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

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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/

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In this episode, Mark is joined by Joshua Brown—an accomplished Alaskan hunter and the only person to complete the historic 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail on foot, bike, and skis. Drawing from his background in extreme winter endurance events and backcountry hunting, Josh breaks down how to survive, perform, and make critical decisions when pushing into remote shoulder-season and sub-zero environments.

Key Topics & Takeaways:

• The Human-Powered Iditarod: Josh explains the history of human-powered Iditarod events, comparing the unique demands of completing the 1,000-mile trek via foot, fat bike, and cross-country skis.
• Extreme Cold Hydration & Fueling: Why dehydration happens faster in sub-zero temps, methods for keeping water systems from freezing, and why calories act as the internal furnace against hypothermia.
• Nutrition & Palate Fatigue: Balancing high-fat and carbohydrate needs with real-world palatability on long-duration backcountry events.
• Cold Weather Injury Prevention: Practical steps to prevent frostbite and hypothermia, including proper foot fitting, the strategic use of vapor barriers, and recognizing early warning signs of problems.
• The "Oh Crap" Bag & Self-Rescue Mindset: Why every hunter and adventurer must carry an emergency dry bag with dry base layers and a sleep system, treating self-rescue as the only reliable option.
• Layering & Moisture Control: Implementing the "cool, not cold" motto to prevent wetting out clothing through sweat, and choosing quick-drying synthetics/fleeces over hard-to-dry alternatives.

Resources & Recommendations:

• Zojirushi Insulated Thermoses
• Andrew Skurka’s Vapor Barrier Guide
• Western Mountaineering HotSac Vapor Barrier Liner
• RAB Hooded Vapour Barrier Sleeping Bag Liner
• Feathered Friends Expedition Sleeping Bags
• Iditarod Trail Invitational Race
• Iditarod Trail Invitational Camp
• 8,000 Miles Across Alaska by Jill Homer

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