Cole Wilks Biography
Cole Wilks is an American hunter, elk calling expert, survival instructor, television personality, and entrepreneur from Bertram, Texas. Best known by the nickname Flatlander, he gained national attention after competing on Naked and Afraid Season 17. Wilks is the founder of Learn, Hunt, Harvest, an elk hunting coach with Blue Collar Elk Hunting, and the host of the IN THE BUSH Podcast. He currently lives in Burnet, Texas.
Cole Wilks Age | Birthday
Wilks is 42 years old as of 2026. He was born in March 1984, although his exact birth date has not been publicly disclosed.
Cole Wilks Parents
Wilks was born in Bertram, Texas, to Pammy Wilks and Randal Wilks. He credits his father for introducing him to hunting, fishing, and foraging at a young age, experiences that shaped his lifelong passion for the outdoors.
Cole Wilks Height
Wilks stands at a height of 5 feet and 8 inches (approximately).
Cole Wilks Wife
Wilks is married to Kaycee Wilks. The couple began dating in 2006 and married in June 2014. They have two children, daughter Madison and son Kaleb, and continue to live in Texas.
Job
Cole Wilks has more than three decades of hunting experience. He specializes in public-land bowhunting and elk calling, skills that have earned him recognition across the hunting community. Cole founded Learn, Hunt, Harvest, where he teaches hunters practical field skills, and serves as an elk hunting coach with Blue Collar Elk Hunting. He has competed in the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Elk Calling Championships, appeared on Hunt Warz, and reached the final selection stage for History Channel’s Alone Season 7. Cole also runs the Flatlander YouTube channel and co-hosts the IN THE BUSH Podcast, where he discusses hunting, bushcraft, and wilderness survival.
Naked and Afraid
Cole made his television debut on Naked and Afraid Season 17, where he partnered with Michelle “Shell” Armogida in South Africa. The pair successfully completed the 21-day survival challenge despite facing crocodiles, dangerous wildlife, and harsh conditions.
Following his successful debut, Cole returned for Naked and Afraid XL (2024) in Colombia alongside veteran survivalists. In 2026, he also appeared in another 21-day Naked and Afraid challenge set in Florida, continuing to build his reputation as one of the franchise’s recurring survivalists.
Since his first appearance, Cole has become one of the franchise’s returning survivalists, competing in multiple Naked and Afraid challenges and Naked and Afraid XL.
Net Worth
Cole Wilks has an estimated net worth between $500,000 and $1 million. His income comes from hunting instruction, learning, hunting, harvesting, YouTube, podcasting, sponsorships, and television appearances.
Cole is active on Instagram under @colewilkshunter, where he shares hunting trips, wilderness skills, television projects, and outdoor adventures. He also publishes educational hunting videos through his Flatlander YouTube channel.
Quick Facts About Cole Wilks
- Full Name: Cole Wilks
- Nickname: Flatlander
- Born: March 1984
- Age: 42 (as of 2026)
- Hometown: Bertram, Texas
- Residence: Burnet, Texas
- Nationality: American
- Profession: Hunter, Survival Instructor, TV Personality
- Known For: Naked and Afraid, Naked and Afraid XL
- Company: Learn, Hunt, Harvest
- Wife: Kaycee Wilks
- Children: Madison and Kaleb
- YouTube: Flatlander
- Podcast: IN THE BUSH