The Hunt Backcountry Podcast

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 preparing for cumulative fatigue in the backcountry. We also get into practical topics like heart rate-based training, adapting plans around injuries, fueling strategies, and what to do when life inevitably disrupts your schedule.

If you’re trying to train smarter—not just harder—for your next hunt, this episode is packed with actionable insight.

THE TRAINING PLANS...

Use code EXO before 04/30/26 to save on the training plans...

20 Week Training Plan: https://evokeendurance.com/training-plans/backcountry-hunting-20-week-training-plan/

28 Week Training Plan: https://evokeendurance.com/training-plans/backcountry-hunting-training-plan/

LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE...

Episode 574 | "Building the Mountain Hunter: Physiology, Foundations, and the 20-Week Training Plan": https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/574

Episode 475 | "Proven Training Methods for the Mountain Hunter": https://the-experience-project.com/proven-training-for-mountain-hunting/

Understanding V02 Max: https://evokeendurance.com/resources/understanding-max-vo2/

Additional Free Resources from Evoke: https://evokeendurance.com/resources/

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

Email Sign-up: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter

Contact Us: [email protected]

Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

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 of two-man Ranger teams.

Rucking Mechanics: Why walking fast is more efficient than running under load and how to build "ruck economy" through progressive weight increases.

Shooting Under Fatigue: A breakdown of military studies showing how high aerobic fitness preserves marksmanship and cognitive decision-making during physical stress.

Training Without Mountains: Practical strategies for flat-land athletes, including hill sprints, plyometric complexes, and using "stress inoculation" to prepare for the mental challenges of a hunt.

The Evolution of the Ranger: A historical look at how soldier size and training requirements have shifted from WWII to the modern era, and the potential costs of prioritizing muscle mass over aerobic capacity.

Whether you are preparing for a 10-day mountain hunt or looking to improve your overall resilience, this conversation will provide insights to help you become a more capable backcountry athlete.

THE TRAINING PLANS...

Use code EXO before 04/30/26 to save on the training plans...

20 Week Training Plan: https://evokeendurance.com/training-plans/backcountry-hunting-20-week-training-plan/

28 Week Training Plan: https://evokeendurance.com/training-plans/backcountry-hunting-training-plan/

LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE...

Episode 574 | "Building the Mountain Hunter: Physiology, Foundations, and the 20-Week Training Plan": https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/574

Episode 475 | "Proven Training Methods for the Mountain Hunter": https://the-experience-project.com/proven-training-for-mountain-hunting/

Data on Rucking Fitness & Shooting Ability: https://evokeendurance.com/resources/aerobic-training-for-the-military-athlete/

Additional Free Resources from Evoke: https://evokeendurance.com/resources/

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

Email Sign-up: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter

Contact Us: [email protected]

Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

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 Backcountry Blueprint. In each installment, we distill key takeaways from 1,500+ hunters to help you master the backcountry.

Today, we are discussing the attributes of a successful backcountry hunt. Based on detailed reflections from 1,500+ hunters, we identified their 7 most important factors of success.

The Backcountry Blueprint: https://exomtngear.com/blueprint

Contact Us: [email protected]

Email Sign-up: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter

Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

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 — https://exomtngear.com/newsletter

ASK YOUR QUESTION — [email protected]

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

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

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 Two Buckets of Performance: Ben simplifies mental performance into two primary objectives: managing emotions in difficult situations and training attention to be where it needs to be.

The WIN Acronym: To stay grounded in the present, Ben suggests using WIN (What’s Important Now). This helps performers move past previous mistakes or future anxieties and focus on the next right decision.

The ABCs of Mindset: Behavior is often a result of an Activating Event, a Belief, and a Consequence. By changing the underlying belief (B) about a situation, an individual can radically change their emotional and behavioral response (C) to the same event.

Confidence vs. "Faking It": True confidence is not about "faking it until you make it," which Ben argues is unsustainable. Instead, it is built by pairing real-world experience with true, evidence-based self-talk that focuses on things within the individual's control.

Physiological Regulation: In high-pressure moments (like "buck fever"), breathing is the most effective tool for regulating the nervous system. Slowing down the exhale helps down-regulate the body, signaling the brain that it is safe and reducing jitters or racing thoughts.

Redefining Mental Toughness: Mental toughness isn't just about physical strength; it’s a constellation of skills that allow for peak performance regardless of setbacks. It involves being intentional during training by removing distractions (like music or podcasts) to build a stronger mind-body connection.

LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE...

4 Core Mental Skills (PDF): https://exomtngear.com/core-mental-skills

Ben's Website: https://theexaminedlifecounseling.com/

Ben's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexaminedlifecounseling/

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

Email Sign-up: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter

Contact Us: [email protected]

Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast