The Mindful Hunter Podcast

Dove into some listener questions this week answering things like, the best early-season hiking boots, what bow release I use, book recommendations for entrepreneurs, and much more. Mindful Reviews https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Before we dive into this week’s episode I want to mention that the Frontiersmen Gear film Through Our Eyes is premiering on March 18th at 6 pm PDT on YouTube. There will be a giveaway live during the premiere. Go follow Tanner on IG for more details. https://www.instagram.com/frontiersmengear/ In this review I compare the two ultralight tripod pan heads; Tricer LP and Wiser PH-170 Nighthawk. While at first glance these pan heads seem incredibly similar there are definitely some important differences to note and depending on what your individual priorities are as a hunter one of these is going to be clearly better for you. 0:00 – Intro 0:40 – Lightweight vs Ultralight pan heads 10:18 – Price 10:47 - Weight 11:56 – Warranty 13:53 – Origin 15:38 – Mounting Options 18:16 – Manufacturing quality and hand feel 21:49 – Accessories 25:32 – Additional observations 28:01 – Wrap-up conclusions Mindful Reviews https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Welcome to my most ambitious review yet. I compare 6 popular 85mm spotting scopes: Swarovski ATX 85mm, Kowa TSN Prominar 88, Zeiss Conquest Gavia 85mm, Maven S.1A 80mm, and Zeiss Victory Harpia 85mm to give you a better understanding about what makes them different, and which one may be best for you. 100% unbiased, highly technical, and overly detailed, as always! The raffle for the winning spotting scope is now live. You can join and buy tickets at https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ Original YouTube Video https://youtu.be/4fBi-ucLTpM 0:00 – Intro 1:47 – Mindful Reviews and the spotting scope raffle 3:36 – Tribalism and psychological marketing 5:04 – Objectivity and financial incentives 7:59 – No such thing as a “perfect” spotter 9:07 – Review methodology and categories 13:20 – Scoring system 18:27 – Pricing 21:53 – Weight & Weight Honesty 26:25 – Length 27:57 – Angled & Straight options 29:33 – Origin of manufacture 35:44 – Descriptive Class Rankings 36:26 – Warranty 44:12 – Durability 49:16 – Hardware 53:19 – Build Quality 53:57 – Weather Resistance 58:24 – Frame Material 1:00:11 – Internal Gas Purged 1:02:49 – Construction Class Rankings 1:05:16 - Magnification 1:06:54 – Objective Lens Size 1:07:13 – Field of View 1:10:37 – Glass Quality 1:20:24 – Glass Coatings 1:22:53 – Eye Relief 1:24:52 – Close Focus Distance 1:26:30 – Optics Class Ranking 1:28:28 – Performance Class 1:35:51 – Final Rankings Mindful Reviews https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

I’m back from my third winter goat hunt and while I did not kill a Billy I had a phenomenal hunt. 0:00 – Intro 2:16 – The hunt 7:50 – The difference between -10 and -20 13:40 – Limits of cannister stoves in very cold temps 16:30 – My daily routine 18:07 – My updated strategy 19:55 – Insulated booties 21:40 – Glassing strategies 26:10 – First goat of the trip 29:10 – Three Billy’s 34:40 – The little things that help 42:00 – The day 4 “Billy” 50:18 – Decisions Mindful Reviews https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Seeing as I am heading back in for another goat hunt I figured I'd post another review instead of skipping a week so here you go! After doing my initial 2-person 3-season category review of 9 tents I took my number one choice the Sea To Summit Telos TR2 on a sheep hunt. Unfortunately, I was met with unexpected and considerable water in the tent. Well, it has taken 6 months and a new tent being shipped out but after extensive testing, I can finally share my findings. Original Review: https://youtu.be/lCijxES4wmw Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

This week I do my best to answer all the questions I received regarding my solo winter mountain goat hunt. 0:00 – Intro 1:02 – Sea To Summit Telos TR2 Review 1:50 – Mindful Review updates 3:00 – Rokslide updates 4:15 – Influencer Economics 101 16:38 – Snowshoes vs. Skis 19:26 – Atlas vs MSR Snowshoes 22:55 – How would you escout differently in the future? 26:18 – Will you apply for the same LEH? 26:30 – Extra clothing? 32:31 – MSR Warranty 33:42 – Hot Tent 38:42 – Opinion on Exo K4 42:18 – Campsite selection in winter 44:18 – ATV use 46:18 – Boot Selection 47:00 – Drying your gear 48:36 – Crampon selection 49:19 – More drying tips 50:54 – How I picked my unit 53:28 – Temps 53:32 – Avalanche training and gear 54:25 – Plans for the rest of the season Mindful Reviews https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Well, the title kind of says it all, if you want to hear the story check out the podcast. I also go through a bunch of house cleaning and had a few rants on various topics lol. Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Alright folks I failed to kill a goat, but I successfully made it back in one piece. In this week’s episode, I walk through every piece of gear I brought and discuss how it performed! Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

I’m still out of town goat hunting so I put the audio of two of my YouTube reviews from December up as an interim episode. See links below for YouTube videos. FINAL REVIEW: Fierce CT Rival 300 PRC Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44 https://youtu.be/ahHCjx5uFY0 Seek Outside 12 Man Tipi with XL Stove Review https://youtu.be/v3zJNeq-lVw Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

I’ve put both these binocular harnesses through the paces on multiple hunts over the last two years. I rank each one across 21 different categories and break down exactly why I prefer one of these for my particular hunting style. 0:00 – Intro 6:02 – 21 Categories 6:34 – Scoring System 7:14 – AGC Kodiak Cub Max 10:08 – Marsupial Bino Harness 11:34 – Price 12:03 – Colour Options 12:41 – Sizes 13:05 – Weight 14:23 – Purchase Experience 17:00 – American Bonus 18:25 – Canadian Bonus 19:36 – Capacity 25:10 – Materials 27:33 – Construction 28:41 – Harness Systems 30:23 – Fitting 31:43 – Accessories 33:10 – Noise 34:32 – Lid Functionality 36:10 – Optic Fit 46:25 – Durability 48:08 – Impact Protection 49:22 – Water Resistance 51:15 – Hardware 52:07 – Archery 53:19 – Final Ranking 55:31 – How To Win The Marsupial Harness Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Kevin is the co-host of The Focus Hunting Podcast and has been a good friend for a while and someone I look up to for his hunting skill and the way he conducts his life both on and offline. I wanted to get Kevin on over the holidays to catch up and see how his year went and what his plans are for 2023. Kevin is the type of hunter we should all try to be a little more like and I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation with him. Kevin Toye https://www.instagram.com/kevin__toye/ https://www.instagram.com/focus_hunting/ https://focushunting.ca/podcast Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Bradley Brooks is the founder and CEO of Argali Outdoors, a company that specializes in the design and manufacturing of ultralight hunting gear. Brad was also kind enough to give us an exclusive insight into their new trekking poles that are launching on Jan 5th. As always, with the founder’s series, I am trying to uncover the challenges entrepreneurs faced while growing their companies in the outdoors space. I was incredibly impressed with Brad’s thoughtful approach to design and business growth. In addition, he is a badass hunter and climber himself with lots of cool stories to share. Argali https://argalioutdoors.com/ https://www.instagram.com/argali_official/ Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Ben and I have been Instagram friends for quite a while, and I finally had the chance to get him on the podcast. Ben is one of the guys I rely on for feedback and advice on my gear choices. He is insanely analytical and has run more gear than most of us will get a chance to see in our lives. We barely scratched the surface in this one, so we are already planning part 2 for when I am back from my goat hunt. Ben Reynolds https://www.instagram.com/b_reynolds_ak/ Down Synthetic Layering Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/backpacking-light-podcast/id1363370570?i=1000586310696 Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Well, folks in 3 weeks I will be trudging up the side of some god-awful mountain trying to kill a big old billy so might as well go over the gear list. Also, tons of great questions in the second half this week. Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Kurt Racicot is the next guest in The Founders Series. Through these podcasts, I will explore the roots of some of the most popular outdoor brands and how their founders built them. Kurt is the founder and lead designer for Stone Glacier. We dove into his history as a hunter, where his entrepreneurial drive came from, some of the challenges he faced founding both these companies, and much much more. Kurt Racicot https://www.stoneglacier.com/ https://www.instagram.com/stoneglacier Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Steve Speck is the first guest in The Founders Series. Through these podcasts, I will explore the roots of some of the most popular outdoor brands and how their founders built them. Steve is the owner of Exo Mtn Gear and S&S Archery. We dove into his history as a hunter, where his entrepreneurial drive came from, some of the challenges he faced founding both these companies, and much much more. Steve Speck https://www.instagram.com/steve.j.speck/ https://www.instagram.com/huntbackcountry/ https://www.instagram.com/sandsarchery/ https://exomtngear.com/ https://sandsarchery.com/ Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Tried to answer as many questions as I could from IG this week. I got into things like is TRT worth it, Dealing with knee pain, best base layers and many more. Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

I recorded this podcast while driving home from Northern Alberta. I spent a week sitting in treestands at -20c trying to kill a buck with my bow. I wasn’t successful but I learned a ton and I go over my takeaways from the hunt and my thoughts about all the gear I used. Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

The battle of the ultralight backpack titans! Here is my analysis of the Seek Outside Goshawk 6300 vs the Stone Glacier Terminus 7000. If you want to enter to win either of these bags head over to Mindful Reviews. Comparing these two ultralight packs was a blast. These backpacks both go about trying to solve the same problems in very unique ways. https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ 0:00 – Intro 1:23 – Mindful Reviews community launch 5:44 – Tribalism in marketing 6:51 – Premium gear 7:39 – Individual pack preference 8:35 – 24 elements reviewed 9:49 – Scoring system 10:18 – Ultra vs. Cordura 16:29 – Marketing copy for Terminus 18:26 – Marketing copy for Goshawk 23:50 – Price 25:12 – Weight honesty 29:16 – Volume/weight 30:45 – Purchase experience 36:23 – Local bonus 40:28 – Lids 43:13 – Compression 53:31 – Fitting 1:04:15 – Construction 1:14:45 – Lumbar pads 1:15:18 – Load lifter angle 1:16:10 – Meat shelf 1:20:50 – Day pack mode 1:22:35 – Accessories 1:28:40 – Training mode 1:29:40 – Durability 1:31:48 – Water resistance 1:40:09 – Functional volume 1:42:01 – Hardware 1:42:23 – Load ratings 1:52:09 – Conclusion Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

I had a great chat with John Barklow who is not only the Big Game Product Manager for Sitka but is a very accomplished bowhunter and has a fantastic newsletter full of insights and tactics for hunters of all experience levels. John Barklow https://www.instagram.com/jbarklow/ https://knowledgefromstorms.com/ Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

This week I broke down my entire archery setup including bow, arrow build, broadhead, speed, everything. After that, I dove into an archery-focused Q&A. Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Well my friends I was finally able to break the curse. In this podcast, I go over my history with elk in B.C. and then break down my latest hunt where I was lucky enough to arrow a great bull while hunting solo. Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

I just spent 9 days hunting elk with my old man and brother in northern BC. While we didn’t kill an elk it was our first hunt all together and it was great to spend time together. I thought I’d do a gear breakdown and share some of my takeaways from the hunt. Also, I’m headed back out solo for elk on Sunday and dove into my plan for that as well. Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois is a MeatEater culinary contributor, an expert on all things Cajun, and an all-around badass with an infectious love of cooking, the outdoors, and intense pride in his home state of Louisiana. He just debuted season 2 of his feature cooking and hunting show Duck Camp Dinners last week on the MeatEater YouTube channel. I thoroughly enjoyed sitting down with Jean-Paul and was part history lesson, part cooking lesson, and part waterfowl hunting lesson. Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois https://www.instagram.com/chefjean_paul/ https://chef-jean-paul.myshopify.com/ Duck Camp Dinners https://youtu.be/JI41RNYDix0 Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

To wrap up the three-podcast series on my sheep hunt I did a massive Q & A covering the hunt itself, the filming process, and the gear I used. I answered things like the best and worst piece of gear I brought, my e-scouting process, how the new tent held up, and much more. Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

I felt as though there was some value in digging a little deeper into my decision-making process during this hunt and going over some of my mistakes might be useful to some people. It also gave me a chance to reflect on the journey and see where I could improve next year. Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Okay, I’m back from my sheep hunt. I didn’t kill a sheep, but I certainly got to put some gear through its paces and learned lots that I’ve got to share. Let me know if you have any follow-up questions. Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Up next in the Mindful Review series is a comparative analysis of 9, 2-person 3-season tents including the Big Agnes Copper Spur, Sea To Summit Telos, Hilleberg Niak, MSR Hubba Hubba, Nemo Dragonfly, Stone Glacier Skyscraper 2P, Kuiu Mountain Star, Hilleberg Helags, and the Slingfin Portal. I looked at 30 different elements including price, build quality, practical space, pole construction, and many more. I am also raffling off 4 of the tents and if you head to the link below you can buy tickets if they are still available. Please let me know which category of hunting gear you would like to see reviewed next? Rain Gear? Electronics? YouTube Version https://youtu.be/lCijxES4wmw Raffle Tickets https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast 0:00 – Intro 0:26 – List of Tents 2:18 – The Raffle 6:36 – Consumer Psychology 8:41 – Personal Opinion 11:15 – 30 categories tested and 20 scored 13:31 – Practical Space 13:52 – In-tent Height and Length Footage 29:33 – 2-pad Test 33:14 – Price 34:42 – Weight & Weight Honesty 37:24 – Tent Pegs 39:32 – Ease of Setup 44:09 – Build Quality 47:58 – Pole Quality 51:23 – Rain Test 58:10 – Practical Vestibule Space 1:00:00 – Breathability vs Warmth and the Effect on Condensation 1:02:18 – Zippers 1:02:37 – Practical Fabric Quality 1:03:24 – Fabric Specs 1:11:11 – Freestanding 1:11:21 – Number of Doors 1:11:38 – Ease of Getting In and Out 1:12:35 – Final Rankings

Going through the process of prepping for a bodybuilding contest is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and I’ve been lucky enough to do some pretty hard things in my life. I learned a lot about who I am and what it takes to be successful. I thought it would be interesting to see how I could apply those lessons to becoming a better hunter. Here’s what I came up with. Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Okay, folks so I have put together my nutritional plan for my 2022 solo sheep hunt. I have included macros, micros, electrolytes, and all my supplements. In addition to that, I am reposting my Backcountry Meal Planning Guide for free (link below) and have also teamed up with Wilderness Athlete to give away over $200 worth of supplements. Giveaway Instructions: Go to my Instagram page and look for the latest post with the photo of the supplements being given away https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Make sure you are following me and Wilderness Athlete. Every person you tag will get you one entry. Share the post to your story for 5 bonus entries Leave a rating and review on my podcast for 5 bonus entries The giveaway is open for 1 week until July 15th https://www.instagram.com/wilderness_athlete/ https://wildernessathlete.com/ Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

This week I had the opportunity to sit down with someone I have looked up to for a long time. Trail Kreitzer is a legitimate backcountry hunter in the truest sense of the words. Not only is he insanely dedicated he is also extremely analytical about his process and his gear. The pack dump videos he does for GoHunt are some of the finest on YouTube. We talked about all kinds of things from the psychology of mentally breaking in the mountains to a deep dive on all sorts of cool gear topics. This may be my favourite episode I’ve recorded to date. Trail Kreitzer https://www.instagram.com/trailk11/ https://www.gohunt.com/author/trail-kreitzer Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

This week I break down my backpacking camera gear for hunting. I dive into it from both a photography and videography perspective and cover cameras, lenses, power management etc. I also give three different gear lists for three different budgets. Let me know your thoughts. Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Time for another solo Q&A episode. This week I answered questions about how to get fit for hunting in the backcountry. I personally believe this is a lot simpler than most people make it out. I discussed everything from training splits to injury recovery and a whole lot in-between. Let me know your thoughts! Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

This week I sat down with my good friend Big Ron Partlow. Ron owns West Coast Iron, the gym I train at, hosts the podcast It’s Just Bodybuilding, is sponsored by the supplement company Mutant, and is a retired IFBB professional bodybuilder. We had a great conversation and covered things like how Ron started training, bodybuilding in the 90’sand how to build a life doing what you love. Ron Partlow https://www.instagram.com/rep300/ It’s Just Bodybuilding Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/think-big-bodybuilding/id1561623662 https://open.spotify.com/show/0RZgpBPeXPcRLmhG5rDr2X?si=61f14b2ba1484697 West Coast Iron https://www.westcoastirononline.com/ Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Here are the final results for the most ambitious review I’ve ever attempted. In addition to multiple smaller elements, I looked at load shelf capability and tested 80lbs and 120lbs loads. The results surprised even me. I’d love to hear your comments and feedback and requests for future comparative reviews you’d like to see. I hope you enjoy it. I reviewed the Kifaru Fulcrum with Duplex Lite Frame Stone Glacier Sky Guide 7900 with X-Curve Frame Mystery Ranch Marshall Exo K3 6400 Kuiu 7800 Pro 0:16 – Introduction 5:46 – Exo YouTube marketing clarification 6:42 – Kifaru shipping weight clarification 9:48 – Phase 2 testing results 10:35 – Load shelves 18:52 – Colour options 20:42 – Accessories/Customizability 24:50 – Training conversion 27:03 – Warranty 30:04 – Durability 33:05 – Water retention 34:31 – IG Feedback 35:30 – Functional volume 37:41 – Hardware 39:40 – 80lbs comfort rating 44:31 – 120lbs comfort rating 48:09 – Final thoughts Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

This week I sat down and answered questions off IG. I covered things like tips for new bowhunters, my favourite kind of bear hunting, the software I use to edit videos, how I prefer to butcher meat, and a whole lot more. Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Well, here it is! Part 1 of my attempt at the most comprehensive 10-day + hunting backpack review ever done. In this first part, I do an overview of each bag, test out 40lbs loads and look at 14 different individual characteristics of the bags. In part 2 I will continue to add more elements and run 80lbs and 120lbs tests. The results surprised even me. I’d love to hear your comments and feedback and requests for other elements you’d like to see in part 2. I hope you enjoy it. I reviewed the Kifaru Fulcrum with Duplex Lite Frame Stone Glacier Sky Guide 7900 with X-Curve Frame Mystery Ranch Marshall Exo K3 6400 Kuiu 7800 Pro 0:00 – Intro 1:45 – Tribalism and marketing 5:15 – Different tools for different jobs 8:05 – Methodology and 5 bags we’re testing 11:05 – Overview of the bags 15:05 – Kuiu Pro 7800 24:42 – Stone Glacier Sky Guide 7900 29:03 – Exo K3 6400 32:15 – Mystery Ranch Marshall 35:36 – Kifaru Fulcrum 38:33 – Price 39:44 – Weight 41:10 – Weight Honesty 45:15 – Volume per pound capacity 46:09 – Shipping Speed 46:55 – Purchase Experience 47:53 – Canadian Bonus 48:47 – Lids 49:58 – Fitting 51:20 – 40lbs Comfort Rating 54:54 – Lateral Stability 56:41 – Vertical Stability 57:40 – Lumbar Pads 1:01:09 – Load Lifter Angle 1:01:38 – The Final Rankings for Part 1 Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Nick Marchiando is one of my favourite backcountry filmmakers right now. I wanted to sit down with him and pick his brain and hear his story. Nick has a very unique perspective on production and storytelling and we had a great chat. Nick Marchiando https://www.instagram.com/nmarchiando/ https://www.instagram.com/backcountrybcandbeyond/ https://www.nickmarchiando.com/ Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Ray is one of the best Taxidermists I know. I have been taking him my bears for the last 5 years. After getting a ton of questions on how to properly prepare trophies in the field for taxidermy I thought I should just have him on so he could share some of his knowledge and wisdom. I hope we all get a chance this season to utilize some of the techniques Ray shared in this episode. If you like looking at beautiful mounts, I highly recommend following Ray on IG. Ray Wiens Taxidermy https://rwtaxidermy.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ray_wiens/ Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

I’ve recently re-prioritized what I want to do with the podcast and what type of content I want to create. One of the things that I have always loved and drove the creation of the podcast in the first place was nerding out on gear. With that in mind here’s my gear list for my 2022 solo Stone’s Sheep hunt. You can download it at the link below. https://www.dropbox.com/s/elijr79tko7krcx/2022%20Sheep%20Hunt_Upload.xlsx?dl=0 Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

I had the boys behind Filter Studios over to discuss the release of a very important documentary titled Transmission. There is a pandemic happening amongst wild sheep. The infectious bacteria known as mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (movi) is a deadly bacteria that is passed from domestic sheep to wild sheep. Enter Dr. Helen Schwantje, the lead wildlife veterinarian for the Government of BC and a sheep farmer. Helen is at the forefront of the battle against Movi. Working with a handful of other passionate scientists and volunteers they’re doing what they can to try and stop the spread of this killer. There is no shortage of struggles though… a lack of resources, a lack of public awareness, a lack of proven science, and the biggest foe of all… a lack of time. http://www.movifree.org/ https://www.instagram.com/movifree/ Main Funding Provided by Wild Sheep Society of BC Habitat Conservation Trust Fund Additional Funding Provided by Wild Sheep Foundation Wild Sheep Foundation - Midwest Wild Sheep Foundation - Alberta Wild Sheep Foundation - Yukon Jurassic Classic / Abbotsford Fish and Game Club Cabelas’ Canada Outdoor Fund Grant Filter Studios https://filterstudios.ca/ https://www.instagram.com/filterstudios/ Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Simon and I shoot the shit and answer some questions on this week’s live stream. Simon Friesen https://www.instagram.com/backcountrybloodline/ Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

I was lucky enough to drive down to The Bow Rack this week to buy myself a new bow and before I headed down, I hit up Kellen from @inside_out_precision to see if he’d be down for a podcast. We talked about his background in hunting, his history in competitive and scholastic archery and then we nerded out on archery in general. This is a great podcast for anyone looking to dive a little deeper into this sport we love. Kellen https://www.instagram.com/inside_out_precision/ https://www.youtube.com/c/InsideOutPrecision https://insideoutprecision.com/ Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Greg and I shoot the shit and answer some questions on this week’s live stream. Greg Johnston https://www.instagram.com/johnston_outdoors/ Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Cody Rich started one of the original hunting podcasts @therichoutdoors 7 years ago. Since then, the podcast has grown and evolved, and he also started up a second outdoors-based business – @backcountryfuelbox I wanted to talk with Cody to see what his original motivations were with entrepreneurship and how he was able to craft a lifestyle that let him hunt as much as possible. The conversation did not disappoint. Cody has now started a new project – The Rich Ideas Lab, to help other outdoors enthusiasts start their own entrepreneurial journeys and you can find out more at the links below. Cody Rich https://www.instagram.com/therichoutdoors/ https://backcountryfuelbox.com/ https://community.richideaslab.com/ Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

I spend some time sharing how I use various applications to plan backcountry routes when there are no trails available. This episode is best viewed on YouTube https://youtu.be/sxmKrW5LGW0 Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

This week I had the opportunity to sit down with Greg Rensmaag. Greg is a true BC hunter in the best way possible. He grew up hunting with his dad and now spends most of his time in the outdoors raising his kids the same way. In the age of social media and technology, it was refreshing to talk with a man whose primary motivations when hunting are stronger connections with his family. Greg Rensmaag https://www.instagram.com/grensmaag/?hl=en Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

I’m solo for this week’s live stream so I hit up a bunch of Q&A. Wild Sheep Society Act Now! https://www.wildsheepsociety.com/actnow/ Howl Campaign https://www.howlforwildlife.org/bcpeace BC Gov’t Site https://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/ahte/content/close-peace-caribou-hunts-and-reduce-peace-moose-hunts-region-wide Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

Due to our opposition of the proposed changes to regulations in region 7B we all decided to get together and do one massive podcast. It was my first time meeting some of these guys. It was great to get together with like-minded individuals and discuss things that matter to us all. See the links below to take action! Wild Sheep Society Act Now! https://www.wildsheepsociety.com/actnow/ Howl Campaign https://www.howlforwildlife.org/bcpeace BC Gov’t Site https://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/ahte/content/close-peace-caribou-hunts-and-reduce-peace-moose-hunts-region-wide Google the podcast names below for further info about each of them. Beyond The Kill Come Out Heavy Silvercore Talk is Sheep Eat Wild Focus Hunting Wilderness Locals Hunt Hard Talk Free Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast

On this week’s live podcast, I sat down with my buddy Dylan and we had a great chat. Got a little philosophical on this one. Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/ Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast