Elk Hunt

Eight years ago, Jack Lander and I did a podcast right after he killed a bull with his compound. This time he's back after another absolutely nuts season with a longbow and a recurve in the thick Roosevelt country of the Pacific Northwest. If you've heard that this was a rough year to find elk, Jack's crew still managed to put four bulls on the ground, and some of those were at seven yards. We start with why Jack walked away from the compound. He says it comes down to the challenge, and he found that nothing beats a trad kill when it all comes together. From there we get into what makes Roosevelt hunting so different from Rockies and sagebrush country. Think 18 yards without ever seeing the elk, tunnels you have to crawl through like a rabbit, and bulls that will actually come to a terrible little squeal after they've pegged you. Then Jack walks me through his season. He and his buddy Sam killed two bulls in the same day, an hour apart, and I can't name another person I know who's done that. We also dig into hunting pressure and the road-rig bugle circus, why cow and calf calling into good habitat might be the move, and how finding a canyon with a hot cow can change everything. Jack also tells the story of the time he lost Larry D. Jones in the woods (search and rescue included). We wrap with a last-day-of-season bull that died in 13 seconds on camera. Whether you chase Roosevelts, Rockies, or just want to understand how to hunt pressured elk, there's a lot to take away here. Go subscribe to Jack's YouTube channel, Golden Rosie Outdoors. And if you want a free hunt planning tool to track your hunts, plans, and points, grab it through the link in the show notes or at elkhunt201.com. If you liked the episode, send it to one of your hunting buddies. Sponsors Tricer – Lightweight, packable gear built for guys who actually put miles on it. If your tripod system is bulky and overbuilt, you're working too hard. Drew is a good friend and a mad scientist, and the whole system is worth a look. 🔗 tricer.com – use code EH for 10% off Maven Optics – A Wyoming, direct-to-consumer company that I'll always say is the best bang for your buck. From rifle scopes to spotters to binos, I love their stuff. The B6 is my go-to binocular. I run the 12x50, and the 10x42 is awesome too. 🔗 mavenbuilt.com Bridger Watch – The smartwatch I've spent the last three years developing, built by hunters for hunters. Health, sleep, and fitness tracking, plus offline mapping, onX Waypoint integration, Hornady and Sierra ballistics integration, Red Shift night-vision-friendly red light, and a flashlight. Check out the Bridger Rekon. 🔗 bridgerwatch.com Chapters (estimated) 0:00 – Intro and sponsors 2:15 – Welcome, Jack 4:00 – Why Jack switched from compound to traditional 7:00 – What makes Roosevelt elk hunting different 12:00 – Season goals and a repeat of last year's success 14:30 – Two bulls in one day: Sam's bull and Jack's seven-yard bull 18:30 – Hunting pressure, road rigs, and cow/calf calling 24:00 – Hot cows, rut timing, and Bigfoot bulls 29:00 – The story of losing Larry D. Jones in the woods 33:30 – Mid-roll: Bridger Watch 35:00 – The smart old six-point and Brendan's bull 38:00 – Last day of season: Mason's bull on camera 43:00 – Covering ground, timing, and locating hot bulls 47:00 – How many days to kill a Roosevelt, and the role of luck 49:30 – Where to find Jack's films and wrap-up Three Key Takeaways When bulls go quiet, slip in and cow call. In pressured country, Jack and Cody both found that quiet cow and calf calling in good habitat can pull in bulls that won't answer a bugle. Plenty of bulls came in silent and never said a word. Timing and a hot cow matter more than the canyon. A canyon can be dead for two weeks and then have four bulls screaming when a cow comes into estrus. Moving around and covering country until you find the hot pocket is the real game. Skill gets you in position, but luck closes the deal. Jack figures about 10 days of hunting gives you a shot opportunity. Wind, cows, and brush all have to line up, so you need to hunt hard, stay patient, and be ready to capitalize on the one chance you get.

What's up everyone! This week I'm sitting down with Lydia Smith, and honestly, I'm blown away by this woman. She's one of the most consistently successful elk hunters I've ever met—killing big bulls year after year like it's no big deal. And here's the kicker: she's completely self-taught. No dad taking her out as a kid, no mentor guiding her through it. Just pure grit, determination, and an obsession with figuring it out. In this episode, Lydia breaks down her 2024 hunt where she spent 16 days solo in the backcountry chasing what she called "the growler bull"—a massive Idaho six-point that she'd been hearing bugle outside her tent for two weeks. We dive deep into her stalking tactics (spoiler: she barely calls at all), how she slow-plays opportunities most hunters would rush, and why she believes elk on public land are getting conditioned to human calling. But this conversation goes way beyond tactics. Lydia opens up about the emotional weight of taking an animal's life, dealing with criticism for showing her emotions on camera, and some seriously intense experiences in the backcountry—including a moose attack at 17 that could've ended very differently. We also talk about what it takes to go solo as a woman in the mountains, building confidence through experience, and why she chooses to live a life centered around hunting even when it means sacrificing the conventional path. If you're someone who's grinding it out on public land, trying to learn this game without a mentor, or just want to hear from someone who's mastered the art of patience and persistence in the elk woods, this episode is for you. Lydia's story is proof that you don't need anyone's permission or guidance to become exceptional—you just need to refuse to quit. OnX Hunt - The ultimate hunting app just keeps getting better. Their new weather feature is a game-changer—tap anywhere on the map and get hyperlocal weather data that actually takes topography into account. No more guessing based on the nearest town. See wind variations across different parts of your hunting area and plan accordingly. Become an Elite member and get all the premium features. Head to onxmaps.com and use code TRO to save 20%. Tricer - Fast, light, and simple gear from tripods to bino mounts, panheads, truck mounts, and now even bipods. If you're looking for a new system for better glassing or a rock-solid shooting platform, Tricer delivers. I've been using the heck out of their bipod this season and killed a lot of critters with it. Check them out at tricer.com and use code TRO to save 10% at checkout. Stone Glacier - Check out their Black Label Program. 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Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 03:45 - Lydia's background: Self-taught and starting at 18 08:30 - The 2024 hunt setup: 16 days solo in the backcountry 12:15 - "The growler bull" - Two weeks of hearing him bugle 18:20 - The perfect storm and the final stalk 24:40 - The two-hour chase and getting within range 28:50 - The shot and the agonizing overnight wait 32:10 - Finding him 300 yards away 35:45 - Why this bull was so special 38:20 - Solo hunting: The magic and the terror 42:00 - Her second bull story: Watching him take his last breath 46:15 - Dealing with criticism for showing emotions 50:30 - The moose attack at 17 and other backcountry close calls 54:20 - Her stalking philosophy: Why she barely calls anymore 58:40 - Daily tactics and being strategically patient 1:02:15 - Hunting new areas vs. local knowledge 1:04:30 - Outfitting business info and closing thoughts Three Key Takeaways Strategic Patience Beats Aggressive Calling on Pressured Elk - Lydia has found that on heavily hunted public land, elk are becoming conditioned to human calling and often respond negatively. Her approach focuses on silent stalking, using terrain and wind to her advantage, and only calling when she's within 75 yards of a herd bull. She'll pass on opportunities if the wind isn't perfect, understanding that pushing elk prematurely can blow them out of an area entirely. Time is the Ultimate Advantage in Public Land Elk Hunting - Lydia spent 16 days in the backcountry on this hunt, and she emphasizes that consistent success on public land archery elk requires dedicating serious time. She believes out-of-state hunters with only 5 days have less than a 10% success rate. The ability to wait for the perfect conditions, study elk patterns over multiple days, and be in position when everything aligns is what separates consistent success from occasional luck. You Don't Need a Mentor to Become Exceptional - Lydia is completely self-taught, starting elk hunting at 18 with no family background in it. She ate four or five tags before killing her first bull, learning entirely through trial and error, scar tissue, and refusing to quit. Her story proves that while mentorship is valuable, pure determination, willingness to learn from mistakes, and putting in the days can make you just as deadly in the mountains.

In this episode of the Run the Rack Outdoors Podcast, host Weston Homa sits down with elk hunting expert and podcast veteran Cody Rich for an in-depth dive into the highs and lows of September archery elk hunting. Drawing from Weston's recent Idaho hunt and Cody's decades of backcountry experience, they unpack hard-earned lessons on managing hunting pressure, mastering midday strategies, refining calling tactics, and building the mental toughness to turn close calls into success. From choosing your battlefield wisely to embracing the grind of multiple setups, this conversation is packed with actionable advice for aspiring elk hunters. Plus, Cody shares thrilling stories from his epic mountain goat hunt in British Columbia and teases his innovative new hunting smartwatch. Whether you're prepping for your first rut chase or fine-tuning your skills, this episode will leave you motivated to "run the rack" harder than ever. This episode is sponsored by Tricer and Stone Glacier—essential gear for going deeper in the backcountry. Detailed Show Notes with Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction and Welcome Host Weston Hoa welcomes Cody Rich to the Run the Rack Outdoors Podcast, sharing excitement about Cody's reputation in the hunting podcast world. They kick off with light banter about the bittersweet end of archery season and the shift to late-season pursuits in Montana and Idaho. 01:30 - East vs. West: Whitetail vs. Mule Deer Debate Cody and Weston geek out on their deer preferences—Cody leans whitetail despite being in mule deer country, while Weston declares himself a "mule guy" obsessed with their elusive dance. They touch on blacktail influences and shoutout Braxton Hamilton's Wyoming mule deer insights. 04:45 - Elk Hunting Focus and Goals Shifting to elk, Weston recaps his second year bowhunting: a solo cow success in Colorado last year, and this year's two-week Idaho rut hunt chasing a 4-point bull or better. Cody shares his big-bull aspirations and the universal "aha" moments of adapting plans when reality punches back (à la Mike Tyson). 07:20 - Biggest Lesson: Hunting Pressure Trumps All Weston's top takeaway: No amount of gear, calls, or tactics beats avoiding human pressure. Cody agrees, emphasizing e-scouting and weather planning must prioritize low-pressure zones for peak elk action. 10:15 - Midday Strategies: What to Do with Your Hands The classic backcountry dilemma—morning/evening action spikes, but midday boredom hits. Cody breaks down the pros/cons of deep camping (limited radius vs. solitude), advising patience over forcing setups. He stresses watching bedding areas, scouting for Plan B elk, and avoiding 20-mile death marches; instead, focus on 80/20 opportunities. 18:40 - Choosing Battles: Patience in the Rut Cody recounts a hunt where he resisted chasing a close-but-fading bull, instead waiting for a distant one with cows—resulting in a bow-range approach. Weston shares a similar ridge-top decision, highlighting macro views over impulsive stalks. 23:10 - Calling Tactics: Distance Matters Weston contrasts bugling at range vs. "in the bedroom," sharing two stories: a drawn-out midday ping-pong that fired up but didn't close, and a close-quarters blow-up in thick reprod. Cody advises softer cow/calf calls early, saving challenges for sub-100 yards, and using partners for silent slips. 32:50 - When to Leave Elk to Find Elk Tackling the frustration of tough hunts with few sightings, Cody explains hunting killable setups over obsessing one herd. Emphasize sign-reading, blind calling in sign-rich areas, and accepting silent approaches—expect 10 solid setups for a shot opportunity. 41:20 - Mindset: Focus on Skills, Not Kills Drawing running analogies, they discuss embracing "micro wins" (e.g., finding elk, entering the red zone) to build confidence and gut intuition. Cody's superpower? Carefree execution—treat busts like bad golf shots to stay deadly under pressure. 52:10 - After-Action Reviews and Gut Intuition Cody pushes post-hunt map audits: Review wind, terrain, and timing to sharpen when-to-attack instincts. Trade-offs like deep camping are inevitable—woodsmanship comes from screwing up and learning. 58:30 - Cody's Epic Hunts: Elk with Jayden Bell and BC Goat Adventure Cody recaps a multi-bull Wyoming success with Jayden Bell and dives into his dream BC mountain goat hunt: planes, canoes, glaciers, and a gnarly pack-out after a perfect Billy stalk amid endless rain. He teases stunning footage from the adventure. 1:06:45 - Sneak Peek: Bridger Watch Reveal Cody unveils his 3-year passion project—a hunter-built smartwatch with offline mapping, superior fitness tracking, and backcountry edge over Garmin. Big reveal November 1st at bridgerwatch.com; beta testing underway for 2026 launch. 1:12:20 - Podcast Cross-Promo and Run the Rack Origins Mutual shoutouts: Cody plugs The Elk Hunt Podcast and The Rich Outdoors; Weston shares his one-man passion for backcountry hunting, running ultras, and deep convos. Teases Boston Marathon plans and fitness for hunts. 1:15:40 - Closing: Mental Toughness and Hard Things Wrapping on longevity—Cody eyes 60-year-old grinders like Mark Livesay; Weston stresses evidence-based confidence from consistent hard efforts. Call to action: Embrace the journey, stack skills, and run the rack. Sponsor Copies Tricer Gear up for the backcountry with Tricer—the fast, light, and simple hunting systems designed by hunters, for hunters. From their ultra-light HK tripod kit for precise shots on the move to packs that shave ounces without sacrificing strength, Tricer helps you go deeper and hunt harder. Born from real-field necessities, every product challenges the status quo. Head to tricer.com and elevate your setup today. Use code RUNTHERACK for 10% off your first order. Stone Glacier Stone Glacier crafts ultralight, technical hunting gear built to withstand the mountains' toughest demands. Their modular packs, versatile apparel, and shelters—like the Grumman down system for unbeatable warmth-to-weight—let you transition seamlessly from hunt to pack-out. Engineered for backcountry endurance, it's the system serious hunters trust. Download their app for exclusive deals and free shipping on your first order. Visit stoneglacier.com now and gear up for your next pursuit. 3 Key Takeaways Prioritize Pressure Over Tactics: Hunting pressure overrides gear and calls—e-scout low-traffic drainages first, then adapt everything else. Patience in bedding areas often yields better odds than forcing midday moves. Master the 80/20 Rule: Focus prime-time efforts (morning/evening) on killable setups; use midday for scouting Plan B elk or soft cow calls. Expect 10 solid encounters for a shot—embrace micro wins like red-zone entries to build unbreakable confidence. Softer Hands Win in High-Pressure Rut: Start with calf/cow calls to locate without spooking; save bugle challenges for fired-up bulls under 100 yards. Post-hunt, audit maps and encounters to hone gut intuition for choosing battlefields.