78 105 - 109 Spruce mountain elk

This year I fortunate to draw my first Nevada elk tag. It is an archery bull elk permit for the Spruce mountain area. The success rate for the archery hunt last year was 0%, which is concerning to me although it seems to an anomaly from previous years. The unit doesn't seem to be lacking bulls as the rifle hunt seems be very successful. It should be an exciting time with rutting bulls since it runs Sept 1-20 and only has 10 permits. Should I be concerned very much or does anyone have insight on the difficulty of the archery hunt there?

I sent you a PM

>I sent you a PM


I sent you one back.

I know they have stud bulls in there water seems to be limited so look for high quality h2o. Good luck it's going to be in my apps for a long time.

You lucky dog. Great tag and the bulls are there. Water dependent unit for sure. No trail cams after Aug 1st may have affected some of the success rate last year. Its the first time Ive seen 0% in that unit. Not an easy hunt but I have seen some dandy bulls there. Good luck

How did this hunt turnout

I posted a summary in that thread. It was fun. Let me know if you draw.

I drew this tag as well for antlerless. Would appreciate very much for insight.

Got this tag first come first served archery and going in blind. Long time 16 hunter. Going to be a rag tag in and out hunt but excited!

Chump said:

Got this tag first come first served archery and going in blind. Long time 16 hunter. Going to be a rag tag in and out hunt but excited!

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Follow up on the hunt. Archery Bull in Nevada. Was given some guidance on an area in unit 109 across the valley from Spruce so decided to give it a go. Drove 6.5 hrs and hunted the 14th through the 20th(closing). Just did some spotting on the 14th as I arrived in the afternoon, saw a branch bull and a few cows, heard a few bugles that night but they did not seem to be in full rut yet. Started the next morning doing stalking but did not hear or see a thing. That afternoon I set up on a guzzler and had the photo bull walk in. 40 yds and I never had a clear shot due to the piping and tall heavy grass. He fed and watered for 20 minutes then sauntered off, pretty sure he was laughing at me! Did not see or hear a thing until the afternoon before closing day on the 19th. Heard a bugle and worked towards it. About 500 yards out I glassed the same branch bull, a unicorn spike(very unique!), 2 cows and 2 calfs. spent the next hour stalking in as they were feeding and not moving. Got within 100 yds and got a huge surprise. Bedded down 75yds from me was a beautiful 6x6 watching his charges that I did not glass earlier as he was hidden behing a few pinions. They were all in a small gorge littered with 2-4 ft sage so I sat and contemplated what to do next. My biggest concern was getting close enough to the big guy for a shot without being made by the others feeding. So, I decided to use my Hoochie Mama and beat up the pinion in front of me in hopes of bringing him in. Lesson learned...a hoochie mama needs to be cleaned out daily! The sound that came out was the worst thing I have ever heard and nothing near a cow talking to a stud bull! They all wasted no time exiting the area. Closing day was again crickets. This was my first ever Elk hunt, and to have that bull walk in on the first afternoon is something I will cherish forever. Non-resident fees and all, it was worth it and I am hooked!!!

Sucks to not harvest but being that close to a bull has its values for sure!

Archery bull in or around rut is the most exciting hunt around. Start using a reed and practice often so you’re not rusty when the time comes.