ARCHERY ELK IS TOUGH!!! UTAH IS WRONG

huntinguy

Active Member
Messages
303
LAST EDITED ON Sep-16-10 AT 11:24PM (MST)[p]Just spent the last 6 days hunting elk during the archery in Ely, Nevada. Several close calls but came home eating tag soup. This was my first time ever hunting with a bow and it's plain tough. The hunt is very weather dependent and believe it or not the elk were not at full rut. That along with the watchful eyes of several cows makes it fun, challenging, but at the same time disapointing.With a rifle I could have been successful 5 times a day for 6 days with 350 plus bulls. No joke.

Dont get me wrong I plan on archery hunting elk lots in the future but I cant help but think how easy rifle hunting elk would be especially in Utah during prime time rutting. I think Utah has it all wrong doing it this way and that Nevada is smart to have their rifle elk hunt in late October and Muzzle elk in November. What is Utah thinking??? I've heard it said that this hunt is like going shopping for elk.

Very cool seeing all the bulls that hit the ground. Any one that has ever shot a bull or buck with a bow has my total respect as it is hard as hell to do and takes many, many variables to come together at the same time.Any ways just some thoughts.
 
Sorry you didn't get one, but it sounds like you had fun getting close to them. I think that is more fun then ending your hunt when you finally shoot one.

Yes Utah has it wrong for the time of their hunts. They have put the rifle hunt during the rut, its like shooting ducks in a barrel. The hardest part about the rifle hunt in Utah is drawing out! I think they start 1 to 2 weeks too early with the archery hunts. They end right when Arizona is starting up. I hunted the San Juan a few years ago and didn't even bother going up until the last week or so. We were into bulls every day but they didn't start calling hard until the last few days. I just hunted Arizona again this year and they have been calling from day 1.

Now that that rant is out of the way, yes bow hunting is a challenge. If you set up the right team and don't do it solo you can have some great success. Having a good caller or two that know how to lead an elk right past you is one of the keys. Also being agressive when you hear that bull bugle and walking fast or running closer to him to close the distance before you setup works well. Don't forget that when he gets within 100 yards of the shooter, the shooter should NOT make any more calls. Bulls like to see that cow when they get close to the calls or they stop comming in. If your callers are 100 yards behind you that bull literly comes walking fast past you and you have to do a small cow call to stop him so you can even get a shot off.

There is nothin like watching a big bull bugle a few yards from you!
 
I hear what your saying. I just got back from 4 days up in the High Uintas. I got one shot at a bull on the way down but didn't connect. I saw cows up high with no bull with them? But we didn't see anyone else and the views and fishing were great!
3789img_0835.jpg

8970img_0831.jpg
 
I've got to agree. Rifle hunting elk (or deer for that matter) during the rut is pretty much a joke. Way too easy and not sporting IMO.
 
This subject has been beat to death on here, but I'm always willing to pile on. I'm a lifelong stickflipper and wouldn't have it any other way. I honestly don't feel it would even be a challenge to shoot an elk with a rifle during Utah's currently constituted L.E. any weapon hunt.

I don't know about the term ducks in a barrell, but fish in a barrell for sure.
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos
Back
Top Bottom