The Hunt Backcountry Podcast

Steve & Mark answer your listener questions on this Monday Minute episode. They discuss Idaho's recent non-resident tag sale, the best strategy for two hunters each filling their elk tags on the same hunt, when to choose a bipod or shooting sticks for a rifle hunt, and why there isn't a horseshoe zipper on every Exo bag design. $10,000 Giveaway — https://exomtngear.com/giveaway — Enter before December 23, 2022 More links mentioned in this episode... - https://www.wiserprecision.com/products/quick-stix - https://www.mtngear.us/product/bipod - https://idfg.idaho.gov/contact LEAVE A MESSAGE or question for a future Monday Minute episode: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry OR podcast@exomtngear.com 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, Taylor, joined us in Episode 358, as he was making plans for his first elk hunt in Idaho. Taylor's plans for the hunt changed after that podcast, which you will hear about. We also detail the hunt story, the lessons Taylor learned, and why he is better equipped for success next year. Listen in and you will find some valuable lessons as well! $10,000 Independent Gear Giveaway — https://exomtngear.com/giveaway — Enter before December 23, 2022 LEAVE A MESSAGE: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry or podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

At a time when corporations and investment groups are overtaking small companies, and the algorithms of social media giants are making it harder for small businesses to communicate with customers, we want to highlight independent brands in the outdoors and hunting industry. Join our $10,000 Gear Giveaway to support independent companies that we know, trust, and believe are worthy of your support. THE GIVEAWAY — https://exomtngear.com/giveaway

After an unconventional start to his big game hunting experience, Jim had some unconventional hunting success this past fall. Jim, who is a listener of the show and an everyday hunter from Tennessee, joins us on this episode to share the story of his Montana elk and mule deer hunt from this past fall. This unconventional success story is entertaining, informational, and inspiring. LEAVE A MESSAGE: http://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry or podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Mark and Steve are joined by co-co-Host, Jakey. They tell the story of Jake's mule deer season, his younger brother's big buck, and what Jake learned on this coveted tag. Before they all get to work catching up from Exo's recent once-a-year sale, they also answer listener questions about the best hunting show. No, not a TV show, but the best in-person show or "expo" to attend for big game hunters. Don't miss the BIG giveaway launching next week. Sign-up to become an Exo Insider to get notified when it launches: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter LEAVE A MESSAGE or question for a future Monday Minute episode: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry OR podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

20% OFF for a limited-time. All Exo Mtn Gear packs, accessories, and logo gear is on sale. That also includes Hunt Backcountry Podcast logo gear! SAVE NOW: https://exomtngear.com/sale We will be back to regular podcasts next week. Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

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, Jeff, joined us in Episode 365, before joined a group of guys to hunt bears in New Mexico. Their hunt did not go according to plan, but they learned some extremely valuable lessons from their experience — and in this episode, you can learn from those lessons and experiences. LEAVE A MESSAGE: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry or podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Save 20% on all Exo Mtn Gear purchases — SALE BEGINS 11/21/22. Limited-time and limited quantities. Sign-up to get notified when the sale begins... EXO SALE NOTIFICATION: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter On this solo Monday Minute, Mark answers your listener questions. Topics include Swarovski's new compact spotting scopes (ATC and STC), and how they compare to the rest of the best spotters on the market. Watch the spotting scope review and comparison video with Steve Speck and Rob McConnell from S&S Archery... VIDEO REVIEW — Swarovski STC vs The Field: https://youtu.be/EbtGgKQnz0Y Mark also discusses Active Insulation mid-layers, including Sitka's new Ambient collection, and how that piece compares and performs against similar mid-layers, including grid fleece, and also other "breathable" insulation layers, such as those using 3DeFX insulation (Kuiu Kenai, Outdoor Vitals Ventus, Patagonia Nano, etc). Note: Mark mixed-up the Katana and Kenai names when referencing Kuiu pieces in this podcast. More on

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