The Christian Hunters of America Podcast

In this episode we sit down with our very own Mike Ornoski and listen while he instills years of knowledge as it relates to processing your wild game.   There's nothing better than enjoying the meat from an animal you harvested and it all starts with proper planning, tools, and equipment to clean and process you game meat.  Mike talks about what he uses in the field as well as tips and tricks to turn that whole animal into manageable pieces to pack out and process in the field or at home. We hope you gain some knowledge from this episode and aren't overwhelmed the next time a cooler full of meat is starring you in the face.  The more time you take to practice proper techniques will allow for more efficient processing.

In this episode we have the pleasure of speaking with Bobby Boido from Safari Club International (SCI).  Bobby has been involved with SCI for many years and recently became the Executive Director for the Phoenix chapter.  He explains the importance of having SCI as a voice for hunters and how our united front can protect our rights. Phoenix SCI is on a mission to make a positive impact in our community by empowering our youth with outdoor values. They're  passionate about teaching the next generation the essential skills of hunting, shooting, fishing, and more.  The Phoenix Chapter of SCI has a rich history dating back to 1983, dedicated to preserving our outdoor heritage. We invite you to be a part of their cause, helping safeguard these traditions for future generations.   https://www.phxchaptersci.com  

In this episode we speak with Marc Bean about his custom knife making business Cool Beans Knives.  He is an Arizona resident and fellow hunter with a passion for the outdoors.  Marc breaks down what it takes to make and all the labor needed to make one off custom knives.  He explains in layman's terms so we can all understand the type of metals, forging techniques and many other intricacies involved.  Marc is a former contestant on the hit show, "Forged in Fire" where he starred on season 7 ep. 24.  Follow along and if you have any questions or would like a custom piece of cutlery please reach out to Marc via social media on Facebook and Instagram at     coolbeanskniveshttps://www.instagram.com/coolbeansknives/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

In this episode we do a recap of the archery Elk hunt that took place in Northern AZ just last month.  Fellow board members  Mike and Howard along with lifelong CHA member Steve all had September bull tags.   They speak about e-scouting,  finding water, putting boots on the ground, looking for cows in the summer and lots of other tactics.  We share lots of laughs and hear some ups and downs while they recount their stories on an incredible Elk camp.

In this episode we had the distinct honor of speaking with Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman.   We’ll be discussing faith, our duty to be stewards of our landscape and animals along with discussing what’s in his new book, On Hunting.   Lt. Col. Grossman is a fellow Christian who shares our beliefs that we have dominion over the animals God created. He explains why hunters are the some of the best conservationists in the world and it is our responsibility to continue this work and educate others about being stewards of this land.  We share some great stories and hear the insight from Lt. Col. Grossman about faith and hunting.  We know you’ll enjoy this episode as much as we did.   https://grossmanontruth.com https://www.grossmanacademy.com/about-the-colonel    

In this epsiode we spoke with Wayne Wilson from the Phoenix Varmint Callers Inc.  Wayne is a past president of PVCI and has decades of knowledge to share when it comes to hunting Mr. Wile E. Coyote and other varmints. Wayne shares his advice on calling, setups, scouting and lots of other tips on how to be successful when hunting coyotes, foxes, and bobcats. Here is a little background on the group PVCI. The PVCI has a rich history, and being a varmint caller means a lot to many individuals. During the past 30 years, the membership has swelled to over 300 and shrunk to less than 15. The club seems to represent more than just a forum where individuals with similar interest can meet. Members of the PVCI are among the most sincere, dedicated sportsmen to be found in any organization. Many have welded lifelong friendships with fellow members. Through the years PVCI has been the catalyst providing the enthusiasm for the outdoor writers, animal biologist, photographers, wildlife managers and qualified Game and Fish commission candidates. But most important of all, through sharing skills and techniques it has allowed us to excel in a unique sport virtually unequaled for action, excitement, and self-satisfaction   https://pvci.org    

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Chris Dunn.  He and his wife Janice, have spent years in the backcountry exploring and camping.  They have been involved in the llama business for over 25 years. Chris is retired now but has spent decades as an avid outdoorsman, fisherman and hunter.  The llamas are a game changer and force multiplier when taking heavy loads into the backcountry.  Chris and Janice have utilized the pack llamas for guided hunts as well as taking families and small groups on extended camping trips. If you'd like to get in touch with Janice or Chris please reach out to them at https://www.arizonallamas.com  

We had the privilege to sit and speak with Ryan McMillan from Grayboe Stocks.    Ryan is a 3rd generation Rifle stock manufacturer and developed Grayboe to be lightweight, affordable and accurate.  He is a Military Veteran and honorably served as a Navy SEAL.  Most of us can only dream of what it takes to be a part of an elite Military Special Operation Team but Ryan lived it.  He shares some great insight about training, foreign deployments and used those experiences and never quit mindset which helped him tremendously in the business world that he works in now. Even with his many adventures, experiences, and business success he's still a humble man but very driven and a man of God.  He has recently coined the term, "The People's Riflestock". The People’s Riflestock is more than a slogan, this represents our core values, and an idea, a promise that people come first. We are just like you. Blue-collar, calloused hands, hard-working Americans. We are cut from the same cloth, Old Glory. We hope you learn about Grayboe, gain some insight and are motivated to tackle any obstacle that may put in your way.   https://www.grayboe.com/  

We get to learn from our very own board member Mr. Howard Frampton, about hunting Turkeys in the springtime here in AZ.  Most of the Turkey hunts in AZ revolve around Merriam's but we do have small pockets of Rio Grandes in northeast AZ as well as the coveted Goulds in southern AZ. Howard will share lots of tips, tricks and techniques to make you a more effective turkey hunter.  We hope you all have lots of fun and success in the woods hearing those gobbles !!

In this episode we got to sit down with our friend Grady Schneider again and speak about archery in the off season. Grady instills us with his knowledge on bow tuning, practice techniques and tips to stay proficient during the off season.   The spring and summer are a great time to practice and try new techniques before the fall hunting season starts again.   Follow along and we hope you learn and try something new to hone your archery skills before your next big hunt!

In this episode we speak with Greg Napoli, the National Sales Manager for Slik Tripods. Greg educates us on the history and development of their aluminum and carbon fiber tripods.   The company saw an increase in sales from the hunting market more so than the photography world with the lightweight carbon tripods.   Greg admits he had to learn the hunting culture quickly so he himself could advise the R&D engineers on what the market was demanding.   Most of us from CHA utilize these tripods and can attest that the hold to rigorous conditions hunters put them through.  Follow along and learn more about what goes into making SLIK tripods.   https://slikusa.com  

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with the owner of Independence Training, Glenn Stilson.   Independence Training hosts a number of invaluable courses across the state of AZ.  Glenn is the head instructor and owner of this training company.   Some of the courses they instruct are handgun fundamentals, CCW, rifle, as well as first aid and emergency preparedness. We hope you gain some insight and think about some of the concepts Glenn proposes when preparing for emergencies and firearms training.    https://www.independencetraining.com  

We had the pleasure of speaking with the one and only Mr. Dick King. Dick is one of the founding members of what we now call Christian Hunters of America.  He had a vision over 20 years ago and started a small organization of like minded individuals who loved the Lord and enjoyed everything hunting.  We are blessed that Mr. King along with a couple other gentlemen created this great fellowship. While Dick still enjoys hunting he has a passion for Striper Bass fishing.  In this episode he explains the keys to his success.  One of the most important he says is getting up real early in order to catch live bait.  Striper Bass are schooling predatory fish and nothing gets them more excited them seeing a shad swim by for them to swallow up and then it's FISH ON. We hope you learn some techniques to shorten the learning curve in order for you to land a big Striper yourself.

In this episode we had the please of speaking with Ted Harden.   Mike and Chet have been very interested in maintaining communication while in hunting parties or when camping with their family.  It’s easy to get lost in the different types of handheld radios offered these days and all the rules you need to follow to safely and legally use them.   Many users of even the low cost handheld radios sold at local sporting good stores require some type of licensing.  This episode will help many of you along with us to learn all the ins and outs.  Ted teaches us what the difference between FRS, GMRS and HAM radio are.  We also learn about what gear you need to buy as well as the effective of each radio system as you move up the cost bracket.   We hope you enjoy this episode and learn what it takes to have effective backcountry communication.  

In this episode we get to speak with Seth Watts of Black Bear Pursuit.  Seth is from Northern California and is very passionate about hunting black bears.   Earlier this year Seth had a roller coaster of a hunt.  He was targeting a large bear he had seen before and set out with a game plan once the season opened.  Seth describes in detail all the ups and downs he experienced during this hunt.   If you’ve been hunting long enough you know the bitter taste of hitting an animal and not being able to recover it.   Many hunters don’t like talking about this subject and it rarely is shared on videos or social media.   Tune in as Seth gets very candid about this particular black bear pursuit!   https://instagram.com/black_bear_pursuit?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=   https://christianhuntersofamerica.org  

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Anthony Stallone and finally got to talk about his company Phoenix Shooting Bags. Anthony explains how the company was started by he and his cousin Joe.  They experienced with different bags and fills and finally came up with the design after a lot of trial and error.  We get to learn about how utilizing a proper bag and building that solid and stable foundation is crucial whether hunting or shooting off a bench.  Anthony shares a lot of tips and is a great story teller.  Maybe we'll finally convince Mike to start becoming a long range shooter.  Probably not since he's a diehard archer! We hope you gain some long range rifle info, how utilizing a high quality bag is a necessity in the field and learn some tips from this episode. You can reach Anthony and check out all the bags mentioned on his websitehttps://www.phoenixshootingbags.com/ www.phoenixshootingbags.com 

We had the pleasure of speaking with Zack May from Southern AZ Quail Forever.   The Southern Arizona Chapter of Quail Forever was formed in 2011 by four current members.  They have members from nearly every western state plus Canada.   The Chapter encompasses Santa Cruz, Pima and Cochise counties which all lie within the south east corner of the State.  This area is home to 3 species of Quail all of which have different habitats.  The Chapter is focused on the concerns encountered with the complex eco-systems of the Sonoran and Chihuanhuan Deserts.   http://www.saquailforever.com    

In this episode we get to speak with David Stover from F. I. T. Point Bird Dogs.  David has spent the most if his life as an Active Duty Soldier with the U.S. Army. As retirement quickly approaches, he looks forward to the additional time he will be able to spend with the pups and the family.  The same values he learned and lived in the Army are combined with his faith and are now the guiding principles by which he runs F.I.T. Point Bird Dogs.  When it comes to upland hunting, he feels there is nothing like sharing the experience with good friends and good hunting dogs!   https://www.fitpointbirddogs.com

In this episode we get to speak with Marvin Zieser who was able to harvest the world record Antelope back in 1995.  This giant speed goat measured out at over 91”.  This mature trophy is the largest taken with a bow and made the Pope and Young world record.   Tune in as Marvin relives the story of preparation and setting up on a buck for the ages.  

This is a special bonus episode brought to you by our friends at HOWL For Wildlife.   In this episode the guest speakers talk about the impact that feral horses have played in our AZ landscape and specifically in the Apache National Forest.   Many horses escaped from tribal land in 2011 during the large Wallow fire that impacted the White Mtn. Apache Tribal Lands.    Follow along as they educate us on the impact these feral horses have played on our landscape and the negative effects that have resulted.   https://www.howlforwildlife.org