The Mindful Hunter Podcast

Time for another Q&A episode. This week I answer questions about both my archery and rifle setups for 2025. 🎯 GIVEAWAY ALERT! Every $5 you spend on merch at https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/ gets you 1 entry to win a Swarovski 85mm Spotting Scope. No purchase required. Contest begins on February 1, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. PST and ends on April 30, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PST. There is a total of 1 pr...

Time for another Q&A episode. This week I answer questions about sleep systems, archery setups, new packs and much more! 🎯 GIVEAWAY ALERT! Every $5 you spend on merch at https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/ gets you 1 entry to win a Swarovski 85mm Spotting Scope. No purchase required. Contest begins on February 1, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. PST and ends on April 30, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PST. There is a...

The Wild Sheep Society of BC asked me to speak at their Sheep Hunter University again this year at the Mountain Hunter Expo in Penticton. I absolutely love this event. It’s the only true conference solely focused on mountain hunters here in BC and is growing every year. I spoke about how to have an integrated approach to gear systems and more specifically how that applies to a couple of sleep syst...

In this episode, we sit down with Hunter McWaters—host of a popular hunting show on the Sportsman Channel, podcast creator, and a man deeply rooted in faith. Hunter shares his journey from the outdoors to the screen, discussing how his passion for hunting, storytelling, and personal growth has shaped his career. We dive into the highs and lows of producing a hunting show, the lessons he’s learned...

If you want something done right, sometimes you have to do it yourself—and that’s exactly why I created the Forged Base Series. A complete redesign from the ground up, this next-to-skin base layer system was built for unmatched comfort, durability, and performance in the backcountry. 🔥 Why I Built It: For years, we searched for the perfect pair of base layers—especially boxers—that could withstan...

Aziak Equipment has been making waves in the hunting industry with their innovative, lightweight designs that are built for hardcore backcountry hunters. Rydell’s approach to gear isn’t just about cutting weight—it’s about maximizing efficiency without sacrificing durability. Today, we’ll get into the story behind Aziak Equipment, the challenges of designing high-performance hunting gear, and what...

Timmy has spent years guiding hunters through some of the most extreme conditions Alaska has to offer—chasing giant moose, Dall sheep, and brown bear in remote backcountry that few ever get to experience. We’ll talk about what it takes to be a successful Alaskan outfitter, the toughest hunts he’s been on, and what hunters need to know before stepping into the last frontier. Plus, we’ll get into my...

It’s no secret I am a big fan of small innovative companies that produce great products and MTN Gear is definitely one of those. Matt made a big splash with his ultralight bipods a few years ago and has continued to improve their design until recently selling the rights to MDT. We had a great chat covering ground from his humble beginnings to what he plans to do with the new found funding from the...

Winter goat hunting isn’t for the faint of heart, and this trip proved why. From 60mm of freezing rain to failed sleep systems and broken snowshoes, this hunt was a brutal test of both gear and grit. As miserable as it was, I learned a ton and put some new gear through its paces—some of it held up, and some didn’t. In this episode, I break down the highs and lows of the trip, share what worked (an...

Dylan is well-known in the hunting community in Vancouver for his generous spirit and endless drive to help foster growth in the newer hunter community. We had a great chat about Dylan’s history, how Eat Wild got started and even squeezed in a few good hunting stories.   Dylan Eyers https://eatwild.ca/ https://www.instagram.com/eatwild/     Jay Nichol jay@mindfulhunter.com https://www.mindful-revi...

I was able to get in two late season hunts before the close of 2024 for mule deer and whitetails. In this podcast I go over the gear I took with me on those two hunts and share the results of testing the new Sevr 1.5 Ti Hybrid out in the field.     Jay Nichol jay@mindfulhunter.com https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/   Forged In The Backcountry https://forgedinthebackcou...

I am always on the lookout for better boots. For years I have been unable to find a replacement for my Schnees Beartooth’s as my go-to all-purpose mountain boot. Well, I think I finally found an upgrade. I have been running the Scarpa Ribelle HD all season and am very impressed with their performance in various hunting scenarios. I review all the features that impressed me about this boot and shar...

I’ve been eager to have Connor on the podcast for some time now. Not only is he an incredibly talented photographer and videographer, but he also leads a fascinating life. His content stands out as some of the best in highlighting the reflective side of hunting and the importance of being fully present in the outdoors.   Connor Gabbott https://www.instagram.com/connorgabbott.photo/     Jay Nichol...

There has been significant innovation in tripod technology over the last few years and both Aziak and Outdoorsmans have updated their carbon fiber offerings. I have considerable experience testing gear from both companies and have always been impressed. Unfortunately, I had a catastrophic failure on this recent trip with one of these tripods. Watch the video for a detailed comparison of these trip...

After seeing the latest GoHunt original One Good Chance starring Trail Kreitzer I knew I had to have Luke on the podcast. We spent almost two hours nerding out on what goes into making gear hunt films.   Luke Dusenbury https://www.instagram.com/luke.dusenbury/     Jay Nichol jay@mindfulhunter.com https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/   Forged In The Backcountry https://fo...

Discover my top backcountry food hacks to prep your meals for the wilderness effectively. Learn how to save weight, cut costs, and increase the caloric density of your meals with these simple tricks. Get your free meal planning PDF and watch the detailed breakdown of each hack: Backcountry Meal Planning Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools   0:00 – Intro 0:39 – Free Meal Planning PDF https://...

In this video, I give you my initial impressions of the new Kowa TSN-55A Spotting Scope. Known for its compact size and superior optics, the Kowa TSN-55A promises exceptional performance for bird watchers, hunters, and nature enthusiasts. Join us as we explore its features, performance, and explore whether it lives up to the hype! 🔍 Chapters: 0:00 – The Problems with Reviews 4:49 – Initial Impres...

Last week was my daughter Esme’s 9th birthday and one of the things she asked for was to come on my podcast. I put a Q&A post on my IG story to get some questions from my audience and was shocked at how great the response was. Not only did we get a ton of questions, but they were super high quality. So, I would like to officially introduce you to my daughter Esme. I hope you enjoy this convers...

I have had the opportunity to test a lot of Argali gear over the last few years, and I always love getting to sit down and chat with Brad. Not only is he a great product designer, but he’s an absolute stud in the woods. We dove into some of the lessons learned from our hunting trips this year, and then we got into one of the products I have been testing for them this season, and Brad shared an exc...

After wearing the Garmin Fenix 7X Pro Solar every day for the last 10 months, I'm finally sharing my full review. This episode dives into the features, performance, and whether it's worth the investment. Watch to find out if this smartwatch lives up to the hype! Chapters: 0:00 – Intro 1:02 – Testing Process 3:40 – My 5 Smartwatch Priorities 6:22 – Training Tracking 11:36 – Sleep Tracking 14:12 – N...

I always enjoy talking with Trail—his honesty and unique way of sharing hunting experiences never fail to resonate with and inspire me. In this episode, we dive into the universal truth that everyone makes mistakes, but what truly matters is how we move forward and grow from them. From missing critical archery shots to navigating life as an introvert working at GoHunt, Trail shares meaningful insi...

Are you curious about the Sig Zulu 6 Binoculars and their performance in the field? In this podcast, I share my experiences after three months of extensive use, including multiple hunts. Are these image-stabilizing binoculars truly a game-changer for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts?   0:00 – Intro 0:28 – Sig Sauer Storytime 4:25 – Testing Process 7:13 – The Pros 11:00 – The Cons 18:37 – Final Thou...

Jake is one of my favorite people. What you see is what you get; he doesn’t pull punches, and you never have to wonder what he thinks on any given subject or individual. On this one, we rambled and chased several squirrels with no real agenda other than two dudes sitting down to catch up.   Jake Downs https://www.instagram.com/jake_d_downs     Jay Nichol jay@mindfulhunter.com https://www.mindful-r...

One of the most challenging things about finding the right boot is that reviews are almost no help whatsoever. Our feet are so personal that it seems you can find just as many people who love a specific boot as hate it. At the end of the day, the only true way to find a boot that works for you is to try it on. However, I think I can help narrow down the selection and find boots that will fit your...

I met these two guys at last year’s WSSBC Expo here in BC and was immediately impressed with their enthusiasm and sincerity for hunting. They have had a stellar season this year and I had them on to talk about how they got into hunting and what they’re doing to stcak up so many wins.   Borderland Hunting https://www.instagram.com/borderland_hunting/     Jay Nichol jay@mindfulhunter.com https://www...