The Mindful Hunter Podcast

In this video, I break down the most important lessons I learned during my first full year as an outfitter across Alberta and British Columbia. From scaling my business to guiding 12 clients across three different territories, this year taught me more than I ever expected—about hunting, decision-making, pressure, and staying focused under stress.

Whether you’re a new guide, an aspiring outfitter, or just a dedicated hunter looking to level up, this video offers real-world insight, hard-earned advice, and a deep dive into the psychology behind better hunting decisions.

🎁 THE GIVEAWAY: For every $5 you spend at Forged in the Backcountry you'll receive one entry to win a custom guided hunt from Mindful Hunter Outfitting. I will personally work with the winner to build the hunt of their dreams — Black Bear or Mule Deer in British Columbia, Archery Mule Deer in Alberta, or Coues Deer in the rut in Mexico. This is not a sponsored giveaway. This is me giving directly to you.

🇺🇸 US CUSTOMERS: We now have drop shipping set up in the United States — no duties, no customs fees, and faster shipping. If you've been holding off, now's the time.

Forged In The Backcountry

After testing half a dozen knives this season, the North Arm Knives Lynx rose to the top. With its wide sweeping belly, full-size G10 handle, and tough Magnacut blade, this fixed blade knife proved itself in the field during multiple big game breakdowns.

In this review, I walk through what makes this knife exceptional, what it’s not ideal for, and why it’s earned a spot in my kill kit. Whether you’re a backpack hunter or a guided client looking for reliable gear, this review cuts through the noise and delivers real-world insight.

Jay Nichol

Forged In The Backcountry

Forged Ultimate Guided Hunt Sweepstakes

Is this the ultimate tripod head for hunters? The Wiser Precision Ridge Warden might be the most practical hybrid tripod head on the market — lightweight, strong, and uniquely capable of both glassing and shooting with its pan, tilt, and cant functionality. In this in-depth review, I test it with a Kowa 88 spotter and my rifle setup to see if it really replaces the need for separate glassing and shooting heads. We break down what works, what doesn’t, and who this product is really for.

👉 Wiser Ridge Warden: Full specs, features, and practical insights

Chapters

Jay Nichol

Forged In The Backcountry

Forged Ultimate Guided Hunt Sweepstakes

Welcome back to the Mindful Hunter Podcast! In this episode, Jay gives a raw update from the middle of a wild spring bear guiding season — six bears down, two clients still in the field, and some honest reflection on wounding and misses that's worth hearing if you're planning a guided hunt. Then we get into the real reason this episode exists: the official launch of the Forged Base Series Socks.

Jay breaks down exactly why he spent a year designing a backcountry hunting sock from scratch — and why, after nearly a decade of using merino-based socks, he came to the conclusion that merino fails in more ways than it succeeds. The three core problems: it doesn't evacuate moisture fast enough, it isn't durable enough for hard daily use, and it loses its shape within a couple of days of a backcountry hunt. He also calls out the lifetime warranty model used by most hunting sock companies, explaining why it's a business strategy built on the assumption that most customers are too lazy to actually claim it — and why he chose to put every dollar into the design instead.

You'll get a full breakdown of the six-fabric construction — CoolMax, Reprieve XS cross-sectional polyester, a wool/acrylic blend, polyamide, and spandex — and why each one was placed exactly where it is. Plus, Jay shares the story of iteration number six, the one that was almost perfect before a single seam flaw sent him back to the drawing board days after placing the final production order.

🇺🇸 US CUSTOMERS: Drop shipping is now live through Unknown Munitions in Idaho — no duties, shipping is about 30% cheaper, and you'll get your order faster.

🎁 THE GIVEAWAY: Every $5 spent at Forged in the Backcountry between May 17th and July 17th earns you one entry to win a fully custom, all-expenses-paid guided hunt with Mindful Hunter Outfitting — valued at roughly $10,000. Jay will personally work with the winner to build their dream hunt: Coues deer in Mexico, Black Bear or Mule Deer in BC, Archery Mule Deer in Alberta, or something completely custom.

Forged In The Backcountry

Jay Nichol

Final clearance sale of all lifestyle apparel at https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/ ovber 50% off! Last 2 weeks any of these items will be available.

After spending three months hunting out of the Kimbo truck camper, I’ve got strong opinions—not just about the unit itself, but about whether campers make sense for serious hunters. In this deep dive, I cover loading and unloading, road performance, fuel economy, interior layout, and real-world pros and cons.

🔍 Truck Setup: 2022 GMC Sierra AT4, 6’4” bed

Jay Nichol

Forged In The Backcountry

Welcome back to the Mindful Hunter Podcast! In this episode, Jay wraps up the massive backlog of listener questions from our recent Q&A, covering everything from backcountry bear hunting stories to controversial reloading opinions.

We kick things off with a recap of Jay's first guided bear hunt of the season, detailing a successful 400-yard shot and a massive 6-foot+ boar. Then, we dive into the Q&A, tackling some heated topics. Is extreme spread (ES) and standard deviation (SD) actually important for hunting, or is it just a distraction? Jay shares his unfiltered thoughts on why speed for speed's sake is useless and how to reverse-engineer your bullet velocity for maximum terminal performance.

Jay also answers questions about the best books to improve your hunting (spoiler: you should probably just spend more time in the field), the single biggest mistake he made when he first started hunting, and why using a floorless shelter in the high country is a recipe for disaster. Plus, get the details on a massive $10,000+ giveaway, the upcoming technical apparel launch, and some exclusive outfitting opportunities.

Whether you're looking for reloading advice, scouting strategies, or just some honest, unfiltered hunting talk, this Q&A is packed with actionable advice to help you level up this season.

Jay Nichol

Forged In The Backcountry

Is the Fenix HM62-T the new king of backcountry headlamps? In this in-depth review, I compare two of the most popular headlamps for hunters and mountain athletes — the Fenix HM62-T and the PEAX Backcountry Duo — across 10 real-world categories: brightness, battery life, red light performance, fit, band quality, construction, waterproofing, weight, price, and brand transparency.

I’ve used the PEAX Duo for years, but after extensive testing in true backcountry conditions, I put it head-to-head with the Fenix HM62-T to find out which one truly deserves a spot in your pack.

🔍 Categories Compared:

00:00 - Intro & What to Expect  

🧭 Subscribe for brutally honest, no-BS gear reviews built for hunters and backcountry adventurers.

#FenixHM62T #PEAXHeadlamp #BackcountryGearReview #MindfulHunter #HuntingHeadlamp #OutdoorGearTest #FenixReview #PEAXBackcountryDuo 

Jay Nichol

Forged In The Backcountry

Welcome back to the Mindful Hunter Podcast! In this episode, Jay sits down with Robbie and Lindsay Clunes, the husband-and-wife team behind the new platform Let's Go Guided. We dive deep into their personal hunting journeys, from Lindsay’s transition into hunting for self-sustaining meat to their ambitious plans for chasing big game across North America.

Let’s Go Guided

Jay Nichol

Forged In The Backcountry

If you’ve ever frozen your ass off while glassing, hiking, or sitting in a stand — this video is for you. I break down 10 real-world tactics that will help you stay warm while hunting in brutal cold, without relying on overpriced gear. These strategies are based on years of field experience and are designed to keep you warm using what you already have.

⏱️ 

00:00 – Intro: Why More Gear Isn’t the Answer

Email Jay for Spring Bear Hunts:

Jay Nichol

Forged In The Backcountry

Welcome back to the Mindful Hunter Podcast! In this solo Q&A episode, I dive into a massive backlog of listener questions, covering everything from controversial gear opinions to advanced backcountry tactics.

We tackle some heated topics right out of the gate: Do you actually learn anything on a guided hunt, or are outfitters just there to punch your tag? Jay also shares his unfiltered, controversial thoughts on the new 7mm Backcountry cartridge and explains why ecosystem support is the only thing that keeps a new cartridge alive. We also get into the nitty-gritty of meat care, including Jay's counter-intuitive method for packing out and transporting meat for days without using a single cube of ice.

Other topics include navigating treacherous alpine terrain, whether you can truly trust other hunters in the field, and how to stay calm and make good decisions when the pressure is on. Plus, get the latest updates on Mindful Munitions, the upcoming technical apparel launch, and some exclusive outfitting opportunities.

Whether you're looking for gear reviews, scouting strategies, or just some honest, unfiltered hunting talk, this Q&A is packed with actionable advice to help you level up this season.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro & Housekeeping (Apparel Blowout, Outfitting Spots, Mindful Munitions)

00:03:23 - What’s the typical process for setting up a meat pack-out service?

00:06:03 - Have you done any testing with the SIG rangefinders fog mode? Does it actually help?

00:10:12 - How much benefit is there in hiring a guide when first starting out hunting?

00:15:57 - What kind of parameters did you have when deciding on pre-season scouting while still working a 9 to 5?

00:18:58 - When applying across the West, do you look at harvest success as a valuable metric?

00:23:00 - What winter shelter are you running this year?

00:24:03 - Take us through the process of purchasing a custom rifle build and bringing it back to BC.

00:25:17 - Any initial thoughts on the Outdoor Vitals quilt vs. Katabatic?

00:29:48 - Sitka down puffy review request.

00:30:15 - Navigable routes in the alpine: What are you looking for and/or avoiding?

00:41:00 - How do you stay present in high-pressure moments instead of rushing decisions?

00:46:12 - 7mm Backcountry: Yay or nay? Will we see a steel case revolution?

00:50:13 - TRT: How or where to start?

00:50:34 - Tips for black bear and mule deer hunting in a 12-ish year old burn.

00:54:29 - Any plans to do a late-season whitetail gear comparison of Sitka vs. Kuiu?

00:55:50 - Cooler size/selection and what does your meat care look like for multiple days?

00:59:14 - Funny that Kuiu got bought out by the same people that are elitist and against public land.

00:59:32 - Bone-in versus deboning after a kill (specifically mule deer and elk).

01:00:50 - Do you trust other hunters?

01:04:00 - Gear made by a non-hunting company that hunters use that a hunting company should redo?

01:04:30 - What’s your personal hunting goal for 2026 outside of guiding?

01:06:21 - Makes sense to carry 12x50s, SIG Zulu 6s, and a mini spotter for deer?

01:07:58 - Dry area southern Alberta mountains or foothills for spring bear strategy

01:09:21 - Outro & Final Thoughts.

Jay Nichol

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