Archery or Rifle

[Timr245]

Assuming I draw my first Wyoming elk tag here in a few hours, I?m then left with the decision of what season I will hunt. Curious who would go into a unit for the first time, solo, having never archery hunted for elk and give it a shot vs who would use the extra reach of the rifle to help close the distance on a potential target. I?d love to hunt the rut but do not have the ability to return for rifle season if I strike out. Hunting public land, there?s also the pressure factor that I assume will be substantially lighter in archery.

 

[Bonecollector]

That's a tough call Tim. I've been in your shoes multiple times as a non-resident from eastern US, honestly never setting foot in any of the 3 areas I hunted. If you have the time, minimum 7 days of actual hunt days (excluding travel), I'd go archery, but that's me.
If you have less time and really want an to kill an elk, I'd plan to go a day or two before rifle opener to locate them and then plan to hopefully take care of business.
You will get a variety of answers, but it will come down to some self reflection of what you really want to do and the time you have to get it done.

 

[wy-tex]

I don't think you'll have more pressure during archery season than rifle, just the opposite.

 

[Slugz]

Key statement driving your decision IMO is " solo, never hunted elk before" .........I'd bust your cherry rifle hunting. Mind the wind and it's doable. Archery solo, calling for your self, set ups by your self.....etc etc......doable but significantly harder to execute. Significantly.

 

[Catahoula12]

Key statement driving your decision IMO is " solo, never hunted elk before" .........I'd bust your cherry rifle hunting. Mind the wind and it's doable. Archery solo, calling for your self, set ups by your self.....etc etc......doable but significantly harder to execute. Significantly.

I would have to agree with Slugz on this one. Archery is a tough one solo, can be done, but much more difficult to enact. Good luck.

 

[JimP]

I agree with Slugs, if you want a real chance at a elk go rifle. And if you want you can pretend that you are archery hunting and try spot and stalking with the rifle.

A few years ago I helped a novice archery hunter and he admitted to me that it was one of the hardest things that he has done after he arrowed his first elk.

 

[Timr245]

Realizing everything that goes into archery, even from a whitetail hunters standpoint, is exactly what keeps me from doing it for elk at this point. This will only be my 2nd elk hunt and in a new area. I feel like im better suited to use rifle hunts as a chance to learn the area first, as do as JimP said, sharpen my spot & stalk skills, then pursue archery. I may have a hunting partner next fall, but I wont rely or plan on it.

 

[go_deep]

Are you hoping to draw a general tag, or a LQ tag??? There's a big difference from archery to rifle season there. I really think there's more pressure during archery hunting on the general tag.

 

[Fink]

What are the dates for your rifle season? Any chance of elk in the last stages of the rut, for your rifle hunt?

The whole allure of elk hunting for me, is chasing bugling elk. If it means doing it with a bow, with success rates lower than 20%, I'm okay with it. Maybe it's just me, but elk hunting in mid October with a rifle, when the elk aren't talking, feels like deer hunting, and I can do that here.
Bugling, rutting elk on the other hand...... Is most definitely not like deer hunting

 

[LCH]

If your tag allows it, go do both..

 

[Timr245]

It will be a general tag, looking like with the proposed dates I could possibly catch the end of the rut and maybe get into some rutting elk. I wish I had the time to do both but I just dont at this point, being self employed, the 10 days off for 1 season are a huge cost as it is.

 

[87TT]

I would go archery. It is all about the experience. Your odds of success will be determined by your planning and effort. Challenge yourself and just do it. I love elk meat as much as the next guy. Last year I killed a cow during the extra cow hunt in Oct. But what still sticks in my head and brings back great memories is the close encounters and listening to screaming bulls.

 

[highplainsdrifter]

It depends on what you want from the hunt. If you want bugling bulls, nice weather, beautiful scenery with golden leaves and perhaps a touch of snow/frost then hunt September archery. But realize your chances of success will be somewhat lower.

If you want a better chance of success, but much colder weather and perhaps quite a bit of snow on the ground...then hunt October rifle season.

I have shot a bunch of elk, so getting another one isn't a priority. So, I prefer September archery rather than fighting the cold and snow of later in the season.

 

[tim]

The first half of October, bulls are still bugling and with the cows. I see it every year.

 

[Bonecollector]

They were bugling in early November in Wyoming this past year. That's how I located the heard where I eventually shot my first elk.

 

[highplainsdrifter]

They were bugling in early November in Wyoming this past year. That's how I located the heard where I eventually shot my first elk.

I have heard them bugling in November too. But the peak of bugling activity is in September.

Timr245 might want to try hunting a unit in NW Wyoming. Several of them have opening rifle dates of September 26th.

 

[Timr245]

I would love to hit the NW corner of the state, but going solo I’m not real interested in grizzly country.

 

[Timr245]

They were bugling in early November in Wyoming this past year. That's how I located the heard where I eventually shot my first elk.

Exactly what Im hoping for. Just to catch a few bugles to help with locating.

 

[87TT]

I don't know about WY but here in ID, the elk have been less vocal since the wolves have showed up. They still bugle but the frequency and volume is less. I had a cow tag in Oct. last year and caught up with a nice bull with a herd of about 20 cows. I was about 75 yards from him and I watched him as he bugled to his cows in the thick. I doubt you could have heard him more than a couple hundred yards. My point is, yes they bugle but don't count on it. I think that later in the season if you are unfamiliar with the area and the habits of the elk in it, luck will have more to do with it. Good luck.

 

[highplainsdrifter]

You might want to consider some of the NW Wyoming areas that are further south such as area 85..not many grizzlies there. And in some of the of these areas the rifle season opens September 26th.