From Setbacks to Success

Whether it’s chasing Midwest whitetails, spot-and-stalk mule deer out West, or calling in a bugling bull, nothing beats the rush of a hunt alongside friends and family. Read how one hunter turned to Ravin after injury and found unforgettable experiences both out West and at home with truly deserving people.

Tell us about your background and introduction into crossbows?

I grew up shooting a compound bow and actually got my first one when I was just four years old. Having grown up around hunting, it has stayed a major part of my life. I practically live up in the mountains during the prime fall months, taking advantage of every free day that I have.

Unfortunately, last year brought a tough stretch of injuries. I tore both my ankle and knee, had surgery on the knee, and then six weeks later, completely tore my pectoralis major tendon during muscle-ups. So there I was, recovering from shoulder surgery and limping around at the same time, wondering if I could even hunt during the archery season.

That all happened about three months before I was supposed to go on a moose hunt in Alaska. I ended up canceling the trip, but thankfully, I still held onto my elk tags. Knowing a crossbow would be my best option, I had decided to write a letter to Idaho to get approval to use a crossbow. After approval and doing some research on my best options, I decided to pick up the Ravin R26X. It turned out to be the perfect setup for me, especially considering the way I hunt. With its bullpup design, it’s extremely compact and very easy to strap to my pack. That smaller platform made it a lot easier to move through the brush and still get into the backcountry. It really helped me stay in the game despite all the health setbacks.

Western hunting is always an amazing challenge. How has your crossbow impacted your experiences?

I’ve used a crossbow for a few hunts before, but bringing it into elk country, especially since I love calling bulls in, brought a new and exciting challenge. Elk hunting with a crossbow just requires a different approach, especially when it comes to timing. Unlike a vertical bow, where you can simply nock an arrow and draw when something comes in, a crossbow takes a bit more planning. Learning when to keep it cocked and ready, versus when to stash it, was part of the fun in figuring things out. That said, there are some major advantages. The accuracy is incredible, and not having to draw means you can stay completely still when it counts most. When I killed my bull, I was already tucked against a tree with my crossbow up and ready to show. It was truly one of my cleanest and well-placed shots. That setup gave me the edge I needed and led to one of my most memorable hunts yet.

Tell us about the hunt!

Hunting alongside good friends always seems to make the best hunts even better. And in this case, the spotting of a giant mule deer while elk hunting kicked off one memorable experience for me and my buddies in the western woods.

One of my best friends, Matt Tillitson, is a serious big buck killer. We've hunted together for years and have bagged some giant mule deer, mostly in Idaho. He had just moved to Wyoming, which made my elk hunt even better, knowing we could take it on together.

Ironically, while I was out chasing elk early before this trip, I spotted a giant buck, which happened to be a problem since I didn’t have a tag for that unit. So I called Matt, who was six hours away, and told him that he better start driving. After chatting with him for some time, he asked how big it was, and I just told him that he has to get over here and kill this buck before someone else does. Matt let his wife and kids know that I had a giant buck waiting for him. Fortunately, his family gave him the green light, allowing Matt to hit the road and show up in the middle of the night to ensure we could get out and hunt first thing in the morning. And sure enough, that next morning we hiked up the mountain and he was able to get it done. The buck scored 188, had a bunch of stickers, and he even put together a full YouTube video on it.

The next day, Matt joined me and our buddy Colton to finally chase some elk together. We'd been seeing elk filter into a little quaky patch every day, and one bull in particular looked like a shooter. That morning, I bugled up the draw, unfortunately hearing and seeing nothing in return.

So we decided to push deeper, hoping to find them in some land that was less pressured. I bugled again and got a couple faint responses. Then one hit back, unexpectedly closer and after a tad longer, I knew he was coming in on a line.

I was really hoping Colton could get his first elk. I have shot plenty in my years and knowing he was newer to this genre of hunting, I really was looking to make it work for him. As the bull continued to get closer and closer, we decided to have him stand out of sight next to a tree that we thought would be the perfect spot. I told him that the bull, based on where it's bugling, has to come our way from either of the two different lanes in front of us. We stood in anticipation waiting for this bull to get closer. Finally, it ran in around 15 to 20 yards and stopped, but Colton was unable to get a clear shot.

The bull was now broadside to me, and Colton was pinned. I whispered to Matt, who was filming over my shoulder, asking how far the bull was. He ranged him at 50 yards and we had the perfect shot. Our group was determined to come home with a bull and I decided to take the shot. I let the arrow fly and was fortunate to double-lung him. The bull ran 100 yards and tipped over. It was just such an awesome experience. To have Matt and Colton there, who happen to be two of my closest friends, and watching Colton experience a bull being called in up close for the first time is something I’ll never forget.

Would you recommend crossbow hunting to others?

Beyond just my own amazing experiences with the R26X, I started thinking about all the different ways it could be used in my life. I was actually able to take my little neighbor kid out with it, and he ended up killing a buck. That actually turned into a really cool third chapter to the story.

This neighbor kid was mowing my lawn while I was injured. He saw all the hunting gear and asked if I’d take him out sometime. It just kind of evolved from there honestly, it felt like a God thing. I’d taken other kids, including two in wheelchairs, to a specific property before. It’s easy access, loaded with deer, and perfect for a first hunt. So I asked the landowner, Dan, if I could bring this kid out there, and he said absolutely. Leading to an amazing experience and a deer on the ground!

Now Dan’s story is pretty special, too. Years ago, after losing his parents, he got into archery as a way to cope. I actually helped teach him how to shoot a vertical bow and got him his first setup. But later, he had some major back issues, fused vertebrae and other complications, so he couldn’t shoot anymore. I’d seen it really affect him mentally, because shooting had been such a grounding part of his life.

After watching us hunt with the crossbow, Dan started asking about it. He mentioned that with a regular bow, the release would jolt his back too much. So I let him try the crossbow a few times. The next week, he went out and bought a Ravin R26X. Now he’s back in the game, shooting again and loving it. Seeing that happen, just watching his spirit come back to life, that was a really cool part of the experience for me. All that to say, I would highly recommend crossbows to all hunters. It really is a great option and style of hunting to get people into hunting, for seasoned veterans and even the average hunter.