In this kickoff to our brand-new 2026 Expert Roundtable series, we are diving deep into the practical aspects of hunt preparation. When you step into the mountains, you enter a world of endless variables. You can’t control the weather or the wildlife—but you can control many things that will prepare you for the unknown.
To break down exactly what it takes to build unwavering confidence before a hunt, we gather four incredibly experienced and successful backcountry hunters, each bringing a different perspective to the table:
- Nate Simmons (Producer & Co-Host of Western Hunter TV) breaks down his meticulous, analytical approach to year-round weapon proficiency, a practical approach to physical fitness, and why a hyper-detailed OnX hunt plan is his ultimate anxiety killer.
- Brad Brooks (Owner of Argali Outdoors) shares his philosophy on ruthlessly controlling the variables within your power, the massive mental edge of a "one-arrow-a-day" practice routine, and how to map your scouting and hunting routes to make the most of limited time.
- Ben Reynolds (do-it-yourself sheep hunting lunatic) talks about transitioning from basic fitness to structural "durability," bulletproofing your joints against overuse injuries, and why you must test your gear in difficult conditions before your life depends on it.
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Isaac Deuling (mountain hunting guide) weighs in with a guide's perspective, exposing the dangers of a "false sense of security" with satellite messengers and explaining why your minimalist Ziploc first-aid kit leaves you unprepared.
Whether you are gearing up for an archery elk hunt, a high-country mule deer tag, or a remote backpack expedition, this episode is packed with timeless, actionable takeaways to elevate your prep and ensure you have a plan to prepare for opening day.
Links & Resources
- Episode Notes: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/article/expert-lessons-in-hunt-preparation
- All Roundtable Podcast Episodes: https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/tagged/roundtable
- Previous episodes with these guests:
- 285 | Unscripted with Brad Brooks of Argali Outdoors
- 408 | Backpack Hunt Breakdown — Solo Sheep (with Ben Reynolds)
- 461 | The 5 Attributes You Need for Mountain Hunting (with Ben Reynolds)
- 477 | How to Thrive on Difficult Hunts(with Ben Reynolds)
- 527 | Nate Simmons on Advanced Archery, Stalking Strategy, Filming Hunts, and More
The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/
YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED...
We love hearing from listeners and answering their questions on future podcast episodes. If you have a question about the episode above, or other questions on hunting tactics and strategies, gear, Exo products, or anything else related to backcountry hunting, send us an email with your question or use your device to leave us a voice message below...