Back Out? or Go For Broke

[trophyhill]

after talking to a great elk killer in his own right the other day and having this conversation with other elk killers about this in the past, I thought i'd bring it up here. i'm not a back out type hunter once I've found the elk. i have my reasons. i'm interested to hear your thoughts on the subject on why hunters decide to back out or not?

 

[Jon Boy]

Yuh know ive always been a play it safe hunter, and its never worked out. Being to cautious has lost me opportunity at my first elk on more than one occasion. Lately Ive found to just have killer instinct and go with it. Ive always tried playing the wind but in the mountains I hunt you'll drive yourself crazy cus its always switching. Develop a plan, stick to it, hope every thing works out, and kill. Now if you have well patterned elk in a place with little pressure, I would definitely wait it out. But what do I know ive never even killed one Interesting to see what some of the elk slayers on here have to say.

 

[justin davis]

I'm pretty aggressive when it comes to elk hunting or my bowhunting in general. I usually push the limits hard and it has paid off. There are times to be cautious thou and play it safe. Depends on the situation.

 

[Vector32]

I don't have much advice on this as I am still waiting to kill my First one. But I have done both. I think you need to stay some where in the middle. Especially if you are hunting public ground. Chances are the next guy isn't going to wait. The main thing I learned last year is if you have a plan stick with it. I missed out on a chance on a nice bull last year by getting Inpatient. But that's how you learn I guess.

 

[HellsCanyon]

Be aggressive if at all possible and don't be lazy. Sometimes you gotta take the long way around to be aggressive.

Mike

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I tend to be aggressive, but as mentioned above being cautious is sometimes required.

 

[trdhunter]

I have had both pay off and have had both bite me in the ass. I think it just depends on the situation and all the variables.
On crowded general hunts, I go for broke most times because if I leave it, someone else will take advantage while im laying low.

 

[Lukem]

Be aggressive if at all possible and don't be lazy. Sometimes you gotta take the long way around to be aggressive.

Mike

This.

 

[Jason Snyder]

All situations are different. I think that is where experience comes in to play, and the only way to gain experience is by screwing up some and succeeding some. Right?

If I'm hunting a bunch of elk that I know will stay in the area, and if I blow them out I may never find them again, then I'll be more cautious. Last year I was in and out of the same several bunches of elk for three days in a row. I couldn't really push the envelope, and didn't want to.

Other times, I've gone ultra aggressive and created shot opportunities because of it. I've also blown some by being too aggressive.

Two things I've come to learn, aggressive doesn't have to be fast, and you can't beat the wind.

 

[Ross]

I would say 90% of my elk have been hung high by being aggressive, but I always do what I can to keep the wind in my favor. If you dont have the wind, it does not matter whether you are passive or aggressive, the elk will win.

 

[vcb]

This.

This x3

 

[thebugler]

I like the hunt smarter not harder approach. Once I know where they are, everything must be right before I approach them. Wind direction, and location dictate everything. If I cant re-position myself, I may have to wait them out with sketchy midday thermals until the evening thermals get consistent, or if they are unapproachable and holed up in a horribly brushy or wide open place with no cover. But once things are right, its time to be aggressive

 

[trophyhill]

I like the hunt smarter not harder approach. Once I know where they are, everything must be right before I approach them. Wind direction, and location dictate everything. If I cant re-position myself, I may have to wait them out with sketchy midday thermals until the evening thermals get consistent, or if they are unapproachable and holed up in a horribly brushy or wide open place with no cover. But once things are right, its time to be aggressive

this has become my approach. In lieu of backing out and going back to camp or going fly fishing, I will wait them out at a safe distance until conditions are right. elk move around too much for me to leave and hope they are still their when I get back.

 

[sanchomaes]

I also believe this situation varies. It comes down to your instinct. There seems to be times when moving swiftly right at a bull has paid off for me and i can recall times when i was busted way to soon.

Overall i like to move very swiftly and aggressive if the situation arises!

 

[wapitibob]

I spent a lot of years actually running at bulls and it paid off a bunch. The first time I held back without making a sound and watched things transpire, I shot the bull at 2 steps. Each situation is different and if we knew exactly was going to happen, the success rates would be higher.

 

[armyjoe]

I also believe this situation varies. It comes down to your instinct. There seems to be times when moving swiftly right at a bull has paid off for me and i can recall times when i was busted way to soon.

Overall i like to move very swiftly and aggressive if the situation arises!

x2. Pretty much how I play it.

I'm usually aggressive but every once in awhile slow and patience has paid off.

 

[Dinkshooter]

You got know when to hold em (when to hold em) know when to fold (when to fold em) know when to walk away and know when to run........................

 

[tstowater]

I think about this question all the time. My brother and I were hunting elk in Wyoming a number of years ago. We had a private ranch of about 3500 acres to ourselves at the tail end of rifle season. We were able to get on the ranch after the outfitter who hunted it was done. We were told, and also saw them, that there was a 380 bull and several 330+/- bulls on the ranch. We located the 380 on the second morning and I put together a stalk. The plan was good, but the wind wasn't right so I backed out figuring that we had time on our side, lack of familiarity of the landscape and I wasn't completely comfortable that I wouldn't blow the elk off the ranch and never get another chance.

My brother shot one of the 340 bulls that night or the next and in the process blew everything out of the country (he can be overly agressive). Do I regret backing out under the circumstance?-----I flip-flop on that everytime I think about it. I gernerally still think I did the right thing with what I knew at that time, but I might take a more agressive approach now. Man, he was a nice bull, beautiful rack. Something that dreams are made of.

To answer the question, you need to be as agressive as the circumstance allow and experience (and luck) will dictate success.