Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Recurve-Elk on August 28, 2012, 09:00:45 AM

Title: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: Recurve-Elk on August 28, 2012, 09:00:45 AM: So if you have two weeks+ off to enjoy some elk hunting. You are in a spike/cow only unit. Would you shoot an animal on the first day of the hunt? Second? Third? I ask because I love hunting so much that if I harvested that early, I don't know what I would do with myself. I guess there is always the deer/bear/cougar tag. But where I hunt I hardly ever see any of those three.

What would you do. I am pretty much certain that I would go ahead and harvest because my odds aren't good at all (lol) but man it would suck to not be able to hunt elk the rest of the trip because I am all about the hunt!
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: D-Rock425 on August 28, 2012, 09:06:06 AM: I shoot no questions asked. You are there to elk hunt and shooting one is the whole goal right?
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: Hyde on August 28, 2012, 09:21:03 AM: It's a good problem to have to tag out early. You can still hunt... just take a camera instead.
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: Bofire on August 28, 2012, 09:23:04 AM: first day first second!!!
Carl
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: DoubleJ on August 28, 2012, 09:24:38 AM: Quote from: Bofire on August 28, 2012, 09:23:04 AM
first day first second!!!
Carl

:yeah:
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: washelkhunter on August 28, 2012, 09:25:13 AM: Without question. May be the last elk you see during that hunt.
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: Recurve-Elk on August 28, 2012, 09:25:52 AM: Quote from: washelkhunter on August 28, 2012, 09:25:13 AM
Without question. May be the last elk you see during that hunt.

So true actually :chuckle:
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: Dhoey07 on August 28, 2012, 09:27:15 AM: Elk yes, deer no
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: Woodchuck on August 28, 2012, 09:40:33 AM: First double unicorn silly enough to let me settle crosshairs on gets a swift lead injection.
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: kentrek on August 28, 2012, 09:44:29 AM: dont pass up the first day what you wouldnt shoot the last..get some straps on the ground and then go enjoy the hunt with other peaple.. :twocents:
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: pianoman9701 on August 28, 2012, 09:45:15 AM: Quote from: kentrek on August 28, 2012, 09:44:29 AM
dont pass up the first day what you wouldnt shoot the last..get some straps on the ground and then go enjoy the hunt with other peaple.. :twocents:

:yeah: :yeah: :yeah:
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: dreamingbig on August 28, 2012, 10:01:33 AM: Shoot! No doubt about it in a spike/cow only unit.

I have a slightly different dilemma this year.
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: Button Nubbs on August 28, 2012, 10:26:26 AM: Shot my elk in the first 3 hours last year. Would I do it again?

HELL YEAH!
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: ouchfoss on August 28, 2012, 10:31:27 AM: Karma will kick your ass if you pass up a legal animal on the first day or two. For a few years I was picky about holding out for a "big" bull rather than just shooting a raghorn (I passed up probably 6 or 7 easy no-brainer shots in that time) and my tags went unfilled those years. As much as I enjoy being in the woods and hunting, a big part of that enjoyment is having a couple hundred pounds of meat in the freezer. To me, if I come home early and I got meat, I'm still plenty happy. Plus if you have one tag filled and still plenty of vacation/hunting time, I would try for some different game like bear, cougar, yotes even if its tough hunting for those in that area. Still more fun than work! :twocents:
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: NRA4LIFE on August 28, 2012, 11:10:58 AM: I don't care how much I like hunting, it's going down. I almost came home from MT last year with an empty doe tag because I wanted to keep hunting with my buddy. Never again. I'll keep hunting for yotes and other critters next time.
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: whack em on August 28, 2012, 11:14:51 AM: I'm with everyone else here. Never put off to tomorrow what you can let an arrow fly on today. Take the rest of the time to go for deer or bear, or have a few barley pops and throw your feet up.
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: jpharcher on August 28, 2012, 11:19:28 AM: I would put it down then either hunt your other tags, deer/bear/cougar or assist the others with calling for them.
I shot a 4x3 on opening morning of early archery season with a multi season tag in the pocket. Meat in the freezer !
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: grundy53 on August 28, 2012, 11:23:14 AM: Yes yes yes yes yes yes.......
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: Bigshooter on August 28, 2012, 11:36:11 AM: If all i could kill was a cow or spike, then yes i would shoot on the first day. But i wouldn't waste my time hunting spikes.
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: deadwoodbuck on August 28, 2012, 11:37:44 AM: without a BOOM...meats down now for my buddies
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: Kowsrule30 on August 28, 2012, 11:40:24 AM: I was gutting my spike opening am one year trying to get my Dad on the Motorola.. A guy came on perfectly clear saying he just passed a spike cause it only had 8-10" spikes!!!!! I jumped on the horn and informed him he just fed up big time!!!! A spike is a spike!!! Didn't know people trophy hunted for them..... :chuckle: You should've heard his buddy rip him a new one.... :chuckle:

You can shoot a spike or cow..... I wouldn't pick one over the other opening day or any day of the season.... Get it cool.... Maybe to a butcher or meat locker.... Pick it up on your way home... When I use to use a butcher I've brought animals in opening weekend/permit date of deer or elk season and picked them up ready to go on the way home... Sometimes only a week later....
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: iRem on August 28, 2012, 12:05:15 PM: Here's what you do, once you get your Elk down you come over to my camp and help me so I can put my elk down? See what you do is help some one else and that gives them time to help another, just my suggestion. We all could use some help regardless the situation we are in when it comes to elk season! :dunno:
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: Huntbear on August 28, 2012, 01:12:06 PM: I never pass on an animal the first day I would shoot the last day... may be the only legal animal I see.
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: Recurve-Elk on August 28, 2012, 04:32:10 PM: Quote from: iRem on August 28, 2012, 12:05:15 PM
Here's what you do, once you get your Elk down you come over to my camp and help me so I can put my elk down? See what you do is help some one else and that gives them time to help another, just my suggestion. We all could use some help regardless the situation we are in when it comes to elk season! :dunno:

Sounds like a definite shoot on first day haha. I said that is what I would mostly do was just curious of others opinions.

Certainly! If anyone gets an animal we always stop what we are doing and help get that animal out. Regardless of whether we have tagged out or not.
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on August 28, 2012, 05:23:40 PM: Quote from: Woodchuck on August 28, 2012, 09:40:33 AM
First double unicorn silly enough to let me settle crosshairs on gets a swift lead injection.

:chuckle:
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: Mxracer532 on August 28, 2012, 06:18:04 PM: Depends for me, if its early season and I have already filled my deer tag I wont be hunting for Elk at all till late season even if I have plenty of time. I drew a Dayton cow tag this year (SLAM DUNK) but im not even gonna go hunt elk. Im going after deer (BUCKS ONLY) since my dad doesnt have a cow tag also. Also I have ALOT better odds of killing a elk in the late hunt then I do a nice buck. I also have a 9 or 10 year streak of killing a buck every year so I wanna keep that going. :)
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: bassquatch on August 28, 2012, 08:18:45 PM: BANG! :hunter:
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: furbearer365 on August 28, 2012, 08:24:02 PM: it is way easier to sleep at night with a tag punched asking yourself, "could i have gotten bigger," than it is to think about the easy shots you passed up and went the whole year without elk in the freezer. :twocents:
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on August 28, 2012, 08:27:34 PM: HELL YES!!!! It's hard as heck around here to get a elk. So when I had my any bull tag and hunted a new unit. Day one I shot a cow :chuckle: Not use to seeing elk like you can in some of the units. I am a meat hunter when it comes to elk.
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: brokehunter on August 28, 2012, 11:14:10 PM: Quote from: carpsniperg2 on August 28, 2012, 08:27:34 PM
HELL YES!!!! It's hard as heck around here to get a elk. So when I had my any bull tag and hunted a new unit. Day one I shot a cow :chuckle: Not use to seeing elk like you can in some of the units. I am a meat hunter when it comes to elk.
:yeah:

Exactly! I don't care if it's a 6x6 bull, spike or cow! If it's legal, then I just have a 4 letter word for you: MEAT!!! And if you fill your tag early, who cares! Help your hunting buddies, and kick back, relax and enjoy the outdoors! That's what it's all about anyway!
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: huntnnw on August 28, 2012, 11:27:54 PM: in a restricted unit like that its a no brainer..obvious your not trophy hunting..meat hunt.
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: Instinct on August 29, 2012, 06:38:26 AM: I would because i can then focus on deer or bear next. Or just chill at camp and help others out. If you wait you will be kicking yourself in the butt for not pulling the trigger/release at the end of your season.
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: MADMAX on August 29, 2012, 07:02:24 AM: Kill it, take it to a locker and grouse & bear hunt
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: funkster on August 29, 2012, 08:20:16 AM: I think this question can only be answered by the individual hunter and there is no right or wrong answer. Here is my personal view on shooting on the first day. A lot goes into my preparation. I usually rack up months of time in the woods doing pre season scouting. When I find the elk I am looking for, I mark the area and watch it. I take mental notes of wind during different times of the day. I mark when the elk start moving, I mark where they are going and where they came from. I look for natural funnels that the elk may take when spooked and go over scenarios in my head and pick the best spot I feel to get off a shot. I usually have a few elk that I have spotted and hunt them only.

So to answer the question, if the elk I set my goal on harvesting is in my effective range and it is the first day or the first minute I get to my spot, It is going down. If I "bump" an elk that does not meet my personal goal and it is 10ft from me, I will and HAVE let it walk. I have eaten tag soup in doing this, but I love the challenge and hunting to me isn't just about harvesting an animal :twocents:
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: Recurve-Elk on August 29, 2012, 09:00:25 AM: Quote from: funkster on August 29, 2012, 08:20:16 AM
I think this question can only be answered by the individual hunter and there is no right or wrong answer. Here is my personal view on shooting on the first day. A lot goes into my preparation. I usually rack up months of time in the woods doing pre season scouting. When I find the elk I am looking for, I mark the area and watch it. I take mental notes of wind during different times of the day. I mark when the elk start moving, I mark where they are going and where they came from. I look for natural funnels that the elk may take when spooked and go over scenarios in my head and pick the best spot I feel to get off a shot. I usually have a few elk that I have spotted and hunt them only.

So to answer the question, if the elk I set my goal on harvesting is in my effective range and it is the first day or the first minute I get to my spot, It is going down. If I "bump" an elk that does not meet my personal goal and it is 10ft from me, I will and HAVE let it walk. I have eaten tag soup in doing this, but I love the challenge and hunting to me isn't just about harvesting an animal :twocents:

Well said, this is kind of what I was getting at. Sounds like you are after the big bulls though!
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: funkster on August 29, 2012, 03:34:03 PM: Size isn't the only thing I look at. Sometimes I will pick an antler color. One year I was on a bull we named "white tips" do to his pearly white antler tips. chased him around the hills for almost two season. Another bull I choose was a bull I had a full draw over a minute stair down with and tried to get him the next season. If you get elk on film, they all have little differences that you can actually tell them apart. If I had a cow tag and it was just a meat hunt, I might go for an older cow just for conservation purposes. To each his own but that is how I go about it.
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: Holg3107 on August 29, 2012, 03:41:27 PM: isnt that why cameras were invented?
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: funkster on August 29, 2012, 09:42:03 PM: Cameras were invented to prove that your hunting buddy missed that bull standing at 10 yards when he denies it :chuckle:
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: huntnnw on August 29, 2012, 10:39:59 PM: this is more of question in a any elk area...say u see a spike opening day or wait to take a bigger bull?
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: saylean on August 29, 2012, 11:32:57 PM: I have a cow tag for a true spike only unit...while I do not want to spoil other peoples first day in camp by tagging out and having them help pack (although I doubt it would hurt anyones feelings), I am pretty sure I could fill that tag on day 1. I might hold out for a spike for a few days....

Then go for bear and kitty kitty. :tup:
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: Dhoey07 on August 30, 2012, 01:30:04 PM: Quote from: huntnnw on August 29, 2012, 10:39:59 PM
this is more of question in a any elk area...say u see a spike opening day or wait to take a bigger bull?

A bull is a bull, Shoot it!
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: thefirefighter on August 30, 2012, 01:33:21 PM: No way I would pass up a shot! It gives me time to spend with my wife on the weekend so we can fill her tag as well. Best of luck to everyone!
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: funkster on August 30, 2012, 06:53:29 PM: Quote from: huntnnw on August 29, 2012, 10:39:59 PM
this is more of question in a any elk area...say u see a spike opening day or wait to take a bigger bull?

To me it depends on what pre-season scouting told me. If I scouted right, I would know my area and know the quantity vs quality ratio. Most "any elk" area's don't hold much elk so I might just shoot that spike.
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: shooter581 on August 30, 2012, 07:15:34 PM: Been there, done that; only it was my hunting partner who tagged out in first 15 minutes of opening day. You can always hunt coyotes, grouse, rabbits...
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: skybusterbo on September 01, 2012, 10:12:47 AM: I've had to wait for shooting time on opening day to shoot deer and elk. When my watch says its time.... boom! Then I spend the rest of my time off helping my buddies find one. Or fishing.
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: shedkid on September 01, 2012, 07:35:46 PM: :archery_smiley:
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: jechicdr on September 01, 2012, 09:12:19 PM: I would not pass up the shot, but I would prefer to shoot my elk several days into the season rather than the first day. I'd rather have a whole bunch of close calls with all the excitement to go with it and finally close the deal, rather than get lucky on the first day. But if I got lucky on the first day, I would pack out and finish the season deer hunting.
This doesn't really fit here, but my 4 year old daughter is looking at the modicons and liked this one :yike:
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: 268bull on September 02, 2012, 06:41:48 AM: Absolutely!!! :tup: :tup: Bull
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: Kioti on September 02, 2012, 07:22:14 AM: I would take the first legal elk I could put my sights on and tag. Then finish the season out deer hunting. Then if you fill your deer tag there is always bear and then duck season to finish out the hunting season.
Lots of fun calling honkers in and dropping them. Nothing like smoked goose.
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: fishingnut71 on September 02, 2012, 03:00:01 PM: shoot, shoot shoot!
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: MatthewHunter98 on September 02, 2012, 10:05:34 PM: first shot you got! kick back and relax the rest of the time :tup:
Title: Re: Would you shoot on the first day of the season?
Post by: p-ohana on September 03, 2012, 01:44:41 PM: First legal bull is going down. Thats why I get a bear tag so I can still hunt just not for elk.