Messed up elk season or what ??

[BOWHUNTER45]

Well I think I have heard more bad stories than good so far from some elk hunters ... A lot more wounded than killed .....some not seeing many or any !! A couple tags were turned back to the timber company ...This is what really gets me ...Do you think we have none hunters applying for tags just to stir up some sheet ? Heck yeah we do !! Just found this out and from the proper source ....So there were 3 tags and only one hunter ...and that one hunter wounded a pig of a bull ....This is seriously messed up ....these guys shooting at elk at 80 yrds or more need to give up bowhunting and get a rifle .... Bowhunters should have the ability to get close to what they are trying to kill and if you can not then you have to right to have a bow in your hand ...I woke up in a great mood this morning 

[huntnnw]

I have seen very few elk hit the dirt this year so far

[MLhunter1]

Its not just bowhunters.  Guys shooting 1,000 plus yds with rifles barely capable of shooting 200 yds accurately, ML guys goin out to 300.  Happens in all seasons.

[Rooster1981]

Its not just bowhunters.  Guys shooting 1,000 plus yds with rifles barely capable of shooting 200 yds accurately, ML guys goin out to 300.  Happens in all seasons.

 I agree, especially when animal movement is slow. Some guys just don't hold back and will shoot at any distance because this might be the only chance they get. I don't really know what the answer is to fix the problem. As far as archery goes, I know some states have a archery class to take before you can get a tag. Maybe that's what wash needs 

[RadSav]

Its not just bowhunters.  Guys shooting 1,000 plus yds with rifles barely capable of shooting 200 yds accurately, ML guys goin out to 300.  Happens in all seasons.

 I agree, especially when animal movement is slow. Some guys just don't hold back and will shoot at any distance because this might be the only chance they get. I don't really know what the answer is to fix the problem. As far as archery goes, I know some states have a archery class to take before you can get a tag. Maybe that's what wash needs 

Oh please no!  Do drivers tests make drunk drivers more responsible?  Stupid is as stupid does and no lame archery class full of phony baloney is going to make these guys any less stupid. I don't see where government mandated education about things the government doesn't have a clue about will change a thing.  That would be like the US Congress trying to mandate classes on how to balance a check book.

Some guys are just having some bad luck this year too.  Two of the stories I've read on H-W this year sound like the hunters did just about everything right.  They felt bad and gave 110% at trying to recover their animals.  It happens to the best of us sooner or later.  Social media just makes it too dang easy for bad news to travel.  I understand guys wanting to find comfort and support here since we are a tight family.  So I really have a hard time saying anything negative about the majority of the posts so far.  If the weather was better and the hunter success was stronger this year these posts would get drown out rather quickly.  Just a bad early season to be having a bad day I think 

I know a good number of animals that have been taken so far this year as well.  But most of these guys have raced right in to hunting for their other tags.  I expect after this weekend the good stories and pictures should start making their way on here.  And then the bad luck stories will be forgotten.

[stw]

This state makes it this way raising tag fees
Sorting are seasons Idaho, org. Montana longer
Season to hunt. people dont have to go out in those states
And just fling arrows and lead.  People taking long
Shots if they practice and can do it then do it
And if you dont practice i feel you have no right on taking
that kind of shot iv shot elk with a bow from 15 feet to 80  yards
But i practice a lot out to 8o . For the bow class to hunt with
With a bow i dont think that will change anything people will
keep send arrows at elk. Elk make people crazy they will do
Anything they can to get one.

[olypen archer]

3 of my friends have tagged out on the west side. One of the bulls was quite an adventure to say the least. Poor first shot followed by 2 more shots and a 3 mile Chase to get him down. Been decent out here so far.

[cryder]

Bull at 80 yards does this involve a fixed site range finder because I practice all year and would never find the confidence to think I could get a an absolute kill shot sure I'm going to hit but a kill shot is still taking a chance of a long 2 days of tracking maybe keep that out of the media you make more people think there experts too !

[stw]

Broad side with a 80bow pound bow. hit in the lungs
Went no farther then 45 yards . Ill im saying is if your.
Gear isn't set up for it don't do it if it is then shoot
Im not saying im perfect.  Iv lost one before its not a good feeling
And it was the closest shoot ever. It happens to everyone
I gess.   I just dont go out and fling arrows. I practice
Hard and if everything perfect and a bull walks out at 80
yards broad side im taking it

[dreamingbig]

I have seen many elk hit the dirt this year so far

 .

My elk hit the dirt after 40 yards and 8 seconds.  He couldn't tote the heart shot.  I also saw many others with similar results.  I think the bad stories are the only ones being told.

[boneaddict]

 




Fire closures, July like weather, are all contributing factors.   

[cryder]

 :yoke:ROAD CLOSURES ,FIRES , PEOPLE THAT DONT KNOW HOW TO HUNT, BAD WEATHER ,GAS PRICES , THE MOON ,THESE ARE ALL THE WAYS FISH AND FEATHERS PROTECT THERE MONEY TRAIN IT HELPS THEM AND JUST MAKE US TUOGHER HUNTERS  AT LEAST IN THIS STATE,BOY THEY REALLY PROTECTED THERE RESUORCES THIS YEAR. :yoke:

[CamoDup]

I have seen very few elk hit the dirt this year so far

 .

 

My elk hit the dirt after 40 yards and 8 seconds.  He couldn't tote the heart shot.  I also saw many others with similar results.  I think the bad stories are the only ones being told.

  Our camp had 5 elk down in 5 days. Best early season we have ever had! A lot of people are successful that don't share their stories. Sometimes I'm one of them. And like what was said before the guys that have wounded an animal are turning to the forum to get some help and tips from members. Negative comments are unacceptable in my opinion.

[PolarBear]

 
I have heard of more poaching going on this year than ever.  I know several guys who have caught others trying to kill elk several days before the season opened.  A couple of our local bulls were killed illegally. One at night on private land and the other by trespassing onto newly leased Weyco land by guys that did not hold the lease.  A buddy of mine busted a dude that was at full draw on a cow in a closed unit.  Another caught a group of guys in pick up trucks way back in a closed off area hunting.  I also have heard of close to a dozen guys wounding and losing elk.  This crap is getting out of control!  It seems that hunter ethics are a thing of the past.  I am sick and tired of hearing over and over again after someone loses yet another bull, " s- happens" or " it happens to every bowhunter eventually".  Actually, no it does not!  If anything is going to kill hunting in this state it is these poaching yayhoos and slob "hunters"!

[vandeman17]

I will help fix the trend next week but then again, i will be in Oregon so it doesn't fully count