Building Hunting Systems: How to Stop Wandering and Start Winning in the Backcountry

Building Hunting Systems: How to Stop Wandering and Start Winning in the Backcountry

The Hunter’s Playbook: How to Build a System That Puts You in Front of More Elk

By Ryan Uffens, Host of The Hunt Stealth Podcast

What separates consistent elk killers from those who spend years wandering the mountains with empty tags? According to Cody Rich an entrepreneur, seasoned hunter, and host of The Rich Outdoors and Elk Hunt podcasts it’s not fancy gear, brute strength, or even years in the field. It’s systems.

Whether you're a beginner just lacing up your boots or a weekend warrior looking to level up, building hunting systems is your ticket to real progress in the field. In this article, we’re going to break down the proven four-part system Cody shared on The Hunt Stealth Podcast, give you practical steps to build your own, and show how hunting systems can teach you life lessons far beyond the trailhead.

Why Systems Matter in Big Game Hunting

“Too many hunters rely on luck,” Cody said. “They think hunting is about hoping an elk wanders by. But success is about getting more at-bats. And that only happens when you have a system that gets you into elk consistently.”

Let’s face it hunting is hard. Especially elk hunting. Especially when you're new, short on vacation time, and trying to piece together tips from 100 different sources. That’s why Cody developed a repeatable framework based on years of trial, error, and relentless learning.

The 101–201–301 Hunting Framework

Cody breaks down hunter progression into three stages:

  • 101 Hunter: Wandering, hoping, maybe lucky. No real system.
  • 201 Hunter: Consistent success. Tags filled. Solid systems built.
  • 301 Hunter: Intentionality at its highest level. Finds the top 1% bulls and gets it done anywhere.

Most of us are somewhere between 101 and 201 and that’s perfectly fine. The key is building systems that help you move forward with confidence.

Step-by-Step: Cody Rich’s 4-Part Elk Hunting System

Let’s get into the nuts and bolts. Cody divides elk hunting into four distinct stages. Each one requires its own micro-system:

1. Choose the Right Area

This is where most people fail before the hunt even begins.

“If close to home sucks, you’re just going to suck for years,” Cody said bluntly.

  • Action Step: Learn to e-scout like a pro. Prioritize access, terrain diversity, and efficiency. Look for areas you can cover quickly—not isolated drainages nine miles deep.
  • Tip: Hunt e-scouting like a mission. Don’t just find a north-facing slope—find a ridge you can move along, checking multiple drainages with minimal elevation gain.

2. Find Elk—Fast and Systematically

“Finding elk is the most important skill that nobody practices.”

  • Action Step: Build a recon plan. Search a unit like you're tracking a wounded animal with structure and intent.
  • Pro Tip: Always have 2–3 herds located. One herd can vanish with a bad wind or a blown stalk. Redundancy is critical.
  • Life Lesson: The guy who gets the most opportunities wins. If you’re getting 10 at-bats a season, the odds swing dramatically in your favor.

3. Get Close—Your Tactics Toolbox

Calling, spot-and-stalk, cow chirps this is the sexy stuff, but it’s not step one.

  • Action Step: Pick 2–3 close-in strategies that fit your style and stick with them. Do them over and over.
  • Tip: Master one tactic before moving on. Build your own “playbook” based on what works for you.
  • Reality Check: Getting close is great, but if you’re only finding elk twice a season, it doesn’t matter how good your close-game is.

4. Execute Without Getting Lucky

This is the red zone. You’re in tight. Now it’s about calm decisions and clean execution.

  • Action Step: Practice all the "what-ifs." Shoot kneeling. Practice quick draws. Work on mental control.
  • Lesson: Success at this stage often comes down to not screwing it up. Plan for everything that can go wrong.

Mental Toughness: The System Behind the System

One of the biggest takeaways from Cody’s Arizona rifle hunt? Stuff will go wrong. Flat tires. Broken gear. Blown stalks. Late-season heat.

Cody’s advice?

“Execute perfect inputs. Let the outputs fall where they may. You can’t always control the outcome, but you can control your process.”

That’s not just hunting advice. That’s life.

  • Action Step: Create multiple plans (A through G, if needed). When fatigue sets in or your primary area is a bust, switch to the next plan.
  • Warning: If you only make one plan and it fails, you’ll go home early. The best hunters always have a Plan D ready.

How to Start Building Your Own Hunting System Today

1. Audit Your Last Hunt: What worked? What didn’t? Where did you waste time

2. Map Out a Framework: Create a checklist for your four stages: Area Selection, Finding Elk, Close-Game Tactics, Execution.

3. Use Free Resources: Check out Cody’s free e-scouting course at ElkHunt201.com. It’s designed to help you create your own system from scratch.

4. Get Reps: Time in the field is critical. Each hunt, successful or not, builds your system stronger.

5. Control What You Can: Physical fitness, mental toughness, e-scouting prep these are in your control. Focus there.

Final Thought: Systems Bring Freedom

The irony? Building systems might sound rigid, but they actually bring freedom. Freedom from frustration. Freedom from flailing around the woods. Freedom to enjoy the hunt because you know what to do next.

And isn’t that why we hunt in the first place?

So whether you’re chasing bugling bulls in Colorado, spotting mule deer in Utah, or heading out for your first OTC tag, do yourself a favor build a system, trust the process, and get ready to fall in love with the hunt all over again.

Ready to level up your elk game?

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