EP 319 – Bo’s First Black Bear & Launching Guided Coues Deer Hunts in Mexico at Mindful Hunter Outfitting South

Welcome back to the Mindful Hunter Podcast! In this episode, Jay is in the basement with returning guest Bo Campbell, fresh off his first-ever bear hunt in British Columbia with Mindful Hunter Outfitting. They debrief the trip, talk through the realities of a 49-day guiding season, and make a big announcement: the launch of Mindful Hunter Outfitting South — guided Coues deer hunts in Mexico. Jay gets radically honest about the 2026 spring bear season. While the season was a massive success overall (11 bears across 18 clients), he breaks down the frustrating reality of a 55% lethality rate on shot opportunities — and explains why he's implementing mandatory pre-hunt shooting drills and what he expects from clients moving forward. They also get into the fascinating "heart shot phenomenon" where perfectly shot bears take off on a mindless, adrenaline-fueled dead sprint. In the second half, Jay and Bo officially announce their new guided Mexico Coues deer hunts. Jay explains exactly why the DIY Mexico hunting model is flawed, why it often costs just as much as a guided hunt for a subpar experience, and how they've secured three premier ranches for the 2027 season. If you want to hunt the rut in January/February with incredible food, dialed logistics, and giant deer — this is the hunt for you. 🎁 GIVEAWAY: Every $5 spent at Forged in the Backcountry earns one entry to win an all-expenses-paid custom guided hunt with Mindful Hunter Outfitting (valued at $10,000). 🏕️ 2026 BC OPENINGS: Jay just opened four new spots — Archery Mule Deer, Early Season Alpine Mule Deer, Alpine Black Bear, and a late September Float Bear hunt. Email j@mindfulhunter.com to book. 0:00:00 Intro & Catching Up with Bo Campbell 0:02:28 Bo's First BC Bear Hunt: Expectations vs. Reality 0:05:55 The 49-Day Bear Season Wrap-Up 0:08:44 Why Jay is Implementing Mandatory Pre-Hunt Shooting Drills 0:13:36 Bo's Bear Hunt Story: Spotting from Camp 0:16:43 Sizing Up Bears & The 20-Year-Old Toothless Sow 0:19:52 The Brutal Pack Out & Why Bear Hunting is So Physical 0:26:00 Jay's Client Hunt: The Bear Spotted from the Road 0:28:47 The Heart Shot Phenomenon: Why Dead Bears Sprint 0:32:48 The Brutal Truth About Client Marksmanship & Missed Shots 0:38:23 How to Build a Better Shooting Position Under Pressure 0:44:46 Why You Need to Stay in the Scope After the Shot 0:48:46 The Big Announcement: Mindful Hunter Outfitting South (Mexico) 0:51:09 Why DIY Mexico Hunts Are Overrated & Overpriced 0:54:55 The Details: What a Guided Mexico Coues Hunt Looks Like 0:56:46 The Reality of Glassing for Coues Deer (The Hardest Animal in North America) 1:02:38 Giveaway Details & 2026 BC Hunt Openings Jay Nichol jay@mindfulhunter.com 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 Free Training Guide For Mountain Hunting https://www.mindfulhunter.com/tools   Forged Ultimate Guided Hunt Sweepstakes No purchase required.  Contest begins on May 17, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. PST and ends on July 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST.  There is a total of 1 prize available to be won consisting of: (i) A custom guided hunt with Mindful Hunter Outfitting including travel and tip (APR) $$10,000.00 CAD); Skill testing question required.  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. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received before contest closes.  No limit on entries. For full rules and entry details visit: https://forgedinthebackcountry.com/blogs/resources/the-ultimate-custom-guided-hunt-giveaway-open-until-july-17-2026