Exo Journal — Hunting Gear

How short is too short when it comes to choosing a barrel length for hunting? Here is how to estimate the speed and effective range for your next rifle.

We had been sitting on the hillside for over 9 hours. Daylight would be fading soon enough, and our hopes of seeing the bull this evening were fading even quicker. Cows began to feed out of the timber patch across the canyon. Eventually, the bull did as well. I set up for the shot. It was a far shot, but one that I had thought about, planned for, rehearsed, and dry-fired all day. And the conditions were perfect. My bullet found its mark, and I watched the bull drop through my rifle’s scope. By the time we dropped to the...

Like most backcountry hunters, we are passionate about the gear we use. At the end of each year, we like to highlight some of the favorite gear we have used for hunts throughout the year and discuss why those particular items made a difference for us personally. Here is our favorite gear from 2024…

Although each one of us is on a unique hunting journey, there are undoubtedly some common mistakes that most new backpack hunters make. Perhaps, though, you can avoid these common pitfalls if you learn about them now. Let's look at the common mistakes and how to avoid them...