Becoming a Bowhunter

What do you really need to look for in a new bow?

In this episode, I sit down with Ian Summers to unpack the process of choosing a 2026 model hunting bow. 

We get real about the 2026 bows and their stats, and what actually matters when you’re out in the bush versus what’s just clever marketing.

Ian brings deep insight from years of archeryand bowhunting experience…  Plus many years of running Summers Archery Solutions, where he tunes bows daily and helps to coach bowhunters and archers through better shot mechanics.

We talk about the quirks and improvements of the 2026 flagship bows from top manufacturers, including Hoyt, Mathews, Bowtech, Elite, Bear, PSE, Expedition, Truth, Darton and more. 

We also explore some of the engineering changes, personal setup preferences, and why some bows feel better in hand than others even with the same specs on paper.

Whether you're upgrading your current rig or diving deep into your first major bow purchase, this episode offers grounded advice and real talk about what's worth your money… and what’s not.

🔍 What We Cover in This Episode:

All Flagship bows on offer in 2026

How brace height, draw length, and axle-to-axle affect performance

Differences in cam design and let-off feel

Tuning quirks and 2026 bow setup tips

Advice for bowhunters with a 30” draw length

Why specs don’t always tell the whole story

Considerations around noise, vibration, and hand shock

Find Our Guest:

Ian Summers

Instagram:

@summersarchery

@iansummersofficial

🎙 Follow Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

🎧 Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off

@dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off

@kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt

@venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off

@jabstickoutdoors

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty sits down with Dave Whiting, a highly respected traditional bowhunter with decades of experience hunting Australia’s small game species.

Today we’re diving deep into bowhunting the small game species Australia has to offer, specifically, rabbits, hares, foxes and cats.

Dave shares stories and lessons gathered over a lifetime with trad bows, covering everything from finding productive ground to learning how to move slowly, read sign, and wait for the right opportunity.

This is a practical, experience-driven episode that highlights how small game hunting builds better bowhunters.

After bowhunting for 55 years dave has had some incredible experiences in the bush and after we cover the small game species, Dave enlightens us with some of his fond memories and tales.

🔍 What We Cover:

All things rabbits… where to find 'em and how to hunt them with a bow.
How hares differ from rabbits and how you should hunt them with a bow.
Dave’s new-found method for hunting cats
Calling in foxes. 
Trophy Takers Legend Award
Wrestling with boars
Stuck up a tree with a buffalo at your feet
He almost lost his thumb to a boar's tusks 
Being inducted into the International Traditional Bowhunting Hall Of Fame
What a life of bowhunting has offered Dave

🏹 Supporting Dave Whiting:

Dave is currently being inducted into the International Traditional Bowhunting Hall Of Fame — a huge and well-earned honour.

There is an active GoFundMe to help support his travel to the USA for the induction ceremony. If you’d like to contribute or share support, you can do so here:

👉 https://www.gofundme.com/f/dave-whiting-travel-to-to-usa-for-hall-of-fame-induction

🔗 Find Our Guest:

Dave Whiting

Instagram: @whiting.dave

🎙 Follow Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

🎧 Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off

@dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off

@kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt

@venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off

@jabstickoutdoors

This week Matty sits down with Grant Rand, Benny Fensom, Brett Meldrum, and Ben Atherton. Given the time of year, the boys reflect on 2025 to share their highlights. Plus, share their goals they’ve each set for 2026. 

This episode is full of laughs, stories, and some pretty aspirational goals for the year ahead from 5 Aussie bowhunters.

If you haven’t already taken the time to reflect on your year of hunting in 2025 and set some goals for 2026, be sure to take a beat and write down some goals.

Podcast topics

Almost $40K raised by the bowhunting community 
The standout performance for the year goes to…
Highlights of the year. 
Picking up the trad bow. 
Plans, goals and aspirations for 2026

Whether you’re preparing for an overseas hunting trip yourself or you just want to get in better physical shape for bowhunting in general, this is a great episode for you.

Connect with the Guests

Grant Rand

Instagram: @grant_randy_rand

Brett Meldrum

Instagram: @brettmeldrum085

Benny Fensom 

Instagram: @benny_fensom

Ben Atherton

Instagram: @ben_atho_hunts

Follow Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

🎧 Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off

@dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off

@kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt

@venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off

@jabstickoutdoors

🎧 Listen Now:

This is a 2-part podcast. Part 1 is a solo episode with Matty Turner explaining how he gained 12 kg over 3 months and then lost it in the following 6 months. He gives you the calculations and protocol for what he calls “The Lazy Man’s Carb Cycling.” This was the exact method Matty used to drop the 12 kgs over a 12-week period.

Part 2 is from an interview hosted by Andy Leonard from the Stalk Outdoors Podcast. Around July 2025, Andy interviewed Matty on his podcast to discuss all things nutrition and fitness for preparing for a backpack hunt in New Zealand.

They cover potential exercises to focus on, nutrition for the mountains, and potential weight gain in the lead-up to the trip.

Podcast topics

Brett Meldrum’s Hunt Giveaway
Boars for a Cause
Terrorist attack in Bondi and what that potentially means for gun ownership in Australia.
Gaining and losing 12kgs over a 6-month timeframe.
How Andy’s own injuries reshaped his training philosophy
Functionality over weight in exercise every day.
Key movements for mobility, core strength, and joint stability for bowhunting
Warmups in the field to mitigate shoulder injuries.
Programming tips for busy hunters who can’t train 5 days a week
The fitter you are, the more likely you’ll be successful in the bush

Whether you’re preparing for an overseas hunting trip yourself or you just want to get in better physical shape for bowhunting in general, this is a great episode for you.

Connect with the Guests

Andy Leonard (Stalk Outdoors)

Instagram: @stalkoutdoors.podcast

Follow Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

🎧 Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off

@dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off

@kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt

@venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off

@jabstickoutdoors

🎧 In This Episode:

Dr. James Park brings a scientific lens to the world of archery. As a highly respected archer, Olympic coach, engineer, and researcher, James has authored numerous scientific papers on arrow life cycle performance and physics. In this episode, Matty and Dr. Park dive into:

The complete lifecycle of an arrow — from release to impact
How arrow drag, lift, and spine influence penetration
Arrow shafts effect on drag
Why vane profile matters
What James would test more of and use if he were a hunter.
Working with Olympians on shot process and mindset.
What Technology upgrades are doing for the world of archery and bowhunting.

If you’ve ever been confused about tuning, arrow weight, or whether speed helps or hinders your hunt… this is the deep-dive you’ve been waiting for.

Find Our Guests:

Dr James L Park

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/James-Park-39

Follow Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

🎧 Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off

@dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off

@kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt

@venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off

@jabstickoutdoors