Persistence…

[jrfelkins]

How many years did you archery elk hunt before you shot a bull and what was the type of hunt (guided, diy, public, private)?

 

[Matt5266]

I got lucky. Very 1st year, I was 15. DIY public land. Bugled a 5X5 bull into 20 yards and killed him.

 

[Scoot]

Less than 2 hours into my first hunt called a 6x6 to 8 feet and shot him. DIY public land. It's been tougher going since...

 

[ndfb35]

Started in 2021, punched my tag on the bull in my avatar as my first in 2023. LE, archery, public land, DIY.

 

[isItFallYet]

Was successful my first year. Unguided public land in a general unit. This was after many successful guided rifle hunts.

 

[insanelupus]

20 years for my first bull. Archery, public land in NW MT, solo elk hunter the vast majority of the time.

 

[Dan Carey]

I used to live in northern Arizona so hunting elk was like hunting rabbits in my back yard. First archery Bull was with a Bear Kodiak 50 pound with a Bear broadhead. I was 15 years old.

 

[Beendare]

Ha! When I started bowhunting elk in the early 80's we would call in bulls on OTC Colorado public land almost every day. I killed one the first year and every year for many years after that.

I hit a dry spell when switching to a recurve with it being hard to call solo and get drawn on them.

 

[Indian Summer]

It took longer to kill my first rifle bull than my first archery. I killed a five point bull on my third rifle hunt. On my first archery hunt I killed a six point bull on the last day.

 

[nphunter]

I started archery hunting elk in 2010, passed up a lot of elk wanting to kill a big bull the first few years. I ended up getting frustrated one day in 2012 and shot a spike to show my wife that I could actually kill an elk Set a goal to only kill 6 point bulls after that, killed my first 6 point in 2013 and had a lot of missed chances and several missed shots over the next 5 years. In 2018 something clicked and I have killed a 6 point bull every year, including this year, except in 2023, in 2023, I only hunted 2 days because my buddy drew a OIL tag and I was his caller, I passed up 3 five-point bulls in those two days and shot a 6-point square in the shoulder at 28 yards and never found him.

 

[TradLife406]

It took about three seasons for me... now going through another drought after a couple hard seasons. My OG honey hole ran out of honey.


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[Elkhuntinfool78]

Took me 4 years of archery hunting before I took my first bull. Took a cow my first year. Since then I tend to go in streaks, have 3 or 4 great years and then a couple slow years.

 

[Lowedown]

Shot my first archery bull (raghorn 3x4) on day 2 of first hunt. solo DIY public land with 2 horses
It then took me 4 years to close the deal again (big 5pt), Solo DIY public land, no horses.
Since then I have partook in 3 seasons without taking a bull. I suppose I am due again
Enjoy the process and keep your shooting and calling sharp. There is always something to learn and that is a big part of what makes it rewarding

 

[griebel303]

Took me 4 years of archery to get a bull. On the 3rd year of DIY public land hunting, I had a bull come in to range but blew up my setup behind some deadfall to where I had no shooting lane. On the 4th year (DIY public land) I finally took a bull.

 

[T-Rex]

Man - I feel unworthy! It took me 8 years to kill my first elk, although I had several other chances but s(*t happens sometimes

 

[MallardSX2]

Wife and Daughter both shot bulls within 1-2 hours of elk hunting in Colorado on Public, DIY.

I wasn't so lucky. lol

 

[jrfelkins]

Shot my first archery bull (raghorn 3x4) on day 2 of first hunt. solo DIY public land with 2 horses
It then took me 4 years to close the deal again (big 5pt), Solo DIY public land, no horses.
Since then I have partook in 3 seasons without taking a bull. I suppose I am due again
Enjoy the process and keep your shooting and calling sharp. There is always something to learn and that is a big part of what makes it rewarding

Thanks!

 

[wide_groupings]

5 seasons and counting for me. Most people I know are similar. None of us grew up in the west or hunting elk though for what that's worth

 

[Dos Perros]

First year barely saw anything.
Second year was on elk and drew my bow.
Third year I shot the shoulder blade of a bull, presume he lived.
Fourth year I (likely) mortally wounded and never recovered a very nice bull.
Fifth year killed a 6point.
Sixth year killed a 6 point.
Seventh year killed a 6 point.
Nope.
Nope.
Nope.
Finally killed another 6 point this year.