Aggressive Archery Elk Tactics

[WapitiTalk1]

Most of the successful elk hunters I know employ some semblance of this concept during their September archery elk hunts. What do you feel falls into the realm of aggressive archery elk tactics? List a few aggressive tactcs you feel are vital for maximizing an archer's success during the wapiti rut.

[Lefty]

For me this year aggressiveness meant moving forward quickly and setting up to a responding bull.
One time I moved less than 30 yards before I saw the bull charging in,
Another time it meant stalking in for 500 yards looking for a bull that had stationary for over an hour, Then getting busted at 30 yards.

Twice I wasn't going to respond to anther elk hunters bugles,.. both times it ended up being a bull

[Tigger]

Getting aggressive with the calling. You make soooo much noise in a quiet woods it seems like no way will it work....but this year he came running! Raking, pleading cow calls, interupting bugles, thrashing a tree, all to me seem aggressive.

And to a lesser extent, so does letting a bull call you to him. That worked out well for me this year, but it was exciting! it is easy to stay hidden and wait. getting on your feet and moving is hard to do from a mental standpoint when a bull is reasonably close and bugling like crazy.

[Swede]

I would like to add to RJ's question. Where does caution and patience fit into your aggressive calling? Obviously a predator, like a cougar is aggressive, but they are not running and gunning all day. Do the tactics of a cat fit into your calling plan? If so how? Are patience and caution anathema to aggressive elk hunting?

[Tigger]

Great question. I would pose that knowing when to be aggressive and when to be cautious and patient are very important skills to have which I, certainly, have not mastered. But given enough situations, you get lucky. Then you learn.

I also think you can be both on the same encounter. For example, you may start out aggressive, then if you get hung up, you have to realize that now you have to be cautious and patient and let him make the final move.

[Huntrgathr]

This is such a great topic and I really like the point that Swede brings up. Hunting like a Mountain Lion is a really valuable concept. Patience, nerves of steel, and biding time are half the equation and knowing the precise moment to pounce is the other half. Being able to Recognize the golden moment of opportunity where you rush in, or draw your bow, or sprint to head them off at the pass, is what leads to notched tags.

In almost every missed opportunity I have I can look back and say " if I had just made my move a little sooner or a little later it would have made the difference". It's part experience and part instinct. For me, when that shot opportunity begins to materialize certain terrain features light up, the spot from where I can get a shot glows and I can see a tunnel to the vitals of the animal. Vizualization helps to cue the trigger. " As soon as he steps behind that tree" or " if he comes up that trail I'm going to do x" is usually what's going through my head during a close encounter. Try to think 2,3,4 steps ahead ,like in chess ,to anticipate where that shot op will happen. Let them make a mistake and then spring the trap. There's always moments of patience and moments of aggression. Timing is everything...

[Tigger]

He who hesitates is lost! When the time comes to draw or move it seems like I am just going on instinct. For example, on this year's elk, I saw his rack coming through the trees and before it could even register that was a bull, my bow was up and drawn...and just barely in the nick of time. If I would have hesitated even a second, he would have cleared the last bush and seen the last part of my draw. Seems obvious, but I am teaching my daughter how to hunt whitetails with a gun. At 11 years old, she has a long way to go. But one thing I have noticed is that she doesnt have the same instincts and decisive thought process. It sure is fun teaching her!

And to Swede's point, sometimes the exact opposite reaction is needed. The bull IS in the clear and you cannot draw. Patience is then needed.

[welka]

In all my oppourtinities, I can't remember one in which we were too aggressive. If we would have moved in closer more often, would have shot more bulls. This year I almost learned the lesson again as I waited when I saw tips and then when I finally got a chance to draw, I was at 2+ mins before stopping him with a mew at 42. If I would have drawn a split second sooner, would have been a chip shot. Get as close as you can get and push the envelope as you may bust a few, but I think you will be pleased with the results the majority of the time. Good luck.