What would YOU do?

[Deleted member 33033]

What would you do in this scenario? (please be honest)

You are on your first elk hunt. You are driving for two days to reach your destination. You are using a bow. You have 10 days to get it done and start on opening day. The success rate in the area you are hunting is 7% for bow hunters. You are unfamiliar with much of the area, minimal scouting and virtually no knowledge of patterns. Your pricey tag is for either sex. What would you do?

1. Take the first good shot ya get?
2. Hold out for a buck?
3. Hold out for a big buck?​

 

[solus]

elk are usually in herds. always wait for a big bull elk. If you are on day 8 then I suggest thinking about taking a cow. Talk to the locals believe it or not they can lead you towards the right place. Pattern the elk and glass glass glass good luck

 

[cjack]

Meat hunter so I say first shot, besides 7%? Not high odds, unfamiliar with area, lack of scouting you may not get that many chances. I guess it just depends on how important it is for you to fill your tag and how much a "Trophy" means to you.
Just my opinion it's really a personal choice left to the individual hunter.

 

[Deleted member 33033]

After seeing a monster elk in AZ with a 5X5 rack that was AWESOME I told myself I wouldn't shoot anything smaller than that. Then I learned Roosevelt elk don't grow these kinda racks in NW Oregon because of a lack of minerals, genetics and the fact that they couldn't get around easily in the dense foliage so I reluctantly began lowering my expectations. Part of me really wants a successful hunt and a load of elk meat to bring home. Another part of me wants to take the high road and go for the massive bull only. A true trophy. A wall hanger. I guess I'm torn. I realize I may be in for a hard hunt...harder than I can imagine but then, sometimes ya just stumble on the big guy when you least expect it. Sure happened to me in AZ. Hmmmmm...some beginner's luck wouldn't hurt.

 

[dustin ray]

Bruce if a bull is in your shooting range KILL IT it will be a trophy. We need to see you in a cool pic sitting behind a dead Elk not coming back with just a story

 

[Deleted member 33033]

Bruce if a bull is in your shooting range KILL IT it will be a trophy. We need to see you in a cool pic sitting behind a dead Elk not coming back with just a story

I'll remember that if I see road kill during the drive.

 

[dustin ray]

Thats funny Bruce LOL Is your hunt DIY ? I hope you are successful on your hunt good luck

 

[Bayboy2020]

I would wait for a bull as I have an elk tag not a deer tag :lol bashing sign:

 

[Deleted member 33033]

Thats funny Bruce LOL Is your hunt DIY ? I hope you are successful on your hunt good luck

Yep. Thanks.

 

[Brush Hunter]

A good year for me includes 2 pig hunts and maybe 3 deer hunts. With that said, if I drew an elk tag and had an opportunity to put meat in the freezer, take the first good shot I get! Either way a cow or bull = Success! Good luck Bruce!

 

[henmar77]

i dont care about trophys, shoot whatever crosses my path. I dont know you personally, but i cant imagine you will have any regrets just being able to fill your pricey tag.

 

[Shoobee]

What would you do in this scenario? (please be honest)

You are on your first elk hunt. You are driving for two days to reach your destination. You are using a bow. You have 10 days to get it done and start on opening day. The success rate in the area you are hunting is 7% for bow hunters. You are unfamiliar with much of the area, minimal scouting and virtually no knowledge of patterns. Your pricey tag is for either sex. What would you do?

1. Take the first good shot ya get?
2. Hold out for a buck?
3. Hold out for a big buck?​

I am a meat hunter. Elk tastes really good. If I only had one tag, I would take the first shot on anything I could get.

If I had a 2nd tag, and I had room to hang a rack of antlers, then with the second tag I would hold out for a trophy.

Same principle with single women in bars too. If it had been a long time. And I could not wait. And I did not want to rent a professional. And I really wanted an amateur instead. Then just take the first one that looks half good. And come back later for a trophy. It works the same way for both species.

Meat is meat. If you are after meat then a trophy does not matter. Neanderthals and CroMagnons probably would have agreed as well when hunting for the tribe or raiding women from another tribe.

 

[Shoobee]

After seeing a monster elk in AZ with a 5X5 rack that was AWESOME I told myself I wouldn't shoot anything smaller than that. Then I learned Roosevelt elk don't grow these kinda racks in NW Oregon because of a lack of minerals, genetics and the fact that they couldn't get around easily in the dense foliage so I reluctantly began lowering my expectations. Part of me really wants a successful hunt and a load of elk meat to bring home. Another part of me wants to take the high road and go for the massive bull only. A true trophy. A wall hanger. I guess I'm torn. I realize I may be in for a hard hunt...harder than I can imagine but then, sometimes ya just stumble on the big guy when you least expect it. Sure happened to me in AZ. Hmmmmm...some beginner's luck wouldn't hurt.

There is a monster atypical 9x7 bull elk on FHL with a harem of 15 cows with him at all times, sort of like Michael Jackson or Mick Jagger (once upon a time).

There is also an ugly scrawny 2x2 bachelor elk as well.

In this case I would take the ugly one.

I could not bear to shoot the 9x7.

 

[sccrbllr]

Personally I would go for the trophy the first few days then if unsuccessful I would shoot at anything that crossed my path. That's my plan this year for our either sex tag. Good luck

 

[Aught-SixGuy]

I'd try to hold out to a few days for a good bull, but most likely would kill the first elk that presents me an opportunity. You can't eat he antlers but hey sure look nice on the wall!

 

[jerryt]

If I was in Arizona or New Mexico I would wait for the big boy. In oregon I'd spend a couple days trying to shoot a bull. After that I would shoot the cow. Elk are everywhere in Oregon however you wouldn't believe how many leaves and twigs are always between you and the elk that make hitting that barn door sized animal quite difficult.

 

[BigSurArcher]

I'd probably go for a big/nice bull in the first 5 days, then any bull after that. 10 days is a ton of time.

 

[#1Predator]

^^^ What he said. ^^^

 

[sancho]

i am in the exact same boat!!

i am shooting the first legal elk that comes across my path. if this happens the first day..hooray!! i'll be the camp "B". the first guy to actually GAIN weight on an elk hunt. haha

good luck bruce!!

 

[#1Predator]

The rules (more like guidelines really) at our camp say the first one back at camp with an animal fixes all of the meals and does all of the dishes for the rest of the group until another guy kills his animal. Then both of you do KP. Tough crowd.