Becoming a Bowhunter

In this episode, Matty sits down with Dallas Hemeyer of 365 Pursuit.

Dallas has spent years filming hunts around the world through 365 Pursuit, from Tanzania and New Zealand to Mexico and across the US. Along the way he's survived a helicopter crash, a rifle exploding in his face, dangerous infections and more than a few situations where getting home wasn't guaranteed.

We talked about hunting some of the wildest places on earth, what it takes to prepare for the unexpected, and why hunters play such an important role in conservation across Africa.

This episode will have you sitting on the edge of your seat from word go.

Podcast topics:

The story behind Dallas' viral Instagram post showing the injuries and close calls he's experienced while hunting around the world.
A hunter collapsing from severe dehydration in remote Mexico and why simple mistakes can become life-threatening hours from medical help.
Dallas' terrifying helicopter crash in Tanzania, rescuing injured passengers, and spending hours stranded before help could arrive.
How a rifle exploded while shooting a Cape buffalo, leaving metal lodged beside Dallas' optic nerve and permanently changing his bow setup.
Why learning to shoot left-handed after losing vision in his dominant eye actually made him a better archer.
What years of hunting alongside African PHs taught Dallas about reading country, adapting to different species and becoming a more complete hunter.
The reality of conservation in Tanzania, including anti-poaching patrols, hunting concessions and why hunters fund the protection of huge wild areas.
Why banning trophy imports can have unintended consequences for wildlife and the communities responsible for protecting it.
Dallas' current arrow setup, broadheads and the lessons he's learned after years of obsessive testing and building hundreds of arrows.
Why getting closer—not shooting further—is still one of the biggest challenges and rewards in bowhunting.

🧠 Key Takeaway

The wilderness doesn't care how experienced you are. Preparation, good decision making and staying calm when things go wrong will save you long before any piece of gear does. Dallas' stories are a reminder that every hunt carries risk—and the people who come home are usually the ones who planned for it.

🔗 Find Our Guest

Dallas Hemeyer

Instagram: @dallashemeyer

365 Pursuit

Instagram: @365pursuit

YouTube: @365PURSUIT

One of the stories we discuss in this episode is featured in Dallas' film Taking a Bow to a Gun Fight follows Devin Leonard bowhunting elk during a Utah rifle season:

https://youtu.be/e9LvqgN9P0U?si=go-QXQg2NtySYjpK

🎙 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

Every now and then it's worth looking back at the gear you've bought and asking yourself... was it actually worth it? That's what this episode is. No sponsorship fluff. Just my honest thoughts after putting this gear through its paces over the last 12 months. 

Some of it has been worth every cent. Other bits I'm still on the fence about. From cameras and boots through to wet weather gear, rangefinders, camping gear and vacuum sealers, I break down what I paid, why I bought it, and whether I'd spend the money again.

I also run through my brand new bow setup after finally pulling the trigger on the Darton TriTech. We talk through why I chose it, how it tuned, what it cost, and the first couple of hunts where it really surprised me.

One moment that still sticks with me was watching a group of hinds barely react after I missed a shot through a lantana bush. They moved, stopped about 60 metres away and just stood there. It was the first real indication of just how incredibly quiet this new bow actually is.

🔍 What We Cover:

Why I chose the DJI Action 5 Pro over a GoPro and Insta360, and how it's handled hunting, spearfishing and low-light filming.
My thoughts on the Stoney Creek Nitz rain jacket after using it in Queensland conditions, including where it excels and where it falls short.
Testing Reebok Tactical boots in steep, muddy country and how they compared to Volleys and Salomons for long days in the hills.
The camping mattress setup that completely changed how I sleep in my swag, including the North Peak inflatable system and pillow combination.
A new rechargeable head torch with adjustable beam patterns, red light mode and gesture controls that has replaced my old setup.
Upgrading from a budget Aldi rangefinder to the Leupold RX-1400i and why quality glass and angle compensation make such a difference in the field.
Why I invested in a chamber vacuum sealer, how it improves meat storage, and the biggest advantage over traditional vacuum sealers.
The process behind choosing the Darton TriTech after the Truth bow production issues and why feedback from bow technicians convinced me.
Setting up the new bow, tuning broadheads with the limb adjustment system, and how quickly it paper tuned.
Two real hunting encounters where the Darton TriTech's incredibly quiet shot helped deer stay calm after the arrow was released.
An update on preparing the camel euro mount, using acetone to remove oils from the skull, and plans for the new podcast backdrop.

🧠 Key Takeaway

The best gear isn't always the most expensive, it's the gear that genuinely solves a problem once you've used it in the real world. Putting equipment through hunts, bad weather and long days in the bush quickly shows what's worth keeping and what isn't.

🎙 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

Public land hunting in Australia gives hunters access to millions of acres of huntable country, but getting started can be confusing. Alex Proft from Aussie Bush Harvest breaks down the NSW public land hunting system, how the R Licence works, where you can hunt, and why public land remains one of the best ways to build hunting skills and experience.

The conversation also covers bowhunting, Sambar deer, public access, hunting culture, conservation, and the future of hunting opportunities in Australia. Alex shares stories from years of hunting public land and explains why learning a piece of country can be more valuable than constantly chasing new locations. 

What You'll Learn

• How the NSW R Licence system works for rifle hunters, bowhunters, and pig doggers

• Where public land hunting is available in New South Wales

• Why public land hunting helped develop Alex's bowhunting skills

• The differences between public land and private property hunting

• How hunting pressure changes deer behaviour on public land

• Why Sambar deer thrive in remote public land country

• The challenges facing hunting access in Australia

• Why hunters, fishers, campers, and outdoor users need a stronger collective voice

About the Guest

Alex Proft is the creator of Aussie Bush Harvest and has spent years documenting hunting, fishing, bushcraft, and outdoor adventures across Australia. He's well known for his public land hunting content, thoughtful approach to hunting, and his passion for helping new hunters get started. 

Find Our Guest

Alex Proft

Aussie Bush Harvest

Instagram: @aussiebushharvest

YouTube: Aussie Bush Harvest

Follow Becoming A Bowhunter:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becomingabowhunter.podcast/

Hosted by Matty Turner: https://www.instagram.com/mattyafter/

Episode Sponsors:

Dog and Gun Coffee – Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off | @dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Use code BAB10 for 10% off | @kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors | @venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – Use code BAB10 for $10 off | @jabstickoutdoors

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty is joined by Amon Woulfe to discuss one of the most overlooked aspects of hunting, sport, business and life... the mind.

After a missed opportunity on a mature stag during the red deer rut, Matty shares the story that led him to Amon's new book, Missing In Action: Master Your Mind in Moments That Matter.

Amon has spent years working with elite athletes, sporting teams, military personnel and business leaders, helping them understand what happens when pressure rises and performance falls away.

Together, Matty and Amon discuss target panic, pressure, fear, confidence, anxiety, resilience and the mental tools hunters can use when everything is on the line.

This episode isn't just about bowhunting. It's about understanding what happens when your mind leaves the moment and learning how to bring it back when it matters most.

🔍 What We Cover:

• Why the modern mind is under more pressure than ever before

• The connection between target panic and mental performance

• Why pressure is the gap between your mind and the moment

• How elite athletes train their minds for high-pressure situations

• The difference between physical resilience and mental resilience

• Why focusing on outcomes can sabotage performance

• The four low-performance mind states: agitated, anxious, critical and foggy

• Practical reset tools to regain control when pressure builds

• How breathwork affects performance and decision-making

• Why anxiety often comes from avoiding fear

• The role of self-belief and limiting beliefs in performance

• How these mental skills apply to hunting, business, parenting and everyday life

And a heck of a lot more.

🧠 Key Takeaway

The goal isn't to eliminate pressure. The goal is to stay present when pressure arrives. The moment your mind drifts into the future, the past, fear, outcomes or self-doubt, performance starts to suffer. Learning how to reset and return to the moment may be one of the most valuable skills you'll ever develop.

🔗 Find Our Guest

Amon Woulfe

Website: amonwoulfe.com

Human Performance Group: humanperformancegroup.co

Instagram: @amonwoulfe

🎙 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, Matty sits down with New Zealand ecologist and Sika Foundation member Cam Speedy for a deep dive into Sika deer, deer ecology, habitat management, and the role hunters play in conservation.

Cam shares decades of experience working in wildlife management throughout New Zealand, including predator control, deer tracking studies, biodiversity work, and research around Sika deer populations in the Central North Island.

The conversation explores how deer density directly impacts habitat quality, breeding success, antler growth, and overall herd health. Cam explains why healthy hunting systems rely on balanced harvests, particularly around female deer, and how hunters themselves often act as the primary predator within modern deer systems.

There’s also a fascinating breakdown of Sika deer behaviour, including rut timing, scrape systems, home ranges, dispersal patterns, and why Sika have become such a sought-after species for bowhunters.

This is a grounded conversation that blends science, practical hunting knowledge, and conservation into one of the most detailed discussions we’ve had on deer ecology and management.

🔍 What We Cover:

Cam’s background in ecology and wildlife management
Predator control in New Zealand and the impact of stoats, rats, cats, and possums
Why healthy habitat is the true foundation of sustainable hunting
Sika deer history in New Zealand and how they became established
Why Sika outcompete red deer in certain environments
The relationship between nutrition, breeding success, and antler growth
Why hunters should focus more on harvesting females
How overabundant deer populations damage habitat and herd quality
Jaw studies, herd analysis, and measuring deer condition
GPS collar tracking and what it revealed about Sika movement patterns
Sika rut behaviour, scrapes, and vocalisations
How to call Sika stags during the rut
Why Sika are such an exciting species for bowhunters
Public land vs helicopter-access hunting in New Zealand
The role hunting organisations play in protecting hunting’s future
Retaining hunting’s social license through education and responsibility

👤 Find Our Guest:

Cam Speedy

Instagram: @SikaFoundation

🎙 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