Get Close, Stay Close: Jerrod Lile's Simple Elk Hunting Philosophy

Get Close, Stay Close: Jerrod Lile's Simple Elk Hunting Philosophy

From Elk Hunt by Cody Rich

March 13, 2026 · 1h 0m · Season 1

About this episode

Cody Rich interviews Jerrod Lile about his elk hunting philosophy and experiences.

What's up everyone! This week I'm sitting down with Jerrod Lile, CEO of Hunting Fool and one of the most underrated elk hunters you've never heard enough from. Jerrod spent 14 years working alongside Dan Evans at Trophy Taker—yeah, THE Dan Evans—and the stories and lessons he picked up during that time are absolute gold. This conversation goes deep. We talk about how Jerrod went from being a good shooter to a great archer after Dan called him out on his bad habits, the mental game required to perform under pressure (spoiler: it's just like you to make a good shot), and why he's helped 15 first-time bowhunters kill their first elk. Jerrod breaks down his hunting philosophy into one simple mantra: get as close as you can for as long as you can, and good stuff will happen. But this episode isn't all tactics and tips. Jerrod gets brutally honest about the emotional rollercoaster of elk hunting—from getting too cocky after a string of successes and missing a giant bull at 35 yards, to the heartbreak of his father passing away in the middle of a 23-point Arizona hunt. That story alone is worth the listen. It's raw, it's real, and it's a reminder that elk hunting is about so much more…

People in this episode

Host: Cody Rich

Guest: Jerrod Lile

Topics covered

  • elk hunting
  • hunting philosophy
  • archery
  • mental game
  • emotional aspects of hunting
  • hunting tactics

Keywords

  • elk hunting
  • archery
  • hunting tactics
  • mental game
  • hunting stories

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hunting Fool

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