Jake is one of my favorite people. What you see is what you get; he doesn’t pull punches, and you never have to wonder what he thinks on any given subject or individual. On this one, we rambled and chased several squirrels with no real agenda other than two dudes sitting down to catch up.   Jake Downs https://www.instagram.com/jake_d_downs     Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/   Forged In The...

One of the most challenging things about finding the right boot is that reviews are almost no help whatsoever. Our feet are so personal that it seems you can find just as many people who love a specific boot as hate it. At the end of the day, the only true way to find a boot that works for you is to try it on. However, I think I can help narrow down the selection and find boots that will fit your needs more effectively.   0:00 – Intro 6:07 – Boot selection framework 6:25 – Stiffness 10:40 –...

I met these two guys at last year’s WSSBC Expo here in BC and was immediately impressed with their enthusiasm and sincerity for hunting. They have had a stellar season this year and I had them on to talk about how they got into hunting and what they’re doing to stcak up so many wins.   Borderland Hunting https://www.instagram.com/borderland_hunting/     Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/   Forged In The...

This week’s episode is a Q&A focused on winter hunting gear.  I answered questions such as how to thaw your boots, the best hot tent combo, down vs. synthetic sleep systems and much more   Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/   Forged In The...

Want a chance to win the Frontiersmen Vulpes field dressing knife? Follow the simple steps below to enter our exclusive giveaway! After years of using disposable hunting knives, I switched to fixed blades, and ever since I’ve been on the hunt for the ultimate field dressing knife. In this video, I put two of the best knives to the test: the Frontiersmen Vulpes and the Argali Sawtooth. I’ll break down what I liked and didn’t like about each knife, and in the end, you’ll find out which one came...

Want to WIN this bow? 🎯 Enter now by joining https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ before December 15, 2024, and you’ll be automatically entered into the giveaway to win the Prime RVX 34 Compound Bow! In this video, I’m sharing my 10-month in-depth review of the Prime RVX 34 — a bow I’ve hunted with and tested on multiple trips, including a successful Vancouver Island black bear hunt 🏹. Unlike typical “first impression” bow shop reviews, I’ve spent months living with this bow in the field, putting...

This week I sat down to record a solo Q&A episode. Touched on things like my biggest gear improvement this year, my hunt plans for next year and how the lessons learned this year changed my plans, and my thoughts on whether the hunting industry is over-saturated with influencers.     Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/   Forged In The...

I am going to do my best to document this year’s guiding season through the podcast. First up is a combo moose/elk hunt at Primitive Outfitting. I go over the first hunt of the season in this episode. I had two great hunters who busted their ass and we were able to kill a great elk.     Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/   Forged In The...

Argali Absaroka Tipi Review: Is it the Best Shelter for Mountain Hunts? Looking for a spacious, lightweight, and durable shelter for your alpine adventures? In this in-depth field test, we put the Argali Absaroka tipi through its paces during a 12-day mountain goat hunt in Northern B.C. We explore whether this floorless tipi is the right choice for sheep and goat hunters who are used to freestanding shelters. Watch the full review to see how it holds up in harsh weather conditions, its...

This one is a hard one to record. Sometimes no matter how hard you work or how much you plan things just fall apart. I have always prided myself on being as authentic and transparent as possible and I will continue to shard my hard-earned lessons with anyone who wants to listen.     Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/   Forged In The...

Adam is one of those legit BC killers that quietly gets it done every year on great animals. Last time he was on the podcast we discussed his phenomenal blacktail record and this time we chatted about his similar streak with Stone’s Sheep.   Adam Sarich https://www.instagram.com/4pointoutdoors/     Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/   Forged In The...

Start of a new live series with the crew.   Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/   Forged In The Backcountry https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/   Merch https://www.mindfulhunter.com/shop   Newsletter https://www.mindfulhunter.com/contact   IG https://www.instagram.com/mindful_hunter/   Podcast https://www.mindfulhunter.com/podcast   Free Backcountry Nutrition Guide https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools

After the frustrations I experienced during my recent Mountain Goat hunt, I decided on my way home that I needed to completely overhaul my long-range hunting system. I reached out to Caylen from Modern Day Sniper and we agreed to collaborate together on some content detailing my journey. Here is part 1 with much more on the way   Caylen...

Welcome to Mindful Hunter Outfitting, where we bring you the ultimate Canadian hunting experience! Whether you're an aspiring hunter looking to sharpen your skills or a seasoned veteran in search of trophy game, we've got something for you. Our Alberta Archery Mule Deer hunts and BC Spring Bear hunts offer a unique blend of adventure, challenge, and opportunity for growth.   At Mindful Hunter, our mission is to guide you through the wilderness, helping you gain the knowledge and confidence to...

Well folks here is the second and possibly last part of my 2024 goat hunt. There are many lessons learned on this one and much room for improvement. I hope you enjoy.   Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/   Forged In The...

Well folks I am back from my goat hunt, and this is the first episode in a two-part series detail the adventure we had. I am joined on part 1 by Vance Johnson as we recount the first half of our hunt. Stay tuned for more   Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/   Forged In The...

I have spent a lifetime hiking in the mountains, and I also have Morton’s Neuroma which has led me to be very particular about both my boot choice and the insoles I use inside them. I have tried multiple custom orthotics and was always intrigued but skeptical about Sheepfeet. I have now run my custom insoles from Sheepfeet for the last two years and felt compelled to post a review. I hope this review is helpful. 0:00 – Intro2:05 – Purpose of insoles5:41 – Scoring system 5:55 - Price7:00 –...

I love doing head-to-head product reviews but sometimes it’s hard to capture all the nuance of the underlying technologies or materials. So, I wanted to take a first principles approach to gear reviews in this new series and start to look at individual variables separate from the products themselves. I have wanted to do a backcountry stove review for a while but have been challenged by what systems to include. With that in mind, I backed up a step and derived some tests to look at how...

I only met Tyler a few months ago when he invited me on his podcast, but I instantly knew he was my people. He is an ex-cop turned private physical performance coach with a deep passion for hunting and the outdoors. We had a great chat, and I hope you enjoy it.   Tyler Geiger http://www.nockperformance.com/ https://www.instagram.com/nockperformance/ http://www.nockperformance.com/podcast/     Jay...

Over the last three years, I have slowly become obsessed with late-season whitetail hunting. The one difficulty is staying warm for 10 hour sits in -20 degree weather! I have experimented with multiple different heating strategies and think I have finally found the best one for my hunting style. Last year I ran The IconX Heated Core Long Sleeve and Pant from Pnuma Outdoors and wanted to share a detailed review of my experience. Forged In The...

The crew over at Stuck N The Rut have one of the best hunting YouTube channels going right now. I got eh chance to sit down with Tom Schneider and have a great chat. We touched on a bunch of topics including hunting tactics, the history of North Idaho hunting and some of the courses and events that SNTR are offering now for up-and-coming hunters.   Tom...

To celebrate Cody’s successful hunt all Forged apparel will be 20% off for the next week until July 9th and any purchases made will be entered into the next giveaway!   Just use code Cody20 at https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/   When I launched Forged In The Backcountry I gave away a guided bear hunt with Primitive Outfitting. Part of the prize was that I would also buy a hunt and film the winner’s hunt. Cody was the lucky Forged customer that won that hunt. We just spent a week together in...

Technically, this is the longest amount of time I have ever spent researching and testing for a review. I got my first pair of Outdoor Research gaiters 23 years ago. Since that time, I have been on the quest to find the perfect pair of gaiters. In this review I compare 4 different options and share why I think I have found my new perfect system.    Lifestyle apparel for the backcountry hunter https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/   Join Mindful Reviews to support unbiased nonsponsored gear...

We’re back for another episode of Guns & Stuff. This week Colton and I sat down with Matt from AG composite stocks.       AG Compositehttps://www.agcomposites.com/ https://www.instagram.com/agcomposites/     Jay Nichol [email protected] https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ https://www.mindfulhunter.com/   Forged In The...