16 Days Solo: How Lydia Smith Hunted Down Idaho's 'Growler Bull

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All right, Lydia, I'm stoked to have you on. I. We were just kind of chatting before the podcast. I'm like, man, you're an absolute killer and had an epic year. Yeah, you're a super interesting person, so I'm stoked to have you on. One of the things that I love is that you're so consistent. Like, you just kill big bulls every single year. Like, it's no big deal.

So awesome. Can't complain.

Ah, I guess before we. I want to hear the story from this year's poll. But before we get into that, did you grow up elk hunting or. When did you get into elk hunting?

No, sir. So. No way.

Really?

Yeah. No, I grew up being involved in the outdoors, right? Like, my dad would take me camping, we'd shoot guns, but we never hunted. Actually begged him for basically, most of my childhood never took me. So I was like, you know what? It's all right. And at 16, I saved up enough money to do my hunter's ed. And then two years after that, I finally went and hunted for the first time. So I was 18, my first time ever going out. And it took a long time before I ever killed anything. But, you know, it was all worth it. I learned through a lot of mistakes and, you know, like. And that's just how you have to do it when you don't have somebody to really guide you and kind of mentor you. So it was a lot of hard lessons learned. But, I mean, it's. It's been a part of me for. Since I can remember. And now that I've done it, I feel whole and. And it's awesome. Yep.

Oh, man. I want to deep dive into that. That's fascinating. I feel like I was like, yeah, she probably, like, started elk hunting behind her dad at, like, 2 years old. Like, as. As good as you are. I, like, thought there's no way, so I'm fairly surprised.

But we'll.

We'll circle back to that piece of the. The puzzle, and I want to hear the story from this year.

Sure, let's dive into that one. So, yeah, it was like, I'm still on cloud nine with that hunt, like, archery elk, is by far, like, my favorite thing to do. It's like my thing, and I just love it. And so last year, I actually didn't get an elk. I worked pretty dang hard. I had a lot of other people that I was helping between friends and. And guy guided hunts and stuff. So it was a really busy year last year. Never got a bull. So this year I was even more excited. I was just like, I'm ready to freaking get that tag filled, you know, and. And I came very close multiple times. It was honestly a fantastic season in terms of action. Some years are better than others, right? And so this year, the weather was decent, the elk activity was decent. There were slow days, you know, but it was. It was really awesome. I mean, a lot of encounters with other species like moose, bear, pine, Martin. It was just a super fabulous hunt. So, yeah, I had tons of close calls, but just never, you know, was able to seal the deal. And one thing that was really cool about this hunt in particular is like, I wasn't necessarily going for any specific bull. It was any good foot, like any good five point plus, I was gonna shoot. I wasn't being picky. This whole hunt that lasted about two weeks, a little over two weeks.

Did you block out? You're like, I'm gonna go for two weeks, or was it like it just ended up being two?

Just go until I get one. That's just kind of how I do it.

Yeah, it was out there. And I hiked in about three miles, found a good place to set up my tent. And that's just where I lived for, you know, September. And there was this one bull that I kept hearing outside my tent, like almost every night. Like, he had to have been maybe 700 yards from me, you know, like from my camp. And he was always in this area that I knew just was super awful in terms of wind. Like, it was a super hard spot to get in there and get on those elk. And so I never messed with him. There was one night I did. I tried to at least try and get a visual him. Never did. It's super thick country. But he had this very deep and very unique bugle and growy bugle. So it was very easy to tell. Every time he bugle, it's like, there's that bull.

That's what I called him, the growler bull, because I had nothing else to call him. So I was like, oh, there's the growler bull just bugling away in the timber, and he's in a good spot you know, and good spot for him. So. So yeah, I never really went after him, but he was probably the one bull. There's probably two or three bulls that I would hear consistently and he was one of them anyways. So the days go on. You know, I'm getting close to other bulls but just not sealing the deal. Finally we started getting in weather, which I love to hunt after storms in September. Like I've had fabulous luck killing elk after storms. I think this bull that I got this year makes four. Number four that I have killed after a storm. So go hunt after storms. Really good time to hunt anyway. So, yeah, we were getting bunches. A bunch of rain in and it hammered all night long, you know, like the elk were screaming super good the previous night, so I was super excited for that. Next morning, woke up, it's foggy, just the total vibe, right? And not a. Not a peep. It was dead quiet. And like I tried doing. Still stalking through the timber. And I got into some elk, but there was. There was only small 5 point with them that. And he never even come within range. And they kind of took off. And I come back, started a fire because I was soaked and chilled. And then the rain came again. So dug my fire out, tried hiding under a tree and lightning. And they're started. I'm like, dude, this is bad. So I just hustled back to my tent and it did not stop for almost six to seven hours. The rain did. It was five o' clock when the storm went on, so I mean, it rained all day. So I mean, I got a nap in, which was pretty nice, but I mean, it was pounding and so like not a peep. And I was just like, gosh, this is just not what I was expecting. And finally five o' clock rolls around and you just hear the little drips of the rain coming off the trees. I'm like, okay, here, it's time. And I get all my stuff out. I step out, it's beautiful. You know, the sun's coming out and then I hear a bugle. And I'm like, here we go.

So. And it was actually kind of funny. The growler bull was one of the. I think he was a second bull to bugle. And where he was at, I was familiar with him. Like, I know I could have a chance on him in this spot. He's finally in a position to where I know I'm going to have a good chance at him, especially with the thermals coming down now. And so I get up there in 15 minutes and he was kind of on this other ridge across from me. Probably he was within 100 yards, and he's bugling. I can hear him chasing and glunking cows, and. And I was just like, gosh, like, how am I going to get on this, dude? There's, like, it was a pretty steep face, and it was super thick, and there was a super, super steep draw that I had to go down and up the other side, and there was a big rock cropping I knew I could use as cover.

So you haven't said anything at all. He's just, like, piping off him.

Yeah. I haven't done any elk calls. Like, I was just going to still stalk. I was just going to sneak up on him. And so I'm just being super, super quiet. And, like, I think I took my time a little too much. And so by the time I got over onto this rock cropping, the elk were already moving up the mountain. And so I get up on these rocks, and I finally see his cows, and I range, and they 80 yards coming through the timber. I'm like, wow, shoot. Like, not quite close enough. And. And I hear him, but he just won't come out. It's like the anticipation of hearing this bull for two weeks. I just don't know what he is, you know?

Oh, you want to see him so bad. Like, more than you want to kill him. You just want to see that boy. I just got to get eyes on.

Kind of funny, because a lot of growler bulls that I have heard have always ended up being small five points.

And so, like, my hopes were not up at all. I was like, it's probably immature bull. He has cows. But I wasn't expecting anything, like, crazy. And so I was up on these rocks, and I'm trying to, like, get up a little higher and follow this herd of cows. And I keep hearing them on the opposite side of this opening in the timber. And finally, I see shadows, you know, moving. I'm like, okay, he's going to come out right here. And I pull out my phone, and I see the cow come out first. I'm like, hey, he is right behind that cow. And then he comes out of the timber, and I just see this beautiful, beautiful giant bull. And I was just like, oh, my gosh. I was not expecting that. I mean, the thirds were probably the most significant thing about him. And you just don't see eye bulls like that ever. So at that point, I was like this. I am gonna spend the rest of my hunt chasing this bull. He is incredible. And did you change your tactics or.

Your mindset at that moment where you're like, oh, God, for sure.

My tactics, no, they were the same, but mindset for sure. I was like, dude, I need to be as careful as I can be to get on this animal. And so, yeah, he goes back into the timber to get another cow because he had a couple hot ones. And then he goes back and then he comes out. I'm filming again, and he gives me the most beautiful video. Absolutely perfect. He comes out pushing her and he stops, gives me almost a 180, just a view of his antlers. Bugles like, I was just like, this is incredible. Like, it was just. That moment was so insane just getting to see that. Because in this country you don't even get to see elk very much. It's so thick. And typically you just hear him crashing through the trees. Like, that's the gist of it. You know, they catch their wind, your wind, and they're gone. And so seeing elk is just special. Regardless, this area, so that was pretty spectacular. And so then from there, it was a two hour chase on this bull, maybe a little more. I mean, he had to have had 20 plus cows. He had a huge harem. And so trying to get between him and those cows was so difficult. And it was just this steep face. I was basically following them up and there was like lots of thick pockets that they'd go in and he'd always be on the far side of the cows, you know, the side I don't want them on. And it was kind of cool. I had one point where I'm following this huge rock cropping up and I had like satellite bull come in. That was also a beautiful six point. I mean, he had to have been easily 300, you know, 315 type bull. Just like gorgeous animal. And I was like, I would have shot him, but then here comes the big bull. I just see him through the timber and he bugles once and that six point just hightails it out of there. And he never came back. I was like, oh, this guy's freaking up the mountain, dude. And so, yeah, I'm trying to sneak up past these cows. And there was probably three or four, probably three times where like a cow would catch the movement. I mean, there are so many eyes and I would just have to just, you know, statue and, you know, I just would pray in my head. I was like, if this is meant to be, like, let this cow walk on. And they would walk on. I was like, okay. I was like, okay. And I'd keep going. And there was actually probably 30 minutes before I killed them. They were just like, almost like just cruising to a spot. Like they were not stopping. And the herd got nervous. I think some more cows spotted me, but actually ended up being in my favor because that herd split and most of them went down. And I could see all the elk that went down, and he was never with them. And all of a sudden I heard him bugle above me. And I'm like, perfect, like, because my thermals were going down, you know, So I needed him to stay above. And so I just hightail after him. And they're on this game trail, and I'm just cooking up this game trail. And gosh, we had to have gained. And just. I can't even. Like, we were going so fast, the elk and I. And I don't even know how many feet of elevation I gained. It had to have been well over a thousand. And just short time from where my camp was, where I had initially started.

And finally I get up on this other rise on this steep hill, and I hear him bugle. He's maybe 60 yards around the corner. I'm like, dude, this is gonna happen. And I start walking, and then I see something in my peripheral and I look up and it's six cows staring at me. And I'm like, oh, oh. Like, oh, no. Like, come on. Like this. I have to make this work. And I was like, thinking. I was like, you know what? I think they're actually going to bust and go the other way, which is perfect. And I'm going to use that to my advantage because that bull's going to hear him, and I'm going to cow call. And if he has a hot cow with him, which I'm pretty sure he did, he's going to come right to me. That's exactly what happened. I kept walking. Those cows busted right behind me. I kind of walked to this little group of trees I arranged. There's an opening at 30 yards. And I cow called. And I hear. I hear him coming, walking through the trees. And here comes the first cow. And she literally stops perfectly. She goes past me, stops behind a tree. I draw back, and here comes the bull, just, you know, head up, just tailing her. And as soon as I had his vitals, I just. I was so anxious. I just like, you know, like the most silly sounding stop. And because some bulls will not stop when you cow call. So I made sure to, like, do a super high, just obnoxious call to get him to stop. Because I did not want him to move. And there he stops and he just swings that huge head at me and looks right at me. And I just, just focused right on his vitals and I just hit some smacks and he just turns and goes right back to where he come from. And it was that rush of excitement, but also like, oh, crap. Because I saw where my arrow was. I was like, that's not where I was aiming. I was like. And. And now I know what happened. And I've never done this in all my years of archery hunting, but I used my 20 yard pit on pin on him and he was 30 yards. So luckily it still hit him where it needed to. But it was just like my initial reaction was like, what in the world?

Like, did you see the fletch is high or what?

They were low. So. So basically, yeah, if he's. If he was actually at 30 yards and I was aiming with my 20, it would hit him with my right.

Right.

So luckily it still worked out. He was close enough. But initially I was like, you got to be kidding me.

I just screwed it up. Or I might have just screwed it up. I instantly call my husband. I'm just bawling. I'm like, dude, this big bull, dude. I hit him and I don't know if it's good. He's huge. And I'm just freaking out. And you know, like, I think every.

Hunter just goes to sheer panic and like, you know, it's like you just assume it's wrong.

You really do. And so that's just one of the things about being human, you know? And I just let my emotions go and. And I was just calling him. I'm like, please, is there any way you can get like, leave and come over here and help me look for this bull? Like, I need you here. And he's like, yeah, I'll come in the morning. I'm like, okay. So I'm sitting there, I get off the phone, and the cow that. That bulls would actually come, she didn't even leave. She just didn't know what happened. And so she was like hearing me talk and everything. Then she comes and walks right past me and she's looking at me. And once she saw me, she took off. But it was kind of fun. And. And so I walked up to where I shot him from and seen his tracks in the mud and I started following him for about. I think I went about 25 to 30 yards and I didn't see a thing of blood, not a drop. And I was just that Made it even worse. And I just was so flustered and so in my head, and it was getting dark. I mean, I shot him right at sunset, and then I stood in that same spot for about 20 minutes. So by the time I even got to. To where I hit him from, it was about dark. And so I'm like, I. I don't want to push it. I've been into too many experiences where we push a wounded animal and we never find them. And so I was like, I ain't risking it, you know, and so I backed out and I went down to my camp, and I just sat there just the whole night. I barely got it. Sleep. And so I wake up the next morning and. And I just start hiking back up to where. Where I'd shot him from. And. And, like, I mean, there was no blood anywhere, and it had rained right after I shot him, too, when I was hiking back down to my tent. I'm like, if there was any blood, I don't even know. Anyways, so anyways, I just start following what footprints I can find because it had rained a decent amount, you know, right before I'd killed him. And so I was following what I thought were his, and he kind of was following this game trail. He was going, you know, just side healing. I was like, as long as he's not going up, I'll. I feel somewhat okay, like, I might find him. He never went uphill. And so I'm just following these tracks, and at one point, I just lose them because there's so many elk in there. I just don't know what are his and what aren't. And so I take it super slow. Every, you know, few steps, I stop and I just look and I glass because it's pretty thick in there. And so, yeah, I just keep walking. And 300 yards in, I finally kind of see something. And I just. Just still wasn't sure, you know, I'm like, oh, boy. I was like, could be a log. It could be him. Just praying in my heart. It was such an intense moment, just sitting there and literally, like, I just take a deep breath, I grab my binos, and I just. And I see his antlers, and I just lost it. I just lost it. Here I go, crying again. You know, just my eyes out. I'm like this bull, like, ah. And I get up to him and I look at even where my arrow was. I mean, it was like, right in his heart. Right. It was the lower end of his heart. So, I mean, it was a perfect shot, but I Just didn't know, because in my mind, I was aiming for, you know, double lung iron, and it wasn't. But it was a good shot. I mean, he went and died really quickly, and I was just so stinking grateful, and just getting to put my hands on that animal was something so special, you know? And I think he's. I want to say he's the sixth bull I've killed, but, like, for some reason, like, he was just so special. Like, I could just feel it, you know? And just sitting there petting on him and looking at his antlers, I was like, this is a spectacular animal. Like, I. I can't. I don't know why I got so blessed with such a beautiful thing. Like, I almost feel like. Like, I know I deserved him because I worked so hard, but it's kind of weird to feel that. I don't know.

Yeah, it's interesting.

He's just. You're right, because he's just so special to me. I don't know. So I was so incredibly grateful. Like, this beautiful giant bull. Like, I was blessed with the opportunity to get a video of him bugling and just doing his thing, and in a country where you don't get to see him very much as it is. And so it was just. Was so stinking special. And I worked super hard for it. I mean, I was out there. I left maybe twice the whole hunt to just get food, so I'd restock my food and come back in.

What day was it on that hunt that you killed?

The 22nd is the night I shot him, and then I recovered him on the 23rd.

So how many days into the hunt?

Oh, 16. Sorry, I didn't know what you meant there. So 16 days, so just over two weeks. So it was. It was a grind. It wasn't the hardest hunt I've ever had in terms of. But it was still tough, right? I still put a lot of effort into it because I just. I wanted to get another elk. I mean, this is just. They're just so special to me. So it was an incredible hunt with so many beautiful little pieces intertwined, like, throughout the whole thing. But I'm still just on cloud nine with that bull. I mean, he's just.

That is so cool.

It's pretty amazing.

Is that the first bowl you killed by yourself, or how many bulls have you killed by yourself?

I've killed. Let me see. I'm gonna have to think about this one. My second bull, I think my third bull.

I think three or four have been solo.

There's Something special about killing a bull by yourself. It's also especially terrible, but luckily I.

Had my husband there and a friend to help with the pack out. So, like, was good. It is just.

I. I didn't know because like, to me it's like, man, some of those moments where I love the post storm, you know, like, you kill a bull, just like. I don't know, it just feels really special. Like you had said the vibe. I was like, oh, man, I killed the bowl in Idaho one time. I was like, right after this gnarly storm and just like by myself. And you just sit down, you're like, that was so cool. Like, what just happened?

Like, what the word really would be for it. But there really is just something almost like. I don't know if like spiritual is the right word or what, but it really is magical. It's magical. It's a very, like connecting moment that it's just you and that animal. I mean, I don't know how you'd explain it, but for me it's very special, you know, even with the deer. Like, I've killed a lot of deer on my own. Elk are definitely on a whole nother level. Like, I think every elk I've ever killed, I have bawled my eyes out on. But no, it really is special. I just love the whole solo thing. My first time killing a bull by myself was pretty. And this is a story I actually haven't really shared with many people. So.

Yeah.

So my second bull ever that I killed, it was right after a storm. It actually had snowed. It was that cold that September. And it was actually a really funny way on how I killed him. I was chasing bulls all morning. They were just screaming. It was super fun. And they kind of died down around 9 o'. Clock. So I found a little pocket in the trees that the sun was shining through so I could get dry because I was soaked. So I literally stripped. Like, my clothes, thermals on, but I threw my pants off, my socks, my shoes, my insoles, and I laid them out in the sun trying to dry and it was pretty chilly. And I'm sitting there playing on my phone and I actually hear a bull up behind me and he bugles, oh, my God, he's going to win me because my thermals were going up. So I didn't really think much of it. And, well, he bugled again, like five minutes later. And he's even closer. I'm like, oh, shoot. And I had already rearranged everything just in case, you know, with my rangefinder. And so I go to grab my bow, and I look over because I hear him and he's already right there about 50 yards, coming down this ridge line that I'm sitting on. I'm like, whoa. Like, this is crazy. So I grabbed my bow and I'm like, ready. And he's walking this little ridge line, and I just kind of see the top of his back and his antlers. And he kind of walking down past me, and he stops about 50 yards and he looks straight down below him. And something in his head was like, I don't want to go down there. I'm going to go back up the way I came. So he turns right back up and he gets to 45 yards and I have his vitals and I stop him. My cow cold stopped him and shot him right there. I was like, hit him and he goes, run. And I was like, did that just crazy. Like, that was insane. Like, I just could not believe what had just happened. And so I gave him a few minutes and maybe 30, 40 minutes, and I started tracking him. I had good blood and I was tracking, tracking, tracking, and. And finally I found him. And it had to have been an hour after. After I had shot this bull and I seen him right below me, and at first I thought he was dead, and then I noticed he wasn't, and I was like, oh, that's not good, you know, and. And I kind of get down there to where he is, and I saw where I hit him. And it was a full double long shot. It was perfect. It was like a 12 ringer shot, like, or 10 ring or whatever you want to call. But this bull had so much fight in him that he was not giving up. And for somebody who hadn't experienced a whole lot of like, like not like kind of slow and like slower deaths, it really just kind of hurts you, you know. So with him, it was a really special, special hunt for me because I basically watched him die. I got another arrow in him and I had my hand on him when he took his last breath. And that was. That was a super intense moment for me. Yeah, that one was. That one freaking threw me through a ringer, emotionally. Really, it was really special, a really, really special thing to actually feel, you know, like you took his life. Right. And that is something we know as hunters. And. But so much gratitude in the whole situation. You're sitting there like I was sitting there balling, just so grateful and I apologetic that I, like, he didn't die quickly. Even though it was a double, it was perfect. You Know, my second shot, he was actually, how he was laying is I only had spine because I was above him on this hill and I just like prayed. I was like, please, please let him turn to where I can shoot him. And literally he turns like so many cool moments like that. So he turns, I shoot him in the heart and then he like, rolls maybe another three times and he. And he expires. I walk down there and had my hand on him when he expired and it was pretty stinking cool. And I've never really shared that. Just because I haven't, I just.

Right.

No reason really come up much. Right. It's special moments like that. I think that may have, like, maybe increased my love for them or what. But those moments are pretty spectacular.

I think it is a. So, I mean, there's so many moments. Elk hunting is so hard. And I do, you know, it's like, it's just so difficult and everything has to go right. And so when it does come together, it's like, thank you. Thank you, Jesus.

True, true. Public land archery milk hunting is incredibly hard. And you know, again, I've guided for seven plus years. I've. I've seen kind of, you know, private land or, you know, cwmus or draw tags. And it's a different kind of hunting. Right. Like, it can be hard, but I don't think it's the kind of hard that it is on public land archery, where they're heavily pressured, especially in thick timber where you can't even glass them up and go stalk them in the opening. Right. Like, it's very difficult. So, like, having that moment with one after you kill one on the mountain is incredibly special, you know. And like, I shared that moment this year of me bawling my eyes out. I was actually really surprised with how much criticism I had on it, which was that about. I just think people have different opinions and they just didn't like how I shared that, which is their opinion. But it's also. I don't know why they should.

Yeah, that's interesting.

Do you think it's because, like, do you think people are offended? Because, no offense, but you're a female and you're really good at this and you're better than them.

I'm sure that's some of it. So I'm sure there are those people out there that are like that. And I think a lot of other people are just like, uncomfortable with seeing emotions. I don't know. I truly don't know, like, the whole stem from it. Some people thought I was speaking it to get clout and money. So a lot of it was. I think I was using my emotions to somehow get money, which, I don't know would work, so.

But, yeah, that was really interesting. But that is just one thing that I share, you know? Like, I share every piece of these hunts.

I think it's super cool. And I. I mean, I. I've followed your journey a while, and I love it. And it's like. I mean, I love how it's authentic. To me, it's authenticity. Like, to me, it's like, you're just. That's who you are. And, like, I don't really back there's. I mean, a lot of dudes will cry when they kill an out, too. And, like, totally. There's nothing wrong with it. Like, it's just. Yeah, it's just. I mean, it is what it is. And it's just a pretty emotional thing. Right. Like, and I think about some of these people. There's people listening to this podcast that have, like, never killed an elk, and they've gone six to 10 years. And, like, when they kill an elk, they're like, I'm gonna ball like a baby because it's journey.

Oh, yeah, absolutely. And, like, I obviously don't expect every single person to have the same reaction. Right. Like, I know some guys are more like, they just cheer and they're just screaming and holler. Yeah. Some other people just get, like, giddy and they're laughing. Maybe you're gonna cry. I just don't think you should judge how somebody acts when they. They kill something that's so special to them. Right.

Totally.

I just don't see, like, what the need is for that. The judgment. But it really is insane. I mean, I've guided men that have cried. You know that I took them on a hunt, and they killed their elk, and, like, they've shed tears and they're so grateful. And I think that is so cool that they can be that vulnerable with a freaking girl.

But, I mean, those are the moments, I think, that are super cool. Just fully just engulf themselves in the moment, and they can be emotional. Like, I don't care. Like, it's special. It's a very special thing.

So, yeah, this might be catching my, too. But I would say. I. I would. I would. I don't know the words. Appreciative. I'd be more appreciative of if I was guiding and I took some dude and he starts crying. I, like, I would rather that than some dude who's like, cool, pack this out thing out for, like, he just doesn't appreciate it. Like, to me, like, you know, I mean, like, we see that, we see that in guiding. It's like, you know, some dude's like, cool, great, great. Call me when the taxidermy's done.

Yeah, there's. I've had some experiences that I've been really unfort, like, just not happy with and like, again, I can't make them feel any certain way, but like, just. I don't know, I feel like if there's no respect for the animal, you shouldn't even be hunting it in the first place. Just. And that's just my opinion. Obviously. I can't. Like, you can. Do you. It's fine. I just. I don't know, I just think there's some disconnect there that's, you know, it's still a life you're taking and, and 100. Be as deep about it as you want to be or as not deep as, you know, whatever. But I mean, yeah, I think that's actually kind of one of the reasons why I've kind of halted on guiding quite a bit is because I have had quite a few negative reactions of people shooting animals or shooting something and wounding it and not caring to go look for it or this and that. So it's definitely like a. A respect thing for me in terms of like valuing. Valuing an animal's life and stuff like that. So. But yeah.

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I'd love to dive into. God, there's so much I want to talk about.

You're fascinating.

Being alone by yourself. Does that make you nervous? Has it ever made you nervous?

No. I would. So when I was like, really little, like, sleeping out at night and stuff would scare me and, you know, typical kid things and I think having to get into hunting myself already kind of created that.

Somewhat of a confidence there have been moments where that confidence has been not good because I get maybe overly cocky about my abilities and I've gotten into some bad situations. When I first gotten into hunting. In terms of like predators, I've never been very nervous of if I know they're actively hunted by people, they're just, just like they're way more scared of me than I am of them. And I've never had any negative interactions with predators. I've seen many of them, I've encountered many of them, but I've never had bad, bad interactions.

Yeah, news flash. Like a 150 pound female doesn't stand more or less of a chance than my 220 pound frame. Like it's on a grizzly bear. We're both dead, it doesn't really matter, right.

So on the predator side, it's never bothered me on the huge inside. I mean I'm cautious, right? Like you got to be cautious. I've had more scary experiences traveling alone in a vehicle than I have on the mountain. And I've ran into quite a few other hunters on the mountain and obviously I have a weapon with me but most of them have always been very respectable. But I have had scary moments, you know, filling up at a gas station to get somewhere and stuff. Like some pretty scary, scary stuff. And you know, I had to tell a guy off one time that I had a gun because he wouldn't leave me alone. And I was like, like pretty crazy. And so that part of it is definitely intimidating for sure. But you know, if you are good with your handgun, you travel with your handgun all the time at least something or bear spray or whatever. Like it's. I mean you have that safety in that there.

Have you always had this quiet confidence?

I. I would probably say yeah, because like a lot of what I do, I. It hasn't been something that my family has done in terms like so like horses and hunting, those are like my two huge passions. My direct family never had horses, my aunts did. So I'd always try and go to her place, write her horses. All these things kind of got into that, you know, without having it being born with it. Right. And then the hunting side too. So I think that has definitely built kind of that confidence I have on going out alone. And I haven't been very bothered by it. When I was 18, I mean I tried my hand at nine to five jobs. Hated them, can't do it. And so I'm like, no, I'm not, I'm not doing this anymore. And so as soon as I turned 18 and high school was over. I left and moved four hours away to work on a dude. Not a dude ranch, but work for an outfitter that they did dude rides in the summer but then they outfitted in the fall. So I left and stayed there for three months. And I was by myself on one of the ranches. The guy had two different ranches and I was by myself on one and I had to take care of, of 40 head of horses and about 15 mules. And then I would do two to four or two to five rides every day. So that was a lot of work for, for a little 18 year old girl. So that taught me a lot as well. And that was one of my first kind of, you know, what's the word? Like kind of hands on physical work jobs. And so that was also a really good kind of teaching moment. I was basically doing that on my own on my off time. I would either ride my horse in the mountains or go into town and have a bite to eat at the restaurant by my. And I've. I've been always pretty good at being okay being alone and being okay being bored and things like that. So the confidence thing I think has kind of always been there. And so when I'm trying to help other girls that have, you know, that barrier, it's like dude, I'm so scared to go out alone. It's kind of hard for me to, right to like help them because like I don't really have that right. So I give them kind of things that they might need in terms of like safety and making sure somebody always knows where you are and this and that. Like just your, your precautions you need to have.

What's your gut say though? Just like you got get over it. I mean that seems like the right.

Answer though is I do listen to my gut. If I have a bad feeling about something, I'll listen to that and not do it. And there have been times where I haven't listened to it that have taught me to listen to it. You know, when I first got into it I actually started shut hunting really before I hunted because it was easier, you know, just easier accessible for me. I didn't have to get a tag and all that stuff. And so there was one spring I was out with a friend end and we weren't like shed hunting next to each other but we were spread out and I was following this ridge line and this is when I didn't hike with a handgun. I, you know, didn't really let people know where I was. So it was a really bad situation. But I had a moose come at me when. I think I had to have been about 17 or something. Seven. Yeah, I'm pretty sure it was 17. And it was springtime. At first, I thought she had a calf. I just heard movement and look over, and she's looking at me, and she's not in a good mindset. She's growling. She looks aggressive. And I sat myself down in the bush because I knew. I just had a feeling if I were to run, she would chase after me. So I sat down in a bush, didn't have a gun on me, had no way to protect myself. And I threw a stick at her, hoping that would get her to run away. And it did the opposite. So she took three really big strides and smacked my foot and left. So she hit me. I thought I was gonna die, guy. I was sitting there.

You're lucky you didn't.

Well, here's the crazy part, is that's what they usually do. They sit there and they stomp on you till they feel comfortable enough to leave. And so this cow, she looked really sickly. She was mangy. She was. Her behavior was super weird. And so I actually talked about it with a friend of mine that works for Wyoming, the Wildlife board. And I kind of described it to her, and she's like, I'm pretty sure it had a brain parasite. And they caused neurological issues. Issues because her behavior was weird and she looked sick. And so I think that's the only reason why I was okay. Because she had a brain parasite or something. She was neurologically not there.

Right.

And if she would have been, I think she would have stomped me to death. And so that was a super intense moment for me as a younger girl. And that really got into my head that I need to carry some form of protection with me, because that was terrifying. I cried my whole way up the mountain. My foot was bruised for, like. Like, whole month. Like, it was crazy. And my mom, like, she's like, I was just praying for you, so that's probably why you didn't die. And I'm like, yeah, obvious. But that was a pretty intense experience. I had another where my horse ran away from me and rolled down a shoe, a snowy shoe. That was terrifying to watch. So I was by myself, and she was just kind of one of those horses that's just a little snobby and. And kind of tripped in the snow, and she kind of took off for me, and. And her legs got stuck in a draw, and she just went head over heels. Down the street draw. That was terrifying. And I had no. It didn't. She landed belly up in this, like, log jam, basically. And she was on my rifle. And. Because that's. I had my rifle with me that time just for safety and. But yeah, anyways, so I had to unsaddle her and, like, I could not get her out, like. And it was so crazy because, I mean, right below her had to have been five foot deep of just logs. And I thought she was going to get a leg stuck and break her leg. And I thought I was gonna have to shoot her with my rifle right there. Like, I was preparing for it. So I'm just crying, trying to get her up out of this shoe. And finally, by some miracle, she gets out and upright, but she's down in the draw still. So my saddle's off and all that. I check everything. And she broke my gun in half about it, because it was my first gun my dad gave me. It was a Henry lever action. 22, you know, just a cute little. Cute little lever action gun. And. And she broke it completely in half. And I had to leave her there that night because I couldn't get her out. So she was stuck and I had to call my dad and. And a whole posse came the next morning and we hiked up there, and they're all like, this is the worst hike I've ever done and all this stuff. And we get up there and it took us several hours, but we had to. We had to shovel out a trail for her because it was so bad. We finally got her out and all this stuff. But, you know, that was another thing, you know, that's crazy. Be careful, you know, and.

Well, I think it's also like. I think it builds to your character, but it also builds your confidence where it's like, you go through all these things, you know, you put yourself in a not a good, not bad way or a good way, but it's like you put yourself in certain situ situations. Like, you do the thing enough times and, like, you get that quiet confidence about you that. And I think it's the same in hunting, right, that you do it enough and you.

Nothing teaches experience except experience, right? Like, you have to go out, you have to experience it and learn things. And I have. And so I've been. Been in enough, like, pretty stressful situations where now I'm actually real, very calm and collected and, like, know what to do to get myself out of a bad situation, because going through that for the first time is super scary. And, you know, you Just don't know what to do. And so, yeah, I've definitely learned a lot through there, and I remain pretty. Pretty confident through that. And. And just. There's another word, too. Not necessarily optimistic, but, like, faithful on certain situations. So, yeah, I've. I've had a lot of really good learning lessons.

Yeah. I want to talk to you about your. Your stocking skills a little bit. I want to hear your style, because you're like. I mean, I would have taken everything in all my willpower to not call it the bullshit before you did. And I don't think there's a lot of people on earth that could have just quietly dogged that herd and not made a peep. Right.

Where did you develop your style?

So what would you.

What would you call it?

Yeah, a lot of that is also through experience. So one thing that was really cool is when I finally got into hunting. I had been archery hunting for probably about two or three years at this point, but I. I went to the Hunt Expo in Salt Lake by myself. I had my mom drop me off while her and my brother went shopping. Walked around the expo, you know, like, all by myself. And. And I saw this Colin Booth, Rocky Mountain Hunting calls way back when. And I got to meet Rocky Jacobson and all that, and he kind of took me under his wing and started teaching me a lot of stuff. And so I learned a lot of calling techniques through Rocky, and I went hunting with him a few times. Times. And so that way, like, that gave me a really good foundation for elk hunting.

But even though, like, I had that foundation, a lot of my techniques have changed just because of the elk behavior. Most places that I have gone to, the elk respond to elk calling negatively. And I have seen it with my own eyes. It's very interesting. Just this year, it even happened in this area. I was sitting, and I had some elk come crashing above me. And I was watching those five cows with a. With a young bull. And. And I heard somebody bugle. And they heard that they looked right up in that direction, and they went the opposite direction as soon as they heard that person bugle. So I was like, that is really interesting. So I think the elk are getting conditioned to people elk calling, which has definitely, like, halted my calling situation. And I've still used it, you know, and I actually use it more for clients than anything because they really enjoy that. Right. They really enjoy experience and having a bull come into a call. And it works a lot of the time, you know, but in this specific area that I've hunted For so long. It just, it, it doesn't work often and it has worked for other people. But a herd bull like that is not going to leave his cows to come fight a bull that's 100 plus yards away. He's not going to do it. And so I've, I've learned that through experience and watching El. If it is a herd bull, you know, like, the only time I would even call is if I was like right there within 75 yards of him. That way, like, he doesn't have the opportunity to leave with his cows and he feels threatened, you know, and he has to come in and fight. But for me, I prefer stalking quietly. I like, not, I don't, I like them not knowing where I am. Because if you're calling, they know exactly where you are. If they don't have a visual, a lot of times they hold up and they won't come in, you know. And so if you have somebody, a decoy, that would be awesome because elk need a visual. They can hear. Like, you can. Like, the kind of thing that I like to tell people is you can fake an elk's hearing, an elk's hearing, you can fake their hearing, the hearing side and the sight side, but you can't fake their nose, Right? And so.

Always having the wind in your favor, all of that stuff. But if you can be calling and it's really thick timber, you can get away with not having decoys this and that. But I know a lot of the time elk hold up because they also don't have a visual. And so, so I just prefer not to call, period.

I just think a lot of people, like, even on that stock, there was a couple moments in there and I was just thinking, like, 90% of dudes would have called.

I, I am 90. No, I don't know if I'm not just like, it's all situation.

I, I, I, I really don't call. I used to call similar, like, I had a good education in calling. I, I don't really call anymore. This year I did call in multiple bowls. And like, it's fun, but it's like, man, you really gotta know when that tool is supposed to be used and not. And I just think that, like, even on your stock, I was very impressed. Like, I think most people would have tried to, like, salvaged what they thought was a wreck situation. So there's a, and I didn't interrupt you, but there was a situation where you were like, the cow spotted me and you thought it was over. And a lot of people Would have been like, it's over. I'm gonna try to call and see if I can make something happen, happen. And you didn't. And maybe it was luck, maybe it wasn't, who knows? But it's like the, you know, cow moves on, and it's like, that was close.

Yeah.

If you would have called, it's game over. 100% game.

I think so. Because those elk are so freaking paranoid. And, like, again, they don't have that visual. They get too nervous and they're going to leave. And this isn't the case for every place in the United States. Right. This is very, like, tailored to the specific area. I mean, public ground, actually kind of fun because right after I killed my bull, my husband was coming and helping me cut him up, and I actually called in a young five point, which was kind of fun. So. And I called him in with cow calls, you know, so it's very doable. Right? But I think if your focus is trying to kill a mature herd bull, like, my preferred technique is just not even making a sound. And I've had quite a bit of good luck, you know, just still stalking through bedding areas, you know, getting the wind in your favor and just being super quiet. I mean, I'm talking about sloth mode every three steps. I mean, you're sitting there glassing because you might pick out an antler and, you know, and things like that. And I've gotten very close doing that.

I was gonna ask you, so outside of that, that we kind of answered like, the big bowl. And I think that scenario speaks for itself. But I want to know what were the other 14 days? What, like, what's your. What's your strategy on you 14 days? First, were you in the same camp spot for 14 days? I have more questions about that. But then next, like, what's your. What's your day to day? If you're like, I don't call. Is it just. And you can't glass? This is like. Like kind of an anomaly.

So there's a lot of different methods you can use. And I think I would just kind of go with how I felt more so. And so I never really had a plan. I just kind of went with the flow. It's like, I guess I'm going to wander this canyon. I'm going to wander over here. And if I heard elk, I would kind of go in that direction, just because obviously I know for sure there are elk there. Like, that's a guaranteed. I know they're in this spot, but, like, there would Be some days where like, I'd hear them and they'd shut up at 7 o' clock in the morning. They'd bugle like, you know, at first light and then they'd be quiet and they'd move to their bedding areas. Wind was so bad, like, I couldn't really do much about it. And with me, I'm very.

Oh my gosh, like frugal in terms of like how I go about hunting, I guess. I don't know if frugal is the right word, but if I know there's elk there and the wind's bad, I won't touch them. A lot of people would try their opportunity at it, right? It's like, well, it's an opportunity. I'm going to go after it. You miss every opportun.

Very reserved.

But for me, it's like, if I have the time, I would much rather them go into a spot I know I'm good in and can like work with the wind and just wait for that opportunity. And that's what happened with that bull I killed. I never went after him hardly at all because he was in such a good spot to where or like bad spot where the wind was never consistent and I just left him be. If I would have went in there trying to just chance it, I don't know if I'd ever have another opportunity at him. He may have left the other canyon, you know, like went and moved five away. Like, you just don't know. So that's one thing that I am reserved on is just not. I don't know. I just think I can have other opportunities elsewhere with a better chance. Even if I hear an elk in a certain spot, I don't know.

It's like you're no 100%, I think, like, I mean, it's all. I mean, when you start hunting big bulls, it is all about number of days. Like, you just need 16 days because, like, you can't fold force a smart bowl. Like, you just have to, you have to almost wait till he gives you an opening right in the right day. And that could be 20 days from now. That's, that's the hard part.

Now is your, like day to day. You're like, okay, just find out. Get close to elk. Be sneaky as you can.

So usually, like, this is pretty average for me. I'll wake up pretty early and I hear elk. Usually they're bugling at some point early in the morning. And so that's kind of where I base my day off, off of if I Hear a bull that's bugling pretty well. I will go in after that bull that morning. If I can't get him, get on him that morning, I'll typically cruise around that same canyon and go through bedding areas. I might sit a wallow, depending on how the day is. There were a couple days throughout that hunt I sat wallows, and I had a really fun little experience with the mom moose and her calf come into 40 yards and take a nap by me. That was pretty fun. I did have one bull come into a wallow, but he winded me because as soon as he came in, my wind switched. Of course, it was consistent all day until they come in. That happens a lot. So there was that one. I really like to take advantage of bulls that are raking. If I hear a bull that's raking and I know he's raking, I will take advantage of that. I did have an experience this year where that happened. There was a bull that I was kind of trying to target a little bit. Like, not necessarily, like, totally target, but I had kind of slightly like, light bumped them out of their bed. I was coming back after. After an unsuccessful day. I was heading back to my camp, and I was being pretty quiet, and I kind of stopped on this hill, and there was kind of a little saddle and a little bench without. There was a bedding area, and I was just sitting there. All sudden, I see cows walking through, and they heard me. They didn't smell me, but they heard me. It got nervous. Two cows went up. I'm like, why is there not a bowl with them? So I'm sitting there, and finally he comes out about, you know, 30 seconds later. And I was like, there he is. It was a very nice six point. I was like, I would be so happy with that bull, you know, maybe 300 possible. And so I seen him kind of go up with those cows. It was a little too late in the evening, so I left him be. Well, the next day, I went back to that same spot. And I was in this canyon on the other side of the. The hill where he was at. And I heard him. He bugled right there where I had for last seen him. I was like, he's in the same spot. Perfect. I was listening to him. I was hoping he'd come out and feed in this opening, but he never really did. Instead, he went kind of above the opening and fed with his cows. And then I started hearing him raking. I'm like, this is perfect. The thermals are going down now. Like, this Is a good situation. So I took advantage of that. And that bull probably raked for 15 minutes like he was going at it. And I got within 40 yards of that bull because the nice thing when they're raking is their. Their sound is completely. Their hearing is completely, like blocked by them raking. So I mean, I got it there within 30, 40 yards. The only problem was it was so thick. And so. So I had one little opening and he. He ended up going right through that opening and I actually drew back on him. And Cal called and he stopped a little too late. So I calculed and he stopped two steps after I called. And so I had. But. And I'm like, you got to be kidding me. I'm sitting there drawing back, and it was just like a nice six. And he just stopped right where I had no shot. And so that kind of sucked. But it's a game of inches and everything. And so that was a fun stocking opportunity. Um, but that was taking advantage of him raking. And I got, you know, within a very close distance another day. And this is actually a fun one that I posted on my story is I was still stalking through bedding area. And I mean, there was no bugles that day. It was so quiet and I was just taking my time and just, yeah, walking this game trail. And all sudden a bull just bugles way close. Like, it totally, like, surprised me. I was like, like, he's really close. I take a few more steps and see the next ridge over, and I see cows in this little opening. They're about 60 yards over away, and it's his mom and her and her calf, and they kind of move out of the trees. And all of a sudden this big 320 class bull comes out. Like, oh my gosh. Like, this was huge. Like, this is a big bull. And he bugles right as he comes through that opening. It was really cool. I got a video of that too. And right as he does that, he goes behind the trees and I catch movement right below me, and there's an elk walking right at me. So I like, grab my stuff and I like go up behind this tree and I sit down. I still had my pack on and everything. And it was a satellite bowl. And he's walking the game trial. I was following. And he stops at 6 yards and takes a dump. And he like, he didn't even really know I was there. He was standing there and then he looks at me and he's like, kind of not sure. And I was hunkered, you know, with My pack on, so I didn't look like a human, right? I was just sitting there, like probably some weird looking stump. I didn't move and my wind was really good, so he thought I wasn't anything to be worried about. And he took another six. Six yard steps embedded right behind a tree next to me.

No way.

Insane. I have never in all my experiences ever had an elk bed next to me. After seeing me like, that was a that's cool moment. I was just like, there's no way. Like, he just bedded next to me. That's crazy. I got it on video and. And he's sitting there. I'm like, well, my wind's gonna swirl. Like he's gonna smell me. And sure enough, four minutes later, he catches a smell of me. He gets up and he kind of runs 20 yards. And he's looking back at me, but he just doesn't see anything to be concerned about. So, like, his guard kind of goes back down. And I'm hoping, like, he kind of goes behind some trees so I can get my pack off in an aeronaux. And he does that like, are you.

Gonna shoot this bull?

I was gonna shoot him, but like, again, I wasn't being picky. Like, I want my elk me. I want to fill my tag. And so he goes behind these trees and I get my pack off as he's walking, so it masks my sound. And he comes right down below me at like 20, 25 yards. Guards like, perfect scenario. And I draw back and he must have heard me or something. And so he stops, and he stops only with his head up. It's like no shot. And he's looking at me. He's like, yep, I don't like that. Yeah, I was like, well, that sucked. It was a super cool, like, experience though. Like, having him come that close to me. I could have shot him with my longbow.

It's a little bit demoralizing. We're like, I just had a bullet six yards and I didn't get a shot shot. He was bedded at 6y.

He's better at 12. Oh, it's basically the same. I couldn't have shot him in his bed though, because I had too many branches. But yeah, I was like, I was. I was pretty upset when he ran up, like, because, like, opportunities just don't come around very much. This year I had a good handful of them, but none were actually just like, fully sent my arrow. So I let him move on. And I'm sitting there like, I'm going to let it Calm down a little bit, because I know that big bull is still over there with his cows. And so I'm sitting there and then it starts hailing. And I'm like, I'm gonna take advantage of this. It's gonna mask my sound. So I start moving. And I was moving and I kind of stopped. And then I looked down and there was like an elk 80 yards below me, A stupid little rag horn. And he's all looking at me and I'm like. So I like, I'm blended actually very well with the trees because I was wearing this like gray rain jacket that blended perfectly with the trees. So I don't think he really knew what I was either, either. So he's kind of looking at me. I think he caught a little bit of movement, but nothing crazy. And he. And we had a stare off for probably five minutes. I mean, I was like. Like, it was way too long. I was like, bro, like, just move on with your life.

Yeah, go away.

He eventually did. I mean, it took a long time, but he eventually walked on. I'm like, golly. So there was another almost blown moment. So I kind of like go to that next ridge where that bull was with his cows, and I kind of get on their track tracks and I just still stalk and I'm following his tracks. I'm being super careful, super quiet, because I didn't want to bump into that rankhorn again because I had to go down to basically where he had been.

So I get lucky. I don't bump them or anything. And then I hear movement through the timber. So I stop and I sit and wait. And I see a cow's ears kind of right below me going through some trees. I'm like, okay, there's a cow. This herd bull's like right in here somewhere. So she kind of moves on, goes down. I take maybe another. I think I go maybe another 15 yards. Yards. And the hill kind of like went down and benched out a little bit. So they were all right there on that little bench. I seen some bedded down. I saw the raghorn bull and I was like, this big bull has to be right here somewhere. Then he bugles down to my left. I'm like, okay, he's right there. And I range all the cows that were right there, and they're 40 yards. And then here he comes. I see his rack. I'm like, okay, this is happening. Like, I was going to shoot him. And he comes out and he's broadside. He puts his head down. It's perfect. I Go to do the this and the rag horn. I don't know if he smelt me or he caught my movement, but he busted out of there and all the elk went with him. I was so sad. I was like, no. I was like, you gotta be kidding me.

That's a tale as old as time right there.

Exactly. And that's like probably the most common situation. You're just about ready to kill a bull and freaking. It all breaks loose.

Drawing back on a giant and like the rag that's been staring at you for 10 minutes watched you do everything and then like, you draw and he like panics and you're like, that was the thing.

Yep. So that was ruined. I was like, dang, that was a bummer. So I actually caught them. They went all the way down this canyon up the other side. I mean, I was just like, you buggers. And so I tried getting on that night because, like, the canyon they were in is like this crescent moon shape. And so I actually got back above and just hoofed it to the other side and. And by that time my wind was so bad they were the wind and thermals were going everywhere. So I backed up out. So that was one of my other opportunities. I'm trying to think what else you had.

A pile of at bats.

Yeah.

Like for like a general or for an Idaho tag of any kind.

But it's like for this year, like I said earlier, this year was phenomenal with the elk activity because most times, like, I don't even get an opportunity to draw back on a bull. And I think I got an opportunity to draw back once. And then I almost drew back on that nice 320 class bow. And then finally my three. My 340 that I shot. So that was. I think that was basically it for the opportunities during that hunt. But I mean, that was really good for. For the area.

I think it's really interesting that you. I mean, you slow play a lot of things and I think it speaks volumes. I. My guess is that if I had to read between the lines, you know the area very well, you know where. Where they bed, you know where they're going to be. And there's a lot of knowledge, locals knowledge, where it's like if you know where elk are going to be, you can slow play when you don't have any idea. And you. The other thing you have on your side is days. And I preach this all the time, but it's like if you think you're going on a Idaho hunt from out of state and you're going to hunt for five days and kill an o. You are grossly underestimating this situation.

Your, your rate for success is going to be probably less than 20%. Like.

Oh, less than 10.

Probably less than 10, honestly, like, you know, and, and, and that is so true. Like I have a lot of knowledge in this area and that has really helped me. And I've hunted other areas too, you know, that I haven't been. And they're very difficult, you know. And so actually last year I hunted a new unit and it was horrible. It was absolutely horrible. I was, I was kind of getting on to elk, but not really like they were so spread out and it was just a horrible year. It was so hot, like dry. The elk rut wasn't even happening. I was like, this is horrid. But yeah, a lot of it is patience for sure. If I am hunting in a new area, I will spend most of my time getting boots on the ground and covering miles. That's basically what I'll do.

I'll be figured out this area. It's like how you figured out where things are where they like to bed, right?

And I'll bugle to see if I can get any responses, you know, just to locate and all that stuff. I'll. I'll use that tactic quite a bit. There was one year, it had to have been four years ago. I hunted a new zone and it was very tough too. I spent my. This is kind of funny. I spent my whole first week I packed in with my horse, so he was carrying my whole camp and I just walked him in and. And we stayed there for probably four days, five days. Walked in about four miles. But it was not an easy four miles. It is an up and down four miles of steep rocky canyon. Finally get to a good little spot. I mean it was just deader than dead in there and. And I actually did end up getting on a bull the last day I was in there. He was a super cool five by one. Like he was like a unicorn, dude. I was gonna shoot the heck out of him. I got really close actually, but just never really had a good opportunity. But I think it was the second day I was in there. I had just busted a really good six point out of his bed and I was kind of just meh, you know, a little just. And it was so freaking hot. It had to been 90 degrees, dude. It was so horrible. And I get back to my camp, I hadn't even had a sip of water, which is a bad habit. I have I just, when I'm hunting, I kind of forget to drink water. And so anyways, I got to my camp and my first priority is get my horse watered. So I go to get him watered and he's in this little fence system and I had it raised a little bit so I could get him to come underneath it. Well, he took off like a little. He's never done that before. He's a loyal horse, but he's like, I just want to go for a run. And he went for a run. He ran all the way back to the trailhead. Oh, I sat there like, you got to be freaking kidding me. I took my halter and my phone and I ran after him. And I was, I mean again, 90 degrees weather. I mean I had heat exhaustion. When I got back to the trail head, it was really bad. I drunk drank out of a creek. I was like, hopefully I don't get giardia because like I need water. So I drank literally just right out of the dirt, got to the trail head. Luckily there was a trailer there and a guy had caught him and tied him to the trailer. Like, thank you so much. Do you guys have water?

And so they had a flat and so the dad went down with a farmer to his place to go get a pump or something. So they left me with their kid. So there's this like little 14 year old boy with this girl that's like, can I just keep out? Like I just kept drinking water and I can't speak because my, my, like I was slurred like, like I couldn't talk. Like my muscles were spasming. Like I just, it was really bad. So I probably 14 year old kids.

A chatterbox and you're like, I'm not until I don't die.

A little scared. He was kind of like kept looking at me every time I asked for a bottle of water. Dude, I had to drink probably eight. Eight bottles of water right there. I was just downing it. They finally get back and they were going into scout. So I rode with them back in. I just hopped on my horse bare back and rode them, rode them back in. And then I stayed in there for a little while. And that hunt was a whole mess. I had forgotten most of my broadheads. I had two, one or two broadhead heads. My horse threw two shoes right before I left. I was like, this is insane. It was a crazy time. Anyway, so my first week was really awful. And then I had to guide basically the rest of the season. And then I had some clients tag out day one which gave me like a four day window to fill my tag before the season was over. So I chose a whole new spot and went in by myself. And I was getting into elk kinda, but they were super, super pressured. There was wolves all over in there, tons of other kinds of hunters. And I think it was almost, I think the second day I had my now husband come in and he kind of just helped me, just kind of hung out with me. And we got into a bowl. Like, I was like, there's this bull. We need to go back. After we got back on him that morning, it was just like a nice little six point. But I was gonna shoot him. He was all wallowed up. He had a herd of cows. He was bugling and. And his cows were all within range of me and he never was. And I. It was just so like.

You know, and I only have like a few more days left of the season if that. And anyways, cows wind us, they run away. I'm super pouty. I'm just like, let's just work back toward the truck and. And Sean's like, nah, let's hang out for a little bit. So we did. And it's a good thing he told me to hang out because a bigger bowl came down from the bottom and somebody must have spooked them. But they came right to us. And he had a group of cows. And it was crazy how it worked out. Like there was this huge sagebrush flat and there was these two kind of fingers that we were in between. And we didn't know which side of this flat these elk were going to come up. And finally the bull bugled and they were on the opposite side. So we ran through the sage brush as far as we could before they were out in the open again. And they basically kind of came right to us. And they stopped right at this one pine tree in this flat. And he ranged and we had a little decoy. So one of the cows was looking at us and. And I. And I drew back and settled on the bull. And they're all looking at us and I shoot and they kind of spook and kind of walk a little bit. I thought I missed them. I was like, you gotta be kidding me, dude. Like all this work, like, I was just so pouty that day. And I missed the bull like the one opportunity. And like I was in my head, like on the sides of the thing, you know, I just, I was just so sad and frustrated. And Sheldon, he pulled up his binos. He's like, no, you hit him And I'm like, what? He's like, no, he's bleeding. I was like, no way. Like, I didn't believe him. Sure enough, I look, and this bull is pouring blood. But then I see where my arrow was, and I just went down the freaking rabble. And it didn't. I was like, you got to be kidding me. I was like, what is happening to me? And it was actually a phenomenal shot, but from where I'd seen it, it was not good because it was the exit. So to me, it looked bad, but it was the angle, right? And so anyways, he goes up. He leaves his cows, and. And he goes uphill, which is never a great sign. He goes uphill and over down to this huge timber pocket. Luckily, we found him. But, I mean, he bled up until the time he got to this. That ridge line, and then just stopped. All the blood stopped. And so I was back down my freaking roller coaster again. It was such an emotional day, but I ended up finding him. But that was super tough, and that was area I'd never been to before.

And just, yeah, rolling with the punches and just got so lucky and killed the bull, I think second to last day of my hunt.

But, yeah, there's. It is tough, like, when you don't have time on your side and stuff, and, like, the. The rush and study, like, it is. It is brutal. So I've been in both scenarios, and I have. I mean, gosh, I ate four or five tags before I ever shot my first bowl. So it was multiple years of hunting and. And missing and this and that and just not guiding.

I mean, I think the moral of the story is, like, go do the thing, and you become great.

Literally. Absolutely. If you're passionate enough about something, like, all you got to do is follow that passion, and you're gonna have to sacrifice things for it, more than likely. But it's just. It's up to you. Like, choose your hard, like, all. And so, you know, it's kind of the saying my husband and I live by, you know, and. And sure, we might not have all the money in the world or a good, fancy house right now, but, gosh, like, we've had more experiences, you know, being involved in nature and all this stuff than I think most people. And we'd be happy dying, like, tomorrow if that were that the case, because, like, we don't regret the. The route of life we chose in terms, like, even with our jobs, we. We made sure to keep jobs that were involved with the outdoors and hunting. But, yeah, so it's like, that's the life we want to live, and we.

Live it, and I love it. I'm here for it. I'm stoked on it.

Amazing.

I. Yeah, I was.

Yeah.

This is awesome. This is amazing. And I want to give a shout out to your guys's outfitting business. And I saw. I mean, I. Maybe, maybe you already sold it, but saw you post on Instagram that you had some availability. So if anybody wants to go hunting with the most badass person in the world, chick, chick, elk hunter I've ever met, I'm, like, blown away by you right now. How do people check out the website? How do we get a hold of you? DM you?

Well, well. Disclaimer. I can't guide every hunt, so chances are you probably.

I fill them in after they pay. It's fine.

But no, it really is. Like, the opportunity has been insane and incredible. Incredible how? Hunting company. He has a website that you can find. You can reach out to him. Sheldon Howe, you know, he has the Instagram both for the outfit and his personal. And his website has all that information. So if people are interested, it's all private land hunts. They're fully accommodated and they're. They're super fun hunts. So that's kind of the gist of that. It's. It's a pretty fun business to be in, but it is a tough one, too.

So how many. How many spots you guys got open? I feel like. Feel like El book so fast.

He's basically already booked up for 20, 26, so we have very few openings. So I mean, if somebody wants to hop on it, like, they need to do it quickly because I don't know. I really don't know how much longer they're going to be open for. I know we have possibly more opportunities to expand our outfit, which might be really exciting. So that's something that will probably be announcing in the next couple years. So. But yeah, the opportunity is growing. Tag numbers are growing, obviously, because we'll be able to take out more hunter, but it's. It's pretty cool. Like, we're already pretty booked for. For the next season.

Good for you. That's awesome.

It's really incredible. And we're super grateful for all the returning people and just, it's been really cool.

So good for you guys. I'm stoked. Yeah, we'll put a link in the show, notes, all that good stuff. Thank you so much for coming on. I would love to do this again sometime. I'm sure you'll be killing more bulls so it won't be an issue. Lydia, thank you so much for coming on.

Absolutely. Thank you for having me.

All right.

Alrighty, guys. Thanks for tuning in to the show. If you like this episode, do us a huge favor and share it with one of your hunting buddies. Also, if you want a free hunt planner, be sure to go check the link in the show notes. It's 100 free. You can download our hunt planning tool, which is a great resource for kind of keeping track of all of your hunts, your hunt plans, your points, all those things. Pretty great resource. Go check it out links in the show notes. Or you can check our website, www.elkhunt201.com.