Chris Janson Says Colorado Elk Hunt Tested His Expectations

Country singer Chris Janson said a recent elk hunt in Colorado challenged his expectation that he would fill his tag early and spend the rest of the trip fishing. Instead, he and his companions hunted for most of a week before he harvested a bull near the end of the trip.

Janson told OutKick Outdoors that he has traveled to Colorado for elk hunting annually for six years. He said he usually gets an elk within the first day or two, which led him to expect a quick hunt this time as well. He described going into the trip overconfident about how quickly it would go.

The group encountered elk in the high country, but, according to Janson, opportunities did not result in a harvest. He said unusually dry conditions may have affected elk behavior during the September rut, a period when bulls are typically more active and vocal. That explanation was his assessment; the source material does not provide independent confirmation about the weather’s effect on the animals.

Janson acknowledged that the prolonged hunt affected his mood. He said he takes hunting seriously and can be difficult to be around when things are not going his way. As the trip continued without a harvest, the group reconsidered its approach.

After hunting at higher elevations for much of the week, they shifted to lower ground. Janson said he ultimately took his bull there, with roughly 30 minutes remaining in the trip. He reflected that the group might have been better off hunting lower from the start, while also noting that plans do not always work out in elk hunting.

He described the pursuit as physically demanding, involving long walks and repeated climbs across mountainous terrain. Janson said he does not follow a workout routine and considers the hunt itself his main physical exertion for the year. He also emphasized persistence, saying he was willing to cross difficult terrain to reach an opportunity.

The hunt ended with Janson bringing home a bull. He told OutKick Outdoors that he had already eaten about half of the meat and said it had been good. His original plan to spend the remainder of the trip fishing did not unfold as expected.