feel kinda bad about shooting tame bull elk.

[Swannytheswan]

Okay, I'm not a Hippie! I love the woods but I'm not a tree huger! And I'm always looking for trouble!

But honestly, Since I started elk hunting, 1988, it seems to be much easier than ever to find and photograph big bulls in the hunting woods during hunting season. Just look at all the guys packing nice cameras and spike tags. 15 years ago I was jacked up before every elk season Now I get that way every 5 years or so if I'm lucky, cuase I get to chase a big bull.  What I am saying is it's easier to shoot a nice bull now than it was in 1995. And based on my experience the last few years , they seem a little tame.  --  And I will not take anything smaller than a 6pt or I will go home empty. And yes I use a longbow and will have a blast in the nile this fall! -- but then again I like catching rainbow stockers too!

The reason you see more is due to the implementation of the spike only.  There are A LOT more mature bulls now than there was in the 80's and early 90's.

and the reason you don't get jacked up every year is the law of diminishing returns!

[akirkland]

Okay, I'm not a Hippie! I love the woods but I'm not a tree huger! And I'm always looking for trouble!

But honestly, Since I started elk hunting, 1988, it seems to be much easier than ever to find and photograph big bulls in the hunting woods during hunting season. Just look at all the guys packing nice cameras and spike tags. 15 years ago I was jacked up before every elk season Now I get that way every 5 years or so if I'm lucky, cuase I get to chase a big bull.  What I am saying is it's easier to shoot a nice bull now than it was in 1995. And based on my experience the last few years , they seem a little tame.  --  And I will not take anything smaller than a 6pt or I will go home empty. And yes I use a longbow and will have a blast in the nile this fall! -- but then again I like catching rainbow stockers too!

                                                                                                                                                                 Easier to shoot a nice bull? If its easier you will post a pic of that nice 6pt, right?

[link]

You ever watch that stupid show on the outdoor channel called "jimmy bigtime"? You kind of sound like Jimmy Bigtime.
Kill a bigun Jimmy! If your ethics will allow you to kill one of those tame six points.

[Recurve-Elk]

I have seen plenty of big bulls in my time of elk hunting.  Trust me, upon realizing I am there they get the he** out of my way.  They are far from tame animals.  I suppose in some units they are some what domesticated due to feeding, and if this is your case I guess I can understand where you are coming from.  However I can tell you for sure that the bulls in the taneum/manastash.  Well they are not tame.  I spooked a big 5x5 one year, it was out of there like a train, breaking down small trees in order to run away. 

[Recurve-Elk]

And on a side note, if you are hunting these bulls with your longbow like you said, and you still feel this way!!! Holy cow you are a very seasoned hunter.  I am lucky to see a bull once a hunting season.  With in recurve range, well that has yet to happen so to me I think you owe yourself this hunt, sounds like you have studied elk a lot and you deserve a big bull this year.  Very few people have the thought that washingtons animals are tame, it sounds like you have just become such a seasoned hunter, that the animals are unaware of your presence!  Just a thought.

Go stick yourself a trophy! 

[dreamingbig]

Like said, use your bow and go stick one!

[one-eyed Ross]

So, during some times of the year there are elk herds in my pasture...and my border collie tries to put them in with the sheep (which doesn't work well and I worry for my border collie!)...

Anyway, these things are used to dogs, used to being around people, but they sure seem to have a calendar or day planner or something...when it's hunting season, they use their Klingon cloaking device and disappear...same with the bucks.  Only bulls and bucks I see are at night, eating on the apple trees....

Now, if I ever get a chance to pop one during hunting season, i won't feel guilty, bad, or like I'm not "hunting"...If I walk around my 73 acres and the tree farms north, west and south of me, I've earned it...

[Kowsrule30]

I drew a "quality" tag in 2008 for elk.... I paseed up more spikes in 3 days then I've ever had incounters with spike hunting..... Passed a few rag horns.... All the mature bulls were harder then hell to get on and blew a bunch of stalks before I shot a nice 6X on the 3rd day.... I worked my ass off getting him.... He sure wasn't walking around saying you have a "quality" tag take me out of the herd!!! 

[rgalanti21]

I do see the bad side of this concept but that backstrap has got to be tasty! Quality tag does not equal trophy hunt, but it's still a good time to remember!

[BLUEBULLS]

Glad to hear they're tame now. I was actually thinking about shooting the first 320" bull I saw this year but now that I know they're tame I think I'll walk around and with my tape and some grain and measure them up before I shoot.

I wonder why they've always ran from me in the past? maybe they've been thinking I was gonna brand them and make them mine for good

All joking aside, I've spent a lot of time chasing elk and any elk that knew what I was didn't stick around for a second. There are a lot more bulls now than there were 15-20 yeasr ago and when they're running around with a twinkle in their eye they are a little less wary but far from tame. If you don't want them to act like that then use a bow in modern season.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Okay, I'm not a Hippie! I love the woods but I'm not a tree huger! And I'm always looking for trouble!

But honestly, Since I started elk hunting, 1988, it seems to be much easier than ever to find and photograph big bulls in the hunting woods during hunting season. Just look at all the guys packing nice cameras and spike tags. 15 years ago I was jacked up before every elk season Now I get that way every 5 years or so if I'm lucky, cuase I get to chase a big bull.  What I am saying is it's easier to shoot a nice bull now than it was in 1995. And based on my experience the last few years , they seem a little tame.  --  And I will not take anything smaller than a 6pt or I will go home empty. And yes I use a longbow and will have a blast in the nile this fall! -- but then again I like catching rainbow stockers too!

Pics !!!
We love PICTURES !!!

[huntnnw]

I don't think the elk are tame in anyway..but I kinda understand what he is saying..there is really no fear of not tagging a elk with some of these bull units..its how big. The thing with OTC units is you hope to just see elk and tag one, low success rates and a probability of not getting something..these units have so many elk that u pretty much pick one if its what ya want and take the shot... u might physically work for it..terrain wise,but if ya get out and do it your not going home empty handed. Just look at the Blue mt units...if you dont shoot a decent bull down there..either you didnt hunt or had standards so high you ate the tag.

[RadSav]

You ever watch that stupid show on the outdoor channel called "jimmy bigtime"? You kind of sound like Jimmy Bigtime.
Kill a bigun Jimmy! If your ethics will allow you to kill one of those tame six points.

Had that guy in the booth this past ATA.  Shook my hand and said, "You don't know who I am?"  When I said "No" he got a big smile on his face and said, "I'm the most famous hunter in the world - That you have never heard of."  Still to this day I'm not sure if that is his motto or if he was making a statement.  Seemed like a nice guy.

[BLUEBULLS]

I don't think the elk are tame in anyway..but I kinda understand what he is saying..there is really no fear of not tagging a elk with some of these bull units..its how big. The thing with OTC units is you hope to just see elk and tag one, low success rates and a probability of not getting something..these units have so many elk that u pretty much pick one if its what ya want and take the shot... u might physically work for it..terrain wise,but if ya get out and do it your not going home empty handed. Just look at the Blue mt units...if you dont shoot a decent bull down there..either you didnt hunt or had standards so high you ate the tag.

I disagree. there are plenty of Blue mountain tags that get eaten every year and it's not because the people don't hunt.

[PlateauNDN]

Glad to hear they're tame now. I was actually thinking about shooting the first 320" bull I saw this year but now that I know they're tame I think I'll walk around and with my tape and some grain and measure them up before I shoot.

I wonder why they've always ran from me in the past? maybe they've been thinking I was gonna brand them and make them mine for good

All joking aside, I've spent a lot of time chasing elk and any elk that knew what I was didn't stick around for a second. There are a lot more bulls now than there were 15-20 yeasr ago and when they're running around with a twinkle in their eye they are a little less wary but far from tame. If you don't want them to act like that then use a bow in modern season.

    I better start buying some alfalfa and apples this is gonna be a heck of a year!  Thanks for the heads up jimmy now I don't have to wear out another pair of boots!