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Q:
My dad and I both drew on a bull elk hunt in November. We only have a few days to hunt because of work and other obligations. My question is if you were in this situation would you shoot any bull or risk it and hold out for a trophy? and just for an added twist neither one of us have shot a bull before.
Question by jeffo52284. Uploaded on October 26, 2009
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Answers (17)
If you are seeing plenty of bulls the first day I would pick and chose the better bull, if your not seeing any bulls then taking the first one seen might be the best. One of you could take the first bull and the second could hold out for a trophy. Good luck on your hunt. I wish I could hunt elk, great eating, less filling..
Cgull said what i was thinking. You should take at least one bull between you. And the other should then hold out for a trophy bull. Good Luck.
If youve never taken a bull before then any bull will be a trophy.
jeffo52284,
It might help us with our advice if we knew where you two drew tags. Kindest Regards
I say +1's to all here.
If you've never taken a bull, " 2 in the truck is worth 1000 in the bush". It will give you two something to "shoot for next season".
I'm also with Mr. Myles too. Where are you guys hunting ?
There could be "trophys" galore there.
Agree with the above... take the first legal bull you see, especially since you have limmited time
What Big O said! Any bull is a good bull. If you have limited time to hunt, shoot the first legal elk you get a decent shot at. Unless you are in a low-odds trophy unit in New Mexico or Arizona that produces record book bulls in good numbers, consider yourself fortunate to even SEE a good bull, much less a trophy animal. When you have couple hundred pounds of meat in the freezer, that's the time to get picky.
Let us know how it works out for you guys. Best of luck and good hunting!
PS
I don't consider myself a trophy hunter or expert elk hunter (I have shot bull elk the past 4 out of 6 seasons), but I did not even SEE and elk standing on it's own four feet this season. Three out of six hunters in our group tagged an elk, but no good bulls. Usually we are about 6 for 7 or 7 of 8 most years. I guess it was my turn in the barrel this year.
I would shoot the first bull you see if it's of O.K. size.
Thanks for the answers guys we will probably go with the shoot the first one we see then hold out for a trophy on the second tag approach but like you guys said any bull is a trophy since it will be our first. sorry i forgot to put that we will be in Idaho near the montana border near leadore if you know where that is. a few friends of ours who have been deer hunting in the area said they have seen Quite a few bulls and a few that were 300 class. i will post pics in a few weeks and let you guys know how it goes
I know the area. In the past, it has not been known for huge bulls. Take the first you see and you will be happy.
I was in Alaska for four years and held back the first two years I went going home empty handed because of it and the third, the first legal Winkle I see, I'm going to drop it and I did! Hold out? NO!
I hear it is hit and miss up near leadore. I was backpacking near there this summer and didn't see any elk. I hear there is lots of private land that the bulls move too after the first few days of the season. So I would agree with above, shoot one early and hold out for a big second. Good luck with the hunt, I will be a little north of you in november near Salmon. Tag a wolf too.
I constantly remind myself when elk season arrives that, "horns make thin soup". I've been very fortunate over the years to have taken the bulls which I have (6 so far). Bulls have been few and far between and I'm not passing the first bull which presents opportunity. I am blessed that 2 of the 6 were Roosevelt's which made the record book. I didn't hold out for those two, they were the ones who responded to my cow calls. My advice, take the first opportunity and you'll be happier for it in the long run. Good luck to you both!
Personnally if I had limited time on a tag I had to drawn for I would shoot the first 2 bulls I seen.
Well, any bull would be a trophy to me.
Don't pass on a Bull the first day that you would shoot on the last day!
Post an Answer
If youve never taken a bull before then any bull will be a trophy.
If you are seeing plenty of bulls the first day I would pick and chose the better bull, if your not seeing any bulls then taking the first one seen might be the best. One of you could take the first bull and the second could hold out for a trophy. Good luck on your hunt. I wish I could hunt elk, great eating, less filling..
jeffo52284,
It might help us with our advice if we knew where you two drew tags. Kindest Regards
I say +1's to all here.
If you've never taken a bull, " 2 in the truck is worth 1000 in the bush". It will give you two something to "shoot for next season".
I'm also with Mr. Myles too. Where are you guys hunting ?
There could be "trophys" galore there.
Cgull said what i was thinking. You should take at least one bull between you. And the other should then hold out for a trophy bull. Good Luck.
Agree with the above... take the first legal bull you see, especially since you have limmited time
What Big O said! Any bull is a good bull. If you have limited time to hunt, shoot the first legal elk you get a decent shot at. Unless you are in a low-odds trophy unit in New Mexico or Arizona that produces record book bulls in good numbers, consider yourself fortunate to even SEE a good bull, much less a trophy animal. When you have couple hundred pounds of meat in the freezer, that's the time to get picky.
Let us know how it works out for you guys. Best of luck and good hunting!
PS
I don't consider myself a trophy hunter or expert elk hunter (I have shot bull elk the past 4 out of 6 seasons), but I did not even SEE and elk standing on it's own four feet this season. Three out of six hunters in our group tagged an elk, but no good bulls. Usually we are about 6 for 7 or 7 of 8 most years. I guess it was my turn in the barrel this year.
I would shoot the first bull you see if it's of O.K. size.
I know the area. In the past, it has not been known for huge bulls. Take the first you see and you will be happy.
I hear it is hit and miss up near leadore. I was backpacking near there this summer and didn't see any elk. I hear there is lots of private land that the bulls move too after the first few days of the season. So I would agree with above, shoot one early and hold out for a big second. Good luck with the hunt, I will be a little north of you in november near Salmon. Tag a wolf too.
Thanks for the answers guys we will probably go with the shoot the first one we see then hold out for a trophy on the second tag approach but like you guys said any bull is a trophy since it will be our first. sorry i forgot to put that we will be in Idaho near the montana border near leadore if you know where that is. a few friends of ours who have been deer hunting in the area said they have seen Quite a few bulls and a few that were 300 class. i will post pics in a few weeks and let you guys know how it goes
I was in Alaska for four years and held back the first two years I went going home empty handed because of it and the third, the first legal Winkle I see, I'm going to drop it and I did! Hold out? NO!
I constantly remind myself when elk season arrives that, "horns make thin soup". I've been very fortunate over the years to have taken the bulls which I have (6 so far). Bulls have been few and far between and I'm not passing the first bull which presents opportunity. I am blessed that 2 of the 6 were Roosevelt's which made the record book. I didn't hold out for those two, they were the ones who responded to my cow calls. My advice, take the first opportunity and you'll be happier for it in the long run. Good luck to you both!
Personnally if I had limited time on a tag I had to drawn for I would shoot the first 2 bulls I seen.
Well, any bull would be a trophy to me.
Don't pass on a Bull the first day that you would shoot on the last day!
Post an Answer