Any Advice??

[justhunt]

im looking for advice on the 2012 elk hunt, i didnt draw this year so it puts me up to 13 points, what hunt should i put in for any why? i have been putting in for the San Juan, rifle elk, last few years, but im an avid archery hunter as well, and with the class of bulls on the decline, im getting a little ancy to kill a bull, so i just want to hear what you all think and why?

 

[Cam@strawberry]

If your putting in for the san juan, i'd hesitate before believing the quality of bulls is on the decline....
for the rest of the state? draw next year or wait for 3-5 IMHO

 

[TOADSLAYER]

If you have 13 points and you an archey hunter it looks like you should draw next year if you put in for the San Juan. I have heard that the San Juan is on the decline as well but i haven't heard any of the other units in the state are on the uptick and have a better chance at kliing a big bull. The San Juan still is producing big bulls. If i were you i would stick with what you have been doing and if your getting ansy to hunt just bow hunt, but don't change areas this far into it. I have seen too many people put in for the area they want to hunt for over ten years then change a few years before they are guaranteed only to wish they had stuck with their guns and waited it out.

 

[hunt4130]

no go on San Juan! its struggling. i would want to waste the points. IMO

 

[justhunt]

Thanks for the input, oh and i have to deal with point creep as well, so according to the draw odds table, i have good odds to draw an archery tag for the san juan, or the pahvant, or any other unit really! and then if i still wanted to go with rifle, it could be 3-5 years or longer! darn choices anyway!!! ive read some stories from hunters, who had hunted archery elk on the pahvant they said it was an extremely fun hunt, even tho they didn't kill "the dream bull" that they wanted but still had fun, anyway it sounds like ive got some thinking to do, thanks again,
"JUST HUNT!"

 

[huntinfanatic]

If I were you I would go archery elk hunting in 2012. The hard choice for me would be deciding between the san juan and pahvant!

 

[stixnblades]

You're in quite the pickle. I found myself in the same one last year and decided to dump 14 points and go archery on the san juan. I always had the dream of a 370+ bull and knowing that if i get the right area and within range, there was a good chance of success with a rifle. With friends not drawing san juan rifle with 16-17 points I cashed in for bow. I only had a couple of times with regrets that I was at just under 200 yards looking at my ultimate goal of a toad and then my bow and then the daylight and just shaking my head. I ended up with a great 6x6 and don't regret a single moment. He wasn't close to the biggest one i saw but it was a blast chasing Big bulls and getting a good bull in the end. I think the question is "taking the best thing you see with a rifle or getting a good bull with a bow?". Who knows if with time the end result will be the same?.

 

[Gator]

If your goal is to have a great hunt, The SJ is the way to go IMO, Just don't set the bar at 390 or bust. You will see a bunch of elk, you should try to kill the one that trips your trigger, NO matter what he scores, Have a wonderful time on a great hunt.The number of giant bulls may be down, But there is still alot of good bulls still down there.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".

 

[ZR1]

+1 with stixnblades . I was in the same situation for deer on the Henries in 2006. 10 points and went from rifle to bow and drew .I never ended up with the monsters I saw 210 plus typicals and a book typical. But I did kill a gross 190 30 inch typical with a bow. hes a great buck but I will never forget the ones that I never got with range of.

 

[justhunt]

thanks agian for your opinions, i think ive talked myself into an archery tag, now i just have to decide the San Juan or the Pahvant, i live closer to the Pahvant but i think the San juan will be a better hunt, i might just flip a coin.
"JUST HUNT"