Archery Elk season?

[RidgeRebel]

Sorry guys but this is just a gripe that I have.
Why is it that the archery elk hunt keeps getting earlier in the year? I don't get it why would the DWR give the greatest advantage to the rifle hunters as far as LE hunts are concerned? The archery guys have waited a long time as well and I think that you could have just as good a season for the rifle hunters at the end of Sept. Almost every other state gives archery hunters at least a little time to hunt the rut. Does anybody know why the DWR does this? What could be done to encourage the DWR to give the archery hunters a break?

 

[AWHOLELOTTABULL]

They don't want to screw with that 100% success rate they have on the rifle hunt!. If the rifle hunt wasn't during the rut those auction tags wouldn't be worth near as much money (other than the gov tag).

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

 

[REDDOG]

they do it so archers don't run out of crap to cry about.

 

[D13er]

what is the difference between an archer and a puppy?
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eventually the puppy will stop whining.



great post/pic, thanks for sharing

JB

 

[RidgeRebel]

Gotta have something to do when I'm not wandering the mountain LOL. But your right it is whining. But what are half the posts on here? I'm not here to draw lines, I like to hunt elk however I can. It was just a question.

 

[deadibob]

good point rebel. This website should change it's name to Piss and Moan.com

 

[apollosmith]

I'm not an archery hunter, but do have to say that Utah archers are getting screwed. Especially this year with the dates and the full moon. Despite the fact that I've never picked up a bow, I too would like to see things shifted around to make it a bit more equitable to the stick flingers - maybe even a split season 2 weeks now and one week later.

 

[rotorhead]

It's called the rifle hunters ##### and moaned long enough to the DWR, that they finally got there way, and pushed the archery hunters out, and got there hunt in the middle of the rut. I can remember the days when archery hunters got to hunt part of the rut! Then the rifle hnters started to complain about how archery hunters got to hunt the rut! Then the next thing you know, the archery hunt starts in the middle of august, the rifle hunters hunt the middle of the rut, and know the archery hunters are a bunch of whiners! It really doesn't matter though the DWR here in Utah is all about what can generate them the most amount of revenue!

 

[bragabit]

There is no rifle hunt. It is an any weapon hunt. If you want to hunt the rut with your bow wait your turn brave the draw odds and draw an any weapon tag and hunt with your bow. You allready get a month to hunt. Would you like to trade dates with the muzzleloader hunters? I agree this year is extra early, next year will be better. Everyone knew the dates and moon phase before they applied no excuses now.

 

[one_dryboot]

I have been chasing rutting bulls for over a week now. called two decent bulls in yesterday into 20 yards. The dates could be better but its good enough for me!

 

[ScottNM]

Well, lets see. Its is very unfair to bowhunters. 20-50 yd shots vs 300 yds shots. One has extreme prerut hunt and the other has rut hunt. Quess which one gets to try to shoot them under 50 yds before they really rut?

The best time to call in bulls to bow range is sept 16-Oct 1. I will not put in for UTAH bowhunts. I will be calling for my friend in the gila from Sept 19-24 this year. Now that is good bowhunting.

 

[REDDOG]

cuz everyone knows the rut in NM is the same dates as the rut in UT.

Pre-rut is the time to call in bulls.

 

[dgwoody]

I agree, the season dates are all about money. The rifle guys like to spout off about us archers being whiners, but thats how they got the rut in the first place. That, and the whole "majority rules" thing. There are alot more rifle guys then there are archers. Rifle guys telling us to quit whining reminds me of a bigger older brother picking on his much smaller little brother, he knows he gets his way because of his size, not right or wrong, but somehow he thinks its cause he deserves it, or has earned it.

In all seriousness, what would it hurt the rifle guys to move the hunts dates two weeks later? They'd still get some of the rut, and the elk wouldn't have any more pressure then they have now. After having a L.E. Archery tag last year, I will do what someone above suggested, next time I'll put in for an any weapon tag instead and hunt it with my bow. There is no advantage to the longer season, if its 100 degrees and there's nothing moving in daylight hours. I started scouting last year in May, I dedicated every single weekend and one or two days during the week on my feet in the hills trying to find elk. I saw a lot of good bulls, but never had one good opportunity at a +300 bull. I hunted every day of the hunt, sometimes thats just the way it goes. Maybe I am a whiner, but I think along with others, after a heartbreaking end to a long year of trying to get in range of a bull, my whining is justifiable.

Archery hunts have about a 15% success rate. Rifle guys are probably high 80's to low 90's. Why not move the hunts back two weeks, and even shorten the archery hunt if neccisary to balance the odds a little more. Archery guys spend just as much time putting in (dad had 14 points when he drew last year) but face tougher odds. I've pretty much come to the conclusion that if I want to bow hunt bugleing bulls, I'm going to have to go to another state, which I plan to do.

 

[spotit1st]

I agree the Archers this year got screwed, a buddy of mine drew with 9 points this year and had a hunt that started a week earlier than normal I spent this last week with him and we saw a few nice bulls but the cows are still miles away and no bugling yet, he has 1 week left and hopes that they start getting it on soon but I can't see it happening until after next weekend. He is bummed and we all know how the rifle hunters have had the best time to hunt elk but he also likes the challenge of having to actually get close to an animal. I went with a cousin 2 years ago on a rifle hunt we called in a bull at 15 yards and he blasted it with his rifle it was cool getting that close and being right there in the moment but hell I could of stabbed it with my peary knife and it would of been alot more interesting than watching him blast it with his brand new 300 that he paid 1200.00 for.

You rifle hunters saying that the bow hunters whine need to step back and think about all the whining you did last year about making archers choose their region, of course your not whining now because you got your way just like you have got your way to hunt elk during prime rut.

Archers may need a tissue but at least they don't need knee pads!

 

[Virg]

Hey bragabit I like the way you think. It is an any weapon hunt. The archery people are more than welcome to use their bow. I have hunted spikes and cows with a bow for about 20 years now. When I finally get my chance at a big bull on the any weapon hunt, you can bet I am going to put the hammer down with my rifle.

 

[ktc]

OMG this subject just makes me ill! They are rutting right now! Bachelor herds of bulls looking for cows. This is the best time! I will say Utah shold set dates and give you more time, but why would anyone apply for an elk tag knowing the dates and then piss and moan? The guys who are killing bulls are saying good things.

Amen REDDOG!

 

[frkybugleboy]

I kind of like the dates we have for hunting in Utah. I get to Archery hunt the pre-rut, then break out my camera, 5 buggles, 15 different cow calls, and chase bulls during the rut. Some times I do enjoy doing a little grouse hunting during the elk rut also. Anything I can do to help the DWR bring down the success rates during the rut helps right? I just wish they would open up the lion hunt in the middle of septeber also. That might help bring down the succes rates a little. Now if only I had time to really do all that. LOL

 

[mathewsman]

Call it whining but it's the truth. What is the point to hunting the middle of the rut when one can perch themself on good lookout with their trusty .300 mag, .338 lapua, or their 50 cal. and snipe one from 4 canyons away? Just a few more days would really help the archers that have to get in their (the elks) world.

 

[bowhunt]

If you want to kill a big bull with a bow then I think the dates are pretty good actually. Once those big boys get with Cows it becomes TOUGH.
I think hunting the Wallows from Aug 28th-Sept 5th or so, then trying to call a little until the end usually works pretty well for Big Bulls. It gets harder and harder after that.

Hey I could be wrong, but that is my opinion.