Episode 606 – Life Gets In The Way
This was supposed to be a father/son hunt for my dad and me with a father/son who are longtime family friends in Texas. Unfortunately, a medical issue arose in my family and I had to stay home but I encouraged my dad to go along to hunt with Dave and Keith Wesley and get caught up on the good work …
Episode 610 – Argentina Part 2
This is part 2 of Jason Matzinger’s and my journey to Argentina to hunt free-range red stags. His girlfriend, Cassandra joined him, as well as my wife Sherry. Cassandra filled her Axis tag, but would Jason and I fulfill our dreams taking stags?
Episode 609 – Argentina Part 1
Although I had been to Argentina once before for wingshooting, I had always had a dream of going there to chase free range stags. Through contacts made during the dove hunt the year before, the opportunity presented itself. I asked good friend, Jason Matzinger to go and we each brought our significant others: My wife Sherry and his girlfriend, Cassandra.
Episode 608 – CO Mule Deer
I hadn’t hunted deer with a rifle in Colorado for years. When Jeff Forsberg offered me a chance to buy a landowner tag and hunt with him and a couple of other friends, I took advantage of the opportunity.
Episode 607 – Texas Hog and Coyote hunt
I’m returning to Randy Peck’s family ranch, where last year we didn’t have much success on the hogs or the coyotes. Randy has done a lot of work on the ranch, getting feeders ready, adding lights and really monitoring the hog activity. I also have some cool gear that I didn’t have the year before that could have made a …
Episode 605 – Missouri Breaks Misery
Chris Nowak and I finally drew a limited tag for the Missouri Breaks in Montana. We have had success in the past, but haven’t drawn the tag in 5 years. We think we’ve timed the weather right to avoid the famed “gumbo” mud, and we’re hoping the elk rut is in full swing. Not having been there for 5 years, …
Episode 604 – Scratch That Itch…Again
Last year I headed to New Mexico to hunt a friend’s cattle ranch and had a great hunt. When the opportunity at a land owner tag was available again, I jumped at the chance, hoping for similar success.
Episode 506 – Colorado Deer and Elk Bow Hunting
Willi and his buddy Brad head to Southern Colorado to hunt archery deer. Willi scouted the area with another friend and had some good intel, but nothing could prepare them for what happened causing the animals to leave the area. They re-locate hoping to seal the deal with only a short time left in their hunt.
Episode 603 – Black Bear Dilemma
It took me a few years to draw this Colorado bear tag in unit 61. Chris and I both drew this tag and we headed out with high hopes since we knew the bear density and the area, since Chris had hunted elk in it a few years ago. I’ve hunted a long time, but never had the experience I …
Episode 602 – Arizona Stink Pigs and Song Dogs
I’ve never hunted javelina, or Arizona for that matter, so when John Stallone invited me to hunt with him I jumped at the chance. John is a resident of Arizona and has a podcast, “Interviews With The Hunting Masters”. Since I hadn’t hunted them before, I decided to use a rifle, while John and Shane were going to hunt them …
July 31, 2018
Episode 610 – Argentina Part 2
This is part 2 of Jason Matzinger’s and my journey to Argentina to hunt free-range red stags. His girlfriend, Cassandra joined him, as well as my wife Sherry. Cassandra filled her Axis tag, but would Jason and I fulfill our dreams taking stags?
July 31, 2018
Episode 609 – Argentina Part 1
Although I had been to Argentina once before for wingshooting, I had always had a dream of going there to chase free range stags. Through contacts made during the dove hunt the year before, the opportunity presented itself. I asked good friend, Jason Matzinger to go and we each brought our significant others: My wife Sherry and his girlfriend, Cassandra.
July 31, 2018
Episode 608 – CO Mule Deer
I hadn’t hunted deer with a rifle in Colorado for years. When Jeff Forsberg offered me a chance to buy a landowner tag and hunt with him and a couple of other friends, I took advantage of the opportunity.
July 31, 2018
Episode 607 – Texas Hog and Coyote hunt
I’m returning to Randy Peck’s family ranch, where last year we didn’t have much success on the hogs or the coyotes. Randy has done a lot of work on the ranch, getting feeders ready, adding lights and really monitoring the hog activity. I also have some cool gear that I didn’t have the year before that could have made a …
July 31, 2018
Episode 606 – Life Gets In The Way
This was supposed to be a father/son hunt for my dad and me with a father/son who are longtime family friends in Texas. Unfortunately, a medical issue arose in my family and I had to stay home but I encouraged my dad to go along to hunt with Dave and Keith Wesley and get caught up on the good work …
April 11, 2018
Episode 605 – Missouri Breaks Misery
Chris Nowak and I finally drew a limited tag for the Missouri Breaks in Montana. We have had success in the past, but haven’t drawn the tag in 5 years. We think we’ve timed the weather right to avoid the famed “gumbo” mud, and we’re hoping the elk rut is in full swing. Not having been there for 5 years, …
April 5, 2018
Episode 604 – Scratch That Itch…Again
Last year I headed to New Mexico to hunt a friend’s cattle ranch and had a great hunt. When the opportunity at a land owner tag was available again, I jumped at the chance, hoping for similar success.
February 17, 2018
Episode 603 – Black Bear Dilemma
It took me a few years to draw this Colorado bear tag in unit 61. Chris and I both drew this tag and we headed out with high hopes since we knew the bear density and the area, since Chris had hunted elk in it a few years ago. I’ve hunted a long time, but never had the experience I …
February 17, 2018
Episode 602 – Arizona Stink Pigs and Song Dogs
I’ve never hunted javelina, or Arizona for that matter, so when John Stallone invited me to hunt with him I jumped at the chance. John is a resident of Arizona and has a podcast, “Interviews With The Hunting Masters”. Since I hadn’t hunted them before, I decided to use a rifle, while John and Shane were going to hunt them …
February 17, 2018
Episode 601 – Nebraska Whitetail
I’ve been hunting a property in Nebraska for a couple of years but have yet to take a good buck. EHD ran through the area in 2012 and 2013 and the last few years I’ve had a lot of good “up and comers” but nothing mature. I’m hoping some of those deer have finally matured and give me an opportunity …
September 25, 2017
Episode 511 – Best of Series
It’s hard to believe that Season 5 has come to an end, but even harder to believe Pure Hunting has had 5 seasons. Here is a “best of series” from the last 5 years, including amazing hunts, mishaps, time in the field with family and friends, never before seen footage in any episode, and really what Pure Hunting is all …
September 25, 2017
Episode 509 – Alberta Bear
Willi heads to Alberta to hunt black bear with good friend, and host of “Into High Country”, Jason Matzinger. They’re hunting with Colin Play of Northern Edge Outfitting. If they are successful, it will be Willi’s first archery black bear.
September 25, 2017
Episode 508 – Argentina Birds
Join Willi as he, his dad and friends head to Argentina for a bucket list hunt for Argentina doves. Willi gave this hunt to his father for his recent retirement and it has always been his dad, John’s dream to hunt doves in Argentina. As the trip was planned, several other friends and family joined them on this hunt and …
September 25, 2017
Episode 507 – Bringing Home The Bacon
Willi heads to Texas to his friend Randy Peck’s ranch to hunt hogs and coyotes. The hunt didn’t turn out like expected, but Willi and Chris headed back to Texas a few weeks later. They had thermal imaging equipment and the results were far better.
April 5, 2018
Episode 506 – Colorado Deer and Elk Bow Hunting
Willi and his buddy Brad head to Southern Colorado to hunt archery deer. Willi scouted the area with another friend and had some good intel, but nothing could prepare them for what happened causing the animals to leave the area. They re-locate hoping to seal the deal with only a short time left in their hunt.
March 23, 2017
Episode 505 – Nebraska waterfowl
A huge part of any hunting trip is sharing it with family and friends. I have always enjoyed waterfowl hunting because of the camaraderie shared in a duck blind. This hunt was very special, regardless of the number of birds taken, because it was a rare time that my dad, son and I enjoyed a hunt together.
March 23, 2017
Episode 504 – The Little Big Things
Chris and I love chasing bugling bulls and a friend suggested we apply for a new spot we had never hunted in Western Wyoming. We drew the tag, looked at maps and went for it, the first week of September, never having set foot in that area before. It’s a hunt we would definitely consider again.
January 30, 2017
Episode 503 – Dark Timber Bulls
Elk hunting is Chris Nowak’s and my biggest passion but for the last 25 years, we’ve only hunted them with archery gear. We decided to head to an area familiar to us and go after them during the early rifle season. Our hopes and expectations were high, but in the dark timber, even with a rifle, things need to line …
January 30, 2017
Episode 502 – Sixth Time’s A Charm
I have hunted with this Illinois outfitter many times, five times in fact, both shotgun and archery, but had yet to take a good deer. I’m heading back, once again, hoping the sixth time’s a charm.
January 7, 2017
Episode 501 – The Pronghorn Itch
After hunting pronghorn for the first time in over 20 years in Wyoming last year, I was determined to hunt them again. I wasn’t successful in the draws for a few states so when I had the opportunity to purchase a landowner tag from friends in NM, I jumped at the chance!
March 30, 2016
Episode 410 – Pure Goodness
It’s hard to believe that there have been 4 full seasons of Pure Hunting. Season 4’s “Best Of” shows what a “season of firsts” this season was. I hope you enjoy this wrap up of Season 4.
February 20, 2016
Episode 409 – Collect Calling
Join Chris and me as I take him to the Panhandle of Nebraska for some December waterfowl action.
February 20, 2016
Episode 408 – Rio Party
Follow along as I take friend, Justin Roach to the Panhandle of Nebraska to try to help him kill his first turkey in several years.
February 2, 2016
Episode 407 – Needle In a Blizzard
Join Chris and me as we continue our Colorado DIY archery mountain goat hunt. This is part 2 from “Thin Air Duo”. If you haven’t watched that yet, do so then follow up with this as this awesome DIY archery mountain goat hunt unfolds. This hunt does not go ideal for Chris Nowak, as he learns his sight is loose …
January 25, 2016
Episode 406 – Thin Air Duo
Willi and Chris both drew a nearly once-in-a-lifetime Colorado archery mountain goat tags. Join them as they hunt a DIY hunt in the rugged San Juan Mountains of S. Colorado.
January 25, 2016
Episode 405 – Far East Invasion
I had always heard how good Axis deer meat is. When I learned you can hunt them during the rut in June, I began to look for free-range opportunities. I found SOE hunts and made plans for the hunt. This proved to be a fun hunt, chasing the roars of the bucks and the meat proved to be as good …
January 25, 2016
Episode 404 – Desert Jackpot
Most people who have hunted Desert Bighorn Sheep pay big bucks have paid big bucks for the opportunity and have gone South of the border and/or hired a high priced outfitter. Chris Nowak was one of the lucky few who drew this true once-in-a-lifetime tag in our home state of Colorado. He had the whole month of November and could …
August 25, 2015
Episode 403 – Thermal Pork
It’s been awhile since Chris Nowak, Brad Billingsley and I have had a hunt together. Chris invited Brad and me for a hog hunt on his Texas lease and put some new toys to use.
August 25, 2015
Episode 402 – Dream Draw Begins
Chris Nowak drew 3 of Colorado’s coveted tags in 2014. Follow along on his first one, Colorado Shiras Moose. He spent much of the summer scouting and had friends in the area keep an eye out for him as well.
August 25, 2015
Episode 401 – Prong In The Rough
I haven’t hunted Pronghorn since college but when Zach Dorr, a native of Gillette, Wyoming asked me up to hunt with him, I jumped at the chance. I had just enough time to learn the area before Zach had to leave me to join his wife as they got ready for the birth of their son, Korbyn.
May 7, 2015
Episode 311 – Schooled Fooled and Ruled
This episode wraps up 3 full seasons of Pure Hunting. A compilation of what Pure Hunting stands for, showing the Good, the Bad and the Ugly, the adventures we’ve had and the people we’ve met. It’s hard to believe we’ve had 3 seasons and season 4 is right around the corner.
May 7, 2015
Episode 310 – Born With A Bang
Follow along as Jim Burgen, Lead Pastor at Flatirons Church, heads out to Southern Colorado on his first ever big game hunt, for early season rifle elk.
May 7, 2015
Episode 309 – No Holds Bear’d
I’ve hunted bears a couple of times, but have yet to bring one home. For this bear hunt, I’m going along with Santino Castellanos as we join Dan and Rod Staton in Idaho. We’re staying at their family cabin and hunting with bows and rifles on the baits they maintain on land that is available to anyone. Hopefully this year …
May 7, 2015
Episode 308 – Into the Maze
I have hunted this part of South Dakots the last two years. This year I’m introducing my buddy, Brad Billngsley to this great, spot and stalk archery deer hunt. Hopefully we’ll have the same success I had last year. Come along as we chase whitetails and mule deer in the badlands of South Dakota.
May 7, 2015
Episode 307 – Deer Double Down
Join my friends, Luke Caudillo and Santino Castellanos as they head to Nebraska to hunt whitetails during the rifle season in November. After returning, Santino still has a Colorado “B” license burning a hole in his pocket and I get to join him on this hunt as he tries to fill it.
April 15, 2015
Episode 306 – Into Hells Canyon
On this episode I head to Idaho for a rifle whitetail hunt with Jay Robert from Tenzing and Jana Waller of “Skullbound TV”. Jay Robert was our host on this hunt. Hells Canyon is a unique and spectacular place. There are a lot of firsts on this trip, and there is lots of wildlife, but is an Idaho whitetail in …
April 15, 2015
Episode 305 – Hog Wild
Follow along as I head to Texas with Jim Burgen, pastor of Flatirons Church to hunt hogs. This is only my second hog hunt, Jim’s first and his son Jordan’s first hunt ever. We’re hunting some land that a family of a missionary friend of Jim’s owns.
March 27, 2015
Episode 304 – Rocky Mountain Rams
Follow along as Co-Host Chris Nowak for his Colorado archery Bighorn Sheep. It took him 13 years to draw this tag and he’s hunting like we nearly always do, DIY on public land and we love it!
March 4, 2015
Episode 303 – Trophy Gamble
Follow along as I join Chris on his trophy pronghorn hunt in Colorado. It took him 13 years to draw the tag and it’s his first ever pronghorn hunt.
March 4, 2015
Episode 302 – Raining Elk
Follow along as Willi heads to Colorado’s Unit 76 for a limited draw archery elk tag.
March 4, 2015
Episode 301 – Caribou Drop Camp, Part 2
Join Chris Nowak and me for the second part of our Alaskan drop camp caribou adventure.
June 17, 2014
Episode 211 – Big Sky Strut
Join me on a fun, Montana turkey hunt with Jason Matzinger of “Into High Country” and Jana Waller of “Skullbound” as well as Tim Endsley of Bad Medicine Archery. We break out the wall tents, tell campfire stories and get into some Missouri Breaks stutters.
June 17, 2014
Episode 210 – Hog Ties
Join me on this fun, entertaining hunt with MMA fighter, Luke Caudillo as we battle cactus, spiders and the August heat as we hunt for hogs in Texas.
June 17, 2014
Episode 209 – Predator Becomes Prey
Join me on a NM coyote hunt with Lance Tangen and Mike Law, two hunters who are usually behind the camera.
June 17, 2014
Episode 208 – Revenge of the Badlands
Join me as I head back to South Dakota to redeem myself from last year’s hunt. I shot a nice buck, only to search him for a day and a half and never recover him. It’s great country and terrain for a spot and stalk archery deer hunt.
June 17, 2014
Episode 207 – Nowhere to Hide
Join Willi’s long-time hunting friend and Pure Hunting Co-Host, Brad Billingsley as he goes on a DIY Colorado archery pronghorn hunt. After a long, dry summer, there’s not much cover and he finds a traditional spot and stalk hunt to be more challenging than he originally thought.
June 17, 2014
Episode 206 – Kansas Two Step
Join me as my dad and I go on our annual Kansas rifle white tail hunt. He killed a great deer last year, can he do it again?
June 17, 2014
Episode 205 – CO DIY Elk
Join Chris Nowak and me as we head to Colorado’s Limited Unit 61 on his public land, DIY archery elk hunt.
June 17, 2014
Episode 204 – Elk, Elk, Everywhere
Join me as my dad and I head ingot the mountains of Colorado for a DIY Rocky Moutain elk hunt on public land. I’m hunting with the bow and my dad has his muzzleloader. It’s the heart of the rut and I’m hoping I can get my dad a nice bull to take home to Kansas.
June 17, 2014
Episode 203 – Caribou Drop Camp
Join Chris and me as we’re dropped off in Alaska for an outfitted, DIY caribou hunt in some of the most stunning scenery there is.
June 17, 2014
Episode 202 – Florida Gator Raid
Follow Willi from his home in Colorado to join his friend, Shan Smith and Outfitter Flen Grizzaffe into the Florida swamps to hunt alligators with his bow.
June 17, 2014
Episode 201 – Badland Bow Birds
After hunting in South Dakota for deer the previous fall and seeing a ton of turkeys, I figured it would be a fun hunt this spring. I’m heading back for an archery turkey hunt with 2 tags in my pocket.
January 19, 2014
Episode 106 – Father Knows Best
Join Willi as he heads to Kansas to hunt with his dad during Kansas rifle season.
January 19, 2014
Episode 105 – Mule Deer Madness
Join Willi as he heads to the Badlands of South Dakota in search of an archery, sport and stalk mule deer.
January 14, 2014
Episode 104 – Western Whitetail Wonderland
When hunters think of deer hunting in Colorado, they probably think of Mule Deer hunting first, but what many hunters don’t know is that there’s world-class whitetail hunting just a few miles from the front range. Willi accompanies his friend Chris to northern Colorado to hunt Whitetails along the famous South Platte River, where the muley and whitetail ranges overlap …
January 14, 2014
Episode 103 – Murphy’s Law for Elk
There aren’t many areas in the country known for big elk, so it can take some creativity to find public land elk destinations that are largely untouched but still offer good chances at big bulls. Willi and his friends, Chris and Brad, put their heads together to uncover some amazing Pure Hunting for Elk in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado …
January 14, 2014
Episode 102 – Cheap Sheep & Ghostly Muleys
Willi Schmidt’s quest for Pure Hunting destinations continues with one of America’s best kept secrets: a budget-wise Barbary Sheep hunt in Texas canyon country. And Willi joins his friend Brad in the high-country of Colorado to chase elusive Rocky Mountain Mule Deer on public land that’s challenging enough to discourage all but the bravest do-it-yourself hunters.
January 14, 2014
Episode 101 – Bear Necessities
Willi Schmidt’s quest to find the last, best, affordable Pure Hunting destinations begins on a trip to Alaska with his friend Brad to take on an epic self-guided bear hunt. This hunt will test not only their hunting abilities, but their survival skills as well. Dropped off in the middle of nowhere with no guide, no phones, no help and …