Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: TRD1911 on January 16, 2018, 10:06:16 PM

Title: Talk me out of archery hunting during muzzy season
Post by: TRD1911 on January 16, 2018, 10:06:16 PM: So, my wife and I have yet to drop an elk. I'm looking at purchasing a muzzy tag and hunting with our bows since we both really enjoy the archery aspect. The problem is the unit that we elk hunt doesn't have a late archery season but does have a late muzzy. I figure that this doubles our chances of connecting.

Benefits - more time, weapon option if we choose

Cons - typically miss the rut since it's outside archery (correct me if wrong on this). May have to wear orange? Again, correct me if I'm wrong on that last bit. Always been an archery hunter so I've never stressed the orange regs.

Thanks for your help!
Title: Re: Talk me out of archery hunting during muzzy season
Post by: buglebuster on January 16, 2018, 10:12:16 PM: Westside muzzy hunt the bulls are usually on fire! We have much better luck calling them in then, instesd of archery. If i was you id use the muzzy, not the bow if you have a muzzy tag. When you eat tag soup because you have a bull screaming just out of bow range during muzzy season you'll wish you packed the gun! As far as orange, you dont have to wear it.
Title: Re: Talk me out of archery hunting during muzzy season
Post by: JimmyHoffa on January 16, 2018, 10:23:12 PM: There really aren't a lot of late muzzy units compared to early muzzy units. Does this unit have an early muzzy season? The ones I'm familiar with that have a late muzzy don't have early muzzy.

I'll skip ahead...there's lots of room to spread out during early season now and quite a few guys using bows in the early, but with the still limited numbers of late units a lot of guys are stuck with those few units as their last chance. Many of them that used bow in early are using muzzy in late. Also, many guys that hunt modern have been relocating to units with no early muzzy to hunt less pressured herds; so, ends up being lots of pressure from modern in the few units that have late muzzy season.
Title: Re: Talk me out of archery hunting during muzzy season
Post by: TRD1911 on January 16, 2018, 10:27:52 PM: Thanks for the input (Expecially JimmyHoffa).

I just checked and 658 doesnt have an early muzzy. I had just assumed that there was one. Looks like we will likely be sticking to archery. Sorry for wasting your time guys
Title: Re: Talk me out of archery hunting during muzzy season
Post by: coachcw on January 18, 2018, 06:27:47 AM: no reason not to use a bow except it gives you a good reason to buy a new muzzy. your goint to hunt the same way regardless of weapon . stay aggressive ! :tup:
Title: Re: Talk me out of archery hunting during muzzy season
Post by: cougforester on January 18, 2018, 07:10:36 AM: I’m using my bow during muzzy this year I think. I hunt pretty thick stuff. Last year in our group we should have had three dead elk, but the muzzy’s misfired on all of them. Human error certainly was a part of that, but I am moving towards something I just have to rely on aiming properly and not worry about it actually firing.
Title: Re: Talk me out of archery hunting during muzzy season
Post by: 724wd on January 19, 2018, 08:06:31 AM: DON'T DO IT!!!! >:( >:(

are you convinced?
Title: Re: Talk me out of archery hunting during muzzy season
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on January 19, 2018, 09:03:03 AM: Depends on your goal. If hunting and taking elk with archery is your goal then stick with it. If harvesting an elk is the goal then IMO the muzzy is an easier weapon to do it.
Title: Re: Talk me out of archery hunting during muzzy season
Post by: floatinghat on January 19, 2018, 04:05:07 PM: Quote from: buglebuster on January 16, 2018, 10:12:16 PM
Westside muzzy hunt the bulls are usually on fire!

I will agree with the rest of your post but not this part as a blanket statement. In my experience they are pretty much silent in SW. I could be due to archery guys stomping through and calling for a few weeks before the season.

The rest of your post 100%
Title: Re: Talk me out of archery hunting during muzzy season
Post by: buglebuster on January 19, 2018, 04:51:05 PM: Quote from: floatinghat on January 19, 2018, 04:05:07 PM
Quote from: buglebuster on January 16, 2018, 10:12:16 PM
Westside muzzy hunt the bulls are usually on fire!

I will agree with the rest of your post but not this part as a blanket statement. In my experience they are pretty much silent in SW. I could be due to archery guys stomping through and calling for a few weeks before the season.

The rest of your post 100%
Interesting. Everywhere we hunt they are always screaming, and that's in heavily hunted archery areas.
Title: Re: Talk me out of archery hunting during muzzy season
Post by: buglebuster on January 19, 2018, 07:50:23 PM: Quote from: Jeepinp on January 19, 2018, 07:35:22 PM
You might want to check the equipment section in the hunting pamphlet before you buy muzzy tags.
Bows are legal :tup: