Some hunts go as planned — most don’t. And in New Mexico’s Trophy Unit 13, the mountains tend to make hunters earn every step of the experience. For Chris Lyons, that was exactly the case during his 2025 muzzleloader hunt with LOH Outfitters. What began with opportunity quickly turned into a test of discipline, grit, and perseverance — the type of hunt that doesn’t just fill a tag, but leaves an impression for life.

This is the kind of hunt we live for. And if you're ready to experience Western elk country the way it really unfolds, contact LOH Outfitters here and let’s talk about your goals.

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A Rare Opportunity — Unit 13 Open-Sight Muzzleloader

Chris and his hunting partner Ben both drew tags for a **five-day open-sight muzzleloader hunt** in New Mexico’s Trophy Unit 13 — a unit that allows only archery and muzzleloader equipment with **no scopes** allowed. That alone changes the game. Every shot must be earned twice: once with positioning, then with precision.

On the very first evening of the hunt, Chris had the chance many dream of — a mature bull in range. But the mountains have a way of reminding hunters that perfect setups can shift in seconds.

After putting in a **1,200-yard stalk near sunset**, his shot deflected off a dead tree limb that blended perfectly with the bull’s hide. That single moment changed the entire trajectory of the hunt. Some hunters would’ve let that moment kill their momentum. But this is elk country. Setbacks don’t end hunts — they start the real ones.

If this sounds like the type of challenge you’d embrace, start your conversation with LOH Outfitters here.

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Four Days of Hard Lessons & Hard Miles

The next four days on the mountain painted a realistic picture of Western hunting—hiking miles, glassing for hours, and facing encounters that didn’t break their way. Elusive bulls slipped away. Cows busted their movements. Darkness often arrived before opportunity did. But that’s the West. That’s True elk country.

Chris described the terrain as “challenging,” but that’s exactly what makes this hunt special. Unit 13 isn’t a place for shortcuts. It’s a place where patience and persistence either come with you — or you learn them along the way.

Every hunter eventually learns this lesson: If the mountains don’t test you — they won’t reward you.

And it was on **the final day**, with daylight disappearing fast, that the hunt finally came together — thanks to determination, grit, and a quick decision made under pressure.

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When the Shot Finally Came

With only **20 minutes of light left** on the final day, a 5x5 bull moved into range. No time for hesitation. No time for uncertainty. This wasn’t a perfect setup — it was an earned moment.

Chris didn’t attempt to stop the bull. Instead, he executed a **70-yard trotting shot** — knowing that was his window. The hit landed slightly further back than he wanted, but the bull toppled only 30 yards later. That moment wasn’t luck. It was the reward for four days of effort — and one tough, earned decision.

He traded several inches of antlers from his day-one bull — but what he gained was far greater: four days of experience… countless encounters… and a lifetime of memories.

That’s a trade any real Western hunter would take — every single time.

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Guides Who Stay With You — Until the End

One of the most meaningful lines from Chris’s story is this:

“I can’t thank outfit owner Jerry Blake and his dedicated staff for all of the accommodations, delicious hot meals, with a special mention to Louis Lente and Cody for grinding through the final moments. We got her done boys.”

That kind of teamwork doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the LOH culture. Our guides don’t disappear after the shot. They stay in it. They grind beside you. Because a successful hunt isn’t measured solely by the harvest — it’s measured by effort, respect, and how we finish.

If you want to hunt with a team that commits to doing things the right way from start to finish, reach out here and let’s start planning your hunt.

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What This Hunt Teaches Future Western Hunters

Every hunt reveals a few hard truths — and Chris’s story offers lessons worth remembering:

• Success isn’t always immediate — but effort always counts.
• Wind, terrain, and time control the pace — not the hunter.
• Grit may be your most valuable piece of gear.
• Pressure doesn’t create weakness — it reveals confidence.
• Hunts don’t end when the shot is fired — they end when the work is finished.

That’s why Western hunters return season after season. Not just to fill tags — but to test themselves and earn stories that stick for life.

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Ready for Your Own Story in Elk Country?

Trophy Unit 13 didn’t hand Chris success — it made him earn it. And that’s the kind of hunt that lasts. Whether it’s your first elk hunt or your tenth, the mountains will leave their mark. The question is — are you ready to earn yours?

If this story hits home — if this sounds like your type of hunt — then it’s time.

Contact LOH Outfitters here and let’s start building your hunt.

Because a real hunt isn’t a transaction. It’s an experience — earned the hard way.