2013 Archery Elk Lessons Learned

[WapitiTalk1]

What did you learn this year, successful or not, seasoned guy/gals or relatively new to this thing? What did you learn that will be carried into the next time you venture into the elk woods?

[JGH]

Your post got me thinking ... I'm sure I learned quite a bit, but to articulate it is suddenly difficult.

1. Even after killing piles of animals, I'm not immune to "bull-fever" or panic at the shot. After thinking of possible solutions, my plan this year is just to shoot a lot more ... arrows, bullets, rimfires ... shooting is shooting, and it's a mental issue far more than a physical one.

2. A decoy, for me, was a burden. I'm sure it would be VERY useful if I had 4 hands instead of 2 ... so I plan on taking an extra pair (a hunting partner) next year. The decoy will come along, but I found it tough to use solo.

3. Covering ground just to cover ground isn't very effective. Knowledge of the area and vocal animals are much more important. I thought, when I moved west, that I'd have a leg up on other hunters because I thought that covering ground was "everything" and I'm in decent-enough shape to do just that, and I also have horses to help. But this year I went on 4 long, blind-recon walks, and saw 3 elk, all cows that had seen me first. Adding up the mileage and time spent (i.e. "effort"), I am going to spend more time locating watering holes this year and putting stands up. Although I think stand-hunting is likely a low-percentage method for me, it's not as low as stumbling around in deadfall spooking what few elk are out there.

4. It's OK to rest during mid-day.

5. It's OK to leave camp as it is getting light. Leaving in the dark is slow, cold, and could lead to bumping elk. Most days I made contact with elk in the morning sometime around 8 or 9 and elk activity lasted until late morning. It's not like deer hunting when there is a magical 1/2 hour around sunrise that you "have to" hit. I slept in on one of my best days out there ... they're out there, and somewhere, an elk wants to fight or breed.

6. Location bugles work. And they aren't hard to master. I was intimidated by the calling aspect of elk hunting way too long! Calling is NOT that tough ... the Basics work.

7. I learned that I like rifle hunting less and less. But that is probably because I tend to use my vacation time on archery season, and hunt weekends with a rifle. Weekend day-trips are the toughest, least-enjoyable way to hunt elk, IMO. You have to have all your ducks in a row -- or have Lady Luck riding shotgun -- to make that work. You must know your area and have years of experience with the area's weather patterns, hunting-pressure patterns, and have a good recon network to make it work, and you have to be willing to burn a lot of fuel. I saw elk every day while archery hunting ... with a rifle, I haven't seen one, in spite of "covering a lot of ground" -- see Lesson #3 above.

8. Scouting is fun, and I plan on doing as much or more next year. Scouting is a way to lengthen your season and involve others that wouldn't normally hunt with you (spouse, friends, and dogs.) When it comes down to it, hunting is both a very large and very small part of my year. If I want to think of it as a large part, I have to include planning time, scouting time, gear-testing time, archery practice time, rifle reloading and shooting time, horse hoof trimming time, etc. I enjoy it all, so I just psychologically lump it all under the heading of "Hunting."

That makes it so I don't look back on last year as "just" one week of hunting.

9. Hunting wouldn't be nearly as fun without the internet. I don't post often here, but I read the forums almost daily. A guy can learn a lot here, and I think it's really cut down the sharpness of the Learning Curve for me. The forum is a great way to "extend the season".

10. I learned I could use some company. Hunting solo is a great adventure, and I'm glad to have done it a number of times, and will continue to in the future -- but I need to expand my group a bit. A partner will help with calling and decoy use, but will also be good to have around camp.

[Broken arrow]

Walking aimlessly is a waste of energy. Have a game plan and stick to it unless the elk change it.
Don't be afraid to try something today that didn't work yesterday because each day is different.
Wet feet suck!

[JGH]

Wet feet suck!

.

Amen to that, Brother.

Living in Wyoming, intense rain is just not a big part of the outdoor experience. Passing showers? Sure. Hail? Lightning? Wet snow? You bet.

But I was not prepared for the rains this year. Looking forward to prioritize the equipment category of my "Needs/Wants" List, protection from "wet" will be moved up a bit. I camped in what I thought would be a perfect spot for rain protection this year, and had a small river flowing through my tipi.

Wet boots are psychologically defeating. They are a reminder that you can't get away from it.

[bnsafe]

don't quit, don't quit, don't quit.
work hard but have patience.
the elk will show when you least expect it, so stay ready (unless you wanna see an elk, then whatever)
don't quit

[ishy]

So I'm the flip of jgh, I stayed in one spot to much. I had overly high expectations for a wallow due trailcam pics the last couple years. I thought if I just put time in it would happen because this wallow been so used previously. Was very careful about wind and getting in and out, but never had an elk come in while I was on stand. I spent 80% of my time in the stand. So not sure what I learned other than the flex of useage patterns year to year. Also if and that's a big IF I sit much next year it will problably be middle of the day while thermals are heading up. This will shorten sits dramaticly and give me more time to run and gun in prime time, also less hiking for hours in the dark trying to beat elk to wallow at first and last light.

[easeup]

my spot has suffered beetle kill to the max. As I rested on the side of that mountain I realized when I show up again all of those trees will be on the ground. Without another big fire, it will be impassable on foot or by horse in all of that.

Time to consider an alternate location until mother nature changes things again.

[twinkieman]

I always learn something new each and every time I hunt. This year fire closed my normal hunt areas, and we had to move. We were successful finding elk and harvesting elk as well. My biggest lesson learned was to ALWAYS have a backup plan, things can change quickly.

[Olympus hunt]

I learned a lot this past year. For one, never....never leave camp without a full compliment of water no matter how much I think it will just be a "short and quick hunt". I didn't realize how bad constantly calling would dry me out and getting an elk down REALLY made it worse. I normally use locating bugles but went more with constant cow calling. Sometimes I like to "jinx" myself by leaving the camera behind but leaving water was noooot a good idea. lol. Most probably already know this and I do too but I learned that lesson....again. I learned my day pack is too small. I want a bigger day pack. The weird thing is, I really didn't need anything else that I can think of. My pack was always stuffed though.....so if I got a bigger one...it probably would mean I am just carring more crap I don't reallllly need.
I learned Mt house meals are not really all that dang bad....especially after a long day. I learned my buddies stove is way easier than my whisperlite.

[Swede]

Ishy: I have found wallows to be very unreliable. You can have activity for a while then they can go cold. I like wallows where they are near a well used bedding area. In addition, I like them if they are a part of a good watering spot, along a well used travel way. I prefer to be in good cover. In a location like that, I get the additional benefit of several things coming together to funnel elk my way. I was amazed that some of the most used wallows I sit over never were hit. Bulls came around but none ever wallowed there. Your idea of hunting on the ground in the morning and sitting in a stand in the afternoon is a good strategy. I think you get the best of both worlds that way.
This year I had elk near all of my stands at different times. The problem was that when I was at one, they usually were at another site. Maybe I should have had more cameras out, but there is always the luck factor. I try very hard to minimize it, but I cannot eliminate it either.

[stringunner]

Not necessarily learned but reminded yet again, to hunt all the way back to the truck. On two occasions during the last week while I was acting as caller for a friend, we walked up on elk (within 40 yards) that had we been still focusing on hunting may have turned into brown down. But we got careless, started walking faster, anxious to get back to the truck and out of the weather and sure enough blew both chances, one being a very nice 6 point bull who was feeding within 75 yards of our parked vehicle. Dang it anyway.

[elkmtngear]

I learned not to take a TV film guy along...and I hope the TV crew learned that "don't move" does not mean "mess with your video camera" !

[idahoghost]

Make sure you have a "Plan B", just incase "Plan A" goes up in smoke. (Please see "Why did you quit post")

[Heartwood]

1 This season was a confidence builder for me, we hunted a new area due to fire and found elk , using( google earth, topo maps, glass and boot leather). We are better at finding elk and don't spend long where there are no elk.
2. Most elk don't move as far when bumped or spooked as i once thaught.
3. We need to work out a system and procedures for switching rolls (caller and shooter) when a bull is shot on a setup. We stand a good chance of pulling a double at times if we have a plan. It will happen on future setups.
4. Some elk that have been bumped can be called in on the spot just like Paul and others have said.
5. I am blessed to have devoted and reliable hunting partners.
6. I still need to be more patient when a bull is within shooting range and " let the situation develope " as some have said. If the situation doesn't develope into a shot opportunity then so be it. Don't force the shot, its ok to let him walk if its not right.
7. Physical fitness and being prepared for the mountains opens many doors on the elk hunt. I have known this in past years but took it up a notch this year and it helped.

Just some thaughts on some things that were renforced or learned on this years effort.

[WapitiTalk1]

Some absolutely great tips/responses! I can relate to many of them. Here's a few of mine from this year:

a. Patience in changing situations, including weather. I pulled the plug on my ID hunt several days early due to constant rain and silent elk. Perhaps staying till the end of the scheduled hunt would have paid dividends.
b. Don't camp on a saddle (on a prominent ridge trail) between two major drainages. The "locals" like to hoof or paw around/through your camp in the middle of the night, messing with your sleep, and, any bad weather seems to blow right through your camp in that location.
c. A heat source can pay dividends. We used quads/bikes to get back in to the area we hunted and I brought an old screen gazebo (which we lined with black plastic to make a cook shack/warming shelter) and a propane tank with a catalytic heater just in case. It worked out well to sit around in the evenings and when the rain came.

[Stateline]

I learned that there is no right or wrong to this challenge of bowhunting an elk. A good friend, and very successful archery hunter, told me to put my call away and just "go get him". For he and his family, they have found great success in getting huge bulls by being silent. As I am not yet a confident caller, and I often hunt alone, my success in getting close has also been in being silent. For me, the element of surprise is all I have going for me. I hope to change that, but for now that is my strength. The bull I shot this year walked within 5 feet but never knew anything was anywhere near. I have ruined a few situations with my call that an experienced hunter would have capitalized on. Use your strengths and learn from mistakes. A hunt can change in a second, make sure to be there when it does.

[BrentLaBere]

Heartwood named two I really agree with.
Elk can be called to when bumped, but I have to add you cannot be smelled and have this work. Bumped a small bull from his bed and cow called him back to 25 yards.
Also the physical fitness and being prepared, absolutely agree with this, it can open up a lot more hunting opportunity. I am also pushing my physical fitness to a higher level this year.
Stay with plan B if you have to adjust. There is a reason you chose it and should stick with it. Decided to drop back to a plan C and I regretted it.
If bulls are bugling go after them!!! Do not wait. I think part of this my hunting partners were not in good enough shape to go after them and said we should "wait". Not next year.
When the snow(blizzard.....couple feet) hit my hopes dropped.....wasnt sure how to hunt after that. Stay with it and hunt hard through any weather and you can learn from it if nothing else.