The Mindful Hunter Podcast

🎁 WIN A KOWA 88 SPOTTING SCOPE: Mindful Munitions is officially open. Every $5 spent at Forged in the Backcountry or Mindful Munitions earns one entry to win a Kowa 88 spotting scope. The giveaway ends October 30 at midnight Pacific Time. 👉 Forged in the Backcountry: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/ 👉 Mindful Munitions: https://mindfulmunitions.com/ This week Dimitri and I are recording from Alberta mule deer camp, where we are getting ready for a run of guided hunts and answering a pile of listener questions. Before the Q&A, we catch up on a backpack mule deer hunt, a float bear hunt, and a goat hunt that turned into a hard lesson in weather, access, pressure, and making a shot count when the opportunity finally shows up. Then we get into the stuff that actually helps you hunt better. We talk about how to structure a hunt in totally new country, why I would rather scout before the season opens than force myself to “just look” while the tag is valid, and why gathering broad information before narrowing down is usually the better play. We also cover solo hunting versus hunting with good buddies, keeping meat clean on a backcountry pack-out, finding alpine mule deer habitat, when to move a glassing point, and the gear that earned its way into our packs this year. We finish with budget hunting gear and the one-rifle question: 22 ARC, 6 Creed, 25 Creed, 7mm-08, or 6.5 Creedmoor. The reality is that most new hunters will kill more animals by buying the right basics, practicing to realistic distances, and learning one or two species properly than by chasing the newest cartridge or the flashiest gear list. Guided hunts: We have limited openings for backpack mule deer and float bear hunts next year, plus one remaining guided Coues deer hunt in Mexico during the third week of January. Email [email protected] for details. Chapters 0:00 Alberta mule deer camp, guided-hunt updates & listener Q&A 1:18 Backpack mule deer hunt recap: a big buck and a deer mix-up 6:29 A simple phone trick for finding an animal in the spotter 7:18 Why we nearly shot the wrong mule deer 10:06 Four days of hiking for two hours of mule deer hunting 11:30 Float bear hunt recap: a 29-yard archery opportunity 15:24 Bear shot placement: why middle-middle beats the shoulder 17:28 Goat hunt recap: 32 km in two days and brutal weather 20:13 What a missed goat opportunity teaches about shooting pressure 24:23 September guided-hunt results, 2026 openings & Kowa giveaway 26:16 How do you structure a hunt in completely new country? 28:54 Why scouting before season changes your decision-making 35:15 Should you hunt solo or with other good hunters? 38:37 How to pack out meat cleanly and avoid spoilage 41:20 What to look for when scouting alpine mule deer 45:37 Morning glassing, weather, and knowing when a hill holds deer 48:58 Dimitri and Jay’s best gear items for 2026 59:36 How long should you glass before moving? 1:06:04 Will there be a best budget hunting-gear list? 1:11:09 22 Creed, 25 Creed, 6 Creed, 7mm-08, or 6.5 Creedmoor? 1:22:39 Wrap-up, hunt bookings & Kowa 88 giveaway reminder Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Forged In The Backcountry https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/   Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop   Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact   IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/   Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast   Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide Free Training Guide For Mountain Hunting https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Kowa TSN-88A Sweepstakes No purchase required.  Contest begins on August 18, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. PST and ends on October 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST.  There is a total of 1 prize available to be won consisting of: (i) A previously owned Kowa TSN-88A Spotting Scope Body with Eyepiece (APR) $5,500.00 CAD; Skill testing question required.  Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States, The District of Columbia, Canada (excluding Quebec), United Kingdom, New Zealand, Finland, France and Switzerland. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received before contest closes.  No limit on entries. For full rules and entry details visit: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/blogs/resources/kowa-tsn-88a-sweepstakes    

🎁 WIN A KOWA 88 SPOTTING SCOPE: Mindful Munitions is officially open. Every $5 spent at Forged in the Backcountry or Mindful Munitions earns one entry to win a Kowa 88 spotting scope. The giveaway ends October 30 at midnight Pacific Time.   👉 Forged in the Backcountry: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/ 👉 Mindful Munitions: https://mindfulmunitions.com/   Applied Ballistics vs. Hornady 4DOF — which ballistic solver actually gives you the most accurate firing solution at long range? I tested both at 1,300-1,400 yards and the results may surprise you.   In this video, I break down the head-to-head comparison across five categories: physics modeling, drag models, real-world accuracy, ecosystem & hardware integration, and cost. I cover the difference between 3DOF and 4DOF solvers, why BC-based models fall apart past 600 yards, how Doppler radar custom curves work, and the critical difference between how Applied Ballistics and Hornady 4DOF let you true your data.   This is not a sponsored video. These are my honest findings from real-world use on a shooting course at extended distances.   Drop your questions and hot takes in the comments below — I know this one is going to be controversial!   APPS & GEAR MENTIONED:   Hornady 4DOF App (free): hornady.com/4dof Applied Ballistics Quantum App Sig AK Rangefinder Kestrel 5700 with 4DOF Leupold Range Finding Binoculars   CHAPTERS: 0:00 - The Most Controversial Video I've Made 0:30 - Applied Ballistics vs. Hornady 4DOF Overview 0:58 - Physics Modeling: 3DOF vs. 4DOF Explained 2:36 - Hornady 4DOF: Spindrift & Aerodynamic Jump Explained 2:52 - Drag Models: BC vs. Doppler Radar 6:26 - Real-World Accuracy at 1,300-1,400 Yards 7:15 - Truing Your Data (The Critical Difference) 9:53 - Giveaway: Win a Custom Guided Hunt 11:10 - Ecosystem & Hardware Integration 13:02 - App Availability & Cost (Free vs. Pay-to-Play) 13:49 - My Final Recommendation: Which One Is Right for You?     Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/   Forged In The Backcountry https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/   Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop   Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact   IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/   Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast   Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide Free Training Guide For Mountain Hunting https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools   Kowa TSN-88A Sweepstakes No purchase required.  Contest begins on August 18, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. PST and ends on October 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST.  There is a total of 1 prize available to be won consisting of: (i) A previously owned Kowa TSN-88A Spotting Scope Body with Eyepiece (APR) $5,500.00 CAD; Skill testing question required.  Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States, The District of Columbia, Canada (excluding Quebec), United Kingdom, New Zealand, Finland, France and Switzerland. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received before contest closes.  No limit on entries. For full rules and entry details visit: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/blogs/resources/kowa-tsn-88a-sweepstakes        

🎁 WIN A KOWA 88 SPOTTING SCOPE: Mindful Munitions is officially open. Every $5 spent at Forged in the Backcountry or Mindful Munitions earns one entry to win a Kowa 88 spotting scope. The giveaway ends October 30 at midnight Pacific Time.   👉 Forged in the Backcountry: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/ 👉 Mindful Munitions: https://mindfulmunitions.com/   Did this down quilt just save my life? In this extreme backcountry gear test, I push the Outdoor Vitals 15-degree down quilt to its absolute limits. If you've ever been on a late-season mountain hunt, you know that wet gear can end your trip—or worse. To see if this sleep system can truly handle a catastrophic wet-out, I jumped into a freezing river in British Columbia (-7°C) fully clothed, and then relied entirely on my body heat and this down quilt to dry me out.   We cover the critical phases of surviving hypothermia in the backcountry, the "danger zone" of warming up, and why the loft of your sleeping bag matters more than you think. I also break down the rest of my gear, including Stone Glacier apparel and my Durston shelter.   Whether you are a backcountry hunter, an ultralight backpacker, or just someone who wants to know their sleep system won't fail when it matters most, this test reveals the truth about using down insulation in wet conditions.   Gear Featured in this Video: Outdoor Vitals 15° Down Quilt Exped Expedition 7R Mat Durston Tent X-Dome 1+ Stone Glacier Dehavilland Pants Marsupial Sun Hoodie OV Hybrid Fleece Stone Glacier Grumman Puffy   Don't forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE for more extreme gear tests and backcountry hunting tips!   Timed Chapters   00:00 - The Problem with Down Sleep Systems 00:32 - The Gear: Outdoor Vitals Quilt & Setup 01:34 - My Custom Quilt Modification 02:26 - Jumping into a Freezing River 03:15 - The Hypothermia Survival Plan 04:49 - The "Danger Zone" of Getting Warm 06:02 - Checking Quilt Loft vs. Wet Clothes 07:50 - Prioritizing Survival in the Backcountry 09:06 - 2-Hour Check-In: Is the System Working? 11:10 - Final Results: Can Down Survive a Wet Out?   Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/   Forged In The Backcountry https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/   Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop   Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact   IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/   Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast   Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide Free Training Guide For Mountain Hunting https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools   Kowa TSN-88A Sweepstakes No purchase required.  Contest begins on August 18, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. PST and ends on October 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST.  There is a total of 1 prize available to be won consisting of: (i) A previously owned Kowa TSN-88A Spotting Scope Body with Eyepiece (APR) $5,500.00 CAD; Skill testing question required.  Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States, The District of Columbia, Canada (excluding Quebec), United Kingdom, New Zealand, Finland, France and Switzerland. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received before contest closes.  No limit on entries. For full rules and entry details visit: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/blogs/resources/kowa-tsn-88a-sweepstakes        

🎁 WIN A KOWA 88 SPOTTING SCOPE: Mindful Munitions is officially open. Every $5 spent at Forged in the Backcountry or Mindful Munitions earns one entry to win a Kowa 88 spotting scope. The giveaway ends October 30 at midnight Pacific Time. 👉 Forged in the Backcountry: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/ 👉 Mindful Munitions: https://mindfulmunitions.com/ In this episode, Jay sits down with a longtime buddy for a wide-ranging conversation about elk hunting, parenting, fitness, content creation, guiding, and what it really takes to become consistently successful in the field. They start with early-season hunting updates, family time in the outdoors, and the reality of trying to balance hunting with work, kids, and the rest of life. The conversation gets blunt when it turns to elk hunting. Jay explains why he no longer believes backpacking as deep as possible is an effective elk strategy in many places, why you cannot start hunting elk until you find elk, and why YouTube, podcasts, E-scouting, and fancy gear are not a replacement for actual days in the field. They also talk about aggressive hunting, understanding regional elk behavior, recovering wounded animals, learning not to give up too soon, and why BC may be some of the toughest elk country on the planet. Later, they get into the mental side of injury and fitness, how identity and ego can get tied up in training, the pressure of making hunting content, and why the best content often comes from simply being yourself. Jay also shares why guiding continues to be so meaningful: helping someone experience their first animal and seeing familiar country through the eyes of a hunter who has never been there before. 🏔️ THE ALPINE MULE DEER + FLOAT BEAR HUNT: This was one of the best BC adventures Jay has ever put together, and it is now being offered every September as an extended 8–9 day hunt. Email [email protected] for details. One guided Coues deer spot remains for early February 2027, and 2027 Spring Bear openings are also available. Chapters 0:00:00 Catching Up: New Shop, YouTube Grind & Family Hunting Season 0:08:39 Early-Season Elk Action, Heat & Hunting Aggressively 0:13:18 How to Structure September: Day Hunting vs. Taking a Full Week Off 0:18:37 The Biggest Predictor of Hunting Success: Time in the Field 0:19:00 Forest Fires, Pivoting a Goat Hunt & Why Pre-Season Scouting Matters 0:21:18 You Cannot Podcast Your Way to Dead Critters 0:24:59 Recovering a Bear in Rain, Thick Brush & Crocs 0:27:00 Perspective, Tenacity & Why You Should Not Give Up Too Soon 0:29:40 Why BC Is Some of the Toughest Elk Hunting in North America 0:31:45 Hunt the Hunt You Actually Have—Not the One You See on YouTube 0:33:21 Why Backpacking Deep Is Often a Terrible Elk Strategy 0:36:32 Finding Elk vs. Getting Lucky: How Successful Elk Hunts Actually Happen 0:42:49 Injury, Losing the Ability to Run & the Mental Side of Fitness 0:48:58 Fitness, Ego & Learning to Be Okay With Changing Priorities 0:53:37 Content Creation, Motivation & Finding Your Own Lane 1:01:57 The Ethical Tension of Hunting Content & Why Guiding Matters 1:04:39 Why Jay Still Guides Despite the Time Away From Family 1:06:18 Most People Love the Idea of Hunting—Not the Reality 1:09:08 Why Being Yourself Is the Only Sustainable Content Strategy 1:10:51 Returning to Solo Podcasts & Making Content That Feels Natural 1:15:52 Closing Thoughts: Perspective, Discipline & Doing What You Love Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Forged In The Backcountry https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/   Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop   Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact   IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/   Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast   Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide Free Training Guide For Mountain Hunting https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Kowa TSN-88A Sweepstakes No purchase required.  Contest begins on August 18, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. PST and ends on October 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST.  There is a total of 1 prize available to be won consisting of: (i) A previously owned Kowa TSN-88A Spotting Scope Body with Eyepiece (APR) $5,500.00 CAD; Skill testing question required.  Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States, The District of Columbia, Canada (excluding Quebec), United Kingdom, New Zealand, Finland, France and Switzerland. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received before contest closes.  No limit on entries. For full rules and entry details visit: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/blogs/resources/kowa-tsn-88a-sweepstakes    

🎁 WIN A KOWA 88 SPOTTING SCOPE: Mindful Munitions is officially open. Every $5 spent at Forged in the Backcountry or Mindful Munitions earns one entry to win a Kowa 88 spotting scope. The giveaway ends October 30 at midnight Pacific Time. 👉 Forged in the Backcountry: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/ 👉 Mindful Munitions: https://mindfulmunitions.com/ Can a 500-yard shot actually be easier than a 150-yard shot? And is all the E-scouting, gear research, and hunting content in the world just an illusion of preparation if you never put boots on the ground? In this first guided-hunt recap, Jay breaks down a brutal but unforgettable BC combination hunt: an alpine backpack mule deer hunt followed by a float trip for black bear. Jay’s client Matt came in looking for his first mule deer and first black bear. After forest fires forced a last-minute pivot, the two relied on months of prior scouting, camera intel, route planning, shooting practice, and fitness to make the hunt happen. The result was a velvet mule deer taken at 496 yards from a perfect prone position, followed by a black bear on a river float hunt in a much harder, faster-moving shooting situation This episode is a full behind-the-scenes look at what actually made the hunt successful: knowing the ridge before the hunt started, understanding when mule deer are visible, trusting intuition while glassing, building a stable shooting position, staying calm around a client at the moment of truth, and having the Zone 2 capacity to grind through a 10.5-hour, 10.5-mile pack-out with a boned-out buck. Jay also explains why he will never blindly take a different route out of a basin again, why an unsupported 100–150-yard shot can be far more difficult than a prone shot at distance, and what made recovering Matt’s first black bear in driving rain and thick river-bottom brush so intense. 🏔️ THE ALPINE MULE DEER + FLOAT BEAR HUNT: This was one of the best BC adventures Jay has ever put together, and it is now being offered every September as an extended 8–9 day hunt. Email [email protected] for details. One guided Coues deer spot remains for early February 2027, and 2027 Spring Bear openings are also available. Chapters 0:00:00 Introducing the New Guided Hunt Recap Series 0:01:49 The Ultimate BC Combo Hunt: Alpine Mule Deer + Float Black Bear 0:02:36 The Truth About Hunting Success: You Cannot Hack Preparation from Home 0:05:27 Treat Yourself Like a Guided Client: Scouting, Cameras & Backup Plans 0:06:29 Hiking into the Alpine Mule Deer Basin 0:07:36 Why We Saw Nothing on the Evening Glassing Session 0:08:26 The Morning Window: 35 Deer, 18 Bucks & 4–5 Shooters 0:09:57 Why Boots-on-the-Ground Scouting Beats E-Scouting Alone 0:11:42 The 4.5-Mile Move to the Deer 0:12:23 Why Some Ridges Hold Deer and Others Don’t 0:15:14 The Backside Bench: Trusting a Theory About Evening Mule Deer Movement 0:16:11 Wind Management: Backing Out Before Ruining the Morning Play 0:17:04 Finding the Perfect Glassing Perch 0:18:50 Intuitive Glassing vs. Methodically Gridding a Hillside 0:20:07 How Jay Finds Bedded Mule Deer in the Evening 0:21:26 The Bedded Buck Debate & Finding a Shooter at 496 Yards 0:21:56 Matt’s 22 Creed Setup, Practice & Long-Range Readiness 0:23:35 The Perfect 496-Yard Prone Shooting Position 0:24:18 Why a Lightweight Shooting Bag Matters 0:24:38 Mindful Munitions, Forged in the Backcountry & Kowa 88 Giveaway 0:25:59 Guiding the Moment of Truth: Calm Beats Urgency 0:27:44 The 496-Yard Heart Shot on a Velvet Mule Deer 0:29:30 Processing the Buck & Planning the Pack-Out 0:29:53 Why Zone 2 Training Is the Best Mountain Hunt Preparation 0:31:18 The Mistake: Never Take an Unproven Route Out of a Basin 0:32:07 The 10.5-Mile, 10.5-Hour Mule Deer Pack-Out 0:34:31 Fitness, Attitude & Why Matt Was Able to Finish the Grind 0:35:25 Turning Around for the Float Bear Hunt 0:36:16 Float-Hunt Logistics & Finding Fresh Bear Sign 0:37:19 Why Float Hunts Are One of the Coolest Ways to Hunt 0:37:41 A Black Bear on the Riverbank & a Fast 22 Creed Shot 0:38:42 Why the 150-Yard Unsupported Shot Was Harder Than 496 Yards 0:39:57 How to Tell Whether a Bear Was Actually Hit 0:40:40 Wasp Nests, Driving Rain & Beginning the Recovery 0:41:57 Finding Matt’s First Black Bear in the River Bottom 0:44:28 The Work After the Kill: Rafts, Trucks, Trophies & a 4:30 AM Finish 0:45:25 Pushing the Limits of a Grinder Hunt 0:46:36 Why This May Have Been Jay’s Best Guided Hunt Ever 0:47:06 Making the Alpine Mule Deer + Float Bear Hunt an Annual Adventure 0:48:51 2027 BC, Mexico Coues Deer & Spring Bear Hunt Openings 0:49:50 Outro & Kowa 88 Giveaway Reminder Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Forged In The Backcountry https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/   Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop   Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact   IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/   Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast   Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide Free Training Guide For Mountain Hunting https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Kowa TSN-88A Sweepstakes No purchase required.  Contest begins on August 18, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. PST and ends on October 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST.  There is a total of 1 prize available to be won consisting of: (i) A previously owned Kowa TSN-88A Spotting Scope Body with Eyepiece (APR) $5,500.00 CAD; Skill testing question required.  Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States, The District of Columbia, Canada (excluding Quebec), United Kingdom, New Zealand, Finland, France and Switzerland. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received before contest closes.  No limit on entries. For full rules and entry details visit: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/blogs/resources/kowa-tsn-88a-sweepstakes