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Author Topic: Be Aggressive  (Read 1963 times)

Offline kselkhunter

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Be Aggressive
« on: September 17, 2019, 12:16:03 PM »
I don't normally do write-ups, but thought I'd share the story in case it helps new archery hunters. Since I've seen a handful of posts asking for guidance/help/inputs.  For all the experienced archery hunters out there, you already know this stuff or have different preferences, and are not the target of this post.  I'm sure there are far better archery elk hunters on here than I, and I'm not looking to be a know it all.  Just sharing an experience for the novices, in case they might learn from the example.


Just got back from my usual out of state archery hunt with my long time friends in Oregon where I'm originally from.  I don't buy my nonresident tags anymore, as there are usually plenty of shooters and we typically hunt as big group or two small groups.  I'm the backup caller normally, as we have one guy that's expert level caller.  Unfortunately him and one of the other more experienced archery hunters had to back out last minute.  So that left me as primary caller, and two newbie shooters (typically they're rifle guys newer archery).  I've archery hunted for decades, but without a tag I'm the designated caller/Sherpa enjoying time with old friends.


I've hunted this specific area for a decade so know it well, and have a favorite area where we get into elk most years. After years of being in this valley and locator bugling at night and hunting various areas, we have experience on where the herd tends to be at certain times of day and where the satellite bulls and solo cows tend to hang out typically....not an exact science but years of experience gives us a good general feel for the area.   I explained to the guys that we're looking to get on the herd this morning instead of a satellite bull, and once we get into elk, pay attention to where I am and once I start engaging the elk herd to get aggressive and move in to create their own shot.  Don't wait for the elk to move into a window.  I'm making plenty of noise to occupy the herd so don't worry about it if you step on a stick. 


Sure enough, the morning after the harvest moon around 8:30am we come up on the herd at 60 yards.  A bunch of rear ends facing away from us in a narrow opening in the trees.  They thankfully don't notice us, and then start moving off to the right into thick cover and a creek is about 50 yards parallel to our position.  I motion my brother inlaw to advance to where they stepped to the right and my other friend to follow and cut in 20 yards behind him at an angle.   I hang back and step over closer to the creek and start chatting up the herd as I was pretty sure they were heading across the creek and into an area they sometimes go late morning so I wanted to get them to pause. 


Couple of cow calls and break a few sticks to announce my presence (we're downwind of course).  Cow talks back to me so they know I'm there now.   Then I start throwing the estrus cow calls, and the bull speaks up with a low melancholy bugle and a chuckle to get me to come over.  Not sure if any of you other guys do this but even though I'm downwind I still spray some esrtrus piss in the air just in case a swirling wind picks up (maybe wishful thinking on my part it would be enough to cover my scent, but I do it anyway).   I move a couple yards in his direction and snap more twigs and estrus call again.  At this point in every opening through the trees I'm motioning my shooters to move in and take the shot.  They just stand there.  Frozen.  Watching the trees.  Hoping the elk move into an opening.  Grrr.   It's a hair tag unit, they can shoot any elk they see.  There's a herd 30-40 yards in front of them through some trees/bushes.  After 5 minutes of this I hear the elk start to cross the creek.  My shooters were <50 yards of the herd for 5 minutes!!!!!  All they had to do was move 20-40 feet to one side and create a shot opening.  The area around the creek is clear for 5 yard on either side with grasses so the elk were out in the open.  I stay where I am and keep chatting up the herd, as they're just up the other bank and if my guys advance to the edge of the creek opening they can still get a shot attempt.  Darn it, the guys are still not moving up enough....they should have moved in and taken a shot already.


I finally advance to my guys positions and grab them and we cross the creek after the elk and whisper instruction and pause to locate the herd again. The elk moved into a more open area, meaning slower stock and longer shot possibility.  I get the bull to talk again.  Moving even farther downwind, I draw the elks attention again.   I send my brotherinlaw in first again, and my buddy in second again about 20 yards apart.  And I work downwind and chat up the bull again.  He's back to the melancholy bugle and chuckling; I can't see him as I'm holding back but sounds around 60-70 yards away just over this little rise.  Throw a few calf calls, and the cows chirp back.  Did I mention I'm having a blast?  I love listening to elk herds talk to each other.  Anyway, I get an opening to see my brotherinlaw and even though I gave him a wind indicator powder and he can hear the elk the moron is starting to move upwind of the herd...thankfully I get his attention and motion him back towards my location.  My other buddy is at least advancing properly.  After another 5 minutes of staying within 50-75 yards of the herd, they finally got wise and circled downwind faster than I could gather the guys and they busted us.  I hear the hooves clanking deadfall as they run away.  We were with the herd about 15 minutes in total.


We had two other elk encounters on the trip, but all solo encounters and none as fun as that one.   


So for the younger hunters, here are some tips once you are near the herd:
1)  Always keep an eye on the wind.  As you move into and out of creek bottoms, winds shift.  Pop that wind indicator every once in awhile so you know.  Be ready to retreat back to the creek and move downwind from there to restart your stalk.

2)  If working a multiple shooter setup, listen to the caller.  When he's chatting up the herd, MOVE IN AND SHOOT.  Don't be afraid to make noise.  Elk are noisy.   Keep an eye on the other shooters as they move in so you all know where you are.  Be aggressive.

3)  If solo hunting, or if the herd were farther away obviously a challenge bugle could have possibly broken the bull off and brought him close had I set up behind the shooters and we tried to stay put.   And the first two bullet points change, as at this point you're trying to bring a bull or cow in solo to yourself rather than stalking close and creating a shot opportunity on a distracted herd which is a different style than a multi shooter scenario.   I didn't, as a) we were already close enough to the herd that I didn't feel it necessary, and b) I didn't have a weapon or tag and didn't want the bull barreling down on my position, and c) I was happy with the guys taking a cow instead of the bull so went for the stalk approach instead of trying to challenge the bull.  I was purposely distracting the herd at an angle to give my guys a chance to move in at a good shooting angle.  But when encountering a herd from downwind, you can usually sneak up without bugling and just cow call if you break a branch.  Once you sight them, move at an angle that is going to keep you downwind but give a broadside shot opportunity. 


Not saying my decisions for style of hunt was the best way.  Plenty of guys can get that bull to come practically sit on their lap with a challenge bugle.  I opted for the stalk approach so we'd get multiple shot opportunities on cows and possibly the bull. 


Regardless of approach method:  Be aggressive.   

Offline SpurInSpokane

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Re: Be Aggressive
« Reply #1 on: September 17, 2019, 12:34:49 PM »
This is a great post and I appreciate you taking the time to write it! Been thinking about how to get into elk hunting more, and stories like this about how other people get it done are great.
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Offline Randonee

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Re: Be Aggressive
« Reply #2 on: September 17, 2019, 01:17:14 PM »
Yes, thank you for writing that up and all of the details.  It’s great to know various approaches to different situations.

Offline ljsommer

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Re: Be Aggressive
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2019, 01:24:19 PM »
Thank you for the post!!!

Offline wkraemer

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Re: Be Aggressive
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2019, 01:34:44 PM »
That was a great story, and lesson.  Thanks for sharing.

Offline NorseNW

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Re: Be Aggressive
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2019, 08:49:56 PM »
Thank you - a lot of great information!

Offline jackson7

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Re: Be Aggressive
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2019, 09:34:45 PM »
great education. thank you.

Offline cem3434

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Re: Be Aggressive
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2019, 10:14:24 PM »
Thank you - a lot of great information!

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