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

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

September 7, 2026 · 50 min · Episode 337

About this episode

Jay discusses a challenging guided hunt experience focusing on preparation and execution.

🎁 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 situationThis episode is a full…

People in this episode

Host: Jay Nichol

Guest: Matt

Topics covered

Keywords

Sponsors

Mindful Munitions, Forged in the Backcountry

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Forged in the Backcountry

Products: Kowa 88 spotting scope

Places: BC

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