The Last Evening: Elk Hunting in British Columbia

There are some hunts that seem to test every part of you before they finally come together. This British Columbia elk hunt with the Olmstead family at Prophet Muskwa was one of those hunts. It had everything we love about being in the field: a remote wilderness camp, long days on horseback, incredible country, good friends, new friendships, changing weather, and an opportunity that came together when there was almost no daylight left.

This hunt was also special because Rick joined us after purchasing the hunt at an International Order of T. Roosevelt banquet auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. From the moment we met him at the hotel and began the journey north, we knew this was going to be an adventure we would remember for a long time.

Watch the Full British Columbia Elk Hunt

Getting to Prophet Muskwa is part of the experience. After traveling to the regional airport, we flew with North Cariboo Air and Villers Air Services into the remote wilderness camp. Once we arrived, we met up with Kylie, a third-generation outfitter, her husband Brad, the wranglers, and the rest of the team who would help make the hunt possible.

Before heading into the field, everyone sighted in their rifles. We were using Browning Silver Series ammunition, and as always, taking the time to confirm the rifles before a hunt is one of the most important things you can do. In a place this remote, preparation matters. Once we left camp, there wouldn't be an easy way to solve a problem that should have been caught before the first ride into the mountains.

The days that followed were spent traveling by horseback and glassing from ridges. We covered a lot of country, but elk don't always cooperate with the schedule you have in mind. The first day passed without seeing an elk or hearing a bugle, and the weather brought plenty of rain and wind during the middle of the hunt.

When a Hunt Doesn't Go According to Plan

One thing we never want Driven to become is a highlight reel where everything always works perfectly. Because that's not hunting. Every hunt has setbacks, and this one had more than its share.

On Day Five, Rick and his guides located a tremendous bull that appeared to be in the 330-class range. Reaching him meant working through steep terrain and thick willow, and after a difficult stalk, Rick had an opportunity. He took the shot, but the bull was missed.

Afterward, the team discovered that Rick's rifle had lost its zero during travel. It was a tough break, especially after all the effort that had gone into getting within range of such a bull. But it was also a reminder of why preparation and patience matter so much in remote country. There is no way to guarantee that every opportunity will work out, even when the animal and the conditions finally line up.

The hunt continued through rain, wind, fallen timber, and burn areas that made every step harder. There were long stretches of waiting and glassing, and there were plenty of moments when it would have been easy to wonder whether the right opportunity was ever going to come.

One More Evening

By the final day, the weather finally began to clear. With time running out, Nicole and Kylie heard a bugle and located a bull roughly 600 to 650 yards away. The bull was somewhere in the kind of country that makes British Columbia elk hunting so challenging—steep, broken terrain and dense stands of burned trees.

They worked closer and eventually found the bull bedded in the burn. With the light fading, the opportunity depended on patience. Nicole waited for the bull to stand, knowing that this could be the last chance of the entire trip.

When he finally rose, she made the shot at 354 yards.

The bull went down, and the emotion of the moment said everything. After nine days of hard hunting, difficult weather, long rides, and an entire team working together, Nicole had taken a beautiful 6x6 British Columbia bull elk on the final evening.

It was more than a successful shot. It was the result of an A-Team effort, and the celebration afterward reflected that. These are the moments that are difficult to explain unless you've been there—the exhaustion, the pressure, the relief, and the gratitude all arriving at once.

More Than the Elk

The bull was the goal, but he wasn't the only part of the hunt that will stay with us. We will remember meeting Rick and sharing the experience with him. We will remember the Olmstead family and the generations of knowledge they bring to Prophet Muskwa. We will remember the wranglers, the guides, and the camera crew who worked behind the scenes every day to make the hunt possible.

We will remember riding through the mountains, glassing from the ridges, and moving through the burn. We will remember the rain and the wind, the long stretches without seeing an elk, and the incredible Northern Lights shining over camp at night.

Those time-lapse scenes of the Aurora Borealis were beautiful, but they also felt like a fitting backdrop for the trip. In a place this wild and remote, the country becomes part of the story just as much as the animal does.

Why We Keep Coming Back

After more than three decades in the outdoor industry, we've been fortunate to hunt some amazing places. British Columbia remains special because it demands so much and gives so much in return.

We'll remember the bull, of course. We'll remember the 354-yard shot and the fading light. But we'll also remember what happened before that moment: the miles on horseback, the difficult weather, the missed opportunity, and the people who kept working until the very end.

That's what keeps us coming back. Hunting isn't always about getting the perfect opportunity on the first day. Sometimes it's about staying patient through the hard parts and being ready when one final chance appears.

Watch the full British Columbia elk hunt on YouTube and see the entire story unfold: The Last Evening: British Columbia Elk Hunt

This hunt was made possible with support from our partners, including Browning, Vortex Optics, Walker's, Tenzing, and Streamlight, along with North Cariboo Air and Villers Air Services. We are also grateful for the work of the International Order of T. Roosevelt, USA Shooting, and the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation.

Stay Driven,

Pat & Nicole