Vortex Nation Podcast

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Welcome to the Vortex Nation Podcast. Brought to you by lovers of hunting, shooting, public lands, the Second Amendment and dang good food.

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941 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes941

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Jun 3, 2025 · 21 min
#10MinuteTalk - 5 Elk Hunting Tips from Elk Shape’s Dan Staton
Dan Staton has dedicated his life to perfecting his elk-hunting craft. For Dan, 11 months of the year exist for one reason — to get ready for September. The result of his intense focus — bulls on the ground with incredible consistency. Tune in and draft off his hard-earned experience.
Jun 2, 2025 · 40 min
Ep. 395 | Mule Deer and the Mule Deer Foundation
Trevor Hubbs from the Mule Deer Foundation jumps on to chat about mule deer, threats they face, and the great work MDF is doing to ensure a prosperous future for these amazing critters. Habitat, overpasses, funding, and the new Blacktail Deer Foundation, he migrates through interesting information you’ll want to know.
May 29, 2025 · 29 min
Lightest Cartridge for Deer | Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 26
All meatballs, all the time, the Spaghetti Shootout season-three finale is loaded with quippy questions from YOU! Jimmy gets kidnapped by thugs, fishing for Nessie, immortality, and more, the guy’s debate topics only true intellectuals dare ponder. Does Mark go out with a bang or shoot himself in the foot? Tune in to find out.
May 27, 2025 · 39 min
#10MinuteTalk - The TC Encore is Back
The TC Encore is back for its encore appearance. After being purchased by S&W and subsequently shelved, some of the original owners are resurrecting the brand. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn talk about the rifles, what they offer a hunter, personal experiences with them, and where they fit in today’s modern firearm and muzzleloader landscape.
May 26, 2025 · 1 hr 16 min
Ep. 394 | Wisconsin CWD, Deer and Predator Study — Dissecting the Results
Wisconsin DNR’s Dan Storm joins Mark Boardman to examine the multi-year Southwest Wisconsin CWD, Deer and Predator Study. He gives us the “why” behind the study, how it was conducted and their findings. Tune in for interesting information on a contentious topic.
May 20, 2025 · 34 min
#10MinuteTalk - Beekeeping Basics — Honey in Your Own Backyard
Vortex’s Gayla Gibson buzzes by the studio to talk bee keeping basics. Beekeeping is cool, interesting, and rewarding. Your suburban backyard could bee the perfect place to bee-gin your bee-keeping journey. More pollinators is a good thing, and we can’t forget the bounty of sweet golden goodness we get in return. Tune in to get turned on to beekeeping.
May 19, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Ep. 393 | .375 H&H vs .338 Win Mag — Battle of the Medium Bores
Big bears to big bulls, one thing is certain, the .375 H&H and .338 Win will handle the job. After some testing at the range, Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn dive deep into these cartridges, what they like, and where they fit in today’s modern-cartridge landscape.
May 13, 2025 · 36 min
#10MinuteTalk - Maggie Jo's Top 5 Bass Baits
Tournament angler, Maggie Carsello, joins Mark Boardman to walk-the-dog through her favorite bass baits. Tune in to get lined out on incredibly versatile bait styles that simply produce.
May 12, 2025 · 51 min
Ep. 392 | 100 Years of the .270 Winchester
100-years-old and going strong, the now classic yet ever-venerable .270 is still stomping big game across the globe. This cartridge stands the test of time because critters hit with it don’t stand a chance. Tune in as we honor one of the greats.
May 6, 2025 · 45 min
#10MinuteTalk - The .338-06 — Deadly or Just Dead?
Ryan Muckenhirn brings in his .338-06 to talk all about its fantastic attributes. A cool cartridge with limited adoption by gun makers and the public alike, did this one deserve more fanfare? Or does it sit where it belongs at the bottom of the cartridge ocean? Tune in for the story of how he came to own this rifle, some history, and his plans to someday hunt it.
May 5, 2025 · 1 hr 26 min
Ep. 391 | Bear Hunting with Bear Hunting Magazine’s, Kolby Morehead
Bear Hunting Magazine owner, bear hunting fanatic, and bear advocate, Kolby Morehead, stops by to talk about — you guessed it, bear hunting. With a focus on baiting, he and fellow bear hunter, Mark Boardman, bear down on tips and tactics to get you in the game.
May 1, 2025 · 30 min
Best Camo of All Time | Spaghetti Shootout Ep. 25
In this week’s Spaghetti Shootout, Mark Boardman is back noodling around to find the right words, Ryan Muckenhirn is his collected self, Jimmy Hamilton is in a mood, and the trivia team takes pity. From movies that should have never been, to the best camo of all time, this episode is one spicy meatball.
Apr 29, 2025 · 32 min
#10MinuteTalk - How to Make a Turkey Wing Bone Call
Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn wing it in this podcast all about making your very own turkey wing bone call. How-to, anecdotal stories of success, and more, this podcast guarantees you’ll be saving your next bird’s wings.
Apr 28, 2025 · 1 hr 14 min
Ep. 390 | .300 SUPER WSM — Your Questions Answered
The .300 SUPER WSM project garnered a lot of attention — and questions. Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn sit down to address them.
Apr 22, 2025 · 25 min
#10MinuteTalk - 212 Gr Barnes LRX Bore Rider in a .308 Case — You’re Going to Do What?
We loaded the Barnes 212 Gr LRX Bore Rider in a .300 WSM case. The result — impressive ballistics and payload on target at extended ranges. But what happens if we do the same thing with a .308 case? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn go back to the lab to explore the possibilities and hopefully begin unlocking another level of .308 Winchester potential. As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation™ podcast by asking us on I
Apr 21, 2025 · 1 hr 13 min
Ep. 389 | Stalking Rifles — Everything You Need, Nothing You Don’t
Stalking rifle aficionado, Ian Klemm, stops by the studio with a handful of classic rifles bearing unique form factors — yet all falling under the moniker, “stalking rifle.” How can this be? Ryan Muckenhirn brings a beautiful rifle of his own, and Mark Boardman realizes he’s been hunting modern-day stalking rifles nearly his whole life. Tune in for a super interesting podcast all about stalking rifles.
Apr 15, 2025 · 40 min
#10MinuteTalk - One Turkey Call for the Rest of Your Life — Who You Got?
One turkey call for the rest of your life is one of the scariest scenarios ever conceived. The gang unites like a pack of Jakes to tackle this tough question.
Apr 14, 2025 · 50 min
Ep. 388 | Life of a Warden
Wisconsin Conservation Warden, Michael Burns, joins the podcast to chat about the profession, myths (you still have time to hunt), exciting cases, and how you can become a Conservation Warden yourself. If you’ve ever considered the profession, give this podcast a listen.
Apr 10, 2025 · 23 min
#10MinuteTalk - Utah Nonresident License and Big-Game Tag Price Increases Shock Hunters
Want to hunt big game in UT? License and tag price increases may have you thinking twice. Huntin’ Fool’s Austin Atkinson joins Mark Boardman to talk through the 2025 changes, how UT distributes tags, and what your application strategy should look like moving forward.
Apr 8, 2025 · 41 min
#10MinuteTalk - Hard Carbon Rings — Don’t Retire That Barrel Yet
Your barrel may still have life in it. A hard carbon ring could be your accuracy culprit. Ian Klemm drops in to drop knowledge on this hot topic. Identification, to prevention and removal, Ian covers it all.