Woodland Park High School teacher Patrick Littrell recently won the Men’s Division at the 2023 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s World Elk Calling Championships.

A passionate elk hunter for over a decade, Littrell started honing a new skill when he met Jermaine Hodge, an experienced elk caller and Army veteran from Pueblo. Hodge became Littrell’s hunting partner and mentor in elk calling, hunting strategies, fitness, diet, gear, and the demanding hunter’s lifestyle.

“In being his hunting battle buddy, we have attempted to perfect the lifestyle demands of elk hunting,” said Littrell.

Littrell’s victory at the elk calling championship came despite his only being involved in the skill for five years. He credits his past as a drummer in band to have played a role in his elk calling journey. His keen ear for music helped him figure out elk sounds as he listened to Hodge’s calls and the elk in the wild, allowing him to replicate those sounds accurately.

“I have taken the sounds I have mastered to know and translated that to interpret better what the elk are actually saying,” Littrell said. “This is important so you know what kinds of calls to make when you hear them talk or try to talk to them.”