Country music star Riley Green filled his freezer with a bull elk after successfully harvesting the animal with a compound bow in the Utah mountains. The singer shared his success on Instagram, posting photos of the mature bull and the physical work required to pack the meat out of the rugged terrain.
Riley Green Bags a Mature Bull Elk With a Compound Bow
The harvest marked the end of a challenging backcountry trip for the “Worst Way” singer. “Not many things challenge you like bow hunting elk… thankful for a few days to chase em in the Utah mountains and that I was able to put it all together on an awesome bull.” The published photographs show Green standing behind an impressive rack on a mature animal. Transporting the heavy harvest out of the mountains presented a secondary physical hurdle.
Bowhunting elk presents distinct challenges compared to rifle hunting. Archery requires hunters to close the distance significantly on animals that weigh hundreds of pounds and traverse steep mountain ranges.

Other Country Stars Fill Tags in Utah This Season
Green is not the only prominent musician to secure elk meat in Utah recently. While Combs initially intended to use a bow, he ultimately switched to a rifle to complete the harvest. That specific hunt served as motivation for Combs’ recent 30-pound weight loss.
Other artists in the genre have also reported successful hunts out west. Whiskeyriff.com noted that musicians Cody Johnson, Chase Rice, and Koe Wetzel have shared trophies from their own excursions into the woods, while Sam Barber recently bagged a caribou in Alaska.
Hunting fees fund habitat conservation in Utah
Utah supports an estimated elk population between 82,000 and 84,000 animals, according to figures cited by whiskeyriff.com. State wildlife management aims to maintain that population above 80,000 through regulated tag sales. Hunting licenses and permit fees directly support the conservation of wildlife habitats and public lands throughout the Beehive State, where tags typically cost a few hundred dollars depending on residency status.
Frequently Asked Questions About Riley Green’s Elk Hunt
What weapon did Riley Green use to harvest his elk?
Green used a compound bow to take his Utah bull elk, sticking with archery equipment throughout the trip unlike some of his industry peers.
Which television show has featured Riley Green’s hunting trips?
Green is a regular guest host on “Major League Bowhunter,” which previously documented his elk hunting efforts in Montana.

How does Utah manage its elk numbers?
The state maintains an elk population above 80,000 animals, funding wildlife habitat conservation through the sale of hunting licenses and permits.
Where did Luke Combs hunt for his elk?
Luke Combs hunted in Utah alongside guide Jason Phelps, eventually taking his bull with a rifle after initially attempting an archery harvest.