Episode 83 Chasing Elk, Chasing Confidence: An 8-Day Grind

In this episode of the Game Tech University “Just the Tip Tuesday” podcast, Ryan Smith sits down with Game Tech co-founder Tayler Tibbitts to break down an elk hunt that had just about everything: big summer expectations, painful misses, dad duty on the mountain, and a last-day bull that finally came together in the snow and fog.

Tayler shares how a carefully scouted “plan A” fell apart when rifle season hit and the elk weren’t where he’d found them all summer. He talks through:

Missing the same bull twice—once long, once at 40 yardsA 7-hour solo track job with no pack, no water, and rabdo in the back of his mindThree big 10-mile days hunting with his 12-year-old son and balancing “hard hunts” with “fun hunts”A basin absolutely lit up with rutting elk, cows contact-buzzing, and silhouetted bulls bugling in the darkRebuilding confidence by re-checking his rifle mid-hunt and finally making a perfect 300-yard shot on a unique 5-point herd bull on the very last day

Along the way, Ryan and Tayler dig into lessons on scouting for the right season, always having a backup plan, spending enough time behind your gun, hunting with kids the right way, and staying mentally in it—right up until the final evening light.