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
Wednesday Apr 30, 2025
Wednesday Apr 30, 2025
Alaska hunting guide, Hunter Stier, joins us to discuss his experience becoming a hunting guide, guiding vs hunting, expectations vs reality on big hunts, mindset for mountain hunting, sheep vs mountain goat hunts, and the story of guiding a record book ram last season.
Connect with Hunter: https://www.instagram.com/hunterstier/
Connect with Limitless Alaska Guiding: https://www.instagram.com/limitlessalaskaguiding/
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 Apr 28, 2025
Monday Apr 28, 2025
Steve & Mark are back from their Death Hike in the Grand Canyon and answer your listener questions on this Monday Minute episode. They share a little bit about the hike, give an update on the apparel they helped design and test with Outdoor Vitals, share their backcountry bar recipes, and more...
Links & Resources mentioned in this episode...
Rokslide Thread on Outdoor Vitals Apparel: https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/new-developments-coming-this-summer.403389/
DIY Backcountry Bar Recipes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11CS7dxGUB1nkH2FozQ8KQ3dKXRuz95_iu_j8jlJyZ04/view
Experience Project Caribou Hunt: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxCisjM16JQUuY7xWQLdExN_rAHTxEsvv
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 Apr 23, 2025
Wednesday Apr 23, 2025
Jeff Cayley joins us to share his experience completing America's Toughest Race — a multi-sport adventure race that covered 300+ miles of hiking, mountain biking, climbing, packrafting, and wayfinding.
We discuss Jeff's training, lessons learned, and how his experience applies to us, as backpack hunters.
Connect with Jeff...
https://www.instagram.com/jeffcayley/
https://worldwidecyclery.com/
https://ketlmtn.com/
https://trailone.bike/
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 Apr 21, 2025
Monday Apr 21, 2025
Steve & Mark answer your listener questions on this Monday Minute episode. They discuss targets for shooting practice in the mountains, bug-proof base layers for spring bear hunts, electrolyte supplements for hikes and hunts, compatibility of rifle barrels and stocks/chassis, and more...
Links & Resources mentioned in this episode...
At-cost Exo Logo Gear: https://exomtngear.com/logo
Salt Pills: https://amzn.to/4iGhXzb & https://amzn.to/4iGhXzb
Sitka Equinox: https://www.sitkagear.com/collection/equinox-guard-collection
DIY Permetherin Treatment: https://amzn.to/3YB4Jwa
Insect Shield Commercial Treatment: https://www.insectshield.com/pages/insect-shield-your-clothes
Pre-Fit Barrel Podcast: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/517
Steel Target from the Listener Q: https://shootsteel.com/product/1-2-steel-target-12x20-modular-system/
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
Friday Apr 18, 2025
Friday Apr 18, 2025
How short is too short when it comes to choosing a barrel length for hunting?
Whether you are interested in a shorter barrel for your next hunting rifle because you plan to add a suppressor, because you want to save weight, or simply because you want an easy-handling, easy-packing rifle — the fact is that short barrels are viable with today’s highly efficient bullets, laser rangefinders, and scopes that precisely and reliably dial to accommodate for drop at distance.
In this podcast you will learn how to estimate velocity and effective range when considering which barrel length to choose for your next hunting rifle.
The short barrel "formula" and additional information: https://exomtngear.com/short-barrel
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 Apr 16, 2025
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Andrew Skurka is an adventure athlete, guide, and writer. He raised the bar on backpacking as a long-distance thru-hiker, completing (and at times creating) routes that traversed thousands of miles over many months. We interviewed Andrew on our podcast nearly a decade ago, and in the years since then, he has launched a business that provides educational experiences through guided backpacking trips.
We were excited to reconnect with Andrew to discuss backpacking education, how his personal outlook on adventure has changed in recent years, the evolution of backpacking gear, and more...
Connect with Andrew...
https://andrewskurka.com/
https://www.instagram.com/andrewskurka/
Our preview podcast with Andrew: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/053
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 Apr 14, 2025
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Steve & Mark answer your listener questions on this Monday Minute episode. They discuss...
New $10 T-Shirts from Exo Mtn Gear (https://exomtngear.com/logo)
Logistics on flying and traveling for hunts, including food for the backcountry, luggage and duffel bags for the travel, and getting meat home
Backpack hunting with a non-hunting pack
What hunters "need" a spotting scope (and why the optics market is a mess right now)
What experiences they have with lightning in the backcountry and how they deal with it
Links & resources mentioned in this episode...
New Shirts: https://exomtngear.com/logo
Backpacking Pack vs Hunting Pack: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/backpacking-vs-hunting-packs
Backpack Hunting Nutrition Guide: https://exomtngear.com/nutrition
How to use an Exo pack as a carry-on for flights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5Uey9pu49w
How to travel with weapons for hunts: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/how-to-fly-with-a-hunting-rifle
Duffel bag options to consider: https://amzn.to/3CHWIxW, https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/cabelas-boundary-waters-duffel-bag
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
Friday Apr 11, 2025
Friday Apr 11, 2025
A pre-fit barrel is a ready-to-shoot barrel that can be installed on a rifle action with minimal tools, knowledge, and skills.
In this podcast with Jaden Miller of West Elk Precision, we discuss the pros and cons of pre-fit barrels, different types of pre-fit barrels, how to install a pre-fit barrel at home, and answer your listener-submitted questions about the use of pre-fit rifle barrels.
PRE-FIT INSTALL VIDEO, LINKS, & MORE — https://exomtngear.com/prefit
Connect with Jaden...
West Elk Precision
@west_elk_precision
@jaden_1_2
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 Apr 09, 2025
Wednesday Apr 09, 2025
Lily drew a once-in-a-lifetime Mountain Goat tag in her home state of Idaho, then was fortunate enough to kill a record book Billy on that hunt. Lily and her boyfriend, Ben, who previously had the same tag, join us on the podcast to share the hunt story, how they prepared for this hunt, Lily's perspective as a female hunter, 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 Apr 07, 2025
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Steve & Mark answer your listener questions and share some news and updates on this Monday Minute episode. They discuss...
Your suggestions for the Exo tagline
Upcoming Exo events
How we train with a Peloton bike
Potential for an ultralight frame stay option
The importance of simplicity
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