Ep. 940: Janis's Backcountry Mule Deer | 12 in '26

October 2, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

In the middle of a solo backcountry mule deer hunt, the hunter found himself lying on a hillside for over two hours, rifle pointed at a bedded buck at 400 yards. He chose not to shoot. The deer was bedded behind a treetop and some brush, but the real reason was more fundamental: at that distance, he wanted the biggest possible target and the clearest possible angle. "It's harder to tell where exactly the vitals are," he explained. So he waited. When the buck finally stood and turned broadside, he took the shot. Then he watched through his scope as the bullet drifted four or five inches off—a miss he attributed to a canyon wind he couldn't feel at the muzzle. He stayed on target, saw the impact, made a quick adjustment, and put the deer down with a follow-up shot. That sequence—the patience, the miss, the self-diagnosis, the recovery—became the central thread of this listener Q&A episode, which used the hunt as a case study for a broader philosophy of backcountry hunting.

The Gear Question: Light vs. Heavy

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What you'll learn

1 (03:35) **Episode Introduction & Setup** - Janis introduces the episode as a follow-up Q&A to his solo backcountry mule deer hunt film, "12 in '26," with Garrett Long and Phil the Engineer.
2 (05:14) **Responding to Critical Comments: Kit Cost & Rifle Choice** - Janis addresses two critical audience comments: that his gear looks "Formula 1" expensive, and that he should use a heavier caliber rifle.
3 (11:05) **The "Spot Burning" Debate** - The crew discusses the ethical dilemma of revealing hunting locations in media, prompted by a comment mocking MeatEater for acknowledging "spot burning."
4 (14:52) **On Accountability and Showing the Process** - Janis responds to a positive comment appreciating that he showed himself checking his rifle's zero after a less-than-ideal shot, rather than cutting it out.
5 (18:38) **Detailed Gear Breakdown: The Rifle Setup** - Janis details his exact rifle configuration in response to an audience question.
6 (23:26) **Why Use a Suppressor?** - Janis explains his strong preference for using suppressors on all hunts, not just backcountry trips.
7 (25:35) **E-Scouting for Mule Deer** - Janis shares his approach to using mapping apps like onX to find mule deer before a trip.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Janis answers YouTube listener-submitted questions and comments from his 2026 high country mule deer hunt. He covers gear used, tactics, training, preparation and lots more in this companion podcast to the Mountain Muley Honey Hole 12 in '26 film.

Watch the film now on MeatEater's YouTube channel.

Presented by Can-Am: maker of the best ATVs, SxS, and Utility Vehicles www.can-am.brp.com

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