Episode Details

Welcome back to the Mindful Hunter Podcast! In this episode, Jay wraps up the massive backlog of listener questions from our recent Q&A, covering everything from backcountry bear hunting stories to controversial reloading opinions.

We kick things off with a recap of Jay's first guided bear hunt of the season, detailing a successful 400-yard shot and a massive 6-foot+ boar. Then, we dive into the Q&A, tackling some heated topics. Is extreme spread (ES) and standard deviation (SD) actually important for hunting, or is it just a distraction? Jay shares his unfiltered thoughts on why speed for speed's sake is useless and how to reverse-engineer your bullet velocity for maximum terminal performance.

Jay also answers questions about the best books to improve your hunting (spoiler: you should probably just spend more time in the field), the single biggest mistake he made when he first started hunting, and why using a floorless shelter in the high country is a recipe for disaster. Plus, get the details on a massive $10,000+ giveaway, the upcoming technical apparel launch, and some exclusive outfitting opportunities.

Whether you're looking for reloading advice, scouting strategies, or just some honest, unfiltered hunting talk, this Q&A is packed with actionable advice to help you level up this season.

Timed Chapters
00:00:00 - Intro & Housekeeping (Apparel Launch & Massive $10k Giveaway)
00:00:15 - Bear Camp Recap: A 400-Yard Shot on a 6-Foot+ Boar
00:11:35 - Field Processing a Bear: Meat Care & Packing Out
00:15:52 - Remaining Guided Bear Hunt Openings for 2025/2026
00:17:22 - Match Bullets for Hunting: Reverse-Engineering Velocity for Terminal Performance
00:21:01 - The Truth About Extreme Spread (ES) & Standard Deviation (SD)
00:25:47 - The Best Books to Help You Improve as a Hunter
00:28:38 - Plans for a BC Whitetail Hunt & Unfinished Sheep Business
00:32:35 - Advice for Someone Struggling to Get Their First BC Mule Deer
00:35:44 - Heated Gloves, Telson Optics, & Winter Kit Swaps
00:36:59 - Goat Redemption Plans for 2026 & Hiring a Full-Time Filmer
00:38:26 - Spotting Scope Recommendations: Kowa 88 vs. Swarovski ATX 85
00:38:53 - How Often Do You Eat Wild Game for a Healthy Physique?
00:39:34 - Argali Clothing Review: Pants & Grid Fleece
00:40:46 - The Best Rifle Cleaning Products & Process (Modern Day Sniper Method)
00:43:20 - Upgrading from Cheap Binos: Are the SIG Zulu 6s Worth It?
00:43:49 - Is a Vacuum Sealer Worth It for Backcountry Food?
00:44:13 - The Two Biggest Mistakes I Made When I First Started Hunting
00:48:27 - Kootenay CWD Tags, Born Primitive Gear, & Podcast Guests
00:52:12 - MDT Carbon Stock vs. Rok Stock vs. XLR Element 4.0
00:54:34 - 6mm Creedmoor for BC Mule Deer, Blacktail, and Elk?
00:54:55 - Canadian-Made EDC Pocket Knives & Island Blacktail Tactics
00:58:59 - Floorless Shelters in the High Country: Why You Shouldn't Do It
00:59:53 - Outro & Final Giveaway Details

Jay Nichol
jay@mindfulhunter.com
https://www.mindful-reviews.com/
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/

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