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Nov 13, 2011 Congrats by: Jimmy Torrez Any elk with a bow is a trophy. Congratulations!

Nov 07, 2011 First Elk with a bow by: skip shephard Well done! What you have accomplished is a real milestone in hunting elk. Most hunters, the stats say, don't harvest any elk; let alone with a bow. They say that less than 4% of hunters get an elk; cow or bull. Enjoy the memories. I have yet to experience that feeling.

Nov 06, 2011 The Story by: Ryan After about a 3 mile hike we found ourselves deep in the thick of the bush. It being so thick we knew where we were, but it made it extremely difficult to judge how high on the side of the mountain we were in relation to where we had spotted the elk. My partner and I stood there for about 5 minutes having a quick drink of water from the hydration bladder and discussing what we should do. My partner felt we were too high and kept struggling on whether or not we should move down a little bit. I told him that we should definitely go with his gut feeling and move down the mountain. Boy was I glad we made that decision! After about 5 min of leading down the mountain, looking down through all the lush green foliage and the white from the many quakies in the area, I saw that beautiful tan color of an elk about 130 yards away. At this point, it being so thick, I did know if it was a bull or a cow. We quickly and stealthily got into a position. The elk never heard us or saw us and after about 2 minutes we were saying the same about the elk. The Indians used to call elk ?The ghosts of the forest. This was a situation where I would agree with them wholeheartedly! After about 8 to 10 min the elk had made its way up to us in complete silence and appeared out of what seemed like nowhere at a distance 35 yards! It was a bull. Not anything huge, but not a spike either. I quickly decided that I was going to take him. As drew my bow back, this bull had heard the slight noise that my arrow made as it slid back on my rest. He immediately stopped and froze. This was good and bad all at the same time. It was bad because due to all the foliage all I could see of him was his right rear quarter. I had absolutely no shot! It was good because during our intense hike to this location, my peep sight had twisted out of line a little bit. Looking through it I had no clear line of sight to my sights. During this 15 min standoff of silence I slowly decompressed my bow to fix my peep (by the way holy moly was that difficult not to make any noise)! Alerted and a little spooked the bull turned himself around right into the only shooting window I had. As he turned around I drew my bow back a second time and my partner threw out a quick cow call. The timing was perfect. The bull stopped, looked our way quartering away, and I took the shot! I saw all this in slow motion and watched my arrow make a perfect hit! Just like that I had made a perfect shot on a bull elk. After the shot is when I think that my buck fever had set in. Backpack still on, bow in hand I just had to lay down with that big smile on my face and take a deep breath! After about a 20 min wait I decided to go and look at the location where I shot him. I didn?t see my arrow, but saw lots of sign of a great shot. Looking down the path that he took after the shot, I saw him. He only went about 50 yards before he was down!

Nov 06, 2011 First Elk Kill with a Bow by: Dave, Elk Hunting Tips (MT) Way, to go, Ryan! I'm glad it was a quick kill for you. Can you tell us the story? What state were you in? When did you kill this bull? Did you call him in?

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Forum Topic Discussions:

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How often should I use my cow call?, I am new to the sport of bow hunting elk and my question is how often should I use my cow calls?

295 yard kill with a Kimber Montana 325 WSM, by Don from Dallas: My ELk did not even twitch once. He was dead when he hit the ground.

325 WSM is worth considering, Palmer Lake,CO: I believe that the .325 WSM is the ultimate elk caliber...

30-30 for Elk? : I have a 30 30 with 170 grain round nose bullet. Will this work to shoot an elk ?

(More comments about Best Elk Rifle below)

Submissions

Unique Elk Talk by Idaho Steve (Hailey, Id ), In the middle of the night, a herd of elk came traveling through the drainage and right past my tent...

Smelly Elk Areas? by Jimmy (New Mexico), I've come across many areas that just stink of elk, literally. I have heard two somewhat contradictory stories...

DIY Gear List Must Have's! by Craig (Florida) "Here are some of the items I use on my DIY hunts in the CO backcountry..."

Elk and Deer Hunting and Mountain Bikes, by Skip Shepherd (Tucson, AZ)~ At 67 I am thinking a lot about investing in a mountain bike to get back into remote areas...

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Solo archery hunting -- tips for calling/set up?, by Idaho Steve (Hailey, ID )~ I hunt by myself a lot...I'd love to hear your thoughts on strategic set-ups when solo hunting and calling.

Non- Lead Bullets for Elk?, by Dave, Elk Hunting Tips.Net (Garrison, MT)~ What do you ballistics guys think about the use of non-lead bullets for elk? According to this story...

Rage Broadheads by Chris, ...my buddy gave me a rage practice tip and when I shot it you could not pick out the broadhead from the field points. I was sold...

Recent Submissions:

Finally filled the freezer..., Colorado Rockies~ "I was bummed when I got to the property and no elk, nor any hoof prints in the snow. ...I pulled each of the elk into shade then started gutting..."

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Wounded Veteran Elk hunts, by Joshua FL), I am a disabled veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and have always dreamed of hunting elk. I am posting this to see if anyone would know of any elk hunts free to disabled vets....

First Elk with a Bow, by Ryan H. (Colorado), ...Finally after many years of hunting with a bow "I got er did"!

First Elk!, by Tater (Sheridan, Arkansas) I took the advice I received from this website and was successful…I wanted to Thank You and Your Forum and the folks that share on here for the knowledge and information that helped me find an elk I was quite happy with.

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Questions

Any success in Unit 14?, by: Dave (MI), "I'm planning on doing a DIY in Unit 14 for 2012..."

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Share Elk Hunting Secrets

Bugle in Herd bulls, by Swiltbank (Az) The key to calling in a herd bull is to get into his bedding grounds and threaten his herd. Start off sounding like…

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Best Big Game Rifle?

Best Rifle Caliber?, by Buglemup (Superior, MT), "I've been reading what people have been writing about rifle calibers and here is what 16 years of guiding elk has taught me."

7mm Remington Magnum, by Dean (Helena, MT. USA) I use my Liberty Ruger M77, 7mm Rem. Mag. for antelope, deer, elk... Comment: "What do you guys think about the idea of hunting elk with a 270? I also know a guy who kills elk with a 243."

338 Marlin Express, "Light, fast shooting, hard hitting, manageable recoil, and for a lever gun - very accurate."

Guns I like for Elk, by Mountain Walker (Kootenays east B.C. Canada),"I think the gun you shoot Elk with should be one you shoot a lot with... "

.35 Remington, by Bill Smith "...my .35 Rem appears to have dropped a medium deer flawlessly, but I now have serious doubts as to its capability to take an elk."

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Arizona Elk Hunting

Where to hunt in Az unit 3B?, by Cliffjumper (Tucson, Az) ~ I got a late bull muzzle loader hunt in Arizona unit 3b. Does anyone know how to hunt bulls in the late season?...

First time elk hunter hunting Arizona unit 6A , by Rob Marchio (Omaha, Ne)~ I'm a first time elk hunter hunting Arizona's unit 6A. I'm planning on staying in the Pine Grove campground...

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Elk Hunting Colorado

Help needed for 1st DIY Hunt w/Son, by Patrick (Parker, CO), "I was looking for some advice on my 1st DIY hunt for 2014 in CO with my 13 yr old son. I have countless hrs going over stats, topo maps & Google Earth"

Elk Hunting Colorado in 2013, By William (Midland, TX) "I am planning an elk hunt next year in Colorado and I wanted to know if hunting Gunnison National Forest..."

Unit 60 Elk 4th Rifle Season Nov 13-17 Either Sex 2013, By Chester "...Any general advice about the unit would be appreciated!"

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Idaho Elk Hunting

Elk Hunting Idaho Unit 8 8A 11, This is my first year seriously trying to track down some elk. Is there anyone that has hunted in any of these units and can give me some friendly advice? Mitchell, Moscow Idaho

Elk Hunting Pocatello by Cameron (Pocatello) Where is the best place to elk hunt around Pocatello, Idaho? I'm a student at ISU and I'm looking for somewhere around here to hunt next season.

How is the elk hunting in unit 30A in Idaho?, by Terry (Richland Center, WI) Has anyone archery elk hunted in unit 30A in Idaho? What can you tell me about the area?

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Elk Hunting In Montana

Hunting in Western Montana, by Mike A. (Alabama)

I did not draw a tag for Missouri breaks where I have hunted in the past. Having to start over and try western Montana.

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New Mexico Elk Hunting

New Mexico Unit 49, by Silas (Los Alamos, NM)

If anyone has tips on areas to start scouting, I'd really appreciate it.

First Elk Hunt First Elk Hunt, by Big "R" (NM)

I finally got drawn for a late elk hunt in Unit 28, north of Road 506 and south of the boundary line of the Lincoln National Forest...

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Elk Hunting Nevada

Cow elk in Nevada's unit 222:

"Any good places known in unit 222?"

Northeast Nevada Early Elk hunt, by John (Carson City,NV)

"Any suggestions on what areas I may see some signs of elk?"

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Questions from Novice Hunters

Retired USMC MSgt Needs Advice, by Ken Wing USMCRET (Bealeton, Va)

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Big Game Recipes

Popcorn VenisonPopcorn Venison with Maple Syrup?

Elk or Venison Steaks Grilled to Perfection Here's how to turn them into steakhouse steaks!

Spice-Crusted Grilled Venison Roast Recipe This Spice-Crusted, Grilled Venison Roast recipe works great for any red meat roasts, including elk, deer or beef roast...

Corned Elk Recipe You can easily make corned venison and elk, moose or corned beef from these instructions...