Elk Hunting Mistakes

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Not seeing debris in between me and the bull at seven yards.  Sent the arrow into no mans land. 

Check for clear arrow path.  Predict the trajectory. 



Not drawing the bow at the right time.

Draw before the Bulls standing at your feet.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I lost one pushing into him. 

 

Timing when they die is tough.  If you push to early they run.  If you wait to long they spoil.  Trusting the gear you use and having good archery equipment can make it a lot easier.

[trophyhunt]

I probably missed 1,000 oppertunities when I was a kid not paying attention to the wind.  The wind is the most important thing to NOT forget.

[HornHoarder]

For some reason and I did it with deer too, when I see an animal I immediately crouch.  99% of the time they catch the movement and bust. Hard habit to break....

I agree... don't crouch down when elk are coming in. I have the instinct to crouch, or kneel down, but it makes it harder to see through the brush, and a harder position to shoot from. Now I try to have some cover behind me, and stand still, but upright.

[coachcw]

if your calling alone move left or right twenty feet at least after calling last time , helps you not get pinned down.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

For some reason and I did it with deer too, when I see an animal I immediately crouch.  99% of the time they catch the movement and bust. Hard habit to break....

First bull I seen I dove on the ground.  He was only like ten yards and didn't even notice.  I stood up came to full draw and he caught my wind before he cleared the brush.  Wish I had just drawn.

[pd]

My mistake: I started seriously hunting for elk so late in life.  I should have been paying attention earlier.

[bradslam]

If you are stalking a herd in waning light and the conditions are not right, don't get desperate and throw caution to the wind.  You'll probably blow it.  Be patient.  Come back the next morning and track them down when you have plenty of time to make a good stalk.

[Dan-o]

Don't screw around blowing a bugle - even in the middle of the day - if you're not ready.

The memory is still fresh after all these years.

[Shawn Ryan]

I've made so many!  Put the camera down and draw the bow. Missed taking a shot at a nice six point because I had been busy filming him fight another bull. Which, basically, is:  be ready more often.

[Todd_ID]

Only hunting morning and evenings is a mistake when calling, but it's a good move when in a stand.  Noon to 2 pm is the perfect time to find the bedded herd by calling.  You're better off calling from 4 am until 5 pm and heading to camp to be able to get enough rest to sustain the full season of hunting; the elk has every advantage during an evening calling encounter.  All they have to do is wait a few minutes, and you can't see to shoot: so they do just that, and we're most often left holding the bag with a good story and an educated elk.

[RadSav]

Not knowing elk anatomy is a big mistake.  How many stories have you read of guys shooting an elk "perfect", only to hear the rest of the story about how far they had to track it.

[Bean Counter]

This guy 

[WapitiTalk1]

Mistake:  Having long distance conversations with a bull. 

Remedy:  It's very cool to bugle back and forth with a distant bull but it really gets you nowhere.  If you hear a bull bugle, and you have a general idea of where he may be, there is no need to toot your horn.  Chances are, he'll sound off several more times on his own as you close the distance to his location.  Once in tight, within 80 yards or less, then it's time to decide if calling is needed to potentially get a shot. 

This same principal should be applied to hunter locate bugling also.  If you get an answer, there is really no need for follow on calling until you close the distance.  If you're sitting on a point at night, getting ready to do some night time locating and hear a bugle down in the draw or on an adjacent sidehill, you're done.... no need to toot your horn just to see if he'll answer back. Come back in the morning and he'll still be there, most likely letting you know where he's at or going with his singing. 

[Mike450r]

Overthinking it.

If an area has elk they can literally be anywhere.  Many times all you have to do is get 50 feet off the road into the timber and it's game on.