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Ever walked into a hardware store covered in blood, desperately trying to convince the cashier you're not a murderer? That's just one of the hilarious mishaps shared by this week's guest, Brian Dowling.

Brian brings a unique perspective as both a firearms expert with an actual master's degree in guns and a veteran who found healing through hunting. Working at XCAL Shooting in Virginia—a massive 97,000-square-foot facility combining shooting ranges, a gym, and a gun store—he's turned his passion into a career that spans gunsmithing, instruction, and product development.

What makes this episode special is the heartwarming thread running through Brian's hunting stories: his incredibly supportive wife. From helping him drag a freshly harvested doe up a hill in a wheelbarrow while wearing pajamas, to stealing "his" perfect pheasant after missing shots all day (much to his good-natured chagrin), their relationship shines through the narrative. When Brian describes seeing his blood-spattered wife hosing down a deer carcass in their yard without complaint, you can hear the genuine admiration in his voice.

The conversation takes us through the challenges of Eastern whitetail hunting, North Carolina hog hunts in eerie swamps, and the comedy of errors that ensues when a hunter isn't properly prepared to transport his harvest. Brian's self-deprecating humor about showing up at a rural hardware store covered in blood to buy rope and a hatchet—prompting the cashier's skeptical "that's what they all say" response to his innocent explanation—will have you laughing out loud.

Beyond the entertainment, Brian offers valuable insights into how hunting serves as effective PTSD therapy for veterans like himself, creating a deeper understanding of why many former service members find such profound peace in the woods. His technical expertise also shines through when discussing rifle zeroing and equipment selection for different hunting scenarios.

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Christensen Arms
Christensen Arms makes the best hunting and long-range rifles in the world. Made in the USA.

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The line between determination and recklessness blurs in this captivating episode featuring Brendan Bramford, a hunter whose life story spans continents and carries the weight of generations of hunting tradition. Born in Zimbabwe where his father worked as a professional hunter, Brendan's earliest memories include riding in Land Cruisers on safari before his family fled political violence that claimed their home.

Brendan's storytelling prowess shines as he recounts his first black bear harvest in Washington—a tale that begins with him answering nature's call behind camp and spotting what he thought was a burnt stump until it started moving. With his pants literally down, he managed to make the shot of a lifetime, creating a hunting memory equal parts successful and embarrassing.

The heart of the episode centers on Brendan's remarkable elk hunt where stubborn determination overcame physical limitations. Just three days before a planned five-day backcountry archery hunt, Brendan severely sliced his forearm open, requiring extensive stitches. Against medical advice and common sense, he proceeded with the hunt, hiking eight miles into the wilderness with an 82-pound pack and his arm freshly bandaged. When the moment came to draw on his first bull elk, the searing pain nearly derailed the opportunity—but Brendan persevered through multiple shots and tracking to harvest his first archery elk.

The episode closes with sobering stories of Brendan's family history hunting dangerous game in Africa, including his father being run over by a Cape buffalo and a family friend's recent horrific mauling by a leopard. These tales serve as powerful reminders of nature's raw power and the risks some hunters accept in pursuit of their passion.

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Christensen Arms
Christensen Arms makes the best hunting and long-range rifles in the world. Made in the USA.

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