Most reticles are built for perfect conditions… but hunting rarely gives you that.

In this episode, I sit down with Thomas to break down what actually matters when it’s time to shoot. We get into reticle design, wind brackets, and why simplicity often beats complexity when things happen fast.

We talk about real-world scenarios—multiple animals, movement, communication breakdowns, and the kind of pressure that forces you to make decisions in seconds. That’s where most systems fall apart.

We also get into shooting moving animals, and even cold weather hunting—where your gear, your body, and your decision-making all get tested.

Follow Thomas on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCmKvQfvjqbUakUotekAyxew

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FOLLOW CLIFF
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Pursuit With Cliff Podcast
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/interviews-and-podcasts/

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https://pursuitwithcliff.com/membership/

Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/Experiences

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Most hunters think they understand shot placement and bullet performance—but the reality is very different.

In this episode, we break down what actually kills animals, from bullet construction to impact velocity to shot placement. This isn’t theory—it’s based on thousands of animals, real-world testing, and hard lessons learned in the field with Dr. Ashby.

Chapter 1 – Bullet Myths vs Reality (00:00)
Chapter 2 – Why Faster Bullets Don’t Penetrate (12:00)
Chapter 3 – Real-World Bullet Testing Results (25:00)
Chapter 4 – What Actually Kills Animals (30:00)
Chapter 5 – Bullet Construction vs Caliber (49:00)
Chapter 6 – The Shot Placement Problem (1:39:30)
Chapter 7 – Why Hunters Aim Too Far Back (1:40:00)
Chapter 8 – Training vs Reality (Why Guys Miss It) (1:48:00)

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FOLLOW CLIFF
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Pursuit With Cliff Podcast
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/interviews-and-podcasts/

Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/membership/

Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
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Cape Buffalo hunting is nothing like elk or deer hunting—In this episode, we break down a real hunt where we tracked multiple Cape Buffalo through thick bush, lost them, picked them back up, and ended up surrounded.

We also cover gear setups, shot placement, what happens when a buffalo decides to charge, and the reality of planning an African hunt—from rifles to cost to what to expect.

If you’ve ever thought about hunting Africa, this is the unfiltered version of what it’s actually like.

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FOLLOW CLIFF
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Pursuit With Cliff Podcast
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Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
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Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
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Colorado’s draw system is changing, point creep is accelerating, and hunters need to rethink their strategy for elk, sheep, goat, and moose in the coming years.

In this episode, Cliff sits down with Jimmy Oswald to break down the current outlook for Colorado hunting ahead of the upcoming draw. They start by discussing Colorado’s unusually dry winter and what historically low snowpack could mean for wildlife, habitat conditions, and the upcoming hunting season. While winter conditions matter, they explain why summer moisture and fire season will ultimately have a bigger impact on elk behavior and hunting success.

The conversation then shifts to major changes coming to Colorado’s draw system. Beginning in 2028, half of the available tags will move from a pure preference point system to a weighted lottery. Jimmy explains why this change is already affecting hunter behavior and why point creep could spike in the next few draws as high-point holders rush to use their points.

Toward the end of the episode, Jimmy shares insights on sheep, goat, and moose draw strategy, including which units he currently likes and how herd dynamics and tag allocations affect trophy potential.

Follow Jimmy at https://www.lksoutfitters.com/.

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FOLLOW CLIFF
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Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
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Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
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Why do Tikka rifles keep working when others choke in snow, dirt, and real hunting conditions?

In this episode, I sit down with Jared Smethurst from Beretta to break down the mechanical and manufacturing reasons behind Tikka and Sako reliability. We cover action design, bolt tolerances, primary extraction, magazine systems, safety design, cold hammer forged barrels, and why some modern cartridges—especially PRCs—can introduce feeding issues.

The Selway Spring Bear Hunt April 16th-23rd, 2026 Mentioned: https://pursuitwithcliff.com/training-hunts/#idahobears

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FOLLOW CLIFF
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Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
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Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
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This conversation with Briggs Pittman breaks down what actually kills elk on hard, public land hunts. Not theory, not gear hype, but decision-making, preparation, and execution.

Briggs and Cliff cover why smelling elk is a non-negotiable stop, how elite hunters manage time in the woods, why mindset mathematically affects success, and how rifle hunters should think more like bow hunters. They dive deep into rifle setup, bipod selection, shooting positions, dry fire training, backpack weight discipline, food strategy, and why most hunters quietly sabotage themselves long before they miss a shot.

Briggs on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/briggs_pittman/

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FOLLOW CLIFF
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Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
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Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
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This episode breaks down how elk actually respond to hunting pressure and why most hunters misunderstand where mature bulls survive once seasons open.

Cliff talks with a self-taught elk hunter, Dan Vinson, who learned the hard way, without mentors or shortcuts. The conversation centers on pressure, access, and human behavior, not elevation gain or how far someone is willing to hike. Elk do not disappear when pressure increases. They compress into small, unattractive pockets where hunters walk through but never slow down enough to hunt.

The episode also covers bivy hunting, decision-making under uncertainty, and the cost of overcommitting to camps or rigid plans. A detailed solo bull encounter highlights how quickly things unravel after the shot, why blood trails are not guaranteed, and how emotional load compounds when hunting alone.

This is a realistic look at elk hunting as it actually happens for most do-it-yourself hunters.

Resources from Dan Vinson
Wild Gym | All Things Rucking: https://www.wildgym.com/
Dan's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wilddanvinson

The Selway Spring Bear Hunt April 16th-23rd, 2026 Mentioned: https://pursuitwithcliff.com/training-hunts/#idahobears

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FOLLOW CLIFF
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Pursuit With Cliff Podcast
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/interviews-and-podcasts/

Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/membership/

Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
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In this episode, Ryan and Cliff go deep into the real-world realities of pack animals — goats, llamas, horses, and mules — and why experience, animal behavior, stress, and decision-making matter far more than gear specs or romantic ideas of “backcountry horsepower.”

Ryan and Cliff also discuss the drop testing of optics and the myth that most modern rifle scopes hold zero.

Ryan's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avery_adventures
Rokslide: https://www.rokslide.com/

The Selway Spring Bear Hunt April 16th-23rd, 2026 Mentioned: https://pursuitwithcliff.com/training-hunts/#idahobears

---
FOLLOW CLIFF
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Pursuit With Cliff Podcast
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/interviews-and-podcasts/

Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/membership/

Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/Experiences

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