The Hunt Backcountry Podcast

Like most backcountry hunters, we are passionate about the gear we use. At the end of each year, we like to highlight some of the favorite gear we have used for hunts throughout the year and discuss why those particular items made a difference for us personally. In this episode, Steve & Mark share the best gear they used in 2022. Visit https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/2022-gear-of-the-year to view all of the gear discussed in today's episode, as well as to see previous Gear of the Year selections for 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Share your question or suggestion for the show: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry OR podcast@exomtngear.com Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Steve & Mark answer listener-submitted questions about upcoming Exo sales, pack fabrics, whether to hunt elk or bear for a first-time western hunter, if clothing should be considered part of a sleep system, and questions on reloading for precision rifles. They also talk about Steve's recent solo elk hunt and packing-out meat with a dirt bike. Get details on the Exo sale coming later this month: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter Share your question about reloading (or anything else): https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry OR podcast@exomtngear.com Previous podcasts and an article about reloading: - https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/213 - https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/221 - https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/reloading-gear-for-precision-hunting Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Today's episode is another "After" podcast from the "Before & After the Hunt" podcast series with people just like YOU... listeners of the podcast. Our guest, Ryan, joined us in Episode 359, before he and two of his buddies from Wisconsin headed into the high country of Colorado to hunt Mule Deer this past September. In this conversation with Ryan we hear the hunt story, lessons learned, and much more. LEAVE A MESSAGE: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry or podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Steve & Mark talk about Steve's recent Mule Deer hunt, why they don't take any money from sponsors or affiliates for the podcast, and how they deal with insulated boots for cold weather and late-season hunts. ASK A QUESTION: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry OR podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

After independently choosing to use Nightforce scopes, Steve and Mark wanted to chat with the Nightforce crew to learn more about the company's history, what is behind their tagline of "Rugged. Reliable. Repeatable.", and to answer your listener questions about riflescopes. Whether you are looking to learn more about Nightforce rifle scopes in particular, or want to understand more about the design, manufacturing, and function of rifle scopes in general, you will enjoy this conversation. LEAVE A MESSAGE: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry or podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Steve & Mark recount their recent Idaho elk hunt and connect their experience to a listener question about developing mental toughness. How do you stay positive and keep hunting hard when the weather, animals, and other elements of the hunt don't go your way? They also talk about their choice in water filter systems between the Sawyer Squeeze, Katadyn BeFree, and Platypus Quickdraw. - Katadyn BeFree: https://amzn.to/3CZkotz - Hydrapak Seeker Water Storage: https://amzn.to/3TxDwGi (Compatible with the BeFree filter.) - Sawyer Fast-Fill Adapter: https://amzn.to/3spu0ZS (Compatible with the BeFree filter.) ASK A QUESTION: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry OR podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Today's episode is the first "After" podcast from the "Before & After the Hunt" podcast series with people just like YOU... listeners of the podcast. Our guest, Joseph, joined us in Episode 364, before he went on his Dall Sheep hunt in the Brooks Range of Alaska. In today's conversation, Joseph shares the hunt story, lessons learned, and much more. LEAVE A MESSAGE: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry or podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Having just returned from a challenging but successful Mountain Goat hunt in Southeast Alaska, Mark joins Steve to tell the entire story on this podcast episode. As you will hear, this hunt was quite an adventure, with a lot of ups-and-downs over nine days. See photos from the hunt, get Mark's complete gear list, read some of his lessons-learned, and see the new and notable gear that Mark used... https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/alaska-mountain-goat-hunting-gear-list The Hunt Crew: - Mark Huelsing: https://instagram.com/markthefark/ - Mark Rowenhorst: https://www.instagram.com/limitlessalaskaguiding/ - Tyler Boschma: https://www.instagram.com/tyler_boschma/ - Justin Nelson: https://www.instagram.com/toppriorityhunting/ LEAVE A MESSAGE: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry or podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Mark answers listener questions about his custom rifle build, which he initially discussed in Episode 370, and also documented in this article: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/custom-hunting-rifle-build In this episode, Mark answers questions on the total cost of the rifle, the recoil of shooting a lightweight magnum rifle, spotting impacts, the speeds and maximum effective range of the rifle, the benefits of short barrels, how to configure ballistics for different environments, and more. ASK A QUESTION: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry OR podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

In the previous episode, Shane told us about his 2021 mountain goat hunt in his home state of Washington. In this episode, Shane is fresh off of his 2022 mountain goat hunt in Southeast Alaska. He harvested a beautiful B&C billy with his bow, dealt with 5-inches of rain in a single day, and learned some lessons throughout the adventure. Tune-in to hear the whole story. Connect with Shane: https://www.instagram.com/lonegoatmedia/ LEAVE A MESSAGE: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry or podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Shane Vander Giessen has been fascinated with Mountain Goats from a young age. After decades of dreaming for an opportunity, he finally, and fortunately, got the chance to hunt them. What unfolded was a wild adventures; which is often the case when hunting mountain goats. Tune in to hear why Shane is fascinated with the species and what made his pursuit of his first goat so special. Next week, you'll hear about another long-shot opportunity that came Shane's way as he hunted mountain goats in Alaska just a few short weeks ago. Connect with Shane: https://www.instagram.com/lonegoatmedia/ LEAVE A MESSAGE: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry or podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Mark takes a deep-dive into the custom rifle that he built a couple of years ago. What did he build, what did he change, how has it performed, and what did he learn along the way? To see this rifle, read more about his experience with it, and get links to all of the components, go to: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/custom-hunting-rifle-build ASK A QUESTION: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry OR podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Taxidermy shouldn't be an afterthought in your hunting plans. In this second episode of our two-part conversation with Stuart Farnsworth of Monarch Taxidermy, we talk about caping tips, field care for your trophy, how to select a form/post for your mount, how to care for velvet, how to get your finished work from the taxidermist, and more. Connect with Monarch Taxidermy: - Website: https://monarchtaxidermyinc.com/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monarchtaxidermy/ LEAVE A MESSAGE: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry or podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Steve & Mark are back to answer your listener questions on this Monday Minute episode. They discuss how they balance a happy family life and extended hunting trips, what to do when you have too much advice or conflicting advice for your hunt, the best way to prevent and treat blisters and other issues with your feet, and Mark's upcoming mountain goat hunt in Southeast Alaska. LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR THE SHOW: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry PODCAST ARCHIVE: https://exomtngear.com/podcast Become an Exo Insider: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter Contact Us: podcast@exomtngear.com

Taxidermy shouldn't be an afterthought in your hunting plans. This podcast with Monarch Taxidermy will help you understand how to work with a taxidermist to preserve your memories of special hunts. We discuss how to transport your trophy to a taxidermist — especially when you are hunting in remote locations (such as Alaska), or if you are looking to use a taxidermist that isn't local to you. Next week, in Part 2 of our conversation with Stuart from Monarch Taxidermy, we will talk about how to work with a taxidermist that isn't local to you, how to select a form/post for your mount, how to get your finished work from the taxidermist, and also answer listener questions that were submitted from Instagram. Connect with Monarch Taxidermy: - Website: https://monarchtaxidermyinc.com/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monarchtaxidermy/ LEAVE A MESSAGE: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry or podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Steve & Mark are back to answer your listener questions on this Monday Minute episode. They discuss pack dry bags, elk hunting strategies, the use of headlamps and alerting game, pack weight distribution, pain prevention and stretching/mobility in the backcountry, and more... LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR THE SHOW: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry PODCAST ARCHIVE: https://exomtngear.com/podcast Become an Exo Insider: exomtngear.com/newsletter Contact Us: podcast@exomtngear.com

An episode about Eastern Whitetails on the Hunt Backcountry Podcast?...Yes! Our guest, Nathan Killen, is an extremely successful whitetail hunter, specifically targeting mature bucks in the big timber. Nathan uses backpacking to get him into hunting areas that many whitetail hunters overlook, or are simply not willing to hike into. In this conversation we hear about Nathan's strategy on finding and targeting mature bucks, how he executes backpack hunts in overlooked areas, and much more. Connect with Nathan: https://www.instagram.com/mtn_huntr/ Connect with Aaron: https://www.instagram.com/rnfarley/ LEAVE A MESSAGE: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry or podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode 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 this fall, and then we will have a follow-up episode after their hunt to hear about how the hunt unfolded, the lessons they learned, and more. Today, we are speaking with Zoe about her very first hunt. As a brand new hunter, Zoe had some great questions about meat care and processing in the field, understanding elk, checking the wind, getting necessary gear, and more. LEAVE A MESSAGE: speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry or podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: 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 this fall, and then we will have a follow-up episode after their hunt to hear about how the hunt unfolded, the lessons they learned, and more. Today, we are speaking with Jeff about an upcoming trip to New Mexico to hunt bears this fall. Jeff and a group of guys are all pretty new to hunting in general, and new to backcountry bear hunting in particular. We speak with Jeff about how he's been planning this hunt, e-scouting, gathering gear, and putting together the logistics required to pull this trip off. LEAVE A MESSAGE: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry or podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode 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 this fall, and then we will have a follow-up episode after their hunt to hear about how the hunt unfolded, the lessons they learned, and more. Today, we are speaking with Joseph about his Dall Sheep hunt in the Brooks Range of Alaska. As a regular guy from Kansas, Joseph has dreamt of pursuing sheep in Alaska, and now it is becoming a reality. How did he find his outfitter/guide? How did he prepare? What is he unsure of as he heads into this adventure? We answer these questions, and more. LEAVE A MESSAGE: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry or podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast