First Legal Elk?

[Trophyhill]

Will you be killing the first legal elk that gives you the opportunity? Or are you holding out?

[Ridge Ghost]

First legal bull for me.

[under H2O hunter]

Nope. It has to be a 6x6 or better for the first two weeks, Then a 5x5 or better the third week, then a legal animal the last week.

[WapitiTalk1]

First decent bull gets my arrow

[BRazz]

First legal elk for me. Brown = down (assuming brown <> moose, deer, etc.).

[toasty tiger]

first legal elk - looking for some back straps - Trophy Hunting looks good on the wall but it tends to take a long time to fill my freezer.

[planebow]

First legal with exception of a calf for me

[NoWiser]

I've never shot an elk before so I'd really like to take any legal animal that I can, with the exception of a calf. But, having drawn a super good tag in the Gila, I can hardly shoot a spike the first day! Any halfway decent 6 point is toast the first day and I think my standards will slowly drop from there.

[Thunderfoot]

Hopefully the first bull that steps in front of me is a 350" 6x6, if not I'm still shooting. Been too long since I've had elk steak.

[Rizzy]

Not sure yet, we will see how the first few days of the hunt go. I would like to at least get a raghorn, but it might be difficult for a first time bow hunt with trad gear. I might just have to settle for a cow or a spike if I want to fill the freezer.

[Swede]

I am not fussy, but it has to be a mature animal. I won't shoot a calf. I usually hold out for a few days for a bull, but will have to see how things look when I leave camp before the season starts.

[BrentLaBere]

First legal elk I have a chance at. I wont pass any opportunity up. Ill be hunting for bulls, but if a cow walks by, it wont be her lucky day.

[one_elk]

Any legal mature elk for me.....

[PaLongshank]

ELK hunting with a long bow....first legal bull OR cow that wants to play nice is good enough for me!

[stringunner]

First legal elk for me.

[Trophyhill]

First legal elk I have a chance at. I wont pass any opportunity up. Ill be hunting for bulls, but if a cow walks by, it wont be her lucky day.

This^^^^^^^^^
I've hunted like this for 6 years now. I don't look a gift horse in the mouth. I like having elk in my freezer

[Fullabull]

My dad and I are going to Idaho for the first time, he has not taken and elk with his bow yet so for him it's the first legal elk that's in unlucky enough to get within his range. For me, I will try and hold out for a decent bull, but will take anything legal towards the end. With the price of beef nowdays and since I'm hunting out of state it only makes sense to just try and come home with something

[Elkonthebrain]

First branched bull is going to get it.

[Lefty]

Before the 15th a mature bull after that Ill reconsider.I want to hunt, not just kill something.
My wife wants meat. I figure I can always filll the freezer with other game.

[8upbowhunter]

Any legal bull the first 11 days then any legal elk the last 3 days.

[elkmtngear]

I'm taking the first good shot opportunity on the first mature, legal elk.

[Duck-Slayer]

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

I said this in a previous thread, I'm recanting.... I like eating elk.... I'll use those 13 days too find a deer.... shoot first legal elk...
Matt

[elk-n-walleye]

I like to think I'm waiting for a decent bull but I ran out of elk meat this past winter soooo.... I'll likely be taking the first good size elk in range. I do also have a extra cow/calf tag for another area for rifle hunting in Nov.

[elkaholic]

This year the first bull that's gives me a shot is getting it. Depending on how the hunt is going I may pick up a second tag.

[elk.addict]

Well I'm planning on holding out for a mature bull this year. Though I say that every year, and the past 2 years I killed small bulls. I actually did hold out pretty good last year, but after 10 days I couldn't take it anymore

[ElkNut1]

Generally 5 point or better! The deeper we go the bigger the bull needs to be! (grin)

ElkNut1

[Texasdan]

I've got 15 days so I wouldn't want to drop a cow the first few. But I don't discriminate so...my trigger finger may get itchy. I may draw and well 70lbs is a lot of weight to hold. The efficient way to let it off is by squeezing that release.

[LongShot]

The tag I drew, 1st archery in NM's Valle Caldera preserve, gives me 7 days from Sept. 2nd to the 8th. Right now I plan to be picky for the first 3 days, with the last 4 days for any legal elk.

[Screaming_btf]

5x5 or better for me until the tail end of the season. I think I will be able to get a COW tag close to home in addition which will be my meat tag.

[otcWill]

I'll want to shoot the first elk I see. I can garuntee that but you'll never shoot a giant if ya whack the first rag to come in so I'll have to hold out for a nice bull or a last minute cow.

[Calbuck]

Depends for me.. I have a cow tag and a bull tag. Cow hunt first. If I score a cow, I might hold out for a bigger bull.

[archeryplus]

First legal

[dapper]

I'm holding out for a big bull. Later in the hunt I'll realize LongShot got my big bull and I'll have to go for something smaller. I drew the second archery hunt, Sept. 12-16 in the Valles Caldera Preserve in New Mexico.

Dan

[wawhitey]

i need to pop my elk cherry. ill take any elk. this year. my first deer was a little peckerhead spike. since then ive raised my standards, but for a first i think any legal is good. i would love it if i get a bull of some sort for my first elk, but if a cow walks by and presents a shot, i will not look a gift horse in the mouth. have to start somewhere! besides, elk steaks are delicious and im done accepting pity handouts! taking the early archery season off this year!

[CrazyElkHunter]

I have the entire season, so I can afford to wait for 5x5 or better. The main wallow I hunt had 5 different bulls hit it last year. All of them were 6x5's and 6x6's. The best part is, the wallow is only a 1/2 mile from camp. If I screw up and don't close the deal, then I fill the freezer with a fat cow or small bull if given the opportunity the last 4 days of the season. Lot of pressure where we hunt with OTC tags. The bulls are not huge where we hunt and a good 6x6 would be around 270 to 300.

[ishy]

First legal elk...then I get to be caller and cameraman.

[Wagnon89]

First time elk hunter so any legal animal for me!

[Pmixmaster]

I'm a meat hunter the taste of elk is to good to let walk . if the god lord giveth i will be shooting. Is a bull nice of course but how do you pass up a cow or small bull in range any animal with a bow is something to be proud of

[IdahoKel]

Absolutely. I'm a meat hunter, and I've hunted 4 years with no success yet. To me, any elk is a trophy.

[buglecrazy]

I tell myself i am going to hold out every year but it never happens. I am going to try for a six point this year.

[planebow]

Just found out that I drew my cow tag that is good from the start of archery till Nov 30th so I will hold out for a bull in archery season with my regular tag.

[Blake_Bartz]

First legal mature elk for me...Although it will depend on where I am at the time of the shot opportunity. A few of the places I'll be going early on I'm not sure I want to pack a cow or smaller bull out of. If I'm lucky enough to connect with an elk early on I'll be just as happy hunting along with my dad. I'll probably take some time to chase some of those dusky grouse around with my dog as well.

[razorback]

Anything with 5 on one side and preferrably puts on a show. I want to hear one bugle CLOSE!

[Fridaythe13th]

Shooting the first elk. We have 6 tags and what better practice the to call in for one of the other 5 when my tag is full. Great way to learn.

[Trophyhill]

Shooting the first elk. We have 6 tags and what better practice the to call in for one of the other 5 when my tag is full. Great way to learn.

I agree. This is when you can really pull out all the stops while calling for your buddies. After my hunt last year this is what I did. I called like I never had before doing things I'd be a little hesitant to try hunting alone. Ended up calling 3 bulls in for 3 friends and should have been a tale of 3 dead bulls. Harold capitalized on his opportunity and the other 2 let those 2 bulls live for some other day.

[twinkieman]

Shooting the first elk. We have 6 tags and what better practice the to call in for one of the other 5 when my tag is full. Great way to learn.

Our group has been doing this for the past 4 seasons, first guy to kill an elk, is the official caller for the rest of the camp. It's great, you still get to hunt,( no bow), carry less stuff, and are still talking to elk.

[TxTechChuck4]

First legal mature that walks within 40 yards is getting a stick shot at it

[WYO_ELK]

I have my baseline at the first 5 point that is in range will get an arrow. But since this is my first archery elk hunt, that might change when a bull of any size gets in front of me. I will wait to shoot a cow during te rifle season if need be

[husky390]

Brown and down

[spookinelk]

Order of precedence for me is Big Bull(320+), calf, cow, small bull. If I don't see a big one before something else comes by my emphasis is on what will eat the best.

[Relentlessly Unforgiving]

I hold an either sex tag and will take the first legal elk that's within distance. Cow or bull will be a trophy for me!