Story by: Hunter Schmittou
The 2024 elk season started like any other for Kentucky elk guide and Lost Mountain Outfitters owner, Hurley Combs. With May came the Kentucky lottery draw, which meant Hurley was busy taking calls and booking hunters. Like 2023, he was able to purchase three landowner tags, which he sold to clients.
“One opportunity most people don’t know about is that Kentucky gives out landowner tags to individuals who donate their land for hunting to the lottery-drawn hunters. Those tags can then be transferred to someone who wants to purchase them. Lottery draw tags, though, are not transferable,” Hurley explained.
Not wanting to mix business with pleasure, Hurley never considered keeping one of the tags. They were either-sex and valid for the second week of gun season, so he quickly lined up hunters to use them.
By fall, Hurley and his guides were running hunters through camp every few days, and by the second week of gun season they had harvested 43 bulls. The three landowner-tag holders were a husband and wife, plus Hurley’s friend Tanner. Hurley’s son and fellow guide KJ would take the couple, while Hurley guided Tanner himself.
On opening morning, bulls bugled across the ridge. A giant known as “55,” named for the splits on his fives, slipped through briefly. Trail cameras confirmed it. They tried to cut him off but came up empty. Later that day, Hurley and KJ heard bulls bugling and hustled hunters back into position. Tanner could not make it for the midday hunt, so Hurley joined KJ and the couple. That evening, Hurley’s calling pushed the herd toward KJ. In minutes, the husband dropped a 370” 8x7. As they celebrated, another bull came in. Out of ammo, KJ sprinted for a rifle at the truck, returned, and the wife dropped a 340” 6x6. It took until 4 a.m. to pack both bulls out.
The next morning, a storm blew in. Fog and rain shut them down for two days. When Tanner finally arrived, he got word he had to return home. Before leaving, he stunned Hurley by gifting him the landowner tag. It was only days before Hurley’s birthday, and Tanner wanted him to have a shot at “55.”
Hurley was floored. After transferring the tag into his name, he vowed to wait until his final client tagged out before chasing the bull himself. The last hunter arrived, and Hurley resisted taking “55” even when he had the chance. Instead, KJ guided the hunter onto a collared 315” bull, which he dropped at 386 yards with a muzzleloader. Only then did Hurley turn his focus to the giant.
On October 5th, Hurley’s birthday, he hiked out before dawn. In the stillness, he heard “55’s” distinct bugle echoing through the canyon. Under the stars, the hunt felt deeply personal. He slipped into a spot called the Bowl and waited. As cows filtered in, “55” appeared, trailing behind them. Over half an hour, the herd fed closer until the bull stood broadside at 142 yards. Hurley settled his rifle, clicked off the safety, and made a perfect shot. A quick follow-up ended the saga of “55.”
“This was an unexpected dream come true,” Hurley said. “I never thought I’d get another Kentucky elk after my first one. But I could not have chosen a better day, bull, or experience than harvesting ‘55’ with my LMO team.”
Hurley’s bull scored a net 393 4/8”, ranking as the number two non-typical in Kentucky and number three all-time hunter-harvested bull in the state. For more than a decade, Hurley has dedicated himself to guiding others on dream hunts, several of which have been featured in Huntin’ Fool Magazine. This time, it was his turn.
I have known Hurley for five years, including being guided by him myself, and one thing stands out. He cares more about his hunters’ success than his own. And he is always on giant bulls. If you ever draw the golden ticket to elk hunt Kentucky, call the crew at Lost Mountain Outfitters. They will make your dream a reality.