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From Unfilled Tags to a Giant Bull: The Lessons That Made an Elk Hunter

Hunt West Podcast

Release Date: 10/11/2025

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More Episodes

In this episode of the Hunt West Podcast, Jaden sits down with Hunt West client and now first-time archery elk killer, Anthony Ortiz, to unpack a four-year journey that went from missed chances and blown stalks to punching tags on a giant Colorado bull AND a Wyoming pronghorn—all this season.

Anthony opens up about what it really takes to go from hopeful to lethal:

  • The mistakes that taught him more than success ever could (hint: wind and impatience were his biggest teachers)

  • The shooting practice that actually matters—training in awkward, real-world positions

  • How a smart approach to scouting, access, and persistence led to two incredible hunts in the same year

Jaden and Anthony also dig into the mental side of elk hunting—the adrenaline dump, the blackouts, the heartbreak, and the payoff when you finally get it right. If you’re new to archery elk hunting or just grinding for that first bull, this episode will hit home.

Listen for:

  • The moment Anthony realized he had finally done it

  • Why slowing down and thinking for five seconds can change your hunt

  • The best advice he’d give to anyone still chasing their first elk

  • How preparation and planning pay off years down the line

Takeaway:
Success in elk hunting isn’t built in one season—it’s the product of failure, reflection, and sticking with it long enough to connect the dots.

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Resources & Links

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