Cliff Gray Debriefs My 1st DIY Elk Hunt

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. His private membership group is well worth the $12 a month for the access to his knowledge, information, and strategy around preparing for western hunting. The info to his channels are below.

This was my first western hunt and I have been preparing for it for close to 2 years. If you have followed my journey then you know that about 20 months ago I had 3 back surgeries in the rear-view mirror, was 80 lbs. heavier, and was mentally not in a great place. As someone who had been an athlete my entire life, I was staring down living the rest of my life in a debilitated state and was having a very hard time swallowing it.

I discussed this on my Podcast Episode #6 on May 19, 2023 only a few month after my prayers were answered and my hope was returning to me. If you want the full story, give that episode a listen.

For this episode, my Instagram post just a few days after I returned from this hunt is probably the best way to introduce it.

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

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