The Hunt Backcountry Podcast

Each year, going back to 2018, Steve and Mark have made a list of their "gear of the year" for that year. The goal is to select items that made a difference for them on their hunts that year. In this episode, they share their selections for 2024 and discuss why each item made the list.

FULL LIST & LINKS: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/best-hunting-gear-of-2024

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Mark is solo today to answer your listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute podcast episode. He answers questions about his archery shot sequence, insulated down booties, reducing rifle recoil to spot impacts, a budget chassis rifle, and tips for packraft hunts.

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Items and resources mentioned in this episode:

- Outdoor Vitals Down Booties: https://outdoorvitals.com/products/lt-hybrid-booties

- Enlightened Equipment Torrid Booties: https://enlightenedequipment.com/torrid-booties/

- Exped Down Sock: https://www.expedusa.com/products/down-sock

- Exped Bivy Booty: https://www.expedusa.com/products/bivy-booty

- Exped Camp Booty: https://www.expedusa.com/products/camp-booty

- Recoil Q&A with Form: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/mm-239

- SIG Cross Trax: https://www.sigsauer.com/cross-trax.html

- SIG Cross: https://www.sigsauer.com/sig-cross-rifle.html

- Bergara MgLite: https://www.bergara.online/us/rifles/premier/mglite-rifle/

- Savage 110 Ultralite Elite: https://savagearms.com/firearms/model/110-ultralite-elite

- MDT HNT26 Chassis: https://mdttac.com/hnt26-chassis-system/

- XLR Element Mg Chassis: https://xlrindustries.com/products/element_4-0_magnesium_chassis

- Mark's XLR vs MDT Review & Comparison: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/lightweight-folding-rifle-chassis

- Packrafting Podcast with Thor: https://the-experience-project.com/how-to-use-a-packraft-for-hunting/

- ROK Straps: https://amzn.to/3YQDNrL

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Owner and founder of Outdoor Vitals, Tayson Whittaker, joins us on the Hunt Backcountry Podcast to discuss his 100-mile solo hike in the Wind River Range of Wyoming.

We discuss what he learned from dealing with injuries, the mistakes he made on this trip and how he overcame them, stories from Tayson's backpack hunts this fall, what sacrifices he makes to be "ultralight" with his gear, what you need to know about changes in the outdoor apparel industry, and much more. This wide-ranging discussion truly has something for everyone.

Links mentioned in this episode:

- Tayson's 100-Mile Hike Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aepNiXyNzV8

- Outdoor Vitals: https://outdoorvitals.com/

- Tayson's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taysonwhittaker/

- ExpeDRY Down from Allied Feather: https://alliedfeather.com/info-room/products-innovations/expedry

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Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Steve & Mark answer listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute podcast episode. They discuss using covers on spotting scopes, their experience with the Mtn Hntr Tripod, what knives they used on the Moose hunt this fall, and additional topics related to those listener questions.

Items mentioned in this episode:

- Vet Wrap: https://amzn.to/3CkqCHL

- Kapture Gear Digiscoping: https://kapturegear.com/

- Mtn Hntr Tripod: https://mtnhntr.com/

- Aziak Backcountry Lite Tripod: https://sandsarchery.com/products/aziak-backcountry-lite-tripod

- DMT Dia-Folder Sharpener (In The Field): https://amzn.to/40BkPb4

- Work Sharp Precision Elite Sharpener (At Home): https://amzn.to/48MMUOt

- Eagle Hawk Knife: https://eaglehawkknives.com/collections/frontpage/products/handle-hunter

- Argali Sawtooth Knife: https://argalioutdoors.com/products/argali-sawtooth-knife

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How far should you be shooting at big game with your hunting rifle? In this conversation with Form, we discuss the answer to that question — not from an ethical perspective, or from a technical perspective of terminal ballistics, but from a practical perspective of what YOU are capable of behind your rifle.

Form shares some considerations to think through, and also some specific drills that you can use to assess your capabilities at distance, in variable conditions, and under stress.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

- Carl Ross Drill (Video & Target): https://shoot2hunt.com/product/s2hu-100-yd-hunting-rifle-drill/

- Form's MOA Target: https://shoot2hunt.com/product/form-moa-target/

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Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Mark is joined by "Form" to answer your listener-submitted questions on rifles and ballistics. These questions were submitted in response to our previous conversations with Form. If you have not listened to those episodes (linked below), we highly recommend listening to them first.

In today's Q&A, we discuss...

- What to do if you cannot spot your impacts, even if you aren't shooting a heavy-recoiling magnum rifle?

- What cartridge (and bullet) would Form take on a coastal Brown Bear hunt in Alaska?

- What pistol cartridge and bullet would Form recommend for a sidearm carried for self-defense when hunting in Grizzly Bear country?

- Why (and how) does grain weight matter in a given rifle cartridge; specifically in the context of using a 6.5 Creedmoor to hunt elk?

- Is the wind drift of lighter bullets in smaller calibers not a reason to consider shooting bigger cartridges and heavier bullets?

- Why do bullet and ammunition manufacturers continue to make and market more traditional, controlled-expansion and bonded bullets as 'best for big game' if more fragmenting bullets are more terminally effective?

Our previous podcasts with Form:

- https://the-experience-project.com/small-calibers-for-big-game-hunting-part-1/

- https://the-experience-project.com/small-calibers-for-big-game-hunting-part-2/

- https://the-experience-project.com/small-calibers-for-big-game-hunting-qa/

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Jared and Cody join us to share the story of their experience planning, preparing for, and then going on a drop-camp Caribou hunt in the Brooks Range of Alaska. They discuss how the hunt came together, how they dealt with setbacks before the hunt, how they found success in going 4-for-4 on filling their tags, and what lessons they took away from the adventure.

Contact Us: [email protected]

Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Steve & Mark answer listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute podcast episode. They discuss tips for comfort in cold-weather hunts, choosing down vs synthetic for a sleeping bag or quilt, how the new iOS satellite messaging features compares to messaging through a Garmin InReach device, why Steve chose the 6mm Creedmoor over other 6mm rifle cartridges, and more...

Links mentioned in this episode:

- Mountain Goat Hunt Recap: https://the-experience-project.com/alaska-mountain-goat-hunt-breakdown/

- Synthetic Quilt from Enlightened Equipment: https://enlightenedequipment.com/revelation-apex/

- Steve's 6mm Creedmoor Rifle: https://the-experience-project.com/small-rifles-for-big-game/

- New Garmin Messanger Plus: https://sandsarchery.com/products/garmin-inreach-messenger-plus

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This podcast was recorded on our Alaska mountain goat hunt, as we sat in the basecamp cabin after the hunt. In addition to hearing the conversation, the video version of this podcast includes footage from the hunt: https://youtu.be/7HVbJuvZiE0

Mark and Jake discuss how they each killed their goats. Joined by their guide, Mark Rowenhorst of Limitless Alaska Guiding, and Justin Nelson, they all discuss the logistical challenges of the hunt, how they handled adverse weather, how they pushed past discomfort, how they slipped their way through a snowy and heavy packout, and much more.

WATCH on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7HVbJuvZiE0

PHOTOS: https://the-experience-project.com/alaska-mountain-goat-hunt-breakdown/

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Stephen and James from Lathrop & Sons Boot Co. join us to discuss the anatomy of feet and footwear. With decades of experience in the outdoors, as well as with podiatry, the guys from Lathrop have some unique insights into footwear for hunting. While we have already discussed footwear in depth from our perspective, we wanted to bring in Stephen and James to share their perspective and provide you, the listener, with the most well-rounded information about footwear we could.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

- Lathrop & Sons: https://lathropandsons.com/

- Our Footwear Video & Podcast: https://the-experience-project.com/the-best-hunting-boot-is-wrong/

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View & Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast