Here are the details: 2017, first time elk hunting. Saw elk, including few nice bulls, never got close enough for a shot. Did little to no calling as I was out of my element and didn't fully delve into how to hunt elk until 2018. Which brings up 2018; terrible, saw one cow, almost no bugling heard, never saw another elk after the 2nd day out of 8. 2019; I dove head first, read and researched, trained, game planned, felt I was good to go. Unfortunately, my partner was not. Not only did he not have an elk tag, our plan to pack in hunt and move as necessary, wasn't grasped by him. So, I had to re-plan on the way up. Got one bull close but wouldn't commit. I was pumped though as it was the closest I have gotten so far. Saw another bull a ways off but it was pretty dead after that. The week prior another bud was up there and bulls were going nuts, and although they never connected, they had opportunity.
So my dilemma is, do I give the area another go or move on? Year 1 I chalk up to rookie mistakes; 2 poor opportunities and weather; 3 what I believed to be solid plan that was scrapped at the last minute and a new one thrown together. Another issue, and major in my opinion, is that both hunters have to be committed to elk, and elk only, to potentially be successful. Even though I made it abundantly clear I was elk hunting, I caught a bunch of grief for not "equaling" the time for deer as well (he had deer tag only).
In my head I really believe that I can go at it even harder and maybe kill an elk ( I will shoot any elk ). But of course that may be just me being overly optimistic. I also found some great looking spots I marked on my OnX. For reference, I have been hunting 76/66A (archery) in Idaho which has good elk numbers and average to slightly above average success rates.
So what do you guys think? Hit it again? Move on? Take up needlepoint?
Thanks a ton
So my dilemma is, do I give the area another go or move on? Year 1 I chalk up to rookie mistakes; 2 poor opportunities and weather; 3 what I believed to be solid plan that was scrapped at the last minute and a new one thrown together. Another issue, and major in my opinion, is that both hunters have to be committed to elk, and elk only, to potentially be successful. Even though I made it abundantly clear I was elk hunting, I caught a bunch of grief for not "equaling" the time for deer as well (he had deer tag only).
In my head I really believe that I can go at it even harder and maybe kill an elk ( I will shoot any elk ). But of course that may be just me being overly optimistic. I also found some great looking spots I marked on my OnX. For reference, I have been hunting 76/66A (archery) in Idaho which has good elk numbers and average to slightly above average success rates.
So what do you guys think? Hit it again? Move on? Take up needlepoint?
Thanks a ton