Red Deer Meat Hunt & Gear Reviews with Matty Turner artwork
Becoming a Bowhunter

Red Deer Meat Hunt & Gear Reviews with Matty Turner

  • S1E189
  • 55:26
  • October 24th 2026

This week it's just me behind the mic for a solo episode, sharing a recent red deer meat hunt and some honest reviews of the hunting gear I've been putting to the test.

It's been a pretty hectic few months with work and business, and I talk a little about managing that overwhelm, building better habits and why sticking to your word can make such a difference in everyday life.

Then it's into the hunt. A wet morning in some seriously steep country, a few deer bumped along the way and a stalk on a red hind that ended with a 40 metre shot. The heavy rain made blood trailing a challenge, but eventually I found her about 60–80 metres down the hill and came home with a pack full of venison.

I also run through some gear I've been testing, including Vivobarefoot hunting boots, the GY6 filming setup, the AW Knives Field Weasel and the Work Sharp sharpening system. Plus, why I'm looking to replace my Bushbuck pack after a few years of use.

One of the more interesting moments from the hunt was the white-faced hind I took, and the conversation it sparked about age, genetics and whether hunters should treat older-looking hinds differently from mature stags.

🔍 What We Cover:

  • Managing work overwhelm, setting boundaries and sticking to your word
  • A rainy red deer meat hunt in steep, thick country
  • Stalking a red hind using trees, wind and feeding behaviour
  • Making a 40-plus-metre quartering-to shot
  • Blood trailing in heavy rain using The Hunting App
  • White-faced red deer, genetics and assumptions about age
  • Field dressing and packing out venison in wet conditions
  • Why Vivobarefoot boots have replaced my old hunting footwear
  • Filming bowhunts with the GY6 camera mounting system
  • Using the AW Knives Field Weasel for field dressing
  • Sharpening knives and broadheads with the Work Sharp Precision Adjust
  • Why I'm considering replacing my Bushbuck hunting pack

🧠 Key Takeaway

Sometimes the best thing you can do is simplify things and get back to what matters. Whether it's setting better boundaries in life, slowing down during a stalk or choosing gear that genuinely works, the little decisions make a big difference.


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Hosted by: @mattyafter

🎧 Episode Sponsors

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

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

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Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt

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

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Becoming a Bowhunter

Join host Matty Tuner as he becomes a bowhunter. Discovering tips, tricks and insights to help fast-track YOUR journey as a bowhunter.