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First Ever Spring Bear Hunt — And a Huge Lesson Learned

First Ever Spring Bear Hunt — And a Huge Lesson Learned

By Chase Pearl

The opening day of spring bear in Idaho has always floated around April 15th. Last year, I got the call to join my brother Cody and our buddy Dennis for a hunt deep in the...
The Hunt Starts from the Ground Up: Picking the Right Boots

The Hunt Starts from the Ground Up: Picking the Right Boots

By Zach Bowhay

Every hunter needs many critical pieces of gear for a successful outing. Three essentials stand out above the rest for any western hunt: a reliable pack, quality optics, and a great pair of boots. While...
Simplicity: How to Swap Different Bags onto Your Frame

Simplicity: How to Swap Different Bags onto Your Frame

By Dennis Stokes

For backcountry hunters, efficiency and simplicity can make all the difference when you're far from home and deep in the wilderness. One of the standout features of our system is how straightforward it is to...
Pack Organization: Yes, Even YOU Can Get Organized!

Pack Organization: Yes, Even YOU Can Get Organized!

By Dennis Stokes

Staying organized on backcountry backpack hunts can be a challenge, as you need to carry all your gear and supplies on your back and keep everything accessible and easy to find. I have to admit,...
Zach Bowhay's Elk Pack Dump

Zach Bowhay's Elk Pack Dump

By Zach Bowhay

Before every elk season, I analyze my equipment and one of the things I do is go over all the things I have in my pack for elk hunting. Every year I pick it up...
Essential Gear - Initial Ascent

Essential Gear

By Ethan Pateman

By Ethan Pateman             Everyone has a piece of gear or an accessory that they won’t leave the house without. For most its boots, packs, bows, scopes, etc.  These pieces...
The Two Most Important Pieces of Gear - Initial Ascent

The Two Most Important Pieces of Gear

By Dennis Stokes

        Hunting, and especially backcountry hunting, requires us to rely on certain gear essentials in order to increase the odds of being successful. I'm talking 30,000 foot view gear, major stuff.  ...
Updated Essentials: Kill Kit - Initial Ascent

Updated Essentials: Kill Kit

By Dennis Stokes

Updated Essentials: Kill Kit   When I was a kid growing up in Florida, I was your typical country boy who loved to fish, hunt, and trap. Surprisingly, my parents never once took me camping...
It's Just Physics - Initial Ascent

It's Just Physics

By Dennis Stokes

What is the most common question we receive here at Initial Ascent?? What separates Initial Ascent Packs from ALL the other packs out there? Simple. Our frame and suspension is second to none and is...
Why the Cub Accessory Bag Has Earned a Permanent Spot on My Pack

Why the Cub Accessory Bag Has Earned a Permanent Spot on My Pack

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IA Cub Bag

$62.35

Pack Organization: Yes, Even YOU Can Get Organized!

Pack Organization: Yes, Even YOU Can Get Organized!

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Pack Sacks

$12.56

Essential Gear - Initial Ascent

Essential Gear

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IA Large Hip Belt Pouch

$36.35

Why Spring Hunting Matters: Where the Grind Begins

Why Spring Hunting Matters: Where the Grind Begins

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IA5K Pack System

$727.95

TIPS

Hunting High-Pressure Elk on a General Tag: Earning Every Bugle

Hunting High-Pressure Elk on a General Tag: Earning Every Bugle

By Sean Curtis

So you pulled yourself a general tag!? First, CONGRATS!  Second… Welcome to your upcoming fall reality.   Hunting elk on a general tag is less of a peaceful walk in the woods and more of a...
Early Summer Elk Scouting

Early Summer Elk Scouting

By Zach Bowhay

Are you planning an archery elk hunt? The time to scout is now! If you asked ten different successful elk hunters, you'd probably get ten different answers. But in my opinion, the best time to...
Why Spring Hunting Matters: Where the Grind Begins

Why Spring Hunting Matters: Where the Grind Begins

By Wyatt Ross

There’s something about spring that flips the switch. The snow starts pulling back, the hills start calling, and you feel that itch to get back after it. It’s not just a season, it’s the kickoff....
Winter Initial Ascent Rain Cover

Grind Through Adverse Weather: Because Fall Starts in the Spring

By Wyatt Ross

Spring hunts bring boots to the dirt and legs back into training, but it also brings the kind of weather that makes discipline more than a choice. The snow may be melting, but that doesn't...
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GEAR

Why the Cub Accessory Bag Has Earned a Permanent Spot on My Pack

Why the Cub Accessory Bag Has Earned a Permanent Spot on My Pack

By Chase Pearl

When it comes to backcountry gear, versatility is king. You only have so much room in your pack—and every piece of equipment needs to serve more than one purpose. That’s why the Cub Accessory Bag...
Archery Setups for Elk Season

Archery Setups for Elk Season

By Zach Bowhay

I get a lot of questions about elk hunting, but one of the most common is about my archery setup. Of course, this is a personal decision with plenty of room for individual preferences, but...
First Ever Spring Bear Hunt — And a Huge Lesson Learned

First Ever Spring Bear Hunt — And a Huge Lesson Learned

By Chase Pearl

The opening day of spring bear in Idaho has always floated around April 15th. Last year, I got the call to join my brother Cody and our buddy Dennis for a hunt deep in the...
The Hunt Starts from the Ground Up: Picking the Right Boots

The Hunt Starts from the Ground Up: Picking the Right Boots

By Zach Bowhay

Every hunter needs many critical pieces of gear for a successful outing. Three essentials stand out above the rest for any western hunt: a reliable pack, quality optics, and a great pair of boots. While...
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STORIES

Ryker's Bear

Ryker's Bear

By Zach Bowhay

Big Bears and Close Calls It’s funny how life changes as we grow. One day, you’re excited to take your 10-year-old daughter on her first bear hunt. Then you blink, and that little girl asks...
Every Elk Hunter's Nightmare

Every Elk Hunter's Nightmare

By Dennis Stokes

A Great Start     Two weeks ago, my buddy Justin and I set out for our last hoorah of the September archery elk season. Ten minutes into the first day, Justin shot a nice...
Full Circle

Full Circle

By Zach Bowhay

My Elk Hunt       Midway through my senior year of high school, I had a plan: work for the summer, save money, quit my job, and hunt all fall. I was tired of school...
First Bull

First Bull

By Dennis Stokes

You'll never forget that first bull, especially that first bull taken with a bow. From growing up hunting the flatlands of Florida to coming out West and fulfilling a lifelong dream of harvesting a bull...
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MOUNTAIN FITNESS

Backcountry Food Prep

Nutrition Tips for Backcountry Hunting

By Dennis Stokes

Backcountry backpack hunting requires a lot of physical exertion and endurance, which means that proper nutrition is critical to fuel your body for the task at hand. Hunting for days on end takes its toll...
Hiking and the Calories You Burn - Initial Ascent

Hiking and the Calories You Burn

By Jeff Moran

How well do you know your body? Do you know the right amount of calories you should be taking in when you have a long day of hunting ahead? Do you know how much food...
Committed to "The Core" - Initial Ascent

Committed to "The Core"

By Dave Beronio

Winning the Men’s Masters division and Overall Train To Hunt 2019 Challenge required some creativity in my training. I'm going to share one of my fitness secrets that helped me achieve this win. As a...
Mountain Fitness is a Lifestyle - Initial Ascent

Mountain Fitness is a Lifestyle

By Steve Opat

“Hello. My name is Steve, and I despise gyms.” (“Welcome Steve!”) Mountain fitness has become a craze these days. There’s now a myriad of stellar hunting-specific programs to work you into phenomenal physical condition.  For...
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RECIPES

Perfect Elk Steak in a Stainless Pan?

Perfect Elk Steak in a Stainless Pan?

By Mike Edgehouse

“I really wish I knew how to cook with this stainless steel pan. I always see people on the ‘gram’ making great looking steak. I never could figure it out.”“You should try it if you think...
Audrey Bars- Backcountry Protein Bars

Audrey Bars- Backcountry Protein Bars

By Kyle Kamp

Texture: Soft and akin to a granola bar.  Nutrition: Less dense with carbohydrate and protein being the main nutrients.  Prep: Simple.  Kyle recommends doubling the cinnamon and vanilla if you opt to reduce sugar content. ...
BEARbacoa

BEARbacoa

By Mike Edgehouse

“Michael, these are the absolute best street tacos I have ever eaten. What in the world is this?’ “Take a look on the wall in the office.” Greg and I walked upstairs, and I showed...
Venison Tartare

Venison Tartare

By Mike Edgehouse

Following a very successful November deer hunt my hunting partner and I were butchering his kill and brainstorming on different recipes.
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