HunterofWA's 2022 Elk Season Reports - Update 4

[HunterofWA]

Hey guys! I'm super stoked to hunt elk this season. This will be my first year chasing elk - and I'll be doing it with a bow. I've seen them while blacktail hunting but didn't feel ready to commit to elk until this season. I've learned a lot while hunting blacktails for the past 8 years and am very familiar with the type of habitat these Roosevelt elk hang out in. That said, every year I learn something new and am looking for ways to up my game. This forum has been a major resource and I've always appreciated learning from you all.

I'm starting this thread primarily to have a place to give updates on my hunts this season. Feel free to ask questions or chime in a little to give tips!

My plan for opening day is to hit a spot I've frequented A LOT and attempt to locate a bull before sunrise. Hoping to make my mistakes there before I go to a more promising location for my other hunts. I know there are some elk there, but it remains to be seen if they are huntable.

Anyway, it's been fun doing all the preparation this summer. I think I have a decent chance

Stay tuned, and enjoy the ride. 

[ghosthunter]

Go get em

[brew]

Awesome...good luck and keep your nose to the wind...one will eventually make a mistake and don't pass on the first ethical shot on a legal animal...being "greedy" leads to empty freezers

[HunterofWA]

Alright, so... opening day was crazy for me. TL;DR: I missed a 4-point bull on my first day ever hunting elk.

I was the first one to a spot I picked out and made the trek in under moonlight. Then I waited in the trees until it got light. The wind switched and I changed plans and headed in the opposite direction of my original route for the day. Around 6:30 am, 3 does come crashing onto the road as if they're being chased. They speed by me at 6 yards. Whatever was after them never showed itself. I was thinking I might get to use my cougar tag, but that'll have to wait.

I reach a cut, and low and behold a herd of 10-15 elk are feeding from 70-100 yards out. I sit it out and wait for them to drift off a crest in the ridge hoping to be able to make a stalk. A handful are legal bulls. A half hour passes and I make the stalk over to where they headed off. This endeavor proves fruitless and I backtrack out of there. Next, I walk down the main road of the cut to check out the timberline further in along the edge. I spot the whole herd around 8:30 and watch them for a half hour. The wind was good, and I started strategizing ways in which I could stalk them. I opted to back out and make a long loop above through drainage and up to their beds.

It took me a good while to make it to them, and I kept telling myself, "You've got all day, don't rush this." At this point, I'm making some calls as I try to make my walking sound as much as an elk as possible. I sneak into 30 yards from a cow and settle in behind an old-growth fir. Over the next 10 minutes, the herd shows itself more and I'm able to locate a nice 4x4 bull. Then the wind starts failing me. The elk get hints now and then of my scent and show signs of nervousness. I range the rest of the herd at 60 yards through a small opening. They start shifting around and walking off but I manage to time it just right to get the bull to stop in this one shooting lane available. I draw back and settle in. Between him and me is a tree trunk covering his back half. Just his vitals are exposed. I shoot, and the arrow strikes the tree. 2 1/2 inches to the left and I would have a dead elk. The herd splits and runs off as I have the sinking realization I blew the shot. I was able to recover my arrow just fine but as you can imagine, I wasn't really excited to find it in the tree.

Being that I'm a new elk hunter, I count myself very blessed to have this kind of action for my first hunt. Can't think of anything major I should have done differently other than get the darn arrow to connect! It was an incredible hunt and one that I'm still super stoked to talk about despite my miss. I underestimated the adrenaline rush you experience while chasing elk, these critters are amazing and the hunt is simply an awesome experience - I'm hooked.

[HntnFsh]

I bet that has you pumped for tomorrow. Get out there and get back on them. Bet they aren't far. Good luck
Excited to hear an update!

[pd]

The fact that you had such a good opportunity so early in your bow hunting career says a lot about your hunting skills.

Don't worry, we have all killed tree stumps.  Get your arrow, keep hunting.

[jasnt]

Tagging in. This should have been my first archery elk season but health has gotten in the way.  What an exciting first day

[boneaddict]

Not much to offer for tips. It sounds like a great day, even for a seasoned vet.   I'm not sure where that tree was in your sight picture, but hitting the tree sounds like it might have saved you a horrible first day as an elk hunter if it was indeed covering the back half.   Keep working on the nerves as I assume thats why you shot the tree instead of your bull.   The time to be excited is when you hear the thud of him collapsing to the ground. Good luck

[HunterofWA]

Not much to offer for tips. It sounds like a great day, even for a seasoned vet.   I'm not sure where that tree was in your sight picture, but hitting the tree sounds like it might have saved you a horrible first day as an elk hunter if it was indeed covering the back half.   Keep working on the nerves as I assume thats why you shot the tree instead of your bull.   The time to be excited is when you hear the thud of him collapsing to the ground. Good luck

Yep, I only felt comfortable taking the shot because the trees protected me from wounding him. Working on getting closer in from now on. Glad I had free tuition for that lesson though!

[HunterofWA]

Okay, so another action-packed experience out in the field today! TL;DR: Found a stud bull but didn't get a clear shot through the brush.

I hunted from first light to noon at a spot near where I was at on Saturday. Didn't run into anything, but I admit I did fall for the squirrel pranks... I guess they only make that racket with dropping limbs during elk season.

Met up with a friend for the afternoon hunt. We hunted a spot we'd never been and for good reason. It's a nasty brush hole. But there's a big bull there. We encountered him shortly into the hunt at 45 yards racking up a medium-sized alder tree. I couldn't stalk in closer as there were cows between me and him. He came within 30 yards and bugled, but alas, it was way too thick. Just when I thought he was stepping out in front of me at 15 yards, it turned out to be 2 spike bulls. The big bull never gave me a shot and started to herd his cows further through the drainage.

I caught up again and cut down through the brush to make a stalk. He bugled again and it sounded like he was straight ahead no more than 100 yards out. I made my approach and found nothing. The herd had vanished.

Fast forward an hour and a half and we've come up with a potential spot the elk might be at. We make the trek over there and take a water break. Then we hear crashing around, and soft bulges from the bull. My friend stays behind and cow calls as I head straight for the herd. I think I got within 40 yards of them but they were moving ahead of me and it was still extremely thick. When I finally did make it to an opening in time, the wind switched and the herd spooked and split up not giving me any opportunity. Never saw the bull, but I'm guessing he stuck to the right and slunk off into the thicker stuff.

I'll be back at it tomorrow, and for the remainder of the week as I timed my new job to not start until next Monday...   

[Damnimissed]

Dang, you were right in his bedroom. Have you done any calling? He might’ve come at you, had you ripped a bugle. Sounds like you have a good shot at getting it done if you’re persistent. Good luck

[HunterofWA]

Dang, you were right in his bedroom. Have you done any calling? He might’ve come at you, had you ripped a bugle. Sounds like you have a good shot at getting it done if you’re persistent. Good luck

After he rubbed the tree, he came closer and bugled, and I did right back at him but he didn't budge from his cows. Didn't seem in the mood for fighting, unfortunately. Learn something new each day I guess . Hoping tomorrow is the day!

[trophyhunt]

It’s tough to get that close to a bull and his herd, if it happens again, and he bugles, cut off his bugle with yours.  And start raking a tree, cut his bugle off every time when you are within his circle and he’s not coming to cow calls. Great hunt so far, keep at it! And remember when you release that arrow to level up and open your grip hand, relax that hand!!

[nwwanderer]

Sounds like trophyhunt has done this a time or 6, listen!!!

[HunterofWA]

Tuesday 9/13

On Monday, I hunted near where I was when I encountered the big swamp bull and his herd. I stayed there for the morning and then came back to the truck for lunch. After that, I headed into the upper reaches of the swamp and encountered some fresh sign, but no elk. Hunted it a couple of hours but then decided to call it and head back earlier to recoup and rest for the following morning's hunt.

Wednesday 9/14

Hunted up high on the mountain where I hunted opening day. Found some sign, but none of it was too recent. I worked my way into the same drainage where I missed the bull on Saturday and didn't find any elk there. I tried another spot but bailed on it due to the wind being unfavorable for that area. On my drive home, I saw a 3 or 4 point bull watching some horses in a farmer's field. I pulled over to take a look at him and see what he was up to. I quickly noticed he was suffering pretty bad from hoof rot on his rear right leg. He could only move slowly and with great pain. I hate to see an animal suffer like that, and if he was near and en route to public land, I thought about waiting for him there just to put him out of his misery. But, he was on private land and there was nothing I could do. Hopefully, one of the farmers gets a tag and has pity on the bull. I wish hoof rot was a thing of the past! It's a shame such a fine animal has to live like that.

Anyway, that's what the past two days have looked like for me. It's been a grind, but like someone I follow said recently - the only things I can control are my energy, effort, and attitude. Working on staying fueled and rested, while giving it my best in the field is tough, but still fun.

I have questions. Should I hunt the same drainage where I saw the swamp bull? There are lots of fresh rubs in the area but the wind can be challenging at times.

Or, should I go to a completely different spot that I scouted before the season but haven't hunted yet?

How often would you say elk frequent the same spot? Once a week? Every couple of days?

If you can offer any advice that'd be greatly appreciated. I'll check back here around 9:00 tonight but I'll be offline shortly after that. Thanks for reading!