The Mindful Hunter Podcast

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https://roughridgestove.com/

Dec 8, 2025

EP 276 - Kite APC 60 ED: World’s First Image Stabilized Spotting Scope – Game Changer or Gimmick?

Dec 8, 2025

17 min

Sale on hunts with Mindful Hunter Outfitting. Get up to $750 off per person. Email jay@mindfulhunter.com for details.

Join https://www.mindful-reviews.com/ and get automatically entered to win a Sig Oscar 6 Image-Stabilising Spotting Scope!

In this deep dive, we put the Kite Optics APC 60 through a rigorous field test to see if it lives up to the hype. With built-in image stabilization, compact form factor, and claims of premium optics, this scope targets serious backcountry hunters and wildlife spotters looking for performance without the bulk. But does it deliver?

We break down real-world performance across vibration control, handheld use, optical clarity, and mirage resistance—plus we’ve got TWO gear giveaways including a Swaro ATX and the Sig Sauer Zulu 10 15x binoculars!

📌 Chapters
0:00 – Intro: What is the Kite APC 60 & why it matters
2:10 – Caveats: Honest thoughts before you buy
4:31 – Vibration Test: Does the stabilization actually work?
6:35 – Handheld Test: Can you glass steady without a tripod?
8:02 – Optical Quality Test: Contrast, color, edge-to-edge sharpness
8:58 – Mirage Test: Can the APC 60 cut through atmospheric distortion?
10:58 – Recap: What stood out and what didn’t
12:29 – Swaro ATX Giveaway: How to enter
13:16 – Conclusion & Recommendations: Who is this scope for?
14:59 – Sig Sauer Zulu 10 15x Binocular Giveaway: Second prize details

🔥 Whether you’re hunting high-alpine mule deer or scouting elk from windy ridgelines, this review will help you decide if the APC 60 belongs in your pack—or if you’re better off saving your cash.

📢 LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for more honest, no-BS reviews of the best optics and gear in the hunting world.

#KiteOptics #APC60 #SpottingScopeReview #BackcountryHunting #ImageStabilizedOptics #HuntingGearReview #LongRangeGlass #SwarovskiATX #SigSauerZulu #OpticsShootout #MindfulHunter

🎯 GIVEAWAY ALERT! Every $5 you spend on merch at https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/ gets you 1 entry to win a Swarovski 85mm Spotting Scope.

0:00 – Intro
2:10 – Caveats
4:31 – Vibration Test
6:35 – Handheld Test
8:02 – Optical Quality Test
8:58 – Mirage Test
10:58 – Recap
12:29 – Swaro ATX Giveaway
13:16 – Conclusion & Recommendations
14:59 – Sig Sauer Zule 10 15x Binocular Giveaway

Jay Nichol
jay@mindfulhunter.com
https://www.mindful-reviews.com/
https://www.mindfulhunter.com/

Forged In The Backcountry
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No purchase required. Contest begins on February 1, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. PST and ends on April 30, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PST. There is a total of 1 prize available to be won consisting of: (i) 1 previously owned Swarovski ATX 85mm Spotting Scope (approximate retail value $5,900.00 CAD). Skill testing question required. This Contest is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States, The District of Columbia, Canada (excluding Quebec), United Kingdom, New Zealand, Finland, France and Switzerland, who are legal age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence (19 in AL and NE, 21 in MS, and 18 in all remaining U.S. states, The District of Columbia and Canada, 16 in United Kingdom, 20 in New Zealand, 16 in Finland, 15 in France, and 18 in Switzerland), who are age of majority in their province or territory of residence at time of entry. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received before contest closes. No entry limit. For full rules and entry details visit: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/blogs/resources/swarovski-atx-85mm-spotting-scope-giveaway💥 Plus, I’m giving away a Swarovski TAX 85mm! Stay tuned for details!

Dec 4, 2025

EP 275 – Killing Elk And Building Badass Cook Systems with Chris Neville

Dec 4, 2025

1hr 41 min

This week, I sit down with Chris Neville, one of the cofounders of Roughridge Stove Co. He is also a stud of an elk hunter.

Chris Neville

https://www.instagram.com/roughridgestove/

https://www.instagram.com/cjneville23/

Jay Nichol

Forged In The Backcountry

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Nov 27, 2025

EP 274 – Solocast Q&A

Nov 27, 2025

1hr 23 min

Time for another Q&A episode!

Jay Nichol

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Nov 24, 2025

EP 273 - Ultralight iPhone Filmmaking Setup for the Backcountry (Shoots RAW!)

Nov 24, 2025

17 min

If you’re looking to film high-quality, cinematic content deep in the backcountry without lugging around a heavy camera rig — this iPhone setup is for you. In this video, I walk through my ultralight iPhone 15 Pro Max filmmaking rig, designed for shooting Apple ProRAW / ProRes, capturing clean wireless audio, and storing footage directly to an external SSD.

This setup is perfect for backcountry hunters, adventure filmmakers, mobile content creators, or anyone trying to travel light without compromising on quality. Let’s break it down!

🎥 Gear I Use:

iPhone 15 Pro Max (or newer)
Samsung T7 SSD (external storage for ProRes/RAW footage)
SmallRig SSD Mount (keeps SSD secure + compact)
Newer Cold Shoe Mount (modular & lightweight)
Rode Magnetic Smartphone Mount (quick attachment on the go)
40Gbps Flexible USB-C Cable (no dropouts, high-speed transfers)
DJI Mic 2 (Bluetooth audio, no receiver needed)

💡 What You’ll Learn:

How to shoot RAW video on iPhone using an SSD
Lightweight audio setup with DJI Mic 2 via Bluetooth
Best gear for filming in remote or rugged locations
Color grading workflow using LUTs in post-production
How to keep your pack light without sacrificing image quality

0:00 – Intro

3:00 – Mindful Hunter Outfitting

3:52 – Gear Required

8:59 – Swarovski ATX 85mm Giveaway

9:58 – Apps Required

12:48 – Digiscoping Mode

14:22 – Storage and Access

Jay Nichol

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Nov 20, 2025

EP 272 – After-Action Hunt Report: Jay & Ben Debrief Montana Archery Elk

Nov 20, 2025

1hr 54 min

In this new series, I am going to focus on walking through a single hunt from this past season with a hunter and breaking down their success, lessons learned, gear failures and much more. On this episode, I sit down with my friend Ben, and we break down our archery elk hunt in Montana this year.

Jay Nichol

Forged In The Backcountry

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Nov 17, 2025

EP 271 - GoHunt Apparel Review: Initial Impressions with Follow-Up After a Season of Bear Guiding

Nov 17, 2025

50 min

Welcome back to another edition of Mindful Review Mondays, where I provide an audio version of a video review I have already posted to YouTube. This week, I am combining two episodes into one. Not only did I post the first impressions review of the new GoHunt apparel, but I also attached the follow-up review I shared after a full season of bear guiding in the clothing.

Jay Nichol

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https://www.instagram.com/aziakequipment/

Nov 13, 2025

EP 270 – After-Action Hunt Report: Rydell from Aziak Debriefs His Alaska Sheep Hunt

Nov 13, 2025

1hr 15 min

In this new series I am going to focus on walking through a single hunt from this past season with a hunter and breaking down their success, lessons learned, gear failures and much more. On this first episode I sit down with my friend and founder of Aziak Equipment Rydell Reinbold.

Aziak Equipment

https://aziak.com/

Jay Nichol

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Nov 10, 2025

EP 269 - The Best Fitness Tracker in 2025 – Garmin Fenix vs. Whoop

Nov 10, 2025

30 min

In this podcast, we put the latest lineup of hunting and fitness wearables through the Mindful Hunter scoring system—breaking down everything from battery life and GPS performance to real-world hunt data and sleep tracking. If you’re looking for a no-nonsense review that cuts through the marketing fluff, this one’s for you.

We start with a full overview of the scoring system and testing methodology, followed by a deep dive into how each watch performed across a variety of metrics that actually matter in the field. From price and display quality to weather resistance and app integration, we leave no stone unturned.

This review also includes a detailed section on performance and health tracking, as well as exclusive hunt data analysis and training metrics that show how these devices hold up under pressure.+

If you’re serious about your gear and want honest insights from someone who’s been there, this breakdown will give you the clarity you need to make the right choice.

0:00 – Intro

1:58 – Scoring System

2:28 – Mindful Hunter Outfitting

3:26 – Price

4:46 – Battery

7:23 – Bands

8:51 – Display

9:53 – Weather Resistance

10:34 – GPS

11:26 – App Integration

13:29 – Descriptive Totals

13:37 – Swarovski ATX 85 Giveaway

14:27 – Sensors

15:28 – Sensitivity

16:28 – Performance Tracking

17:41 – Health Tracking

18:42 – Sleep Tracking

19:02 – Hunt Data

24:31 – Training Data

25:38 – Tracking Totals

25:54 – Final Score

26:21 – Recommendations

Jay Nichol

Forged In The Backcountry

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Nov 6, 2025

EP 268 – Solocast Q&A: Mechanical vs. Fixed. Small Calibre vs. Large, Sitka vs. Outdoor Vitals.

Nov 6, 2025

1hr 27 min

It’s been a while, but I am finally back with a jam-packed Q&A episode. I was only able to get through half the questions, so if you don’t see yours, it will be on the next episode.

Jay Nichol

Forged In The Backcountry

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