The Hunt Backcountry Podcast
Backcountry hunters talking backcountry hunting. No advertisers or sponsors, no fluff, no BS. We discuss tactics, strategies, gear, hunt stories, and more — featuring a wide variety of guests, from industry experts to everyday listeners of the show. Your hosts, Steve & Mark, have decades of experience hunting the mountains for elk, deer, bear, antelope, sheep, mountain goats, moose, caribou, and more. While this podcast is 100% independent and free from advertising or sponsorship, it is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear, which we own and operate. Exo’s mission is to build the best backcountry hunting pack systems available, provide the best service possible, and do it all right here in the USA. Learn more at: https://exomtngear.com/ Contact us at any time with your questions or feedback by emailing us: podcast@exomtngear.com. Or visit the searchable archive of all podcast episodes we have published over the past decade at: https://exomtngear.com/podcast. Thanks for listening! —Steve & Mark
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
Any elk hunter would love to spend dozens of days on the mountain throughout the fall. In this episode, a new elk hunter, Luke, tells us what he learned as he spent 20+ days pursuing elk in the mountains just outside his home. We discuss what he observed before the season, how elk behavior changed during the season, what he noticed about elk vocalization throughout September, and how his experience hunting elk in later rifle seasons compared to archery season.
The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/
Email Sign-up: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter
Contact Us: podcast@exomtngear.com
Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast
6 days ago
6 days ago
Welcome to The First Monday. In these episodes, Steve & Mark talk through what's going on for them that month in the categories of The Gear, The Hunt, and the Hunter, as well as what's going on with Exo Mtn Gear. If you want an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes look at what we are doing, researching, and learning, or just what we are excited about, this is it.
In addition to that, we also answer listener questions about a new pack from Exo in 2025, how to choose a temperature rating for your sleep system, and what gaiters we recommend.
Links for this episode...
The Experience Project HUNT Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxCisjM16JQUuY7xWQLdExN_rAHTxEsvv
Subscribe to Exo Mtn Gear on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ExoMountainGear?sub_confirmation=1
K3 Re-Stock: https://exomtngear.com/k3
Hunt Expo: https://huntexpo.com/
Pacific NW Sportsmen's Show: https://www.thesportshows.com/shows/pacific-northwest/
Kahtoola Gaiters: https://kahtoola.com/shop/gaiters/
PEAX Gaiters: https://www.peaxequipment.com/products/storm-castle-gaiter
OR Crocodile Gaiters: https://amzn.to/410n0EX
EXO INSIDER NEWSLETTER — https://exomtngear.com/newsletter
ASK YOUR QUESTION — podcast@exomtngear.com
LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
VIEW & SEARCH THE PODCAST ARCHIVE: https://exomtngear.com/podcast
Wednesday Jan 29, 2025
Wednesday Jan 29, 2025
Scott Gillespie of Rocky Mountain Big Game Recovery joins us to discuss the use of tracking dogs to help hunters recover big game animals in the Rocky Mountain West. Although tracking dogs have a long history in some areas of the country, they have not been used significantly in the Mountain West. With recent changes in legislation and growing interest among trackers and hunters, Scott helps us understand how tracking dogs are now a viable option to help hunters recover big game animals in the mountains.
We discuss how hunters can locate and contact a tracking team. When hunters should call for assistance. What it costs to have a tracking team help with recovery. When it doesn't make sense to use a tracking team. And much more.
Rocky Mountain Big Game Recovery: https://www.rockymountainbiggamerecovery.org/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/344223976211356/
Find A Tracker: https://www.unitedbloodtrackers.org/find-a-tracker/
The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/
Email Sign-up: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter
Contact Us: podcast@exomtngear.com
Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast
Monday Jan 27, 2025
Monday Jan 27, 2025
Steve & Mark are back from SHOT Show. In this episode, they discuss the most exciting products they saw at SHOT and answer your questions about suppressors, rifle scopes, knives, and other products from the show. They also announce a limited run of Exo Pack Holsters and the latest Experience Project HUNT film.
Links for this episode...
Experience Project Moose Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrRHmkO1ybQ
Exo Pack Holster by Ivory Holsters: https://ivoryholsters.com/product/limited-edition-exo-emg-pack-holster/
Coast USB-C Batteries: https://www.coastzx.com/
Seekins Element Hunter Rifle: https://seekinsprecision.com/rifles-new/havak-bolt-rifles/element-hunter.html
MDT (MTN Gear) Bipods: https://mdttac.com/blog/shot-2025-mdt-launches-mountain-and-backcountry-bipods/
Manners Folding Stock: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFNq6f-PlPG/
DFND (Made in the USA Apparel): https://dfndusa.com/
Hogue Extrak Fixed-Blade Knife: https://www.hogueinc.com/extrak-fixed-blade-3-3-clip-point-blade-stone-tumbled-solid-orange-g10-scales
Hogue Expel Replaceable-Blade Knife: https://www.hogueinc.com/expel-folding-scalpel-2-5-replaceable-blade-416ss-frame-solid-orange-g10-scales
Burris Digital Rifle Scope: https://www.burrisoptics.com/riflescopes/veracity-ph
DMT Dia-Fold Sharpener: https://amzn.to/4geTgs7
JK Armament Suppressors: https://jkarmament.com/product-category/suppressors/#
Banish Suppressor with Muzzle Break: https://www.silencercentral.com/products/meateater
Thunder Beast Suppressors: https://thunderbeastarms.com/products/
Steve's Moose Mount: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEft5Edvy04/
EMAIL NEWSLETTER — https://exomtngear.com/newsletter
ASK YOUR QUESTION — podcast@exomtngear.com
LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
VIEW & SEARCH THE PODCAST ARCHIVE: https://exomtngear.com/podcast
Monday Jan 20, 2025
Monday Jan 20, 2025
This is NOT a normal episode. While we normally keep the amount of BS and banter in our podcasts to a minimum, this particular episode is full of both.
Without much of a plan, Steve, Mark, Jake & Justin hit record and chatted from their Vegas hotel room after they wrapped up Sheep Show and started their time at SHOT Show.
Amidst the jokes and laughs, there are some good insights as they discuss...
Golfing
1.3 million dollar tags at Sheep Show
Meeting podcast fans at the urinal
The Experience Project Films
Improving Exo’s customer service
Justin’s lessons from 30+ days in Alaska last fall
Performing at the edge of your limits
How Steve found and developed a group of guys that can do such adventurous hunts, Death Hikes, work with Exo, etc
EMAIL NEWSLETTER — https://exomtngear.com/newsletter
ASK YOUR QUESTION — podcast@exomtngear.com
LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
VIEW & SEARCH THE PODCAST ARCHIVE: https://exomtngear.com/podcast
Wednesday Jan 15, 2025
Wednesday Jan 15, 2025
Our guest for this episode, Brian, started going out west to hunt elk in 2012. In the years since then, he and some friends have continued to make trips to chase elk in the Rockies.
As Brain shared, "We are not experts by any means, but we do have a 37% success rate over the years. And we are 100% when it comes to bringing back life-long memories and stories to exaggerate for years to come."
Since Brian has many years of do-it-yourself elk hunting experience as a non-resident, and also has a group success rate that is higher than the average, we wanted to speak with him and cover lessons learned, mistakes made, and successes achieved in his elk hunting journey over the years.
The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo MtnGear: https://exomtngear.com/
Email Sign-up: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter
Contact Us: podcast@exomtngear.com
Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast
Monday Jan 13, 2025
Monday Jan 13, 2025
Steve & Mark answer listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute podcast episode. They discuss the future of Exo and selling the company, podcast sponsorships and endorsements, how they stash extra gear in trees, and choosing between 8x32 or 8x42 binoculars.
Links for this episode...
Wiser Precision Pynch Pulley: https://www.wiserprecision.com/products/pynch-pulley
NL Pure Binoculars: https://sandsarchery.com/collections/swarovski-slc-binoculars
EMAIL NEWSLETTER — https://exomtngear.com/newsletter
ASK YOUR QUESTION — podcast@exomtngear.com
LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
View & Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast
Tuesday Jan 07, 2025
Tuesday Jan 07, 2025
Is there a real danger in eating meat from game that was killed with lead ammunition? And is there a real threat to species that scavenge on the carcasses of big game that were killed with lead bullets?
Depending on who you ask, the answers to those questions will vary greatly. In this episode, we speak with Jim Heffelfinger, to help separate fact, fiction, and fairy tales, about the dangers of using lead-based bullets for big game hunting.
Jim helps us realize that the conversation on lead-based bullets is much broader than hunters realize and that there are both real dangers, as well as unfounded fears on this topic.
A disclaimer that shouldn't be necessary: None of the information presented today is medical advice. And this conversation has not presented all aspects of this topic. Please do careful research for yourself and make your own conclusions.
Additional resources and links mentioned in this episode...
Is eating game harvested with lead a human health issue? (Article): https://www.boone-crockett.org/when-lead-meets-red-meat-0
Lead Ammo and Wildlife: Separating Science from Advocacy (Article): https://www.themeateater.com/hunt/firearm-hunting/lead-ammo-and-wildlife-separating-science-from-advocacy
Jim's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cervidnut/
Jim’s Previous Episode: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/440
$10 Goat Logo Shirt: https://exomtngear.com/collections/10-year-logo-gear
Email Sign-up: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter
Contact Us: podcast@exomtngear.com
Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast
Sunday Jan 05, 2025
Sunday Jan 05, 2025
Introducing The First Monday. This new segment of the podcast is an experiment, where Steve & Mark will talk through what's going on for them that month in the categories of The Gear, The Hunt, and the Hunter, as well as what's going on with Exo Mtn Gear.
If you want an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes look at what we are doing, researching, and learning, or just what we are excited about, this is it. We plan to continue this format on the First Monday of each month, and then continue to use all other Monday Minute episodes to answer your listener-submitted questions (send those here: podcast@exomtngear.com).
Links for this episode...
- $10 SHIRT PRE-ORDER: https://exomtngear.com/collections/10-year-logo-gear
- Matthews Lift-X: https://mathewsinc.com/pages/lift-x
- Northwest Mountain Challenge: https://nwmountainchallenge.com/
- Mark's Garage Workout: https://the-experience-project.com/marks-garage-workout-for-mountain-hunting/
- Hunt Application Deadlines by State: https://www.huntinfool.com/resources/draw-deadlines
- State Fish & Game Podcast Series...
-- Arizona: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/440
-- Colorado: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/452
-- Idaho: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/442
-- Montana: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/443
-- New Mexico: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/441
-- Wyoming: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/438
EMAIL NEWSLETTER — https://exomtngear.com/newsletter
ASK YOUR QUESTION — podcast@exomtngear.com
LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
View & Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast
Sunday Dec 29, 2024
Sunday Dec 29, 2024
Steve & Mark answer listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute podcast episode. They discuss Steve's experience with the "fad" of ice baths, the pros and cons of attaching your bino harness to your backpack, the 4 Rules of Gun Safety and when they are broken while hunting, and more...
Links for this episode...
- Podcast Feedback Form (& Givewaway): forms.gle/nHE5o1tkN4agZC4P7
- FHF Gear Pack Suspension Kit: https://www.fhfgear.com/products/FHHS2CBOS.html
- Marsupial Gear Pack Strap Kit: https://www.marsupialgear.com/products/pack-strap-kit
- 4 Rules of Gun Safety: https://www.nssf.org/articles/4-primary-rules-of-firearm-safety/
EMAIL NEWSLETTER — https://exomtngear.com/newsletter
ASK YOUR QUESTION — podcast@exomtngear.com
LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry
View & Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast