The Hunt Backcountry Podcast

Join Mark & Steve as they interview four participants of this year's Death Hike, to find out what each of them took away from the experience. Be sure to also listen to Episode 457 where Steve & Mark recap the plan for the 2024 Death Hike in the Grand Canyon, how they prepared, and ultimately, how the adventure unfolded. Video, Photo, Gear Links, & More: exomtngear.com/2024-death-hike Contact Us: [email protected] Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Join Mark & Steve as they recap their 2024 Death Hike in the Grand Canyon. Hear about the plan for the hike, how they prepared, and ultimately, how the adventure unfolded. Be sure to listen to Episode 458 to hear from 4 other participants of this year's Death Hike, and what they took away from the experience. Video, Photo, Gear Links, & More: https://exomtngear.com/2024-death-hike Contact Us: [email protected] Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Steve & Mark are back from the Death Hike and resume answering your listener questions on this Monday Minute podcast episode. They discuss the ethics of electronic rangefinder and scope systems, advice on skinning black bears, and how to toughen up your feet for the backcountry. Links mentioned in this episode: - Exo Newsletter: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter - Bear Skinning Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or0VwjDIr1A - Ethical Dilemma of a Bad Hit: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/the-hunting-ethics-of-a-bad-hit SHARE PODCAST QUESTION — [email protected] or https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry View & Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Can you imagine taking snowmobiles hundreds of miles into the Alaskan wilderness and hunting bison? That would be the adventure of a lifetime! And that's the story that we get to hear about today. Kris and Mark join us to tell the story of their recent do-it-yourself Bison hunt in Alaska, which they completed with their friend Hunter. Mark's Previous Podcast: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/335 Contact Us: [email protected] Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

John Zombro of The Lifetime Athlete returns to the show, to answer your listener-submitted questions about Hunting with Health for a Lifetime. We discuss building good habits, balancing joint health with training progression, how to develop a strategy to train throughout the year without getting burned out or injured, the best way to train when you only have 30 minutes a day, and more... John's Previous Episode: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/411 Lifetime Athlete: https://thelifetimeathlete.com/ Exo Newsletter: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter Contact Us: [email protected] Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Our guest on this episode, Dr. Andy Galpin, is a Human Performance scientist with a PhD in Human Bioenergetics, the Co-Director of the Center for Sport Performance, a tenured full Professor at California State University, and he has worked with elite athletes across the UFC, MLB, NBA, PGA, NFL, Boxing, Olympics, and Military/Special Forces... ...AND HE IS A HUNTER. We speak with Andy to answer listener-submitted questions that combine his professional research with his practical experience as a hunter. Topics include... - The health benefits of extended trips into the backcountry - Training, nutrition, and supplementation strategies for hunting at higher elevations - The absolute importance of your daily habits - Why increasing your VO2 Max is one of the best things you can do for both performance and longevity - How to know if the metrics from wearable devices (such as smartwatches) are reliable and beneficial - Why exercise science is continually changing - How to prioritize endurance vs strength - And m

In the final podcast before their annual Death Hike, Steve and Mark chat briefly about the last-minute forecast, the decisions they are making, and how they are feeling. They then answer listener-submitted questions about upcoming spring bear hunts, including game bags for bears, cross-contamination of trichinosis, timing to hunt spring bears for peak activity, and more... SHARE PODCAST QUESTION — [email protected] or https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry View & Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

"What questions do you have about selecting, purchasing, owning, and hunting with a suppressor?" That is what we asked our followers on Instagram. And we answer those listener-submitted questions today with Brandon Maddox, CEO of Silencer Central. We discuss current ATF wait times, including why some suppressors have been getting approvals in just a few days. We explain the pros and cons of using a Trust to purchase your suppressor. We explore if caliber-specific suppressors perform better than others, and a whole lot more... Helpful Links... - What Mark Learned About Suppressors for Hunting: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/hunting-with-a-suppressor-lessons-learned - Brandon's Previous Podcast Appearance: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/333 - SilencerCentral: https://www.silencercentral.com/ - ATF Wait Times: https://www.silencercentral.com/nfa-status/ Contact Us: [email protected] Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

If you are interested in hunting big game in Colorado in 2024, or beyond, this episode is for you. We speak with John and Brandon from Colorado Parks & Wildlife. In this conversation, we answer your listener-submitted questions about CO's application season, the future of over-the-counter (OTC) hunting opportunities, the reintroduction of wolves in CO, and more. Helpful CPW Links... - https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/hunt.aspx - https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/BigGame.aspx - https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/pages/commission.aspx - https://www.youtube.com/@ColoradoParksandWildlife/videos Contact Us: [email protected] Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

In this Monday Minute episode, Steve & Mark answer listener questions about footwear for the Death Hike, their boot choice for early season archery elk hunting, how to find a quality used bow, and where to spend your budget on a rifle and optic combination... Links for items/resources mentioned in this episode... - Altra Timp: https://www.altrarunning.com/shop/men/mens-timp-5-al0a85pe - Topo Mtn Racer: https://www.topoathletic.com/mens-mtn-racer-3 - SuperFeet Hike Cushion: https://amzn.to/3PDhEt3 - SuperFeet Hike Support: https://amzn.to/4ctqwLI - Injinji Liner Sock: https://www.injinji.com/shop/liner.html - Mark's Tikka Build, Part 1 (2020): https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/diy-custom-tikka-rifle - Mark's Tikka Build, Part 2 (2020): https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/suppressed-tikka-update SHARE PODCAST QUESTION — [email protected] or https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry View & Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Our friend, Nolan Cook, is a hunting and fishing guide based on Kodiak Island, Alaska. He joins us on the podcast to answer some listener-submitted questions about hunting Kodiak brown bears, but we also chat about other topics in this informal bonus episode. Connect with Nolan: https://www.instagram.com/nolancook13 SHARE A PODCAST QUESTION — [email protected] or https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry View & Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Will shooting an NRL Hunter match help you become a more effective hunter? Or are these matches all about competition that doesn't replicate hunting? We answer these questions, and many more, with the founder of the NRL Hunter series, Travis Ishida. Travis explains what it is like to attend and participate in an NRL Hunter match, discusses the rules for the competition, and also explains that you don't have to follow all of the regulations if you don't want to shoot competitively at an NRL Hunter match. Whether you want to compete in NRL Hunter, or are interested in using a match as non-competitive practice to learn about yourself as a shooter and hunter, you will hear how participating in an NRL Hunter event can benefit you. https://nrlhunter.org/ https://www.instagram.com/nrlhunter/ https://www.youtube.com/@NationalRifleLeague Contact Us: [email protected] Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

In this Monday Minute episode, Steve & Mark answer listener questions about the warmth and performance of sleeping pads, making your own dehydrated meals for the backcountry, and more... Links mentioned in this episode: - The Experience Project: https://forms.gle/LAGVLqKauPv8hrKz7 - DIY Dehydrated Meals Podcast: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/126 - DIY Dehydrated Guide: https://www.v2pnutrition.com/dehydration-guide - Backpacking Chef: https://backpackingchef.com/ - Mark's Chili Mac: https://www.southyourmouth.com/2014/08/chili-mac.html - Sleeping Pad Podcast: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/405 - "Behind the Gear" from Therm-a-Rest: https://www.thermarest.com/blog/behind-the-gear-xlite-xtherm-nxt/ - How Thermal Insulation Works: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/stay-warm-with-thermal-insulation/ SHARE PODCAST QUESTION — [email protected] or https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry View & Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Any opportunity to hunt mountain goats is unique. They are fascinating animals that live in amazing terrain. For today's guest, Colter, the idea of drawing a mountain goat tag in his home state of Montana was a dream. And that dream came true. Colter joins us to share the story of his hunt, how he prepared for it, what he learned about mountain goats throughout the process, and some of the unique details that made this hunt so special. Whether you are passionate about mountain goats in particular, want to hear a cool story about big game conservation, or just take away some knowledge that can help you on any mountain hunt — there is something in this story for you. Photos from Colter's Hunt: https://www.instagram.com/p/CySLcquMKfQ/ Contact Us: [email protected] Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

We are launching something NEW! Tune in to hear Steve and Mark share their vision for The Experience Project. Help us make The Experience Project the best that it can be. Share your feedback and ideas with us... https://forms.gle/YB6zDTDBKJa3ESwD9 To get more insight into the name for this project, read this article that Mark wrote many years ago, about being an "Experience Hunter"... https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/experience-hunter Email Newsletter: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/exomountaingear Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

In this episode, Mark runs solo to answer your questions about gear from his Dall Sheep hunt in Alaska. In addition to answering those specific listener questions, Mark has also published a "What's In My Pack?" video for all of the gear he took on this hunt. You can find that video, the full gear list spreadsheet, and more at the links below. QUESTIONS answered on this podcast... - What did you think of the Sitka Dewpoint rain gear that you used on your sheep hunt, compared to the First Lite Omen rain gear that you used on your mountain goat hunt? - What spotting scope did you use for the sheep hunt and would you recommend it? - What were the details of the sleep system used on your sheep hunt? - I heard you talk about "glacier travel" when I listened to your sheep hunt story. Is that common for sheep hunts? Can you talk more about what that is like? - Overall, how would you compare your sheep hunt and your mountain goat hunt in terms of terrain, difficulty, etc. - How were the water sources on your sheep h

In this Monday Minute episode, Steve & Mark answer listener questions about sleeping yourself dry in a down sleeping bag, thoughts on new center-zip sleeping bag/quilt hybrid designs, a new rifle scope from Maven Optics, how to assess new gear, the value of buying used gear, the intentionality and sacrifices required for training, the value of "mini-events", and much more... Links mentioned in this episode: - Maven RS 1.2 Rifle Scope: https://mavenbuilt.com/products/rs1-2-2-5-15x44-ffp - "Don't Die Cold & Wet" by John Barklow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUjR3VSEFOg - PEAX Solace Sleeping Bag: https://www.peaxequipment.com/products/solace-15-sleeping-bag - Exo Mtn Gear YouTube: https://youtube.com/exomountaingear - Email Newsletter: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter SHARE PODCAST QUESTION — [email protected] or https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry View & Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

We continue the "Before & After the Hunt" podcast series with people just like YOU... listeners of the podcast. Throughout this series, we will be speaking with everyday hunters as they plan and prepare for a specific hunt, and then we will have a follow-up episode after their hunt to hear how the hunt unfolded, the lessons they learned, and more. Today, we are speaking Zak, who completed a guided elk hunt in Montana, which was a family trip with his father and uncle. As an adult-onset hunter from the east coast, this was Zak's first western hunt — it was a fulfilling experience where he learned a lot and found success. We discuss the story, the lessons, and the takeaways. Zak's "Before the Hunt" Episode: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/419 Contact Us: [email protected] Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

In this Monday Minute episode, Steve & Mark answer listener questions about choosing to prioritize your hunting focus on specific species (in this case, elk vs deer) versus trying to 'do it all' at once. They also answer a listener's question about using the 6.5 Creedmoor for elk hunting. Additionally, they chat about changes to the podcast, updates on this year's Death Hike, and some new things coming from Exo Mtn Gear. Links mentioned in this episode: - Backwards Thinking & Ballistics: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/393 - Exo Mtn Gear on YouTube: https://youtube.com/exomountaingear - Email Newsletter: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter SHARE PODCAST QUESTION — [email protected] or https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry View & Search the Podcast Archive: exomtngear.com/podcast

Jay Nichol of Mindful Hunter returns to the podcast to discuss his 2023 season, and the lessons he has learned about confidence, consistency, and choices in gear. We also discuss his expanded hunting gear review platform, his new apparel company, and a whole lot more. - Jay's Prior Podcast Appearance: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/349 - Independent Pack Review, Part 1: https://youtu.be/FdkN_rAeSx0 - Independent Pack Review, Part 2: https://youtu.be/ZuTKzIr8kS0 - Mindful Hunter: https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ - Mindful Reviews: https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ - Forged In The Backcountry: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/ - Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Contact Us: [email protected] Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast