They say that couples and families who hunt together, stay together. While that might sound cliché, there's real truth to it for our family and all of us here at Muley Freak. You'll often see Erik on the mountain with his wife and kids - and it's no different for me. Over the last 12 years since meeting my wife, we've tried to carve out time each fall to go deer hunting - just the two of us. In reality, we make it out about every other year, but it’s always a special time to talk about life, set goals, evaluate our family, and simply enjoy uninterrupted time together in God’s beautiful country. We always leave the mountain refreshed and with a stronger connection. Even though Kylee doesn’t love hunting nearly as much as I do, she’s a trooper and makes the sacrifice to go.

While the relationship-building aspect is the biggest reason we hunt, we’ve also made incredible memories shooting bucks in the backcountry. There’s something about climbing a mountain, harvesting a buck, and then packing it off steep terrain together that really strengthens your bond. A few years ago, Kylee took her biggest buck to date in some tough country. It was a brutal hike and pack-out, but the memory still gives us something to laugh about.

This year, Kylee wanted to top her biggest buck, so we set out for brand-new mule deer country - an area I had e-scouted on HuntStand.

I was determined to make the hunt as enjoyable as possible for her. I knew the hike into camp would be brutal, so I tried to offset the challenge with a few comforts: I packed in a Subway sandwich for dinner, downloaded some movies to watch on our phone at night, and brought along plenty of good snacks. Unfortunately, the ridge we chose for camp was rockier and more slanted than we hoped, making for a rough night’s sleep. To make matters worse, we spotted another hunter on our ridge the next morning - a sight no public land hunter ever wants to see. Still, we stayed positive and hoped he might push a buck our way.

As luck would have it, the universe seemed to be looking out for us. Not long into glassing, we spotted a group of bachelor bucks feeding on the steep sidehill below us. We tried to move into position, but they slipped into a thick patch of pines before we could get set up for a shot. Determined, we loaded up our packs and carefully worked our way down the ridge, hoping to relocate them. One of the bucks that we noticed and filmed through the MagView was a really nice 4-point.

After about an hour of scooting and glassing, we finally spotted a bedded buck - and it was the big 4-point! He was bedded down on the steepest part of the ridge, so we had to reposition to get a shot. Kylee quietly and strategically worked her way down until she had him in her scope. We took our time getting her set up with a solid rear support using the Muley Freak TriFold Glassing Pad. Lying prone, she settled in, squeezed the trigger, and her TS Customs 7mm Rem Mag dropped the buck right in his bed - a perfect shot.

Once we confirmed the buck was down, we made our way to him. When Kylee picked up his head, I was blown away by the big frame and huge top and bottom forks - she had just taken an absolute public land stud mule deer buck. We laughed, hugged, took some photos, and quickly got to work breaking him down, racing the setting sun. We didn’t beat the light and ended up packing him out in the dark - another brutal haul, and another memory added to our book of hunting adventures together. Our backs were sore, our legs burning, but I couldn't have asked for a better date night.

While packing out Kylee’s buck, I found myself reflecting on just how far we’ve come - not just in the miles covered on that trip, but in our journey as a hunting couple. Kylee and I come from very different backgrounds when it comes to the outdoors. I grew up with a rifle in my hand from a young age. My dad had me waking up before sunrise nearly every weekend during the fall, chasing deer and elk through big, gnarly country. Long hikes, cold mornings, and tough hunts were just part of the process. It was in my blood from the beginning.

Kylee’s upbringing was different. She didn’t grow up hunting, and the idea of hiking into rugged wilderness with a heavy pack and a tag in hand was entirely new to her when we met. That contrast has shaped the way I approach our hunts together. I’ve learned to be patient, to plan with her comfort and enjoyment in mind, and to never take for granted that this is a shared experience—not just my pursuit. What might feel “normal” or even nostalgic to me can be overwhelming to someone who didn’t grow up the same way, and that’s something I’ve tried to honor and respect.

Those efforts have made all the difference. Kylee may not be as obsessed with hunting as I am, but she shows up with a positive attitude, a willingness to learn, and a deep appreciation for what we’re doing together. Watching her grow in confidence with each trip has been just as rewarding as notching any tag.

Reflecting on this hunt, I have three takeaways I’d like to share:

1. Make It Enjoyable and Unforgettable

If you’re taking your spouse, child, or a new hunter into the field for the first time, remember this: their first experience will likely shape their perception of hunting for years to come. A miserable, cold, hungry, exhausting first trip can easily become their last. But if you go the extra mile to make it enjoyable, it could spark a lifelong passion - or at the very least, create a lasting memory together.

Think about what they enjoy outside of hunting and try to incorporate those things into the trip. For Kylee, I knew a long hike and a rough night on a rocky ridge could be deal-breakers, so I packed one of her favorite quick meals - Subway sandwiches - for a taste of comfort food in the backcountry. I also downloaded movies we could watch at night, brought extra snacks, and made sure she had a cozy setup at camp. These small gestures made the experience feel more like a fun adventure than a gritty survival challenge.

Enjoyable doesn’t mean easy. It just means thoughtful. Add little surprises to the hunt - a warm drink, a sweet treat, or just a slower pace. It shows you care about their experience, not just the outcome of the hunt. That mindset alone can turn a tough day in the field into a treasured story told for years.

2. Teach and Share Your Passion

The field is the best classroom, and hunting offers so many natural moments to teach and inspire. When I hunt with Kylee, I try to share not just how I hunt, but why I hunt. That includes everything from talking about animal behavior and terrain features to explaining conservation, fair chase ethics, and the connection we have with our food and the land.

Use the downtime - while glassing, waiting, or walking - to share stories about past hunts, memorable encounters, mistakes, and lessons learned. Explain why you chose that ridge, how you’re reading the wind, or what the deer might be doing based on the time of year. Don’t overload them with technical jargon or pressure, but offer insights that build confidence and curiosity.

When people understand the why, they’re far more likely to care about the how. Sharing that knowledge helps them feel like part of the process, not just a tagalong. It deepens their respect for the hunt and connects them more meaningfully to the experience.

3. Strengthen the Relationship

Hunting isn’t just about filling a tag - it’s about being present. In today’s world, uninterrupted time together is rare. A hunt removes distractions: no phones buzzing, no work emails, no background noise from everyday life. It’s just the two of you, the wilderness, and time to talk, reflect, and simply be together.

Whether you're hiking quietly side-by-side, sitting together under the stars, or sharing a laugh while glassing a distant ridge, these moments build trust, openness, and shared understanding. Some of the best conversations I’ve had with Kylee - about life, goals, parenting, and our future - have happened while hunting. There’s something about being out there, in that vast, wild space, that brings clarity and connection.

It also creates shared accomplishments. Harvesting an animal, enduring a tough hike, solving problems together - all of those challenges strengthen your bond. When Kylee dropped her biggest buck and we packed him out of that brutal canyon together, it wasn’t just a hunting success - it was a relationship milestone.

Watch the full hunt play out below.

Hunting has given us more than just meat in the freezer - it’s given us moments that have shaped our relationship, challenged us, and brought us closer together. It’s not always easy, and it’s rarely perfect, but the memories we’ve made are priceless. Whether you're hunting with your spouse, child, or a close friend, the time spent together in the wild is something that can’t be replicated. At the end of the day, it’s not just about the buck - it’s about the bond.