Scott Gillespie of Rocky Mountain Big Game Recovery joins us to discuss the use of tracking dogs to help hunters recover big game animals in the Rocky Mountain West. Although tracking dogs have a long history in some areas of the country, they have not been used significantly in the Mountain West. With recent changes in legislation and growing interest among trackers and hunters, Scott helps us understand how tracking dogs are now a viable option to help hunters recover big game animals in the mountains.

We discuss how hunters can locate and contact a tracking team. When hunters should call for assistance. What it costs to have a tracking team help with recovery. When it doesn't make sense to use a tracking team. And much more.

• Rocky Mountain Big Game Recovery: https://www.rockymountainbiggamerecovery.org/
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/344223976211356/
• Find A Tracker: https://www.unitedbloodtrackers.org/find-a-tracker/

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

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

Steve & Mark are back from SHOT Show. In this episode, they discuss the most exciting products they saw at SHOT and answer your questions about suppressors, rifle scopes, knives, and other products from the show. They also announce a limited run of Exo Pack Holsters and the latest Experience Project HUNT film.

Links for this episode...

• Experience Project Moose Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrRHmkO1ybQ
• Exo Pack Holster by Ivory Holsters: https://ivoryholsters.com/product/limited-edition-exo-emg-pack-holster/
• Coast USB-C Batteries: https://www.coastzx.com/
• Seekins Element Hunter Rifle: https://seekinsprecision.com/rifles-new/havak-bolt-rifles/element-hunter.html
• MDT (MTN Gear) Bipods: https://mdttac.com/blog/shot-2025-mdt-launches-mountain-and-backcountry-bipods/
• Manners Folding Stock: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFNq6f-PlPG/
• DFND (Made in the USA Apparel): https://dfndusa.com/
• Hogue Extrak Fixed-Blade Knife: https://www.hogueinc.com/extrak-fixed-blade-3-3-clip-point-blade-stone-tumbled-solid-orange-g10-scales
• Hogue Expel Replaceable-Blade Knife: https://www.hogueinc.com/expel-folding-scalpel-2-5-replaceable-blade-416ss-frame-solid-orange-g10-scales
• Burris Digital Rifle Scope: https://www.burrisoptics.com/riflescopes/veracity-ph
• DMT Dia-Fold Sharpener: https://amzn.to/4geTgs7
• JK Armament Suppressors: https://jkarmament.com/product-category/suppressors/#
• Banish Suppressor with Muzzle Break: https://www.silencercentral.com/products/meateater
• Thunder Beast Suppressors: https://thunderbeastarms.com/products/
• Steve's Moose Mount: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEft5Edvy04/

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This is NOT a normal episode. While we normally keep the amount of BS and banter in our podcasts to a minimum, this particular episode is full of both.

Without much of a plan, Steve, Mark, Jake & Justin hit record and chatted from their Vegas hotel room after they wrapped up Sheep Show and started their time at SHOT Show.

Amidst the jokes and laughs, there are some good insights as they discuss...

• Golfing
• 1.3 million dollar tags at Sheep Show
• Meeting podcast fans at the urinal
• The Experience Project Films
• Improving Exo’s customer service
• Justin’s lessons from 30+ days in Alaska last fall
• Performing at the edge of your limits
• How Steve found and developed a group of guys that can do such adventurous hunts, Death Hikes, work with Exo, etc

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Our guest for this episode, Brian, started going out west to hunt elk in 2012. In the years since then, he and some friends have continued to make trips to chase elk in the Rockies.

As Brain shared, "We are not experts by any means, but we do have a 37% success rate over the years. And we are 100% when it comes to bringing back life-long memories and stories to exaggerate for years to come."

Since Brian has many years of do-it-yourself elk hunting experience as a non-resident, and also has a group success rate that is higher than the average, we wanted to speak with him and cover lessons learned, mistakes made, and successes achieved in his elk hunting journey over the years.

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

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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 the future of Exo and selling the company, podcast sponsorships and endorsements, how they stash extra gear in trees, and choosing between 8x32 or 8x42 binoculars.

Links for this episode...

• Wiser Precision Pynch Pulley: https://www.wiserprecision.com/products/pynch-pulley
• NL Pure Binoculars: https://sandsarchery.com/collections/swarovski-slc-binoculars

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Is there a real danger in eating meat from game that was killed with lead ammunition? And is there a real threat to species that scavenge on the carcasses of big game that were killed with lead bullets?

Depending on who you ask, the answers to those questions will vary greatly. In this episode, we speak with Jim Heffelfinger, to help separate fact, fiction, and fairy tales, about the dangers of using lead-based bullets for big game hunting.

Jim helps us realize that the conversation on lead-based bullets is much broader than hunters realize and that there are both real dangers, as well as unfounded fears on this topic.

A disclaimer that shouldn't be necessary: None of the information presented today is medical advice. And this conversation has not presented all aspects of this topic. Please do careful research for yourself and make your own conclusions.

Additional resources and links mentioned in this episode...

• Is eating game harvested with lead a human health issue? (Article): https://www.boone-crockett.org/when-lead-meets-red-meat-0
• Lead Ammo and Wildlife: Separating Science from Advocacy (Article): https://www.themeateater.com/hunt/firearm-hunting/lead-ammo-and-wildlife-separating-science-from-advocacy 
• Jim's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cervidnut/ 
• Jim’s Previous Episode: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/440 
• $10 Goat Logo Shirt: ​​https://exomtngear.com/collections/10-year-logo-gear

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Introducing The First Monday. This new segment of the podcast is an experiment, where Steve & Mark will talk through what's going on for them that month in the categories of The Gear, The Hunt, and the Hunter, as well as what's going on with Exo Mtn Gear. If you want an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes look at what we are doing, researching, and learning, or just what we are excited about, this is it. We plan to continue this format on the First Monday of each month, and then continue to use all other Monday Minute episodes to answer your listener-submitted questions (send those here: [email protected]). Links for this episode... - $10 SHIRT PRE-ORDER: https://exomtngear.com/collections/10-year-logo-gear - Matthews Lift-X: https://mathewsinc.com/pages/lift-x - Northwest Mountain Challenge: https://nwmountainchallenge.com/ - Mark's Garage Workout: https://the-experience-project.com/marks-garage-workout-for-mountain-hunting/ - Hunt Application Deadlines by State: https://www.huntinfool.com/resources/draw-deadlines - State Fish & Game Podcast Series... -- Arizona: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/440 -- Colorado: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/452 -- Idaho: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/442 -- Montana: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/443 -- New Mexico: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/441 -- Wyoming: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/438 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 Steve's experience with the "fad" of ice baths, the pros and cons of attaching your bino harness to your backpack, the 4 Rules of Gun Safety and when they are broken while hunting, and more... Links for this episode... - Podcast Feedback Form (& Givewaway): forms.gle/nHE5o1tkN4agZC4P7 - FHF Gear Pack Suspension Kit: https://www.fhfgear.com/products/FHHS2CBOS.html - Marsupial Gear Pack Strap Kit: https://www.marsupialgear.com/products/pack-strap-kit - 4 Rules of Gun Safety: https://www.nssf.org/articles/4-primary-rules-of-firearm-safety/ 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 experience using snowshoes, if digiscoping through binos can be a viable alternative to a spotting scope, and what's coming in the new year... Links for this episode... - Podcast Feedback Form (& Givewaway): https://forms.gle/nHE5o1tkN4agZC4P7 - MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes: https://amzn.to/405gCvE - 2021 Snowshoe Death Hike: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/2021-death-hike-in-the-frank-church - Sig Zulu 6 Image-Stabilized Binos: https://sandsarchery.com/products/sig-sauer-zulu6-hdx-stabilized-binoculars - PhoneSkope Bino Adapter: https://phoneskope.com/product/c3-optic-adapter-c3-034-i/ 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

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