It’s the end of December right now at the time of typing this. We’ve been soaking up the holiday season together in our home and enjoying every second of it with our 3 year old. I love the month of December dearly, but I also lust for January. It’s archery deer season in Arizona at that time. The bucks are rutting and it’s one of my favorite times of year backpack hunting for coues deer.
Given our unique environment, and an odd time of year, knowing what backcountry gear to bring along is a question that I get asked on a regular basis. So, I’m going to break down here what I am bringing along on a 7 day backpack hunt during the month of January for Coues deer in Arizona.
I can’t believe it’s already December. Where does the time go? I’ve been doing my best to soak up the time with family and enjoy the holidays. Hope you’ve been doing the same. Along with that, I’ve been working on something I’m extremely excited to share with you all. It’s a new bear film called Imprinted and it documents my 2023 Fall Bear Season in Arizona.
High country mule deer hunting is something that I have really grown a love for over the last handful of years. It speaks my language. Steep and deep backcountry, glassing for bucks, and then playing the chess match that is sneaking in close to bow range. From Utah to Colorado I slept in the dirt and tried my hand at putting the moves on big velvet mule deer. What started as a hunt for a deer, soon turned to a hunt for Perspective. Which is the title of this new film and you can watch the teaser below.
It’s getting close now. I’ve been waiting all year for this and it’s about to be go time. Since I drew my elk tag back in February I’ve been daydreaming about hitting the hills with my bow. Getting another opportunity at an Arizona bull of my own and immersing myself in the whole experience. There are some things that need to be in order before leaving though. Hunting Preparation is not just about hunting.
I recently scratched down a post titled My Biggest Archery Issues, so it’s only natural to write another that reflects bowhunting specifically. Bowhunting is a never-ending journey for me and I don’t think I’ll ever master it. There is no shortage of ways to screw up an archery hunt, and I’ve been fortunate to be on more than a few of those receiving ends. Sometimes they make me feel downright helpless. The only way to improve in these areas, though, is to acknowledge them and act. So, down below I’m going to dive into a pool of reflection filled with My Biggest Bowhunting. At the end of this personal therapy session, I hope it drives you to tackle your own shortcomings and inevitably get better from doing so.
Among all of the gear items in your backpack, there are a few areas where you can save a huge amount of weight. Things like sleeping bags and sleeping pads are a few of them. Another item that can drastically cut weight is your tent/shelter. Generally, the logic behind cutting weight is when you cut weight, you also are cutting comfort. That couldn’t be farther from the truth with the new Owyhee 1p tent from Argali.
Fall is officially here, and if you’re anything like me, you’re getting hit with the warm and fuzzies. Hopefully, the fuzzies are in the form of big mule deer antlers! This new film of mine may not be a mule deer film, but I am super proud of it. Dillon Flint and I backpacked into some of the most rugged country in the lower 48 this past spring and what we got out of it was “The Most.”
We’re sitting less than a month out from the 2023 Fall hunting season at the time of writing this. Along with my uncontrollable excitement, e-scouting, and focus on fitness, there is one other thing heavy on my mind. That thing is accuracy. To me, it doesn’t matter how fancy your bow is, it doesn’t matter how good the hunting spot is, and it doesn’t matter how in shape you are. If you aren’t accurate behind your bow, none of that other stuff matters.
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.
Exo Mountain Gear is no stranger to big miles and heavy poundage. They’ve been producing backpacks for backcountry hunting since 2014 and have become a fan favorite among dedicated backpack hunters like myself. Exo was started by dedicated backcountry hunters with the goal to produce the best backcountry hunting packs on the market, and they’ve been focused on that goal since the beginning. Their new K4 Backpack is a shining example of that.
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