Chris Janson credits dry Colorado weather for delayed elk hunt success

Chris Janson returned from a successful elk hunt in Colorado, crediting unusually dry weather for a week of missed opportunities that ended with a bull harvest in the low country. The country music star has made annual trips to the state for the past six years, typically filling his tag within the first day or two. This season, he entered the trip with a plan to complete the hunt early and spend the remainder fishing on the water. Janson told OutKick Outdoors that he approached the trip with a sense of confidence, expecting to secure an elk on the first day. That expectation did not materialize. The group spent the week trekking through the high country, encountering elk but failing to execute a shot. Janson suspects the lack of rain in the area affected elk behavior during the September rut. He noted that bulls were not as active or vocal as he had come to expect under normal conditions. The dry weather contributed to a series of opportunities that did not come together at the final moment. As the days progressed, Janson admitted that his patience wore thin. He described his serious approach to hunting as a driving force, stating that he hates to lose and wants to complete the task efficiently. With the trip winding down and no elk harvested, Janson and his hunting companions changed their strategy. After spending most of the week at higher elevations, they moved to lower ground. Janson stated that they should have been in the low country from the beginning. With thirty minutes remaining on their time, he harvested a bull. The hunt involved significant physical exertion, including miles of hiking and steep climbs in unforgiving terrain. Janson does not engage in regular gym workouts, describing this annual trip as his primary physical training for the year. He emphasized that mental toughness is as important as physical conditioning when an elk is bugling at a distance and requires a difficult climb to reach. Janson said he is willing to navigate any rock, crevice, mountain, or river if it completes the mission. He confirmed that he has already consumed about half of the harvested bull and described the meat as good.