Going Public

A First Elk is Earned

- Brad Fenson

When Cole Rogers and his dad, Todd, headed to New Mexico last September, they bubbled with excitement and enthusiasm, knowing the northern part of the state produces trophy elk. With any luck, their tags would be notched during the rut hunt.

Conditions were tough, with warmer weather than expected, and the elk were sticking to the safe confines of thick timber. Cole and Todd were hunting with Josh, a friend who knew the area well and had lots of experience running the hills for big-antlered bulls. To make things even more challenging, the father-and-son team was hunting the muzzle loader season, meaning they needed to close the distance before popping a cap.

The hunters scoured the hills for two days, only to get frustrated as the elk stayed elusive. They climbed steep hills and spent hours glassing in the extreme heat. Elk hunting can be a mental game, and staying positive can be the only way to generate results.

On the third day of the hunt, Todd opted to head up a steep ridge in the dark to glass more country. Josh and Cole headed up a different drainage to ensure they covered as much country as possible. The strategy paid off, and just after sunrise Cole got a text from his dad saying he had located a herd of elk. Josh and Cole immediately started to hike up to the top of the next ridge, where the elk were feeding.