After watching the Born and Raised series, and seeing how they alternate shooters based on encounters with elk even within a single day, I like that method for a couple of reasons: 1. There's a level of excitement and anticipation from multiple perspectives that both guys can experience each day 2. Two guys with tags have an opportunity to experience being both shooter and caller on those rare days when the stars align and the rut is on. This seems to average things out better, rather than one guy being the only shooter on that hot day, and the next guy up potentially coming into the exact opposite conditions the following day. The same would apply to good weather vs poor weather...again, alternating more frequently would seem to average things out better.
Now, I know those hot days are wishful thinking and few and far between, but the fact that it's possible at all, makes that system more appealing and fair to me. What are the rules you all follow with your hunting buddies?
Very exciting, especially using the triangle setup
My buddy hasn't killed an elk in a few years, not for lack of trying. Last year he didn't have an opportunity. He didn't go in 2016. He brisket shot and lost one in 2015. I killed one last year, and I hunted in 2016, and missed one in 2015. He's due and he's up. I would say on our next hunt that he's designated shooter until he kills one. I think that's fair for us.
My current hunting buddy only had a couple elk under his belt, so I pushed him ahead to be the shooter on our 2016 NM elk hunt. He ended up killing a 350 bull on our first setup! He did a great job of calling for me after that, and I killed a great bull as well.
It's the same "rush" for me, whether I make the shot, or my buddy...I love it!
Best of Luck, Jeff
I know it's all a matter of perspective and will vary from group to group and situation to situation, which is exactly what I'm interested in hearing.
Once you get a bull down, you eliminate the "caller vs shooter" dilemma !
Best of Luck, Jeff
Another friend killed that bull the following week. He ranked #11 in CO archery at the time. Since then I've always made sure we're both on the same page for every variable.
Usually pretty effective with just one other hunter but it is much tougher with more than that. 3 is maximum and that is really tough to manage. Typically put the shooter/shooters a bit in front and try to get them settled in with some shooting lanes prior to calling.
Interestingly, I think I have every bit as good a chance to get a shot as the shooters and have killed a number of bulls that came in around the shooter without them getting a shot and allowed me to shoot.
It seems that most guys alternate on setups, or go the team route. I think Bake was the only one that mentioned sometimes alternating day to day. I hadn't thought about the team route, with the caller nocking an arrow on a setup as well, but I like it...focus goes to putting an elk on the ground for the team...period. I imagine there are some points to be on the same page about even with this approach, but seems that should be easier, and would revolve more around when the caller should feel good about taking a shot. To me, that could be resolved by splitting a minimum "safe" distance apart. If caller sees the bull come in a location where it's obvious the shooter didn't even see him, or could get a shot at the moment the bull presents a shot to the caller, then the caller is at liberty to shoot.
There's some variability and subjectivity in that scenario, but some is common sense...if I'm 75 yards from my partner, and bull flanks on either side and is now 20 yards out from me and moving away from shooter, in my mind the setup now shifts me to the shooter role. I know I'm overthinking probably, but don't want to leave anything to question when we get out there.
When having multiple hunters (2-4) hunting together it can be advantage hunters over the elk in a huge way, you just need a good game plan per encounter. In most cases we are running & gunning elk, this means as soon as we locate a bugling bull we now will setup accordingly. For us when hunting dark timber ( that's normal for us) we will alternate one shooter per encounter. It doesn't matter if there's 2 to 4 hunters, still only one shooter at a time! We now have the luxury on a setup to have multiple callers as needed. In most cases it's still one caller but you never know. The caller generally starts aprox 25 yards from designated shooter with good cover, this allows the caller to move left or right to direct an oncoming elk or caller can retreat if needed on a hung up bull. The callers role is very important here!
On more open country we will then consider two shooters when available, this is because the caller will need to be quite a bit further back, more in the 60 yard plus range even to a 100 yards away so it's tougher to direct a bull exactly where you need him to come to a single shooter. With two shooters they can be 40 yards apart or so.
At any rate we will alternate a new shooter per setup. This way everyone's happy that has a tag & all will have their chances sooner or later!
ElkNut/Paul
ElkNut/Paul
Every set-up/situation is different.
My bud from Indiana was in Wyo Bow elk camp and we had him set-up about 50 yards in front of me as I cow chirped.
This bull came busting out of the Pines down hill @ 27 yards from me and I didn't have my bow with me that day as I was determined to get HIM his very first bow bull.
Ya just never know what them dang elk are going to do!!
Good luck, Robb
I think that first you need to decide if you really want him along. The way you phrased this statement suggests to me that maybe you really aren't that thrilled with him coming along. If everyone wants each other along and wants each other to succeed then the answers to questions like who is the shooter becomes pretty easy.
As Lou said - passing one up could result in a missed opportunity.
I tried to get him out with me this September, but he wasn't interested in going at the time. I ended up going solo, and after hearing about my experience and fact that I planned on going back, it flipped a switch and he is now all in.
The main thing that's driving my preference for alternating shooter/caller on each setup(with the note that both are at liberty to shoot based on who has the best opportunity) is based on what I experienced on my trip.
In the same area, on back to back days, I experienced a day full of screaming bulls, followed by a day full of complete silence. When you may only have one day like that in a trip, I'd want him to experience being shooter in a situation like that just as much, if not more, than I'd like that for myself.
One such hunt for myself was my first moose hunt this past fall with my brother. It was a first for both of us. We alternated after 24 hours, but the shooter was shooter for a PM, then the following AM. So each "day" we were each "on" for half a day. Once one person shoots, it's the other guy. We were also both on the understanding that priority 1 is getting a bull down, so when/if things don't go according to plan and someone improvises to shoot who isn't "the shooter" that's perfectly all right. And I wouldn't be worried about a person selfishly taking an opportunity over, as when you reference my earlier point, I'm not hunting with that type of person. We are both equally happy for either to get one.
