We want to make this show as valuable to YOU, our listeners, as possible. So we just launched a quick survey to gather feedback on what you like, don't like, and want to hear about in 2025 FEEDBACK FORM — https://forms.gle/nHE5o1tkN4agZC4P7 We will pick 3 random responses on January 1, 2025, and those participants will be able to choose a $100 Gift Card from Exo Mtn Gear or S&S Archery. Thank you for your feedback and support! EMAIL 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 & Mark answer listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute podcast episode. They discuss their off-season activity and if they honestly "train" to hunt year-round. Next, they dive into a rebuttal about their prior podcasts on the topic of using small rifle calibers for big game hunting, and what's to come on that topic... Links for this episode: - Alaska Caribou, Episode 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw8_qlQAru4 - Alaska Caribou, Episode 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfPTderAnT4 - Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/exomountaingear?sub_confirmation=1 - Small Caliber Podcast, Part 1: https://the-experience-project.com/small-calibers-for-big-game-hunting-part-1/ - Small Caliber Podcast, Part 2: https://the-experience-project.com/small-calibers-for-big-game-hunting-part-2/ - Small Caliber Podcast, Part 3 (Q&A): https://the-experience-project.com/small-calibers-for-big-game-hunting-qa/ EMAIL 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

Trevor Thompson joins us to share his experience getting into hunting and traditional archery, his journey of becoming an assistant guide in Alaska, and how his prior experiences as a SEAL, skydiver, base jumper, and backcountry skier relate to his hunting pursuits. We also discuss why Trevor shares Thanksgiving with vegans. And how each of us, as individual hunters, can be a positive influence on the future of hunting. Connect with Trevor: https://www.instagram.com/trevor.p.thompson/ Protekt Products: https://protekt.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

Sneaking in on two bull elk that are fighting, then arrowing one of those bulls on your first-ever bowhunt? That sounds too good to be true, but that is exactly how Stephen Follett's first archery hunt concluded this fall. Stephen joins us to share that story and what he learned about starting as a bowhunter after having extensive experience with precision rifles and long-range shooting. He also shares why, and how, he started making shooting and optics accessories through his company, LSWild. Learn more at: - LSWild Website: https://lswild.com/ - LSWild Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lswildhuntinggear/ - Scoped Action Cover (Standard): https://www.lswild.com/store/p30/Hunter_Scoped_Action_Armor.html - Scoped Action Cover (Ultralight): https://www.lswild.com/store/p123/Ultralight_Scoped_Action_Armor.html Email Sign-up: exomtngear.com/newsletter Contact Us: [email protected] Leave A Message: speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry Podcast Episode Archive: exomtngear.com/podcast

Each year, going back to 2018, Steve and Mark have made a list of their "gear of the year" for that year. The goal is to select items that made a difference for them on their hunts that year. In this episode, they share their selections for 2024 and discuss why each item made the list. FULL LIST & LINKS: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/best-hunting-gear-of-2024 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

Mark is solo today to answer your listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute podcast episode. He answers questions about his archery shot sequence, insulated down booties, reducing rifle recoil to spot impacts, a budget chassis rifle, and tips for packraft hunts. EXO SALE NOTIFICATION — https://exomtngear.com/newsletter Items and resources mentioned in this episode: - Outdoor Vitals Down Booties: https://outdoorvitals.com/products/lt-hybrid-booties - Enlightened Equipment Torrid Booties: https://enlightenedequipment.com/torrid-booties/ - Exped Down Sock: https://www.expedusa.com/products/down-sock - Exped Bivy Booty: https://www.expedusa.com/products/bivy-booty - Exped Camp Booty: https://www.expedusa.com/products/camp-booty - Recoil Q&A with Form: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/mm-239 - SIG Cross Trax: https://www.sigsauer.com/cross-trax.html - SIG Cross: https://www.sigsauer.com/sig-cross-rifle.html - Bergara MgLite: https://www.bergara.online/us/rifles/premier/mglite-rifle/ - Savage 110 Ultralite Elite: https://savagearms.com/firearms/model/110-ultralite-elite - MDT HNT26 Chassis: https://mdttac.com/hnt26-chassis-system/ - XLR Element Mg Chassis: https://xlrindustries.com/products/element_4-0_magnesium_chassis - Mark's XLR vs MDT Review & Comparison: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/lightweight-folding-rifle-chassis - Packrafting Podcast with Thor: https://the-experience-project.com/how-to-use-a-packraft-for-hunting/ - ROK Straps: https://amzn.to/3YQDNrL ASK YOUR QUESTION — [email protected] LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry View & Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Owner and founder of Outdoor Vitals, Tayson Whittaker, joins us on the Hunt Backcountry Podcast to discuss his 100-mile solo hike in the Wind River Range of Wyoming. We discuss what he learned from dealing with injuries, the mistakes he made on this trip and how he overcame them, stories from Tayson's backpack hunts this fall, what sacrifices he makes to be "ultralight" with his gear, what you need to know about changes in the outdoor apparel industry, and much more. This wide-ranging discussion truly has something for everyone. Links mentioned in this episode: - Tayson's 100-Mile Hike Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aepNiXyNzV8 - Outdoor Vitals: https://outdoorvitals.com/ - Tayson's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taysonwhittaker/ - ExpeDRY Down from Allied Feather: https://alliedfeather.com/info-room/products-innovations/expedry Contact Us: [email protected] Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Steve & Mark answer listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute podcast episode. They discuss using covers on spotting scopes, their experience with the Mtn Hntr Tripod, what knives they used on the Moose hunt this fall, and additional topics related to those listener questions. Items mentioned in this episode: - Vet Wrap: https://amzn.to/3CkqCHL - Kapture Gear Digiscoping: https://kapturegear.com/ - Mtn Hntr Tripod: https://mtnhntr.com/ - Aziak Backcountry Lite Tripod: https://sandsarchery.com/products/aziak-backcountry-lite-tripod - DMT Dia-Folder Sharpener (In The Field): https://amzn.to/40BkPb4 - Work Sharp Precision Elite Sharpener (At Home): https://amzn.to/48MMUOt - Eagle Hawk Knife: https://eaglehawkknives.com/collections/frontpage/products/handle-hunter - Argali Sawtooth Knife: https://argalioutdoors.com/products/argali-sawtooth-knife EMAIL 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

How far should you be shooting at big game with your hunting rifle? In this conversation with Form, we discuss the answer to that question — not from an ethical perspective, or from a technical perspective of terminal ballistics, but from a practical perspective of what YOU are capable of behind your rifle. Form shares some considerations to think through, and also some specific drills that you can use to assess your capabilities at distance, in variable conditions, and under stress. Resources mentioned in this episode: - Carl Ross Drill (Video & Target): https://shoot2hunt.com/product/s2hu-100-yd-hunting-rifle-drill/ - Form's MOA Target: https://shoot2hunt.com/product/form-moa-target/ Contact Us: [email protected] Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Mark is joined by "Form" to answer your listener-submitted questions on rifles and ballistics. These questions were submitted in response to our previous conversations with Form. If you have not listened to those episodes (linked below), we highly recommend listening to them first. In today's Q&A, we discuss... - What to do if you cannot spot your impacts, even if you aren't shooting a heavy-recoiling magnum rifle? - What cartridge (and bullet) would Form take on a coastal Brown Bear hunt in Alaska? - What pistol cartridge and bullet would Form recommend for a sidearm carried for self-defense when hunting in Grizzly Bear country? - Why (and how) does grain weight matter in a given rifle cartridge; specifically in the context of using a 6.5 Creedmoor to hunt elk? - Is the wind drift of lighter bullets in smaller calibers not a reason to consider shooting bigger cartridges and heavier bullets? - Why do bullet and ammunition manufacturers continue to make and market more traditional, controlled-expansion and bonded bullets as 'best for big game' if more fragmenting bullets are more terminally effective? Our previous podcasts with Form: - https://the-experience-project.com/small-calibers-for-big-game-hunting-part-1/ - https://the-experience-project.com/small-calibers-for-big-game-hunting-part-2/ - https://the-experience-project.com/small-calibers-for-big-game-hunting-qa/ ASK YOUR QUESTION — [email protected] LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry View & Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

Steve & Mark answer listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute podcast episode. They discuss tips for comfort in cold-weather hunts, choosing down vs synthetic for a sleeping bag or quilt, how the new iOS satellite messaging features compares to messaging through a Garmin InReach device, why Steve chose the 6mm Creedmoor over other 6mm rifle cartridges, and more... Links mentioned in this episode: - Mountain Goat Hunt Recap: https://the-experience-project.com/alaska-mountain-goat-hunt-breakdown/ - Synthetic Quilt from Enlightened Equipment: https://enlightenedequipment.com/revelation-apex/ - Steve's 6mm Creedmoor Rifle: https://the-experience-project.com/small-rifles-for-big-game/ - New Garmin Messanger Plus: https://sandsarchery.com/products/garmin-inreach-messenger-plus ASK YOUR QUESTION — [email protected] LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry View & Search the Podcast Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast