Building an Elk Hunting System with Tate Bradfield

Alright guys, this week we're kicking it off with Tate Bradfield, founder of Process Based Hunter. Tate's got one of the more interesting backstories I've heard on this show — went from working in a mine, to door-to-door sales, to guiding elk for other outfitters, to eventually running his own semi-guided elk hunting courses where he takes 150-180 people a year and actually teaches them how to hunt instead of just pointing at a bull and telling them to shoot.

We riff on a ton of stuff in this one — his "at-bats" philosophy for picking a guided hunt (spoiler: stop asking how big the bulls are and start asking how many encounters per day you'll get), why he thinks cow calling during rifle season is one of the most underused tactics out there, how he snuck within 60 yards of a 200-inch mule deer with a cow elk decoy and no rifle in hand, and why most guys pack way too much gear and focus on the wrong stuff before a hunt.

If you've ever thought about leveling up your elk hunting instead of just white-knuckling your way through another season, this episode's for you. Tate's semi-guided archery course still has a few spots open for 2026, and rifle spots are open for 2027 — head to processbasedhunter.com or check him out on Instagram @processbasedhunter.

This Episode Is Brought to You By:

🎯 Maven Optics

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🗺️ onX Hunt

onX just rolled out a new Share feature that's basically the modern, better version of the old Garmin Rino days. Head into the app, go to the new Go Track section, and hit Share Your Location With Your Friend — now you and your hunting buddy can see each other on the map in real time. (Heads up: it only works with cell service, so it won't help you deep in the backcountry — but for the hunts where you've got signal, it's a game changer.)

👉 Check it out at onxmaps.com

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro & Sponsor Shoutouts (Maven Optics & onX Hunt)
02:38 – Welcome Tate Bradfield to the Show
04:10 – Tate's Backstory: From the Mines to Door-to-Door Sales to Guiding Elk
09:15 – The Birth of Process Based Hunter
12:20 – Who's Actually Booking Guided Hunts These Days
16:05 – Inside the Semi-Guided Archery Course
19:30 – The "At-Bats" Mentality for Picking a Hunt
21:45 – Wall Tent Classroom Days & Elk Calling Fundamentals
24:50 – The Hot Take: Cow Calling During Rifle Season
28:40 – The 200-Inch Buck Cow Call Story
32:15 – Learning to Glass and Spot Elk From Miles Away
36:30 – The Three Biggest Mistakes New Elk Hunters Make
40:05 – Method Hunting with an '80s Bow (Chasing an Alaska-Yukon Moose)
43:50 – The Pack Weight Debate: Why Lighter Usually Wins
48:20 – Knowing When to Move On (Reading Elk Sign and Trusting Your Gut)
51:40 – Where to Find Tate & Process Based Hunter
53:00 – Outro & Free Hunt Planner

(Timestamps are approximate chapter markers based on episode content — adjust to your exact audio if needed.)

Three Key Takeaways

Judge a hunt by encounters, not inches. Instead of asking "how big are the bulls" when someone offers you a guided hunt, ask "how many encounters per day will I get?" A unit stacked with giant bulls you never see is a worse learning hunt than one where you're in elk constantly, regardless of size.
Cow calls aren't just for archery season. A soft cow call during rifle season can stop a spooked herd in its tracks, slow down a wounded animal for a follow-up shot, or calm down a bumped group of elk long enough for you to keep tracking them — all without giving away that you're a threat.
Pack light, move efficiently. Most new hunters overpack for worst-case scenarios instead of the actual hunt in front of them. A heavy pack doesn't just wear you out — it slows your reaction time when an opportunity opens up, and it can trap you into "staying just one more night" simply because you already hauled the gear in.