleuthing Ian did to learn its royal heritage.

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The drywall dust has settled. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn are back in the podcast studio analyzing their respective home defense firearm choices — and how they performed. Gel, drywall, and a move-and-shoot course made for an interesting test yielding interesting results. What are you selecting to defend your castle? This episode may help guide that decision. 

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Telling the story is 1/3 the hunt. Some stories are memorable for reasons outside of coming home with your quarry. Mark Boardman, Sawyer Briel, and Graham Cronin team up to tell a few funny ones.

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Long-range pioneer, innovator, rifle builder, and cartridge designer, John Lazzeroni, drops by to showcase his high-stepping, hard-hitting rifles. The guys shoot his new 7.82 Warbird 110 grain loading at more than 4,000 fps. and the 9.53 Saturn pushing a 300-grain projectile north of 3,000 fps. In-depth history and great stories from a guy who was doing long range before it was a thing.

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Hammer Bullets are a proverbial new kid on the bullet block. But are they built to knock the blocks off big game? Lathe turned with incredible precision, they are uniquely engineered to expand rapidly, shed pedals, and have the shank continue through the animal. Their design subscribes to a terminal-performance philosophy departing from the monolithic projectile norm. Are they the perfect balance? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn join up to try and sort that out.

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It’s unfair, but left-handed shooters are often left out, disregarded, and dismissed when it comes to products designed to accommodate their handedness. High-level competitive shooters and left-handers, Adam Maxwell and Ian Klemm swing by to give us the rundown on left-handed shooter considerations. Firearm features, special equipment, competitive advantages/disadvantages and simply adapting to right-hand firearms, we cover it all. 

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MeatEater’s Director of Conservation, Ryan Callaghan sits down to talk us through current legislation being considered that aims to sell off America’s public lands — and what you can do to make your voice heard. This is a non-partisan issue that impacts anybody who appreciates and enjoys our public lands in any capacity. If this legislation is accepted, not only will we not get these lands back, it sets a dangerous precedent for the future. Get in the fight.

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Violations of open meetings laws, collusion with animal extremists on policy matters, exclusion of tribal co-managers when legally bound to consult, and more. Todd Adkins from Sportsmen’s Alliance joins Mark Boardman to tell us all about the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission’s gross misconduct — and what Sportsmen’s Alliance is doing to expose/address it.

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In this twisty tale of two pistols, Vortex’s Adam Maxwell brings in the original Hudson H9 and the present-day Daniel Defense H9. The overall concept of blending desirable attributes of the beloved 1911 and today’s popular striker-fired pistols is the same, the pistols themselves are very different. We cover the saga, the features, and what it offers the shooter.

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State fish and game agencies update their regulations every year. Some changes are bigger than others. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn highlight a few sure to elate or infuriate. Tune in and stay in the know.

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Hunting the UK is a world apart from hunting North America — which is exactly why you should add it to your hunting to-do list. 5 species of deer, culture, stunning landscapes, tradition, and history are just a few things that make this place special. Rob Gearing from Spartan Precision joins Mark Boardman to tell us all about it! Tune in only if you’re ok planning a trip immediately after.

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Simple, utilitarian, elegant, romantic, inexpensive, exorbitantly priced — single shot rifles run the gamut. They also share undeniable commonalities. Ian Klemm and Ryan Muckenhirn drop by the studio to chat with Mark Boardman about single shot rifles, their charm, and where they sit in today’s rifle landscape.

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Quarter-bores like the 25-06 have spent their lives in the shadows of more popular cartridges. Cult followings of folks in the know have kept them alive — barely. Was not reaching their full potential the reason they never got to sit at the cool kid’s table? Could spinning higher weight, higher BC bullets faster breathe new life into old classics — and birth new cartridges like the 25 Creedmoor? Are 25’s the new sweet spot? Will they finally go to prom? Matt Pederson from Pederson Precision stops by to put a twist on several cartridges that might just be getting their due. 

Dan Staton has dedicated his life to perfecting his elk-hunting craft. For Dan, 11 months of the year exist for one reason — to get ready for September. The result of his intense focus — bulls on the ground with incredible consistency. Tune in and draft off his hard-earned experience.

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Trevor Hubbs from the Mule Deer Foundation jumps on to chat about mule deer, threats they face, and the great work MDF is doing to ensure a prosperous future for these amazing critters. Habitat, overpasses, funding, and the new Blacktail Deer Foundation, he migrates through interesting information you’ll want to know.

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All meatballs, all the time, the Spaghetti Shootout season-three finale is loaded with quippy questions from YOU! Jimmy gets kidnapped by thugs, fishing for Nessie, immortality, and more, the guy’s debate topics only true intellectuals dare ponder. Does Mark go out with a bang or shoot himself in the foot? Tune in to find out.

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The TC Encore is back for its encore appearance. After being purchased by S&W and subsequently shelved, some of the original owners are resurrecting the brand. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn talk about the rifles, what they offer a hunter, personal experiences with them, and where they fit in today’s modern firearm and muzzleloader landscape.

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Wisconsin DNR’s Dan Storm joins Mark Boardman to examine the multi-year Southwest Wisconsin CWD, Deer and Predator Study. He gives us the “why” behind the study, how it was conducted and their findings. Tune in for interesting information on a contentious topic. 

As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ podcast by asking us on Instagram @vortexnationpodcast

Vortex’s Gayla Gibson buzzes by the studio to talk bee keeping basics. Beekeeping is cool, interesting, and rewarding. Your suburban backyard could bee the perfect place to bee-gin your bee-keeping journey. More pollinators is a good thing, and we can’t forget the bounty of sweet golden goodness we get in return. Tune in to get turned on to beekeeping. 

As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ podcast by asking us on Instagram @vortexnationpodcast