In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty is joined once again by Ben Salleras, one of only a handful of hunters to ever complete the elusive South Pacific Slam. But what even is that? Ben unpacks the “South Pacific 15,” the challenges of defining a slam in our part of the world, and why the pursuit became such a personal obsession.

We dive deep into the last hunt that finished off his South Pacific Slam, the Wapiti from the intense terrain in Fiordland, NZ

Podcast Topics:

• The South Pacific 15: What species make the list, what gets left out, and why the official slam isn’t quite official
• Fiordland Realities: Brutal terrain, vertical jungle, and one of the harder hunts Ben has ever done
• Catseye Block Breakdown: Choosing the right block and period for wapiti success
• Completing the Slam: The planning, prep, and long-range logistics that led to the final tick — the Fiordland wapiti
• Gotta Catch ’Em All: Why collecting species hits the same nerve as childhood card collecting
• Hybrid Bugles & Elk Behavior: Why most wapiti calls in Fiordland sound more like elk than red deer
• Mindset in the Mountains: Choosing the right hunting partner, dealing with weather windows, and staying cool under pressure
• This young bull wants to fight… The story of Ben nearly being attacked by an aggressive young Wapiti bull.
• I saw two possible locations for the tent in the 6 days we were there
• From hunting pigs in Queensland to global adventures… Anything is possible when you set your mind to it. Ben shares future goals, trips planned and a reflection on just what he has achieved with a bow.

Whether you’ve dreamed of your own slam or just love hearing in-depth yarns about a hunt, this is a thoughtful and wild ride through Benny’s South Pacific’s bowhunting feat.

Find Ben Salleras:

Instagram: @bensalleras

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

• Dog and Gun Coffee – @dogandguncoffee
• Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off.
• Kayuga Broadheads – @kayuga_broadheads
• Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off.
• Venture Hunting & Outdoors – @venturehunting
• Gear up for your next hunt.
• Jab Stick Outdoors – @jabstickoutdoors
• Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off.

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty sits down with Alesha Tomasi — a passionate hunter, cook, and content creator — to talk all things meat, mindset, and meaningful connection to the land.

From harvesting her first goat to launching a female-led hunting community, Alesha shares how she went from tagging along on hunts to being an advocate for sustainable meat, mental health, and women in the outdoors. This episode is equal parts inspirational, educational, and grounded in the reality of rural life.

Podcast topics:

• How & why Alesha started hunting
• The moment her social media mission began — and the powerful promise behind it
• What it's really like processing your own wild meat week after week
• Her go-to gluten- and dairy-free recipes using wild game and homegrown produce
• The rise of Daughters of the Wild — a growing community for female hunters
• The power of slow cooking, venison steak for breakfast, and making sausages from scratch
• How the outdoors helps with mental clarity, purpose, and well-being
• Pack training for Fiordland and the all-girls Wapiti trip that changed her perspective
• Gavin the pack goat. The story behind Gavin, how they’ve trained him to be their trusty sidekick and the gear issues they’ve had thus far.
• New Zealand’s got it all to offer, from crayfish dives to deer to chamois and tahr.

Whether you're a seasoned hunter, an aspiring provider, or just someone who wants to live a little closer to the land, this is a conversation that hits home.

Follow Alesha:

Instagram: @alesha_tomasi

Community: @daughters_of_the_wild

Follow Becoming a Bowhunter:

Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast

Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

Wild Deer Hunting & Outdoor Expo – Live at Lardner Park in Victoria on the 11th & 12th of October. Get your tickets at https://www.deerexpo.com.au/

Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off.

@dogandguncoffee

Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off.

@kayuga_broadheads

Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt.

@venturehunting

Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off.

@jabstickoutdoors

In this episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, Matty catches up with two stickbow hunters and top blokes — Benny Fensom and Jack Spinks — for a laugh-filled and brutally honest yarn about traditional archery, wild meat processing, serious health scares, and why red deer still haunt their dreams.

From hand-pumping 20 kilos of sausages to dodging disease from deer urine, this one covers all the messy, meaty, and memorable moments that come with hunting hard and living wild.

Podcast Topics:

• Rutting Chaos – Benny & Jack give some detailed recaps of their fallow rut together plus some yarns from previous rut experiences they’ve shared.
• Red Deer Vs Fallow – Which deer is harder to hunt and why is it reds?
• Stickbow Only – No wheels here. The boys break down why they’ve gone all-in on trad bows and what it takes to consistently get kills inside 10 meters.
• Sausage Shenanigans – Making 100kg of snags with a cement mixer, exploding cheese sticks, and the absolute art of tying off links without losing your mind.
• Q Fever & Lepto – Benny’s experience with leptospirosis, which had him bed-bound for a few weeks. The wild strain, not native to Australia that landed him in hospital for a week.
• Big Kev the Stag – The legendary red named Big Kev.
• Stickbow Dropouts – Why many trad shooters burn out after 6 months, and how to stick with it when the compound itch creeps in.

This one’s got it all — equal parts funny, filthy, and full of hard-won bowhunting wisdom.

Find Benny & Jack:

Benny: @benny_fensom

Jack: @jackspinks_

Jabstick Outdoors: @jabstickoutdoors

https://jabstickoutdoors.au/

Find Becoming a Bowhunter:

• Instagram: @becomingabowhunter.podcast
• Hosted by: @mattyafter

Episode Sponsors:

• Dog and Gun Coffee – Fuel your hunt with premium coffee. Use code BOWHUNTER for $10 off. @dogandguncoffee
• Kayuga Broadheads – Precision and reliability for every shot. Use code BAB10 for 10% off. @kayuga_broadheads
• Venture Hunting & Outdoors – Gear up for your next hunt. @venturehunting
• Jab Stick Outdoors – Precision-engineered carbon shafts. Use code BAB10 for $10 off. @jabstickoutdoors