Who has killed an elk with a bow?
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That would be quite a thrill.
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I have killed 3 elk in 4 trips to Colorado elk hunting. All were over the counter tags and do it yourself hunts. I failed to get an elk on one trip and I went with a bunch of guys that were muzzleloading then and it wasn't that great of a hunt. I killed cows the first 2 hunts and a 4x4 last time. I wont kill a cow now unless its the last couple of days of the hunt. The meat is too good not to kill one if the chance arises.
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Got any pics?
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14,601 Posts
I havent killed one with a bow, but I did bow hunt a little in WY. There you can bow hunt and gun hunt on the same tag. It was essentially a gun hunt, but I got there about 3 days early and bow hunted. I got on a bugling bull the first day. It was awesome. Just like going to set up on a turkey. Got down in there with him, and there were some other hunters from our group on him, and they had just busted him. I found some good fresh sign and thick swamps down in that area latter that day, so the next day I went back in there. I didnt hear any bugling that day, so I just worked through the area blind-calling. It was an exciting hunt nonetheless.
I've been on gun hunts 3 times now, and I'd really like to do a bow hunt. It would be tough, the wind in those mountains can be so unpredictable, but I would really like to work some more bugling bulls. This past year in CO (2nd season) I heard one bugle, and I'm 99% certain it was from a hunter.
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I've been on gun hunts 3 times now, and I'd really like to do a bow hunt. It would be tough, the wind in those mountains can be so unpredictable, but I would really like to work some more bugling bulls. This past year in CO (2nd season) I heard one bugle, and I'm 99% certain it was from a hunter.
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Been with a bow four times - Killed a big spike first time I ever walked up a mountain. That was back in the day in the 90's shot him at about 45 yards - arrow looked like a rainbow hit him through one lung , tracked him forever and recovered him. Had 3 cows and a 5X5 within 35 yards while I was hunting Muley's after killed the spike. Went back two years later and bugled in a 6X6 at 10 steps - clipped a stick and just cut hair off of him - was shaking so bad glad to have gotten a shot off. Third time hired outfitter and went out to Oregon - saw a few but wasnt happy with the amount of game we saw, for what we payed but the country was beautiful and the food and company were great. Had a kid that served as a guide/ wrangler that was 6 foot 4 and shot a 90 lb pull bow - he was toughest guy I ever have seen - saw him shoot a beer can at 100 yards with that set up. Fourth time - took wife - comfortable camp but area had been hunted hard saw a couple cows and hunted an ol bull pretty hard but never laid eyes on him. If you like to bow hunt you should go out west and try it - they are alot easier to hunt than a white tail - IF you can fine em -
X2 I love to kill one
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23,185 Posts
I've had some success ...
My first elk back in ... gawd 1993 maybe? 1992 ?
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my best bull .... 1996 or 1997
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I bugled this one in for my Dad the next day after killing the above bull
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I've killed a couple others i don't have pictures of, bow and muzzleloader ........ I missed a huge 6x6 one year, I missed a large 6x6 with my longbow one year
After vertigo in 2009, knee surgery in 2010, ACL surgery in 2011 I'm going to try and solo backpack hunt in 2012 Colorado with my recurve and try to kill a bull
My first elk back in ... gawd 1993 maybe? 1992 ?
my best bull .... 1996 or 1997
I bugled this one in for my Dad the next day after killing the above bull
I've killed a couple others i don't have pictures of, bow and muzzleloader ........ I missed a huge 6x6 one year, I missed a large 6x6 with my longbow one year
After vertigo in 2009, knee surgery in 2010, ACL surgery in 2011 I'm going to try and solo backpack hunt in 2012 Colorado with my recurve and try to kill a bull
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14,601 Posts
You always hunt in "black face"? I knew you werent very PC, but dang man, this is taking it to the next level!:fit:![]()
Seriously though, nice bulls!
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I took off 3 months in the fall of that year. I was single and could do it
I hunted South Dakota antelope, then to Colorado mule deer hunting. I picked a wilderness area, packed a pack and in I went. I got caught at dark, climbing the side of a mtn, pouring rain and a 50 degree slope and finally found a 4' x 8' level spot I tossed my dink tent up and spent a lonely, cold, miserable night best I remember. Not much sleep to be had but next morning I went another few hundred yards and topped out on a flat and hunted all day, actually shot at and missed a big muley doe (and glad I did!) But what I found was enormous amounts of elk sign. I walked off the mtn that night, and muley hunted near the roads, camping out of my truck for nights.
When I got back to Arkansas my buddy was enamored with my tales of elk sign and said lets go and I said ok, so next day I drove back to Colorado. Heck of a hunt - the hunt I missed my giant 6x6, my buddy got lost for 36 hours, I remember bugling in bulls everyday but so many things can go wrong if you don't know what you're doing !
On the way home my buddy asks what I'm doing the next week and well, I'm hunting right? Because I took the time off and he says go back, you got a tag, it will only cost you the gas so that's what I did. I turned around and drove BACK to Colorado a 3rd time.
I think I hunted 3 nights and the third evening I bugled to this bull, he answer, I was more savvy now that I had 2 1/2 weeks under my belt and I missed him at 7 yards thanks to branches. As he ran I bugled, he stopped and my second arrow hit him through the neck/jugular and he bled out in short order.
A very shortened version of my first elk ....... I think I probably earned it
I hunted South Dakota antelope, then to Colorado mule deer hunting. I picked a wilderness area, packed a pack and in I went. I got caught at dark, climbing the side of a mtn, pouring rain and a 50 degree slope and finally found a 4' x 8' level spot I tossed my dink tent up and spent a lonely, cold, miserable night best I remember. Not much sleep to be had but next morning I went another few hundred yards and topped out on a flat and hunted all day, actually shot at and missed a big muley doe (and glad I did!) But what I found was enormous amounts of elk sign. I walked off the mtn that night, and muley hunted near the roads, camping out of my truck for nights.
When I got back to Arkansas my buddy was enamored with my tales of elk sign and said lets go and I said ok, so next day I drove back to Colorado. Heck of a hunt - the hunt I missed my giant 6x6, my buddy got lost for 36 hours, I remember bugling in bulls everyday but so many things can go wrong if you don't know what you're doing !
On the way home my buddy asks what I'm doing the next week and well, I'm hunting right? Because I took the time off and he says go back, you got a tag, it will only cost you the gas so that's what I did. I turned around and drove BACK to Colorado a 3rd time.
I think I hunted 3 nights and the third evening I bugled to this bull, he answer, I was more savvy now that I had 2 1/2 weeks under my belt and I missed him at 7 yards thanks to branches. As he ran I bugled, he stopped and my second arrow hit him through the neck/jugular and he bled out in short order.
A very shortened version of my first elk ....... I think I probably earned it
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I got my first elk with a traditional bow a couple of years ago in Oregon, pic is posted on my profile.
2011 Sept. Colorado first time to Bowhunt emm.killed
Several with gun. Went with a buddy who guides for outfitter knows country very well and just plain knows Elk. It was an awesome experience . Killed bull after 4 days of hunting . Bulls were not vocal but did come in to calling. 5x5 post pic later
Several with gun. Went with a buddy who guides for outfitter knows country very well and just plain knows Elk. It was an awesome experience . Killed bull after 4 days of hunting . Bulls were not vocal but did come in to calling. 5x5 post pic later
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