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The Hunt Backcountry Podcast

by Exo Mtn Gear

Backcountry hunters talking backcountry hunting. No advertisers or sponsors, no fluff, no BS. We discuss tactics, strategies, gear, hunt stories, and more — featuring a wide variety of guests, from industry experts to everyday listeners of the show. Your hosts, Steve & Mark, have decades of experience hunting the mountains for elk, deer, bear, antelope, sheep, mountain goats, moose, caribou, and more. While this podcast is 100% independent and free from advertising or sponsorship, it is brought

sports wilderness

All Episodes

85:56

The Backcountry Blueprint (Part 6) — Essential Skills...

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/06/07

What does it take to find consistent success in the backcountry? In episode six of our Backcountry Blueprint series, we dive deep into survey data collected from over 1,500 backcountry hunters to pinpoint the exact skills and knowledge gaps hunters want to improve.Steve and Mark break down the data and share their tactics and personal hunting experiences across six critical categories: Glassing & Locating Animals: Training your mind's eye, building patience, and utilizing field-of-view and

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68:45

583 | "Beyond the Label" with Wilderness Athlete

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/06/03

In this episode, we are joined by Chris and Kevin from Wilderness Athlete. Family-owned and operated for over 15 years, WA operates differently from many modern supplement companies, which are fueled by massive venture capital and rely on "white-labeling" pre-made formulas. Chris and Kevin explain why they have always prioritized proprietary, peer-reviewed science and rigorous product testing. Key Topics & Takeaways: The White-Labeling Reality: Discover how the largely unregulated supplement

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36:37

The Backcountry Blueprint (Part 5) — The Physical...

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/05/31

In part five of The Backcountry Blueprint series, host Mark from Exo Mtn Gear dives into the essential physical foundation required for backcountry hunting. Drawing from a comprehensive survey of roughly 1,500 hunters, this episode distills real-world experiences, physical shortcomings, and past hunt failures into the five core physical pillars every mountain athlete needs to master. To access the resources mentioned in this discussion, along with all other episodes in this series, visit... The

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128:11

582 | Form Returns — Tripod Shooting, Hunting...

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/05/27

"Form" returns to the podcast to answer your questions on a variety of topics, including optimal rifle weight, 22 vs 25 vs 6mm Creedmoor, the best support for various field shooting positions, the downsides of shooting from a tripod, recommendations for "building" a budget-conscious hunting rifle, answers for small caliber skeptics, and much more. Additional Podcasts & Resources: The Original Small Caliber Podcast

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65:06

581 | Hunting for Mental Health with Dr. John Delony

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/05/20

Dr. John Deloney is a mental health expert, bestselling author, comedian — and, yes, passionate backcountry hunter. In this conversation, we explore the intersection of mental health and hunting. This conversation is unlike any other we have had over the 10+ years of The Hunt Backcountry Podcast. We explore...Escaping vs. Reconnecting: The fine line between using hunting to avoid real-life responsibilities and using it as an intentional tool to find beauty, slow down, and return home as a better

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79:09

The Backcountry Blueprint (Part 4) — Building A Gear...

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/05/17

In this fourth installment of the Backcountry Blueprint series, we dive into data from over 1,500 hunters to identify the true gear failures that end hunts early. We aren't just talking about gear that hunters "didn't like," but the specific equipment issues that negatively changed the outcome of a hunt. Steve and Mark break down the five most common failure points reported by hunters and share how you can prevent these issues before you ever hit the trailhead.The Backcountry

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79:28

580 | Nutrition Without The Noise: Forget Trends &...

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/05/13

Kyle Kamp — Registered Dietitian, mountain athlete, owner of Valley-to-Peak Nutrition, and friend of Exo — returns to the podcast to discuss nutrition strategies for your pre-season goals. Whether you are looking to shed some weight, put on some size, or improve your performance for your training and hunting goals, Kyle discusses straightforward, science-based nutrition strategies to help you meet your goal. We dive into... Realistic Fat Loss: Why losing 1–2 pounds per week is the "sweet spot" for

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47:52

579 | Our Spring Bear Hunt Story, Tactics, & Gear

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/05/11

In this "on-the-road" episode, Steve, Mark, and Justin recap a successful backpack spring bear hunt. The crew discusses the hunt strategy and story, the tactics that helped them find success, how the 22 Creedmoor performed, and other hunt takeaways. For photos, gear notes, and other resources from this hunt, visit: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/spring-bear-tactics-and-gear The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/ Email

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75:59

The Backcountry Blueprint (Part 3) — Easy & Efficient...

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/05/03

In this episode of the Backcountry Blueprint series, we break down real data from 1,500 hunters to uncover the essential skills and knowledge required to make living in the wild feel like second nature. This episode moves beyond the "how-to" of hunting and focuses on the "how-to" of surviving and thriving in the backcountry.The goal is simple: master your environment so you can spend less energy on survival and more on the hunt itself. "Have less, do less, hunt more." By eliminating extras and

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55:30

578 | Hunting Mountain Goats on Kodiak Island

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/04/29

In this episode, we talk about hunting Mountain Goats on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Our guest, Joey Klutsch, is an Alaska Master Guide and Owner of Katmai/Aniakchak Guide Service.He will be taking the winner of The Experience Challenge on a Kodiak Mountain Goat Hunt. We discuss the logistics of the hunt, what makes this hunt unique, how to identify and judge mountain goats, what gear is and isn't required, and much more. LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE... The Experience

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54:51

The Backcountry Blueprint (Part 2) — Reasons Your...

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/04/26

In this episode of the Backcountry Blueprint series, we break down real data from 1,500 hunters to uncover the most common reasons backcountry hunts fail—and how to fix them. Instead of blaming weather, pressure, or luck, the conversation zeroes in on what’s actually within your control, from quitting early and a poor mindset, to lack of preparation, physical limitations, and bad decision-making in the field.We dig into the critical factors that separate success from failure: persistence, mental

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91:40

577 | Training Q&A with Evoke Endurance

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/04/24

In this bonus Q&A episode of the Hunt Backcountry Podcast, we’re joined again by John from Evoke Endurance to tackle listener questions on training for backcountry hunts. We dive into the realities of balancing competing priorities, building fitness for multi-day hunts, and why aerobic base—not VO2 max—is the true foundation of performance in the mountains. John breaks down how to structure your training with limited time, how to think about strength vs. endurance, and what really matters when

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80:49

576 | Backcountry Insights from the Best Ranger

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/04/22

In this episode of the Hunt Backcountry Podcast, Vince Paikowski, a former Army Ranger and winner of the Best Ranger Competition, joins us to discuss the intersection of elite military conditioning and backcountry hunting. Vince discusses his work as a coach with Evoke Endurance, where he helps develop specialized training plans for rugged mountain environments. We discuss… The Best Ranger Competition: Insights into the grueling 60-hour endurance event that tests the physical and cognitive limits

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50:12

The Backcountry Blueprint (Part 1) — 7 Attributes of...

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/04/19

If you had an opportunity to ask 1,500 hunters to share the most important reasons they have had success in the backcountry, what do you think they would say? If they were to remove any “luck” that helped them find success (and, yes, luck is often a factor), what was in their control that they did right? We asked those hunters, and we have those answers. As part of The Experience Challenge, we had 1,500+ hunters complete a detailed Hunt Reflection. Their answers inspired this new series, The

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42:37

MM 305 | New Schedule, Plus more on Safety, Shooting,...

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/04/13

Steve & Mark announce a new schedule for the Monday Minute episodes and a new series coming to the podcast soon. They also dive into listener questions about their archery shot sequence, use of the K4 Quick-Release Rifle Carrier, choosing between First Focal Plane and Second Focal Plane rifle scopes, and share some helpful advice from a listener about backcountry rescue. The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/ EXO INSIDER NEWSLETTER

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83:42

575 | Mental Skills to Master the Mountains

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/04/08

In this episode, mental performance expert Ben explains how hunters can master their "interior world" to overcome pressure and fatigue on demanding backcountry hunts. By breaking down complex psychological concepts, like the CBT triangle and the ABC model, into actionable tools, he provides a roadmap for building genuine confidence. The conversation emphasizes that mental toughness is a practiced skill, developed through intentional discomfort and disciplined focus rather than grit or genetics.The

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36:59

MM 304 | Scouting vs Hunting, Rifle Trends, and...

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/04/06

Steve & Mark discuss listener questions about a 5-day elk hunt strategy (scouting, hunting, and packing), what they do for rescue plans and logistics on remote adventure hunts, their experience with Spartan Precision bipods, how they think about choosing a rifle cartridge, and more...The "Tallboy" Nalgene Holder — https://exomtngear.com/tallboy Global Rescue — https://www.globalrescue.com/ IMG Rescue — https://www.imglobal.com/assistance-services/global-rescue Garmin Search & Rescue —

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88:25

574 | Building the Mountain Hunter: Physiology,...

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/04/01

John Frieh from Evoke Endurance joins us to discuss a new 20-week training plan, developed in collaboration with Scott Johnston, specifically designed for the unique demands of backcountry hunting. The conversation explores the physiological foundations of endurance, the importance of structured programming, and how hunters can transition from being "strong" to being "aerobically fit" for the mountains.Why Fitness is a Specific Task Definition: Fitness is defined as the specific ability to perform

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39:25

MM 303 | Health, Hot Tents, & Tripod Choices

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/03/30

Steve & Mark discuss some of their takeaways from the recent, must-listen episode with Andy Galpin. They also answer listener questions about using hot tents and stoves for backpack hunting, what tripod and head they would buy with a $300 budget (for each item), and more... The Experience Challenge — https://exomtngear.com/challenge Andy Galpin Episode — https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/573 Kyle Kamp / V2P Nutrition — https://v2pnutrition.com/ Tripod & Heads from S&S Archery —

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72:38

573 | Everyday Habits for Hunting Performance with...

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast ·

2026/03/25

Andy Galpin returns to the show to discuss everyday habits that can help or hinder your performance as a hunter. Topics covered include physical training and injury prevention, the power of sleep, what does and doesn't matter in nutrition, mental skills for high performance, and more...Physical Preparation & Injury Prevention Identify Your "Performance Anchors": Prioritize training based on your specific weaknesses—whether it is ankle stability, back strength, or nutritional deficiencies—that

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