Hello everyone,
While we have a community of nearly 24,000 on YouTube, we recently launched a more personal way to stay in touch: The Huntsman Newsletter. The inaugural edition was just sent out to a small group of early adopters, and I wanted to share a piece of that update here on the site.
From the very beginning, I envisioned The Huntsman as more than just a show—I wanted it to be a community where like-minded hunters could connect, learn, and grow together. Now, five years in, I am continually humbled by how invested you all are in this journey.
This newsletter is an important next step in that vision. It’s a direct thread between us, providing a channel for exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and opportunities to engage with the movement we’re building. Our goal is to release these quarterly, increasing the frequency as our operations grow.
Don’t miss the next one. If you want these updates, scouting reports, and community news delivered directly to your inbox automatically, you can join the mailing list below.
For now, I want to thank you for the likes, the comments, and for sharing our content. The greatest strength of this community is our shared desire to see the hunting lifestyle thrive in Australia. You aren’t just viewers; you’re contributors to the culture we’re developing together.
In late 2025, the team—Jordi, Luke, Cass, KC, and myself—were at the Wild Deer expo in Lardner Park, manning the Australian Hunters Club booth. It was a joy to meet so many of you, sign hats, and hear your stories. We walked away feeling humbled, but that wasn’t the only thing we walked away with.
While walking the exhibitor floor, my curiosity was piqued by a booth for Helicopters Nelson. I started chatting with their Australian representative about a new package they’d just introduced: a helicopter charter out of Nelson for up to four hunters into a privately leased block.
“The block is nestled between two beautiful ridgelines, choke-a-block with deer, with a clear creek running down the middle,” he told me. “In the valley is a small kitchen shack packed with amenities and a large water tank retrofitted into charming lodgings with four bunk beds. We fly you in, then it’s a self-guided adventure. We wanted to create a unique opportunity for Aussies to experience the joy of NZ hunting without the crazy price tag.”
While we were talking, two men in Helicopters Nelson shirts walked in with their lunch. The older of the two kept an eye on our conversation while he ate—you take every chance you get to breathe and eat when you’re exhibiting at these events.
Just then, a young boy tapped me on the shoulder to ask for a photo, which I happily obliged. Then, a group of older men stopped by to say hello and express how much they loved the show. As I was shaking hands, I noticed the older gentleman in the Helicopters Nelson shirt watching the exchange intently. He’d seen the interaction with the young fan and the group of hunters.
Before I could even apologize to the rep for the interruptions, this man stepped in, offered his hand, and introduced himself: “My name is Pete, I own Helicopters Nelson… and I think we should have a conversation.”
The Result: Five months later, Jordi, Brad, our camera operator Linc, and I have just returned from a 10-day mission in that very block, the Gosling camp, as well as a remote charter to the tops of the Marlborough Ridge hunting Chammy. It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip with incredible stories that will now form the backbone of Season 4.
I’m currently deep in the edit. You can expect these episodes to start dropping soon after the Season 3 finale on April 28th, 2026. The season may have fewer episodes than our usual ten, but they will be longer and more immersive. Since we’re also filming Season 5 later this year, we’ll likely move through the release schedule a bit quicker, but I’ll share more on that soon.
It was one hell of an adventure, and I can’t wait for you all to experience it.
Experience the pinnacle of Southern Alps hunting with a professional helicopter insertion into the rugged Marlborough Range. This is a true “top-of-the-world” adventure, dropping you and up to three companions onto remote ridgelines to pursue free-range Chamois (pronounced sham-wa) and Red Deer.
This is a self-sufficient expedition into some of the most awe-inspiring and demanding terrain in New Zealand.
Grab 3 of your mates and embark on an unforgettable hunt deep in New Zealand wilderness, where the sky is your freeway and the bush is your playground.
At the heart of this adventure lies the Gosling Hunt Camp — a remote, privately-owned block accessible only by helicopter — perfect for serious hunters, motivated teams and anyone looking for an amazing back-country experience.
The Huntsman will always be an Australian show at its core, but my dream has always been to bring our unique hunting culture to the world stage. Recently, we’ve seen a massive surge in viewers from the US, Canada, Europe, and India.
To reflect this growth, we have officially moved our digital home from thehuntsman.com.au to huntsman.show.
Along with the new URL, we’ve overhauled the site to include:
With only two episodes left to air in Season 3, we aren’t slowing down. I’ve been spending a lot of time in the edit suite lately, and I’m really proud of what’s coming to the YouTube channel.
The Huntsman & The Huntsman: Reloaded (extended cut): Out now.
This January, Luke, young Jordan (“Skirts”), and I headed out for a Sambar adventure that quickly turned into a test of endurance. We were hunting during one of the hottest days Victoria has ever seen—a blistering 42°C. We certainly got more than we bargained for when a bushfire broke out in the neighboring valley, right on the doorstep of where we were hunting. Watching the smoke crest the ridge while trying to stay on the deer was a surreal experience.
You can watch the outcome of that hunt this Sunday from 9 am AEST (March 15th). If you want the full, uncut experience of that heat and the tension of the fire, head over to The Huntsman: Reloaded for the extended director’s cut.
The Huntsman: 7pm AEST, SUN Mar 31, 2026
After a roller coaster first hunt in the Victorian High Country, I rejoin KC as we continue our public land hunt chasing a Sambar deer for KC to harvest—this time with a smarter plan and a renewed sense of determination.
The episode explores a new area: a rocky, sandy slope loaded with fresh sign, acting like a highway for deer moving between feeding zones. Every track tells a story, and every decision could mean the difference between success and KC making another long walk back to camp empty-handed.
Tune in 7pm AEST Mar 31, 2026 to watch the premier of this episode.
You can also get notifications for when this video goes live here.
The Huntsman: 9 am AEST, SUN Mar 22, 2026
Caught in a bit of a nostalgic mood, I recently pulled up the files from one of our most successful videos ever—the Season 2 camel hunt on Nyora. When I first edited that episode, I was trying to balance a lot of story elements and I felt some of the hunting footage was a bit “janky” or “jarring” due to the camera movement. I actually cut a lot out back then to make it “cleaner.”
Since then, my philosophy has changed. I’ve become much more comfortable with raw, unfiltered edits (inspired by series like Just The Hunt). I realized that the “jank” is actually the truth of the moment. So, I’ve re-edited the Nyora hunt to show a heap of footage that has never seen the light of day—including a pretty graphic scene of one of our camera operators dissecting a camel eyeball! It’s gritty, it’s raw, and it’s a much more honest look at that expedition.
Watch the re-release on Sunday, March 22nd on the main channel.
The Huntsman: Available now
You might have noticed we recently reached into the archives to release some footage from Season 2—a Fallow hunt with our mate Bill from Happy Hunting Adventures. To be honest, I sat on this footage for a long time because the trip didn’t end in a kill.
But looking back at it, the footage and the raw experience were just too good to leave on the shelf. Hunting isn’t always about the harvest; it’s about the miles in the boots and the lessons learned on the hill.
If you missed that one, you can catch up here.
I say it often, but I really do mean it: The Huntsman doesn’t exist without you. Whether you’ve been with us since the first episode of Season 1 or you just found us last week, I’m incredibly grateful that you’ve chosen to spend your time engaging with our content.
I’m heading back to the editing suite now to keep chipping away at the New Zealand footage. There is something special about these Season 4 episodes—the “Altitude Shift” really changed the way we look at backcountry hunting, and I’m working hard to make sure that feeling translates through the screen.
I have one small favour to ask before I go. We want to keep building this community and keeping it independent. If you enjoyed this update, could you please forward this email to one or two of your hunting mates? Or better yet, copy the links below for the YouTube channel and Newsletter sign up and share it in your hunting group chats or on your social pages. It’s the best way to help us grow the culture we’re all so passionate about.
Share the YouTube channel : The Huntsman
Share the Newsletter link: https://thehuntsmansho.kit.
I’ll be in touch again in a few months with more updates from the edit desk and news on Season 5. Until then, I hope you get some time out in the bush.
Cheers,
Chris Waters
Host & Director, The Huntsman
