There are a lot of different hunting backpacks out there available to us. Far more quality options than when I was a youngster. Even so, they are not all created equal. And to be fair, I think that’s a good thing. It allows us to find a hunting backpack that works just right for us. Options right?
With that said, I want to lay out a few things that drive me nuts about hunting backpacks. From certain features to lack thereof. Here are some of my top pet peeves with hunting backpacks!
Binoculars are far from a plug-and-play piece of gear. All of our eyes are different, as well as the shape of our faces. Because of this, binoculars need to be adjusted to us and our eyes specifically. By doing this, you will be getting the full potential of performance out of your binoculars. If not, well, you’re really missing out.
I’ve used quite a few backcountry shelters and, through those experiences, a few pet peeves have come to light in the name of tents. There is a reason I have landed on the shelters I use, and it’s because they dang near hit all of the marks for me. At least the most important ones. These are my top 5 Biggest Pet peeves of backcountry shelters.
Earlier in 2025, I did a video going over my 2025 Arrow Setup. Now that 2025 is nearing its close, I wanted to touch base on how everything worked. In short, things worked out fantastically, but I will be making ONE minor change. Here, I want to tell you why and why this will also be my arrow setup going into 2026.
First and foremost, Merry Christmas! It’s December 23rd as I sit here and write this. My house is decorated, there are presents under the tree, and my 5 year old daughter is doing everything she can to stay on the nice list, haha. Aside from that, I wanted to share my latest hunting film with you. It’s about hunting bull elk in Arizona with a bow and I think you’ll really enjoy it!
To skimp on hunting boots is to skimp on your hunt. I’ve had quite a few instances where doing so bit me in the rear end and even ended my hunt altogether. Since those days of old, when I was young and knew everything, I’ve changed my ways for the better. Boots are now one of the highest priorities, in terms of gear, for my hunting trips. As of late, I’ve been putting some of my trust into the Crispi Lapponia III. My trust is growing with each outing.
2025 came with no shortage of gear testing. From the mountains to the desert, I got the opportunity to put equipment through the paces. Throughout that time, there were some standouts that I find myself continuously reaching for. This is what I want to share with you today!
These are in no particular order. Some of them are new for 2025, and some of them honestly just even more solidified their place within my system.
Another year has just about come and gone, but I wanted to drop a note here about gratitude, before the end of the year.
Right off the rip, I want to express my gratitude for my family and my health. My family has always shown me an uncanny level of support no matter what endeavor I take on. It’s important to slow down and realize these things. Life is fast. In all of that chaos, seeing what’s truly important, I will admit, can be difficult at times. As for health, the older I get the more value I seem to put on health. When I was younger it wasn’t a thing in my mind. Now? I think about it everyday and am beyond grateful to have the physical and mental ability to do the things I love. This is a constant chase for me now.
Speaking of chase, we often, myself included, tend to focus on chasing to better our current situation. Maybe it’s buying a new house or striving for a new job? Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for progress. However, there are times when we focus so much on said progress in the future, that we fail to appreciate the current. You’re likely much luckier than you think and there are probably quite a few folks who would love to be in your shoes. So, don’t lose sight of growth, but never forget where your roots are planted right now.
I spent a load of time in the mountains this year. From January and clear through most of November I got to chase my dreams. A huge reason I get to do this is because of YOU. Your support through the years has grown Dialed in Hunter into something I only imagined when I started this thing. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you. It means the world to me that you all take the time to read my writing and watch my videos.
Eyes are on 2026. Here’s to a prosperous year, and fruitful hunting season!
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If you were to ask me how my Idaho mule deer hunt was going to go beforehand, there is no way I’d be able to land on what actually happened.
The front end of hunting trips for me is always filled with anticipation, expectations, and just pure excitement and wonder. In Idaho this year, I was backpacking into a place I had never been. It looked beautiful on a map, and I couldn’t wait to step foot into this place.
All that to say, I never spend a great deal of time thinking about all of the bad things that could happen before a hunt. Sure, there are some concerns that cross my mind, and I think that’s a good thing, but I don’t generally walk into a hunt paranoid. After this hunt, my mind is a bit up in the air.
As far as the hunt was concerned, it honestly wasn’t great in terms of deer. The views did not disappoint, and the camping was beautiful, even with all of the nasty weather we received, which put a damper on hunt time. All in all, I saw 3 bucks total. 2 were shooters, but things just didn’t line up. Well, it may have on one, but I never stuck around to find out.
As I was watching a real choice buck at the top of the mountain and contemplating how I could get a shot, something jarred me. A rock blew up not 100 yards behind me, followed by the sound of a gunshot. I was wearing orange at the top of a ridge. I didn’t know exactly where it came from, who it came from, or if there would be more shots. All the while, this buck lay down on the ridge in front of me, 800 yards away, with no approach.
From the moment I heard the gunshot, mentally, I was done. Even so, I wrestled with myself about what to do. I had one more day, but now felt incredibly uneasy, and the fun/adventure had been pulled out from under me. Finally, I had a great buck found and would have loved to stick around to see if he moved into a better spot for an approach. However, at this point, the deer wasn’t worth it to me. I packed my things and left immediately back to Arizona.
There were two sides of influence going on in my mind throughout this entire thing. One side was telling me everything would probably be ok. I could have just moved from where I was watching that deer and called it good. The other side thought of my family. Of course, my wife and daughter were heavy on my mind, but also, my wife’s cousin was paralyzed from a rogue bullet in a hunting accident. Dark thoughts of this potentially happening to me floated around in my head and ultimately pushed me off the mountain. I have no regrets here in the least and feel perfect about my decision.
I’ve been home for about 3 weeks at this point since this all happened. And while everything was fine and I got home safe, I’m not gonna lie. It was really scary. I have no clue if it was someone shooting at a deer, a rock, etc. Whatever it was, it was too close for comfort on my end, and it’s not the first time I’ve had bullets in the air near me while hunting. I don’t like it one bit, and I might just be done with it altogether. Safety is something I don’t treat lightly, especially when there are firearms involved. I’m well aware that not everyone has that same approach, but that is mine.
I’ve thought about this a lot, and the more I’ve done so, the more I’m leaning towards potentially stepping away from these rifle hunts and fully committing to bowhunting only. I don’t have anything against rifle hunting in the least. It’s more of a personal thing for me here. Having had several similar experiences involving guns, it makes me wonder if there will come a time when I’m not so lucky. And to me, it’s just not worth it. Focusing on just archery hunts puts my mind a bit more at ease if I’m being completely honest.
Anyways, that’s where my head is at right now guys. My outlook may change in the future, but right now, I’m fully focused on my bow and archery seasons. I wanted to share with you what happened to encourage you not to take safety for granted. People get lifelong injuries and even die out there due to improper safety practices with firearms. Exercise them. Wear orange. Know what you’re shooting at before shooting. Assess the surroundings of your target. Don’t shoot towards the top of a ridge, because the bullet can travel past that point. Don’t walk around with a round in the chamber. Educate yourself and stay safe out there.
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