Josh Kirchner
71 articles

Josh Kirchner

Title: Freelance Writer, Photographer, Videographer
Email: dialedinhunter@gmail.com
Location: Peoria, Ariz.
Social Media: IG – @dialedinhunter FB – Dialed In Hunter

Expertise

  • Topics of Expertise: Hunting, bowhunting, backpack hunting, backcountry hunting gear
  • Years in This Expertise: 10+
  • Number of Products & Number of Hours Expert Has Tested: Incalculable products, incalculable hours

Education & Certifications

  • Education: Self-taught
  • Years of Writing: 10+
  • Club or Association Memberships: Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Pope and Young Club
  • Awards or Recognitions:  Author of the book Becoming a Backpack Hunter: A Beginner’s Guide to Hunting the Backcountry, Winner of 2022 Full Draw Film Tour Filmmaker’s Choice Award

Other Publications: Argali Field Notes, Bowhunting World Magazine, Bear Hunting Magazine, Western Hunter Magazine, Exo Mountain Gear Journal, onXhunt blog, Archery Business Magazine, Born Hunting blog, Western Hunting Journal, Dialed In Hunter blog, Vortex Optics blog

Who Is Josh?

Well before starting his contributions to GearJunkie, Josh Kirchner was a roofer for his dad’s family business for 15 years.  Josh’s dad brought him up with a strong sense of the outdoors, taking him on regular camping, hunting, and fishing trips.  It was during that time that he developed such a potent love for hunting.  

In 2014, Josh decided to start a blog called Dialed In Hunter.  It was a place where he could express his love for hunting and serve as an online journal to reflect on.  Little did he know, people were reading it, and some were editors.  After harvesting his first bear in 2015, he got his first article published in Bear Hunting Magazine. From that point, his writing and content production snowballed.

Come 2020, Josh self-published his book Becoming a Backpack Hunter: A Beginner’s Guide to Hunting the Backcountry. Having gone through the wringer of trial and error, learning the ins and outs of how to backpack hunt, he wanted to release a front-to-back guide for newer hunters looking to get off the beaten path.  


The Art of Not Quitting: How to Persevere on a Solo Backpack Hunt

A hunter holds a compound bow at full draw with the Hamskea R7 Arrow Rest supporting the arrow

Close-up of the rugged Dark Energy pack on a truck bed

A man stands on a desert trail wearing the Sitka MicroDown Hooded Jacket with the hood up, with mountains and blue sky behind him

A canvas wall tent lit up from the interior in the dark.

Vortex Ranger HD 3000 Rangefinding Binocular Review

Practicing archery target shooting

The Best hunting socks of 2023

Practical Practice for Bowhunting cover photo

Best Broadheads 2024

Best Bow Cases

The Best Archery Release Aids for Bowhunting of 2026

A man adjusting a compound bow outdoors

Evolution Outdoors Shadow Thumb Button Release

The Best Arrows for Hunting

Garmin Tactix 8 Smartwatch tracking heart rate during a hike

Garmin Xero C1 Pro next to bows

bowhunting

A camper in camouflage gear uses the Jetboil Stash Stove near a tent, with packs and water bottles nearby in a dry, mountainous landscape

A top-down view of Crispi Wild Rock Plus GTX boots on snow, with faint footprints and winter clothing partially visible

Crispi Briksdal GTX Boots

Out hunting with QuietKat Apex

man sitting under the tree in the shade, scanning the landscape through binoculars

Person placing a Tread Labs insole into a hiking boot

A man stands outdoors, holding a compound bow with both hands and aiming an arrow

A man in a Vortex cap and safety glasses aims through a rifle scope, focusing intently

Vortex Viper HD Riflescope attached to the rifle

best bow sights for hunting

Ibex evolution ibex hinge

sitka ambient 100 hooded jacket review