Colorado Backcountry Elk Hunt

My grocery store is less than two miles from home. Inside, you’ll find pieces of animals, stripped of their outer layers, unnaturally dyed to appear more natural, and shrink-wrapped to styrofoam trays. This is not how we were meant to live. To remedy this, a few of us threw on our camo, loaded up the trucks, and ventured into the Colorado backcountry in search of elk.

Tommy and I jumped into an already established hunting party. John, another Swampy, invited us to join his camp. He’s been hunting with his father and brother since he was of legal age, and I was honored to be included. Before this hunt could happen, there were a few things that needed to be sorted out. For one, I needed the right rifle. 

For this hunt, I picked up a Ruger American Gen II bolt-action rifle in .308 Winchester. I had used the first generation of American rifles and found them to be adequate. They’re not the first gun I’d grab to show off to my friends, but they worked well. Fast forward to Gen II, and what a difference 12 years makes. The Gen II wears a textured splatter pattern on the entirety of the stock, and it does a great job of staying put. The 22-inch barrel is spiral fluted and ends with 5/8x24 threads, and comes finished with a muzzle brake from Ruger. Instead, I mounted an Anechoic Suppressors AnechoX 30. It's a shorter can, which is nice for keeping a fairly long gun handy. It’s also made from titanium, keeping it ultra lightweight.

After spending a day at the range getting some trigger time and zeroing our optics to our rifles, we joined our convoy and journeyed into the Rocky Mountains. This was my first time in this area, but Tommy and I were thankful to be joining a group that had been hunting the same area for 46 years. After making the trip, they proved it. We arrived at camp and immediately began setting up. The sun operates on a schedule, and we were at his mercy. Within a few hours, we had three canvas tents, gear storage, a dedicated kitchen, and a collection of very cool offroad vehicles.

It’s easy to forget the beauty of the world around us, especially with the endless streaming of light beams into our sky. That was all behind us as we bundled up for the night. We plugged 04:00 into our alarms and it was lights out.

It was dark when we woke up. Dark and cold. We donned our layers and packed our gear for the day. I grabbed my rifle and hopped in the Tacoma with Tommy and several cameras. When we arrived at the trailhead, it was electric. The whole party was charged and ready, with energy matched only by the intensity of the burning stars above us. The air was silent, but thick with anticipation, as we began our upward climb. The snow crunched underfoot, reeling from the first disturbance it felt. We marched upward and the sun met us at the top.

We came to a clearing and decided to make this our first stop. If I was an elk, I’d love this spot. With our shooting lanes identified, I plopped my back onto the frigid rocks, deployed my bipod, and sat in wait. Frosted thickets remained frozen, catching the sunlight, and erupted into a full display of the visible color spectrum.

Unfortunately, the elk weren’t flocking to us, so we decided to move on. Over the next several hours, we covered several miles, and quite a bit of elevation gain. Ultimately, we ended up far above the animals. Determined to accomplish our goal, we hiked back to the truck, and set out to a new location at a lower elevation. This yielded a similar result, providing zero elk. However, we did stumble upon something we weren’t expecting.

As we drove, we came across a large marshy area that we had seen previously. The last time, it was empty. This time, we saw an adult male moose training a young male. There they were, wild, living their lives in spite of the human condition. We just sat and watched, bewildered by what we were so fortunate to experience. This was the moment it all came together for me. To see my experience as a young man, learning from my father, mirrored by these majestic creatures, was life-changing. It connected the world in a way I never expected. It was the perfect end to the day and our time on the mountain.

We did not have the opportunity to drop a bull. This was a bit disappointing, but the trip was fulfilling nonetheless. Thankfully, Mitch, another hunter in our party, shot a cow only 500 yards from the trailhead.

Even leaving with empty hands, our souls felt full and refreshed. Our rifles were unfired, though they gained some scars from the direct path we took through most obstacles. My Warhawk took its fair share of abuse, but I’m happy to report that it has maintained its zero. On our way back, under pink skies, we attempted to put the experience into words. Those words have only now found me. Whether your goal is to fill your freezer, or it’s just to reconnect with nature, get out there. Push your limits, explore this Earth, and remember your place in this universe.

Here is a look the full load out we trusted on our hunt. While we didn't fill every tag this trip, our gear kept us mobile, warm, and ready for the shot.

Want a closer look at our gear? Watch our full pack dump video here.

Rifle & Optics
At the heart of the hunt was the Swampfox Warhawk. With its precise MIL reticle and durable construction, it offered the clarity needed for glassing across cross-canyon meadows and the magnification range required for ethical shots at distance.

Optic: Swampfox Warhawk 4-20x50 FFP IR (Sharpshooter MOA/MRAD)

Rifle: Ruger American Gen II (Standard Model, .308 Win)

Ammo: G9 Defense .308 145gr Barrier Blind Hollow Point

Firearm Accessories
To keep the rifle manageable during long hikes and stable during shooting, we kept the setup lightweight but functional.

Suppressor: Anechoic 30x Ti (Direct thread for weight savings)

Bipod: Magpul MOE Bipod

Sling: Leonworx Solutions SPR Sling

Pack & Navigation
We utilized a modular system to stay agile while maintaining the ability to haul heavy loads if success struck.

Pack System: Eberlestock EMOD Mainframe with Vapor 2500 Bag

Chest Rig: Eberlestock Bravo Bino Harness

Clothing & Personal Gear
Colorado weather is unpredictable. We relied on a layering system that could handle freezing mornings and sunny afternoons without overheating.

Camo System: King’s Camo XKG Series (Mountain Shadow Pattern)

Boots: Baffin (Insulated) & Irish Setter (600g Insulation)

Eyewear: Wiley X Ovation

Knife: Montana Knife Company Speedgoat