Country star Chris Janson admits he got ‘a little cocky’ before grueling Colorado elk hunt
Country singer Chris Janson said he went into his latest Colorado elk hunt overconfident, expecting to fill his tag quickly and spend the rest of the trip fishing. Instead, he and his companions searched for most of the week before changing their approach and finding success, a reminder that even an experienced hunter cannot count on a quick result.
Janson has made the annual trip for six years and usually gets an elk within a day or two. He said unusually dry weather may have affected elk activity during the September rut; after hunting at higher elevations, the group moved to lower ground, where he shot a bull with only 30 minutes left. The hunt involved long hikes and steep climbs, and Janson said he has already eaten about half the meat.
- Janson expected a quick elk hunt but spent most of the week searching.
- A move to lower ground led to a bull with 30 minutes left.
- He said dry weather may have changed elk behaviour.
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Chris Janson is a country singer who also hunts elk, large deer native to North America. He has made an annual hunting trip to Colorado for six years, usually finding an elk within a day or two.
Colorado’s elk season includes the September rut, when males are more active as they seek mates. Weather and terrain can affect where elk move, so hunters may need to cover long distances and change locations. The hunt requires a tag, a permit allowing a hunter to take an animal.
Elk meat is one reason people hunt, alongside the challenge of tracking an animal in difficult country. A successful hunt can provide a substantial amount of meat, but reaching the animal and bringing it out of the landscape can take considerable effort.