Hunting etiquette?

NHK9

Member
Jul 8, 2015
63
0
Gilmanton I.W., NH
Not even sure if this is an etiquette? I'm headed out to CO for an elk archery hunt. I went last year by myself and their was no question who shot first, second, or last. Well I really have no question as to who goes first this year. I'll give it to the guy in our group who hasn't shot one yet. My question is what's considered a go? Is it a shot and miss. A blown stalk? Any info on how you guys shake this out would be greatly appreciated.
 

gypsumreaper

Active Member
Mar 13, 2014
308
0
Guess depends on who ur hunting with, me an my brother and buddies usually trade off every calling setup, with whosever turn it is to be the shooter walking in the front for te next area just in case we stumble into something. If we are calling and one comes in but they can't get a shot or hesitate and I have the shot in taking it as long as I'm not shooting over their heads. If there are more than 2 of us we usually triangulate especially if we are in a cold calling setup, then one guy calls the other two are 70 or so yards apart in the front to kind of have a bull cornered. If we know where the elk are at or are hunting a tough herd we will get in a line and use the cow, bull, shooter seven stop trying to get the bull we are chasing to come in with a nother bull between him and his cow. If someone says hey let's try this area then it's automatically their first shot as its their area to try. We do the same thing duck hunting. But when it comes down to it whoever has the shot better take it in our group we all know what each will and will not shoot, so if the current shooter sees the bull and passes we will do what we can to get a shooter in there that will take the shot whether it's moving around or something like that. Or whoever spots the elk if it's a distance and were stalking gets the elk. Of course we always try and get a situation where we may be able to take out more than one elk if possible. Talk with the guys ur with find out what they want and know how serious they are about passing if they have an opportunity. We all know in our group a legal bull or a dry cow is dead, that's just how we are specially in the area were in.


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Camelcluch

New Member
Jul 16, 2016
47
0
For my friends and I it's first shot. After that it's open to anyone. I hunt with very new hunters and often give them the chance to shoot. I get the chance to clean up. I also archery hunt about 98% of the time so if the set up works wrong and the animal comes in giving me the shot and not them, I shoot. This is about how it goes with any one I hunt with.
 

ivorytip

Veteran member
Mar 24, 2012
3,769
50
44
SE Idaho
for my friends and i it's first shot. After that it's open to anyone. I hunt with very new hunters and often give them the chance to shoot. I get the chance to clean up. I also archery hunt about 98% of the time so if the set up works wrong and the animal comes in giving me the shot and not them, i shoot. This is about how it goes with any one i hunt with.
this.........
 

B&C Blacktails

Active Member
Mar 1, 2015
237
0
Flip of a coin gets first shot. Unless for some reason there's a shooter animal and the winner of the coin toss can't get a shot off before the animal gets away then who ever has the shot takes it.

This has worked out really well for my buddies and I. Plus we split the meat in equal portions if someone didn't fill a tag
 

mallardsx2

Veteran member
Jul 8, 2015
3,923
3,243
I think back to a time when I took a guy with me moose hunting.

First year I shot one.

Second year I called a bull into 15 yards and he didnt have a shot and I did. I passed it hoping that he would be able to get a shot. Bull spooked.

Third Year- Didn't see or hear a bull

4th year- Heard a bull DIDNT KILL

5th year- Another friend killed a bull that I called in to him.


Bottom line if that I went three years without any meat in my freezer when I could have killed a bull.

Its my vacation too....If I get a shot Im taking it and everyone knows that. I expect the same out of them.


After hunting 60 days and killing two animals.....I think it only makes sense for whoever has a shot to shoot when the opportunity arises.
 
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Tim McCoy

Veteran member
Dec 15, 2014
1,855
4
Oregon
Totally up to you and what you want to do. No hard and fast rules, as long as you are not shooting over folks or knocking them out of the way. I usually give a first timer first chance at all game till they harvest, but we are usually rifle hunting deer, with plenty of opportunity. Then if with another, I usually defer and with experienced hunters, we'll often split up and hunt different areas.
 

gypsumreaper

Active Member
Mar 13, 2014
308
0
And remember there is the old fashioned way, two men a rope and a knife last one standing gets first shot [emoji23] or thumb wrestling works to


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go_deep

Veteran member
Nov 30, 2014
2,650
1,984
Wyoming
Do the Wyoming 3 kick. Each of you get to kick each other 3 times until someone gives up. If you do post a video please!
 

7shot

Active Member
Mar 26, 2015
177
0
Idaho
I've seen that. You kick each guy first, then say "you can shoot first, I'll call one in for you two" as they are lying there on the ground groaning in pain.
 

Colorado Cowboy

Super Moderator
Jun 8, 2011
8,349
4,741
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Dolores, Colorado
I start by saying myself and the folks I hunt big game with are all rifle hunters. We don't use blinds or sit in trees, we still hunt. Still hunting is kind of a misnomer as we work areas walking real slow....the slower the better. We split up, usually staying 100 yards or so apart. Whoever sees what we are hunting shoots.

About the only time any of us decide how we are going to shoot is waterfowl hunting. We agree before we start hunting who shoots and how we do it. 2 in a blind and a flock of geese decoy, one takes the left side, the other the right side. Single usually get shot by the person with fewer birds in the bag.
 
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Jacobhwrd

New Member
Aug 7, 2016
1
0
For us it depends one different things. We are planning an elk hunt next year and it's just two of us. We are going for 4 days and will alternate who shoots. Since we are taking my truck I get to choose if I hunt 1st and 3rd or 2nd and 4th days. For our deer hunting I have choice of stands for the opening weekend since I do all the mowing, run all the cameras, hang all the stands ect. To us that's only fair. After opening weekend it's a free for all as long as we don't over hunt a stand.
 

7mag

Active Member
Sep 1, 2014
155
0
Wyoming
We always do if you spot it you get the first shot. After the first shot its fair game unless there is a first time hunter then they get the first kill.
 

Jrod

Active Member
Jan 30, 2012
262
6
Livermore, CA
If everyone spots it from the rental car then its rock paper scissors. Always do any other rock paper scissors before you head out on the trail. Otherwise its whoever spots it gets first crack at it. To small?; give it to the new guy. If not to small and you draw first blood, then that animal is yours no matter who helps knock it down or how much ground shrinkage it has. This aint rocket surgery.
 

Slugz

Veteran member
Oct 12, 2014
3,664
2,341
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Casper, Wyoming
During archery we designate a shooter / caller for chunks of the day. Its important to get that clear in the beginning or every few hours in the woods IMO. ( if we both have tags)
 

Wyoming Hart

Very Active Member
Oct 10, 2014
858
165
Spring Run, PA
We always do if you spot it you get the first shot. After the first shot its fair game unless there is a first time hunter then they get the first kill.
I like to use this reasoning. The only thing I would add is if the one that is to shoot first can't get a shot or misses, then it is open game.
 

Catahoula12

Very Active Member
Apr 26, 2013
712
127
Loveland, CO. was AZ.
My hunting partner and I have it worked out. He is left-handed and I'm right-handed.. He shoots ( deer/elk ) to the right side and I shoot the same to the left side. Of course that's if we are in a ground blind.. Lol
 
Jul 13, 2016
54
0
I've done it differently with different people.

Sometime calling with one brother we alternate between setups.
My other brother prefers whoever spots it gets the hunt.
And one of my good mates bases it on who's shot the last deer between us.

I'm a people pleaser so for a long time have just offered it up to others in the group. These days i try to fair it up a bit more though!

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