Any elk/ any bull/ or horn hunting

[twinkieman]

Just curious how many of you will shoot any elk you can, any bull you can(including spikes), or if all you will shoot is a large mature bull?

[POk3s]

Last year I was holding out for a 3 1/2 year old bull. On September 22nd I took a 2 1/2 year old bull. I hadn't previously been tempted by any smaller bulls and with time running out and calling this one into 40 yards I let him have it . My goal is the same this year.

[Trophyhill]

Equal opportunity for me. I haven't been doing this long enough to be picky. I think early in a persons elk killing career, it's good to get a few animals on the ground so you can evolve as an elk hunter and learn what works in different situations. Learn the process so to speak. But that's just me. This has paid off for me so far. I know plenty of guys that get skunked every year and when January and February come rolling around, I'm having elk steaks on the grill and my friends are second guessing themselves for not taking an opportunity to kill any elk when it was basically handed to them on a silver platter in September.

[planebow]

I will take any except for a calf. Have an extra cow tag in the pocket for this year so hope to fill the freezer again.

[Trumkin the Dwarf]

Any elk is a trophy when you hunt with a longbow. If there comes a day when I grow tired of killing cow elk, I should just put down my weapon.

[no limits]

I'm going to hold out 3 or 4 days for a legal bull after that any will do

[ctdad]

Any elk

[Lefty]

The first few hunts the cows get a pass.
Calves and their cow get a pass all season

[JohnFitzgerald]

I've killed plenty of rag and spikes. Holding out for a decent bull.

[NebrCatMan]

I have killed all kinds of deer ( SE Nebr. kind) and this bow elk hunting is all new to me. But from what I have learned the last couple of hunting trips to elk country, any elk ( no calf or spike ) for a flatlander DIY er like me is an earned trophy. So a freezer full of meat and some good elk camp memories are my goal. Makes no difference if it a cow or bull. Maybe someday will hold out only for a "MONSTER"... but not yet now.

[otcWill]

My goals change as the season progresses. The old "Don't pass up the first day what you'd be happy with on the last," doesn't apply to me. I won't shoot a cow or rag on the first 10 or so days of my hunt but as the days dwindle, I have considered it. Still, if there is a nice bull around, and there usually is, I won't shoot anybody but him. If I get a chip shot at a lone cow in my last few days though, she's dead!

[elkaholic]

I trying for any branch antlered bull this year.

[elkmtngear]

Depends...legal bull initially, but lack of encounters over several days could lead to any legal elk.

If my truck is not loaded with meat this Season, I will have a very unhappy Family

[dapper]

Any bull 4 point or better. Cow slight chance unless its the last day.

Good luck to all.

[Trophyhill]

After reading this thread and thinking about it, since I will have a generous season time wise this year, I just purchased a antlerless tag to go along with my ES tag so I can really focus on killing a bull once I put a cow on ice

[cnelk]

Some factors go into my decision about this.

1- how much meat do I need
2- any other upcoming elk hunts
3- how much time dedicated to the hunt
4- how the archery hunt is progressing

Other important factors

Horns are nice to look at, make slim soup
My days of needing to impress anyone are long over

Lastely
Sometimes its a split second decision on what elk I want to kill

[Huntography]

I'll have to decide at the moment of truth but I'm leaning towards the 1st legal elk.

I have an either sex tag that I'll be hunting with in 1 unit 1st and then a cow tag that I may have a chance to use if the last hunter I'm filming tags out.

For me, I'm just trying to get my 1st elk and fill the freezer. Gotta feed the family.

Rudy

[fm]

We are in camp for two weeks so I try for a bull for the first week, after that a dry cow or legal bull will do.
This can change depending on what we are seeing. If we are not seeing much it could become the first legal one that is not a calf.

[Trophyhill]

Quick question out of curiosity. Why won't some that will kill a cow not kill a cow that may have a calf? They are or are very close to being weened.

[fm]

Trophyhill in the area I hunt now it seems like the cows must calve late because the calves are really small. I had one at 10 yards that still had faint spots on it yet this last year. I have arrowed two cows in this area but try and take a dry cow.

[JoeH2o]

Wouldn't ever pass a spike. Always looking for the big guy, but I have a hard time passing up meat. Cows can walk early season, but when it comes down to crunch time, anything goes.

[twinkieman]

When I read everyone's replies, it kinda just hit me why this sight is so good. All the answers were "REAL", no one said gotta be a 350+ before I shoot. With all the knowledge that is here on this sight, most are going to fill their freezer. For those that are looking for antlers, nothing at all wrong with that either. Good luck to all in whatever elk you will be pursuing.

[Triplebhunters]

As of now first legal bull, at what point I change to the first legal elk I am uncertain of. Almost three weeks this year and putting into practice of what I have learned the last two years its getting more and more interesting. I suppose I should tell myself ahead of time when to add the cow into the equation.

[the weasel]

as my intro post was tittled : "0 for 22" i will shoot any elk that gives me a shot.
cows with calves and calves themselves get a free ride. (same as deer hunting for me, first legal deer.. minus does with fawns...well almost.....spikes walk also).

[Harmy]

We have cow and any bull tags so would fill the freezer with the first opportunity at a cow or any bull including a spike. If we are successful early with a cow/spike then we may hold out for something bigger than a spike later in the week but I doubt that if the cross hairs are on target with a legal animal that I could back off.

[WapitiTalk1]

Early Washington season, first legal bull (3 point or better) gets the axe; would consider a cow if it was standing on the cutbank above the road my truck is parked on, lol . For the Gem state hunt, it's bull only in the area I hunt. I don't believe I'd take a raghorn the first week unless he's really harassing me. The two guys hunting with me are encouraged to shoot the first legal bull they have a clean shot at.....then, they can call for me ..

[JGH]

Any legal adult elk.

[one_elk]

I agree any adult legal elk will work for me

[Swede]

I am not sure as I did not get to scout last week like I planned to. I will wait to see what things look like when I arrive on August 19. I have a lot of concerns now about the hunt this year. Fire danger is a potential bugaboo. Also I need to cut my hunt short, and call for my son on the last nine days. I may not be too fussy.

[LckyTylr]

I'll shoot anything other than a spike or a calf. I think it's stupid for the Biologists to have "Spike Only" seasons. I can't think of a good reason of why they do it. The old adage "once a spike, always a spike" has been disproven years ago.

So, why kill something that is young and dumb, that will eventually grow up to be awe-inspiring and majestic. If people want to kill young tasty animals, that's what cow tags are for.

Anyway, back to the point. I'm not a horn hunter, I'll kill anything that's wasn't born in the last two years. I'm not saying that these animals are anywhere near as smart as a mature animal, but at least they have been through a few seasons . . . and I'm not opposed to a tender steak.