Pursuit With Cliff - Cliff Gray

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/

---
FOLLOW CLIFF
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CliffGray
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/Cliffgry/
Facebook - https://facebook.com/PursuitWithCliff

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/

SUBSCRIBE TO CLIFF'S NEWSLETTER:
https://PursuitWithCliff.com/#Newsletter

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.

---
FOLLOW CLIFF
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CliffGray
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/Cliffgry/
Facebook - https://facebook.com/PursuitWithCliff

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/

SUBSCRIBE TO CLIFF'S NEWSLETTER:
https://PursuitWithCliff.com/#Newsletter

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. 

---
FOLLOW CLIFF
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CliffGray
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/Cliffgry/
Facebook - https://facebook.com/PursuitWithCliff

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/

SUBSCRIBE TO CLIFF'S NEWSLETTER:
https://PursuitWithCliff.com/#Newsletter

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)

 

---
FOLLOW CLIFF
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CliffGray
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/Cliffgry/
Facebook - https://facebook.com/PursuitWithCliff

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/

SUBSCRIBE TO CLIFF'S NEWSLETTER:
https://PursuitWithCliff.com/#Newsletter

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.

---
FOLLOW CLIFF
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CliffGray
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/Cliffgry/
Facebook - https://facebook.com/PursuitWithCliff

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/

SUBSCRIBE TO CLIFF'S NEWSLETTER:
https://PursuitWithCliff.com/#Newsletter

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. 

---
FOLLOW CLIFF
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CliffGray
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/Cliffgry/
Facebook - https://facebook.com/PursuitWithCliff

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/

SUBSCRIBE TO CLIFF'S NEWSLETTER:
https://PursuitWithCliff.com/#Newsletter

Cliff Gray talks with Aaron Davidson of Gunwerks about the realities of rifles, optics, and hunting culture. They tackle controversial topics like long-range hunting, cartridge choice, and why most hunters fail in the field. Aaron explains how training, rifle setup, and ego all play into success. A must-listen for elk hunters, riflemen, and anyone serious about improving their shooting.

Aaron is the Owner and Founder of GunWerks - https://www.gunwerks.com/ 

---
FOLLOW CLIFF
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CliffGray
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/Cliffgry/
Facebook - https://facebook.com/PursuitWithCliff

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/

SUBSCRIBE TO CLIFF'S NEWSLETTER:
https://PursuitWithCliff.com/#Newsletter

What really happens when you hit that SOS button in the Colorado backcountry? Cliff sits down with Mike Kuper, Rifle Police Lieutenant and longtime search and rescue member, to uncover the hard truths of SAR operations in elk country. From delayed response times and helicopter limitations to the gear and mindset every hunter needs, this episode pulls back the curtain on survival and rescue. Whether you’re elk hunting, backpacking, or just pushing deep into public land, these lessons could save your life.

---
FOLLOW CLIFF
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CliffGray
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/Cliffgry/
Facebook - https://facebook.com/PursuitWithCliff

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/

SUBSCRIBE TO CLIFF'S NEWSLETTER:
https://PursuitWithCliff.com/#Newsletter

This isn't going over a tactic that sometimes work, this is a complete how-to that will get you calling in bear on the majority of your setups in bear areas.

Bear calling is one of the most misunderstood hunting tactics, and most hunters get it wrong. In this episode, Clayton and Ben of share years of field-proven strategies for using predator calls to bring in bears. We cover call choice (including the fawn-in-distress), optimal duration and volume, how wind and terrain affect bear responses, and the behavioral cues to watch for. Whether you’re blind calling or working a spotted bear, these tips will help you set up right, avoid common mistakes, and bring more bears into shooting range.

The call mentioned:
https://bornandraisedoutdoors.com/products/brc-prdtr-quota

Follow Clayton and Ben:
https://www.youtube.com/@grizzly.brothers
https://www.grizzlybrothers.net/
https://www.instagram.com/grizzly.brothers

---
FOLLOW CLIFF
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CliffGray
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/Cliffgry/
Facebook - https://facebook.com/PursuitWithCliff

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/

SUBSCRIBE TO CLIFF'S NEWSLETTER:
https://PursuitWithCliff.com/#Newsletter

In this episode of Pursuit With Cliff, I sit down with Pedro Ampuero — a hunter who’s pursued game in some of the world’s toughest places. We talk about his buffalo hunt in Uganda, where he wounded a bull with his bow and later came back to finish the job on the same animal. Pedro shares how that experience shaped his views on accountability and persistence in hunting. We also dive into hunts in Pakistan, life balance, failure, gear, and the challenges of depicting hunting to the non-hunter viewer.

Pedro Ampuero is a global mountain hunter and filmmaker.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pedroampuerohunting
Instagram: http://instagram.com/pedroampueroca 
www.pedroampuero.com

---
FOLLOW CLIFF
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CliffGray
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/Cliffgry/
Facebook - https://facebook.com/PursuitWithCliff

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/

SUBSCRIBE TO CLIFF'S NEWSLETTER:
https://PursuitWithCliff.com/#Newsletter