Are You Gonna Shoot Now, or, Continue the Hunt?

[WapitiTalk1]

Situational decision. After a year of waiting, you've finally headed into the elk woods for your first day of fall elk hunting. You've shot your bow until you could knock the tick off a stump at 40 yards, you're gear is packed tightly into your multi-day backpack, you've saved your time off so you can spend two glorious weeks in an elk state of your choosing, you've worked on your elk calling and language interpretation skills to the point of being yelled at by your other household members ("take it outside.... geez"), you've studied the maps for your area, loaded them on your GPS, and spent hours on google earth studying the target area, you've gotten yourself into possibly the best shape of your life in anticipation of steep climbs/decents/packing quarters scenarios, and you're finally here!! Your tag allows you to take either sex in the area/state your hunting. You can shoot a cow or a three point bull or better (western count here guys, a legal bull is one that has at least 3 points on one side), and you haven't slept a single night through for the past two weeks before you loaded the truck up and left. You've never taken an elk with a bow before but this is the year! As you head out on the first morning's hunt, you detect movement up to your right and "holy crap" there are elk filtering through the woods less than 30 yards away. You knock an arrow and wait, as a nice cow stops broadside a bit over 25 yards away you draw, settle your pin on that sweet spot, and ................ Do you shoot a cow at this point, the first day of your hunt, or not? Just curious... RJ

[MichaelD]

Mine was a little different - cow or spike spike unit so no chance at a big bull.
I had prepared like you discussed, all the practice and preparation, first morning out we came across a small herd - one shot in the heart and the cow was down. My buddy didn't get a shot off and didn't get another chance the rest of the season. My freezer is full, his is not. Tag punched felt pretty good.
Here is the caveat though....dry year, later rut than normal, limited hunting over two weekends between work. I am still fresh enough that if I would take it on the last day - i will take it on the first day.
Now....if we are on a trophy hunt in a tough to draw unit or I already have an elk in the freezer and this is the second state i am hunting then there are different thoughts on the situation.
Michael

[Fridaythe13th]

What's the saying. Why pass one on the first day that your going to shoot the last. We also have a different situation. A group of six people, so we can hunt/call for others and still have fun. But chance at a 1st ever elk, take her.

[Swede]

First hunt. Yep! I'm a shootin. Git yer knife ready.

[Elkduds]

I'll contradict my usual "hunt for meat" perspective in this scenario and say shoot photos or video. With 2 weeks to hunt, and elk in the sights on day 1, I have a lot of hiking, calling, stalking, sweating, BSing, camp cooking, swirling winds, near misses, lurid sunrises and sunsets, stinking wallows, sore muscles, bugles and cow calls to listen to, waiting for me. For me, 2 weeks of getting to hunt is what I have waited all year for. My mindset while hunting is much more alert, aware, and overall interested, than when I have filled my tag or am joining a buddy on his hunt. Shooting an elk doesn't have to happen, to make it an epic hunt. When my elk is down, something incredible has ended.

Having said all that, I recall that my first several years of hunting elk were fiercely motivated by needing to get one. It was almost more than I could bear when I finally walked up to my first downed cow, overwhelmed by disbelief and amazement. I discovered all the other marvels and pleasures of hunting along the way.

[elk-n-walleye]

If I truly had two weeks I'm waiting. In my scenario this year I have 6 days so I'm getting meat for the freezer (its nearly empty). Hopefully my scenario this year also includes a cow/calf tag in addition to my any elk tag and I can continue to hunt for 5 more days. Draw results in June can not get here fast enough.

[otcWill]

I am of the opinion that if you've never killed an elk you should shoot the first legal elk you get a shot at. A first time elk hunter would be lucky to have a cow under his belt and change goals next year if he/she likes.

[8upbowhunter]

Last year (my first elk hunt) my plan was to shoot bulls only until the last 3 days of my 2 week hunt then any legal elk. On that hunt I never had to make that decision but if I had been paying attention while standing there one day looking at my GPS I had 3 cows walk up to me at 20 yds and stop and look at me before busting out of there. I heard a small limb break about 30 seconds before they hit the opening but just didn't expect elk (rookie mistake) but I don't think I would have shot anyway. I will be there again this September for 2 weeks and my plan is the same, bulls only until the last 3 days then any legal elk. I know a lot of folks question why would I pass on something at the beginning of my hunt that I would shoot on the last day of it. Well I really want to kill a bull so I dedicate most of my hunt to killing one so if I pass on a cow early and end up eating my tag I am ok with that so I guess it all boils down to personal choice.

[Wyo67]

You've never taken an elk with a bow before...

To me that's the key statement. So many experienced guys on thee types of forums recommend you to take the first elk you can with your bow. Despite all the similar preparations RJ discussed, I went 0-fer my first 3 years. In my 4th year, I was fortunate enough to take a 4x4 raghorn that came in on my first hour of my first day of the hunt. Didn't think twice about letting that arrow fly. If it had been a cow, I still would have let it go. Spent the rest of the hunt calling for my buddy, who took a much bigger 6x6. But... I had my first with a bow and wouldn't change a thing.

[ElkNut1]

Yes sir, I'm with the take the shot guys here! No guarantees you're even going to hit the elk with all that adrenalin running through your system! (grin) If you take her, sweet! If you miss & the herd spooks, no problem you still have 2 weeks! Definitely take that 1st elk with your bow & be as proud of her as if it was a 6 point!

ElkNut1

[Indian Summer]

With a bow and never killed an elk? Shoot!

I'm with elkduds I don't want it to end. But it doesn't have to. I can get my elk hung and still go out "hunting" as if I hadn't killed one. Calling and hiking. learning the lay of the land and taking pictures. It will be easier at that stage of the game to make decisions when calling to elk because well.... your elk is already dead! Yee ha! With nothing to lose you could try every trick in the book you've been studying just to see what happens.

You didn't mention anything about partners. Obviously if there were 2 of us it would be business as usual. But with 2 weeks to go we can sure hunt more aggressively with 1 in the bag.

If I had a gun I would be with 8upbowhunter. Bulls only for a portion of my hunt then lower my standards. I would be thinking that I had a week or a week and a half to hunt bulls and at the same time narrow down to where I thought I could kill a cow in X amount of time. You might find that there are lots of elk but bulls are just scarce. That can be common. You might be like wow... I can kill a cow in 1 day and so maybe to be safe give yourself 2 days. You might not see another elk of any kind for 3 days after passing and realize that you better shoot the next elk you see. But one way or another, bull or cow, I wouldn't take much for granted and would make sure I got my first freezer full of elk meat and all the memories of the first elk killed.

[Trophyhill]

Equal opportunity killer here

[stringunner]

I'm shooting, either way newbie or not I'm shooting.

[Lefty]

Ive hunted archery for 5 years; Ive killed a cow, Ive been close and choked too many times to adult and book elk. I waiting

My father-in law comments " Why wreck a good hunt by killing something"

I have regretted passing on an opening morning before sunrise 5x7 black-tail basket buck in Washington
But a cow, first two weeks, no,.. Im passing.
Why? : I like elk hunting, more than bear or grouse hunting
Last day: Im letting an arrow go on any cow ,..except maybe on the collared cow mentioned a few months ago I would kill a tagged animal early in the season
I get 4 nights at a waterhole and 6 full days to hunt. I want to shoot a bull.

At the seminar at the ISE show Corey said only 2-3% of archery hunters will ever kill a herd bull,.. I will either be part of that 3% or I wont

[Zonk54]

I have a strong desire for a euro mount on a legal bull so I would pass.

[mrganser]

I would pass for a bull...

[ishy]

Done it twice on my first day out. First was while I was in school had seven days off starting the 10th of september. Cow calling while moving to a wallow at first light. Heard a twig snap and thought "Squirrel?". But still knocked an arrow. Then cows showed heading right at me. Calf was first and stopped at 5 yards started feeding, next cow 7 yards head down, last cow 12 yards started feeding broadside and then she took one half and put that close leg forward=tagged out.
Next I was in my deer stand on labor day while on call. Never seen an elk there, but one shows up to munch apple out of the tree. I'm thinking I have two weeks mid september off...then she turns broadside thwap! Tagged out again. I hope to tag out early just to go call and help buddies but both years for whatever reason and family issues, and buddies in other end of the state I didn't get out much after tagging out.

[tdirks]

Isn't that situation exactly what all the preparation was for? Does it really make a difference when in the two weeks it happens? Never having shot an elk you absolutely shoot and then realize that all the time spent deciding where to go was worth it!

[elk-n-walleye]

Isn't that situation exactly what all the preparation was for? Does it really make a difference when in the two weeks it happens? Never having shot an elk you absolutely shoot and then realize that all the time spent deciding where to go was worth it!

Well.... No offense but I don't think most of us envision standing over a herd cow as we are planning and preparing for our hunts. IMHO I feel, yes, many of us would take that shot but with mixed emotions. On one hand we are excited and thankful to be harvesting an elk. On the other hand we are wishing a bull would have wandered into our path and have a tiny bit of emotional let down. Prime example is my hunt last year. I was moving in on a bull that was letting out an occasional soft chuckle. As I crested a small rise I see a sudden movement and there he was, a beautiful 6x6, sauntering off. I was briefly disappointed but hey he left his cows which were clueless to my presence. I figured one of them would be a nice consolation prize and I was excited about the opportunity. Disclaimer: this occured 1/2 way thru my one week hunt not day 1.

[jmez]

No question. I'm letting the air out of her. I'll spend the next two weeks fishing and helping out my buddies.

[Csrbowhunter]

I would love to say shoot the cow but I have been in that exact situation,three years ago I hadn't killed an elk before and had two weeks in front . My hunting partner wasn't showing up till the next day. I got what I could of camp ready( he had the tent) cut wood,setup bathroom ect. It was about 4pm when I got done so I went out to scout but I took my bow. I was walking down a logging road and called in two cows. The one about stepped on me walking bye. I got out my camera and took a few pictures to show my buddy. The last day of the hunt I shot my first elk,a bull,but for the whole time I hunted I kept wondering if I'd made a mistake and was going home with tag soup for the fourth year in a row. I got lucky that year but every year I hunted I had a chance and just couldn't shoot a cow! All I wanted was a bull. Now that I've ate the meat I wish I wouldn't have done that!

[BrentLaBere]

Only down side to shooting that cow is not being able to test out all my bugling practice!.....I love calling elk and want to be able to tango with bulls. Only thing holding my itchy trigger finger back......but I'm hungry, and thinking of tenderloins on a fire.....yeah that arrow just left my bow. Whoops
Its all in the moment for me. I had to make that decision last year. Cows in between me and a large bull. I went for the bull and came up empty. I don't think I would change my mind if I had to do it over, but I would go in bugling and scattering those cows away and change my approach.

[wewarev]

I'm passing the shot on the first day. As a newbe I'm going for the experience of the backcountry and would feel cheated having drove 1800 miles to see it end the first day.
Now if a nice bull stepped out in the first hour I'd try and let the air out of him quick!

[mandrroofing]

I would shoot on the first day everytime, I only have 12 days to hunt and if I do kill on the first day I'm not done hunting I will be out calling for my buddies in checking spots /scouting for my buddies at the same time. that sounds pretty fun too

[Washington Wapiti]

Oh yeah, I'm shootin'! And then spending the next 13 days sleeping . . . er uh, I mean calling for my partner (If I'm with one) and/or reading The Playbook.

[elkmtngear]

You've never taken an elk with a bow before but this is the year! RJ

I'm going to take my first elk with a bow.

Then, I'm going to film my buddies for the rest of the two glorious weeks!

[pd]

Phantom, you keep posting up great topics! Very informative, please keep at it.

I am not counting the replies, but most guys seem to agree: If this is your first elk, then, yes, take the first elk (even a cow) on opening day. You can always help your buddies later; in fact, that would probably be more useful to you in the long run, learning from others.

The question becomes more interesting after you have an elk or two notched on your bow--in this case, the answer would change, wouldn't it?

Your scenario doesn't work here in Washington--there are so few either sex GMUs left!

[Drawnandpinned]

This will be my first year bow hunting and yep I'd send it I won't pass up meat (you can't eat the horns but they sure are nice) hoping to get a bull this year

[welka]

Even if it was my first, I am passing and won't regret it later. Odds are that you are hunting other animals later in the season and can get meat in the freezer. Now, if the story changes to a small bull standing there, then the air is on the way for a 1st timer.

[elk.addict]

you haven't slept a single night through for the past two weeks

If I'm this excited to go elk hunting, I doubt that I would want to end my 2 week hunt on the first day. In theory anyway, in the heat of the moment that cow may go down.

[Indian Summer]

"I don't think most of us envision standing over a herd cow as we are planning and preparing for our hunts." But..... how many envision the harsh reality of standing over an unpunched elk tag in the end as they prepare for their big bull hunt???

"Odds are that you are hunting other animals later in the season and can get meat in the freezer" Elk meat? I'd shoot a calf before I lived on any other game all winter Welka. No comparison.

"Only down side to shooting that cow is not being able to test out all my bugling practice!" On the upside you CAN practice AND with no pressure. You'll be able to make decisions easily and try things that you may second guess yourself on if you were still trying to fill your tag. Be really aggressive. Try desperation tactics even though you're not desperate. Priceless.

One thing I think those who have never killed an elk need to look at is the fact that those who have are saying... if you've never killed an elk before this is your golden opportunity. Unless you can honestly tell yourself you don't care if you go home empty handed you best be shooting. How does that saying go.... one in the hand is worth 2 in the bush. In elk hunting one in the pack is worth 50 in the bush!

[dapper]

I'm going to continue to hunt. I've never taken an elk, but I've always been an antler guy. By luck, my first whitetail with a bow was a buck and that set up a mindset antlers or bust. After that I piled up an impressive number of nice antlered bucks in my home state of Wisconsin and close neighbor Illinois. The meat never goes to waste, but quite honestly for the price I pay to hunt, I could buy a lot of meat. Its funny about the veterans saying get one under your belt, because that's basically what I'd say to a rookie whitetail hunter. Its a stupid person that doesn't take ones own advice, I guess that'll be me. But I have no problem saying I didn't get one, in my mind I'm content knowing that the possibility existed but I chose not to. This doesn't mean I'd pass on the cow the last day or two of an uneventful hunt. I never really got the saying "don't pass up on the first day what you'd take on the last day", to me a hunt is all about making adjustments. One of those is how the hunt is going, what your seeing and the probability of tagging what your original goal was. Tag soup isn't the end of the world, I've had it before.

Happy Hunting
Dan

[Indian Summer]

I never really got the saying "don't pass up on the first day what you'd take on the last day", to me a hunt is all about making adjustments.

I cannot argue with that. I never said I practice what I preach either. lol I've shot 3 cows over the years. But looking back on my first 2 hunts I wish I would have shot the first cow I saw. Of the 3 I did 1 was at 9:30 am on the first day of a 6 week bow season and I was living in Montana at the time. No regrets either. Down the road when I shot the other 2 I had unlimited time to hunt. I would hunt bulls only all archery season and for all but 2 days of gun. By then I knew where several groups were camped out and figured I could kill one in a day... but gave it two just to be sure. One time I had a buddy check the game check station numbers to see if the antlerless harvest quota had been filled. I was in snow camo and crept to within 150 yards of a herd of about 100 head with no bulls among them. He called and said "quota filled" which meant it was the last day to be able to fill the freezer with a cow. I said thanks, hung up the phone, and filled the freezer. So heck yeah there's nothing wrong with making adjustments. Who hasn't said bulls only for the first half of the hunt. I've said 6 point bulls only until the last 3 days. BUT... I am not good with an unpunched tag. If things don't look good I'll make those adjustments sooner than later.

So here's why I say that to newcomers to the elk hunting world. Unlike deer hunting chasing elk is extremely physically demanding. And to me if you don't have it together mentally you're doomed physically. The mind drives the body. So for that reason I think someone who has never killed an elk needs one under their belt more than hunters of other game so that down the road when times are tough there taste of success will carry them through. It will enable them to be more persistent than if they haven't killed one before. Kind of like taking kids hunting where success early on can be crucial to keeping their interest. Besides... any elk with a bow is a worthy accomplishment in my book. I liked your post a lot dapper and completely understand where you're coming from which is why I made another. Thanks for taking the time......

[Screaming_btf]

In part of the state I hunt in I can buy a cow tag in addition to a normal bull/cow tag. In that situation with 2 tags one for a cow its a no brainier I am shooting. Either with my normal tag or when I hunt out of state it is also a no brainier, no chance what so ever I am even tempted to take that shot.

[BRazz]

I'll generally take the first shot I have. Too many times I've passed one up and later wished that I hadn't...

[NoWiser]

Oh man, this is an interesting thread!

Last year was my first ever elk hunt. I'd never even seen one of them in the wild before. So, my dad and I backpacked into the wilds of Wyoming with high hopes. We had prepared just like the original poster described. My thoughts were to wait for a bull, but after 2 days I realized that any elk was going to be a trophy. We hunted 10 days and, though we had some pretty close encounters, we never let an arrow fly. I swore to myself that this year I would take the first elk within range regardless of size or sex. My moose meat is running low and I REALLY want some elk in the freezer!!

The "problem" is that we went and drew an incredible Gila tag this year for our second ever elk hunt and first year applying to New Mexico. Now what to do?? I surely can't shoot a cow early on in a hunt that most people will only ever dream of having a tag for. Not only that, but we have a shot at shooting very, very nice bulls so I have to decide what size bull to go after. I think, after looking at pictures, anything in the mid 200's or above is getting an arrow. The last two days I'd probably take a cow. My dad probably has a bit lower standards. I just hope we come back with at least one!

[nrocchio]

This is a tough one. This year will be my first archery hunt for Elk, and I will hopefully be in this position. I think I would pass though. I have always passed when rifle hunting hoping that I will run into a bull (when shooting was even an option). If it were later in the season and I was having a harder time finding Elk it would be much easier to shoot, early on there would still be too many high hopes to take the shot.

[under H2O hunter]

I was pleasantly surprised at my son who passed on several elk. I don't know that I could of done that at 14. He ended up taking a calf but only having a monster 350 class bull at 2 yards and not being able to make the shot. He had that opportunity only after letting others get the free pass. I think it happened that way because of his competitive nature. Always wanting to out do his old man. Friendly competition is awesome for us. I on the other hand have wisdom from years of playing this game. I take the first legal animal I can take. I would rather call and have my son be successful and tell me how much better he is at this game then I am.

[Kevrod3]

I'd probably pass the shot. As much as I love the hunt I'd be thrilled with just the opportunity. I'd keep hunting, its not all about the kill.... well

[brun]

If I really had two weeks and had done all the training, scouting, etc. I would pass. I want to have the hunting experience last longer. If you don't end up getting an elk so be it. I have passed many animals, sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn't, but I have never regretted it. I've never really understood the adage "shoot on the first day what you would shoot on the last day" It's not so much that you have to hold out for a bigger animal, I just normally don't want the first day to end up being the last day.
It's a good question and there is no right or wrong here, but lots of interesting points of view.

[navet]

I let it fly! Heck I am not good enough to know I will get a second chance. There are no guarantees I will hit this one, but I am gonna find out. I will spend the rest of my time in the woods learning to get close to bulls.

[blackwolf]

I am waiting. The hardest part of the hunt starts once the animal is down, so my effort is going to be "bull only".

[one_elk]

I’m taking the shot, can spend the rest of the two weeks with my camera and fishing pole or just helping others….

[Duck-Slayer]

Situational decision. After a year of waiting, you've finally headed into the elk woods for your first day of fall elk hunting. You've shot your bow until you could knock the tick off a stump at 40 yards, you're gear is packed tightly into your multi-day backpack, you've saved your time off so you can spend two glorious weeks in an elk state of your choosing, you've worked on your elk calling and language interpretation skills to the point of being yelled at by your other household members ("take it outside.... geez"), you've studied the maps for your area, loaded them on your GPS, and spent hours on google earth studying the target area, you've gotten yourself into possibly the best shape of your life in anticipation of steep climbs/decents/packing quarters scenarios, and you're finally here!! Your tag allows you to take either sex in the area/state your hunting. You can shoot a cow or a three point bull or better (western count here guys, a legal bull is one that has at least 3 points on one side), and you haven't slept a single night through for the past two weeks before you loaded the truck up and left. You've never taken an elk with a bow before but this is the year! As you head out on the first morning's hunt, you detect movement up to your right and "holy crap" there are elk filtering through the woods less than 30 yards away. You knock an arrow and wait, as a nice cow stops broadside a bit over 25 yards away you draw, settle your pin on that sweet spot, and ................ Do you shoot a cow at this point, the first day of your hunt, or not? Just curious... RJ

I have shot elk before 2 in fact, a spike and a cow, so me personally on the first 4-5 days of any hunt I don't shoot unless it's a branch antlered or bigger, so no, I would wait for the herd too continue filtering out and see if there is a big or small guy hanging out with them.... you still have 13 more glorious days....
Matt

[patdel]

I think I'm gonna have to shoot and collect my first elk, even though deep down I really want a bull. I could always drive down to Colorado, buy an OTC tag and keep hunting if I felt the need.

[swmoelk]

I'm a first-timer and I honestly can't say what id do. I've been debating this same situation for months now. I think I'd tell my buddy that hunts with me to shoot it. If he declined then I would just to know we wouldn't go home empty handed. On one hand it's an elk with a bow and that's a trophy in my book. On the other if it's day one and I'm into elk then I will try to be careful not to blow them out and look for a branch antlered bull. It also depends on pressure. If there's 5 other groups spreading scent and chasing elk off the mountain,then it's a punched tag for sure.

[Mikeha33]

Ugh. This question sucks. I went last year with the thought of bone only for the 1st 3 days, then I'll "settle" for a cow. After hiking my ba**$ off, sweating, freezing, being soaked, eating dehydrated and rehydrated food, smelling myself and my partner, and not seeing an elk, I am prepared this year to shoot a cow, and be absolutely overjoyed about it. BUT!!!!! If I had 2 weeks, and I was into elk on day 1, a herd, nonetheless, I don't know if I could shoot a cow on the first day. Yeah, I love the mountains, and being from Kansas, it's not something I get at the blink of an eye, so I want to spend as much time hunting as possible. But, I hear sooooo much about how good elk meat is, and we eat tons of game at our house, so my mouth may water enough to make me draw back and let one go. After forking over the $600+ for my tag, the thousands of dollars in gear, the $$$ in fuel to get out West, and the thought of another bowl of tag soup instead of fresh backstrap, I hope I can be lucky enough to take any elk, even if it is a cow. But, I might not .

[sojurner 65]

My partner and I are planning for the duration so no, I wouldn't shoot. In my mind it's a bull the first week, bull or cow the 2nd, and any legal elk after that.

[Gselkhunter]

They call it elk hunting not bull hunting. If there is anything that eats better than a cow elk I don't know about it. Shoot the cow, then spend the next few days pissing off every bull on the mountain.

[WapitiTalk1]

They call it elk hunting not bull hunting. If there is anything that eats better than a cow elk I don't know about it. Shoot the cow, then spend the next few days pissing off every bull on the mountain.

That's elk abuse mister

[planebow]

Hoping to have an extra cow tag this year but if not I am still shooting. I like elk meat to much to pass up a give me shot. Would stay around to help my partners try to fill there tags and maybe get some good pictures.

[zpd307]

I have shot and tasted cow elk. with a rifle that is. found a pack of lost back straps a month or so ago and forgot how awesome elk tasted...... but I still couldn't shoot one right away.....

[Wagnon89]

This year will be my first elk hunting trip and I won't have quite two weeks. It'll be about 10 days. That said, if I have a shot opportunity at a cow in the first minutes of the hunt I'm taking it no question. Being a newbie I understand there's gonna be a certain amount of luck involved in just getting into the elk, so I'd be fishing and helping my hunting buddy the rest of the trip

[lamrith]

Situational decision. After a year of waiting, you've finally headed into the elk woods for your first day of fall elk hunting. You've shot your bow until you could knock the tick off a stump at 40 yards, you're gear is packed tightly into your multi-day backpack, you've saved your time off so you can spend two glorious weeks in an elk state of your choosing, you've worked on your elk calling and language interpretation skills to the point of being yelled at by your other household members ("take it outside.... geez"), you've studied the maps for your area, loaded them on your GPS, and spent hours on google earth studying the target area, you've gotten yourself into possibly the best shape of your life in anticipation of steep climbs/decents/packing quarters scenarios, and you're finally here!! Your tag allows you to take either sex in the area/state your hunting. You can shoot a cow or a three point bull or better (western count here guys, a legal bull is one that has at least 3 points on one side), and you haven't slept a single night through for the past two weeks before you loaded the truck up and left. You've never taken an elk with a bow before but this is the year! As you head out on the first morning's hunt, you detect movement up to your right and "holy crap" there are elk filtering through the woods less than 30 yards away. You knock an arrow and wait, as a nice cow stops broadside a bit over 25 yards away you draw, settle your pin on that sweet spot, and ................ Do you shoot a cow at this point, the first day of your hunt, or not? Just curious... RJ

My initial reaction as a 1st year Hunter is THWAG.... Patience is a wicked and elusive thing...

However a ton of variables. Wind direction, will the group wind you if you let the continue undisturbed?

Is the group as a whole passing within your comfortable range or just this one?

Is the one @ 25 the first, middle, last in the group? Biggest, smallest?

Any vocalizations prior(night before or that morning) to indicate there may be a bull?

My brain says if the group will not wind you, let them continue at least until you get to see the whole herd. Time to make sure your call is in your mouth and ready. If a bull shows you might coax him close with a cow call, if not maybe a lost calf call to bring a cow back if they get to far. You are in elk, time to play chess...

[Stick]

Not shooting! With either sex tag I will only shoot a cow on the last day! Bulls or bust for me!!