What’s good, elk hunters? Cody Rich here, flying solo on this midseason refresher for The Elk Hunt Podcast! With September in full swing, I’m dropping some serious wisdom to keep you dialed in for elk season. I’m headed out for a mountain goat hunt before diving into back-to-back elk hunts, so the stoke is real! In this episode, I break down my five never forgets—key reminders to stay sharp when the mountain’s kicking your teeth in. We’ll also dive into the 80/20 rule to maximize your hunting efforts, plus what to do when your plans go sideways and the elk aren’t cooperating. From finding new elk to blind calling silent bulls, this episode is packed with tips to keep you in the game. Whether you’re grinding through a tough hunt or just hitting elk camp, let’s get after it and make this season epic!

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00:00 - 03:00: Introduction and Sponsor Shoutouts

Cody introduces the solo midseason refresher, shares his upcoming mountain goat and elk hunts, and highlights onX Hunt’s sharing features and Stone Glacier’s Archer 6400 pack.

03:00 - 15:00: The Five Never Forgets

Cody shares his five key reminders: September is short, it can happen in a second, execute your shot, never take the wind for granted, and somewhere on the mountain, elk are going bananas.

15:00 - 22:00: Applying the 80/20 Rule to Elk Hunting

Cody explains the 80/20 rule, emphasizing focusing on the 20% of time (dawn/dusk), areas (where 80% of elk are), and tactics that yield the biggest results.

22:00 - 30:00: When the Mountain Punches You in the Mouth

Cody discusses what to do when plans fail—stay flexible, find new elk, cover ground, and avoid getting married to a bad camp or unhuntable elk.

30:00 - 38:00: Tactical Advice for Silent Elk

Cody shares strategies for hunting non-bugling elk, like blind calling with light cow calls in timber, setting up for 30-60 minutes to draw in silent satellite bulls.

38:00 - 42:00: Closing Motivation and Hunt Plans

Cody wraps up with excitement for his goat and elk hunts, encourages trusting your gut, and promotes the free hunt planner at elkhunt201.com.

Stay Resilient with the Five Never Forgets: Cody’s five reminders—especially that September is short and it can happen in a second—help hunters stay motivated and focused, even when the hunt feels brutal, ensuring you don’t quit early.

Maximize the 80/20 Rule: Focusing on the 20% of time (dawn/dusk), areas (where most elk are), and effective tactics (like targeted calling) can yield 80% of your success, making every hunt more efficient.

Adapt When Plans Fail: When elk aren’t cooperating or pressure ruins your spot, stay flexible, cover ground to find new elk, and use tactics like blind calling to hunt silent bulls, ensuring you stay in the game.