philosophy on special draw elk tags

[elkboy]

Dear fellow hunters, I have a question of philosophy for you.  I would really like to know what the general ethic is regarding special draw tags. 

I am a meat hunter first and foremost.  I hunt for the freezer and the plate, mostly, although I sure don't mind nice antlers now and then.  I was lucky to draw the coveted Peaches Ridge archery elk "any bull" tag this year (my backyard archery target is feeling the effects of that "selected" status right now!). 

My question is this: is it disrespectful to other hunters to take anything but a trophy bull (for me, that means a good-sized 5x5 or bigger) with this type of tag?  My natural inclination is to view the special tag as an extension of my over-the-counter tag to mean an "any elk" hunt (spikes and cows are legal, at least on the Taneum-336 part of the special draw unit). 

I suppose I just want to gauge the feelings of others on this issue.  Would people understand if I hunted hard for 2-3 days for a bull, but then was willing to switch over to an "any elk" approach?   

[92xj]

It's your tag. Shoot whatever you want that's legal.
If anyone has an issue with what you shoot with your tag they can pound sand.

[BULLBLASTER]

It's your tag to do whatever you want with. 
When I had a quality tag a couple years ago I held out and passed Bulls bigger than I've ever shot and ate the tag. No regrets on that decision.

I say hunt your but off and when it feels right you'll know it's time to shoot. Only ou can make the choice.

[Woodchuck]

It's your tag. Shoot whatever you want that's legal.
If anyone has an issue with what you shoot with your tag they can pound sand.

[JKEEN33]

I drew the Observatory archery bull tag. To me it just means I'm legal for any elk in bow range. I would love a bull, but not passing a cow in the freezer. Your tag do what you want with it.

[Jpmiller]

More of the same. I think it's an extension of your season. No different than arrowing a cow or doe opening morning in an any deer/elk area for the regular season. Congrats on the tag and food luck. Let us know how it goes.

[D-Rock425]

I drew the Observatory archer bull tag. To me it just means I'm legal for any elk in bow range. I would love a bull, but not passing a cow in the freezer. Your tag do what you want with it.

don't shoot a cow if you're planning on hunting 342 it's bull only.

[JKEEN33]

I drew the Observatory archer bull tag. To me it just means I'm legal for any elk in bow range. I would love a bull, but not passing a cow in the freezer. Your tag do what you want with it.

don't shoot a cow if you're planning on hunting 342 it's bull only.

Yep. Not an issue.

[medic6]

Special permits grant folks an oppertunity that most don't get to experience on an average hunt. Big Bulls, lots of elk, little pressure. You want to hold out for a monster and risk tag soup have at it.  You want to shoot the first brown critter that walks your way, sweat.  I feel it has more to do with the experience.  to each his own. 

[elkboy]

Thanks, all, I really appreciate the insight.  I haven't archery hunted elk in twelve years, and I am really looking forward to it.  And I am very thankful for the opportunity.  And I will let you all know how it goes, whether the tag gets notched or souped! 

[theleo]

Don't pass the first morning what you'd gladly take closing night. What you choose to hang your tag on is entirely up to you. If someone were to get uppity with you for shooting a spike with that tag, you can tell them you did it so they would just have one more monster to choose from when they draw the tag.

[elkboy]

Don't pass the first morning what you'd gladly take closing night. What you choose to hang your tag on is entirely up to you. If someone were to get uppity with you for shooting a spike with that tag, you can tell them you did it so they would just have one more monster to choose from when they draw the tag.

Good point!  "I improved the herd's genetics and age structure, just for you!  You're welcome!" 

[7mmfan]

I killed a spike bull a few years ago with a Rimrock any bull tag, and have zero regrets. I hunted hard for 4 days before the general season opener with very few animals seen. When I happened upon that spike, it was a no brainer for me to pull the trigger and put that meat in my freezer. That's all I care about.

[nbk]

I killed a spike bull a few years ago with a Rimrock any bull tag, and have zero regrets. I hunted hard for 4 days before the general season opener with very few animals seen. When I happened upon that spike, it was a no brainer for me to pull the trigger and put that meat in my freezer. That's all I care about.

I have had the any bull tag for rimrock 3 different times over the years and have taken a 4X5 and a spike..........shoot whatever you want to, its YOUR tag

[DOUBLELUNG]

I've been fortunate to have had several limited entry elk licenses in Wyoming. 

For my first, I hunted hard for a wallhanger, a big, mature 6x6 or better, on an any bull license.  On my last day, I was looking over a large herd with an average 5x6, a small 5x5, a couple of raghorns and 11 spikes.  I chose to shoot a spike for meat.

For my second, an any elk license, I had just started a new job a few months before, and took my limited time during archery looking for that wallhanger.  I was happy to eat my tag, had some close calls and saw some dandies.  On the last day of the rifle season, October 31, I took the afternoon off, drove the two hours to my area, and entered the woods with 3.5 hours of legal light left.  An hour later I had a cow looking at me at 40 yards through the lodgepoles, and I gratefully harvested her as a "bonus" meat elk.

For my third, I put in with a friend Courtney who had never killed an elk and had only one day to hunt.  I went up the day before and put a small herd to bed, he arrived that night with a mutual friend and was incredibly jacked that we had a prospect for the morning.  At first light, he and the friend went around the edge of the timber toward where I'd seen the elk, while I worked through the timber into the wind.  After two hours, I heard a crack-thump and headed for the shot.  I found his tagged elk and a note they'd gone for the packs.  They soon returned, and as we were working up his elk, we saw two cows and a calf about 600 yards away.  I hadn't planned to fill my any elk license with a cow, but he was really excited at the prospect of both tagging out together.  I killed the yearling cow, and by 10:30am we had two elk loaded in the truck.  Courtney died two years later in a skiing accident.  I'm glad I shot the cow.

Next one, I was living in WA and a buddy and I put on about 75 miles in 5 days archery hunting, seeing one bull.  The morning of the 6th day, a cold front came through and every bull in the mountains was screaming.  We split up with plans to meet at lunch, met up at lunch to learn we'd both killed mature bulls!

5 years later, 2007, same area, had a great unsuccessful archery hunt with a buddy.  Planned to eat the tag (same story, new job, no time), as I'd again used my time in archery, but figured I could make a banzai run to WY using the Veteran's Day holiday, the weekend and two days of leave; rifle hunt 2 days with time for a packout, road hunt a half day if unsuccessful, and return in time for work.  Left Wenatchee after work, drove through the night, got to my trailhead around 9am, hiked in 3 miles, found 4 bulls bedded on a patch of snow, and shot the 5-point when he stood up.  Began following the blood, had a medical emergency, got rescued around midnight, and haven't tagged an elk since.

My point?  It's your opportunity, and the future is uncertain.  Do what makes you happy!