Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: carlyoungs on September 19, 2025, 02:05:38 PM

Title: Anyone get a spike for archery?
Post by: carlyoungs on September 19, 2025, 02:05:38 PM: Both the deer thread and elk thread are really low on harvests this year. Wondering if anyone got a spike for archery. I had my chance the second day of the season. Ended up hitting a little branch I didn't see and it deflected my arrow.
Title: Re: Anyone get a spike for archery?
Post by: jstone on September 19, 2025, 02:40:07 PM: I only saw 1 spike in 3 days of hunting. Too far to shoot
Title: Re: Anyone get a spike for archery?
Post by: hughjorgan on September 19, 2025, 03:25:30 PM: The harvest statistics have been almost nothing being killed since they took away cow seasons. Seen a picture of a dead spike on instagram. Had one opportunity at a spike this season at 45 yards but didn’t like my shot angle, he eventually ran off.
Title: Re: Anyone get a spike for archery?
Post by: NOCK NOCK on September 19, 2025, 05:38:38 PM: Hunted em pretty hard for most of the season. Pretty hot year >:( >:(
Never saw a "spike", did see a legal 1x4, too far to shoot.
Saw plenty of branched bulls, cows, and a bull that would easily go over 400, guessing he was 430 :yike:. I've hunted elk for 40 years, and have viewed hundreds of bulls on trail cams........by far the biggest bull I've EVER seen.
Title: Re: Anyone get a spike for archery?
Post by: jason stevens on September 19, 2025, 05:46:06 PM: Roughly 400 plus elk seen an not one true spike this year. Multiple cows under 20 yards, an 3 giant bulls.
Title: Re: Anyone get a spike for archery?
Post by: DaNewb on September 19, 2025, 07:28:53 PM: I got a 1x3 does that count?
Title: Re: Anyone get a spike for archery?
Post by: carlyoungs on September 19, 2025, 07:49:17 PM: Yeah that counts. Let's see a picture
Title: Re: Anyone get a spike for archery?
Post by: pd on September 19, 2025, 09:19:01 PM: I have been wondering about this (not the spike thing, but the lack of photographs).

Has the start of the 2025 season been that bad? I have a different tag, I can't help yet, but this is pathetic.
Title: Re: Anyone get a spike for archery?
Post by: Rutnbuxnbulls on September 20, 2025, 05:57:56 AM: Quote from: pd on September 19, 2025, 09:19:01 PM
I have been wondering about this (not the spike thing, but the lack of photographs).

Has the start of the 2025 season been that bad? I have a different tag, I can't help yet, but this is pathetic.

To be honest it was the worst archery elk hunt I’ve had in a decade. In our area we will normally count on a few being around the first week and then second week mature cows will push herd in to us. Not at all this season. Extremely dry and hot conditions seem to have shifted the rut? I don’t know what happened but something is definitely different. It was similar for other hunter groups that I stay connected with. Hoping October rut kicks off good!

Also, was wondering people’s thoughts on trying to push archery season back a few days to start on 9/12. The 9/6 start is super early for call shy bulls.
Title: Re: Anyone get a spike for archery?
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 20, 2025, 06:29:22 AM: I only had 4 days to hunt..
Into elk consistently. Saw zero spikes.
Could of killed some really nice bulls inside 20 yds. Lots of bugling.
Couldn't get a cow within 70yds... stubborn girl's :chuckle:
We ate two cow tags...
Title: Re: Anyone get a spike for archery?
Post by: DaNewb on September 20, 2025, 06:54:27 AM: Quote from: carlyoungs on September 19, 2025, 07:49:17 PM
Yeah that counts. Let's see a picture

My 1x3. This is my first deer kill ever. You can see my tag wrapped around the spike side. I was planning to just take a doe for my first deer, just to get one under my belt but this guy came along at the right time.

(https://i.postimg.cc/Vk4sZTP1/Buck.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5XYM6stk)
Title: Re: Anyone get a spike for archery?
Post by: pd on September 20, 2025, 08:34:55 AM: @DaNewb

Congratulations. Great start to a bow hunting career!
Title: Re: Anyone get a spike for archery?
Post by: templar021 on September 20, 2025, 07:21:06 PM: My nephew got one last day of season. Only spike he saw
Full moon, heat, wolves. A tough season.
Title: Re: Anyone get a spike for archery?
Post by: carlyoungs on September 20, 2025, 08:39:53 PM: Quote from: DaNewb on September 20, 2025, 06:54:27 AM
Quote from: carlyoungs on September 19, 2025, 07:49:17 PM
Yeah that counts. Let's see a picture

My 1x3. This is my first deer kill ever. You can see my tag wrapped around the spike side. I was planning to just take a doe for my first deer, just to get one under my belt but this guy came along at the right time.

(https://i.postimg.cc/Vk4sZTP1/Buck.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5XYM6stk)

That's a funny looking elk. Nice first deer though.