Exo Journal

We have decades of experience backpack hunting, but only in the past few years have we started using packrafts to unlock new areas to hunt and to increase the level of adventure of those hunts. Our first true packraft hunt was a trip to Alaska for caribou, which we followed up with another hunt in Alaska for moose. Those two hunts, which you can watch in The Experience Project Film Series, demonstrated two very different use cases of packrafts for hunting. The caribou hunt included big miles and swift water, whereas the use of the rafts on the moose hunt...

Many backcountry hunters accept miserable, cold, or restless nights as an unfortunate reality, but there are many things that you can do to improve sleep quality on backpack hunts. In this video, we discuss the common mistakes that backpack hunters make and how to improve your sleep quality on the mountain.

The hunt doesn't end when the shot is fired—that’s when the real work begins. In this final installment of our 2026 Expert Roundtable series, we assume the tag is filled and focus on what it takes to successfully "complete the mission" in the backcountry. From tracking and post-shot discipline to field dressing, caping, meat preservation, and high-mileage packout logistics, four seasoned outdoorsmen share their distinct perspectives on handling the aftermath of a successful hunt: Nate Simmons breaks down the mental game of blood-trailing, why you need an extraction plan before pulling the trigger, prioritizing meat care over filming, and using...

Finding a high-country animal is tough, but getting into position and actually closing the deal? That’s where the real challenge begins. Whether you're chasing rams, high-country mule deer, or mountain elk, this fourth episode of our 2026 Expert Roundtable series is packed with practical strategies, gear considerations, and mental frameworks to help you turn hard-earned opportunities into filled tags — breaking down the critical moments between spotting an animal and pulling the trigger or releasing an arrow. Topics & Guests Patience vs. Aggression: How Ben Reynolds balances slow, methodical glassing with a "default aggressive" mindset once a stalk route is...