OVER A TWO DECADES Guiding Flat Tops ELK — Lessons Most Hunters Miss - Evan Koster

Evan Koster has guided archery elk hunts in Colorado's Flat Tops for over a decade. This conversation covers everything that actually matters going into an archery elk season — and plenty of what hunters think matters that doesn't.Colorado is in a historic drought, and Evan breaks down what that means for where elk will be in September — it's not about elevation, it's about feed quality, and aspens are the answer. From there we get into how to search unknown country efficiently, why elevation and trailhead distance are myths that kill more hunts than help them, and Evan's counterintuitive wind rule: he doesn't think about it until he's within 500 yards. We dig into the stalk psychology mistake most hunters make, how to locate elk with a bugle using line-of-sight, how to read a bull's commitment level, and the one-sentence answer Evan would give any archer who wanted to kill more elk: take chances. We close on the honest reality of horseback elk hunting.In this episode:Colorado drought 2027 — what it means for elk distribution in SeptemberFeed quality over elevation — why aspens are the concentration zone in a dry yearHow to search unknown country vs. country you knowThe elevation myth and the trailhead distance myth — both cost hunters elkWind: the 500-yard rule and why most hunters have the psychology completely backwardsBugling as a two-way radio — why line-of-sight matters for locating elkWhen to move on from a spot and when to go back in closeThe one thing Evan would change about any archer to make them more successfulHorseback elk reality — "don't, unless you're already into horses"Booking 2027 hunts with LKS Outfitters nowGuest: Evan Koster — Lead guide, LKS Outfitters / Flat Tops Wilderness Guides.ftguides.comhttps://www.instagram.com/flattopswildernessguides/---FOLLOW CLIFFYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CliffGrayInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/Cliffgry/Facebook - https://facebook.com/PursuitWithCliffPursuit With Cliff Podcasthttps://pursuitwithcliff.com/interviews-and-podcasts/Cliff's Hunt Planning and Strategy Membership https://pursuitwithcliff.com/membership/Hunt. Fish. Spear.  (Experiences, Courses and Seminars) https://pursuitwithcliff.com/ExperiencesMerchhttps://pursuitwithcliff.com/shop/SUBSCRIBE TO CLIFF'S NEWSLETTER:https://PursuitWithCliff.com/#Newsletter