What do you get when you combine an ultralight backpacking company with a high end technical clothing brand in the hunting industry? You get a list of gear that needs to be on all backcountry hunter’s radar. Earlier this year, Nemo Equipment and First Lite came together and released a line of gear specifically geared towards the backcountry hunter. This new Nemo x First Lite line includes shelters, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and more. Among that list are two shelters that have the weight conscious hunter in mind. The Spike 1p and Recurve 2p. Both were made for going light and fast. With Nemo’s track record of developing stellar, dependable shelters for backcountry enthusiasts and First Lite’s intimate knowledge base of backcountry hunting and technical fabrics, these two shelters are sure to impress. The only way to really find out though, is to get them dirty.
It’s June, it’s hot, and the Fall Hunting Seasons are coming in fast! Before we know it, we’re all going to be chasing our dreams in the mountains and making some incredible memories in the process. In light of the new season approaching, I wanted to introduce a new video series I’ve been working on. The series is going to be called Dialed in Diaries, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. A video diary of my entire hunting season, along with the folks that I have the pleasure of sharing camp with. From failures to triumphs and everything in between.
You’ve done your research, planned a trip, and are about to embark on your first ever backpack hunt. First off, let me say CONGRATS! You are in for a real treat. Backpack hunting truly is the whole package. It’s beyond hunting and a great opportunity to cut the cord of city life and embrace some adventure. These hunts are learning experiences, as you’ll find out. Each time we go out, we learn a little more about what to bring and what not to bring. These items will vary of course from person to person, but I promise you, you’ll be making modifications to your gear list sooner or later. It’s inevitable. Down below, I’ve listed 3 items that I’ve found incredibly valuable on backpack hunts. They are simple, cheap, and very useful both physically and mentally. These items are of course aside from stuff like boots, backpack, weapon, etc. I could add much more to this list, but these seemed to reach across the board in terms of general items you really want to consider checking out.
It’s trail camera day! A few episodes back I set a few trail cameras for my upcoming spring bear tag here in Arizona. These are set on secluded water sources that looked pretty “beary” to me. It’s been over a month since I’ve been there, so my brother and I were pretty stoked to drop down into this country and pull these cards.
My plan with this hunt is to check my trail cameras one more time before the opener. That will be about 2-3 days out from when I’m actually planning to hunt for a few days. If I’ve got bears hitting my cameras regularly, then I’ll backpack down into this area and sit the water. If they aren’t quite hitting the water yet, I’m going to backpack into a different area and put the glass to use for a spot and stalk hunt. Either way, I’m stoked to get out there! You’ll also see me pick out potential camp spots in the video below.
One of the things I’m most excited about with this particular area where my cameras are is that it’s where my spring bear hunting bug started. I knew next to nothing back then. At that point, I had never even seen a spring bear. This was the first spot I had ever hunted spring black bears in Arizona, and one that I’ve thought about since then. Returning is pretty nostalgic for me, which makes the trips all the more better. Harvesting a bear there would be nothing short of epic for me. Another thing I’m excited about is I don’t usually ambush hunt. Spot and stalk hunting is usually my main course of action. Sitting water like this and waiting brings a whole different level of adrenaline. When an animal comes into an area that doesn’t know you’re there, it’s a great way to get the blood pumping. Not to mention, if that animal is a black bear.
As always, if you like the video, I’d super appreciate if you hit the like button and SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube and blog to stay up to date with future posts. This whole video thing I’ve undertaken over the past 6 months has been a learning process for sure. I’ve been enjoying every second of sharing the adventure with you all though. Thanks for watching and until next time, stay safe out there.
Glassing has become such a huge part of my hunting, not just here in Arizona, but in the West as a whole. Sitting down behind a quality set of optics and watching animals act like animals from a distance is incredibly valuable to a hunter. It gives us the chance to really hone our stalking game and make a quality play at the critter. There’s some flat out big country out there though. Sometimes, so much that it’s intimidating to glass all together.
So, what do you do when there’s “too much” to look at? Down below, I break down my process for doing just that. Now, keep in mind, there is more than one way to skin a cat of course. These things are just what has worked for me personally behind the glass. If you’ve got some tips to add, feel free to drop them in the comments. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Until then though, I hope you enjoy the video!
As always, if you enjoyed the video, I’d super appreciate if you SUBSCRIBED to the Youtube and blog to stay up to date with future posts. Also, if you haven’t yet, check out my new book Becoming a Backpack Hunter. It’s a from start to finish beginner’s guide to backpack hunting, and I think you’ll really enjoy it.
We are right at the cusp of spring bear really getting good here in Arizona! I’m so pumped to get out there and put in the work. With any luck, I’ll be bringing an Arizona Spring Black Bear home with me!
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Here we are! Winter is finally starting to wave through the rear view mirror and spring is coming in hot. Turkeys are starting to gobble, vegetation is greening up and the bears are coming out to play. It truly is one of my favorite times of the year. In this episode, we continue with the spring bear hunting season 2020. My brother and I head up for a few days to try our hand at finding a lurking spring bear. We head into an area that we’ve never been before and experience all sorts of weather.
Spring Hunting Season is finally here and it’s for BEAR! This is a hunt that I look forward to each and every year. A time where the weather is fantastic, water is usually plentiful, and backpack hunting is on the agenda. I first ventured into this area about 4 years ago. Back then, I packed into this spot without ever stepping foot in it and was lucky enough to find bears! Since then, I’ve come in every year and look forward to it more and more. This would mark the first trip of the year for me, and I couldn’t wait to hit the trail.
On this hunt, I was solo, which is always interesting on the mental front. I enjoy hunting solo immensely, but there is always a tad bit of anxiety in the back of my head when doing so. Once out there though, I’m fine and generally end up having an amazing time. This was no different. After a few hours of hiking and gaining elevation, I arrived at camp. What a great feeling it was to sit down in the shade and relax for a bit. To see how the rest of the hunt unfolds, you can watch the video down below!
As I was hiking back to the truck, it was comforting to know that this was just the beginning and there was a lot of hunting to be had. What a great way to get out and stretch the legs though. Not to mention, get away from the chaos of the world right now. We are definitely living in some crazy times and I hope this whole pandemic hasn’t put too much of a damper on you or your families. Let’s not forget to get outside and enjoy Mother Nature when we can. It’s therapeutic to say the least and a break from the noise is much needed.
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube Channel and blog to stay up to date on Spring Hunting Season episodes and much more. This is all just getting started, and I’m so pumped to share the adventure with you all! Good luck out there and stay safe!
We are fully immersed in scouting season right now! Isn’t that exciting? Everything that we do now is laying a foundation for our upcoming season, no matter what species one might be after. This is the leg work necessary, to help ensure the highest quality hunt we can attain. It is what separates the consistently successful hunter from everyone else. Lately, I’ve been out scouting water sources for a black bear hunt here in Arizona. The hunt takes place during a dry and hot time of year, so water is key. This is going to help me eliminate water sources and key in on others. Hunting is a game of chance, so giving yourself the best chance for success is what it’s all about. Even though this hunt is focused on bears though, doesn’t mean I’m not paying attention to other critters I come across. I’m constantly scouting for next season…..this season.
Knowing what to pack, as far as food goes, for a backpack hunt is a common question among those looking to get into this. The immediate apprehension is fear of getting hungry. Folks are worried about not having enough. Then there is the what behind all of this. What kind of foods should you bring out? So, in this post, I’m going to dive right into my food bag for an upcoming backcountry hunt I have planned. While getting my stuff ready for this trip, I thought it might be beneficial to do a backcountry food bag dump. I’ll walk you through a whole day of food and also give examples of other options you might be able to take advantage of.
Who loves coffee?! I sure do and missing out on my morning, and sometimes afternoon, coffee is not something I am a fan of, haha. In light of that, one of the questions that I get asked a lot is what I do on backpack hunts for coffee. Am I bringing some cheap instant with me? Am I pre-grinding and bringing my own with a press? I’ve done all of the above. You gotta do what you gotta do in the name of coffee on hunting trips. Nowadays, things are a bit different on the coffee front for me. So, I’m going to walk you through my backcountry coffee set up!
In the video below, I take you through my stove, and how it works. I also lay out the kind of coffee I’m bringing with me. Dark Timber Coffee has been a huge improvement in my coffee game in the field! Not only is it super easy, it is DELICIOUS! You’d be doing yourself a disservice by not trying this stuff out. That is of course if you’re a coffee lover like me.
I hope that this video helps elevate your coffee game on your hunts! If you have any questions about any of this stuff, please feel free to reach out. I’m happy to help and explain anything more that needs explaining. To learn more about backcountry hunting, check out the recent book I wrote called “Becoming a Backpack Hunter: A Beginner’s Guide to Hunting the Backcountry.” And if you dig the videos, I’d super appreciate if you hit SUBSCRIBE on the Youtube Channel to stay up to date with future videos. Thanks for watching and until next time, good hunting!
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