So Reports from Az Archery Elk Hunters?

[caelkhnter]

As I get ready to leave this Thursday for my Az Archery Elk Hunt, yes I have the second season 11m hunt, where are the reports from all the people who have been chasing Big Bulls during the early archery season?

 

[creed]

Been after them in 5BS for 10 days. I came in to take a break and take care of things but I am thinking I am heading back out in the morning to finish the season. Been a fun hunt but hard in some ways. They are not responding well to calls and it has rained nearly every day the last week. Waterhole hunting is not working with water standing everywhere. That leaves chasing bugles. Lots of work but about the only way to hunt.

 

[Holyroller]

Caelkhunter....how did the hunt go?

 

[caelkhnter]

Well it was pretty tough actually. The first couple of days, in the area we decided to concentrate on first, the elk actually bugled in the mornings and we got on them, but my buddy was not ready when they presented him the opportunity to shoot at 30 yards! It was his first archery hunt, and he was willing to take any legal bull. The one that presented itself was a nice 5x5, but by the time he got ready to draw his bow the bull busted him and that was that.

That area kind of fizzled out, so we went to some of our other "pockets" of choice in 11m. Unfortunately we never got into any other bugles the entire remainder of the hunt. It became quite difficult as we got a fair amount of rain early in the hunt, so sitting water was not an option.

I had my sights set on finding a bull in the 330 range. I did see one nice bull, I was guessing to be about 340+, but could never close the distance on him. Saw him once, and was never able to see him again.

I think the second 11m hunt is pretty difficult because there is no corresponding pressure in the adjacent units, to push them back into the 11m pockets, when they move out from the limited pressure they get from the 11m hunters.

I enjoyed the time away from work, I enjoyed being out in beautiful country, I enjoyed the challenge of the hunt, but no doubt it was a pretty difficult hunt for me this year.