Back-to-Back Premium Tags: Nevada Rifle to Utah Late Archery

What's up, elk hunters! This week I'm sitting down with Jace Guymon, and holy crap—talk about a banner year. This guy drew a Nevada late rifle tag AND a Utah late archery tag in the same season, with hunt dates less than a week apart. Yeah, you read that right.

Jace takes us through the entire journey of crushing a 394" bull on his Nevada hunt opening morning, then immediately pivoting to Utah where he arrows a massive late-season giant. We're talking about hunting two of the most coveted elk tags in the West back-to-back, and somehow making it all come together.

What I love about this episode is how raw and honest Jace is about the process. He'd never even been to Nevada before, had minimal scouting time because of his guiding schedule, and still managed to execute on both hunts. We dive deep into his e-scouting strategy, why he focuses on covering massive amounts of country from glassing knobs, and how being aggressive—like actually jogging to close the distance on bulls—has been the key to his success.

We also get into some real tactical stuff about late-season elk hunting: why north-facing slopes matter more than you think, how to move through crunchy snow without spooking bulls, and why patience behind the glass is non-negotiable this time of year. Plus, Jace drops some truth bombs about physical fitness and why most hunters aren't aggressive enough when it matters.

Whether you're chasing premium tags or just trying to become a better late-season elk hunter, this episode is packed with actionable advice from a guy who's been guiding for years and knows how to close the deal when the pressure's on. Let's get into it.

Episode Sponsors

Tricer Tripods - Fast, light, and simple—that's what Tricer is all about. From amazing tripods to bino mounts and their new bipods, Tricer makes gear that just works. I've been using the heck out of their bipod and it's helped me kill a lot of critters. Head over to triceroutdoor.com and use code TRO to save 10% at checkout.

Stone Glacier - The leaders in ultralight hunting gear. Whether you're on a 10-day backcountry sheep hunt or covering 10+ miles a day looking for elk, Stone Glacier's minimalist designs keep the weight down, which pays big dividends when you're covering lots of miles. But it's not just about light packs—Stone Glacier has the full setup now with tents, sleeping bags, and premium clothing. You don't sacrifice quality and durability with their lightweight gear. Check out their high-performance gear at stoneglaciergear.com.

Chapter Timestamps

• 0:00 - Intro: Banner Year with Jace Guymon
• 2:15 - Drawing Nevada Late Rifle & Utah Late Archery Back-to-Back
• 5:30 - Zero Knowledge of Nevada: E-Scouting Strategy
• 9:00 - Limited Scouting Time: Making It Work
• 12:45 - Spotting the Bull: 4.6 Miles Away
• 16:00 - Nine Buddies Show Up: Decision Time
• 19:30 - Opening Morning Execution & The Miss
• 23:00 - 394" Bull Down: What Nevada Hunting is Really Like
• 27:15 - Was It Too Easy? Outfitters Struggled This Year
• 31:00 - Pine Nut Crop Impact on Nevada Elk & Deer
• 34:30 - Pivot to Utah: The Late Archery Grind
• 38:00 - Spotting a 10-Year-Old Bull Running Cows in Late November
• 41:45 - The Aggressive Stalk: 1.4 Miles in Under an Hour
• 45:30 - Seven Arrows, Rotator Cuff Injury & Dead Bull
• 49:00 - Late Season Bull Behavior: North vs. South Slopes
• 52:15 - Physical Fitness & Aggressiveness: The Two Big Mistakes
• 56:00 - Late Season Tactics: Walking vs. Sneaking
• 58:00 - Final Advice for Late Season Success

Three Key Takeaways

1. Be More Aggressive Than You Think You Need To Be - Jace's biggest piece of advice: 95% of the time, you should be going NOW. Most hunters wait too long to make a move, trying to let situations "develop" when they should be jogging uphill to close distance. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take, and even a 2% chance of success is better than watching a bull walk away at dark. The difference between successful guides and struggling clients often comes down to one thing: guides move FAST when it's time to move.
2. North-Facing Slopes Are Critical for Late Season Bulls - While everyone focuses on south-facing slopes for feeding, mature bulls in late season are often bedded on north slopes where they can stay cool in their thick winter coats. Jace actually prioritizes glassing north-facing slopes because bulls will be bedded in cover there, whereas south slopes are easier to scan quickly. Look for trails leading over ridgelines to north-facing timber—that's where the big bulls are hiding.
3. Patience Behind the Glass Will Outperform Covering Ground - Late season success comes down to being comfortable sitting on a glassing knob for 4+ hours straight. Bulls bedded in junipers disappear completely—you can scan right over a 400" bull for 45 minutes until he finally stands up. The difference between 0% success units and killing giants often isn't location or fitness—it's the willingness to sit and actually GLASS rather than covering ground. Pick big vantage points where you can see maximum country and commit to them.