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
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.