Elk Season Autopsy: Recapping Cam Hanes' 2025 Hunts

2025 Hunting Season Overview

• 🎯 September, the Super Bowl for Cam Hanes, is dedicated to elk season, with potential for a deer or two.
• 🗓️ This year's recap covers four hunts: Colorado (buck and bull), San Carlos (bull), Utah (bull), and the highly anticipated Wenaha hunt.
• 🏃 Cam's training and swimming schedule meant he missed three hunts, focusing instead on preparing for the Wenaha.

Colorado Buck and Bull Hunts

• 🦌 Cam's Colorado hunt began with pursuing a large buck, missing twice before successfully taking a giant 205-scoring buck at 14 yards.
• ⛰️ The Colorado bull hunt was challenging due to dry conditions and animals being spread out, but Cam eventually harvested a bull at close range.
• 🙏 A significant encounter occurred with a man from Alaska who helped pack out the bull, leading to a deeply impactful conversation about faith and life.

San Carlos Elk Hunt

• 🏜️ The San Carlos hunt was severely impacted by drought, with no bugling heard and animals scarce in their usual locations.
• 🐂 Despite the challenging conditions, Cam managed to harvest a healthy bull after a difficult shot from a cliff edge.
• 🤝 The camp environment was positive, with fellow hunters experiencing similar difficulties, highlighting the impact of the drought.

Utah Elk Hunt

• 🏞️ Cam participated in a camaraderie-filled Utah elk hunt with friends, where everyone successfully harvested bulls.
• 🤔 He contemplated skipping the Utah hunt to focus on the Wenaha, a tag he had waited 24 years to draw.

Wenaha Wilderness Hunt

• 🌲 The Wenaha hunt, a dream for 24 years, presented rugged terrain and challenging conditions, including extreme dryness.
• 🐻 Cam passed on a bear early in the hunt to focus on his primary elk objective.
• 🏹 After initial struggles and a close encounter with a bull, Cam successfully harvested a large 6x6 bull with Tanner filming the entire event.
• 🙏 The pack-out was made possible by a team of dedicated individuals who arrived early, showcasing incredible passion and support.

Reflections on Legacy and Mentorship

• 💔 Cam reflects on his bowhunting journey, acknowledging his mentor Roy's greater skill and impact, and feeling undeserving of his own success.
• ✨ He strives to honor Roy's legacy by embodying his values of perseverance, faith, and mentorship.
• 🤝 The interviewer expresses admiration for Cam's character, resilience, and positive influence, believing Roy would be proud.