Cliff Gray

It’s been a bit since I’ve been Tweeting… but I’m back with a bang @joerogan good times!

This one’s for the rifle hunters in the mix right now. Many folks have the idea that snow is beneficial solely because it concentrates deer and elk. I would argue that during the fall, in typical weather conditions, snow doesn’t actually do that much to elk on that front. Elk can feed in pretty darn deep snow, a lot deeper than people think. The key factor is that snow lets you see sign that would otherwise be hidden. Sign you’re not just going to run into while you’re bobbling around looking in intuitive spots. This is why I always tell guys, if you get some snow, even if it’s just a quarter inch, be glassing a lot after that for multiple days. And you’re really not so much looking for elk. You’re looking for elk sign. It’ll tell you a ton about the area, and it’ll put in place your next few days of plans. #PursuitWithCliff

My world revolves around hunting. But really it revolves around the adventure. The challenges, the logistics, going to amazing places and experiencing them. Rob Gearing from Spartan is story after story like this. U.S. hunting versus international, and all the adventures out there awaiting us on this earth. #PursuitWithCliff

Same mule, roughly 10 years apart. I have a lot of good memories packing out elk and deer with Leroy. If he could post on social media, he'd outdo every elk and mule deer hunter on Instagram. Sold him with my business 5 or 6 years ago. He's still kicking. These mules do it every elk season for 25, 30 years. Pretty amazing animals. #PursuitWithCliff

All I did was tell Claude what I wanted. First attempt, it made a clip that works perfectly for my elk calls. Talk about random excellence. Simpler than a lot of the commercially available options out there, and it appears to work just as well, if not better. I'm kind of joking about my excitement over this, but I'm kind of not. Pretty freaking wild. #PursuitWithCliff

There's a fallacy that we're all in the top 1%. The last clip I posted with Dr. Ashby on bowhunting got a lot of back and forth. This one gives a little more context to that conversation. To me, these discussions aren't necessarily about ethics, or what I should be doing, or what other people should be doing. I think they're better thought about in the context of improvement. There's the average reality, and then there's the reality of the spectrum of how effective we can be as archers, as rifle hunters, or with whatever weapon you choose. Dr. Ashby used getting close and his choices of equipment to get himself up on the high end of that spectrum. Regardless of how you choose to approach it, there's a handful of levers a guy can pull. Probably most prominently, just practice. And building a process around how you choose to take animals, when you take shot opportunities, and when you don't. There's a lot of low-hanging fruit for a lot of people to go from one end of the wounding loss side of things to the very other far end. Even if you're not thinking about ethics at all and you're just thinking about overall success and becoming a better hunter, there's some interesting things to understand here that I don't think get discussed that much. #PursuitWithCliff

You have to think about it. How you're going to use your rests. What rest you're going to choose. How those opportunities may be fleeting. All of that results in much greater success up in the elk mountains. Briggs has a good perspective on this. Every one of these little tips, I promise you, will pay off this rifle season. #PursuitWithCliff

Some of these mules have seen more dead elk and have more stories to tell than anybody else that's ever been in the elk woods. They say a man should have at least one good horse or mule in his life. I'm grateful I had 30 or 40 of them. #PursuitWithCliff

I’m assuming he wanted the truth.

The best way to hurt yourself in the backcountry is to drive an axe through your foot while cutting kindling. I know it seems like the mountain man way to do it. But this way is hands down better, safer, more effective, and more efficient in terms of energy used. #PursuitWithCliff

If you've never cut firewood with a crosscut saw, an axe, and a maul, you can't really appreciate the realities of modern society. It's kind of stunning how many calories it takes. If a guy did this to heat his cabin every day, you sure as hell would not need CrossFit to exist on this planet. #PursuitWithCliff

This would be one of the last rifles I'd ever think of for leopard. But I do understand Dr. Ashby's perspective. There's something about the confidence of only having one loaded round. When that's what a client chooses to bring on a leopard safari, that probably has some positive implications. #PursuitWithCliff

People ask me how much elk hunting I actually get to do myself. How many elk I’ve hunted recently. The reality is I typically hunt elk one time a year for myself, if I’m lucky. And that’s almost always a cow hunt. This time I was able to share it with my son and wife. It was an incredible experience. It’s always interesting to introduce kids to this. My kids are obviously familiar with this world because of my profession, but it’s still not easy for them, particularly when it comes to big game. I’m now just getting out of the mountains after 8 days away from my family. I’m the first to admit that because of what I’ve chosen to do for a living, I’m away from my family too much. However, I think every man should spend some time away from his kids and wife. Ideally in a landscape that is physically and mentally challenging, because it gives you an opportunity to reflect and have gratitude for what you have at home. I know this might sound insane to some of you, but I think it’s an important reality.

To all the international folks landing in DIA… please understand that all Americans are ashamed of the Denver airport.

Wilderness horseback elk hunting is the apex of elk hunting. And it always will be. There are 1,000 other hunts I could do every year that are easier and more of a slam dunk on the guiding front. But I'll always do at least one real wilderness elk hunt. They sharpen the sword. Great clients. Great adventures. #PursuitWithCliff

Taking guys on their first elk is an exercise in living vicariously through them. Selfless and selfish at the same time. I'm glad we could get @PatMcNamara65 feelings in the moment. What he describes really is the most honest description. Primal, exhilarating, mission accomplished, grateful for it. #PursuitWithCliff

The rail is the last thing guys check, after tearing everything else apart. A scope shifting in the rings is easy to spot. Eye relief changes, marring, loose screws. A rail you mounted yourself can feel tight and still be moving. Put witness marks on it so you catch screws backing out early. #PursuitWithCliff

Nothing like sitting across from a man who's spent his whole life hunting and hearing story after story. We can dwell on the archery stuff and the gear stuff all day. But if I'm being honest, the stories are the cooler part. Dr. Ashby has a lifetime of them. #PursuitWithCliff