Chris Janson Admits 'Cockiness' Led to Grueling Colorado Elk Hunt

Country music star Chris Janson recently described an annual elk hunt in Colorado that tested his patience and skills, admitting he began the trip with an overconfident mindset. Janson, who has made the trip for the past six years, typically expects to bag his elk within the first couple of days, allowing for relaxation afterward.

However, this year's hunt proved more demanding. "I went in a little cocky," Janson told OutKick OutDoors. "I went in a little bit like, 'I got this, and I'll get this done, and I'll get an elk the first day, and then just fish the rest of the trip.' But it didn't happen that way."

He attributed some of the difficulty to unusually dry weather, which he believes affected the elk's behavior during the September rut. "We were up in the high country a lot and just had a lot of opportunities that just didn't come together right at the last little bit," Janson explained.

The physically demanding nature of elk hunting in the Colorado mountains involves extensive hiking, steep climbs, and challenging terrain. Janson noted that he does not typically engage in specific training for the hunt, instead considering the rigorous activity itself as his annual workout.

As the hunt progressed and his patience wore thin, Janson and his companions shifted their strategy from higher elevations to lower ground. "We'd hunted high all week and hunted semi-high and then ended up being in the low country where we probably should have been from the very beginning," he said.

With only 30 minutes remaining before the end of their trip, Janson successfully harvested a bull elk. He described the hunt as a humbling experience that reinforced the unpredictable nature of pursuing large game. Despite the week-long challenge, Janson confirmed the hunt was ultimately successful, stating, "Nice bull, and I've already eaten about half of it."