The Hunt Backcountry Podcast

Highs and lows. Mistakes made. Lessons learned. And a bit of good fortune. We dive into these aspects of Tim Connor's first elk hunt. His story is real, and familiar. As many of your are getting your start and building experience in western hunting, I am sure you will relate to and benefit from Tim's story. Learn more at http://ExoMountainGear.com/podcast

Just a couple of days ago Steve was hunting highcountry mule deer and spent a frigid, snowy night on the mountain...in August. Other days, it was 80s and sunny. Mountain weather, it seems, is consistently inconsistent. But there are patterns that we can look for. The weather forecast is worth paying attention to before any backcountry adventure. Our guest in this show, Eric Knoff, is an experienced outdoorsman and weather forecast, and he helps us understand weather in the mountains — what...

What are some of the differences between Roosevelt Elk and Rocky Mountain Elk, and how do tactics both differ and stay the same when hunting these elk sub-species? We cover this topic with our guests, Cory and Shannon, from Angry Spike Productions. The guys at Angry Spike have an incredible track record of killing big Roosevelt bulls in the Pacific Northwest, and although their specialty is Roosies, we learn a lot from their approach that can apply to us, as hunters of Rocky Mountain Elk....

Have you ever looked around at other hunter's success and wondered what their secret was? How did they become so successful? How did they fill so many tags? How did they find such amazing animals? There could be many answers to those questions, but for hunters that consistently get it done on public lands, it boils down to simple elements, such as focus, preparation, determination, time in the field, etc. Maybe what we need to do is focus on the basics, be persistent, and that becomes the...

What is altitude sickness? How can it be prevented? Do over-the-counter medications and supplements work? How can you tell the difference between serious illness and non-acute symptoms? If acute mountain sickness occurs, how should you treat it? We answer all of these questions, and more, with our guest Robert Roach. Robert is the Director of the Altitude Research Center at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and has spent years researching altitude sickness. Visit...

In this week's #HuntBackcountry podcast we speak with Aaron Van Woerkom of Muley Freak about the lessons he has learned from hunts gone wrong. Among other things, we discuss a tough hunt where Aaron lost a buck he shot. It has been said that if this hasn't happened to you, you just haven't hunted enough yet. Losing an animal you shoot is always a tough situation, and it is an important topic to consider for yourself, ideally before it happens to you.

Special guest, Trent Fisher of Born & Raised Outdoors, joins us to talk what's to come for the 2018 season. Of course, we couldn't let him go without asking for some last-minute elk hunting advice...

Paul "the Elk Nut" Medel has been on the #HuntBackcountry Podcast a couple of times before, and he's back again to share some last-minute advice for everyone heading into the elk woods this year. We always learn a lot when we talk to Paul, and in this episode Paul shares some things he's never shared before. You might want to have a notepad handy when you listen to this one! http://ExoMountainGear.com/podcast

What gear is the Exo crew using this year? Do you have to go "miles deep" to find game? How do we train while traveling? Oh, and don't forget about the #InMyExo giveaway... http://ExoMountainGear.com/InMyExo

I have read, listened to, and watched a lot of content about elk hunting tactics, strategies, etc. But in this podcast I learned some new tactics and perspectives that I have never heard of before. Our guest, Jake Saenz of Atomic Athlete, shares what he has learned hunting public land bulls over the past several years. Between Jake's military background and the experiences he has gone through in the backcountry, he certainly has some unique insight to share. Make sure you listen to this...

This Monday Minute features a full-length bonus interview with Tony from Dark Timber Coffee Co. Whether at home or in the backcountry, Mark and Steve both appreciate a good cup of coffee, and we certainly learned a lot from this conversation with Tony. Before the interview, Mark and Steve catch up on new gear that was released at the Outdoor Retailer Show, talk about realistic shooting practice and drills, and more.

In what specific ways do new backcountry hunters tend to carry more gear than they need? Where is the greatest opportunity to simplify and lighten the load? We see it over and over again. New hunters tend to overpack clothing and other "just in case" items. As Andrew Skurka said on one of our podcast episodes, we tend to "pack our fears". When you are new to backpacking and backcountry hunting, it is natural to think, "Well, this is only a few ounces. And that is only a few ounces. So I...

Wrist strap, thumb trigger, or hinge? Which style of release is right for you? What are the pros and cons of each style? ALSO, we release a bit more about the upcoming #InMyExo giveaway launching on Wednesday, August 1st.

Heading into the backcountry all on your own presents a unique set of challenges...and benefits. Whether you hunt solo by choice, or by necessity — because you can't find someone who hunts when, where, and how you want to — solo hunting is both uniquely demanding and rewarding. In this episode, Mark and Steve are joined by Josh Kirchner to discuss all aspects of solo hunting, including the pros and cons, mindset, and practical topics like safety and meat care....

How to perform under pressure. That’s the topic we dive into on today’s podcast with mental training expert, Dr. Patrick Cohn. Patrick has worked with professional and amateur athletes, helping them excel in their sport and reach peak performance when it matters most. The same principles and mental skills that applies to traditional sports can also apply to us, as hunters. Under the pressure of a shot opportunity that we have been dreaming of and working towards, how can we best perform in...

In this Monday Minute, Mark and Steve talk about stabilizer choices for backcountry hunting, the upcoming Northwest Mountain Challenge shoot at Steven's Pass, and pick this week's podcast topic on the fly... http://ExoMountainGear.com/podcast

This was the fourth year that Exo Mtn Gear co-founders, Steve Speck and Lenny Nelson, gathered a group of guys to embark upon a challenging hike nicknamed “The Death Hike”. The hike has changed each year — the location, the distance, the terrain, and the participants. This year, thirty-one crazy fools showed-up to hike 90+ miles through some of Idaho’s most beautiful and rugged mountains. In the end, we hiked 92.5 miles and climbed over 21,000 feet in elevation. Some of us took a few...

In this BONUS EPISODE we takeover the typically short Monday Minute format to bring you a longer-form question and answer show all about hunting packs. Whether you are interested in Exo Mtn Gear packs specifically, or just want to learn more about hunting packs in general, this discussion will help you out. http://ExoMountainGear.com/podcast

As backcountry hunters, we depend on hiking to move us into, through, and out of the backcountry. We do this movement with a load on our backs — whether’s that’s the light load of a day’s essentials, a moderate load of gear for a multiday hunt, or the heavy load of success on our backs. The terrain, the distance, the pace, and the weight vary. So shouldn’t our training hikes mimic these various demands? Our guest on this episode, Mike Prevost, has studied the science and research of hiking...

What extra clothes do we pack on extended hunts? When will this show return?