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
7 hours ago
7 hours ago
Steve & Mark have a candid conversation about the Hunt Backcountry Podcast and Exo Mtn Gear, discussing their vision, plans, products, and more...
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 Dec 22, 2025
Monday Dec 22, 2025
Steve and Mark answer your listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute episode. They discuss training for hiking speed, the purpose of carrying a bipod AND a tripod when rifle hunting, what non-hunting items should be on your Christmas list (a toothbrush?), choosing between Creedmoors, and more...
Links for this episode...
How to Hike Heavy (Podcast): https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/132
Steve's Toothbrush: https://amzn.to/4jbsUKS
Photo Story Winner: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/exo-experience-photo-story-winner
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 Dec 17, 2025
Wednesday Dec 17, 2025
Petra Hilleberg joins us to discuss the history and future of Hilleberg, what sets Hilleberg tents apart, and to answer your listener-submitted questions about using Hilleberg tents for backcountry and mountain hunting.
LINKS & RESOURCES:
https://hilleberg.com/eng/discover/choosing-the-right-tent
https://www.youtube.com/@HillebergTentmaker/videos
https://www.instagram.com/hilleberg_hunting/
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
Wednesday Dec 10, 2025
Wednesday Dec 10, 2025
A listener of the show, Blake, joins us to share the story of his first elk hunt. Blake spent 12 days in the mountains — learning lessons, gaining experience, and ultimately arrowing a great bull. We discuss how Blake prepared for this hunt, how he immersed himself in elk hunting knowledge while also preventing "information overload", and the chance encounter he had in the elk woods with a previous podcast guest, Ryan (Episode 546).
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 Dec 08, 2025
Monday Dec 08, 2025
Steve and Mark answer your listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute episode. They discuss image-stabilized spotting scopes and question their purpose and benefit. And speaking of gear with questionable value, they answer a question about suppressor covers. They also discuss recommendations for people who struggle with knee pain on downhill hikes, the results of the Exo Experience Photo Story contest, what is going on this month, and more...
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 Dec 03, 2025
Wednesday Dec 03, 2025
Like most backcountry hunters, we are passionate about the gear we use. At the end of each year, we like to highlight some of the favorite gear we have used for hunts throughout that year and discuss why those particular items made a difference for us personally. In this episode, Mark & Steve discuss their "gear of the year" selections for 2025...
GEAR LINKS & LISTS — https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/best-hunting-gear-of-2025
TIMESTAMPS...
00:00:00 — Intro
00:01:56 — "Gear of the Year" History
00:07:05 — Revisiting 2024 Selections
00:22:35 — Steve's Tripod Setup for Glassing & Shooting
00:34:42 — Airlock Industries Zero Gravity Suppressor
00:44:31 — InReach Messenger Plus
00:50:56 — Nitecore Pocket 10000 USB-C Power Bank
00:53:20 — Thermarest NeoLoft Sleeping Pad
00:58:17 — Outdoor Vitals Pursuit Hybrid Fleece
01:00:32 — Deadfall Design Chest Plate + Ivory Holster Shell (and "The Bino Bra" ;-)
01:11:03 — Defiance anTi-X Action, Pre-Fit 6mm Creedmoor, & Factory Ammunition
01:18:26 — onX HUNT App
01:22:18 — Mark's Honorable Mentions
01:28:58 — Exo K4x Pack System
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
Wednesday Nov 26, 2025
Wednesday Nov 26, 2025
In this episode, we are joined by Tara & Alex from Idaho Fish & Game to discuss the all-new draw process for non-resident general elk and deer tags for Idaho's 2026 big game hunting season. We hear why the process that had been in place needed to change, the alternative solutions considered, how this new draw came to be, what non-residents need to apply for the draw, how they can apply in a group or party, if there are any changes to non-resident tag allocations, and more.
LINKS & RESOURCES...
What's New Overview — https://idfg.idaho.gov/article/see-whats-available-nonresident-tag-drawing-general-season-deerelk-tags-2026-and-how-apply
FAQ — https://idfg.idaho.gov/licenses/tag/quotas/nonresident
Big Game Seasons & Rules — https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/big-game
Refund Information — https://idfg.idaho.gov/licenses/forms/nonresident-refund
Email Contact — licensing@idfg.idaho.gov
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 Nov 24, 2025
Monday Nov 24, 2025
Steve and Mark answer your listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute episode. They discuss Idaho's new and upcoming non-resident tag application process, an update on Steve's moose hunt, their experience with meat damage based on shot placement and bullet choice, pack failures they have experienced from testing prototypes, the best way to use Exo packs for lightweight day hunts, and more...
LINKS & RESOURCES...
Last Call! — Photo Story Contest: https://exomtngear.com/experience
K4x Updates: https://exomtngear.com/K4x
Load A Pack for Day Hunts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEwuuQSMiBo
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
Monday Nov 17, 2025
Monday Nov 17, 2025
Steve and Mark just returned from Kodiak and they answer your listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute episode.
They also discuss Exo's once-a-year sale, which starts tomorrow (November 18, 2025). If you are hearing this episode as it is released on Monday, November 17, use the code EARLY20 at checkout to get 20% OFF before the public sale goes live.
LINKS & RESOURCES...
Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/
Exo Newsletter: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter
Foxtail Lodge: https://www.kodiakalaskafishinglodge.com/
Kahtoola MicroSpikes: https://amzn.to/3K5TOXm
New Kahtoola Lightweight Spikes: https://amzn.to/4pgI2bI
Black Diamond Spikes: https://amzn.to/4rmGKxN
Showa Waterproof Gloves: https://amzn.to/4nWEWZ5
Wiser Precision Quick-StiX: https://sandsarchery.com/products/wiser-precision-quick-stix
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
Monday Nov 10, 2025
Monday Nov 10, 2025
Join us "live" from Foxtail Lodge on Kodiak Island, Alaska. This conversation takes place on the day we arrive, before we begin our weeklong adventure hunting Sitka Blacktail Deer, shooting ducks, and fishing the sea.
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