My dilemma

smokepoler63

Active Member
Messages
371
I just began bow hunting elk seriously last year. I tried to hunt elk with archery gear when I was younger, but was never successful. I had plenty of close calls, a few near misses, but something always blew the opportunity. I have always been more into mule deer hunting with firearms, (rifle, muzzleloader, and handgun).

Now that I'm 50+ in age, I decided to try some different tactics last year. I bought several trail cameras and set them up in June over some areas that I thought would be good to get photos of elk. There was a lot of trial and error at first and I made many rookie mistakes in my camera placement. I eventually got my cameras set up on springs, seeps, and wallows.

I got many photos of cow and calf moose, and small buck, doe and fawn deer initially. Then in late July I started getting a few photos of elk. I was very excited. As it got closer to archery season, I was getting more and more photos of elk. My nephew and I hung some tree stands over the more active wallows, and by the beginning of archery season, I had 25-30 recognizable bull elk hitting the wallows.

The bulls were inconsistent and could not be patterned in any way. They were coming in at all hours of the day, so I didn't dare not be in the stand during daylight hours while hunting. I knew if we sat the tree stands long enough, we would get shots. We had a very successful season. My nephew shot his bull at 10:30 opening morning, August 30th. It took me longer, but on the sixth day I sat the stand, September 11, I shot my bull.

I was thrilled with last season's success, and have looked forward to this season since the day my hunt ended last year. I put my cameras out in early June because I was so excited to start seeing elk on my cameras again. I didn't get photos of elk the first two weeks. I got photos of four bulls in the next three weeks, including one mature 6 point.

We waited three more weeks before checking the cameras again. I was excited and full of anticipation, knowing that it was time for elk to start showing up at the springs and wallows. When we started swapping out the memory cards, I was blown away by the results! I had over 5000 photos on the six cameras that were set to photo mode.

As we looked through all of the photos, we were amazed by all of the mature bulls, rag horns, spikes, cows, and calves. I got photos of very few cows and only one spike bull all last year. In this three week period, we had 51 different bulls, not counting any of the spike bulls that looked alike, and cows and calves.

Now, here is my dilemma. Should I choose option A, B, or C?
Option A - Shoot the first decent branch antlered bull that presents a shot, considering that I have only ever shot one bull elk with archery gear.
Option B - Hold out for a six point, possibly risking not getting an elk.
Option C - Hold out for one of the five or six really big bulls in this area?

This is a public land, over-the-counter tag area that receives a lot of pressure. A bull scoring close to 300" is a great bull here. These bulls won't measure up to the huge bulls taken in limited entry areas of Utah, Arizona, or New Mexico, but I think they are pretty good bulls for this type of area. Here are some of the better bulls, what are your recommendations?

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how many days do you plan to hunt and how many different stands do you have to choose from. Cause if you ruin 1 stand and only have 2 then I'd shoot the first legal bull especially if you are only hunting less than a week.
Multiple stands, and longer than a week or 2 weeks, I'd be waiting for one of the big ones.
However you shoot what makes you happy, its your tag. Good luck those are some great bulls!
Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"
 
If it was me id be hunting a couple of those bigger bulls. Sit in your stands through the first part of the hunt and see what happens. Those bigger bulls are about average for OTC tags here in Idaho if you put your time in. Good luck on your hunt.
 
mntman, I have the first week off, then every Thursday-Saturday for the rest of the season. I have five stands spread out over about 1.5 to 1.75 miles. I really want one of the bigger bulls, but it would make me sick to pass on multiple smaller branch antlered bulls and fail to tag out. I got an average 5 point last year and want to better that bull.
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I feel sorry for you, such a dilemma. What a great area for being public land. If you continue to get elk on your cameras I would say try for one of the larger ones. Any of the ones above would be a great hunt. You definitely have the spots to try for a larger bull. Thanks for sharing. I would love to be able to set up cameras and get this kind of action. Good luck, I'm sure you will make the right decision and look froward to the post of you and your elk soon. You got my hear to beating.
 
Pick the stand that you feel you'll have the best chance at a mature 6x6. Go hunt and have fun. If a smaller bull comes in don't pick up your bow. Film the critter with your phone and enjoy the show. You'll get a chance at a mature bull just give it time and be patient. Have fun it's not always about the kill.
 
I think you may have found, this thing they call, a honey hole!

Hold out for a big one (easier said than done, elks delicious), if you had limited pictures of elk I'd say shoot whatever comes in, but there is no reason you can't get one of those nice 6x6's with that many pictures.

If your in ID, buy a 2nd tag (if not sold out), shoot a cow early then hold out for a big one.
 
Would someone care to tell me what they think some the bigger bulls in those pics score. Especially the one that is bulging. I have a Ut LE tag and I would shoot him opening day...
 
I would shoot the first one that's will make you happy.
That being said I would hold out a few days on the smaller ones, if the hunting pressure wasn't moving them out. You got some great Bulls coming into the camera's. Hope you get a good one.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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> Those bigger bulls
>are about average for OTC
>tags here in Idaho if
>you put your time in.

I'm assuming you're saying this with sarcasm...
 
Yeah canyoncrosser, that big 6x7 is probably a taker in just about any LE unit. I think he's a 340+ bull.

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24
 
I think your last bull is a good standard to set. You definitely want to try and kill one bigger than that, and with so many big bulls on your trail cameras, I don't think it should be too hard.

I think what would be more disappointing is for you to kill a "branch-antlered bull" at first sight and wish forever that you had held out for a big one. Not many guys on LE hunts get to see as many big bulls as you have found. So hunt for a big 6x6. Nothing less.

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24
 
If it were me I would count out my hunting days and set aside the first half of them for killing a bull bigger than last years bull. After that I'd take any legal elk that came by with my bow.
Best of Luck!
 
I drew one of if not the best unit in NM and I would be happy shooting several of those bulls in my unit. You found an incredible OTC area!
 
I think you should shoot the first bull that gives you a shot.

Then call me, and film me killing one of the bigger bulls :)

Good problem to have. Good luck and post pictures.
 
Yep, break your hunt down into sections. Hold out to put an arrow in one of those big boys first part. Great pics, keep them coming.....especially the last one with you holding your trophy, ( only you can judge that trophy )
 
Yep, break your hunt down into sections. Hold out to put an arrow in one of those big boys first part. Great pics, keep them coming.....especially the last one with you holding your trophy, ( only you can judge that trophy )
 
I would see what the cameras tell you right before the hunt. I wouldn't shoot the first bull I see if it is undersized, but somewhere around 1/2 thru your hunt, you can always change your standards.

That said, do you really want a freezer full of meat? If so, you can always shoot a cow if you don't see a bull that floats your boat toward the end of the hunt. Better eating than a rutting bull and unless they are bigger, do you want another small rack in your garage.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
Looks like you already shot (photos) some nice bulls! I try for a 350 plus bull for the first part of the hunt and then on the last few days its every man for himself.

Have fun life is way too short!

Eric Santana
www.SantanaOutdoors.com
"Premium Hunting Gear"
 
I feel very sorry for you...that's a very serious problem you have..AND IT LOOKS TERMINAL...HEHEHE
 
Heading out early and not so bright in the morning to make the final trail camera memory card swap before the season. I hope the elk are still around, and better yet, I hope I have photos of new bulls. It's always exciting and full of anticipation when checking trail cameras. I'll post up some photos if I get any good ones.
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-22-15 AT 11:24PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Aug-22-15 AT 11:00?PM (MST)

Well, there are still a lot of elk in this area. It has taken me a while to go through all of the photos and video. A couple of the bigger bulls went AWOL the last two weeks and are MIA. I hope they make a re-appearance during bow season.

Many of the bulls are hard horned (antlered) now, and they're really beginning to hit the wallows. I got some incredible video clips of some great wallowing action as well as some still photos of splashing water and mud slinging. I'll try to post some of the video if I can figure out how to upload it to YouTube and link it in my forum post.

I hope you all enjoy these photos and that they get you as excited for the upcoming season as they do me.

Idaho archery season opens Aug. 30th. It's going to be a long week at work! Good luck to all the tag holding archers out there!

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I got a few photos of a nice buck.
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and a half racked bull. he actually has a small club-like formation on his left side.
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And shedding velvet.
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Fantastic pics. Thanks for sharing.

I would be inclined to hold out for any bull bigger than your 5 point, but ultimately that's a very personal decision.
 
Dang those are some awesome pictures. If you are seeing that many branch antlered bulls id certainly not shoot a spike BUT how big a branch antlered bull you want and how many "raghorns" you are willing to pass is all on you. All I know is it took me shooting several raghorns with my bow until I felt comfortable enough or ready enough to pass on smaller to average sized bulls to hold out for big ones and Ive only shot what I consider to be two big ones and honestly feel very lucky to have gotten them. One was a 320" 5x6 and one was a 340" 7x7. Everything else has been in the upper 200" range. If I had shot just one bull so far with my bow I wouldn't pass on a raghorn personally. whatever you do it looks like you have a awesome spot, good luck!
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-08-15 AT 01:30PM (MST)[p]It was a tough first week of archery hunting. Most of the big bulls we had on camera before the season have gone AWOL. I got busted drawing on a 6 point bull on Aug. 31 by another bull I didn't see come in. About 1/2 hour later, this little 5 X 6 came in and I elected to video him on my phone rather than pick up my bow. Hot temperatures and a full moon made for a very slow week. I hope they get more in to the rut this week and are a little more vocal. I only heard 8 bugles in 6 days of hunting. Long story short, I still have an elk tag in my pocket. Heading out Wednesday night for three more days.
Here is the video clip from my phone:
https://youtu.be/DZdTQGOu29E
 
That's why they call it Hunting and not Killing. Best of luck ( sometimes that's what it takes) use every skill you have learned and put yourself in the best possible situation to harvest one of these majestic critters then pray God they make a mistake. Most importantly ....make Memories Keep us posted ?
 
Best part of the hunt is still to come, Don't wear yourself out with the worry. Keep with your game plan.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
 

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