elk hunt - archery or rifle

[mdfanatic1980]

Hello All

I'm having trouble making up my mind on rifle vs bow elk hunt. I've gone on 2 elk hunts, headed out for my 3rd. On my prior 2 attempts, I've taken one nice bull in Nevada with rifle. This will be a guided hunt. I've not gone with archery gear before for elk, so this would be my first. I can't decide to go that route, or go a later rifle season. The archery would be on private ground and the rifle would be on public; which for this unit is the way it usually works out best.

Thoughts? Tips?

 

[Gman12]

I would pick archery, especially since you have already gone during rifle season. There is nothing like hunting elk with a bow during September. And having the hunt on private land where there is little or no pressure is a no brainer IMO.

 

[Finn16]

If filling a tag is your goal, go rifle. If the experience itself is more important, go archery. Archery will provide screaming bulls and close encounters but not always the shot opportunity even when bulls are in range. Being able to locate bulls by their bugling is an exciting part of the hunt and greatly increases the odds you will be into elk daily. Being on private for the archery hunt, is an advantage as well. September weather and fall foliage are the cherry on top. For all these reasons and being you have already killed a bull with your rifle, I'd go archery.

 

[dtrkyman]

Archery, but I don't own a big game rifle and only bowhunt so easy choice for me!

 

[IdahoBeav]

Archery, it'll be an opportunity to learn from the guides and expand your future DIY elk opportunities.

 

[Brooks]

I always enjoy archery elk hunting but always see some big bulls that are out of bow range that would be a chip shot with a rifle.

 

[5MilesBack]

I rifle hunted for 25 years, and have bowhunted for 17. IMO it's not even a question........go archery. I killed a lot of elk during rifle, but I've also killed a lot of elk during archery. And September hunting is so much more fun for me, and getting on bigger bulls more frequently through the season seems to be more the norm than during rifle. So I guess if you want the bigger challenge with less fun, then go later rifle.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

archery - because hunting private is a huge advantage over hunting public.

 

[trophyhill]

Don’t do archery. For once you do, you won’t look back

 

[camelcluch]

I’m an archery guy so I would choose that. If you enjoy rifle then hunt that. I would say it’s more about the way YOU like to hunt. It would be tough to go archery if that’s not what you enjoy or vise versa.

 

[Lil-Rokslider]

Can't beat September in the mountains

 

[ArcherAdam]

Well in my limited experience you may see more elk in archery and they are typically vocal which can lead to more sightings.

Rifle hunting (post rut) can be a challenge. If you or your outfitter do not know where they are or their migration routes, you could be in for a long week.

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[Fullfan]

Rifle hunted elk for many years. Just started bow hunting them 10 years ago. I wish I would have made the switch 35 years ago.

 

[failwagon]

I would also error toward whichever opportunity will yield a better chance at filling your tag in the specific scenario

 

[hunting307]

Hello All

I'm having trouble making up my mind on rifle vs bow elk hunt. I've gone on 2 elk hunts, headed out for my 3rd. On my prior 2 attempts, I've taken one nice bull in Nevada with rifle. This will be a guided hunt. I've not gone with archery gear before for elk, so this would be my first. I can't decide to go that route, or go a later rifle season. The archery would be on private ground and the rifle would be on public; which for this unit is the way it usually works out best.

Thoughts? Tips?

The private land would be a game changer IF they were on that private land all year long. But, something about being in the mountains in September with perfect weather, elk talking, cooling your feet in a stream and watching little brookies swim around AND having a awesome base camp set up has a nostalgic feeling to it.

Late season rifle can be tricky too, Elk like to retreat to private land and hard to get to areas. They wont be talking as much, weather will be brutal. But, you find those pockets and you could be rewarded. If your gear is top notch, rifle will be fun too. But, if your gear fails you and you're cold at night; it will be miserable. Ask me how I know.

 

[Indian Summer]

Numbers don’t lie. Success rates are higher with a rifle for obvious reasons. So… for fun archery, for better chances of punching your tag rifle.

 

[hunting307]

Numbers don’t lie. Success rates are higher with a rifle for obvious reasons. So… for fun archery, for better chances of punching your tag rifle.

I don't disagree with you, but, I would love to know what percent of those rifle tags were filled on private land, wouldn't you?

 

[Indian Summer]

I don't disagree with you, but, I would love to know what percent of those rifle tags were filled on private land, wouldn't you?

I don’t think about that. I’m sure archery tags are filled on private too. Regardless across the board success is always higher with a gun.

 

[GL ==———>]

You can’t beat a September archery hunt. Screaming Bulls! Go archery.

 

[Fullfan]

I have done both, My elk rifles have not moved from the safe for the past 10 years. Have you ever called in a spring gobbler ? If so now imagine that gobbler weighing 800 pounds w horns...