Elk Hunt

This week, join us for an insightful conversation with Mark Holyoak, a prominent figure at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF). Mark delves into the rich tapestry of hunting lore, sharing captivating stories from his experiences in the field. As a passionate advocate for conservation, Mark sheds light on the pivotal role of the RMEF and delves into the fascinating history of Bugle Magazine, a beloved publication cherished by hunters worldwide. Additionally, Mark provides an insider's perspective on some of the RMEF's most notable recent projects, offering a glimpse into their ongoing efforts to preserve and protect elk habitat. Tune in for an engaging discussion that celebrates the spirit of hunting and conservation with Mark Holyoak and the RMEF.

Want to enter to win our monthly gear giveaways? 
Sign up for the Elk Hunt Course and be entered to win for an entire year! Sign up Here 

This month we are giving away Peax Equipment's latest innovation: the Solace 15 sleeping bag. Crafted with precision engineering and cutting-edge materials, the Solace 15 offers unparalleled comfort and warmth, ensuring a restful night's sleep even in the harshest conditions. Designed for adventurers who demand nothing but the best, the Solace 15 combines lightweight portability with exceptional insulation, making it the ultimate companion for your next outdoor expedition. Upgrade your camping experience with the Peax Equipment Solace 15 sleeping bag – where quality meets comfort, wherever your journey takes you.

Welcome to an exclusive combined show featuring Cody Rich and renowned elk hunting expert, Dan Staton. While this episode has already been shared on Elk Shape, we're excited to bring you an extended version with deeper insights into the world of elk hunting. Join us as we dive into Cody's elk hunting season, exploring the critical aspect of confidence in the elk woods. For avid followers of Elk Shape, you're in for a treat as Cody Rich opens up about his personal journey and the challenges he faced during the latest season. Despite his wealth of experience, Cody found himself grappling with self-doubt, quietly harboring a desire to reaffirm his confidence by securing a successful hunt. Together, Cody and Dan explore the complexities of confidence in elk hunting. Even seasoned hunters like Cody and Dan aren't immune to moments of doubt, and in this episode, they share valuable strategies for overcoming these challenges. Whether you're a seasoned elk hunter or just starting out, you'll find practical tips and actionable insights to navigate the highs and lows of elk hunting with confidence. From discussing the mental aspect of elk hunting to providing actionable advice for boosting confidence in the field, this episode is packed with invaluable nuggets of wisdom for elk hunters of all levels. Tune in for an enriching conversation that will inspire and empower you on your next elk hunting adventure.

Want to enter to win our monthly gear giveaways? 
Sign up for the Elk Hunt Course and be entered to win for an entire year! Sign up Here 

This month we are giving away Peax Equipment's latest innovation: the Solace 15 sleeping bag. Crafted with precision engineering and cutting-edge materials, the Solace 15 offers unparalleled comfort and warmth, ensuring a restful night's sleep even in the harshest conditions. Designed for adventurers who demand nothing but the best, the Solace 15 combines lightweight portability with exceptional insulation, making it the ultimate companion for your next outdoor expedition. Upgrade your camping experience with the Peax Equipment Solace 15 sleeping bag – where quality meets comfort, wherever your journey takes you.

This week's podcast features an exhilarating conversation with Mike Rowley, an avid rock climber turned elk hunting enthusiast with a story that defies belief. Having spent five years living in a van and traversing the country, Mike's journey into elk hunting was ignited by what he describes as unconventional encounters with the elk gods. Drawn by fate to one of New Mexico's most sought-after tags, Mike immersed himself in the world of elk hunting, relocating his mobile abode to the nearest town and embarking on extensive shed hunting expeditions throughout the summer.

Teaming up with a seasoned guide, Mike seized the opportunity to hunt both first and second seasons, embarking on an epic month-long quest filled with exhilarating highs and daunting challenges. From heart-pounding encounters with majestic bulls to navigating the rugged terrain of the hunting unit, Mike's inaugural elk hunting experience was nothing short of unforgettable. However, it was on the 21st day, amidst a backdrop of bustling hunting activity, that Mike's patience and perseverance bore fruit in the form of a monumental encounter. What started as a quest for a "good bull" culminated in an electrifying face-to-face encounter with a bull of legendary proportions, culminating in a triumphant harvest that exceeded all expectations.

Warning: Listening to this podcast may induce an intense surge of excitement and anticipation for the upcoming hunting season, even in the depths of winter. Tune in and prepare to be inspired by Mike's extraordinary journey from van-dwelling rock climber to seasoned elk hunter extraordinaire.

🎒 Ready to gear up for your next adventure?
Sign up for our Elk Hunt Course  today and automatically enter our monthly gear giveaways for an entire year! Join now for a chance to win premium outdoor equipment like Initial Accent Packs.

This month, we're thrilled to feature Initial Accent Packs, the epitome of style and functionality. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and using high-quality materials, Initial Accent Packs offer unmatched durability and versatility. Whether you're embarking on a rugged hike or exploring urban landscapes, these packs provide the perfect blend of fashion and function. Elevate your outdoor experience with Initial Accent Packs – where quality meets style for all your adventures. Sign up now and gear up for your next journey!

This week, Tom joins the podcast to drop some knowledge bombs on all of you. Known for his exceptional skill in the mountains, Tom is remarkably consistent at hunting big bulls, even in some of the most challenging areas. This year, Tom spotted a promising bull during the archery season. Instead of risking scaring it away from the canyon, he strategically decided to return later with a rifle. Tom's hunting adventures spanned multiple states this year, including Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado. Alongside his brothers, he navigated new territories and shared his experiences of tracking and hunting bulls in unfamiliar units. In this episode, Tom recounts the story of his personal bull in Idaho. We delve into the tactics he and his brothers employ for hunting big bulls, adapting their strategies to suit different areas. Tom also shares an enthralling tale about a double kicker 7x7 bull that eluded him for several seasons. His stroke of luck came from being in the right place at the right time, finally leading to a successful hunt. Tom's deep understanding of elk behavior sets him apart from most hunters. It's this knowledge that gives him a distinct advantage in the field. Note: Tom is hosting an Elk Hunting Clinic this summer, an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in elk hunting expertise. With only 10 spots available, it's a chance not to be missed. If you're interested, email Tom at [email protected].

This week on the pod my good buddy and Elk Hunting Guide James Nash, joins the podcast to talk about strategic maneuvering. We dive into the topic at a macro level and on the micro level. This is probably the most important aspects that never gets talked about. This is the type of play by play decisions that WILL make or break your success. Knowing when to setup and when to move takes years of practice and failing to get that gut instinct. James was a former tank commander and in that has a deep understanding of battlefield maneuvering and has thought deeply about this topic both from a tactical perspective and from a hunters perspective.

Big Announcement! Hey everyone, we have some big news about what to expect from the Elk Hunt in 2024. This channel started as a place to just put all of the elk hunting podcasts that we did (The Rich Outdoors and Wapiti Wednesdays). over the last year you guys have downloaded the podcasts 100,000 times! Which is crazy. I knew I wanted to keep this going and that there was an opprotunity to build a brand around Elk Hunt. This year I am bringing my good buddy and elk hunting veteran Zach Bowhay into the mix to help make more elk hunting content for all of you who can't seem to get enough. I will be doing most of the interview style podcasts still but plan to give Zach his own segment as well. Back is a phenomenal writer, and we want to use that skill to add even more content to the website. Bringing Zach on will allow us to create a lot more content for you guys and hopefully add some value. We will also be doing Monthly Gear Giveaways for Course Members so be sure to check out the details on the website. This month we are doing a MEAT 1Hp Grinder Giveaway and because of the new rules change there are currently only 5 people entered! Even if you signed up and took the course last year, you need to upgrade your membership to be entered into all of the 2024 Giveaways.

Dylan Dowson has been on before talking about hunting open country and the struggles. After this years giant bull, I'd say he's got this open country thing pretty dialed! Dylan shares the story of his last day bull and how he really had to make it happen at the bottom of the ninth. This was a pretty epic story and all around hunt. We talk about lessons learned this year and Dylan shares how over the last few years he has realized that hunting solo has been a big reason for his success. A great hunting story with some great tips and tactics.

Jaden and Cody talk about the new changes in Wyoming and drop some major insider info on hunts that are going to be under the radar. Wyoming made some major changes to the general season hunt and we cover our take on the split and which ones we like. We also cover how this might change or affect the limited type 1, and 2 hunts as well. Wyoming is an opprotunity state and while you can kill a great bull in many of the units most units are going to be just average 6 points bulls. Wyoming often ads new hunts and many times if you are watching you can snag one of these new hunts for very few points. These hunts can really be boom or bust but if you are just starting your points in Wyoming these can be great opportunities.

Dr. Krahn reached out over social media and sent me a long message about some of the things he has found in his journey to be a better elk hunter and in listening to far too much of this podcast. It is clear that Gabe is a smart cat that has thought through his elk hunting experiences. In fact, he wrote out the following solely as note to himself and I asked him if we could add it to the show notes for you guys. In this podcast we only scratch the surface of a few of these topics but I think the whole thing is worth reading and we will have to get Dr. Krahn on again to talk more. Good morning, I'm just one of the many random DIY'ers who checks out your content from time to time. Over my christmas break i listened to you 6 hour ultimate elk episode. It got me thinking about my own experiences runnin & gunnin after bugles so i started jotting some of my thoughts down. what started as a few point form notes ended up a 4 page single spaced essay. If u have nuthin better 2 do feel free 2 peruse my thoughts. if its not worth your time, no harm no foul With few exceptions, elk are heterogeneous. Whilst many elk trends are widespread, very few patterns or behaviors, no matter how prevalent in one region, are definitively applicable in all scenarios. Even within a small area, or a small herd, or from season to season or year to year, but few axioms hold conclusively true at all times. Consequently, to the detriment of their success, elk hunters inappropriately equate common idioms or past anecdotes with evidence and apply "rules" or "lessons" from isolated events across an inappropriately wide spectrum. The following is a synopsis of the few true universalities of elk hunting. 1) Elk do not process the binary decision of safe vs dangerous. The rationale of an elk is: Safe vs Fails to be Safe. Elk do not have to know danger is present to modify their course of action. All that is needed to induce an elk to rapidly adjust its behavior (most commonly manifested as an abrupt change in position and cessation of vocalization) is a failure to be certain a situation is safe. You hear many a hunter saying "he knew something wasn't right". This is precisely correct. The elk did not know something was wrong. It didn't need to. All it needed was the suspicion something wasn't right. If an elk isn't certain of its safety, it will quickly relocate to a new situation. So not only does a hunter have to not make an error, a hunter also has to do everything right. 2) The elk calling sins of commission and omission have the same outcome. It is possible to make the wrong call. Likewise one can make the "right" call but at the wrong time. Equally as detrimental to a successful harvest is a failure to make the right call - or failure to make it at the right time. 3) Never make an elk call without a specific message to convey at a specific point in time. Elk communication has a structure which imparts meaning and uninformed, or worse random, attempts at mimicry repels elk. As social mammals their behavior includes vocal, visual, tactile, olfactory and gustatory communication. Proficient hunters can productively emulate and/or manipulate the first two forms. Good calling used appropriately can produce majestic results. Seemingly random calling, if not actually random but disseminated for a specific purpose of imparting a specific piece of information, is also very productive. Actual random elk-like sounds disseminated simply to "sound like an elk" are detrimental. As are uninformed elk-like sounds that convey an incorrect or nonessential message (see universal elk truth #2) 4) Never call from a spot from whereby it is visibly apparent no elk made that call. No matter how far away you are from the elk, never call from a spot where you can be seen or, equally as detrimental, where it is apparent that no elk is there to be the source of that call. When an elk can see the location an elk sound is coming from, it must see the elk that made that sound. If it is does not, the first universal elk truth will take effect. 5) You cannot fool an elk's nose. No substance exists, whether harvested, purified, synthesized or purchased, that can functionally conceal or retard your scent to a degree that renders the wind anything other than the most important factor to consider when elk hunting. You have nothing without the wind. 6) There is no substitute for boots-on-the-ground scouting. Fred bear was incorrect. Next year's hunt does not start the day after this year's hunt. Next year's hunt started the moment you first ever set foot in the forest. E-scouting, trail cameras, how-to courses and consultation with local residents all add value but none supersede the importance of physically being in elk country. Every distant bugle, every lone animal sighting, every hoof print, every rub, every wallow, every dropping etc - including those you are noting on your current hunt - are included in the rolodex of knowledge to be applied on future hunts. 7) A single environmental phenomenon fully controls the rut. The declining length of daylight striking a cow elk's retina triggers her estrous cycle. Save for catastrophic drout or famine, in which a cow does not have the sustenance necessary to reproduce, no other environmental phenomenon has any impact on when the rut occurs. Temperature, weather fronts & lunar cycles DO NOT affect the TIMING of the rut. These other conditions can all substantially impact how active elk are and/or where elk may be located but the ONLY ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR THAT CONTROLS THE TIMING OF THE RUT IS THE LENGTH OF DAYLIGHT STRIKING A COW ELK'S RETINA. Bull elk are willing to breed once they rub their velvet. If a bull elk were to come across a cow elk in estrous in the 3rd week of August during a 120°F heat wave, that bull would attempt to mount and inseminate that cow. If a bull elk came across a cow elk in estrous during a -30°F November blizzard, that bull would attempt to mount and inseminate that cow. The only impact the weather and lunar cycle will have on these two anomalous ovulations is how vigorously these two elk will behave and where one may find them. To further substantiate this widely misinformed fact, recall humans and elk are both mammals. A human female does not cease or change when she ovulates whether she lives north of the arctic circle or on the equator. Neither does a thunderstorm, blizzard, heat wave, alteration on barometric pressure or luminosity of the moon change when a human female ovulates. Same with elk. Bull elk are ready to breed once they shed their velvet and will "get all rutted up" when a cow elk comes to her estrous cycle. This cycle is solely dictated by the length of daylight striking her retina. When a hunter assigns a causal relationship between weather/climate or lunar cycle and the timing of the elk rut, that individual has misinterpreted the correlation and reached an erroneous conclusion. Weather/climate, lunar cycle and nighttime cloud cover impact how active elk are, where they can be found, and which portion of a 24 hour period they may be active, but none of these impact the timing of a cow elk's ovulation and therefore the rut. 8) The overwhelming majority of elk vocalizations induce no immediate action from other elk. Taking time to watch and listen to an elk herd is very informative. A useful exercise is to note the number of vocalizations one hears before one observes an elk to rapidly change its behavior in response. There are, of course, isolated scenarios where a few, or even one, appropriately utilized call(s) can induce a herd bull to fervently charge 500 yards with reckless abandon. But it is valuable to be cognsant of how relatively infrequent it is for an elk to drastically adjust whatever activity it is doing in response to the call of another elk. 9) Your bugle CANNOT sound "too big". Excluding a comparatively uncommon situation in which one may be targeting a small spike bull, an elk is bigger than you and therefore sounds bigger than you. Whilst the odd human may have a vital capacity (lung volume) over 7 liters, the large majority of adult humans have a vital capacity between 5 & 6 liters. Even an average sized cow elk has a vital capacity double or triple this - let alone a herd bull. In addition, the trachea of an adult human measures 9 perhaps 10 inches from the carina to the posterior oropharynx and a human glottis is approximately 1 - 1.5 inches across. In elk these anatomic structures measure in at roughly 24 and 3-4 inches respectively. In short, the phonic generating apparatus of an elk is substantially larger than a human. You're bugle CANNOT sound "too big". One who refutes this may assert the use of a bugle tube negates this size difference. The final nail in the coffin of this fallacy is the fact that when a bull elk bugles it produces two separate tones, one high and one low (thus harmonizing with itself), and the bass note of this ballad informs other elk how big the bull is. A hunter's bugle tube produces only the single, high range note of a bugle. A hunter therefore always sounds like a small elk. Until it was deciphered that a bull elk's bugle produces two harmonizing tones, the elk bugle was a bit of a puzzle to those who study such topics. As ungulates increase in size, their vocalizations deepen in tone. From a reproductive perspective this serves to notify females which bull/buck is the fittest to father their offspring. Elk were not well understood in this regard as bugles are very high pitched - how would a female know which bugling suitor to approach? The bugle was once a scientific conundrum from the perspective of reproductive fitness. Astute investigation has since broadened our understanding of this majestic call. The bugle therefore is not an evolutionary weak spot - it is arguably the most successful of all ungulate breeding calls. The piercing high pitch broadcasts a bull's mating intentions much farther than any other ungulate can and the harmonizing bass informs the other elk who the fittest, most dominant bull is. Since a hunter's bugle emulates only the high pitched tone of a bull elk's vocalization, it only ever indicates you are a small bull. Again, your bugle cannot sound "too big". There are a number of common calling errors frequently misappropriated as sounding "too big". Many of these are merely manifestations of universal elk truths 1, 2 and/or 9. 10) Hardship is the only guarantee with elk hunting. No essay needed. Elk hunting is inevitably a grind. Be prepared for that. ***NOTE: many important features of elk behavior and strategies of elk hunting are not included in this because they are not universally true. Do not disregard them. Do not erroneously presume them applicable at all times in all scenarios. - Dr Gabe Krahn

This week we jump on a call with Beau Brooks who just won the world championship elk calling comp. Beau is a tremendous elk caller and elk hunter but what Beau is really great at is knowing when to call and when to be patient. In this episode we chat about Beau's favorite time of season early September and calling bulls before they herd up. We talk about how to find elk like a pro and how to cover ground to give yourself options. I really enjoyed this chat with the new world champion and I can tell he is a hell of an elk caller. Beau just launch a new call company called Riven huntriven.com with one of the coolest products I have seen. Riven has an all wood bugle tube. These tubes look like a piece of art and after listening to Beau rip bugles they sound amazing.