Archery Spring Bear Backcountry Prep – Part 2

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Apr 16, 2024
picking up dumbbells for a workout in preparation for a backcountry spring bear hunt in Idaho

Something else I’m really trying to focus on for this upcoming backcountry archery spring bear hunt is strength training. I will admit, that this is something that I have lacked over the past few years. My primary way of training for hunts has been trail running and weighted pack hikes. This has gotten the job done but with a caveat. I’ve noticed that I’ve been more prone to injury. Which is where strength training comes in.

NEW BOOK ANNOUNCMENT – I’m REALLY Excited About This!

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Apr 7, 2024
Josh Kirchner from Dialed in Hunter glassing for mule deer in the backcountry of Colorado

Back in March of 2020 I released my very first book Becoming a Backpack Hunter: A Beginner’s Guide to Hunting the Backcountry. The positive response was overwhelming and it continues even to this day as I sit here now in 2024. Shortly after writing that book, I started another. I’ve kept this as hush as I could over the years of writing it, but it’s time to get the word out.

My Layering Kit for 2024! – Sitka Gear

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Apr 4, 2024
Josh Kirchner layering with Sitka Gear on a backcountry archery hunt in Arizona

A quality layering system for western hunting is absolutely non-negotiable in my eyes, especially when it comes to backpack hunting. This is something that is going to keep you warm when it’s cold, dry when it’s raining, and cool when it’s warm out. Versatility is key and this year Sitka Gear hit the nail on the head for me.

Archery Spring Bear Backcountry Prep – Part 1

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Mar 28, 2024
Josh Kirchner spring bear hunting in the Idaho backcountry

This coming spring I’ll be heading into the Idaho backcountry for a spot and stalk archery spring bear hunt. The past few years I’ve done this hunt with a rifle and been successful doing so. It’s always brutal and I always look forward to it. With this being an archery hunt, the physical demands will be even greater and I’ve been chipping away on backcountry prep little by little to prepare myself.

Archery Spring Bear in the Backcountry – I’ve Been Dreaming About This For YEARS

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Mar 21, 2024
Hunter holding a compound bow

Going on 4 years now, I have gone to Idaho during the spring to hunt black bears. Since my first trip, which was actually solo for 8 days, I have looked forward to this hunt every year. The first year I missed several bears. The second year I made a bad shot and couldn’t recover a bear. And the third I finally laid my hands on my first Idaho black bear. These were all backpack hunts with my rifle. There was one thing on my mind the whole time. A dream.

Index Style Releases – Carter Like Mike II vs Stan SoleX

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Mar 13, 2024
Two index style releases Josh Kirchner from Dialed in Hunter uses

There are a ton of different archery release aids floating around out there. Index style releases, hinges, thumb buttons, and resistance releases. And there are a bunch of options for each of those categories. I am a strong believer in an index-style release for bowhunting especially. My two go-to index-style releases are the Carter Like Mike II and the Stan SoleX. Both are very similar in design, but come in at very different price points. I’m going to break down what I like and what I don’t like about each of these releases. Hopefully, this can help you weigh out which of these awesome index-style releases might be best for you.

Dad Life Check In – 2024

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Mar 2, 2024
Josh Kirchner from Dialed in Hunter shooting his bow with his daughter

Almost 4 years ago now my life changed for the better. Not that the life I was living was bad at all. I loved my life. But, now I love it more than I could imagine at the time. On June 15th, 2020 my wife and I had our first child, Juniper Rain Kirchner. Things would never be the same for us and we’d grow in more ways than one. The Dad life began.

Josh Kirchner's wife Amber holding their daughter Juniper shortly after her being born. The day Josh Kirchner became a Dad

As someone who lives a very busy life and spends a fair amount of time away from home during hunting seasons, I wanted to do a little virtual check-in with what I’ve learned since our little girl came into our lives. Some changes I’ve made, mistakes, and what life looks like overall now. With any hope, there are some new Dads out there that can benefit from this. If that is you, let me just say, I’m stoked for you!

Fair warning, this is largely going to be about being a parent and has very little to do with hunting, haha. At the same time, it has everything to do with it.

Backpack Hunting in Dry Conditions – How to Do It

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Feb 23, 2024
Arizona desert on a backpack hunt for coues deer

Water is life. For a backpack hunter, there are few things as exciting as finding a reliable water source from which you can nourish yourself off the beaten path. Without water, we simply cannot survive out there. This poses a problem for those of us who live/hunt in dry climates. What do you do when backpack hunting in dry conditions? How do you do it?

After Season Arrow Setup Report 2023/2024

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Feb 11, 2024
Josh Kirchner from Dialed in Hunter's arrow and broadhead choice for 2024

2023 had no shortage of gear changes for me. I’m always looking for ways to solidify my system even more. The only way to do that is to try out new things. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t. During the 2023 season, I was reminded of the phrase, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” My arrow setup is now what it once was instead of something totally new.

Rangefinder Tips – Alternative Uses Besides Ranging Animals

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Jan 28, 2024
Vortex Razor HD 4000 GB Rangefinder on a spring bear hunt in Idaho

Back before I ever had my very first rangefinder, my perception of them was always that they existed for one to range an animal to get an accurate distance to aim for the shot. And while they absolutely own that space in terms of use, there are other ways that I have found to effectively use rangefinders to make me a more efficient hunter. 2 in particular to be exact.

magbo system