I am extremely thankful to Cliff Gray for conducting this interview and helping me debrief this hunt. I believe it turned out much better than if I had try to do it on my own. Cliff is an amazing man & helped me a ton in preparation for this hunt.

For this episode, my Instagram post just a few days after I returned from this hunt is probably the best way to introduce it. I will leave it there and hope you all enjoy.

IG Post Dated September 11, 2024

It was December of 2022. I could barely walk to the end of my driveway. Major spine and neurological issues had hobbled me and I barely recognized the man in the mirror. @theseanjacobs was the architect of my rehabilitation & gave me hope. @ridgeline_athlete prepared me.

For almost 2 years I rehabbed, trained, and dreamed of taking on an elk hunt in the western part of the country. 4:45 am every day Monday through Saturday looked exactly the same.

4:45 - Bible Study & Ice

5:30 - Prayer

5:45 - Train

Gods Providence

Nothing derailed me from my preparation. @laurinwilsonre was constantly there. From the dark times through the hard work to the sacrifices she had to make for me to leave everything for a week and chase my ghosts; there is no way to express my love & gratitude for your undying support & understanding of what makes my soul stir. You are my heart Gracie.

@reilygrace you were always an inspiration. My sweet girl🙏

Western hunts are romanticized but there is nothing romantic about total silence. I hunted from 5:30 am to 8 pm every day. 14 hour days of absolutely no bugles & no elk. All of that training, all of those idyllic visions of chasing screaming bulls, all of that romance about the west became really long days turning up nothing.

1 day turned into 2 turned into 4 turned into 6. I started falling down mentally. Why do I think I belong out here ? What made me think I could do this ? I could be at home with my family. Why would I ask her to make this sacrifice ?

I called on Day 6 and shared my doubts. “ You took off a whole week for this. You’ve trained for almost 2 years. Stop focusing on what isn’t happening. Focus on the beauty. Focus on the gift you’ve received of being able to climb mountains & just be there. Focus on the blessing. Get out & hunt.”

She was right. I pivoted with renewed energy. I sat a blind. I used a decoy. I called. I did everything I could think of.

I hunted dawn to dusk until last light of the last day. I left every bit of me out there.

I didn’t harvest an elk but I was given the gift of renewal. As I reflect on this, I cannot ask more.

TY🙏 to everyone who was a part of this.

You can find Cliff on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cliffgry/ , visit his You Tube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@CliffGray , and learn more about his membership group at his website https://pursuitwithcliff.com/

You can follow Eric Wilson on Instragram https://www.instagram.com/ericwilsoncoaching/

Use Code radonotgo30 for 30% of all training programs at Ridgeline Athlete https://www.ridgelineathlete.com/ and follow on Instagram

Use Code DONOTGO20 for 20% off Asio Gear https://asiogear.com/ or follow them on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/

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Heath Hansen has been chasing elk since he can remember. While there are many people right now who are chasing the sexy "get as deep as you can into the backcountry" trend, we discussed the positives of staying mobile when you are hunting a new area and specific tactics around hunting thick timber. A native of Montana, Heath is an accomplished hunter and has a special affinity for chasing big game with the bow. Heath obsesses over the details of the hunt and targeting older age bulls. Heath just got back from an antelope hunt that was cut short from Covid and we dove into an antelope chase that was oh .... so .... close. At the time of this recording, I am 2 weeks from my first archery elk hunt in Colorado and that is some of the backdrop to this conversation. You can listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeart Podcasts, and Podbean by searching Do Not Go Quietly w/ Eric Wilson You can watch this Podcast on Spotify, You Tube, & Rumble by searching Do Not Go Quietly w/ Eric Wilson You can find Heath on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/joemileshunting/ You can follow Eric Wilson on Instragram https://www.instagram.com/ericwilsoncoaching/ Use Code radonotgo30 for 30% of all training programs at Ridgeline Athlete https://www.ridgelineathlete.com/ and follow on Instagram Use Code DONOTGO20 for 20% off Asio Gear https://asiogear.com/ or follow them on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ #hunting #elkhunting #bowhunting #muledeerhunting #westernhunting #gohunt #huntingpodcast #hunter #elk #huntinggear #muledeer #bowhunting #bowhunt #bowhunter #montana #huntmontana #hunter #hunt #hunterxhunter #jesus #faith #podcastformen #podcast #podcasts #huntingpodcast #trainingpodcast #whitetaildeer #whitetail #whitetaildeerhunting #deerhunter #deerhunting #deer #elkhunt

Hunting swamps isn't discussed much on podcasts, but if you hunt whitetail in the South or in low-lying areas of the midwest it is can be a huge opportunity for your to nab those crafty, mature bucks.

Joe Miles is the host of the Mission Whitetail Podcast, the founder of Asio Gear, and one of the best whitetail hunters I know. Talking with him for an hour is like a masterclass in whitetail hunting.

Joe & I discussed strategy around swamps as well as what you should be doing right now to get your rut stands ready for November. Joe's camo line Asio Gear also has some great new products out this fall in response to customer demand and we talk about those as well. Enjoy the conversation !

You can listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeart Podcasts, and Podbean by searching Do Not Go Quietly w/ Eric Wilson

You can watch this podast on Spotify, You Tube, & Rumble by searching Do Not Go Quietly w/ Eric Wilson

You can find Joe on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/joemileshunting/ and visit Asio Gear https://asiogear.com/

You can follow Eric Wilson on Instragram https://www.instagram.com/ericwilsoncoaching/

Use Code radonotgo30 for 30% of all training programs at Ridgeline Athlete https://www.ridgelineathlete.com/ and follow on Instagram

Use Code DONOTGO20 for 20% off Asio Gear https://asiogear.com/ or follow them on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/

#hunting #elkhunting #bowhunting #muledeerhunting #westernhunting #gohunt #huntingpodcast #hunter #elk #huntinggear #muledeer #bowhunting #bowhunt #bowhunter #montana #huntmontana #hunter #hunt #hunterxhunter #jesus #faith #podcastformen #podcast #podcasts #huntingpodcast #trainingpodcast #whitetaildeer #whitetail