Most hunters stay white belts forever. In this conversation I break down a simple framework I stole from jiu-jitsu and applied to hunting.

The full interview is available from Chad Lubinski here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd2L3PdsGi0

We talk about why “time in the game” is overrated, how to compress your learning with tight reps, and why some hunters with 30 seasons under their belt are still stuck at white belt. Then I walk through what blue, purple, brown, and black belt hunting actually look like in the real world. Clear thinking about the wind, topography, elk behavior, and your own style. 

I also share a real elk hunt story where years of pattern recognition turned a blown setup into a legit shot opportunity. 

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Pursuit With Cliff Podcast
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/interviews-and-podcasts/

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Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
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Grinding elk on Colorado’s Flat Tops is expert mode. I sit down with guide Cade Cole to break down exactly why this country punishes hesitation and rewards decisive shooting. We hit pressure dynamics, why elk “live” outside shooting hours, stand-hunt vs still-hunt on plateaus, when to take a marginal window, and the ethics of passing smaller bulls.

We also get real on training that actually kills elk here: snapshooting, offhand reps, backpack or tree support, and separating when to use bipods or tripods. If you hunt public land under heavy pressure, this will sharpen your edge.

Cade Cole — backcountry elk guide and survivalist. https://www.instagram.com/collincadecole on Instagram.

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Pursuit With Cliff Podcast
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/interviews-and-podcasts/

Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/membership/

Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
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Greg Jones has killed over 200 wolves across Idaho and the West. In this episode, he reveals what most people don’t understand about wolves—how they hunt, how they impact elk and livestock, and what’s about to happen in Colorado. From ranch conflicts to wildlife collapse, this is the unfiltered truth about wolf management from a man who lived it.

Greg Jones – Retired trapper and aerial gunner with over 200 wolf kills across Idaho and the West. Expert in predator management and livestock conflict resolution.

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FOLLOW CLIFF
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Pursuit With Cliff Podcast
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/interviews-and-podcasts/

Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/membership/

Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/Experiences

Merch
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In this episode, I sit down in person with James Nash, veteran elk guide and host of the 6 Ranch Podcast. We go deep into elk behavior, calling strategy, and tracking wounded bulls — including what 100 miles of real-world blood trails have taught him. We also talk about gear, generational elk knowledge, and how to adapt your calling to changing elk behavior.
If you hunt elk, this one’s worth every minute.

James Nash — veteran elk guide, lifelong outdoorsman, and host of the Six Ranch Podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/6-ranch-podcast/id1510254570
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6ranchoutfitters/ 

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FOLLOW CLIFF
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Pursuit With Cliff Podcast
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Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
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Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
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Hunting can be life-changing. In this episode, Cliff Gray sits down with Dr. Ben Peery – ER physician and Chief Medical Officer of INVI Mind Health – to dive deep into mental health, resilience, and why hunting affects people so profoundly. They discuss HRV (heart rate variability) as a measurable way to track stress, how the backcountry accelerates personal growth, and why camaraderie in hunting camps creates unmatched bonds.

The INVI app mentioned - https://invimh.com/

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FOLLOW CLIFF
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Pursuit With Cliff Podcast
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/interviews-and-podcasts/

Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/membership/

Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
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A full-length hunting Q&A pulled from the livestream I hosted 9/17/2025 alongside a massive elk hunt and gear giveaway. Over the course of nearly two hours, I tackle 20–30 questions from hunters on topics ranging from elk strategy, private vs. public land access, and calling setups, to logistics like processing, packing out meat, and cooler space.

👉 Sign up for the Hunt Squad free tier at https://pwchuntsquad.com/
 to join future livestreams and submit your questions.

You’ll hear insights not only from me, but also Sam Brunner from Infinite Outdoors on how private land partnerships and access initiatives work. If you’ve ever wondered about landowner tags, managing elk meat on the road, or the best way to simplify calling strategies, it’s covered here.

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FOLLOW CLIFF
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Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/membership/

Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/Experiences

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First half: my take on the Ryan Lampers situation—innocent until proven guilty—and the bigger pattern I’ve seen for decades in guiding: economic incentives, ego, and the short-game mindset that pushes people into bad decisions. Play the long game. Be transparent. If you wouldn’t do it with a drone over your shoulder, don’t do it.

Second half: Colorado updates from the last 10–12 days. Elk are generally lower and around water; bugling where densities are decent. Archery conditions look good until pressure kicks them around. Bears were tough: chokecherry/serviceberry largely dropped or dried on sun-exposed slopes. Best action was near private borders with water and acorns, or go high-alpine if you can’t access those edges.

If this helps, subscribe on YouTube/Spotify/Apple. More bear-defense content coming soon. All my hunts, seminars, and membership details are at pursuitwithcliff.com. 

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FOLLOW CLIFF
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Pursuit With Cliff Podcast
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/interviews-and-podcasts/

Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/membership/

Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/Experiences

Merch
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Elk hunting isn’t just about gear—it’s about fitness, mental toughness, and knowing when to push. In this episode, I sit down with Jim Bortz, a wildlife artist and lifelong hunter who transitioned from whitetails to chasing bulls in Wyoming. We dig into the realities of elk hunting: fitness that actually matters, the urge to quit (and how to overcome it), solo hunting challenges, and what courses really move the needle. Jim has participated in my courses, courses with Ryan Lampers, Elk 101, training with Joel Turner and many other options out there. We talk about what has worked for him.

The in-person course I offer that we discuss - https://pursuitwithcliff.com/elk-hunting-master-class/

Jim Bortz – Wildlife artist, lifelong bowhunter, and western elk hunter.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jim_bortz (Art) and https://www.instagram.com/mtn_hunter_307 (Hunting and Fitness)

 

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FOLLOW CLIFF
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Pursuit With Cliff Podcast
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/interviews-and-podcasts/

Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/membership/

Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
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In this episode I sit down with Tim Anderson, founder of Invader Concepts, the holster company behind the chest rig I wear. We dig into the real pros and cons of carrying a pistol in the mountains—under your bino harness, attached to the harness, on your pack belt, or on your hip. We also dive deep into the cartridge debate for bear defense: revolvers vs semi-autos, capacity vs stopping power, and why 10mm has become the dominant choice.

Tim shares insights from thousands of customers and his own experience as both a shooter and entrepreneur. We also cover the challenges of making gear in the U.S., why Invader Concepts has stuck to American-made production, and how Tim built the company from scratch in his garage.

Whether you’re hunting elk in grizzly country, backpacking in remote wilderness, or just want to understand your options for backcountry pistol carry, this conversation will clear up a lot of myths.

Holster available here - https://invaderconcepts.com/

Use CLIFFG for 10% off.

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FOLLOW CLIFF
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Pursuit With Cliff Podcast
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/interviews-and-podcasts/

Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/membership/

Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/Experiences

Merch
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Most hunters obsess over bugles, cow calls, and making the “perfect sound.” The truth? None of that matters if your setup is wrong. In this episode, I break down the single most overlooked factor in archery elk hunting—the setup. 

I cover why setups matter more than calling, how bulls actually “see with their ears,” and why closing the distance before you ever touch a call is what doubles or triples your odds of success. You’ll hear about the mistakes I see over and over again in the elk woods, the psychological trap of being afraid to bump elk, and the universal truths about how bulls approach a calling scenario. 

Whether you’re hunting solo or with a partner, these principles will change how you think about elk hunting and get you closer to consistent success. 

For a deeper dive, check out my full elk hunting course at https://pursuitwithcliff.com/elk. 

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FOLLOW CLIFF
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Pursuit With Cliff Podcast
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/interviews-and-podcasts/

Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/membership/

Hunt. Fish. Spear. (Experiences, Courses and Seminars)
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/Experiences

Merch
https://pursuitwithcliff.com/shop/

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