Exo Journal — Mindset

Every experienced backcountry hunter knows that it isn’t a question of if you will face an obstacle on your hunt, but when that difficulty is coming. Whether it’s a sudden mountain storm, a blown stalk, unexpected hunting pressure, or a target animal that seemingly disappears into thin air, the true separator between success and failure isn't your gear—it's your mindset. In this second episode of our 2026 Expert Roundtable series, we sit down with veteran hunters Nate Simmons, Brad Brooks, Ben Reynolds, and Isaac Deuling to break down the mental game of backcountry hunting. The guys pull back the curtain...

If you asked 1,500 hunters about specific ways to make the most of shot opportunities, and ethically and effectively kill their target animal, what do you think they would say matters most? We asked those hunters, and we have those answers. As part of The Experience Challenge, we had 1,500+ hunters complete a detailed Hunt Reflection. Their answers inspired this new series, The Backcountry Blueprint. In each installment, we distill key takeaways from 1,500+ hunters to help you master the backcountry. Today, we're looking at how to make the most of each shot opportunity, including what hunters have learned from...

This year, for the first time on an Exo Death Hike, the entire hike took place on an established trail. We embarked upon a Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim hike of the Grand Canyon. Starting at the South Rim, we descended more than 4,700' in elevation down the South Kaibab trail. Crossing the Colorado River, we continued putting on miles in the depths of the Canyon before ascending more than 5,800' up the North Kaibab Trail to the Grand Canyon's North Rim. From one side of the Grand Canyon to the other. And back again. In total, we hiked more than 50 miles, climbed...

We had been hunting hard for seven days, but no arrows had taken flight. With 45 minutes left of light, we spotted a great bull about a mile out. Like hungry coyotes, we quickly moved through the dense high desert to close the distance before nightfall. As the sun dipped into the horizon, we were presented with a great shot opportunity. We heard the arrow hit, watched the bull run off, and decided to give it time. After a frosty night, we picked up the blood trail, but couldn't find the bull. The search continued until we found ourselves with...