This is for beginner or novice archery elk hunters. There are many who have killed more bulls with a bow than I. But, I have killed far far more bulls than my share considering the statistics associated with bowhunting for elk over the last 33 years. I enjoy watching hunts on You Tube, but I swear watching can do more harm than good for beginners. I leave to hunt the month of September out west on the 29th. Yes, I get excited and watch videos. Over the last 48 hours I have seen too many videos talking about how hunters took 75 yard shots, 80 yard shots, etc etc. If you are starting to bowhunt for elk take these points under advisement. You don’t have to agree with any or all, just think about them.
1. Just because your bow will shoot fast and is capable of shooting 90 yards does not mean you can;
2. When you watch a guy take a shot at an elk on You Tube wearing a 6,500 cubic inch pack, a bino harness, and with a quiver hanging off the side of his bow keep in mind he has dramatically decreased his chances of making a good shot or even the same shot he is capable of making in his back yard. Pack weight and the quiver are changing his form and the performance of the bow. If you can, lose the pack when you get in close (I know that it not always possible). I also know that in 33 years of chasing elk, I have NEVER chased one with more than an 1,800 cubic in pack on may back. The Mountain EXO 1800 with K3 frame is my go to these days. Ask yourself do I need that big of a pack. Next, back in the day Chuck Adams and lots of other bowhunters carried a side hip quiver because they knew a quiver full of arrows changed how their bow shot. More importantly, the bow is never as accurate with the quiver on the side or you would see it at national field and 3D archery tournaments. In WFA (formerly FITA when I competed), you don’t see the archers hang one on the side of their recurves either.
3. If you have the kentic energy for good penetration, then yes you can kill elk with mechanicals. I would rather see you use them than fixed heads if you don’t know how or are unwilling to take the time to tune fixed heads. But, just because some guy shot a bull in the guts at 70 yards on You Tube and found it 3 days later does not mean, mechanicals work, he made a good shot, or that he should be proud of himself. In the vide I watched they lost all the meat and no doubt the bull suffered unnecessarily.
Okay all done here. Wish you all the very best luck.
1. Just because your bow will shoot fast and is capable of shooting 90 yards does not mean you can;
2. When you watch a guy take a shot at an elk on You Tube wearing a 6,500 cubic inch pack, a bino harness, and with a quiver hanging off the side of his bow keep in mind he has dramatically decreased his chances of making a good shot or even the same shot he is capable of making in his back yard. Pack weight and the quiver are changing his form and the performance of the bow. If you can, lose the pack when you get in close (I know that it not always possible). I also know that in 33 years of chasing elk, I have NEVER chased one with more than an 1,800 cubic in pack on may back. The Mountain EXO 1800 with K3 frame is my go to these days. Ask yourself do I need that big of a pack. Next, back in the day Chuck Adams and lots of other bowhunters carried a side hip quiver because they knew a quiver full of arrows changed how their bow shot. More importantly, the bow is never as accurate with the quiver on the side or you would see it at national field and 3D archery tournaments. In WFA (formerly FITA when I competed), you don’t see the archers hang one on the side of their recurves either.
3. If you have the kentic energy for good penetration, then yes you can kill elk with mechanicals. I would rather see you use them than fixed heads if you don’t know how or are unwilling to take the time to tune fixed heads. But, just because some guy shot a bull in the guts at 70 yards on You Tube and found it 3 days later does not mean, mechanicals work, he made a good shot, or that he should be proud of himself. In the vide I watched they lost all the meat and no doubt the bull suffered unnecessarily.
Okay all done here. Wish you all the very best luck.
