Ryan sits down with Utah elk hunter Ashton Oborn to swap storm-soaked mountain stories, hard-won lessons, and one unforgettable redemption bull. The two met at Hunt Expo, later linked up with mutual acquaintance Dustin Green and finally got boots on the same ridge where weather, fog, and blown-out switchbacks tested every plan. Ashton traces his family’s 20+ years in the area, from his youth-tag growing pains to the day he dropped his biggest bull with a .270 pump-action, open sights. Together, he and Ryan break down reading fresh sign, calling nuances, swirling winds in burned timber, and the painful truth that sometimes bulls “talk” but won’t play. There’s camp comedy too with zero sleep, bad walkies, and a lost iPhone somehow recovered on a rockslide, plus a nod to horses and mules as the ultimate backcountry cheat code. They close on passing it forward: helping others tag out, getting kids on youth tags, and Ryan’s resolve to notch his first big-game kill on the extended season.

Key Takeaways:

• Weather windows matter: big rains/fog can light elk activity, but also wreck access and visibility.
• Stay when you strike sound: if a canyon has a talking bull, don’t leave; let patience beat panic.
• Sign literacy: fresh droppings, rubs, and that unmistakable elk smell can outscore glassing.
• Wind in burns: regrowth + deadfall = elk highways and brutal, swirling thermals.
• Calling discipline: match the mood; soft cow sounds can keep a cautious bull around.
• Redemption hunt: Ashton’s best bull came close and fast be ready for short, thick-timber shots.
• Community > ego: helping a buddy tag can be just as sweet; take the kids early and often.

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Call to action: If you’re grinding your first elk season (or returning for redemption), share this episode with a hunting buddy and drop your “stay-in-the-canyon” story in the comments. Rate/review to help keep Hunt Stealth the fastest-growing hunting podcast in the nation. Stay safe, and God bless.

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