Last Day OTC Archery Success Stories Please!

[nwcomechanic]

Feeling pretty darn down, hunted a ton this month had some really close calls, gotten into elk at least 6 days including 4 this week while it seems like the peak-rut has definitely kicked up here in Northwest CO. Hoping to hear some success stories to get me motivated for the morning, thanks!

 

[S7even]

In 2022 on the last day of otc archery up here in Idaho. I hunted all day without hearing any bugles. I had pretty much given up and was walking down the mountain back to the vehicle and decided to do one more bugle. A bull answered so I started his direction. I couldn’t tell exactly where he was so I cow called and he answered fairly close to me. I set my pack down and started sneaking up there and when I accidentally broke a stick with my foot, he stood up out of his bed at 30 yards with his head behind a tree and about a 5” window to his vitals between a couple trees. I couldn’t see his antlers at the time but since it was about 30 minutes before dark on the last day of the season I drew back and shot him. When I walked up on him in the dark, it was a surprise that he was a nice six point for the area and my biggest bull so far.

 

[nwcomechanic]

In 2022 on the last day of otc archery up here in Idaho. I hunted all day without hearing any bugles. I had pretty much given up and was walking down the mountain back to the vehicle and decided to do one more bugle. A bull answered so I started his direction. I couldn’t tell exactly where he was so I cow called and he answered fairly close to me. I set my pack down and started sneaking up there and when I accidentally broke a stick with my foot, he stood up out of his bed at 30 yards with his head behind a tree and about a 5” window to his vitals between a couple trees. I couldn’t see his antlers at the time but since it was about 30 minutes before dark on the last day of the season I drew back and shot him. When I walked up on him in the dark, it was a surprise that he was a nice six point for the area and my biggest bull so far.

Thanks Man, Hoping I can still make something happen, tomorrow is the last day of the season.

 

[mike.adams.467]

The year I had the run in with the grizzly on the second day of season, I thought my year was over. After healing for about 3 weeks I decided to hunt the last few days I had left. On the final day of the season, I ended up shooting a cow at 20 yards. She took 3 steps and tipped over.

 

[waspocrew]

It can happen on any day... keep at it! It'll come together after enough opportunities.

 

[Read1t48]

The year I had the run in with the grizzly on the second day of season, I thought my year was over. After healing for about 3 weeks I decided to hunt the last few days I had left. On the final day of the season, I ended up shooting a cow at 20 yards. She took 3 steps and tipped over.

Did you share the griz story on RS already?
Did he tear you up? You mentioned healing and I wasn’t sure if you meant physical or mental!?

 

[S7even]

Tomorrow is the last day of the season here too. And I just had the wind swirl on me with the herd 30 yards away and now they’re gone. It stings worse towards the end of the season when that kind of stuff happens but I’ll be back out in the morning trying again. It only takes one.

Thanks Man, Hoping I can still make something happen, tomorrow is the last day of the season.

 

[nwcomechanic]

The year I had the run in with the grizzly on the second day of season, I thought my year was over. After healing for about 3 weeks I decided to hunt the last few days I had left. On the final day of the season, I ended up shooting a cow at 20 yards. She took 3 steps and tipped over.

Thanks man, going to get up and at em early as usual. I’m glad to hear all that went well I’ll have to roam the forums to looks for your griz run in story. One more day gotta go try!


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[nwcomechanic]

Tomorrow is the last day of the season here too. And I just had the wind swirl on me with the herd 30 yards away and now they’re gone. It stings worse towards the end of the season when that kind of stuff happens but I’ll be back out in the morning trying again. It only takes one.

Damn. Sorry to hear that. Hope you get it tomorrow.


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[nwcomechanic]

It can happen on any day... keep at it! It'll come together after enough opportunities.

That’s what I’m hoping, self taught, started rifle hunting in my late 20s and had pretty dismal luck but wanted to switch to archery as it meant closer quarters and hunting the peak rut. Sure is defeating but I know when it’s done I’ll be happy I at least went out and tried


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[mike.adams.467]

Did you share the griz story on RS already?
Did he tear you up? You mentioned healing and I wasn’t sure if you meant physical or mental!?

It is on here somewhere. You can see a relatively accurate account that someone put on youtube - I think its "Mike Adams Grizzly Bear Attack".

 

[S7even]

Damn. Sorry to hear that. Hope you get it tomorrow.


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Good luck to you tomorrow!

 

[hereinaz]

I hunted 13 days. First week was slow with no bulges and no elk. Frustration was high. They finally started bugling, and I got in on some but never got a real chance. Chased and followed herds for miles every day for 6 days. I was exhausted.

I always make it about the adventure. And the hunt had been amazing in that way. I worked to keep myself focused on the positive. Eventually, I sat in a blind hoping to take a spike the second to last evening. Nope.

The last morning, I finally killed only 700 yards from camp. I almost did not chase the bugles.

Stick with it, you might not kill but you can go home with k no regrets and a great adventure.

 

[nwcomechanic]

I hunted 13 days. First week was slow with no bulges and no elk. Frustration was high. They finally started bugling, and I got in on some but never got a real chance. Chased and followed herds for miles every day for 6 days. I was exhausted.

I always make it about the adventure. And the hunt had been amazing in that way. I worked to keep myself focused on the positive. Eventually, I sat in a blind hoping to take a spike the second to last evening. Nope.

The last morning, I finally killed only 700 yards from camp. I almost did not chase the bugles.

Stick with it, you might not kill but you can go home with k no regrets and a great adventure.

Exactly, tomorrow will be day 19 for me, just exhausted but I know I cant hunt again for 11 months after tomorrow. Thank you !


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[Pramo]

Few years back I managed to kill a cow the last 10 minutes of shooting light on the last day of archery season. Just keep after them it only takes one to slip up.

 

[PredatoronthePrairie]

Exactly, tomorrow will be day 19 for me, just exhausted but I know I cant hunt again for 11 months after tomorrow. Thank you !


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How's that possible? Hunting seasons are just starting to get rolling. Unless u only archery hunt elk and if thats the case your missing out on a ton of learning opportunities.

 

[nwcomechanic]

How's that possible? Hunting seasons are just starting to get rolling. Unless u only archery hunt elk and if thats the case your missing out on a ton of learning opportunities.

Well it's possible for several reasons, but you're not wrong, to say that I "can't" is a bit of a stretch.

First of all, I have a wife and a life and I hunt a ton during the month of archery and I cannot justify committing any more of my time to hunting.

Second of all, I am not sure where you live, or where you hunt, but I cannot wait until the Archery seasons turn into Draw Only for Non-Residents in Colorado starting next year, I wish they would do away with the Non-Res OTC Rifle seasons too, I gave up hunting 2nd and 3rd rifle in the are around where I live due to the pumpkin patch being just ridiculous. 1st rifle season can be fun but I'd rather hunt pre-rut through peak-rut rather than post-rut personally. Then I can at least see and hear elk being elk rather than simply seeing them being pushed by the out of staters in orange.

I also understand what you're getting at, but if I want to archery hunt, and the more I do the more I truly feel like Rifle hunting takes a lot of the fun out of it, the "intimacy" if you will. Then hunting the rifle seasons later on in the year aren't going to help me with learning about archery and succeeding during archery.

I would happily pay 4-5 times what I pay currently for an elk tag if it meant getting rid of all Non-Res OTC opportunities as it really cuts into the fun of the hunt for us that live and pay taxes here!

 

[PredatoronthePrairie]

Well it's possible for several reasons, but you're not wrong, to say that I "can't" is a bit of a stretch.

First of all, I have a wife and a life and I hunt a ton during the month of archery and I cannot justify committing any more of my time to hunting.

Should of stopped at this. Cause its 100% understandable. The rest is just an excuse. Especially tryin to railroad NR as the reason why you can't continue the learning process.

 

[nwcomechanic]

Should of stopped at this. Cause its 100% understandable. The rest is just an excuse. Especially tryin to railroad NR as the reason why you can't continue the learning process.

Again, not railroading anyone, and not saying I can't continue the learning process, I spend all year reading, watching, and listening about elk, not to mention scouting and trying to stay in good shape, the learning process continues whether I am in the field hunting or not.

Also if you read the entire post you will see that none of what I said is excuse, I am giving you my reasoning, and the main reasoning, again, if you read the entire post is that I do not see the correlation between hunting rifle seasons later in the year that first, have the elk behaving completely different than they do in archery season and second, it would be using a method of take that really doesn't seem fair in my mind.

Its like sitting over a bait pile for bears, or a corn pile for white-tails, is that fair?? Absolutely not in my mind, nor is it "hunting" but it is legal in a lot of places. Rifles are legal in Colorado during specific seasons but even then it doesn't quite seem fair to me.