Newbie Here

[Old school]

I'm new to the forum as of today. I'm a traditional archer and I live in Missouri and am planning a DIY elk bowhunt next year with my 2 sons (age 15 and 13). I've gun hunted elk in Idaho and Montana both successfully but I'm 0/2 on DIY OTC Colorado bowhunts. I look forward to gaining elk knowledge from you all in this forum as I have much to learn. I'm undecided on where we will go - hoping to get some advice here (Montana, Idaho panhandle or Colorado). Thanks --Mitch

[Raghorn_Reaper]

Welcome! I'm also 0/2 with the bow, but the experiences and memories are worth as much as the harvest of other animals. Just love the adventure the mountain provides. Building up my experience so that when my 1.5 year old son is old enough, I can pass it along to him. If you haven't purchased the playbook, do it! Even if you have to eat Raman noodles for a few days.

[Old school]

Raghorn - you are right about the experience and memories. Bowhunted unit 62 about 6 years ago and saw more hunters than elk but still had a great time - until we got snowed off the mountain by a 18" snowstorm.

[Ponyboy_jonas]

PM sent

[Old school]

Ponyboy - Not sure that I can send PM's back yet. Will send as soon as I'm able to though.

[8upbowhunter]

Welcome aboard Old school! I'm also 0/2 on DIY OTC Colorado bowhunts with a bow. In February I bought a Bear Grizzly recurve and the traditional bug bit me so I will be hunting them with my recurve this year and have my compound at camp as a backup. Lots of good info and members here who are always more than willing to help you.

[Old school]

8up - thanks for the response. I started traditional hunting about 10 years ago, but still shoot my compound from time to time. I've got a Fedora recurve and a couple Mike Treadway longbows. I shoot instinctively and you will probably find that will really mess up your compound form. Anchor point issues, canting your bow, and many other issues will mess with your compound "form". Just what I experienced at least. I can't just go pick up my compound and expect to shoot tight groups after I've become proficient with traditional equipment - it takes a few hours of getting back in the groove and figuring out what I'm doing wrong. Same thing goes for when I pick the traditional back up then. Anyway - look forward to learning from the members here about all things elk hunting.
--Mitch

[ElkNut1]

Old School, welcome aboard! I too have shot Trad gear for awhile but since have returned to the compound, love shooting both & both are deadly in their specific terms! Good luck!

ElkNut1

[foxvalley]

Welcome Old School,

I have been traditional only since 1988,but up till a few years ago have been bouncing back and forth from trad to compound.I was amazed after shooting traditional for so long how hard it was to get back in to shooting the wheel bow,it took a very long time,especially grabbing one, then the other in the same practice.Seems to be mind over matter now,and after fighting thru it, can grab either one and make the switch in my head"right now" My favorite trad setup is the elburg longbow with handmade tapered cedar shafts,4" shields, and a razor sharp magnus 2 blade.

Also, I have been hunting the panhandle for about the same amount of years,can't beat 90% of the panhandle being public,OTC tags available every year,awesome,wild country,and some really big bulls to boot.

[8upbowhunter]

I don't plan on shooting the compound much anymore anyway but I can see where it would mess your form up. I did shoot it about 2 weeks ago and didn't have any problems but it didn't last long before putting it up and going back to the recurve. I also shoot instinctive, probably because thats how I shot my first compound some 35 years ago since I didn't have any sights on it lol. I shoot 3 under, split finger just doesn't feel right to me. I have already made up my mind that I will hunt trad only this year for the entire season. I am beyond the "gotta kill" stage and more into having fun hunting with my son and enjoying the experience. You should find all the info you need on this site, good luck.

Kenneth

[Old school]

Doug - my favorite is my Treadway longbow with cedar arrows with zwickie broadheads. I use a leather shoulder quiver. When I hunted Idaho we stayed in Noxon MT but hunted in Idaho. Some brutal terrain there. Wondered about the effect the wolves and bears have had since that was about 10 years ago. I'll PM you to swap some stories.

Kenneth - sounds like we are at the same place regarding the hunt. I've killed more deer than I can remember with the compound - only 2 with traditional, but very satisfying.

Thanks for the responses. - Mitch

[Old school]

Paul - I switch back and forth depending on the area I'm hunting. Anything over 25 yards is too far for me with traditional gear. My ultimate goal is to get proficient enough with the longbow to shoot it out to 40 yards. That may or may not happen though. Thanks for the forum, I'm enjoying it already.

--Mitch

[8upbowhunter]

I also have a 45# longbow a friend made for me but I think I will only use it for whitetail and hogs around home. It's a great shooter and quiet as a mouse but I prefer something with a little more poundage for elk like my 60# recurve. I shoot out to 30 yards right now and hope to be good enough out to 40 by September but as of now my limit is 30 yds.

[Old school]

8up - I'm not a traditional "expert" but I shoot a 45# longbow and recurve and the 2 deer I've killed have been complete pass thru shots. One at 8 yards and the other at 25 yards. I know elk is a lot bigger animal, but would be completely confident with a 45# bow and of course razor sharp cut on contact broaheads. Just my opinion.

[Wapiti]

Hey you found us Old School !! Glad you came over as I really enjoyed our chat the other day bud !!

It looks like you are settled in already !! You can send PM's after your third post. So you should be good to go now !!

If you have any questions about the site or anything for that matter just ask away as all the good folks on here are great !!

Trav

[Old school]

Thanks Travis - looking forward to getting those Black Widow calls and getting your help with them. As I said before, I think I'm the only one that can make a turkey diaphragm sound like a seductive hen and can make an elk diaphragm sound like a dying chicken. Look forward to gaining much elk hunting knowledge from the experts here.
--Mitch

[8upbowhunter]

8up - I'm not a traditional "expert" but I shoot a 45# longbow and recurve and the 2 deer I've killed have been complete pass thru shots. One at 8 yards and the other at 25 yards. I know elk is a lot bigger animal, but would be completely confident with a 45# bow and of course razor sharp cut on contact broaheads. Just my opinion.

Yea I am sure they both will kill if I put it in the right place but the recurve is a lot faster and I am shooting Magnus Stinger 150gr broadhead with it. Total arrow weight with that broadhead is 550gr so I should get good penetration with it. My longbow arrows are a lot lighter using the same broadhead and I am worried about penetration especially if I hit a rib so I will use the recurve this year and see how the longbow does in deer season.

[Old school]

8up - my fedora recurve probably shoots a little faster than my Treadway longbow, but not by much. I also shoot 3 under, seems more "natural" for me. A sharp broad head and proper shot placement rank much higher in my book than the poundage you choose to shoot. 45# is comfortable for me. I know others that shoot 60#+ and that's fine for them - just doesn't work for me. Thanks for your posts.

--Mitch

[8upbowhunter]

My recurve is a lot faster than the longbow but it's also quiet, just not quite as quiet as the longbow. I just prefer to shoot the heavier arrow at an elk. I shoot almost every day and 60# isn't bad at all even when I come to full draw and hold it for a while. Anyway I hope you and your sons make it out west and have a great hunt. Thanks for the replies.

Kenneth