Oregon's archery season opens at the end of next month. Unsure about you worshington boys.... so who's getting out there?

Began scouting last week. Last year i burned myself by focusing all of my efforts on one area. Kept pushing the same groups of elk around....close but no cigar... this year i am diversifyingy efforts. Found a great area with a lot of elk on the coast. Last year's foothills/valley spot, and my good friend has been on some in the cascades. Hoping to score this year...

Well? How about you dudes?

My deer spot is all set. Just need to get the bow zeroed in and find the time to go.

I'll be in AZ for late August coues deer. If no luck in the hot weather of late summer, then back again in mid-December thru holidays.
and start the new year in jan 2013 all over again.
best thing about AZ coues deer in Dec-Jan; archery OTC, rutting bucks, cooler weather and pretty much NO Snakes!

then spend fall-early December here for my trophy season pursuit in WA with multi season tag. the time extension of seasons will be for nice fall & early winter hunting for a trophy buck....unless the trophy buck presents itself early!

Just scouted this weekend and saw some nice elk, cant wait to be in the timber stalking my prey! I have been shooting awesome out to 60 yards but hope i can make it a close encounter! Happy hunting, not too far off!

I will be in Kettle falls two days before the opener. Can't wait!

Sounds like people are getting ready. Hitting a 3d course tomorrow. That usually gets me into high gear!

25 day's untill the opener.

I have been scouting and shooting my bow all summer.

We were on 2 different heards this weekend and also saw several nice bucks.

The 25th cant get here soon enough.

Trail cams have been up for about a month... Picked up the 2012 bowtech insanity, and it shoots freakin awesome..

Hitting a new area (550) this year. Camp should be up and we will be final scouting by the 1st till opener .

Really excited about hunting season over all. I have a columbia basin buck tag and a willamette unit one deer tag that goes until feb. (Already have bucks located). My dad pulled a n.e trask cow tag tha starts in feb. Busy season

Syko,
You live in tilly right? Would you mind if i pm you about a place i used to hunt around there? Was going to check out but blew out a radial when i was scouting...

Grew up in Tillamook but now live outside of Scappoose.

Still hunt the Tillamook area.

Go ahaed and send me a pm. But you know there is nothing more sacred than hunting spots.

Ain't that the truth!

Go time... September 4th for us WA boys...

11 trail cameras going between Fish Stalker and I... Lots of bull pics, bear pics, cougar pic and all. Tree stands are set, calls are ready.

Ready to rock and roll, never wanted it as bad as I do this year! Looking to fill the freezer.

Keith

We have trailcam shots from this weekend...

I got my bow dialed at 20 yards today. Thursday I'm headed to kenmore to dial in 30 and 40 yards. With all the house work and just life being busy in general it hasn't been until now that I've had time to start preparing. some of you know this will be my first year hunting. I'm registered for hunters safety in mid September so I might get a chance to hit the tail end of early archery. If not, I'll for sure be out during late archery.

Have fun everyone. I look forward to seeing some pics and I hope to add some of my own.

Almost cant sleep at night already. Been scouting when i can since the snow melted. Everyone in camp has a bull tag this year and we have picked out a couple dandys living in some nasty holes. Only problem, i broke my left hand monday. Oh well only got to shoot once right?

Ouch.......... Can you shoot with the cast?

That's a crazy one! Guess that beat's breaking your ankle!

Keith

I declined the hard cast for a removable wrist splint. Gonna have to nut up and shoot next week. Havent shot any broadheads yet.

Got my bow dialed in, good to 50 yards, arrows all refletched and broadheads on my hunting arrows, boots greased, all camping gear in a pile ready to be loaded in my rig, just need 9/1 to get here.
Didn't get as much scouting in as I hoped but thats what happens with kids in sports pretty much year round. Do have a new area above Cougar I'm looking forward to checking out as well as my regular Coweeman spots.
Unfortunately I didn't draw a multi-season elk but did get the deer so I'm looking forward to trying the new muzzy if I can't close the deal with the bow during the early season.

Yeah, in that moment when Mr. Big is standing broadside, I'm sure you could pull a 100lb draw with 2 broken wrists... Buck Fever could be a good thing...

Had the chance to put the broadheads on last weekend... Found an arrow that shot perfect with field tips but just won't tune with a broadhead. Got a quiver full that shoot a 6" group at 70 yards.. Leica rangefinder in hand so no more wrong guesses on yardage! Will be lettin em' fly!

Keith

6" at 70 yd with broadheads? Wow, compound bows are amazing!

I am on board with Stam's principles. I have never shot at an animal over 40yd. too afraid of losing a wounded animal....

Same with blackpowder. Used to be "primitive weapon seasons" and feel like 60-100 yards was a long shot. Now you hear in other states they are shooting up to 300 with scopes, pellets, primers, sabots and jacketed pistol bullets. Mite as well use a modern firearm. Because thats what they are.

I agree with Stam. But if you read Saxton Pope's book on archery he was shooting yew longbows and wooden arrows at deer 100-120 yards away. And killing them. Lots of their shooting was at ranges I wouldn't try with my compound.

I have been thinking,planning and talking about archery elk season since last year EACH AND EVERY DAY. Already spent 2 days hunting the nastiest country I have ever hunted, sore legs, back and mind. About to quit my job...AGAIN and hunt every day of both states elk season..SON OF A BITCH 9 Im ready to get into the woods and locate right now!

Don't worry Stam, I looked away for 2 or 3 minutes when it came to being passed by. I've never shot a compound bow and only practiced up to 30 yd with my old recurve. All my shots were between 20 and 30 yd. The guy who got me into archery did shoot a mule deer once at 80 yd with his recurve, but he did admit it was a lucky shot.

I think about getting another bow cuz my yard is full of deer, but these oldtimer shoulder and elbow joint issues might prevent me from drawing a hunting bow and learning to shoot again. But it is tempting. There was a 3-point sticking his head through the bushes the other day.

You'd be suprised at how much power is created with a bow set at 50lb draw.... No doubt you could handle that and it would shoot through both sides at 20 yards...

As to distance... It's only if I need it... Of the 3 elk I've shot one was 40 yards, one at 7 yards and one at 18 or so on the move which I lost... We lost a very nice bull 2 years ago at 11 yards that was shot well.... So distance isn't always a guarantee...

Keith

Ding, ding, ding, let the games begin!

Good luck all. I expect albums of trophies here upon my return in a week!

salmo,

I'll take care of that pesky three point that's grazing in your yard.

compared to my compound bow in the early 80's, the Cbows today are amazing.
but it still takes practice to shoot effectively.

I was out practicing back in late June, NBend clear cut area.
my two block targets were at 30 and 70 yards. Practicing at 70 sure makes the 30 yard shot seem easier.

two other fellas pulled over their truck and asked to shoot a few arrows and since they had field tips I gave the ok. Well they missed the 30 yard block several times and couldn't find two of their arrows.
They watched me shoot at 70 yards; all 5 of my arrows were near center, all kill shots. "nice..." one said, Just practice I replied.

I had my reliable Mathews SBXT. They had the newer Z7 and a Bowtech with all the latest bells & whistles.
Upon further conversation, they were new to archery and had drawn multi season tags, like I did. They thanked me and quickly drove off, seemed like nice fellas though.
they need some serious practice time!

Last year my AZ coues buck was shot at 62 yards. Wind was right, angle good and with my confidence from practice I made the shot. Buck went just over 60 yards and piled up next to some manzanita. My longest shot ever, made on day 6 of 7 hunting DIY AZ coues deer. But conditions limit most of my shots taken to under 50 yards.