Elk hunting mistakes!!!!!

[Elkonthebrain]

What would you say are some mistakes you've made that have cost you the opportunity at notching your tag?

I would say number one for me would be lack of aggression. For some reason I had envisioned every elk coming in like they do on the primos movies.
I would hang back and they would rarely come prancing in saying "shoot me shoot me". If it seems like there hanging up and there's enough cover to move up, I've learned to do my best to get as close as possible.
I've made a million more mistakes but I feel sitting and waiting has cost me the most opportunities.

[zpd307]

same here elk. i have treated elk like whitetails..... this year i broke out and got more aggressive. i should have had my bull..... damn peep site.

[chipick]

Mine would be, being too quick to act to get into range, not playing the wind properly, and giving up on a heard too soon that spooked. This year first off is being patient and not get too excited

[Heartwood]

Mistakes? Like most long time archery elk hunters, i've made lots of them. A few that come to mind are: always stop the elk for the shot ( use a nervous grunt/ popping grunt), set up to call such that the incoming bull can not see where the calling is coming from (make him come looking for you), the set up is one of the most important factors in killing a bull, spend as little time as possible in spots where there are no elk (keep moving until you find elk), never give up (things can turn in your favor in the blink of an eye), if possible find a good partner and team up (you are much more effective as a team than you are alone)
Just a few ideas. Remember, the more opportunities you create, the higher the chance that you can connect and put a bull on the ground.

[wawhitey]

[quote="Heartwood"] if possible find a good partner and team up (you are much more effective as a team than you are alone)


thAT is one i cant come to grips with. when i go out alone, i have close encounters with elk / bear / deer regularly. when i go out with friends i see nothing. i always feel like im the only one who gives a shit to stay quiet and worry about scent, and another person with me feels like a liability every time\. i just feel better at getting into animals personal space when im out by myself. for calling id probably be better off with a partner, but for now, the best success i have at getting close to game of all sorts is achieved by just being solo, quiet, playing the wind.. and being where i know the elk (or other animals) are going to be. i rely on my scouting skills and localized understanding of the animals movement to put me where i need to be, and use the calling as a backup. maybe its just a matter of not knowing guys who are as obsessive as i am at getting close to animals.

[zpd307]

if possible find a good partner and team up (you are much more effective as a team than you are alone)


thAT is one i cant come to grips with. when i go out alone, i have close encounters with elk / bear / deer regularly. when i go out with friends i see nothing. i always feel like im the only one who gives a shit to stay quiet and worry about scent, and another person with me feels like a liability every time\. i just feel better at getting into animals personal space when im out by myself. for calling id probably be better off with a partner, but for now, the best success i have at getting close to game of all sorts is achieved by just being solo, quiet, playing the wind.. and being where i know the elk (or other animals) are going to be. i rely on my scouting skills and localized understanding of the animals movement to put me where i need to be, and use the calling as a backup. maybe its just a matter of not knowing guys who are as obsessive as i am at getting close to animals.

whitey, same here..... my buddy didn't complain at all this year, but, he didn't make an attempt to be quiet while still hunting with me. I could tell that he wasn't into the game.

[ElkNut1]

Having my ears failing me! That's a big downfall for me at times. This year was no exception. Had a bull bugle out in front of me as my son was calling behind me at 35yds, I thought the bull was well over a 100 yards away still so I adjusted my position to a better shooting lane by 5-6' & there he was standing there at 35 yards, nice darned bull too! He bolted! I turned around & my son was looking at me shaking his head. He'd seen part of the bull already & knew right where he was, he said when I moved he couldn't believe what I was doing! Hearing impaired again! (grin)

ElkNut1

[dreamhunter]

Not staying in my hunt the moment I leave camp and hunting All the way back to camp. All the encounters I've had with cows is when I am not mentally hunting. Sometimes I take mental trips and think about other things as I am walking and then Bam! busted.There go the cows.

[WapitiTalk1]

Not strapping down my pack in elkonthebrain's RZR. We found it though

[zpd307]

Not staying in my hunt the moment I leave camp and hunting All the way back to camp. All the encounters I've had with cows is when I am not mentally hunting. Sometimes I take mental trips and think about other things as I am walking and then Bam! busted.There go the cows.

I have been busted several times when my head wasn't in the game.... had to bulls at 70 yards this year in Idaho......

[Elkonthebrain]

Not strapping down my pack in elkonthebrain's RZR. We found it though

I may have been a little excited with the gas pedal. But it was fun.

[Lefty]

I think I could write a book and Ive only hunting for 6 years
Super condensed version
Year 1 year wrong pin bounced the arrow off a glunking 6x6 bulls G4 at 12 yards
Year 2 No shooting holes on the down wind side of my blind. Two 350 plus bulls walked by 18 yards. Selected a place traveling elk often pass,.. decided to move 80 yards further 5 6x6 pass 15 yards from the first shooting location bull
Year 3 360 bull, draw, he faces me. switch to the dry cow 17 yards , put the close pin on her, the bull turns, steps forward I used the same pin. ended up on another hunters wall follow the bugle till light.
.... pinned down by cows, hours later stalk the area, cant find the bull , last hunt, packing out a cow and bup the 6x7 and 6x6 bull
Year 4 ranged all the possible stopping spots. I moved ahead 30 yards. So I used a 55 yard pin at 25 yards and 22 and 31 over- the-back and over-the-back,.......
Year 5 left my blind,at sunset 10 minutes later a nice 6x6 on the trail cam. Funky 5x5 Watched him come for 2 1/2 miles 2 hours later, 21 yards and I couldn't open my eight eye
Year 6 never saw an elk in the day light,.. Im moving

Confession just makes me cry


Year 7 any bull !!!!!