Since I was a child, doing difficult things has been something I’ve been drawn to. There is a beauty to it. It’s challenging and keeps one on their toes. Should you come out successful, no matter what that difficult thing is, the reward is so much greater. It means “the most” to struggle and then succeed, than it does to succeed without struggle.

This is the mindset I’ve adopted into my hunting and why I love backpack hunting so much. The rewards of backpack hunting span way past a filled tag. And bear hunting falls into that mindset as well. It’s tough as nails and I love it for that.

In the spring of 2023 I headed to Idaho for a backcountry spring bear hunt. We were packed up for 8 days ready to tackle some of the most demanding country in the lower 48. There are way easier ways to go about bear hunting in the west. This way though is the way I’ve grown to love the most no matter where I am. Backpacking with bow or rifle in tow and ambition coming out my pockets. Even a little nerves does the trick.

The video in this post is a teaser for an upcoming film that documents that Idaho 2023 spring hunt. You can expect the full bear hunting film to release on September 1, 2023 and I cannot wait to share that adventure with you all. Until then, I hope you enjoy this short teaser and get a taste for what’s to come.

The most challenging things offer the most potent rewards.

Joshua Kirchner