I will be on an guided elk hunt in Wyoming this year and have decided to make it an archery hunt. I shoot with traditional equipment and have been for about 40 years on and off, just never hunted with archery gear. I will be shooting a yew wood long bow my wife made for me a few years ago along with custom wood arrows. I have decided against the self nocked shafts, hand tied fletching and iron broad heads she makes. I don't want to make this too hard.
I am now shooting 50 arrows a day on the range in my back yard, on an exercise program and a diet. Other than don't (or do) take a frontal shot, what advice do you have for me as I prepare for this trip?
If you are going on a guided hunt, with a bow your wife made, why not use the arrows also ?
As long as they are sharp, and you can put them in the right place with sufficient energy (you did not mention weight, either bow or arrows) the will make the trip more memorable.
Talk to the outfitter, ask him about the probable shots, is getting within range an issue ?
Average shot distance on an elk can vary, a lot of "guides" are not archery hunters, even fewer are traditional archery hunters.
Is your hunt scheduled during the rut ? How many days ?
Is it a 1:1 hunt, or 2:1 ? (how many hunters per guide)
What class of animal can you expect ? (hate to pass on the biggest one you see) or is a cow legal/acceptable ?
Have a clear understanding of what to expect before you go, and communicate with the outfitter of any special considerations he should know.
If you are the only guy in camp hunting with a longbow, you don't want the guide that is really just a wrangler "guiding" during his off season that is used to riding a horse to a vantage point and having a rifle hunter shoot across the drainage at the elk 100+ yards away.
I know from my own experience, in the open areas of eastern Washington, Elk will only come towards you until they feel they should see the caller.
Unless you have set up in a spot where that is within range, the elk will "hold up" and you might have a great time, and see lots of elk, but no shots.
communication with the guide is important, it makes it hard when you are attempting to get set-up and have no idea what the other is doing.
Spend some time on the telephone, just because your trip doesn't start until.. (?) you don't have to wait until you get there to meet your outfitter/guide, and the better you will be prepared when you get there.
You can shoot 1000 arrows a day, and be in great shape, but if your expectations about the hunt do not meet with reality, I hope it is more a case of exceeding expectations than disappointment.
