When to Draw?

[JJhunts]

I have been trying to read some info on timing your draw on elk. I have watched several videos of shots but not seen anyone describing when to draw and when not to. The best advice I have seen was a mossy oak show where the guide instructed the hunter to wait until the bull passed.

What is y\'alls opinion on the timing? Maybe this will help me and other archery elk newbies reading the forum.

Thanks!

 

[elkmtngear]

The best advice I have seen was a mossy oak show where the guide instructed the hunter to wait until the bull passed.


Thanks!

Justin, tried that...it didn\'t work. I let a bull walk past me at 10 feet...thinking I could just draw when he was well forward of me and get a steep quartering away shot...he bugged out immediately!

Any motion in a 270 degree radius can be picked up!

My suggestion is to watch for a moment when the bull\'s head will be behind a tree or thick brush...then time a quick draw for that moment. This has worked consistently for me.

I\'ve also gotten away (twice) drawing smoothly on bulls that were straight on at close yardage (in anticipation of taking a frontal shot)...but, both those bulls were looking \"through\" me at the caller/ decoy.

Just my two cents!

 

[Swede]

I prefer to draw when the elk\'s head is behind something. When that is not an option I try to wait until they are looking away. My bow is too stiff for me to just draw it real slowly all the way. Once in awhile I just have to let one go. As Jeff said, elk have great peripheral vision. I really have no easy canned answer to this question.

 

[Stringunner]

When their head is behind a tree as Swede says or when I think I can reasonably draw without being seen. This seems obvious but really every situation is a bit different. In stand, if I am not going to get to draw when their head is behind something, then I will try when they are looking away or their head is down eating.