Facing our biases

[judders87]

For me, that killing an elk by calling them in is really the only way that counts.

(Stalking is also fine.)

This year I will be using a climbing stand and sitting over a wallow, and I’m having a tough time with it. It’s by far the smartest play. 0 pt unit with lots of pressure. Found this over looked pocket last year that had zero hunters and lots of bulls, but it’s crazy thick and blowdown. I was in easy bow range of 8 bulls but never had an opening to get an arrow thru. Late in the hunt I found a great wallow, and it’s the only one in the area. So, I’m going back to my whitetail methods. But it feels lame. It’s just not how I want to tell the story of how I killed my first elk. I know that’s probably stupid but I have a real hang up with it. (But, less of a hang up than coming home empty handed again.)

Killed my first bull using two years of knowledge on an area where I consistently saw bulls at dusk. I was just sitting under a tree bullshitting with my friend when he basically walked into my lap at 20 yards giving me time to pick up my bow and draw. No calling and not even at a wallow. Not the way I thought it would go either but I was the only one with a bull down that week that I saw. I've had a bull screaming at 30 yards with no shot opportunity in that unit and nothing can match the adrenaline I felt. I'm still chasing that high...

 

[HuntHarder]

Unpopular on this site but glass quality and giant turrets on SWFA, make them and automatic non starter for me. I tried many years back. I know they function well, but i can't get past those 2 issues. Maybe one day I'll get over it.

 

[displacedtexan]

I don't like semi autos. (For me, I'm completely fine with other people having them.)

I just like bolt rifles, break action shotguns, and revolvers.

 

[idig4au]

Unpopular on this site but glass quality and giant turrets on SWFA, make them and automatic non starter for me. I tried many years back. I know they function well, but i can't get past those 2 issues. Maybe one day I'll get over it.

I am there with you. I will stick with Swaro for now and future. Countless miles in scabbards, airports, bush planes, and on backpacks and never have had an issue.

Also not a fan of Tikka rifles, hunting with match bullets, the new trend of shooting tiny calibers with short barrels and chassis rifles. I hope these comments do not get me band.