What would u do?

[longrangekiller]

So u got a bull tag and its only 2 days before the end of your hunt your walking an old road and you only got 45-30 min. Of light left and u hear a bull bugling in this hole about 600-700 yards away in the thick bottom. But he wont come in to any of your calls. You don't know if u can seal the deal or not before dark. What would u do? Let him bed down hopefully get on him in the morning? Head into the thick brush taking the chance of spooking him and loosing day light?

[billythekidrock]

I wouldn't want to bump him so I would leave him for the night.

[Tman]

  exactly..

besides, who wants to pack an elk out uphill in the dark..

[blacktail luv]

I'm a believer in taking advantage of every opportunity given, he may be gone tomorrow...I'd go for it!

[PolarBear]

I wouldn't want to bump him so I would leave him for the night.

Back out quietly!

[Hunterman]

Not enough time in the day left to do the animal any justice. Bed him down and come back in the morning and take your chances.

Hunterman(Tony)

[billythekidrock]

I'm a believer in taking advantage of every opportunity given, he may be gone tomorrow...I'd go for it!

And that brings up a great point. If other hunters are in the area it might be best to try for it. But if I had it all to myself my choice would be to wait.

[longrangekiller]

I'm right with u guys back out quietly and go in at day light. I seen a post on face book that was like this so I figured I would do one on here and 375 comments on there were guys all over the country saying " I'm not scared of the dark I would jump over the edge and chase after him" lol it's not about being scared of the dark it's a matter of using your brain to give your self the best odds in a sucsesful hunt haha

[big wood]

YOU ARE GIVEN THE OPPROTUNITY AND YOU ARE THERE TO HUNT. GO DOWN THERE AND PUT YOUR BEST MOVES ON HIM. ITS O.K. TO GET BACK AT CAMP AT MIDNIGHT. I HAVE PUT TO MANY ELK TO BED TO FIND THEM 2 DRAINAGES OVER THE NEXT DAY. WHEN THEY ARE RUTTING THEY COULD STAY OR BE PUSHED. WHAT IF ANOTHER HUNTER WHO WANTED IT KILLED THAT BULL AND THE NEXT MORNING YOU WERE GAURDING HIS GUT PILE! IF YOU HAVE TGHE CHANCE DO IT! YOU GOTTA WANT IT.

[Hunterman]

How many post have there been on here " I shot this (insert buck or bull here) just at the last light and couldn't find him" 45 to 30 minutes of day light left is not enough time to do the job the right way. This is how they come about. People need to use their heads. Lost hunter get that way buy not thinking in a situation like this.

Hunterman(Tony)

[longrangekiller]

How many post have there been on here " I shot this (insert buck or bull here) just at the last light and couldn't find him" 45 to 30 minutes of day light left is not enough time to do the job the right way. This is how they come about. People need to use their heads. Lost hunter get that way buy not thinking in a situation like this.

Hunterman(Tony)

100% agreed

[Easy-E]

What weapon type?

Maybe a different answer for Archery vs. ML vs rifle.

In any case, you can decide to back out at any time as you're closing the gap and as light fades.

Cheers!

[longrangekiller]

What weapon type?

Maybe a different answer for Archery vs. ML vs rifle.

In any case, you can decide to back out at any time as you're closing the gap and as light fades.

Cheers!

Didn't think about what weapon but let's say muzzy a little more advantage then a bow a little less then a rifle

[billythekidrock]

That could change things.

[buck man]

I am going to buck the tide on this one. If the opportunity is there and you are physically able, do it. Unless the elk are on private property and are very local, they won't be there in the morning. Especially during the rut.

Case and point. A couple years ago I was glassing a distant hill side about a mile as the crow flies away. A nice bull(6x7)with a few cows comes out and the cows start feeding . I look at my watch and I had less than one and a half hours of light left. The problem was I had to lose 1200' in elevation, cross a river and then gain 2000', all the while fighting dog alders. Most people would have left the elk till morning, but they would not have been there. I dropped off the mountain running and did my best Cameron Hanes impression climbing the other side. I snuck to within 44yards of the bull with 10 minutes of light left, double lunged him with my Easton and G5 montech. He went 88 yards and that was it. Got back to camp at 2am with a nice 300 inch bull, quartered and hung in a tree waiting to be packed out later in the morning.

70%of my elk are killed this way. I'm 12 elk in 9 years. I think my methods work. I think the reason most don't do this and "back out" is because they physically can't do it!

 Hunterman, I always use my head and have lost 2 elk in 25 years of hunting them. But I have brought home almost 20. If you never try you will never know what kind of hunter you can really be. 

[Easy-E]

Still a lot of factors to decide: number of hunters in the area, weather, wind, how much you've been into elk on the hunt, how well you know the area (especially since you're coming out in the dark) etc.

With only two days left on a muzzy big bull tag, I'd say try to close the gap. Back out quietly if any one thing turns unfavorable.

Cheers!

[SkookumHntr]

I would have went down there! Eatin Elk steak & eggs in the morn!  Everytime Ive backed out in a scenario like that they have never been there the next day..

[EDT]

How many post have there been on here " I shot this (insert buck or bull here) just at the last light and couldn't find him" 45 to 30 minutes of day light left is not enough time to do the job the right way. This is how they come about. People need to use their heads. Lost hunter get that way buy not thinking in a situation like this.

Hunterman(Tony)

Not to rattle, just a thought.  If this was the case, then we should all stop hunting 2 hours before dark.

[buck man]

How many post have there been on here " I shot this (insert buck or bull here) just at the last light and couldn't find him" 45 to 30 minutes of day light left is not enough time to do the job the right way. This is how they come about. People need to use their heads. Lost hunter get that way buy not thinking in a situation like this.

Hunterman(Tony)

Not to rattle, just a thought.  If this was the case, then we should all stop hunting 2 hours before dark.

 

[nw_bowhunter]

I would do my best to sneak in to get a better look, if the shot opportunity not there due to fading light make the hike out and get after him in the am. More than likely the bull would have moved through the night anyways.

[TMortensen]

I'm in on him. I've had my greatest success with Bulls the last hour of light. Of my 14 bulls 10 have come in that last hour so I'm going in after him every time...

[elkkillin5]

Close the distance while calling once you get close enough as kind as he don't wind you he will show his face! Also if he don't wind you, you can always back out of there but if you wait the other hunters there won't so seize the moment. Just my 

[MIKEXRAY]

My hunting buddy always heads towards game and takes action,  I am always planning , backing out, looking for better conditions, etc.   He has killed a lot more animals then I have over the years.  I say take advantage of all opportunities , they don't come to often.

[Skyvalhunter]

All good as long as your not hunting with a Phool.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I would leave him ...unless I could actually see him ...If I could see him then I would sneak in and blast him !

[2MANY]

I would have already been down in there.

Spray cow urine all over yourself and bed down.
Perhaps he will come up to tuck you in around midnight.

[wapiti hunter2]

Leave him.  I will never shoot a bull in twilight again.  I lost a nice 5 x 5 once that I shot with 10 minutes of shooting light left.  We looked for hours that night and the next day but overnight rain washed the blood away. Found him the following year 500 yards away.  Never been so sick. Never again.