First OTC Archery Elk Hunt

[Kinger016]

Hello All. I'm planning a trip to CO next September for my first elk hunt. I've been talking about going for years and decided that if I don't plan it, it will just never end up happening so I'm going. There's a couple other guys going with that have never elk hunted before either. It will be a good experience for all of us.

Over the last quite a few months I have spent hours and hours doing all of the research that I can to come up with a game plan. We have came up with what we thing are a handful of solid plans. We will all be buying either sex OTC tags to give us the best opportunity at an elk.

My question is: a hypothetical situation. Lets say we are on our first day and we decided to break up into 2 groups of 2. We are on our first mile into the first day of the hunt. We come upon a meadow with a few cows feeding. We stop to watch them for a while. We realize that they are working their way to one end of the meadow so we work our way around to cut them off and maybe get them in range. Do you take a shot at a cow on day 1 of a 5-7 day hunt? Or do you pass on the opportunity knowing you will be there for another 4-6 days? Just curious what other people opinions are.

I'm from PA and have learned from Whitetail hunting not to pass on an opportunity because you never know when you will get another. Taking care of a 110 pound doe is pretty easy and can be done in a few hours. Taking care of a 400 pound cow is going to take a while longer than that.

 

[nettereo16]

Yes

 

[KHNC]

Kill it. You will be lucky see ANY elk on your first ever trip to CO elk hunting OTC. Good luck!

 

[Ucsdryder]

Otc? Shoot the hell out of a cow, calf, bull, anything that looks like an elk. That might be the only thing you see.

 

[waitforit]

We are on our first mile into the first day of the hunt. We come upon a meadow with a few cows feeding. We stop to watch them for a while. We realize that they are working their way to one end of the meadow so we work our way around to cut them off and maybe get them in range. Do you take a shot at a cow on day 1 of a 5-7 day hunt?

Answer: Yes. When you are new (any probably even after that) you take any good shot you have at a legal elk. From my experience though, here is a more realistic scenario:

We are on our 4th of 7 days. We have hiked all over the place, have not located any elk yet but have found some sign. At first we were excited about it but have come to realize it was old. We spent 2 days hunting the same area that looked promising but no elk were there. Sitting waterholes that weren't being used. Bugles aren't being answered. Seeing other hunters hiking in/out on the trails, dude tracks everywhere.. Every trailhead we hiked in from had 8 pickups and 6 ATVs. I'm hoping my hunting buddy doesn't hear his alarm tomorrow morning. This seems pointless. So much pressure, the elk aren't talking, how can we hunt them?

On the 5th day, we abandoned our previous plans and while driving to try a new spot noticed a steep north facing ridge rising right off the highway. There was no parking lot or trail but we pulled over and hiked up 1200 feet through deadfall and heard bugling that evening. We called in a bull to 40 yards but didn't take the wind into account and spooked him - didn't get a shot. The next day, we were calling from heavy cover and didn't get any responses. We were feeling bored and defeated and let down our guard.. meanwhile, a group of cows made their way over to us silently and we were lucky to hear them before they were on top of us and get a shot off and get my first elk!

 

[WoodrowCall]

Shoot the cow. Just wrote up my hunt in another thread with this same scenario. Passed on a cow day 3. Never had an opportunity after that. Shoot the cow and be happy with that on first trip!

 

[GunsAreFun]

Shoot. Shoot. SHOOT!

Just got back from my first elk hunt (OTC Colorado Archery). We got into elk I think five of seven days, narrowly missing a cow on the second to last day, but I think that’s more of the exception than what one should expect. I did a stupid amount of research, scouting, and preparation to get those encounters. You also have to think outside the box to not end up doing the same thing in the same area as everyone else.

You’ll quickly realize when you get there how daunting of a task it is to kill an elk with a bow. Hard to explain. I heard it many times before our trip, but until you’re there, you can’t understand. Even if you find elk, there is a very high chance something will happen to blow the setup. It gets crazy in those moments. Mistakes are made, time is short, and/or things outside your control will happen.

 

[live4him]

“Never pass on an animal the first day that you’d be happy with the last day”. This saying changed my whole outlook on hunting. More stalks, more mistakes, more success and have learned more as a result. Instead of just sitting behind my glass or bugling from the ridge, I’ll go stalk that doe/cow. Nothing to lose everything to gain. especially given you’re saying there’s 4 of you. Someone needs to tag out first and get the monkey off your back! Elk hunting is contagious, exhausting, miserable, and the most rewarding hunting IMO. It will probably ruin you for life... or hunting career. Chasing whitetail and waterfowl just doesn’t do it anymore for this guy

 

[SteveinMN]

Take the shot! Any elk with a bow is a trophy you should be proud of.

 

[nphunter]

If you're on the edge of a meadow with cows in it during Sept. there is a bull close. Rip out a bugle and see if a bull comes screaming out of the timber, or just stays in the timber and screams. Most likely if you just tried quietly sneaking around the meadow you will bump whichever bull is near those cows. In my experience cows don't really care too much about bugles and normally they won't spoke them, cow calls on the other hand they do not like at all and if you blow one they will probably run the opposite direction.

Cow calls work great for calling young bulls and cows that are alone and sometimes bigger bulls. Play your wind and see if you can get around on them better yet if your downwind and they are slowly feeding away just follow them slowly until they bed down. It's pretty hard to sneak around a group of animals in the forest, there are a lot of eyes and ears to fool. Following them to their bed and either crawling into range or sit back and rake a tree or let out some quiet bugles.

For me personally, elk hunting is about the hunt and not killing something so I would pass and enjoy the hunt. One thing to think about is meat care, if you kill an animal on day one of a week-long trip in Sept. you will have to find a cooler to store that elk in or at least coolers full of ice. The meat will go bad hanging in a tree for that long in the early fall.

 

[Kinger016]

If you're on the edge of a meadow with cows in it during Sept. there is a bull close. Rip out a bugle and see if a bull comes screaming out of the timber, or just stays in the timber and screams. Most likely if you just tried quietly sneaking around the meadow you will bump whichever bull is near those cows. In my experience cows don't really care too much about bugles and normally they won't spoke them, cow calls on the other hand they do not like at all and if you blow one they will probably run the opposite direction.

Cow calls work great for calling young bulls and cows that are alone and sometimes bigger bulls. Play your wind and see if you can get around on them better yet if your downwind and they are slowly feeding away just follow them slowly until they bed down. It's pretty hard to sneak around a group of animals in the forest, there are a lot of eyes and ears to fool. Following them to their bed and either crawling into range or sit back and rake a tree or let out some quiet bugles.

For me personally, elk hunting is about the hunt and not killing something so I would pass and enjoy the hunt. One thing to think about is meat care, if you kill an animal on day one of a week-long trip in Sept. you will have to find a cooler to store that elk in or at least coolers full of ice. The meat will go bad hanging in a tree for that long in the early fall.

Thanks for some calling tips! they are always appreciated coming from someone that has never done it before.

Your last paragraph is basically the whole reason for the post. Managing the meat is definitely a concern. Don't get me wrong, I love the hunt. Its the whole reason why I do it. However, if this ends up being one week a year or every couple of years, I want to be able to bring something back home with me.

 

[nphunter]

Thanks for some calling tips! they are always appreciated coming from someone that has never done it before.

Your last paragraph is basically the whole reason for the post. Managing the meat is definitely a concern. Don't get me wrong, I love the hunt. Its the whole reason why I do it. However, if this ends up being one week a year or every couple of years, I want to be able to bring something back home with me.

I wouldn't worry too much there are a lot of options for meat. It really depends on how long you will be out and how hot it is during the day. I personally quarter them and shove them in a fridge and ratchet strap it shut. I've taken a generator and freezer on out of state hunts too. I would worry about that part when it happens, elk success rates are low, and especially with a bow, just have some kind of plan for meat care.
IMO the most important part is keeping it clean and getting it in a good quality game bag where flys can't get to it, after that hang it up and figure out what you're going to do with it. You can call around and find a cooler to hang it in, you could probably even get on here and find someone to let you put it at their place if you're in a pinch. If your high enough and the weather is cold you might be OK but I wouldn't count on that.

 

[Illinihunter]

I'm sure you've heard it, " don't pass something up on day 1 that you would be happy with on the last day of hunt." Especially on your first elk hunt.

 

[ElkNut1]

Yes sir, shoot a cow, it's not as easy as you may feel! No guarantees in elk hunting, they are not Whitetails! (grin)

Here's a few more 'How To Locate Elk"


#-1- The tried & true Locator Bugle, it will work 80% of the time; again just looking for a direction; not trying to call them to me. You will cover ground, preferably away from other hunters.



#-2- Double & Triple up my Bugle with a single grunt/chuckle between each one & finish off with two/three chuckles! I do this in succession, no breaks. I turn to this when I feel elk are in earshot by fresh sign or I feel I'm near their bedding area. It can really get a Shock Bugle out of a bull at times; all I'm looking for is their location. At times I will repeat inside 30 seconds. Don't expect elk to come running to you because they responded, take note of their where-abouts & close the distance as needed.



#-3- Cow Bugles! This is awesome for pulling out a bugle from a bull when not much else will work including #-1 & #-2, it's in my arsenal every year! --- For those after 'any-elk' incorporate this Cow Bugle along with your normal cow chatter in a Cold Calling setup, it's next level in selling yourselves you are a Real group of cows without a bull present!



#-4- Lost Cow & Regathering Whines used together on volume needed in the area you're calling into. These Mews & Whines can muster up bugles when not much else will with the above tactics! These cow sounds require assistance or aid from other elk.



#-5- Calling prior to daylight with any of the above sounds. Night Calling is something I rely on when elk just flat aren't being found with our stand by calling tactics as we cover lots of ground on foot in pursuit of the wily wapiti. --- It can be used daily or if you feel after 2-3 days of hunting/calling isn't getting much action! Hope these help!

ElkNut

 

[Clarkdale17]

As everyone else said I'd shoot the first legal elk that steps out in front of you

 

[Bsoutfitter]

If you’ve watched them a while and haven’t seen a bull with them or heard one. Shoot! Just getting one under your belt is a huge accomplishment! Good luck

 

[tigb27]

do it

 

[lyingflatlander]

I was on my 4th year on an otc archery hunt and wanted an opportunity at a bull. I took 2 weeks off to accomplish that feat. Opening morning I heard a bugle on the bench above me and cow called in a cow to 30 yards. I drew back on her twice and passed. That was the only opportunity I had that whole trip.

 

[cnelk]

A big ol dead cow can put a dead raghorn to shame.

Get over the 'horn porn' and kill elk.

 

[Dos Perros]

OP, you've never eaten elk before have ya?

4 tags, for sure shoot the first legal animal any of you come across. That'll take a couple days for a couple of you to take care of.

You think you'll come back here and post a trip report?