Backcountry Hunting Podcast

How To Pick, Fit, & Load a Pack, with EXO MTN Gear. BONUS: First look at EXO's new K4 Pack Mar 17, 2023

Show notes

Straight from the experts... Mark and Steve of EXO MTN Gear detail how to pick, fit, and load a backpack. Whether you're a fast-and-light overnight solo hunter or heading out on an expedition-level hunt, these tips will make your pack in and load out easier.

Also, we get a first look at EXO's terrific new K4 pack system. I used a final-stage prototype on my DIY, drop-camp Alaska moose hunt last fall and was super impressed.

Because we can, we also talk mountain rifles and cartridges, scope failures and solutions, and how to comfortably and protectively strap your rifle to your pack or carry it in your hands.

We also touch on archery, and how to properly strap a compound bow to a backpack. This episode's got a bit of something awesome for everybody.

ENJOY!

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Trippin' Triggers: How to achieve your best shot, with Timney's Mike Ballard & Chris Ellis Mar 10, 2023

Show notes

This episode I'm joined by engineer Mike Ballard and long-time hunting partner Chris Ellis to talk Timney Triggers, and how to pick the right trigger and get the best out of it.

We discuss:

Trigger terminology
How triggers are designed
Choosing the right trigger
Single-stage vs. two-stage triggers
Trigger pull weights appropriate for hunting
The refined aspects: Trigger shoe shape & width, competition weights & designs vs. hunting, etc.
Trigger reliability
The future of triggers

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DIY Hunting Spring Bears—Spot & Stalk Mar 03, 2023

Show notes

Some of the most adventurous DIY backcountry hunts out West are spring bear hunts. This episode digs deep into planning and executing a fun, safe, successful hunt for black bears in big public-land country.

We discuss:

Destination States
Necessary gear
E-Scouting and actual scouting
Hunting methods
How to recognize a bear hotspot
Bear rifles, cartridges, and bullets
How to shoot and kill a bear cleanly
How to field dress, break down, and pack out a bear
Safety considerations

ENJOY!

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Stone Glacier, & Solo Hunting Adventures with Kurt Racicot Feb 24, 2023

Show notes

This episode we're joined by Stone Glacier founder and lead product designer Kurt Racicot, who's a passionate backcountry hunter. A past Alaska resident for a dozen years, Kurt hunted and shot several mountain goats and dall sheep on solo adventures, as well as moose and bear and caribou, before moving home to Montana and launching Stone Glacier.

Here, Kurt shares stories and lessons learned during his gnarliest hunts, and gives us an inside look at Stone Glacier, a company that's become synonymous with ultra-light, mountaineering-quality hunting packs, sleeping bags, tents, and apparel.

A fellow eccentric cartridge enthusiast, Kurt also tells us about his two go-to cartridges and the rifle setups he currently uses for backcountry sheep and goat hunting and for Montana elk.

We also talk through functional optics, glassing techniques, and how to cover country with boots and optics.

ENJOY!

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Modern vs. Classic Cartridges for Hunting Feb 17, 2023

Show notes

What's all the froth and fervor over modern cartridges? Should we really discard the old tried-and-true classics? Sometimes, perhaps. Often, absolutely not.

This episode takes a deep dive into the pros & cons of modern, cutting-edge cartridges versus classic, proven cartridges.

We discuss:

Cutting-edge bullets
Ammo availability
Proven terminal performance vs. prototype projectiles
What happens if the airline loses your ammo
Modern chamber & cartridge case design
Ballistic advantages
Efficiency & accuracy
Recoil, barrel life, & downrange authority
Wide-open country vs. big timber hunting
Rifle availability & selection
Survivor mentality & appropriate cartridges
Handloading components & resources
Turn-key solutions to cutting-edge performance

This was a fun one... ENJOY!

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https://www.youtube.com/user/Gunwerks

Spartan in the Arctic, with Rob Gearing Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

Ever hunted in negative 25 degree (C) temps, on 11-foot cross-country skis? Rob Gearing, founder of Spartan Precision Equipment has, and in this episode he shares his most recent adventures. Frostbitten fingertips were the least of the damage; Rob actually experienced frostbite in his shooting eye. Several times he had to personally re-insert a troublesome hernia that popped out while straining to recover and get back upright after a crash in deep, deep powder snow. Yes, Rob's an animal and thrives on type-2 fun.

In this episode, Rob shares survival tips, cold-weather hunting methods, advice for staying mentally focused and having fun even against astronomical odds, and more.

Before closing, we discuss Spartan's new partnership with Primos, and Spartan's new line of precision-shooting products ideal for NRL Hunter competition and front-country hunting, which live under the new Spartan Defense branch of the company.

One other cool thing about this episode: I'm tremendously excited to introduce—in partnership with John Zombro, aka "The Lifetime Athlete" —a brand-new segment titled Backcountry Fitness & Nutrition. Check it out.

ENJOY!

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Preparing for a DIY Hunt Out West Feb 03, 2023

Show notes

This episode dives into the often-daunting task of preparing to hunt Out West. For folks coming from low-elevation flatland, here's a guide on the whole shootin' match:

Mental prep
Physical prep
Handling high altitudes
Differences from hunting whitetails
How to handle hunter pressure
How to find and hunt wary, pressured game
How to hunt overwhelmingly big country
How to stay safe in dangerous terrain
Are bears, mountain lions, and wolves a concern?
Crossing rivers and climbing mountains
The importance of staying hydrated
Staying focused when against challenging odds
Packing meat
Gear selection: Camping gear, hunting gear, and killing gear
How to become a minimalist (mountain hunter)
Binocular, rangefinder, and spotting scope selection
Crucial characteristics of a western hunting rifle
Selecting ammo
Choosing and buying a backpack
How to dress for (backcountry hunting) success
Species to start with, and states to hunt
Maximizing e-scouting
Western DIY hunting is a campaign, not a battle

This was a fun one... ENJOY!

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7mm PRC vs. .280 Ackley Improved Jan 27, 2023

Show notes

This episode dives into the cutting-edge 7mm PRC and the legendary .280 Ackley Improved. We compare accuracy potential, long-range capability, recoil levels, efficiency and barrel life, versatility with various bullets, downrange potency, appropriate rifle actions, magazine capacity and follow-up shots, ammunition and rifle availability, and more.

ENJOY!

FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!

Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry

VISIT OUR SPONSORS HERE:

Elk Cartridges & Killing Ability with Colton Heward Jan 20, 2023

Show notes

What does it take to cleanly kill an elk? This episode, we sit down with professional western guide Colton Heward, who has seen hundreds of elk shot. Colton shares his opinion on the useful minimum energy required to kill big bulls quickly, and details the cartridges and bullets that work best.

We also swap stories about hunting anomalies; experiences that just shouldn't happen—but did. Antelope that shrug off perfect shots, giant bull elk that drop stone dead when shot with tiny bullets, and other true but disconcerting tales.

ENJOY!

FRIENDS, PLEASE SUPPORT THE PODCAST!

Join the Backcountry Hunting Podcast tribe and get access to all our bonus material on www.patreon.com/backcountry

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