2011 Archery Elk

[Fireant11]

I've been out in Rimrock area (lower Pinegrass area).  It's DRY, DRY, DRY.  Hard to stalk.  I did get within about 25 feet of a bedded cow and 1x2 in some heavy branched stuff.  They took off and I never had a shot.  Did see a 6x6 and two other cows that were spooked by someone and they were moving!

A buddy of mine is hunting near Mt Adams, and they took 2 cows and a 6x4 the first 3 days!

I'm heading back out on Tuesday.  Hoping for cooler weather so they start moving around on their own.

[Bigfoot_44]

That's ok, I don't mind if the archery guys want to leave all the bulls
in the woods so I have more to choose from in November.   

[huntnnw]

The weather has been a huge factor..they are not talking and makes almost near impossible to hunt them...so thick in the corner u dont still hunt them and water isnt a issue around here there is tons of water in the mountains. I spent the last 3 days in the Panhandle...heard 0 bugles..and there is a ton of elk where I am hunting. I walked up on a couple of herds without a peep from them. I have found a couple of active wallows but it wasnt hit till 10 pm last night. I did find a bench on huge clearcut where the elk are entering it at night... camera hung see what thursday brings.

[mikelonsford]

Well I am now unpacked from my whopping two day elk hunt....but I only needed 3 hours, plus the rest of the weekend for packing.  I'll post a story as soon as I can download some pics....hopefully tomorrow.  My first archery elk....and well worth the wait (about 5 years or so) and all the fun and extremely near misses along the way, this was my first arrow launched at an elk after I am guessing having 15 or more within 20 - 30 yards.  I am heading to Montana on Thursday hoping for one more....you should always push the envelope right?!  I think I am finally doing it right!  Good Luck to everyone!

[RS]

Ok, Ill bite...
7:20 Opening morning, no calling, just lots of good scouting, and miles and miles from any road, 2 rivers to cross, and plenty of vertical without a trail. Some luck, and some good shooting. Green wet and rough typical score about 352 5/8. Im sure it will shrink a little. First Archery Bull.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Some of you may know I am a big whitetail guy and I don't know the first thing about hunting elk. I have always purchased an elk tag and figured if the opportunity arose and I wasn't worried about spooking a big whitetail then I would take the shot. I have never actually "hunted" elk specifically.

As of the first day of elk season that all changed (more by accident than anything else). The big whitetail I am after completely dropped off the map and I have been trying to narrow down his core area. At the same time I have also been conducting a little in season scouting for other bucks I would like to shoot.

It was during one of these scouting sessions (on 6 Sep) that I came across a large bench that was filled with fresh elk sign and a good amount of deer sign. I decided I would set a couple of cameras in the area. As I was placing the camera I broke a few sticks. Apparently the breaking sticks aroused the curiosity of a nearby bull and he bugled several times. I started breaking more sticks and did my best (but I am sure ridiculously bad) imitation of a cow call with my mouth. Within a few moments this giant bull (not sure on score but he was a 6x6 with very long tines compared to a lot of elk I have seen) stepped out 30 yards away and broadside. Unfortunately I didn't have my bow on me at the time and all I managed to get was some very poor quality iphone video footage. He did see me (I was crouched down) and after a long stare down he trotted into the brush and tried to circle down wind. I immediately headed back to the truck to get my bow but needless to say I didn't see or hear him again that day.

I didn't hear any other bugles that night or the next morning. Due to the encounter with the bull I was only able to get one camera up the first day. Around mid-morning, when it started getting very hot. I decided to go put another camera up a few hundred meters from the first. Again, (like an idiot) I decided not to bring my bow. As I am setting up the camera I hear elk crashing through the brush towards me (making some whining/whistling type of sound) It was a 4x4 chasing a cow. After the encounter I went back to work setting the camera. Less than a minute later I hear branches breaking behind me. I turned around and I see the big bull coming over the rise. Of course he again presented me a perfect broadside shot. This time it was about 35 yards. He eventually moved off in the direction of the other bull and cow.

Since that day I have heard him (or what I assume his him from the sound) bugle a few other times but I haven't seen him again. Usually it is around mid-morning and occasionally later in the evening. I have heard a few other guys calling elk this weekend (who sound decent) and he doesn't respond to them. While I am not much of an elk hunter I figured I would be hearing them talk a little more this time of year. I have heard them while hunting in the past. Overall they seem to be fairly quite compared to even my limited experience of just hearing them while out chasing whitetail. I am assuming it is the heat??

I am still going to give a good effort to try and get this bull but if he doesn't bugle much I am pretty much at a loss on what to do (I have checked several possible areas that he might wallow but I think he is going to private land for that because none of the public land stuff has any sign)

[huntnnw]

when the elk dont talk and your bowhunting it makes it real tough to have much success. Thats where scouting and knowing your area pays off..wallows, feeding areas and bedding...then try ambushing them. I had a tough time this past weekend. I did find a bench in the woods that extended out into a clearcut..the elk are filing out of the timber there before dark to feed..trail there looks like a highway..hung a cam..thats my next step if they arent talking is to sit there in the evening and hope..its really a low percentage approach as elk are really not that predictable or if they are even where u think they are. 

About 8 years ago I had a WA and ID elk tag..I hunted everyday of September that year..WA then was Sept 1-14th so I spent most of my time in WA but was hunting on the border and would wander into ID...From the opener till the 14th we never heard a elk!! Sept 15th till the 30 th was like someone turned on a lightswitch we heard elk bugling everyday from there till close.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Shane,

Thanks for the advice. I have the rest of the week so I am definitely going to keep at it. This bull is really nice. After looking at a lot of pictures I think this bull will push close to 380. He has very strong tine length.

[deerslyr]

pics?

[DBHAWTHORNE]

I only have very crappy Iphone video footage...can't really see the rack in the shadows

[longknife]

RS,,,CONGRATS ON YOUR FIRST ARCHERY BULL!!!

[Bigbuckoholic]

Supposed to cool down a bit this week. I also had some in at hundred yardbut couldn't seal the deal.. 

[Grazer]

I took a cow opening morning. I shot her on my Grandparents property, so the story isn't as cool, but nonetheless Elk Down.

[Pathfinder101]

RS, that's a great bull, especially for the weather we've been getting since the opener!  Congrats on making it happen man!

[400out]

That one will work just fine RS! ditto on pathfinders post!