Backcountry Elk Hunting in Wyoming’s Challenging Terrain

Trekking deep into the rugged and beautiful backcountry of Wyoming brings challenges that not every hunter is willing to face. From navigating steep, unforgiving terrain to moving through dense grizzly country, it takes grit, preparation, and the right gear. Read how one hunter embraced the test, pushed through the extremes, and was rewarded with a bull elk on the ground and a story that will last a lifetime.

Tell us about how you got to go on this trip and your process of getting to camp:

Hunting elk out west is always an incredible experience, but getting to hunt Wyoming during peak rut was truly something special. I had been building preference points for several years and was lucky enough to draw a tag for this prime-time archery season. The hunt itself was idyllic, but getting to camp was no joke. Starting at a local ranch, we rode nearly 16 miles into the backcountry toward our base camp, which turned into a 12-hour marathon on horseback. I’d never ridden that long before, and by the end of it, I could barely move my legs. Not riding regularly made for a tough physical start to the trip. Adding to the challenge, we were deep in grizzly country, which ended up being an area so remote and rugged that most DIY hunters tend to avoid it altogether. 

The terrain was both brutal and beautiful, true sheep country, where every path leads straight up or down. We really only gained about 1,500 feet in elevation from truck to camp, but with all the rocky, steep terrain, those horses saved us. They could climb 3,000 feet in 20 minutes, which would've taken us an hour and a half on foot. Still, I'd have to keep dismounting just to stretch out until the circulation came back to my legs. I'm used to saddle soreness, but this was next-level. By the time we reached camp, our canvas tents were set up near some beautiful water. I was exhausted, but helped unpack and got the crew ready for a much needed meal. Knowing we had some incredible hunting days ahead filled me with both excitement and anticipation for what was to come and it did not disappoint. 

What was your scouting and preparation like when you first arrived at camp?

Right from the first morning, we hit the ground running. The guides had intel from other sheep hunters in the area that they’d seen a couple of nice bulls in specific draws about a week and a half earlier. So we rode out early, glassing spines and listening for bugles. The cool thing with this area and time of year, we didn’t even need to call much. This place was so untouched, it was like a hunting video game where there was no trash, no tracks, no other hunters messing things up. Just herds moving on their own terms through incredible terrain. 

We found four solid groups that first day, each draw had its own cows, a herd bull, and a few satellites. The elk weren’t thick, but they were predictable. You could actually glass and plan instead of just guessing. By day two, we’d already picked out two bulls we wanted to focus on. We had been watching one in particular that ended up bedding down that night, bugling like he owned the place. Bugles like that really do never get old. The next morning, we went straight for him. No pressure, no race against other hunters. Just raw, quiet hunting, which is truly hard to find anymore.

Take us through the hunt itself…how did your bull finally come into range?

On that third morning, we were locked in on my target and the area he’d been in. We set off on a mission and this hunt truly did not disappoint. I dropped down this steep drainage, which ended up being extremely thick, looking like prime grizzly territory. I could tell my guide was getting jumpy, as he and the others were on edge the first few days. Fortunately, we avoided any interactions leading up to the elk. Next thing I know, I'm belly-crawling across this creek bed when I hear movement. I froze and started to slowly peek over the bank. To my surprise, there's cows filtering through the timber, close to 60 yards out.

I got into better positioning, and suddenly there they were, two elk standing broadside at 40 yards. One turned to leave to follow the cows, at which point I saw antlers and I thought I'd blown it. Then, the bigger bull stood up behind a pine tree. I unfortunately couldn't see his head anymore, just his vitals, but I knew he was a big bull. I ranged him quickly to ensure I was dead on, squeezed the trigger and hammered him.

He went down hard, but was still thrashing, so I put another one in him just to be sure. I was thrilled and couldn’t believe that our plan worked out so perfectly. That Ravin R26X made what could've been a tricky shot into a clean kill, even in thick timber. With the daylight starting to fade, and knowing we are in bear country, we had to leave him overnight with the gut pile dragged a few hundred yards away and pine branches covering the carcass. We came back the next morning armed to the teeth to quarter him up. 

The hard work started and we got the meat and camp all loaded up. Twelve tough miles back to the trailhead with those loaded pack horses. Funny thing is, after riding in crippled, now I was just happy to be riding out with my elk and a soon to be full freezer. The whole time I'm thinking how different this was from my Colorado DIY struggles. But that Wyoming terrain will truly humble you fast. It made me appreciate every ounce of that elk when we finally got it home.

Why did you choose to hunt with a Ravin crossbow instead of your compound bow for this elk hunt?

Let me tell you, that Ravin R26X is a whole different animal. With that crossbow, I could confidently take a 100-yard shot. The technology in the Ravin lineup is just incredible, they are like the F22 of crossbows. The narrow profile paired with a tough, durable build sealed the deal for me. Add in my scope system and linked rangefinder, it was a killer combination. When that bull stood up at 40 yards, the red dot was right on the center of the crosshairs. It was gravy, man. I dropped him right there and was confident doing so at that range. 

Elk hunting with a bow is tough enough as it is. These animals don’t give you many chances and can act differently every single time. With so many ways for things to go wrong, from busted gear to lost arrows, I made sure to bring a backup bow given how deep we were in the backcountry. Luckily, I never needed it. My R26X got the job done. I’ve killed elk with a compound before, but this was different. The accuracy and power gave me a level of confidence I wouldn’t have had with my vertical bow, especially in thick grizzly country, where shots happen fast and anything can unfold in a heartbeat.