In this solo episode, Mark recaps his recent 2nd-season rifle mule deer hunt in Colorado with his hunting partner, Jerud. Despite arriving at a packed trailhead and facing bone-dry conditions, they managed to tag two bucks in roughly 24 hours. Mark breaks down the critical decisions, tactical adjustments, and practical takeaways from the hunt.

Key Topics & Takeaways:

• Hunter Presence vs. Hunting Pressure: Why pulling up to 20+ trucks and camps at a trailhead doesn't automatically mean ruined hunting, and how getting off the main trail corridors immediately separated them from the crowd.

• Rifle Readiness in the Field: The importance of carrying your rifle in hand and ready to deploy rather than strapped away when you begin moving through prime animal habitat.

• Passing on "Good" Shots: Why Mark passed on a solid buck at 400+ yards on evening one—not due to doubting the shot, but because fading light and thick brush created high risk for tracking and recovery.

• The Reality of Water Scarcity: How dry creek bottoms and evaporated seeps forced tactical compromises, requiring them to filter out of a single mud puddle, which also influenced the duration of their hunt.

• Optics Strategy & Positional Shooting: Running a three-optic system (image-stabilized binos, tripod-mounted high-magnification binos, and a spotting scope), along with executing shots from non-standard positions like standing tripod setups and offhand.

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/

Email Sign-up: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter

Contact Us: podcast@exomtngear.com

Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

In this episode, Mark catches up with chef, author, and wild game authority Hank Shaw to celebrate the updated and expanded edition of his classic big game cookbook, Buck Buck Moose.

Returning to the podcast for the first time since 2017, Hank breaks down how wild game cooking has evolved over the past decade and shares practical advice on field care, butchery, and modern kitchen technology.

• Working with Processors & Home Butchery: Tips on what to ask your local game processor, trimming considerations, and using reverse-searing techniques for thick roasts and backstraps.
• Elevating the Basics: How to make a proper venison burger by balancing fat content (10–15%), choosing the right grind size, and cooking backstrap lengths rather than thin steaks.
• Modern Kitchen Tech: Hank gives his honest take on the pros and cons of using air fryers and sous-vide immersion circulators for wild game, explaining where they shine (cutlets, meatballs, batch cooking) and where they fail (over-reliance, texture issues, and improper time/temp settings).
• Handling & Cooking Bear Meat: The key differences between northern (Trichinella nativa) and southern bear species, why freezing alone doesn't render northern parasites inert, and how to properly render and store bear fat.
• Upgrading Favorite Dishes: Step-by-step breakdowns for making tender Barbacoa, authentic Jalisco-style Birria, and crowd-pleasing party appetizers like wild game meatballs.

Learn more from Hank Shaw:

• Buck, Buck, Moose on Amazon
• Signed Copy of Buck, Buck, Moose
• Hank's Recipe Site
• Hank's Substack
• Hank's Previous Episode

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/

Email Sign-up: https://exomtngear.com/newsletter

Contact Us: podcast@exomtngear.com

Leave A Message: https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

Podcast Episode Archive: https://exomtngear.com/podcast

In this "Monday Minute" episode of the Hunt Backcountry Podcast, Steve and Mark answer listener questions on pack loading, sleeping pad protection, strategies for wet hunts and water crossings, advice for hunters who struggle to eat enough, and more...

PRODUCTS & RESOURCES MENTIONED...

• Loading A Packraft with Meat & Gear
• Pack Loading for Multi-day Hunts
• Sleep Strategies for Backcountry Trips
• What We Eat on Backpack Hunts
• Frogg Togg Wading Pants
• Frogg Togg Boot-Foot Hip Waders
• Wiggy's Overboot Waders
• WildTech Streamlite Overboot Waders

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/

EXO INSIDER NEWSLETTER — https://exomtngear.com/newsletter

ASK YOUR QUESTION — podcast@exomtngear.com

LEAVE A MESSAGE — https://speakpipe.com/huntbackcountry

VIEW & SEARCH THE PODCAST ARCHIVE: https://exomtngear.com/podcast