The Fair Chase Podcast

The Fair Chase
  • 4.6 (125)
  • Wilderness
  • Updated Daily

Hunting stories from the people who were there. James Zandstra and the crew behind The Fair Chase films sit down with guides, outfitters, gear makers and everyday hunters to talk through whitetail, bear, elk, turkey, caribou and muskox hunts across North America and beyond: what happened, what they would do differently, and the gear and tactics that held up. The Fair Chase is based in Michigan and makes hunting films, Field Notes articles and this podcast. Watch the films and read the Field Notes at thefairchase.com.

  1. 1d ago

    Greenland Layering System | Dressing for an Arctic Hunt in August

    James breaks down his full layering system for Greenland. Caribou and muskox in the Arctic Circle, wet country with temps that swing from the low 30s to the low 50s. He went looking for how people layer for a hunt like this. There wasn't much, at least nothing specific to Greenland. So he built it himself. The kit works from the inside out: base layers first, a grid fleece that does most of the work, insulation for the long glassing sits, and a rain shell he already trusts. All of it TUO Gear. Chapters (00:00) 60 days out: why Greenland layering is different (00:39) Base layers: Kinetic 200 quarter zip and 250 pants (01:31) Outer pants: Vista (02:04) Grid fleece: the Folcrum hoodie (02:48) Insulation for glassing: the Clement hoodie (03:05) Rain gear: Ballistic Storm jacket (03:34) Boat-based camp means room for extras: merino tee (04:18) Camp pieces: 350 hoodie and Ant pant (05:09) The full kit, inside out Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTjJR3fPsWQ Brought to you by onX Hunt, Trophium, Latitude Outdoors, TUO Gear, and Reveal by Tactacam.

    Greenland Layering System | Dressing for an Arctic Hunt in August

  2. 2d ago

    Bear Camp MMQB | Your Questions Answered

    James sits down with Joe and Jordan to talk through what went on behind the filming of Bear Camp and answer the questions that came in after the film: baiting with beavers, whether that many beavers is legal, getting the meat home, what spring bear tastes like, filming a hunt from a saddle, and whether the film should show the shot. Chapters (00:00) Where everyone is headed next (00:35) Sponsor reads (03:37) The hunt: northwest Saskatchewan, established baits (08:43) Filming from a saddle with one self-film kit (13:16) Your questions: why beavers, and is it legal (16:51) Getting the meat home, and what bear tastes like (19:57) Go west first, or bait first? (26:08) Showing the shot on film, and why (28:11) Wrap: send us your questions Watch Bear Camp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8Ipc9Pcgy4 Brought to you by onX Hunt, Trophium, Latitude Outdoors, TUO Gear, and Reveal by Tactacam.

    Bear Camp MMQB | Your Questions Answered

  3. Jul 15

    Joe Bernard | Long Range School & a 450 in Greenland

    James is a few weeks out from chasing caribou and muskox in Greenland, and part of his prep was a trip to Cody, Wyoming to shoot with Gunwerks, the team behind turnkey long-range rifle systems, integrated optics, and ballistics. He sat down with Joe Bernard from Gunwerks to talk through what it takes to be ready. In this episode, they cover: -Prepping for a Greenland caribou and muskox hunt-Why James is running a 450 Bushmaster on this trip -Long-range training before a big hunt -Reading wind like it actually matters-Cleaning a rifle the right way -How Gunwerks fits hunters to rifle and caliber -Gunwerk's annual, one-time-only manufacturing runs of unique rifles -Sheep slams, Kyrgyzstan ibex, and where customers are hunting next Brought to you by  @onXHunt   @latitudeoutdoors  &  @OfficialTrophiumApp ​

  4. May 19

    Mike Roux | Gobblers Don't Come to Hens

    James sits down with Mike Roux, a turkey hunter in his 55th season, NRA American Hunter staff writer, and host of the Mid Mo Reapers YouTube channel. Mike grew up chasing Ozark gobblers in southeast Missouri and has spent more time watching turkeys with a camera and a notepad than most have with a gun. The conversation gets into how Mike reads the three phases of the spring, why he stopped calling to birds on the roost, and the case for forgetting the roost altogether and hunting the strut zone instead. He walks through his calling progression of hen to Jake and explains why the last legal hour of the last legal day is his favorite time to hunt a gobbler. Brought to you by:  @onXHunt   @tuogear   @latitudeoutdoors   @OfficialTrophium ​

  5. May 16

    Joe Griffin | Spring Turkey Tactics, Bear Film Preview & Saskatchewan Plans

    Spring is in full swing and the guys are fired up! In this episode, Joe and the crew break down what's been an incredible turkey season so far — with six birds down and counting — while diving deep into tactics that actually work in the field. From reading a tom's morning mindset to the critical 9-to-noon window that Joe swears by, this episode is packed with practical turkey hunting advice for hunters of every experience level. They cover decoy strategy, when to use (and ditch) a Jake call, the power of silence, and how late-season foliage changes your whole approach. They also preview two upcoming bear hunts — a DIY spot-and-stalk trip out West in Montana, and Lex and Joe's first baited bear hunt in Saskatchewan, where trail cam pics are already showing some serious boars. Plus, don't miss the announcement of the Second Annual Fairchase Film Festival at Wealthy Street Theater in Grand Rapids on June 18th — featuring the debut of their Saskatchewan bear film and more. In this episode: -Turkey season recap & what's driving big recruitment numbers -The best time of day to kill a spring tom (and why it's not the roost) -Jake decoy dos and don'ts throughout the season -Regional turkey population differences and Southeast struggles -Montana & Saskatchewan bear hunt previews -Fairchase Film Festival — June 18, Grand Rapids | Wealthy Street Theater

  6. Apr 24

    Mike Herne | Calling Elk, Killing Coyotes, Building Tricer

    Mike Herne joined us to talk about the path from Army Ranger to the hunting industry, the origin story of Tricer, and why the tripod world has been building legs upside down for years. We get into 74 coyotes in a season, what turkey hunting actually teaches you about calling elk, why predator hunting might be the best training a big game hunter can do, and the "burn the boats" philosophy. Plus the honest math on American-made gear, what a hunting film should leave on the cutting room floor, and why the LP is the head everyone remembers by feel instead of name. This episode is brought to you by OnX (onxmaps.com), Trophium (trophium.co), and Latitude Outdoors (latitudeoutdoors.com).

  7. Apr 10

    New Gear, Lighter Packs, and Saddle Hunting Bears | Cory Godar, Latitude Outdoors

    Cory Godar, Marketing Director at Latitude Outdoors, joins us to talk new gear for 2026 — including the carbon synergy sticks, the flyer pack, new 7mil ropes, and what's coming down the pipeline. We also talk tick season, saddle hunting for bears, and the return of the Fair Chase Film Festival this June in Grand Rapids.

  8. Feb 27

    Kifaru's New Apparel Line - w/ Aris Sergakis

    Kifaru is about to turn 30 years old and they're stepping into apparel for the first time. We sat down with Aris, the designer behind the new line, to talk through every piece of cutting-edge clothing. Aris came from 10 years designing high-end runway stuff in NYC before making the jump to the hunting industry with First Lite. Now he's bringing that experience to Kifaru and the result is a tight, focused collection that's truly unique. In this episode: - Aris's path from Indiana to NYC fashion to Idaho to Wyoming - Why Kifaru decided now was the time to launch apparel - Kifaru's line up: broken down - What's coming in 2027 Check it out! The line drops March 5th at kifaru.net Follow The Fair Chase: Website: https://www.thefairchase.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefairchase YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKUkhywZmbttVYA5VwDLVXA

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4.6
out of 5
125 Ratings

About

Hunting stories from the people who were there. James Zandstra and the crew behind The Fair Chase films sit down with guides, outfitters, gear makers and everyday hunters to talk through whitetail, bear, elk, turkey, caribou and muskox hunts across North America and beyond: what happened, what they would do differently, and the gear and tactics that held up. The Fair Chase is based in Michigan and makes hunting films, Field Notes articles and this podcast. Watch the films and read the Field Notes at thefairchase.com.

Information

  • Creator
    The Fair Chase
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    120
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 The Fair Chase. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Fair Chase Podcast

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