Who goes 1st??

[Ajmani84]

So i been hunting this unit for a few years now and i would say i know the area pretty well now. I scout there every year and ive set cameras which we all know both require alot of time and research. My buddy moved back into town last week and has been wanting to get into elk hunting with me. He has spent alot of money this year acquiring everything he needs to b comfortable and successful in the field with me. But he is not on my level at all and has only been out a couple of times. Has not filled a tag yet either. Still kinda learning actually. I know that i am going to b first shooter but do i shoot until i fill my tag or do i shoot until i miss and then hes up? I am talking archery. Going out in 5 days. Happy hunting everybody and thank u in advance!

[Skillet]

I get where you're coming from - it can be a little frustrating having a friend that doesn't have the same experience or drive expect to piggyback on your time and effort in your A+ spot.  Most of the time I've found it's just honest ignorance on the newbies' part of what actually goes into making a hunt successful.  I haven't been in that situation for over 20 years, but when i was it strained a good friendship.

But you agreed to take him hunting there.  You didn't have to,  and now he's invested in that hunt as a shooter too. So, let him hunt, shot for shot.
 

[Taco280AI]

First thing that stands out is why all the talk of missing? Doesn't come off as confident in your shots, or you take poor shot opportunities? Hopefully I'm reading into that wrong.

Don't know the type of hunting you're doing, but whoever spots it first gets the choice.

[Mfowl]

Don't know the type of hunting you're doing, but whoever spots it first gets the choice.
[/quote]

  First to spot, first to stalk. 

[Ajmani84]

Taco280AI. Ya ur reading that wrong. Thank u tho.

[buglebuster]

We used to switch day by day who is shooter but now go opportunity by opportunity. Elk hunting is tough. Some days are better than others so this keeps the playing field level.

[Dan-o]

We used to switch day by day who is shooter but now go opportunity by opportunity. Elk hunting is tough. Some days are better than others so this keeps the playing field level.

 

[MADMAX]

Split up 

[follow maggie]

We used to switch day by day who is shooter but now go opportunity by opportunity. Elk hunting is tough. Some days are better than others so this keeps the playing field level.

  If someone blows a chance, it’s fair that the next chance goes to the next person. Assuming that the next person is putting in the effort to find them.

[MIKEXRAY]

Maybe u won't have to make the decision,  maybe ur new to the area friend will understand the whole scope of the situation and insist ur up first. Probably will take him a few encounters / watching anyway to get his confidence up. I think it will easily get worked out, good luck.

[tinsleystyle]

have the conversation with them, not us.

[scotsman]

Even with modern equipment archery success is, what, 5-10%? So in our group’s experience, whoever is first to get a good shot opportunity takes it  and then everyone is happy for group success. Works for us….

[jrebel]

If he was a good enough buddy to take to spot I have scouted and done all the homework on......I would take great pleasure in helping him get his first animal.  I would rather see other / new hunters be successful at this point over myself.  Matter of fact, I define my success by others success when I am helping them....if that makes sense. 

My hunting buddy and myself alternate between archery and muzzy so we can hunt both seasons.  He has archery this year and I will be calling for him.  I will bear hunting at the same time (though the elk always take priority).  If I call in a elk for him....we will celebrate as if I was the shooter and he was the caller.  We split the meat up between out families so that is never the issue.  I drew a muzzy cow tag this year so he will tag along help pack and celebrate as if it was his hunt.  Good hunting partners are hard to come by......don't jeopardize that relationship with who shoots first or second. 

In the event we are both hunting the same season / weapon.....who ever get the first opportunity / clean shot, take it.  All hunting ceases at that point till the work is done, then we get back after helping the guy who still has a tag. 

Don't over think this. 

Lastly.....if your worried about your buddies motives, I wouldn't be taking him to my (your) honey hole.  I only take people I trust to my spots.  When I say trust, I don't want them telling the world where I took them.....that has happened before and completely ruined a spot and friendship. 

 

[Sakko300wsm]

If he was a good enough buddy to take to spot I have scouted and done all the homework on......I would take great pleasure in helping him get his first animal.  I would rather see other / new hunters be successful at this point over myself.  Matter of fact, I define my success by others success when I am helping them....if that makes sense. 

My hunting buddy and myself alternate between archery and muzzy so we can hunt both seasons.  He has archery this year and I will be calling for him.  I will bear hunting at the same time (though the elk always take priority).  If I call in a elk for him....we will celebrate as if I was the shooter and he was the caller.  We split the meat up between out families so that is never the issue.  I drew a muzzy cow tag this year so he will tag along help pack and celebrate as if it was his hunt.  Good hunting partners are hard to come by......don't jeopardize that relationship with who shoots first or second. 

In the event we are both hunting the same season / weapon.....who ever get the first opportunity / clean shot, take it.  All hunting ceases at that point till the work is done, then we get back after helping the guy who still has a tag. 

Don't over think this. 

Lastly.....if your worried about your buddies motives, I wouldn't be taking him to my (your) honey hole.  I only take people I trust to my spots.  When I say trust, I don't want them telling the world where I took them.....that has happened before and completely ruined a spot and friendship.

Perfectly said! My same thought process as well

[Ajmani84]

Thank u guys. I think its fair i get 1st shot considering all the effort i've put in and If i blow my chance then he will b up next. Opportunity for opportunity is how it will go i think. I will definatly talk to him about it as well. We r going to split the meat no matter who makes the kill that is for sure. But whoever makes the kill gets to keep the rack.

[Cougartail]

Split up 

  My thinking exactly!  Your odds double instantly.

(Unless your friend is a hot blonde, then keep her close.)

[MADMAX]

Split up 

  My thinking exactly!  Your odds double instantly.

(Unless your friend is a hot blonde, then keep her close.)

My first thought
I’ve bow hunted for over 40 years and I may walk in a gate with you but after 15 minutes you go left I go right see you back at the gate at dark unless it’s Carrie Underwood than you stay right in front of me and I’ll follow you 🥴

[fishngamereaper]

Split up 

 

See ya after dark. Good luck. Don't get lost

[jrebel]

Elk in Sept. is one of the best times to hunt in pairs or even threesomes....

Callers set up 20-50 yards behind shooter / shooters and bring the bull past the shooter.  Way better than calling on your own....bulls will often hold up just out of range when your calling solo.  That said....I have called bulls in close when solo so it can be done.   

[Sakko300wsm]

Split up 

Definitely not the best decision when archery elk hunting the  rut. Better odds by far hunting as a team

[MADMAX]

Split up 

Definitely not the best decision when archery elk hunting the  rut. Better odds by far hunting as a team

Yea
If your experienced I agree
With a new guy ?

[fishngamereaper]

Split up 

Definitely not the best decision when archery elk hunting the  rut. Better odds by far hunting as a team

Totally depends on your hunting style.
I like "talking" my way into herds. Hard to do with two.
And I haven't found to many guys that walk as quiet as I do
Nothing worse than tuning out everything around you focusing on your quarry only to have the guy behind you step on the only deadfall branch on the trail.

I've blown opportunities solo but I had just as many opportunities blown by having a second guy.

Anyway.
Getting off topic. Kinda.

[Sakko300wsm]

Split up 

Definitely not the best decision when archery elk hunting the  rut. Better odds by far hunting as a team

Yes the new guy has to be taught and learn somehow if he’s going to be your elk hunting partner.  Splitting up during heavy rut for elk - if you don’t have a solid plan you can easily end up calling a hot bull back and forth.

Yea
If your experienced I agree
With a new guy ?

[Sakko300wsm]

Split up 

Definitely not the best decision when archery elk hunting the  rut. Better odds by far hunting as a team

Hard to sneak up on a herd of elk in the rut - better odds calling them into your position

Totally depends on your hunting style.
I like "talking" my way into herds. Hard to do with two.
And I haven't found to many guys that walk as quiet as I do
Nothing worse than tuning out everything around you focusing on your quarry only to have the guy behind you step on the only deadfall branch on the trail.

I've blown opportunities solo but I had just as many opportunities blown by having a second guy.

Anyway.
Getting off topic. Kinda.

[chukardogs]

There's a lot of land out there. Unless there's one of you that needs help because of physical limitations, never hunt side by side. Go into different drainages, have one sit, one move something other than sitting together on a hillside. Why would you not cover double the country?
 The only time my buddy and I see each other during the season is on the backpack in, in camp and maybe lunch time. Otherwise, he comes sneakin around my spot, I carry bear spray.

[Sakko300wsm]

There's a lot of land out there. Unless there's one of you that needs help because of physical limitations, never hunt side by side. Go into different drainages, have one sit, one move something other than sitting together on a hillside. Why would you not cover double the country?
 The only time my buddy and I see each other during the season is on the backpack in, in camp and maybe lunch time. Otherwise, he comes sneakin around my spot, I carry bear spray.

Is this during archery elk during the rut?

[addicted1]

I’d say stick together, he will learn faster with someone giving him guidance (if he is willing to listen). If I were you I’d try to get him on some elk, any elk fast and see how he responds. If he is a shaky mess then have a conversation with him about it, things can get crazy when you get close to elk and never have. If he can call then, have him do that to get comfortable.

He’s made the investment, he put some time in to get ready from the sounds of it. I’d give him an honest chance a the first shot if he is comfortable, but talk with him. You agreed to take him out, in a couple years he might be out hunting you. Someone once help me out, I’d give them GPS coordinates to any spot any time if they asked. Having said that, you will need to be understanding and patient, so hopefully your up for that challenge.

[bkaech]

All of the elk hunting I have done we always split all the meat of any successful hunters in the group equally. The one who kills just takes the antlers, which is not the reason I am out there. Therefore I wouldn't care if I killed the elk or they killed elk...WE were successful and that is all that matters. I would most definitely split up the primary shooter opportunity however you want, set by set, day by day, opportunity by opportunity, whichever you prefer but if he is a good enough friend to take elk hunting with you then share the entire experience.

[Skyvalhunter]

First of all what unit?

[chukardogs]

My 2 cents was obviously aimed at hunting in general as the original post said nothing about calling. If you're hunting in pairs for the sake of calling in elk, so be it, someone is calling and someone is shooting. Done! If you've both put in the time and effort to pack, gas money to get there, etc....etc. Flip a coin for who shoots first, then get to hunting. It wouldn't take me long to find another partner or go solo, if I was just there for moral support and to pay for half the gas and food.
When hunting, I am the quietest when solo. I alone, make less noise, put off less scent. When I hear a noise and I know it wasn't I, I'm more prone to stop and verify what it was that made the noise before I move again. The odds of an animal knowing you're there before you know they're there are considerably less if you are alone. All I was saying.   

[pd]

Elk in Sept. is one of the best times to hunt in pairs or even threesomes....

Callers set up 20-50 yards behind shooter / shooters and bring the bull past the shooter.  Way better than calling on your own....bulls will often hold up just out of range when your calling solo.  That said....I have called bulls in close when solo so it can be done.   

 

OP, you are overthinking this.  (Unless you are worried about your buddy spoiling your spot in the future.)  In reality, opportunities with archery elk happen so quickly, the guy/girl closest to the elk (or the one who can out flank the critter downwind) is the one who is going to get the shot.

There is nothing worse than agreeing "Bobby gets the 1st shot" when Bobby is in the wrong place, but Billy could have taken the shot.  This is not hunting with a rifle in a wheat field!  Whoever is in the best position takes the shot, even if he takes 5 shots in a row.  Everybody will be happy with that--or they are not actually "buddies."