General Elk Archery vs Rifle

[D_Dubya]

My group should draw Wyoming General tags this year with over 3pts. Will be our first time hunting Wyoming. One of our guys has to put in for his vacation soon so we’re down to final deciding factors if we’re going archery or rifle. I think we have the areas we want to go pretty much figured out (Though we would be open to experienced advice!). I understand there will be plenty of pressure during rifle season - (and still wouldn’t be opposed to rifle season) but if archery is drastically less pressure that would be very appealing to me. Those who have done both, which do you prefer?

 

[go_deep]

Don't be fooled that archery has less pressure with a general tag in Wyoming.

Make your decision as a group based on what weapon you'd all prefer to use. Weather is typically nicer in September.

 

[dan maule]

It's really a personal decision but I really enjoy Wyoming in September and screaming elk. I never hunted the general tag areas, we were fortunate to have an area that had very little archery hunting pressure. This area had a tremendous amount of pressure during rifle which influenced our decision. For me, hunting in September was really special.

 

[D_Dubya]

I fully understand it’s a general tag and there will be some pressure, my frame of reference for “high hunting pressure” is OTC Colorado units which can be a real zoo, though we have had success.

 

[ScottR]

General archery seasons have gotten much more popular the last 10 years. Bear in mind that every one of them is bugling, which can sound like a bunch of elk...or turn into a bunch of hunters playing cat and mouse.

 

[D_Dubya]

General archery seasons have gotten much more popular the last 10 years. Bear in mind that every one of them is bugling, which can sound like a bunch of elk...or turn into a bunch of hunters playing cat and mouse.

That’s my concern, with archery being highly dependent on calling elk in, is archery worth the effort in a general unit if you can’t hunt the wilderness areas?

 

[wy-tex]

You don't need the wilderness areas to have a good hunt.
Depending also on where you are hunting, pressure can be quite a bit less during archery season.

 

[go_deep]

From what I've seen in the general areas that I hunt the middle 2 weeks of September seem to be the busiest for archery. I still think you leave most everyone behind at the mile mark also.

Whatever you'll decide I hope you have a great time!

 

[RICMIC]

Keep in mind that in some of the GEN areas, the mule deer season starts Sept. 15th. I have hunted in H 4 times, and will have a tag there again this year. Near the road there are scads of hunters by the 14th, but none where we had bush-wacked to. I always got my deer, and did see some elk, but would never want to pack an elk off that mountain.

 

[Hilltop]

Is the experience or dead elk more important? The archery experience is considerably better to me but you have much higher odds of filling tags during rifle. I think pressure between the two was similar for me 2 years ago. I hunted 7 days of archery, didn't fill so came back for a few days of rifle. I shot a small bull on my second full day of rifle. I have hunted general areas for 30 years and have never seen more archery hunters than I saw 2 years ago. Literally I switched areas completely 5 times trying to escape the crowds. Made for tough hunting but I still got into a few screaming matches with bulls and the weather and fishing was awesome.

 

[D_Dubya]

From what I've seen in the general areas that I hunt the middle 2 weeks of September seem to be the busiest for archery. I still think you leave most everyone behind at the mile mark also.

Whatever you'll decide I hope you have a great time!

Thanks, we’ve killed a few elk in heavily pressured Colorado OTC units, all 2-3 miles in and 1500’ or more up from the trailhead. Sounds like WY general will be similar to escape crowds. One thing I’m sure of is we’ll have a great time; elk or not!

 

[ScottR]

You will have to outhike people, if you pick your spots well then you can have a great hunt. I would highly reccomend staying a few days in the backcountry if you can. Night time bugling is a great indicator of how bulls are in an area and you won't wear yourself outhiking people every day.

 

[Maxhunter]

Like stated the archery seasons have gotten very popular. There is good hunting on most general areas. I highly recommend you take a least two weeks vacation. A lot of nonresidents only take a week and have a tough time finding elk, and once they due it's time to head home.

Last year I hunted mulies the last two days of the archery season in a very popular elk area. I could have killed two good bulls within a 20 minute timeframe. I'd already killed a bull in another area. Good luck and post pictures!

 

[go_deep]

With archery being the month of September and most rifle seasons being October 15th-31st. If you guys can swing it you could do a week of archery, then come back for rifle. Even if only 2 of you have the time and money to do both the scouting and information you'd gain would be highly valuable going into rifle season.

 

[ScottR]

With archery being the month of September and most rifle seasons being October 15th-31st. If you guys can swing it you could do a week of archery, then come back for rifle. Even if only 2 of you have the time and money to do both the scouting and information you'd gain would be highly valuable going into rifle season.

If you go that route I would encourage hitting the tail end of the rifle season. Chances for snow are much better the late in the season it is and that is a great equalizer after the faucet gets completely turned off on rut activity.

 

[D_Dubya]

If you go that route I would encourage hitting the tail end of the rifle season. Chances for snow are much better the late in the season it is and that is a great equalizer after the faucet gets completely turned off on rut activity.

Two trips could be a possibility, depending on how much (if any) vacation I use up this summer. Another thing that has come to mind is all the talk about a second wave of the Corona virus breaking out in the fall. Who knows if that will happen but if it does I would bet it will effect the Late seasons more than the early ones.

 

[mallardsx2]

If your like me, you will be social distancing the entire time anyhow...lol