Silent Hunting with Jordan Jonas

As a seasoned hunter and winner of the grueling wilderness survival show Alone Season 6, Jordan Jonas understands the value of stealth in the wild. On a recent hunting trip, he harnessed the power of his silent UBCO 2X2 to track wild mountain elk.

Join him as he navigates through the wilderness, encounters unexpected challenges, and ultimately triumphs in his silent hunt. Plus learn from the best with Jordan's top hunting tips.

I grew up in Idaho and have always been surrounded by nature. Adventuring and hunting has been a big part of my life and certainly helped me become the lone surviver in Alone. Shooting a 900 pound moose with a bow and arrow was a key turning point for me in the show, as was killing a wolverine who raided my moose meat.

As a kid, the first time I rode a dirtbike I thought how incredible it would be to own one that is silent so I could see the animals. I was lucky enough to achieve that dream with an UBCO 2X2 Hunt Edition.

There really is nothing like pursing rugged wild, mountain elk so together with my friend Ryan, we planned an adventure along with our UBCOs. As well as elk, we were hunting bear, and keen to explore some new land.

Silently, we rode out to a nice grassy hill and I was soon able to spot solo elk moving through the distant trees. It was probably close to a mile away. I eased the UBCO over, the electric hum barely audible until I was about 300 yards from where I had seen the elk (how nice was it to drive that close without spooking it).

Continuing on foot, I snuck through the trees before I let off a locator bugle. Sure enough I got an immediate answer. Positioning myself to where the wind would carry my scent away from the animal, I crept across a large open field, forested area and came up along the edge of a gully. I could hear the bull right below me. Only 100 yards away and he was bugling and raking his antlers. I crept closer... 90. 80. 70. It was time to clip on my release and make my final approach ....

"One of the really cool things about this bike is the animals aren't afraid of it and you can silently come up on them."

... alas it wasn’t meant to be! I looked down and the top half of my release was missing. Apparently a screw had come loose. Frustratingly, all I could do was watch the bull as it wandered off.

Not discouraged, I hiked back to my bike and rode to meet Ryan. It turns out he had made an interesting find. In the forest was a dead and decomposing elk somebody had shot and never found. Evening plans changed as they often do in the wild. Ryan would hunt bear over the carcass while I continued my own hunt.

Night came and before I could slay that one that got away, I got an urgent message on the garmin. “Come please, I need a hand. And bring the UBCO!”

Ryan had arrowed a beautiful bear after seeing no less than 5 others come in to the carcass. His shot scared most of the bears off, however, two scampered up the nearest tree. One (the biggest boar) lay dead having run less than 20 yards. It was pretty interesting processing that bear there with two others right above us, grunting and groaning.

By midnight we were ready to go - and how thankful I was again for my silent 2X2 to help us pack that bear out without blowing up the whole forest with sound! I have no doubt tomorrow there will still be elk in those woods and the hunt will continue....

 

After winning Alone, I now spend my days teaching, learning, and sharing my rugged backcountry experiences with others. So here's my top tips for a successful hunting adventure:

  1. Load some weight on the front of your bike for going up hills.
  2. Spend time in the woods - that will make up for a deficit of skill/experience (and it’s a great place to spend time).
  3. Always pay attention to the wind and thermals. You’ll never get an animal that smells you before you see it.
  4. Don’t be afraid to go back to camp in the dark - most of the action happens right before nightfall.

You can follow Jordan's adventures on Instagram - @hobojordo.

Wanting some more inspiration for your next hunting adventure? Check out our guide to embracing the hunt. This blog features hunters such as Hall of Fame Surfer and bowhunter, Shane Dorian, producer and new hunter Kenny X Hamlett and kiwi Owen Boynton, otherwise known as TOA Hunter Gatherer who has a deep connection to the environment through his ancestary. They have all shared their stories along with advice and tips to help your hunting experience.

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