SHOW NOTES

Characteristics of an ideal western deer rifle

• Packable (if you can't get to the game, you'll never get a shot)
• Ergonomic (so when you get to a shooting position, heaving for air and trembly with exertion, the rifle helps you pull off the shot at the moment of truth)
• Accuracy (so you can make any reasonable shot offered)
• Authority (enough to cleanly kill from any ethical shot presentation)
• Reliability (no amount of performance matters if you can't count on it)
• Cartridges & bullets for western deer hunting

Configuring the ideal western deer rifle

• Action options
• Bottom metal
• Trigger
• Barrel
• Stock

Our pick for the ultimate western deer cartridge

• Sorry, you gotta listen for this one, plus in-depth details on the two runner-ups.

COMING SOON: Part two of configuring the ultimate western deer rifle. Here we'll add awesome scope mounts, a capable riflescope, a bipod, a sling, and more.

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SHOW NOTES

Topic: The importance of having the right pack

Case-in-point example: A brown bear hunt on the Alaska Peninsula, and the pack that nearly broke me.

Guest: Mark Huelsing of EXO MTN GEAR

• Genesis of EXO MTN GEAR
• Inspiration behind EXO's packs
• Design and adaptability
• Colors and camo
• Frame material: The advantages of Titanium
• Bag sizes, materials, and purposes
• Versatility with one pack system
• Meat hauling, cargo nets, and game bags
• Dry bags and pack covers
• A spot of (hunter orange) color
• Where and how to purchase a pack

WRAP: Your pack can make or break your hunt. Get the right one.

EXO MTN GEAR K3 Frame

EXO MTN GEAR K3 4800 Pack system

EXO MTN GEAR K3 6400 Pack system

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SHOW NOTES:

Aoudad hunting:

• Cost
• Methods
• Areas
• Rifles, Cartridges, & Bullets
• Shot placement and distances
• Fitness preparation
• Realistic expectations
• Finding a good outfitter and guide
• When to go (NOW!)

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SHOW NOTES

Story: An old mule deer, a big bullet, and a perplexing kill.

Big game physiology: deer, antelope, elk, bear, moose, and more

Terminal performance, and how bullets handle various impact challenges

• Low-resistance impacts
  • deer-size game
  • broadside
  • lungs only
  • no ribs
• High-resistance impacts
  • Elk-size game
  • Quartering angles
  • Heavy shoulder bone
  • Massive shoulder muscle
  • Ribs
  • Dense internal organs

Types of bullet

• Soft, rapid expansion
  • Soft lead core
  • Thin jacket
• Tough, controlled expansion
  • Monometal or bonded construction
  • Expansion-inhibiting mechanisms

Launching platforms: Big vs. Little Cartridges

• Visible impact reactions
• Pure ethical killing ability
• Recoil sensitivity
  • Mental recoil sensitivity
  • Physical recoil sensitivity

Example cartridges:

• 6.5 PRC
• .300 Win. Mag.

Favorite bullets detailed

—

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SHOW NOTES

Topic: Sleeping bag temp ratings and insulation characteristics

Guest-in-absence: an email from firefighter "Ben" details the nitty-gritty tech-specs of sleeping bags and test protocols.

• How temp ratings are generated
• Differences between men and women
• Comfort vs. survival ratings
• Reading between the lines to get a bag that will keep you warm
• Pads and pad systems that work
• Synthetic insulation, and why it doesn't last like down

Short and sweet, this episode reveals a tremendous amount about sleeping bags. ENJOY!

FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!

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SHOW NOTES

Topic: Backcountry Hunting Gear that can make the difference between surviving or becoming a statistic.

Guest: podcast "Scouting & Navigating" contributor Colton Heward.

Upcoming adventures that prompted Colton to perform a serious gear examination:

• Packing for a dall sheep outfitter
• Hunting arctic grizzly & caribou
• Hunting Kodiak Island for Sitka Blacktail & sea ducks

Big-Ticket items: Why the new gear?

• Upgrade performance
• Reduce weight

New gear priorities:

• Backpack
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad
• Other smaller items

Bonus topic: Fitness & training goals

Follow Colton on Instagram @muleycrazy89

Submit questions and feedback to [email protected]

FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!

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VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:

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SHOW NOTES

DIY JAVELINA HUNTING

Guest: John McAdams, host of the Big Game Hunting Podcast

Javelina as a species:

• Taxonomy
• Habits and habitat
• States where you can hunt javelina
• Scouting and hunting methods
• Field dressing and cooking javelina
• Appropriate rifles and muzzleloaders
• High wind and hunting stories

ENJOY!

FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!

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VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:

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SHOW NOTES

Listener's request: Dream Big, and Create The Ultimate Elk Rifle

Pre-show: Another listener's favorite book list: Recommended reading for all backcountry hunters.

Picking apart the characteristics of an ultimate elk rifle

• Authoritative
• Accurate
• Reliable
• Corrosion resistant metal
• Tough, rigid, stable stock
• A scope good for close up to far shots
• Ideal scope mounts
• Fine-tuning details

Specific hardware to build with:

• Action
• Bottom metal
• Trigger
• Barrel
• Stock
• Scope
• Scope mounts
• Bipod

Cartridge considerations:

• Caliber
• Bullet types
• Smooth-feeding attributes

Tuning and practicing

• Barrel break-in
• Load selection and testing
• Zero distance
• Custom turrets
• Trajectory validation
• Serious practice

FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!

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VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:

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www.silencercentral.com

www.timneytriggers.com

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SHOW NOTES

Intro: Unique connecting elements of a hunter and his game

• Rifle, optic, and cartridge: the launching pad
• The trigger: what controls the launch sequence.
• Timney Triggers' 75th Anniversary

TIMNEY TRIGGER GIVAWAY! Winner picks any Timney trigger of their choice. Enter to win at www.timneytriggers.com/backcountry

THE BACKCOUNTRY APPRENTICE'S FIRST DEER

Host William Von Benedikt (age 10) tells his story

• His big game rifle
• Early disappointment
• Playing the long game
• A challenging shot opportunity
• Communication mistakes, yet a very dead buck anyway
• Dark, and a potentially deadly four-wheeler rollover
• Lessons learned
• Favorite knives for field dressing and processing western big game: Siembida Custom Knives

FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!

Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry

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VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:

www.browning.com

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SHOW NOTES

Listener's question: Are Vortex and Burris scopes as good as Leupold?

Optic failures: Even the best can go south. Stories and examples.

Setting The Bar: Leupold's awesome backcountry hunting scopes

Vortex's excellent 3-15x 42mm Razor HD LHT

Burris's innovative 3-12x 44mm Eliminator III

FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!

Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe on www.patreon.com/backcountry

Contribute via PayPal using [email protected]

Contribute via VENMO: @Joseph-vonBenedikt

VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:

www.browning.com

www.silencercentral.com

www.timneytriggers.com

www.siembidacustomknives.com