Get Close, Stay Close: Jerrod Lile's Simple Elk Hunting Philosophy

What's up everyone! This week I'm sitting down with Jerrod Lile, CEO of Hunting Fool and one of the most underrated elk hunters you've never heard enough from. Jerrod spent 14 years working alongside Dan Evans at Trophy Taker—yeah, THE Dan Evans—and the stories and lessons he picked up during that time are absolute gold.

This conversation goes deep. We talk about how Jerrod went from being a good shooter to a great archer after Dan called him out on his bad habits, the mental game required to perform under pressure (spoiler: it's just like you to make a good shot), and why he's helped 15 first-time bowhunters kill their first elk. Jerrod breaks down his hunting philosophy into one simple mantra: get as close as you can for as long as you can, and good stuff will happen.

But this episode isn't all tactics and tips. Jerrod gets brutally honest about the emotional rollercoaster of elk hunting—from getting too cocky after a string of successes and missing a giant bull at 35 yards, to the heartbreak of his father passing away in the middle of a 23-point Arizona hunt. That story alone is worth the listen. It's raw, it's real, and it's a reminder that elk hunting is about so much more than antlers.

We also dive into the psychology of hunting with other people (spoiler: it usually makes you worse), why repeating the same game plan year after year is a trap, and how to pivot when things aren't working. Jerrod doesn't hold back on his mistakes—like setting up a comfy wall tent camp in Arizona and being too stubborn to relocate when the pressure got heavy—and the lessons he's learned from them.

If you want to hear from someone who's been in the trenches for decades, worked with legends, and still gets humbled by elk every single season, this is the episode for you. Jerrod is humble, authentic, and full of hard-earned wisdom that only comes from putting in the work year after year.

Stone Glacier - If you're in the market for a new pack, Jerrod and I both run Stone Glacier gear. I packed out a lot of animals this year with the Sky Archer 6400, including a couple elk. The thing I love about Stone Glacier packs is they work whether you're on a 10-day backpack trip or day hunting from the truck. Minimalist design, tough as nails, and they collapse down so you don't need multiple packs. Built by mountain hunters for mountain hunters. Check out the Sky Archer 6400 at stoneglacier.com and use code TRO.

Tricer - Tricer makes way more than just tripods. One of my favorite products is the RP Bipod—a legit hunting bipod with all the features you'd expect from a high-dollar setup. At 10.5 ounces, it's lightweight enough to take on any hunt. Comes with everything: long legs, short legs, works on Picatinny or Arca. For $350, it's a no-brainer. I've shot a lot of critters off mine. Head to tricer.com and use code TRO to save 10%.

OnX Hunt - We didn't have an OnX ad in this episode, but if you're a Hunting Fool member or thinking about becoming one, OnX Elite members get Hunting Fool for free. Plus, OnX is running a giveaway right now through April 15th—a hunt for two, no charge to enter. Just visit the OnX website, click the single sign-on button, and you're automatically entered. Check it out at onxmaps.com.

00:00 - Intro: The underrated elk hunter you need to hear from
04:30 - Working alongside Dan Evans at Trophy Taker
09:15 - Going to first and second grade together
14:20 - The story that changed everything: Dan circles a bull in New Mexico
19:45 - "Iron Elk Syndrome" and why calling is the default trap
24:30 - Helping 15 first-time bowhunters kill their first elk
28:50 - The mantra: Get as close as you can for as long as you can
32:40 - Managing the emotional rollercoaster of new hunters
37:10 - Dan breaking down Jerrod's shooting and rebuilding it
42:20 - "It's like me to make a good shot" - the mental game
46:15 - Getting cocky and missing a giant bull at 35 yards
50:30 - Arizona 2023: Hunting with his son and running into people
55:40 - The lesson: Don't repeat the same game plan year after year
58:20 - Hunting with multiple people makes you worse
1:02:15 - The 23-point Arizona hunt and losing his father mid-hunt
1:08:45 - Shooting the bull on the last night with 15 minutes of light
1:12:30 - Carrying his dad's ashes on every hunt
1:15:00 - Hunting Fool giveaway and closing thoughts

1. Master the Mental Game of Archery - Jerrod learned from Dan Evans that you can control every variable in elk hunting except whether you'll panic when the moment comes. He spent months blind bailing, shooting 5-spots, and reading books like With Winning in Mind to build his mental game. His mantra under pressure: "It's like me to make a good shot." Repeating that phrase in third person creates psychological distance from the pressure and keeps you focused on execution. Great elk hunters aren't just good woodsmen—they're elite archers who can perform when it counts.
2. Hunting with Others Usually Makes You Worse - Jerrod's favorite way to hunt with buddies? Share camp, high-five in the morning, split up, and reconvene at night. When you're constantly consulting with a partner—should we go this way? Should we move?—you have 15 mini-meetings a day and 0.5x the decision-making power. Even worse, if your gut disagrees with your partner's call, you'll be less committed, step on a stick, or miss the subtle cues that lead to success. Pick a point person, trust them completely, or hunt solo.
3. Don't Fall in Love with Last Year's Game Plan - Jerrod burned his Arizona hunt by repeating the same meal plan that worked the year before. Just because elk were in a certain spot last year (or the last three years) doesn't mean they'll be there this year. People change, pressure changes, and elk are nomadic. If you're consistently running into hunters or the elk aren't doing what they did before, pivot early. Don't lose four days being stubborn. The devil you don't know might be better than the devil you do.