JRE 1730 · June 27, 2024

Cameron Hanes

huntingsportsphilosophypsychologydiscipline

Who is Cameron Hanes?

Master bowhunter and elite athlete Cameron Hanes has successfully taken down some of the toughest game in the roughest environments nature has to offer, all in pursuit of becoming “the ultimate predator.” He’s the author of Backcountry Bowhunting: a Guide to the Wildside, and the host of the podcast Keep Hammering with Cameron Hanes.

Topics and Timestamps

01Cameron Hanes discusses his evolution from regular hunter to elite backcountry bowhunter pursuing the most dangerous game
02The physical and mental training required to hunt in extreme environments at high altitude and in harsh conditions
03His philosophy on becoming 'the ultimate predator' and what that means in terms of skill development and discipline
04Stories from specific hunts including close encounters with dangerous animals and survival situations
05The role of discipline, consistency, and the 'keep hammering' mentality in achieving mastery as a hunter
06How bowhunting differs from other forms of hunting in terms of skill requirement and ethical considerations
▶Cameron explains his mission to become the ultimate predator0:00:00
▶Discussion about the physical training and conditioning required for backcountry bowhunting0:15:00
▶A dangerous hunt story where things went sideways in the wilderness0:35:00
▶Cameron talks about the ethics and difficulty of bowhunting versus rifle hunting0:55:00
▶The 'Keep Hammering' philosophy and how consistency breeds mastery1:15:00

The Show

Cameron Hanes sits down with Joe to talk about his obsession with becoming the ultimate predator through backcountry bowhunting. This isn't casual weekend hunting stuff. Cameron's talking about pursuing elk, bears, and other apex game in environments that will kill you just as quickly as you can kill them. The guy trains like an athlete because he has to be one. You can't chase animals through mountains at 10,000 feet elevation if you're not in peak physical condition.

What makes Cameron interesting is that he treats hunting like a martial art. There's a philosophy to it, a code, a relentless pursuit of mastery. He talks about the discipline required to become truly skilled with a bow, the countless hours of practice, the mental toughness needed when you're alone in the wilderness making split-second life or death decisions. It's not about the kill for Cameron, it's about the journey, the preparation, the transformation of yourself into someone capable of surviving and thriving in nature's most unforgiving settings.

Joe and Cameron dig into specific hunts where things got real dangerous. The kind of moments where you realize you're not actually at the top of the food chain out there. They discuss the ethics of bowhunting, why it requires more skill and responsibility than rifle hunting, and how that challenge is exactly what drives Cameron. The conversation touches on how this pursuit shapes your character, teaches you about yourself, and connects you to something primal that most modern people never experience.

The 'Keep Hammering' philosophy comes up throughout, which is basically Cameron's approach to everything. Consistency. Relentless improvement. Showing up every day to do the work even when nobody's watching. Whether it's training for a hunt, running ultramarathons, or building your podcast, it's the same principle. That's what separates the people who dabble from the people who actually become elite at something.