Reflection and Strategy adjustment for Archery Elk

[HolisticCowboy22]

Hey everyone, just finished up my shorter elk hunt (I was the guy that posted a week back about stategies for archery elk hunting when you have limited time to scout/hunt due to a growing family and helping wife with the kids).

Anyways, I got into a big 6x6 for my last hunt this morning.

He was fired up and chuckling so we figured he had cows with him and wanted to assert dominance. I would bugle and he would chuckle before I could even finish the bugle off.

Wind was perfect as he was slightly elevated and I was below with wind in my face.

I had my dad start raking behind me and this seemed to fire him up even more.

We did this for about 45 minutes but he didn’t want to leave his cows so I made a move on him.

I snuck up the draw and spotted him with 3 cows. Once I ranged him he was 50 yards and prepared to pull back. As I pulled I didn’t see 2 other cows hidden above to my right and they busted me which alerted the bull who suddenly startled and dove off the back.

Bull never answered after that and hunt was done.

My question to you veterans on here is: what could I have done different to ensure success?

I got into bow hunting 3 years ago because of:
1. The difficulty
2. The physicality of it
3. The reps you have to put in to b successful
4. The proximity you can get to those wondrous animals

I’ve been a solid blacktail hunter (rifle/muzzleloader) for years but am now 0-3 archery hunting elk.

Of note: this is in Idaho where I now live

Appreciate you all and God bless!

 

[Moneyball]

Hard to say without being there. I would think him chuckling meant one of two things:
1. If he thought you were a cow, he was inviting you over to build his harem.
2. Once bull sounds were introduced, he was bugling his current harem to keep them close. His continued bugling was his way of keeping tabs on you as an intruder bull.

What time of the morning was it? You may have caught them in transition.

Not an expert by any means, but those are the two big ones that I have experienced.

 

[HolisticCowboy22]

This was at 7:45am but he was going off about 15 minutes before first light.

I think you are right on both accounts - he was definitely weary of an intruder bull but he did also have a good sized harem of 5 cows.

I’m thinking if I was more patient he would eventually come down to “fight” but who knows.

 

[5MilesBack]

I’m thinking if I was more patient he would eventually come down to “fight” but who knows.

He's not gong to come down to fight unless he sees you as a real threat. I'll leave it at that. And he may have very well had more cows than just 5. That's not many for a mature bull. They have a way of hiding pretty well, and can be feeding off a ways.

 

[Moneyball]

At 7:45, I would definitely expect them to be in transition.

My bet would be that you were dogging them, and he was likely roundup bugling and chuckling to keep his cows close. Sounds like he was trying to keep tabs on you as he created distance also.

Does not sound like a hot cow is in the equation as he wasn't bugling like crazy and no satellites around.

 

[HolisticCowboy22]

He's not gong to come down to fight unless he sees you as a real threat. I'll leave it at that. And he may have very well had more cows than just 5. That's not many for a mature bull. They have a way of hiding pretty well, and can be feeding off a ways.

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I guess that’s why he’s a mature bull - smart and not easy to bring in. It’s incredible how well the cows hide. They are like ghosts most times