Who's hunting elk with the bow early season?

Been pretty busy with the salmon but now I'm getting psyched for bow-hunting. Heading over to the eastside this weekend to do some scouting and re-inforce a couple tree stands.

I'm going nuts getting ready for it.

I've got 9 days scheduled off and have done a lot of scouting leading up to it... I'm anxious to get in the woods and get the first bull going. Hopefully they'll be a little more cooperative this year and come in broadside instead of head on every time....

Keith

Early rifle elk started August 1st, but I still haven't had a chance to head over there just yet.

Less than 3 weeks to go, been up scouting a little in my spots and like stlhdr said hope they get going a bit better this year than last. I am off for the entire season here on the westside. Bring on the Bugling bulls!!

I will be hunting my little honey hole Sept.1st...STOKED!!

Yep-Westside-Bows tuned and ready to roll!

My legs are starting to quiver......

Keith

Day #1.... Made an afternoon hunt with a good buddy of mine who holds an Oregon Archery Elk tag. Being opening day yesterday we covered some serious ground....

13.29 miles later on the Garmin 520HcX and getting back to the truck at 11pm with nothing but a group of elk we busted... Not much talking in the evenings yet. Found a few decent rubs but nothing real aggressive and certainly no smell of rutting bulls in the air yet.

I can't wait for day #1 of the WA opener. My legs are tuned in and lungs are ready.....

Keith

Opening day WA, tomorrow..... Gotta work all day. Heading out Wednesday afternoon through the following Friday, hope to have a pic or two.......

It's getting harder to sleep, almost as if it was Christmas at the age of 6.......

Keith

What's sleep?

I'll be in the woods from the 10th to the 18th. This is my first dedicated Elk hunt so we'll see how it goes! One things for sure I wont be sleeping in or chilling on the couch

Good Luck to all and hope to see some FUR DOWN!

I am a muzzy hunter but helped a buddy setup a treestand on the eastside yesterday and this morning he shot a cow out of it. Wham bam thank you ma am.

Headed out as we speak........... 9 days.............

Keith

Go get em'!

Well back and settled in!!

What a week, called 7 bulls in and took 2 shots myself. One decent 5x5 I guessed for 55 yards and it turned out to be 78 that I shot short on... Another 4x4 that I undershot as well.

Of the other 5, had 2 of them within 18 yards but never could get a shot off with the thick stuff!

Finally, had the opportunity Thursday morning with 1 day left to hunt to take a nice 2.5 year old cow at 7 yards, no brainer shot.....

Friday, the final day I called in a beautiful 6x6 for a buddy of mine to about 11 yards. He was able to get an arrow in him but after 100 yards of a blood trail, it dried up and the rains came... At that point of looking for another 2 ours for the blood trail I decided to rip off a bugle and he answered about 100 yards ahead of us, we proceeded on him but he wouldn't challenge us again as he was back with his cows... Long story short he managed his way up and out of that canyon system we were in and seemed strong and proud.. For the sake of it, we looked the entire hillside over for the remainder of the day to be sure it wasn't a different bull bugling.....

Can't wait for next year!

Keith

WOW..nice vacation..too bad about losing an animal. Where did he hit him?

Not sure... I was back about 35 yards calling and working the bull and he was up at the crest of the hill above me so I never seen the arrow impact.... But I did hear the arrow ping pong through the huckleberries...

Sounds like a successful trip. Hate to hear about wounded animals but thats part of it, the part of it that sucks. Must have a good huntin hole to find that many bulls to play with, especially on the west side. Good huntin weather for early bow for a change. I am afraid this weather will shut the rut down early, seemed like they started earlier this year. That will make ML a little tougher in 2 weeks, I am pumped.

Find lots of cows and find lots of bulls..... But certainly did have the weather dialed for us....

Fact is when cows come into estress they've got roughly a 24 hour window to get it done. If not they'll cycle into estress again a month later... Right during your muzzleloader season.... It will happen for ya... Like a old timer once told me who's 62 this year and has harvested 41 elk, "if you put on 60 miles+ of hiking in a season, you'll kill an elk".....

Keith

Got this one last thurs. Saw a lot of elk and this was the first legal bull that presented a shot. My First archery animal.

Nice first kill!! Congrats!