In this Sweet September episode, we sit down with Joel Yanke, a Colorado elk hunter whose story is one of heartbreak, humility, and redemption. After years of chasing success and enduring repeated failures, Joel faced a breaking point this season — losing his first bull and nearly walking away from the hunt entirely.

What followed was a powerful moment of surrender. Leaving his bow behind for the first time in six years, Joel chose to focus on helping a friend instead — and in that selfless act, found a renewed sense of purpose and faith. Days later, against all odds, he recovered the bull he thought was lost forever.

Joel’s journey reminds us that elk hunting is about far more than tags and trophies — it’s about perseverance, community, and the grace we find when we stop chasing success and start living the story.

🎯 Sweet September celebrates effort, passion, and the personal journeys that define every hunter.

Host: Jared Newman