Welcome to September — the month elk hunters live for. In this episode, I sit down with Cody Rich, longtime mentor and host of The Elk Hunt Podcast, to talk through the 201-level elk hunting playbook.

We dive into the real differences between a "101 hunter" who's just out walking the woods and a "201 hunter" who consistently finds and kills elk year after year. Cody breaks down what separates the average Joe from the top 10% of elk hunters — and how you can bridge that gap this season.

Inside this episode, you'll hear us cover:

• 🚫 How not to be "Average Joe" on opening weekend

• 🐂 Why finding people-free country often matters more than finding "perfect elk habitat"

• 📍 How Cody adapts tactics in pressured units vs. limited-entry hunts

• 🎯 Tools in the elk hunter's toolbox — when to rely on one skill vs. build new ones

• 🔥 Contingencies for wildfire, pressure, and weather changes mid-season

• 🗺️ Backpack hunting, wallows, glassing, and why "diesel sometimes kills more elk than boot leather"

• 🧠 The mindset shift from chasing opportunity to intentionally picking the skill you want to sharpen

Cody also shares stories from his own hunts — from missing bulls on opening day to glassing elk seven miles away with binos — and gives one clear assignment for anyone wanting to level up their elk hunting game this September.

We hope you enjoy the show!

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Thanks to Bo DePena, a musician, friend, and avid hunter in Colorado, for the intro and outro for the show.