How to get out of the 90-10 rule

[buglebrush]

6. Don't be afraid to draw your bow. Last year I drew on 3 elk as they were looking at me between 15-30 yards none of them busted, but they do tense up.

Excellent point, buddy.  Every elk but one that I have killed with an arrow watched me draw.  I have never had one spook because of the draw.  Never.  Blacktails, yes, but not elk.

This is funny because my experience is totally different.  I now try to always draw before the bull can see me.  Have been, and seen buddies busted numerous times for drawing.  Have killed or called in a bull a buddy killed at least once every years for twenty years now.  Most years more than one.

[Wetwoodshunter]

6. Don't be afraid to draw your bow. Last year I drew on 3 elk as they were looking at me between 15-30 yards none of them busted, but they do tense up.

Excellent point, buddy.  Every elk but one that I have killed with an arrow watched me draw.  I have never had one spook because of the draw.  Never.  Blacktails, yes, but not elk.

This is funny because my experience is totally different.  I now try to always draw before the bull can see me.  Have been, and seen buddies busted numerous times for drawing.  Have killed or called in a bull a buddy killed at least once every years for twenty years now.  Most years more than one.

Interesting, maybe it's the way I set up. I always try to setup by standing in front of a tree or bush with my back close to it so I can draw. I also practice drawing slow with my pin on the target during the draw. I think the backdrop may mask the movement.

By all means it's better to draw and be ready when you know they are coming but I tend to fall apart when I hold my bow at full draw for over a minute and a half.

[buglebrush]

Maybe it's a Rocky vs Rosie thing. 

[snarkybull]

Definitely could be.  Lots more cover here.  Could also be a hunting style thing.  I am mostly an ambush hunter, so hopefully the first time they sense me is when I draw.  The first time they see or hear something they stare at it for a while to ascertain whether it is a threat.  The second and subsequent times there is decreasing forgiveness.  There is also a proximity factor.  30 or so yards seems to be a trigger for them where I have less time and more need of cover when closer, I have spooked plenty of them immediately without drawing at really close range.  The closest I shot one was 15 yards, that cow just popped out into the clear and stared at me, but I had a huge stump right behind me and other little trees all around.

I can easily imagine them spooking easier if they are already on alert...if hunting pressure is high or they were called in and suspicious to begin with or the hunter had to stalk up to them.

[Reidus]

Maybe it's a Rocky vs Rosie thing.

Maybe it's an educated vs non-educated elk thing

Elk seem to be more a product of the country they live in than rocky vs rosy. Hunting rocky's in thick country is similar to hunting rosies. Open country elk tend to be more visual based than vocal. Much easier to call elk in when you're hunting the thick stuff in my experience.

[birddogdad]

I'll say that nothing beats time and miles in the woods period! You have to be were they are. Elk move a lot on public lands when pushed around by so many hunters and the big boys find great hiding places with years of experience. Those places are where most hunters don't go. I walk typically 15 miles a day during season till I find critters and not flatlands. If they are not where you are (which is very easy to see recent ground activity) then move totally. I have 10-15 sites over 30+ miles I cover looking for that activity and every year add at least 2 new locations branching out. disclaimer - I have only hunted public land in WA, western, rifle and tag rate of 8 animals in last 10 seasons with only 1 coming via cow tag special draw during that period. 2 seasons my camp went 100% tagging. 6.

[buglebrush]

Definitely could be.  Lots more cover here.  Could also be a hunting style thing.  I am mostly an ambush hunter, so hopefully the first time they sense me is when I draw.  The first time they see or hear something they stare at it for a while to ascertain whether it is a threat.  The second and subsequent times there is decreasing forgiveness.  There is also a proximity factor.  30 or so yards seems to be a trigger for them where I have less time and more need of cover when closer, I have spooked plenty of them immediately without drawing at really close range.  The closest I shot one was 15 yards, that cow just popped out into the clear and stared at me, but I had a huge stump right behind me and other little trees all around.

I can easily imagine them spooking easier if they are already on alert...if hunting pressure is high or they were called in and suspicious to begin with or the hunter had to stalk up to them.

I definitely always set up in front of good cover. 

I almost exclusively call in elk, so that may have an effect.   But the other issue over here is all the predators.  Elk have to constantly be on their guard, and I've found them especially jumpy in drainages with excessive Wolf activity. 

[Shooting Stix]

I haven't hunted elk in years but also in a 5 year span in Washington west side I shot 3 Bulls that were 5x5s then I went into the military which eventually I got stationed at McChord then I went 5 years without shooting an elk but I also realized when I was hunting with someone I became a follower and listened to my hunting partner or hunting with random guys who are not successful elk hunters which messed up a lot of opportunities so either hunt solo or find a hunting partner that is on your level and are on the same page you are. I also have refused to shoot a cow in September because I'm going for that chance at a big bull that I dream about all year which late season is different story but I haven't had any luck late season because I consentrate on deer more but if I was to shoot cows in September I would be in the 10%

[hunter_sean08]

Maybe it's a Rocky vs Rosie thing.

Maybe it's an educated vs non-educated elk thing

Elk seem to be more a product of the country they live in than rocky vs rosy. Hunting rocky's in thick country is similar to hunting rosies. Open country elk tend to be more visual based than vocal. Much easier to call elk in when you're hunting the thick stuff in my experience.

I always approached hunting rosies a little bit differently then rockies but you are right, cover is going to be one of the primary differences between the two. I will say in my experience in hunting rosies, they don't travel nearly as far when they get spooked. A lot of it has to do with the cover and land features they can utilize. They could go one or two timbered draws over from where you spooked em and drop into some thick brush and feel safe. While it might take you a while to navigate those draws quietly and effectively, you won't travel near the distance you might travel if you were hunting rockies in open country. When I spooked a herd in Montana a couple years back, that herd went halfway up a mountain and traversed several steep, expansive draws before we finally gave up the pursuit. When we got to a vantage point that looked way up canyon, they were miles away and still moving up some nasty, cliffed out ridge in the snow that looked miserable. That country was much more open, so obviously the animals felt the need to cover some serious ground before stopping. It was really impressive to watch.

[coachcw]

Hunt with me it seems to work for most guys ! he he .... Honestly foremost is the wind , second don't be afraid to blow it,  call , stalk  , or head them off ......doing nothing results in nothing !