Cliff Pirch: Elk guide

Clifford Pirch is a quiet man when it comes to almost anything.

In the last two seasons on the Bassmaster Elite Series, Pirch has qualified for the Bassmaster Classic twice.

Pirch came close to winning an event on the St. Lawrence River.

And he has done well in events that have been tough, like the Delaware River in Philadelphia.

He always comes to the weigh-in stand with a smile on his face and is making a name as a fierce competitor.

Pirch has won three U.S. Opens, the last in September 2014.

Today, the trophy still sits in his kitchen. The glass trophy in the cup is from a local event. His unassuming, quiet style is present even in his trophy case.

When heâs away from fishing he spends his time in the mountains.

Most of that time is spent on the top of hills…

Or on the edges of a precipice…

Or snuggled in the cedars and the manzanitas.

Also watching the sun rise…

Or watching it set.

All the time is spent looking for elk that might be moving miles away.

These elk are spotted a half mile away…

Right before they disappear into the brush.

These are two miles away.

And somewhere in this photo, three miles away, are two elk.

There are times when mule deer are close.

Mule deer are always attentive, even though Coues deer are more common.

Pirch spends his time watching the elk to get a pattern on their movements.

He helps others understand how wildlife moves through the hollows and ridges.

Then he sets them up, hoping they get a chance to get close enough for a successful archery hunt.

Brent Chapman was one of his clients this season.

A nice bull elk that Chapman admits isnât the biggest in the land but is worthy of the excitement it provided him.

Another shot of Chapman with his bull elk.

Pirch spends countless hours trying to get clients on elk like this one.

And through the seasons he has had great success with bull elk like this.

Pirch guided Clay Randall to this elk in October.

Jack Sweeney poses with Pirch next to an elk hunted in November.

Pirch helped a hunter land this large bull.

There are times when itâs not only elk that show up.

A few bears can be seen on Pirch’s trail cam.

One bear is ready for a close-up.

Elk activity is common on the trail cam as well.

When he has hunters in the woods, Pirch is on top of the hills.

Like an air-traffic controller, he is watching the action take place miles away.

After the hunt, he will often light a fire to knock the chill off the cold nights in Arizona while he waits for his hunters to return.

Pirch is always careful with his fires. He has served as a leader of a Helitack Team, which repels from a helicopter into a wildfire to fight the blaze.