An ode to frustration (First archery elk season recap)

va_to_co

FNG
Joined
Sep 5, 2025
Messages
15
TL;DR--back to the drawing board for this hunter.

I'm hoping that this provides me with some catharsis as I type it up, but more importantly, gives some insight to future versions of myself and hunters like me.

I grew up hunting white-tailed deer in Virginia, from tree stands and then in late 2018, a saddle. Started archery hunting in 2014/15. As a new Colorado resident, I'd been excited to give archery elk a try. Lots of reading online, video watching, trying to glean any secondhand information I could. I'm not sure if it helped me one bit. But alas....

I found out after the draw that I was successful in drawing a 0-point (resident) unit and had my e-scouting work cut out for me. I took 3 summer scouting/camping trips to hike around a couple areas I was curious about, hang a few trail cameras, and get an idea of what the 4.5 hour drive would be like.

I had time/life allowed for hunting the first week, a couple days last week, and a couple this week.

Between those days, I saw 9 elk on the hoof, while hunting in my unit. Three of those were cows at the summit of a mountain that I spooked, one was a bull I spooked walking out in the dark, one a spike that surprised me silently at 35 yards, which leaves the last four that I glassed from afar. Other than that, I listened to a moose for 30 minutes, had a mountain lion at 15 yards, saw a handful of deer, and many grouse.

The only bugling I heard was the night before opening day, and how high my hopes were at that point. Otherwise, silence. Hiking around, climbing over deadfall, and wondering what I was doing out there were all on the menu. It was frustrating, lonely, and far, far tougher than I anticipated. I'm certain there are harder first hunts, and certainly easier ones too. Sure, deer hunting in hardwoods can be slow and challenging, but it does not compare. As I type this, I'm sitting in my house, having quit with this weekend to hunt. As time on the mountain went on, I found it easier and easier to want to quit, and here I am, having quit a couple days early. Doing it solo was far harder than I anticipated, and I think the lack of action/dwindling hope of seeing something contributed to that significantly.

I've got a lot more learning to do, but man, talk about being frustrated and disappointed (in myself).

To future versions of me, give yourself some grace, do a better job finding a hunting buddy with at least a tiny bit more experience with elk, and don't let a young steer run into your car while you're driving to the trailhead.
 
Sounds like a great time to me. Hunting isn't all about the kill. Don't let it be that for you. I deer hunt here in Va in Mt Rogers NRA and have never killed a deer there. I've had chances but they were either too young or I didn't realize how good a buck it was. Having left camp before first light and get back shivering after dark empty handed, once the fire is going I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
 
Not too late not to quit! As I’m sure you know from other hunting ….the number one quality that kills all critters is persistence. That entire season of struggle can flip just like that. Pick out a fresh spot and go check it out.

Lots of guys would love to be living in Colorado and able to be in proximity to hunt Elk….this might sound cliche, but to a large degree I think our mindset and energy we bring into the woods directly impacts success. If you can find a way to suck it up and flip your mindset, you’ll only help yourself get to where you want to be by finishing out the season.
 
I certainly understand the “what the hell am
I doing here feeling?” It hits me at different times every year. That’s an advantage to going with others is that you can’t leave because you don’t want to take them with you, and the feeling eventually subsides.

Seeing nine elk on your first trip isn’t too bad, granted it’s still far from harvesting one.

True story, 2024 was our fourth season, and we had been accustomed to finding elk everyday the first three years. But that year, it was day 6 before we saw one lone cow. We saw one lone cow and a moose the next day. We heard a distant bugle on day 2 that I’m 99% sure was a hunter. That was it. It happens.

This year we saw herds ranging from 15-70 every single day.
 
TL;DR--back to the drawing board for this hunter.

I'm hoping that this provides me with some catharsis as I type it up, but more importantly, gives some insight to future versions of myself and hunters like me.

I grew up hunting white-tailed deer in Virginia, from tree stands and then in late 2018, a saddle. Started archery hunting in 2014/15. As a new Colorado resident, I'd been excited to give archery elk a try. Lots of reading online, video watching, trying to glean any secondhand information I could. I'm not sure if it helped me one bit. But alas....

I found out after the draw that I was successful in drawing a 0-point (resident) unit and had my e-scouting work cut out for me. I took 3 summer scouting/camping trips to hike around a couple areas I was curious about, hang a few trail cameras, and get an idea of what the 4.5 hour drive would be like.

I had time/life allowed for hunting the first week, a couple days last week, and a couple this week.

Between those days, I saw 9 elk on the hoof, while hunting in my unit. Three of those were cows at the summit of a mountain that I spooked, one was a bull I spooked walking out in the dark, one a spike that surprised me silently at 35 yards, which leaves the last four that I glassed from afar. Other than that, I listened to a moose for 30 minutes, had a mountain lion at 15 yards, saw a handful of deer, and many grouse.

The only bugling I heard was the night before opening day, and how high my hopes were at that point. Otherwise, silence. Hiking around, climbing over deadfall, and wondering what I was doing out there were all on the menu. It was frustrating, lonely, and far, far tougher than I anticipated. I'm certain there are harder first hunts, and certainly easier ones too. Sure, deer hunting in hardwoods can be slow and challenging, but it does not compare. As I type this, I'm sitting in my house, having quit with this weekend to hunt. As time on the mountain went on, I found it easier and easier to want to quit, and here I am, having quit a couple days early. Doing it solo was far harder than I anticipated, and I think the lack of action/dwindling hope of seeing something contributed to that significantly.

I've got a lot more learning to do, but man, talk about being frustrated and disappointed (in myself).

To future versions of me, give yourself some grace, do a better job finding a hunting buddy with at least a tiny bit more experience with elk, and don't let a young steer run into your car while you're driving to the trailhead.
Coming from someone that is solo most of the time. It is hard, yes the physical side, but the hardest part for me of solo is actually pulling the trigger. If you make a questionable shot, you are on your own to track it. You might trail it 100 yards or a couple miles, might take hours or days. So when you are looking at an elk 40-50 yards away you have to be committed. And when you are 4-5 miles from the truck, and looking at days to get it out, you have second thoughts. I have hunted elk in co for a very long time. And solo makes it more frustrating for sure, since I feel limited, or have to be more conservative, in a bunch of ways.

No reason to be disappointed in yourself, it is supposed to be hard. You are supposed to be very challenged hunting archery elk. Pace yourself next year and try to enjoy it.

Definitely find a hunting buddy, at least till you are confident in what to do. Once you pull the trigger on one, you will see even more of what it takes.
 
Not too late not to quit! As I’m sure you know from other hunting ….the number one quality that kills all critters is persistence. That entire season of struggle can flip just like that. Pick out a fresh spot and go check it out.

Lots of guys would love to be living in Colorado and able to be in proximity to hunt Elk….this might sound cliche, but to a large degree I think our mindset and energy we bring into the woods directly impacts success. If you can find a way to suck it up and flip your mindset, you’ll only help yourself get to where you want to be by finishing out the season.
I totally agree with that (positive mindset), and I think that's why I decided to drive home. By myself and feeling like I just didn't know what to do and couldn't guess right. But I suppose I've got to take my lumps, I don't think instant success would be very satisfying.
 
Coming from someone that is solo most of the time. It is hard, yes the physical side, but the hardest part for me of solo is actually pulling the trigger. If you make a questionable shot, you are on your own to track it. You might trail it 100 yards or a couple miles, might take hours or days. So when you are looking at an elk 40-50 yards away you have to be committed. And when you are 4-5 miles from the truck, and looking at days to get it out, you have second thoughts. I have hunted elk in co for a very long time. And solo makes it more frustrating for sure, since I feel limited, or have to be more conservative, in a bunch of ways.

No reason to be disappointed in yourself, it is supposed to be hard. You are supposed to be very challenged hunting archery elk. Pace yourself next year and try to enjoy it.

Definitely find a hunting buddy, at least till you are confident in what to do. Once you pull the trigger on one, you will see even more of what it takes.
Yeah, I think that's totally true. I feel (maybe I'm wrong) that if I had been at least a little bit "in the ballpark", it would've been easier to stick it out. A glimmer of hope, now and then. So for now, have to go hunt for a buddy who is willing to show me the ropes or figure them out alongside me.
 
Yeah, I think that's totally true. I feel (maybe I'm wrong) that if I had been at least a little bit "in the ballpark", it would've been easier to stick it out. A glimmer of hope, now and then. So for now, have to go hunt for a buddy who is willing to show me the ropes or figure them out alongside me.
One thing that made it tougher is most 0 point units are going to be a challenge. Learning the low point good units will be part of your education. Then figure how to pull decent tags often in CO is the next learning for you.
 
One thing that made it tougher is most 0 point units are going to be a challenge. Learning the low point good units will be part of your education. Then figure how to pull decent tags often in CO is the next learning for you.
I sort of figured that was the case. I imagine every unit has its better areas, but finding those takes time.
 
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