I'M 49 NOW - HERE'S MY BIGGEST ELK HUNTING MISTAKES | EP. 217

At 49 years old, after 34 years of hunting and guiding elk across the West, I’ve made enough mistakes to know which ones cost hunters the most. This episode isn’t about the bulls I’ve killed, the hunts that went according to plan, or the decisions that made me look like I had everything figured out. It’s an honest breakdown of the elk hunting mistakes that cost me opportunities, unfilled tags, wounded confidence, and—in one case—an animal I never recovered. Experience doesn’t automatically make you a better elk hunter. Honest experience does. In this episode, I break down seven hard-earned elk hunting lessons that changed how I call, move, set up, train, manage the wind, and make decisions under pressure. You’ll learn: • Why blaming weather, hunting pressure, moon phase, or other hunters prevents real improvement • How overcalling can stop a committed bull and destroy an otherwise perfect setup • Why wind direction must control every move you make in elk country • How hunting comfortable, familiar terrain can keep you away from pressured elk • Why shot discipline and ethical bowhunting standards can never change in the moment • When leaving good elk country is actually the wrong decision • Why traditional gym fitness doesn’t always prepare you for a demanding backcountry elk hunt I also share the mistake that still haunts me most: taking a shot I knew wasn’t right. The angle was poor. The bull was moving. The distance was beyond what I’d prepared for. I released anyway, wounded the bull, and never recovered him. That decision permanently changed the standards I carry into the mountains. Elk hunting success isn’t only about finding elk or becoming a better caller. It’s about controlling your emotions when a bull is close, respecting the wind, trusting good country, maintaining your shooting standards, and preparing your body for multiple hard days in steep terrain. These lessons apply whether you’re preparing for your first public-land elk hunt or you’ve spent decades chasing bulls with a bow. You’re going to make mistakes in elk country. The question is whether you’ll accept responsibility, study what happened, and make sure the same mistake doesn’t cost you again. Thirty-four years. Seven mistakes. These are the ones that cost me the most. I hope they cost you less. Listen now for a direct, honest discussion about elk calling mistakes, wind management, public-land hunting pressure, ethical shot selection, backcountry hunting fitness, staying in productive elk country, and becoming a more consistent elk hunter. Explore the Backbone Unlimited elk hunting e-book series, training plans, nutrition programs, and personalized Elk Hunt Plan Audits at BackboneUnlimited.com.