The Hunt Backcountry Podcast

Steve & Mark have a candid conversation about the Hunt Backcountry Podcast and Exo Mtn Gear, discussing their vision, plans, products, and more... 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

Steve and Mark answer your listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute episode. They discuss training for hiking speed, the purpose of carrying a bipod AND a tripod when rifle hunting, what non-hunting items should be on your Christmas list (a toothbrush?), choosing between Creedmoors, and more... Links for this episode... How to Hike Heavy (Podcast): https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/13...

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/ Th...

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 previou...

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 S...

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.co...

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...

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....

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...

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 —  podcast@exom...

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 brou...

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...

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://exom...

If a suppressor was truly designed for backcountry and mountain hunting, how would it be different from other suppressors on the market? We answer that question with Danny from Airlock Industries. We also discuss why (and how) Danny started making suppressors, why he focused on ultralight designs, his design and testing process, what is to come for Airlock in the future, and much more... https://a...

Jake joins Mark to answer your listener questions on this Monday Minute. They also discuss some updates on Jake's hunting season so far this year, stupid comments on social media, and more... LINKS & RESOURCES... $5,000 Photo Contest:  https://exomtngear.com/experience K4x Launch Group: https://exomtngear.com/K4x Jake & Mark's Mtn Goat Hunt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hwy4H_oPDAU&...

A listener of the show, Jim, joins us to share the story of his Dall Sheep hunt in the Northwest Territories. We discuss Jim's experience with travel and logistics, the hunt story itself, how Jim felt about the investment in this experience, the lessons he learned, and much more... Jim's Photos & Story: https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/my-august-2024-dall-dream-hunt.371570/ Jim's Gear List:...

Steve is back from his Idaho Moose hunt and joins Mark to discuss takeaways from the hunt. They also dive into listener questions about their use of the Garmin InReach, mapping and hunt planning apps, protecting a rifle on wet hunts, and more... LINKS & RESOURCES... $5,000 Photo Contest:  https://exomtngear.com/experience Exo Newsletter: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter Exo YouTube: https://e...

A listener of the show, Jim, joins us to discuss his Dall Sheep hunt in the Northwest Territories. As you will hear, today's conversation was recorded before the hunt, as Jim was planning and preparing for the adventure. In the next episode, Jim joins us after his hunt to share the story, what he learned from the experience, and more... The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gea...

Mark goes solo to answer your listener-submitted questions about why time "slows down" during backpack hunts, if he would trade his Swarovski ATS spotter for something smaller, advice for flying with meat and antlers, what headlamp he would recommend, if a lighter puffy jacket is worth it, and how he dealt with the emotions of losing an elk... LINKS & RESOURCES... $5,000 Photo Contest:  https:...

"I just got home from my second year in a row of successful backpack solo elk hunting with the bow — last year with a cow, and this year with my first bull. I know that several of my deliberate decisions during the hunt (which are things I learned from listening to your podcast) led to my success. So thank you!" —Ryan We received that email from today's guest, Ryan. But that email is only part of...

Steve & Mark answer your listener-submitted questions about Exo Mtn Gear discounts, how to pack a head and antlers, training in the gym, how to keep motivation after years of unsuccessful hunts, and more... LINKS & RESOURCES... $5,000 Photo Contest:  https://exomtngear.com/experience Made in the USA: https://exomtngear.com/usa InReach Mini Holder: https://exomtngear.com/inreach Packout Str...

A listener of the show, Roman, discovered that he had drawn a Bighorn Ram tag in his home state of Colorado. As a relatively new hunter and someone who had not been putting in the sheep draws for long, Roman was beyond surprised to find out that he had drawn the tag, and he was excited to spend months planning, preparing, and scouting before opening day. We discuss how Roman spent those pre-season...

Steve & Mark go Unscripted and answer your listener-submitted questions. Topics covered include lightning safety, air mattresses and inflators (yes, again), treating Exo packs with Nikwax DWR, the best water filters for backpacking, non-lead bullet recommendations, dealing with wet boots, and more... LINKS & RESOURCES... $5,000 Photo Contest: https://exomtngear.com/experience $10 Exo Logo...

As serious backcountry hunters, we invest hundreds of dollars... Scratch that. Who are we kidding? Most of us have invested thousands of dollars in our gear. From shelters and sleep systems, to footwear, to technical apparel, there are ways to make this gear last longer and perform better over its lifetime. But far too often, we are guilty of using our gear hard, putting it away dirty, and expecti...

Steve & Mark discuss their recent elk hunt and answer your listener-submitted questions on this Monday Minute podcast episode. Topics covered included tracking elk, strategies for hunting elk in archery vs rifle seasons, how to carry your bow on archery hunts, tips for preventing shelter condensation, and more... $5,000 Photo Contest: https://exomtngear.com/experience The Hunt Backcountry Podc...