Over the last week, I have been getting gear ready, e-scouting, and making sure my weapon is dialed. It’s all in the name of one thing. Spring bear season is finally here. It is one of the most exciting times of the year if you’re a bear hunter. It marks the start of new life and a new spring bear hunting season ahead.
While Spring Bear season invokes much praise from a hardcore set of individuals, there are many new bear hunters coming into the fold. If you’re one of them, let me just say, I’m very excited for you and what’s to come. There are many peaks and valleys ahead, but if you stay the course and learn as much as you can along the way, you’ll get to where you want to be.
It’s that time of year again. From now until Fall will be filled with scouting, training, and all things gear in the name of hunting season. In light of that, I just got a new bow that I’d like to share with you. The Hoyt Alpha AX2 32 is the new flagship aluminum bow for 2025 and I have been loving it so far. It’s been a long time since I’ve shot a Hoyt and I’m very excited to get this rig dialed and ready for season. If you want to win this setup, scroll down to the bottom of this post to find out how.
Today starts the Ultimate Bowhunting Giveaway! I recently teamed up with Black Ovis to create a stellar gear package for 1 LUCKY PERSON.
While anytime outside of hunting season is what I’d consider pre-season, sitting here now in the month of April we are just 4 months away from the start of Fall. There is much to do with scouting, training, and dialing in gear to get ready for the main event come August. All that to say, bowhunting prep is very clear in my mind right now, so I wanted to share a few exercises I’ve been doing behind the bow to hone my accuracy for the season.
Choosing the right sleeping bag for backpack hunting is not a cut-and-dry response. There are a lot of variables to consider. Where you’re hunting, what time of year, and your personal needs are a few. In the video below, I dive into everything you’ll need to go through this process. I’ve been there scratching my head wondering which bag to get. Through many years of trial and error, this is what I’ve learned.
Remember, at the end of the day, you’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to gear. If your top choice of something goes against the grain of everyone else, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. The important things are to recognize what works best for YOU and keep an open mind in the process.
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One of the rabbit holes about backpack hunting is far and away all of the gear. The possibilities sometimes seem endless. It’s a neverending chase dialing the best kit for us and our hunts and the journey is fun in doing so. In the name of said chase, I wanted to share my custom backcountry stove kit that I recently put together with you. It’s sub 8 ounces and as capable as anything I’ve used. I combine products from Argali, Jetboil, and MSR.
As I’ve walked the path of a bowhunter gear has always been something I’ve paid close attention to. If I don’t have trust in my tools then my confidence tends to crumble and it’s not a pretty place to be mentally. Release aids are no exception to this and for most of my bowhunting journey, I’ve been a fan of the index-style release. To be fair, I still am. They’re incredibly practical for bowhunting. Both time and experience have a way of changing things though. Sometimes, for the better. Since then I’ve tried thumb buttons and hinge release aids too. All have taught me something.
A whole lot of attention by newer hunters gets put on the actual gear itself for backpack hunting. Rightfully, so I suppose. There is a lot of gear involved and we all want to make sure we have the best and lightest setup for our hunts. With that said, what flies under the radar is how to load a backpack for the best experience possible. This was a question heavy on my mind when I was first starting out as a backpack hunter. Where things go inside of the backpack matters on multiple fronts.
The choice to go on your first backpack hunt is one that starts with excitement, but is oftentimes followed up with being overwhelmed. There are a lot of moving pieces and if you don’t take the time to line those up, you will either end up not going at all, or will have a less than desirable experience out there.
Right about now, I think it’s safe to say, that we are in a moment of reflection. Hunting seasons have passed and we are left with rich memories to look back on and hopefully bounty a plenty in our freezer. For many, this means that next hunting season won’t matter until…well, next hunting season. Bows get hung up, maps aren’t given any attention, and hunting gear acquires more dust than they do miles. It is officially the “off season.” If you are looking to make the most of next hunting season, it’s better to look at this time of year as the “on season.”
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