I was fortunate to be able to hunt elk again with Jay Mitchell last year. This hunt was on his ranch. I had hunted with him several times over the years on wilderness hunts and find him to be one of the best outfitters I have ever hunted with. Everything he told me to expect on his hunts was right on. Before my first rifle elk hunt with him a while ago, he told me that I had a good chance of getting an elk but it probably wouldn’t be a 400 class elk. After crossing a slide area, I did get a respectable 5×5 elk that year and had a great time. (Did I mention that I’m afraid of heights? Jay worked with me to get me across the slide area and got me into a great position to be able to take this nice elk.)
I hunted with him again a couple years later. This was a muzzleloader hunt and saw and stalked a huge bull but he managed to stay out of muzzle loader range. Unfortunately, a personal situation caused me to have to cut the hunt short and leave the mountain way early.
Last summer a friend wanted to do an elk hunt and I told him I knew one of the best in the business-a guy named Jay Mitchell- and I thought we should see if he had any ranch hunts open. Luckily, he did have a fourth season migration hunt open for two and we took it. The weather didn’t cooperate for the migration as it was way too warm. The good news was that after 3 hunts, there still was a good bull elk population on the ranch. At first light on the first day I saw a nice bull at about 750 yards and watched him feed for about 45 minutes before he bedded about 700 yards away. Jay and I thought he would get up during the day and feed toward me to get water at a creek between me and the bull and I would take him then. He didn’t get up until about a half hour before sunset and I watched him feeding about 725 yards away until dark.
The plan was set for a stalk the next morning. Jay thought he would stay in the area and the plan was to get above him and glass for him. We did and Jay found him! He was only about 30 yards from where he bedded during the previous day. We stalked down (across a sand slide area I might add) to within about 260 yards. I was gathering my breath and the bull still laid there. He was beginning to get nervous and Jay told me I should probably take the shot as he wasn’t going to stay there much longer. I used the new 6.5 PRC and took a nice 6×6. I was thrilled!!!
As good as getting a nice elk was, connecting with not only a great outfitter but an old friend was even better…. Jay, thanks again!
So, my father and I wanted a real deal fair chase elk hunt up in the high aspens of Colorado and that is exactly what you get hunting with Jay Mitchel at Action Adventures. We both have been hunting elk on multiple occasions without success. The accommodations are great and the food is even better. A really comfortable set up. Jay and Tom took great care of us during the five day hunt. The weather and wind were against us in the beginning, but Jay worked his tail off getting us on a nice shooter bull. I saw elk everyday during the hunt, just out of range. I was able to take a great 6 point bull during a snow storm on the second to last day. I sat with my father on the last day in an amazing winter wonderland while he took a wide 5×5 bull. It was first bulls for both of us and I owe it all to Jay for the best hunt of my hunting career thus far. Truely a great time all the way around. I have already recommended hunting with Jay and will continue to do so. We are headed back up with Action Adventures this next season!
Good Hunting! Thanks again Jay,
Bryan Cox
I have been hunting with Action adventures since 2013, 3 private land hunts with Jay and one pack in hunt with his son Justin. In 2012 I decide to finally pursue my dream of elk hunting; it was a little overwhelming with all the outfitters out there. By a chance encounter I met someone who had hunted with Action Adventures and even though he had not harvested an elk he had nothing but great things to say about Jay, his hard work and his honesty. Me and two of my friends booked our first hunt in 2013, after hunting that season I see why the gentleman I had met had nothing but good things to say. Jay is one of the most honest hard working guys I’ve had the honor of meeting. Me and one of my friends ended up harvesting a cow elk the first year, I was hooked!!! Since that first hunt I would say Jay has become more than my outfitter, he has become my friend and I would not hesitate to recommend him in a heartbeat. If you do your part you have a great chance at harvesting an elk, Jay defiantly does his part, and he knows his land and the animals. 2017 was finally my year to take a nice bull, a 5×6 and my friend’s brother ended up taking a 6×6 the next day. I truly believe you come to Action adventures as a client but leave as a friend. I have already booked my next hunt, God willing I plan on hunting with him as long as he is outfitting.
Jim Fenner