Cow, button bull, spike,young bull, or biggen?

[Thunderflight]

Here's the scenerio.

-Your going on your first elk hunt.

-You can't keep the meat and will have to either give it away or donate it to a food bank.

-You'd love to shoot an elk, but not killing something isn't going to overly hurt your feelings either.

What would you do?

Pass on everything and hold out for an OK bull?

Shoot the first elk that comes buy?

Hold out and shoot a cow?

[Deehntr56]

Set your "own" personal goal based on the probabilty of results of the area you are hunting in.

Decide what you want out of the hunt and stick with it.

If it's an ok Bull or anything...so be it.

If it's a 300+ bull, then go for it. Base it on what "you" want out of the hunt.

Have fun.....

[Thunderflight]

Set your "own" personal goal based on the probabilty of results of the area you are hunting in.

Decide what you want out of the hunt and stick with it.

If it's an ok Bull or anything...so be it.

If it's a 300+ bull, then go for it. Base it on what "you" want out of the hunt.

Have fun.....

I'm looking for decisive answers here.....:bouncy:;):bouncy: I already know what I"m going to do, but I'm curious as to what others would do.;) Besides it gives me an excuse to post another worthless poll.:dizzy::bouncy:

[OhioBoy86]

I'm going to try and get my money's worth and take a big bull. But if it comes down to the final hour and nothing is doing besides a cow, I wouldn't be against taking a cow and donating the food. If I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford a hunt like that some day after college, I can sure as heck help those who are not as fortunate.

[Deehntr56]

I'm looking for decisive answers here.....:bouncy:;):bouncy: I already know what I"m going to do, but I'm curious as to what others would do.;) Besides it gives me an excuse to post another worthless poll.:dizzy::bouncy:


Well then, that deserves a different answer.:biggrin:

I would go for a "good" Bull. 5X5 Or Better. That would be my goal!

It came down to the last night for me, found one a hour before legal shooting time was over, and by the time we got to him over 1.5 miles away and got an opportunity, legal shooting time was over.

I did have a opportunity at a nice 5x5 on the 1st day...let him pass for my friend who won the flip of the coin to get 1st attempt to kill one. Got another opportunity on the 3rd day, but couldn't close the deal before he disappeared in the pines.

[Thunderflight]

I'm planning on holding out for an OK bull, but if it's the last day or two and the guy I'm hunting with wants me to I'll shoot a cow.

[Cap't Ernie]

I don't think there's a good reason to not shoot a button.

[antiqucycle]

Assuming this is your first elk hunt and the effort, money and travel involved, I would spend one or two days, attempting any bull with antlers, then, take whatever gives you a decent shot. Even a dead cow, will give you confidence in your second hunt and some memorable photos. Less pressure the second time around.

[Buckmaster]

take a decent bull only

[Hoytmania]

With the scenario that was presented and not being disappointed if I don't take anything home then I would pass until I had a trophy bull come by.

[jeffmo]

tf,are there any kind of size restrictions on the bulls where you'll be?if so you'll no doubt have to follow them.but,if you HAVE to donate the meat then i think i'd take the 1st good opportunity that presented itself.
the experience of elk hunting out there is the best part,filling a tag would be the icing on the cake.
a small bull will still provide you w/ a rack for the wall and having the set of ivories is pretty cool too.
it's really a win/win situation!

[Thunderflight]

I don't think there's a good reason to not shoot a button.

Dude!!! Your stock just rose 10 points!!!:bouncy:

[jackalope]

Shoot what makes you happy TF..
If you want to kill an elk, then kill an elk
If you want to kill a bull, then kill a bull
If you're trophy hunting, then kill what’s a trophy in your eyes.
If you're meat hunting, Kill some meat.

I say do your research on what's a realistic good bull for the area... And set a goal based on that.

[TheCream]

If not for the disclaimer "can't keep the meat" I would have said shoot any cow I had the chance to kill. My look on it, my first time out there, I want some success to build on...and some meat in the freezer. :mischeif:

Even with not keeping the meat, I might still shoot a cow. It would be rough to spend all the cash on a tag and then leave it unfilled when you could have shot a cow.

[Thunderflight]

Shoot what makes you happy TF..
If you want to kill an elk, then kill an elk
If you want to kill a bull, then kill a bull
If you're trophy hunting, then kill what’s a trophy in your eyes.
If you're meat hunting, Kill some meat.

I say do your research on what's a realistic good bull for the area... And set a goal based on that.


Please refer to my reply to 56...;)

If not for the disclaimer "can't keep the meat" I would have said shoot any cow I had the chance to kill. My look on it, my first time out there, I want some success to build on...and some meat in the freezer. :mischeif:

Even with not keeping the meat, I might still shoot a cow. It would be rough to spend all the cash on a tag and then leave it unfilled when you could have shot a cow.

Dude Idaho's tags/liscense/archery permit is EXPENSIVE! Luckly I"m going with a friend so the overall cost isn't bad. The dang liscense and tags are 3/4 of the hunt price tag.

We'll see what happens though. I'm being realistic though. In this area archery hunters only have a 17 percent success rate. I'm expecting to come home empty handed.

[jackalope]

Please refer to my reply to 56...;)



Fine Adam Jr.. :D Kill something, anything; It's the memory that counts..

[Deehntr56]

Please refer to my reply to 56...;)



Dude Idaho's tags/liscense/archery permit is EXPENSIVE! Luckly I"m going with a friend so the overall cost isn't bad. The dang liscense and tags are 3/4 of the hunt price tag.

We'll see what happens though. I'm being realistic though. In this area archery hunters only have a 17 percent success rate. I'm expecting to come home empty handed.

See, you need to think in another manner, you need to look at it as one of the ones in the 17% success bracket...screw the other option.

Think POSITIVE.....and go after it!!!:biggrin:

[oobuck]

Fine Adam Jr.. :D Kill something, anything; It's the memory that counts..



Kill something? Anything? That sounds smart.:coco: How about just go sight seeing? If you are going to KILL an elk , use the meat yourself! Why bother to Kill it, if you don't want it. I don't believe in killing a big game animal, knowing that you don't even want it. Anyways, if you want to pound your chest and say you got one, go for it.:coco:

[Outdoorsman]

Shoot the first good bull.

[uncle odie]

i would hold out for the bull. i have a lot of good memorys of my hunt out west even though i came home empty handed.

[Thunderflight]

Kill something? Anything? That sounds smart.:coco: How about just go sight seeing? If you are going to KILL an elk , use the meat yourself! Why bother to Kill it, if you don't want it. I don't believe in killing a big game animal, knowing that you don't even want it. Anyways, if you want to pound your chest and say you got one, go for it.:coco:

I agree and if I do kill an elk I'll be giving the meat away or donating it. It's not that I wouldn't want the meat. I just can't bring it back with me.

However, one option I have thought about was having it vacumed packed and maybe store it in my friends freezer until I returned in 2011. The bad thing is if I get orders to the east coast the meat would be on the left coast. Getting it back to my home would be expensive and probably not worth the hassle.