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.”
The more lightweight you can be heading into a backcountry camp, the fresher you’ll be for the hunt, as well as the hopeful packout ahead. In a new video I recorded down below, I run through 5 ways that I’ve found to save weight on backpack hunts. If you like the video, don’t forget to hit SUBSCRIBE! I’d also love to know your thoughts on the matter. Did I miss anything? Add your tips in the comments for ultralight backpack hunting and let’s learn from one another. Enjoy the video!
Now, I know it may sound cheesy, but when a new year starts, it feels like my mind gets a reset. Things seem more attainable and motivation is high for what’s to come. This is how I feel walking into the coues mountains every January. And every January my fingers are crossed that the year will start off with a bang, or I should say an archery coues deer.
It’s January right now as I write this. January is most often associated with new beginnings and setting goals for the year. I support that with full force. However, I also heavily associate this month with coues deer hunting. January is archery deer season here in Arizona and coues deer hunting involves an immense amount of glassing. So, in light of that, and for those new to coues deer hunting, I’m going to lay out the glassing set up I use for these special little deer and why in the video below.
My daughter and I are currently vegging out with the flu on the couch together next to the Christmas tree. While I “scribble” down my thoughts here, she’s taking care of some important coloring business and watching one of her favorite shows. In the midst of all of this, my mind is blown at how quickly the end of the year has come. It feels like not long ago I was revved up for 2024, jotting down my thoughts here. And now 2024 is coming to a close.
Learning how to backpack hunt can seem like a tall order that forces you to drink from a fire hose. It can even feel overwhelming and leaves many folks right at the trailhead or setting up a truck camp instead of heading down the trail. After a decade of backcountry hunting, I’m going to try and help clear the noise for you newer or aspiring backpack hunters. Here are 4 things I wish I would have known when I started.
As I write this, I’m sitting next to our Christmas tree admiring the many ornaments and reflecting on the memories they all hold. This time of year is naturally a time of reflection. We’re about to close the door on one chapter and move on to the next. A year in review is in order.
I seriously cannot believe that we’re closing in on another year. 2024 was filled with lots of adventures and there was no shortage of nights spent beneath the stars paired with days hiking through the mountains. In light of all of that, I wanted to lay out some of my top 10 favorite hunting gear items I used throughout the year. This is the gear that I was most stoked on in 2024 and will for sure be bringing into the 2025 season. Let’s get into it! These are in no particular order.
There is a whole lot of gear involved with backpack hunting. One of the most important pieces to the system is our insulation for sleeping. I’m talking about your sleeping bag or your quilt. Which brings me to the topic of this here piece. I’ve used both extensively and am going to break down the pros and cons of each. So, here we go. Sleeping bags or quilts for backcountry hunting?
Sheesh, I can’t believe I’m already writing a start of the Fall hunting season update. Feels like spring was just here a few weeks ago, but here we are. At this point in the season, I’ve had two hunts. A black bear hunt in Arizona and an elk hunt in Colorado. Both landed on the rough side, but both held their own lessons.
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