So elk season has started for some and is going to be starting for others this weekend (me) ... What type of bull (if any) are you setting your sights on this year? From new hunters to seasoned guys let's hear it!
Well after passing 5 at 25 yards I guess I’m holding out for a big one. My idea of big is a mature bull. Small 6, big 5. My standards lower quickly as the season continues. Imagine bar...alcohol...women. Come the 3rd weekend they all look good!
I'm past the trophy hunting stage. No place to hang any more at my houses or my friend's houses and don't need anymore hanging from the garage rafters. Don't have anything to prove and no sponsors to please with trophy hero pics. I want an extra cow for my freezer and then a good hunt for a legal bull after that.
Its been so hot in our spot and such screwy wind that we spent the first four days trying to stay away from elk before coming home to wait for conditions to change.
Good luck and hopefully everyone's expectations will be fulfilled, and the lucky 10% who punch tags are happy with what they shot. No scowling photos, please!
Leaving for Colorado on Thursday the 13th. Should be hunting the afternoon of the 14th and plan to hunt the remainder of the season.
Primary goal on this trip is to get a friend in position to kill his first elk. Secondary goal is to get my long time hunting partner in position to kill his second ever bull. I have a tag too, but my job is the setup/calling...and hopefully packing elk meat.
Torn here as I have a good tag for any elk. My wife wants meat from a spike( think 1 1/2 years old) but I also guide archery hunters so don’t often get 8 days mid season. Hold out for a decent bull for awhile.Fred
I leave in the morning and have a 5.5 hour drive ahead of me. I will.be hunting tomorrow by 3:00. I am taking the first legal animal that pops out but hope to have a couple encounters first for the experience. My son will be videoing and possibly calling. If he screws up one single opportunity I will beat him with his bugle tube. LMFAO
Should be pulling into Wyoming Monday. I dont have to be back to work until October 1st, so I think I'm gonna look for a nice bull. At least for the first couple weeks. Then I may lower my standards.
I've been doing this long enough to know being picky may mean I come home empty handed, but I'm ok with that. Doesn't have to be really big....nice 5×5 or better steps out, I'm flinging an arrow.
I'm going to be more aggressive this year, at least if the wind will let me. I think I've been too conservative in the past.
I can hunt a cow in my home state so that's the freezer meat. First screamin slobberin rut raged legal bull to give me a chance to fling an arrow at...I'll fling an arrow at!-)
Gotta love those little reminders from the wives!!! Well I hope you guys get whatever it is you're gonna be happy with. Tomorrow at noon I'm outta here and into the Gila with a bear and elk tag in my pocket! Beats the heck outta work!!
7 days to hunt with an OTC Either Sex Archery Tag....
Day 1, 0 - 5 minutes: Gotta be a 400+ Bull Day 1, +5 minutes through Day 6: Any Legal Bull Day 7: Cows beware (Calves are safe, daughters wouldn't forgive me!)
Limited days this season. Told myself a cow will do. 1st hunt of season in 1st 15 min and few hundred yds from truck had group of cows 30yds out. Passed bc I figured a bull would step out. No bull stepped out. So I guess I lied to myself and I’m looking for a mature bull.
Awesome, Splitlimb! Do a thread on your hunt and good luck! I'm heading back for the last three weeks with a bear tag and a couple elk tags, and it beats almost everything else!
6x6 +, for the first 10 days of the season,only because I'm hunting the Gila(normally I'm an any legal elk kinda guy)......... on the last few days raghorns, spikes, calves, and cows are all in danger if I haven't filled!
MapQuest says it's 2334 miles from my home to my hunting destination. So, I'll be holding out for the 1st legal elk that gives me a chip shot. And yes, we're driving. And yes, I know we're nuts but we'll get to see a lot of this beautiful country we call home. Good luck to all.
Cow tags again in Wyoming. I would love to someday draw a bull tag because I've seen some monsters up close but no one asks about antlers when we cook the steaks and burgers.
Thank Jaq! 5.5 hours to departure!!! Haha hopefully I will have a bull to throw up here in a few days! I will post pics regardless. Hammer Time fellas ! Let em fly;)
I've never shot an elk, so I'm going for any legal bull or a cow. Mostly my target is spending time in God's country with a great friend who may not have too many elk trips left. Good luck everyone.
I'm not passing on any legal elk. First elk, big bull, raghorn, cow, calf, that gives me a calm broadside shot I'm sending an arrow. I'm hunting OTC, and don't have much free time this season.
I haven't even decided to buy an elk tag or not after the circus around turning in my otc tag to get a chance at a leftover...which turned into no chance in hell at all.
I do not want to drive over to Unit 34 to hunt 2 days then drive back. Too far for too little time in an area too devoid of good elk numbers to justify the effort.
I should have spent time this summer checking out Unit 38...........at least it is within a reasonable distance of home.
I will have to think it over....maybe one last hurrah for the closing weekend. Really, what I realized hunting with my buddies is it is very lonely to hunt solo as I have the last 2 years. Still fun but not nearly as fun as with a buddy, at least in camp to share the days events.
We have a great LQ tag in Wyoming so big bulls only for us this year. Season opens Sept. 15 for archery then goes until Nov. 14 for rifle and it's a wintering area too. 2 cow tags each if we need them for meat on private land. The freezer is getting pretty empty.
Anything that will fill up the freezer is good enough for me. A man gets accustomed to having elk in his freezer it becomes hard not to shoot the first one you see to stay in high cotton!
muzzy hunting 76, 300 inch or above for the first 5 days, any mature bull after that. That is if I can actually hold out for a big one. I love elk meat.
I’m looking for trophies only. Monsters in the 260 range. If I get something bigger so be it. Regardless of how big if it fits on one horse then the horse should be able to pack it out right!
Hunting solo the first two days then leaving for four and coming back for 6. So first two days, he will have to be a monster. Once I have help, my standards start dropping. However, I've done this long enough and killed enough that I don't regret bulls I've let walk early in hunts. Its more about being there, calling, playing with them, knowing I could have. The bull in the pic I called into 23 yards, drew and said out loud "your dead" and then let him walk away. My son, who took the pics, is still mad at me for not shooting him, especially since I ate tag soup that year. However, I chased a 350+ bull for two days and had numerous encounters I likely wouldn't have had if I had shot this guy.
@cnelk given this is my first ever bow hunt i would shoot that bull on the first day and given that it's my first bow hunt i'd probably be so damn nervous that i'd shoot under him lol. I'm praying i get some encounters with a bull like that! So i tell myself i'm going to hold out for a respectable bull but you never know when the adrenaline starts pumping.