Let's help some guys/gals get their first archery elk!

[bz_711]

Just wanted to say that I appreciate everyone who posted to help us guys and gals who haven't got our first archery Elk. I am happy to report that I finally got my opportunity to sling an arrow at this beautiful spike and made it happen! My son was happy to help get the loose meat all cut up and packaged. Starting on the quarters this afternoon. Thanks again everyone!

Welcome to the Club! Congrats!

Thanks for sharing...this is exactly why I started this thread.

 

[JDarchery]

Welcome to the Club! Congrats!

Thanks for sharing...this is exactly why I started this thread.

Thank you!!

 

[vladkgb]

Hi all,

Fng posting live from the field.

I've been in elk almost everyday and have called in 5 bulls. Had one at 10 yards hang up behind a tree quartering to while I was drawn, no shot, others didn't walk into my shooting lanes.

Like this morning, I was on the upper third of a ridge and had several bills bugling at my cow calls, I chose to pursue the one that sounded the closest, he was just below me. Its thick PJ country, I got him to close the distance, he must have been 40 yards behind some trees below me. I had 2 shooting lanes about 30yards each. I kept cow calling and he kept responding but he wouldnt come out behind the tree! So I switched it up to a over the top challenge bugle after he responded to one of my cow calls, we had a screaming match back and fourth but he backed away. I followed and continued the sequence, he found another tree, even raked one, and wouldn't step out. I could see his antlers going back and fourth. I ended up spooking him because I tried to get closer.

Ive heard calling them uphill is hard, should I have got down to his level first? Any advice on how I can get them to come out? I'm calling solo

 

[bz_711]

Hi all,

Fng posting live from the field.

I've been in elk almost everyday and have called in 5 bulls. Had one at 10 yards hang up behind a tree quartering to while I was drawn, no shot, others didn't walk into my shooting lanes.

Like this morning, I was on the upper third of a ridge and had several bills bugling at my cow calls, I chose to pursue the one that sounded the closest, he was just below me. Its thick PJ country, I got him to close the distance, he must have been 40 yards behind some trees below me. I had 2 shooting lanes about 30yards each. I kept cow calling and he kept responding but he wouldnt come out behind the tree! So I switched it up to a over the top challenge bugle after he responded to one of my cow calls, we had a screaming match back and fourth but he backed away. I followed and continued the sequence, he found another tree, even raked one, and wouldn't step out. I could see his antlers going back and fourth. I ended up spooking him because I tried to get closer.

Ive heard calling them uphill is hard, should I have got down to his level first? Any advice on how I can get them to come out? I'm calling solo

I think there are a few options here:
1) set up: may need to be in thicker cover to make them want to close the distance even more...if they can see where they think the call is coming from they will not come any closer.
2) could try calling then immediately sneaking up yardage so they are focused behind you where last call came from - would need to be quiet at that point.
3)Once you have them responding - no more calls - and just use ninja skills to sneak in and shoot


Good Luck - share those pics!

 

[Ross]

Two things, they rake you rake and call the other direction. Also, if they are raking aggressively they cannot see which is a good time to be ninja like and close in for a shot. Mimic their action they do not like it

 

[Dirtscoots]

Two things, they rake you rake and call the other direction. Also, if they are raking aggressively they cannot see which is a good time to be ninja like and close in for a shot. Mimic their action they do not like it

I use the same protocol with my wife before a hunt! Get her dam ready for me to be out of the house a few weeks! Minus the raking, she can barely keep cactus alive. Raking in our house would get a fist full of thorns.

 

[bz_711]

Two things, they rake you rake and call the other direction. Also, if they are raking aggressively they cannot see which is a good time to be ninja like and close in for a shot. Mimic their action they do not like it

Yes! Calling behind you another great tactic...I almost always do that once close with elk (and turkeys)...seems to help. Raking is another pro tip more guys should try.

 

[Actionsqueak]

Should I go solo or just scratch 2024 off the list? Was planning another trip out west this season but my BIL bailed and no other options with this short of a notice. This would had been my 3rd trip and we got pretty close, but not close enough, the previous two years. As I'm sure we all do I felt like this would be the year that I get it done. If it wasn't for the pack out I wouldn't hesitate to go in solo.

Any tips for solo rookies? bad idea?

I’m heading out solo this year. First year out hunting elk with the bow. If you are still thinking about going and looking for a partner let me know!

 

[applesauce4000]

Rookie archer here. Got soooo close this weekend.

Saturday morning, hiking up a bowl off trail, hear a bugle to my right down in the timber. I head toward the bugle, going down and side hilling into a bowl now, but the herd is essentially above me, so wind is good. Get below them with wind right. Start moving in, herd bull still bugling every 10 minutes, hear cows yapping, I yap back, we have a great conversation, but no one bee lines to me. I get closer to herd, and realize they are within 40 yards, but the timber is thick. I keep calling back and forth with the cows and see the herd bull's horns come in front of me at 20ish yards, bugling, but thick timber between us. I have no shooting lanes at all. The herd sounds like it's moving up slowly, so I try to inch forward and around down trees, but I got caught. The whole herd bailed in a second.
I suppose I should've waited longer, and been more cognizant of timber thickness during my approach.

Sunday morning, I slept in until 7am on a random ridge, which felt taboo to me . It was quiet all night except for some coyotes at 2am. Wasn't expecting to see or hear anything. As I ate, drank coffee and packed up camp, I saw a cow come into an avy chute maybe .67 mi away, but lots of vert in between. That got my spirits up and I headed that direction, down into a drainage I've explored only once before. It was stormy Sunday, so the wind was swirling quite a bit, never really that predictable. I cow called every 5 minutes or so as I made my way down into this creek/drainage. I sat on a down aspen about 50 yards from the creek, and cow called against the wind. And a few minutes later I heard the distinct loud cracking of what was an elk drawing near. I was fairly in the open, stood up, faced up hill, ranged a few trees quickly, put the rangefinder away and saw horns and a head, and then a body at what I believe was about 36-40 yards away. I did my best to count points, but couldn't quite figure it out. As the bull's head went behind a tree, I processed that he looked like he could be about a 4x4, brow tines might be long enough, I drew my bow (for the first time this season) and prayed he'd come out from behind the tree. I still needed a better look at the points, and I needed to aim. I held my draw for a few seconds and then he turned tail and ran. I smiled though. I wore myself out the day before, but that was redeeming and inspiring.

Not sure if maybe he actually saw me, or with the wind swirling, maybe he winded me.

Overall, as a second year hunter and first year archer (with no kills), this is the closest I've gotten. I was shaking like a mad man on Sunday morning when that bull ran out. Better luck next time.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

^doing good, sauce! I enjoyed reading that. It's only a matter of time now.