Steven Rinella Hunting Gear 2026: Complete List of Rifles, Bows & Apparel

Quick answer: Steven Rinella hunts big game with a custom left-handed Weatherby Mark V in .300 Winchester Magnum, shoots a Prime Nexus 4 compound bow, wears First Lite apparel (a brand his company, MeatEater Inc., owns), and glasses with Vortex Razor optics. Since 2024 MeatEater has also had an official partnership with SIG SAUER. Below you’ll find his confirmed gear, plus budget-friendly alternatives that do the same job.

This guide was last reviewed in October 2026. Rinella never publishes one official “master list,” so we built this one from MeatEater’s own episode gear lists, company press releases, and his published interviews. Every item is labeled so you can tell what he is actually seen using from what is simply a good, similar option.

• Steve’s Pick = gear confirmed on MeatEater’s site, in a press release, or on-screen in the show.
• Steve’s Brand = made by a brand MeatEater Inc. owns.
• Popular Alternative = not confirmed as Steve’s gear; a comparable product we recommend for similar hunting.

🦌 Who Is Steven Rinella?

• Full Name: Steven John Rinella
• Born: February 13, 1974 (age 52 as of 2026)
• Birthplace: Twin Lake, Michigan, USA
• Home Base: Montana (MeatEater, Inc. is headquartered in Bozeman)
• Profession: Hunter, outdoorsman, conservationist, author, and TV host

Rinella grew up hunting and fishing in western Michigan, studied creative nonfiction at the University of Montana, and turned his outdoor writing into one of the biggest hunting brands in North America. His show MeatEater premiered in 2012 and now streams on Netflix, alongside The MeatEater Podcast.

📺 Career Highlights

• Host of MeatEater: The TV series and podcast where he hunts, fishes, forages and cooks wild game. A defining trait of the show is that Steve is left-handed, so his rifles are left-hand actions.
• Founder of MeatEater, Inc.: Formally founded in February 2018 in Bozeman, Montana, the company grew into an outdoor media and gear business. It acquired First Lite (hunting apparel) in 2019, and FHF Gear, Phelps Game Calls and Dave Smith Decoys later joined the family.
• Official partnerships: In May 2024 MeatEater launched an Official Partnership Program that includes SIG SAUER as its official rifle, optic and ammo partner.
• Recognition: In May 2025 the University of Montana, where he earned his MFA in 2000, awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Forestry and Conservation.

📚 Steven Rinella’s Famous Books

Before the show and the gear, Rinella was a writer. These are the titles hunters recommend most, especially if you want to learn butchering and cooking, not just shooting.

1. MeatEater Wild Game Cookbooks

His cookbook line includes The MeatEater Fish and Game Cookbook and the New York Times bestselling The MeatEater Outdoor Cookbook (2024).

2. American Buffalo: In Search of a Lost Icon

Published in 2008, American Buffalo follows Rinella’s Alaska buffalo hunt while telling the story of the animal’s history in North America.

3. The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering and Cooking Wild Game, Volume 2

If you are working on skills after the shot, our field dressing guide on Hunts Hunter pairs well with this book.

👨‍👩‍👧 Personal Life

• Married to Catherine Finch, a publishing executive.
• They have three children and live in Montana.
• The family lifestyle revolves around the outdoors, and Rinella often takes his kids hunting and fishing.

🎯 Steven Rinella’s Hunting Gear List (2026)

Rinella tests gear in genuinely hard country, from southeast Alaska to the Idaho and Montana high country, so his choices lean toward light weight, reliability and field repair. Here is what we could confirm, organized by category.

Rifles & Shotguns

1. Weatherby Mark V (Custom Left-Handed .300 Win Mag)

This is Steve’s signature big-game rifle. MeatEater’s own Season 12 gun roundup says fans will recognize his custom left-handed Weatherby Mark V in .300 Winchester Magnum from many episodes. It was topped with a Vortex Razor LHT scope.

The Mark V Backcountry 2.0 shown below is a different rifle in the same family. In Season 12 it was carried by MeatEater’s Randall Williams in .338 Weatherby RPM. It is a good example of what a lightweight Mark V looks like for mountain hunting. For his Montana mountain goat hunt in Season 10, Steve himself chose a lighter Weatherby Mark V Accumark, noting it was light enough to carry but heavy enough to bed on a pack.

Weatherby has also offered a Vanguard MeatEater Edition rifle developed with the MeatEater team, a more affordable way into the same brand.

2. Other Firearms Seen on MeatEater

• Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus (First Lite Typha pattern), 12 gauge: his left-handed turkey and rabbit gun in Season 12.
• CZ 457 American, .22 LR: his small-game rifle in Season 12.

Since May 2024, SIG SAUER has been the official rifle, optic and ammo partner of MeatEater, so expect more SIG gear to appear in newer MeatEater content alongside the long-time Vortex lineup.

Optics, Rangefinders & Support Gear

Glassing is half of mountain hunting. on his Montana mountain goat hunt he ran Vortex Razor UHD 10×42 binoculars carried in an FHF Bino Harness Pro-M, and his Season 12 rifle wore a Vortex Razor LHT scope. Those are premium optics, so the cards below are the closest affordable equivalents.

3. Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×50 Riflescope

Steve’s own scope is a far pricier Razor-series model. The Crossfire II is the kind of value Vortex scope most deer hunters actually buy.

4. Vortex Diamondback HD 12×50 Binoculars

5. Hunting Laser Rangefinder (1,000 Yards)

6. Vortex Diamondback HD Spotting Scope (20-60×85)

7. Vanguard Endeavor ARCA Shooting Tripod

8. Spartan Precision Pro Hunt Tac Bipod

Bows & Archery Gear

Rinella says he is primarily a rifle hunter on camera, but he is a serious bowhunter. In 2021 the MeatEater team partnered with Prime Archery, and Steve used the Prime Nexus 4 for big game on the show. The Nexus 4 is a 34-inch axle-to-axle bow with a ROTO Cam 2 system and peak draw weights from 40 to 80 lbs. It was a 2021 model and is now discontinued, so if you want the same feel look at Prime’s current lineup, such as the RVX 4.

The accessory list below mixes older picks that Rinella mentioned in past Q&As (a Scott release, Carbon Express arrows, a Tightspot quiver, plus an Athens Recluse bow and Bloodshot broadheads) with comparable modern parts.

9. Scott Archery Quick Shot Release

10. Carbon Express Maxima RED Arrows

11. Tightspot Bow Arrow Quiver

12. Stainless Steel Fixed Broadheads, 100 Grain (6 Pack)

13. Trophy Ridge 5-Pin Bow Sight

14. HAMSKEA Compound Arrow Rest

15. Bee Stinger Counter Slide Stabilizer

Clothing & Boots

This is the most consistent part of Steve’s kit. First Lite is his go-to brand, and MeatEater Inc. acquired the company in 2019. On his Season 10 mountain goat hunt he wore the First Lite Catalyst Foundry Pant, calling the Foundry line the best collection of hunting pants on the planet, and stayed warm glassing in the Chamberlin Down Jacket (800-fill down).

16. First Lite Wick Hoody

17. First Lite 308 Pant

18. First Lite Wick Long Sleeve Base Layer

19. First Lite Kiln Merino Base Layer

20. Ergodyne N-Ferno 6823 Balaclava

Boots: Steve’s boots change with the terrain, so check the gear list on each MeatEater episode page. If you hunt wet ground, the LaCrosse boot below is a comparable rubber option.

21. LaCrosse Rubber Hunting Boots

Packs, Camp Gear & Field Essentials

Steve’s pack, knife and camp choices change by hunt, and MeatEater publishes a full gear list on every episode page. The following items cover the same needs and are good, tested categories for any backcountry hunter.

22. Mystery Ranch Blitz 30 Daypack

23. KNINE Outdoors Field Dressing Kit

New to processing? Read our complete field dressing guide before your next hunt.

24. MSR Dromedary Water Bag

25. Garmin inReach Satellite Communicator

26. Leatherman Super Tool 300 Multitool

27. Marmot Ironwood Mummy Sleeping Bag

28. TIDEWE 270° See-Through Hunting Blind

Blinds work best when you know where deer travel. Our guides on how to scout deer like a pro and the deer hunting gear checklist will help you place and pack for one.

How to Build a Rinella-Style Kit on Any Budget

• Start with layers. Merino base layers and a quiet, stretchy pant do more for comfort than any single gadget.
• Spend on glass. Good binoculars matter more than an expensive scope for most hunters.
• Fit the rifle to you. Steve is left-handed, and the reason he picks custom or left-hand actions is fit. Choose a rifle that fits your shoulder and a caliber you shoot well.
• Pack the kill kit. Game bags, a sharp knife, gloves and a headlamp save meat in the backcountry.
• Practice with what you buy. Archery and rifle skill beat gear, always.

Conclusion

Steven Rinella’s gear philosophy is simple: choose reliable, repairable equipment that works in rough country, and spend the most on the items that touch the animal and the weather, such as the rifle, the optics and the clothing. His confirmed core is a left-handed Weatherby Mark V in .300 Win Mag, a Prime Nexus 4 bow, First Lite clothing and Vortex Razor optics.

You do not need to copy his exact list. Match your gear to your terrain, species and budget, and use the alternatives above where Steve’s own picks are too expensive or too specialized.

Remember: it is not just the gear, but how you use it. Ethical, prepared and well-practiced hunters get the most out of every hunt.

Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Gear and sponsorships change, so always confirm current specs and availability before you buy.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What hunting gear does Steven Rinella use?

His confirmed core kit is a custom left-handed Weatherby Mark V in .300 Win Mag, a Prime Nexus 4 compound bow, First Lite apparel, Vortex Razor optics and FHF Gear accessories. MeatEater has also partnered with SIG SAUER since 2024, and he rotates other tools by hunt.

2. What rifle does Steven Rinella shoot?

His signature big-game rifle is a custom left-handed Weatherby Mark V chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum. He also used a CZ 457 American in .22 LR for small game and a Beretta A400 12-gauge in Season 12, and a Weatherby Mark V Accumark for mountain goat.

3. What bow does Steven Rinella use?

After MeatEater’s 2021 partnership with Prime Archery, Steve used the Prime Nexus 4 for big game on the show. Older Q&As mention an Athens Recluse, a Scott release and Carbon Express arrows.

4. Does Steven Rinella own First Lite?

His company, MeatEater Inc., acquired First Lite in 2019. It is now one of the MeatEater family brands, alongside FHF Gear, Phelps Game Calls and Dave Smith Decoys.

5. Is Steven Rinella left-handed?

Yes, Steve shoots left-handed, which is why his signature Weatherby Mark V is a custom left-handed build.

6. How old is Steven Rinella?

He was born on February 13, 1974, in Twin Lake, Michigan, which makes him 52 as of October 2026.