In this episode, Matt sits down with Tim to talk about something every hunter remembers... their first deer!
What makes Timm's story a little different is just how quickly it happened. After spending months waiting for his firearms licence, listening to hunting podcasts, researching State Forests and trying to learn as much as possible before he could get started, Timm managed to take his first fallow buck just two weeks into hunting with a rifle.
Timm takes us through the hunt, from initially throwing his game plan out the window on his first trip, to returning the following weekend determined to sit in one location where all his preparation was suddenly put to the test. Rather than rushing the opportunity, Timm explains how his background in spearfishing and target archery helped him stay calm, follow his shot process and eventually take his first deer.
But apparently one deer wasn't enough. Only two weeks later, Tim headed back out and managed to put a second fallow deer on the deck. We talk about how much easier everything became the second time around — from taking the shot to breaking the animal down, carrying it out, processing the meat and getting everything vacuum sealed and into the freezer. We also have a laugh about some of the lessons that only come from actually doing it, including Tim discovering the hard way that he was looking at the wrong end of the animal for the tenderloins on his first attempt.
That leads into a broader discussion about one of the things we both love about hunting: you never really stop learning. We talk about reflecting after every hunt, learning from mistakes, developing routines and having a consistent process so that when an opportunity finally presents itself, you're ready.
Tim's background in spearfishing also takes the conversation in an unexpected direction as we discuss the similarities between hunting on land and underwater. From remaining calm when an opportunity appears to completely immersing yourself in the environment, there are plenty of lessons that transfer between the two.
After Matt's recent family trip to Sea World, the boys also get into an interesting discussion about keeping intelligent wild animals in captivity. Dolphins, seals, polar bears and orcas all come up as Matt and Tim debate the educational and conservation arguments for zoos and marine parks against the experience of seeing wildlife behaving naturally in the wild.
Tim shares some incredible encounters from spearfishing, including seeing dolphins, octopus and cuttlefish in their natural environment and an unexpected encounter with what he believes was a pygmy sperm whale. This leads into a conversation about something that hunting, fishing, spearfishing and simply spending time outdoors can give us that is becoming increasingly difficult to find in modern life — the opportunity to switch everything else off and simply focus on what's happening around you.
From taking your first deer and learning through experience, to spearfishing, wild places, firearm ownership and why getting outdoors can be such an important escape from everyday life, this is a great conversation with a hunter right at the beginning of his journey.
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Disclaimer: Content shared on this podcast is for general information and entertainment purposes only. Always ensure you understand and comply with the relevant hunting, firearms and public-land regulations in your jurisdiction. For the full disclaimer, click on this link.
