What Will It Be?

[Swede]

This year will you shoot the first legal elk, or hold out for something special? If you are going to be selective, how long will you hold out, and for what?

Me? I will shoot the first mature elk.

 

[mtnmutt]

First Ethical shot on a legal elk, my arrow is released. I have 2 tags: either sex and anterless. The season won\'t end with the first one. P!us, carrying an either sex deer tag.

 

[Baby Huey]

Any cow or calf with my antlerless archery tag. I\'ll hold out the first couple of days of my rifle bull for a 6x6, but after the 2nd day any legal bull will get the nod.

 

[otcWill]

I honestly can\'t answer that question. I just posted on another thread that I have two friends coming who\'s success is priority over my own. For that reason, I may just shoot whatever on day one. Statistics suggest I\'ll shoot a nice bull though

 

[Deertick]

OTCWill once wrote that that \"Don\'t pass up on the first day ...\"-business is baloney, and I agree.

I\'m looking for a raghorn or better, but my standards will drop. As Brad says, nothing ruins an elk hunt faster than killing an elk, and I learned that last year. We\'ve got 3 elk to kill in our 10-day camp this year ... and as daunting as that sounds, 3 dead bulls of any size would make me happy.

I\'m planning on rifle cow elk hunting in late August, and so a lot depends on that. I really would like some meat in the freezer prior to archery season.

 

[cnelk]

I will have 3 elk tags in my pocket this year.
2 for Colorado - 1 E/S and one Antlerless.
1 for Wyoming - any elk.

My plan is to hunt 6 days in CO of long weekends prior to WY.
Looking for any mature elk in CO before the 10 day WY hunt.

WY will be branch antlers only for me, hopefully \'Go big or Go Home\'

After WY I\'m sure I may have an open tag for CO so I will round out my season trying to fill that.

It could very well be a 3 elk year!!
Wouldn\'t that be something.

 

[iccyman001]

This is tough to answer.

As a new elk hunter, I know that the first elk that walks in front of me will make me get all excited. Both because they taste great and it would be awesome to go 2 for 2 with bow.

Then, as an hunter who practices self discipline on whitetail, part of me thinks that I will hold out for at least a respectable step up from what I shot last year. Luckily that wont be too hard because it was a spike, so any nice rag or big fat cow will do.

I know there are lots of elk out there and some good size ones. So the GOAL is to hold out the first few days, but I honestly cant say yet.

 

[elkmtngear]

If I get a 20 yard broadside opportunity on a nice cow...I\'m not passing her up. If a bull presents himself first...so be it.

Opportunities are limited where I go. And, I\'m primarily a meat hunter, so...

 

[Lark Bunting]

Still after my first elk. I was of the opinion that I would shoot the first legal elk but I don\'t think I would shoot a calf at this point. I\'d rather hunt a little longer and go for a mature elk, cow or bull.

 

[Jaquomo]

First legal bull this year. I want to help a wonderful couple who both drew archery moose tags in my area. 65 years old, shoot trad, great hunters from NM. I\'ve been mentoring them on moose this summer, scouting with them and teaching, and have come to like them so much that I\'ll shorten my bow season to help them.

I have 10 days to get my elk before they arrive.

 

[Hackbow]

Same as Lark. Haven\'t killed an elk in 4 tries, but I will pass on calves during first 7 days of 9 days hunting this year, holding out for any legal adult. If meatless on day 8, Babies Beware! The funny thing is that I have blown chances on several bulls and a couple cows, but have not once had a calf in bow range.

 

[cohunter14]

First legal elk for me.

 

[Stringunner]

First legal elk!

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

For my son, it will be the first legal bull. After 1,700 trail cam picts, bulls hitting my honey hole morning and night, I think I\'m going to hold out.

And possibly a mule deer!

 

[iccyman001]

Toads

 

[F M]

Nice John. :upthumb: Show us some more please.

For me I can glass a lot of our area so we have a idea of whats around. Some years it has been the first adult elk. Some years I have held out the first week for a bull.

 

[Swede]

Nice fat bulls John. They look to be just about perfect.

 

[VTHOKEE]

With only one season under my belt and nothing to show for it I will probably won\'t be to picky. Only thing that gets a pass is a calf and it\'s mother if she\'s with it.