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: [email protected]

Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

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: [email protected]

Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

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 — [email protected]

LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

VIEW & SEARCH THE PODCAST ARCHIVE: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

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: [email protected]

Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

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 — [email protected]

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/

Email Sign-up: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter

Contact Us: [email protected]

Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

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 — [email protected]

LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

VIEW & SEARCH THE PODCAST ARCHIVE: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

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 — [email protected]

LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

VIEW & SEARCH THE PODCAST ARCHIVE: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

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 — [email protected]

LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

VIEW & SEARCH THE PODCAST ARCHIVE: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

John Jensenius is a former meteorologist and lightning safety expert with the National Weather Service who now works with the National Lightning Safety Council. He joins us to discuss what we, as backcountry and mountain hunters, should know about the risks of lightning exposure, the actions to take when storms occur, and misconceptions about lightning strikes.

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/

Email Sign-up: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter

Contact Us: [email protected]

Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Steve and Mark are back to answer your listener questions on this Monday Minute. They also discuss updates on what is going on at Exo this month — from being out of the office to launching a once-a-year sale...

LINKS & RESOURCES...

• $5,000 Photo Contest: https://exomtngear.com/experience
• Exo Newsletter: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter
• Packing Without Stuff Sacks: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/how-to-load-your-pack-for-a-multi-day-backpack-hunt
• Airlock Industries Suppressor Podcast: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/549
• 6mm 108 ELD-M: https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/6mm-.243-108-gr-eld-match#!/
• 6mm 96 TMK: https://sierrabullets.com/6mm-95-gr-tipped-matchking-tmk/
• Exo Pack Carry On Tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5Uey9pu49w
• Down Glassing Mittens: https://firstlite.com/products/brooks-down-glassing-mitt

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 — [email protected]

LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

VIEW & SEARCH THE PODCAST ARCHIVE: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

A listener of the show, Klint, joins us to share the story of planning his first mountain hunt, getting diagnosed with aggressive cancer during the process, and battling back to make the hunt still happen after his recovery. We hope you are inspired and challenged by Klint's story.

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/

Email Sign-up: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter

Contact Us: [email protected]

Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast