Living in the backcountry can be dangerous — especially for hunters. In addition to hiking in treacherous terrain and encountering difficult weather conditions, backcountry hunters deal with the potential of unintended harm from firearms, broadheads, knives, and more. As an emergency room physician, trainer of specialized military medics, and a backcountry hunter himself, Dr. Jesse Mix has the education, training, and first-hand experience to help backcountry hunters prepare for the medical-rela...
Aug 09, 2023•1 hr 12 min
Steve & Mark answer your listener questions about packing meat upside down on your pack, how many rifle rounds to bring on a backcountry hunt, the new K4 Rifle Carrier, pre-season pack washing, and more... RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE... - August Giveaway: https://exomtngear.com/podcast - K4 Rifle Carrier: https://exomtngear.com/rifle - Backpack Hunting Webinar: https://exomtngear.com/masterclass - How to Load Meat & Antlers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJZdVAXyHRg SHARE YOUR ...
Aug 07, 2023•29 min
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, and then we will have a follow-up episode after their hunt to hear how the hunt unfolded, the lessons they learned, and more. Today, we are speaking with Erik and Jason after their hunting trip to New Zealand. You will hear about the multiple species they were able to hun...
Aug 04, 2023•1 hr 7 min
Being able to effectively shoot your rifle from a tripod is a skill that will make you a more effective hunter — especially if you hunt in variable terrain. But shooting from a rifle isn't as easy as you may think. It does take some knowledge, technique, and practice. In today's podcast, we speak with Michael from Really Right Stuff and he shares some extremely helpful wisdom about shooting with a tripod. We discuss how to shoot from various positions (prone, seated, kneeling, standing), how to ...
Aug 02, 2023•1 hr 9 min
Steve & Mark announce the new K4 Rifle Carrier and also answer your listener questions about nightly routines while backpacking, trekking poles, why they only use the Garmin InReach Mini, and more... RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE... - K4 Rifle Carrier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgxsz1XfaUY - Backpack Hunting Webinar: https://onxmaps.zoom.us/webinar/register/2316886541812/WN_axrrUvEwT12oO3mlNnSJIA#/registration SHARE YOUR QUESTION: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry or podcast@...
Jul 31, 2023•51 min
The world of custom and semi-custom rifles can be overwhelming. With seemingly endless options (cartridges, components, bullets, builders, etc), how do you make good decisions when upgrading or building a rifle? And from a high level, what are some of the most popular misconceptions about precision rifles for hunting? We dive into these questions, and more, with Drew and Todd from AllTerra Arms. We talk about what a custom rifle is (and isn't), why high-end rifles cost what they do, why speed is...
Jul 28, 2023•1 hr 17 min
The Backpack Hunt Breakdown is a new series for July of 2023. Each week we will have a new episode in this series, featuring a new guest and a different backpack-style hunt. For each of these conversations, we use the following categories to break down the hunt and understand what led to the eventual success of the hunt... - PLANNING (the tag and hunt opportunity, scouting for animals/country/access, specific gear choices, etc) - MANAGING (your time and energy, when to stay or move, using terrai...
Jul 26, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Steve & Mark answer your listener questions on the topics of expectations for a once-in-a-lifetime hunt, preventing and dealing with stinky boots, embarrassing fear of the backcountry, calling elk during rifle season, and more... RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE... - Steve's Backpack Elk Hunting Gear Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7W9Dbhg70k - Gear List Spreadsheet Template: https://exomtngear.com/gearlist - Water Filtration Podcast Discussion: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcas...
Jul 24, 2023•41 min
How do you become and/or stay healthy in a way that will allow you to hunt into the later decades of life? If your goal is to be a life-long hunter with minimal physical limitations, this conversation is for you. Our guest, John Zombro of The Lifetime Athlete, shares some excellent advice and a high-level framework of what it takes to hunt with health for a lifetime. CONNECT WITH JOHN: https://thelifetimeathlete.com/ ENTER THE JULY GIVEAWAY: https://exomtngear.com/podcast LEAVE A MESSAGE: https:...
Jul 21, 2023•1 hr 16 min
The Backpack Hunt Breakdown is a new series for July of 2023. Each week we will have a new episode in this series, featuring a new guest and a different backpack-style hunt. For each of these conversations, we use the following categories to break down the hunt and understand what led to the eventual success of the hunt... - PLANNING (the tag and hunt opportunity, scouting for animals/country/access, specific gear choices, etc) - MANAGING (your time and energy, when to stay or move, using terrai...
Jul 19, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Mark answers gear-related questions from listeners, covering water filtration, digiscoping adapters, shelter comparisons, puffy jackets, suppressors, knives, rifle scope mounts, and more... RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE... - K4 Nalgene Holder: https://exomtngear.com/nalgene - Hydrapak Seeker: https://amzn.to/3JTbzGc - Hydrapak Filter: https://amzn.to/3rzk1DV - Katadyn BeFree Filter: https://amzn.to/44nkrvZ - Ollin Digiscoping: https://ollin.co/ - Durston X-Mid 1 Pro: https://durstongear.co...
Jul 17, 2023•50 min
WARNING — While we normally keep our show family-friendly, there are a few curse words used in this episode. Additional warning (a cheesy one) — This episode should challenge your comfort zone and may inspire you to do something like you've never done before. Mark & Steve are joined by four of the participants of the 2023 Exo Death Hike, to share their stories, experiences, and lessons learned from an adventure that was unlike any other. Two of the guests on this episode, Dan (https://www.in...
Jul 14, 2023•1 hr 42 min
The Backpack Hunt Breakdown is a new series for July of 2023. Each week we will have a new episode in this series, featuring a new guest and a different backpack-style hunt. For each of these conversations, we use the following categories to break down the hunt and understand what led to the eventual success of the hunt... - PLANNING (the tag and hunt opportunity, scouting for animals/country/access, specific gear choices, etc) - MANAGING (your time and energy, when to stay or move, using terrai...
Jul 12, 2023•1 hr 40 min
Mark & Steve answer listener questions about how they take and use notes after their hunts, what suggestions they have for versatile tarps (glassing, cooking, meat sheet, etc), using the taller Nalgene Silo bottles in the K4 Nalgene Holder, and more. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE... - K4 Nalgene Holder: https://exomtngear.com/nalgene - Hydrapak Seeker: https://amzn.to/3D55X7J - Hydrapak Filter: https://amzn.to/44xeRqZ - Nalgene Silo: https://amzn.to/3rhq2oJ - Z Packs Tarps: https://zpa...
Jul 10, 2023•23 min
Steve & Mark discuss this year's Death Hike just hours before it begins. They cover the plan and route for this year, what training has looked like, what gear is (and isn't!) be used, and much more. We will be back next week with a post-hike recap. Previous Death Hike content... - Life-Changing Lessons from the Death Hike: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/life-changing-lessons-from-the-exo-death-hike - 2022 Death Hike Recap: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/351 - 2021 Death Hike Reca...
Jul 07, 2023•33 min
The Backpack Hunt Breakdown is a new series for July of 2023. Each week we will have a new episode in this series, featuring a new guest and a different backpack-style hunt. For each of these conversations, we use the following categories to break down the hunt and understand what led to the eventual success of the hunt... - PLANNING (the tag and hunt opportunity, scouting for animals/country/access, specific gear choices, etc) - MANAGING (your time and energy, when to stay or move, using terrai...
Jul 05, 2023•1 hr 10 min
Mark is joined by Dioni Amuchastegui, who is a Mule Deer fanatic and a good friend of Exo. Dioni joins us to answer your listener questions on Mule Deer strategies and how this past winter may impact future hunts. For more in-depth discussions on hunting Mule Deer, check out the previous podcast series, How to Hunt Mule Deer (Episodes 232 through 239), including Dioni's featured episode (234) on Locating Mule Deer. ENTER THE GIVEAWAY — https://exomtngear.com/podcast Outdoor Vitals Ventus: https:...
Jul 03, 2023•24 min
On this Final Friday episode, Jake sits down with Jeff Bloomquist. Jeff has been on the Hunt Backcountry Podcast a couple of times before and is a long-time friend of Exo. Jeff has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to bowhunting elk and has a lot of information to share on how to be successful and how he got to that point of success. Amongst some off-topic conversations, here are the questions Jake asked Jeff... - 1) How did you get out and hunt as much as you could when you were in your 20's?...
Jun 30, 2023•47 min
Maybe you have been let down by an uncomfortable, cold, or deflated sleeping pad in the backcountry. If you have, you know that you never want to experience that again. Can an inflatable sleeping bag be comfortable, warm, and durable? How do you select the right one? In today's podcast, we have a deep-dive discussion on inflatable sleeping pads with Brandon Bowers, the Product Manager at Therm-a-Rest. This conversation will explain sleeping pad design and materials. A sleeping pad's warmth, as m...
Jun 28, 2023•57 min
If you have ever wanted a visual, play-by-play breakdown of actual elk calling setups to help you become a more successful elk caller, the new "In the Zone" video series is what you have been looking for! Steve & Mark are joined by 11-time World Elk Calling Champion, Corey Jacobsen, to talk about the new "In The Zone" video series. In this podcast conversation, they break down the hunt that was covered in the latest In The Zone video... "In The Zone" Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py...
Jun 26, 2023•47 min
Although we have years of experience bowhunting, shooting archery events, testing archery products, and tuning our bows, we have been a bit "out of touch" and haven't stayed up to date with everything that has been happening in the archery world for the past handful of years. Realizing this, we wanted to speak with someone who is current on all things archery. In our latest podcast with hunter, shooter, and professional archery tech, Kellen Morgan, we discuss what is new, relevant, exciting, and...
Jun 21, 2023•1 hr 15 min
Mark & Steve answer listener questions about managing electronics and battery power on extended hunts, water storage and filtration, when they use dry bags for their packs, and where to find old podcast episodes that are "missing" in some podcast apps. They also discuss some new K4 products that were just released... RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE... - K4 2200 Pack System: https://exomtngear.com/2200 - K4 Crib Load Panel: https://exomtngear.com/crib - K4 InReach Mini Holder: https://exo...
Jun 19, 2023•43 min
There is a lot of elk hunting advice about calling. And even how to effectively setup when there are two guys in a caller-and-shooter scenario. But when you are hunting with someone, how do you effectively work together as a team? How do you communicate? How do you plan, execute, and be able to adapt when the plan changes? How does the caller know if they should keep calling? How does the shooter let the caller know when to stay, move, change their calls, or go silent? Today's podcast with Jake ...
Jun 14, 2023•53 min
Mark from Exo Mtn Gear and the Hunt Backcountry Podcast is joined by his friend and hunting guide, Mark Rowenhorst, of Limitless Alaska Guiding. They talk about their goat hunt from this past fall, the film that was just released of this hunt, and listener questions regarding hunting mountain goats in Alaska. WATCH THE FILM — https://ExoMtnGear.com/Goat Additional Resources... - Post-Hunt Podcast: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/373 - Mark Rowenhorst's Guide Story: https://exomtngear.com/bl...
Jun 12, 2023•36 min
The Final Friday podcast is back! In this episode (and future episodes), Jake interviews individuals who we consider to be very skilled and successful hunters. He will be asking each of the podcast's guests the same 5 questions that will benefit listeners who are in similar shoes as Jake. Jake is joined by Steve Speck and they briefly discuss Steve's background when he was 18 through 25 years old and then dove right into the questions (below) and went down a few "worm-holes"... 1) When you were ...
Jun 09, 2023•52 min
Today's episode is another "After" podcast from the "Before & After the Hunt" podcast series with people just like YOU... listeners of the podcast. Caleb first joined us in Episode 397 (https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/397), to tell us about his plan for going all-in on Western hunting, beginning with a trip to hunt bears this spring in Idaho. Today, he tells us about the success and struggles of the trip, what lessons he learned, what gear did and didn't work well, and how he will adapt...
Jun 07, 2023•1 hr 10 min
We are giving away the all-new ZULU6 HDX Image-Stabilizing binoculars from Sig Sauer. Tune in to this episode to hear about this giveaway and hear more about the ZULU6 HDX and other new optics coming from Sig Sauer. Enter the Giveaway: https://exomtngear.com/podcast Explore the ZULU6 HDX: https://www.sigsauer.com/zulu6-hdx.html
Jun 02, 2023•35 min
After returning from the mountains for a spring bear hunt, Steve & Mark recaps the ups-and-downs of the hunt, and also share their thoughts on some of the new gear they used for this trip. (Be sure to tune-in for a bonus segment on Dinosaur Legos.) Resources mentioned in this episode... - Alpine Ranch Meals: https://alpineranch.net/ - Chili Mac Recipe: https://www.southyourmouth.com/2014/08/chili-mac.html - Half-Gallon Zip-Loc Bags: https://amzn.to/3WEq4T8 - 10 Day Sheep Packing Video: https...
May 30, 2023•1 hr 12 min
As Steve & Mark head into the mountains for a spring bear hunt, they chat about the plan for the hunt and also answer your listener questions on spotting scopes, tripods, dehydrated meals, and more. Resources mentioned in this episode... - Spotting Scope Comparison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbtGgKQnz0Y - Swarovski ATS 65 25-50: https://sandsarchery.com/products/swarovski-ats-25-50wx65-hd-spotting-scope - Carbon Fiber Center Tube for Slik 624/634: https://amzn.to/3MHUCAa - Carbon Fiber...
May 22, 2023•25 min
Cameron joins us to share the story of his successful backpack deer hunt from this past fall. Hunting his home state of California, Cameron had to overcome low deer density, pressure from hunters and outdoor recreationists, and more. Beyond the story of the hunt itself, Cameron shares some helpful insights from the success and struggles of his hunting journey over the years. ASK US A QUESTION: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry or podcast@exomtngear.com Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtn...
May 17, 2023•1 hr 13 min
