Hunting Lifers: KJ Chats With Mike Herne | Gun Talk Hunt

Published on May 6, 2023
Duration: 50:39

This episode of Gun Talk Hunt features Mike Hearn, a sponsored hunter and military veteran, discussing his journey into the outdoor industry. He shares insights on building a career through developing diverse skills like writing, photography, and videography, emphasizing the importance of adding value to brands. Hearn also highlights his work with Kifaru packs, Born Primitive clothing, and the Mountain Tough fitness app, detailing their features and benefits for backcountry hunters.

Quick Summary

Sponsored hunter Mike Hearn emphasizes that building a career in the outdoor industry requires developing diverse skills like writing, photography, and videography to add tangible value to brands, alongside deep hunting knowledge and networking.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction with Mike Hearn
  2. 01:14Mike Hearn's Background and Military Service
  3. 03:13Reconnecting with Hunting in 2013
  4. 04:48Military Career and Transition Planning
  5. 06:00Career in the Hunting Industry
  6. 06:25Becoming a Sponsored Hunter
  7. 08:32Adding Value Through Writing and Photography
  8. 10:35Transition to Videography
  9. 13:07Transitioning Out of Military and Working with Kifaru
  10. 14:12Getting Sponsored by Bergara
  11. 16:33Social Media's Impact on Career
  12. 17:52Frustrations with the Influencer Culture
  13. 19:52Building a Network and Following
  14. 21:35Break and Upcoming Topics
  15. 23:03Mike Hearn's Physical Prowess and Mountain Tough
  16. 24:03Mountain Tough Fitness Program Details
  17. 25:15Mountain Tough Program Structure and Benefits
  18. 28:05Kifaru Packs and the Bedlam Launch
  19. 29:12What Separates Kifaru Products
  20. 30:33Kifaru's American Made Quality and Price
  21. 31:22Kifaru Pack System: Frame and Bag
  22. 32:26Why Choose the Kifaru Bedlam Pack
  23. 32:43Bedlam Pack Design Features
  24. 34:47Load Shelf vs. Internal Meat Carry
  25. 36:13Carrying a Full Caribou in a Kifaru Hoodlum
  26. 36:50Kifaru Bedlam's Hellbender Style Front Pocket
  27. 37:48Rifle Carry Options on Kifaru Packs
  28. 38:16Kifaru Bedlam Pack Availability and Notification
  29. 38:50Kifaru's Product Range and Testing
  30. 40:12Kifaru Team and Field Testing
  31. 41:26Kifaru's New Binocular Harness
  32. 42:02Born Primitive Clothing Overview
  33. 42:52Background of Born Primitive
  34. 43:44Born Primitive Outdoors: Technical Apparel Without Camo
  35. 45:41Value Proposition of Born Primitive Clothing
  36. 46:01Born Primitive's Agility in Product Development
  37. 46:30Upcoming Born Primitive Products
  38. 47:45Redesigning the Frontier Pant
  39. 48:27Developing Born Primitive Rain Gear
  40. 48:54New Outer Shell Jackets from Born Primitive
  41. 49:52Future Topics and Guests
  42. 50:26Closing Remarks and Safety Reminder

Frequently Asked Questions

How does one become a sponsored hunter?

Becoming a sponsored hunter requires deep knowledge and skills in your chosen hunting niche, like Western or backcountry hunting. It also involves developing complementary skills such as writing, photography, and videography to add value to brands, and networking effectively within the industry.

What makes Kifaru packs stand out?

Kifaru packs are distinguished by their robust construction, functional design, and rigorous field testing by the company's team, including the CEO. They are made in the USA, emphasizing durability and user-centric features like the Bedlam pack's full zip access and asymmetrical layout.

What is the philosophy behind Born Primitive Outdoors clothing?

Born Primitive Outdoors focuses on creating high-quality, technical hunting apparel in solid colors, allowing for versatility beyond hunting season. This approach provides better value and wearability compared to traditional camouflage-heavy hunting gear.

How does the Mountain Tough app help hunters?

The Mountain Tough app offers structured, periodized fitness programs tailored for backcountry hunters. It focuses on functional strength, hip mobility, and outcome-based training to prepare individuals for the physical demands of hunting trips.

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