Hunting. Recruitment. Mentorship.
By Jeff Winslow
Instagram: @sendit110
For the last seven years I have been using my long-range competition rifles to hunt with. While the comfortability and accuracy were unparalleled, carrying a twenty-pound rifle around on all my hunts was becoming too much. I knew at some point I would have to build a specific hunting rifle to meet my needs.
Continue reading “GEAR REVIEW: Grayboe Phoenix Gun Stock”
Come join Washington Backcountry and The Soulful Hunter Podcast for a fun night of conversation and community building. Doors open at 5pm and all ages are welcome.
You will have opportunity to win sweet prizes from the companies listed below through the raffle and toy donations that will support the families of first responders during this holiday season. We look forward to seeing you all there!
Address of event: 4493 Russell Rd, Unit D, Mukilteo, WA 98275
By Chad Hultz
One of the many things that draw us to the outdoors is the scenic beauty of nature, and for others, it is the wildlife. Sometimes the evidence of wildlife is right in front of you, you just have to look. Coming across a bear, deer, or elk grazing can get the heart pumping with excitement. If you are anything like me, being able to see wildlife can be just the luck of the draw. Learning to identify animal tracks can help you know what wildlife is moving around the area you like to frequent.
Continue reading “How to identify animal tracks”
by Johnny Mack
The entire first season of Soul Seekers is now live and streaming on CarbonTV! Soul Seekers follows adult onset hunter, Johnny Mack and friends (Clint and Tony) on their journey to ignite their souls through primal adventure while seeking to transform the lives of others. Leading with the mission of “Mentorship is Conservation” and standing upon the belief that you cannot out give good, there is always something to be learned and shared when hunter recruitment and mentorship are at the forefront of everything.
You can catch every episode for FREE by downloading the carbontv app on ios and android platforms as well as Apple TV, Roku, Firestick, or Google Play stores.
By Johnny Mack
If you are a fan of predator hunting, there is no better way to do it than going out at night and leveling the playing field by using thermal optics. If you want to do it right, have a higher chance of success and be able relive your hunt for later enjoyment, then look no further than Pulsar Thermal Optics.
Continue reading “GEAR REVIEW: Pulsar Thermal Optics”
By Dennis Deitchman
I have always been pretty physically fit, and what I thought was mentally fit. In reality, I was just being stubborn and completing tasks in hopes of coming out the other side “fixed”. I could not be in the moment. I could not recognize my accomplishments for what they actually were, and never felt like my successes were ever good enough. I didn’t feel as if it was me accomplishing these feats, I always felt as if it were someone else checking these boxes off I had created in my mind. I felt that since I struggled while doing something hard, and there were thoughts of giving up the whole time, that I was unworthy to even mention it. I almost felt ashamed that I would struggle so much on hard hikes, long unsuccessful hunts, or intense workouts. I was always putting myself down, saying I was not good enough, and nitpicking every little thing. Always striving for “perfection” and in my eyes, always falling short.
Continue reading “With No Risk, There Is No Reward”
By Chris Torborg
IG: @chris.torborg
If you are reading this you have repeatedly heard some form of the following statements about wild game:
If you or a loved one has said a form of one of these statements, I have a solution for you – learn proper cooking techniques and the right recipes.
There are three root causes for wild game to not taste good:
1. Improper meat care
2. Overcooking
3. Not cooking it long enough.
This recipe covers braising meat which in turn solves problem #3. When you cook meat low and slow something magical happens, the muscles and connective tissue break down and meld into the flavors you surround them with. This recipe is a fool-proof way to make any wild game taste good enough for anybody to eat. And I mean ANYBODY, mother-in-laws included.
By James Forslund
There is a common misconception surrounding bear hunting and the meat that it provides. For centuries, original inhabitants of America used to prefer bear meat over venison. They considered the meat to taste better, they rendered the fat down to cook with and to waterproof things. All the while venison was mostly used for its buckskin. This recipe is a favorite of ours and a great introduction to bear if you have never tried it.
Read morE
We are excited to announce that Washington Backcountry’s submission into the 2021 Badlands Film Festival was selected as a finalist and placed 3rd!!! If you were not able to watch the live streaming event, you still can by going to badlandsfilmfest.com.
For all of you who want to cut right to the chase and watch our featured film “Soul Seeker” you can do so by going to the Washington Backcountry YouTube channel. While you are there, you can also stay up to date with every episode of The Soulful Hunter Podcast and don’t forget to subscribe as we have a lot of amazing content planned for 2021.
Soul Seeker follows Johnny Mack’s journey of how hunting transformed his life along with how it has the power to transform other’s through primal adventure. His message of “Mentorship is Conservation” is the foundation upon what Washington Backcountry stands for. Being a Soul Seeker is defined by more than just going hunting or squeezing the trigger. It is solidified by the idea that hunting and the experiences associated with it are life transformative.
Just like a spark can be ignited in someone’s soul through their experience, it is OUR job to pass the torch onto others making sure hunting lasts for generations to come. Seeking out new people and getting them started in hunting, while simultaneously building a community of support is the least WE as hunter’s can do to give back to something that has provided so much for us. You cannot out give good and you too can become your own Soul Seeker. #mentorshipisconservation
Instagram: @washington_backcountry Facebook: Washington Backcountry Twitter: @WAbackcountry
Instagram: @thesoulfulhunterpodcast Facebook: The Soulful Hunter Podcast
In collaboration with Revol Entertainment.
www.revolentertainment.com Instagram: @revolentertainment
By Johnny Mack
I’m excited and honored to announce that my film with Washington Backcountry in collaboration with REVOL Entertainment has been selected as a finalist in the Badlands 2021 film fest. You can watch it during the live streaming event on Feb 5th.
JOIN US THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH AT 9 PM EST FOR OUR FIRST LIVE STREAM EVENT OF THE BADLANDS FILM FESTIVAL.
The evening will include:
Hunting films from both professional and amateur filmmakers
Live trophy presentation for feature and short film categories
Prize Giveaway featuring over $15k in prizes
Event should run approximately 2 hours total
Go to the link below to register to win and to watch the film fest.
#soulseeker #mentorshipisconservation #badlandsfilmfestival #badlandsgear #unconditional #hunt
By Johnny Mack
When it comes to hunting gear, people often talk about a good pair of boots and a comfortable backpack as being the most essential gear to make or break a hunt (besides your weapon of course). After spending several seasons hunting and packing out animals, I was always left with a excruciating pain between my shoulder blades that would eventually beat me down and made me despise the pack I was wearing.
Continue reading “GEAR REVIEW: Initial Ascent IA4K Backpack”
by Johnny Mack
Once you make the decision to start hunting, it is easy to focus on just one animal as your target goal. Before you get locked in to any specific target animal, there are a few things you might want to consider. More often than not, new hunters focus on hunting one target species, rather than the art of hunting itself.
Continue reading “Hunting 101: Part 6 – Choosing What Species To Hunt”
By Johnny Mack
If you are new to hunting or shooting and you are in the market for a rifle scope, the amount of options available can be overwhelming at times. Do you go with locking/target turrets, adjustable parallax, what magnification, second focal plane or first etc.? Understanding the differences between second focal plane (sfp) and first focal plane (ffp) rifle scopes is very important.
Continue reading “Second Focal Plane (SFP) vs First Focal Plane (FFP) – What’s the difference?”
By Johnny Mack
The Vortex Razor HD Gen II is a power house of an optic. Whether you are competing in a PRS match or out in the wild pursing game, this scope has the ability to do it all. With all things in life, there are pros and there are cons. Hopefully this article will help you figure out if this is the right scope for you.
Continue reading “GEAR REVIEW: Vortex Razor HD Gen II”
2020 has been a year like none other! At Washington Backcountry and The Soulful Hunter Podcast we believe and stand firmly upon the notion that YOU CAN’T OUT GIVE GOOD. With that being said, the kids at Seattle Children’s Hospital are taking the brunt of this pandemic as visitation and other things have been dramatically affected and cut. One of the biggest things that WE can do as a community to bring light and love to them is by contributing financially. We can circle around and support them during these trying times by contributing money to purchase toys and gifts for the children and to brighten their lives a bit this holiday season.
We sincerely ask that you would find it in your heart and wallet to help us reach our goal of raising $25,000 to buy toys for the children at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Every little bit helps. From a $1 donation to whatever you can afford, you cannot out give good. We also ask that you share this link with your community of friends, family and businesses and let’s create a legacy of love in this world. Thank you and be blessed.
For Tax deduction purposes:
Seattle Children’s Hospital Tax ID #911156519
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO DONATE AND SHARE!!
By Weston Alexander
A good pot roast is a staple of many families and definitely one of ours. Households across America have their own recipes that has been passed down from generation to generation. It’s the meal that warms our bellies and also our souls. It the center of where we gather for great conversations and to spend quality time with the ones we love. In this recipe I share my take on the pot roast but add my ow twist to it. This recipe is done with a Dutch oven in an open fire.
Read morE
By Tony Ellersick
On the first weekend of the 2020 spring bear season, we stumbled across a large harvest of morel mushrooms. Knowing that they are prized and still require skill to find, I found it fitting to throw a recipe together for everyone who is looking for a good morel recipe. In this recipe I’m combining land and sea to make an awesome spring time meal or appetizer. Dungeness crab and morel mushrooms pair together so well! Both texture and flavors explode and after making this dish it easily became a favorite combo!
Continue reading “Dungeness Crab Stuffed Morel Mushrooms”
Johnny Mack of Washington Backcountry recently had the pleasure to talk with Chad Ryker, the host of the Backcountry Rookies Podcast about the power of social media and the influence it can have in today’s society. Give a listen and let us know what you think.
By John Brooks
IG:@jbrooks999
When people think of French food, they think of stuffy, complicated, unsatisfying cuisine: fragile sauces or soufflé that fail with the smallest inattention. This is sometimes true, but what is also true is the countryside in France is full of down to earth hard-working people who cook very good food with what the landscape provides. This recipe is just that. It incorporates waterfowl, some tougher chunks of critter, bacon, and beans. The ingredients in this recipe are less important than the process. Once you get the process down, you can make this dish personal, and use what you have.
Continue reading “Wild Game Cassoulet”
February 13-16, 2020 • Salt Palace Convention Center • Salt Lake City
Continue reading “Join Us At The Western Hunt & Conservation Expo”
By Dennis Deitchman
There’s a million burger recipes out there, but this is one of my favorites. It’s more than a plain ol cheeseburger, but not over the top and impossible to eat. For your burger, you are going to want to add fat to it, as most wild game has little to no fat content. You can do this with beef fat, pork fat, lots of oil, or even frozen butter cubes mixed in. I look for about 10% fat in my grinds, and you can even play with your grind and add different cuts to it.
On episode 88 of the East Meets West Podcast, Johnny Mack joins host Beau Martonik for a interesting and reflective podcast. Rather than talking about tips and tactics, they talk about mentorship, adventure and the deeper meaning to hunting. Johnny ends by talking about his first successful elk hunt after 4 years of trying.
Continue reading “Episode 88: East Meets West Podcast | Mentorship is Conservation with Johnny Mack”
By Johnny Mack
When was the last time you did something for the first time? Try to take yourself back to your mindset when you were there? Were you nervous? Unsure? Felt lost and maybe even overwhelmed?
Continue reading “A Letter From The Soulful Hunter”
By Johnny Mack
If you have been following along with our Hunting 101 series, you should now have the knowledge and confidence to find land to hunt on (part 1) as well as be able to find animals (part 2). Part 3 is everything you need to know about the importance of optics and glassing for success. The term “glassing” is an action word to describe the use of binoculars or spotting scopes to look for animals.
Continue reading “Hunting 101: Part 3 – Optics & Glassing For Success”
Johnny Mack of Washington Backcountry recently had the pleasure to talk with Chad Ryker, the host of the Backcountry Rookies Podcast about his vision and mission for the hunting community. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Backcountry Rookies Podcast, it was developed to help new hunters learn ideas and hunting tactics, in order to have success in hunting the western states. The podcast can be found on iTunes, Stitcher as well as the Sportmen’s Nation Network.
Continue reading “Backcountry Rookies Podcast Ep. 28 – Mentorship & Recruitment with Johnny Mack”
Johnny recently had the pleasure to chat it up with Emory Wanger of the By Land Podcast. The By Land Podcast is focused on better backpacking but breaches a variety of topics that take place in the backcountry. Whether you are a hiker, backpacker, hunter, or nature enthusiast, the By Land Podcast will have something for you. The podcast can be found on iTunes, Stitcher as well as other popular platforms.
Continue reading “Episode 63 – Backcountry Mentorship with Johnny Mack”
