Solo, Partner, or Triple Threat?

[WapitiTalk1]

Talking hunting with archery equipment during September here folks. For solo hunters, those who hunt with a buddy, and those that hunt with three on a team.... What do you feel are the benefits or pitfalls/challenges of each style you've been involved with?

[wawhitey]

i just hunt by myself, but as far as elk is concerned it hasnt worked out for me yet. maybe that should tell me something..... i got an invite to hunt with a guy at his spot this last year, and hes killed nice 5 or 6pt bulls there 6 out of the last 7 years i believe it is. didnt go, i guess because i would feel like i was cheating if i killed an animal on somebody elses spot, and he got another nice bull there. so i guess the question is, should i have my head examined? is my determination to get one of the elk solo out of my very small, nomadic pain-in-the-ass neighborhood herd a major handicap based on false pride? maybe i should just go with him next year to have good odds at popping my cherry, but i dont feel like it would be satisfying.

[Wyo67]

Well...

Solo: For me there are pitfalls 1) Lose the advantage of having a caller behind a shooter 2) I'm more likely to get wrapped up in the situation and forget something basic like continue to check the wind, and 3) Getting one out by yourself will wear you out in a hurry. Advantages: On your own and the satisfaction of getting the job done by yourself.

Partner and Triple: Disadvantages are more guys moving through the woods, more opportunity for someone to get busted. But I think the advantages such as having a caller behind the shooter and someone to discuss options/motivate/strategize with outweigh that. I have no problems at all with having three people out there. If you're not sure which way a bull will come in to your setup, you can cover more shooting lanes.

[Trophyhill]

Advantage- packing
Disadvantage- not knowing your partner like you know your equipment.

[Indian Summer]

Two's company three's a crowd. Lots of advantages to having the right partner.

Everyone knows the benefits of having a caller during archery season. But I think there are other reasons a good partner is a plus even if it's just for a morale booster. No need for 3 and 1 is just boring for me. In camp anyway.

[Fridaythe13th]

We had 6 people in our group. We either had 3 groups of 2 or 2 groups 3. the only thing I didn't like about the 2 groups, was another opinion. If you had 1 person in charge it was fine but if everyone wanted to be in charge it didn't work at all. But when we did get to a good spot the odds went way up if the elk did show himself.

[ElkNut1]

If you want to have lot of close encounters with elk in a "Run & Gun" fashion nothing beats 3 - it's truly a triple threat! The key is knowing how to utilize these hunters, each will have a role, nothing scientific here just plain ole common sense & everyone needs to stay on the same page. They're great for Cold Calling Setups, Satellite encounters & Herd Bull encounters. Your odds of success can be greatly increased for the variety of encounters a hunter can face at any given time.

Don't get me wrong I love hunting alone at certain times but I can't begin to tell you how many bulls have gotten away where one or two more hunters could have made a huge difference in the outcome. 2 or 3 hunters in the pack are extremely deadly, I'll take that duo or trio anytime I can.

ElkNut1

[cnelk]

I have had success solo, with 2 guys and with 3.
Not much difference in the tactics, but with solo the elk are going to come in straight at you.

You are missing out on some great action by not having 3 guys at once.
You can have 1 shooter, 2 callers.
2 shooters, 1 caller.
or
3 shooters and 3 callers.

Plus, when it all comes together, what a better way to celebrate with good friends
As this vid below depicts...

http://s207.photobucket.com/user/cnelk/ ... d.mp4.html

[rowdycwby1]

There where two of us last year and it was our first t hunting together and our first true elk hunt soit was a learning experience but it worked out. We both would be looking and different directions and we saw alot more elk if we where solo. The down fall is more noise and more human sent but also if something happens yur not stuck on your own. This coming year theres going to be three of us for sure abd we've already been discussing on what Paul mentioned earlier about cold calling set ups more eyes the better.

[ElkNut1]

Brad, I agree camaraderie is a huge part of an enjoyable elk hunt. It's great when success is shared with others in the group & the success was a group effort. It's like getting a hole in one & no one is there to see it, it's better when friends are there giving each other high fives over the accomplishment! (grin)

When hunting in 2-3's more eyes & wind really isn't a huge factor in success. The importance here with multiple hunters is how they are utilized effectively within the group per setup not how many eyes are watching for elk. As far as wind goes let the wind navigate ones movements because you cannot navigate the wind. So multiple hunters should have no more issues with wind than a lone hunter.

Here's a few strategies where we've used multiple hunters to take bulls. In most cases we have one shooter this helps avoid who's shooting type confusion. It's up to the lone shooter to make a necessary movement if needed to get into shooting distance. There's times for two but not very often unless you're hunting cows & spikes as well, but for bulls one is best. When hunting vocal bulls we take it to them, we do not sit back waiting for them to show up like using an Advertising setup where no bugling is heard, that's different. Cold calling setups are great for triangle type setups as the occasion arises & are effective in certain instances. These are fun but we have the tendency to run & gun bugling bulls first! (grin) Lots of ways to skin a cat!

Call & Stalk -- We have a bull bugling our response - Caller stays back 200 plus yards, sometimes 500yds out depending on terrain & cover, caller keeps bull vocal with Advertising type bugles, caller is a fairly young 5-point in his sounds, if a 2nd hunter is there he will get 30 yards away from caller & toss out 1 or 2 cow calls every minute or two, this shows a younger bull with a cow or two, this also shows real bull this small group most likely will not come over his way & risk losing one of his cows. The real bull will respond though bugle for bugle, it's best to keep them a minute or two apart. This is enough for the lone shooter to slip in on this vocal bull. Shooter needs patience & keep a sharp eye out for other elk on his entrance, good things can happen here!

This method is for 2 hunters -- Same as above but this time shooter goes right at the bull cow calling as the caller stays back bugling trying to get his cow to return, his bugling needs to be sped up with more intensity, she (the shooter) continues forward having the real bull think she's choosing to be with him instead of the bull she was with.

This method is with 3 hunters -- Similar as 1st encounter, you have a caller as usual hanging back bugling trying to bring his cow back, then you have a 2nd caller using mid range to excited cow whines, this 2nd caller goes towards the bull following the shooter only he stays back from the shooter 40-50yds & does not expose himself, both are moving towards the bugling bull but the real bull is focused on the calling well behind the intended shooter. Distance can vary further or closer depending on open or thick terrain.

These 3 methods or variations of them are a lot of fun & very exciting to do & are great bull on the ground producers! We have many other methods we use as well but these are very good ones. 2 - 3 hunters can produce great results!

ElkNut1

[Toby]

Great info. Paul, thanks for sharing.

In my experience, hunting with a partner or partners that "think alike" is really an advantage for all the reasons mentioned above. Being on the same page is really important, and that comes with experience, communication, and encounters with elk.

[Indian Summer]

Brad, I agree camaraderie is a huge part of an enjoyable elk hunt. It's great when success is shared with others in the group & the success was a group effort. It's like getting a hole in one & no one is there to see it, it's better when friends are there giving each other high fives over the accomplishment! (grin) ElkNut1

That's one reason I much prefer a partner over solo. It's way better when there's someone to high five!

[Swede]

I agree that when you have two or three guys on a hunt there Is a better chance of getting an elk. There is more of a celebration, and more than one makes butchering and packing a lot easier. Hunting as a team can be a lot of fun. That said, I usually prefer to hunt alone. I don't have to consult or satisfy anyone but me. I come, go, stay as I please. I am not shooting the other guy's elk, I get frustrated at no one but myself. There is no pressure except what I place on myself.