Pursuit With Cliff - Cliff Gray

Latest Episodes:

The Magic of Cape Buffalo Hunting - Cliff, Tim Sundles, and Chris Jonker Get Into It Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

Cape Buffalo hunting is nothing like elk or deer hunting—In this episode, we break down a real hunt where we tracked multiple Cape Buffalo through thick bush, lost them, picked them back up, and ended up surrounded.
We also cover gear setups, shot placement, what happens when a buffalo decides to charge, and the reality of planning an African hunt—from rifles to cost to what to expect.
If you’ve ever thought about hunting Africa, this is the unfiltered version of what it’s actually like.

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Hunting Colorado in 2026 - Draw Details and Current Winter Conditions Mar 20, 2026

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Colorado’s draw system is changing, point creep is accelerating, and hunters need to rethink their strategy for elk, sheep, goat, and moose in the coming years.
In this episode, Cliff sits down with Jimmy Oswald to break down the current outlook for Colorado hunting ahead of the upcoming draw. They start by discussing Colorado’s unusually dry winter and what historically low snowpack could mean for wildlife, habitat conditions, and the upcoming hunting season. While winter conditions matter, they explain why summer moisture and fire season will ultimately have a bigger impact on elk behavior and hunting success.
The conversation then shifts to major changes coming to Colorado’s draw system. Beginning in 2028, half of the available tags will move from a pure preference point system to a weighted lottery. Jimmy explains why this change is already affecting hunter behavior and why point creep could spike in the next few draws as high-point holders rush to use their points.
Toward the end of the episode, Jimmy shares insights on sheep, goat, and moose draw strategy, including which units he currently likes and how herd dynamics and tag allocations affect trophy potential.
Follow Jimmy at https://www.lksoutfitters.com/.

Why Tikkas are SO Reliable In The Backcountry - EXPLAINED Feb 28, 2026

Show notes

Why do Tikka rifles keep working when others choke in snow, dirt, and real hunting conditions?
In this episode, I sit down with Jared Smethurst from Beretta to break down the mechanical and manufacturing reasons behind Tikka and Sako reliability. We cover action design, bolt tolerances, primary extraction, magazine systems, safety design, cold hammer forged barrels, and why some modern cartridges—especially PRCs—can introduce feeding issues.

Get Good at Elk Hunting Colorado Wilderness FAST - Briggs Pittman Feb 16, 2026

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This conversation with Briggs Pittman breaks down what actually kills elk on hard, public land hunts. Not theory, not gear hype, but decision-making, preparation, and execution.
Briggs and Cliff cover why smelling elk is a non-negotiable stop, how elite hunters manage time in the woods, why mindset mathematically affects success, and how rifle hunters should think more like bow hunters. They dive deep into rifle setup, bipod selection, shooting positions, dry fire training, backpack weight discipline, food strategy, and why most hunters quietly sabotage themselves long before they miss a shot.

Briggs on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/briggs_pittman/

Consistently Finding Elk with Wildman Dan Vinson Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

This episode breaks down how elk actually respond to hunting pressure and why most hunters misunderstand where mature bulls survive once seasons open.
Cliff talks with a self-taught elk hunter, Dan Vinson, who learned the hard way, without mentors or shortcuts. The conversation centers on pressure, access, and human behavior, not elevation gain or how far someone is willing to hike. Elk do not disappear when pressure increases. They compress into small, unattractive pockets where hunters walk through but never slow down enough to hunt.
The episode also covers bivy hunting, decision-making under uncertainty, and the cost of overcommitting to camps or rigid plans. A detailed solo bull encounter highlights how quickly things unravel after the shot, why blood trails are not guaranteed, and how emotional load compounds when hunting alone.
This is a realistic look at elk hunting as it actually happens for most do-it-yourself hunters.
Resources from Dan Vinson
Wild Gym | All Things Rucking: https://www.wildgym.com/
Dan's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wilddanvinson

Scope Drop Testing and Which Pack Animal (Mules, Llamas or Goats?) with Ryan Avery Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Ryan and Cliff go deep into the real-world realities of pack animals — goats, llamas, horses, and mules — and why experience, animal behavior, stress, and decision-making matter far more than gear specs or romantic ideas of “backcountry horsepower.”
Ryan and Cliff also discuss the drop testing of optics and the myth that most modern rifle scopes hold zero.
Ryan's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avery_adventures
Rokslide: https://www.rokslide.com/

Killing Elk with a .223 and Training to Be a Better Hunter with Ryan Avery Feb 02, 2026

Show notes

Real-world discussion on hunting bullets, suppressor design, long-range ethics, thermal optics, and how modern technology is changing effective range, shot selection, and fair-chase decisions in Western big game hunting.
Ryan's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avery_adventures/
Rokslide Forum: https://www.rokslide.com/

Why Longer Range Shots Are Better, Glassing Gear and Finding Good Outfitters with Jay Scott Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

What actually separates a professional guide from a good hunter?
Cliff and Jay Scott break down how real experience changes judgment. Calm under pressure, controlling variables, and why most missed shots are process failures. Not shooter failures.
The Tricer micro-panning device we discuss at the end of the video, Use CLIFFG for 10% off: https://tricer.com/products/tricer-360
From there, the discussion moves into distance, animal awareness, and the concept of the “bubble.” Cliff and Jay explain why getting closer is not always better, especially for wary species like Coues deer. Staying outside an animal’s awareness buys time, reduces mistakes, and creates higher-probability shots. This is not about extreme distance. It is about efficiency and control.
The back half of the episode shifts into gear and optics. They break down real use cases for image-stabilized binoculars and spotting scopes, where they help, where they don’t, and why tripods are not going anywhere. The conversation stays grounded in actual field application, not marketing claims.
The episode closes on perspective. Experience, restraint, and patience are skills built over decades, not seasons.
00:02:00 – Guiding Experience and Perspective
00:06:20 – Booking Hunts and Downside Protection
00:09:20 – What Makes a Professional Guide
00:17:20 – Staying Outside the Animal's Bubble
00:38:10 – Managing Age Class Over Antlers
00:40:55 – Harvest Limits and Real Results
00:49:40 – Tag Filling and Modern Pressure
00:52:00 – Social Media and Validation
00:59:20 – Judging Animals With Confidence
01:04:20 – Underrated Hunts and Value
01:07:40 – Image Stabilized Optics Use Cases
01:14:30 – Tripods, Glassing, and Field Judgment
Resources from Jay Scott
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayscottoutdoors/?hl=en
Website: http://jayscottoutdoorspodcast.com/
Scoring App: https://hornscore.com/

Real Trends and Gear FOR HUNTERS - SHOT Show 2026 Jan 25, 2026

Show notes

Trends and gear relevant to hunters from SHOT Show 2026.

Tim Sundles Q&A and the Story of Tracking A Giant Bull in The Timber Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

Tim Sundles and I rip through member-submitted questions, then go deep when it matters. The back half turns into a dark-timber masterclass: tracking old bulls in snow, reading intent from tracks, avoiding back-trail traps, and making a high-percentage shot in tight timber.

Tim and Kim Sundles run a great YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@buffaloboreammo

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