The Elk Hunt That Changed Everything
For Slayer Calls founder Bill Ayer, there’s one date that defines his elk hunting story — September 21st. Years ago, on that exact date, he killed the biggest bull of his life during a solo archery elk hunt. Ever since, Bill has made it a tradition: every year, between September 19th and 21st, he’s in the elk woods.
This year’s Idaho elk hunt carried more weight than usual. Bill hadn’t tagged a bull in four seasons. He had passed on smaller bulls, holding out for the right elk hunt — a mature herd bull, fired up and screaming, closing in for a close-quarters encounter.
Growing Up in the Outdoors
Hunting wasn’t something Bill stumbled into. Growing up in Antioch, California, he was surrounded by hunters, fishermen, and a strong Italian community where family meals and the outdoors went hand in hand. His dad was a sturgeon fisherman, pheasant and blacktail deer hunter, and an elk hunter — and Bill tagged along from the time he could walk.
Even while playing Division I football at Cal, Bill dreamed about elk hunting trips in the fall. Once football ended, he was all in — spending every free moment chasing big game, including his first rifle elk hunt in Idaho alongside his dad.
Breaking a Four-Year Elk Hunt Drought
Owning Slayer Calls adds another layer of pressure. For Bill, success has always been about the experience — not just the harvest. But after four years without filling a tag, he knew this elk hunt needed to count.
On a crisp September morning, bugles echoed through the canyon. The bulls weren’t responsive, so the team backed out and waited for evening. Later, in a meadow near the spot where Bill killed his very first elk, everything came together.
As the sun dipped low, cows filtered out, and bugles answered across the timber. Then came the bull — raking, screaming, and slowly closing the distance. A few soft cow calls sealed the deal. At 40 yards, Bill’s arrow hit true. The bull ran just 50 yards before going down, capping off an Idaho elk hunt four years in the making.
More Than a Bull
For Bill, this wasn’t just about finally filling a tag. It was about proving Slayer’s calls in the field — using gear he and the team handcraft in Eagle, Idaho. It was about gratitude for the outdoors, for good friends, for family who share in the hunt, and for passing that heritage on to the next generation.
As Bill says, “I’m grateful that I get to share it with my son-in-law. I’m grateful I get to share it with my grandson who’s now into hunting. I’m grateful I can share it with my younger stepdaughter. I love it — I obsess over the outdoors. Hunting, fishing, camping — I’m thankful I get to do it all.”
Watch the Full Hunt
This story is more than just an elk hunt — it’s a glimpse into why we hunt in the first place: tradition, family, and the deep connection to wild places.
👉 Watch The 21st – The Day Big Bulls Go Down on Slayer’s In The Hunt YouTube channel.
