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
Listen on:
Episodes
55 minutes ago
55 minutes ago
Steve & Mark answer your listener-submitted questions about food for backpack hunts, bear meat recipes, tripod heads for shooting and glassing, boot care, quilts, and more...
Links & Resources...
Limited $10 Shirts for Women & Kids: https://exomtngear.com/logo (Order deadline is June 25)
What we eat on backpack hunts (and how we pack it): https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/backpack-hunting-basics-the-food-we-eat
Katabatic Quilts: https://katabaticgear.com/collections/quilts
Ridge Warden Ball Tilt Head: https://www.wiserprecision.com/products/bt-20-ridge-warden-ball-tilt-head
Obenauf's LP: https://amzn.to/3HSxUWc
Granger Boot Care: https://amzn.to/46apCCV
Nikwax Waterproofing Wax: https://amzn.to/43ZE1Re
The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/
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
6 days ago
6 days ago
This is a great listener hunt story with Ryan, about his do-it-yourself black bear hunt in Alaska. We discuss how Ryan planned this hunt, the logistics involved, how the hunt went, what he learned from the adventure, and much more.
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 Jun 16, 2025
Monday Jun 16, 2025
Steve & Mark answer your listener-submitted questions and discuss some timely topics. They cover another attempt to sell public lands, what's going on at Exo behind the scenes, new shirts for women and kids coming later this week, how we filter and carry water in the backcountry, if they practice with their bow on multi-day backpack hunts, why Mark was using a suppressor cover on their recent spring bear hunt, and choosing optics for a Frank Church elk hunt.
Links & Resources...
Our Water Filtration System: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/backpack-hunting-basics-how-we-filter-carry-water
Backpack Hunting Basics: https://youtube.com/exomountaingear?sub_confirmation=1
Exo Open House & Garage Sale (RSVP!): https://exomtngear.com/pages/exo-garage-sale
Public Land Sale — Information & Action: https://www.howlforwildlife.org/keepitpublic
Get Your Bow Ready for the Backcountry: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/get-your-bow-ready-for-the-backcountry
LS Wild Suppressor Cover: https://www.lswild.com/store/p180/Ultralight_Suppressor_Armor_%28Custom_Fit%29.html
The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/
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 Jun 11, 2025
Wednesday Jun 11, 2025
Nate Simmons joins us for a wide-ranging conversation that includes a deep-dive into advanced archery, stalking strategies on mule deer, the key to his longevity and consistency, and several other listener-submitted questions. This is truly a conversation that you don't want to miss!
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 Jun 09, 2025
Monday Jun 09, 2025
Steve & Mark answer your listener-submitted questions about footwear for training vs hunting, the best way to load weight for rucking, what they carry in their first aid kits on backcountry hunts, and more...
Links & Resources
Exo Open House & Garage Sale (RSVP!): https://exomtngear.com/pages/exo-garage-sale
Outdoor Vitals Clothing & Discount: https://outdoorvitals.com/pages/alpine-line-optin-western-hunt-expo-2025
Video on Loading Weight for Training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-ol2hnEbXc
Free Training Plan: https://exomtngear.com/training
Mark's At-Home Garage Workout: https://the-experience-project.com/marks-garage-workout-for-mountain-hunting/
Backcountry First-Aid Article & Podcast: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/backcountry-hunting-first-aid-kit
The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/
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 Jun 04, 2025
Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
Jeremy Dugger (@muleymojo) returns to answer your questions after he recently joined us to discuss the data he has collected from 500+ bowhunters on broadhead performance, shot distance, arrow weight, and lethality.
The listener-submitted questions that we discuss in this episode include:
What additional data points does Jeremy wish he had collected in his samples?
How does Jeremy think about the physical vs mental aspects of shooting a bow?
How do bowhunter decrease their wound rate?
What is Jeremy’s shot sequence, mantra, or process?
Does a bow or arrow cause “flyers” in a group, or are flyers the shooter’s fault?
Should bowhunters practice most at 30-40 yards, since that was the highest wound rate in Jeremy’s data?
What is Jeremy’s process for bow and broadhead tuning?
How much does arrow tolerance (straightness) matter for bowhunters?
How does arrow diameter affect forgiveness and tuning?
What advice does Jeremy have for bowhunters who want to become self-reliant for bow setup, bow tuning, arrow building, etc?
And more...
Jeremy's First Episode: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/512
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 Jun 02, 2025
Monday Jun 02, 2025
Steve & Mark answer your listener-submitted questions about packing sleep systems, shelter choice for backpacking and hunting with kids, training for a mountain goat hunt, how many rifle rounds to pack on a backcountry hunt, and also share some new things coming this summer (and in the extended future)...
Links & Resources
Exo Open House & Garage Sale (RSVP!): https://exomtngear.com/pages/exo-garage-sale
Shoot2Hunt Pack: https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/the-teratorn-a-shoot2hunt-x-exo-bag-collab.406328/
Outdoor Vitals Clothing: https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/new-developments-coming-this-summer.403389/
Steve's Pack Loading Video: https://exomtngear.com/packloading
Marks' At-Home Workout: https://the-experience-project.com/marks-garage-workout-for-mountain-hunting/
Steve's "Epic" Mountain Goat Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pixx_Ny9MeA
The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/
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 May 28, 2025
Wednesday May 28, 2025
How you load your pack matters. The way you load your gear can help or hinder the pack's performance, and it can also make you a more efficient hunter. In this podcast, Steve & Mark discuss the best ways to load a pack for multi-day backpack hunts. This conversation is a deeper dive into a pack loading video that we just published...
Pack Loading Video: https://exomtngear.com/packloading
Backpacking Gear Lists: https://exomtngear.com/gearlist
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 May 26, 2025
Monday May 26, 2025
Steve & Mark answer your listener-submitted questions about updates on our footwear choices, if gear noise scares animals away, our gear list for the R3 Death Hike, packout discomfort, and more...
Links & Resources
GoFundMe for Rob's Battle with Cancer: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-rob-mcconnell-fight-throat-cancer
K4 Multicam Pre-Order: https://exomtngear.com/multicam
Exo Garage Sale (RSVP): https://exomtngear.com/pages/exo-garage-sale
Mark's Air Pump: https://amzn.to/4kwl3qD
Loading a K4 Pack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM7MhrV0rqA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJZdVAXyHRg
Hunting Footwear Video: https://the-experience-project.com/the-best-hunting-boot-is-wrong/
The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/
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 May 21, 2025
Wednesday May 21, 2025
Steve, Mark, & Justin of Exo Mtn Gear recount their recent backpack bear hunt in Idaho. They share the story, discuss tactics and tips for spring bear (and backpack hunting in general), and touch a bit on gear.
Resources mentioned in this episode...
Mark's Spring Bear Gear List: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/backpack-bear-hunting-gear-list-and-tactics
How to Load a Bear on the K4 Frame: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM7MhrV0rqA
Justin's Previous Elk Podcast: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/317
Justin's Films & Photography: https://www.instagram.com/themtnexperience
Sony A6700: https://amzn.to/4jgr2yX
Rode Video Mic: https://amzn.to/4jgr2yX
Exo Mtn Gear Newsletter: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter
Exo Mtn Gear on YouTube: http://youtube.com/exomountaingear?sub_confirmation=1
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