Around the Campfire with Trophy Destinations

Trophy Destinations
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Around the Fire with Trophy Destinations shares real stories and expert advice on African hunting, safaris, gear, calibers, shot placement, travel tips, and conservation. Hosted by Oliver Wettstein & Carl Battenhaussen, we break down what US and European hunters must know before coming to South Africa, from plains game and dangerous game to ethics, safari prep, and camp life. Grab a cold beer, pull up a chair and join us for honest conversations about hunting, adventure, and the REAL African experience. Youtube: Trophy Destinations Instagram: @trophy_destinations www.trophydestinations.com

Episodes

  1. 30/12/2025

    Ep. 6: Shot Placement at Different Angles — What Most Hunters Get Wrong

    Most hunters know where to aim on a broadside animal… but everything changes when the angle changes. Quartering-away, quartering-to, frontal, steep uphill or downhill — these shots demand different aiming points, and getting them wrong can mean long tracking jobs, wounded animals, or missed opportunities. In this episode, we break down shot placement at every major angle, the same way we teach visiting hunters before stepping into the veld. Whether you’re heading to Africa for plains game or preparing for your next whitetail season, these fundamentals apply everywhere. What we cover: Broadside placement Quartering-away vs quartering-to Straight-on (full frontal) shots Texas heart shot realities Steep uphill and downhill angles Shooting through brush Ethical decision-making When NOT to take the shot This is PH-level knowledge built from years of guiding international hunters across South Africa’s Northern Cape and Limpopo regions. As seen on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@TrophyDestinations BOOK YOUR SOUTH AFRICAN SAFARI WITH US Trophy Destinations — Hunt the Real Africa 🌍 Northern Cape & Limpopo, South Africa 📩 Enquiries: oliver.wettstein@gmail.com Instagram: @trophy_destinations Website: www.trophydestinations.com

    16 min

  2. 30/12/2025

    Ep. 7: Lessons, Emotions & the Story Behind Our Annual South Carolina Bear Hunt - With Buck Stone and LT Norris

    After three years of patience, persistence, and countless hours spent in the Appalachian hardwoods, the dream finally became reality. In this episode, we sit down with Buck and LT after the hunt to unpack everything behind our South Carolina bear adventure — the lessons learned, the emotions that came with close calls, and the story behind a hunt that pushed us further than expected. From long, cold mornings on the ridges to quiet moments alone beneath the oaks, this hunt reminded us why we pursue wild places: not just for the trophy, but for the challenge, the discipline, and the connection to something deeper. Join Oliver, Buck and LT as we break down: • the mental and physical highs and lows • what surprised us most about hunting these mountains • key lessons we’ll take back to Africa • how tough hunts change the way we see the world This is a reflective, honest conversation — the kind you’d have around a fire after a long day in the bush. As seen on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@TrophyDestinations 📍 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains, South Carolina 🌍 Website: www.trophydestinations.com 📸 Instagram: @trophy_destinations 🎥 As seen on YouTube: youtube.com/@TrophyDestinations

    17 min

  3. 30/12/2025

    Ep. 5: The 5 Biggest Shooting Mistakes Hunters Make (And How to Fix Them)

    We’ve all missed shots — and if you haven’t missed, you haven’t hunted enough. In this episode, we break down the five biggest mistakes hunters make that lead to missed shots, wounded animals, or blown opportunities. These lessons come from years of guiding hunters across South Africa, North America, and everywhere in between. Whether you’re getting ready for your first African safari or gearing up for whitetail season, these fundamentals apply everywhere: practice, patience, communication, and knowing your limits. What we cover in this episode: • Not practicing enough — fundamentals, fitness, and real examples • Rushing the shot — pressure, adrenaline, and staying composed • Scope magnification too high — the silent killer of shot opportunities • Not listening to your PH or guide — communication mistakes • Shooting beyond your effective range — ego, ethics, and reality Key Takeaways: • Accuracy is earned behind the trigger. • A clean miss is always better than a bad hit. • Lower magnification = faster shots. • Communication with your guide changes everything. • Ethics matter: shoot within your true limits. As seen on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@TrophyDestinations Book your South African safari: 🌍 www.trophydestinations.com 📩 oliver.wettstein@gmail.com Instagram: @trophy_destinations

    22 min

  4. 23/12/2025

    Ep. 4: Talking BEST Calibers for Africa with Piet from Impact Shooting

    In this episode, we sit down with Piet from Impact Shooting, one of the top precision shooters in the game, to compare how a professional marksman and a professional hunter view calibers for South African hunting. From everyday plains game to tougher African species, we break down: which calibers actually shine in the South African veld where competition shooting theory lines up with real-world guiding where it doesn’t how bullet choice, shot placement, and terrain influence performance what foreign hunters need to know before choosing a safari rifle Whether you’re planning your first safari or just love caliber and ballistics talk, this conversation gives you the insider perspective from both sides of the rifle — the competitive range and the African bush. As heard on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TrophyDestinations BOOK YOUR SAFARI 🇿🇦 Trophy Destinations – Hunt the Real Africa 📍 Northern Cape & Limpopo 🌍 www.trophydestinations.com 📩 Enquiries: oliver.wettstein@gmail.com 📸 Instagram: @trophy_destinations

    15 min

  5. 16/12/2025

    Ep. 3: The Shots HUNTERS MUST PRACTICE Before Coming to Africa

    Preparing for an African safari means more than packing gear and choosing species — it means training for the real shots you’ll face in the African bush. In this episode, we break down the essential shots every hunter should practice before coming to Africa. These are the shots that make the difference between clean, ethical success and a long, difficult tracking job. Drawing from years of guiding international hunters, we explain each shot type, why it matters, and how to prepare for it. What we cover in this episode: • Fast follow-up shots • Shooting through brush and obstacles • Headshots — when they’re appropriate and when they’re not • Heavy quartering shots • Running shots • High-pressure situations and how to train for them Most hunters overseas practice only broadside, perfect-condition shots at the range. But Africa isn’t a shooting bench. Animals move fast, disappear into brush, and often present challenging angles. This episode gives you the tools and mindset to be confident, safe, and ethical in the field. As seen on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@TrophyDestinations Book your South African safari: 🌍 Trophy Destinations – Hunt the Real Africa 📍 Northern Cape & Limpopo www.trophydestinations.com 📩 oliver.wettstein@gmail.com Instagram: @trophy_destinations

    19 min

  6. 09/12/2025

    Ep. 2: Why South Africans Aim Differently: Head Shots vs Vital Shots Explained

    Why do South African hunters often take head shots, while hunters in the USA and Europe almost always aim for the vitals? In this episode, we break down the real reasons behind these different shot-placement traditions — from meat recovery and ethics to terrain, hunting culture, and client expectations. After guiding hunters from around the world for many years, we’ve seen firsthand how different backgrounds shape a hunter’s shot-selection habits. This conversation explains the pros, cons, and contexts behind each approach, and why they aren’t as “right or wrong” as people think. What we discuss in this episode: • Shot placement traditions in South Africa vs overseas • Why meat hunters in SA often choose head shots • Why vital shots are the global standard in the USA & Europe • Ethical considerations & risk factors • Trophy care and why head shots are a bad idea on big-game trophies • Terrain, distance, and hunter-education differences • Our experience guiding international hunters for many years Whether you’re a South African biltong hunter, an American whitetail hunter, a European forestry hunter, or someone preparing for your first African safari — this episode will give you a better understanding of why hunters around the world aim where they do. As seen on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TrophyDestinations Book your South African safari with us: 🇿🇦 Trophy Destinations – Northern Cape & Limpopo 🌐 Website: https://www.trophydestinations.com 📸 Instagram: @trophy_destinations 📩 Email: oliver.wettstein@gmail.com

    16 min

  7. 03/12/2025

    Ep. 1: The Truth about South African Hunting: Myths vs Reality

    There’s the Africa people talk about… And then there’s the Africa we live every single day. In this episode, we (Oliver and Carl) break down the biggest myths surrounding South African hunting — from safety concerns to high-fence debates — and share the real heartbeat of safari life. We dive into ethics, conservation, animal management, fair chase principles, “put & take” misunderstandings, and whether hunting from the truck is actually a thing. If you’ve ever wondered what African hunting is really like behind the scenes, this honest conversation will give you the full picture. Topics We Cover The truth about safety in South AfricaWhy people think everything is high fenceHigh-fence vs fair-chase ethicsWhat “put & take” actually meansThe reality of hunting from a vehicle • • How the media and social narratives distort African huntingWatch this episode on our Youtube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@TrophyDestinations⁠⁠ 🌍 Trophy Destinations – Hunt the Real Africahttps://www.trophydestinations.com📩 Email: oliver.wettstein@gmail.com📍 South Africa – Northern Cape & LimpopoInstagram: www.instagram.com/trophy_destinations

    18 min
  • 7 Episodes

About

Around the Fire with Trophy Destinations shares real stories and expert advice on African hunting, safaris, gear, calibers, shot placement, travel tips, and conservation. Hosted by Oliver Wettstein & Carl Battenhaussen, we break down what US and European hunters must know before coming to South Africa, from plains game and dangerous game to ethics, safari prep, and camp life. Grab a cold beer, pull up a chair and join us for honest conversations about hunting, adventure, and the REAL African experience. Youtube: Trophy Destinations Instagram: @trophy_destinations www.trophydestinations.com

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