Vortex Nation Podcast

Sure, you can legally fly with your beloved firearm and its ammo, but how should you actually pack it? What combo of hard cases, bags, locks, etc do Adam and Reuben recommend? We also briefly chat about what to do if you get pulled over in another state with firearms you’re traveling with toward the end as a bonus. Disclaimer – we are not lawyers, nor are we always going to be perfect in our interpretation or verbiage behind every federal law, state law, or in this case, individual airline regulation. You should always do your own research about your own situation at the given time given the complexity and changing nature of these things. Vortex and the hosts/guests of this podcast are not responsible for the actions of our viewers and listeners.

So right off the bat, we should tell you this isn’t going to be a series of “If/then” statements about “If you do _____, then you should get _____ scope”. Truth is, the possibilities there are endless and it would get pretty boring pretty fast. What Jimmy, Mark and Ryan M really wanted to get at in this episode is how do you determine exactly what it is that you’re going to be doing with your rifle and scope, and then how do you determine exactly what features, level of optical quality, and price range, to name just a few of the variables, you really and truly need to accomplish that task. We see bad advice all over the internet about choosing optics – many times putting down new comers to hunting and/or shooting or making them feel like the sport/lifestyle simply can’t be done without a huge budget or gobs of time and an optical engineering degree. Perhaps a few times we got in “Rant” mode here because of it, but just know, it’s all in the name of helping everyone figure out what’s best for them and simply being comfortable with that choice being different from what another person may want/need. As always, if you have any questions about what riflescope you should choose for your very specific application and situation, we’re more than happy to chat that over with you and you can contact us on social media, via phone, e-mail, or in person if you stop by our showroom here in Barneveld, WI. 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

Maybe you had no idea you could actually even fly with your firearms checked on a flight, maybe you did but haven’t done it before, or maybe you have done it, but still feel a little uneasy about it and aren’t totally sure how best to handle it next time – Never fear! Reuben and Adam join Jimmy and Mark to discuss this very topic. These two guys work in our dealer sales and training department and do range days and competitions and hunts all over the country so they fly with firearms all the time. After all that experience, they’ve been able to boil down how you should approach the situation with no fear of getting taken to that scary dark room in the back. Disclaimer – we are not lawyers, nor are we always going to be perfect in our interpretation or verbiage behind every federal law, state law, or in this case, individual airline regulation. You should always do your own research about your own situation at the given time given the complexity and changing nature of these things. Vortex and the hosts/guests of this podcast are not responsible for the actions of our viewers and listeners.

Nothing preserves memories in the field better than a well-taken photo, so we sat down with Wyatt Cole and Erik Barber to talk about all-things “getting started in photography”. Listen in for great tips and tricks on getting the perfect shot. Whether you’re shooting on a fancy mirrorless camera with a lens that costs more than your truck payment, or snapping away on your phone, this episode covers everything you need to capture a wall hanger of a different variety.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

At one point or another, we all have to mount a scope to our rifle. Besides getting good gear and adhering to proper torque specs/sequences, leveling your riflescope is one of the most important things we do in order to set ourselves up for success at the range. The internet is full of differing opinions on how to properly do the job, but the fact remains, you can’t argue with physics, and that’s exactly what Nick Laufenberg used in this 10 minute conversation with Jimmy to explain how to properly level your long range riflescope. Spoiler alert – it may not be perfectly level to your rifle! This was Part 2 of a longer conversation between Jimmy and Nick. If you missed part 1, Nick started by explaining how rifle cant can affect your accuracy at long range and the importance of having your reticle level to the earth when you take your shot. Check it out.

Nick Laufenberg joins Jimmy to discuss the effect of rifle cant on accuracy at long range. If you’ve ever wondered why some people put bubble levels on their riflescope and whether or not it’s just to look cool with some extra range bling – here’s your answer. Spoiler alert – just a little bit of cant can absolutely cause you to miss! Nick brought charts and specific examples to show you exactly how important a level reticle (notice we didn’t say rifle) for your shot is. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this same conversation as it naturally transitioned into the question – “How should I actually go about leveling my riflescope when I mount it??”

The number one reason to wear camo: Conceal yourself from game. The number one reason to avoid wearing camo: Every non-hunter you encounter will hit you with the same unavoidable joke - “Whoa, I didn’t see you there” - forcing you into the same polite laugh you’ve responded with Lord knows how many times. Regardless, there’s no doubt camouflage can have a positive impact on your hunt. In this podcast we cover the importance of camo, how it works, it’s evolution, hunt tactics you can use to enhance concealment, wearing solids, weapon and game-specific considerations and a whole lot more.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

Ian Klemm joins Jimmy and Mark for 10 minutes to blow some minds. Does barrel break-in even matter?? Conventional wisdom says “Yes” and perhaps there’s some truth to that, but Ian would argue it’s not nearly as important as the internet wants you to believe and that you don’t need to waste a ton of time/ammo to get your barrel ready to shoot extremely accurately – Even with hand-made custom barrels! Tune in to hear why and let us know your thoughts on barrel break-in, too. This one was in response to a ton of feedback on our full-length Barrels podcast with Ian, so keep those suggestions, questions and ideas coming! Best spot to throw them out is on Instagram by messaging @vortexnationpodcast

Reuben and Scott Parks (Back from our Long Range series some time ago!) join Jimmy and Mark to discuss the topic of making your rifle fit you. This is a broad topic that can really go in a lot of different directions – proper stock/chassis choice and setup, proper optic setup, and probably most importantly – a good understanding of the fundamentals of marksmanship and plain good shooting. Scott also talks natural point of aim and the fact that shooting a heavier recoiling rifle can often times immediately point out any shooting fundamentals you’re doing wrong or have gotten a little lazy about.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

Just when you thought they were done, Jimmy and Mark carried on Westward to LA to meet up with Damyan Tuchenishki from Renner Racing Development, a highly specialized Subaru racing shop that helped Jimmy remotely along the way during the Forester build process. They talk even more about why Subaru’s are awesome, what goes into making their record-breaking time attack cars, the history of their shop, and a whole lot more. Stay tuned, too, because the crew at Renner is set to do a little more work on the Forester from here to make it even better for future Podventures!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

First off – we made it to Arizona AND hunted all four days we intended to hunt, so we can already say this is a marked improvement over the last podventure. Mark and Jimmy sit down in a hotel room on an oddly rainy southern Arizona evening around midnight or so to talk about one of the most challenging but immensely fun hunts they’ve ever done. They give the rundown on how the Subaru performed going cross-country and then offroading around the AZ desert, lessons learned bowhunting coues deer in some seriously brutal terrain, glassing tips, and how effectively stalking deer is a lot like mimicking tigers on National Geographic.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

Long rang isn’t limited to rifles. Today’s hunting bows are technologically advanced engineering marvels built to send projectiles to their intended target with astonishing precision. Mark and Jimmy sit down with Evan Williams of Hoyt, to chat through wringing out every last ounce of performance from your compound bow. This is pretty nerdy stuff - all geared toward maximizing your effective range and the capability of you and your setup. We cover everything from the anatomy of your bow, break in, tuning, paper tuning, getting optimal arrow flight/terminal performance to the color pink being cool and a whole lot more.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

With the Subaru mostly finished, Jimmy and Mark head to Reno, NV to talk to Remi Warren about how to bow hunt coues deer in Arizona. People don’t call these things grey ghosts for nothing – they’re extremely difficult to spot, constantly on high alert for predators, and during the rut when we’re going in January, quite unpredictable. Remi has a boat load of experience and success spotting, stalking and killing coues deer, so picking his brain for every last bit of information, tips and tricks is incredibly interesting and helpful. As a bonus, the timing and location of this hunt lends itself to bow hunting another unique creature, the Javelina, so Remi also gives us the 4-1-1 on exactly what to do if we bump into them along the way and why it’s usually an incredibly fun and heart-pounding experience! Next up – How complicated could “Bow accuracy” and getting one’s self prepared for a potentially long shot on game really be? (Spoiler alert – Just as complicated as if not more than long range rifle shooting!)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

Mark, Jimmy, and Erik sit down to talk about purchasing and rebuilding a $1200 Subaru Forester they found on eBay for their cross-country road-tripping, overlanding, off-road Arizona coues deer bow hunting adventure. Jimmy gets the chance of a lifetime to talk about cars for an entire podcast and tries to get real with folks about what it’s really like for the average guy or gal to search for, purchase, inspect and rebuild their own hunting rig. We also chat about why an SUV most commonly seen as a mundane grocery getter like the Subaru Forester might currently be one of the best options in reliable, comfortable, spacious and off-road capable vehicles on the market that you can probably find for an absolute bargain. If you’re interested in learning about cars, like a challenge and have kicked around the idea of a relatively cheap vehicle you can beat on in the backcountry without worry for scratched paint or a dirty interior, you won’t want to miss this one. If you don’t give a rip about cars and never will – skip to our next episode where we talk how to hunt coues and Javelina with Remi Warren!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

Remi Warren sits down with Jimmy and Mark prior to their next big podventure to discuss Javelina hunting. Remi has extensive Javelina hunting experience in the southwest and passes on his knowledge of calling them, what to expect when they come running in, shot placement, stalking, behavior and one controversial topic – how do they taste and how should you cook ‘em?? Spoiler alert – Remi loves him some Javelina chops! Stay tuned – this is just a taste of the next podventure to release!

So you got a shotgun – good – you own one of, if not THE, most versatile firearms ever created. It’s pretty simple to operate, pretty simple to understand, but what about the ammo? Shotgun aisles at stores are jam-packed with hundreds of different options – are they all really that different? Does it matter what you actually choose? If so (Spoiler alert – it does matter), how do you go about choosing the right ammo for your shotgun, your application, and maybe ever your location? Reuben and Ryan M join Jimmy and Mark to talk about gauges, shot size, toxic vs non-tox, why some shells are super expensive and some are dirt cheap, shell length, how certain loads interact with your barrel and choke, and so much more. We also forget the topic for a hot second and talk all about getting your shotgun properly fitted to you for better accuracy and speed in the field, at the gun club or in competition. Don’t miss this one!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

Adam Maxwell joins Jimmy and Mark for 10 minutes (Or close enough, right?) to talk about piston vs direct impingement (DI) gas systems in semi-automatic firearms. What’s are they, what do they do, why are they different and are there pro’s and con’s to each of them? You’ll have to tune in to learn those answers!

Jimmy and Mark are joined by Reuben Aleckson and Adam Maxwell to talk SBR’s (Short Barreled Rifles). Why are they so hot right now? Why do so many people assume they’re impossible to attain? With pistol brace “Technology” making pistol AR’s closer and closer to their rifle counterparts these days, is it still worth it to SBR your lower? Do people just do it to be cool or are there serious practical applications to a shorter barrel? And of course – WHAT ABOUT VELOCITY?!? Answers to these questions and so much more are ready to fill your ears in this episode! 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

Jimmy and Mark stand up for way more than 10 minutes with Ryan Muckenhirn to discuss the mighty little FN 5.7. This cartridge has been around for a long time but still seems new and exciting every time it finds its way into a new firearm brand’s handgun or rifle. Ryan breaks down its performance, both in some of the professional loads and guns FN originally designed it for, and in some of the civilian firearms we see on the market today with civilian ammo. Could it be used for hunting? Is it a viable self-defense cartridge? Is it the cartridge itself or the guns its chambered in that make this little devil so dang cool??

Jimmy and Mark got the unique opportunity to talk to two of the technicians from the Vortex binocular repair team, Scott and Cody, so they could answer many of the questions we’ve received about how to properly care for, maintain and generally be good owners of one’s optics. These guys spend every day working on binoculars, spotting scopes and other observation optics that have been used, abused, rode hard and put away wet. Many times they’re using professional optical equipment and years of know-how under their belt to fix a given product, but many times the problems could have been avoided or can be remedied with patience and some simple procedures you can do yourself at home or in the field. 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

What’s your go-to backcountry snack to pack for fuel? Jimmy, Mark and Erik hang out for 10 minutes to each give their number one go-to snack from canned fish to candy bars. Tune in to hear what they are and why they pick them!

Jimmy, Mark and Ryan Muckenhirn are joined by Luke Horak from Arrowhead Rifles to chat about long range muzzleloaders. That’s right – you didn’t read that wrong – we’re talking about rifles you load from the front just like they did well before even the 1900’s that can also shoot accurately out to 1,000 yards. To get a frame of reference, we also take some time to talk about the more classic forms of muzzleloaders and what makes them different from the high performance builds Luke makes in his shop.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

It’s been a minute since we last brought up some cheap tools you just can’t live without in the backcountry, but we’re back with Mark and Jimmy to discuss Vaseline and cotton balls as a dang good fire starter. Combined, this cheap DIY will give you easy ignition and super long burn times considering how small and lightweight they are together. They’re easy to carry around and the Vaseline even doubles as a good protectant for dry skin or wind burn to keep you comfortable in the wild.

Looking for a howling good time – look to calling coyotes. Jimmy and Mark sit down with Coyote calling expert (he would be humble and deny the title “Expert”, but we insist) Dustin Butler to chat through how a person goes about calling one of these masters of their surroundings into gun range. These crafty critters will test a hunters mettle every time they head afield. Coyote hunting can be a year round pursuit, licenses are cheap, and there is typically no bag limit (obligatory always check the regulations before heading afield.) And, if you get into putting up and selling hides, you may even make back a little gas money. There’s so much to chasing these buggers. Tune in to hear all about it.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

Jimmy, Mark, and Erik spend 10 minutes talking about a tactic in hunting that involves walking at a painfully slow pace through the woods, utilizing each and every one of your senses to their max, and possibly getting crazy close to wild game without them even realizing you’re there – Still hunting.

Adam Maxwell and Rob Morell join Jimmy and Mark to talk all about LPVO’s (Riflescopes that go from 1x to a higher magnification) their rise to huge popularity with the shooting community these days and one very exciting new product coming out from Vortex in the category for 2020. If you like to be in the know on new and exciting stuff, you won’t want to miss this one!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

Looking for a new “Do-All” big-game cartridge. Don’t ignore this medium-bore darling of the modern era. Modern case design took all the big pill hucking qualities of the 375 H&H and put it in a standard length cartridge sans the belt without sacrificing a thing in the performance dept! The result - an easy-to -carry, 600-yard capable bomb dropper. The smart phone is to the Rotary dial as the 375 Ruger is to the 375 H&H. Extreme – maybe? Listen and decide for yourself.

Remi Warren is an all-around badass, so when we get the chance to podcast with him following up a bizarre conversation over sushi about the time he tried eating a slug as part of a survival course he was doing “Just for fun”, we had to jump at the opportunity. When he’s not remembering last minute that slugs aren’t exactly… “Edible”… Remi is a master at surviving in the wilderness. It’s not just the gear that he carries with him (In fact, you’ll find he doesn’t carry a whole lot) but simply the know-how of how to use his surroundings to keep him alive. So hunker down and “Get bushy” with Remi here for this great episode!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

Mark, Jimmy and Erik take 10 minutes to go over their hunting and shooting 2020 New Year’s resolutions. In typical Mark fashion, he has about 20 of them, all of which we need your help keeping him accountable for. What are your hunting and shooting New Year’s resolutions for 2020? We’d love to hear what you’ll be working on this year!

Ian Klemm, previous guest from some some of our most popular podcasts of all time in the Long Range series, joins Mark and Jimmy to talk all about barrels. Are these the most important parts of your gun? Why are there so many different kinds? Materials, fluting, twist rates, types of rifling, lengths, coatings, tuning, free floating, the list goes on and on! Ian discusses all these topics in-depth in the way only a mega-genius gun-nerd engineer could. Whether you’re looking for a barrel to complete your ultra-custom long range rifle or simply want to know what all the hubbub is around these things, this podcast is perfect for all you gun nuts!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

“It’s the holiday’s – we’re all miserable!” OK, maybe not all of us, but the holidays certainly bring some of us a great deal of stress and time consumption doing things we, quite frankly, would rather not be doing. Jimmy, Mark and Erik discuss some of their best tips and tricks for hunters and shooters to make it through this time of year. From “Sneak hunts” to last minute squirrel sniping and showing up at the front door with a bucket of AR parts, these will make the time fly by!

If you can avoid holiday parties, schmoozing the in-laws, and consuming enough calories to comatose a sasquatch, the holiday season offers plentiful hunting opportunities. This episode is all about the seasons still in full-swing during the waning months of hunting season. Jimmy, Mark, Ryan, and Erik fill you in on big and small game species you can chase from the upper-Midwest to the southwestern desert. Even better - most of these hunts come with tags at affordable price points that are very attainable on a DIY hunter’s budget. Sit back, turn the volume up, and enjoy this articulated conversation about pursuing grey ghost, a northern rabbit the size of a housecat, and everything in between.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

It happens more often than you’d think. Someone is right handed, for example, but not necessarily right-eyed. Everyone has an eye that their body naturally relies on as its dominant eye, and if it happens to be opposite of your dominant shooting hand, people are often left scratching their head as to how they should go about shooting. Switch to the other hand to take advantage of the better eye? Try to train the weak eye? There are different answers to this question depending on the reasoning behind your eye-dominance (Some people simply don’t have a properly functioning eye on their strong hand side) but Reuben joins Jimmy and Mark here to discuss his recommendations for the majority of people he sees with this issue.

In this episode, Ryan Muckenhirn says he feels sad for people who live and party in big cities, Mark says “Intimate” an uncomfortable amount of times, and Jimmy talks about cars more than hunting. It’s hard to sum up this interesting podcast where we go deep into the human DNA to try and figure out why it is that we hunt. Mark and Ryan are die hard hunters who want to do and think about nothing other than chasing game (Or picking berries for Ryan, too). Meanwhile, Jimmy enjoys hunting, but has his own hard-wired obsession outside the sport. Is it bad to not be a hunting fanatic? Do we live in a much more specialized society today that has weeded out all but the most fanatical hunters? Are some people, regardless of exposure, simply more predisposed to become cold blooded hunters than others? What are your thoughts after listening to this one? Plenty more left on the table that could be talked about when discussing the human mind!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

After many requests to discuss the .220 Swift, Ryan Muckenhirn joins Jimmy and Mark to do a 10(ish) minute dive into the cartridge, its history and application. As always – it is phenomenally interesting not only to learn about the cartridge but to get a peep into the cartridge encyclopedia that is Ryan’s brain.

We didn’t expect to need two parts for this topic, but there’s just so dang much to talk about when it comes to riflescopes! Lightweight Dave joins Mark and Jimmy once again, this time not to talk about sawing his toothbrush in half, but to discuss all things riflescopes. How they’re made, how their optical systems work, how our eyes interact with the light they funnel through their many lenses, what parallax is and what parallax adjustable scopes do when you spin their dials, and so much more! Minds were blown for this one as usual and we’d love to hear from you about what further riflescope topics we can discuss in Part 2. Let us know!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

Bullpup firearms have long been the choice of sci-fi movie heroes (or villains) and middle schoolers playing their friends in Call of Duty. They look crazy cool with all the common features of a regular rifle or shotgun, seemingly thrown into an engineering blender, coming out on the other end with parts in weird places that look nothing like their more traditional gun cousins. Adam Maxwell joins Jimmy and Mark to discuss what all the fuss is about these unique looking firearms, why they exist and their various pro’s and con’s of operation and ownership. What do you think about Bullpups? All about ‘em? Or are they just cool to look at?

You’ve seen it at the range, your local gun store, long range matches, and now you’re even seeing it in the military - it’s hard to deny 6.5’s are here in a big way. But while we all look to prom-king cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor as a new and totally exciting, 6.5mm rounds have actually been a part of the cartridge landscape for quite some time - and there are seemingly countless variants of cartridges all pushing 6.5 mm bullets down barrels. Ryan Muckenhirn, the cartridge version of a beautiful mind, joins Jimmy and Mark to discuss where all the fuss of the 6.5 revolution comes from, some interesting bullet history and also gets into some proper bullet selections for hunting that may surprise some people. If you’re a cartridge nerd, want some clarity on which 6.5 is right for you, or just enjoy learning things about the shooting sports we all love while getting a bit of history, this is most certainly one you don’t want to miss!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

People often ask us if they can paint their riflescope without causing any kind of rip in the VIP-Warranty-Time-Continuum. The answer is yes – you’re still covered even if you paint it. Unless it’s ugly… Just kidding! But what are the different methods out there for painting or “Coating” your riflescope? Whether it’s just for looks or for a specific application like camouflage for a hunting rifle, coating your scope (and gun) can be a ton of fun and give you a very unique looking package. Just make sure if it’s a Vortex scope to send us some pics when it’s all done!

What better way to ring in 100 episodes than with a series of 10 minute talks back-to-back about all our favorite things – hunting, shooting, and good food. Reuben Aleckson, Ryan Muckenhirn, and Erik Barber join Jimmy and Mark to discuss why the world needs to “Make the 30-06 great again”, “will CWD turn humans into zombies?”, what’s the ideal 3 Gun setup if there was no budget, which type of grill is best, some of the craziest VIP warranty stories we can remember, and the ultimate showdown of “Whitetail vs. Mule deer – which is best?”. There’s also an unexpected surprise at the end of this one, too. Check it out and thanks to all our listeners who have been around since the beginning! Here’s to another 100! 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

We see it all the time – New shooters come to the internet for advice on a riflescope for their first long range rifle and are instantly berated by all the gear junkies who look to the absolute top of the top competitive shooters for all their gear with super expensive and complicated options that they apparently “Have to get” to somehow avoid utter failure and frustration. Nick Laufenberg joins us for this 10 minutes (Plus a bonus at the end) to explain the differences between what a recreational target shooter might actually need at the bare minimum vs what a competitive tactical long range shooter would require for their matches. In the end, he also discusses a riflescope’s theoretical maximum capable range with any given rifle based on its available travel and subtensions in the reticle.

Taco’s may have won our debate of “Taco’s vs. Burrito’s”, but when it comes down to hosting a wild game, Mexican-inspired cookoff, burrito’s just felt like the right thing to make. Jimmy, Mark, Sawyer Briel (New guest!) and Colin Hornback each had their own idea of what the all-time best wild game burrito would be, and we had quite the variety for our returning food critic, Rebecca, but only one would be named the winner! Tune in to hear Mark’s struggles after winning the wild game burger cookoff, Jimmy’s strict burrito construction techniques, Sawyer’s unique Asian-inspired burrito and Colin’s never-ending pursuit of back-to-basics, total food freshness.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

Why get a 25 when I can get a 30??” – Mark Boardman. What’s the deal with this “25-06” cartridge that so many of you have requested we do a 10 minute talk about and why is it so great? Could it even “Stomp the 6.5 Creedmoor” within 500 yards on deer? You’ll have to listen to find out!

Rut’s here! Make sure you’re ready to tag your buck by joining us for big rut questions and small talk with outdoor writer and all-around hunting encyclopedia Pat Durkin. We’ll touch on what makes the rut so special, all-day rut hunts, and general strategies for whitetail success.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

You’ve heard it before – “The best way to eat goose meat is to wrap it in bacon, cook it, throw the goose meat away and eat the bacon.” – Is the bad reputation for their meat well deserved? Could it just be that a lot of people cook it wrong? Mark and Jimmy, after our Boats and Bows adventure, where we shot down two Canada Geese, set out to decide for themselves once and for all if goose meat sucks. Armed with salt, pepper, their favorite garlic powder, a hot plate, a cast iron skillet and some oil, they cook it up live on this podcast as straight up rare/medium-rare steaks for a final verdict. What do you think about goose meat? Any other great recipes in your arsenal?

Seriously, folks, this is one you don’t want to miss. Mark and Jimmy had the unique opportunity to join Wisconsin Brewing Company Brew Master, Kirby Nelson, their director of operations, Mike McGuire and Wisconsin distributors’, Ryan Sprague, to talk about something we all hold near and dear (At least we definitely do here in Wisconsin) – Beer! WBC is located just down the highway from Vortex and has one heck of a cool culture, we just couldn’t help but get them on the podcast to learn more about our favorite adult beverage. We discuss how the beer industry works behind the scenes, why canned beer is better than bottled beer, how beer was used as water sanitation for the pilgrims on Plymouth Rock, How some monks in an Abbey in Germany are producing some of the world’s best beer, tracing beer’s roots back to the ancient world, and so much more this list could be endless! So crack a cold one, kick back and prepare to be the coolest person at the bar this coming weekend when you drop all these knowledge bombs on your friends. Want to hear more beer history? Let us know! We wouldn’t mind another trip back to WBC in the near future 😉 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

First off – Should you decide to take the plunge into reducing, stippling, or modifying your pistol frame in any other way, use the tips given in this podcast to help, but know what we’re not liable for any accidents that may occur by attempting to customize your own pistol. Also always ensure that anything you do to your own firearms is legal and doesn’t create an issue with your own state and local laws. With that said, modifying your own polymer pistol frame is relatively inexpensive, fun, not that hard to do and can result in a better feeling pistol when it comes time to head to the range or competition. Jimmy has done a few of his own and goes through his process. If you’d like a custom pistol frame that looks like all the stunning ones on Instagram, perhaps you’d consider sending it to one of the pro’s with much more experience and better tools, but this way certainly gets the job done, too!

OK so we had to start with two super cool rifles on this one, but the rest are some really awesome handguns of the early 1900’s. Nick Rowden from our previous WW2-era rifles podcast and his friend Greg join us with an impressive collection of handguns from a 1911, to a Luger, some revolvers, even a PPS-43 and much more. All these guns have impressive stories and equally impressive history behind their creation and application in conflict times in our world’s history. If you’re a gun nut, this is one you don’t want to miss. As always, if you want to see these guns we talk about, check out the podcast on Youtube, too!Already listened, but want the show notes for reference afterwards? You can find them here: https://vortexoptics.com/vortex-nation-podcastAs 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

Wait… Why are Mark, Jimmy, Erik and the camera guy, Nate back at HQ? Wasn’t this podcast supposed to be from the banks of the river at a remote campsite? Well… Yes… And as the guys will quickly explain – you’ll find that the boat didn’t exactly make it as far as we hoped. BUT! Was it a complete failure? In this episode we dive into the massive debacle that was our 24 hours on a river in “Up North” Wisconsin. Though we experienced many failures, (and did finally determine that, indeed, we did get the wrong boat) we experienced a few triumphs and learned a whole heck of a lot along the way. Had we sat on our butts all day dreaming of adventure and agonizing over making everything perfect, we never would have had this much fun, nor would we have learned quite this much to make for an even better river hunting trip next time. Speaking of which… “Next time” might just have to be a thing in the future! Stay tuned as always for more podventures and if you have any ideas of your own for a podventure you’d like to hear/watch, please let us know! 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

DJ Struntz of North American Rescue joins Mark, Jimmy and Erik for a reality check into the world of trauma response in the backcountry. He dives into the equipment, knowledge and mindset needed to avoid finding one’s self in a traumatic situation in the first place, but also how to keep each other alive should one occur. Cuts from broadheads, fractures from tree falls, blunt trauma from river rocks, fire burns and even eyeballs getting ripped out of their sockets from fishing hooks… Feeling queasy yet? Hopefully this is all information that you, too, can arm yourself with for all your future adventures and, of course, that you never need to use! 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