First elk scenario

[gobears870]

Just daydreaming while e-scouting today and wondered what this crew thinks.

I’m going on my third DIY elk hunt this September. I have had some close calls but not yet filled a tag. This year I cashed in 5 points to draw an either sex archery tag in CO.

If you’re me and and a cow walks in broadside at 25 yards on the first day, do you shoot it?

 

[svivian]

5 point unit personally i wouldn't... its your hunt though and its what you want out of it. Punching a 5 point tag on the first day for a cow doesnt scratch that itch for me.

 

[sndmn11]

5 NR points...

You are either hunting for book animals only, or you are hunting for a fun hunt. If everything on my fun meter is lighting up going into the moment that cow walks by, I wouldn't hesitate.

 

[Jaquomo]

Doesn't matter what we think - would it thrill you?

Way back in the day when there were a LOT fewer bowhunters and more huntable elk (not locked up on big ranches) I held out for a bull for my first elk, missed one several times, - dont ask - lost two, and in my fourth season I killed a cow on the next to last day. I was thrilled with that big old cow, and that confidence opened the floodgates to a hell of a run.

It's all about what would make YOU happy. Go have a great hunt!

 

[ScreamingPotato]

5 NR points...

You are either hunting for book animals only, or you are hunting for a fun hunt. If everything on my fun meter is lighting up going into the moment that cow walks by, I wouldn't hesitate.

I'm going with this, in the moment if it excites you gopher it and don't let any ragerts set it later.

 

[gobears870]

Here’s my thought process:

Am I going for a bull? Yes.
Do I need a trophy? No.
Would I be thrilled to fill a freezer? Absolutely.
What about the 5 points? I go every other year anyway; I will hunt another limited draw in the not so distant future.
Would I always wonder if I could have gotten a bull had I passed on the cow? Probably yes.
Would I be pissed if I went home empty handed after that first day encounter? You bet.

To me it balances out towards shooting, but I’m curious how others think through it as well.

 

[Dos Perros]

Pass. I like elk hunting too much to shoot a cow on the first day.

 

[MallardSX2]

On my first ever elk hunt, I shot the first elk I had a good shot at with my bow. It was a VERY large cow elk.

I regretted the decision to this day. She tasted like a pinecone and was tougher than a boiled owl...

I was surrounded by bulls for the remainder of that 14-day hunt.....Could have killed 4 bulls on that trip and it was OTC....back when OTC was good. lol

Hold out for a legal bull.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Do what ever tips your trigger, heck I cashed in 8 points on my elk tag this year and I have an idea of the kind of bull I would like to shoot, but sometimes everything is just too perfect or a situation is just too good to pass up. I’ll know the second I see the bull I want to hang my tag on. Don’t worry about what a bunch of strangers on the internet think

 

[philson208]

Agree with dos Perros. elk hunting is too fun to sit out the rest of the season. I shot a small rag on opening day last year kind of cause I always wanted to tag out opening day. I missed all of the rut activity , and I had to pack my bull out solo in two trips due to location and 98 degree weather. No ragerts though, you'll know if she's the one.

 

[gobears870]

Agree with dos Perros. elk hunting is too fun to sit out the rest of the season.

But what if, like me, your elk season is 6 days

 

[NVbowhunter05]

If your in the elk and don't blow them out I'm passing and waiting for a bull

 

[Jethro]

I would not shoot on day 1. Nor day 2,3, or 4.

 

[MallardSX2]

I know a guy who shot a cow elk with his bow on the first day of a unit 2 archery elk hunt many years ago.. True story. He feels like a complete fool to this day.

He chased the tag again for well over 20 years and burned his points on a 76-archery tag and shot a small bull. lol.

 

[philson208]

shoot her on day 6!!

But what if, like me, your elk season is 6 days

 

[Dos Perros]

I know a guy who shot a cow elk with his bow on the first day of a unit 2 archery elk hunt many years ago.. True story. He feels like a complete fool to this day.

He chased the tag again for well over 20 years and burned his points on a 76-archery tag and shot a small bull. lol.

This makes me want to jam a credit card in my pee hole.

 

[BBob]

You can't kill a bull if you shoot a cow.
You won't learn much about hunting bulls in order to kill bulls by shooting cows.

 

[Dos Perros]

shoot her on day 6!!

My call to my wife whenever someone shoots something on the last day:

 

[DanimalW]

Since you’re just imagining here…imagine that you shoot that cow and as she takes off a huge bull you couldn’t see yet also took off running. Would you regret it?

 

[sndmn11]

You can't kill a bull if you shoot a cow.
You won't learn much about hunting bulls in order to kill bulls by shooting cows.

@Ucsdryder can attest to the elk dumbness in the household of @KickinNDishin and I, so this is a genuine question.

Can I learn much about "hunting bulls" by fiddling with small ones, or is there a significant distinction between hunting BULLS versus bulls?