#054 - Austin Bell | 7 Year Elk Hunting Journey

In this episode of The Hunt Stealth Podcast, host Ryan Uffens sits down with Colorado bowhunter and founder of Leaf Hat Co., Austin Bell, to dive deep into a story of grit, growth, and gear. Austin recounts his emotional 7-year pursuit to harvest a bull elk with a bow, culminating in a wild, five-arrow encounter deep in the Colorado backcountry. From the agony of a missed shot in 2021 to the obsessive scouting and preparation that finally paid off in 2022, this episode is packed with raw insights every elk hunter will appreciate.

Austin shares the mistakes that slowed his early progress, especially the struggle to find elk and how diving into Mark Livesay’s Treeline Academy finally helped him connect the dots on e-scouting. He breaks down the power of taking post-hunt notes, the underrated value of a sit pad, and why focusing on gear often overshadows the one thing that really makes the difference: time in the field.

The episode also features the origin story of Leaf Hat Company, a high-performance hat brand built for hunters tired of sweat-soaked cotton lids and uncomfortable brims. Austin walks through how a simple moment on a hiking trail sparked the idea to blend trucker style with technical function—and what’s coming next for the brand.

🔥 Takeaways:

• Austin’s epic 7-year journey to his first archery bull
• Lessons from a heartbreaking miss at 35 yards
• The power of consistent e-scouting & hunt planning
• Why experience trumps gear obsession
• The story behind Leaf Hat Co. and performance headwear

Follow Austin Bell:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abfromco/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leafhatco/

Website: https://www.leafhatcompany.com/ Use Code: STEALTH20 for 20% OFF

Follow Ryan Uffens:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanuffens

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ryanuffens

X: https://x.com/ryanuffens

Follow Hunt Stealth:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunt.stealh

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huntstealth\

Special Offers: 

Leaf Hat Company Use Code: STEALTH20 for 20% OFF Your Entire Order. 

Visit https://www.muleymaniacs.com and enter Promo Code: STEALTH for 15% off