The Mindful Hunter Podcast

A deep dive into a mindful perspective on the discipline of hunting.

The Mindful Hunter Podcast is a sports podcast hosted by Jay Nichol, with 340 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Jay Nichol hosts The Mindful Hunter Podcast, a sports show with 340 episodes published.

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  Episode #340

  EP 333 - Hornady 4DOF vs. Applied Ballistics: Which One Is Actually Better?

  Sep 24, 202618 min

  WIN A KOWA 88 SPOTTING SCOPE: Mindful Munitions is officially open. Every $5 spent at Forged in the Backcountry or Mindful Munitions earns one entry to win a Kowa 88 spotting scope. The giveaway ends October 30 at midnight Pacific Time. Forged in the Backcountry: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/ Mindful Munitions: https://mindfulmunitions.com/ Applied Ballistics vs. Hornady 4DOF — which ballistic solver actually gives you the most accurate firing solution at long range? I tested both at 1,300-1,400 yards and the results may surprise you. In this video, I break down the head-to-head comparison across five categories: physics modeling, drag models, real-world accuracy, ecosystem & hardware integration, and cost. I cover the difference between 3DOF and 4DOF solvers, why BC-based models fall apart past 600 yards, how Doppler radar custom curves work, and the critical difference between how Applied Ballistics and Hornady 4DOF let you true your data. This is not a sponsored video. These are my honest findings from real-world use on a shooting course at extended distances. Drop your questions and hot takes in the comments below — I know this one is going to be controversial! APPS & GEAR MENTIONED: Hornady 4DOF App (free): hornady.com/4dof Applied Ballistics Quantum App Sig AK Rangefinder Kestrel 5700 with 4DOF Leupold Range Finding Binoculars CHAPTERS: 0:00 - The Most Controversial Video I've Made 0:30 - Applied Ballistics vs. Hornady 4DOF Overview 0:58 - Physics Modeling: 3DOF vs. 4DOF Explained 2:36 - Hornady 4DOF: Spindrift & Aerodynamic Jump Explained 2:52 - Drag Models: BC vs. Doppler Radar 6:26 - Real-World Accuracy at 1,300-1,400 Yards 7:15 - Truing Your Data (The Critical Difference) 9:53 - Giveaway: Win a Custom Guided Hunt 11:10 - Ecosystem & Hardware Integration 13:02 - App Availability & Cost (Free vs. Pay-to-Play) 13:49 - My Final Recommendation: Which One Is Right for You? Jay Nichol jay@mindfulhunter.com https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Forged In The Backcountry https://forgedinthebackcountry.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 Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide Free Training Guide For Mountain Hunting https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Kowa TSN-88A Sweepstakes No purchase required. Contest begins on August 18, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. PST and ends on October 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST. There is a total of 1 prize available to be won consisting of: (i) A previously owned Kowa TSN-88A Spotting Scope Body with Eyepiece (APR) $5,500.00 CAD; Skill testing question required. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States, The District of Columbia, Canada (excluding Quebec), United Kingdom, New Zealand, Finland, France and Switzerland. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received before contest closes. No limit on entries. For full rules and entry details visit: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/blogs/resources/kowa-tsn-88a-sweepstakes

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  Episode #339

  EP 332 - Can a Down Quilt Save Your Life? Extreme Cold Wet Weather Test (Outdoor Vitals 15f Stormloft Review)

  Sep 21, 202617 min

  WIN A KOWA 88 SPOTTING SCOPE: Mindful Munitions is officially open. Every $5 spent at Forged in the Backcountry or Mindful Munitions earns one entry to win a Kowa 88 spotting scope. The giveaway ends October 30 at midnight Pacific Time. Forged in the Backcountry: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/ Mindful Munitions: https://mindfulmunitions.com/ Did this down quilt just save my life? In this extreme backcountry gear test, I push the Outdoor Vitals 15-degree down quilt to its absolute limits. If you've ever been on a late-season mountain hunt, you know that wet gear can end your trip—or worse. To see if this sleep system can truly handle a catastrophic wet-out, I jumped into a freezing river in British Columbia (-7°C) fully clothed, and then relied entirely on my body heat and this down quilt to dry me out. We cover the critical phases of surviving hypothermia in the backcountry, the "danger zone" of warming up, and why the loft of your sleeping bag matters more than you think. I also break down the rest of my gear, including Stone Glacier apparel and my Durston shelter. Whether you are a backcountry hunter, an ultralight backpacker, or just someone who wants to know their sleep system won't fail when it matters most, this test reveals the truth about using down insulation in wet conditions. Gear Featured in this Video: Outdoor Vitals 15° Down Quilt Exped Expedition 7R Mat Durston Tent X-Dome 1+ Stone Glacier Dehavilland Pants Marsupial Sun Hoodie OV Hybrid Fleece Stone Glacier Grumman Puffy Don't forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE for more extreme gear tests and backcountry hunting tips! Timed Chapters 00:00 - The Problem with Down Sleep Systems 00:32 - The Gear: Outdoor Vitals Quilt & Setup 01:34 - My Custom Quilt Modification 02:26 - Jumping into a Freezing River 03:15 - The Hypothermia Survival Plan 04:49 - The "Danger Zone" of Getting Warm 06:02 - Checking Quilt Loft vs. Wet Clothes 07:50 - Prioritizing Survival in the Backcountry 09:06 - 2-Hour Check-In: Is the System Working? 11:10 - Final Results: Can Down Survive a Wet Out? Jay Nichol jay@mindfulhunter.com https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Forged In The Backcountry https://forgedinthebackcountry.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 Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide Free Training Guide For Mountain Hunting https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Kowa TSN-88A Sweepstakes No purchase required. Contest begins on August 18, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. PST and ends on October 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST. There is a total of 1 prize available to be won consisting of: (i) A previously owned Kowa TSN-88A Spotting Scope Body with Eyepiece (APR) $5,500.00 CAD; Skill testing question required. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States, The District of Columbia, Canada (excluding Quebec), United Kingdom, New Zealand, Finland, France and Switzerland. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received before contest closes. No limit on entries. For full rules and entry details visit: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/blogs/resources/kowa-tsn-88a-sweepstakes

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  Episode #338

  EP 331 – The Truth About BC Elk Hunting, Injury, and Falling Back in Love With the Process with Kevin Toye

  Sep 14, 20261h 19m

  WIN A KOWA 88 SPOTTING SCOPE: Mindful Munitions is officially open. Every $5 spent at Forged in the Backcountry or Mindful Munitions earns one entry to win a Kowa 88 spotting scope. The giveaway ends October 30 at midnight Pacific Time. Forged in the Backcountry: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/ Mindful Munitions: https://mindfulmunitions.com/ In this episode, Jay sits down with a longtime buddy for a wide-ranging conversation about elk hunting, parenting, fitness, content creation, guiding, and what it really takes to become consistently successful in the field. They start with early-season hunting updates, family time in the outdoors, and the reality of trying to balance hunting with work, kids, and the rest of life. The conversation gets blunt when it turns to elk hunting. Jay explains why he no longer believes backpacking as deep as possible is an effective elk strategy in many places, why you cannot start hunting elk until you find elk, and why YouTube, podcasts, E-scouting, and fancy gear are not a replacement for actual days in the field. They also talk about aggressive hunting, understanding regional elk behavior, recovering wounded animals, learning not to give up too soon, and why BC may be some of the toughest elk country on the planet. Later, they get into the mental side of injury and fitness, how identity and ego can get tied up in training, the pressure of making hunting content, and why the best content often comes from simply being yourself. Jay also shares why guiding continues to be so meaningful: helping someone experience their first animal and seeing familiar country through the eyes of a hunter who has never been there before. ️ THE ALPINE MULE DEER + FLOAT BEAR HUNT: This was one of the best BC adventures Jay has ever put together, and it is now being offered every September as an extended 8–9 day hunt. Email jay@mindfulhunter.com for details. One guided Coues deer spot remains for early February 2027, and 2027 Spring Bear openings are also available. Chapters 0:00:00 Catching Up: New Shop, YouTube Grind & Family Hunting Season 0:08:39 Early-Season Elk Action, Heat & Hunting Aggressively 0:13:18 How to Structure September: Day Hunting vs. Taking a Full Week Off 0:18:37 The Biggest Predictor of Hunting Success: Time in the Field 0:19:00 Forest Fires, Pivoting a Goat Hunt & Why Pre-Season Scouting Matters 0:21:18 You Cannot Podcast Your Way to Dead Critters 0:24:59 Recovering a Bear in Rain, Thick Brush & Crocs 0:27:00 Perspective, Tenacity & Why You Should Not Give Up Too Soon 0:29:40 Why BC Is Some of the Toughest Elk Hunting in North America 0:31:45 Hunt the Hunt You Actually Have—Not the One You See on YouTube 0:33:21 Why Backpacking Deep Is Often a Terrible Elk Strategy 0:36:32 Finding Elk vs. Getting Lucky: How Successful Elk Hunts Actually Happen 0:42:49 Injury, Losing the Ability to Run & the Mental Side of Fitness 0:48:58 Fitness, Ego & Learning to Be Okay With Changing Priorities 0:53:37 Content Creation, Motivation & Finding Your Own Lane 1:01:57 The Ethical Tension of Hunting Content & Why Guiding Matters 1:04:39 Why Jay Still Guides Despite the Time Away From Family 1:06:18 Most People Love the Idea of Hunting—Not the Reality 1:09:08 Why Being Yourself Is the Only Sustainable Content Strategy 1:10:51 Returning to Solo Podcasts & Making Content That Feels Natural 1:15:52 Closing Thoughts: Perspective, Discipline & Doing What You Love Jay Nichol jay@mindfulhunter.com https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Forged In The Backcountry https://forgedinthebackcountry.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 Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide Free Training Guide For Mountain Hunting https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Kowa TSN-88A Sweepstakes No purchase required. Contest begins on August 18, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. PST and ends on October 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST. There is a total of 1 prize available to be won consisting of: (i) A previously owned Kowa TSN-88A Spotting Scope Body with Eyepiece (APR) $5,500.00 CAD; Skill testing question required. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States, The District of Columbia, Canada (excluding Quebec), United Kingdom, New Zealand, Finland, France and Switzerland. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received before contest closes. No limit on entries. For full rules and entry details visit: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/blogs/resources/kowa-tsn-88a-sweepstakes

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  Episode #337

  EP 330 – A Velvet Mule Deer Buck, a Giant Cinnamon River Bear & Why You Can’t Hack Hunt Prep from Home

  Sep 7, 202650 min

  WIN A KOWA 88 SPOTTING SCOPE: Mindful Munitions is officially open. Every $5 spent at Forged in the Backcountry or Mindful Munitions earns one entry to win a Kowa 88 spotting scope. The giveaway ends October 30 at midnight Pacific Time. Forged in the Backcountry: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/ Mindful Munitions: https://mindfulmunitions.com/ Can a 500-yard shot actually be easier than a 150-yard shot? And is all the E-scouting, gear research, and hunting content in the world just an illusion of preparation if you never put boots on the ground? In this first guided-hunt recap, Jay breaks down a brutal but unforgettable BC combination hunt: an alpine backpack mule deer hunt followed by a float trip for black bear. Jay’s client Matt came in looking for his first mule deer and first black bear. After forest fires forced a last-minute pivot, the two relied on months of prior scouting, camera intel, route planning, shooting practice, and fitness to make the hunt happen. The result was a velvet mule deer taken at 496 yards from a perfect prone position, followed by a black bear on a river float hunt in a much harder, faster-moving shooting situation This episode is a full behind-the-scenes look at what actually made the hunt successful: knowing the ridge before the hunt started, understanding when mule deer are visible, trusting intuition while glassing, building a stable shooting position, staying calm around a client at the moment of truth, and having the Zone 2 capacity to grind through a 10.5-hour, 10.5-mile pack-out with a boned-out buck. Jay also explains why he will never blindly take a different route out of a basin again, why an unsupported 100–150-yard shot can be far more difficult than a prone shot at distance, and what made recovering Matt’s first black bear in driving rain and thick river-bottom brush so intense. ️ THE ALPINE MULE DEER + FLOAT BEAR HUNT: This was one of the best BC adventures Jay has ever put together, and it is now being offered every September as an extended 8–9 day hunt. Email jay@mindfulhunter.com for details. One guided Coues deer spot remains for early February 2027, and 2027 Spring Bear openings are also available. Chapters 0:00:00 Introducing the New Guided Hunt Recap Series 0:01:49 The Ultimate BC Combo Hunt: Alpine Mule Deer + Float Black Bear 0:02:36 The Truth About Hunting Success: You Cannot Hack Preparation from Home 0:05:27 Treat Yourself Like a Guided Client: Scouting, Cameras & Backup Plans 0:06:29 Hiking into the Alpine Mule Deer Basin 0:07:36 Why We Saw Nothing on the Evening Glassing Session 0:08:26 The Morning Window: 35 Deer, 18 Bucks & 4–5 Shooters 0:09:57 Why Boots-on-the-Ground Scouting Beats E-Scouting Alone 0:11:42 The 4.5-Mile Move to the Deer 0:12:23 Why Some Ridges Hold Deer and Others Don’t 0:15:14 The Backside Bench: Trusting a Theory About Evening Mule Deer Movement 0:16:11 Wind Management: Backing Out Before Ruining the Morning Play 0:17:04 Finding the Perfect Glassing Perch 0:18:50 Intuitive Glassing vs. Methodically Gridding a Hillside 0:20:07 How Jay Finds Bedded Mule Deer in the Evening 0:21:26 The Bedded Buck Debate & Finding a Shooter at 496 Yards 0:21:56 Matt’s 22 Creed Setup, Practice & Long-Range Readiness 0:23:35 The Perfect 496-Yard Prone Shooting Position 0:24:18 Why a Lightweight Shooting Bag Matters 0:24:38 Mindful Munitions, Forged in the Backcountry & Kowa 88 Giveaway 0:25:59 Guiding the Moment of Truth: Calm Beats Urgency 0:27:44 The 496-Yard Heart Shot on a Velvet Mule Deer 0:29:30 Processing the Buck & Planning the Pack-Out 0:29:53 Why Zone 2 Training Is the Best Mountain Hunt Preparation 0:31:18 The Mistake: Never Take an Unproven Route Out of a Basin 0:32:07 The 10.5-Mile, 10.5-Hour Mule Deer Pack-Out 0:34:31 Fitness, Attitude & Why Matt Was Able to Finish the Grind 0:35:25 Turning Around for the Float Bear Hunt 0:36:16 Float-Hunt Logistics & Finding Fresh Bear Sign 0:37:19 Why Float Hunts Are One of the Coolest Ways to Hunt 0:37:41 A Black Bear on the Riverbank & a Fast 22 Creed Shot 0:38:42 Why the 150-Yard Unsupported Shot Was Harder Than 496 Yards 0:39:57 How to Tell Whether a Bear Was Actually Hit 0:40:40 Wasp Nests, Driving Rain & Beginning the Recovery 0:41:57 Finding Matt’s First Black Bear in the River Bottom 0:44:28 The Work After the Kill: Rafts, Trucks, Trophies & a 4:30 AM Finish 0:45:25 Pushing the Limits of a Grinder Hunt 0:46:36 Why This May Have Been Jay’s Best Guided Hunt Ever 0:47:06 Making the Alpine Mule Deer + Float Bear Hunt an Annual Adventure 0:48:51 2027 BC, Mexico Coues Deer & Spring Bear Hunt Openings 0:49:50 Outro & Kowa 88 Giveaway Reminder Jay Nichol jay@mindfulhunter.com https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Forged In The Backcountry https://forgedinthebackcountry.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 Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide Free Training Guide For Mountain Hunting https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Kowa TSN-88A Sweepstakes No purchase required. Contest begins on August 18, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. PST and ends on October 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST. There is a total of 1 prize available to be won consisting of: (i) A previously owned Kowa TSN-88A Spotting Scope Body with Eyepiece (APR) $5,500.00 CAD; Skill testing question required. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States, The District of Columbia, Canada (excluding Quebec), United Kingdom, New Zealand, Finland, France and Switzerland. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received before contest closes. No limit on entries. For full rules and entry details visit: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/blogs/resources/kowa-tsn-88a-sweepstakes

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  Episode #336

  EP 329 – Why Kifaru’s Meat Shelf Sucks & I Don’t Shoot ELDM Anymore: Q&A

  Aug 28, 20261h 3m

  WIN A KOWA 88 SPOTTING SCOPE: Mindful Munitions is officially open. Every $5 spent at Forged in the Backcountry or Mindful Munitions earns one entry to win a Kowa 88 spotting scope. The giveaway ends October 30 at midnight Pacific Time. Forged in the Backcountry: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/ Mindful Munitions: https://mindfulmunitions.com/ Jay is back to finish the unanswered questions from the last Mindful Hunter Q&A, and this one gets blunt. From Kifaru’s overly complicated meat shelf system to the hard truth about showing up six weeks before a sheep hunt looking for a miracle training plan, this episode is about separating what actually matters from the stuff hunters tell themselves matters. Jay covers late-season muzzleloader mule deer tactics in old burns, calling black bears back after a miss, his favorite hunting-gear organization setup, and when Mindful Munitions will begin offering gunsmithing, Cerakote, Tikka pre-fit barrels, and Raven-action builds. He also covers early-season sleep systems, wide-foot hunting boots, the Aziak Vantage pan head, 6.5 Creedmoor Peak Alloy cartridges, the future of Forged Base Socks, tripod binoculars, and his first impressions of the Kifaru Arc. The second half gets into ELD-X versus ELD-M hunting bullets, why switching gear does not mean the old product failed, real prep for a Yukon Dall sheep hunt, hot-weather hunting pants, peptides and mountain performance, boot fitting, and the one thing that actually makes hunters consistently successful in a given area: spending consistent time there. Chapters 0:00:00 Intro, Kowa 88 Giveaway & Mindful Munitions Update 0:02:07 Late-September Muzzleloader Mule Deer: Stalking an Old Burn 0:05:21 Using a Predator Call to Stop or Bring Back a Spring Bear 0:07:42 The Best Hunting Gear Storage System for Home and Travel 0:10:32 When Will Mindful Munitions Offer Gunsmithing, Cerakote & Raven Builds? 0:15:23 My Go-To Early-Season Sleep System for Deer and Elk 0:16:30 The Best Morning Routine for Productivity and Deep Work 0:25:00 The Best Hunting Boots for Wide Feet 0:27:55 Aziak Vantage Pan Head & 6.5 Creedmoor Peak Alloy Cartridge Thoughts 0:30:53 Are Forged Base Socks Lightweight or Midweight? Future Sock Plans 0:36:58 14x52 NL Pure Binos vs. Maven B.5 15x56s for Tripod Glassing 0:37:54 Kifaru Arc First Impressions: Great Suspension, Bad Bags & Meat Shelf 0:40:36 ELD-X vs. ELD-M: Which Bullet Am I Hunting With? 0:46:37 Why I Keep Changing Rifle Stocks 0:48:31 Long vs. Regular Quilts for a 6'1" Hunter 0:49:26 Last-Minute Yukon Dall Sheep Hunt Prep: The Brutal Truth 0:55:37 Rough Ridge Stove Review Update 0:56:02 The Only Two Hot-Weather Hunting Pants I Recommend 0:56:20 Why I Am Not Elk Hunting This Season 0:56:56 Zeiss Conquest Gavia 65, Manners Stocks & MOA Rifles 0:57:23 Do Peptides Help Mountain Endurance? 0:58:41 The Key to Consistently Killing Bears in the Same Area 0:59:44 How to Research and Fit Hunting Boots Before Buying 1:01:50 Building a Budget Backcountry Hunting Gear System That Doesn’t Suck 1:02:13 Outro & Kowa 88 Giveaway Reminder Jay Nichol jay@mindfulhunter.com https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/ Forged In The Backcountry https://forgedinthebackcountry.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 Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide Free Training Guide For Mountain Hunting https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools Kowa TSN-88A Sweepstakes No purchase required. Contest begins on August 18, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. PST and ends on October 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST. There is a total of 1 prize available to be won consisting of: (i) A previously owned Kowa TSN-88A Spotting Scope Body with Eyepiece (APR) $5,500.00 CAD; Skill testing question required. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States, The District of Columbia, Canada (excluding Quebec), United Kingdom, New Zealand, Finland, France and Switzerland. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received before contest closes. No limit on entries. For full rules and entry details visit: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/blogs/resources/kowa-tsn-88a-sweepstakes

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