The Hunt Backcountry Podcast

In this episode of The Hunt Backcountry Podcast, we hear from Chad—a full-time Vermont ski patroller and long-time podcast listener who got a late start to hunting in his 30s. Chad shares his journey of transitioning from Eastern woods to Western big game, including the extreme logistics of driving 40 hours cross-country to hunt elk on public land solo.

Chad is also joined by his 10-year-old son, Eli, to share the story of a memorable, multi-generational family road trip out West that ended in an unforgettable evening elk harvest surrounded by bugling bulls in the sagebrush.

Key Talking Points & Takeaways

Late-Start Advantage: How starting hunting in his mid-30s shaped Chad’s perspective and growth as an archer and Western hunter.

Cross-Country Logistics: Practical strategies for executing solo, long-distance hunts, including managing drive times, gear setups, chest freezers, and local meat processing.

Sticking to an Area: The long-term benefits of learning a single unit year after year, understanding pressure patterns, and adapting tactics accordingly.

Family Western Trips: How to balance solo hunting passions with family travel, seamlessly blending family vacations with scouting and hunting.

Eli’s First Elk Encounter: A firsthand account of an incredible close-quarters hunt, complete with heavy pack-outs, field lessons, and favorite hunting gear and books for young outdoorsmen.

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

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

On this Monday Minute, Mark and Steve answer listener questions to help you prepare for upcoming fall hunts:

Game Bag Selection for Mixed Species & Applications: Trey asks for game bag recommendations as he prepares to hunt black bear, elk, and deer in Idaho. Mark and Steve discuss how game bag shape, size, fabric weave, and bone-in vs. boned-out strategies impact how you pack and carry meat—along with tips on fly protection, paracord rigging, and buying individual bags vs. sets.

Mindset & Expectations for a First-Time Elk Hunter: Nick is heading out for his very first archery elk hunt and wrestles with balancing high expectations vs. a low success rate. Steve and Mark break down process-oriented goals, managing pressure, and how to maintain "kill mode" without quitting early or burning out.

10mm vs. 9mm Handguns for Backcountry Defense: Justin asks for handgun recommendations between popular 10mm options and whether to run red dots. Mark and Steve share their personal perspectives on recoil, shootability, capacity, optics, and practical safety precautions in grizzly country.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE...

K4 Pack Systems: https://exomtngear.com/packs

40+ Elk Hunting Podcasts: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/must-listen-elk-hunting-podcasts

Argali Game Bags: https://argalioutdoors.com/collections/argali-ultralight-game-bags

Grizzly Bear Defense Podcast: http://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/121

Exo Mtn Gear YouTube: https://youtube.com/ExoMountainGear

Exo Insider Email Newsletter: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter

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

EXO INSIDER NEWSLETTER — https://exomtngear.com/newsletter

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What happens when you find out you’re heading on a bucket-list Alaskan Dall sheep hunt in just four weeks? In this episode, Mark sits down with Brian, one of the three grand prize winners from The Experience Challenge.

Brian went from juggling a newborn and a busy schedule to packing his bags for the Brooks Range in less than a month. In this pre-hunt conversation, they dive into:

The Big Call: Brian’s story of winning the live drawing in the middle of a chaotic family dinner.

Logistics & Gear: Prepping for an Alaskan backcountry hunt on short notice, managing checked baggage with firearms, and gear adjustments for Northern weather.

Bow vs. Rifle: The decision to swap a tuned archery setup for a rifle to make the most of a once-in-a-lifetime tag.

Mental Prep & Expectations: Preparing for long miles, unpredictable Alaskan weather, and the physical grind of hunting sheep and caribou in the backcountry.

Follow along as Brian shares his mindset just days before taking off for Alaska, and stay tuned for the post-hunt episode to hear how the adventure unfolds!

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

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

The hunt doesn't end when the shot is fired—that’s when the real work begins. In this final installment of our expert roundtable series, we assume the tag is filled and focus on what it takes to successfully "complete the mission" in the backcountry.

From tracking and post-shot discipline to field dressing, caping, meat preservation, and high-mileage packout logistics, four seasoned mountain hunters share their distinct perspectives on handling the aftermath of a successful hunt:

Nate Simmons breaks down the mental game of blood-trailing, why you need an extraction plan before pulling the trigger, prioritizing meat care over filming, and using tech like temperature sensors to monitor meat during long drives home.

Ben Reynolds discusses post-shot scope discipline, mechanical resets, managing multi-mile solo packouts through strategic load "shuttling," and techniques for keeping meat dry or chilled in extreme environments.

Isaac Deuling brings a guide’s perspective on showing respect to harvested game, caping for the taxidermist, cutting meat by natural muscle sections, and tactics for keeping scavengers away from meat piles.

Brad Brooks emphasizes staying locked in post-shot, knowing your physical limits before taking a shot, mapping terrain bottlenecks for efficient packout stages, and solo field-deboning strategies.

Whether you’re heading out on a solo backcountry elk hunt or guiding in remote terrain, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom to help you protect your harvest, stay safe, and execute a seamless packout.

All Roundtable Episodes: https://exomtngear.com/roundtable

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

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

The Monday Minute is back! After a hiatus since April, the guys return to recap a busy few months, answer listener updates, and share their upcoming fall hunting plans.

Experience Challenge Recap: A look back at the experience challenge that wrapped up in July, including giving away two sheep hunts and a mountain goat hunt, participant milestones, and plans for the program.

K4x Pack System: An inside update on the multi-year development of the K4x—a lightweight version of the K4 system that retains 100% of the durability, performance, and cross-compatibility.

Upcoming Fall Hunts: Steve and Mark share their fall schedules, including a September Alaska trip for black bear, caribou, and moose, an Afognak Island elk hunt, and a second-rifle mule deer hunt in Colorado.

Podcast Roadmap: Updates on upcoming listener story episodes, guest appearances, and a preview of the final 2026 Roundtable episode on post-shot recovery and meat care.

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@exomtngear.com

LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

VIEW & SEARCH THE PODCAST ARCHIVE: https://exomtngear.com/podcast