Sometimes the best way to learn is to listen to the experiences of others. Podcasts and articles can not only provide valuable lessons but also a good laugh, a sense of thrill and a source of inspiration!
Australian Hunting Backcountry
Hi everyone,
I’ve been given the opportunity by the ‘Natures Perks’ team to tell you a bit about myself and introduce my podcast – Australian Hunting Backcountry.
AHB was born after conversations with two of my good hunting mates, one who had many years of backcountry hunting in New Zealand and Australia and the other had none – but was very eager to learn more from our experiences. We sat around in a café one day, all nursing hangovers after attending a social event the night before, and somehow they convinced me to start producing a channel dedicated to backcountry hunts.
I’ve been shooting and hunting since my teenage years but didn’t truly get to discover backcountry and backpack hunting until my early 30’s. I always found myself wanting to do more than just the usual day hunts or base camp type hunts and with many years in the Scouts, I was well educated in multi-day backpack trips. So for me, it was quite a natural progression into backpack hunting.
I was always thirsty for information on backpack style hunts and absorbed as much as I could of it through magazine articles and trying to seek out people who were already engaged in it. Most of the data I could get access to was by way of Sambar hunters in Victoria and alpine hunters in New Zealand but I could have never predicted how addicted to it I would become. Fast forward to me now nearing 50 years old and it consumes me, my work/life balance, my purchases and, obviously, my thirst for knowledge.
Due to a number of factors in my life over the years, I was often limited as to when I could take holidays and hence it was usually easier to take leave at short notice. This meant that I often didn’t have a hunting partner who was available to come away with me, so I consequently discovered the joys and challenges of solo hunting. This meant a lot of lessons were learnt the hard way but this also brought an enormous amount of freedom to my hunts. The one thing I am absolutely certain of is that I learnt something on every trip and to be honest, I don’t want to stop learning.
As the name suggests, the podcast is focusing on backcountry hunting, not only in Australia and New Zealand, but anywhere that these opportunities exist. I want to highlight that the podcast doesn’t just focus on hunting by foot but all modalities including helicopter, light plane, horseback, llamas, packraft or whatever else I haven’t discovered yet. I’m also not just focusing on rifle hunters but want to be inclusive to bow hunters and even backcountry fishers.
My aim is to produce episodes that explore all the gear, the places and animal species from around the world that people live to hunt by accessing the backcountry. I try to bring as much variety to the episodes by interviewing all types of hunters about their lived experiences, different perspectives and hear about the shared passion for hard earned hunts. We examine gear and hear why hunters want/need some products and might not need others, conduct comparisons between products and discuss how hunters find their work/life/hunting balance of hunters. While I recognise that I am a bit of a niche podcast, I also aim to stay relevant and provide content that may affect hunters as a whole.
The primary ethos of the podcast though is to simplify some of the challenges and reduce perceived hurdles that people face so that anyone curious about this type of hunting can safely take the leap into it. I also have a strong interest in men’s mental health and hope that I can highlight how this style of hunting positively affects people’s ability to continue facing some of life’s trials.
In nearly every episode I also like to spotlight a small and/or Australian business so listeners are exposed to some niche providers out there that might be peripheral to the hunting industry but who still support hunters and our way of life. I believe it is important for us all to form a collaborative community that is as big as possible to educate one another and be a strong collective that can face up to the efforts of government and anti’s who continually chip away at our pursuits.
I am happy to chat with anyone and more than happy to receive suggestions for podcast topics and/or guests. Please feel free to reach out to me on Instagram @australian_hunting_backcountry or via email: australian.hunting.backcountry@outlook.com.au
I hope to bring you more quality episodes in 2025 and please check out my buddies @liquidantler and @the_venture_folk as we are often collaborating on hunting content.
Tobias Turner.
The Hunting Connection Podcast
My name is Zach Williams, and I’m a delivery truck driver from the northern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia. Though I grew up in the suburbs until I was about 10, I was always drawn to nature. Whether it was catching lizards at the local park or searching for creeks and ponds full of yabbies and fish, I spent as much time outdoors as I could.
Hunting has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My grandpa, “Pop,” took me out on hunting and fishing trips before I was even old enough to fully understand what we were doing. It’s in my blood. The main reason I hunt is for the meat. There’s nothing better than freshly harvested wild game—ethical, sustainable, and free from additives. But hunting is more than just food for me. It’s an escape from the pressures of daily life, a chance to immerse myself in the bush, study animal patterns, and focus entirely on the task at hand.
Hunting also plays a vital role in conservation. It’s a constant internal battle—I appreciate the presence of non-native species in our landscapes, yet I also recognize the damage they cause to native flora, fauna, and farmland. Hunting helps manage these populations while allowing me to connect with nature in a meaningful way.
My love of hunting and talking with like-minded people led me to create the Hunting Connection Podcast. Through the podcast, I’ve met incredible people—both guests and listeners—and built lifelong friendships. It’s been a platform for learning, sharing stories, and growing as a hunter and conservationist.
I’ve been fortunate to hunt in Texas, Mexico, and both islands of New Zealand, alongside my adventures across Australia. While it’s hard to pick a favorite hunt, what stands out the most isn’t the game I’ve taken but the friendships I’ve made. Hunt camps bring people together from all walks of life, creating unforgettable memories. The laughter around the fire, the camaraderie, and the shared passion for the outdoors—those are the moments that last a lifetime.
Hunting isn’t just a pastime for me; it’s a way of life. It’s about respect for the land, the animals, and the people I meet along the way. And through it all, I’m grateful for every adventure, every lesson, and every connection made.
Zach Williams.
