Elk vs. deer, how close can I get?

[sojourner65]

Back here in PA, hunting whitetails, on the ground, I know it is almost impossible to get within 30 yds and be ready to shoot (position, draw the bow, HOLD the draw 30 - 45 seconds) and not get busted by a wary doe or buck (unless you are in a blind or in possible rutting time). So, are elk any different (doesn\'t seem so) and what are my chances of getting 30 yds out on an elk. I\'ve seen the videos of elk being shot at 5 - 10 yds (amazing!) and I\'ve read about shots of 80 yds (wouldn\'t even attempt it). I expect to hunt in timber, over wallows, calling as needed.

 

[cnelk]

I think the average shot on elk is just under 30yds.

My longest is 48, shortest is less than 10.

I have never held my bow longer than 10-15 seconds.
I will let down and re-draw before I hold much longer than that.

With all things being perfect, there is no reason you cant easily shoot an elk at 15-25yds.
I prefer to not let them get too close.

The hardest part is to find an upcoming shooting lane while the elk is moving toward you and recognizing when to draw and shoot.

I shot this bull at 15yds last year - but i set up with 2 shooting lanes that were only 20yds long.
You can see how thick it was

 

[sojourner65]

Thanks, and awesome elk! :upthumb:

 

[timberland]

To bad you weren\'t carrying the recurve. Thats my upcoming dilemma. I know I can get close for the recurve enough if I had enough time, I just don\'t have enough hunt time to handicap myself yet.

 

[OldMan]

Elk are not very bright. You can get very close.

You\'ll never do this with a mature buck.
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[cnelk]

To bad you weren\'t carrying the recurve. Thats my upcoming dilemma. I know I can get close for the recurve enough if I had enough time, I just don\'t have enough hunt time to handicap myself yet.

This fall I will be carrying my recurve when I sit in tree stands.
My compound will be with me when we do our calling circuits.

 

[Colorado_Lew]

You can get close to both.
I\'ve shot whitetail deer that were within 5 yards after walking under my stand, and I shot a bull elk at 3 yards.
The normal distance is right around 30 yards for elk from the ground. If you are hunting in a stand you can expect them a lot closer, if your stand is on a water hole or trail.
The longest shot on elk for me was 55 yards on a bull that I called in to 20 and had him spook. I stopped him and put an arrow through his lungs at 55 and he went another 20 before piling up.

 

[OldMan]

I want to see someone in a video getting that close to a mature muley buck. Not one that hangs around town, but a wild one.

I\'ve snuck up on too many elk and mule deer. There\'s a big difference. Mule deer in the old days used to be curious about humans. Not any more. They know what we are now, and they want no part of us.

 

[Swede]

I think the way most hunters get real close to elk is they stay still and let the elk move toward them. You can move in close to elk, but everything must be done perfectly in an ideal situation. Elk have good eyes and ears. Their nose is great. Often they come in herds, so you need to fool a lot of them at the same time.

 

[Lark Bunting]

I want to see someone in a video getting that close to a mature muley buck. Not one that hangs around town, but a wild one.

I\'ve snuck up on too many elk and mule deer. There\'s a big difference. Mule deer in the old days used to be curious about humans. Not any more. They know what we are now, and they want no part of us.

My son and I were within six yards of a mule doe this past fall. Of course, I didn\'t have a deer tag. We weren\'t seeing any elk in the area so figured we\'d see how close to a mule deer since we were seeing them so often. We snuck in with the wind in our faces to 20 yards. Every time she would drop her head to feed we\'d move a few steps. Took about 15 minutes to cover the last 10 yards and I finally stepped on a deadfall branch and she spooked. Funny thing though, she circled back around as we just stood there and she actually came to us...within 6 yards.

Granted, it wasn\'t a mature mule buck but it was pretty awesome to be so close.

 

[OldMan]

I want to see someone in a video getting that close to a mature muley buck. Not one that hangs around town, but a wild one.

I\'ve snuck up on too many elk and mule deer. There\'s a big difference. Mule deer in the old days used to be curious about humans. Not any more. They know what we are now, and they want no part of us.

My son and I were within six yards of a mule doe this past fall. Of course, I didn\'t have a deer tag. We weren\'t seeing any elk in the area so figured we\'d see how close to a mule deer since we were seeing them so often. We snuck in with the wind in our faces to 20 yards. Every time she would drop her head to feed we\'d move a few steps. Took about 15 minutes to cover the last 10 yards and I finally stepped on a deadfall branch and she spooked. Funny thing though, she circled back around as we just stood there and she actually came to us...within 6 yards.

Granted, it wasn\'t a mature mule buck but it was pretty awesome to be so close.

Yes, absolutely on does and young bucks. I find that fun to do when on hikes and scouting. They\'re curious, and will hang in for long time before slowly walking away.

The mature buck has long lost it\'s curiosity, and is always in survival mode. I remember in the 50-60\'s a mature buck would flee a short distance, and stop to look back. They seemed to have learned that that gets them shot over the years. When they flee now they keep going over the ridge.

We\'re training animals how to survive. I feel calling elk is doing the same thing, but I have no solid evidence yet, because i\'m not involved in it.

 

[Zpd307]

had a young muley buck become our camp host for three nights last year in Colorado. he was sniffing our fire ring one night when we came back. another night he was checking out the truck. another night he was hanging outside the tent while we had a fire going and my diesel going to dry our boots....

 

[sojourner65]

Elk are not very bright. You can get very close.

You\'ll never do this with a mature buck.
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Hah! I noticed the hunter is not moving, but apparently the camera guy did which spooked that elk. I have had bucks walk right by me in rut season here.