1 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: Welcome back to another episode of Cutting the Distance. Elk 2 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: season is literally right around the corner. We're about a 3 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 1: week and a half away, and the majority of us, 4 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: you know, in September rolls around, that's our time to 5 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: go chase buglin bowls. And in my opinion, there's no 6 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: better critter to hunt than elk. Why they're biglin. You know, 7 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 1: I'll argue with the meal deer hunters and the white 8 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: tail guys all day long. There's nothing that quite gets 9 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 1: the hair to stand up on the back of your 10 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:38,240 Speaker 1: neck like a buglin bowl at close distance. 11 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 2: But anyways, I decided to. 12 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: Take today and kind of go through my seminars that 13 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 1: I typically do, and I name that seminar Elk Cutting 14 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:51,239 Speaker 1: with the Purpose. And you know, those that know my background, 15 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: I overanalyze everything. I try to figure out why, the 16 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: how comes and the why is and try to methodically 17 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: figure out what matt and why. And so when I 18 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: did that, I ended up like reducing that down to 19 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: having a purpose when you're out there, Like what is 20 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 1: your goal? Are you out there just to have fun? 21 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,320 Speaker 1: Are you out there to kill any legal elk? Are 22 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 1: you out there strictly to put meat in the freezer. 23 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: Are you out there to kill the biggest bowl in 24 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 1: the mountain? And I'm all of those are acceptable. Is 25 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 1: it to go out there and hang out with friends 26 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 1: and family and laugh and you have a couple of 27 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 1: whiskeys around the fire? Is it to you know, watch 28 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 1: the sunrise with your kids? Whatever that may be. You 29 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 1: needed to find that and make sure you know before 30 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:36,040 Speaker 1: you're in the middle of the hunt that you've got 31 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: that well to fined and and that you're gonna go 32 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: out there and you know, do the best to fulfill 33 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: you know, everything and that purpose. So to break this down, 34 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 1: you know how to elk coume with the purpose. So 35 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 1: you've you've created that purpose and we just went through 36 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 1: a list of you know, some of those. It could 37 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 1: be you know, many many more. Whatever it may be. 38 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:04,279 Speaker 1: You know, you only you can define that. But from there, 39 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 1: when I'm on the hunt, from the time I'm going there, 40 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:10,839 Speaker 1: from the time I arrive, every decision that I make 41 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 1: at that point should be with the intention of that purpose. 42 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: It's a building block towards the goal that I've set 43 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:23,639 Speaker 1: for myself. So I don't like, you know, if if 44 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:29,239 Speaker 1: you know a rockstar monster, you know, at whatever energy drink, 45 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,359 Speaker 1: red Bull, whatever your your choice, you know, black rifle, coffee, 46 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 1: whatever you're looking for, you know, a latte down at 47 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 1: the coffee stand, if that sounds good. 48 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 2: But yet I need to be and I. 49 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 1: Can somehow talk myself into going and getting that in 50 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: town that might be a twenty minute away from you know, 51 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 1: twenty minute drive or twenty mile drive from camp versus me. 52 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:50,959 Speaker 1: You know, going and finding elk in the middle of 53 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: the day. That is a bad decision, no matter how 54 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:55,639 Speaker 1: much you know. And then all even the grimlins kind 55 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: of kind of creep in and like, but it'll be 56 00:02:57,680 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 1: like a picker up or you know, it'll it'll help 57 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 1: your mental game. And I don't buy into that anymore. 58 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: Like if I can't with the you know, honestly answer 59 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 1: the question that this decision and this effort will be, 60 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: you know, a building block towards my goal, and I 61 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,640 Speaker 1: won't do it anymore. During a hunt, I'm out there 62 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:22,800 Speaker 1: with a specific purpose to kill a ball, you know, 63 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: the biggest bowl that I can find. And you know, 64 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: I have a lot of fun, so I try to 65 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,959 Speaker 1: balance those street. Now, if your purpose was to take 66 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 1: your kid hunting, and if going to the store and 67 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 1: getting an ice cream or or whatever was you know, 68 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: helps you fulfill that purpose, then by all means that's 69 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: part of your goal. But we you know, you have 70 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 1: different goals. So I'm kind of talking, you know, with 71 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 1: with out of both sides of my mouth, But it 72 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:49,920 Speaker 1: really goes back to what your purpose and what your 73 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: goal is for that hunt always question what you're doing 74 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 1: after you make the initial decision. I'll make some crazy 75 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 1: decisions at times where in my mind, going back into 76 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: basin that's seven or eight miles deep that had a 77 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: bunch of elk in last year was just loaded, is 78 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: the best decision I could make. And while I get 79 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: in there, I can't find any sign or the elk 80 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 1: maybe aren't there, or there's a bunch of boot tracks 81 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: in there or something. So I'm always you know, even 82 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: if I'm only two or three miles in and things 83 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:22,679 Speaker 1: aren't starting to add up, or the tracks are starting 84 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 1: to show, or something just isn't isn't jiving, and I 85 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: start to question that plan, like is this still the 86 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: best thing to do? 87 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 2: You know? 88 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 1: Maybe it's like, well, I'll give it two more miles 89 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: to another main trail junction and I'll reevaluate but don't 90 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: just always go be willing to adapt and change your plans. 91 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 2: For me. My goal is and purpose. I want to 92 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 2: hunt hard. 93 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: All the time, from from sun up to sundown, all 94 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: day long, even after the sun goes down, before the 95 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: sun comes up. If that, if my plan dictates that 96 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:57,479 Speaker 1: I need to be up two hours before dark so 97 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,799 Speaker 1: I can get the wind right, which means getting down 98 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 1: below the elk, typically down valley, down slope, and I 99 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 1: need to be in that spot, then if that means 100 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 1: I got to set my alarm clock for three thirty, 101 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 1: then that's what I do. 102 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 2: I try not. 103 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:13,239 Speaker 1: There were times where I would be lazy at times 104 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: and like I'm gonna have an easy one because I 105 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 1: was fortunate where I grew up hunting that I could 106 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: typically find one that wasn't going to be a whole 107 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 1: lot of extra work somewhere along the hunt. 108 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 2: Nowadays, not so much. 109 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 1: I've also been at this long enough that I hunt 110 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:31,920 Speaker 1: hard all the time because it only takes one one 111 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: opportunity to go right. It only takes you know, the 112 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: wind to be right one time, the bowl to react 113 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 1: and to everything he needs to for me to make 114 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 1: the perfect shot. It only takes one but I've also 115 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:45,839 Speaker 1: been on hunts to know that that one opportunity maybe 116 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: on day nine or ten or the last. 117 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 2: Day of the hunt. So it could come early in 118 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 2: the hunt. 119 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: On day one. We've had that happen. It could come 120 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: on the very last day of the hunt. So when 121 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:57,720 Speaker 1: I say it only takes one, you don't know when 122 00:05:57,760 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: that one's going to be. And so we're always hunting hard. 123 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:04,359 Speaker 1: We're always trying to treat every stock, every opportunity like 124 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 1: it's the last. It's it's kind of crazy when we 125 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 1: when we think about it, we always seem to do 126 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:14,160 Speaker 1: things a little bit better, a little more deliberately on 127 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,479 Speaker 1: that last couple of days of the hunt, because things 128 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: are now critical if you screw this up. But and 129 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 1: then I always remind myself, why don't you why don't 130 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 1: you give you know, your early you know your early 131 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 1: hunt stocks that much attention, and and why aren't you 132 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: at that height and awareness all the time. And so 133 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,280 Speaker 1: I've been able to kind of to tweak my brain 134 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,360 Speaker 1: a little bit, and we treat everything like this as 135 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 1: your only opportunity because it does only take one, but 136 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 1: you may only get that one. As I just mentioned, 137 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 1: treat every stock like it's the last of the season. 138 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:44,720 Speaker 1: That's kind of on the next bullet point, and my 139 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: my slide always you know, this is kind of going 140 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:52,480 Speaker 1: into my purpose. I always remind myself you can't cheat 141 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:54,479 Speaker 1: the win. There are times where it's like, I want 142 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 1: to make a four hundred foot loop around this elk 143 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 1: with the wind going to them. I'm going to give 144 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 1: them the wind, but I think because of the ridges 145 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: and the way this lays out, the wind won't get 146 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: to them, and I will risk that, and I used 147 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: to risk that. 148 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 2: I will no longer risk the wind. 149 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: I'll go half mile a mile out of my way 150 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: to get around the elk, to make sure that they 151 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: are still in that location, they're calm and comfortable when 152 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 1: I get there and I haven't buggered them up and 153 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 1: have to try to, you know, deal with elk that 154 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 1: most likely aren't going to be called in at that point. 155 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 1: So you can never cheat the wind. Always put in 156 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: more effort, you know, and get around them. And you know, 157 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 1: so we can argue over how in perfect conditions and 158 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: certain winds, like how far can elk smell you. 159 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 2: I've always just assumed five. 160 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: Hundred to seven hundred you're going to get picked off, 161 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: and so if you're outside that seven hundred. But nowadays 162 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 1: I don't really look at a distance. I look at 163 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: terrain and just make sure that whatever my approach is, 164 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: I'm not going to get winded. The next thing which 165 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 1: people could see is false confidence or cockiness is I 166 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 1: expects on every out kind I'm on, whether it's over 167 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 1: the counter Washington tag, whether it's the best tag that 168 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 1: I've gotten, you know, Wyoming, or wherever it may be, Idaho, 169 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: I expect to find success every single hunt I'm on. 170 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 1: And that starts with my Google you know, my Google scouting, 171 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 1: my on ex map scouting, you know, everything that I'm 172 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 1: looking at. I'm drawing up these plans that and almost 173 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 1: visualizing I'm gonna kill a buck or a bowl. You know, 174 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 1: we're talking about bulls, but you know, I'm gonna kill 175 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 1: a bowl in this basin because it's going to be there. 176 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:37,560 Speaker 1: I'm gonna kill this in that spot. You know, I 177 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: can visualize it happening, and I can see that I 178 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:42,559 Speaker 1: visualize that there's not going to be that many people 179 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 1: in on this trailhead because it's step or it's rugged. 180 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 2: I can start. 181 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: To to you know, almost you know, force the success 182 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: to happen. And if I can't buy into that planet, 183 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 1: if I can't you know, fool myself or or convince myself, 184 00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 1: then I'm going to have success. Then I need to 185 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 1: go back and change my plan. And well, I buy 186 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 1: into that plan. It's very very important for me to 187 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:08,439 Speaker 1: see this through from beginning to end in order to 188 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 1: to kind of, you know, materialize that success. If I'm 189 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 1: not bought into the plan and I'm just going through 190 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 1: the motions, I'm I'm, you know, a tenth of the 191 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:19,440 Speaker 1: Elk hunter I should be or can be because I'm 192 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 1: just not bought in. 193 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:20,839 Speaker 2: I'm not in the game. 194 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 1: I'm not expecting elk to be in certain patches of Timber, 195 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 1: and I just hunt kind of lacks daisical and and 196 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 1: I just I'm not on my a game. The next 197 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: bullet kind of ties into that. Don't just go through 198 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 1: the motions. If you ever find yourself just hiking because 199 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 1: there's a trail in front of you and not because 200 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: there's a there's an elk destination or there is a 201 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:43,559 Speaker 1: spot you need to get to or want to get to, 202 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 1: then find a new plan or do something different or 203 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 1: change your purpose or goal like if you're just going 204 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: through the motions because you want to hike, you know, 205 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: and maybe run into an elk, then that that's what 206 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 1: you need to set your goal as. But with me, 207 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: I don't want to go just go through the motions 208 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:58,719 Speaker 1: because I've got a purpose of killing a bowl and 209 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 1: I'm trying to kill a good b So if you're 210 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:03,719 Speaker 1: just going through the motions, you reevaluate your goals and 211 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:06,720 Speaker 1: purpose or reevaluate what you're doing and make a change. 212 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 1: And I get probably too too caught up, but I 213 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:13,679 Speaker 1: still have a lot of fun. But I found that 214 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 1: I have a lot more fun when I'm successful. When 215 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 1: me and my buddies are grinding and out with the 216 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:21,680 Speaker 1: full pack meat on our backs, you know, getting horns 217 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 1: out in tough, difficult spots like that's when we have 218 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 1: the most fun. 219 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 2: You know. 220 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:28,200 Speaker 1: It is definitely type too fun, but but that makes it, 221 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,959 Speaker 1: you know, funner for us. But it's it is important 222 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 1: to have fun, no matter what your purpose, no matter 223 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 1: what your goal is. I know, we can get into 224 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 1: debates all over the place on whether hunting's supposed to 225 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 1: be fun or if it's a food gathering. You know, 226 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:48,199 Speaker 1: exercise and fun is just a byproduct, I'll argue with 227 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 1: those people all day long. I have a ton of 228 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 1: fun elk hunting. I have a ton of fun with 229 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 1: my buddies, my family, people that I get to meet. 230 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 1: I have a lot of fun while we're out there, 231 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: you know, sweating our asses off, you're kind of grinding 232 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: it out, chasing bigling. So while it may seem like 233 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 1: with all of this, you know, effort put into finding 234 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: success as my purpose or my goal, I still do 235 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: have a lot of fun. And at times I have 236 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 1: to remind myself to have fun because you know, I'll 237 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 1: get down on myself when something doesn't work out or 238 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:20,839 Speaker 1: I make a wrong decision and I start to question, 239 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 1: you know, everything that's going on. But but that's where 240 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: you know, you need to remind yourself to have fun 241 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:34,840 Speaker 1: while you're on that hunt. And and so, like I 242 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 1: mentioned earlier, we kind of go through what's your goal? 243 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 1: You know, is filling the freezer, having fun, killing the 244 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 1: mature bowl, spending time in the woods within you know, 245 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 1: friends and family or is it a combination of many 246 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 1: of those things? And I think for ninety nine percent 247 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 1: of people it is a combination of those things. They're 248 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:49,960 Speaker 1: trying to fill the freezer. They're trying to kill the 249 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:52,080 Speaker 1: best bowl in the hill. They're trying to have as 250 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 1: many laughs as possible to friends define that, and that's 251 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 1: going to kind of dictate, you know, how you approach 252 00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:02,000 Speaker 1: the hunt, you know, and then I always put a 253 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 1: plan together, multiple plans, you know, plan A through Z 254 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: in case things don't go right or I show up 255 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: and things are wrong, or I can't camp on the spot. 256 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 1: I always thought I was gonna camp, and then I'm 257 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 1: always evaluating, you know, reevaluating my plan as I mentioned earlier, 258 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 1: and then I need to go out and execute. And 259 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:20,079 Speaker 1: so we're going to talk about now is and I'm 260 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 1: gonna probably walk through the majority of this, you know, 261 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:26,079 Speaker 1: elk hunting with the purpose, with the intention of being 262 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:30,840 Speaker 1: successful and and you know, trying to kill a bowl 263 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 1: and put it in the freezer. So one thing I 264 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 1: asked myself a long time ago when I started talking 265 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 1: about elk hunting, and really at the first time when 266 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: somebody asks you, because you just go through the motions, 267 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 1: you know, I've I found success with a bow. I 268 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 1: found success with calling elk early on, and it not 269 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:50,840 Speaker 1: until a few years later I kind of had to 270 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:54,319 Speaker 1: had to sit down and reevaluate what makes a successful 271 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 1: elk hunter, and I kind of came up with three 272 00:12:57,080 --> 00:13:00,840 Speaker 1: h three excuse me, eight key factors, uh that that 273 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: seem to kind of matter, and I'm gonna kind of 274 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:08,720 Speaker 1: walk through these and explain them. So scouting, scouting or 275 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 1: the ability to find the animal bull elk that you 276 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 1: you're after. So scouting is huge. Are you out in 277 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 1: the woods all the time? Guys that are out Guys 278 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:18,520 Speaker 1: and gals that are out in the woods all the 279 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 1: time will typically always be more successful than people that 280 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 1: show up on opening day or go back to the 281 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 1: same spots year after year. Some hunts can solely be 282 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:34,120 Speaker 1: the success that can be like solely attributed to scouting. 283 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 1: I mean not solely, but the majority. That factor is 284 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:41,560 Speaker 1: the overarching majority of why you were successful. The second 285 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 1: one was physical conditioning. Be in as good as shape 286 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 1: as you can. It's never gonna hurt, it's always gonna 287 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: get e too farther. You're never gonna give up on elk. 288 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:57,319 Speaker 1: And physical conditioning really kind of translates over into mental 289 00:13:57,840 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: you know, your mental game, because if you're in bad sha, 290 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: your body's gonna start to question, you know, are you 291 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:06,840 Speaker 1: should you be going or we should probably come up 292 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 1: with a different plan because your body's starting to break 293 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 1: down a little bit. You know that just being as 294 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 1: good as shape as possible. I'm not gonna dwell on 295 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 1: that topic, but that's always gonna help. It's always gonna help. 296 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:20,920 Speaker 1: It's never gonna hurt you by being in better shape. 297 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 1: Your gear, you know, I wouldn't spend too much time 298 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: on this either, but just have the best gear you 299 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 1: can afford. You don't need everything, doesn't have to be 300 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 1: top of the line, but good gear does make the 301 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: hunt more. 302 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 2: You know, enjoyable. 303 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 1: You you know, if you have better optics, you will 304 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 1: probably spot more elk. If you have a better range, 305 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 1: find or you might not get a missed range. If 306 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 1: you have a better bow, you may be able to 307 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 1: shoot a little bit faster and not miss the vitals. 308 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: If you have better you know, a tent, you may 309 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: be able to stay longer. It may be lighter, you 310 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 1: may be able to pack farther. You know, a broadhead, 311 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 1: A good broadhead may provide better blood. Any of these 312 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 1: things can be attributed to gear, But I'm not going 313 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 1: to dwell on that one. Let's just find the best 314 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 1: gear you can afford or the best gear for your 315 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 1: situation and roll with it. Number four is elk calling. 316 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 1: I've I've probably hung my hat on this one more 317 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 1: than anything else. But I also understand the elk cunting knowledge, 318 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: you know, being able to shoot my bull, you know, 319 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: setting up all these other things are also very very important. 320 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: I feel that by being a good ELK caller, you 321 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 1: open up just another another chapter in the playbook to 322 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 1: killing elk. Anybody that's listening to me long enough, I've 323 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: admitted multiple times that you know, spot in stock on 324 00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 1: big herd bulls that are buggling and rutting can be 325 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: very effective calling elk and bushing elk, sitting over water 326 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 1: whatever it may be, you know, sitting in pinch points 327 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: can all be very very effective ways to hunt elk. 328 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 1: I love to call elk, and so that's what I'm 329 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 1: out there trying to do. And by being able to 330 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:59,400 Speaker 1: call elk, I've killed some great bulls. So why you 331 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:01,520 Speaker 1: know some people will say you can't kill herd bulls 332 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 1: by calling. You can't do this, you know, with calling, 333 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 1: calling scares them off. You can't call elkin in this area. 334 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 1: You can't call elk in New Mexico or Arizona. 335 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 2: Whatever it may be. 336 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 1: And I've I've proven the majority of those wrong as 337 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: well as others. So it just gives me another tool 338 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 1: in my toolbox. And if I elect to use that 339 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 1: or not is on me. But being a good ELK 340 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: caller and having those tools and you know or are 341 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:28,359 Speaker 1: very important. And then the next one is elk and acknowledge. 342 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 1: I feel that somebody's ability to know where elk will be, 343 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 1: where elk will go, what elk are wanting to do, 344 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 1: what elk you know have been doing, is very important. 345 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 2: You know. 346 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 1: Somebody that can find tracks and tell you if they're 347 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 1: a day or two old, which direction they're going. Somebody 348 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 1: that can run across some elkscat, you know, step on 349 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 1: it with the edge of their shoe and. 350 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 2: Be able to tell you, you know, how old is that? 351 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 2: Have they been here recently? 352 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 1: Somebody that can walk into a rub and say, well, 353 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 1: this elk, you know this rub was here a week 354 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 1: ago because the bark's still kind of pliable, but it's 355 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:03,800 Speaker 1: still kind of brittle, or if it was, you know, 356 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 1: last year because the needles were red. You know, if 357 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 1: somebody can look at a map and just almost instant 358 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 1: instantly know this area is going to hold elk, and 359 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:16,400 Speaker 1: then you can zoom in and see where there's trails 360 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 1: in the alpine or you know, if there's a meadow 361 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:21,880 Speaker 1: down in the creek bottom, like, oh, something's obviously using 362 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: that there's no cattle in this area, that's probably so 363 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: just you know, being able to show up to a 364 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 1: spot that you've only ever scouted online and being able 365 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:35,480 Speaker 1: to you know, take your plan, look at it quickly, 366 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:38,239 Speaker 1: reduce the country if if at different, you know, if 367 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 1: there's differences from what you thought you were going to 368 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 1: see when you got there, and then within a day 369 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:44,399 Speaker 1: figuring out if they were elk there, or if your 370 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 1: plan is going to be able to even work in 371 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 1: this area. So elk cutting knowledge, you know, the ability 372 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:52,960 Speaker 1: to track elk nowhere elk are going to be is 373 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:58,719 Speaker 1: one of the biggest, you know, the biggest you know problems. 374 00:17:58,160 --> 00:17:59,879 Speaker 2: That people will have on not being success. 375 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 1: And it sounds very cliche, but you can't kill elk 376 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: without being able to find elk. So that elk hunting knowledge, 377 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:09,160 Speaker 1: you know when to call, you know, we go back 378 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 1: to calling, when do you call? When you can you 379 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 1: read the temperament of a bowl. You know, all those 380 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 1: things come in come into play. Shooting your boat is 381 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 1: another big one. Are you confident enough to make the 382 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 1: shot when all these other things happen? You know, are 383 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 1: you only confident out to thirty yards? A guy or 384 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:29,479 Speaker 1: gal that is only confident in shooting an elk at 385 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 1: thirty yards, it's going to have a whole lot, you know, 386 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 1: a whole lot less opportunity than somebody that's even comfortable 387 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 1: to fifty yards. You know, the difference on the amount 388 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: of elk that we'll get to fifty versus thirty is 389 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: a pretty good stack most of the time, unless you 390 00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:44,480 Speaker 1: know setups and scenarios and the rut and you know, 391 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:47,119 Speaker 1: everything aligns. But there, I would say, you start to 392 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 1: lose half your elk that you can't get between fifty 393 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 1: and thirty, you know, just in general. You know, then 394 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:58,080 Speaker 1: you go to your tracking kind of kind of touches 395 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 1: with shooting. There's some there's some skins and being able 396 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 1: to track, being able to see something that's not normal, 397 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 1: being able to read it. You know, if a bull 398 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:06,399 Speaker 1: gets hitting the right shoulder and you see them kind 399 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 1: of limp and away, being able to read that that 400 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:10,399 Speaker 1: front left hoof is going to put more pressure in 401 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:12,639 Speaker 1: the ground. Being able to read that you know, this 402 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:16,159 Speaker 1: fern is freshly broken and bent over. Being able to 403 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 1: read blood signs, having the knowledge that and elk has 404 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:23,399 Speaker 1: typically been heading in this direction. If you lose blood, 405 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:26,120 Speaker 1: you kind of tend to follow elk in that direction. 406 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:29,880 Speaker 1: You know, just things that that you will pick up. 407 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 1: And being able to track, be able to get down 408 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 1: and pick up blood easily. You know, all these things go. 409 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:39,200 Speaker 1: Shooting tracking kind of go together. But until you're there 410 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:43,399 Speaker 1: that and tell you not that tag like you haven't 411 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 1: been successful. In my opinion, that's that's a big component. 412 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: And so being able to shoot and track very very important. 413 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 1: You know, we talk about this too much, but it 414 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 1: also lets you know that we think is very important. 415 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 1: I've said it a bunch, I will say it again. 416 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 1: I feel that most elk hunters are good, good enough 417 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 1: to get everything right until they go to set up. 418 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 1: They can find elk, they can locate elk, They're good 419 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 1: enough shape to move in on elk. But when they 420 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 1: go to set up, they make bad decisions or they 421 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 1: set up in a spot that isn't ideal for that elk. 422 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:16,440 Speaker 1: Being able to see them and they will not get 423 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:18,160 Speaker 1: a shot because that bowl is going to hang up. 424 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:21,160 Speaker 1: So set up in a spot where when that bull 425 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 1: sees you, you should have a clear shot at the vitals. 426 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 1: And the last one is just mental toughness. You know, 427 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: we look at all these other things that are semi 428 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 1: you know, skill driven or you know, things that that 429 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:39,959 Speaker 1: you can, you know, teach yourself. But mental toughness, I 430 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:42,959 Speaker 1: feel is also taught. But a little bit is just 431 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:44,880 Speaker 1: kind of there. You either have it or you don't, 432 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:46,399 Speaker 1: or you need to build it somehow, or you need 433 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:48,679 Speaker 1: to hunt with a partner that has it. But mental 434 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:51,640 Speaker 1: toughness I can. I can have all these other things dialed, 435 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:53,720 Speaker 1: you know. I can have the biggest bulls scouted out. 436 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:56,960 Speaker 1: I can be in ultra marathon shape, physical conditioning, you know, 437 00:20:57,000 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 1: being able to lift up a you know, a car 438 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 1: or what I you know, just tougher than nails. I 439 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 1: can have the best gear. I can be the best 440 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 1: ELK color. I can I can know everything about ELK. 441 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 1: But there are times where things still will not go 442 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 1: your way and you're gonna need to rely on that 443 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:12,440 Speaker 1: mental toughness to stay in the game, to not hike 444 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 1: out and go try a new area to not hike 445 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 1: out to the truck and you know, lick your wounds 446 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:17,639 Speaker 1: and try to make up a new plan. You need 447 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:19,680 Speaker 1: to kind of stay the course. You need to grind 448 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 1: it out. You need to take the kind of the 449 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:24,399 Speaker 1: battle back to that bowl and so being mentally tough, 450 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:27,920 Speaker 1: pushing the next ridge over, you know, riding your bike 451 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 1: the next three miles into a clear cut where you 452 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:33,359 Speaker 1: think there might be you know something. All of that 453 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 1: is going to add up to making you a better 454 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:38,359 Speaker 1: elk hunter. And so then what I like to do 455 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 1: is I take all of those things we just talked about. 456 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:42,840 Speaker 1: At the end of each year, you know, this is 457 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: preparing me for the following year. Is what do I 458 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:46,680 Speaker 1: need to work on? What were my weaknesses? You know? 459 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:48,760 Speaker 2: Was I in good enough shape? Was I a good 460 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:49,680 Speaker 2: enough shooter this year? 461 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:51,879 Speaker 1: You know? Was did I make a bad shot? Was 462 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 1: I confident enough enough out to a certain distance? 463 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:55,960 Speaker 2: You know? 464 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 1: Did I set up real real poorly on a few 465 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:00,600 Speaker 1: of these setups? Like do I need to rethink this? 466 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:02,840 Speaker 1: Why did I do that? Why was I lazy and not? 467 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:05,480 Speaker 1: You know, why didn't I set up in a spot 468 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:07,520 Speaker 1: that was you know, fifty yards up or whatever it 469 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:09,399 Speaker 1: may be. Why did I settle on that? And so 470 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:13,119 Speaker 1: I like to go through and kind of reevaluate and 471 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 1: then work on my weaknesses to become a better elk hunter. 472 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 1: You know, I look at all of those those things, 473 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:25,400 Speaker 1: try to reduce them down to what mattered, what didn't matter? 474 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:26,959 Speaker 1: Can I get rid of some gear? Do I need 475 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:29,879 Speaker 1: to bring all of these elk calls? You know, whatever 476 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 1: it may be. And I feel by looking at those things, 477 00:22:34,359 --> 00:22:36,680 Speaker 1: it's going to make you a better elk hunter, which 478 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 1: in turn will make you a more successful elk hunter. 479 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:42,560 Speaker 1: And for me, that really kind of ties into my 480 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:45,080 Speaker 1: goal and my purpose when I'm out there elk hunting. 481 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:56,440 Speaker 1: So let's say we've talked about all those things and 482 00:22:56,920 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 1: season is here, you know, or s's coming up, you know, scout, 483 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:02,880 Speaker 1: if possible, you should be on elk to start with. 484 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: I need to be able to break that country down 485 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: as quick as possible to find elk. I need to 486 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:10,680 Speaker 1: have a plan to check in on certain areas. And 487 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 1: when I talk about this, I'm looking at depressions and ridges, 488 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:15,479 Speaker 1: I'm looking at wallows, I'm looking at water bodies, I'm 489 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:18,120 Speaker 1: looking at open meadows. I'm looking at the fringes between 490 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:22,879 Speaker 1: you know, train features. I want to be in optimum 491 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 1: spots at first light. In last light, I will kick 492 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 1: myself in the butt every time, and I just don't 493 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:31,679 Speaker 1: allow it anymore. For me to be in a mediocre 494 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: spot as the sun rises, I means I need to 495 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:36,720 Speaker 1: set my alarm early enough. I need to give myself 496 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 1: and I would much rather be sitting in the dark 497 00:23:39,119 --> 00:23:41,879 Speaker 1: on a good lookout, you know, half hour before listening 498 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 1: for bugles and be rushing because I'm late to get 499 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 1: to a spot and show up a half hour after daylight, 500 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:49,040 Speaker 1: because you may catch the glimpse of that ELK that 501 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 1: you need to get your day started or to create 502 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 1: your whole plan in that first ten or fifteen and 503 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:55,280 Speaker 1: then they may be gone. 504 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:56,399 Speaker 2: You would have never seen them again. 505 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 1: So that's where you know you're you're opening day. You're 506 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 1: kind of getting ready. 507 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:02,919 Speaker 2: For that hunt. 508 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 1: You know you You then go into locating ELK, so 509 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:11,440 Speaker 1: it is opening morning. My favorite way to locate ELK. 510 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 1: Even though I love to call, I love to hear 511 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:16,399 Speaker 1: myself call. I love to get bulls to answer for me, 512 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:19,560 Speaker 1: I would much rather get a visual on ELK. So 513 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:23,080 Speaker 1: locating ELK through optics or you know, through through the 514 00:24:23,119 --> 00:24:24,879 Speaker 1: lens of my eye. I want to be able to 515 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:27,520 Speaker 1: spot elk. And the reason I'd rather do it visually 516 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:31,160 Speaker 1: versus audibly or or you know, verbally to start with, 517 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:35,000 Speaker 1: is it allows me to ask the questions that I 518 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:37,480 Speaker 1: need to make better decisions. I can evaluate the elk. 519 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:39,440 Speaker 1: What's going on? Is there one herd bowl and three cows? 520 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:41,120 Speaker 1: Is there one herd bowl in ten cows? Is there 521 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:44,119 Speaker 1: one herd bowl, four satellites and ten cows. Like, I 522 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:47,600 Speaker 1: now have a lot more information that is going to affect, 523 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:49,680 Speaker 1: maybe affect the way that I go in and call. 524 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:53,679 Speaker 1: The second way to locate elk is to an audible method. 525 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 1: So let's say I glass, I'll probably let a location 526 00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 1: be agle for my glossing point, but not probably until 527 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 1: a half hour hour after daylight. I'm gonna you know, 528 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:04,480 Speaker 1: and then as I move down a ridge, I will 529 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:07,400 Speaker 1: kind of locate bugle into pockets anytime they open up 530 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 1: or there's new area I can I can bogle into. 531 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:13,760 Speaker 1: And so there's an audible method, and this is the 532 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:15,560 Speaker 1: call that I will use ninety percent of time. It's 533 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 1: just a location bugle. It's a two to three high 534 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 1: note bugle that I try to only let last for 535 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 1: two to two and a half seconds so then I 536 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:24,919 Speaker 1: can listen. I will locate at night prior to a 537 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:27,680 Speaker 1: hunt or prior to being you know, the hunt starting, 538 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 1: or even during the hunt, and then still hunting is 539 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:33,359 Speaker 1: a way to locate elk, but you're kind of just 540 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:37,600 Speaker 1: you know, hiking through patches of timber or you know, 541 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:39,359 Speaker 1: even betting areas. If it's late in the hunt, you 542 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 1: don't have a lot to lose. You can still hunt, 543 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:44,840 Speaker 1: which you know for those that you know may not 544 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:48,200 Speaker 1: know what still hunting is. It's just a slow spot 545 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:50,399 Speaker 1: in stock type of hunt. You're trying to spot the 546 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:55,159 Speaker 1: elk before they spot you, typically in timber, you know, 547 00:25:55,359 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 1: and you're just trying to kind of drum up elk 548 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 1: as you as you move along. So let's say we 549 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:04,960 Speaker 1: locate elk, you know, either through audible or visual, what's 550 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:07,199 Speaker 1: my next move? I'm gonna, as I mentioned earlier, I'm 551 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 1: going to ask myself some questions if I can, if 552 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:11,159 Speaker 1: I can see him visually, I can ask kind of 553 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:13,679 Speaker 1: what are they doing, what are their plans? Are they feeding? 554 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:17,119 Speaker 1: Heading to bed? They're showing like major reading activity or 555 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 1: anything else. This needs all be considered before starting my approach, 556 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:23,560 Speaker 1: and then I need to figure out where I need 557 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:26,200 Speaker 1: to set up. So if I spot a bowl from 558 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:29,520 Speaker 1: two miles away, it might take me two hours to 559 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:31,760 Speaker 1: get there, depending on the train and my approach and 560 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:34,879 Speaker 1: the wind. If I spot bowls, you know, four or 561 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:37,680 Speaker 1: five hundred yards away, it may be a very quick decision. 562 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:39,680 Speaker 1: So I need to figure out where I need to 563 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:42,080 Speaker 1: get to set up, because a bowl will be much 564 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:44,400 Speaker 1: more callable if I can get to a spot where 565 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 1: they naturally want to go versus a spot where I 566 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:47,320 Speaker 1: want to call them to. 567 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:50,480 Speaker 2: If that makes any sense. If a bull is. 568 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 1: Going from feed to bed, it's way easier for me 569 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 1: to call him to his bedroom or on his way 570 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:57,439 Speaker 1: to his bedroom that it is back to the original 571 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:00,560 Speaker 1: feed spot where you spot at him. Maybe more of 572 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 1: an ambush and call. Being in that spot is going 573 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:06,359 Speaker 1: to be way more effective than trying to call them backwards. 574 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:09,000 Speaker 1: The closer and get to the bowl or his cow 575 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:11,879 Speaker 1: is the better. I try to always get within one 576 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:14,439 Speaker 1: hundred yards if the train and vegetation allows me to, 577 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:18,199 Speaker 1: you know, hunting around Pacific Northwest growing up, I was 578 00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 1: able to get elk you know, into sixty to seventy 579 00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:23,919 Speaker 1: yards a lot of the time, and you need to 580 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:26,359 Speaker 1: get close enough to become a threat to that bowl 581 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:28,640 Speaker 1: or close enough to be a cow to that bowl 582 00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 1: that he's willing to come far enough to check on 583 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 1: that cow, but it's not far enough that he feels 584 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:37,560 Speaker 1: like he's leaving his herd. What time of day is 585 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:38,640 Speaker 1: it when you spot these elk? 586 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:38,959 Speaker 2: Is it? 587 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:41,160 Speaker 1: If it's at first thing in the morning, then you've 588 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:43,960 Speaker 1: probably got three three and a half four hours depending 589 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:45,960 Speaker 1: on the country, or in how quick the sun hits 590 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 1: it before your thermals are going to change, you know, 591 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:52,119 Speaker 1: up slope. So if it's gonna if I spot the 592 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:53,600 Speaker 1: elk at eight and I think it's going to be 593 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:56,080 Speaker 1: ten o'clock till I get there, I may need to 594 00:27:56,200 --> 00:27:58,280 Speaker 1: just be patient and stay back, or I need to, 595 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:00,720 Speaker 1: you know, calculate that into my and at some point 596 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:03,360 Speaker 1: I'm gonna have to be above those elk or hang 597 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:07,440 Speaker 1: out behind a ridge long enough until that wind switches, 598 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 1: you know, and elk are very smart. They are very 599 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:12,720 Speaker 1: good at knowing when when the wind's going to switch, 600 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 1: being in a spot that protects them right up until 601 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:17,040 Speaker 1: that point, and then betting in a spot that typically 602 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 1: has swirling winds and just protects them when they get there. 603 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,199 Speaker 1: So you know, your plan of just hiding in an 604 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 1: area you know may or may not work, but just 605 00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:27,640 Speaker 1: keep that in mind that the elk are pretty dang 606 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 1: good at getting themselves in a spot where they're not 607 00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:35,400 Speaker 1: going to get winded. We touch on this all the time. 608 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:38,800 Speaker 1: Setting up, You're where's the ball likely to come in? 609 00:28:38,840 --> 00:28:38,959 Speaker 2: On? 610 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:41,360 Speaker 1: So I get all the way over there now I'm 611 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 1: looking at at the ground on a very micro level. 612 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 1: You know, I want to know within this fifty yard spot, 613 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:50,960 Speaker 1: am I in a good enough Am I close enough 614 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:55,040 Speaker 1: to the bowl? First off? And is this the best spot? 615 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:57,160 Speaker 1: If I walk into the twenty yards is that spot better? 616 00:28:57,200 --> 00:28:58,960 Speaker 1: If I stay back in another twenty yards is that 617 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:01,000 Speaker 1: spot better? Am I now too far away from neilk? 618 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:04,840 Speaker 1: So I'm I'm like over analyzing this because, as I 619 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:07,800 Speaker 1: said multiple times on the other podcasts on this podcast, 620 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:12,560 Speaker 1: setting up typically is a determining factor between getting a 621 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:15,760 Speaker 1: shot within archie range or being able to see a 622 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:17,440 Speaker 1: bowl kind of move around in the brush at seventy 623 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:21,160 Speaker 1: or eighty yards away, And you need to look at 624 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:23,720 Speaker 1: all that. I'm just gonna repeat it because it's worth saying. 625 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:25,640 Speaker 1: You know, where's that both most likely to come in? 626 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:28,040 Speaker 1: What does the train and cover look like? When will 627 00:29:28,080 --> 00:29:29,760 Speaker 1: he be able to see me if he comes in 628 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 1: on that on that line? Which will direction will we 629 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:35,720 Speaker 1: come in from? Do I have multiple shooting lanes? Can 630 00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:39,480 Speaker 1: I move without making noise or brush? Have I set 631 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:41,800 Speaker 1: up next to a tree where I can mimic, you know, 632 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:44,320 Speaker 1: raking or beating of antlers on a tree, you know, 633 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:46,480 Speaker 1: because a lot of times I'll add that into my calling. 634 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:48,800 Speaker 1: So I'm looking for all of these things to add 635 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:51,880 Speaker 1: up to like a preferable set up. And then you're 636 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:54,960 Speaker 1: you know, lastly, you're thinking about the wind direction. Ideally 637 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:58,320 Speaker 1: the winds hitting you somewhere in the front. For reasons 638 00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:00,480 Speaker 1: I've mentioned, I'd like the wind to hit me a 639 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:02,600 Speaker 1: little bit at an angle, whether it's thirty forty five 640 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:06,400 Speaker 1: degrees somewhere in there, because that guarantees or dictates which 641 00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:08,920 Speaker 1: side he'll likely try to come around on, which gives 642 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:11,640 Speaker 1: now gives me a better idea on where I should 643 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:16,560 Speaker 1: set up. Now we'll kind of move into calling. So 644 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:19,520 Speaker 1: as I mentioned, there's a lot of ways to kill ELK. 645 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:24,000 Speaker 1: I go back to my purpose and my goal. I've 646 00:30:24,040 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 1: set it a bunch. I'm out there for a specific 647 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 1: reaction from a specific bowl. I want that thing to 648 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:31,880 Speaker 1: have his eyes rolled back in the back of his head. 649 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:34,840 Speaker 1: I want him to come in, you know, just bombing 650 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:37,000 Speaker 1: in ready to kind of kick my butt because we 651 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:39,880 Speaker 1: got too close to him. And that's my ideal situation. 652 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:42,520 Speaker 1: Now we don't always get that, but that's that's what 653 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:44,320 Speaker 1: I'm trying to create out there, and that's what I'm 654 00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:48,800 Speaker 1: trying to get to. Now that we're set up, we're 655 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:51,840 Speaker 1: going to start to call. I try not to get 656 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:53,800 Speaker 1: too caught up, and we can argue about this, and 657 00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:56,520 Speaker 1: I wouldn't even argue. I would just say, yep, you've 658 00:30:56,560 --> 00:30:58,760 Speaker 1: probably got a system that works. You know, some of 659 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:01,480 Speaker 1: these people try to talk with. You have to understand 660 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:04,240 Speaker 1: what the Elk are saying and what that means, and 661 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:06,520 Speaker 1: then there should be a very specific response to that. 662 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:09,560 Speaker 1: And I've never bought into that. I've never hunted, you know, 663 00:31:09,600 --> 00:31:12,040 Speaker 1: for the last shoot. I don't even know how long 664 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:14,720 Speaker 1: it is now almost thirty years, I've been calling Elk 665 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 1: with nobody instructing me on how to do it, just 666 00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:19,720 Speaker 1: kind of come up with my own system. I've always 667 00:31:19,760 --> 00:31:24,640 Speaker 1: played off their temperament. I've related, you know, related it 668 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:26,640 Speaker 1: to fishing. You know, there's times I'll go to the 669 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:28,760 Speaker 1: river and it's I'm gonna drown a worm, and then 670 00:31:28,760 --> 00:31:30,920 Speaker 1: I'm gonna, you know, throw a spinner, and then I'm 671 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:32,560 Speaker 1: gonna throw a wedding ring, and then I'm gonna throw 672 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:34,360 Speaker 1: a panther Martina. 673 00:31:34,360 --> 00:31:35,120 Speaker 2: I'm gonna keep. 674 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:38,240 Speaker 1: Fishing with whatever I can until I figure it out. Well, 675 00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:40,800 Speaker 1: that's almost how I elk. If I've got a bowl 676 00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:44,400 Speaker 1: that is just hammering without me saying a word, he's 677 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:47,720 Speaker 1: obviously his temperament is high. He's he's, you know, just 678 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:51,080 Speaker 1: something is pestering him, you know, whether it's a cow 679 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:54,080 Speaker 1: and heat and there's a bowl glunking behind her. Like 680 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:58,080 Speaker 1: I'm I'm gonna let those elk and that temperament let 681 00:31:58,080 --> 00:32:00,480 Speaker 1: me know what my next call should be. Should I, 682 00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:02,800 Speaker 1: you know, be cow calling? Should I be bugling? Should 683 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:06,880 Speaker 1: I be raking? Should I be chuckling or running? I 684 00:32:06,960 --> 00:32:09,120 Speaker 1: let that temperament play. I don't get too caught up 685 00:32:09,120 --> 00:32:11,800 Speaker 1: and that that bowl chuckle three times, and then I 686 00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:14,240 Speaker 1: need to do what you know, I need to interpret 687 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:16,560 Speaker 1: what that meant and why he did that. I'm just 688 00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:19,520 Speaker 1: all right, he's biggling a lot, he's you know this, 689 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:22,680 Speaker 1: or he's bark screaming after I've made calls. I'm like, 690 00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:24,280 Speaker 1: he wants this, you know, he wants us to show 691 00:32:24,280 --> 00:32:27,800 Speaker 1: ourselves whatever it may be. Like I'm going off a 692 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:31,760 Speaker 1: temperament next when it comes to calling, and a lot 693 00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:33,760 Speaker 1: of new hunters kind of run into this is they 694 00:32:33,840 --> 00:32:37,160 Speaker 1: won't make calls or they're afraid to call because they 695 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:39,160 Speaker 1: don't think they're good enough. So don't ever get hung 696 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:42,240 Speaker 1: up on needing to be the best caller. All elks 697 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:45,760 Speaker 1: sound different, and some of the worst elk calls I've 698 00:32:45,800 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 1: ever heard of come from real elk, So do not 699 00:32:48,280 --> 00:32:50,800 Speaker 1: get hung up on that. Be confident enough going into 700 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:53,080 Speaker 1: the hunt that you're willing to make a sound, and 701 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:57,200 Speaker 1: then go with that. Next to if I'm hunting a 702 00:32:57,240 --> 00:33:00,720 Speaker 1: herd bull, A lot of times I will go with 703 00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:02,960 Speaker 1: this calling sequence. I just said, I'll plan the temperament. 704 00:33:03,680 --> 00:33:06,880 Speaker 1: But I if I'm able to, let's say, move into 705 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:09,840 Speaker 1: eighty two hundred yards without making a peep without those 706 00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:12,000 Speaker 1: elk knowing there, I kind of run the let's steal 707 00:33:12,040 --> 00:33:15,040 Speaker 1: a cow. I try to paint that scene and this 708 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:17,600 Speaker 1: is more of herd bull tactics. So I will get 709 00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:20,560 Speaker 1: within eighty two hundred yards and I will then do 710 00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:24,280 Speaker 1: an estrous wine, which is more of a whiny instead 711 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:27,320 Speaker 1: of just yeah, so it's more up and down. It's whiney, 712 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:30,280 Speaker 1: and then I will immediately follow that with a challenge beagle. 713 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:33,000 Speaker 1: And what I've tried to do is say you have 714 00:33:33,040 --> 00:33:34,680 Speaker 1: a cow at the edge of your herd that needs 715 00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:37,600 Speaker 1: some attention, and there is a new bowl that is 716 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:39,560 Speaker 1: in the area that's now here you know, or one 717 00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:41,880 Speaker 1: of the satellite bulls that have been around you is 718 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:46,280 Speaker 1: now you know, near her, and this works better. And 719 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:47,840 Speaker 1: this is one of the reasons I like to see 720 00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: the elk that I'm hunting. If I know that there's 721 00:33:49,560 --> 00:33:52,720 Speaker 1: some semi mature satellite bulls that are around this herd bowl, 722 00:33:53,000 --> 00:33:56,080 Speaker 1: that seems to be a very good tactic, you know, 723 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:59,480 Speaker 1: for that. Now, if you're after a satellite bowl that 724 00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:03,200 Speaker 1: is run by himself or four to five hundred yards 725 00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 1: off of cows behind the herd, using lots and lots 726 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:11,320 Speaker 1: of sexy cow talk, you know, Estra's wines, lots of meuse. 727 00:34:12,200 --> 00:34:14,600 Speaker 1: You can even throw some you know, Estra's buzzes at them, 728 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:16,640 Speaker 1: and we've got to see these elk, you know, in 729 00:34:16,760 --> 00:34:19,600 Speaker 1: burns or in clearcuts before. It seems like the more 730 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:22,160 Speaker 1: cow talk you can throw at them, the quicker those 731 00:34:22,160 --> 00:34:25,160 Speaker 1: elk will come in. So those are my two favorite scenarios. 732 00:34:25,200 --> 00:34:27,600 Speaker 1: I know, they're very very cookie cutter. One thing I 733 00:34:27,640 --> 00:34:30,279 Speaker 1: hate about trying to talk about elk cutting is there 734 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:33,759 Speaker 1: are a thousand factors, and for each each factor that 735 00:34:33,800 --> 00:34:36,120 Speaker 1: contributes to my next decision, it would be impossible for 736 00:34:36,160 --> 00:34:37,759 Speaker 1: me to lay out all of these scenes. So these 737 00:34:37,760 --> 00:34:41,920 Speaker 1: are very very cookie cutter, very very you know, vanilla 738 00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:45,279 Speaker 1: in my approach. But it's the best that I can 739 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:49,000 Speaker 1: do because any real life calling situation, there are so 740 00:34:49,040 --> 00:34:50,919 Speaker 1: many factors. You know, how many elk around, how many 741 00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:54,680 Speaker 1: people around, the wind, you know, the type of timber 742 00:34:54,719 --> 00:34:57,640 Speaker 1: I'm in, the type of underbrush. All of these things 743 00:34:57,760 --> 00:35:01,319 Speaker 1: now affect those decisions. And we could here for you know, 744 00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:06,480 Speaker 1: years trying to explain you know, situations, and you give 745 00:35:06,520 --> 00:35:09,399 Speaker 1: you enough examples. So these are very very cookie cutter. 746 00:35:09,520 --> 00:35:12,440 Speaker 1: You know, we've got satellite bowls without any herd, bulls 747 00:35:12,520 --> 00:35:14,080 Speaker 1: or cows around, and you've got a herd bowl with 748 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:19,360 Speaker 1: cows around those are our you know, typical calling. So 749 00:35:19,400 --> 00:35:21,200 Speaker 1: then I just let the situation call my next move. 750 00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:23,960 Speaker 1: When I call, I'm very attentive. I'm listening. Do I 751 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:26,440 Speaker 1: hear elk running away? Do I hear bulls bigling? Do 752 00:35:26,480 --> 00:35:31,160 Speaker 1: I hear stick snapping? Do I hear anything? I'm very prescriptive, 753 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:33,480 Speaker 1: So I'm just gonna adjust to what is happening right now. 754 00:35:34,920 --> 00:35:37,600 Speaker 1: Let's say I moved in on a herd bowl that 755 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:40,920 Speaker 1: wasn't very active, and I didn't feel confident in painting. 756 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:44,280 Speaker 1: Let's steal a cow because maybe he's going to be flighty, 757 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:46,000 Speaker 1: or I just feel like he's going to be flighty. 758 00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:48,880 Speaker 1: I may go in and just hit him with some 759 00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:51,840 Speaker 1: cow calls, just to start, just normal cow calls, not 760 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:54,040 Speaker 1: not the estri swine, followed by herd bull and then 761 00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:57,799 Speaker 1: I evaluate did he respond no or yes? If he does, 762 00:35:57,800 --> 00:35:58,480 Speaker 1: then maybe I'll. 763 00:35:58,320 --> 00:36:00,439 Speaker 2: Give him some more. Is he getting closer? No? Yes? 764 00:36:00,680 --> 00:36:02,239 Speaker 1: Do I need to move closer? Do I need to 765 00:36:02,520 --> 00:36:07,120 Speaker 1: like up my my frequency or or the urgency. 766 00:36:06,680 --> 00:36:07,560 Speaker 2: Of my cow calls? 767 00:36:09,440 --> 00:36:12,799 Speaker 1: You know, So you're just you're always evaluating what's going on, 768 00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:16,280 Speaker 1: and then you're making adjustments to that, you know, what's happening, 769 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:21,560 Speaker 1: and then playing from there. If you've got a you know, 770 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:25,600 Speaker 1: if you've got a partner or an elk caller, somebody 771 00:36:25,600 --> 00:36:30,759 Speaker 1: calling for you when you go to call, I want 772 00:36:30,760 --> 00:36:33,480 Speaker 1: to make sure that my caller is close enough to 773 00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:36,200 Speaker 1: that bowl when we set up to still be a threat. 774 00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:39,120 Speaker 1: As I've said, you exponentially, your your ability to call 775 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:42,839 Speaker 1: elkin exponentially diminishes as you get farther and farther away 776 00:36:42,840 --> 00:36:45,359 Speaker 1: from that bowl. So we've all watched you know, old 777 00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:47,480 Speaker 1: hunting videos growing up where the caller could set back 778 00:36:47,480 --> 00:36:49,879 Speaker 1: one hundred yards and call an elkin. Well, I'm gonna 779 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:51,759 Speaker 1: I'm gonna tell you I've tried it a lot, and 780 00:36:51,800 --> 00:36:54,560 Speaker 1: it doesn't work because we're not on you know, some 781 00:36:54,760 --> 00:36:57,960 Speaker 1: ranch and you know, some private ranch where these elk 782 00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:00,279 Speaker 1: have the ability to you know, there's the the col 783 00:37:00,400 --> 00:37:03,080 Speaker 1: ratio so high. A lot of times, our caller needs 784 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:07,319 Speaker 1: to be very very close to the hunter. I love, 785 00:37:07,480 --> 00:37:09,080 Speaker 1: as a hunter or a caller to be able to 786 00:37:09,120 --> 00:37:12,480 Speaker 1: have communication or a visual on the shooter or the 787 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:15,239 Speaker 1: caller so that we can communicate whether it's you know, 788 00:37:15,239 --> 00:37:17,840 Speaker 1: you're telling them to bugle, because you know, the shooters 789 00:37:17,840 --> 00:37:20,359 Speaker 1: may be able to see how they react, or whether 790 00:37:20,400 --> 00:37:22,200 Speaker 1: it's cow call, or whether it's the like you know, 791 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:25,960 Speaker 1: don't call anymore at all, whatever it may be, that 792 00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:29,359 Speaker 1: that tends to help. The other thing that we do 793 00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:32,319 Speaker 1: when you've got a partners that's calling for you is 794 00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:35,200 Speaker 1: if you let the wind be just a little bit unperfect. 795 00:37:35,400 --> 00:37:38,160 Speaker 1: If if you're back behind the shooter and the wind's 796 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:40,720 Speaker 1: hitting us from the right a little bit, that caller 797 00:37:40,719 --> 00:37:43,160 Speaker 1: should then be back behind you and to the right, 798 00:37:43,320 --> 00:37:46,799 Speaker 1: because as that elk tries to get wind on the 799 00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:49,960 Speaker 1: so called elk or the caller, that elk will get 800 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:53,440 Speaker 1: to a certain point, whether it's seventy eighty yards closer farther, 801 00:37:53,680 --> 00:37:56,480 Speaker 1: and it will start to loop to the left, and 802 00:37:56,520 --> 00:37:58,520 Speaker 1: by that caller being back to the right, it will 803 00:37:58,520 --> 00:38:01,240 Speaker 1: loop that elk closer in the shooter for a shot. 804 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:04,840 Speaker 1: So as a as a partner strategy, that's very very important. Solo, 805 00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:06,759 Speaker 1: if you want to get the same reaction, you can 806 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:09,600 Speaker 1: make a call and then move up to your left. 807 00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:11,400 Speaker 1: So you may make that call one hundred yards and 808 00:38:11,440 --> 00:38:13,800 Speaker 1: then move up to your left, you know, eighty yards, 809 00:38:13,840 --> 00:38:17,640 Speaker 1: and that will give give the give the idea that 810 00:38:17,680 --> 00:38:19,440 Speaker 1: the callers actually moved back. Now, if you need to 811 00:38:19,440 --> 00:38:21,239 Speaker 1: make another call, you're going to kind of give up 812 00:38:21,239 --> 00:38:24,920 Speaker 1: that location. But but that's that's kind of how we 813 00:38:25,000 --> 00:38:27,759 Speaker 1: handle you know all of that, and and you know 814 00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:35,960 Speaker 1: setting up and calling. Don't be afraid too to just 815 00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:40,800 Speaker 1: to make natural sounds, you know, whether it's cow sounds, 816 00:38:40,800 --> 00:38:43,600 Speaker 1: whether it's bugles. I like to use mimicry. So when 817 00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:46,560 Speaker 1: I say, you know, make natural sounds, you know, I 818 00:38:46,640 --> 00:38:48,920 Speaker 1: that's one good thing about being a good olt caller 819 00:38:48,960 --> 00:38:50,439 Speaker 1: is I've got the ability I can hear a sound 820 00:38:50,440 --> 00:38:51,840 Speaker 1: about I know how to do that on my diaphragm, 821 00:38:51,920 --> 00:38:55,000 Speaker 1: or I can I can replicate that, So I do 822 00:38:55,120 --> 00:38:57,759 Speaker 1: a lot of mimicry on my diaphragm. So whatever bowl 823 00:38:57,800 --> 00:39:00,239 Speaker 1: I'm trying to call in, if he growls and then 824 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:02,520 Speaker 1: chuckle three times, I'm going to growl and chuckle it 825 00:39:02,600 --> 00:39:04,360 Speaker 1: three times. And then one of the ways that I 826 00:39:04,440 --> 00:39:07,160 Speaker 1: turn the temperature up on them and actually kind of 827 00:39:07,200 --> 00:39:10,319 Speaker 1: increase their temperament or make them more frustrated is in 828 00:39:10,360 --> 00:39:14,080 Speaker 1: addition to mimicry, if they start to bugle, I will 829 00:39:14,160 --> 00:39:15,680 Speaker 1: kind of listen to their bugle through it, but I 830 00:39:15,680 --> 00:39:18,360 Speaker 1: will start my bugle about halfway through theirs and not 831 00:39:18,480 --> 00:39:21,560 Speaker 1: let them finish it, you know, or finish it cleanly. 832 00:39:21,880 --> 00:39:24,040 Speaker 1: So I'm always going to kind of stomp on their bugles, 833 00:39:24,160 --> 00:39:26,440 Speaker 1: mimic them, and then be the last one to finish 834 00:39:26,440 --> 00:39:30,120 Speaker 1: my call. I've found that it works very, very well. 835 00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:34,080 Speaker 1: It's very effective, and at the worst case scenario, if 836 00:39:34,080 --> 00:39:35,720 Speaker 1: we're trying to figure out what the elk are saying, 837 00:39:36,200 --> 00:39:38,160 Speaker 1: I'm saying the same dang thing he is, because we're 838 00:39:38,160 --> 00:39:40,760 Speaker 1: bugling exactly the same, right. So there is the idea 839 00:39:40,800 --> 00:39:44,319 Speaker 1: that if there is some hidden Elk language that some 840 00:39:44,360 --> 00:39:46,520 Speaker 1: people are trying to depict or it actually mean something, 841 00:39:46,560 --> 00:39:49,560 Speaker 1: even though I've watched many many elk and found that 842 00:39:49,600 --> 00:39:52,719 Speaker 1: not to be true. It's more of an individual you know, 843 00:39:53,040 --> 00:39:55,640 Speaker 1: I can watch you know, it's more of an individual 844 00:39:55,680 --> 00:39:58,640 Speaker 1: thing on how Elk talk than what they're saying. But 845 00:39:58,760 --> 00:40:00,959 Speaker 1: a worst case scenario, if I'm doing mimicry, I'm saying 846 00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:03,120 Speaker 1: the same thing to the herd that this bowl is, 847 00:40:03,120 --> 00:40:05,040 Speaker 1: and I'm saying the same thing to him as he 848 00:40:05,120 --> 00:40:05,920 Speaker 1: may be saying to me. 849 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:06,800 Speaker 2: So worst case. 850 00:40:06,640 --> 00:40:09,200 Speaker 1: Scenario, whether you believe in that or not, mimicry is 851 00:40:09,239 --> 00:40:12,719 Speaker 1: a great way to kind of just like conservatively cover 852 00:40:12,880 --> 00:40:17,239 Speaker 1: up you know what the elk are saying. So yeah, 853 00:40:17,280 --> 00:40:20,360 Speaker 1: and then after that, like the shooting through a podcast, 854 00:40:20,440 --> 00:40:23,760 Speaker 1: I can't help you on your shooting, you know, just 855 00:40:23,760 --> 00:40:25,560 Speaker 1: just have a system. 856 00:40:25,880 --> 00:40:27,520 Speaker 2: You know, shoot enough. 857 00:40:27,480 --> 00:40:30,520 Speaker 1: During the summer, be able to talk yourself through the shot, 858 00:40:30,600 --> 00:40:34,760 Speaker 1: you know, whether it's draw anchor breathe, whole level center, 859 00:40:35,080 --> 00:40:38,000 Speaker 1: you know, whatever it may be. And then tracking is 860 00:40:38,080 --> 00:40:39,680 Speaker 1: just you have to be in it a lot. Like 861 00:40:39,719 --> 00:40:42,279 Speaker 1: you can't teach tracking here either. Besides, you know, being 862 00:40:42,320 --> 00:40:43,960 Speaker 1: able to look for blood, being able to look for 863 00:40:44,800 --> 00:40:47,680 Speaker 1: you know, things that are out of place, and then 864 00:40:47,800 --> 00:40:50,400 Speaker 1: just having you know, there's the grid idea. If you 865 00:40:50,440 --> 00:40:53,160 Speaker 1: do lose blood, being able to grid or have a 866 00:40:53,280 --> 00:40:56,800 Speaker 1: more educated guess in the direction they elk we're going 867 00:40:57,560 --> 00:41:00,399 Speaker 1: will typically you know, pay off. But it does take 868 00:41:00,400 --> 00:41:02,319 Speaker 1: a lot of experience. I've been fortunate to be on 869 00:41:02,360 --> 00:41:05,400 Speaker 1: a lot of blood trails, you know, some good, some bad, 870 00:41:05,520 --> 00:41:09,879 Speaker 1: and I learned from all of those. Go out there 871 00:41:09,920 --> 00:41:12,480 Speaker 1: and elk count with the purpose, whether it's being successful, 872 00:41:12,760 --> 00:41:15,800 Speaker 1: whether it's having fun. I know when we talk about 873 00:41:16,080 --> 00:41:17,759 Speaker 1: you know, purpose, a lot of times we dwell on 874 00:41:17,840 --> 00:41:20,960 Speaker 1: the or we talk about the success, which is I 875 00:41:20,960 --> 00:41:23,640 Speaker 1: think what the majority of the listeners are tuning in for. 876 00:41:24,040 --> 00:41:26,080 Speaker 1: But there are other reasons. You know, go out there, 877 00:41:26,239 --> 00:41:30,840 Speaker 1: have fun, give it more effort, be more methodical in 878 00:41:30,880 --> 00:41:33,920 Speaker 1: your decisions. Everything should add up to finding success. And 879 00:41:33,960 --> 00:41:35,839 Speaker 1: I promise that if you go out there and elk 880 00:41:35,880 --> 00:41:38,040 Speaker 1: count with the purpose and success is part of that, 881 00:41:39,040 --> 00:41:42,319 Speaker 1: you're gonna have more fun. Maybe you know, there may 882 00:41:42,320 --> 00:41:44,600 Speaker 1: be somebody that that you know doesn't like the type 883 00:41:44,600 --> 00:41:46,440 Speaker 1: too fun and just assume not have to pack an 884 00:41:46,440 --> 00:41:48,799 Speaker 1: elk out. But for anybody that I know, anybody I've 885 00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:50,279 Speaker 1: talked to, you like, you're going to have more fun 886 00:41:50,360 --> 00:41:54,279 Speaker 1: when you're successful and go out there, you know, set 887 00:41:54,320 --> 00:41:57,400 Speaker 1: a goal, have a purpose, do everything you need to 888 00:41:57,400 --> 00:42:00,239 Speaker 1: to make it happen. And we appreciate all of you 889 00:42:00,239 --> 00:42:02,439 Speaker 1: tuning into cutting the distance and good luck out there 890 00:42:02,800 --> 00:42:04,200 Speaker 1: this fall as you chase Alchrayn