Testing Survival Skills: Wyoming Hunter Embraces Primitive Elk Hunt

In an age of advanced hunting technology, Cade Cole, a 30-year-old hunter from Crowheart, Wyoming, turned back the clock on a recent elk hunt, testing his survival skills in the wilderness, Cowboy State Daily reports.

Armed with only a traditional recurve bow, two horses, and a mule, Cole embarked on a five-day expedition in Wyoming’s high country near Dubois. Without food, water, or matches, he relied solely on his wits and nature’s provisions to persevere.

Cole’s approach was a deliberate rejection of modern conveniences in favor of reconnecting with the roots of hunting.

“If you look at the technology and the equipment that everybody’s using for hunting now, it’s so advanced,” Cole told Cowboy State Daily. His minimalist gear included his bow, arrows carried in a coyote-hide quiver, a knife, and the clothes he wore.

Even his horse-riding setup was pared down to a simple bareback pad for the horse’s comfort, reminiscent of methods used by Native Americans.

The challenge began immediately. For 40 hours, Cole went without food, finally shooting a squirrel with his bow. Starting a fire without matches proved equally challenging as wet grass foiled his first attempt. On the second night, using friction-based fire-starting techniques, he succeeded and roasted the squirrel, eating it in its entirety, including the internal organs.

“Not only are the organs tasty, but they’re also nutritionally vital,” Cole explained.

He cited the need for fats and nutrients to avoid conditions like “rabbit starvation.”

Dehydration was another grueling hurdle. With streams often difficult to locate, Cole drank directly from mountain sources despite the risk of giardia, a parasitic disease. Having contracted giardia twice before, he believes he may have built immunity but advises others to use water filters.

Pursuing elk in late October, Cole often found himself above timberline, where temperatures dipped into the low 20s. Tracking and singling out a bull among a herd of dozens proved challenging, but closing to within 15 yards — the effective range of his recurve bow — was even harder. Success finally came when he crept close to a five-point bull using rocks and willows for cover. With a carefully aimed shot, he brought down the elk, which ran 300 yards before falling.

After skinning and quartering the massive animal, Cole celebrated with a meal of elk tenderloins wrapped in stomach fat.

“It was all super-greasy and delicious,” he said.

A native of Texas, Cole moved to Wyoming at age 20 and now works as a hunting guide and wilderness survival instructor. He finds fulfillment in helping others reconnect with nature, describing the experience as a “stress detox.” He also shares his adventures with a global audience through social media videos, often accompanied by original music from his sister, Carrissa Cole.

While his 2024 hunt garnered significant attention, Cole plans to step away from primitive filming for his next endeavor, as the process disrupted the immersive experience.

“You’re still a slave to technology at that point,” he said.