What to do..What to do...

thecheese

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So here's the deal. I have been puting in for Le. elk for San Juan for the last 10 or so years. Last year I tried to shake it up and put in for boulder and pavhant. So now I'm right at 11-12 bonus points. Looking at the odds my chances are still pretty slim. Now I love to archery hunt and would love to have a crack and at a 350+ bull with the bow. The odd look quite abit better for archery with that number of points too. My questions is, would I be stupind and throwing my points away on an archery tag? Or would it be a good choice. I deffinatley don't want to walk away empty handed after puting in for so long. Also are there any units that are better for an archery hunt? Any help or adivice on this would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
 
I'm in the same boat as you with a couple less points. I'll continue putting in for the premium tag until I draw it regardless of what anyone ever says about the unit...it always has giant bulls period!! I'll personally be archery hunting it when my day comes because for me it's more rewarding to hunt with a bow...

I'd say if you just want to draw something already put in elsewhere, if you want to hunt some elk that go absolutely insane during the rut then be patient and keep putting in til your day comes...

~Z~
 
If you love to Archery hunt then thats what you should do. I was faced with the same decision in Arizona and I chose the Archery hunt. I was pretty picky and had a little bit of Murphy's law going so I didn't kill a bull. I didn't regret it for a minute. The chance to hunt rutting bulls with a bow in one of the premier units is incredible ! GOOD LUCK. Chip
 
If going home empty handed is not an option stick with your original game plan. To many good archers go home empty handed. With that being said I plan on hunting elk with my bow the next tag I draw. I won't have a dozen points though.
 
I was in that situation as I when i started putting in for my LE tag. I picked rifle and then switched to MZ as odds were better as the years went on. Then this past winter I decided that I really wanted to hunt Utah and also a friend that I'd met via the hunting forums just retired and was planning on moving to Wyoming. I really wanted to have the opportunity to spend some time with him so I changed to archery and was drawn for Wasatch. I don't think I'll regret having the chance to hunt elk and from the pictures I've been sent, I'm really looking forward to seeing the country. The people I meet along the way and the sights and sounds are going to be part of it too. For now, I'm just working out at the club/hiking hills with 50lb pack/shooting the bow 5 to 6 days a week so that I know I'll be ready. I have no control over the rest of it...
 
Here are my two bits!
If you really want to know what it might be like, go back on this forum and read CAelknuts post last August-September. He posted a blow by blow account of his hunt on the Monroe (while Spidy was still alive) He hunted hard every day of the hunt and came home without slinging an arrow. But it seemed like an amazing experience and he sounded pretty satisfied. So, if you can live with that, then go for Archery. The other thing is, you may wait the rest of your life for a premium bull tag with a rifle.
Tough choice for sure. Good luck
 
Here's my 1 cent....ask yourself this question: is my hunt only successful if I kill one? If you can honestly say no with no regrets, and enjoy a bit more up close, and in my opinion more intense hunting experience, then do the bow bit. And in any of the units you are looking at, trust me, you will get the chance to see some REALLY nice bulls and an occassional TOAD up close and personal. Challenging? Yes, but then nothing that good ought to be easy. Then its just up to the quality of your skills and more importantly, Murphy's Law, as to whether you come home with blood under your fingernails. You will not regret hunting them with a bow, but don't do it if you think you will look back at it as a waste of 12 points if you only bring home tag soup. But then again, its called hunting, not killing and a rifle doesn't necessarily guarantee a kill.
 
Thanks for the responses. Right now I think I'm set on puting in for archery. Just going do a little research on where I want to put in. I think I would be happier if I got one with my bow than if I got the same size bull or even a little bigger with my gun. I'm sure I would be upset if I didn't get anything at all with a bow, but there is a chance I wont' get one with a rifle and I would have a better time hunting them with a bow.
 
I would put in for Muzzleloader elk in Utah (stick to the Premium Units), and archery units in other states. Get your awesome rut hunt; and kill one with a bow in a few years.

Grizzly
 
Throw in my 1 cent with lowcountryelk. He nailed it on the head perfectly! If you do decide to hunt archery in Utah, REALLY focus on the last 4 days of your hunt because they will be the best and most effective for calling/rut-hunting. I drew San Juan archery 3 years ago with 10 points and I came home without a bull, but like has been said, with no regrets.
 
What grizz said! The Utah muzzy hunt is one of the best out there right now. The last couple of years have seen the muzzy hunters get the better part of the rut! You have a lot better odds for the muzzy hunt. Not quite as good as the archery hunt but a lot better than the rifle hunt.

It's always an adventure!!!
www.awholelottabull.com
 

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